Miscellaneous Archives (5 posts)
The Business of Halloween
Who knew that Halloween had become such a lucrative business? This infographic has some interesting stats on the average spending for costumes/candy/decorations.
Via: Business Credit Cards Blog
Posted in Miscellaneous at 11:44 AM
Why I hate the Ministry of the Environment
This spring I had my 1988 Ford Mustang freshly painted and added a B303 camshaft to give the car a little more power and lumpy sounding idle. To put the car on the road I had to renew my license plate sticker.
In Ontario we have a Drive Clean program whereby you have to get an emissions test for your vehicle every two years. If your vehicle fails the test, you can’t get your license plate renewed.
The law used to be that if your car was 20 years or older it was exempt from emissions testing. I was looking forward to never having to test my 20 year old Mustang again. I hated paying this tax grab in the first place.
I went to the Ministry of Transportation office a month ago to renew my plates and they told me I needed an emissions test done. Huh? I told them that they were wrong, that the car was exempt. I was wrong.
In January of this year, some moron at the Ministry of the Environment decreed that cars built in 1988 and later would have to get an emissions test every two years, indefinitely. What? Who told them that they can change the rules?
That performance cam I had installed has cost me two failed emissions tests. The hydrocarbon reading on curb idle was a little high. So what is a guy to do when he just wants to lay down a thick patch of rubber? He goes under the table and pays the going rate for an emissions test.
After a month of waiting patiently, there will be a 1988 Ford Mustang GT Cobra laying down a lot of rubber in the east end of Toronto today. Happy trails!
Posted in Miscellaneous at 11:13 AM
I am anti-line
When it comes to notebooks, I prefer a Moleskine with blank pages, no lines.
I love this amusing quote from Rands:
I’m fervently anti-line on the page, but for the sake of science, I’ve tried a couple of lined notebooks. The result: yeah, you eventually stop seeing the lines, but read that again, you stop seeing what? I don’t need lines on a notebook. I needed lines in 3rd grade when I was learning how to write. I’m good now, thanks.
I find the lines get in the way. I can be more creative with my sketches and ideas when I have a blank canvas. Lines hamper creativity.
I also feel like I have to cram as much information as possible onto a page. Wasted space fills up a notebook in no time and means that I have to get a replacement. My Moleskin notebooks last an average of 12 months.
I am anti-line.
Posted in Books and Miscellaneous at 8:51 PM
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S test drive
My buddy Toby recently purchased a 911 Carrera 4S. Last weekend he drove it up to Toronto from NYC and made a stop at my place where I inspected every latch, curve and button. I also took it for a test drive and let’s just say that nothing I’ve ever driven comes close to the handling, power and luxury of this sports car.
The clutch is like butter. You can’t make a bad shift in this vehicle if you tried. The 400 hp pushes your entire body into the back of your seat. The 4-wheel disc brakes stop the car on a dime. This car is German engineering at its finest.
At $90,000, this car is way out of my league. I’m happy with my Mustang GT but now I have a new found respect for the Porsche 911.
Posted in Miscellaneous at 8:49 PM
32 Hours 7 Minutes
Wired has a great story about Alex Roy’s quest to beat the legendary Cannonball Run record by crossing the US in under 32 hours and 7 minutes. The whole experience was documented and will be released as a film in the near future titled 32 hours 7 minutes.
Posted in Miscellaneous and Movies at 1:04 PM
