Toyota Avanza, 0 to 175 KPH

Oh by the way, that's 0 to 175 kph in 2 minutes! Not 10 secs.

And this one, Honda Hatch and Ferrari. Is this real life or fake? Reminds me of the Italian Job car chase.

Home and Transpo - Back-2-Normal

Whoooo, finally after 2 months, my routine is back to normal. My home is done. Just a little over 3 weeks ago, I kicked out my sub standard contractor and literally made the homerun finishing for the works. That includes paintings, carpentry and a good amount of cleaning. In fact I think I am still stoned after consuming and sniffing 4 bottles of thinner and kerosene during the clean up. And so my dwelling is done, just some fixtures and furnitures to be bought. After the pro-longed renovation, no more dough. Fixtures and sofa and office table and bar like chairs will remain in the to-buy list for some weeks.

Also, exactly after 2 months after my car went on ICU, (they cant find the part - original civic sir steering drive shaft), I now have the wheels. Contrary to the quoted price of P7000 originally, the bill more than double to P16000 as they found other items for replacement. Thus, I repeat, Fixtures and sofa and office table and bar like chairs will remain in the to-buy list for some weeks. Last Feb, I swore that if ever I'll dole out another double digit car repair (that's 10K plus), I seriously consider selling the SIR. But man oh man, sarap i-drive ng SIR, I missed the roar and the speed. Besides, remembering, I no longer have the cap to get a new car financing plan. And so, I'll stick with my black mamba(barurot) car for now. (The 2 months I went on PUJ and TAXI and BUS mode, I did some meditations during the commute. I have made up my mind, I'll run on safe mode a la windows OS. I'll be more giving to the monster drivers and I'll take it easy on the pedals. I think, my driving style in the past made my car a regular autoshop visitor).

{Only prob that's breaking the life rhythm is my cranky SMARTBRO connection (no new news). Many times I asked my colleague in the office to call Smartbro Tech, three times they said, "ma'am your connection is fine". What the, why don't you move your ass in here and check it for your self. I am still not in boiling point with my home smartbro connection coz the times it's down, I am finding minor things to do at home, like installing racks, locks, etc. Damn this huge telcos (GLOBE & PLDT), I cant get it, why they dont have available telephone lines (and cabinets) here at my location. Geeesh, Im in the center of MAKATI CITY! and application of landline is now 2 to 3 months running. What year is it? 1998?}

War Is Over, Merry Christmas

My Honda problem is now over. They agreed to give the minimal demand that I asked. The amount, I'll just give to a foundation we'll soon pick. My claim wasn't all about me getting paid but for people to learn from this. I already signed an affidavit to bury the story and so the war is over.

My Laptop Bag, What's Inside

The heck, nobody wants to get this laptop bag I am selling at eBay.ph, so I am using this myself. The fist initial salvo of the laptop bag was at Hyundai Pasig at E.Rodriguez Avenue (or C5). I was there today the whole day, again, for the much needed replacement of radiator hose and engine leak job.

I am still on a tug o war with Honda Philippines, they are offering all sorts of counter offers to my demands but I am sticking with my gun. I felt malpractice was done and therefore they should pay (not necessarily monetarily). I have threatened them with a suit and publishing the story online, at blogs, at forums, wherever. As soon as dusts settle, I'll be blogging about this horrendous story soon.

Anyways, bag, err, back to the topic. The laptop back is nice. For all of you almost-interested eBay bidders, thank you for not getting the bag. Now I am enjoying the specs and features if the bag.

My post says...

* Laptop Notebook BackPack Bag Case
* Save 1500.00 (Bought this at Korea for P4000 plus)
* Brand New, Bought from South Korea on a trip
* Very high quality
* 3 options to carry: hand bag, shoulder carry and of course, back packed
* Very versatile, you can bring this during meetings, work, even outdoors, out of town trips, presentations.
* Unisex (What the?!)
* Strong material and craftsmanship
* Lots of document and paper storage
* Special pouch for smaller laptops/notebooks
* Total of six slots/compartments
* Adjustable strap for both shoulder and back carries
* Padded/foamed back pack strap

I pinned a couple of pins for the jologs or drug addict look. The must-have BEATLES pin, my lucky number 77 pin and the other one Japanese character pin. Also, in the bag is one pink rosary I have. I have this rosary when I took the board exam for one engineering exam (not a top notcher though) and passed somehow. I should have 2 rosaries I suppose. Ever since, this rosary is in, whatever the bag is. Not really an altar boy, but why not insert this? No harm eh?

Back to the topic 2, not exactly the biggest laptop backpack, but this can contain all sorts of things. I had one extra tee (yes that's t shirt, on the way to Hyundai Psig, AC was off to prevent over-heating so I needed one extra shirt just incase king-sun acts up), pda sync cable, a purse, mp3 player, earphone, digital camera, cell phone charger, one magazine, etc. To the holduppers, stay away, I don't have cash.

You like it? No longer for sale man. But you can still view the pics here.

BTW, I've been out of bounds past few days over at Hoops. Been fully booked recently. I'll soon be back when few biz and personal things are cleared up.

BTW2, I got some pics today at Hyundai Pasig, the Tucson model. I posted it at Dont.Blink. BTW3, because of my 'contributorship' at Blink.ph, I was given an author account at Dont.Blink. I post there under "KOK" name as in Kwarta-o-Kahon." My for sale items, I use that site to post the pics. If you got above average collection (not saying that mine are) of photos you want to share, apply at dont.blink.ph. BTW4, 3 of my posts were recycled at Hoops "Post Up" section. The Nike event and the Pinoy Ballers.

Helluva Week

• I am in a battle with one Honda Satellite Service for a malpractice done to my car. More on this perhaps sometime. My auto is currently on a comatose, I am not to have it repaired up until HONDA Main Office hands out it decision if this inept Honda Satellite Service is liable. Not major prob really, I just want it the way it was turned over to me by Honda so that in case I'll sue their asses, we got at that bad state. Damn, I been riding PUJ PUB Taxis and Hitching the past 2 weeks. Good or bad the final decision may be, I am not over with them.
• Making it worse, I forgot to bring the charger of my Treo here in Makati. I have been switching sims back and forth with other globe-ready mobile phones.
• Over at the office, we can't seem to find away of straightening up how we can do things efficiently. Memos galore.
• Last Mon, I met my architect-cousin at Bonifacio High-Street (yes, I taxied) to show the plans of our new unit. To where, we are supposedly to move come Nov. But evan almightly, his assistant (another cuz of mine) whom I am having drink with, forgot the effing plans at TGIF. See, Fridays cut off is 12mn, so we moved elsewhere. There, the plans were no where to be found upon landing at a Karaoke bar at Buendia. Now, I have to get a new set of copies.
  
• I lost two fuckin domains that I registered. These autobot-registrants, if you fail to renew your registration for just a minute, an hour or a day, these bots will scoop up your domains in a heartbeat. Thus, I lost two good .com domains. Again, to the .ph I should go.
  

Checking in at Honda

Checking in at Honda Philippines today at around 7:30 am. After having a quote 2 weeks ago, now is the day of reckoning for my VTEC engine's seals and gaskets replacement. Additionally, oil change, spark replacements and brake system check thy will be done. With that, I'll be P10,000 or so poorer today.

I am running on a 3 pack Sky Flakes, large C2 and 2 cups of in-house coffee. I project to finish the rest of the day here. Thanks to Honda's free internet, I need not go elsewhere to do office.

Tulo! Tulo! Tulo! Tulo! Tulo!

I am now here at Honda Cars. Checked in at around 8am, its now 11am and no quotation still. And I thought this Honda branch would close down for lack of clients. To my surprise, I am already customer number 14 despite the early log in.

Geez, I thought my auto is running in full throttle... ( I even bought some things and fixed minor probs last week, not knowing the engine needs some attention) ...not even close. The engine got STD.

I am now waiting for the quotation of the Honda service advisor. Based on the LEAKS he pointed out, I am looking at a disastrous 7K to 10K parts and labor for the leak containment. At least 5 areas (sealants and or gaskets) to need to be taken cared of. I hope I am wrong. If this goes less P5K, i'll go for it now (if they have the parts).

The top gasket was just replaced 3 mos ago by one Bangkal Makati auto shop.

The lesson learned: When dealing with the car engine (and other major systems like brakes, transmission, electrical wiring), I WILL NO LONGER GO FOR SO-SO AUTOSHOP. To the Honda Service Casa I shall go. Just a waste, spending P700 for a gasket (and labor) then you'll have the gasket dumped in 2 to 3 months.

Only Honda's (unintentional) free wi-fi is keeping me sane from 4 hours of waiting and the prospect of another negative P5K to P10K. Thank you thank your for your careless IT head. I love "unsecured network". Advise to car service centers, if you'll have unsecured wifi network, you gotta serve us free coffee too (or at least you should have foods4sale).

UPDATE: The cost is P6258.00 (P2730 parts and P3150 labor). Add the subsequent P900 change oil. To be replaced are distributor oil seal, distributor o-ring, cylinder head cover gasket, oil pan gasket, oil pump seal, oil pump o-ring, shifting lever oil seal, spool valve filter and others. I estimated it at 7k to 10k and now I got the quote. Just a couple of hundred bucks over P7000.00. Parts will arrive Aug 2. I will have my auto fixed Aug 6. Meanwhile, I should be dropping oil in the coming days just to maintain minimum oil level.

Part Of Web Hosting Income Goes To My Car

Yesterday, I got a cute little 100$ from the webhosting racket we do. And I declared long time ago, part of web hosting income should go to my car named "black mamba", as in "black mambabarurot."

Today, I kinda had a half day work. To EVANGELISTA MOTORWAY i went. For the uninitiated buyers, Evangelista St. is just like Banaue Ave, only shorter. Ave > St.

You need auto spare parts? Evangelista traders got em all here. Sources? Only God knows where they are getting these auto parts.

First up, I had the rear actuators changed. Auto door not working smoothly. After the sweaty mechanic opened up the inner door panel, he saw both installed actuators are busted. The brand is "Cobra." From the looks of the Cobra Actuators (color blue and plastic looking), the piece really won't last the constant actuation. I had the 2 actuators replaced with a generic set, color black and looks like it’s more rigid than the blue cobra. Price per actuator is P350 but I haggled down to P300 each.

(pardon the pix, it's flash/lamp flooded)

I also changed the stock side marker lights to a white one. This one, not needed really, just wanted the side marker to complement the color of head and tail lights (no yellow tone). I replaced the stock model. But I will not sell these stock side lights. I am keeping this one for later installation when I get tired of the white one. New one is Tawain made. Price is P550 and later adjusted to only P450, I am a long time buyer at shop.

(still needs cutting)

If you pass by Evangelista St. at Bangkal Makati City ( i dwell at Pasay Road), you will also see tons of mat vendors. Since the trunk mat I am using is kinda saggy and soft, I bought a new rubber mat. Initial price tag is P450 to cover the whole trunk space. But just be firm when dealing with these sellers and you'll get a better price. My purchase price is only around P80 per square meter. I paid P200 for over 2 sq.meters of rubber matting. I told them, they need not cut it for me. I want to cut it myself so it will perfectly fit the shape of the trunk.

And after 2 hours or so of fixin and buyin, to the car wash baby. Wash is P40.00 and vacuum cleaning is only P30.00.

There you go, it's really nice that I have other source of funds. So that, stuff like these I don't need to get straight out of my primary income.

(go go go rp 5ive players, MYMP)

BTW, the Philippine Flag I got from Araneta Center during the China - Team Pilipinas basketball game is proudly stationed at the backseat. In support of the RP Five...