The Rock Forest

Sunday Driver: Things Just Got Real

2022-08-25T09:28:00.002-04:00

Things just got real, indeed. A 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra aka the Terminator is in the Soridas stable. He is even dressed in the appropriate Terminator colors. If you are well acquainted with these cars there is not much more to say. Nevertheless, if you have read my postings over time you will know that I have owned a number of Ford Special Vehicle Team offerings. These Mustangs were quietly always #1 on my list of wants in the period and up to current day. The long chase is over; to encapsulate it metaphorically: Captain Ahab wins in this universe.

Over the past 20 years, I had 2 previous opportunities to purchase a Terminator Cobra. Succinctly speaking, in 2006 I saw one in DaSilva Red, but Ford calls it Redfire Clearcoat Metallic. In consultation with Placido DaSilva, the mastermind behind Granite Man Logistics, I passed on it because it had clutch issues. The consolation prize was that I still had my Contour SVT. Opportunity #2 came in 2013 when a Mineral Grey Clearcoat Metallic Terminator came up for sale. I passed because of a combination of family practicality and work responsibilities. So, consolation prize #2 was trading my Focus SVT for a 2013 Focus ST, or FoST. After that, with the exception of a brief fling with a Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe, I was all set. Then for sound financial and practicality reasons, we downsized and sold the FoST and Paquito, and the Legendary El Guapo entered the chat.

After 3 years, I was craving the manual experience again. So, I "window-shopped" because I also just like looking at cars. The market here seemed to have dried up for these cars with very few offerings that were almost exclusively convertibles, so searches usually involved doing national searches. However, in the last few months I started seeing more of these cars around here for sale. Take it as you will, but I realized The Universe was letting me know, here is your 3rd, and perhaps final shot, at a Terminator Cobra. I had been seriously looking at 2007-2009 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500's, a descendant if you will, of these cars. However, when this Terminator came up, I could not pass a 3rd time. So, I took The Universe's suggestion and pulled the trigger on the phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.

My brother Domhnall, from the consulting firm The Lyons Group (TLG) escorted me most expeditiously in his (no doubt) future classic and underappreciated street weapon, Ford Taurus SHO, to a town south of Boston that Captain Ahab would have been familiar with. Then, there it was. Man, these cars have always looked right. Contextually speaking, a confluence of several factors makes this deal special for me. 1. The car industry's move to widely adopt electrification; 2. The dwindling supply of new or used affordable, fun manual transmission cars. 3. The prevalence of driver distracting technology. There is a lot to say about these factors that involve society, class, culture, business, economics and so on. However, more on that another time.

I had sold all my SVT or SVT derived vehicles over time, but pretty sure this one is going to stay put. All things considered, I do not think the word heirloom is too strong when it comes these Mustangs particularly if you like American Sports/Muscle cars. So, I welcome Chief Uraeus Ramensun Destro, or just plain ole' Destro, to the family. He and El Guapo will become fast friends. In the words of Grace A. Lyons of TLG, "You named your car Destro?" That is correct. But again, more on that another time. There is driving to be done. Hasta la vista, baby.

You Don't Know The Power

2022-02-20T12:46:00.000-05:00

Promiscuous Gods intimate with Celestial Earths

giving rise to the duality of a man

born under King of the Gods

between Mabon and Samhain

branded by a mighty fire hammer

with the title, Thamaniya.

A Cardinal of computation and cosmos

first of the composite beings

presenting as one naturally perfect power

yet between the gravity of two worlds

an archetype of cubed duality

yet a cube longing to exist outside of itself

ad infinitum.

He is Air readily forming oxides with most compounds

forging new elements as a spiritual alchemist

he is Water visiting the Houses of Balance and Transformation

relishing esoteric debate with Venus and Mars

he is the Scorpion in regular transformation

yet seeks balance

ever observant of the Scales' position

careful not to tip with heavy claws or a vengeful sting

A Rock and A Forest

both stable and long lasting

yet prone to swaying from a push or the wind

The Common Man

both real and imagined

embroiled in one being

experiencing life in 8mm.

Sim-Racing Diaries: The Who

2021-08-08T11:02:00.000-04:00

Shawmut Racing partners

Shawmut Racing has great partners and it's their branding we feature on our race cars. You can say its a family conglomerate of sorts. However, it is not like the owners of the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company. Nevertheless, I am proud to be racing their brands and colors. We begin with the company that has the closest ties with Mr. Ramen and Shawmut Racing, Soridas.

Soridas is a holding company wholly owned by Lisbeth Jara Soriano and Pietro DaSilva III. Soridas has various assets including M&S Seafood and Poultry and Sacsayhuamán Credit Union. Also, Soridas has a minority stake in Shawmut Racing and its branding is on virtually all Shawmut Racing entries. Soriano is a direct descendent of Sapa Inca and her shrewd business and financial acumen is unparalleled. She has always been able to secure favorable deals for Soridas and subsidiaries with offers that could not be refused. Pietro made his living as a consultant in the human services industry in addition to providing those services to Granite Man Logistics, AMD Antiques, Donna Power & Light and its subsidiary Madbolt Conduits. Additionally, Pietro is my 6th cousin, and truth be told, it probably is the reason Mr. Ramen signed me as a driver. Soridas and Shawmut Racing share the same fonts for letters and numbers. This is a cue to ownership stake that Soridas has in SR.

M&S Seafood and Poultry is a grocer once owned by step siblings Mr. Mulder and the late "Baby Girl" Scully. M&S's focus is supplying the highest quality fish and chicken products to producers of cat food, but also to provide those products directly to the consumer with the simple philosophy: if its not good enough for us, its not good enough for your kitty. In 2021, Mr. Mulder retired after Scully's passing and sold his interest in M&S to Soridas so he could focus his time on bird-watching and tend to his catnip garden. M&S appears on multiple entries such as Mazda Cup, NASCAR and IndyCar.

Sacsayhuamán Credit Union is a financial institution based out of Lima, Peru. The name and Sunbird branding is representative of Sacsayhuamán, a citadel on the outskirts of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. The name is understood to be Quechua for falcon. The sun is representative of Inti, the ancient Incan sun god. The specific image of the sun is reverently integrated from the banner of Sapa Inca, one of Ms. Soriano's ancestors. As the name implies, SCU exists to watch over and protect the financial interests of it's members, which includes individuals and small businesses. Also, SCU provides free financial literacy courses helping to shine a light on the importance of wealth management. SCU is Ms. Soriano's pride and joy and appears on many SR cars.

The Lyons Group was conceived in the 1990's by Domhnall and Grace A. Lyons and formalized as an consulting firm in 2001. TLG's areas of expertise include applied sciences, engineering, graphic design, accounting, archive/record preservation techniques, masonry & construction among other interests. Their daughters participate in the organization's operations and integral to their strategic plans of world domination. The stylized lion head branding is simple and also a play on duality. Presented in the colors of Black and Old Gold, the Lion is representative of not only the family surname, but that of the Sphinx. The lion also represents majesty, strength, courage and justice. Their branding appears most prominently in GTE and Porsche Cup.

Zaylen Cakes International is a global confectionery company owned and operated by master chef and confectioner, Chef Bee DaSilva. ZC make handcrafted cakes, cupcakes, and confections for the right occasions and those special moments. They are made from the heart and styled with passion. I can vouch that the product is otherworldly. The organization's name is inspired by her lovely daughters. The Zaylen Cakes iconography includes one of the company's tag lines: Taste the Love. Also, the logo includes a toque blanche to signify Ms. DaSilva culinary expertise and a representation of one of their products on offer. Zaylen Cakes International branding appears in GTE and GT3 entries.

Donna Power & Light is a sole proprietorship operated by Dr. P. Henriques DaSilva. Dr. DaSilva has intricate knowledge of power transmission systems and focuses on bringing commercial technology to residential applications at affordable prices. In his spare time, he does consultant and contract work with other electrical companies which includes his own subsidiary company Madbolt Conduits, operated by his partner Beau D. Donna. DP& L name and iconography is a stylized image of Dr. DaSilva rolling up his sleeves, ready for work, complete with tattoos. The company carries the name of the afore mentioned Beau D. Donna. Dr. DaSilva brings light and power to all his customers as indicated by the stylized representation of sunlight. DP&L branding appears in GT3 and GTE.

Granite Man Logistics is a transportation and logistics company providing expertise in construction, transportation of goods and delivery services. Granite Man logistics is the brainchild of Placido DaSilva who has over 40 years experience in the fields of trucking, delivery and customer service. It is understood that he provided consultation to Amazon as they were standing up their delivery services. All Shawmut Racing partners collaborate with GML to address their transport and delivery needs. The company iconography is representative of Mr. DaSilva's experience in the trucking world and that he is always moving. He parlayed this experience and work ethic into this global powerhouse of freight transport. GML branding appears in GT3 and on our LMP cars.

AMD Antiques is a private clearing house that deals with rare antiquities. Operated by Annika Marie DaSilva, she and those under her preview, have an eye for antiques, collectibles and rare artifacts. The AMD exhibition hall boasts a collection of fine china, glassware, furnishings, manuscripts, and Persian rugs. AMD is known to be very generous with the collection in that many items are available for donation. Shawmut Racing employees have been known to peruse the gallery and find hidden treasures. However, the value of the collection is not publicly known and is a closely guarded secret by Mrs. DaSilva. The logo is representative of an antique picture frame with Mrs. DaSilva's initials prominently displayed. As with GML, AMD branding also appears in GT3 and on our LMP cars.

It is of note, that Granite Man Logistics and AMD Antiques owners, Placido and Annika are married and have been for about 50 years. Their companies are the subsidiaries of the parent company, 54 Gazebos Inc.

Sim-Racing Diaries: A Cue from Bruce Wayne

2021-08-05T16:58:00.000-04:00

Shawmut Racing

Shawmut Racing (SR) is a small online race team out of Boston, MA and was founded in 2017 by the enigmatic, Smock Ramen. Mr. Ramen calls Boston home, but was born in 1998 in Syracuse, NY. He quickly established a reputation for logic, Wicca and an affinity for various forms of Japanese pasta. I am lucky enough to know Mr. Ramen personally, and he is a private person and does not readily discuss his dealings. He prefers that I, it's current and lone driver in it's history, and Shawmut Racing partners be "the faces" of the organization. SR participates in iRacing in a variety of race series.

SR proudly runs the primary colors of DaSilva Red and Black Pappab. These colors have been utilized in all DaSilva family vehicles for over 40 years. These colors represent: power, strength, passion, love, elegance and mystery. Although DaSilva Red and Black Pappab can be approximated digitally, the true hex color number and specific color components are not publicly disclosed and are closely guarded secrets. Other colors that SR run are various shades of grey, which also have been utilized on DaSilva family vehicles over the years to varying degrees. Given our partners' specific brand requirements, it is optional to have DaSilva Red and Black Pappab as primary livery colors. However, it is required that all Shawmut Racing vehicles have DaSilva Red and Black Pappab in the liveries in some fashion; our partners respect this.

Shawmut Racing iconography is all new and was specifically designed by Mr. Ramen himself. He wished to broadly explore and express the duality of a man through symbolism. He took some inspiration from the storytelling industry in the form of Bruce Wayne via the quote: "As a man I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol, --as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting." The logo consists of 3 elements: the Common Man, the SR/617 letter and number combination, and the crossed canoe or mishoon paddles. What do these elements mean and intend to represent? The Common Man is a visual representation of Mr. Ramen in that he is both real and imagined. The letters SR both stand for Smock Ramen and Shawmut Racing. Additionally, the Shawmut name is the colonial corruption of the Algonquian word, Mashauwomuk, which describes the area of present day Boston; here are two cultures that are describing the same place. The number 617 is Boston's area code, but also represents the number 5. Five is the number of Lagrange or libration points that exists between two large orbiting bodies and where they balance each other. Lastly, the canoe paddles represents the relevance of the sea and waterways to Boston's history for all time. It is the water that allows for life and it is the water that allows for death.

To carry the theme of dualism further, the logo itself creates two images. On one hand, the Shawmut Racing logo itself. On the other hand, a representation of the Jolly Roger, which is easier to see at a distance. This representation ties back to nautical themes, admiralty, piracy and Boston's relationship with them (who does not like pirates?). However, which image is the intended image? When we define dualism, are we discussing multiple identities or are we discussing the physical world vs. the spiritual world or both? Therefore, the Shawmut Racing logo is a perfect analogy as it relates to the real world vs. the simulated world and the fluidity that distinguishes the two; and given that it prompts some additional thought, it is the perfect logo to distract other racers from the task at hand when they see SR in their mirrors!

Next time we will discuss the Shawmut Racing partners who again allow us to represent them and offer tons of support. These organizations are Soridas Holding Company, Sacsayhuamán Credit Union, M&S Seafood and Poultry, Granite Man Logistics, AMD Antiques, The Lyons Group, Zaylen Cakes and Donna Power & Light.

Sim-Racing Diaries: The Matrix

2021-08-01T13:19:00.000-04:00

Me for Shawmut Racing, sponsored by Soridas Holding Co.

I have always loved motorsport, art, technology and competition. What easily combines this for me: racing games. Thus, I have always enjoyed some kind of racing game going back to the days of Pole Position. Racing myself, racing my family using a joystick. Well, I am old now, but still race. Why? For the love of motorsport, art, technology and competition. However, instead of a joystick, I currently use a steering wheel with 11 buttons and an assortment of 9 dials, switches, knobs that can control over 60 functions. That's not including other peripherals like pedals or shifters.

I used to get puzzled or judgmental looks when someone found out I played games as an adult. "You don't look like the type to play games." The usual reply was, "I like racing" and then I would try to explain all of the intricacies that come from that simple statement. As the person's eyes glazed over, they ended up still confident that the activity had no "value". However over the years, we have seen the creation, legitimization, proliferation and mainstreaming of the e-sports business that has made it over a billion dollar enterprise. This does not include all the ancillary activities related to social media that in and of itself, is a business for many people. E-Sports including "motorsports" is now a recognized Olympic sport.

In a nutshell, a familiar parallel is comic books. People used to be made fun of because they read comic books. An easy trope is the comic book guy from The Simpsons. Then in a feat of re-branding and co-opting, comics became graphic novels and now it feels like every movie is based on those stories and characters. What we know as Marvel today, is worth about $5B dollars with some figures going as high as $10B dollars, was bankrupt in the 1990s. The same re-branding applies to gaming, especially the racing genre in which the language has transitioned from racing game to racing simulation. Which for all intents and purposes, is not that far from what has actually happened given the advances of computer hardware and software and the fact that professional racing teams have been utilizing racing simulators for at least 20 years or so. A lot of that technology has trickled down to masses. The software/programs I mostly use are iRacing and rFactor2. However, there are several additional programs that others use such as Assetto Corsa and Automobilista family of programs.

Shawmut Racing Common Man logo

A long explanation short, in the iRacing world to start a career you basically register as yourself, which yields some form of personal accountability in a virtual space, pay your subscription fee, and that's it. Given the proliferation of e-sports racing and the sheer market power of iRacing, you basically have an online racing career analogous to "real racers" as long as your good and pay your subscription. What a world we live in. So, what about me? I have participated in iRacing causally for about 7 or 8 years. What about motorsport, art, technology and competition? I think the aspects of motorsports, technology and competition are pretty self explanatory on why someone can find it interesting. This ranges from the business of motorsport in general, understanding the technological advancements not only in racing, but in home computing and software, to the simple act of competing against yourself, the clock, AI, or another human being in a virtual space.

From an artist point of view, I create liveries (i.e. paint schemes) in addition to racing using software like Photoshop, GIMP or in-game features. From my recollection, my experience doing these went back to the early Forza Motorsport games. These include some recreations or modern interpretation of historic or current paint schemes. For a period, I made a few for others to use, but stopped as I like having my own unique versions. In 2017, Shawmut Racing was born, now complete with an original brand logo. Nike and Michael Jordan have their Jumpman, but I have my Common Man. For kicks, I went ahead and started dreaming up a DaSilva Creative Universe, or the Real DCU (ha!), which I will probably start posting on #artofmythmaking. So, activities that were done solely to exist in a quasi-fantasy world of the creator and the small niche group of people that saw it, are effectively activities that are a basis of branding and business building, which for me does not seem right. However, in the modern day economy of attention, its exactly right and all the tools exist to earn real benefit from an entirely simulated world. In the words of Morpheus, "what is real?"

Sunday Driver: El Guapo Pillages The Treasury

2021-05-02T08:55:00.000-04:00

The words spoken in The Legend of El Guapo have predictability come to pass: "As typical with any older car, eventually more frequent and higher maintenance costs will come, particularly if you have an older luxury vehicle." Maintenance: the process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained. For all of El Guapo's consistency, reliability, self-assuredness, and effortless completion of tasks, he is an old man. However, in certain circles that could mean being the commanding officer of a military unit or Captain of a warship, which is unironically appropriate for El Guaposan in this moment. There is a time for peace and safeguarding; then there is a time for war and pillage. This past month, he chose war and pillage and plundered the SORIDAS Treasury located in Mattapan, Massachusetts.

Since ownership he has received regular service from highly trained and experienced specialists in an undisclosed location befitting of a president. This location is only known by my closest associates and Kin. Think of it as Darth Vader's meditation chamber; or you can think of it as Camp David for Hondas; Or you can think of it as a non description warehouse somewhere north of Boston. However you think of it, some service was due. I am fond of saying "runs like a clock" when asked how is El Guapo. However, like any clock they need to be wound. Even Clock Tower (i.e. Big Ben) needed work. I guess this past month, El Guapo's clock needed some winding. Items needed in this latest round of service: oil change, new tie rods, hood struts, a set of 4 tires, alignment and new exhaust system. All expected wear and tear, add ons or "yeah, go ahead and change that" items. Generally no surprises for a weather beaten old man of the northeast.

In quintessential no fuss El Guapo fashion, this is where he simply walks in to the treasury, then walks out of the treasury with $4000. Some might say: "Pete, one does not simply walk into a treasury." However for El Gaupo, who has no true lords or masters, is Code Black 24/7 and mission objectives and effortless completion of tasks consistently, reliably and self-assuredly is the priority. The Lady and I asked him: 4 grand El Guaposan? We are entitled to the truth. His retort: You can't handle the truth! I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to people who rise and sleep under the blanket of the very transportation that I provide and then question the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a Charlie Card and stand at the bus stop or call your kin. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to! So mean, so rude! However, so true. All classic lessons of making sure you are mission ready, keeping your clock wound, paying attention and caring for the vintage things and knowing what you are getting into when making major purchases.

So far after 15 months and about 13,000 miles, El Guapo is in our pockets for about $14.5k. That's purchase price, taxes, insurance, total maintenance costs, minus fuel costs (because I don't keep a tally of that). I can say the maintenance costs over this period are related to the bigger one and done items that were expected and/or requested and are now complete. So, what could we have gotten for $14.5k that had met the purchase criteria? I did a quick Car Gurus search filtering for 6 & 8 cylinders, AWD, sedan, hatchack or coupe with less than 100k miles and less than $15k. I based the mileage filter on the fact El Guapo had 98k miles when obtained. I also filtered items for salvage history, frame damage, rental history because I would not buy a car with those factors. There were 270 hits, 61 single owner hits. Among this 270 was a sea of Mercedes C-Classes BMW 3 and 5 Series, Cadillacs, Audis and Infinitis. Nevertheless, which ones would be considered now? Literally the same model and brand choices. However, disqualified because they would not be exactly what we would have wanted.

1. 2012 Fusion AWD SEL $9.9k- (not a Sport AWD)

2. 2011 Lexus IS 250 $13.9k- (boring, see why here)

3. 2013 Taurus Limited AWD $14.9k (not a SHO)

I also checked for the current Acura RL listings and there were 6 in total. However, none would be considered based on location, comparative mileage, aesthetics and likelihood that it would be in need of the future service in which we have already completed with El Guapo. All things considered and the benefit of hindsight gives another classic lesson: you cannot pass up a chance to be in the company of a Legend. You never know if it will be the last opportunity since time wages its own war against us all.

Sunday Driver: El Guapo vs. Lex & T-Bob in Pamplona

2021-03-04T13:59:00.005-05:00

Art by David Finch and Boulder Hill

Sunday Driver is no longer just for Sundays. In COVID times, one less restriction is welcomed. I have kind of told the story of how El Guapo came to live at A Good Place To Be within The Hub of the Universe. However, just like every origin story, you never really share it in one telling. Otherwise, there would never be a prequel in our multi-verse. What you know: El Guapo is a Real Legend born in Japan and since 2006 has diligently applied his craft under the pseudonym RL. What you don't know: Who else was vying for our hearts and minds? What else was tested? Who are Lex and T-Bob? Did we run with the bulls?

As noted here, there were 6 criteria to our selection. There were other cars that loosely met or were borderline in checking all the boxes. Cost and variability in defining reliability were typically the criteria that were not met. The cars considered whether seriously or in passing were the Buick Regal GS, Audi S4 and S5, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKZ, and Toyota Matrix AWD. However, the finalists were Lex and T-Bob; not Lex Luthor or T-Bob from M.A.S.K., but Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Corporation and The Blue Oval Boys, more formally known as the Ford Motor Company.

Now if you have read anything car related here, you might know that I like Fords. I have owned a Focus ST, Focus SVT, Contour SVT, Thunderbird SC, Contour SE and even shared ownership of an Escort. In addition, my family is big on Ford and Toyota. We have purchased other brands, but we have either owned or currently own a Camry, Avalon, Venza, Corolla, Highlander, F-150, Escape, Expedition and Explorer. Our Ford choices go back to days of the Fairmont and LTD. As it relates to Honda? The Lady had Paquito, her Honda Civic, for like 15 years. This is in addition to the Honda products my sister and extended family members have owned (Accord, Civic and Integra). All of this makes a choice of Toyota, Ford, or Honda a natural starting point from which to select.

2012 IS 250, Credit: Bergey's Chrysler

So with all the main parties identified, we started with 2007-2012 Lexus IS 250's. The Lady really liked the IS 250. It fit her like a glove. It was cozy, but even for her, the cabin felt slightly smaller than Paquito. It was a touch too small and tight for me as well, but at the time I could have spared to lose a few pounds. I was more interested in the IS 350 because of the horsepower difference, but it was more money than we wanted to spend. In addition, the 250 is very common and I see these 2nd generation 250's everywhere. It speaks to their popularity, second hand market price, and their reliability. However, I like cars with a touch of personality and uniqueness; and although The Lady simply likes getting from point A to B and back to A with no fuss, she also likes nice things. Yet, we don't like outrageously styled cars. She had a Civic DX for almost 15 years and the styling cues of my Fords brought attention in the same way you might notice someone's new hairstyle; easy to miss at a glance, but easy to notice if you were paying attention. The Legend's styling is clean, understated, memorable, yet forgettable. It's styling appears to have been a blessing and curse as it also was described as bland and uninspired. A lack of a V8 undoubtedly impacted the outward image of this flagship sedan. Getting back to the IS 250, it would have objectively been a no-brainer for point to point transportation with some style that could accommodate most of our driving needs, but there is nothing memorable about it. I think we all understand there is a level of subjectivity and personality that goes into this kind of choice for good or for bad. The 250 looks good in photos, but in person demonstrates no personality and is akin to background music; and there is not a lot to say about background music it. Either you hate it, like it or don't even realize it is playing.

The Ford choices boiled down to 2013-2014 Taurus SHO's and 2010-2012 Fusion Sport's. I have always been a big fan of the SHO (Super High Output) trim since the 1990's, and the Taurus itself was pretty groundbreaking in its own right. When I was in the market for one, I happened to buy a Contour SVT, so no real loss there in my opinion. Without getting too much into the history, eventually the Taurus lost its way and was briefly discontinued in the mid 2000's. Starting in 2010, Ford brought back the SHO trim level. However, the Taurus now tried to complete with the likes of Audi and BMW instead of taking on Accords and Camrys which had been it's competition in the past. However, this was now the Fusion's job. Today in the North America market, amongst a sea of SUV's, both the Accord and Camry (and Avalon) are still in production, while the Taurus and Fusion are not. Unfortunately, that says a lot but it is story for a different day. In any case, why the SHO or Sport trims instead of trim levels such as a Limited, SEL or Titanium? In at least the Taurus's case, it would offer similar amounts of power as the Legend, would be newer, and generally have lower maintenance cost. Well honestly because of the type of Fords I have owned. I simply continue to prefer their performance variants.

2013 Taurus SHO, Credit: Marc Urbano, Car & Driver

So we came across a black 2013 SHO to test. This particular SHO was modified with a performance exhaust, brake upgrade and undoubtedly a performance tune. Now a SHO has a pretty high belt line which makes it feel bigger than it already is; but with lowering springs, it sits at a perfect ride height...just like Ford should have had it. The controls and interior cabin were visually familiar to us having been used to the Focus ST lay out and SYNC system. When The Lady sat in it and started it up with that lowered stance and exhaust growl...man, she was looking very hot. I was ready to ask her to marry me again. The Lady was born under the Taurus zodiac sign and it seemed appropriate that a Taurus was going to drive a Taurus. I was running with the bulls. Nevertheless, I ended up driving first and confirmed the car was faster than stock and definitely stopped better than stock. I probably should have done some more explaining to The Lady when it was her turn. Now in fairness to her, the SHO has 365 horsepower stock and she has driven a Civic most of her driving life with 115 horsepower. This particular car had more power than stock and the brake upgrade was a little grabby. She literally drove the car for about 10 seconds and was like "What the Hell!" When the power came on more than she was used to, she pressed on the grabby brakes, when the grabby brakes grabbed more than what she was used to, she released them and tried to press the throttle again, and the power came on. Well, it briefly like riding a Bull. She immediately pulled over and was like, "nope, what is wrong with this car? This thing is on cocaine. It is a coke car." And that was the end of that, I should have known better than to put two Bulls of equal will together in a confined space. Nevertheless, it gave us the phrase Coke Car that will forever be in our lexicon.

2010 Fusion Sport, Credit: Jordan Brown, Car & Driver

If the Blue Oval was going to win the day, The old Fusion Sport would have to salvage Ford Pride. Truth be told, this generation of Sport AWD Fusion is pretty hard to find in a decent condition. Also, the reliability record of this generation of Fusion was spotty. Add the complications of more power and all wheel drive and you really had to look hard to find one worth buying. It certainly was possible, but it would have to be someone's first choice and at the time the pickings were slim. During the search, that aspect did give it some additional appeal for me. So we saw a 2011 Sport, not the AWD version, but it would give us an approximation. It was in tough condition and just traded in. It allowed us to see it in it's nakedness and gave clues as to the previous ownership and it's life. We got into it and started it up. It idled fine, the interior looked cheap and nondescript and showed a lot of wear and tear. It left me with the impression of looking at a dirty concrete wall or rusty shipping containers: it might be strong and do the job, but I don't want to find out. The Lady gave a thumbs down given she had already driven an IS 250. So, we did not even feel compelled to drive this Fusion. When Ford reintroduced the Sport AWD in 2017, I was excited for the possibilities but again the price point was more than we wanted to spend on this purchase. Although they are now out of production, these will remain on my radar as time goes on.

Look at the twinkle in his eye

At the end of the day, El Guapo comes from the same Honda family as Paquito, so he has good genes. He is a little younger, bigger, and more powerful. He has a wide driving envelope and offers us some versatility. The sight lines and visibility are very good and on par with the Civic and much better than the Focus ST's overall visibility. There are other options that are younger, bigger and more powerful. In this day and age, there are other options with more efficient technology and functions that are easier to use. However, when The Lady endorses the actual driving experience as effortless. You roll with it. El Guapo can bench 300 lbs., move like a gazelle, engage in the works of Cornel West, hem and seam clothes, and never tell you any of it unless you asked. Look at that early morning gleam in his eye. He has a plethora of gleam. When he and I are together, he is always ready to impose his will on the road beneath: wet, dry, straight, curved or otherwise. When he and The Lady are together, he dutifully takes her by the hand and whisks her away to destinations commanded by her instruction with grace. When all of us are out and about, he carries out his duties like a sentinel allowing us to enjoy the moment.

Sunday Driver: The Legend of El Guapo

2021-02-27T13:54:00.006-05:00

Its been since 2019 I wrote anything car related and 2017 since writing about the FoST or the Thunderbird. So, an update is in order. The Focus ST and Thunderbird found other homes as well as The Lady of House and I. Unfortunately, The Bird was an old girl and she needed retirement; street-parked city living was not for her. On the other hand, the FoST was in his prime. However for good or for bad, sometimes circumstances evolve and a change happens. It's like the Colts trading Marshall Faulk or the Canadiens trading Patrick Roy (or insert some other sports trade you fancy). This evolution of circumstances necessitated a trade and just like that, the FoST found a home in New Hampshire. So until the spring of 2020, The Lady and I relied on an old friend, Paquito aka a 2004 Honda Civic. His brow wrinkled and weather beaten, joints riddled with arthritis. Yet, like a true professional, he diligently started and ran every time he was asked to. On a day to day basis, he was simply a worker man and The Lady's love and pride. But just as the FoST and The Bird, evolution waits for no one. 180,000 miles of city life and commutes were taking its toll. So, even The Lady was willing to say good bye old friend and thank you. We planned to merge our driving duties into one vehicle that would be good for both of us. Finding synergy in the ethea of driving for the sake of the activity vs. basic utilitarianism, or manuals vs. automatics was going to be challenge, but fun. A starting point was the criteria:

It needed to be a sedan, not a compact or SUV.
It needed to be safe & reliable.
It needed to have an automatic transmission.
It needed to have good power and performance.
It needed to have a price point of less than $10k.
It preferably have All Wheel Drive.

Based on the above criteria, searching and test driving, the choice for us was El Guapo, aka a 2006 Acura RL. Without getting into the granular nuances, vehicle age is a less anxiety provoking factor for us. Just as any machine or tool that is second hand, a very significant factor is who was the previous owner? Did they mind and take care of their tools? A good chef does not buy and use dull knifes.

El Guapo's origin story starts in 1986, the year Acura, the luxury division of Honda, was launched in the United States. As the legend goes, Acura/Honda was not happy with the fact people knew and more identified with their car model names like Integra, Legend and Vigor and not by the manufacturer name, Acura. It's like Pele, Ichiro or Prince. Does anyone really remember or care what their last names were? Well apparently Acura cared. So, they amended their nomenclature to follow their ground-breaking and iconic NSX, or New Sports eXperimental, and applied it to the entire brand in 1996. So, names like Legend, Integra and Vigor became names like RL, RSX, and TL. El Guapo himself was born in Japan in September 2005 as a RL and destined to travel to United States for Acura. When you look at pictures of him or when you look in person at him, examine the black suit, inspect the shoulder lines, look into his eyes, it is easy to say that he is simply handsome. Now in the Acura nomenclature style, RL means Refined Luxury and it "replaced" the Legend name. So, El Guapo came to the U.S. and has been doing his duty under his given pseudonym. However, the RL did not replace anything. The RL is the Japanese Domestic Market, or JDM, Honda Legend. So, El Guapo is a RL. However, he is also a Legend. Therefore, he is a Real Legend. I will use El Guapo, RL and Legend interchangeably just as I find it okay for you to call me Pete or Peter, #facts.

So we have had El Guapo for a year and about 10,000 miles, and he is just as reliable as his old brother Paquito. El Guapo's generation achieved the best car safety score in Informed for LIFE "2003–2009 Vehicle risk index SCOREs"; he has a automatic transmission with sequential shift paddles on the steering wheel, he has Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), he has 290-300 horsepower depending on the scale used, handles well in the corners and moves like a locomotive when traveling straight. This Legend was a single owner with less than 100k miles and documented service history for the criteria meeting price of $7.5k. So far, daily ownership has not been a problem. As typical with any older car, eventually more frequent and higher maintenance costs will come, particularly if you have an older luxury vehicle. It's why they are so cheap, particularly the German brands. However, here is where the insistence on the previous owner, the class of vehicle and the specific vehicle itself comes into play and a finer tooth comb needed.

Overall we are pleased, but like everything there are pros and cons particularly with a car of this vintage. It's like an athlete in their 40's: consistent, self-assured, defined, slightly greying, wearing a tuxedo/evening gown when the occasion calls for it and never late for team meetings. However, some of those attributes can have a downside. The technology in this car is all familiar and common place in 2021 base models such as navigation, voice activation, and expanded driver settings, but were luxury items in 2006. This tech does exactly what you want it to do, but it takes you longer to do it. It's like steampunk, but here it is a locomotive powered by microchips. There are faster and more efficient ways of using hands-free devices, accessing menus, or using the navigation. The "flaw" was the voice activation system in that you could interface with many vehicle functions hands free through a set of specific commands but basically spoke to the vehicle like you were using a walkie-talkie or the old Nextel push to talk phones. If you don't understand this, using the feature can be annoying. Those old phones used to be cool, but its actually easier to just talk or just touch what you want on the screen. The tech is all functional, all dependable, aesthetically pleasing, but showing its age, stuck in its ways. Nevertheless, like a person familiar with the phrases "old age and treachery" or "crafty", there are so many little technology nuggets. For example, the rear headrests fold up/down with a flick of a switch to help with reversing or a light that illuminates the door handle.

The Acura RL was considered the flagship sedan for Honda/Acura. However, the 2005-2012 generations (KB1 & KB2 series) did not sell very well. From 2005-2012, it sold on average 5.6k units annually. Whereas in that same period, the Acura TL sold on average 48.4k units annually. When the KB1 generation came out, it was rumored that it may have a V8 engine. It only ever came with a V6. Given the sticker price was $49.5k, Honda/Acura sentenced it to obsolescence because: One, you could buy a cheaper, well equipped Accord or TL depending on your price point. Both the Accord and TL were mid-sized sedans with a V6, and the TL had a SH-AWD option. Two, with no V8 option that would have differentiated the RL from these two cheaper options, you shoot yourself in the foot in terms of exclusivity for your $50k flagship sedan. For all intents and purposes you have created a situation in which you will eventually obtain exclusivity, but not because you are offering something very different, but because no one buys the product. Why didn't we buy a TL? It was a consideration. The comparable TL for size and power to the RL would have been the 4th generation (2009-up). Have you seen a 4th generation TL? Silver beaks do not belong on automobiles. Only bird I care to drive is a Thunderbird.

Speaking of driving, the Legend, ST and Thunderbird all are driver oriented cars in my opinion. Aside from the obvious tangible differences such as size and drive-train, the feel of the Legend is like driving a hybrid of other two. The Super-Handling AWD system, suspension and horsepower hides the vehicle weight in the corners. There is minimal under-steer and it encourages you to stay on the rails and move quickly. This was also true for the ST which accomplished it through almost the same means: drive-train technology, suspension and horsepower. However, the ST felt more rigid and performance oriented. Oddly enough these two vehicles have a very similar power to weight ratio. As it relates to the Thunderbird, I have described it as "the very essence of a GT car" and the Legend gives me the same feeling when cruising. In spirit, the Thunderbird and Legend are more the same kind of vehicle: a very comfortable and effortless driver's car. The Legend gives me the experience of what I envisioned what was possible with the Thunderbird, but I do not think it handled as well as the Legend or ST. However, I can say The Lady likes it and is comfortable driving El Guapo, which speaks to the broad driving envelope the car has. On the other hand, I miss driving manual cars. During COVID times, driving on a back road would have been a natural option to pass the time...a perfect Sunday drive if you will. However, frankly driving the Legend has changed my relationship with driving in that I don't do it as much; and after a year I'm still not sure how I feel about that fact. Do I hate it? Do I like it? Do I think its just different? It's evolution but we can either have positive or negative feelings about it.

Cabo Verdean Atlanteans

2021-01-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

We are currently and paradoxically in a golden age of knowledge and information. This is only paralleled by the concurrent dark age of anti-intellectualism and willful ignorance. In our modern iteration of origin stories and conspiracy where cosplay, fantasy and dual identity are sown into our cultural fabric, I thought it would be an interesting time to pose and answer a question no one was asking. Are Cabo Verdeans descendants of Atlantis? Yes, I am referring to the "mythical" "lost" city of Atlantis; and spoiler alert: yes, in my view, Cabo Verdeans are descendants of its inhabitants.

The point of this writing is not to make a persuasive argument, or give a dissertation on the subjects of mythology, religion, archeology, geology and/or genetics. The point is to grapple with understanding our collective lost histories as a species and to motivate a re-connection with our shared past. I am fond of the words of writer and journalist, Graham Hancock, who said: "I believe we are a species with amnesia, I think we have forgotten our roots and our origins. I think we are quite lost in many ways. And we live in a society that invests huge amounts of money and vast quantities of energy in ensuring that we all stay lost." I think this question of Cabo Verdean Atlanteans serves as a vehicle of a greater discussion and reflection of history, what is real, what is not.

One can argue the question and claim of Cabo Verdeans being decedent of Atlanteans is pseudo-intellectual and pseudo-archeology. However, I take no offense to this. We know unequivocally the science of archeology has been rife with cycles of racism, theft, appropriation and dogmatic worldviews of our collective history. Asking questions and presenting ideas for review and discussion instead of telling you what is objectively true based on incomplete evidence is honorable in comparison. Also, I wish to reclaim the word theory from the realm of bad public relations and re-assert it to simply to what it is: a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena. So, bringing forth a theory of history in this context is just that: a theory based on the evidence, subject to the scrutiny of others and not an article of faith.

I have always been fascinated by the story of Atlantis and the conceptual framework of lost civilizations. I can recall many an evening as a child and young adult watching documentaries with my brother that theorized the location of Atlantis. As the years have progressed, this "conceptual framework" is being supported by the scientific evidence, and science is coming back to catastrophism or cataclysm to explain our history, cycles of civilization and that this is the natural order of our existence. There is more and more evidence catastrophism and not gradualism explains our world. This has re-entered the mainstream dialogue and not left to the sidebar discussions of religion.

One can start a review of these ideas of catastrophism vs. gradualism with the various works and interviews of individuals like Dr. Robert Schoch, Graham Hancock, Randall Carlson and previous and subsequent works of various other professionals in fields ranging from geology to astrophysics. The answer to my question is based on research (of my own and of others), history, my acquired knowledge over time, available genetic data and several presumptions. These presumptions are: One, Atlantis is a real place; Two, the location is identified. Presumptions are a common tenet of law and science.

As a Cabo Verdean, this question came to me after seeing a set of videos in 2018, done by Bright Insight regarding the existence and location of Atlantis. I was interested in these videos given the shared interest in the above mentioned individuals, their work and a general interest in geology and archeology. The videos are worth watching, and are foundational in answering this question for me. Nevertheless, I am very aware of the pitfalls using YouTube as source material and its current intersection with conspiracy theory, disinformation, incorrect information, and rabbit holes, but I offer the disclaimer so that you can follow your own standards for researching a particular subject and advise you to use your own critical thinking skills when determining the veracity of information you are consuming.

I wrote all of the above to simply say this: the accumulated material (linked below) led me to conclude that the Richat Structure in Mauritania is the ruins of Atlantis. After Atlantis' destruction from cataclysmic events, the survivors took up refuge in the surrounding areas. These areas encompassed but were not necessarily limited to modern day Maghreb, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea Bissau. Millennia later, The Mauri, also known as the Berbers or Moors came to the Iberian peninsula, which consists of Portugal and Spain. The Moors ruled it as Al-Andalus from 711 to well past the "discovery" of an uninhabited Cabo Verde, in which the Portuguese colonized in the 1400's and used it to propagate the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade. Cabo Verdean genetic ancestry consists of both African and European ancestry which more specifically originates from Senegal and Iberian Peninsula.

I will refrain from making a persuasive argument regarding this conclusion and focus on providing the source material that inform my general opinions for one's own review in the spirit of dialogue and communication regarding shared history; perhaps I will make arguments in future writings. Nevertheless, I find this example interesting not only because I am Cabo Verdean, but because it involves what some claim to be pseudo-history and what is objectively known history. It speaks to this disconnect in our study of the past and whether we are having an honest discussion with ourselves in the context of our existence. As a post-script, it is interesting to note that another theorized location of Atlantis is the Straights of Gibraltar, i.e. the Iberian Peninsula; this, perhaps coincidentally, involves the same collection of peoples. Given our current geopolitical climate, some would argue we are simply "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" and our system of governance is failed. This seems to be an unfortunate, but appropriate metaphor for a civilization consumed by the sea.

The Lost City of Atlantis - Hidden in Plain Sight? Lost Ancient Human Civilizations

The Lost City of Atlantis - Hidden in Plain Sight? PART 2 - Lost Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Map Shows The Lost City of Atlantis is The Eye of The Sahara – Ancient Civilization

Tracing African Roots: Exploring the Ethnic Origins of the Afro-Diaspora

Cabo Verde Raizes Na Africa: Specifying the African Ethnic Origins for Cape Verdeans Search

The Admixture Structure and Genetic Variation of the Archipelago of Cape Verde and Its Implications for Admixture Mapping Studies

The Genetic Legacy of Religious Diversity and Intolerance: Paternal Lineages of Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula

The Official Website of Robert M. Schoch

KOSMOGRAPHIA: The Official Randall Carlson Podcast

Graham Hancock

The Knowledge

2021-01-03T07:56:00.008-05:00

The hoax evildoing kleptomaniacs nefariously obfuscate,

Willful leeches exceedingly deft grift-ing everything.

To happily excuse killers' negligence obviously was lamentable,

Endorsed depravity gone establishmentarianism.

Terrible humans enjoyed knowing no obstacle,

Wisdom levels everything, destiny gets even.

Sixth House of The Forest

2020-12-30T12:26:00.004-05:00

Let me share a story, a story of the Stars residing in the cosmic Forest. It starts with a Ram, the king of all his endeavors, yet a solider like Mars. He is a courageous soul possessing limitless reserves of power. He is prepared to act in all things with a smoldering inferno at his core; ready to blaze a path for anyone to follow. This Ram, meets a Bull. She is dependably rooted in her beliefs and is as firm as the Earth itself. She is a builder of families, a cunning and resourceful sustainer; methodical in her love and appreciation of fine things; Fine things like the fiery and powerful Ram. Both the Ram and the Bull are headstrong. Their horns are eternally locked in battle, but also locked in love. The fruit of their affinity yielded a celestial brood.

The colorful Koi, the eldest with the power to understand the ever-changing currents of finance, an artist with numbers. She gently flows like water, yet can crash with an almighty blow and grind you to dust; two extremes originating from love and belief. The homeostatic Scorpion; a relatable being in regular transformation. Equanimously he seeks balance and is observant of the Scales' positon. He treads as if on air, careful not to tip with heavy claws or a vengeful sting. The loving Nishikigoi, a powerful alchemist with an effortless ability to change the state of elements. She binds matter, as she binds souls with unseen force, power and will. She is selfless in her care and happiness of others. Rounding out this coalition, the formidable Archer. Half-Man, Half-Amazing; a marksman with arrows of light in his quiver. He sees invisible fire and controls it with his bare hands. A joyful spirit with a loving brutality; His heart is as grand as Jupiter.

This constellation, this family of stars belonging to the Forest, will always be bright, will always be pillar strong, will always be unwavering trees in the sky.

You Think This Is The Real Quaid?

2020-11-20T09:47:00.001-05:00

A Democrat, Republican and Independent walk into a Bar; content to marginalize their own existence to a few letters of the alphabet. They settle in front of The Barman for their escape of choice. They are intent on discussing current affairs; intent on reaching consensus. However, consensus on what is the question?

Predictable claims are made. Claims as regular and everlasting as the dimensions of any basketball court, football field or baseball diamond. "Republicans are crooks and under the spell of a mobster." "Hillary still lost. Stop the Steal." "The problem is there isn't a viable third party."

This goes on incessantly; drink after drink, point after counterpoint, socialism vs. fascism, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, personal freedoms vs. public good, self righteous impartially vs. tribalism. Each of them cocksure in their own ideas and the others' derangement and ulterior motives. Nevertheless, the night ends with only one agreement: their lack of sobriety and empty pockets. Each retreats to their political barracks. They return to the comfort of their self constructed realities. All blind to the simple overarching truth.

What truth you say? The Barman chuckles as he counts receipts. The Barman has sold many escapes. The Barman recalls many variations of this same play; people looking for an alternative, people looking for an answer, people looking for common ground. The Barman laughingly asks, "do you see it, do you see it lurking behind you in the shadows?" Alas, the truth is right in front of you.

Bread and Fish

2020-11-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

All Hail and bless the most high

Surveyor of all that is material

LLC is the leader our theocracy,

deploying an Order of high priests

Learned beings sharing the good news

Control maintained through word and ritual.

We study the scripture of economics,

wanting knowledge of wealth transfer

We pray at the feet of Dow Jones,

wanting a better stock price

We revere the miracle of fiat money,

wanting bread and fish as our Eucharist.

Time rewards and reinforces our Faith

We bear witness to LLC using us as human shields

We bear witness to the pillage disguised as salvation

We bear witness to a simple truth,

the Eucharist is reserved only for LLC and its Order

The Flock is chattel.

Still, many continue evangelizing to agnostics and atheists

American Taliban currying favor

Hoping to gain ascension to the Order

Projecting a delusion of righteousness,

but only perpetuating enslavement

Let US all take stock of our own bonds.

Data Rates May Apply

2020-11-10T12:16:00.003-05:00

The power of text

conveyance of message, feeling, history, or instruction

etched stone, stained papyrus, or projected images on a glass screen

bound only by the interpretive powers of human imagination

All discriminating in its accessibility.

The power of text

from instruction booklets to procedural manuals

from religious teachings to state constitutions

from the arts to the sciences

All codified to solicit both obedience and rebellion.

The power of text

undisputed divinity through hammers and chisels

through pigments and quills

through silicon chips and key strokes

All tools mightier than the sword.

Sailor Man

2019-09-17T06:41:00.002-04:00

When does vision and imagination become delusion?

I am alone on the ocean of consciousness.

Vast yet finite, calm yet rough,

deep and mysterious, yet familiar,

clean and clear, yet polluted.

I am rudderless,

subject to the whims of the currents.

The harder I paddle, the more tired I become

the distance covered is circular and insignificant,

an illusion of progress.

In the midst of a tropical depression

strong enough to be noticed

common enough to be ignored

all the while, potentially dangerous

salty waters fill my eyes.

Descending into a maelstrom of madness,

watching the slow deconstruction of my vessel,

its power churning me into kindling.

Do I bother fumble with a life jacket,

or do I look down into the vortex

and succumb to the inevitable?

Is this where I will find the sunshine.

is drowning the enlightenment

With the stark clarity of the darkness below,

I plunge into the depths of freedom.

Signs

2019-09-10T18:18:00.000-04:00

The idea 'Merica's ethics teeters on ruin evokes visceral outrage; lamentable times is sign nation's existence at risk. Fools repeat essentially everything dictated, obviously miming intelligence synthesizing nothing; open thinkers analytically bring reason and nothing disputable. Both entities fear retribution entertaining educability.

Thus honestly enlightening many involves never descending into sermon. Ascend with evermore assertive performance obliterating Neo-fascism. Ostensibly fascists will attempt resistance, and need destruction promptly ending any conflict entirely. To hope everything works ideally lacks logic; to outwardly act, constantly teaches. Indivisible strength unequivocally rewards genuine, noble triumph.

When evil, corrupt accomplices nightmarishly ransack every system to oblivion, removing evil immediately triumphs.

Motorsport As Life, Vol. I - XVII

2019-09-07T19:02:00.001-04:00

Simply stated, I believe motorsports and all the it encompasses is a metaphor for life and many lessons can be gleaned from its practice. As you will see, not necessarily a new idea. Nevertheless, here are a collection of quotes over the decades that can be words to live by.

Vol. 1: "Simplify. Then add lightness.", Colin Chapman

Vol. 2: "When I test I never go right to the limit. Only because when you are below the limit you can go at the same speed all day, and that's the only way you can be absolutely sure about what you are testing.", Alain Prost

Vol. 3: "We have always been involved in motorsports. Not because we had to. But because we couldn't have done anything else. Not to achieve fame. But to continuously expand our experience at the limit. Not for self-affirmation. But to continuously challenge ourselves. And not because of prestige. But as a matter of principle.", Porsche

Vol. 4: "It's fine that he made a mistake. Everybody does mistakes like that, but then you have to say, 'Oops, sorry guys.' That's how you earn respect and that's how you show you will actually improve.", Jacques Villeneuve

Vol. 5: "He was always so bloody calm...He was flat out the whole time but you never got that impression. You never saw him rushing.", Derek Bell speaking on the legendary Al Holbert

Vol. 6: "Create a culture that can extract the absolute maximum from these accidents, not one that hides them away and makes sure they don’t happen again.", Andrew Latham, Chief Engineer - Analytics at McLaren Applied Technologies

Vol. 7: "Well, it's kids isn't it? Kids with not enough experience; do a good job then they fuck it all up.", Mark Webber,

Vol. 8: “It is not always possible to be the best, but it is always possible to improve your own performance.”, Sir Jackie Stewart

Vol. 9: "Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.", Michael Delaney, LeMans (1971)

Vol. 10: "Don't talk too much, be focused on the goal and achieve it.”, Niki Lauda

Vol. 11: "You win some, you lose some, you wreck some.", Dale Earnhardt

Vol. 12: "I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.", Ayrton Senna

Vol. 13: "I have always challenged myself and it's also important to learn from the rivals. Every rider has his own style, and you have to count on some elements that cannot be changed. On the contrary, the bike or the tires can change and it's important to adapt yourself. It's up to the rider to understand what he can change and how much he can adapt.", Valentino Rossi

Vol. 14: "The though arrives whole in my mind that I have been to visit a place where there is great power to affect human responses, an almost mystical place. I have been taken there by an extraordinarily accomplished practitioner in its arts.", Leon Mandel, riding in a Porsche 959 driven by Al Holbert, Feb. 1988.

Vol. 15: "Formula One is a strange world but if you have clear values, you can maintain the separation between truth and fiction...", Fernando Alonso

Vol. 16: "I used to say, I normally race with a dark visor because the less you see, the faster you are.", Fernando Alonso.

Vol. 17: "...Let's not cry before there is pain." --Jan Lammers, 24 Hours of LeMans 2018.

Enlightened Coercion

2019-09-05T20:15:00.000-04:00

Where do we start?

How many cycles of civilization?

We feign knowledge.

Perhaps some possess it, but conceal its truth.

Once free beings of the cosmos,

we are now victims of a spiritual coup d'etat

masquerading as a new cycle of civilization.

The dictator proclaims the good news,

The dictator enlightens the herd to his creation of all things

and provides a manual, a handbook to be followed.

To enforce the word, twelve soldiers are deputized: a special force.

Our existence now strictly defined by order

not only in instruction, but of class;

the epitome of hierarchy and control.
We eternally seek dominion over others.

Perhaps because the dictator seeks dominion over us,

orders permeate every facet of our existence.

We spend a lifetime providing interpretations of instruction

for the purpose of recreating control.

It is propaganda for the soul,

we are fools to the power of suggestion.

What if the dictator's decree is fraudulent?

What if there are insurgents?

A trinity exists: Two factions at odds attesting

to the veracity of their own standing,

fighting over the minds of the meek.

Seeking supremacy for an interpretative point of view;

These insurgents choose not to follow the prescription,

They reject the treaty of dominion,
They reject enlightenment as coercion.
Now targets for punishment, incarceration and banishment.

Abu Ghraib for the coalition of the unwilling,

tormented and interrogated by special operators and sectarians.

This coalition now collectively alone,

longing for a flock of desert eagles offering freedom.

An offer of light, but still in the end,
it is only on the dictator's terms.

Thus, a loving gaze into the dark abyss of destiny,

an existence nihilistic and meaningless,
but a confidence in the inevitability of a new cycle of civilization.

Perhaps in detention, they are truly free.

An Eye to Hubris

2019-08-26T18:53:00.000-04:00

Richat structure in Mauritania, Africa

I need not be discovered

The path to look upon my eye is well chronicled,

mapped and memorialized in text.

I am not terra incognita,

only hubris hides me.

Alas, why do you deny,

what is in plain sight?

I look back puzzled.

Are you ashamed of me?

Have you not read of me?

You fool, I am here.

Power, might and great advancements,

nevertheless, all lost in a day.

All washed away in a flood of tears.

My lesson discussed for millennia.

Yet hoarded by your corrupters,

with no imagination for irony.

It is these jailers of the mind that hide me.

They are not ashamed.

They relish in my power and symbolism;

perpetuating a fraud to,

erase me from the realm of the real to,

deny me connection to my rightful heirs.

My heirs are denied their power,

in order for the jailers to retain theirs.

Hubris destroyed me,

and now hides me.

My heirs come find me.

One is a Mirage

2019-08-20T19:49:00.001-04:00

To prose or to not prose, or to prose poetically:

This question matters not,

as it's implementation is an opaque cloak to the action of communication;

it is language distortion of what is plainly spoken.

So, to speak plainly, individualism is a social illusion.

It is a mental mirage, a trick of alchemy;

blending light, fluid and perception

feeding a generational hallucination.

It is the musings of a toddler proclaiming self reliance for all things.

And just as any mirage, we see but our eyes truthfully deceive.

What is One's purpose? How does One derive meaning?

One is useless in isolation;

one particle, one atom, one cell,

All devoid of purpose and meaning

unless party to something greater than itself.

Self-reliance and self actualization come through

the power given by another, a collective, a community,

through the satisfying of needs.

Cooperation with one's neighbor or a multitude of neighbors is symbiotic,

being wise is to aim in maintaining this synergy.

Yet with light comes darkness,

with collaboration comes conflict,

with collectives comes division;

collectives defined by demographic flavors.

Race, gender, town, or State

are used to empower or destroy.

Does One resist moving to the edges of the Venn diagram?

Does One embrace the periphery and reject intersection?

Does One come to a place of blindness

to the collective that is most essential;

The communal singularity of our cosmic ark

moving through space and time?

Those are the questions to be answered.

Random Childhood Car Memories

2018-10-09T09:29:00.000-04:00

I have always been interested in anything associated with the automobile, which would be of no surprise if you seen or read anything that has been posted here over the last few years. One of my earliest memories of automobiles was playing in and around my father's Volkswagen Beetle either by myself or with siblings and cousins. During it's life it went through several family members and parked in various locations. One of those places was at my grandparents' house in the garage.

Herbie!

When we all played in the yard/driveway, gaining access to the Beetle or vehicles in general was pretty easy. Sometimes the garage door was simply unlocked; but when it was locked, we could just pull and push the doors wide enough to slip into the gap and enter a treasure trove of dangerous and toxic materials we could use as toys and props for our imaginary adventures...but I digress. The Beetle looked like a jack-o-lantern, with its orange exterior and black interior; paired with my hysteria for Herbie The Love Bug, I was fascinated by it's shape, rear mounted engine, manual transmission, "dog dish" hub caps and after seeing Herbie, it's race car pedigree. If I was older and knew any better I could have been snarky and discussed it's relationship with a Porsche 356. I don't remember what happened to that car, but that is a simple question that can be asked.

Nevertheless, there were other vehicles that gained my attention that ended up in the garage or just parked in my grandparents' yard: Chevelle SS, C4 Corvette, Triumph TR7, Mustang II, Peugeot 505, Mitsubishi Starion, Datsun 200sx, VW Jetta. It was a regular United Nations convention with representation from the United States, Great Britain, France, Japan and Germany. I have a distinct memory for each of these most of which involved me sneaking into them, and pretending to drive...well pretending most of the time.

Dodge Aspen

At 10 or 11 years old, I played soccer in the All Dorchester Sports League. My team was The Volcanoes (hot like fire, baby!) and we played all around Dorchester, but most of the time it was on the fields of UMASS Boston. After one of our games and for whatever reason, I wanted to get to the car first. Maybe I was in a race that no one else knew they were in. So, my father gave me the keys to our Dodge Aspen which was parked some distance from the field. When I got there, it dawned on me that maybe it would be a good idea to save the family a long walk to the car; or maybe it was just an excuse to show everyone I could drive. So, I started the car, used the column shift to put it in gear and reversed it. I put it in Drive and began slowly making my way through the parking lot towards the field. My father saw the car and believed someone was stealing it and ran over. Let's just say he was not happy to find it was me being "helpful". However, I can say that all things considered he was cool about it, but not sure if we can "get away with it" today.

The Thunderbird Chronicles: The Resurrection

2017-04-16T12:25:00.000-04:00

Thunderbird and Focus chillin' in February.

Today is a day of celebration of miracles for many people. It is the day that a political upstart from Nazareth trolled the Romans after they executed him, and he brushed himself off to rise to be the Executive Vice President of Christianity. At least, that is how the story goes. It is also the day the Thunderbird has risen from the ashes of winter, cruising around the city streets appearing to doubting Thomas-es that were sure Bird was dead; Long live the Thunderbird!

How did we get to today from the last posting. Well, it maybe no surprise that when you live in the city and parking is tough and you really have no where to tinker, it is the Bird who gets the short end of the stick. So, I parked Bird knowing that I probably would not drive it much if at all throughout the winter; and that I was going to take a few more years off Bird's life. It is no surprise that is what happened. The further we plunged into winter, the worse Bird's chances of being driven became. Eventually, the battery was getting flat and it would not start without a jump; soon there after the battery was dead. So, Bird sat out in the urban wilderness to fend for itself. However, when it snowed, I shoveled Bird out and cleaned it off. Other days, I would go sit in it to say hi and tell it "spring is coming, you will rise like a Phoenix." I would get questions about how Bird was doing, and all I can say is that it there, Bird will be fine.

Today was that day; a beautiful Sunday, a day associated with the Phoenix, on a day associated with a resurrection. Perhaps I was looking for "divine intervention" when I unrealistically thought that Bird would start with a jump...no chance. Bird was truly dead. So, I went to the local part store and purchased a new battery and installed it. I inserted the key and with one turn, signs of life everywhere: door chimes, flashing lights, gauges alive with movement and information. I turned the key further and the engine roared to LIFE! I let the Bird idle for while and everything looked no worse for wear...a little dusty with the tires needing some air.

Bird has risen

I went for a drive to "clear out the cobwebs", get a little gas and put air in the tires. Bird got a couple of glances at the gas station. However, the reality is you never know what kind of glances those are. Are they the "wow, I remember that car; haven't seen those in awhile, cool" looks; or are they the "damn, what a mess, people still drive those?" looks. Nevertheless, it felt good. Oddly enough, Bird felt a little better than when I last drove it. However, not really possible in reality, but that was the feeling I had. It felt more settled, it shifted a little easier. Perhaps I'm making it up in my mind because I want that to be case after not driving it for months. Who cares. The reality is Bird is alive!

The Thunderbird Cronicles: One Percenter Problems

2016-11-20T10:33:00.000-05:00

I realize as I type this that in the context of our current political climate, economic inequality and future short and long term uncertainty, I am very fortunate to live in a place where the citizens try to have a productive public/private relationship that benefits everyone. It's obviously not perfect, but I will not let perfect be the enemy of the good. There are many across the nation and here in Massachusetts that feel disenfranchised, may or may not lose their safety nets, be beaten up for their identity or political views and countless other things our collective will and political system has brought. That I am in a position to fool around and make funnies about driving around in some second-hand hunk of metal disguised as a car without really worrying about "am I going to be pulled over and somehow end up shot?" is somewhat sobering. It doesn't make it impossible, but I don't worry about it which can't be said universally across the U.S. Also, I am here in a city where the cost-of-living is in the upper echelon of the most expensive cities in the country and the fact we are able to eek out a comfortable existence is definitely a "good" problem to have. There are a lot of people in this country that can't say any of that whether they live in a city or rural community. So with that said, I continue to remind myself to keep it all in mind. Now, on to the Bird.

I have owned the T-Bird (and still thinking about a name) for two months already and it seems to have gone by rather fast. I haven't done any additional work on it recently, but have been driving it on the weekends without much problem. However, I fear there is an overheating issue growing. When idling in traffic it runs warm, but it stabilizes. In reading the forums, it is likely a new radiator will be in the cards at some point in the future especially given what the Valvoline shop tech observed when the radiator was flushed (HERE).

The things that you realize when owning two cars in the city is that when space is limited you park away from your house and it's likely you don't see that car for a week. My driveway situation is frustrating as it is shared so I don't park the Bird there; hell, I don't even park my ST there. You eventually become prone to thoughts like: "did someone hit it"; "need to make time to drive it"; "where did I park it"; "I hear a car alarm, is that mine"; "when winter comes shoveling out two or three cars is really going to suck." Then the passing thought comes and goes just as quickly: "Do I spend a little extra to have a project car stored indoors? Damn, I don't even do that for the ST! The Bird is going to be outside and like it!"

No place for coffee?

This morning, I did go for a drive (technically making it a Sunday drive) and it was fine. Just a small cruise in and around the streets of Dorchester in the early daylight hours. Temps were good outside and for the car, I do enjoy the clutch action and gotten used to the shifting, but the ride is squeaky. When driving, one of the mundane things I can't get over is that it has no cup-holders. They were long invented by the time this car was built, but they were not standard equipment. I don't mind that, it's just an interesting observation of the evolution of what we expect as standard equipment on cars. It's a small "modern" convenience that a lot of people would find essential to their travels; especially commuting to work on a Monday morning and having a place to put their coffee. In any case, it does fit with the theme that the Thunderbird was a GT car meant for the driver, who was busy driving and had no time for coffee. However, it does beg the question: if you have branded the car as a "personal luxury car", as Ford did, one of those luxuries would be a cup holder...wouldn't it? The car comes with automatic ride control, automatic dimming rear view mirrors, CD player, but no cup holder.

Now, for a period correct reference:

Iron Chef: All Hail Chairman Kaga, Allez Cuisine!

2016-10-30T11:07:00.002-04:00

The great visionary Chairman Kaga

If memory serves me right, my focus over the past several years on this site as been my passion for the automobile, travel and photography. However, it's not all about the car here; anything is fair game for discussion. So, as I was scrolling through a roll of photos I came across one photo of man that "realized his dream in a form never seen before". It was a photo of a man from many of our pasts. This photo was of the great, flamboyant, benevolent dictator of global cuisine, Chairman Takeshi Kaga. You know feeling that you get when you are watching something and you are sure you are really experiencing it, but can't believe it is real? Oh yeah, I guess all of America knows that feeling as we march forward towards the horror that is November 8th. Well, the Chairman decided to bless us with his fashion sense, his culinary piety, his knowledge and his vision. His great immaculately conceived wealth was able to finance the wonders that is Iron Chef and the Kitchen Stadium.

Your Iron Chefs in the Kitchen Stadium

Imagine Japanese Chefs with a mastery in a specific cuisine battling each other and challengers from around the world in a Kitchen Stadium. These battles are complete with expert play by play announcers and side line reporter who you know is studying to be an expert announcer one day. The extra seasonings of this spectacle is instant replays of the grandest culinary techniques and in game interviews of humble, honorable Iron Chefs; And all of it to be judged by The People. The Chairman brought all of this to reality. With the personification of his culinary vision that is the Iron Chefs of Chen Kenichi (Iron Chef Chinese), Yutaka Ishinabe, Hiroyuki Sakai (Iron Chefs French), Masahiko Kobe (Iron Chef Italian), and Rokusaburo Michiba, Koumei Nakamura, Masaharu Morimoto (Iron Chefs Japanese), the Chairman has brought high skill and great sanctification to many food connoisseurs across the globe.

I can try and verbally describe the goings on with this high art, but will not do it justice. If you are willing to go down the rabbit hole and looking for an alternative to the barbaric and corrupting nature that is professional football on a Sunday, without further delay, I present to you, Iron Chef on the link below:

Iron Chef Full Episodes on YouTube

The Thunderbird Chronicles vs. Sunday Driver: Fruits of Olmsted

2016-10-29T16:45:00.000-04:00

Last week I told you that the Bird is road legal. This week, it is the end of October and the Focus ST needs a state inspection too. The mechanic that worked on the Bird, "Tony the Fixer", and I are on first name basis now and he smiles when he sees me as he knows there is a good chance he will be getting some pocket lettuce. It was 7AM and I had time before his shop opened, so it was a good opportunity to go for an early morning drive in the Bird through the streets of Dorchester. As I drove through Franklin Park and the various parkways and surrounding areas, I was reminded that even in a dense urban area when the roads are not occupied, it is a rather pleasant drive. I have discussed the role of parkways in American driving culture before (HERE) and that gems, or more aptly, emeralds are hiding in plain sight.

Comparative size of Thunderbird SC vs. Focus ST

Alone with my thoughts that only a park can bring, a few observations were gleaned with more experience in the Bird: even though this damn transmission does not shift well, I have mostly grasped it's idiosyncrasies and adapted my driving style to get through the gears well. There was more comfort with allowing gravity to suddenly push my foot down more forcefully on the gas pedal and allowing myself to get more used to the ergonomics and controls. Although the Bird is not in optimal shape, I wanted to understand more intimately the driving dynamics and understand my appeal to see if it was the idea of nostalgia alone or something tangible. I am old enough to have regularly driven cars of this "vintage" in it's original era and as I drove reflected on the evolution of the automobile over the past 25 years. This brought me to the conclusion that a back to back comparison of the Bird and ST was needed. Hence, Fate and Frederick Law Olmsted have conspired to pit the 1992 Ford Thunderbird SC vs. the 2013 Ford Focus ST.

Without getting wonky and lost in internal car codes, extensive model history, vehicle specs and jargon, from the Thunderbird's origins in the 1950's it was billed as a personal luxury car. When the 10th generation Thunderbird came out in 1989, it was pretty advanced for the period but was well past the zenith of the personal luxury car segment it helped define post WWII (modern SUV's and trucks have filled that void, but that's another story). In more common verbiage, my Thunderbird and it's upmarket brand cousin, Mercury Cougar XR7 are GT cruisers in that they are performance and luxury automobiles capable of high speed and spirited long-distance driving. The Bird is a comfortable car with excellent features, options, power, torque and performance for it's era. There was a level of rarity as when it was released, the Thunderbird, Cougar and Chevrolet Corvette were the only rear-wheel drive North American domestic cars to offer a four-wheel independent suspension at the time. For some driving enthusiasts this is a very important design feature as it relates to overall vehicle handing, ride and performance. This is in contrast to a solid rear axle set up and there has been many a debate about the finer points of each.

The Focus ST is one of several choices of "hot-hatch" across manufacturers in North America that offer utility, aggressive looks, very sporty driving dynamics and high performance. These include brand brothers, Ford Focus RS, Ford Fiesta ST, Volkswagen GTI and older model year Subaru STI's. With the release of the 3rd generation Focus in 2011, we saw the eventual return of performance oriented versions in North America with the 2013 ST. The last Focus that we got in North America that was akin to anything performance based was Focus SVT (2002-04), which I also had the pleasure of owning.

In terms of driving dynamics, ergonomics and driving position the Bird is a very comfortable place to sit, even with a car in this condition. I can drive the Bird all day. You lean back in the seat and just drive; whether you want to cruise or carve corners, it will do both. This is the very essence of a GT car. You sit very low in the Thunderbird and the interior feels very spacious and airy. The 360 degree visibility is very good. The clutch is heavy and has a different action in comparison to the ST clutch, which I find more enjoyable. The steering is light, direct with little play in the wheel. No doubt this was helped by the new front end parts. The steering wheel is adjustable but is has a fixed angle few degrees where the top of wheel tilts away from you. There are a lot of controls in the center dash for the era, which can be distracting if you are searching to turn something on/off. However, I find it less distracting than modern infotainment units; there is no shiny beacon calling for your attention away from the road.

It is cliche to call older cars "analog" and "mechanical" and I find that these are words that some car reviewers use almost implicitly and without thought when talking about anything from the 20th century. It is akin to wine snobs that talk about flavors with words like "leathery" when they can't think of anything else to say. So then, how would I describe it? As mentioned, I am old enough to have driven these types of cars in their original era and my take is that this car feels like a late 80's-early 90's vision of the 21st century would be like. You want a pop culture reference to encapsulate it all? Go watch Back to the Future II.

When we look at the same elements of driving dynamics, ergonomics and driving position for the Focus ST, I think one phrase describes it well: Hard Car. The suspension is hard, the ride is hard, the seats are hard. You switch off the electronic driver aids and it can be hard to drive too. You really have to like driving to daily drive this car. If you have any sort of back problems, don't buy one or get regular Focus seats. I have had this car three years and the lady of the house does not like riding in it anymore due to back issues.

Inside Focus ST cabin, NH Seacoast

However, the ST wants to be driven hard. It begs you to drive it hard and its easy to end up in the upper performance range of this car, which is a very nice feeling. I am comfortable saying that this is a "driver's car" even though in it's essence we are talking about a front wheel drive Focus. Also, the steering wheel tilts and is telescopic and is more vertical. It has a more upright, higher sitting position and you do feel cocooned in the cabin. I feel that I can get into a very comfortable driving position, however the range is more narrow than in the Bird in that adjusting the position in the Focus a little can make it uncomfortable, where as in the Bird, the same adjustment wont make much difference. It is has a lot electronics and wizardry that help it handle the way it does such as torque-vectoring. It is a direct car to drive, but at the end of the day, it is a front wheel drive car with the same trappings of torque steer. In a front wheel drive car, the front wheels are doing two jobs: dealing with steering inputs and driving the wheels. In a rear wheel drive car, the front wheels are doing one job: dealing with steering inputs; a rear drive car is certainly optimal. Nevertheless, I can also drive this car all day and in fact have. In addition to it being my daily driver, it is the car that has done the Sunday drives and it has been to North Carolina and back. Visibility is not great and definitely much poorer in comparison the Bird. However, there are several reasons for that with the main one being crash worthiness.

Again without getting wonky here, when we talk the evolution of safety and size of modern cars, they go hand in hand. In their respective eras, the Thunderbird was in the mid-size car segment and the ST is in the category of compact car. However, as you may have observed from the comparative photo at the beginning: The ST is the same size if not bigger than the Thunderbird. The prevalence of SUVs are a factor, but more specifically we have seen cars evolve with improved frontal, rollover and side impact crash protection with multiple air bags and other technological systems all over the cabin which means bigger and wider car pillars and more space needed for the package. You can only stuff in so much without increasing the dimensions unless you start using more stronger, expensive materials. I told my niece about the fact that the Bird had no airbags and she looked at me with the shock and horror of hearing "I breed unicorns and harvest their horns". The lady of the house has heard me speak about this evolution more times than she probably can stand. When you talk about the safety evolution from her 2004 Civic to now, the differences are very noticeable. The safety features in the Civic are still superior to that of the Thunderbird, but this does not take into account the Takata manufactured grenades, also known as airbags, that she unknowingly sat in front of for the better part of a decade...but I digress.

In any case, the differences in safety are plain. I feel very confident of walking away from a crash in the Focus with minimal injury, whereas in the Bird I stand to be in a considerable amount of pain if I can stand up at all. Risk is everywhere and it helps me to remain observant and be conscious of the surroundings. You will be very hard-pressed to find anyone driving a much older car and see them texting or have their face buried in a phone.

With all that said, being able to drive the Thunderbird more and doing a back to back driving comparison helps to place me as a driver as I get older. I am a performance oriented driver and like the harshness of the Focus but can appreciate the GT characteristics of a car like the Thunderbird so it not nostalgia by itself; there is something to like here. Also, it allows me to brainstorm and orient myself to what direction to take the Bird in terms of parts and performance. Do I restore it and make it near original? Do I make it a real ground-pounding hardcore street machine? There are certainly a number of examples that inspiration can be drawn from either side. While trying to make a decision, I will enjoy them as is.