A sad sad day in the world of junk food

It is a sad sad day for me today in the world of junk food. My favorite childhood snack has been discontinued. I remember in the afternoons of my youth how many hours I spent sitting watching cartoons after school while enjoying as many Cheez Balls as I could stand until the can would be gone and I'd have to wait for my mom to buy some more. The greasy treat was so wonderful. I remember it was like two treats in one. First you would eat the balls, then when you were done you had at LEAST 5 fingers if you're a one hand snacker to lick clean of the great cheesy residue. You can still get a similar experience from Cheetos Puffs, but it just isn't the same. There may still be hope however. While shopping at Target, I saw a giant container of Market Pantry brand cheese balls. I don't know if they are up to par with Planters, but it was a giant container for $5 so I figure they're worth a try. I'll keep you updated!

Hyundai Rant

Let me start out by saying that in case the person who sold me my current car happens to read this, I hope that person or persons will know that I do not hold them responsible for any of the problems I've had which I am about to outline. I would have had problems with any car I bought and they frankly gave me a great deal on this car.

That said, I can not believe how angry I am with Hyundai right now. Let's start at the beginning. I bought my 2000 Hyundai Sonata in 2005, right after the warranty was up. And it would have been up anyway because warranty doesn't transfer to the new owner of a used car anyway. So when I bought it, there were two known issues with it: 1) the windshield washer tank was cracked, and 2) the brakes were squeaky because of dust build up (apparently a common issue with Hyundais). In the first months, I started to notice that the driver sun visor was very loose and would keep falling in my face as I was driving. Not very safe! I would often get frustrated with it and slam it back up and eventually I simply would move it to the side. Well one day as I was trying to put it back into position, the plastic piece of crap broke off in my hands. I had been meaning to take it to the dealer anyway to see about getting a new windshield washer tank and I had been, "experienc[ing] intermittent low-speed engine stalling" which I will explain in a minute why that is in quotes. So I took it in to have them run a diagnostic and give me a quote on how much it would be to fix all those things. I don't remember exactly but it was like $2500. And of course just the diagnostic cost like $80. But I asked them to itemize it and just the sun visor cost like $250! So I was like, ok screw that. I decided I could do without windshield washer fluid and I could just buy some nice sunglasses for $20. As for the engine stalling, I decided to have a family friend who has an auto shop take a look at it. He told me the engine stalling "could occur if the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor electrical signal is interrupted as a result of engine vibration transmitted to the MAF sensor connector wiring harness." Again the quotes aren't because I'm quoting him exactly but that is basically what he told me and I will explain the quotes in a second.

Let's start with the sun visor. I decided last weekend that I was sick of not having a sun visor and I knew of a salvage yard relatively close to my house. So I drove over and went in and told the worker that I was looking for a sun visor for a 2000 Hyundai Sonata. Without even checking or thinking about it he immediately said "I doubt it." He then proceeded to explain to me that the Hyundai sun visors, particularly the driver side, were prone to being pieces of garbage that just about anyone owning a Sonata has had to replace, and therefore, the pickins are very slim at the salvage yard. He told me I could check online or ask a dealer. Well I already knew the dealer's answer to the tune to $250! So I got online and searched for 2000 Hyundai Sonata sun visor and the number one related hit was 2006 Hyundai Sonata recall. I looked into it and the sun visor had been recalled due to it being a piece of junk and breaking off all the time. So now I'm thinking, why didn't they recall any other year besides the 2006 since they all seem to be having the same problem? So I called Consumer Affairs and all they would tell me was that there weren't any recall campaigns for the sun visor of my particular Hyundai. I searched and searched and can't find anywhere that I can get one. I would bet money that it is the #1 most requested part for Hyundai Sonata's on salvage and parts sites.

Onto the next problem, the MAF causing the engine to stall. Back to the future, in 2005 when I first had the problem, as I said I took it to a family friend who first replaced the MAF for $1000 and then when that didn't work, we ended up having to replace the alternator and all kinds of crazy electrical crap and then a few years later it went bad again and fried my battery. So with that history in mind, I found the following recall today as I was searching for information about the sun visor recall.

Sonata ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING Recall - ID# 10514

Recall Date: Sept 11, 2000

Model Affected: 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA

Description:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence:
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

Potential Units Affected:
165977

Notes:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY 039/040

Now you understand what I was quoting from above right? This is the exact problem I was having 5 years ago that I ended up spending thousands of dollars on fixing. So now flash forward to my phone call with Consumer Affairs. I've just been told that as far as sun visors go I humped. So I decide to try my next one and I mention the above recall and I am put on hold to while the guy researches to see if it applies to my vehicle. The reason the recall campaign does not apply to my car? I have a V-4 not a V-6. So of course obviously even though the problem description is exactly the same, it wasn't a product flaw at all and I get to live with having paid for it.

I don't think I'm so much upset about having already spent a bunch of money on fixing it, but I am kind of pissed off that with a recall from 2000 when the dang car was brand new, the guys who did the diagnostic at the dealer didn't even think to check it. Or even mention it to me so I could go and tell the other auto shop what the problem was and how to most likely fix it.

So, I don't think I'll be buying another Korean made car for a along time.

This is awesome

I'm not usually one to get into the mushy feel good videos that everyone makes about whatever one YouTube. But here is a video that I can't stop watching and smiling at. What an awesome moment.

Mayor Bloomberg? More like Mayor Stupidberg

Watch the brilliant deduction skills of another Tea Party hater. How stupid can you be to just assume that a terrorist act was perpetrated by HARMLESS AMERICAN CITIZENS simply because they disagree with Obamacare instead of thinking, gee, we've been fighting a war against Al-Qaeda for like 9 years now and this is the exact tactic they've been using the entire time (car bombs)! And not to mention the fact that it was parked outside the Lion King where thousands of innocent women and children were. Yeah that sounds like another one of those evil Florida grandmas just hating on the world again. Here's the link to the video... (Oh and yes I realize that I'm like a week late on this one...)

5000 Year Leap and Utah Primaries

I had to take a break from blogging there for a while due to finals and other stuff. I haven't had a whole lot of specific topics that I wanted to talk about lately either because I've kind of fallen out of the loop with some of the current issues and feel like I'm two weeks behind. Anyway, I was able to finish reading the best book on our patriotic duties and the principles our country is founded on that I have ever read. The 5000 Year Leap. I highly recommend that everyone read this book. Especially if you feel like something is wrong with what is happening in our country, whether you are conservative or liberal, and this book will help you understand why you have that unsettling feeling. Its how I felt about Bush. I wanted to trust him, but there was always that feeling that I something was wrong. And sure enough, but I woke up before it was too late to do much about it. And frankly, I still think I would have voted for him over John Kerry, but that's beside the point. The fact is that because I've read this book and gone through this awakening period, I feel like I can make much more educated decisions about how I vote and about how I define my own political beliefs.

In other news... Bob Bennett is out, Bridgewater and Lee are in. Now I've got to do my research on them to decide how I vote in the primary. Or I may decide to not vote in the Republican primary and instead vote for Matheson in the Democratic primary so we don't get some extreme liberal representing a bunch of conservatives. Sad thing is, Matheson will probably lose the primary, which means the Democrats will lose a seat because there's no way my district will vote for a Democrat that is more liberal than Matheson. That's just my opinion though, I haven't looked at the polls or anything.

Nailed my final presentation for my HP Project

I just had to come on here and gloat a little. First I'll give you some backstory. I'm in an HCI class right now (Human Computer Interfaces) and we have been doing a project for HP where we come up with an idea using sensor technology to solve an issue in the home, when then were to implement the idea into low fidelity prototypes and test these prototypes and come up with a final version to present for a concept. My team and I have been talking about our idea for a while and were not too worried about the final presentation until about a week and a half ago when we found out we needed two rounds of testing along with a final prototype, a video, a poster, and a presentation. All in a week! And on top of all this I've had three take home finals that were due today along with the presentation and an in class final this morning.

So we worked hard. We met just about everyday since last Friday until today to go over the presentation and the testing and do new interface designs and go out and test users. Since Wednesday we've been done with our testing and worked on finishing the video and poster and presentation. I was in charge of the video and the powerpoint. Anyway, we've all pretty much been hating on HP for a few weeks and eve posting death threats as our statuses on Facebook. I don't know if I've done justice to the stress level but I'll move on.

We presented today after 7 other teams. We showed our video and then presented our powerpoint to explain the solution more in depth. After about 8 minutes we had finished explaining our product and got ready for our feedback. On feedback, we've had two feedback sessions with HP throughout our process and for the most part they have been somewhat negative and critical, so we have kind of gotten used to the fact that they always want something more than they really told us and we got to a point where we stopped worrying about if they would like it or not. So to be honest I didn't care much if they liked it or not. So we got our feedback and something ensued that I did not expect at all.

"Best presentation that we've seen to date," was said more than once. There were three reps from HP and each one said that we had the best presentation so far. "You've taken our feedback and come up with a solution that sticks to your original idea but really expands it to something that addresses all the issues." "Your presentation does well of showing a broad range of ideas in a very quick and comprehensive form." When I they asked us about our experience doing the project, one of the things I mentioned was that I had never made a video before and one of the guys said seriously that I should go into radio, which I was taken a-back by. And then to top it all off, I tripped on the stairs coming off the stage and fell flat on my face.

There have been three more teams after us and while they have all gotten positive feedback and some of them are better ideas than ours, we retain the "best presentation" trophy which I am proud of because I organized it almost by myself while my team mates provided me with some of the images we used and my ID team mate did the entire look and feel of the poster and the GUI. So I feel pretty proud of myself. Here is the video I made if you want to see it :)

UPDATE: I wrote this before the end of the presentations and afterwards the HP guys chose the three best and ours was one of them. Awesome!

Best Order Confirmation EVER!

So I just bought some small zenball magnet things online because of a sweet video I saw and they were only $10 and looked like the kind of dumb little toy I would really like. Here's the video:

Anyway, so I got my confirmation email from the company thanking me for my order and promising me fast shipping etc. The usual. Then I read the following:

After a rigorous 4 step process of verifying the quality and consistancy of each and every magnet, we donned silk gloves and placed it into a sacred padded envelope made of magic and lined with Unicorn fur, sealed the envelope with an adhesive made from strands of Gypsy hair, and wrapped the whole thing in a snazzy looking faux gold leaf paper, with elm leaf inlay from Costco. Unfortunately, by the time it gets to you, all of that fancy stuff will likely have been picked clean by the greedy postal service employees. Please don't be surprised to see just a plain padded envelope.

I trust I've just made a very wise investment :)

U2 GA line treats you like a king.

I recently scored GA tickets to U2 at Rice Eccles Stadium in June and needless to say I am pretty excited. One of my friend's who is going with me pointed me to a blog post by a guy that has done U2 GA many times talking about the fun and the what-to and what-not-to's of the U2 Ga experience. Well this did nothing more than make me even more antsy to go. Anyway so in light of some of the excitement, I had a dream the other night about the concert (actually interestingly, I actually had another dream since then about the concert but it was not the main focus of the dream, I woke up realizing I was late for the concert was all).

I'm going to put down as much as I can remember about the dream. It started with the camp out. Except this campout was basically me and another friend trying to find the end of the line. There were a bunch of people around that night and we were waiting outside with a group before we realized they were all there to perform like a marching band routine or something. So we figured that out and left and entered the stadium where people were already being let in. It was a little different though. The stadium was HUGE! And like at least 70% of it was not being used for the concert. So we actually got into the stadium without showing our tickets and we joined the rush for the GA line which was off near the field. My other friends (who I am actually going to the concert with) were already inside because they had figured out where to camp so I was trying to hurry with the guy I had camped with to get in and find the other guys. So we're walking with the crowd to the GA line and we're passing like all these concession places and people just kind of hanging out and partying and suddenly my friend says, "so where are we supposed to buy tickets at." I look at him incredulously and I'm like you don't have a ticket? see ya buddy. But the weird thing is he actually does have a ticket but its not a GA ticket its a stadium seat so I'm like, well maybe they'll let you in with that or they might be able to upgrade you (strange how I am able to go from pessimism to optimism so seamlessly in my sleep). As we're walking my friend asks me where the stage is and I look out through the empty seats in the section we are currently in and in the distance I can see the 360 stage and tons of people already cheering and I'm like "there it is!"

So we get to the GA line and the ticket guy looks at me and is like, "Hey! Dyan Brown!" Dyan Brown is one of my cousins. So I'm like what are you talking about? And he's like I know your cousin. And I'm like oh yeah and I somehow remember having met him sometime. So he's like sweet good to see you dude and let's me and my friend pass. But my friend's all like honest and is like I don't have a GA ticket, instead of just going in. So at this point I'm like whatever dude you were too dumb to get a ticket and when you get in for free you go all honest so I'll see ya later.

So I ditch him and I go up this ramp that goes into the security station. But there's not really a big line. There's a bunch of people off to the sides all waiting to get in but they're waiting apparently for me and other people with GA tickets. So I walk up straight to the security people and they have me step aside to one of these booths where there are two concierge-like ladies waiting for me. So they're like welcome to the concert sir and they start treating me like a VIP. "Would you like some bags for your shoes in case it rains so they don't get wet?" "How would you like a new hat." So I get a new free U2 hat. Then for some reason I'm wearing a coat even though its summer and I've got tons of junk in my pockets so that it won't zip up so they offer me a silken sash to keep my coat closed. Then, they have like this duffel bag just full of goodies and fun packages and stuff so the one lady pulls one out and is like "how would you like this package" and its got like a bunch of toys and a stuffed animal in it and I'm like sure. So then I'm just standing there enjoying this treatment and I am watching other people around who all seem to be used to this and one guy is off using a punching bag like he's at the gym like this happens everyday and stuff.

Interestingly enough the dream ends there. I never actually get to see U2 in the dream. But, seeing U2 isn't what made the dream special (obviously) but it was the awesome anticipation and the awesome treatment I got. In the dreamstate, I couldn't have cared less if I ever got into the pit or even saw the concert because I was enjoying being pampered so much by the "security ladies". Anyway, it goes to show how the anticipation of something is often more enjoyable than the actual receiving.

6 - 3

For those of you familiar with Wii Sports Resort, you may have played the table tennis game they have on there. I also know that if you are like most people in my family other than me, you may not have obsessed over it like I have and thus, may not be familiar with an opponent named Lucia. Let me enlighten you. As you play and win, your Mii character goes up in level depending on how well he/she does. Once you reach about level 1500 and are getting so excited that you are about to get to level 2000, you are brought up against an opponent named Lucia. Lucia is a small freckle faced pony-tailed little cutie. But don't let her appearance fool you. If the devil can manifest himself as an angel of light then he can certainly also manifest as a CG Mii on your Wii Resort game. And when he does, he goes by the name Lucia.

This evil vixen seems impossible to beat. Many an opponent has cursed her god-like table tennis skills. She always is in the exact right spot for returns and always knows exactly what you are thinking so that she can trip you up. Gonna use your right hand to return from the right side of the table? Might want to watch your left shoulder there buddy! Lucia knows! She KNOWS! For at least the first 30-40 times I played her each match ended in a clean sweep of my pride and self confidence, not to mention points. I was convinced that she was invincible. So I decided to lose and take the level lowering penalty and hopefully not have to play her the next time I got to 1500. Yeah right. She lives right there at 1500. She has a special little title above her name that says "Champion". So I resigned myself to my fate. For weeks I spent at least a few hours playing her. Trying to figure out the right strategy to beat her. I looked online for help and found nothing but other despairing fools caught in her hell's grip of the ping pong paddle. I did however find some confidence in watching a few YouTube videos of people beating her and also seeing a number of screenshots of people's score after finally kicking her off her throne. And from there I knew that I would beat her.

For those of you who are in the shoes I once wore know this: Lucia is not perfect. I have seen her make mistakes. I have smashed the ball in her face. I have seen her bounce the ball over the net. I have seen her return before the second bounce. And I have seen her dive and miss. For weeks, the highest I scored against her was 2 points in a match. But finally near the end I had a match where I was above her by one point until the very end when she scored three in a row. I had several matches where I came from behind to tie up the game at 5-5 before losing. And I have beaten her soundly.

It was a Tuesday evening. I had been playing her for about two hours. This same day I had already gotten close to winning three or four times. And then a match started. Lucia scored the first point. I paused the game to meditate and calm down my muscles. I reassured my body to let my brain and instincts take control. I started the game again. After a minute of back and forth, Lucia's return misses the table. 1-1.

Lucia's serve. I am able to spin the ball enough to get smash power. After a number of smash returns I am able to smash the ball out of reach. 2-1.

Lucia serves again. Similar scenario as the previous. 3-1.

My serve. After a minute of back and forth, Lucia's return bounces on the net and misses the table. 4-1.

My serve again. More smashing and now it's 5-1!

Lucia's serve. She scores. 5-2. She serves again and scores again. 5-3. I pause the game. Meditation and prayer. Supplication to the almighty god of table tennis for strength and power.

My serve.

The ball bounces off an edge. Lucia dives for the return. It lands on my side of the table too far over for me to smash it off the opposite edge. In an instant that seemed like minutes my decision is made. I smash the ball directly at her. It bounces. It's headed straight for her. As I brace myself for her return I hear the slap. I see the freckled-face demon squint her eyes in fury. I hear the whistle blow and I see the red 'Miss' sign show up above her head. I fall to my knees in amazement as I see those heavenly floating music notes above my own Mii's head and I see the score update. 6-3.