Anything But Coffee

Warning, this rant is long but it has to be said. Usually I’m pretty docile and not very confrontational but I just got off the phone with Charter Communications which handles my Cable TV and my internet service and their lack of customer service and inability to correct a problem on their end which results in taking money from me which I do not owe them pushed me over the line, so here’s my little rant about how much Charter Cable sucks!

Poor Quality with Charter Cable TV and Internet Service

A little background on my Charter Cable experience. I have had both my cable TV service and internet service with Charter Cable since June 2009 and have had nothing but problems ever since. Read more…

Randy Home Poor Customer Service Charter Cable, Problems with Charter Communications

5Zigen is just one of those companies you have to admire in the racing industry. Their racing heritage, the quality they put into their parts and the pure love they have for the sport is something that not many find in an industry where everyone is trying to make a quick buck.

5Zigen has proven themselves on the track in numerous JGTC and N1 Endurance races, in real world situations where every little bit of extra horsepower or gas mileage management makes the difference in being the first to win or the first to loose.

5Zigen doesn’t reserve this mind set only for their race cars, they build it into every component they make for the amateur and professional racer.

5zigen ProRacer ECON Review

The ProRacer ECON from 5Zigen is no exception. It is designed to boost the electrical output of your cars battery, improve power distribution and helps to provide more stable electrical current (about 130% of normal electricity) to the ignition. This helps to improve gas mileage and keep a steady current needed to power all the electronics that are necessary to run a championship race car or that high power stereo in your daily driver all without sacrificing any power.

Our friends over at WiredOnHonda.com have done an excellent review of this product so be sure to read the full 5Zigen ProRacer ECON review to learn about the increase in fuel economy and installation, complete with detailed instructions and pictures.

Randy Home 5Zigen, ProRacer ECON, WiredOnHonda.com

Our good friends over at WiredOnHonda.com are at it again, this time with their famous K & N Car Show.

As seen on Modified Magazine, the annual WiredOnHonda.com/ProTunerParts.com K&N meet will be held at K&N Headquarters located in Riverside, CA on July 25th, 2010.

Media appearances from industry leaders such as Import Tuner, Honda Tuning, Super Street and others will be there interviewing and shooting cars. Live music from DJ Versed and an ever growing vendor list which includes confirmed vendors such as 5zigen, Torco Oil, Norm Reeves Honda and SmartWax with the beautiful models from GXS Motorspots this is car show is set to be a solid kick off for the Summer show season.

Those interested should view the official thread for all the details. Don’t miss out on this event!

Randy Home 5Zigen, Honda Tuning, Import Tuner, K&N Car Show, Super Street, WiredOnHonda.com

Look out Nissan Skyline GT-R there’s a new bad boy in town and his name is the Honda HSV-010 GT.

The Honda performance R&D mad scientists must have been working over time to create such an amazing beast of a race car. Using what they have learned from over 30+ years of racing experience in all forms of auto racing and with the famous JGTC Honda NSX-GT as its predecessor, the Honda HSV-010 GT is set to be the dominant force on race tracks across the world in 2010.

About the Honda HSV-010 GT Performance

The HSV-010 GT, which stands for “Honda Sports Velocity”, is a front-engine rear-drive Super GT race car. Built to surpass the already legendary cornering ability of the NSX-GT, the frame was reinforced to be more rigid for better handling.

The engine used is the HR10EG, a 3.4-liter V8 engine used in Formula Nippon cars but optimized for Super GT, which produces “500 or more” horsepower, and “392 or more” Nm of torque, according to a press release from Honda.

Two of the most noticeable features of the HSV-010 GT is the ever familiar Honda exhaust tone produced from an 8-4-2-1 exhaust manifold and single muffler design and the fairly dominate wing and short rear overhang protruding from its rear end.

Contrary to speculation, the wing is not a part of a new aerodynamic design. In fact, the entire aerodynamic performance remains at the 2009 NSX-GT level so that leaves room for some serious aerodynamic development still to come.

Fans of the Honda / Acura NSX will remember the sad news when Honda announced that due to the economy, the production of the NSX was being discontinued in an effort by Honda to focus on mass-produced vehicles instead of the limited edition ones.

Had Honda decided to continue production of the NSX, the HSV-010 GT would have been the next-generation model. True Honda enthusiasts can only hope that one day we will see the NSX resurrected and a production model of the HSV-010 GT becomes available to the masses.

Randy Home Honda, Honda NSX, Honda performance, HSV-010 GT, Super GT

Recently Honda released the newest edition to the Type R family, the 2010 Honda Civic Type R. As with all members of the Type R family this one does not disappoint!

But what makes this Civic Type R stand out from his older brothers is that this one is being featured in the 2010 ARC Australian Rally Championship by Honda Australia. With a Mugen tuned engine and a Rally Racing suspension set up, simply put this car is amazing.

Enjoy this Honda Civic Type R Rally Car Shakedown video of the car in action on the track before the start of the Australian Rally Championship season.

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Randy Home Australian Rally Championship, Civic Type R Rally Car, Honda, Honda Civic Type R

If you know me then you know that I am a true Honda fanatic through and through. From their ever impressive high performing cars like the S2000, NSX and their F1 racing heritage, their affordable and fun fun to drive Civics, Accords and Acura’s, their economically friendly Honda Insight and all their Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles to their innovative and technologically advanced Human Prototype ASIMO.

Well friends, Honda is at it again proving why Honda will always be light years ahead of everyone else with their newest invention, the Honda’s U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype.

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Honda’s U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype

The U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype stands at 25 inches high and 6 inches wide with a fold out butterfly style leather seat up top and two small foot rests that fold out from either side. The U3-X is able to move forward or backwards using the main wheel and is equally able to move left to right and any direction in between with the use of smaller wheels mounted to the larger main wheel. Powered by a lithium-ion battery that as of now holds a charge for about an hour is the perfect new device for personal transportation and far more impressive then the over hyped Segway.

Using what they have learned from ASIMO, the U3-X Personal Mobility prototype balances itself by the use of accelerometers and sensors that detect the rider’s center of gravity and make adjusts itself constantly to keep the rider and the U3-X in perfect balance. Steering is just a mater of slighting leaning in the direction you wish to go.

You can learn more about the U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype by visiting Honda’s official announcement here. In the mean time check out these videos of the Honda U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype in action and Honda, if you’re listening, I’ll take mine in classic Championship White with a nice Type R badge on the side.

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Randy Home Honda, Honda U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype, U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype Video

Everyone loves a clean JDM race car. Well whats more JDM then a video featuring an Integra DC2 Type R, and FN2 Type R, an FD2 and a few Mugen Civic RR’s? Sure this video is short but its full of JDM win baby!

JDM for those who don’t know stand for Japanese Domestic Market so unfortunately none of the cars seen here are easily available for sale in the US but you can find JDM aftermarket parts for your Acura Integra or Honda Civic and make it as close as possible to pure JDM perfection.

Randy Home Acura Integra, DC2 Type R, Honda Civic, JDM, Mugen, Mugen RR, video

Last night while doing a regular Google search I noticed the search results layout was different. I tried multiple searches logged in and logged out and still kept receving the same “new layout”.

I checked when I got to work and saw everyone else was still receiving the original organic SERP report layout. Once again I came home just now and saw I am still receiving the new layout and figured id post up some screen shots of it. Is this a test? A sneak peek at how Google Caffeine will look?

Original: notice where the right arrow show number of searches and my location, the search box is much larger and the options listed on the left hand side.

Original: showing more with the number 9 position showing more options and more then the regular 10 results Read more…

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Recent events in my life have led me to interesting paths in my carrier, relationships and just life in general. These events have started to mold a new outlook and to help me to start looking for more meaning in life, be it on a spiritual or psychological level.

While surfing the web and looking for literature to read more on and expand my knowledge, and with the help of a very close friend, I came across the Science of Mind website and publication.

I won’t dive into to much detail here but after reading and for the longest time, wanting to change and go forth in a new direction I’ve decided to embark on a journey of self growth and enlightenment. A journey to learn more about my surroundings and my environment. To learn more about dreams and the energy that is within all living things.

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While most everyone in the county is aware of the scarce employment opportunities job seekers face, there’s another, more silent problem people are finding themselves in. That is the problem with student loan consolidation and debt.

Whether its a private school, public university, community college or a tech school, going to college is a very expensive endeavor and not everyone can afford it.

That’s where student loans come in. Companies like Sallie Mae and AES have been offering student loans to help people go to college for years, usually at a decent rate. But lately, even these major loan companies are feeling the crunch of the economy and have raised their rates and requiring inflated repayment plans.

Its not uncommon for recent college graduates, who were told they would be paying anywhere from $50 to $120 a month after graduation to be facing student loan bills in the $300 to $600 range all of a sudden. These higher bills, combined with the lack of available jobs to pay them is making student loan consolidation a more favorable option to consider. Read more…

Randy Home Federal Student Loans, Private Student Loans, Student Loan Consolidation, Student Loan Debt, Student Loan Interest Rates