Anything But Coffee

Scroll Down to see the Carlashes video below

Just when you think car customization has reached as far as it can go, someone comes along with something so ridicules that its bound to be the next big thing.

Well maybe not the next big thing but this is California so who knows. I’m talking about Carlashes, that’s right eyelashes for your car. These awesome car accessories cost a mere $25 a pair and for an extra $19.99 you can get crystal-stud “eyeliners” to go with it.

Who comes up with these ideas I don’t know. Maybe someone has a huge fascination with a famous Pixar film or those cute Chevron talking car commercials. Maybe someone just wants to add a little bit more personality to their daily mode of transportation. Or maybe someone needs just that little bit of extra attention drawn to them while driving down they street, applying their makeup while chatting on their cell phone.

What ever the case, it looks like Carlashes are real and going to make some lucky car the prettiest one on the block.

Randy Other Car Eyelashes, Carlashes

I hardly ever use Internet Explorer as my browser; mostly I’m a Firefox and Chrome guy, but today I had to use Internet Explorer for something at work and was surprised at what I saw.

It’s common knowledge now that when you see a search box on a web page such as Google, you instinctively know (or have been trained) to type your search questions there. After firing up Internet Explorer with Google being the default page I see this: (see image to left)

Like I said, I don’t use IE often so I checked this with Firefox & Chrome to see if they were delivering the same type of home page. Of course they weren’t so this leads me to only one conclusion:

“Google feels that anyone still using Internet Explorer is either  “Non Tech Savvy” or just plain stupid and can’t figure out where to type.”

Of course that is just my opinion and in no way is meant to represent Google’s opinion but in a world that is so dependent on the internet and accustomed to using search engines, not to mention the fact that Google receives several hundred million searches a day, it’s a pretty passive aggressive way of stating the obvious on how Google perceives Internet Explorer users.

Has anyone else seen this? Is this something new or has this always been here and I’ve just never seen it because I don’t use IE? Am I being to harsh on Internet Explorer users? I’d love to hear what you think so leave your comments below.

Randy SEO Google, Internet Explorer, Search Box, Search Engines

Starting last Wednesday August 18, 2010, Facebook users who access their Facebook accounts through their iPhone can now use Facebook Places to “check-in” and tell the world where you are at.

So what is Facebook Places?

Those familiar with other check-in type mobile apps such as Foursquare should have no problem using this new Facebook feature.

Basically its a feature that allows users to tag their physical location and share that information with their Facebook friends. You will need to be using the most recent version of the Facebook application for the iPhone or if your mobile browser supports HTML5 and Geolocation, you can access it through touch.facebook.com.

Say you found a delicious new Sushi restaurant that you just have to share with your friends you can tag it. Say you are at the movies, the mall shopping, at a concert or even Disneyland, you can tag your self and any friends that are with you to let all your other friends know where you are, all with just the simple click of a button.

When you “check-in” at a location, you, along with who ever is tagged with you, will show up as a status update on your page and in your friends News Feed letting everyone know where you are and who’s with you.

Say good bye to those next day conversations of the concert you were both at and didn’t even know it. Facebook Places is a perfect way for meeting up with friends who you didn’t even know were at the same place.

Just be careful to set up your Facebook Places Privacy Settings so you don’t have any stalkers

Randy SEO Facebook Applications, Facebook Features, Facebook Places, Facebook Places Privacy Settings, Foursquare

It’s official, Google is now allowing certain company websites to dominate the first 8 results for certain products or searches.

For a quick example go to Google and search either Apple iPod or Hewlett Packard Printers. Notice the majority of the results all take you to either Apple’s domain or Hewlett Packard’s.

This announcement was made yesterday on Google’s Webmaster Central blog which basically says that they are now allowing a single domain to have multiple results, up to 8 in most cases on a single search result page.

Apparently Google feels that for certain searches, a companies website may be diverse enough to give the searcher all the information that they need before showing other, possibly more accurate results.

What this means for you as a searcher is that now you have to spend more time searching; past page 1, just to find the most relevant information to your search. That is if you want to actually find something not on the parent company’s site, which in most cases is what people want in the first place. People know they can go to the company website for anything about that product but go to search engines to find results not from the company website.

No idea if this will last but all we can do is hope that Google knows what they are doing, and if not be smart enough to change it back to the way it ws.

Randy SEO Apple iPod, Google, Hewlett Packard, Multiple Domain Results, Webmaster Central Blog

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, Honda 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 Honda 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 Honda 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.

Randy Honda 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.

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.

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