Love is love - 10 things I think

10 THINGS I THINK

1. How serendipitous and fitting that the United States Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage across the nation the same week the annual Pride celebrations are happening. It must’ve have been a raucously good time this past weekend at the respective parties and parades. It’s very well deserved, too.

I think even the most optimistic of us would say that we’d never thought the day love ultimately prevails would come so soon, but damn was it such a moment. It was especially fun turning to Fox News after the ruling was handed down to watch conservative squirm and yell at the clouds in resounding defeat. Religious freedom? You’ve still got it, my fellow Americans. Gay people marrying aren’t going to all of the sudden corrupt whatever’s going on inside your Church. As for what you call “traditional marriage” and “core family”, please explain to me the national divorce rate.

2. Apple Music launched yesterday, and I’m in love with it thus far. I most enjoy the ability to cue up my own music library right on the phone (a function I use often in iTunes on the Mac), letting me interject the playlist with a new song without disturbing the rest of the list. I can also now see the once shuffled song list, and can rearrange the track order to my liking. Cuing up a set of songs for my weekly runs is going to be much easier and more enjoyable.

The brand new, 24-hours live BEATS1 radio station has supplanted my go-to Pandora station as the in-car music of choice. Apple is brilliant in bringing back the human element to Internet radio, something I did not realize I missed until I fired up BEATS1 yesterday evening. I can’t wait to try the Apple Music playlists that are designed by music experts from round the globe. Even the non-curated, algorithmic radio stations have been much better than the previously atrocious effort - I can listen without it turning into a total skip-fest.

3. The Greece debt crisis situation is putting an enormous damper to my international stock holdings. It’s continuously baffling to me how a country that makes up only 2% of the entire Euro Zone output can affect such disastrous consequences if its economy were to fail. Perhaps the UK was smart to keep its pound sterling and not integrate to the Euro currency, because the European Union’s singular monetary device is precisely the reason why the other nations feel impelled to prop up tiny little Greece time and time again.

On a related International fiscal tangent, the Chinese stock market isn’t look so good, either.

4. Donald Trump made some outrageous and highly erroneous comments regarding Mexican immigrants during his campaign announcement, yet it’s incredibly telling that not one single person from the field of GOP presidential candidate hopefuls came out to denounce his statements. Their silence on the matter might as well be the equivalent of a tacit endorsement, which is not exactly surprising given the recent anti-immigration history of the conservative party.

Good to see Univision and NBC Universal take stand against the ignorant Trump in disassociating themselves from the Miss USA pageant, even when its likely not in their greater financial interest to do so. Freedom of speech is only freedom consequence from the Government, Donald.

5. The final Top Gear episode, as known and renowned in its current formula, aired the past Sunday. It was a bittersweet moment indeed for me seeing for the very last time the trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May on the television screen as Top Gear presenters. Of course, the three will undoubtedly move on to do another motoring show on another medium, but that happy thought doesn’t diminish the melancholy of the occasion at all.

I quite literally grew up on Top Gear. I’ve always had an affinity towards cars, but BBC’s famed motoring show taught me how to love them, and enjoy the automobile for the fun and freedom they represent. The program never fascinated itself too much with numbers and specifications; the endgame is precisely about driving, and how a car makes you feel when doing so. The show’s stunning and awe-inspiring cinematography was the perfect playground to showcase the world’s beautiful locales being made better by the roaring sounds of an automobile.  

This golden-era of Top Gear will be dearly missed.

6. When I do my running exercise on Sundays, I always head to Chipotle afterwards for the post-workout meal. This past weekend, I ran at an earlier time than usual, leading me to discover that Chipotle chains don’t open for business until 11AM. Unfortunate for me, I finished my exercise around 10 AM. First world problem for sure, but I didn’t particularly enjoy having to wait that hour for the local Chipotle to open up. I might need to find another spot to satiate myself after running.

7. Media coverage of the annual “Race to the Clouds” Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has got me extremely excited about my trip there in two weeks’ time. While I won’t have quite the same machinery as I make my very own drive up the famed mountain (a rental Nissan Versa, as it’s projected), I’ll be too busy taking in the spectacular scenery to care. I just hope the weather cooperates and the latter half of Pikes Peak wouldn’t be shut down due to snow, like it did for the hill climb. 

8. John Oliver is on the absolute point, as usual: 

9. The end of Justice Kennedy’s opinion on the same-sex marriage ruling is simply beautiful:

10. This: 

No 관심 in that bag - 10 things I think

10 THINGS I THINK

1. It’s official: the mighty BBC has sacked Clarkson from Top Gear due to what has been humorously categorized as a ‘fracas’. It’s absolutely an end of an era for the venerable motoring show. Hammond and May are both likely to follow Clarkson to whatever he does next.

All good things must come to an end, right? I positively grew up on Top Gear, and it’s quite the melancholic moment when the news broke. I’m likely to still watch whomever the BBC choses to replace the three hosts, but deep down, long-time fans of the show all understand that it will never be the same. 

I still want that LaFerrari, 918, and P1 track battle, by the way. Make it happen, BBC. 

2. It was my understanding that you’d have to be born in these United States to run for the presidency, so someone will need to explain to me how on earth is Ted Cruz - born in Canada - is campaigning for the Republican party nomination. Actually, don’t bother; he’s got zero chance to win the ticket anyways. 

3. It’s a damn shame that with a reigning German world champion constructor, a German driver fighting for the title, and Seb Vettel in a rejuvenated Ferrari car, the German Grand Prix got cancelled for 2015. Worse, it’s position on future F1 calendars is very much in doubt. I join the chorus of F1 fans that lament the continuing lost of ‘tradition’ European races on historic and classic circuits, in exchange for far-flung, uninteresting circuits in oil-rich countries that no one cares about. 

4. After watching John Oliver’s brilliant takedown on the NCAA evil empire, I refrained myself from filling out a March Madness bracket this year. I also did not watch a single game. Call it a boycott, call it having got something better to do than sit in front of the television the entire day, watching sports that ultimately have to effect on my life many years from now. 

5. They never said it was going to be cheap: I just had the first major service done on my WRX STI, and it most certainly wasn’t kind to the wallet. It’s what happens when on top of being a high-performance car, it’s got one extra set of axles more than the typical car (being all-wheel drive and all). The dealership change practically all the fluids in the car: engine oil, coolant, brake, gearbox, and three differentials. They would’ve even washed the car too, but I instructed them otherwise. 

Some of you might ask, why don’t you simply do the work yourself and save a bit of coin? The answer to that is simple: I value my time, plus the fact I live in an apartment complex that hasn’t got the requisite space to perform vehicle maintenance (it also violates the lease agreement). I much rather pay the few hundred for a certified dealership to take care of servicing the car, all the while I’m at work earning. Besides, having a paper-trail does well to the resale value - if I do decide to part with the WRX. 

6. The first weekend of May is going to be absolutely spectacular: the much anticipated second Avengers movie comes out in theatres, and that particular Saturday night is the showdown fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. I’m so looking forward to it. 

7. Of course I want one those slim and shiny new Macbooks, but I reckon at it’s current first-generation state, it’s just a bit underpowered for what I need. Much like the genesis Macbook Air, it’ll take some time and evolution before the new Macbook can be a machine fit for general consumption. That’s why I’m likely to acquire a Macbook Air in the near future instead. The 11 inch version is arguably more portable anyways.

On other hand (no pun intended), I’m completely uninterested in the forthcoming Apple Watch. I prefer my timepieces to be mechanical, hand-crafted, and exquisite, thank you very much.

8. Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors on their Pacific Division championship. It won’t be long until the time is ripe for me to jump on the bandwagon. Hashtag no shame.

9. I wonder if Meghan Trainor prefers a man with bass and no treble. Something tells me it’s likely the other way round. Her hit song isn’t about confident body-image, it’s about I’m fat and I’m to lazy to loose weight but love me anyways because I’m awesome.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

10. As a person well into his 20s, I tend to take it as flattery when I get carded at bars and clubs. Oh, you think I look young enough to be 21? That’s so awesome! 

However, recently I got carded while purchasing tickets at the cinema to a rated R movie. Apparently, I look younger than 17 to the ticketing person, and that I actually find quite insulting. I’m not sure why that is as it’s but a four year difference from 17 to 21, but I guess as a full-fledged adult, you never want to be accused of still looking like a teenager.  

I'm here so I won't get fined - 10 things I think

10 THINGS I THINK

1. You'd think after nearly a decade of driving I should've got down the whole placement of the feet in relations to the pedals. Unfortunately, turns out I've been doing it incorrectly this entire time. Instead of placing the heel of my right foot in between the accelerator and brake pedal, I placed it to the left of the brake pedal.

No wonder often times I feel like I don't have enough leverage in operating the go-pedal: I had to overextend the pivot every single time. Now that I've corrected this ergonomic mistake, it's like discovering the joy of driving all over again. 

2. Bicyclists need to figure out exactly what they want to be classified as: a mode of transport akin to a motor vehicle, or something more akin to walking pedestrians. It seems most would prefer the former, in which case I say all bikes should follow the same rules as cars. That means you, the cyclists, don't get to take shortcuts at red lights, nor can you forsake completely the right-of-way system. 

Bicyclists want to be treated like cars with full rights to the road, they must then act like one, too - at all times. 

3. In some ways I'm quite pissed the MK7 Volkswagen Golf range garnered all sorts of accolades from the North American automotive press. It seems everybody had forgotten that Americans got our hands of the MK7 Golf some year and a half after our cousins over in Europe. There's no reasonable explanation the largest automotive market on the planet essentially got the MK7 Golf last. I don't think Volkswagen should then be rewarded for it with all the awards.

4. I'm so excited about Top Gear UK's return to the televisions after a year hiatus - and a 10 episodes series at that. Sundays are going to be an absolutely blast for the next nine weeks. I'm most looking forward to the one where Richard is absconded on some remote Arctic mountain up in Canada, and the only rescue due to arrive is Jeremy and James in American pickup trucks.

5. I wonder the logic and brain machination that went on in the head of the person who first decided it would be an excellent idea to go racing for twenty four straight hours. It must have been absolutely brilliant - and quite bonkers, for sure. The ultimate test of machine and man: the likes of Rolex 24, Le Mans 24, Nurburgring 24, and Spa 24. It's on my personally lists to attend one if not all of those races in the future. 

6. Tax time is the only time I'm fiercely Republican. Why is the government trying to take my money?! Alas, I can only take solace in the fact capital gains are only taxed at 15%. 

7. Klay Thompson scoring 37 points in a quarter has got to be the ultimate "is this real life?" situation ever. Heck, not even in the easiest of modes in the 2K game can you shoot and score like he did in that game. I've been watching basketball for almost two decades and that performance was something spectacularly never before seen.

On a side note, how did the Warriors end up with the two best-shooting guards in the league and they're both the lightest skin brother you'll ever meet. It's hilarious. 

8. Why don't Japanese automotive marques offer Japanese delivery on their cars that are manufacturers there? European marques have been offering European delivery for the longest time. I definitely would have opted for it when I purchased the STI if the choice were available to fly to Japan, pick the car up at the Gunma factory, and drive round/sight-see the island country for a few weeks. 

Opportunity lost for the likes of Nissan, Toyota, and Honda is what I see. 

9. I'm kidding when I say the news of SkyMall closing down operations is the first instance I've heard of the name SkyMall. The only mall in the sky I patronize is the wonderful Amazon.

10. Looking back at pictures I took during 2013 and 2014, I've come to the realization that for those two years I've been incredibly... lazy. I don't know what happened, but the motivation to do anything substantial seemed to have been completely sapped from me. A person should only sit in front of the television for so many straight days.

Lethargy is a heck of a thing.