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Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category

• Wheels and Choices

  Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

  Finding the right wheel for a vehicle can be one of those all-day affairs, or it can be something fast and painless. At the same time, it’s a rather important consideration, because the wheel, along with the tire and rim, can have a radical effect on what the car looks like. So it’s important to choose well, not only to make sure you’re getting the right diameter , but also so that you may not have missed the opportunity to make bold and brave statements with your truck or car.

  It’s an interesting dilemma when we live in an era with so much choice. There are times when it seems as thought there’s simply too many options to choose from, whether it’s peanut butter to a life partner. At the same time, there are also times when it’s pretty grand to have so much to choose from, and no one seems to complain about too much choice when it comes to wheels. They are as varied as the vehicles themselves are, and this is indeed a good thing. Being able to select among multiple options to find what suits you best is a great benefit, and there are plenty of choices just waiting.

  Just as tire size and manufacturer are elemental considerations to consider before setting out to shop, style is really central to the idea of a car. It’s up to you entirely to create the car or truck you’ve always wanted, and after the initial choices are made, then something else starts to take over. It is true, certainly, that there’s an art to it all, and some of the most obvious right decisions are inspired by the act of inspiration itself. No one in the world can tell you how to customize your ride, and no one in their right mind would want to take that right away from you.

• Hawaii Dolphin Watching

  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

  Hawaii is known for being a beautiful tropical island and also for being home to amazing underwater creatures. With the clear water and warm temperatures scuba diving and sailing are huge industries in Hawaii, as well as dolphin watching. All across the state there are plenty dolphin watching tours to choose from. After a long day out you will want to stay at a affordable hotel .
  The Ko Olina Ocean Adventures is one that will have you snorkeling amongst the beautiful coral gardens and swimming alongside dolphins.
  The Oahu Dolphin Snorkel Sail is a tour that will have you riding the waves of the Walanae Coast. You have the option of snorkeling of just kicking back and relaxing while enjoying the sun and the sights. On this tour you can swim with the dolphins as well.
  Oahu Ocean Joy Cruise Adventures is a nice cruise that will have you sailing alone on the Ka’ena Point, it is the only vessel that has access to that area. You ride on a luxury power catamaran. Once again you have the option of snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, or just relaxing with a few drinks.
  The Hawaii Volcano Helicopter Tour & Afternoon Snorkel Dolphin Sail is a great way to see Hawaii from a different angle. You will be high above the islands and have a birds eye view of the largest volcanoes in the state. After that you can view the island from another angle as you snorkel with dolphins, huge turtles, and large schools of fish.
  The Maui Adventure Cruises Ocean Rafting Dolphin Adventures is another chance to have a good time on the beautiful clear water but this time you will be in a raft. You will be exploring the islands of Maui and Lanai on a fast paced dolphin watching rafting adventure all across the ocean.
  If you are tired of seeing dolphins, fear not you can go whale watching. On board the Big Island Blue Sea Cruises Whale Watch Adventure you will be able to catch a glimpse of a huge humpback whale up close.
  There are other ways to traverse the Hawaiian waters as well. They have kayak tours available that have you rowing along side playful dolphins up and down Hawaii’s western coastline.

• Steampunk: An Automotive Repair Manual Love Story

  Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

  There is a nephew of mine who loves manuals. His name is Hoyt. He is only thirteen but he is obsessed with them. He has a special kind of autism the name of which I can never remember because it is him I remember and not the way his brain had been wired. Besides, our ancestry, past and present, is spread out here and there throughout the world. There are small clots of us in locations that are always close military bases, but those bases dot the globe the way pushpins might decorate a map.

  But this kind of autism, though it makes him kind of awkward in social situations not really because I always get what he is trying to say though the words might come out in jigsaw puzzle piece makes him a kind of expert in his interests. But he has a thing about manuals. The mechanical is his kind of thing, the automotive kind. He is a sort of steampunk with preference for things that are made with all the gears and guts visible, where you see where the hand that touched the small engine. Repair manuals from the old days are what he wants to read these days because those kinds of repair manuals suit him, demonstrating how baroque and yet seemingly elegant mechanicals things went together to make things make the road turn to an oil painting blur.

  Manuals from the 1970s are his current thing. He says this was the last decade before we got detached from our technology. I always thought it was the Victorian era because of the whole steampunk thing, but he insists it was the 1970s. People still touched engines and gears and pipes and bolts in a fond way, constructing a mechanical artwork from the metal and oil. He wants an automotive repair manual for his birthday, which is soon coming upon me. I browse old antique shops hoping to find repair manuals to sate his automotive addiction of late, but I come up empty and I do not want his birthday to be empty. Because while others find his words empty and dislocated from logic, I find those same words maintain a fond touch and art.

• How to Keep New Tires in Tip-Top Shape

  Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

  So you finally made the decision to purchase a new set of tires.  What you may or may not know, is that there are many things that you can do that will make certain your tires will last for a long time, and will remain safe.  Tires are of course one of the aspects of your vehicle that keep you moving forward, but worn tires, or wheels that are out of balance may cause problems when you must do the opposite of moving forward, which is braking.

  And while there are many great deals, great discount retail shops, and online companies for which to buy new tires at good prices, tires are still an expense.  And with just a bit of care and diligence each month, you can find the advantage of taking part in extending the life of those tires.  There are a few factors that will affect the life of a car tire.  One is the conditions of the roads and streets that you regularly drive on a day to day basis.

  Environmental conditions such as the areas or cities where the temperatures can soar in the summer time, will have an affect as well, as the hotter the pavement the quicker your tread will show signs of wear.  The overall condition of your car will play a part as well, in the forms of alignment and balance. And while certain environmental conditions will be out of your control, there are many steps your can take.  Once you are familiar of the roads in your neighborhood that may be in need of repair, avoid them.

  This may not always be convenient, but think further down the road so to speak, you could add miles to the life of your tires by simply staying on the well paved and well maintained roads.  Have your wheel alignment checked, sometimes up to two times a year, especially if you are constantly driving on roads with pits and potholes.  Take care to check the air pressure regularly and to inspect your tires for signs of damage.  Just a few steps taken will save you money in the end, and keep you safe on the roads well into the future.