[861] Super Beetle Musings and Links

 I've been reading a lot about classic Volkswagen Beetles. They're still at the top of my list of dream cars I would love to own. And as always, my taste changes depending on what I've read and what I've learned.

I've been a big fan of the Salzburg Rally Beetle, which is basically a Super Beetle with a couple of mods. I've blogged about it before (pretty sure I have, I'm just too lazy to find my post about it). And while I'd love something like that, my current dream retromod build is a wee bit more different.

Right now my dream Beetle is the more modern, and not as valued, Super Beetle. Why? Because I'm realizing that thanks to that car's MacPherson front suspension makes it a bit safer to drive, as well as giving it a better turning radius and less bumpier on uneven surfaces.

Let's start with the must-haves. I definitely would install a new, modern wiring harness. This would make it sort of easier to maintain the car's electricals and modernize it a bit. Along with that wiring harness would most definitely be an upgrade to an alternator instead of a generator.

A good sound system is also a must have. While I am a fan of the Retrosound modern radios with classic looks, those things are also expensive as heck. So I'll take a standard 1-DIN radio with bluetooth and auxilliary cables. Maybe add decent speakers for the front and rear without sacrificing the luggage compartment behind the rear seats. So no subwoofers. Or maybe those small ones that don't eat too much space. I don't really know, I haven't done research on in car entertainment.

Disk brakes are also a must. Bare minimum is front disk brakes, ideally all-wheel disk brakes. This improves braking for a really old car. I also wouldn't mind installing an ABS system if there is someone competent who can install it.

For the interior I would love to have a Black Mamba custom shifter from Vintage Speed. Maybe replace the pedals with newer racing pedals just so they get a bit more modern. Seats I would love to keep stock or upgrade to ones that have better side support and neck support. Also get new seat belts for the front seats and install good seat belts for the rear as well.

For the exterior The Vintage Speed custom roof rack also looks amazing. Aside from this I also would love to have pop out side windows for the rear passengers of the Beetle. Also classic eyelids for the headlights. Some classic JDM bullet side mirrors would be a personal touch I want to install. It may look weird for some but I want to see what it looks like on a Super Beetle. I'd also love to have a Sabelt steering wheel installed instead of the classic looking steering wheel. I did say I want a retromod Super Beetle.

Aside from these I'd want a Kamei front splitter because from what I've read this helps keep the car stable in relatively higher, highway speeds. I'd also love to install a real LED chase light bar to act as third brake lights and also additional turn signals and reverse lights. I'd mount the chase light bar right behind the roof rack so higher vehicles will still see the lights when I brake.

And that's it. Those are the things I'd like to do if I had the money to buy and fix up a Super Beetle. Now time to go get me some lottery tickets.

Out.

[860] Pets

We now officially have five pets in the house. That's a new record, if I remember things right.

We originally had two cats, Chula and Chuling. A Persian and a Siamese. Then our yellow Labrador Clancy came after a few months that we didn't have a dog. Early this year a stray kitten found our way to the house, whom my daughter named Cranberi.

Now we have a mixed breed puppy, Cola. She's the daughter of Clancy to a half-Labrador half-beagle dog who lives in the village. She's also a chocolate brown color, our first ever Lab with that color.

It's been relatively chaotic dealing with Cola. She's hyper, she's nibbling everything. Cranberi has surprisingly been very behaved. Except when she's in heat. She's been a lot more decent that what I was expecting. It could possibly be because she rarely enters the house. When she does, like the past few nights, she sleeps in what should have been Cola's cage.

The set up of the house is still a bit confusing right now. Hopefully as these new pets grow up they learn to become behaved and house-trained. We shall see.

Out.

[859] October Updates

 Covid-19 is still around. I still dislike going out of the house.

We're still surviving, and still going on with life.

I've been fine tuning my Monday to Fridays exercises, and because of this I haven't been completing them. Two weeks ago I got a migraine and a weeks before that I was mentally down so I stopped exercising. Last week I decided not to exercise daily because I've been feeling really fatigued.

During this workout down time I've been watching some youtube videos and looking for exercise alternatives that will help improve my overall strength, specifically my upper body strength. I've starting incorporating some beginner calisthenics workouts to my Tabata sequence. Basically using some of those workouts in the "cardio cycle" of my workout.

I've also been looking at newer kettlebell strength training exercises for my back/shoulder and leg/arm days.

I've decided not to push myself too much anymore because aside from starting to lose interest, the weather also is getting colder and making it harder for me to get up early. My target now is to be able to work out at least three times a week. If I can build momentum then I'll try to add more workout days.

It's all back to impulsive stuff again.

Out.

[858] What D&D Character Am I?

I Am A: True Neutral Human Ranger (4th Level)

Ability Scores:
Strength-10
Dexterity-10
Constitution-11
Intelligence-13
Wisdom-14
Charisma-10

Alignment:
True Neutral A true neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. He doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most true neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil after all, he would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, he's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way. Some true neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run. True neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion. However, true neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.

Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

[857] October 2020

It's October 2020 already. The last quarter of this year.

I was planning on writing something, the idea had formed in my head earlier. Unfortunately I forgot what it was supposed to be.

I'm still surviving. Times are challenging and honestly there are times I really just want to give up but for obvious reason I cannot.

Fuck 2020.

Out.