stevelevin

The Desert GP is over...

2008-05-18T14:38:52Z

Testing and racing in temps over 100 is tough. Funny how we went from cold and rain at Laguna two weeks ago to triple digit temps under the blazing sun in Buttonwillow.

My driving wasn't nearly as hot, though.

Passing of a great man...

2008-05-13T03:27:36Z

I had the wonderful luck to grow up on a small cul-de-sac that represented, perhaps, one of the last vestiges of Americana -- a handful of houses that had a carpenter, a couple of mechanics, a plumber, an air-conditioning man, and an electrician amongst their numbers.

It was a block where we were considered some of the "newcomers" even though my parents moved into our home in 1968 and stayed there until 2001. A block where more than half the people there bought their homes new in 1954, and are still there today.

Bob Finley was our next door neighbor during all those years. A truly wonderful man, and the first person to come over and see if you needed a hand if you put up the hood of your car. And he always had some of the coolest tools.

He didn't speak a lot about history, although during the Second World War he had served as an aircraft mechanic for some of our nation's greatest and most legendary aviators.

And I can't think of a single bad thing about Bob. Not a one.

He will be missed, badly. The world needs more people like him.

I decree this is summer.

2008-05-09T15:11:37Z

I will no longer accept non-summer weather.

The End.

(we'll see how this works out, but I figure it's worth a try)

How not to take Turn 9 at Laguna Seca...

2008-05-07T23:37:30Z

I forgot to add in this gem earlier...

race video!

2008-05-06T18:23:27Z

The camera was inadvertantly a bit off-kilter, but here's the first lap of the morning race.

best street signs ever...

2008-05-06T17:15:07Z

are to be found here.

They are, though, unofficial. duh!

photos from the weekend

2008-05-06T00:51:57Z

Just a handful...but they can be found here.

Two races, no incidents

2008-05-05T19:23:43Z

I could go into a long breakdown of how the races went, but I know that would be boring. There's no great exciting video, really. But I did pass a few people for position on track, and did better than I did at Infineon, so in the end I'm pretty happy, although there is still a lot to learn!

The difference between cats and dogs...

2008-05-02T15:41:52Z

I got this via my brother...

*DOG DIARY*

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

*CAT DIARY*

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the
rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of
escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending
comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,
I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of "allergies."
I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the
guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell,
so he is safe.

For now...

Race weekend coming...

2008-05-02T02:06:49Z

Not much else to say about that. Preparing mentally for the most part, running endless laps in my head. I've noticed I'm quicker in my head. And the tires provide more grip.

The Kindle is definitely cool

2008-04-28T17:43:58Z

Despite the high cost of buying one, the utility of this e-book reader is already evident. It makes for a lot less clutter, and wasted paper (i.e., the daily paper) -- and it is just as easy to read as conventional paper. I could really end up reading a lot more books with this thing...

For a little more spice...

2008-04-24T22:46:36Z

Here's the video of one of the better laps during testing at Laguna Seca on Monday.

Kindle so far...

2008-04-23T16:36:37Z

Definitely neat. The text is very legible. For books, the switching between pages isn't bad at all. For using it to read the newspaper, I'm not as sold, because the selector wheel has to be pushed inward to choose each article (since I tend to read only some of the articles, not every single one)...but it's not bad.

For true home "digital newspaper" use it'd be ideal if the screen were larger, but since the target is as a book reader, the screen -- which rather cleanly emulates a paperback book -- is the right size.

Pictures and video..

2008-04-22T17:04:52Z

The Pictures...(some not so bad) are located here.

And a quick video, showing how NOT to exit Turn 4:

Laguna Test went well

2008-04-22T04:03:03Z

Pictures and video to follow. I still need to find about 4 seconds.

Also, the Kindle has arrived. We are testing it now!

Pope Benedict acts wisely?

2008-04-21T13:06:38Z

While I completely understand the visiting and praying at Ground Zero in New York, I'm less clear on the actual act of consecrating the site itself. At least to my understanding, that's a deeply religious act. One could argue that it means that the Catholics who died there are now "buried" on sacred ground, but what about the others? Traditionally (that is, with regards to a cemetary), they have been rejected from being buried there.

Cry Passover...

2008-04-20T04:42:06Z

...and let slip the Gefilte of War!

last night of bread...

2008-04-19T01:41:32Z

I must say...I do enjoy good bread!

A reason to go to Milan...

2008-04-18T01:53:04Z

Appears to be the Cathedral. You can actually walk on the roof!

stevelevin @ 2008-04-15T21:03:00

2008-04-16T04:03:56Z

New Amsterdam was an interesting show. Sadly, it's over.

Oh well.

stevelevin @ 2008-04-11T14:12:00

2008-04-11T21:13:16Z

"Farce of the Penguins"

Great movie. Not for kids. Maybe not even for adults all in one go...but like Southpark...funny.

Death of a Legend...

2008-04-06T21:18:54Z

Charlton Heston will be missed. He was both a pretty decent actor and a far better man.

And now there's video...

2008-03-31T21:09:01Z

I basically broke up the start and finish into two pieces, and left out the big middle section where I was running all on my own.

The start:

And the last couple of laps where I was battling with Jerry Kroll for position...(and, sadly, lost).

Please remember, Satnav is just a GUIDE...

2008-03-31T20:15:40Z

And not all-knowing. Otherwise, you might just might end up where you don't want to be!

I didn't win!

2008-03-31T18:04:55Z

I didn't even come close...but I wasn't last by a large margin. At some point there will be video, but there's just pictures for now. Click on the image to go to the gallery.