xunker's New Writeups

Motorcycle Emptiness (fiction)

2012-05-23T03:24:50Z

There is this book, "Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance." I have a copy, but I've never read it. Never even cracked the spine.

The subtitle says it is "An Inquiry into Values". But what does that mean. Finding out what you value? Why you value it? What "value" even means? Who has time for that? Well, the author, obviously, but that's not me. You can't build a philosophy by writing about.

I don't get on my motorcycle to inquire after anything. I am not out there to ponder my life, I am there to be as far away from it as I can. I don't want to find myself, I want to lose myself.

The Man says that the odds of dying on a motorcycle are about twelve times higher than in a car. I like to think that's the figure for mere mortals and I am doing my best to get that number to be much, much higher. Partly it's for the saying that "only when close to death do you know…

solid state disk (thing)

2012-05-22T23:35:33Z

A solid state disk, or disc, (hereafter SSD) refers to computer primary storage that has no moving parts. Whereas traditional forms of primary storage were rust-covered Frisbees, brown donuts or long strands of magnetized Christmas Tree trimmings, an SSD is comprised wholly of Flash Memory*.

SSDs are a huge advancement in computer technology in that they have become one of the best ways to wrest cash from the pockets of customers who would otherwise be completely happy with their computer if they didn't have another acronym to buy.

This is because:

Flash memory is FAST. SSDs write data and read data faster than traditional rotational media ever could. This also means that there is another open arms race for "faster". Whereas before, your standard hard drive may have been seen as current for any number of years, an SSD becomes second-hand thrift store fodder mere weeks…

hot spare (thing)

2012-05-22T22:17:34Z

A replacement piece that is kept in a ready state as to be brought in to service without prior notice. Generally said of a "set of things".

Examples:

RAID: RAID disk arrays have the capability of designating one or more of the disks in their array has a "hot spare". This disk does not contribute to the overall storage capacity of the array but instead is kept on hand with up-to-date redundancy information so that if one of the primary disks in the array fails this disk can be automatically hot swapped in to take its place.

Satellite Communications: For satellite communication systems that need high availably a number of satellites may be designated has "hot spares". In this case the satellites are in orbit and functional but are generally not being utilized. When another satellite of their group fails or or brought off-line for any reason this redundant satellite can be brought in to active duty to take over the gap in capacity or…

The problem with Harley-Davidson motorcycles (thing)

2012-05-21T23:38:30Z

WHY DO HARLEYS SUCK SO BAD!?!

HD motorcycles suck, period. Anyone who's owned a Ducati, a Triumph or even something as pedestrian as a Honda knows that Harley-Davidson's are a load of garbage. So, why are they so obviously bad? Let's go down the list:

TECHNOLOGY

The antiquated design is basically asking for it, right? I mean, look at these "Facts":

Displacement: 2 hogheads.
Horsepower: some, allegedly.
Torque: Hopefully enough to justify the price tag.
Fuel Economy: 2 1/2 Middle-Eastern oil-barons per driveway.

Useless, right?

Well, let's look at some different facts, without the quotes this time:

All-aluminium construction.
sequential multiport fuel injection.
electro

…

Work is worship (idea)

2010-08-02T19:07:54Z

"Work is Worship" ("Karam Hi Dharam" in Hindi, literally "Religious duty through action") is used frequently in India as well as other Hindu communities. It is the motto of the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army and of many schools in India. There's even been a movie made with this title.

It represents the philosophical and religious belief of "Karam Hi Dharam" or "Karma Yoga" which is one of the avenues to attaining Moksha, the Hindu belief of becoming one with the Universal Consciousness. The other two being Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and Knowledge (Jnana Yoga).

At the core of Karma Yoga is the understanding that all needful work done well is a reflection of the God and there is no such thing as "menial" work as long as it is done to the best of your abilities. Work is a means of realizing the God and is a form of praise, service, repentance and atonement though which one can eliminate their karma and be liberated from the wheel of reincarnation.

Wolfsburg Edition (thing)

2002-12-20T19:08:53Z

In the Volkswagen universe, the "Wolfsburg Edition" is a slightly modified production version of a particular model of a car. Sometimes it is also called a "Wolfsburg Special Edition", but that's not completely accurate because there is nothing that special about them as there have been Wolfsburg's of almost every VW made (special implies a one-time thing).

The "Wolfsburg" obviously comes from the head Volkswagen facility being located in Wolfsburg, Germany. As one person suggested to me, think of the Wolfsburg Editions of VWs as you think of the Director's Cut of a particular movie -- the stuff that the main people in charge wanted to put in but was taken out of the main version for various reasons.

Criteria for a Wolfsburg Edition varies wildly from year to year and some years are more "potent" than others. Generally speaking, the WE will only be applicable to changes in body and trim, but not to engine (these being saved for GT/GTi/GLi models). In some…