So since I’ve decided to keep the ‘Woo instead of upgrading to a sexy CX-7, I’ve decided why not go the next step and actually upgrade it.

My Leganza is an “SE” model. Not the absolute bottom line, but not the top end “CDX” version. But, what I have going for me is the fact that most of the stuff the makes an SE a CDX is already there. All of the internals are there - wiring harnesses, sensors, and the what not. And to be honest, for being a ‘bargain’ car maker, Daewoo did do a lot to the hardware side of things¹ - it gets over 30mpg, the 2.2 liter engine is surprisingly peppy, 4 wheel anti-lock disc brakes², power windows, locks, mirrors, etc. So it’s definately worth keeping around for awhile.

The best part is since they sold it all to Chevy, the Daewoo branded stuff is getting dirt cheap - I bought the service manuals and wiring schematics for over 80% off their normal price! Hell, I can buy the Daewoo allow rims for only $50 a piece, when they originally went for almost $250 each! Not to mention, the Daewoo website is amazingly helpful. I can buy, literally, any part that the car has - right there online.

But even better, and back to my original point - eBay has many of those same parts, and even cheaper. So since we’ll be moving to a place with a garage and multiple rooms soon, I might as well get started!

Read the rest of this entry »

1. Taking away from the comfort side of things to do it [↩]
2. And it’s a 2001 mind you - there’s a lot of 2008 cars that don’t have 4 wheel disc brakes [↩]

Sometimes when I’m leaving feedback for stuff I bought on eBay, I make it a tad off the wall.

This week’s Tune Tuesday focuses on one of my favorite genres, punk. To be more exact, Southern California punk. I don’t know what it is - the socially responsible lyrics, the poppiness of the sound, or the sophisticated style & imagery contained within, I love it. And one of the biggest sounds of the California punk scene happens to come from Greg Graffin’s Bad Religion¹². Started in 1980, they’re known for their expansive vocabulary, vocalizing harmonies and extensive imagery.

And one of the best examples of that vocabulary will be in today’s song. It’s off their newest album, “The New Maps of Hell”. The song is called “Prodigial Son”. Listen in, read the lyrics, and let me know what you think!

Buy “New Maps of Hell” from Amazon.Com

Bad Religion -Prodigal Son

Oh can’t you feel the nostalgia son I wonder about ya
Modernistocrat Horatio Alger
Clever never hesitating in the baiting ever waiting
For the canticle of manacles abating
Do you ever forget - you had a regret - and what you only guessed at
Might still be waiting?

When the prodigal son with a caroming shadow of hate comes to land at home
Well he’s a mourning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call
And father never understood just how the work gets done
Don’t look at me, no I ain’t one, no prodigal son
Don’t look at me, no I ain’t one, no prodigal son

When everybody about - is read to bout you - about controversial values
Don’t you think you better readdress the level of the cowardice rising to drown you
Did you ever connect - or come to reject - or even inspect
That dream that hounds you

When the prodigal son with a caroming shadow of hate comes to land at home
Well he’s a mourning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call
And father never understood the way the work gets done
Don’t look at me, no I ain’t one, no prodigal son
Don’t look at me, no I ain’t one, no prodigal son

When you least expect it he’s going to run
Like the blood red path of the western sun oh yeah
The prodigal son is waiting, waiting for his moment to come

Well hell no, don’t look at me
Can’t you see, I ain’t one, no prodigal son
Don’t look at me, no I ain’t one, no prodigal son

1. Wikipedia article about Bad Religion [↩]
2. Bad Religion on MySpace.Com [↩]

And as such, instead of making anyone else buy a scanned copy of the Daewoo Leganza service manual on CD like I did, I’m uploading it to my website and just letting whoever wants to download it.

So here you go, Daewoo Leganza owners!

Daewoo Leganza Service Manual volume 1

Daewoo Leganza Service Manual volume 2

After messing with trying to read it for awhile, I’m just going to spend the $19.99 (Originally $110, save 83%) and buy the service manuals straight from DaewooUS.Com.

Speaking of service, as soon as I posted I was going to keep the ‘Woo until she falls apart, the blower motor that controls the fan goes out. So I picked up one on ebay for $20, and after we move and I have a garage, I’ll go ahead and tear the ‘Woo apart and put it in.

When it rains, it pours.

Although Max already posted this over at the MNSpeak water cooler, I felt it was odd enough for me to repost as well. One more reason to not live in Lakeville besides the fact that it’s Lakeville comes from their very own Police Department and an article from the Pioneer Press - Lakeville Police Surprise Sleeping Man With 3am reminder to lock his doors.

Yes, they went into his house and woke him up at 3am to remind him to lock his doors. Awesome.

Complete article text is after the jump, in case you can’t see it.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve never heard of Woot.Com, then consider yourself lucky. Woot is a Dallas-area based wholesaler that pioneered the ‘deal a day’ internet business model. Their slogan is “One Day, One Deal” for a reason. At midnight central time every day, they put up one item that’s been substantially discounted. Then you can buy up to 3 of them until midnight the next night, or until they sell out - whichever happens first.

As you can imagine, it’s fairly addictive. Some of what they offer are incredibly cheap and seemingly worthwhile you can’t help but order several of whatever it is.

Then there are the woot-off’s. Woot-offs are when they put an item up at an even better discount, for a limited amount of time - probably because they are in short supply. A lot of the time it’s something they had up earlier, and sometimes it’s brand new stuff.

Woot-offs are pretty awesome. I love them, my bank account does not. Especially if you’re on twitter, and decide to follow Woot. And then you turn on device updates, so you get an SMS/IM when there’s a new item. And twitter actually doesn’t break that day.

What happens?

You end up with a lot of stuff you probably didn’t need, but now you can’t live without.

Like what, you may ask. Well, lemme show you what I bought today. I’m such a sucker.

This Tunesday, we’ll explore that wild wacky world of our ex-girlfriends. Crazy, unstable, insane - and so many more words describe them, but only one song can.

That song? Track 2 from the Self-Titled debut album from The Dresden Dolls. That songs name? “Girl Anachronism”. Take a listen, read the lyrics, watch the video, then tell me this doesn’t describe at least one of your exes, if not all of them!

The Dresden Dolls - The Dresden Dolls

Lyrics:

girl anachronism

you can tell
from the scars on my arms
and cracks in my hips
and the dents in my car
and the blisters on my lips
that i’m not the carefullest of girls

you can tell
from the glass on the floor
and the strings that’re breaking
and i keep on breaking more
and it looks like i am shaking
but it’s just the temperature
and then again
if it were any colder i could disengage
if i were any older i could act my age
but i dont think that youd believe me
it’s
not
the
way
i’m
meant
to
be
it’s just the way the operation made me

and you can tell
from the state of my room
that they let me out too soon
and the pills that i ate
came a couple years too late
and ive got some issues to work through
there i go again
pretending to be you
make-believing
that i have a soul beneath the surface
trying to convince you
it was accidentally on purpose

i am not so serious
this passion is a plagiarism
i might join your century
but only on a rare occasion
i was taken out
before the labor pains set in and now
behold the world’s worst accident
i am the girl anachronism

and you can tell
by the red in my eyes
and the bruises on my thighs
and the knots in my hair
and the bathtub full of flies
that i’m not right now at all
there i go again
pretending that i’ll fall
don’t call the doctors
cause they’ve seen it all before
they’ll say just
let
her
crash
and
burn
she’ll learn
the attention just encourages her

and you can tell
from the full-body cast
that i’m sorry that i asked
though you did everything you could
(like any decent person would)
but i might be catching so don’t touch
you’ll start believeing youre immune to gravity and stuff
don’t get me wet
because the bandages will all come off

and you can tell
from the smoke at the stake
that the current state is critical
well it is the little things, for instance:
in the time it takes to break it she can make up ten excuses:
please excuse her for the day, its just the way the medication makes her…

i dont necessarily believe there is a cure for this
so i might join your century but only as a doubtful guest
i was too precarious removed as a caesarian
behold the worlds worst accident
I AM THE GIRL ANACHRONISM

And the video, from YouTube:

Tune Tuesday (Tunesday) is a new feature at the Pavleck.Com blog, every Tuesday I remember to do it, I’ll upload a song and give you the lyrics. The song will either be something stuck in my head, something I can’t get enough of, something local, or something I want you all to hear.

And for the inauguration, what better then the sexy vocals of the tigress Patricia Day of the HorrorPops¹. Billed as a psychobilly band (Though one that states it is not pyschobilly) they are, at least in my opinion, one of the jewels of the Danish music scene.

Today’s song is from their second album “Bring it On“. The song “Walk Like A Zombie” is one of the goofiest efforts in a decidedly campy affair - but that’s not to say there isn’t a lot to love about it. The HorrorPops are definitely one of those bands you listen to more for the fun and camp value, then for hard hitting lyrics with plenty of social commentary. Never the less, this song is very addictive, with Patricia Day sounding both sultry and smoky as well as rockabilly and doo-wop, and Kim Nekroman’s² parts perfectly balancing it, bringing the sound back down to ‘campy’ and keeping it out of the realm of ludicrous.

All and all, I absolutely love these guys - and having a hot raven-haired upright bass swinging tigress as the lead doesn’t hurt them, either. I hope you will too. Let me hear your thoughts, as well as anything you’d like to turn me on to.

HorrorPops - Walk Like A Zombie.mp3

Lyrics courtesy PLyrics.com

HorrorPops - Walk Like A Zombie

you walk like a zombie
you talk like a zombie
it’s not in your head
you’re a living dead
whatever you’re gonna do
you’re gonna make me cry

you walk like a zombie
(you make me wanna cry)
you talk like a zombie
it’s not in your head
you’re a living dead
whatever you’re gonna do
you’re gonna make me cry

[Chorus:]
and you wanna hold hands
in the cemetery
and you wanna be lost
for all eternity
and everything is dark
and kind of scary
and you crave the full moon
but I don’t care
and you want a mountaintop
with a little castle
and you wanna name our kids
Morticia and Fester
and all the flowers you bring
are always dead
and you howl at the moon
but I don’t care

six feet under
you make me wonder
you wanna be undead
so you can be hunted
whatever you’re gonna do
I’m gonna follow you

six feet under
(you make me wanna follow you)
you make me wonder
you wanna be undead
so you can be hunted
whatever you’re gonna do
I’m gonna follow you

[Chorus x2]

1. Official site, which goes to their MySpace right now [↩]
2. Kim Nekroman is also the front man for his band Nekromantix [↩]

I’m looking forward to tonight, because it marks the season 2 opener of the awesomely masculine show, “Ice Road Truckers“. I’m not much for reality shows - I don’t despise them exactly, but they seem so overdone and re-used. And then this History Channel gem came around.

In far northern Canada, there exists companies so remote that everything has to be flown in. And we’re talking big companies - diamonds, oil, gold, minerals. Lots of money moving around. The only problem is planes have a weight limit that they can carry, and a 100,000 pound silo isn’t the easiest thing to lash onto a Cessna.

So years ago, as these industries were booming in Canada’s Northwest Territory, an enterprising fellow named John Denison became the first Ice Road trucker.
Ice roads¹ are exactly what they sound like - in the northern reaches of the country, many lakes and rivers dot the landscape. This impassable barrier opens up in the sub-Arctic temperatures winter brings about. Costing about $10 million and lasting no more then 90 days, crews head out and literally plow a road over the ice that’s now 4+ feet thick. After the plowing, come the truckers. Who can earn upwards of $1,000 a day delivering freight to the energy and mineral companies dotted along these bodies of water. Freight that is desperately needed and has no other way to get there.

And “Ice Road Truckers” is the story about the people who get the freight there. And it is the greatest show ever. And season 2 starts tonight, 8pm, on the History Channel. So watch it, and be amazed!

Interview with Hugh “The Polar Bear” - Ice Road Trucker

1. Read the history of the Ice Road [↩]

Many years ago I used to own a Jeep Cherokee Sport. It was an older model, 1996, but I loved it very much. It had 170,000 miles on it and the windshield seal leaked because of the rust,  but it started every single time and ran strong then anything I had ever owned before.

Then, in March of 2005 my baby was stolen from me. I was shocked. Right after that I was pissed. Then right after that I went looking for a car.

My credit wasn’t all that hot at the time so I had to take what I could get. And the only thing I could manage to get was the 3rd largest exporter of automobiles from Korea.

Yes, I ended up with a 2001 Daewoo Leganza. This beauty right here:

At the time I hated it. It wasn’t my Jeep at all. It was the only car Denny Hecker showed me, and since I was simply dropped off at the dealership by a friend I really had no choice.

Well, now the ordeal is almost finally over - it’s just about paid off. I paid to much, and it took to long, but when you’re in the desert, it doesn’t really matter what the glass of waters costs, you pay it, right?

So for the past 6 months or so, I’ve been mulling over, dreaming of, a new car to get when this thing is paid off. Bouncing around from automaker to automaker, model to model, I had finally set my sites on the perfect vehicle for me. A Mazda CX-7. Look how gorgeous it is:

Of course, mine would be painted black, with tinted glass and powder coated color-matched rims, but still - it’s a quite aggressive looking beast. And with a turbo-charged 4 cylinder, it’s 22MPG isn’t half bad.

So I was getting quite psyched for it. Then I realized something.

I hardly ever drive my ‘Woo as it is. And not having a several hundred dollar a month car payment would be quite a nice thing to get used to.

So I’ve switched gears and am now psyched to work on my car and get it in tip-top shape. It needs new brake pads and rotors all around, so I picked em up and when we start moving in a month I’ll use the new garage to get that done - I’d do it here, but I’m not sure how the rotors come off - it’ll either be a simple wheel off and then bam, rotor off; or it will be an hour long ordeal which requires me taking the hub assembly apart.

And if I do that, I might as well replace and/or repack the wheel bearings, since I’ll be there anyway.
Then when that’s all done, I’ll give it a general tuneup - new spark plugs, wires, figure out why the pesky check engine light comes on - probably a flaky O2 sensor caused by crappy SA gas, since the only time it comes on is when I get my gas from there.

Then, I’ll do something I should have done years ago, ditch my beloved Belkin iPod tape deck adapter and get myself a proper receiver and some new speakers to go with it.

And that would be about it - then I just drive it until it falls apart. And considering I was due an oil change over a month ago, but haven’t done it yet since I’m still about a 1000 miles short of 77,000, that will be quite some time. At least long enough to save up for a big down payment