Hello, followers of the aY!
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I know it's been a while since my last post. Actually, it seems that it's always been a while since my last post. I know I don't update this blog too frequently, but I like to keep it around, so when I do have something to blog about, I can.
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Recently, I went to FanExpo 2010. It was a record attendance year, and people were piled up like zombies trying to get in. If you've ever played Dead Rising, it was a lot like that.
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As some of you may know, my super-hot, incredible girlfriend decided to Cosplay this year, and she went as Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII. You can read about her progress here if you'd like.
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Well, I cosplayed too this year, for the first time ever. I always wanted to, and I always had a few ideas, but I never got around to it. Until this year!
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Everyone's favourite person dressed up in everybody's favourite WoW armor set: The Judgement Set. Tier 2, for you old-school types.
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The costume was a success overall. I got a lot of looks, a lot of pictures taken, and a lot of random people saying, "shit, look at the Paladin!" Even better, I didn't end up buying anything at FaxExpo because I was so busy with all the cosplaying, that it makes up for the fact that costumes cost a lot to make... Therefore, I will definitely do this again next year. I have my eyes set on making a costume based off of WARMACHINE. Either an original Warcaster named "the aY," or I will make Commander Coleman Stryker. Not sure which yet.
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Either way, I'm sure to have a lot of fun.
Wish me luck! And, I'll be sure to keep you updated on any things that transpire. ^.~ d

Detour on the path of life

Hello all!

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I know it has been a long time since I wrote anything in the blog. It's been even longer since I've seen a lot of my friends. Some of it was because I've been keeping it low-key for a while. However, some of it has to do with the fact that I am changing the path I'm taking in my life.

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Simply put: I'm moving. I didn't want to tell anyone a while back though because there were too many uncertainties. If you want, you can read on about the details! Otherwise, that is my long story, short.

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I've been spending a lot of my weekends fixing up the house, throwing away trash, and getting rid of things. So while you guys were having fun on the weekends, I was taking out the trash, literally.

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My parents had to sell their business. That was the first variable. However, Cadillac Fairview has a rule where if you only have two years left on your lease, you can't sell the business. My parents had just over two years left, so if they wanted to sell: time was critical. Also, new tenants need to go through an interview process along with the other usual things like credit check and such. So, there was one potential buyer, but there was nothing saying they would pass the interview. Therefore, all this talk about moving may have been a non-factor for at least two more years.

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The other variable was that my parents didn't know what kind of business they wanted, nor did they know where they wanted it to be. Port Perry was a big option for my dad, so potentially I was going to go there. Of course, if the business they wanted wasn't available, we wouldn't move there. Seeing that I didn't even know where I was going to move, it made it hard for me to tell you guys where I was going to end up.

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Finally, my parents decided that they may take up to a year off and relax. So, we are going to move into an apartment. Most likely around Yonge and Finch. The Korean area of Toronto, go figure. So, since apartments have little space, you can see why I am getting rid of a lot of stuff. There just isn't the space in an apartment compared to my current home I live in. We are throwing things away left, right and center!

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So, that's the update for now. This is what's been keeping me busy. Sorry for not telling you guys sooner, but I didn't even really have any concrete facts myself. Now, when are we going to hang out? ^.~ d

the aY is appreciated again!

Hello all!

I know yesterday, I may have sounded a bit full of myself for being the first ever EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH at my firm. In the big scheme of things, this award is very small. But again, I was just taking credit where it's due.

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Still, I apologize for making such a big deal of being the first ever employee of the month at my firm, because now...

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I am the first ever EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR!

So, again, I'd like to thank... MYSELF for this great honor. Being employee of the month is nothing when you represent greatness for an ENTIRE YEAR!

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Remember all, keep up the hard work, and you will be recognized! Shlates!

the aY is appreciated!

Hello all!
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the aY must inform you that he is among the most appreciated employees any firm could have.
That's right, I have earned the "Employee of the Month" award at my firm, and I happily accept it with open arms. (Maybe my VIDEO RESUME had something to do with it!)
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Do you notice that at many award shows, artists thank a bunch of people? I understand where the thanks for those close to the award winner come from. Friends, family, significant other, or any other source of inspiration or support are reasonable. However, they almost always start thanking other faceless titles such as "the producers," "the record label," et cetera. If you can't mention their names, then it's probably best that you don't thank them. Well, that's my opinion anyway. You can have yours.
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So, this is where I have to start the thanks to people:
I'd like to thank...

Myself!
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That's right. It's my hard work and dedication. My

blood, sweat and tears. Well, not tears. the aY doesn't cry. But appreciate the sentiment, nonetheless.

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Now, you may be wondering why I wrote this self-hyping, un-humble, narcissistic, self-appreciating, promotion of myself: the aY, right?

Many times, people are given something but they don't appreciate that they were chosen for a reason. There are plenty of other people out there who will take the appreciation and credit for the hard work you put into something. Don't let them.

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Be confident with yourself and your work. Everything needs improving somewhere, but everything deserves credit to some degree too.

Cosplay Stuff

Greetings blogspotters!
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In the late summer during August, Toronto sees FanExpo, the largest exposition of its kind. Every year, I attend this, and I see all kinds of awesome cosplayers showing off to the photoseekers. This year, I too intend on participating. However, so does my beautiful girlfriend.
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This is all fine and dandy, but she has decided to dress up as Lightning, a character from Final Fantasy XIII, and of course, she feels like she has to get all the details right. One such detail is the weapon of choice for Lightning: the Gunblade. This is exactly as it sounds. A blade that is also a gun. Complete with moving parts that need to be replicated.
So, the lovely Michelle (name may or may not be real to protect her privacy) has me doing slave labour for her. It's like a Chinese sweatshop, only without the Chinese, and without the sweat.
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After a few sessions of creating, we've finally crafted the prototype of the weapon. Then, we have to make it out of wood, and I'm going to have to paint it. It's a good thing that I am so multi-talented and good at everything

I do, or else we'd be in some trouble!

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Thinking about how to make all this work was exhausting to me. Then, there's the actual physical labour of cutting all this damn corrugated cardboard. Don't laugh: it hurts your hands eventually! I better watch out when we have to use the jigsaw to cut the wooden version out. Or hammering the nails. And the arthritis I'll feel when painting this thing. And the hunched back I'll be having while doing all of this. Fortunately, there is a plus side to all this. We'll have a replica of a damned Gunblade! How cool is that? Plus, I get to score brownie points (do people still use that expression?) with the lady! Oh yeah!

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So, the message you should take away from all this is: if you are good at everything you do, then the ladies will like you. Guys, take note!

P.S. You can check out her Cosplay blog here: http://crazygurlie-cosplay.blogspot.com/

Mystery at the office

Hello all!

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I know you all love a good mystery every once in a while. Well, I have a tale for you!

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I was just working at my desk and as usual, I went to grab some paperwork on the side of my desk. Only, this time, something was different. I looked over and found that someone had jizzed on my desk! I will admit, I was a little confused at first. I know that I have a lot of fans and all, but they usually just e-mail me, or come up to me and ask to take a picture. This was definitely new.

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The culprit could have done it from Friday to the following Tuesday. The office is closed on the weekends, and no one can get in, so those days were ruled out.

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Then, i noticed that there was some jizz on a paper that I had just placed there the day before. Late in the day. Therefore the culprit must have done it either Monday afternoon, or Tuesday morning!

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I had established a narrow time frame, so now I needed witnesses. I asked around my department. I made special care to mention that I was not accusing anyone, I just wanted to know if they knew anything about the liquid dreams on my desk. No one fessed up to it. I even asked my supervisor if she knew anything about it. Another dead end.

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Soon after, my supervisor had brought someone from the HR department, who wanted to get the whole story. I went over it, then he said he'd have to tell the man from employee relations. I'd have to fill out paperwork about all of this.

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Long story short, I didn't find out who jizzed on my desk, and I haven't gotten around to cleaning it up.

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I hope you weren't expecting a conclusion to this story. If it were solved, then it wouldn't be a mystery! There's the lesson you should take home with you today.

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Until next time!

On again, off again love.

Hello all!

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and the series of abnormally warm weather we've been having this whole Winter and especially this Spring so far.

You know what happens when the weather gets warm? People become more amorous. Oh, yeah!

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Well, I have that problem every so often. I become overtly passionate out of the blue. I'm not talking about anything sexual though. I'm not going to tell you about that over my blog. I'm talking about my love for Star Wars.

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I don't know what it is, but every so often I get overtly obsessive about my passion and if you aren't interested, you better get the hell out of my way, or you'll be caught in the crossfire of blaster fire (like 3-P0, and R2 in the opening of Episode IV). Well, fortunately, most people do get away. Unfortunately, some people have a harder time boarding the escape pod. Specifically: incredibly super-hot and sexy girl in the photo.

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I want to play Star Wars: CCG? Chances are, she's going to play. If I want to watch the movies? She's probably going to have to watch. At least she burned Empire at War for me, so I can get my SW fix myself when she's not around. However, my lovely girlfriend doesn't fight over it. Instead, she just embraces it (well, most of it) and goes through the phase with me.

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So, I have a message for my readers: if you are ever caught in a love triangle, don't fight it. Introduce your two love's to each other, and have a hot and passionate time together. Everyone will be happy. Trust me.

Takeda Intake impressions!

Hello all!
This blog is telling you my experience installing the Takeda Retain Short Ram Intake for the 2.0L Mitsubishi lancer engine.

All-in-all, the design of the intake itself as far as functionality is great, but I was plagued with a few problems during the actual installation of the intake.

First, i opened up the wonderful box. Inside, I opened a little bag that came with decals, a license plate frame, and a keychain! I decided to attach that keychain to my keys right away.





My good friend Elie was kind enough to help me install the intake. He has the tools for any job. Ladies, take note.

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Also, if you have any car troubles or if you are looking for a good mechanic, you can visit him at Elie's Automotive.
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During the installation, the instructions wanted me to attach the heat shield to a bolt that is already in the stock engine setup. However, the stock screw was too short. Like, REALLY too short. We had to improvise and attach a nut to the bolt, and screw another screw into the nut. It was hard to get it to fit, but we finally got it. Maybe other Lancer's have longer screws, but apparently mine didn't. Please note, this is not reflective of my personal being.
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Another issue with this intake is the rubber elbow mount that attaches the tubing to the engine itself. The rubber piece is really a little too large. In the end, the binding will get the job done attaching the pieces together, but there really was no need to make the rubber piece so large.

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As of 19 March 2010, I have been driving and I am noticing a better pull at around 3500 RPM than before. One thing to note, after a lot of driving, I opened up my hood and put my hand in the engine bay. There is a big difference in temperature in the areas divided by the heat shield. The air temperature difference is like day and night. It worls great so far!

Nothing like a little afternoon car work! Thanks for reading, all!

Good things come to those who wait...

Hello all!

Firstly, I will no longer be sending out alerts via e-mail when I post a new blog. Instead of intruding on you guys, I'll just allow people who care enough to read this blog to check it out themselves!

There has been a new development in my quest to get an intake! I have been looking to get one for a long time, and I've been researching so many different kinds. Then, I found THIS intake: the Takeda Retain Short Ram Intake.

While CAI was the way many people seem to gravitate to when it comes to my car (and believe me, I almost bought one), I thought that this intake was interesting enough to get instead. I wont go into the details of why I chose this one, but long story short: I now get this intake at a reduced rate because I get to test and review it! I used to read a blog by a guy named "EvoSoul" along with all the forums related to my car, and it ends up that he is Canadian, and current organizer of my car club! What are the odds? And through him, I now get to test this bad boy out!

Now, there is a point to all this: since last summer, I've been researching, getting opinions from various sources, and comparing different intakes. Everyone had different opinions on the different intakes, and I really didn't know what I wanted. But since I waited long enough, not only did the prices drop dramatically for most of the products I wanted, but new designs came out that gave me specific features that I wanted! All in one package!

Therefore, as the title says: "good things come to those who wait (and are awesome)!"

Later all!

Post Holiday Injury

Hello blogspotters!

Sorry for the lack of entries in recent time, however the holiday season took up most of my time. I want to start off the new year by saying, "Happy New Year!" to everyone. To all my friends and family: let's start this new year with fun and happiness and carry it throughout the year!

I was enjoying all my wonderful gifts (thanks, Michelle and mom), and I recently joined a car club (Toronto Lancer Club) so all my limited free time was spent.

Now, don't be alarmed people: it is not I who was injured, rather it was my wallet. It took quite a beating over the past few months due to the holiday's and over spending. I defintely went overboard this holiday season, and while I do regret spending so much all at once, I don't regret spending the money. I had a lot of fun, I have a lot of new things, and I honestly can't complain.

However, my new problem is, I have no money. Well, I have minute spending amounts but I can't make big purchases for a while, that's for sure. Of course, now that I am in this predicament, some higher power decided it would be fun to slap me in the face (figuratively) and release a new air intake designed for my car. Just to let you guys know, I have been shopping around for an air intake for about a year now. Because of the new design however, air intakes for my car are incredibly expensive (due to R&D costs). Well, it's OK. My plan was to buy an intake by late spring anyway, so it's not like I was planning to get this thing right at this moment anyway. It just sucks that something you want comes out at half the price of comparable items you've been eyeing for a while, and you can't do anything about it.

This just teaches me a lesson: don't spend all my money. And, that I am great.

See you all! ^_^ V