alexkozaris.com http://alexkozaris.com/ The personal online home of Alex Kozaris. en-us I know I'm late on this, but WTF http://alexkozaris.com/articles/i-know-im-late-on-this-but.html click here to read.

Thanks Dave.

]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:52:22 EDT Two more exams left http://alexkozaris.com/articles/two-more-exams-left.html click here to read.

Well, this is it. I've gotten this far in my studies and I'm down to my last two exams in the second half of my fourth year: ARTS 301 (Humanities) and PHIL 200B (Western Philosophy 2). To show you exactly what I'm dealing with, let me explain how these are going to work.

The Humanities course (which I am still angry I have to take; it's meant as an introduction to things like history, philosophy and anthropology, and is intended to make sure students are well-rounded and know a bit about themselves. But half of my degree is in the humanities. Why not just make me take a math course? It'd be more exciting) consisted of ten multiple choice quizzes online, each with 45 questions. The exam is 100 of those questions. This means that I essentially have to study the entire bank of 450 questions. Seriously, are you kidding me? Fortunately, there's no possible way I can fail this course. I've calculated that I can pass by writing my name down and answering only one question correctly. With a bit of review there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to answer at least 70 of them correctly.

Then there's the philosophy course which I didn't know I had to take. A lot of it is continental philosophy (which involves more metaphysics as opposed to analytic or Anglo-American philosophy which is founded on logic and empiricism). I hate continental philosophy with the fury of a thousand suns. It just doesn't make any sense to me; like they're holding on to an old, obsolete way of thinking. But that's just my opinion; if you dig this kind of philosophy, I respect that. But I'm looking forward to getting this over and done with.

Then I'm going to set all the old homework I don't need anymore on fire. I know... I've worked so hard for it all, why get rid of it? I'd ask a different question: for what might I use it? Stroking my ego when I'm an old man and can no longer tell my butt from my face? Even though I'm finishing school, philosophy will always be a hobby I enjoy, and I'm going to continue reading and enjoying it throughout my life. Philosophy is ideas, and ideas are dynamic. They constantly change and we throw old ones out when we think up some new, better ones.

So, those are my plans for the next week. After that, who knows. We'll see!

]]> Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:56:28 EDT Test-drives: Ford Fusion SEL V6 and SE Sport http://alexkozaris.com/articles/test-drive-ford-fusion.html click here to read.

Now for something a little more fun. Friday, I took a couple cars for a spin... both Ford Fusions. The first one was a V6/automatic, which is really a shame because you can't get the V6 with a manual. Why Ford didn't offer it I will never understand, because they already had a capable transmission in the Mazda6 (upon which the Fusion is based). It was nice, comfortable, and reasonably quick. But not very exciting.

Then I took out an SE Sport with the 2.3L 4-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual from another dealer. This time, the salesman let me have a more thorough test drive and didn't mind me thrashing it a little. With the manual gearbox and the sport suspension, it felt like a completely different car. It was very nimble, the steering was direct and there was little to no body roll in hard cornering. I could do with just a little more lateral support in the seats (considering the car's capabilities), but other than that, it seemed just right.

Unfortunately, the acceleration does not match the V6, and unlike the Duratec V6's signature intake growl that I love so much in my Sable, the Mazda-derived four pot sounds more like a power sander. But what an impressive little sander it was. It revs very easily and doesn't mind being taken to 6500 RPM, where it's happy to build a little house, get married and have children, who will move out after the next gear change, go to 6500 themselves and repeat the process.

That car will definitely be short-listed. For now, I plan to check out the Mazda6 s, which is available with a V6 and manual gearbox, to see if that will give me what I'm looking for. I also want to try out the Altima with the VQ35 engine and see how that is. More updates will be posted as I try out more cars.

]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:52:54 EDT Jesus pwn3d u http://alexkozaris.com/articles/jesus-pwn3d-u.html click here to read.

Found this on youtube. Bloody hilarious.

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:56:24 EDT The Running Game: Day 2 http://alexkozaris.com/articles/running-game-day2.html click here to read.

You might remember me saying that I was going to run every day. Well yeah... about that... it didn't happen. Yesterday morning I woke up with sore legs, knees, and feet. And yes, I did pull something in my back. I think a better idea is to run three times a week rather than every day. This will give me a chance to rest, and will be more realistic for me to keep up on a regular basis. Besides, I'm not trying to become a marathon runner, I just want to be in better shape.

Today, unfortunately, it was five below with a healthy bitter breeze coming from the north. Oh well. I've got some running to do! My goal was to match, if not beat, my achievement from Monday. Since I had an idea what I could do, it was less eventful, so I don't need to give you a lap-by-lap account.

During the eighth lap, the oh-so-familiar cramps and tweak in my back returned, but I was determined to do at least 9. So I set off again and, amazingly, after the ninth lap and the ninth sixty second recuperation I felt good again. So I kept going. By the time I felt like I did on Monday (like my heart was going to jump out of my chest and slap me in the face) I had managed an impressive 14 laps. Where the extra 5 came from I do not know, but I'm happy now.

Summary

Total laps: 14
Time per lap: 2 minutes (1 on, 1 off)
Total time: 28 minutes
]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:48:37 EDT The Running Game: Day 1 http://alexkozaris.com/articles/running-game-day1.html click here to read.

Since the weather is starting to get better, I've decided to put the other half of my getting-in-shape plan into action. Overall, I've been eating better and cutting out a lot of the fast food. As a result, my average weight has decreased by about 15 pounds. Now it's time for the other half: exercise. For the first week, I'm going to run every day and note on my blog how long I was able to run. At the end of the week, I'll see if my range has increased. Since I pretty much never post on here anyway, at least you'll have some new stuff to read. If anyone is even reading this.

Here's the method (thanks Rhian!): run for 60 seconds, then slow down to a brisk walk for 60 seconds, then run again, walk again, etc. until my heart explodes and my legs fall off. I'll call each two-minute running/walking turn a lap, if for no other reason than it sounds like I'm actually running entire laps, which sounds much more impressive than it really is. The key to impressing people is all about appearances.

How I did today

Lap 1 - Alright, let's get this going! I bet I can't even run for 10 seconds without collapsing, but I promise I'll at least try to do one lap so I don't look like a complete and utter failure.

Lap 2 - I can't believe I did one! And... I'm already starting to run out of gas. I pretty much suspected this would happen. Oh well, that's life.

Lap 3 - Hey, this is not too bad. I feel like I've completely run out of gas, yet somehow, I'm still going. Running on fumes, I suppose.

Lap 6 - How many fumes do I have? This is incredibly weird.

Lap 7 - Uh oh. I think I just pulled something in my back. Again.

Lap 9 - This is insane. My legs are fine, but my back hurts, I've got about 20 cramps in my chest, and I'm doing about 700 bpm. At any time now, the twigs and glue holding my heart together are going to start rubbing against each other, start a fire, and I will be the first documented case of spontaneous pulmonary combustion.

Lap 10 - About 15 seconds in and I've had it. I can no longer stand upright. Time to limp home.

Summary

Total laps: 9
Time per lap: 2 minutes (1 on, 1 off)
Total time: 19 minutes
]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:03:43 EDT Portrait of my grandpa http://alexkozaris.com/articles/morfar-portrait.html click here to read.

My Morfar (mother's father in Danish) just got back from Hawaii and he had a portrait done by an artist on the street. I think it's pretty accurate!

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:48:38 EST Stupid facebook spam: what are you listening to? http://alexkozaris.com/articles/stupid-facebook-spam.html click here to read.

One of my friends on Facebook did this note post thing. Basically, you're supposed to open your music player with your whole collection, put it on shuffle, and answer each of the following questions by filling in the name of the next song that comes on. Normally, I think this is silly, but in this case, the results were pretty funny. Try it yourself if you like! (Artist listed in brackets after the song title.)

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY?' YOU SAY
Are You Okay? (Was (Not Was))

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Can't Get Enough of This Gangsta Shit (Westside Connection)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Inevitability of Death (Tragically Hip)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Little Girls Pointing and Laughing (Alexisonfire)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Disgustipated (Tool)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
You Can Do It (No Doubt)

WHAT DO YOU FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
No Life (Slipknot)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Tyrannical (Rotting Christ)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Any Colour You Like (Pink Floyd)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Send in the Clowns (Cold)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Your Bedtime Story is Scaring Everyone (In Flames)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Covered With Sores (Cannibal Corpse)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Hands Off (Quidam)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Fuck The Police (Dope covering N.W.A.)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
120 MPH (Kompressor)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Ghost of Perdition (Opeth)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Inside Your Head (Tantric)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Striptease (Hawksley Workman)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Debris (Theatre of Tragedy)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Saturdays (Chevelle)

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:47:19 EST Schlogging! http://alexkozaris.com/articles/schlogging.html click here to read.

That's my new word for blogging in school between classes. Schlogging. Sounds German, doesn't it?

I read this article in the National Post today (I know, there's my first mistake, right?) called House Steal At $10.8M, Owner Says about a man who will remain nameless (until of course I name Mr. Singh, after which he is...nameful?) and his ordeal selling his house on the Bridle Path in Toronto. For those who don't know, the Bridle Path is a rich area in North York with all these multi-million dollar mansions on it.

At first, nothing surprised me, until I took notice of the quote at the top of the page.

"Canada, actually, is very backwards in its architectural design."

Huh? Oh, Mr. Singh goes on...

"We've had people coming in and saying, 'Where's the dining room, where's this room, where's that room.' They have their fixed ideas in what they want."

A pretty bold statement, if you ask me. What, then, does Mr. Singh's house look like?

Well, imagine a bunch of blocks thrown onto a large green mat by a small child. Then imagine several windows placed haphazardly about the outer walls, some big, some small, giving the impression that the building is an artistic fusion of cubism and Swiss cheese. And of course, the roof is flat, which allows this thing we get often in Canada called... what's the word... oh yeah, snow to accumulate. There's no dining room, but there is a basketball court and ten bathrooms.

I'm confused myself. Who in their right mind would want things like a kitchen, a dining room, or a living room? When was the last time you went to someone's house and saw them cooking, eating, or living?

The windows, the article states, not only expose your every move to the outside world (re: other rich people who are probably nosey), but they let in a lot of sunlight which keeps heating bills down in the winter (and, which they fail to mention, air conditioning costs up in the summer). That's an excellent idea and one I hope more $11-million houses incorporate into their design. Because the greatest thing weighing on the minds of the wealthy is how they're going to pay to heat their homes. Right?

Sorry, just had to rant since I found it so ludicrous. Now, excuse me while I go console Escalade owners who can't afford their gas...]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:39:55 EST Learning statistics makes you less stupid http://alexkozaris.com/articles/statistics-and-cars.html click here to read.

In university, I was forced to take an introductory statistics course. I dreaded the thought of having to learn "math" again, but by the end of the course, I realized its value and would recommend it to everyone.

Perhaps the most important lesson you can learn from statistics is the value of a sample size. Sample size refers to the number of cases from which you can extrapolate information and make inferences. Take for example a survey. If you ask 10,000 people who they are voting for, you will get a much better idea who will win the election than if you asked only 100 people. But 100 is at least better than 10.

Why then do people try to make the same inferences and blanket statements with a sample size of one? I think you might know what I'm referring to.

Back in 1981 I bought an American car, and it was crap. I'll never buy American again!

Perhaps some sobering analysis is in order. Over the past 20 years, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler have made millions and millions of cars. Looking around my neighbourhood, I see countless American cars that are ten years old or older--in fact, I own one! And while it has had its share of repairs and maintenance, it never lets me down. With 140,000 miles on the clock, it starts every day, doesn't burn or leak any fluids, and the engine is smooth as silk.

So what would you say if I said I would never buy a non-American car again based upon this single experience? You would probably call me an idiot. And you would probably be right.

Yet people who will not buy domestic automobiles regularly employ this thinking and are reassured by it. Many will not drive American cars at all, or will exclude vehicles from their list because of the name of the model, which had problems when it was a completely different vehicle twenty years ago.

Does anyone remember the Toyota Corrosion? That's what my mother called her Corolla when it started rusting six months after she got it. In fact, that was a common name for the car. Back then, owning an import was a joke, and was reserved for people who were too young or poor to afford proper American-made transportation. Of course, this 1970s car is a far cry from today's Corolla, which is widely praised for its reliability, durability, and overall quality.

I've always believed that you should have the right to buy whatever you want with your money. You earned it, you can make your choice. If you're shopping for a car, and you drive an American car and an imported car and find that the import is better, by all means, buy the import. I'm considering the Acura TL, Audi A4, and Nissan Altima as eventual replacements for my Sable. The main reason is that they offer something that the American carmakers don't: a manual transmission.

But that aside, there's nothing wrong with the Fusion or the G8. They are both great looking cars with beautiful interiors and plenty of power, should you go with the optional engines. And if you sit in one and drive one, you'll find the quality to be much improved from what you're used to seeing from the American carmakers. In fact, I'm sure if you removed the badging from them, you could fool quite a few people into thinking they're driving an import.

I don't believe any business who is incapable of making a profit should be supported with government funds. But think about it. The auto industry employs millions of Americans and a large number of Canadians as well. The big three don't deserve your money. They don't deserve anything. But what you deserve is the best car money can buy. And if you're already prepared to exclude the great vehicles coming out of Detroit right now because you had a bad apple twenty years ago, you're only doing yourself, and your fellow citizens, a disservice.

Just take one for a test drive. It won't cost you anything.]]> Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:26:05 EST