Urban Exploration: Independent Refining Corporation

Independent Refining Corporation, Hamshire, Texas:



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Located in Southeast Texas, the Independent Refining Corporation crude oil facility was built in the 1940’s and expanded in the late 1970’s. The refinery was closed in 1981 (or '82), following "elimination of governmental small refinery subsidies, and implementation of new pollution control regulations that necessitated large capital expenditures." The facility was purchased out of bankruptcy in 1986, but never re-started operations.

The entire place seemed like it was caught in some sort of Planet of The Apes time warp, with nature slowly working itself back into a dominant position. An absolute pleasure to explore!

Urban Exploration: 904 Athens

Urbexing "904 Athens" - Athens, Texas



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Urban Exploration: Murmur Corporation

Murmur Corporation, Dallas Texas:


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Urban Exploration: Mary Allen Seminary

Mary Allen Seminary, Crockett Texas:


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Urban Exploration: Falstaff Brewery

Falstaff Brewery, Galveston Texas:


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Urban Exploration: Highway 59 Shack

Abandoned shack on Highway 59, somewhere between Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas

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Motorola Droid Wallpapers

I have dedicated a section on weedhopper.org for free, full-size Droid wallpapers. The perma-link is here: http://www.weedhopper.org/droid/

Currently, the page/site isn't very mobile-friendly, and the droid wallpaper page is pretty much cut off from the rest of the site for the time being (have not added it to navigation or site map yet) - so please be sure to bookmark it once you get there.

I will add more Droid wallpapers as I get them, or create them, and may start adding a few Motorola Droid or Google/Android-related news items as well. Don't know yet.

Anyway, enjoy: http://www.weedhopper.org/droid/

remote post from Droid

Testing a post from my Motorola Droid. Theoretically, this should be simple :-)

***update***
It was simple.. but shortly after, I found a really nice App on Android Market called Blogaway.

Here's the QR Code (Barcode scan with you phone to visit Android Market)

New Tires - Yokohama AVID H4S

I finally got around to buying new tires for my 2007 Civic Si. After much research and shopping around for a tire that was going to best suit my needs (without breaking the bank), I decided on a set of Yokohama AVID H4S.

So far, I am really impressed with just about every aspect of the tire, and there is a world of difference between them, and the factory equipped Michelin Pilots.

It's a rather good-looking tire as well :)

AVID H4S Features and Specifications:

• Stock Size: 215/45 HR17
• UTQG Ratings: 500/AA/A
• Weight, per tire: 23.6 lbs
• Overall Width: 8.4 inches
• Overall Diameter: 24.7 inches
• Tread Width: 7.1 inches
• Tread Depth: 10/32 inch

Download the Yokohama AVID h4S Brochure!

Photo of the tires installed on the car:

Civic Si - Polishing with Turtle Wax ICE

It was a beautiful day today, so I took the opportunity to pick up where I left off last week when I washed my car. Last week it was cold... damn cold.... so, my baby only got a good washing and a vacuumed interior.  My hands were numb, so I didn't wax the Si, nor did I get to apply protectant to the interior.

Today, I fixed all that.  After a quick rinse and wipe down, I broke out the Turtle Wax Ice Liquid Polish.  I saw this stuff on an info-mercial late one night, and bought some the next day.  Unlike past experiences with other "As Seen on TV" products, I did NOT regret this one.  It truly performs as advertised!

Turtle Wax Ice is a synthetic polish that will not leave a chalky residue, and it CAN be applied to hot surfaces, and even in direct sunlight.  Ice goes on easy with an included foam applicator, and comes off just as easy with a microfiber towel, also included.  It really seems to deepen the paint, and gives your car a wet, glossy appearance.  It's also great for black plastic trim and wiper arms too!

Turtle Wax offers several products in the ICE line, but two that are certainly in my future are the Ice Clay Bar kit, and the Ice Spray Detailer:

Once I finished polishing the exterior with ICE (including all the trim), I cleaned my windows with Eagle One Aeresol Glass Cleaner.  (more on glass cleaners later)  When I was fully satisfied with the exterior, I turned my attention to the interior.

It had been ages since I had used any Armor All or other protectancts, and it was really showing. I don't like my interior surfaces that dried out, but I DON'T like it thick and greasy, either.  So, instead of using a nearly uncontrollable spray protectant, I like using the Armor All Protectanct Wipes.  They come in a convenient plastic tube, very much like a tube of baby wipes. 

Armor All also makes cleaning wipes, exterior detailing wipes, glass wipes, as well as wipes formulated for leather surfaces..  check em all out here.

I finished the afternoon out with a nice, long cruise around the area.  I love a clean ride!

I will post photos of the car itself as soon as I can!

2007 Civic Si: MagnaFlow Cat Back Installation Photos

I took some pics of my new MagnaFlow Cat-Back Exhaust System that I bought for my 2007 Honda Civic Si.

Opening the box, this is what you'll find inside...

Actually, there was a LOT of plastic wrapped foam packing material that I didn't take pictures of.  The system came well-packaged, and there were no scratches or dents on the flashy bits.

The instructions, gaskets, and clamps were in a seperate plastic bag:

The 4" double-rolled stainless tip attached to a 5" diameter stainless MagnaFlow muffler:

The MagnaFlow system, like most, have the hangers attached for a no-brainer installation:

Again, good packaging on the polished stainless components.  Here, I am holding the resonator:

Speaking of... I believe the kit includes extra pipes to bypass the resonator. I had a couple of pipe segments left over.

Here are a couple of photos of the nice thick flanges:

On to the Install photos..

Here you can see where the system bolts up to the stock catalytic converter.  This was the ONLY trouble spot of the whole install process.  It turns out that the pre-drilled holes on the mating flange were not properly spaced, and had to be enlarged slightly. The gasket had to be modified as well, but no leaks as of yet (about a week after install).  If you look closely at the photo below, you can see small gaps to the inside of the converter studs:

A nice undercar shot showing the resonator and muffler/tip. Also note the smooth mandrel bends:

Another shot of the polished resonator:

"MagnaFlow" is nicely embossed into the muffler casing..  And a vicious 74 camaro in the next bay   o.O

More pictures of the polished stainless exhaust tip:

2007 Civic Si - Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust and K&N drop in filter

I recently found out that I can purchase a MagnaFlow Cat-Back system for my '07 Si through the NAPA store I work at.  Not only can I get it through there, since it's through the NAPA system, the freight is only going to cost me a flat $8.95, PLUS, we're an independant store, so the owner lets me buy anything for my car at cost - Which, in this case, equates to a savings of $200.00 off street price, and over $500 off MSRP!

About the MagnaFlow system:

Material: 100% Stainless Steel
Tubing O.D. Size: 2.25in.
System Type: Cat-Back
TIP O.D. Size: 4in.
TIP Quantity: 1
Single/Dual: Single
Exit Position: Rear Exit

Features and Benefits: Lifetime Warranty, Dyno Tested And Proven To Make Power, Performance Gains In Horsepower And Torque, Great Sound - Has A Smooth, Deep Tone, Easy To Install, Mandrel-Bent. All Welded. Built To Last.

MagnaFlow Exhaust Sample Video

Pictures of the Exhaust System and hopefully the undercar install coming soon!

**MagnaFlow Install UPDATE! - Videos**

Before (factory 2007 Civic Si Exhaust):

After MagnaFlow Install:

AND.... since I'm saving so much on my exhaust system, I justified a K&N drop in filter - for now...  

K&N offers the "Typhoon" Short Ram Intake with built in heat shield, plus it ties into the stock Civic Si cold air induction.  Lifetime warranty... Proven for 7 hp.... it's definitely on my short list!   I really like the Fujita SRI, but unless I can fabricate something like K&N figured out, I think I'll pass.  I'm just too worried about heat soak issues with a short ram setup here in Southeast Texas.

3D logo animation samples

All models and animations were created by me in Lightwave 3D

If you need a 3D logo or animation, check out Vis-Fx.com for custom graphic design!

Unorthodox Underdrive Pulleys

Adding to the ongoing wish-list for my 2007 Si coupe, I came across a set of lightweight underdrive pulleys for it. Anything that reduces extra spinning mass is a winner in my book.

The manufacturer claims:

• Each set comes with a crank pulley and alternator pulley
  
• 4-8 hp gain (depending on application) plus torque gains across the entire RPM ranges
  
• Better throttle response
  
• Smoother engine operation (each pulley is engineered to exacting standards for weight distribution)
  
• Small underdrive (10 to 15%) on the crank pulley to further improve power output
  
• Accessories (like alternator) still maintain factory spec output

I could live with getting another 5 or 6 horsepower, plus, there's the bling facter:

Si Performance and Handling Upgrades

I may as well make a wish list for the parts I want for my 2007 Civic Si Coupe..

All prices are either from CorSport or SCTuned (priced and available as of today)

• Fujita Short Ram Intake - $209 (SCTuned)
  
• Vibrant Race Header w/High Flow Cat - $643 (SCTuned)
• Vibrant Streetpower Cat-back exhaust - $483 (SCTuned)
• Power Rev Racing (P2R) Throttle Body Spacer w/2 gaskets - $120
  
• Ingalls "Stiffy" Engine Torque Dampener - $150
  
• CorSport Short Shifter & Aluminum shifter cable bushings - $95
• Progress front sway bar - $136 (SCTuned)
• Progress rear sway bar - $140 (SCTuned)
• CorSport rear lower tie bar - $69
• Eibach Pro Kit springs (1" drop front/rear) - $219
• Samco Silicone hose set - $129

So, about $2,300.00 worth of performance and suspension goodies that i'll be working towards in coming months...  All of which should make my Si even more fun to drive!  With everything said and done, I'm hoping for about a 40 horespower gain overall (including gains fom switching to royal purple), a firmer suspension, and much tighter shifts.

Eventually, I'll want the hondata reflash to really take advantage of the other mods and increase my useable power band, but I'm not too keen on voiding my warranty just yet.

2007 Civic Si performance upgrades - Fluids and Lubricants!

I finally got around to signing up on the 8thCivic.com forums, something that I've been avoiding like the plague. I know me, and if I start digging around and looking at what others have done to thier Si's... I knew i'd get the urge...

and so it begins...

Out of all the available performance mods you can do to your Si, I started with probably the most important, yet one of the lowest power yields (maybe) - I changed my oil and filter. However, instead of going back with a crappy filter and conventional oil, I chose a NAPA Gold (Wix) oil filter and Royal Purple fully formulated synthetic oil.


Why this choice? Well for starters, I work at a NAPA, we carry both product lines, and I get a discount! Plus, I really prefer the Royal Purple over other synthetics due to it's proven durability and other redeeming qualities:

• More Horsepower (est. 5-7 hp gain)
• Saves Fuel (less friction, less strain, more efficient)
• Longer lasting than conventional oils (little to no viscosity breakdown)
• Reduces Wear
• Reduces Emissions

Yeah, yeah... other synthetics claim the same (and some DO deliver), but after being in the auto parts game for a while, you come to know which stuff if good, and I'm telling you... Royal Purple is good stuff.

As for the oil filter, I firmly stand behind Wix. I have repeatedly seen/heard of Wix filters straighten out a "bad" oil pump by stabilizing the engine's oil pressure. They manage this feat by NOT skimping on the construction of the filter internals. They use much more filter element material than most others, they have a METAL inner core to prevent filter collapses, plus they incorporate a nice retention spring for most filters. By the way, never use a Fr*m oil filter if you care about your high performance engine!

After Oil and Filter, my next step is to use Royal Purple's Synchromax (high performance manual transmission fluid), and add Royal Purple's Purple Ice to my Si's coolant system. The Synchromax tranny fluid offers similar gains in horsepower plus reduces heat and friction. The Purple Ice is a "Super-Coolant" additive that will reduce your radiator temp, conditions your water pump seals. The Purple Ice is HIGHLY recommended if you live in a hot area, as it will greatly improve your car's coolant system.

Relevant Info 
Wix Oil Filter: part #51356 (napa # 1356)
Royal Purple SAE 5w-30 High Performance Motor Oil (4.5 quarts)

Purple Ice: part # 01600

www.royalpurple.com

www.wixfilters.com

Pan's Evacuation to Longview, TX

When we were forced to evacuate from Hurricane Gustav, my daughter and I went to my hometown, Longview, up in NorthEast Texas.  We have family there, and we hadn't seen most of them since we evacuated for Hurricane Rita  :-(

Naturally, we had to take Pan, so I made sure to grab some photos of her while we were up there.  She did really good in her cat-nip laced carrier... you know... "Pandora's Box"

As a reward for her good behavior on the 215 mile trip, I bought her a new feathered-ball-dangle-stick ....toy:

There were a LOT of people in and out of this VERY strange house (to Pan, anyway)...  so she ended up getting spooked  quite often at all the noises and voices...  I tried to grab some photos, but this the best one I managed to get..  Not a very good shot, but you can still see a little bit of a fluffy tail.

Pan played a LOT with the new toy, and her favorite, a plush giraffe...  Below, Pan is ready to pass out from all the activity.  Oh yeah, she got a nice blue collar, too!

Getting in trouble while playing with the giraffe:

Pandora Pics

Some photos of our kitten, Pan... (Pandora)

These were taken when she was about nine weeks old, and still battling earmites.

She's a cutie, and just happens to be sitting in my lap as I write, looking up to me as if to say, "why are you not feeding me right now?"

More photos in a bit...

Massive GM Recall due to Fire Risk

General Motors made the announcement today to recall 857,735 vehicles due to an apparent fire risk involving a faulty windshield washer circuit - according to Federal Safety Regulators.

The affected vehicles include year 2007-2008:

• Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban
• Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT
• GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Saturn Outlook
• Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne
• 2006-2008 Hummer H2
• 2008 Buick Enclave

Get to a dealership soon if you own one of these.
Fire go burn.

Hurricane Gustav: Evacuation Woes

I really, really hate hurricanes.

After Rita nearly wiped out our community though (other surrounding areas weren't so lucky), I don't take them quite as lightly as I had in years past. Now, with Gustav bearing down on the Gulf of Mexico, and a potential projected path into my back yard... It looks as if though I'll be packing my stuff, grabbing the kiddo and the kitty, and making my way north yet again.

The good side of this - because there's already enough bad - is that I will get to spend some much needed time with my family in Longview, Texas.

For now though.. it's a wait and see situation. Word is, State officials in Texas have passed down orders to start turning off Water, Gas, and Electric utilities IF they call for a mandatory evacuation. I'd like to know what the hell people are going to do if they are the ones that HAVE to stay (police, medical, etc.) They say it is to nip a lot of problems in the bud, but seems like they are simply freaking out a bit early.