Datsun 510 appearance in Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

I am outdated! I am a slowpoke in the Transformers series, I know. I only watched the third film a few days ago.

In a busy scenario, Sam has his life in a kind of uncertain state: he his living with his girlfriend but he does not have a job. Bumblebee is working with human military, so when his parents arrive, he goes to his garage and a 510 shows up: (at this point I was drooling over the screen)

Funnily enough, his mother mistakes his car with Bumblebee: it's also yellow with black stripes.

However, throughout the film, they refer to the car as a piece of crap, and jokingly as a "collector's piece".

Why does the USA in general have so little love for the 510? Is it because they have so many of them in there? I'd really like to have one.

The film actually gave me some styling ideas, like the Datsun sticker in the front of the car (I'd move it to the side rather than have it at the center). The wheels are Watanabe-style at the back, and I don't know the name of the ones in the front, but I've seen some 510's with them on:

I would keep the same wheels at the front or back. Particularly, the Watanabes, which look great in most Japanese retro rides.

A similar one I've really liked is this one:

It is the perfect ride, since it has a capable engine (SR20DE), 4 doors, 4 seats, roll cage and racing harnesses.
In the meanwhile I've thought of buying a Datsun Sunny/1200 or a Toyota Corolla KE20  in about one or two years, but I'll leave that to other posts.

I know I've said something about the USA showing no love for the 510, but I've seen American people with some of the sweetest Japanese retro rides ever. Don't get me wrong: even though the general opinion is not to like them, the car culture is everywhere in the world.

I hope you all enjoy your rides!

Deciding on a Career - PhD or not to PhD?

Sometime in the life of a student fascinated about science, a question will come: go for a PhD or not? You may think the time for such decision has come for me, but in fact, it hasn't: I'm still half way in my Master's, so why am I making a post about this?

Truth is, I have given this question some thinking, but only now that other people ask me what I'll do it's become more serious. Partly because the outcome of my Master's thesis will influence my choice of  "if", "where" and "with who" I will do a PhD.

Some readers probably know I am a bit (a big bit) of a petrolhead. I like cars, but more importantly, I love to learn - hence my passion for restoration and modification. That's something I still have not had time to put into. Mostly because I'm not a very time-organized person. But it's definitely something important for me.

On the other hand, I am passionate about neuroscience. Sometimes the difficulties in a project make me wonder if I should be studying this, but fortunately I've had a recent conversation with a colleague. That conversation was a life changer. Right now I truly believe I will go for a PhD. And that's the result of never getting enough of science. I thing both my passions (cars and neuroscience, with everything attached to those two) are two sides of the same coin: looking to know how thing work.

The ideal situation for me would be to do both simultaneously: restomodding a Datsun as a hobby while doing the PhD. However... The ideal country for each of them is not the same. I hope I can find balance in the future.

I am thinking too much ahead. But thinking sometimes is good. I am grateful someone made me think and realise what I want. For now, I am happy with finding what I want!

London Transport: a guide by a newbie for other newbier newbies

   When I first came here I noticed a there were a lot of transports but there was the lack of a short guide. Why would you need a guide? Simply because there are many details in the London transport which are not obvious at first. I will try to be short, and should there be any mistakes or gaps, I'll fix them if you tell me.

   Types: In London you have buses, trains (you'll see the work 'rail' a lot), tram (which I never used), underground (or tube), DLR, Overground, WAIT WHAT? Well... the first four seem pretty obvious, but DRL and Overground not so much. DLR (Docklands Light Railway)  is a way of transport for the docks, at the same price as tube, and Overground is a suburban rail also at the same price as tube (but confirm this before you travel).

   Tube stations have direct connections with DLR and Overground, so you can plan your journey by looking at one of these maps:

   Buses are cheaper than tube and are really cool to use at weekends, because there is less traffic. In each bus stop there are maps you can use, which are really handy when you're looking for some place.

   The train is more expensive than bus, but cheaper than tube. This is by far my favourite transport for everyday commute. It's more quiet than the tube, it's fast and the time between trains is not too long (10 - 15 minutes).

   In London there are also Barclay's bicycles which can be used to go around the city, but they are paid so it will only compensate depending on how long you have to use them. The best thing about this service is that Barclay's spread maps around the city, and for this reason I've never actually felt lost in London.

   You can have 7 days or 1 month Travelcards which may compensate if you use more than one transport per day (for instance, rail and tube), but you are limited to certain zones (London is divided in layers, like an onion, going from the most central zone 1, to peripheral zones like 6.

   If you have any questions or corrections to this post, let me know. Best of luck in your next travel in London!