Michael

I really like my 2003 RSX Base but I keep getting swayed by the S version.

I am currently under my dad's Allstate Insurance.

I heard the type-s is the 8th most expensive car to ensure, so what would I expect to pay monthly for it?

Does the extra insurance costs justify the +40 HP, better street cred, and a shiny "S" on the back? Would I benefit from just spending the extra money on performance parts?

I am a new stick shift driver and still have a few issues to correct. When in a parking lot, how do I go slowly in 1st gear without jerking around? In general, do I keep on the biting point when I just want to go slow in 1st?

When slowing down, is it better to downshift or just put it in neutral and brake? Do I have to keep the clutch in when I brake in neutral?

Also i've stalled my car, many many times. How bad is it really?

Thanks

I have been a blue-black stripe belt at the American Taekwondo Center,and after a two year hiatus due to financial woes,I have re-entered the martial arts world and decided to take on a different style,karate,or rather,a mixture of both. I'm am sixteen years old, and have been training for about 1 1/2 years before my hiatus. A few weeks ago, I signed up at the Ernie Reye's Martial Arts.

http://www.erniereyes.com/html_documents/associati...

I was lured in by the 1-month free program and was away from martial arts for so long,I wanted to go back immediately. They claimed they were a different school,so I had to restart as a white belt,but they said since I had experience,I was able to rank up quickly.

I have learned of "McDojos" recently and questioned my other previous school,a small association in Los Angeles,where the students were relatively unmotivated and I was told to "take it easy"

I want to learn many skills necessary to gain the title of a black belt,and I don't want the "watered down" things that McDojos offer. I want to be able to take the skills I learn and defend myself in a real fight.

That aside,I will provide some characteristics of this school that hints that it is probably is or isn't a Mcdojo.

-$230 for two students,which is me and my little brother,a beginner. Compared to my previous school,which was $150 for only me. Contract system is a concern.

-Structured belt promotion system. 1 month each from white to orange to gold,then escalates to two months from green and purple,then 3 months for blue and blue-black,and increases steadily. Discretion of promotion eligibility is left to the instructor regardless. Black belt is achieved in about four years,which I heard is good compared to "McDojo" standards,which pumps out black belts within 1-3 years. Total 12 color belts.

-"Striping" system: A means of determining testing eligibility by pieces of multi-colored tape on the belts. My mentioning of the instructor's discretion still follows,but most who have the required tape can test.

-Multiple and numerous locations. I heard this was a bad thing.

-This school offers a children's program. "Lil' Dragons" and a Kickboxing program. The Lil' Dragon's program,however,has a separate belting system which doesn't apply to normal ranking.

-Normally,older students have higher belts, youngest i've seen who has a high rank was probably an eight to ten year old. He had a brown-black belt,which goes to red,then black.

-Instructors are certified,those with "Master" titles have experience of at least 10 years.

-Black Belt club,which offers 4 days of attendance instead of the max 3.Discounts on gear and more sparring. Requirements to join is recommendation by instructors and only at the end of a payment period. I do not know if payment is required to join. Please correct me if this isn't right.

-Sparring starts at Gold Belt,two months after training. At American Taekwondo Center,sparring started after one month.Sparring is random and students are required to bring gear every day.

-Board breaking is only twice a year for a week. $5 per board and break.

-Encourages tournament entering,may be a good thing.

-Instructors are active in teaching students,my instructor told me and otheres mistakes in technique directly

-Self-defense techniques involve grappling and counter-grappling and other ground offense and defense

-School is not egotistical. The school emphasizes growth of character and requires a creed to be said at the start of each class.

-Students are relatively disciplined. Instructors keep a good grip on their students.

-There is a register at a counter in my dojo. Suggests that transactions frequently occur.

-Training is relatively less rigorous than American Taekwondo Center. At ATC,I was frequently pushed to the peak and ended up sore the next day. Occasional "endurance drills" at the end of each class to test strength.

I have only been enrolled in this school for less than a month,and don't believe I have the right to accuse my school of being a "McDojo" since I don't have much experience,and also with all due to respect to them. I do not wish to slander them or hurt their business,I just want to know if what i'm paying for is really worth it.

I'm pretty sure they're westboro members,they all have the same signs that they flash at military funerals and stuff.

These fleas come around to my local anime con every year,and since it was my first time at the con,really,it was funny how people tried to piss them off. Next time i go,I plan to do something totally random,that it's awesome. I planned to crossplay (crossdress-up) and do some "beast" breakdancing in front of them. All that,while wearing a trollface mask and making a sign saying "Haters gonna hate"

Now,i decided i don't have the guts. I don't know how to breakdance either. I was thinking of an alternative that can piss them off,won't require much work on my part,and gets people to cheer me on. Any ideas? Thx.