which spork?

I am trying to pick a spork pattern for my etsy shop, thepanthatcan.etsy.com. These were inspired by my friend (whose last name means spoon in Tagalog) who just gave birth to a baby spork. Please make a comment on your favorite. Thanks!

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china eastern airlines review

Our China Eastern Airlines flights were surprisingly comfortable. The flights cost $815 each through a travel agent. We were supposed to fly out on a Wednesday, but our flight was cancelled and we had to fly out on Tuesday instead. We're guessing that there weren't enough passengers on the Wednesday flight.

We arrived at LAX around 10:45 am and for the 1:30 p.m. flight from LAX on a Tuesday and arrived in Shanghai at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening Shanghai time. The flight was nonstop from LAX to Shanghai. Each seat had a power outlet (red dot under the white headrest cover) and a cup holder that could hold a cup without folding down the entire tray table. The power outlet let me keep my laptop on during the whole flight for entertainment.
On the flight, we received two meals and one snack. For lunch we were given a choice of beef noodle or chicken and rice. I chose beef noodle.
For our snack, we got two cha shu baos (bbq pork buns).
For the second meal, we got a choice of beef and rice or veggies and rice. Beef and rice seen below.
We sat right in front of the lavatories. While this was convenient, we smelled someone smoking in the lavatory a few times during the flight.

When flying from Shanghai back to LAX, we were not allowed to bring carry-on luggage that weighed more than 10kg each, so we ended up checking one roller bag. The bag made it back to LAX so all was good.

Our return flight left a little late at 3:30 p.m. instead of 2:50 p.m. from Shanghai on Sunday and arrived at LAX at around noon on Sunday. Gaining a few hours was pretty cool. We were served beef noodles or fish and rice for dinner, another cha shu bao for a snack and for breakfast, we had a choice of an omelet or beef and rice.

About an hour before we landed, there was a stretching exercise video played on the center drop down video screens.
The plane had two seats on the left, three or four in the middle and two on the right. Daniel and I sat in two seats on the right for both flights. A couple of friends of ours asked for an entire middle row on the way back to LAX and got it because the flight was not very full. We did not think of that when we were checking in. Darn! But overall, it was a good flight and the convenience of flying nonstop was great!

how we change a 2002 pathfinder front brake pads and fluid - with photos!!!

On Saturday, Daniel and I changed the front brake pads on my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Here's how:

1. Jack up the front right tire.

2. Remove the hubcap and the six bolts on the tire. Roll the tire aside and leave it vertical since I don’t like to lift the tire when it’s lying flat down.

3. Remove the two bolts on the back of the caliper near the top and bottom.

4. Use bungee cord to hang caliper from suspension.

Here's the brake pad under the caliper.

5. Remove two bent wires holding the brake pads together, set aside and save.

6. Remove two brake pads.

7. Here are the new brake pads and the instructions.

8. Two brake pads on the left are new. Two brake pads on the right are old.

9. There are two metal "shoes" that hold the brake pads on the rotor. Remove the top old metal "shoe" off.

10. Put new metal shoe (came with the new brake pads) in place of old.

11. Remove the bottom old metal "shoe".

12. Put new bottom metal "shoe" in place of old.

13. Place towel or tray under rotor to catch excess brake cleaner. Spray brake cleaner on rotor, brake pad holder,...

rest of rotor, ...

and caliper.

See clean rotor and caliper below.

14. This is the old brake pad.

This is the new brake pad.

15. Lubricate new brake pads under metal plate with lubricant that came with brake pads.

Spread lubricant.

Place metal plates back on each brake pad.

16. We got the brake pads below for $49 plus shipping.

Akebono ACT691 Front Ceramic Pads

17. Place one brake pad on rotor.

18. Place second brake pad on rotor.

19. Next work with the caliper to retract the two steel pistons.

Steel part of pistons needs to be pushed back so that it is flush with the inside face of the cast iron part of the caliper.

20. To push the pistons back, the brake fluid needs to be released. On the caliper, take the rubber cap off of the brake fluid spout.

Slide a plastic tube over the spout with the other end in an empty container. Use a wrench to release the brake fluid by loosening the nut near the brake fluid spout a quarter turn.

21. Open the hood of the car and take off the brake fluid cap. Place a towel over the painted part of your car to avoid damage by brake fluid. Prepare a container for brake fluid.

Use something like this to suck out some brake fluid from the top to avoid overflow of brake fluid when the pistons are compressed.

22. Back down by the caliper, place one of the old brake pads against the two steel pistons. Use a large adjustable wrench or anything that can pry the caliper open to press back the pistons.

The steel pistons need to be pushed back flush with the caliper so that it will fit over the brake pads.

23. Place the two bent metal wires back in the holes on the brake pads pointing toward each other.

24. Slide caliper over brake pads with pistons against the brake pad on the inside.

25. Bolt the caliper back in place by screwing in the two bolts on the inside (top and botom).

New brake pad installed.

26. Refill brake fluid to top. Do not get brake fluid anywhere on paint.

27. With one person near the caliper, one person depresses the brake pedal, brake fluid flows out at the caliper and brake fluid gets sucked down through the system from the tank. With the pedal, tighten the bleed screw. Bleed the brakes until the the fluid coming out is clean. Be sure to leave enough fluid for the other side and do NOT suck in any air.

28. Make sure the bleed screw is tightened all the way.

29. Take the plastic tubing off the brake fluid spout and place the black rubber cap back on the spout.

30. Put tire back on and repeat steps for left front tire.