The SLK is back in for another round of fixes.   This time the list is pretty long.   Let's see...the heated seat burned up on me, the center console now refuses to open, the passenger door speaker is rattling, the engine is pinging and the lights sometimes refuse to recognize that it's daytime.    Oh, and the window has been squeaking for a while.     Despite it all, I enjoy this car more than any other I have every had.

While the car was in, the dealer gave me a pretty snazzy E class to drive.  You know every once in a while it's nice to ride around in something besides a little sports car.  It came in handy when I got stuck in traffic for about an hour on the way home    It was very unlike Tulsa to have a traffic jam this long but for some reason, it took me an hour to travel the last one mile to my house.   Years ago, I used to get very cranky when I got stuck in traffic but these days I don't.    Why?   Well, it occured to me that most of the time a traffic jam is caused by a wreck (as it was today) and as frustrated as I am about being late, someone up ahead of me is having a MUCH worse day.  I mean when you get down to it, I am sitting in my air conditioned, luxury car listinging to the stereo, I really shouldn't get upset.   Now days, I just think of it as a chance to lean back,  listen to some tunes and reflect on the day.

So, I got the new HTC S620 this week and so far it's pretty good.  It's positively tiny compared to my Jamin.  It is missing a few features that I was used to on my Pocket PC.  I am not sure if they are just not on SmartPhones or just this phone.    For example, when receiving an email, the led doesn't light up for you.  This is kind of a pain since you have to hit a button to see if you missed a message or voice mail.    Also, I can't seem to figure out how to show the attendees in meetings but I think the amazingly small packaging may be worth a few little things such as this.    I had a ton of these types of things when I switched from Palm OS to Windows Mobile so maybe I will just get used to them after a while.

After 2 months, I finally sold my Mac mini.    I didn't need to sell it really but really wanted something different for my new office.  I replaced it with the new Apple 24" iMac.  I spent all day getting it setup the way I like it and then when all was done realized that it was defective.  For some reason the monitor brightness is stuck at max.  So, it looks like I will have to get it exchanged.  Other than that it works great.    It is very fast even with only 1GB of ram.    Best of all it looks great in my new (almost completed) office.      It looks like my office may be the first room I finish decorating in the house but I guess that's not a big surprise since I spend so much time in front of my computer in there.

While the computer does have to go back, I did get to play around with Photo Booth (see my attached pic).  If you haven't played with Photo Booth, it's basically a little app that lets you snap pictures with various effects and styles.    It uses the camera's that seem to be build into almost every apple these days.  It's a fun little app even if its only good for one thing.

If Friday's episode of Battlestar Galactica isn't enough to get everyone watching this show I don't know what is.   There was a scene when the Galactica is falling through the atmosphere to release a squadron of vipers only to jump back out of the atmosphere is one of the coolest things I have seen in a LONG time.      Then only a few miniutes later we got to see what a Battlestar can really do when the Pegasus gives it's life destroying a bunch of Cylons.    If you haven't started watching this, now is the time.

I saw on digg that this show is moving to NBC soon.     I hope it works out and get's the ratings as it will mean we can finally watch it in all of it's HD glory.

BTW - I have just done my yearly phone replacement.   This time I am trying out the new HTC s620.   Most people will know it as the T-Mobile Dash but being my typical self, I wanted the unlocked one.  After making a successful switch to Windows Mobile (finally) I figured this time I would try out a windows smartphone.   This new phone different from most smartphones in that it has a full 320x240 screen and QWERTY keyboard.   Wish me luck.   It's supposed to be here this week so I will post some images when I get it.

I am back from a trip to Houston ( I hate planes) so this weekend, I think I will veg and watch TV.   I am a season late but I really love the show my name is Earl.   It may be the best show on TV.     It is the first show I have seen in years that doesn't lave me feeling like It just a waste of my time.  This crazy show is even heartwarming sometimes.  In fact, its almost like a modern leave it to beaver.   Each week it's like I  get a little life lesson.   

In addition to Earl, I have picked out my TV stack for this season.    Not too many shows (got to get out and do something besides watch TV) but a decent selection.   

Heroes - After a so so first episode, the last two have really been good.    How can you not like a show about a constipated guy that can control time and a cheerleader that can't be killed.    I still don't think a crazy woman with multiple personality disorder is a hero but we will see.

Lost - I picked up this gem last season and love it.    No one else believes my theory that the island is an alien research facility but they will see in the end

Studio 60 - I hate drama...if I wanted drama, I would watch the news.   As long as this stays funny, it stays on my list.

Battlestar Galactica - Unfortunately this is pretty much the only good Scifi available these days so it's on the list.    Maybe this season they people will finally get to have a good day.

The Office - I hated the first few episodes of this series but it finally sucked me in.   Now I can't wait to see how things turn out with Jim and Pam.

Doctor Who - Alene (grr! anger phase) introduced me to this show last year and while I think it is kind of silly, it's scifi and I seem to be watching it so it made the list.

Let's see, 5 hours of TV a week, that's not too bad is it?

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.   I decided to upgrade to dasBlog 1.9 a few weeks ago and have been pretty busy.    Here are a few pictures of the latest house items.   In fact I think this is the last of the official "house" pictures.   Since I last posted, we have finally got the kitchen lights in and installed the FINAL vent hood.    It was worth the swaps as it looks great.   

I spent the weekend installing the new blinds and finishing a few other odds and ends.   I put in ebony wood blinds by Bali to try and complement the Asian styling I am trying to achieve.   I was worried about mixing in the Asian contemporary style into a house with a pretty traditional color scheme and finishing but I think it is turning out very well.      I have a lot of furniture that is yet to be delivered but I am not worried.    Right now I am focusing on the living room and study.   I am having trouble finding a few items.   I really need to find some modern chairs but that aren't too big.    If you know of some, send me a link.

I also spent some time dialing in the new TV...did I mention I got a new TV.  I am officially Plasma crazy.   I got a new Pioneer PDP-6070HD.  It's a 60 inch plasma.   I got it in last week and I had a heck of a time figuring out how to mount my center speaker.  Don't tell me to mount it under the TV in that perfectly good cabinet.    I can't stand the sound of a speaker coming from below a TV so it had to go above.   After trying the various options, I ended up installing a shelf behind the plasma and siting the speaker on both the TV and Shelf.   It give the look of just siting on the TV which since the TV is only 4 inches thick it can not.     People also tell me to wall mount my plasma but for me, I just don't like the look, instead I have it sitting on a new BDI stand that looked huge until I sat the plasma on it.   Now it looks tiny.