Said - said - said: I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in trenchtown,
--> Bob Marley: No Woman, No Cry
5th One Down-->
Monday, July 23, 2007
Little Pretty Things
Hi all,
In the interest of non-corporate nepotism, I'm sharing my cousin Terry's ebay store (Terry King Glass) with you. :) Terry is a trained artist who works mostly in glass. And he's from Wisconsin, so he's pretty nice (Wisconsin boys are always nice!).
DB and I both have some of his smaller pieces (cufflinks and a sea turtle, in particular) and they're pretty pretty.
Go visit!
In the interest of non-corporate nepotism, I'm sharing my cousin Terry's ebay store (Terry King Glass) with you. :) Terry is a trained artist who works mostly in glass. And he's from Wisconsin, so he's pretty nice (Wisconsin boys are always nice!).
DB and I both have some of his smaller pieces (cufflinks and a sea turtle, in particular) and they're pretty pretty.
Go visit!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
In case I ever become famous...
Yes, you've been axniously anticipating my as-of-yet unreleased albums Dickie Knows The Wraparound* and There's No Such Thing As A Southbound Rabbit, since 1993.
Now you'll soon be thrilled by my junior effort!!!:
Unfortunately, Tim Has A Thing For My Underwear**
You'll see, someday I'll be on TRL, like, totally talking about where i get inspiration from and, like, how I come up up with the titles for my albums and, like, you can totally say you saw it here first.
*Nintendo NHL 1993! Booyah!
**The fact that I had a roomie named Tim in college makes it all the funnier.
Now you'll soon be thrilled by my junior effort!!!:
Unfortunately, Tim Has A Thing For My Underwear**
You'll see, someday I'll be on TRL, like, totally talking about where i get inspiration from and, like, how I come up up with the titles for my albums and, like, you can totally say you saw it here first.
*Nintendo NHL 1993! Booyah!
**The fact that I had a roomie named Tim in college makes it all the funnier.
Shark Attack 3: Megalodon
Otherwise known as:
The Offer I Got On The Way To Work On Wednesday
So, Wednesday morning, I was sitting in my car on my way in to work, at the stoplight right near HCY, you know, waiting to turn left. I was singing along to the radio--Billy Joel's Still Rock and Roll To Me. (I think I might have been on "How about a pair of pink sidewinders and a bright orange pair of pants?", ah, but it's hard to recall...)
I had the window open, but I did not have my foot up on the side mirror, as usual (that's how I roll). And, as C.A. of HCY inquired, I had remembered to get fully dressed before beginning my pilgrimage that morning.
My light turns green and I turn left. All of a sudden a ratty guy (around 65, maybe?) leans his whole upper body out the window of his ratty S10 and says, "Hey baby, hop in my car and I'll fill in the blank*".
Put any offer you like there, but remember, it was very specific. For those of you who have seen Shark Attack 3: Megalodon, well, you already know ...
In the interest of public safety, I had to tell people at work all about it (of course)!
The HCY comments were as follows:
1) Ew.
2) Are you sure you put your shirt on before you left the house?
3) Can't catch any fish if you don't cast your net.
4) Oh my god, that's gross.
5) I wonder if that ever works?
6) Nice to see his libido is still in charge.
7) Hey, what's wrong with an S10?!?
8) Huh. I'm going to have to try that on the way home.
9) What is wrong with people? and
10) Did you get his number?
Signed--> "Not easily shocked, but this is one for the record..."
*It is at minute marker 1:11 that the most horrible line in the most horrible movie ever made occurs. It is even better if you and your sister are watching it with your parents, which, of course, we were.
Scarred for life.
The Offer I Got On The Way To Work On Wednesday
So, Wednesday morning, I was sitting in my car on my way in to work, at the stoplight right near HCY, you know, waiting to turn left. I was singing along to the radio--Billy Joel's Still Rock and Roll To Me. (I think I might have been on "How about a pair of pink sidewinders and a bright orange pair of pants?", ah, but it's hard to recall...)
I had the window open, but I did not have my foot up on the side mirror, as usual (that's how I roll). And, as C.A. of HCY inquired, I had remembered to get fully dressed before beginning my pilgrimage that morning.
My light turns green and I turn left. All of a sudden a ratty guy (around 65, maybe?) leans his whole upper body out the window of his ratty S10 and says, "Hey baby, hop in my car and I'll fill in the blank*".
Put any offer you like there, but remember, it was very specific. For those of you who have seen Shark Attack 3: Megalodon, well, you already know ...
In the interest of public safety, I had to tell people at work all about it (of course)!
The HCY comments were as follows:
1) Ew.
2) Are you sure you put your shirt on before you left the house?
3) Can't catch any fish if you don't cast your net.
4) Oh my god, that's gross.
5) I wonder if that ever works?
6) Nice to see his libido is still in charge.
7) Hey, what's wrong with an S10?!?
8) Huh. I'm going to have to try that on the way home.
9) What is wrong with people? and
10) Did you get his number?
Signed--> "Not easily shocked, but this is one for the record..."
*It is at minute marker 1:11 that the most horrible line in the most horrible movie ever made occurs. It is even better if you and your sister are watching it with your parents, which, of course, we were.
Scarred for life.
Friday, July 20, 2007
SOTD: 7/20/07
You're home with your own, when company's expected
You're well protected!
--> West Side Story: When You're a Jet
You're well protected!
--> West Side Story: When You're a Jet
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I am, however, retaining
Dean Cain, Carmine Giovinazzo, Gary Sinise, Mark Harmon, Billie Armstrong, Stanley from Jericho, Alan Rickman (voice only, that is)...
and adding what's his name from Boston Legal (no, not William Shatner...).
So, fear not non-standard-hotness celebrities, there's still a place for you in my heart (sniff).
:)
and adding what's his name from Boston Legal (no, not William Shatner...).
So, fear not non-standard-hotness celebrities, there's still a place for you in my heart (sniff).
:)
Changes to "The List"
Yep, I'm making changes to My List. You know, "The" "List"? Everybody's got one. DB's is headed by a collection of oddly hot indie chicks?
I'm am on the verge of removing Jon Bon Jovi. I know, it's so sad. He's been on my training table for years. But look at this picture and you'll know why.
Jon, my friend, I think it's time...
I'm am on the verge of removing Jon Bon Jovi. I know, it's so sad. He's been on my training table for years. But look at this picture and you'll know why.
Jon, my friend, I think it's time...
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Dogs are smart.
Unfortunately, Tim has a thing for my underwear. So much so, that since she was a puppy, I've replaced my whole collection due to her laundry baskey thievery. So much so, that I finally bought a little step-on metal garbage can to serve as a laundry basket solely for underwear.
As of yet, she hasn't figured out how to open it.
So--as such--when I bring a basket of clothes down to wash, I have to tuck a towel over the top of the basket to keep her out. She knows she's not supposed to remove the protective terry barrier, and she follows that rule, even though she doesn't like it.
So what do I find this morning?
Tim, lying on her side next to my laundry basket pulling my underwear out thru the holes in the basket with her front teeth.
Well, technically she didn't break the rules.
Annoying Dog never runs out of annoying. :)
As of yet, she hasn't figured out how to open it.
So--as such--when I bring a basket of clothes down to wash, I have to tuck a towel over the top of the basket to keep her out. She knows she's not supposed to remove the protective terry barrier, and she follows that rule, even though she doesn't like it.
So what do I find this morning?
Tim, lying on her side next to my laundry basket pulling my underwear out thru the holes in the basket with her front teeth.
Well, technically she didn't break the rules.
Annoying Dog never runs out of annoying. :)
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Movie Review: More Than Meets The Eye!
Those of you who knew me when I was young know of my Transformers thing. Those of you who know me now, know of my electronic gadget thing.
I'm going to marry the Transformers movie.
Cute Persons to look at (0-5): 4. Oh, where to begin?
If you're into chicks:
There's the brainy blonde chick who can hack into the Dept of Defense computer systems without disrupting either her hornrimmed glasses or her artfully deconstructed bun. Australian, blue eyes, hot.
And then there's the brunette chick with the juvie record and dirty white tank top who can replace the headers in your cousin's Trans Am in, like, 20 minutes. American, blue eyes, hot.
If I were picking, I'd pick the brunette chick. But that's just me.
If you like dudes:
There's Shia LeBoeuf--too young for me, but decently cute and pretty funny. He does a lot of steamy running around to save the world, which is always attractive in someone you think is cute.
Another option--> Josh Duhamel. He's not usually a top pick of mine for some reason, buuuut, if he showed up at my door, I'd make him some tea. Especially after that motorcycle scene. Whew. Lots of tea.
Oh--Tyrese is also available. He doesn't say much, but he's ripped, so, honestly, it hardly matters.
And, uh, *cough*, there's Bumblebee*. Strong...protective...tall...........yellow? Now if I could only figure out if it's weirder than my childhood crush on Aquaman. It's so hard to decide.
A Satisfying Ending (0-5): 5. OH YEAH!! Good guys win, bad guys lose!!!! Room for a sequel! (Se-quel, Se-quel)
Action/adventureness (0-5): 5. Absolutely awesome. I don't think I've liked an action movie this much since the first Matrix. And that's saying a lot, b/c I really dig action flicks. A lot.
Love storyness (0-5): 3. No true love story, but all the hot folk are ogling each other. Which is nice. Shia LeBoeuf is adorably bumbly when he's around the hot brunette chick.
Good Scaryness (0-5): 1. No true scaryness, unless you're 5. Then maybe. Cartoon-based evilness? Sure, plenty of that.
Kissing (0-5): 1. I only recall one actual kiss. But you know what, it doesn't matter.
Here's why... It's summer and it's a blockbuster movie, so the movie houses are crowded. The movie is full of great Transformer and U.S. military powerhouse action. People were actually cheering out loud. When we weren't cheering, we were laughing. You've been eating candy.
What's my point? At the end of the movie, you're left sweaty, excited, out of breath, and sticky. I don't need the kissing--do you need the kissing?
Cinematography/Special Effects (1-5): 5. Awesome. The car chases were great. The fighter jet/helicopter parts were great. The desert scenes were great. Even the Autobot vs. Decepticon fighting scenes were as realistic as something imaginary could really be.
Extra Credit:
Soundtrack/score? 5 points.
CG stuff? 5 points.
Military exhibitionism? 5 points.
Sam's parents and the all scenes at his house? 5 points
The car/robot/tow truck/Hoover Dam/Sikorsky helicopter/hotwiring/Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor/bitchin' Camaro machine-gadgetry? 5 million freaking points.
Total: 5,000,044/35. I couldn't get DB to stay for the 10pm show. Maybe I can finagle a matinee tomorrow...we'll see...
*http://www.transformersmovie.com/
.
.
.
I'm going to marry the Transformers movie.
Cute Persons to look at (0-5): 4. Oh, where to begin?
If you're into chicks:
There's the brainy blonde chick who can hack into the Dept of Defense computer systems without disrupting either her hornrimmed glasses or her artfully deconstructed bun. Australian, blue eyes, hot.
And then there's the brunette chick with the juvie record and dirty white tank top who can replace the headers in your cousin's Trans Am in, like, 20 minutes. American, blue eyes, hot.
If I were picking, I'd pick the brunette chick. But that's just me.
If you like dudes:
There's Shia LeBoeuf--too young for me, but decently cute and pretty funny. He does a lot of steamy running around to save the world, which is always attractive in someone you think is cute.
Another option--> Josh Duhamel. He's not usually a top pick of mine for some reason, buuuut, if he showed up at my door, I'd make him some tea. Especially after that motorcycle scene. Whew. Lots of tea.
Oh--Tyrese is also available. He doesn't say much, but he's ripped, so, honestly, it hardly matters.
And, uh, *cough*, there's Bumblebee*. Strong...protective...tall...........yellow? Now if I could only figure out if it's weirder than my childhood crush on Aquaman. It's so hard to decide.
A Satisfying Ending (0-5): 5. OH YEAH!! Good guys win, bad guys lose!!!! Room for a sequel! (Se-quel, Se-quel)
Action/adventureness (0-5): 5. Absolutely awesome. I don't think I've liked an action movie this much since the first Matrix. And that's saying a lot, b/c I really dig action flicks. A lot.
Love storyness (0-5): 3. No true love story, but all the hot folk are ogling each other. Which is nice. Shia LeBoeuf is adorably bumbly when he's around the hot brunette chick.
Good Scaryness (0-5): 1. No true scaryness, unless you're 5. Then maybe. Cartoon-based evilness? Sure, plenty of that.
Kissing (0-5): 1. I only recall one actual kiss. But you know what, it doesn't matter.
Here's why... It's summer and it's a blockbuster movie, so the movie houses are crowded. The movie is full of great Transformer and U.S. military powerhouse action. People were actually cheering out loud. When we weren't cheering, we were laughing. You've been eating candy.
What's my point? At the end of the movie, you're left sweaty, excited, out of breath, and sticky. I don't need the kissing--do you need the kissing?
Cinematography/Special Effects (1-5): 5. Awesome. The car chases were great. The fighter jet/helicopter parts were great. The desert scenes were great. Even the Autobot vs. Decepticon fighting scenes were as realistic as something imaginary could really be.
Extra Credit:
Soundtrack/score? 5 points.
CG stuff? 5 points.
Military exhibitionism? 5 points.
Sam's parents and the all scenes at his house? 5 points
The car/robot/tow truck/Hoover Dam/Sikorsky helicopter/hotwiring/Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor/bitchin' Camaro machine-gadgetry? 5 million freaking points.
Total: 5,000,044/35. I couldn't get DB to stay for the 10pm show. Maybe I can finagle a matinee tomorrow...we'll see...
*http://www.transformersmovie.com/
.
.
.
SOTD: 7/7/07
Friday, July 06, 2007
Also a Guestmap
Click on View My Guestmap at the very bottom. I'm not sure I'm going to keep it, so we'll see...
If you wish to stick your pin the map, feel free to use a fake name (or initials or whatever), but the 2 required fields seem to be Name and Comments.
Lemme know if it's interesting enough to keep...
If you wish to stick your pin the map, feel free to use a fake name (or initials or whatever), but the 2 required fields seem to be Name and Comments.
Lemme know if it's interesting enough to keep...
Something new-->
I've added a "What Happened This Day In History?" block to the very bottom of Mairzydoats. It's right under the ticker.
I guess I'm assuming you guys can see the ticker?? Let me know if you can see the History.
I guess I'm assuming you guys can see the ticker?? Let me know if you can see the History.
SOTD: 7/6/07
Today's SOTD is "Before He Cheats" (by Carrie Underwood?).
I don't even like it, although I know a lot of people who do, so maybe my subC is more mainstream than I am?
Who knows...?
EditedToAdd-->
You know why I don't like it? Because she's spending 3.5 minutes talking about what she's going to do to him and his car.
Babe. If you're going to leave him for it, just go. Go. No need to go all Buckcherry---just move it on out.
I don't think it's this one chick's responsibility to protect the rest of womankind (at least not the ones she doesn't know), and I really doubt having to get a new paint job on his pretty little souped up 4WD is going to fix his wagon.
I'm just sayin'.
Audio:
I don't even like it, although I know a lot of people who do, so maybe my subC is more mainstream than I am?
Who knows...?
EditedToAdd-->
You know why I don't like it? Because she's spending 3.5 minutes talking about what she's going to do to him and his car.
Babe. If you're going to leave him for it, just go. Go. No need to go all Buckcherry---just move it on out.
I don't think it's this one chick's responsibility to protect the rest of womankind (at least not the ones she doesn't know), and I really doubt having to get a new paint job on his pretty little souped up 4WD is going to fix his wagon.
I'm just sayin'.
Audio:
Thursday, July 05, 2007
S.O.T.D. for 7/5/07
Every morning of my life, I wake up with a song in my head. Sometimes it's the same song for a couple days, sometimes I have no idea where it came from. DB used to ask me what my soundtrack was each day.
I really don't know what my subconscious mind is doing while I'm sleeping...(!)
Todays' song is: Country Grammer [sic] by Nelly. Specifically--> "I drive fastly, call me Jeff Gord-on...In the black SS with the naviga-tion".
Except it's "blue" SS in my head, as a coworker of mine drives a blue one.
me...and...my subCONscious...strolling down the AV-en-ue...
Sucky audio version-->
I really don't know what my subconscious mind is doing while I'm sleeping...(!)
Todays' song is: Country Grammer [sic] by Nelly. Specifically--> "I drive fastly, call me Jeff Gord-on...In the black SS with the naviga-tion".
Except it's "blue" SS in my head, as a coworker of mine drives a blue one.
me...and...my subCONscious...strolling down the AV-en-ue...
Sucky audio version-->
Getting Your iPod to Play In Your Car: A Public Service Announcement
Since, apparently, most places that sell assistance devices for this very problem don't give their staff any information to work with...
True, I don't really need to listen to my Pod in my car, but then I don't really need an iPod to begin with. However, since I have both the car and the Pod, I recently set off on a mission to make them work together.
I did a little initial survey, results are as follows:
1) My coworker H.W. from HCY has an iTrip and didn't recommend it. He has a very long drive to work and said that he kept having to switch FM frequencies as he drove b/c the available frequencies kept changing.
Maybe I should stop here for those unfamiliar. There are several options for getting one's player to make nice with one's car. You could be spoiled like DB and your car could have a built-in port wherein you just plug the cord in--et voila! Music comes out the speakers! Option 2?--> a cassette adapter, much like those that the old portable CD players used B4 cars had them built-in. Option 3 is an FM transmitter. Basically, the player plugs into the transmitter (in a variety of ways, depending on the manufacturer) and that machine sends the music via an FM radio signal to your car radio using a frequency that's not being used by an actual radio station in your area.
And therein lies the problem. More on that later.
2) The Radio Shack guy said that the Monster brand FM transmitter one was really the best.
3) Nicholas at Best Buy in McHenry said that the Monster brand FM transmitter was really the best.
So, there, there's my initial market research.
As for the experimentation...
First I tried the Griffin iTrip ($49.99 @ Meijer), against H.W.'s advice. I believe this one is only for iPod? Eh, but I'm not sure.
It uses the iPod's battery (which was fine with me--I wasn't really looking for an item that also charged my Pod). It's about .5 x 1.5 inches and plugs into the iPod charging dock on the bottom of the Pod. That's it. Very unobtrusive, which I liked. Basically, you tune the iTrip and your car radio to the same frequency (I chose 87.9) and hit Play. Music comes out.
Technically, it worked. The setup and use were uncomplicated. Music came out. It wasn't distorted or anything. There were 2 problems, though. The minor one was that the radio had to be turned up very loud to decently hear the music. Like don't accidentally hit the wrong button or you eardrums will burst loud--not that desirable, as I accidentally hit the wrong button twice during my 15 min drive home from Meijer. Ouch.
The major problem was that there was a lot of noise. I'd call it tape noise, except there wasn't a tape. It was the kind of noise you'd hear on a cassette tape if you didn't turn the Dolby Noise Reduction on. Bummer.
For $49.99, I couldn't live with it, so back it went the very next day.
The same day I returned the iTrip, I decided to try another option. This time I chose the Belkin TuneCast II for $39.99. A oval piece, white, about 2 x 1.5 inches with a cord sticking out. This one was battery powered (2AAA) and plugged into the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pod. It actually is made to work with any mp3 player.
I noticed after I got it all together, that it had been previously been opened, and I was about to see why. The "tape" noise was better. The volume problem was the same. It was disposable battery powered, which I wasn't really that thrilled with. It only worked between frequencies 88.1 - 107.9, so I couldn't use the 87.9, which was less than ideal.
Better, yes. Good enough? Alas, no. I couldn't live with the noise. I'm like the Princess and the Pea--ask DB. I can't stand little scrapey noises--they drive me insane.
So--on July 3rd, after DB's softball game, we returned the poor thing to Meijer. I saw, sitting on the return counter, the iTrip I had returned earlier that afternoon.
I felt a little bad for being a serial returner, but if stores would just give their (electronics, in this case) employees some information to work with, people wouldn't keep returning things that don't work.
So, this time, DB and I picked out a DLO transmitter with 2 adjustable arms that plugs into the cigarette lighter (for $99, ack!) and a Belkin tape adapter for $19.99. I figured that if the DLO didn't work, I would just go with the supercool tape adapter.
The DLO-->
Much, much better than the previous 2 adapters! It's powered via the cigarette lighter--the port of which is then attached to 2 adjustable arms that will prop your Pod up at a decent height and angle so you don't crash while driving.
DB and I installed it while sitting in the Meijer parking lot, in the rain, watching the McHenry fireworks. It took longer than I expected to get it all together. It's not that it's terribly complicated, but the fit adapters (for the Nano, in my case) didn't really seem to actually fit. Could be a DLO problem, could be the 8gb nano is an odd size.
Also, the adjustable arms adjust via a series of hinges with screw tighteners. It was hard to wrap our brains around the angles needed to get the Pod into a particular position, b/c you couldn't really adjust the thing as it was in place in the cigarette lighter. So it was a half hour of fidget--check--nope, not right--fiddle--check--oops, wrong side--etc--etc.
Finally it was in a good position. Docked the Pod, aligned the radio stations, and music came out. It was markedly better than the other 2 choices had been. At the time, I noticed no noise at all, even though I had to use the 88.1 - 107.9 frequency range. The volume level had to be louder, but not that loud. The display was soothing shade of blue.
With the blue lights and the bionic arm, I kind of felt like a state trooper in my car--which already has 2 gear shifters in the front console due to the 4WD. So that was kind of cool.
Alas,
as of this morning, I think I'm going to return this one too. It's fine, I probably could live with it. For pop, rap, or rock music, it's great. For the ragtime, classical, RatPack, and swing music I tried this morning, I can hear the noise. I am being picky, but for $99 who wants to think "hey this'd sound great without all that hiss."
So, as I drove to work this morning, I tried the Belkin Cassette Adapter. That's all that's in the box. The adapter. Not even any instructions--which, I suppose, would say: "Stick This In Your Tape Deck".
Cassette thing in the cassette deck, plug in the 3.5mm port, music came out. The sound is good--not exactly as good as the Pod sounds thru earphones, but still good.
For now, this is the one I'm keeping.
Pros: it works.
Cons: it's nerdy white and about as cool as it was in 1999 when you'd balance your portable CD player on the car seat next to you--hoping it wouldn't skip.
Yep, you need to have a tape deck in the car, which are going the way of the dinosaurs, but it works for me.
Meijer didn't sell the Monster brand transmitter--if I see one, I might give it a shot. The Chicago radio frequencies are crowded, though--it's not like the middle of Montana, where you might have 20 empty ones to choose from. There are about 5 here.
I'll keep you posted.
True, I don't really need to listen to my Pod in my car, but then I don't really need an iPod to begin with. However, since I have both the car and the Pod, I recently set off on a mission to make them work together.
I did a little initial survey, results are as follows:
1) My coworker H.W. from HCY has an iTrip and didn't recommend it. He has a very long drive to work and said that he kept having to switch FM frequencies as he drove b/c the available frequencies kept changing.
Maybe I should stop here for those unfamiliar. There are several options for getting one's player to make nice with one's car. You could be spoiled like DB and your car could have a built-in port wherein you just plug the cord in--et voila! Music comes out the speakers! Option 2?--> a cassette adapter, much like those that the old portable CD players used B4 cars had them built-in. Option 3 is an FM transmitter. Basically, the player plugs into the transmitter (in a variety of ways, depending on the manufacturer) and that machine sends the music via an FM radio signal to your car radio using a frequency that's not being used by an actual radio station in your area.
And therein lies the problem. More on that later.
2) The Radio Shack guy said that the Monster brand FM transmitter one was really the best.
3) Nicholas at Best Buy in McHenry said that the Monster brand FM transmitter was really the best.
So, there, there's my initial market research.
As for the experimentation...
First I tried the Griffin iTrip ($49.99 @ Meijer), against H.W.'s advice. I believe this one is only for iPod? Eh, but I'm not sure.
It uses the iPod's battery (which was fine with me--I wasn't really looking for an item that also charged my Pod). It's about .5 x 1.5 inches and plugs into the iPod charging dock on the bottom of the Pod. That's it. Very unobtrusive, which I liked. Basically, you tune the iTrip and your car radio to the same frequency (I chose 87.9) and hit Play. Music comes out.
Technically, it worked. The setup and use were uncomplicated. Music came out. It wasn't distorted or anything. There were 2 problems, though. The minor one was that the radio had to be turned up very loud to decently hear the music. Like don't accidentally hit the wrong button or you eardrums will burst loud--not that desirable, as I accidentally hit the wrong button twice during my 15 min drive home from Meijer. Ouch.
The major problem was that there was a lot of noise. I'd call it tape noise, except there wasn't a tape. It was the kind of noise you'd hear on a cassette tape if you didn't turn the Dolby Noise Reduction on. Bummer.
For $49.99, I couldn't live with it, so back it went the very next day.
The same day I returned the iTrip, I decided to try another option. This time I chose the Belkin TuneCast II for $39.99. A oval piece, white, about 2 x 1.5 inches with a cord sticking out. This one was battery powered (2AAA) and plugged into the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pod. It actually is made to work with any mp3 player.
I noticed after I got it all together, that it had been previously been opened, and I was about to see why. The "tape" noise was better. The volume problem was the same. It was disposable battery powered, which I wasn't really that thrilled with. It only worked between frequencies 88.1 - 107.9, so I couldn't use the 87.9, which was less than ideal.
Better, yes. Good enough? Alas, no. I couldn't live with the noise. I'm like the Princess and the Pea--ask DB. I can't stand little scrapey noises--they drive me insane.
So--on July 3rd, after DB's softball game, we returned the poor thing to Meijer. I saw, sitting on the return counter, the iTrip I had returned earlier that afternoon.
I felt a little bad for being a serial returner, but if stores would just give their (electronics, in this case) employees some information to work with, people wouldn't keep returning things that don't work.
So, this time, DB and I picked out a DLO transmitter with 2 adjustable arms that plugs into the cigarette lighter (for $99, ack!) and a Belkin tape adapter for $19.99. I figured that if the DLO didn't work, I would just go with the supercool tape adapter.
The DLO-->
Much, much better than the previous 2 adapters! It's powered via the cigarette lighter--the port of which is then attached to 2 adjustable arms that will prop your Pod up at a decent height and angle so you don't crash while driving.
DB and I installed it while sitting in the Meijer parking lot, in the rain, watching the McHenry fireworks. It took longer than I expected to get it all together. It's not that it's terribly complicated, but the fit adapters (for the Nano, in my case) didn't really seem to actually fit. Could be a DLO problem, could be the 8gb nano is an odd size.
Also, the adjustable arms adjust via a series of hinges with screw tighteners. It was hard to wrap our brains around the angles needed to get the Pod into a particular position, b/c you couldn't really adjust the thing as it was in place in the cigarette lighter. So it was a half hour of fidget--check--nope, not right--fiddle--check--oops, wrong side--etc--etc.
Finally it was in a good position. Docked the Pod, aligned the radio stations, and music came out. It was markedly better than the other 2 choices had been. At the time, I noticed no noise at all, even though I had to use the 88.1 - 107.9 frequency range. The volume level had to be louder, but not that loud. The display was soothing shade of blue.
With the blue lights and the bionic arm, I kind of felt like a state trooper in my car--which already has 2 gear shifters in the front console due to the 4WD. So that was kind of cool.
Alas,
as of this morning, I think I'm going to return this one too. It's fine, I probably could live with it. For pop, rap, or rock music, it's great. For the ragtime, classical, RatPack, and swing music I tried this morning, I can hear the noise. I am being picky, but for $99 who wants to think "hey this'd sound great without all that hiss."
So, as I drove to work this morning, I tried the Belkin Cassette Adapter. That's all that's in the box. The adapter. Not even any instructions--which, I suppose, would say: "Stick This In Your Tape Deck".
Cassette thing in the cassette deck, plug in the 3.5mm port, music came out. The sound is good--not exactly as good as the Pod sounds thru earphones, but still good.
For now, this is the one I'm keeping.
Pros: it works.
Cons: it's nerdy white and about as cool as it was in 1999 when you'd balance your portable CD player on the car seat next to you--hoping it wouldn't skip.
Yep, you need to have a tape deck in the car, which are going the way of the dinosaurs, but it works for me.
Meijer didn't sell the Monster brand transmitter--if I see one, I might give it a shot. The Chicago radio frequencies are crowded, though--it's not like the middle of Montana, where you might have 20 empty ones to choose from. There are about 5 here.
I'll keep you posted.
MiniReview: Music and Lyrics
Drew Barrymore, Hugh Grant, Brad Garrett...
I had not seen this movie until this past Sunday when DB and I on-demanded it from (the total cable monopoly) Comcast. I was a little surprised when DB wanted to see it, as it's a bit of a chick flick, but then it occurred to me that Drew falls into the same bucket as Belinda Carlisle, Lisa Loeb, and Pink-->
DB's Somewhat Eclectic Collection of Chicks He Thinks Are Cute.
Suddenly it all made sense...
It was a really cute and entertaining movie! Drew is funny and adorable as she is in all her movies. Hugh Grant was the same--he should really stick to romantic comedies such as this, they're really his forte. I mean, it's hard to get over the Divine Brown Incident, don't get me wrong, but I still like him on film, you know?
Brad Garrett was his excellent very tall, deadpan self.
I give it a home rating of 4 out of 5.
5: Definitely worth watching--even via pay-per-view
4: It's on free TV? Absolutely watch it. And, honestly, even if it's not free, watch it then too.
3: It's a fine way to waste an afternoon on the couch
2: If it's the only thing on, it's not going to kill you
1: Not even if it's raining, you're watching TBS, and you'd have to get up to fetch the remote. I mean, you're going to have to get up at some point anyway, what with all the iced tea you've been drinking. Do yourself a favor...do the world a favor. Using only your humble thumb, send a message to Comcast to stop playing sucky movies on days when you can't play outside.
After all, If you're going to spend the day on the couch letting the dog in and out (in again, out again, in and out, oh, then in, oops, out again...), at least watch something decent.
Like a Buffy marathon, for instance.
.
I had not seen this movie until this past Sunday when DB and I on-demanded it from (the total cable monopoly) Comcast. I was a little surprised when DB wanted to see it, as it's a bit of a chick flick, but then it occurred to me that Drew falls into the same bucket as Belinda Carlisle, Lisa Loeb, and Pink-->
DB's Somewhat Eclectic Collection of Chicks He Thinks Are Cute.
Suddenly it all made sense...
It was a really cute and entertaining movie! Drew is funny and adorable as she is in all her movies. Hugh Grant was the same--he should really stick to romantic comedies such as this, they're really his forte. I mean, it's hard to get over the Divine Brown Incident, don't get me wrong, but I still like him on film, you know?
Brad Garrett was his excellent very tall, deadpan self.
I give it a home rating of 4 out of 5.
5: Definitely worth watching--even via pay-per-view
4: It's on free TV? Absolutely watch it. And, honestly, even if it's not free, watch it then too.
3: It's a fine way to waste an afternoon on the couch
2: If it's the only thing on, it's not going to kill you
1: Not even if it's raining, you're watching TBS, and you'd have to get up to fetch the remote. I mean, you're going to have to get up at some point anyway, what with all the iced tea you've been drinking. Do yourself a favor...do the world a favor. Using only your humble thumb, send a message to Comcast to stop playing sucky movies on days when you can't play outside.
After all, If you're going to spend the day on the couch letting the dog in and out (in again, out again, in and out, oh, then in, oops, out again...), at least watch something decent.
Like a Buffy marathon, for instance.
.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Moving Day
Moving Day went well for my sissy, BIL , and my most adorable niece.
A few minor furniture incidents, a few scrapes on the walls, minor injuries for all involved.
Subs and beer for lunch while sitting in the middle of the living room floor.
Pizza and beer for dinner while sitting at random kitchen chairs.
Transporting the cat to the new house in a cardboard box.
Didn't witness any broken glass, but otherwise, it seems like the world moving-house order is still intact...
A few minor furniture incidents, a few scrapes on the walls, minor injuries for all involved.
Subs and beer for lunch while sitting in the middle of the living room floor.
Pizza and beer for dinner while sitting at random kitchen chairs.
Transporting the cat to the new house in a cardboard box.
Didn't witness any broken glass, but otherwise, it seems like the world moving-house order is still intact...
Movie Review: Ratatouille
I should start off by saying that I am not really a cartoon movie fan. I like the idea of cartoons--I like the live action versions like Fantastic 4 and The X Men (Hugh Jackmann as Wolverine, mrrrrrrrrow).
I also really like a lot of Pixar's previous efforts like the ones with the toys, the one with the monsters, the one with the fish, and the one with the superhero family. These have humor for the kids, but also a whole layer of humor for the adults, which I like.
Ratatouille, however--and although it's Pixar--is more your straight-forward cartoon movie. It's got Pixar's fantastic abilities, but not as much tongue-in-cheek humor as I had hoped for.
DB, however, loved it. He clapped. In the movie theater. Alone...
Anyway, on to the review!
Cute Persons to look at (0-5): 1. They're cartoons? [shrug] The characters are cute, but not in the way this review section really intends. The chick chef, though, I think caught DB's eye. If she were real, she'd probably go on his "List".
Right up there with Lisa Loeb, Belinda Carlisle, and Pink. My dh--he's an a la carte sort of celebrity chick watcher, he is.
A Satisfying Ending (0-5): 5. "Good" guys win, "bad" guys lose. "People" fall in love. All is well. My favorite kind of ending :)
Action/ adventureness (0-5): 4. All CG, but really, really good. Honestly, the whole movie was full of great action (see Cinematography)
Love storyness (0-5): 3. Even though they're cartoons and the making-out leaves something to be desired, I gues you're still happy when they get together ;)
Good Scaryness (0-5): 0 No scaryness.
Kissing (0-5): 1. There was one cartoon kissing scene, and honestly, it was between the 2 character I hoped would hook up (sorry Dave, looks like your chef girlfriend is off the market), so you almost wanted to cheer.
Dave even elbowed me to point out, "see making-out! you love making-out scenes!" Which is true--what's the point of a movie not having a making out scene? Movies about submarines have making out scenes. Even the Terminator had making out scenes!
(Dear Hollywood, making out = very important. To appease the gentlemen we may be watching the movie with, maybe blow something up, make-out, then parachute off a cliff. After that? More making-out.)
Cinematography/Special Effects (1-5): 5. FABULOUS! Incredibly realistically and amazing at some points--you couldn't believe that all the textures and stuff were all CG! The little cartoon short at the beginning was great too (up until the alien cried--[poor baby!])
Extra Credit (Max. 10 points): Nothing comes to mind?
Total: 19/35. If you generally like cartoons and specifically like Pixar--GO SEE IT! You'll love it. If you don't generally like cartoons, but like Pixar--go see it, it's worth watching. If you like neither cartoons or Pixar--stop reading.
Seriously. Why are you reading movie reviews about things you hate? You should be ashamed of yourself. I mean, I do like to have a good readership, but not ones who are in denial! Not ones who haven't yet embraced themselves! How is that good for my reader portfolio? Here's a bunch of unsure people.... NO!
It's a brand new world here at mairzydoats! We have a charter! You don't have to do anything you don't want to do! You read what you want to! There's nobody following you around--checking up on you! trying to figure out what you next move is! No! Here, you are free to do as you please!!
Although...I do have a counter that tells me how many people have visited on each day, so I can kind of get an idea of the topics you find more---or less---entertaining. Now if I could only get my spycam working...
.
.
.
I also really like a lot of Pixar's previous efforts like the ones with the toys, the one with the monsters, the one with the fish, and the one with the superhero family. These have humor for the kids, but also a whole layer of humor for the adults, which I like.
Ratatouille, however--and although it's Pixar--is more your straight-forward cartoon movie. It's got Pixar's fantastic abilities, but not as much tongue-in-cheek humor as I had hoped for.
DB, however, loved it. He clapped. In the movie theater. Alone...
Anyway, on to the review!
Cute Persons to look at (0-5): 1. They're cartoons? [shrug] The characters are cute, but not in the way this review section really intends. The chick chef, though, I think caught DB's eye. If she were real, she'd probably go on his "List".
Right up there with Lisa Loeb, Belinda Carlisle, and Pink. My dh--he's an a la carte sort of celebrity chick watcher, he is.
A Satisfying Ending (0-5): 5. "Good" guys win, "bad" guys lose. "People" fall in love. All is well. My favorite kind of ending :)
Action/ adventureness (0-5): 4. All CG, but really, really good. Honestly, the whole movie was full of great action (see Cinematography)
Love storyness (0-5): 3. Even though they're cartoons and the making-out leaves something to be desired, I gues you're still happy when they get together ;)
Good Scaryness (0-5): 0 No scaryness.
Kissing (0-5): 1. There was one cartoon kissing scene, and honestly, it was between the 2 character I hoped would hook up (sorry Dave, looks like your chef girlfriend is off the market), so you almost wanted to cheer.
Dave even elbowed me to point out, "see making-out! you love making-out scenes!" Which is true--what's the point of a movie not having a making out scene? Movies about submarines have making out scenes. Even the Terminator had making out scenes!
(Dear Hollywood, making out = very important. To appease the gentlemen we may be watching the movie with, maybe blow something up, make-out, then parachute off a cliff. After that? More making-out.)
Cinematography/Special Effects (1-5): 5. FABULOUS! Incredibly realistically and amazing at some points--you couldn't believe that all the textures and stuff were all CG! The little cartoon short at the beginning was great too (up until the alien cried--[poor baby!])
Extra Credit (Max. 10 points): Nothing comes to mind?
Total: 19/35. If you generally like cartoons and specifically like Pixar--GO SEE IT! You'll love it. If you don't generally like cartoons, but like Pixar--go see it, it's worth watching. If you like neither cartoons or Pixar--stop reading.
Seriously. Why are you reading movie reviews about things you hate? You should be ashamed of yourself. I mean, I do like to have a good readership, but not ones who are in denial! Not ones who haven't yet embraced themselves! How is that good for my reader portfolio? Here's a bunch of unsure people.... NO!
It's a brand new world here at mairzydoats! We have a charter! You don't have to do anything you don't want to do! You read what you want to! There's nobody following you around--checking up on you! trying to figure out what you next move is! No! Here, you are free to do as you please!!
Although...I do have a counter that tells me how many people have visited on each day, so I can kind of get an idea of the topics you find more---or less---entertaining. Now if I could only get my spycam working...
.
.
.
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