collisionbend.com

Just a few random thoughts that I have been ruminating over for the last few days:

Why is it that most of the SUV drivers that drive in the area of I-271 & I-480 during rush hour are more inconsiderate?

My car has seen better days, so it’s time to replace it. Problem is that 99% of the used cars on the dealers’ lots are junk: almost every one of them has been hit. Carfax reports are useless (they even admitted it in court): every car I’ve test-driven (6 “clean” used cars so far) had a clean Carfax report; naturally, every dealership touts this as indisputable evidence that the car is clean, despite the fact that there’s unsanded bondo and matte paint on the bumper, overspray all over the vehicle, and damage that could only come from a nasty accident.

News Flash: If the car jumps sideways when you go over a bump, there’s something major wrong with the car, guys! The only way this happens is a multi-thousand dollar accident. And they want to wave a Carfax report at me? They must think me blind — or an idiot: there are states in this Union that don’t have the salvage or flood requirements on a vehicle title — resell the car there and your title is securely laundered — and the unsuspecting consumer is taken for a ride. Why can’t we police this better? This is obvious fraud…

After the old hard-ball hustle (one guy wouldn’t let me out of the dealership the other night until I signed on the dotted line — I didn’t), and the grease-ball tactics, car salesmen have the gall to assert that they are decent people like you and me. What’s with this?

So I’m looking at new cars. Why? Because I can, that’s why: I got a new job (in my field), am getting paid well, and am in a great situation — and I’m happy as a clam. I’ll detail this in a later post. One thing I’ll say here, though: if it doesn’t work out, I’m going to go out and get myself a Dirty Job.

Just had air conditioning installed in our house (new furnace, too). First time I ever had central air. After the last couple of humid days, I’m wondering how I’ve lived without it for so long — and how folks can live without it. It’ll be interesting to hear what the gas company says when they see my gas usage cut by 60% this winter; I’m all about saving money on utilities around the house <grin>…

I bought my bride a birthday present — a month early. What did I get her? A Canon PowerShot 570 IS, of course. After a couple days of use, I have to say that I love this camera. Here’s a shot she took while getting acquainted with it; fortunately, I had the common sense to wear cruisewear to hide the extra 10 pounds I gained working retail…

I joined a writer’s group while at my old job. Now I have to force myself to write in my spare time. I’m glad I did.

I have a ton of photos from a recent (2nd in a year) trip to Washington, D.C. Love that city. Expensive, though. I’ll post a few later on, when I have time. Stay tuned.

Apple released a new iPod today — but you knew this was coming, didn’t you? Lemme see here… $400 bucks for a 16GB (flash memory? — they don’t say) iPod with the new touch screen… Hmmm… Might be a winner…

I heard a commercial on WNCX the other day, claiming that sometimes their DJs make a mistake and play the wrong song on a CD — “sounds good, doesn’t it?” Haven’t heard anything different yet, guys, but when I do I’ll be sure to let you know. (I have to add here that one of the cars I was test-driving this week had a 1-year satellite radio subscription: play jazz, light jazz, blues, rockabilly, classic rock, 70s classic rock, 80s rock… hmmmmm…)

I recently survived a comment spam attack on my web server. Akismet corralled over 2,500 spam comments in a little over 6 hours. I saw one of them, which led me to the discovery, so it evidently works — and quite well, too.

Speaking of spam, I haven’t received the latest blogger meetup email — my email filters have been skewered down tight lately. If you know about this month’s venue, can you please email me with the details? I’d like to go. Also, can we do Pearl of the Orient in Rocky River again? I found that I love eating with chopsticks…

Not to date myself, but I’m going to my 30th high school reunion this month. Where the f*** (sorry, I know: keep it a G-rated blog, OK?) did the time go? I still feel like I’m about 27…

And finally: why do some people, when they are placed in charge of a company’s computers, disallow anything other than a Windows XP computer on their network — for security reasons — even when they know that Macs are far more secure?

So for a month, it’s been monthy (and work’s been worky). And you? Was it good for you, too?