grylliade.org Free minds. Free markets. Free beer.

I have a one year subscription in my new car. Haven't activated it yet on general principles that fee for radio seems too much right now, but I will get around to it eventually.

EDIT: And, BTW, Capitalism I Like includes the 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Special Edition. I've never experienced a car that corners like this thing. I don't think you could fling it off a cliff if you tried. Which makes it sound scary dangerous, I guess, but it just sticks to the road with AWD and speed sensitive steering and a suspension you wouldn't believe. I can't believe it's only a four banger. Between 20mph and 80mph the thing is a beast.

Plus, highway mpg from Cincinnati to Louisville - 31, that's at 200hp output. Coming back, I opened it up a bit, and, well, not so much economy, but it's possible!

Also: Dove Dark Chocolate pieces with almonds. Teh yum.

and Skype, which is the coolest thing ever. Seriously!

aluminum foil. Seriously, think about it!

No. 6, did you smile when you typed "NPR" and "BBC" into the "Capitalism you Like" thread?

There's a scene in Moscow On The Hudson when Robin William's character, a Russian defector, is sent to a NYC supermarket (itself, a bit of a contradiction in terms) to buy coffee and becomes overwhelmed when he discovers not only that there is no queue to stand in but that the aisle has ample stocks of over a half dozen different brands. In fact, Soviet defectors were often taken to supermarkets as part of their in-processing and I am told many simply couldn't believe it wasn't a trick and many more began to cry or sometimes became nauseated at the sight of so much readily available food.

Thai food. No more need be said.

I've heard that even Khrushchev refused to believe that kind of thing. When he was debating Nixon, he was shown a "typical American house", and he refused to believe that average Americans could own a washing machine and a refrigerator.

Another thing that comes to mind is a quote from a guy at my ISP - I don't have the exact words handy, but it was something like this:

Khrushchev undoubtedly thought it was an American "Potemkin Village" as so many Soviet 'achievements' were.

I have given up trying to explain the concept of a Potemkin Village. I remember university students who seriously believed the 'production records' of the model villages in China. Then there are people like Michael Moore who think Cuba's health care is good becaise pf what the Castro regime allowed them to see. None of them could seem to grasp the possibility that a totalitarian government might lie.

Random note, the 2.0T in the A4 idles a little rough. It sounds a bit like a diesel at really low rpm. I don't have any vibration, and it isn't loud, but the sound is a bit out of place. Also, for some reason they move the second cup holder and it's now covered by the armrest. Those are the only slightly negative things I can say about the car.

EDIT: The diesel sound is apparently a feature of engine alignment + direct injection.

Ah yes. You can get the whole bacon line from Archie McPhee

Put this in the "I want one for absolutely no reason beyond awesomeness" box.

Which brings to mind the ages old question: Why are the best soaps made by people philosophically opposed to bathing? Oi! Moonbow! Take a little of the product and rub it around in those hairy pits! You know?

that does look cool. I covet your gear. how many megapixels?

I'm waiting to buy a Canon Digital Rebel XTI.

I'll be in my bunk.

White peaches. They are so damn awesome this year I want to cry.

Spending more and more time at home in front of the computer, I finally got around to improving the quality of its sound system. (The real stereo is in the living room.) Review of current computer "sound systems" depressed me both in terms of quality and price. All I really wanted was an integrated amp that didn't take up an unreasonable amount of space and a pair of decent bookshelf speakers. As it happens, the first is nearly impossible to find these days. Your choice is either some mini-stereo integrated system or a big box AV receiver or an audiophile quality (and price!) amp.

Anyway, I finally found an AudioSource 100 integrated amp, around $100 through Amazon, and a pair of JBL Control 1Xtream speakers, a great buy at $80 through Amazon. The JBL speakers are the same 2-way 4" woofer, 1" tweeter, magnetically shielded models they've been selling for over 25 years and they still sound great for the money. I had a pair years and years ago that I used for an office stereo but they were destroyed in a move. They're no threat to my floor-standing B&Ws, but at last I find myself actually wanting to listen to music coming from the computer.

Upside: Great price to quality ratio, compact size. Add an XM radio tuner and an iPod cradle and it's an excellent component mini-system for beach vacation, etc.

Downside (to some): Only two amplified inputs (standard RCA jack); no bass or treble controls. I don't consider the latter a negative, being a "straight line with gain" purist and, besides, iTunes has its own crappy little equalizer subprogram. YMMV.

That second one would have been epic, DAR. Ah, well.