A few random thoughts that really didn’t warrant a full post on their own:

- eBook Readers: Yet another eBook reader has been announced and the price point is around $120 from what I have heard. I think it is great that there are a few more companies getting into the eBook reader business, but until we see the actual eBooks drop in price, I’m not buying. The cost of the eBook version of quite a few books is the same as the printed version. Something just doesn’t feel right paying the same for an eBook as a printed book.

- Smoking: I’m not sure why, but it seems like more people are smoking. At the pool, walking down the street, in cars with the windows rolled up. Is it the economy? More stress? “Oh man. (PUFF) Gotta find a job. (PUFF)” Or it could be that I live in North Carolina and tobacco is still a major cash crop.

- Car Repair: I hate cars. Hate them. Anytime I have a repair issue with my car, I get stressed. I never know what is wrong and taking it into the “shop” is always a terrible experience. The AC in my car died back in April and instead of getting it fixed right away, I waited and waited. I finally took it in and got an estimate of $1900. Needless to say, I didn’t get it fixed at that shop. I finally got it fixed last week. I did a bunch of searches and stumbled upon WASP auto in Durham. Sadly, the shop wasn’t run by the former members of the metal band, though I do think the main guy from Ratt owns a smoothie shop in Tyngsboro, Mass. They fixed my car for just $976. Of course, the temps have been in the 80′s compared to the upper 90′s I suffered through all summer.

-Crappy Movies: I watched Tropic Thunder last week and rated it one of the WORST movies I have ever seen. It was TERRIBLE. My top 5 worst list: 1. Tropic Thunder 2. Sid & Nancy 3. Step Brothers. 4. Desperately Seeking Susan. 5. Karate Kid II.

-RAWK!: I use to see at least a band a week, but as I have gotten older, I just can’t handle the 11PM starting times that are popular in the area. My top 5 bands: 1. SuperChunk. 2. Archers of Loaf. 3. Portastatic. 4. Get Up Kids 4. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists 5. Grover.

-Words: Since I’m on a list kick, my top 5 books: 1. The Stranger – Albert Camus. 2. American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis. 3. Ham on Rye – Charles Bukowski. 4. Notes of a Dirty Old Man – Charles Bukowski. 5. Shampoo Planet – Douglas Copeland.

-Pictures: Photography is one of the many things I wish I was good at (or had time to do). Queen of the Pavement is a blog of a former Lulu co-worker. She drove across the country and took some awesome pictures. The trip was documented here.

Main Page Image Courtesy of TNARIK
Post Image Courtesy of T_Buchtele