2004 December 08

Yes, a BMW. I'm at the BMW dealer right now (on one of their public machines). In another hour, I'll be driving an (almost) brand new BMW automobile off the lot. We're eliminating one car from our two-car garage and getting one better. And folks, you can't get much better than BMW. We're buying it instead of opting for a lease, only because car leases seem to be… silly? The price seemed good (for a slightly used BMW) and the financing seemed decent. I'm leasing my own car, but the BMW will be ours in another 60 months. If Ponzi thinks she wants a sporty car, I can't argue.

Read more on Buying a BMW…

Remember how much coffee I used to drink? My caffeine stream was polluted with blood for several years. Starbucks coffee is still some of the worst on the planet, but… I love their Peppermint Mochas. Coffee is one of those gifts that keeps on givin' throughout the day. Or, as is the case with the coffee of the month subscription I got for my mom… all year long. International coffee doesn't seem to be any better than “local” blends, but do yourself a favor and try this special mocha. It's worth at least a few sips. Gourmet? You be the bean judge, Roy.

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One of our Gnomies, Mary Barnes (a software engineer), responded to an article on the mouse, and told us about something that oughta be on everybody's wish list. A special kind of keyboard:

Read more on Building a Better Mousepad…

The Windows Feedback Panel launched:

Microsoft has created the Windows Feedback Panel Program to allow our customers to get more actively involved in helping to create the world's best software. By participating in the program, you can help us focus our work on the features that you use most often, tell us where to simplify our software when it is too difficult and introduce new capabilities that increase your productivity. Basically, being a part of the Windows Feedback Panel helps us help you.

Windows Feedback Panel? My first bit of feedback: don't require a download. Second bit of feedback: try listening to the conversation in the blogosphere, too.

Read more on Feedback on Feedback…

We posted an article about XM the other day, and it got me thinking about upgrading my car stereo. XM radio seems to be great for folks always on the go. The AM/FM dial usually does fine by me, but the slickness of satellite content is quite a draw. If subscription services work for other forms of audio-based media, then why not give XM Satellite Radio or Sirius a spin? There probably aren't too many paid listeners out there, but I'm sure those numbers will change when more talent move to the satellite bands. Which one will lead, XM? Which one is better, Sirius? I just don't know yet.

Read more on XM Versus Sirius…

Every once in a while, a piece of software comes along that captures my attention. Check out the Virtual Hypnotist:

Virtual Hypnotist is a free, open source, interactive hypnosis program, and is a rewrite of Hypnotizer 2000. It includes features such as voice recognition, speech synthesis, subliminal messages, completely customizable scripts (featuring a unique scripting language), videos, audio, and lots more. Its purpose is to simulate a real hypnosis session as much as possible.

I'm getting sleepy… very sleepy. I've tried to get hypnotized before, but hypnosis is lost on me. Software has tried to read my mind before, too – but my lead screen keeps 'em from seeing too much. Self-hypnosis isn't for me, though. It's hokey to believe that mind control can work. Hypnosis seems to be nothing more than a parlour trick – another subject matter for cassette tapes or CDs. And what happens when you get ripped off by a Hypnotherapist? You get hypnotherapissed.
Hey was that a bell…? Why am I drooling again?

Read more on Hypnotizing Freeware…