Holy coming out of the closet, Batman!

Sigh...I only wish I had come up with that first. The new Batwoman (I never knew there was an old one) is going to be swinging for the other team. Now don't get me wrong. This story is basically useless, except for one quote from one of the creative geniuses over at Comic Book Land.

"We want to look at the world around us and strike a more contemporary tone," said Dan DiDio, DC's vice president and executive editor, whose new weekly "52" series will also feature more black and Latino characters.

Indeed, and nothing says contemporary like hot Batwoman on woman action. Let's at least be honest and call it what it is. This has nothing to do with trying to be "open and accepting" of modern trends. And if it was, I'm sure the roughly 4% of the population that is gay would be better served in other ways. No, this is about selling a product to hormone-driving teenage boys. And that is what actually makes the story, and what makes it sad. Nothing, certainly not morals, will stand in the way of the almighty dollar bill.

And if this really takes off, I just can't wait to see where they'll go next! Superman and Spidey? Maybe Wolverine and Magneto can get together? A whole Romeo and Juliette style romance between those who should be bitter enemies. Yes, the future is bright for comic books indeed.

The Tool Award: Because You Can't Please Most of the People Any of the Time

Watching the news this morning before heading to work, I found myself in disbelief at our collective ability to be so stupid. The news was trumpeting the fact that 60% of the American public disapproves of the President's handling of the economy. 60%! And what is responsible for such low marks? Maybe it's the near record high Dow. Or maybe it's the very healthy unemployment rate. The favorable housing market? The respectable interest rates? Low inflation? No, it's gas prices that "experts" claim are hurting the President's approval rating.

Now look, I know the President is our leader and so he gets the blame for everything. But the economy is doing very very well right now on pretty much all fronts. The only issue is the high cost of oil. But let's look at this logically. Is it the President who forces us to buy gas-guzzling SUV's? Is it the President who has stood in the way of EVERY effort to open up new sources of oil? Is it the President who made record profits from oil last year?

We are such a selfish and pampered bunch of babies. It's the plain and simple, ugly truth. You want lower gas prices? Then stop buying vehicles that require so much of it! Take a bus, or a bike, or maybe even a walk. Now, I know that there are many people who have to drive to work. That is the way of things. But shouldn't those people be looking for gas-efficient cars, such as Nomad did?

We want our cake and to be able to eat it too. But it comes down to this. It is our own fault that gas prices are what they are because we've refused to be moved from our comfortable lifestyles enough to actually challenge the oil industry. As long as we're willing to pay $3 a gallon, guess what we're going to get charged per gallon? That's right, $3.10. And then we'll get used to that and they'll raise it just a little bit more. If you're unhappy with gas prices, then I suggest you actually do something about it rather than whining and complaining about how the President is to blame. But then, that would require some real consorted effort on our part, wouldn't it?

And so for being lazy, and having the audacity to blame others for our own problems instead of stepping up and taking control, I award all of America with the Tool Award. Good job, America. You've earned it!

Are you ready for the next 9/11 or Katrina?

In the wake of the Katrina disaster and the current predictions of a more-than-normally-severe hurricane season in 2006, states are warning their citizens to prepare now and not to count on emergency responders to put them at the top of the list unless they are the most needy (elderly, infirm, or poverty-stricken). [Ed.: Yes, I know this is a link to a NYTimes article despite the general Mod-Blog policy of boycotting them. They have the only article I could find right now.)

The problem here lies in the very success of the War on Terror, and our Y2K efforts. Before Y2K, everyone was terrified with stories of what could happen, and so they stocked up on emergency supplies. 9/11 again reminded us that we are vulnerable to not only acts of God, but also acts of psychotic criminals. But now things have calmed down as Y2K was a non-event (thanks to the tireless efforts of hundreds of thousands of I/T workers) and there has been no (American) follow-up to 9/11. So we have gotten lazy. Wake up, America! We have to be ready for the next one, as best we can.

I would encourage those who can afford it, to consider following these tips on preparing for a Hurricane as it applies to virtually any major disaster, whether it be fire, flood, storm, or war. If you are not ready to go out and assemble your own emergency preparedness kit, consider something like this and purchase a pre-assembled kit.

We have some of the best emergency responders in the world, and some of the most prepared planners in the world. But even they can't save everyone in the first few hours. Best to have a store of food to last at least 72 hours, which is the time it would take to deploy the National Guard in a real crisis.

Holding steady... And too high

Holding steady... And too high
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

Sidekick III due June 26?

It seems so. You can be sure I will looking for the "early adopter" program that will allow trade-in of my current Sidekick II for a Sidekick III. Here's hoping! The Sidekick II has been a GREAT tool for telephony as well as affordable internet access. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a way to access the web reliably on the road.

Ahmadinejad (Iran's President) Denies the Holocaust to Der Spiegel

In an intereview with a German news agency, Iran's president has officially, unapologetically denied the historical accuracy of the Holocaust of WW2. Essentially, he does so because he sees the Holocaust as the only valid argument for the European/American support for the state of Israel.

I can't tell you how much this disturbs/disgusts/horrifies me. I had a neighbor who was in the camps. It is one of the best documented crimes in human history. But when it is inconvenient, the Iranian president feels free to dismiss it.

It is this kind of stuff which makes me think there is no way for us to come to a diplomatic solution with Iran's current administration. How do you negotiate with someone who is willing to call black as white, and death as life?

Concert Photography Tips

As an amateur photographer, I am starting to get the hang of shooting weddings and receptions (well, at least from the standpoint of a guest - I am not ready to be THE photographer at anyone's wedding). And shooting CRChair's softball games is teaching me a lot of about outdoor sports shooting. But shooting at indoor events and especially concerts remains difficult. This article has some excellent tips.

So, you are in the photographer’s pit in front of the crowd. Well done. Now, you need to actually take the blasted pictures.
First of all, select an ISO value on your camera that is as low as you can get away with. ISO 200 will give you far better photos than ISO 800, but if all your photos turn out blurry because of lack of light, then you would have been better off with ISO 800 after all.
Second, observe. Concert lighting move in patterns, and you need to try and snap the photo of once the lighting is exactly right.

Of course, I am sure it also helps to know the band you are playing, and to move around a lot to get the best shots. I tend to stay in place too much at indoor events - in my seat - when it would be good to get up and find better positions from the side and up close.

In Memory of Those Who Fought and Died for Our Freedom

They's Found the Slippery Slope... It's In Britain

For years, abortion foes have used the "slippery slope" argument. We say that allowing abortions for the "hard cases" (teenage mothers, rape, etc.) will inevitably lead to use of abortion for "easy cases" which just about everyone feels are morally reprehensible. It was dismissed by abortion advocates as fallacious. Well, maybe not so much anymore in Great Britain.

Late terminations have been performed in recent years because the babies had club feet, official figures show.
Babies are being aborted with only minor defects.
Other babies were destroyed because they had webbed fingers or extra digits.
Such defects can often be corrected with a simple operation or physiotherapy.
The revelation sparked fears that abortion is increasingly being used to satisfy couples' desire for the 'perfect' baby.

The problem of course with a slippery slope argument is that at each step, the next step is unimaginable to those with good intentions. But for those of us who believe that Man is basically evil, it is all too obvious.

Mod-Blog Review: X-Men: The Last Stand

Mod-Blog Rating: 3.5 stars
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes

The Short Version: This film is not nearly as good as X-Men 2, and lacks the character depth of X-Men 1. But it is a fun ride and worth your time. However, the film leaves no time for newbies to catch up, so be sure to watch X-Men 1 and 2 on DVD first!

The Long Version: Bryan Singer left us with a cliffhanger at the end of X-Men 2. Jean Grey had died saving her comrades, and showed off powers far beyond those she had ever shown. We were even teased with an image at her watery grave that reminded long-time comic readers of The Phoenix. The Dark Phoenix Saga is a treasured story-line from the X-Men comics. In it Jean Grey comes back from the dead with powers far beyond those of mortal men (and women). Ultimately, of course, that storyline ended in tragedy.

But X-Men fans were horrified when Bryan Singer left the X-Men franchise to make Superman Returns. They were even more freaked when Brett Ratner - director fun but mindless films like RUSH HOUR - was hired to replace him. Ratner's greatest gift to date as a director seemed to be keeping Chris Tucker from actually combusting under the stage lights. Few thought that he could handle the characters and pathos of the X-Men franchise.

But instead, Ratner has produced a film that manages to recapture much of Singer's magic, but brings in some additional action and humor that he is an expert at. The movie is by no means perfect. The first two X-Men films showed a unique ability to keep the storyline essentials that made them great, while throwing out the extras that simply would not work on silm - like yellow spandex costumes. This film does not quite manage the same trick. Dark Phoenix is never quite the complicated illustration of "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" that she was in the comics. And aside from Wolverine and Magneto, the rest of the X-Men are left with little to no character development. But it is far better than I honestly expected. The big battle is much larger than the other two films. The teamwork is better. The individual powers are well done. And just about every mutant you'd ever care about (except Nightcrawler, who is consipculously absent) appears at some point. It is a fun romp for most people.

Who should NOT see this film? Two kinds. One, if you are die-hard X-men comics fan. If you know the Dark Phoenix saga by heart, you'll hate this version of it. Two, if you have never seen X-Men 1 or X-Men 2, don't bother seeing this film. Ratner keeps things moving so quickly, there is no time to explain what is going on to the newbies. It makes no sense if you have not seen the others.

Otherwise, come on out! The film is worth your valuable time.

Poor Momma, and Poor HHR

Mom was involved in a little accident at the Target in Trumbull, CT today. An SUV had pulled over in front of the store to load up some stuff. Mom was going around them, but had stopped for some pedestrians in the crosswalk. The driver - a young lady of high school age - got out and the SUV started moving backwards! (Apparently, instead of putting the car in P - Park - it had wound up in R - Reverse.) The girl tried to get back into the SUV to stop it, but was knocked over and fell to the ground. We were all terrified that she may have run herself over, but when her mother finally regained control of the vehicle, she was unharmed. Thank God in the end no one was hurt! But Mom's one-week-old Chevy HHR was scratched and dented by the open door. And the SUV's front driver's door was almost torn off of its hinges.

:-)

Star Wars Clone Wars on iTunes!

A first for Star Wars is upon us! Apple and Lucasfilm have brought the Clone Wars cartoon episodes to the iTunes Music Store. They are a bit expensive at $1.99 per 4-minute episode, but it is a great option to get Star Wars on your iPod.

Personally, I got the DVDs and ripped them and encoded them for iPod instead. I don't know if it is cheaper, but it lets me view a whole series without having to select separate episodes.

Turning Trash into Money

Now here is one of the great parts of the American Spirit. Companies are beginning to turn gases produced in landfills into fuel to be used in local factories and other customers. The current projects produce enough fuel to heat the equivalent of 1.2 million homes. This seems like a great idea that could be used in other countries like Iraq to give heat and other fuel to needy communities.

How did Nomad iPod his New Ride?

One of the downsides of the new generation of cars, I have found, is the lack of a cassette deck. In the age of the CD (and Audio DVD) it certainly makes sense to do away with the venerable (some would say Stone Age) tape deck. But it was the best way to connect an iPod to my 2000 Oldsmobile Alera. Simple, direct, and no interference. But that option simply does not exist in the cars of 2006. Some high end cars have dedicated iPod connectors and my mother's new Chevrolet HHR has a mini-jack for plugging in pretty much any MP3 player. But most cars simply have a CD player, and a radio.

The coolest new add-on for your car is the Neo iOn from MP3YourCar.Com. This device connects to the Aux jack on your car's radio and/or cd player, to provide an iPod cable in your car that connects directly to the universal connector on the bottom of your iPod. It charges the device, plays your music at extremely high quality, and allows the controls on your radio (forward, back, etc.) to control the iPod directly. Unfortunately, the 2006 Pontiac Vibe 6 CD changer (i.e. the specific one that I got) has firmware which does not support the device. So I had to seek out other options.

First, I wanted a secure place to access my Video iPod, that kept it from sliding around but also kept the screen and controls in a convenient spot. I decided to go with the Griffin iSqueeze. It is a simple product - molded grey foam into which your iPod slips - and it sits securely in any of car's cupholder (either normal sized or super-sized). It holds the iPod securely and tilts it for easy viewing and access to the scroll-wheel. And it is $8 from Amazon.com - $5 on eBay and elsewhere. For the price, there is no other holder that can beat it! And the color fits in well in my "graphite" interior.

Second, I needed a way to get the Audio from my iPod to the car stereo. Since the Neo iOn was not an option, my only real choices were to hack the factory stereo or to find an FM transmitter that would do the job. Those of you who know me, know I am an excellent theoretician but my practical skills with electronics leave something to be desired. So, hacking the stereo would probably wind up meaning "trashing the stereo and needing a new one". So, I investigated the FM transmitters out there. (For those who are not aware, an FM transmitter allows you to take the output from an audio source and stream it as though it were an FM radio station. This allows you to hear the audio through your car stereo, as though it were any other local station.) There are a large number on the market now - the iPod revolution and the tape deck devolution have teamed up to create a dynamic selection - but they fall into four general categories:

• Cheapo Headphone Jack Transmitter: Uses the headphone jack of any device as the audio source, and outputs to one of aproximately 4 preset channels. Pros: Cheap, works with almost any MP3 player, Cons: Dependent on the audio quality, volume of your player. If the preset channels are already filled with a strong signal (as around NYC) then you can't use it.
• Good Headphone Jack Transmitter: Uses the headphone hack of any device as the audio source, allows the user to select from any FM channel between 88.0 and 103.8, usually locks in the channel digitally to avoid signal drift. Pros: Works with almost any MP3 player, wide selection of channels to choose from, Cons: Dependent on the audio quality/volume of your player, can not charge device
• iPod-Specific Transmitter: Uses the universal iPod port on the bottom of modern iPods for output, and allows the user to select any FM channel between 88.0 and 103.8, locks in the channel digitally. Plugs into the 120V DC port in most cars. Pros: Maximum iPod sound quality, charges iPod while you drive, Cons: iPod-specific (can not be used with other MP3 players without the connector)
• iPod-Specific Dock with Transmitter: Device acts as both a transmitter and a holder for the iPod, plugging into the iPod's universal port. All controls located on the dock, which is designed to allow easy viewing and access to all iPod controls. Pros: Holder and transmitter in one, maximum iPod sound quality, charges iPod while you drive, easy to coordinate with your car's interior, Cons: iPod-specific, problems if your 120 V port is located in an inconvenient spot.

In the end, I chose to go with the "iPod-Specific Transmitter" option, as that provided the maximum quality with the maximum options for placement. And the ability to charge the iPod ensured that I did not need to invest in a separate charger or battery pack. After much research, I decided on the Kensington 33185 which seems to provide the strongest/highest fidelity signal for transmitters of its type. It has a digital readout and selector for finding an open station, and offers 3 presets on the device that you can set with your preferred transmission stations.

I also purchased a generic 120 V port doubler, so that I could use my GPS (Garmin iQue 3600) and iPod simulataneously and power them off of the car.

I am happy to say that so far this solution is working out very well for me. 88.3 appears to be the station in our area with no interference between Shelton, CT and New Britain, CT. The iSqueeze holds my Video iPod firmly, even over some bumpy roads (though if I were driving on gravel regularly I would choose a different solution), and the Kensington transmitter provides excellent signal and sound fidelity for me. This is a great solution to me.

Is it the solution for everyone? No. The sound quality of an FM transmitter is only at best going to be the sound quality of a good FM radio station. Nothing like the digital quality of XM radio or a CD. If you are sensitive to every digital nuance of your music, then you probably want a solution more like the Neo iOn or one of the custom BMW connections. There is even a car coming out in 2007 which will have a slot to directly slide your iPod Nano into. But if you want a good solution for the average ear, this does the job.

iPod Power Runner

Apple and Nike have come together to make a device that is so cool it makes me wish I didn't have the back problems that are preventing me from running. Basically there is a chip that goes inside specially designed Nike running shoes that sends info to your iPod Nano - data about the run you're doing plus there is a "power song" option (something like Welcome to the Jungle - god I love that song) that allows you to push a button and have a specially designated song play to push up your motivation. It's very cool - I can honestly say this is the most techo-lust I've felt in a long time.... it feels good to be back to normal. ;)

Better but not good

Better but not good
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

Why Do I Bother?

I fell prey to bad judgment yesterday. I allowed myself to buy into the hype that maybe, just maybe, the TV adaptation of Stephen King's "Desperation" would live up to the press.

That was stupid.

Those who know me know that there was a time when I was an avid King reader. Some of his earlier works, such as The Stand and Needful Things, are still masterpieces in my mind. However, I eventually grew away from his material for a number of reasons. But even when I was a fan, I was always sorely disappointed by the screen adaptations of his work. They never captured the essence of his writing. Sadly, as the 90's continued on, even his own novels ceased to capture that essence as they became clunky, cliche, tired, and self-important.

And yet, here I sat, hoping that one of those very books being adapted to that very medium that has failed every time would offer some sense of the old magic that his stories used to have. Ha ha.

Maybe I was optimistic because of the cast or just the overall reviews that were positive. I usually enjoy Steven Webber and Annabeth Gish. But even they couldn't do anything with this mess. They were as flat and as lifeless as the rest of the cast. And while I'm on the cast...Ron Perlman. The guy really has potential. The problem is, it's only come out once in a movie that virtually no one saw (The City of Lost Children.) I can't believe I just endorsed a French movie, but that'll have to wait. Perlman was the center of much of the critical raving going on around "Desperation." After having seen the movie, I can only guess the critics received some sort of compensation for their words. He was absolutely awful, and he was only in half the movie anyway. The rest of the cast is as forgettable as...Hmmmm...I forget.

The story was nothing more than a rehash of five or six other King stories with new flesh on very old creaky bones that should have been buried long ago. I knew from the first half-hour who would die (and how they would die) and who would live. And I could deal with King's obsession with loading his stories with many many many many characters just so that he can needlessly kill them off. I could deal with it when his stories at least tried to bring those characters into the narrative even briefly. But here, they were along for no reason other than to die. That is cheap writing at its worst. Now granted, after reading Stephen Baxter, King seems like a saint in comparison with this writing sin, but still the point remains. (Is it just something with writers named Stephen?)

But it's all good. Because between this awful stinking excuse of entertainment and the abysmal failure that the Dark Tower series suffered (Another victim of King's continued obsession with self-importance,) I can safely say that anything King had to offer the literary world has already been contributed, and his time is truly passed. I will not feel the need to experience any more of his material, knowing that his best days are truly behind him and anything further is simple vanity.

Woh Nelly

Did anyone out there see Nelly Furtado’s performance on Saturday Night Live this week?  I can’t say that I have been a big fan of hers, but I did appreciate her music when she first came out.  All I can say is “What happened?”  She used to have a pretty clean image.  It looks like she has decided to follow Christina Aguilera down the “Dirty” road.  She sang two songs that were both overtly about being sexually active and really about being “slutty”.  She is a beautiful women, so I can see how someone would give her the advise to “Spice it up.”  But I don’t understand how she could take it that far.  Oh well, I guess this follows that adage that “It always pays to play to the worst part of people.”

DVC Code Thoughts After Reading the Book

Okay, I have still not seen the movie, but I have now read the DaVinci Code book. So I guess I can speak about some of the debate with credibility now.

Overall, I still am of the opinion that the Church greatly overreacted to this phenomenon and probably is a large part of why the film posted such high ticket sales this weekend. At the same time, I can now see more why some Christians are especially worried about the book/film. "Why?" You ask. Simply because the book is not very good. It is a by-the-numbers airplane book designed to be picked up by a traveller, read on a business trip, and forgotten about when they go home. It is the equivilent of a movie with one long car-chase in it. Thus, the question remains why this particular book gained popularity. If the it isn't the plot, the characters, the use of language, or the pretty cover… that pretty much just leaves the ideas inside. Which implies that people are finding the ideas either challenging or convincing. And if it is because people are finding the ideas convincing… then I can see that scaring people, especially the professional clergy whose job it is to inform and educate the faithful… who generally are less interested in being educated than comforted or entertained.

However, that being said, I still think DVC will go down in church history as one of the great overreactions of our time, which is only going to encourage Hollywood to seek out more stories of this type. The book is not very good. The reaction of critics in general (and who has not heard about the jeers at Cannes?) seems to indicate that the movie is not especially good, either. And it appears the worst part of the movie is the problem of compressing all of the dialogue into only (?) two-and-a-half hours. i.e. The worst part of the movie is trying to absorb the ideas which the Church is so worried about. My prediction is that after a big opening weekend, it will quickly peter out to nothing. X-Men 3, Superman, and others will have much bigger opening weekends, and will be much more entertaining. And ultimately will leave the DVC as little more than an obscure question in the "Culture" section of Trivail Pursuit.

But in the end what will be the real lesson of DVC for our culture? Hollywood will interpret this as a big win for them. They took a movie about obscure religious ideas, spiced it with decent actors and director, left the plot as lame as they found it, and wound up with a blockbuster because the church and media did most of their advertising for them. They will see this as proof that "religious movies sell", but will NOT see it as a negative how many people were offended by the message of this film. They will think "Passion of the Christ did well and DVC did well. And DVC was a lot easier to get out there, because we did not have to get the okay of various religious groups - they already knew they'd be offended and that offense sold more tickets for us!" Thus, expect to see a lot less movies like PASSION OF THE CHRIST and PRINCE OF EGYPT - films that endorse an orthodox view of faith, which has to be vetted by various religious leaders - and expect to see a lot more LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST and DVC movie. Hollywood will figure they'll sell just as well, and require less P.R. work.

And then, when the next DVC movie fails, the conclusion drawn will be that the "religious phase" of Hollywood movies is over. Directors will breathe a sigh of relief and go back to making Die Hard XVIII.

OK, Ward. Your turn now to tell me how wrong I am. :-)

The Promised Pictures

As promised, here are the pictures from the CT Reception of Mr. and Mrs. PureNard.

Congrats again, Mr. and Mrs. PureNard

Regular poster PureNard and his lady love are having a second wedding reception in CT today, for those who could not attend the original in Minnesota. (Yah, you betcha.) We here at Mod-Blog just want to wish the Mister and Missus again, all the best for a blessed and joyous marriage.

Click on the image above for pics from the wedding itself. Pictures from the reception to come... after it has actually happened.

Iran flirts with Nazi history

This is terrifying in light of a soon-to-be nuclear Iran.

Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims...
Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.

The only reason for such a measure is to allow easy targeting of minorities for discrimination by either official or unofficial Muslims. This is why the Nazis required the star of David on Jews during the Holocaust. The very fact that this measure is being considered shows either (1) Iran is terminally unable to understand a Western point-of-view, or (2) they have decided they no longer need to be sensitive to Western concerns. Either way, it sounds like Iran wants war.

New Orleans Mayoral Race

I am amazed to learn that in New Orleans, they are actually considering putting the same man back in charge of the city who was in charge during the evacuation. Mayor Nagin is in a head-to-head race with a challenger with roughly the same philosophy, which is allegedly leading my NO-residents to consider taking him back.

This amazes me. Rudy Guiliani become great during 9/11 for doing everything (well, almost everything) right. He showed competence, skill, and wisdom during some of the hardest moments in NYC's history. He could not have gone on because of term limits as mayor, but pretty much had earned the job for life! Nagin, who appears to have done everything wrong, who at least was part of a leadership vacuum that lead to the horrible conditions and outcome of Hurricane Katrina should be regarded as the Anti-Guiliani and should not be able to find a job as dog catcher anywhere in the USA. Yet, he is being considered by the voters again. Am I way off here, and do not understand his role in the Katrina disaster? Or is this why N.O. wound up in such a bad place in the first place - an inability to honestly size up politicians and reward either failure or success?

Is this why I'm never hungry in the morning?

Human Genome Project Is Done: Let Gattaca Begin

It is finished. The last chromosome (ironically referred to as "chomosome 1") has been fully mapped by the Human Genome Project. This means that all of the human chromosomes have been mapped, and now we can begin zeroing in on the details behind the genes - beyond the "eye color is here" to "blue looks like this, green like this, and magenta would look like this."

If there was ever a film that was before its time, it was Gattaca which came out right around the beginning of DVDs (1997). Starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thermon, it posited a future where we are all judged every day by our DNA, and a smart man can not even get a job in an important position if his genes show a predisposition for dying young from a heart condition. It is a great film, and were we will be heading over the next decade or two. I would highly recommend EVERY Mod-Blog reader see it, and that if there are any Hollywood insiders here to consider either rereleasing it or doing a remake with updated science and detail. It is a much more societally pressing debate than anything in the DaVinci Code movie, and actually is based on science instead of myth and speculation.

I like Amoeba!

Pat Robertson Opens Himself Up

Pat Robertson has said a lot of stuff in the last year that I have thought was foolish. i.e. That Hugo Chavez should be assasinated, among other things. Nothing he did not have a right to say, no opinions he did not have a right to hold, but things that frankly should probably not be said by a Christian leader looking to exemplify Christ's love to the world. Now, however, he is opening himself up to much worse. He has predicted that a tsunami will hit the USA in 2006, as told to him by God.

The test for a false prophet in the Bible is pretty simple. If what they foretell does not come true, then they are a false prophet. He left himself lots of wiggle room, but appears to be trying to claim the powers of a prophet (rather than just the identity of a man who knows scripture and can read the signs of the times). I hope if he is proven wrong, he has the humility to admit it.

Definitely my favoritest new comic on the web

RIAA sues XM Radio

XMRadio is being sued by the RIAA over a new class of digital devices that allow recording of digital radio programming to a handheld device for listening at a later time. Essentially, the RIAA is claiming that by allowing users to not only LISTEN to songs, but also PLAY THEM LATER they are due an extra cut of royalties and XM profits. XM has stated that they will defend their rights "vigorously" in the lawsuit. They had better, or else the iPod will truly become the only method of distributing digital music.

One must wonder if the RIAA would sue individuals for playing songs in their minds from memory, if they could figure out a way to do so.

WTC Trailer

I find myself in a strange position. There are three strong opinions that I have. (Well, many more than that, but three specific to this post.) (1) Oliver Stone films are not my cup of tea. (2) Nicolas Cage is one of the most overrated actors of our generation, and can single-handedly spoil almost any film for me. (The Rock being the exception that proves the rule.) And (3) it is still too soon to be making meaningful films about 9/11. But the new trailer for Oliver Stone's film, World Trade Center may make me rethink all three.

The MacBook Cometh

Apple has just announced the MacBook - the replacement to the popular iBook normally targetted at students and low-end portable users. There are a few interesting things to note in the announcement. First, as I predicted, the new MacBook comes in BLACK. (Though they kept a white version for those who like "classic iBook white" or want to accessorize with their iPod.) I predict black will outsell white by 3 to 1, as with the Video iPod. Second, the MacBook is not nearly as hobbled when compared to the MacBook Pro, as the iBook was when compared to the Powerbook. Essentially, the MacBook is now targetted at the "subnotebook" audience who wants a small, highly portable computer. You give up only .16 Ghz in speed, and the card expansion slot. (Previous iBooks were always a chip generation behind, usually a whole load of Mhz behind, and had a much less powerful graphics subsystem, but were available with larger screen sizes.)

Overall, I like the new design. If I had not just bought a car, I might even have been tempted to buy one myself. I wonder who will be the first Mod-Blogger to succumb to the draw of the MacBook or MacBook Pro?

The Immigration Reform Speech

Proving yet again that life has a way of getting in the way of civic duty, I missed the president's speech last night on Immigration Reform. (In a very fun way with some good friends, I might add, and I do not regret it.) If you also missed the speech, the transcript can be found here.

First impressions? It is isn't going to win the president any points, but it may work to guide the debate. Securing the border is a winning issue... but one must wonder why 5 years after 9/11/2001 we are still talking about an insecure border. Guest worker program? Honestly, I am not sure what to make of it, but am willing to be convinced. "Path to citizenship" for long-term illegals? This is the hardest to sell. It says those who have most flagrantly flouted the law should be told it was okay. The president says it is not amnesty, but ultimately it is an admission that he can't solve the problem so he wants to embrace it instead.

Overall, it is not a great solution. But I admit to having spent quite a bit of mental smoke on it myself, and I can't think of a better one... at least that is practical. I am interested in hearing/reading the thoughts of other Mod-bloggers on this one.

When E-mail Doesn't Work

Here is an interesting article about why e-mail often does not work as well as we think it should to convey information.

In effect, e-mail cannot adequately convey emotion. A recent study by Profs. Justin Kruger of New York University and Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago focused on how well sarcasm is detected in electronic messages. Their conclusion: Not only do e-mail senders overestimate their ability to communicate feelings, but e-mail recipients also overestimate their ability to correctly decode those feelings.
One reason for this, the business-school professors say, is that people are egocentric. They assume others experience stimuli the same way they do.

I must admit I have found this to be the case in business as well, though not as much in personal communications with friends.

I am reminded of a section in the Screwtape Letters, where Wormwood advises his nephew to best disrupt communication between two people by making the talker think his words should be taken in their most literal sense, while the listener is encouraged to find every nuance of voice and body language. Thus, a simple question like "Where did you put the butter?" becomes a matter of family discord as the hearer thinks it is an accusation (Where do YOU put the butter? /Implied, you never put things away in the right place/) and the speaker refuses to see anything wrong in what is said. This kind of thing is commonplace in business e-mails in tense situations.

New England Flooding - Mod-Bloggers Safe for Now

Mod-Bloggers out in Washington or Illinois may be wondering about the many stories indicating massive flooding in New England and how the rains are affecting those of us located in that area. For now, CRChair and Nomad are doing fine. We are a bit soggy from last week's unending torrential rains, but our homes and cars and jobs are unaffected as of now. We're keeping an eye on Shadowmom's basement as it did flood a few weeks back, despite having been "flood proofed" by a local company that guarantees their work for life. We had a nice weekend here with an almost sunny Saturday and a Sunday which only saw a few drops here and there. However, weather sites seem to indicate that our weekend without weather is over and severe storms are returning today. So keep an eye out, and keep praying for safety for us and the many others in more lower-lying areas of CT and New England. Especially those in Massachusettes and Maine who got no let up of the rain this weekend.

Poison Ivy Warning

Well, we have proven yet again that I am among the 85% of people who are allergic to Poison Ivy. For me, it has been an extra annoying phenomenon, because it turned out that I *became* allergic to poison ivy after about 20 to 25 years of *NOT* being allergic to it. Now, almost every year, after barely any exposure (my favorite outdoor activities are walking from the house to the car, and from the car to another building) I break out with a painful rash that quickly accelerates into an infected mess. I'll spare you the pictures. However, I want to apologize in advance if I seem... uh... loopy at all the next few days. I am on a steroid to put down the swelling, an anti-inflammatory to let the body heal, and a antibiotic to fight the infection. So my brain is swimming in stuff that normally should not be there, and my thoughts keep going in weird and interesting directions. Let us just say I drive to work FIRST, and THEN take the meds. Sigh.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy birthday to all of the mothers who made (and continue to make) Mod-Blog possible. On the right here is CRChair and Nomad's mother, wearing a corsage they bought for her. On the left is a new mother to be, wife of one of our regular posters. Congratulations!

This is my experience with UPS of late

Or it probably would be, if they would ever deliver to our house instead of either leaving a "I need a signature" slip for a 45 cent shipment (total value including packaging) or telling the dispatcher that we have moved.

What's Your Name?

CNN has posted the top 10 baby names for each gender. In a suprise to me, the top boy name is Jacob and the top girl name is Emily. What is even more suprising to me is that Emily is the top girl name for the tenth year in a row. Click on the link to see if your name made the list.

Going up again

Going up again
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

Davinci Code Rebuttal

I caught quite a bit of flack for my article a few weeks back for dismissing the current hysteria over the Davinci Code among Christians. I am still of the opinion that the whole thing is a tempest in a teapot, and that most of the public denunciations by Christians are only fueling the media machine. But overall, I think the best we can do is what FoxNews did here in simply and gently rebutting the "facts" that the Davinci code novel throws around which have no basis in reality or scholarly opinion. It is worth a read for a reminder that ultimately Davinci Code is not about transforming our religion, but about earning money for its author by any means necesary.

Proof Environmentalism is not about CLEAN energy, but NO energy

For years, when arguing with Environmentalist friends (yes, I have them) about the Energy Debate, they claimed that their movement was not about reducing human populations or energy needs, but rather about finding CLEAN methods to produce energy. Well, Texas is about to do just that with one of the largest off-shore wind farms ever build. Environmentalist response? It is bad, because migrating birds may be caught by the spinning blades.

Personally, I think this is one of the reasons we are still using mostly fossil fuels. Environmentalists protest any energy-producing method, because it supports an increase in human population which will inevitably displace more of "nature." So we keep doing what we have always done, because at least there the arguments are not new.

Is SOX worth it?

Being in the banking industry, the last few years we have heard about one regulation more than any other: Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). SOX was passed in the wake of the ENRON scandal (and many others) where companies were shown to have been using questionable accounting and bookkeeping practices to make themselves look to be in a stronger financial position than they were. SOX aims to put into place controls in every organization to ensure this can not happen again.

The problem is, according to a round-table discussion of leading executives, its costs are far exceeding its benefits. What does this mean? Most likely that in 10 years, when the scars of Enron are mostly forgotten, SOX will be entirely repealed. Better to fix it now, than to go back to the wild west when CEOs had almost no responsibility for the accuracy of their books.

Better Four Years Late Than Never

There must have been some kind of slip-up in the White House vetting process. The President actually hired someone who knows how to do their job! Stop the press! Thank you for finding one person who will actually go out and point out all the lies and half-truths the media has portrayed for the past four years. Now, the next big question, will the White House actually support Snow, or will they let him out to hang like they have so many of their hard-working allies?

Blue and Red

It's still a hot debate among the liberal elite. But then, it has to be, otherwise who would they look down upon and demean? John Hawkins has some entertaining thoughts about what must go through the mind of an elitist.

Politics vs. Action

I found myself agreeing with Lou Dobbs this morning about the situation in Washington.

And the lies keep coming from both political parties. This president is not enforcing the immigration laws enacted by Congress, and this Congress is failing in its duty of oversight to demand that those laws be followed.

Only a fool, Mr. President, Sen. Kennedy, Sen. McCain, would believe you when you speak of new legislation. You don't enforce the laws now.

The Guest Worker program is beyond absurd. It's worked SO WELL for France...And why are we taking their lead now, on this, off all things? The immigration debate in this country is deeply flawed because of the groups we're allowing to direct the dialogue. If we actually want real reform, then it seems that we need some honest politicians with courage enough to stand up and obey the laws, rather than playing to their voters with more legislation that does nothing.

Both More and Less Terrifying Than It Sounds

In a piece that liberals are sure to jump on faster than President Clinton jumps on french fries, USA Today is printing a story today about the NSA receiving phone records from various phone companies.

It is more terrifying because it is, indeed, far too much like Big Brother for the government to be keeping track of every call we make. This is absolutely not within the Constitutional framework of our country.

However, it is much less terrifying than the liberals will make it out to be because of what is actually being recorded:

"The program does not involve listening to or taping the calls. Instead it documents who talks to whom in personal and business calls, whether local or long distance, by tracking which numbers are called."

So in other words, what the liberals have been claiming for the past couple of months is not true, and will still not be true. The government is not listening in on every call we make. And there is a huge difference between keeping a record that calls are made, and actually listening in to those calls. I support neither in this case, but again, this is not as big as the talking heads will make it out to be. Still, it reminds us that we cannot let ourselves be too comfortable with letting our elected officials on too long a leash.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Sometimes I wonder if this is what my family is like when we order from our favorite restaurant, Captains Pizza #6 in Shelton.

Moussaoui wants to withdraw guilty plea

In a very weird move, Zacharias Moussaoui made a motion to withdraw his guilty plea after being sentenced to life in prison for his part in the 9/11 attacks.

Explaining his latest reversal, Moussaoui said in an affidavit:
"I had thought I would be sentenced to death based on the emotions and anger toward me for the deaths on September 11. But after reviewing the jury verdict and reading how the jurors set aside their emotions and disgust for me and focused on the law and the evidence ... I now see that it is possible that I can receive a fair trial even with Americans as jurors."

I suppose some will want to take this at face value, but quite frankly I think he wanted death so that he would be glorified as a martyr for Islam, and is hoping a second trial would find a jury willing to impose execution. Instead, the judge has refused his request, and he is destined for obscurity in the Federal Prison system.

Introducing Nomad's Vibe

Introducing Nomad's Vibe
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

I'll have up some higher quality pics tonight or tomorrow, but for now I wanted to share my fun with our loyal Mod-Blog readers.

OFFICIAL Official Playstation 3 Launch Details

Sony formally unveiled the PS3 at the E3 show, and Engadget has the details for us

• Two models at launch, one for $599 and one for $499
• A new controller which looks almost identical to the old PS2 controller, but with motion-sensing technology
• The lesser model will lack WiFi, card reader functionality
And finally, the first official pictures of the PS3

I can't say I am likely to preorder one now, having just spent $20K on a new car. But it looks better to my eyes than the XBox 360 did prior to launch. Here's hoping it is worth the high price!

Another reason American carmakers are behind the 8-ball

I am quite happy with my purchase of a new Pontiac Vibe, and even moreso because it is an American-made car from an American company. (Though it was developed and manufactured jointly with Toyota.) But I am still worried that American car companies are becoming more and more ineffective and less and less competitive with foreign rivals. Here is an article detailing one more reason why this may be so.

Tips for Saving Gas

As part of my research for buying a new car, I spent a lot of time on Edmunds.Com - a great place for car reviews and in-depth analysis of new and used models. They have a new article up which analyzes the various methods of saving gas. Some are surprisingly effective, and others are amazingly ineffective. Kind of a Mythbusters approach to the crisis in gas prices.

Church Unity Wins Out Against Liberal Ideology

In a "brave" move the California diocese of the Episcopal Church has elected a married man rather than a homosexual as its next bishop. The reasoning behind this vote is seen to be an act of church unity. When Bishop Robinson of New Hampshire was elected the first openly gay bishop it sent shock-waves across the Anglican connection and has caused a lot of friction between the Episcopalians and other Anglican groups. Out of 7 candidates 3 were gay - I would rather no practicing homosexuals be nominated, but for now this is an achievement. For once church unity has won out over the liberal agenda that has been taking over the Episcopal church here in America.

Decision Made: 2006 Pontiac Vibe

Well, the die is cast and the decision is made. I decided to buy a 2006 Pontiac Vibe from D'Addario GMC in Shelton, CT. Normally, I only look at pre-owned cars for my purchases, but they brought down the price on the new one and agreed to take my worthless car as a $500 trade-in. So in the end the price was pretty comparable to buying a 2005 Pontiac Vibe used. And this way, I get the full warranty plus the extended warranty up to 100,000 miles. Plus, they arranged it so that my costs from having my old Alero break down are wiped out.


The car is "platinum" on the outside (plain silver as in the pictures above) and graphite (dark grey) on the inside. It has a 6-disk CD changer built-in, as well as cruise control, and lots of other goodies. I am very happy with this purchase, and will pick up the car on Monday after work.

For the record, D'Addario was great to deal with for a place where you can haggle on price. Ask for "Dawn" if you go. She is new - and it shows sometimes - but she is low-pressure, which I like. But if you want the best sellers ever, go to Dan Perkins and ask for John or Paul. Only reason they did not get this sale is they had no new Vibes, all the used Vibes were in another state, and I was ready to buy today.

Car Shopping, Day 2

We visited Dan Perkins in Milford, CT last night for continued car shopping. I had been hoping to check out a couple of Pontiac Vibes, but it turned out that they were still in White Plains, NY at their Saturn dealership. Won't be available in Milford until Monday. So we looked at the other cars that had been on my list. By the way, our favorite salesman (and manager) of all time - Paul Dempsey - is back at Dan Perkins. If you are looking for an honest, low-pressure kind of guy, ask for Paul by name.

We arrived at 5 PM and they closed at 6 PM, so there was no time for a test drive. But there were a few results. First, the Chevy Cobalt is out for me. It is a nice car, but it is too cramped for the driver and there is very little room in the back seat (if I do ever have kids or need to transport my tall friends). The flipside is that the Chevy Aveo is now a possibility. It is smaller on the outside than the Cobalt, but feels much larger on the inside. And it gets 34 MPG on the highway. Great deal. Mom noticed the Chevy HHR, which is Chevrolet's attempt to clone the PT Cruise. I personally HATE the PT Cruiser - it is ugly and not fuel efficient - but he HHR fixes many of the things that the PT did wrong. It is more fuel efficient (30 MPG highway), looks less retro (and by retro, I mean ugly), and the price is much better. The Impala was great, too - as always - but a bit larger and less fuel efficient than I was hoping for.

We go back to D'Addario today, and possible back to Dan Perkins again to actually do some test driving. Also considering going up to some other dealers elsewhere in the state.

Every dog owner has had this experience

One For Us Night People

From The Quotations Page's Quote of the Day:

Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.

- Robert Heinlein

250 MPG Car

A patent has recently been filed on an electric car that will go highway speeds and last 40 miles (the average American commute) on gasoline or ethanol. They estimate that the average American will get 250 mpg. I'm skeptical as this seems like it would just increase your electric bill, but if the cost to charge it costs less than the gasoline, I could fill up a few times a year as my commute is only 6 miles or so. Sacramento even has a few parking spots at the mall and the airport where you can park your electric car to charge it.

Our dog Biscuit does this when you offer her a treat

Car Shopping, Day 1

Yesterday, I visited D'Addario GMC in Shelton, CT and looked at the available cars with the salesperson Dawn. We looked at a number of cars, but the ones that stood out were a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, 2003 Toyota Matrix, and a new Pontiac Vibe. I test drove the Vibe and it is a NICE car. The All Wheel Drive model is missing some pep - it was not as happy as I would like going uphill - but is sure-footed, has a nice interior, and great visibility. And even the AWD model gets 31 MPG on the highway (regular front-wheel drive model gets 34 MPG). However, I am still hoping to find a pre-owned one.

We're visiting Dan Perkins Chevrolet in Milford, CT today to see what they have. They have one 2005 Vibe in stock that I am really hoping is still there when we arrive. We shall see. Also am excited about test driving a Chevy Cobalt.

It's not what I call "Relief", but...

It's not what I call "Relief", but...
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

...it's a lot better than the last one.

"Force Field" for Tanks

Israel has developed what at least newscasters are calling a "force field" against RPG's that can be used for both tanks and helicopters. It's going to be tested in Iraq. If successful, this could be quite cool for us to have.

Han shot first and I can prove it - on DVD

Relenting to overwhelming geek pressure, Lucasfilm Ltd. will release

attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie and, as bonus material, the theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.

I never owned the original versions of the films - in fact I think I only saw them once. I've wanted to own them, but buying VHS seemed less than acceptable to me. This will be a great way to fill out my collection, since I don't have Ep. IV, V, or VI on DVD yet. Very exciting!!!!!

Moussaoui gets life

Zacarias Moussaoui has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In reflecting on the sentencing of Moussaoui it seems to me that this is the best option. On the one hand he is a seemingly despicable human being that the world would be better off without. Anyone that shows no remorse for being involved in causing an event like 9/11 deserves to not be around any longer. I'm sure there are many good cases for why he should have gotten the death penalty, but I think that death is exactly what he wanted. By sentencing him to death we would be making him into the martyr that he wants to be - and would have been had he not missed his flight that day. What could be more punishing than being forced to live with a couple hundred of the worst people in the country that totally hate your guts for what you did. I suppose he can pass the time by imagining the 70 virgins he would have gotten - seeing he's getting nothin' now.

I think I've figured out why I am still single

I always wondered by there was a strange warbling in the air each time I approach a woman for the first time.

Let us all observe a moment of silence...

My car... is dead. *SOB!* Poor faithful little devil just couldn't endure 10,000 miles between oil changes, and choked to death on his own sludge. *SOB!* They say $6,000 for a repair... and the whole thing (with a functional engine) would be worth, at most $6,000. I guess it is officially time to start looking for a new one. Sigh.

Thanks to Bowhunter for all the hard work as the paramedic on the scene, trying to save the patient. Thanks also to StPatty for his advice last night. And thanks to everyone else for prayer and advice.

Ironically, I was already wearing black today, in mourning.

American Car companies lose more market share

Normally, I am not one to pay too much attention to auto sales news, but with my Alero on its last legs this story, reporting on additional loss of market for American car-makers to their Asian rivals caught my eye. It is sad that American car companies are almost back where they were in the 70s, when no one in their right mind bought American. My family always has, but no one ever said we were in our right minds. It is time for Ford, GM, and the others to do what was done in the 80s to revitalize the car companies - look at what the Asian auto makers are doing right (*cough* fuel-efficiency *cough*) and bring that to our cars. It is no accident that Toyota owns the patent on the hybrid engine used by most auto makers these days. They thought ahead and got into the market before anyone else.

And of course, my other favorite idea here is for the American government to purchase the hybrid engine patent and make it freely available to all American car makers without charging royalties or fees. But I think I have accepted by now that this is not going to happen.

Apple gets aggressive

Apple has had many fun and pointed advertising campaigns. Well, Apple has finally gotten aggressive and started to point out the flaws of the average PC. Pointing out that tech experts love Macs, the number of viruses aimed at PCs, uptime of Macs vs. PC lock-ups. I've seen a couple of the commercials tonight and they are fun. It's nice to see Apple making their case and not being a pushover to Windows any longer. Speaking of which, it looks like Windows Vista is going to be delayed yet again.

Those with a weak heart may wish to stop reading now...

Nomad has read the Republican and Democratic proposals to deal with high gas prices. The GOP wants a $100 tax rebate check to go to taxpayers. The Dems want a "tax holiday" to eliminate gas taxes for 30 days. So saith CNN. Here is the shocking part. I think the GOP is dead wrong on this one, and the Democrats are (mostly) right.

I'll pause to let the heart palpitations stop, and for anyone to seek medical help, if needed.

We all know I am not ultra-conservative, except on abortion, but in this case a "tax holiday" simply makes sense. It hits consumers exactly where they need relief - at the pump. It eases strain mostly on those who are suffering most - those who drive a lot. And it is something that can be done quickly - very little beaurocratic wrangling to worry about.

Compare this to the $100 rebate. (1) It hits all Americans equally, so a 99 year old grandmother who has not driven in 5 years gets the same benefit as a truck driver who makes his living driving all the time. (2) It fails to address the indirect impact of increased gas prices - inflation on everything else as the cost of transporting goods increases prices on every product. (3) It requires a huge beaurocratic effort to print the millions of checks and then mail them to taxpayers. i.e. It'll take 6 weeks (at least) from the time of passage until the checks are recieved.

Of course, both sides are wrong in trying to tax oil producers more heavily in trying to pay for their relief schemes. That will only encourage them to pass along those new tax costs onto consumers in excess of the savings we would otherwise see.

Mod-Blog has always striven to be a MODERATE, rather than purely conservative voice, but I think the last six months or so we have been more conservative than not. This time, but this time, the Conservatives are wrong.

Nomad's Car Problems

Well, some of you caught this under Wedge's "Changing a Tire" post, but I thought I would post it here as well... mostly because it is taking up most of my non-work thought right now.

I made the cardinal mistake of driving my 2000 Oldsmobile Alero 10,000 miles between changes in oil. For those of you for whom this seems excessive driving, keep in mind I drive at least 80 miles a day just in my commute. Add to that an excessively busy first quarter of 2006, with no free weekends, and you get an idea how I let myself get into this mess. I may have been able to get away with this in a relatively new car, but the car has over 100,000 miles on it anyway. So, as of Friday, it started making a horrible clacking noise. BowHunter - close friend and salesman for BG products - diagnosed the problem as a "stuck lifter". i.e. The thing in the engine that lifts open the valves while you drive was getting no oil due to a clog in the thing underneath it that lifts it and keeps it lubricated. He tried to help me out by cleansing my car's oil system with some magic chemicals, and a new oil change. No luck. So I brought it into a mechanic yesterday. The sales advisor took one listen and started preparing me for a $5000 bill for a new engine. My car is only worth about $5000 by the blue book value, anyway. They are looking at the car more today, and I should have some idea of the "final" diagnosis.

My question for Mod-Bloggers and Mod-Blog readers is this: If I do need to buy a new car, rather than fixing this old one, what car do you recommend? I'd be looking in the $10K-$15K region, and I have a built-in bias towards buying American. (Though if the car is assembled in the USA, I can rationalize that as being good enough.) Wacko has pointed me toward CarMax, but the selection in CT seems a bit lean. Thoughts?