In Other News....

I'm starting a new feature in my blog.

I'm going to include headlines and, possibly, snippets on some of the latest and greatest news going on in the world around me. That way, when I reread my archived posts, I'll remember what significant events were going on at that time (besides me, of course. Ultimately, Words, Weights, Whatever is all about me.)

Here's the first batch of events (in no particular order):

McCain Decides to Participate in Debate

World goes on high alert over killer food scandal

You're Gay. Yeah, Whatever.



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Carpe Diem (seize the day)

Feeling Fake

I like my job as an automotive blogger. There are days, though, that I feel like a fake.

Today was one of those days. One of my colleagues from Motor Trend brought one of the all-new Dodge Challengers to our office. While admiring its lines, both inside and out, I couldn't help but notice it was a stick shift.

I can't drive stick. Neither of my parents drove stick and it wasn't part of the driver's ed. Most folks in the U.S., in fact, can't drive stick.

But the auto industry is different. Just like how doctors can brag about being able to stay up three days/nights in a row without sleep, auto journalists and enthusiasts puff up their chests (and breasts) when they proudly declare they can drive a stick, prefer stick shift, and the only "real" driver is a stick driver. One journalist/exec, whom I admired, really brought that point home when he asked a tableful of journalists if they'd consider anyone in the industry who drove an automatic to be a true auto journalists. You can guess their answer.

Don't pity me. They have a point. I've already taken a few lessons from some of my colleagues and have researched driving schools. I will one day master the stick. Er, the one in a car, that is.

Weekend Words starts by killing Dracula

Though feeling ill from a recent asthma attack, I joined my gaming buddies for some D&D 3.5 where are PCs had their first confrontation with the Big Bad, Count Strahd (aka fantasy Dracula). We drove him back. Yay! I suspect though that our DM didn't fully understand how to use BB, making combat a lot easier. We'll see in our next confrontation.

Saturday should have been a day for more gaming. I drove out to Claremont to play my monthly Pathfinder game and discovered the GM had to cancel to take his wife to the hospital. It was a last minute thing and I don't think he had my phone number or access to it. So I used the chance to check out a couple of hobby stores before heading home. That evening, I attended my monthly boardgame night. I can't go into details, but apparently there's some drama going on with the hosts and some of the members, and those in the know could sense the tension which was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Sunday The Spouse and I milled about Orange County. We started with an Indian brunch, then checked out Fashion Island. It had been a while since we've been to the outdoor mall, and I found it fascinating to watch all the Rodeo-drive wannabe; you know, with the toy dogs, the expensive clothes and accessories, and way too little flesh on their "my body from plastic surgery" figures. Then off to the Spectrum where we dined at Izakaya Wasa, our newest eatery haunt. We were so tired and full that The Spouse napped when we got home, a rarity.

Overall, I give the the weekend three and a half stars out of five.

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Carpe Diem (seize the day)