I've enjoyed the first three days of the Howard Stern Show on Sirius, although technical glitches have limited my consumption to maybe an hour total so far. On Sunday night i went out to my car and set up my Sirius unit to record Howard 100 from 3-8am (6-11am east coast time, Howard's typical morning slot ... although it is broadcast on Pacific time on Howard 101, i figured i'd just get it saved early and go from there). I'd skimmed the manual and noticed the phrase "the player will wake up to record if it's not powered on" and thought all was well. I came out at 7:30am the next morning to go to the weekly radiobiology meeting and found the player still blissfully asleep. Turns out i'd missed the qualifier in the manual that the unit must be in the home dock (which i haven't purchased, yet) to wake up automatically. Doh. I could leave the unit on all night in my car, but i have fears of how much of my car battery that would suck up ... i don't want to be calling AAA every morning. I'm basically resolved to buy the $100 home dock now, but unfortunately they're sold out everywhere. So i'm getting my Howard when i can ... it's been worth it. George Takei is announcing this week, and i could listen to him laugh all day long. All in all Sirius has been a very good investment in my first few weeks of experience with it. It's making my iPod languish unused in the car glovebox. It's odd hearing profanities come into the show now. Not that they make me uncomfortable or anything ... it actually helps make the show feel even more like a casual conversation. It's just bizarre since Howard has been forced to use phrases like "doody", "pleasure yourself", and "f'ed" for so long, it's a shock to hear more common euphemisms rear their heads. But that's a good thing.

V got her own auto gadgetry installed yesterday at the Mini dealer. They added an iPod adapter to her car, actually the same Alpine unit that i have in the Jetta, allowing her to listen to and control her Nano through the stock Mini stereo. She's giving that a whirl this morning, as i took her car down to Mountain View yesterday to have the work done. I can't say how great it is to have my Jetta back. It makes my morning and evening commutes (however brief they may be) that much more enjoyable. The Mini meanwhile is definitely Veronica's car. It certainly looks and drives great (that thing accelerates like a bat out of hell ... it's got low-end torque coming out of its ass), but i just don't feel comfortable when in the driver's seat. It doesn't fit me, persay. No disrespect intended ... it's just not the car for me. Veronica's been telling me for two years everything that's wrong with the Jetta so i think i'm entitled to a little retribution.

Got to the final boss on Gun last night, and believe me by the end of the game so much f@$#ed-up s@$# has happened to you that you are seriously motivated to kick this guy's ass. However for some reason the game's difficulty spikes for this final battle and i can't seem to beat him down. I'll be trying again tonight after picking up Tara from the groomers and her long overdue bath.

Been picking up and enjoying lots of comedy albums lately, from classics like Steven Wright to newcomers Mitch Hedberg (R.I.P.) and Jim Gaffigan. The latter had me falling out of my chair yesterday afternoon with his high-pitched self commentary interspersed throughout his sets. "Hooooot pooooockeeeetssssss ..."

The latest episode of Flavor of Love was on last night. Veronica says she may have to stop watching it, but i can't believe that ... how can you turn away? This is train wreck city! Everyone there is clearly out to get Flavor Flav's money, although what makes them think he's loaded, i have no idea. New York is the resident bitch, and fills the part beautifully. When asked why she doesn't get along with the other women, she responded "I don't know ... maybe they're jealous, because i'm so awesome". Couple a competition for a C-list celebrity's affections with a bunch of contestants who are facing a quick return to the ghetto if they get kicked off, and you've got gold! I give it another week or two before the frequent catfights (there was an argument between Rain and New York last night that continued in screaming hysterics for two full minutes) turn physical. And Flav cuts the crap and just starts screwing everyone, assuming that hasn't happened already and VH1 edited it out. I'm curious if any of these women have heard of Public Enemy, let alone being able to quote some lyrics. Maybe that should be the final showdown, a karaoke contest where one girl performs "Bring the Noise" while the other does "By the Time I Get to Arizona".

I realized yesterday while getting the Mini tricked out that i am now someone who bought his wife a car for Christmas. Weird. I've got that Seinfeld episode going through my head now where Jerry helps Babu improve his restaurant ... "I am a kind man. Who else would do something like this? Nobody. Nobody thinks about people like I do. All right, snap out of it you stupid jerk. What do want, a nobel prize? I am such a great guy. I am special. My mother was right. Very good? No, not very good, very great. I am very, very great.". *head swelling*