Victoria

Perish the thought! Invest in alternative fuels, before getting on bikes. Me, I like bikes, I own one, but I rarely go out in mine. They are dangerous in many parts of the US, and with such a high-powered lifestyle here, they are certainly not for the middle-classes with their Rolexes and their 2.3 soccer-camp going kids. I'd like to see a family all ride their bikes lugging all their tschokes around like they do here. The trend in America has always been more, not less, and you can't place a DVD player on the back of a bike... All of this, is not taking into account the wide distances in the USA, since yeah sure bikes are great for city folk, but what about the 50 miles separating country people from the nearest big town? What of the cargo that needs to go on huge lorries, can you see supermarkets restocking from bikes? What of the cultural impulse towards the automotive since the 1920s? The Wright Bros were bicycle shop owners, but even they got bored with its limitations and tried their hand at aeroplanes, eventually. This bike idea is an affectation of city Yuppies, and foreigners from smallish countries, who do care about the environment of course. That's wonderful. But I doubt they have thought about all the cultural and practical considerations that come with this. I'd sooner go back on a horse than on a bike. At least you can talk to a horse. *g* Yeah, that would definitely appeal to the American ethos...backwards is the new forwards, folks! What a brave new world.

A free country. Here they don't "require" anyone to do anything of the sort. They do so out of their own free will, their own mental health, their own life circumstances. Maybe he was a panhandler before, and went into the Marines to centre himself, you know? But I suppose that didn't occur to you, Pugwash. But that's all right. That's why I and others are here to respond about your misassociations regarding the US.

Me voted! And apparently the one I voted for is the fave so far. The other one is okay, but my choice for you just has a lot more class, Jfreeman. Gotta have class in WPB, baby.

Well, in retrospect, I could've been killed if the person had had a gun in the glove compartment, and was also in a rage...or just had gotten out and taken a swing at me. Also, you know, Z80, I have told you all, but I haven't had the guts to tell my parents, friends or boyfriend* about this. Funny how the internet works... *My boyfriend is registered here, and a VIP, but does so only to read the Wrist-Checks, so he won't find out. Wish I could deny, and make you feel better, but yeah. My parents were profs at JHU when I was a kid, and living in Baltimore was no fun back then. Dumpy, depressing, dangerous. I rather hoped Camden Yards would've revitalised the area, but I've heard it's just as much a dump as ever. Sorry. And stay safe!

Have you ever been a victim of road rage, or worse, been the road rager, as it were? For the first time in my life, I was in that position today. Waiting for the arrow to turn green in a two-lane turning stop, I saw a crippled war veteran panhandling two lanes away from me. Slung across his neck, he had on one of those signs you barely read, but you get the gist. Basically, he needed a handout -- an ex-US Marine. Even still had the buzz cut to show for it. So I rolled down the windows and beckoned him over. I usually do if the person is handicapped in any way. I gave him some money, but didn't notice that I got the arrow to turn (this was in rush hour traffic). So the guy behind me, also in a Merc, started honking and yelling. "Hey lady! Move your ass! Give the baby killer money some other day!", or something along those lines. IN ALL MY LIFE, I had never heard a real life person call any vet a baby killer. I thought that only existed in the cinema, and that of the 1970s, at that. I had SUCH rage come over me, that I got out of the car, and started to head in full steam to that cretin's window. I had no idea what I was going to do, but one thing was that I was going to give him SUCH an earful he would never forget. But the guy got scared, and immediately scooted in the other turning lane, running away like punk ass coward, almost running over the vet (he had on a prosthetic arm...), still standing near my passenger window. I went over to the guy, rather uncharacteristically yelling at him as I approached, "Hey don't pay attention to him!! MORON!!". "All right", he said meekly. I swear to you, his reaction almost broke my heart. Maybe it had happened before. Who knows if he really was a vet or not. Maybe it was just another lie to get money. But a guy slowed down as he passed us by, and gave us a thumbs up which calmed me down A LOT. As an aside, I won't tell you what "Vote for" bumpersticker the jackass in the Mercedes had. Let's just say I imagine he must not be very supportive of soldiers in general. So if you witnessed this scene around 6:30 PM just outside Aventura Mall, that crazy lady heading over to tear a rich uncaring guy a new one, was yours truly.

And this would be different from all other brands exactly how...?

That's exactly right. If it mounted on the computer, I would've "restored" it immediately (I had done that this weekend, when it started to conk out on me). Thanks, Ape! I took it to one of the Apple stores today, and if they couldn't get it to mount, I'm afraid it's beyond these still very helpful instructions. I have an appointment for tomorrow, given me by one of their "Genius" technicians (they're actually called that, and they have their name on a nameplate, like "Jake - Genius". Oh, brother. Beats being a Best Buy Geek!). I am reminded of the age-old Umberto Eco observation that Apple is Roman Catholic, IBM is Protestant, and Windows Anglican. Yeah, Apple certainly has all the hubris and hierarchy of our Church, boy. I'll let you know what happens, guys, thanks for all the tips! I'm sure the Genius squad will fix it, and all will be well. P.S.: Busy day Monday, and will be busier Tuesday. Remember please, the Caper will be posted on Wednesday, not Tuesday! And I'll do the Wristies later Tuesday! P.P.S.: The "Genius" who helped me today looked a bit like George Clooney. Yum. But the best part is that he was wearing a Breitling two-tone!!

ANNOUNCEMENT Just to let you guys know that the Tuesday GPSC will be delayed one day, as I haven't gotten my Savage strap yet. It's a-coming, fear not! Also, Part 6 will be the final installment of the year, until January. But I am taking suggestions for strap review ideas. So if you want a special strap or brand reviewed, just post it here. IF I got it, the most votes wins!

First, Jkerouac, MWAH! Thanks so much for your reply. I did everything as you suggested, indeed, had done a few things last night already (checked it on my laptop, e.g.), but nothing. I think the internal HD is fried. But just to say my OCD collecting doesn't stop at watches. I have 6 iPods... This is the only one which has given me the least problem. Yep, will have to go to the Apple Store for them to figure it out. Just hope it doesn't cost me a tonne of greenbacks that could go into TWP's pocket.

Definitely. Just reading a reply he gave me about the DOA Air-King. As I said in another thread, I'm sure a lot of packages are just "hitting" their owners Friday-Monday, and there might be a few QC issues to resolve. He must be swamped.

Not Safe For WorkPlace That Robot Chicken episode was amongst the funniest I've ever seen in my life.

Me too, as a brief rebuttal to some of your points. Let me just say that though I disagree with many, I appreciate that you can write them without hurling personal insults, which is not usually the case in forums. Pix' reply was admirable in that respect too. God only knows what would've happened to an American PGA broadcaster if he had replied in kind with, "And the problem with you g-ddamn Europeans is that you want the USA to come rescue you every time you g-ddamn get into trouble." Unlike Aliss, that broadcaster would've been fired the next day because there is zero-tolerance here for such gratuitously insulting talk. Just ask Mr. Don Imus. Affable or not, it shows deep-seated bigotry against Americans on the one hand, and a lack of sympathy which is present when something ill befalls Americans. "They had it coming", is a very poor human reaction indeed, and one which is unthinkable if America were Africa. Mind you, I remember the amazing tributes to America in Grosvenor Sq just outside the embassy in London. It was heart-meltingly beautiful to see that from my own countrymen to the US, in her grief. The Queen composed one of the most beautiful personal messages I have yet heard written by anyone, which the US President read out loud in his speech at National Cathedral. I know we British will always be on the side of Americans, because there is just too much shared history, culture, and mutual respect not to be. There is even a level of affection which we are loathe to admit we have for them -- but we surely know how to stick it to them, when the going isn't so tough, don't we? Unfortunately, the British have a love-hate relationship with the US which is purely one-sided. The Americans often are bemused by the British -- but really, they don't spend nearly as much time thinking about us as we do them. And I think that's part of the problem. They are now the senior, MUCH more important partner, and somewhere, that hurts. You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Especially since Nixon, there is no President which has survived a second term in office without a challenge to his presidency at the LEGAL level, let alone at the popular, and media level. Even before Watergate, that was the case, but the attitude of respect towards the Office was very great. But as was our attitude of respect great towards the incumbents at Number 10, too, before "bloody Wilson".

Jolly joker. Life is bad! - Klink. (Okay, I'm guessing I will have to schlepp it there. It was a gift, so I don't have receipts. Hope that'll be okay...)

I'm telling you, what with the diamond scratch on the PAM 111h bracelet watch, and now that iPod I showed you in the other wrist-check photo having died, those series of photographs were JINXED. Here is what's happening: Dell computer won't recognise iPod. USB thingie not found. I've tried it via the iPod cradle, directly into the USB port, and tried uninstalling iTunes to see if the driver is reloaded. Cleaned Registry. Tried firewire, and mixing up the USB ports. Nothing. I tried the usual tricks of slide "Hold", reboot by pressing centre button, or play. Nothing. Won't light up. Any ideas? There is an iPod store in North Miami Beach, so I could go there, but I'm hoping you guys might save me a schlepp. I got it for Christmas.

I would oblige, but my religion prohibits it. Zoroastrism also prohibits the transmission of voices via Skype, just to head you off that pass.

Wow, that is awful, Raymond. I wish you immensely better luck this Monday, and for the rest of the week. Do I take it you were hinting that your General-Manager might accuse you of some "insider job" shenanigans? Well, that's just silly. Anyway, positive vibes down your wave in HK! At least you are wearing a beautiful watch...

I used to like DeGrassi High, when I was younger. And Kids and the Hall! Some Canadian programming is very good, but my boyfriend (a Canuck) says not a lot of Canadians watch their own shows. Very nice! You might stand a decent chance of getting your watches noticed and more importantly, appreciated. (Sorry if that sounded rude -- I know very little about El Salvador. I know more about Nicaragua and Guatemala. Apparently, I heard that Guatemala has the largest Porsche dealership per capita in the Americas? On RWI) Is there anything hotter than seeing a sextoon where George Jetson is doing Rosie the robot? Other than Fred and Wilma, of course.

Mr. Jeremy Clarkson's antics aside, getting back to watches in movies: Saw 3:10 to Yuma, and I was wrong. As apparently in the original, there is of course frequent sighting of a beautiful pocket watch, owned by the top Pinkerton official. At one point in the film, the pocket watch gets a full 2 second cameo where I excitedly leant forward to see the marque (startling the two frat boys I was seated next to -- hehe, I wonder what they thought of that). S.......... & H........, I believe were the initials. Any of you watch experts, perhaps Nanuq who loves older timepieces given that famous photo , might have a clue which marque that is? I want to say the last name is H for "Hamilton", as in the famous American watch company, but maybe that's a forced mind association. ...the film itself was good. Watchable (pun intended). And it certainly is a good modern effort at the Western genre (never a fave of mine). It's not all I heard it was on Charlie Rose though. Still, good effort. Worth watching. B+

Dude, who hasn't clicked on Sextoons at least once in their internet life? And why stop at just childhood cartoons! Check this out, obviously not at work: http://www.mamut.net/homepages/Netherlands...enshumor/27.gif P.S.: Adult Swim programming on the Cartoon Network is amazing for parodying beloved childhood American cartoons and general 1980s cultural icons. From "Family Guy", "Robot Chicken" and especially "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law", it's all one big naughty poke in the eye at Hannah Barbera and Friends. I rarely miss that hour block at night. ROOKAH!

You shouldn't be. This was a magnificent thread idea, and I'm surprised it hadn't been done as comprehensively (or at all?) before! Thanks for your Air-King photo, too. It was the only reason I got it from Jay/Silix. I get so many watch ideas from this forum, if I had gotten nothing else in terms of info, it would've been worth the VIP upgrade ALONE.

HMMM. Is this said as in, "Oh come Vic, stop being the drama queen. They ain't nuttin'!" OR "Wow, you were so right, sorry we doubt ya!" I'll take it was a bit of both. Wow, those are some deep scratches, Jiro...but on to the story. LOVE IT, just fantastic. This a MAN right there. Not that I advocate bad boy behaviour, but standing up for your lady is the single-most important thing any man who loves, can do. Bar none. I would've bailed you out of gaol myself, baby! Hocked the Davidsen Fiddy in a sec! As for the scratches, as the old saying goes, "You should see the other guy." Wow. I'm guessing you need some serious Cape Cod elbow grease, or just leave it there as evidence of your testosteronal fortitude. Thanks for the story! And keep reminding her of it.

OMG, OMG! I personally can't wait, Lanikai. I've lusted after you, I mean!, wondered about your hands for a while. Just please, Lord, don't tell me you look like this: Because the wedding is off if you have prison ring tats.

TT, I pride myself on knowing just about everything culturally relevant in several countries...and if I didn't get the Katzenmoyer twins reference, I'm sure half the board didn't either. HOWEVER, yes, it's understood that it was some kind of slam. But it's nice to see that TWP issued an immediate and gracious apology. All is well in Mudville! Casey coming up to bat.