In honor of Leap Day today, watch a few of these leap-themed, Rick Astley-free music videos from Youtube.
House of Pain – Jump Around
Van Halen – Jump!
(Any more I should add here?)
February 2008
Honda offers olive branch
Last night I got so worked up about the Odyssey repair that I had trouble getting to sleep. I gave a call this morning to Steven, our service advisor at Leith Honda, curtly and politely emphasizing my displeasure with this whole issue. I reminded him how we were loyal Leith customers and expected some consideration for that.
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Need new blinds for your home? Get ’em for 50% off!
My brother Allen just alerted me to a promotion by Levolor blinds. In an effort to raise awareness of their online store, Levolor is offering a Friends and Family discount of 50% off the regular online price of Levolor blinds. The offer ends March 17th.
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Prince Harry
Britain’s Prince Harry served with the British Army in Afghanistan for 10 weeks until yesterday, when the Drudge Report broke ranks against a media embargo and announced his whereabouts. While I am a fan of freedom of speech, I think its a shame Harry had to be outed when all he wanted was to serve anonymously, or as anonymously as a prince can get. Having the location of a high-profile person trumpeted all over the world is not good for operational security, not just for him but his company as well.
Heck of a job, Drudgie.
Our odyssey with Honda has come to an end
I’ve been thinking a bit more about our experience today with the Honda dealer’s handling of our broken transmission. Thanks to a tip from a friend who went through the same ordeal a month ago, I did a search on The Google for “flashing D.”
It turns out that failing transmissions in Honda Odysseys are a well-known problem to Honda. It also seems from the comments I’ve read that Honda has gone out of its way to completely paper over the problem.
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Oh Lately Its So Quiet
Pandora has succeeded in getting songs like this stuck in my head. It has made me want to buy more music any other music source I’ve encountered yet: radio, MTV, satellite radio. Even friends’ recommendations. Its really dangerous!
Oh Lately Its So Quiet
OK Go
(Oh no) Oh lately it’s so quiet in this place
You’re not ’round every corner
(oh no) Oh lately it’s so quiet in this place
So darlin’ if your not here haunting me
I’m wondering…
Who’s house are you haunting tonight?
Who’s sheets you twist?
Who’s face you kiss?
Who’s house are you haunting tonight?
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Odyssey to get transmission transplant
Well, the Odyssey will get a new lease on life after all. The local dealer has slashed the price of a replacement transmission to $1800 on account of our long-time service relationship. While its not a free replacement, I think its fair considering that Honda’s response when it became apparent this model had transmission issues was to extend the warranties to 100,000 miles. Since our van is at 120,000 miles ours is obviously beyond that window.
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Transmission is Odyssey’s death sentence?
We just got word from the local Honda dealership that our 2002 Honda Odyssey will need a new transmission. This is after a mere 120,000 miles have been put on it. Alas, a new transmission is $5,000: about half the van’s current value. I’m of the mindset that it may be time to put the old girl down.
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Eschew the flu
We’re in the middle of one of the worst flu seasons ever, with people dropping like flies. Hallie was a victim, too, in spite of Kelly taking her in for a flu shot.
Predictably, the News and Observer is once again beating the drums about flu shots, with the latest story on the front page saying the CDC is now recommending shots for kids up to 18 years old. Continue reading
The World Without Us
I’m in the middle of a captivating (and a bit overdue, according to the Wake library) book called The World Without Us by Alex Weisman. Weisman takes a look at how the things we take for granted in modern life would fare if we suddenly up and simply vanished. Its a thought-provoking premise.
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