:: e r i k :: g i l c h r i s t ::

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the rugrats! :)

Woops. Almost lost the domain!

Well, someone here at erikgilchrist.com forgot to check his alerts via email and let the domain expire. Cough, cough.

Dumbass.

All is well and sorry for any downtime. All seems to be running now.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled 'blog...

MCS v.36

I got a loaner while getting CD v.36 of the ECU update was applied to my MCS. The car runs much better but the dealer and I are still trying to figure out the cold-start/no-start problem.

Read on for more on the comparisons about the options I kick myself for not getting in my MCS and the options I am glad I did not waste the money on.

WOW, after a day with a loaner MCS, I do have to say that I am impressed with some of the luxury items.

First some Background.

My MCS, Dark Silver/Black - only option is the sunroof. I love the open feel of it.

Their loaner. Britsh Green/White, Sunroof, HK sound, Performance package, Heated seats (cloth like mine) 17's and I think AS run flats. Climate control. Xenons with fogs.

First, man I love heated seats. the bottom gets a wee bit hot and I turn that off after 5 minutes in 30 degree temps here in the states, but I leave the back on the whole time. Makes for a nice ride.

Second, the climate control is fantastic. In my Stripped MCS, I am forever changing the venting, the temp and fan speed to get a good mix. I smoke so that adds to the reasons but I like to always drive with one or both windows cracked an inch.

The Xenons have great visibility right off the bat at night and the fogs are good to spread out light over the closeto-the-side areas.

Harmon Kardon system is a magnitude of order better than the stock stero. I ma no AudioPhile, but Phobol, my partner in the twisties on 4 whhels even liked it. He's nutz about audio. I just need NPR on the radio or some college station or one of my wacky Bootsauce mix CD's :)

But here's the rub, I put on a MOMO Anotomico short knob to cure the stock knob. I could not get used to the stock knob of the loaner -- damn cold!

So, if I do get another MCS, it will have the heated seats and the climate control. Boy do I like those things. The Xenons and fogs were nice but not enough to warrant the monthly lease fee for me. And the HK sound? Well, no audiophile here.

Yeah, I am rambling now, but in the icy patches, I noticed that the DSC of the loaner asts much quicker than the ACS of my car. I might go for the Sports Package as well if there is a next time. After all, I have sworn off from this family from ever having a Daimler Chrsyler product. Especially JEEP. Good Riddance.

Special thanks to Ben, Brian and the service dept at Morristown Mini, NJ for everything. I still have to go back when a tech is on-site to get some programming done. Perhaps this Saturday. I'll contact them. Great bunch of guys, especially Ben who asked me to take special care of the loaner. I did.

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Grim Reaper in NJ

And to think a meticulous yard is what these homeowners aspire to! These folks are in my neighborhood and this is what they have had up for over 5 years.

Read on for Pics :)

Above Coutesy of Midnight Society
Above Courtesy of WeirdNJ.com

The above Grim Reaper is in Morris Plains, NJ 07950

Why it needs to be up 24/7/365 is beyond me. But it makes me chuckle. Then I just shake my head at the whole pathetic situation. Oh well.

Heads Up Display for Motorcycle Helmets

This is going to be great. I would love to get a Heads-Up Display on my visor of my sportbike helmet. Imagine.

Motion Research is developing the low cost displays for use in helemts just like fighter pilots as reported by CNET's News.com.

Speaking of fighter pilots. Could I get a Gatling Gun hooked into the display to remove deer, slow cars and the occasional 'turn-left-in-front-of-me' types from my path?

One can hope :)

More Mullet Haiku

A weekly ode to follicular joy, because we can

You got a nice rack
Bet you wish I had a job
We could get some bud

(Haiku courtesy sundry demented Fix readers. What's a mullet? What's haiku?)

Open Mouth. Insert Foot.

And to think this man is at the helm. Oh my. He just won the Foot In Mouth Prize from the Plain English Campaign. Here's what he said that was award worthy:

'Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don't know we don't know.'

Putz. truly a Putz.