Month: May 2008

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The Bluetooth Blues

I was really excited to get my Motorokr S9 because running and workout with a bunch of wires dangling from your head can be annoying at best and almost downright dangerous to your health. For the first two weeks I had them, they lived up to their claims of being a good “partner” during workouts. They are supposed to be sweat and moisture free but I quickly found out that’s not the case.

Yesterday during my run, my sister called me but I couldn’t pick up the phone from the headset. Fast forward 24 hours and I wasn’t able to advance the tracks on my Moto Q remotely. All of the buttons on the headset are no longer working. I guess I should have believed all of the reviews from people who said they’d had problems with sweat. Believe me when I workout I sweat. Apparently, two weeks of my sweat doesn’t interact well with the electronics inside the S9.

Today, I spent about 15 minutes on the line with a Motorola representative. I’m being nice here and will say she doesn’t reside in the United States. We didn’t have much of a communications problem though.

At any rate, I’m shipping my Motorokr S9 back to Motorola for a replacement. This guy is already on his fourth. By the way, my sounds still works but I can’t be without the ability to advance the track. The unit is supposed to work and right now it doesn’t. Motorola is also paying for me to ship back the unit. I’m glad I didn’t get rid of my Plantronics wired bluetooth headsets. I’ll have to use them for the 10-15 business days it’s going to take to get my new S9.

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Center Street Swing Bridge

Everyone who has been in the Flats has had to wait on the Center Street Swing Bridge at least once. I got the chance to actually see what it takes to swing the bridge and actually be on it at the time. It moves so quietly and smoothly. They swing it different ways depending on which way the river traffic is traveling.

I plan to take a tour of the Detroit Superior Bridge subway tour today and I probably post some pictures of that as well.

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Turn On The Lights!

I was surfing through the channels on my television and came across the Cleveland City Council Public Utilities committee on TV23.

The esteemed members of the group talked to CPP representatives about a new deal with CEI. The deal gives CPP control over all of the streetlights in the city. No longer will someone call CPP to complain that a streetlight is out only to find out that CEI owns the light. The person would then have to call CEI to get the problem fixed. The CPP representative said the deal was worth $4 million.

Ward 11 councilman Michael D. Polensek asked the representative if CPP also purchased the poles the lights as well. The CPP representative said the power company will own the pole if there is no other lines attached to it. Polensek asked if there was a security light on the pole that was serviced by CEI if the person who owned the light could switch to CPP for power. The representative said CPP could not take ownership of the pole. So now, CPP will restore broken streetlights but they won’t own the poles.

Now Brad will know to call CPP and not have to worry about the follow-up call to CEI when he sees a streetlight out in Cleveland.

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CBS Monday Night Comedies

I don’t do drama, I’ve always been a sitcom kinda guy. Give me a traditional half-hour comedy and I’m watching it. I’ve never been hooked on “The Office”, I haven’t watched “Lost”, can’t seem to get “Grey’s Anatomy” and reality shows, for the most part, don’t hold my attention. American Idol and Big Brother are probably the only hold-outs. The traditional half-hour sitcom I talk about doesn’t exist much anymore. That’s why I love Monday nights on CBS. I’m a big fan of three of the four shows. To be fair, I haven’t given “Rules Of Engagement” much of a chance.

I was skeptical of “The Big Bang Theory” at the start. The Barenaked Ladies, one of my favorite bands, does the show’s open. It’s actually a song much like the sitcoms I watched growing up. The show’s finale aired Monday on CBS. What everyone wanted to happen did at the conclusion of the show. Leonard and Penny kiss just before the credits hit. You have to wonder what the date is going to be like but we’re going to have to wait until next season to find out. The show is well written and has a lot of great moments. The cast works fluidly as an ensemble with everyone getting their occasional jokes. I didn’t know where this show could go from the start, but I’m glad it has.

“How I Met Your Mother” had a great cliffhanger. It left you wondering about what’s going to happen next season. You learn that Barney may be in love with Robin. That was a definite surprise. Ted also proposed to Stella after their break-up, then reconciliation, then break-up then reconciliation. What will she say and isn’t Sara Chalke part of the “Scrubs” cast? That show is moving to ABC for its last season from NBC.

Finally, “Two and a Half Men” continues to provide great laughs but I didn’t think there was too much of a great cliffhanger to the show. It just kind of ended.

I have to say I’m happy to see “Password” is coming back. Something the tube is also missing is the classic game show. Forget “Deal Or No Deal” and the rest of these new competitions. Most people did because few of them have lasted. It’s cool that eighty-something year old Betty White will be on the show. A cool summer fill-in series for sure!