Tech Support Chat of the Week

Kapil: As I understand you correctly, you want to know whether you have the latest firmware for your Versalink 327W. Am I correct?
Me: y
Kapil: Thank you for clarifying it. I understand your concern and I will be happy to help you.
Kapil: It is an updated version.
Kapil: Please rest assured.
Kapil: I hope you understand that.
Me: understand that my router has the latest firmware?
Kapil: Yes,.
Me: Your hopes are fulfilled
Kapil: I appreciate your cooperation throughout the chat session and it's been a real pleasure in assisting esteemed customers like you who are so nice and patient.
Me: no, no...i assure you, the pleasure is all mine
Kapil: Thank you. Are you happy with Verizon and the services provided by us?
Me: I try so very hard to be happy these days, and yes, sometimes, like Verizon tech support, a ray of sunshine shines through the dark clouds
Kapil: Great!!!!
Kapil: Is there something which you want to share with us in order to improve Verizon DSL services or everything is perfect
Me: Boxes of cookies or muffins delivered to subscribers' places of business would go a very long way to improving Verizon's DSL service, because, let's face it: Verizon DSL isn't the highest quality Internet connection available.
Kapil: :)
Kapil: Sure. We will send it.
Me: Thank you. Now I bathe. Good day.

Returned

Yeah, so the Roommate and I went on a cruise to Bermuda. And now we're back. Here are some pictures.



Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Way Back Machine

honda_interceptor_dc, originally uploaded by djlicious.

Walking to the salon (yes, that's right, I go to the salon for my hair needs), I saw this parked in the street.

IDR used have one of these. Seeing this brings back a few good memories. Just sayin' I used to be younger.

Cocktails?

Sign of the Times

Saw this ad in the Jacksonville airport.



Get yer condos right here!

Genre-Generic

Readers may recall some time ago when I posted about a big-time Hollywood production -- State of Play -- being filmed in our little neighborhood.





It opened this weekend, and The Roommate and I went to go see that bad boy at the Uptown. And it was...just as expected -- a forgettable "thriller" with the inevitable OMIGOD plot twist at the end. It wasn't awful, though, just barely enjoyable enough that I wasn't upset about dropping the 10 clams (yes, I just "clams," now beat it!) on it. This New Republic review gets it exactly right:

Directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), it is the fourth consecutive Crowe film--on the heels of 3:10 to Yuma, American Gangster, and Body of Lies--to feel genre-generic, the careful reassembly of cinematic components we've seen countless times before. The cast...is strong (with one notable exception), and the production has the sheen of superior craftsmanship. But the whole enterprise seems somehow empty, six characters in search of a rationale.

We went to see our neighborhood on the big screen, but if you're into easily-digested cinema bites, have fun.

Wine is OK

If this isn't classism, I don't what is. Liquor and beer are off limits in this Capital Hill park, but wine apparently isn't.

Today in Running

Readers may recall my awesome 10-mile PR-busting run in October when I ran the Army Ten Miler. I hesitated to register for the Cherry Blossom Run, because I figured I should retire at my peak. But, the Cherry Blossom Run is a really good run, so I registered anyway.

Turns out, my fears were unfounded. I ran another PR-breaking 10-miler. I finished this morning's run in 1:05:04, which is a 6:31/mile pace (last year I ran it in 1:09:35). OK, now I really have to retire from the 10-miler. (Who am I kidding, I know I'm going to run this again next year).

This year was also better, because The Roommate also ran this one. She, however, ran the National Half Marathon two weeks ago, and ended up besting her pace in that race this week. So it's lots of ice packs, Advil, and rest at the Shoebox today.

(I'm apparently not the first person to take this photo)