QuantumTom

Don't try this at home
Upon returning home from Independence Day festivities I noticed my Touch Pro was not where it was supposed to be. After a brief search I called back to the party and asked them to take a look for it. Sure enough, I got a call back a few minutes later.

"We found it."
"Hey!!! That's great."
"In the street."
"Oh!"
"I think it was driven over."
"What?!?"
"It has tread marks on it."
"oh."
"It's in two pieces. Oh! They just snap together..."

Upon departure I had unwittingly dropped my Touch Pro as I got into the passenger seat of the car. The phone had landed on the street surface apparently just in front of the right rear drive wheel. My girlfriend then unknowingly piloted the vehicle over the device as she drove away.

I picked up the phone the next morning. I had drained the battery the day before as I'd been using it to shoot video of, uh, stuff. Not fireworks. Nevertheless, I hit the power button. The phone chimed, its screen lit up and it came to life. The keyboard slipped out and the display changed orientation.

I placed a couple calls and checked my e-mail. I'm still using it four days later and - despite a few more scratches - it's fully functional.

My comliments to the engineers at HTC, makers of the indestructible handsets.

This intersection affords me hours of free entertainment.

I have a lovely third-story view of the Fourth Worst Intersection in the city of Los Angeles, Overland Avenue and National Place in the Palms neighborhood of west Los Angeles.

I feel awful for all the poor people involved, especially for those who get injured. But I also see some real dipshit driving techniques from my window, so there's some kind of karmic balancing going on out there.

I usually sit by the window when I'm on my computer which is nice for a number of reasons. One feature of this location is that so I don't have to rush over when I hear the tire-screech that usually precedes the sound of crunching metal when there's a traffic collision.



I've gotten kind of desensitized to traffic collisions. I've witnessed a lot lately. But there have been three in a row in the last 24 hours. It seems like they are increasing in frequency.

On Sunday a Mercedes-Benz CL 500 t-boned a Honda Civic.



This morning around 10:15 AM an older Toyota Celica rear-ended a newer Toyota Avalon.



At roughly the same time there was this little fender-bender with what looks to be a Toyota Tercel (on the flat bed) and some kind of minivan (see image below with missing bumper goodness).



I swear to God, the Mobil station on the corner probably makes more money with its towing service than it does selling gasoline.

Watching game two of the NBA Finals, the shot from the Goodyear blimp appears to show Staples Center with an unusual design on the roof.

Has anyone else noticed that the roof of Staples Center appears to be painted with the "Cobra" logo from the G.I. Joe movie?

If so, hats off to the promoters who came up with this idea. 5/5 cleverness points.

Sprint may have been a bit hasty getting these ads to market.

I often attempt to explain to friends and family, in simple and straightforward terms, the basic mechanism of the pay options adjustable rate mortgage. I often feel that I've done a poor job in this effort. Fortunately, I've found other who have done a much better job at this. Dr. Housing Bubble (www.doctorhousingbubble.com) is a site with just such an individual.

If you're interested in seeing a horror film this summer, save your $12 and read about the monster that is ... the option ARM!!!!

Here are a few of his articles dealing with this mess:

Option ARMs for Dummies: Why 4.5 Percent Mortgages Rates will do Absolutely Nothing for these Toxic Assets
^start here^

Stage Two of the Mortgage Collapse: $500 Billion in Pay Option ARMs Meet the Piper in 2008 with 60 Percent Being in California

Notice of Financial Default: California Develops a Mortgage Tsunami Patter Reminiscent of the 2007 Subprime Collapse. Alt-A and Option ARMs Unite

10 Reasons Why Buying a Home in Southern California today is a Mistake. California Housing and Financial Market Analysis produces no Green Shoots