The install isn’t perfect, and there were some failures and things I need to fix.  The whole unit isn’t flush with the trim – it’s a bit crooked and recessed.  I put in some spacers to try and correct the problem, but it’s good enough for now.  AM doesn’t work, and FM is kinda weak. There was a “antenna boost” wire that I didn’t hook up because there wasn’t a clear place to on the radio – that might be the culprit.  Also, the DVD player thinks I’m always driving, so it won’t show me a picture.  Need to fix that as well.  Also realized that under the passenger seat isn’t the best place to mount the XM receiver – should have been back under the rear seats or in the trunk space.  Might get around to that eventually.

But, man, it sounds and looks so much better than my factory unit.

Once Upon a Time in Afghanistan – a collection of photographs from Afghanistan in the 1950′s, when the nation looked to be every bit as modern as western nations.

The World’s Ugliest Statues – celebrating the artistic tastes of despots the world over.

The World’s Worst Ongoing Ecological Disasters – and you thought the Gulf Oil Spill was bad.

History of the Honey Trap – The Anna Chapman inspired article.  Surprisingly, turns out that the Germans are best at it, although the Israelis are no slouch.

Ten Traditions You Never Thought Needed Protecting – The baguette?  Really?

Quite the war going on in the comments section of that article.  A guy named unsigned comes across as a bit of a belligerent jerk, but he makes an interesting point that previous instances of contamination were a result of flawed initial drilling (which is better regulated now), not sustained hydro-fracking (which occurs far below the water-table).  I’m not knowledgeable enough to come down on one side or the other on this issue, but it’s a point worth investigating.

Whomever said that Mike Martz gets quarterbacks killed was on to something.

Also, I discovered he had an appearance on the Daily Show last year, which is more abbreviated, but really humorous for Jon Stewart’s dead-pans.

I’m psyched.

Starz last knockoff, Spartacus (basking in the afterglow of Rome) turned out to be a decent series despite the rocky start, but it emphasized the wrong things in Rome.  Instead of focusing on history, themes and culture, it emphasized sex and violence.

I worry about Starz taking a similar tact with The Tudors, and focusing on personality disorders and sex at the expense of history and themes.  But the cast looks to be top-notch, with Ian McShane (Lovejoy, Deadwood, Kings), Matthew Macfadyen (MI5, Pride & Prejudice), Rufus Sewell (Dark City, The Illusionist, Tristan + Isolde).  Most promising, however, is the fact it’s creating a beautiful package to present a murky and relatively overlooked period of English history known as The Anarchy.

My knowledge of English history has fits and starts until Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror, and then fades into the background until Henry II and the Plantagenet dynasty, nearly 100 years later.   Pillars of the Earth tells the story of the turbulent decades that make up that gap in knowledge.  That is historical docu-drama at it’s best – even if it takes liberties with history, it will provide context and interest to learn about that time period.  I’ll be able to put images, voices, faces to the events.  When I read about them, I’ll be able to better understand the context.

I can’t wait.  July 23rd.

I never expected much from the original Stargate series – they were just fun science fiction. I did, however, hope for more than replicator plots. They were just grated on me after a while.