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November 30, 2013

Three Failed Tecsun PL-606 Radios in a Row

Addressing reports of quality control problems with the PL-606, Heinz writes:

I now have my third TECSUN PL-606 fail on me. Will bring this to the attention of Amazon. Two radios no longer responding to ANY keyboard input; DEAD. The third radio has "hop-skip-and-jump" issues with the frequency selector, meaning after you scan with ETM, you can no longer access some of the stored frequencies.

A shame that the manufacturer of the world's best little radio cannot assure their quality.

I also have a TECSUN PL-380 which will not respond to the "Memory" button. Result, when I go to a new geographic location I cannot change the radio station with which to wake up.

Posted at 06:59 AM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (7)

November 29, 2013

First Look: Orient M-Force Sky Diver

This is my fourth Orient M-Force variation, so obviously I’m a fan of the style, quality, and price point.

The Orient Air Diver, arriving from Hong Kong for $232 shipped, was a bit of a splurge. I wasn’t going to buy this watch, having seen it go for about $480 for the last several months. But Jonny informed me of this sale price and I jumped on it.

You’re getting sapphire crystal, power meter, in-house Orient hand-winding hackable movement, and soft rubber strap. The black bezel and black strap with the black dial and the white round lume marks give the Air Diver a no-nonsense military look.

Like Jonny, whose Air Diver also arrived today, I like it but don’t totally love it. I’ve become spoiled and my expectations for Watch Uber Alles continue to vex me a bit as I search for the Holy Grail.

But my ho-hum attitude speaks more about me, a bit spoiled and jaded with my eyes on more expensive watches, than this very fine watch but at a very reasonable price.

Posted at 04:45 PM in Manly Watches | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 27, 2013

With Companies Re-Badging Their Brands, Quality Goes Down

I just found out from my Sears repairman that Kenmore isn't necessarily Kenmore like my trusty 12-year-old dishwasher. My fridge with the Kenmore badge is actually a "cheap" LG, which my repairman says will give me nothing but problems.

It seems it's not just radios that are on the decline in this age of re-badging.

Posted at 09:00 AM in Personal Chronicles | Permalink | Comments (23)

November 26, 2013

Sears Repairman Makes Me Refrigerator Recommendations and Warnings

Nothing but problems with my Kenmore refrigerator. It's only 2 years old. Today the Sears repairman explained why: It's not really Kenmore. It's a poor LG model sold to Kenmore. It's touchy, sensitive, prone to all sorts of problems. My model was so cheaply made the motor was replaced but the repairman showed me the real problem: The motor had never been installed correctly. It was "loose." He said the motor was probably fine but replaced it anyway.

He recommended KitchenAid.

Posted at 11:45 AM in Personal Chronicles | Permalink | Comments (8)

Facebook Is Like a Nude Beach

Facebook is like a nude beach. In the beginning you're a bit self-conscious, embarrassed, and excited, but over time your gradual lack of embarrassment compels you to show more than you perhaps should have.

Posted at 06:18 AM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 25, 2013

When Should I Stop Subcribing to Cable Television?

Our Verizon bill, a very confusing beast with weird surchages, constant shuffles, etc., is currently $235 a month for premium TV, internet, and landline phone.

What's too expensive? What's fair? Are there more efficient ways of getting good content at a reasonable price?

Should we severe our landline?

I find Verizon, Time-Warner, and others have very confusing packages, which are always changing. Of all the bills I pay, this one makes me feel the most unsettled.

Posted at 01:54 PM in Personal Chronicles | Permalink | Comments (18)

November 24, 2013

Panasonic RF-877 to the Rescue

I'm very pleased no one bought my Panasonic RF-888 and RF-877 radios last week, which I foolishly put on the eBay auction block.

Today KCRW was giving my kitchen radio, the durable Sangean LB-100, static (a frequent problem) and I brought the RF-877 and played it on the batteries. Even with half a telescopic antenna, the RF-877 grabs 89.9 KCRW with ease. What a keeper.

Posted at 12:44 PM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (5)

November 23, 2013

Natalie Wants New Glasses for Christmakah

Posted at 12:41 PM in Personal Chronicles | Permalink | Comments (1)

One of My Favorite Genesis Songs After All These Years: "Mad Man Moon"

I'm 52 and I'm still possessed by the music of Genesis, which I glommed onto when I was 16. I love the Peter Gabriel years and post-Gabriel alike. A song that has hit me hard in recent weeks, without warning and without my ever being a huge fan of the song, is the seven-minute "Mad Man Moon," the story of a man who goes on a chimera quest and becomes disconnected from reality and the human race, spending his remaining years in regret. The song is tinged with unimaginable beauty and melancholy.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a famous short story, "Winter Dreams," whose Dexter Green, chasing the cipher Judy Jones, has gone on a "Mad Man Moon" quest.