I Am Abstract

Rick is an Interaction Designer with this group. When he's not designing, in meetings, or reading e-mail, he spends time with his family and runs a few t-shirt shops with this guy.
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A friend presented a scenario where a relative dies and leaves a trust with which you must buy five cars to use and enjoy—not to garage or use as art pieces. To follow are my five choices. 5. Chevrolet Camaro Taking cues from my favorite model year(s) of the first generation Camaro (1967–69), the 2010 Camaro has finally brought back the street presence it abandoned so long ago. This is a beautiful car from every angle; every detail is classic. I only hope that this car doesn’t lose its beauty as quickly as the current Mustangs have for me. This would be my “Guilty Pleasure”.

A friend presented a scenario where a relative dies and leaves a trust with which you must buy five cars to use and enjoy—not to garage or use as art pieces. To follow are my five choices.

5. Chevrolet Camaro

Taking cues from my favorite model year(s) of the first generation Camaro (1967–69), the 2010 Camaro has finally brought back the street presence it abandoned so long ago. This is a beautiful car from every angle; every detail is classic. I only hope that this car doesn’t lose its beauty as quickly as the current Mustangs have for me. This would be my “Guilty Pleasure”.

4. Mazda MX-5 Miata I have wanted one of these since 1989. The roadster that recaptured the fun and style of the old British MGs and Austn-Healeys can be had for a fair price. This would be my weekend getaway car.

4. Mazda MX-5 Miata

I have wanted one of these since 1989. The roadster that recaptured the fun and style of the old British MGs and Austn-Healeys can be had for a fair price. This would be my weekend getaway car.

3. Jaguar XF Supercharged I have never been a Jag fan, apart from the classic E-type from the 60s. But this…this has the familiar lines of Ian Callum’s Aston Martins with two more doors and a thoroughly modern interior. I love the pulsating start button and the rotary switchgear. This is my family hauler.

3. Jaguar XF Supercharged

I have never been a Jag fan, apart from the classic E-type from the 60s. But this…this has the familiar lines of Ian Callum’s Aston Martins with two more doors and a thoroughly modern interior. I love the pulsating start button and the rotary switchgear. This is my family hauler.

2. Mercedes-Benz CLS500 AMG I love the shape of this car. The power is also nothing to laugh at…the AMG version gets a bigger tuned engine and some great looking wheels. This is my “night on the town” car. Limo tint makes for that “A-lister” feeling.

2. Mercedes-Benz CLS500 AMG

I love the shape of this car. The power is also nothing to laugh at…the AMG version gets a bigger tuned engine and some great looking wheels. This is my “night on the town” car. Limo tint makes for that “A-lister” feeling.

1. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder This car is one of the most gorgeous automobiles on the road today. Because it has roots with Audi, it is also now one of the most usable. It is on my list as my Supercar with a touch of lunacy. It would most certainly have to be black on tan.

1. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

This car is one of the most gorgeous automobiles on the road today. Because it has roots with Audi, it is also now one of the most usable. It is on my list as my Supercar with a touch of lunacy. It would most certainly have to be black on tan.

WANT. Thanks to Autoblog for the pic.

WANT.

Thanks to Autoblog for the pic.

Oh, by the way, the house got finished back in August. I forgot that I was posting its progress. Oops!

Oh, by the way, the house got finished back in August. I forgot that I was posting its progress. Oops!

Saw this after getting off the train this evening. I was glad I had my camera close by. The sad thing is that this picture doesn’t really do the absolute beauty of this sunset any justice. Pity.

Saw this after getting off the train this evening. I was glad I had my camera close by. The sad thing is that this picture doesn’t really do the absolute beauty of this sunset any justice. Pity.

I have been following the blog Contemporist for a while now and love the daily dose of my favorite design style. This house, though, has got to be my favorite. The location, size, architecure, and interior design are all stunning.

I have been following the blog Contemporist for a while now and love the daily dose of my favorite design style. This house, though, has got to be my favorite. The location, size, architecure, and interior design are all stunning.

Apple Customer Service Rules

I bought a white MacBook in June 2006. I decided to go back to the laptop world after ditching my Titanium PowerBook G4 for a lampshade iMac in 2004. I loved the form factor of the new MacBook and was looking forward to using it for years.

However, my joy would be short-lived as this computer has given me nothing but problems in the two and a half years of service it has provided. I had everything that could possibly go wrong happen:

  • Random shutdown syndrome
  • Dead hard disk (caused by the above problem)
  • Battery management board gone bad
  • Battery gone bad
  • Two dead SuperDrives
  • Mushy trackpad button
  • Discolored palmrests
  • Swollen battery

You would think that with all these problems, I would have nothing good to say about this laptop. And you would be wrong; in fact, this has been the most wonderful little computer I have ever owned. I was so satisfied with the user experience that I just bought another one; the new 13” aluminum MacBook.

So, I took the old one in today to trade in the swollen battery (under a recall) for a new one. As I did so, the Genius asked me if I’d had any other problems with the computer. I proceeded to relate the story above to him. What he did next I would consider the greatest act of customer service I have ever experienced. First, he apologized for me having to go through so many problems with my MacBook. He said tht normally Apple would just give me a new laptop at this point. But since the computer was 18 months out of warranty, obviously he couldn’t do that. What he did do was ask if I would allow them to take the computer to take a crack at diagnosing the true nature of my problems—something that would ultimately help them to improve their quality in the future. In return I would get back my computer, fully repaired, at no cost. If they couldn’t fix it or figure out the problem, I would be able to get a new system. I almost fainted with shock. All I can say is thank you, Apple. Thank you for being so awesome. You have a loyal customer, no matter what, for the remainder of my days. I thought of returning the new MacBook as I wouldn’t really need it now. But I thought, after the treatment I received today, I am going to part with my hard-earned money on principle alone.

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