Nothing going on here in a long time. However, I just realized that Amazon hasn’t been crediting me for self-referral orders that I placed using Angeline’s account for the past 6 months! :devil:
Well, if anyone wants me to order using theirs, let me know. You get at least 4% back on most things. :money: Here’s my link if you care to return the favor:
So I willingly went to the AT&T store today and paid them $150 for better service. Needless to say, I went home with my head hung low in defeat and disgrace. This thing just went national this month so even after reading a few success stories on the interweb, I was still a bit skeptical. Yuki too.
The unboxing was simple as well as the setup. You just log into your AT&T account, click a couple “Agree” buttons, choose the numbers you will authorize to use the MicroCell and you’re done! :dance:
Unfortunately, then you plug it in and the next step is to wait (it literally says this in the setup guide). And wait. A few lights blink and then you wait some more. Finally, while you are scouring the internet for tips on how to set the thing up, you get an SMS from AT&T congratulating you for not fucking it up.
Here is the glorious result!
My heart still aches when I think of how wrong it is to bend over and take it from AT&T. But, it is pretty sweet to get 5 bars of clear voice calling at home now. No more embarrassing garbled and dropped calls while discussing surgical cases for the next day. No more running to the bathroom when the phone rings because ironically it’s the only place we get a stable connection. Their slogan should be,
More bars in more places, now bend over and give us $150. Oh and make sure your broadband that you pay for has at least 1.5Mbps of bandwidth. Thanks.”
It was difficult to reason this one out but 1) the device is transferable so I figure I can try to sell it to the next sucker if/when we’re done with AT&T, 2) I need my sanity, and 3) we have actually become mindless Apple sheep and need to keep our iPhones…for now. :wallbash:
One major setback was related to an essential feature of my new watch: water resistance.
I found a local watchmaker that had a pressure tester to check my previous and new watch. Disappointingly, the new creation failed miserably. So I replaced the caseback gasket with a slightly thicker one, but the problem lied with the crystal gasket.
But more shocking, was the water resistance of my previous beater! It passed with flying colors. Both the negative and positive pressure test, up to 100m! This all with an exhibition caseback and without a screw-down crown. I couldn’t believe it.
So after a week of fiddling around, I bit the bullet and applied a thin layer of cement around the edge of the crystal before installing it in the project watch. I also installed a new bezel insert that I like MUCH better. The beta is ready.
I also tested out what an exhibition caseback would look like with my decorated movement (isn’t it beautiful?):
Lastly here are some updated specs after re-testing the watch today:
Almost a month after I ordered all the pieces, the alpha version of my new watch is ready and ticking!
The last part arrived about 10 days ago and it took about 5 hours to get it all together. Unfortunately, the bezel came with a small dent and a new one is on the way. The hour hand has a bit of metal showing and another one is en route as well.
After the initial casing and regulating in the dial up position for 48 hours, I decided to do a final cleaning of the case and install the winding rotor. Since I’m a moron, I dropped the movement onto the case when installing it for the final time! :wallbash: The freaking dial got scratched and a new one is on order.
Anyways, after another week of regulating, I wore it for the first time today. So far, the movement runs really well and is +3.5 to +7 seconds per day depending on the position. We’ll see how it runs with wear.
Here are some images from the build:
Specs:
Damn this year has gone by fast. My current watch is one I modded/customized 4 years ago as a beater watch for the hospital. However, I’ve ended up wearing it everyday it was so versatile. The one thing I’ve been worried about, though, is its water resistance so I don’t take it into the ocean or dunk it under too much watch other than when washing my hands. So I’m thinking about building a new beater watch.
For the case, I am thinking between 40-42mm. I want something with a bezel so I can use it as a timer sometimes. I think I want a coin edge with a black insert to go along with being a more functional tool watch. Since I want better water resistance, it has to have a screw down crown. Ideally, it will also have a display back so I can also find a movement with some nice finish.
The dial is a tough one because it has to fit the case. So far, I’ve found a few options, but I think a black dial will work best and can still be dressed up with a nice leather strap. My current dial is a little busy, so I think I’ll go the opposite and go really simple. I’ll get another black date ring too to keep things clean and stealthy.
I’ve been into pilot style hands that are white with black centers to continue the clean, stealth look. I found a cool set that looks like some of the Sinn or Damasko pilot hands. As far as second hands go, there is a trend to break up the monotony of a black and white watch with a colored second hand. Most go orange, but Damasko has a really nice ultraviolet yellow second hand that I’ve been liking.
This is what I’ve come up with so far:
Look at the sexy, new Nikon (knee-con) D3x. Under the hood is a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor. It’s touted to be THE full-frame, professional DSLR, and at $8000, it’s not cheap (like I needed to say that). It also happens to be the bigger brother of the equally revolutionary Nikon D3, still the reigning king of 35mm low-light and sports digital photography.
(click for more sexy views)
I tend to think about the relationship of Nikon to Canon as similar to BMW and Mercedes Benz: the Nikon is just that much sexier and cooler.
Check out the review here:
» Nikon D3x Review at DPReview.com
So far, I’ve been blessed with great customer support from Apple. Back when I got an Apple aluminum keyboard and mighty mouse I had a few issues with squeaky keys on the KB and messed up side buttons on the mouse. Took them both to the store and walked out with a brand new KB and mouse. Didn’t even ask me for my receipt. The only downside was that I thought I could just walk up to the Genius Bar. Nope, I had to make an appointment and come back another day. :thumbup:
Fast forward to yesterday when I noticed Angeline’s iPhone cable had cracked near the ends and had some exposed shielding. I signed on, made an appointment later that night, ate dinner and showed up at the Genius Bar. They looked at the cable and despite the partially melted connector from you-know-who putting it too close to a light bulb, the tech promptly whipped out a new wire for our delight. The only downside was they wouldn’t warranty an Agent 18 case that was too stretched out. Still, :thumbup:
Then to my utmost surprise and amazement, I received my replacement iPhone charging adapter today, you know, the one that was recalled. The actual amazing part was that I submitted my request for a new one only yesterday afternoon. Pretty swift! :clap:
For those of you who don’t know what Emoji are, read this:
» Emoji
Look what you can do! Anyone with an iPhone with version 2.2 or higher can see your Emoji icons. :thumbup:
Can’t wait to get them for yourself? First, click here to open iTunes and get the free app: Spell Number or search for “Spell Number” on your iPhone iTunes Store!
Then, check out the following video to enable Emoji on your phone:
(more…)
Just after the new year, our program’s chairman sent out a link to this story. I’ve heard of a few cases of this happening in several anesthesia programs and I even think I knew someone last year. The person I knew died. I’m not sure of what exactly, but I think I know.
Check it out if you want to learn a little more about my specialty and one of its most dangerous occupational hazards.
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