2008 Honda Accord MPG

Here's the current numbers for fuel efficiency on my 2008 Honda Accord LX-P with manual transmission.  I commute 47 miles each way, usually with cruise control at 70 mph.  I will bump it to 75 for passing and do punch it a bit after the one toll booth.  Otherwise, I do try to drive pretty efficiently.

I'll be keeping this updated, so if you're curious do check back regularly.

Kershaw Chive

Kershaw Chive by Ken Onion, Model 1600

Coolest "gentleman's" pocket knife ever.  And damn functional, too.

Some will find this model too small.  There's the Scallion and Leek in larger formats.  However, if you're looking for a nice blade to throw in your pocket any day of the week, then this is a great choice.  At 2 7/8 " closed and 1.9 oz. in weight, you'll hardly notice it jingle around with your loose change.  Here it is in my average sized hand:

The finish on this knife is really high quality.  Even non-tool appreciating neanderthals will get it.  The case is curved perfectly to accept index, middle, and ring fingers along the underside.  There's very functional grooves at the base of the blade to provide friction for you thumb.

As with many Kershaw knives, the blade is soft, but razor sharp.  Although the attached clip is very strong and typically secures the knife well on top of my jeans pocket, I have had it pop out a couple times.  On both occasions the knife opened when it hit the ground (there's a safety lock, but I don't use it) and the blade got dinged.  The nice thing about a soft blade, though, is that it's easy to repair.  A couple passes on one of my sharpening stones and it was back to perfect.  Of course, Kershaw is happy to refurbish your knife for free.  My other favorite knife is an over 10 year old piece that recently came back from Oregon as good as new.

The auto action is a bit surprising at first and on such a small knife it does take a little practice to feel comfortable with.  However, it's smooth and absolutely usable even on such a diminutive blade.

I do find it a bit small for closing one handed.  There's a little too much resistance in the spring and not enough blade back to quite get it closed without feeling like I'm going to drive the point into my palm.  It doesn't mean I can't or don't ever close it one handed, but if your hand were any bigger it would probably result in lots of new lines on your palm.

People will give you a look though when you pop this little guy.  "How's that different form a switch blade?", I was recently asked.  I don't know and I really don't care.  It's a perfect little knife and that's that.

Nokia 6555

Nokia 6555

Pros:

• Great form factor.  Slim clam shell.
  
• Many modern features.
  
• Easy data (pics mainly) access over Bluetooth.
  
• Synchs with Apple iSynch.

Cons:

• Exterior material is soft and easily marked.
• Strange audio characteristics at the start of calls.
• Can't adjust screen dim timer.  That cool clock is never visible when I need it!
• Can't adjust volume of message tones.

Overall this is a great phone for my needs.  I'm not a phone geek.  I know some folks get very passionate about their handsets.  I am a bit of a gadget geek, though, and this phone satisfies that desire for now.  It takes pretty decent pics for a phone (I've got a real camera for real pics).  The reception on AT&T in New England is great.  It fits in all the pockets, car nooks, and my waterproof box I take fishing.  Unlike my last Motorola V5something, I find it very easy to avoid the "go online" button.

I did try the full data service plan with this phone.  I installed the Gmail client, surfed the web, etc.  For me, it was not worthwhile.  There was no way for the phone to notify me of new mail.  Off the 3G network it was very slow.  By and large I found text to be way too small for my eyes.  I'm sure if I had stuck with it I could have gotten used to it, but for my needs the convenience payoff didn't seem likely.  I do used it for a light amount of SMS/text messaging and I find it is fine for this.  I have no more trouble with the keypad than any other non-QWERTY phone.

The phone has crashed on me a few times when sending multi-media messages.  It hasn't been anything I couldn't resloved with a power cycle.  The phone boots reasonably fast, so it really hasn't bothered me and does not happen frequently.

It's also got an acceptable speaker phone.  I don't use it a ton and I do find it lacks clarity at higher volumes which sometimes results in me keeping the volume a little lower and straining to hear.  But, again, it works much better than the one on my last phone, so I'm ok with it.

I've yet to posses a perfect mobile handset.  It's a thing of tradeoffs really.  Ultimately I'm happy with something reliable, small enough to go in any pocket, but with good hand-feel when I'm talking.  This phone fits the bill completely.