Getting a SlingBox was simply the best purchase decision I made in the last 3 months, especially as a frequent traveler. Technically it’s a gift for Henry but I seem to be reaping the rewards (typical Sandy gift buying strategy). Now that it’s connected to his DVR in New York, I can catch up on Project Runaway and Top Chef or watch a football game from anywhere with an internet connection… pretty sweet eh?
Once before Henry has gotten the mobile SlingPlayer working on his Samsung BlackJack, but no longer since the trial expired and it costs $29.99 - shame on Sling Media.
In fact, I look forward to the day we don’t even need to stream from home and take up unnecessary bandwidth. Instead we’d just stream from a central server or even peer-to-peer to get better quality.
Vespa LX50 in Dragon Red
This week marks my 6th week as a Vespa owner! Let’s be honest, owning a Vespa requires some leap of faith and a strong preference for form over function. Not that it serves no function, but as a brand it draws on people’s emotion above practicality. It does not help that I can barely find information on the web about owning one in Boston, so I just had to do it. The only justification I made was that it’s used and I could probably get rid of the sucker if it sucked.
Right now I’m still the sucker owning it, knowing full well that it isn’t about a better transportation option… or about saving gas, weaving through traffic, or parking it like a bicycle on the sidewalk. It is just so I can say, “I own it” instead of “I wish I owned one”! Then cross it off the list.
POSITIVES:
++ Personal satisfaction: Because I love vintage looking stuff.
+ Scores social points: people will ask.
+ Learn something new: Now I know how to ride a scooter. It’s worth something, isn’t it?
+ Parks any where on the sidewalk: I feel totally sheepish peacocking my red Vespa in front of the grocery store, but I’m over it.
+ Reduces daily commute from 20 min to under 10 min: Doesn’t sound like much but it is a valuable for some one who is often late… like me.
+ Saves Gas: I haven’t filled the gas tank yet, 6 weeks and counting!
Negatives
- - - Not snow-weather friendly: Cambridge weather is going to get brutal and I won’t be risking my life skating on ice on a scooter.
- - - Dangerous at night: I try not to ride home from school too late because the area around my dorm doesn’t feel safe and I feel exposed.
- - - Fear of theft: I say ‘fear’ because it’s really a pain to have to spend extra energy worrying about it. I lock it up with a chain at night and so far it’s worked out.
- Social cannibalism: I can’t walk home with my friends
- Too heavy: It looks like a tiny little thing, but it’s very heavy and I can’t push it up an incline.
- No space for storage: Grocery shopping is severely restricted, no surprise there.
I really wish I had time to take some pictures or even video tape a clip of me riding on it this weekend.. but alas, school has a way of hijacking all my free time. To be continued…
