Oh. My. Awesome.

As a Shoe Buyer, I participate in many a 'wear-test' program which, though intended to direct fit and quality, basically involves me just getting free shoes (and the occasional fabulous handbag). It's probably the best part about my job. So, when asked by a co-worker almost 6-months ago to be a part of his friend's mobile phone website testing program I eagerly signed up (I'm a gadget freak, after all), while still carefully managing my expectations since I am clearly way down on the priority list as a friend of a friend of the brother's uncle or whatever. Imagine my surprise when I was informed that the influx of new 'consumer available' mobile phones in Q3 2006 meant that my number was up! Oh, happy day!

But wait, it gets better. I was concerned that my phone was going to be a beast of a machine with intricacies I could never discover and functionalities I would never use. But, today I received my free test phone, the Samsung i320N (which I must comment on and then return in 3 weeks or purchase at 50%-off the wholesale price), and I'm about to faint. No, really. I love Samsung phones, first of all, and second of all, it's incredible! Despite a QWERTY keypad, this mobile is slim and I know how to use it because I already have a Samsung phone and it has an incredible camera and nifty lights and a radio and an organizer and...I think I'm pretty much speechless...

I may have to leave work to play with my new friend.

Aaron Karo

I can't help but respect a fellow blogger, even if he is overgrown New York frat boy, Aaron Karo, who puts out weekly ramblings on nothing and anything in particular, from drinking to weddings (my personal favorite) to single-hood. Though I might not always like to admit that there is some truth to his churlish, whiny, Marina-esque musings ('writing what you're thinking since 1997' is his tagline), he is certainly a talented, humorous and consistent writer, which is more than I can say for myself or for the Aaron Karo Rumination's rat, my pal Lauren.

Potentially annoying and amusing, you don't have to sign up for the weekly emailing, but it's certainly worth a look on a slow work day.

Only in San Francisco; Part III

I'm not kidding. A bus load of people in abhorrent costumes just got off a bus and started posing and dancing to extremely loud music in the park outside my apartment.

Skip Likes Tiny Things

What is it exactly about electronic gadgets and size? Perhaps that is an inbecilic question, but think about it. Why is it the smaller things become the cooler they are?

Regardless, I've fallen into the size trap. Although I am ever-loyal to my iPod Nano, I couldn't help but gasp at the new iPod Shuffle. It's so tiny! Granted it has no screen, but who cares when it's the size of a half dollar and for less than $100?!?! Clearly it couldn't be my plane pod, but I'm definitely considering it for the B-team, bus pod position.

Skip Loves the Bears

Naturally, I supported my boys, The Steelers, on Thursday night when they crushed Miami without Ben (hi Ben), but I'm also determined to become a more loyal and dedicated Bears fan this season. (I was about 73% last season.) And, judging from Sunday's performance against the Packers, I picked a great season to further my fandom.

The first quarter hinted at what an uninjured Rex Grossman could do for the team especially with the help of Muhsin, Desmond and Bernard. The game got a little sloppy in later quarters but the Bears held their own against an admittedly subpar performance by the Packers and Brett Favre.

Next week, Detroit. We'll see if my screaming reinforcements at the television can drive another team to the Superbowl.

Skip Loves People

My ever-insightful brother, during his most recent visit, lauded a website, Gethuman, that provides a database of phone numbers for massive corporations and service companies that will take you directly to a real, live person. Um, amazing!

No longer do you have to get stuck in an endless digital loop of 'press 1, press 7, press 3, press 5 and then *, goodbye.' Gone are the days when you speak articulately to the United man about a flight arrival from London only to have him respond 'I think you said you're flying to Juneau, Alaska, is this correct?' NO!

Freedom friends, in the form of a live voice.

Of course, this doesn't guarantee you will then be speaking to competent people, but at least you can be condescending to a person and not a computer...which is much more satisfying.

Still Skipping from the Weekend

Never was a more enjoyable weekend so meticulously planned. I miss everyone already!

More photos at Ofoto and here.