I got my new PowerBook yesterday.

Two problems so far:

• One pixel (out of ~884,000) is red most of the time (but strangely not all the time), and
• the DVD/CD drive has, for at least a fifteen-minute period, disappeared from the system's awareness as though it was not getting power; it failed to pull in an inserted CD and it failed to show up in the list of drives in Drive Setup. Later (after a dinner out) it kicked back in; maybe it was overheated?

I can maybe live with the first problem. Hopefully the second one won't come back, but I'm sure that's too much to hope for.

So. Both problems presumably are specific to my particular notebook and not typical of all models, so don't let them scare you off from the machine.

On the upside: Wider screen = Seriously better. Lighter = better. G4 vs. G3 = better. Thinner = better. >6x MP3-ripping speed vs. 2x = better. Titanium = cool. So overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. I'll be watching that flaky drive though.

Initial grade: A-, subject to revision.

They Might Be Giants were on Leno (blech) on Monday and Kilborn (eh) on Tuesday, promoting the just-released soundtrack to Malcolm in the Middle. They did the same song (the theme song) on both shows, in very different costumes (sparkly!). On the one hand I understand the decision to repeat the song, but I was hoping for some variety.

Thanks to Laurel's TV Picks for the heads-up on both appearances.

I found this quite amusing:

• Bid to personalize sneakers has Nike sweating [Mercury Center]
  Nike's Web site invites sneaker zealots to "build your own shoe," choosing their personal colors and even a personalized ID running up the side.
  
  One would-be customizer ... tried to have the word "sweatshop" emblazoned on his sneaker.

• Department of Personal Freedom [Shey.net]

Nike's well within its rights to refuse; it's just entertaining to watch it squirm.