AshAndBurn.com > "Miami Beach, a sunny place for shady people"

In the wake of a nasty child-murder case, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox of the Edinburgh PD has suffered a full-scale breakdown. He’s been placed on leave for mental re-tuning and takes off for a few days of sun in Miami. From there, Crime (Norton, $24.95) becomes an unmistakably Welshian (as in author Irvine Welsh, of Trainspotting fame) blend of the macabre and the psychologically astute, as Lennox faces a dwindling supply of anti-depressants, a bridal-magazine toting fiancée who wants him to think seriously about floral arrangements, and some coke-happy locals who lead him back into old habits. Is he really in the right shape to be playing knight-errant to a terrified ten-year-old girl? Will his best instincts and worst judgments get them both killed, or find him the redemption he seeks?         

Irvine Welsh - Sept. 12th - Books and Books, Coral Cables, 8.00 pm. / Party afterwards at White Room  

(Apple Case #104779198) – So the “top case” (the area where your hands rest on the keyboard) on my (white) MacBook has been chipping and since it’s still under warranty (purchased in Feb’08), the Mac store said they would replace it for free. It only got a little weird when I asked for a “black” replacement part instead of a “white” one – because I thought it wold look cool (see above photo). At first, all the multi colored t-shirt attired employees found it a unique request until they found out “they couldn’t do it” (the word from above) – I was perplexed. I got all the way to the main (?) store manager (Lincoln Road, Miami Beach), but he stated that they have different “part numbers” (!) and it would “void the warranty because of the switch”. For those reading this around the globe (county?) – it’s the exact same part, identical in every way – except that it’s black. I even offered to pay the difference in price (?!), then I found out that even if I do it myself, the warranty becomes void. So after going all the way to the top at Apple – via 1.800.MY.APPLE – Gina (thanks for trying) said my only hope was to write to Apple (Apple Inc, Attn: Customer Relations, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014). I thought this would be easy (and fun) but Apple really dug their heels in on this one … bummer. I’ve been using Apple products since my Mac IIfx and this is one of the most difficult issues I’ve had with them.  Funny … they don’t want Panda MacBooks, spread the word. Next time you’re in a Mac store, ask ‘em … “Think Different” indeed. I even made a logo for the movement … UPDATE: So after sending a postcard off to Apple, and talking to a bunch of folk in TX, they are not going to budge – nada, no way. They did send an “Appeasement Travel Mug” as it’s called on the invoice, I got it yesterday, ouch.

… more images of Miami Beach. Went to the beach and had a swim around 6pm, then over to Pilikia (great food) to watch the DNC, a very quiet night on the beach overall.  

Wow, I just found out that an old fave - Tricky -  has a new CD out … have a listen!

Another perfect evening with some friends down by the beach The crew enjoys the “Employee Party” at Pilikia / South Seas Hotel… [singlepic id="407" w="400" h="240" mode="" float="" ]

A nice old (1964?) VW bus, seen on Michigan Ave between 9th & 10th …