Amazon Daily

Makana recently dropped by the Amazon Music offices to chat with Chordstrike about his new album, and give us a lesson on the traditional Hawaiian art of slack key guitar. If you like music of any kind, I think you'll find the history of slack key fascinating, and Makana's talent humbling.

Makana was recently invited to compete live in Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar Competition: an honor bestowed to only 10 artists. The winner will be decided in San Francisco on September 13. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

--Renata Sadunas

"I have a 5 YO Great Dane, Dexter, generally in extraordinary health, active, playful, a little smaller than AKC spec at 109 lbs., male, neutered. I believe his left upper canine has moved about a quarter inch out in the last two or three days. There is no bleeding, he doesn't act as though it's tender (inside the mouth on inside or outside of the tooth line, or inside or outside surface of the lip), the tooth is not loose (to my senses), his appetite and energy level seems even, and he's no more clingy than normal. There are no noticeable lumps or discoloration in his mouth. What the heck is going on?"

1. He could have a malocclusion meaning that his teeth don't all line up properly. Specifically, the two canine teeth on that side of the mouth may be hitting each other each time he closes his mouth. Over time the constant pushing on the canine tooth from the opposing bottom canine tooth can cause the canine tooth to be moved. I doubt it happened in a couple days. It could be that you just noticed a couple days ago but it has actually been moving slowly over time.

2. He could have an avulsion of the tooth. This means there was some trauma to the tooth causing it to shift. The dental ligaments are VERY strong so the tooth can be avulsed but not really loose. Avulsion is kind of like a dislocation. There may be problems associated with this but not always.

3. He could have a tumor in the oral cavity that is putting pressure on the tooth causing it to have moved. This is less likely if there is no pain or foul odor coming from the mouth--but it is still possible.

My recommendation would be to have a vet examine him just to be on the safe side. They may want to take an X-ray of the tooth. That way they can see the entire tooth and the root (canine teeth have VERY long roots). If there is a tumor or any root deterioration or bone destruction that would be obvious on the X-ray.

--Dr. Hinson
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Dr. Hinson is a mixed animal veterinarian in Tampa, FL and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information   

The public wants Barak Obama to get a poodle.

According to the Huffington Post, "the American Kennel ClubŪ (AKC) announced today that the public has elected a Poodle as their breed of choice for the Obama family."

Also nominated for the top canine post were the Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, which came in a very close second.

There's no telling if Obama will follow the directive of the 42,000 vote campaign, but win or lose, Obamas two daughters were promised a puppy after the election.

Read more about the Poodle's big win at The Huffington Post and the AKC.

--Spanno

This is the big one, the big Kahuna, the lustiest of my Car Lusts. One year and nearly 300 posts into this blog, we've finally reached my favorite car. I've made a point of only writing about cars that genuinely inspire my passion, and in the process I've repeatedly bared my various automotive psychoses. Well, this car cuts right to the quick of everything I am. It is an inseparable part of my very soul.

Yes, it's a Saab 900--best-known for its center console-mounted ignition key switch, and slightly lesser-known for its quirky unreliability. To unbiased observers, the Saab 900 has a weak chin and a truly curious hunchback profile that looks oddly lumpen and mollusk-like. Like a stranger Renault Fuego, if that's possible. Sure, Saabs of this era were known for their durability and winter traction, but what makes them even remotely lust-worthy?

Well, I'll take a stab at explaining it rationally. For one thing, Saab's performance heritage exceeds both its early quirky Swede reputation as well as its later faux-yuppie car image. The Saab Sonnett was an interesting little sports coupe, the Saab 99 was a genuine force in the rally world, and in the early 1980s Saab was as much a leader in turbocharging and intercooling as Porsche and Buick.

The Saab 900 was a practical little car, with front-wheel drive, comfortable seats, plenty of headroom, and a yawning cargo area hiding under its hatchback. With the addition of some forced-induction Vitamin H, advanced boost control, double-wishbone suspension, and a 16-valve head, the Saab 900 Turbo was one of the under-the-radar performance stars of the 1980s. By today's standards it wasn't particularly quick, but with 0-60 times in the high 7/low 8-second range and the ability to cruise at more than 130 mph for hours at a time, the 900 was a unique combination of utility and speed. Automotive journalists loved it; AutoWeek's Satch Carlson was a Saab Turbo devotee, and I believe Car & Driver's Steve Smith owned a sinister monochromatic black Turbo.

The Special Performance Group (SPG) option added an aerodynamic body kit, special wheels, sport suspension, and interior upgrades. The aero kit and special wheels look pretty dated to today's eyes, but at the time ... oh, the effect was electric. Back in 1986, remember, American cars were chrome-heavy and sat high on their haunches; the hunkered-down monochromatic aero kit look was brand new, pioneered by AMG on the Hammer, and was refreshingly purposeful. The Saab 900 SPG was one of the trend-setters; unfortunately after the look was applied haphazardly to every horrible car around, it has become laughable cliche. But it wasn't always so.

The SPG option debuted in 1986, and 1986 SPGs were available only in Edwardian Gray. The following year the entire 900 line received a freshened nose with a aero headlamps, meaning SPG fans like me who prefer the older look have only one model year with a limited production run to find. It's not that I don't like other Saab 900 Turbos--I lust after them nearly as fervently--but it's the Edwardian Gray 900 SPG that really fires the imagination.

None of the rational stuff matters with this car. At the end of the day, what really matters to me is the fact that while other Car Lusts get my blood running hot, the 900 SPG gets my blood boiling to a degree I can't describe without falling afoul of Amazon.com's decency standards. This car is my sickness. I wanted one when I was 10 years old. I've wanted one every day since then. I'll want one when I'm 80 years old. On some level, I wanted one when neither the Saab 900 nor I had yet been conceived.

So, why don't I own one? Well, I've come close several times to buying non-SPG Turbos, but the cars in my price range were invariably way too cobby to be useful. Finding the right car is tricky; until recently these weren't really considered collector cars, so late model 900 Turbos are often knackered, abused, have upwards of 200K miles on the clock. Specifically regarding 1986 SPGs, as my budget slowly increases, values of these cars have been rising even more quickly. I am convinced that when the time is right, I'll find my '86 SPG and keep it forever.

I would normally mock the two commercials below (aviator sunglasses! purposeful shifting!), but they really sum up how I feel about these cars. Notice how the second ad even uses the word "lust?" I'm the guy washing the boring car, but steamily staring at the passing 900 Turbo. Neither of these commercials features the '86 900 SPG specifically, but ... close enough.

The lovely '86 Saab 900 SPG pictured above belongs to a gentleman named Gordon, who discusses his car's restoration here. Gordon, I envy you.

--Chris H.

Archos has revamped its line of highly flexible portable media players with the new Archos 5 and Archos 7 Internet Media Tablets (IMTs). Like the previous 605 and 705 models, the new IMTs are equipped with Wi-Fi capability and large touchscreens. Archos has added a faster processor, expanded storage space, and updated the on-board Internet suite to create a device that begins to rival the functionality of a modern laptop. The 5 series comes in 60, 120, and 250 GB sizes and has a 4.8-inch screen; the 7 series gives you the choice of a 160 or 320 GB drive and sports a huge 7-inch display. Both are capable of 800 x 480 resolution, which is more than twice the resolution of iPod touch and iPhone screens. This makes for crisp video playback, and those who use the IMT to browse the web will find that they don't have to constantly zoom in and out to view pages. Also, unlike the Safari browser on Apple's devices, Archos' integrated web browser fully supports Flash 9.  These units aren't the lightest players on the market, though--they weigh in anywhere from 8.8 to 23 ounces, depending on screen size and capacity.

Archos also has updated its line of peripherals to go along with the new 5 and 7 series. The DVR Station hooks directly into HDTVs to record programs for later playback on Archos devices, or right on the HDTV itself. Owners also can use the DVR Station to browse the Internet on their television with the included remote control, which features a miniature keyboard and control pad. Additionally, the DVR Station can stream media from home computers to the television via Wi-Fi.

The tiny DVR Snap-On connects directly to the Archos player and has a composite video input and a stereo audio input, which allows the Archos IMT to function as a portable audio and video recorder. The Mini Dock provides S-Video, composite, and stereo outputs for the IMT, as well as a USB host connection that can transfer files directly from flash drives and digital cameras. The Battery Dock has the same functionality as the Mini Dock, but also packs an external battery for extended playback time. Archos has even created a miniature Helmet Cam that can record video directly to the player, although you'd have to be pretty brave (or well off) to skate half-pipe with a 7-inch screen strapped to your body.  You can check out all of the new Archos offerings here, or click here to browse their previous models.

-- Jon D.

For those of you who don't swim against the chronological current of the blog (or who don't read the comments section), I just wanted to point you to an anecdotal addendum that Gerald Howard sent in for my post last week on the passing of editors Ted Solotaroff and Rust Hills. I had quoted Howard's appreciation of Solotaroff; he adds his memory of watching Hills in action, along with another Viking Penguin editor, Cork Smith:

These two ur-WASP gentlemen were tossing around what might be the contents of the eventual anthology GREAT ESQUIRE FICTION, and it was sort of wonderful to watch them and then it was sort of excruciating, as there was a lot of fumbling around and opinions that never yielded any concrete result and pointless general woolgathering. I eventually absented myself, but the book of course lived up to its title.

He also reminds us of a further connection between the two men: Solotaroff's response to Hills's "Red Hot Center" (in his map of the American literary establishment) gave him the title for his essay collection, The Red Hot Vacuum.

What a pleasure to hear that direct reminiscence. If there are any other readers with memories of Hills or Solotaroff, I'd love to hear them. --Tom

P.S. Why are editors so often referred to as "legendary"? I used it a couple times in my post, and Howard used it too to describe Cork Smith (while acknowledging its diluted power by calling him "TRULY legendary"). I guess it's fairly obvious: editors do their work in the dark for the most part, and, like Negro League ballplayers or old whaling captains, their reputations are built by word of mouth. And so, in keeping with the exacting use of language that is their profession, "legendary" is a literal description (if an overused one): legendary editors are the ones we tell stories about. So please: more legends, about these or other editors!

A year ago, on Aug. 28, 2007, Amazon Car Lust sprung into being with the promise that "you'll get a reluctant glimpse into that dark place in my psyche that just can't get enough of Peugeots." As anybody who has been around for a full year of breathless odes to better-forgotten vehicles can attest, that promise has been kept in spades.

Thanks to all of you who read this blog, thanks to all of you who comment, and thanks to those of you who care enough to contribute. It's remarkable to me that we have evolved from essays about cars I like into a blog powered by a half-dozen contributors, each honoring the concept of Car Lust better than I could do myself. Thanks to all of you, and here's hoping the next year is just as much fun.

Some notable moments:

Aug. 28--Car Lust launches, with the Audi RS6 Plus Avant and 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 the first two cars featured.

Sept. 13--After starting off with a run of nice cars, I signal future quirkiness with a spirited defense of ugly cars. "I miss the terrible cars," I moan.

Sept. 17--Poseur Muscle Cars week kicks off (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), as does Sleeper Sedans week (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The final Poseur Muscle car post, honoring the Ford Mustang II Cobra II, gets me in hot water five months later when the Mustang II cognoscenti discover it.

Nov. 9--The best car commercial of all time, the first of our commercial reviews.

Dec. 10--A new feature, Car Disgust. In the introduction, I pose the question "If I truly like all of the crap I've been foisting upon you, is there anything I don't like? And if so, just how awful most those cars be?" The Yugo GVX, fittingly, is the first featured object of disgust.

Dec. 12--Mulling over the merits of terrible 1970s cars. Oh, and speaking of terrible cars, the 1993 Saturn SL2.

Jan. 21--Our rebirth--we move from the cozy confines of Amazon Daily and get our own site, www.carlustblog.com. The archives make the transition, but alas the fantastic comments did not. They still live on, however, in the Amazon version of the blog.

Jan. 24--Ride, Pontiac, Ride.

Jan. 25--The minivan brouhaha, wherein I defend minivans and say driving one is "almost punk rock." It draws a mind-bending 93 comments, including one that accuses me of being on the Honda payroll (my later Honda Ridgeline post would dispel any such illusions).

Feb. 11--Inappropriately Named Chrysler Products Week! (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

March 4--I get maudlin about the Jeep Wagoneer.

March 17--The Our Cars feature kicks off. Originally envisioned as a week-long opportunity to showcase reader cars, it turned into a nearly three-week tour de force by our readers. It was some of the best content ever featured on the blog and eventually led to some of our readers becoming contributors.

April 4--A reader pulls the Nazi card in response to a post about the Volkswagen Scirocco.

April 7--A post about the 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass somehow prompts an SUV holy war in the comments. We subsequently tackle the issue head-on in the SUV Throwdown.

April 14--The battling inspires the Car Lust Code of Conduct.

May 15--One of the classic commercials of all time--Ricardo Montalban, a "small Chrysler," Corinthian leather, and the Federation starship USS Cordoba.

May 29--When Car Lust goes too far.

June 5--Loving and hating the Lamborghini Countach.

June 9--A mind-bendingly obscure weekly theme--great IMSA GTP race cars! (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

June 17--A conversation about boring cars, followed by the single most boring car of all time.

July 18--The first official contributor post, "Tastefully Overdone" by Cookie the Dog's Owner.

July 29--Rob the SVX Guy and David Drucker beat each other silly in an argument about Harley-Davidsons.

Aug. 4--Best road snacks.

Something about the encroaching fall is making me think of homemade bread, which is then made into homemade toast, with a little butter on it. The toasty homemade bread and melted butter makes those chilly morning a little bit easier to handle. But who really has time to make homemade bread (I tend to ask myself)? Which is why I was excited recently to test out Panasonic’s SD-YD250 bread maker. And, you know, it fit the bill perfectly, because of its 13-hour timer, which lets the bread be fresh in the morning, waiting to take the edge off waking up. It has a host of other features (including giving you the ability to make white, whole wheat, multigrain, French, and other breads, and giving you 3 loaf sizes to choose from), which are nice, too, but really, having homemade bread in the morning is the best. As long as it’s great bread--which it is.

“Of course,” you’re thinking, “he’s going to say that, he works for Amazon.com, where this very bread maker is sold.” But, for another view, check out the image of the bread on the left, which was uploaded by “JR Mommy ‘Super mommy’” a customer that bought the SD-YD250. That’s a good-looking loaf. Waking up to a piece of toast from that would make any morning better (and think of lunch, too--a good grilled cheese with homemade bread is tasty). Really, it’s not all the fancy features (though they’re a kick, too) that matter with a bread maker, it’s how good the bread is. And the Panasonic SD-YD250 passes the bread test with flying colors.

--A.J. Rathbun