Rolls-Royce Phantom Is Amazing

Yesterday I got the chance to drive the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase sedan. Yes, for just $516,630, you too could enjoy the supreme quiet, power, and accommodations of one of these beauties. With its mighty V12 engine moving three tons of hand-wrought steel, aluminum, leather and wood, what's not to like? The car moves along like a ship on a calm sea, but there is some tactile feel through the slender leather-wrapped steering wheel. The car is alive and eager to please.

As expected, there's a bumbershoot stored in the rear door--which is a "suicide" style, hinged at the back. Passengers can close it by pressing a button inside the car. The wool carpets are inches deep, the burl and straight grain woods divine, the chrome deep and lustrous, and the sound system--oh my.

I found myself going 100 miles per hour on the freeway with no effort and little awareness that I was speeding! Sorry, officer--I need to test this car.

Rolls-Royce representatives mentioned the mileage -- 11 City, 18 Highway -- which is class-leading, if that means anything to the millionaire owners.

My favorite special feature--the built-in drink cabinets in the doors, with custom glassware bearing the RR logo. Price? $15,300.

For another perspective, see the Features section at http://www.speedstylemagazine.com/.

Tested Electric Car on 56th Birthday!

Last week, I tested a Nissan all-electric prototype (see photo). Based on the soon-to-be previous generation Cube (the new ones are coming to the U.S. next month), the right-hand-drive little box drove just dandy. The real car, due late next year for fleets, will look completely different.

With a 100-mile range, the as-yet-unnamed car should serve the needs of most people for commuting and local driving, and you can charge it at home overnight. Nissan is working tirelessly to set up a charging infrastructure, concentrating on some areas first, including Sonoma County, California.

Nissan expects prices to be reasonable--in the same general range as a Prius, around mid $20's to low $30's.

Job Search
Week three of my job search, and a pattern is emerging. Top importance is who to have lunch with to break up the lonely day in front of the computer. This week, so far, is booked, but today's partner dropped out, so I'm open!

Besides checking emails, I'm working on my career assessment for a three-hour meeting at Right Management, my outplacement agency, on Friday morning. After that meeting, I'll be lunching (see the pattern) with a friend's referral--a guy at a company you know doing a job that I know. At this stage, it's all about networking.

Networking--I go on Facebook, but its awash in tests--"Who were you in a past life?" it asks. Well, it said I was Marilyn Monroe, but one problem--not only is my ex-wife ALSO Norma Jean, but MM and I were both alive from 1953 to 1962--that's definitely an issue. I believe that in my past life I was a guy with a fulltime job.

LinkedIn is another fine networking place online. I am now connected with more than 50 folks from my previous worklife. It's nice to see their names again--it brings back happy memories, for the most part. The problem is, I can't go back to my previous company now--they've got a hiring freeze, even though they are making money and are overworking their employees. It's not for me to say.

Today, I picked up poop in the back yard from my younger Boston Terrier's visits. I have a sense of accomplishment--it's almost as good as copyediting! I know that the dog didn't mean any of it personally, either.

But seriously, at times of unemployment, it's a great time to consider what you really want to do with your life. Seriously. But then I get distracted--that's the problem with searching online. But so far, in more than two weeks, I have taken only one nap!

As an optimist, I expect things to turn out fine, if not perfectly. So, if you have any leads, please let me know!