“On*Star, how can I take your money?”

Okay, so that’s not what they really say when you push the blue button, but I’ve always thought of them as a scam. What are the chances that I’m going to crash in the middle of nowhere with no one there to see me? (Granted I do travel on many country back roads where sickle-wielding caped men try to kill young people just for being young). I just don’t see the purpose in paying an ungodly amount of money every year to have someone call 911 for me, that’s why I have a cell phone with GPS. Oddly enough though, I don’t see a problem with paying nearly $100 a year for RADIO (you know, that thing can come through the air for free?).

So, I’ll never use the blue button. Have no desire to. Have no need to. I won’t even push the phone button next to it, again, that’s why I have a cell phone. But I must say, that the e-mail I received the other day could make my free year of On*Star completely awesome.

My car e-mailed me.

Seriously.

I thought it was pretty cool to get a “Diagnostic Report” from my car. Now I know this isn’t supposed to surprise me because I’m a “geek,” but c’mon, how can you not be intrigued by this? I just hope the car doesn’t figure out my cell phone number, I’d hate to start getting texts like these at 3:00 in the morning:

R U redy 2 go outz?

Meetin up wit a hot Bonneville 2nite!!

I had so much ethanol I blew a gasket. It was awesome!

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On a completely unrelated note, I finally finished the Helio spot I’ve been complaining discussing on Twitter this week. Take a look… (I’m still not a fan of the disco ball, but at least it’s on the air)

http://www.sethkeever.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/5553_heliodance15_hi.flv

Working these Mecum Auto Auctions up at the State Fairgrounds, I’ve had a chance to see some amazing cars. Here are just a handful of the ones going up on the block tonight (LIVE on HD Theater at 8:00 pm).

I drive.

A lot.

We’re not talking about hour long, or even 15 minute long, commutes. But when I work freelance gigs, they tend to be fairly local (within 6 hours). Sometimes that’s just a pointless distance to fly, so I’ll drive. Make a little extra coin for my hassle.

Which is why I wanted to get a new car in the first place.

My old Stratus (Everybody: “I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS!”) was a great car. I really enjoyed it, in fact. Sunroof, 4-disc CD changer, major mechanical repairs every 5,000 miles. I started buying it in college, but recently it was turning into a money pit, and I almost owned the whole thing (the last 5 months of loan payments I didn’t get to were for the back fifth of the car).

Blah, blah, blah, new car.

Well, I’ve only had the Impala for about 40 days and I’ve already managed to put 1,000 miles on it! I know you might say, “well that’s average if you figure oil changes every 3 months or 3,000 miles,” but look at Maggie’s Prius, it took her more than three months to get to 1,000 miles!

Oh. Were you expecting more? Nope, that’s it. Just what ran through my head when I looked down at my odometer as I was leaving work. That and how tasty a beer sounded.