I've held off on writing about my Nokia 6600 until the initial gadget shine wore off. I've recommended it to my friends, including Jason who's already written about it. This is the smart phone written about on Slate. My friend Dave, who's also a recent Mac convert, told me he used the iSync devices page to check what phones were supported. When I saw that the 6600 was on the list it pretty much sealed the deal. I bought it through letstalk.com with a T-Mobile account.

Positives

• Bluetooth is not crippled - unlike phones from Verizon.
• ISync over bluetooth just works once you pair the devices. Contacts and calendar sync from my phone to the Address Book and iCal applications. No cables, no tangle, no excuses.
• Battery life is really good but I'm probably not the best to measure since I don't use it heavily.
• Since it runs Symbian OS, there are plenty of third party applications out there.
• When my first phone mysteriously died (yes, its a bit of a pain that my phone has to boot up), t-mobile was really helpful and sent me a replacement phone with no hassle.
• The camera is pretty decent and takes pictures at 640x480. It won't replace a real digital camera but it can come in handy.
• Came with a hands-free earphone and speaker.\
• After rebate, the cost of the phone was \$50.\

Negatives

• Since it runs Symbian OS, you need protection against viruses.
• Its not a clam shell phone. The screen gets a bit greasy when you hold it up to your head to use it.
• It can record video, but its limited to 10 second clips at a time.\

There is still an ownership group that owns the Cosmos name. In fact, in 2003 Pele and the owner approached MLS. There's also some debate over if this would be a good thing. The Metrostars should just focus on getting their stadium built. From Return Of The Cosmos?

Those of you who understood that the millenium didn't start until 2001 will not be confused when I say that today I enter my fourth decade. Yup, today is the big three-zero for me! So as not to dwell on my birth, here are some other equally momentous events that happened on this date:

• Sharing this birthday: President Andrew Jackson (1767), Jimmly Lee Swaggert and Judd Hirsch (1935), Sly Stone- the singer (1944), Dee Snider of Twisted Sister (1953), Fabio (1961), and Mark McGrath (1968)
• 44 BC: Julius Ceaser assasinated.
• 493 AD: Theodorik the Great beats Odoaker of Italy, was ticked off at being called "Theodork" by other rulers.
• 1493 AD: Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage.
• 1672 - King Charles II enacts Declaration of Indulgence. Summary: "It's good to be the king".
• 1820 - Maine admitted as the 23rd state of the union, which begs the question - where the heck was Maine during the Revolutionary war?
• 1919 - The American Legion founded in Paris. What the heck is the American Legion?
• 1959 - Chad becomes autonomous republic in French Community,will take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week ...
• 1980 - Sweden changes order of succession to throne. You go over there, you come here, etc...
• 1989 - Gorbachev calls for "radical agriculture reform". Up until then, in Soviet Russia field plant you!
• 2000 - TV "funyman" Durward Kirby passed away, he outlived his career by almost 30 years..