Things done well

It is so easy for me to complain. About anything. About everything. But by the same token, if I find something that actually does what it claims to, I feel that deserves to be noted. I know I won't always talk about the good, positive things here, but in the spirit of the season, here are at a least few.

Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries. They claim to last the longest in digital devices like cameras. I take a lot of large file pictrures--at least 100 a month. I used to go through a set of four regular alkailne batteries every four to six weeks. Last year I switched to the ultimate lithiums anddid not have to replace them for a full year. Sure, they cost more--about two and a half times more by my calculations--but they are well worth it. I haven't tried them in any other devices, but I have no reason to doubt that they would be as excellent in other applications as well.

PA Birth Certificate Replacement Office. You're planning a trip, applying for school or getting a new job and you can't find your birth certificate! Stressfull enough, right? You don't need to add to it by running into yards of red tape and weeks of wait time. The office which replaces birth certificates is in the state office building in downtown Pittsburgh. You go there, fill out a relatively simple form, give them a check for
something like $12.00, and in less than twenty minutes, you walk out with a copy of your birth certicate.

And while I'm at it...

PennDot's Online Auto Registration. More than once I have forgotten to mail in my registration by the deadline and faced driving around with expired tags. Thanks to the PennDot website, I can now renew my registration, pay for it and print out a temporary proof of registration within minutes. I don't do it any other
way now.

Woolite Power Shot Carpet and Rug Cleaner. Imagine, if you will, the absolute worst thing a pet could do on a white carpet (short of a total bleed-out). Now imagine spraying some of the aforementioned cleaning marvel on the aforementioned stain. Truly miraculous. This stuff even took bile out of a sofa covered in Haitian cotton--pastel flowers on an ecru background and left it looking better than before the accident!

Anything by Beethoven. Selbst vesrstaendlich.

The 2007 Honda Accord. Comfortable, reliable and even better gas mileage than claimed.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Bose Companion Speakers.