dlee dnight dlight

3 posts in 3 days? What the hell is going on? It must be HIATUS. I spent an awesome day reliving my childhood through Baby Bungle: playing in the fountain in Washington Square Park, walking through the village with that post-swim-shower summer coolness in the air, and finishing it up with a Rocco's Itailian ice. Couldn't have been better (except that the battery on my new phone seems to still be draining at a ridiculous rate, despite implementing the tips provided by PoCho Pete).

Anyway, today's post comes to us courtesy of DLee, who has masterfully broken down the NBA Draft once again. Here it is:

NBA DRAFT (5.0% ALCOHOL)

Okay, I know a lot of folk barely follow the NBA anymore (*much less the draft) but i have a compulsive desire to opine on this shit every year regardless. Yes, everyone says this years crop is weak (*I disagree, it just lacks guaranteed superstars) but there’s a fun narrow talent gap in picks 4 through 24 that should make things unpredictable and amusingly chaotic. Also, it's a strong year for point guards and God knows the Knicks need one (*God also knows we're guaranteed to fuck it up in spite of that fact). Anyway, maybe this post’ll help the apathetic folk in Verbungle-land get a little more caught up on this NBA crud so y’all can actually care about or watch the draft without thinking, "-who the fuck are all these players?? I kinda remember but.."

That said, here's a refresher guide to who sux and who doesn't:

PG

1) Ricky Rubio/Italy: the paisan passing Pistol Pete. I'm sure D'Antoni has a hard-on for this guy like you wouldn't believe. Some folk (namely, Brandon Jennings) say he's overrated. Some say he's a taller John Stockton. He probably falls somewhere in between. From what I've seen he's a sick passe/ballhandler with tremendous defensive potential. Just needs to learn how to shoot (*how fucking odd for a international star guard, no?). I think he's gonna start slow but eventually put it together in a big way (*assuming he doesn't crumble under the scrutiny).

upside: John Stockton
downside: Jason Williams
reality: Kirk Hinrich

2) Steph Curry/Davidson: can shoot from anywhere ..and i don't mean that in a bullshit JJRedick way. he's a real scorer who can use numerous angles and play off the dribble. only problem is i don't know if he can play D or play the point legit. Needs to be in the right situation.

Upside: bizzaro-world Tony Parker
Downside: Randolph Childress
Reality: Chris Jackson

3) Jonny Flynn/Syr: my boy! if anyone recalls how much I loved Rondo that's how I feel about Flynn this year (and maybe Lawson to smaller extent). man, i hope the Knicks "do the right thing" and snatch him up (no offense to Nate ..sorry homie). Flynn is a SICK ballhandler, knows how to run the show and has NYC size heart. Initially, i thought the one drawback would be his size but after finding out that Flynn may actually be THE best athlete in the draft (*he tested crazy good on vertical/speed/strength) I genuinely think he's a money in the bank NBA starter/winner. Unfortunately, many teams have jumped the same bandwagon. he may not even be there at 8 for the Knicks ..argh.

upside: Tim Hardaway
downside: Keyon Dooling
reality: Jameer Nelson

4) Brandon Jennings/Italy: played in Italy and didn't do shit. now he's calling ricky Rubio overrated. funny, if i was the top HS USA prospect getting mad press coverage and being paid millions to put up 10 points and 3 assists a game in Italy i'd shut the fuck up about someone ELSE being overrated. Jennings is very talented but something tells me he's a bit of a punk-ass. There's too many point guards in this draft to take a chance on a douche like this over other proven prospects.

upside: Monta Ellis
downside: Marcus Banks
reality: too tough to call.

4) Jaru Holiday/UCLA: this guy has been blasting all over the draft charts. some have him late first. some have him at 4. he was super hyped outta HS but had a weak year at UCLA. most blame the coach and sight the development of Moute & Westbrook as reasons to think Holiday will excel in the pros. he's supposed to be a good defender but his O seems a bit weak. draft at your own risk.

upside: uhh..has a guy like this ever turned out REALLY good..?
downside: Will Solomon
reality: Antonio Daniels

5) Jeff Teague/Wake: started off the year like a man on fire. kinda sputtered out as the year went on. wish he woulda stayed in school one more year. still, he's got some serious NBA skillz. just needs to keep his head on straight.

upside: Steve Francis
downside: Will Avery
reality: Rafer Alston

6) Eric Maynor/VCU: only saw this guy play in the tourney but i liked what i saw. good size. seems smart. there's usually one good point guard in every draft who comes from a small school. this could be that guy.

upside: DeLonte West
downside: Anthony Johnson
reality: Alvin Williams

7) Ty Lawson/UNC: wow. his stock is dropping like a stone because he didn't "test" well at the combine. funny, i'd think a better test is guiding your team to a national championship while playing with an injury. this guy falling is gonna be a classic case of moronic GM's passing on a known talent/winner for lame-ass reasons and having to explain their stupidity later (*ex: Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas, Tyshawn Prince, Josh Howard, etc).

Upside: TJ Ford
downside: Jaque Vaughn
reality: Avery Johnson

8) Pat Mills/St.Marys: remember the Aussi PG who was giving team USA fits with his blazing speed? that was THIS guy. still, he broke his hand this year and hasn't been the same since. a bit small and can't shoot. needed to go back to school and have a big year --too bad he didn't. coulda been somebody.

upside: Ramon Sessions
downside: suicidal regret
reality: Kyle Lowery

9) Tony Douglas/Fla St: tough guy. might have a shot to make it. plays killer D and had fastest running time at the rookie combine. still, he's more of a scorer than a point guard. he'll have a solid career somewhere..it could be in the NBA..it could be in Italy.

upside: Mike James
downside: jobless
reality: 10-11th man in NBA

10) Darren Collison/UCLA: *sigh* i thought he was gonna turn out better than this. he really had some bad breaks regarding the way shit went down at UCLA over the last couple years. personnel and coaches kinda stunted his development. now he's just trying to make it. i hope he can. he's got some nice skillz.

upside: Chris Duhon
downside: Israel
reality: Ronnie Price

OG

1) Tyreke Evans/Memph: athletic young buck. finishes. allegedly plays D. allegedly can play some point (*bullshit). jumper troubles. possibly a dickhead. super hyped outta HS. got a slow start then ended year well.

upside: Jerry Stackhouse
downside: Hasaan Adams
reality: poor man's Andre Igoudala

2) Damar DeRozen/USC: see Tyreke Evans.

upside: Kerry Kittles
downside: Julius Hodge
reality: Larry Hughes

3) Chase Budinger/Ariz: the tease. he's got a really nice game for a USA whiteboy. good hops ~check. jumper ~check. creativity ~check, just hasn't consistantly dominated at any point like he should. the fact that Arizona hasn't done shit over the last couple years despite having Budinger, lottery-pick Jordan Hill, and solid PG Wise makes you wonder what's wrong with these guys, too soft? too lazy? a good mid-late 1st pick. anywhere before that is a deadly roll of the dice.

upside: Dunleavy Jr.
downside: Drew Barry
reality: Brent Barry

4) Gerald Henderson/Duke: if he wasn't a Dukie i'd like this guy for the NBA. any GM taking this guy sooner than 15 better go to church services before the draft. he plays hard and he's got athleticism comparable to D.Wade but it could be total fools gold. Hendo's got no mid-range game, he's kinda undersized, his jumper is iffy and ...he's from motherfucking Duke. still, i was wrong about Russell Westbrook sooo..

upside: John Starks
downside: Shannon Brown
reality: Dahntay Jones

5) Terrance Williams/L-ville: could be the steal of the draft. he's a winner and competes with major cajones. understands the game, defends and plays team ball. won't be a superstar be can be a big part of a successful franchise.

upside: Paul Pressey
downside: Jeryl Sasser
reality: smarter Michael Pietrus

6) Wayne Ellington/UNC; he can shoot. he's got solid size. he's from UNC. he did well in the NCAA. still, nobody is really excited by this guy. tough call.

upside: Brandon Rush
downside: JaRon Rush
reality: Kareem Rush

7) Marcus Thornton/LSU: Jonah likes this guy. i think he's undersized and plays a college game. translation..

upside: Kirk Snyder
downside: Andre Emmett
reality: Maurice ager

SF

1) Earl Clark/L-ville: the enigma. LaBron like athlete (*oh, the blasphemy!). Now when i say that what I mean is: at 6'10" this guy moves like a freakishly strong and athletic guard. Can shoot some, pass like guard, put it on the floor and his defensive potential is through the roof. Still, he never fully dominated and a lot of folk question his heart and head. Frankly, I'd take him regardless. They said the same thing about Rudy Gay and he turned out well..

upside: Rudy Gay
downside: Eddie Griffin
reality: Boris Diaw (*I actually like him better than Rudy Gay but whatev..)

2) Sam Young/Pitt: before this year, I thought this guy didn't have a chance to make it. I"ve kinda changed my tune. He's a really good athlete who plays his ass off and can finish and hit a mid-range shot. Coaches love that shit.

upside: James Posey
downside: Brian Davis
reality: Tony Allen

3) DuJuan Summers/G-town: was viewed as potential lotto early in the year. reality and G-town's crappy year caught up to de-rail all that bullshit. I never thought much of this guy. seems kinda mediocre at everything and great at nothing. also a bit of a tweener at the forward spot.

upside: Bobby Simmons
downside: sux ass
reality: Dorell Wright

4) Austin Daye/Gonzaga: the Kalista Flockhart of the draft ..skinny and disappointing. he was all hyped at Gonzaga then didn't do shit. tested horrible at the draft combine as well. still, he's lanky with a multiple skill set so GM's are still curious. he shoulda gone back to school. i got a feeling he's gonna be a bust-o.

upside: Jonathan Bender
downside: Jonathan Bender
reality: worse than Jonathan Bender

5) Dante Cunningham/Temple: old school. he's the kind of guy you pick up at the blacktop and he just wins game after game. leaves young punks scratching their head on how they lost to a guy who lives only on smarts and fundamental team play. he'll be a second rounder but i wouldn't be surprised if he has a long 10th man bench career somewhere.

upside: Sam Mitchell
downside: Sam Mitchell's coaching career
reality: Jared Dudley

6) DaMare Carroll/Miso: remember Mizzo's big NCAA run? the guy with the sweaty dreds flopping all over the court at crunchtime? that was THIS guy. he's a weird hustle combo forward who just knows how to get the job done. doesn't have your prototypical pro game but he has a shot to be a coach's pet down the bench. could be a second round steal.

upside: Ryan Gomes
downside: smelly dreds
upside: Renaldo Balkman

PF

1) Blake Griffin/Okl: the Terminator. not human. a beast. as a Mixed Martial Arts junkie I'd love to see what this guy would do in the Octagon. Oh well, we'll just have to suffer an amazingly productive NBA career instead, This guy was my dream pick for the Knicks if he came out last year. too bad for us. the only thinkable way anything could go wrong with this guy is if he gets drafted by the Cli~.......*oh wait* ~that actually happened! pray for him.

upside: Antonio McDyess (*healthy version)
downside: Kenyon Martin
reality: Carlos Boozer

2) Jordan Hill/Ariz: warning. looks like a player but seems like there's always a guy like this in the draft who tends to disappoint. meaning: a raw athletic big man with questionable understanding of the game who suddenly becomes a hot property (*ex: Ty Thomas, C. Wilcox, Tony Battie, S Swift, etc). Considering the fact he manned an Arizona team that included Buddinger, Bayless and Wise yet STILL couldn't win at college level ..i say something's wrong.

upside: Ben Wallace with offense (*dream on)
downside: S. Swift
reality: Chris Wilcox

3) DuJuan Blair/Pitt: uh-oh. big boy. used to be fat --but now he's not! heck, he's the trimmest he's even been right before the draft! hmm. funny how that works. bet: once he gets paid --cheeseburger attack! don't get me wrong, Blair plays hard and is a beast on the boards. the thing is, guys who were once fat usually return to their Little Debbie ways down the line (*O. Miller, S. May, Eddy Curry, etc). Late first or early second, i like taking a chance on this guy ..anywhere before that = ulcer city.

upside: Paul Milsap
downside: "Tractor" Traylor
reality: Kenny Thomas

4) Tyler Hansbrough/UNC: come on. do you even have to ask? I just DON'T see it happening for this guy (*by the way: as lifelong UNC fan I have no idea how this guy is NOT from Duke ..when i see him i imagine how black people felt watching Soul Man, "..you really expect me to believe HE can pass as one of us?? JUST LOOK AT HIM!) i respect the guy plays as hard as he can and gets the absolute most of his abilities buuuut ..his shit is gonna get THROWN in the NBA. still, he'll hang around based on his hustle.

upside: Andres Nocioni
downside: Mark Madsen
reality: Brian Cardinal

5) James Johnson/Texas: i don't really know this guy. saw him once. seems mediocre. can shoot and rebound a little. supposedly showed up overweight for the draft combine. that ain't a good sign.

upside: whatever
downside: whatever
reality: whatever

6) Taj Gibson/Ga: saw him play a little. seems ok at a lot of stuff and not great at anything.

upside: NBA bench
downside: homeless on park bench
reality: China

CENTER

1) Hasheem Thabeet/UConn: danger. I really feel that people are banking waaaay too hard on Thabeet being a lock as an NBA player. Sure, he will be a phenomenal shot-blocker no matter what. So was Jim McIllvaine, Tree Rollins and Marvin Webster. I wouldn't take those guys at TWO. Also, I don't agree with the Mutumbo comparison because Dikembe was tough and had great lower-body strength that helped make him one of the best rebounders of all-time. Thabeet moves like a newborn calf (*which may lead to foul trouble) and has almost zero offensive upside (*think Sagana Diop). Yes, he'll block a shitload of shots but..

upside: Tyson Chandler
downside: Jim MCIllvaine
reality: Samuel Dalembert

2) BJ Mullens/Ohio St.: tall white hyped douchebag trailertrash. he was so hyped before coming outta HS people had him labeled the # 2 pick early last year. flash forward: he can't even got off the BENCH on his Ohio St. team. I've seen him play and viewed the potential (ie: athletic, moves well, somewhat smooth.) but he seems soooo clueless, self-entitled and unmotivated that I can't imagine this guy handling the daily waxing/pine-time he's gonna rack up his first 4 years in the league. hell, if he starts developing 4 years in, the team that drafted him won't even reap the reward due to free agency ..so what's the point?

upside: rich man's Primoz Brezec (*if such a thing exists)
downside: Eric Chenowith meets Maciej Lampe freakazoid
reality: Kwame Brown

(*forgive the type-o’s and lack of ultra high-level snark ..i did this in bit of a rush)

~dust.

dlee

iPhone 3GS review

Hey fools, I was lucky enough to receive a brand new iPhone for father's day, and I picked the thing up yesterday. Here are my impressions, which are probably no different than a million other reviews online, except that mine are less informed. So read closely.

I was upgrading from the original iPhone, so the improvements seem very significant to me. I will limit my review to these points. Know going in that the original iPhone blew my mind -- and what I really loved about it most was the one thing I didn't think I'd care about: that it replaced the need to carry multiple devices. It was my iPod and my phone and my video player and my barbitrator. It was an electronic swiss army knife, and I don't think I can ever go back to multiple devices again.

1. Speed -- it is called the 3GS and the S supposedly stands for "Speed" (or "Scrotumulous", I can't remember). And it is plenty quicker going between apps, etc. than my original iPhone. I bet it isn't as dramatically different from the 2nd gen iPhone, but it is probably a little better. I enjoy the lack of delays between when I click on soomething and when it opens.

2. 3G -- this is the data standard that AT & T is now using, replacing the much slower EDGE standard that ran on my old iPhone. I haven't really been able to notice a big speed change yet, although I assume there is one. The downside is that the 3G network seems to use up a whole lot more battery life, maybe because my phone is searching for a network all day. Dunno, but the phone is draining much faster, to the point where it can't survive an intense day of work without a recharge. This has to change.

3. Battery life -- supposedly the battery life gets better and better with each phone, now allowing you to play like 30 straight hours of music on one charge. I am skeptical and worried that I may have a dud battery, because as I mentioned, this fucker is draining faster than a mofo.

4. 32GB HD -- this is pretty damn good. On my old phone, I had 8GB of storage, so I only downloaded a small percentage of my music onto the phone. On the bright side, that forced me to be selective, and I never had to listen to the ultra-crappy songs in my library. Of course, I chose which songs to sync in like 8 minutes on the way to work one day, and I never got around to roatating new ones in. So lots of good stuff was out, and I got real sick of the ones that were in. With 32GB, I can actually fit my entire iTunes library, which represents like 80% of the music I own, onto the phone. Sure, lots of crap tunes come up in the shuffle, but so do a lot of gems that hadn't made the cut on the old phone. Even if you can't fit your whole library onto the phone, 32GB is plenty of space. So is 16GB. Rock on. In the last two days, I've heard about 40 songs I had forgotten I loved. I will slowly weed out the duds. Plus, the big hard drive lets me add lots of...

5. Videos -- I am torn because I think that the more low-quality video we shoot as a species, the more we will regret it 35 years from now when we think, "Why didn't we get an HD camcorder and document things right?" But I for one am too lazy to tote a real camera with me every time I go out, and I like to think that I'll be happy for whatever footage exists from Baby Bungle's childhood, low-end tho it may be. That said, this video is SCHWEET for a camera phone: good audio, good video, totally watchable, AND ALWAYS WITH YOU! That is the important thing. Here is an example of a video I shot on the phone. You can upload video straight from the phone to youtube, which is really neat and not as time consuming as you might think.



Here are a few things people will be doing with that shit:

-drunken bar videos/Late Night Hasselhoffian Hamburger Fests
-video messages to loved ones -- such as a military family who are separated (and awkward attempts by high school boys to woo hot girls who are just not interested)
-wives checking up on husbands by demanding they make videos instantly of what they are doing/where they are/who they are with
-bad bad concert videos/sporting event videos
-when you meet someone in a bar, you can make a short video of them so you can decide soberly the next day what they look like and how stupid they are and if they are actually worth calling
-driveway hoops battles royale
-nanny cam?
-shooting footage of a perp in the act of a felony, then being seen by said perp and murdered
-mostly, 5-10 second pretzel eating clips

-6. Compass/GPS -- this will someday help me, even if so far I disagree with it on the concept of "North" like 70% of the time. The amazing thing for you drivers it now has GPS and a compass, and there will soon be a real turn by turn navigation app right on the phone itself, which you'll be able to mount on your dash, eliminating the need for another device. For me, it's cool just to be able to type the name of a store, etc. into the Maps app, and have a pin marking the location pop up right away. I tried putting in "ho's" and a bunch of stuff came up. Be careful.

7. The camera -- it still lags way behind your digital camera and probably a lot of other phone cams, but it is serviceable and slightly improved. There is a touch-to-focus feature that I think I probably will like. One thing I hate about the camera and it would be easy to fix is the location of the shutter button. It's awkward to press and in reaching for it I often find myself shaking the camera. Here is an example of the camera's power to document raw human sexiness:

And here is another shot I was able to capture of the North American Flightless Bad DeNiro.

9. The new headpones -- they are better, with more controls. But I think I will break them in about two weeks.

10. Voice Control -- cool, but not something I need.

11. The new iPhone 3.0 OS -- everyone should download this free upgrade, no matter which iPhone they have. It adds some long overdue stuff.

12. Phone calls -- still terrible. If making phone calls is "your thing", you probably won't like the iPhone. AT & T sucks and I think Apple may have even lowered the headset volume on this model to make calls somehow less intelligible, so you don't even really consider using it to make calls. I think I will just text from now on.

Overall, assuming the battery thing is resolved, this phone is now my favorite non-living item in the universe. If you already have the 3G, I probably would wait til next June when an even more asskickety new model will be unveiled. But if you are on the original iPhone or some other wack phone and you want to improe your life by like 25%, I say go drop a couple hunnert on this thing. And make yourself a sex tape ASAP.

9 things

I have a lot of thoughts going on right now for the first time in a while, and I guess with the proper time and focus I could turn them into a few coherent posts for your enjoyment. But I got none of that stuff. I got minutes to spare and work to do so y'all are getting one of my little numerical list jobbies.

1. Pete asks for an iPhone re-review, which is interesting because I was just about to do that. Here is the latest news: the iPhone is the greatest damn thing in the history of the universe. I recommend getting the new 16GB model, that shit will make you extremely happy. I stand by all the points from the earlier review -- the internet surfing is slow, you rarely find yourself in a hotspot. I misdial and mistype a lot. There are a hundred annoying things about this device. But...it is still the greatest damn thing in the history of the universe. The fact that it is an iPod too, and that it can play movies and shit, and you can surf the web at reasonable speeds while sitting on your toilet (assuming you have wifi), and that it has so many other cool features, combine to make it the greatest damn thing in the history of the universe. The only legit reasons to wait on buying one are:
-Price = outrageous and insulting.
-AT & T = not so good.
-Soon they will come out with one with the proper cell-surfing protocol, getting rid of this EDGE BS. That said, the EDGE is not as bad as I initially thought. I can play youtube videos without skipping even when I am not in a hotspot.

Just fucking get it already.

2. I have thought about doing this before but realized I don't go out to enough bars anymore to come up with very many entries. That said, here is the first edition of Name That Bathroom:


3. That pic was taken during Chicago Vic's recent visit to NYC. We had a grand old time. I was surprised to discover that the bars seem to still be going strong without me. We're all just temporary in everything we do, I am reminded. Only the buildings survive. Also, bars are full of interesting shit, like overly made-up dogs:


And Vincent-Gallo-lookin' hipsters who are unable to resist being amused by Vic's 4am coaster-flipping prowess:

4. I am missing my pop so much. There have been at least 50 times since January 20th when I want to call him and then remember he's gone. Mostly I just feel sorry for him. He enjoyed life so much, it seems unfair that he can't be here anymore checking out the world and soaking it all in. At the end, as the things he loved kept getting taken away from him (booze, food, Manhattan), he didn't need much to make him happy. Just the TV, the newspaper and enough health to carry on. But I guess that was too much to ask. It also crushes my heart when I point to a picture of him, even one from 50 years ago, and ask my daughter who it is, and she says, "Papa Bob." I feel lucky that they got to know each other but somehow the fact that they were able to form a real relationship makes it all even sadder. I keep thinking back to the last ten years, when a lot of things didn't go his way, and I wish I had been there for him more often. He was the single most important person in my life and I guess he always will be.

5. I got an email from our old pal CLee -- he was a website now and a softball page that puts our site to shame. He sent this picture that made me feel old and nostalgic:


Nothing special, really, just a reminder of how long we've been playing at JJ Walker ballfield and how many people have come and gone. (Isn't that a pre-shearing Dipak on the hill?) Man am I ready for spring and softball and tall boys and the fuzzy upper lip of Hiatus. Looking forward to stuff is the best. Is there any other way to live than doing everything in your power to forget the wreckage of the Past while gathering up the measly crumbs of happiness the Present offers you and looking forward to the majestic morning of Tomorrow? I am open to suggestions.

6. Why can't I get one of my all-time favorite Beatles songs on iTunes?


7. Maybe this comparison is obvious, but Michael Beasley = Derrick Coleman. In every way.

8. Work continues to dawg my ass. Shawshanking this week at the ol' FN. Should be pretty unpleasant. Then going home to work on stuff for the regular job. The future will be better. Right?

9. Prediction for the Yanks this year: 85-77.

The Asshole Factor

If you're wondering where I've been, I'll tell you. Working. Way. Too. Much.

Last Friday night at 2am, I punched out and headed home after a 41 hour workday. That's right: I showed up for work at 9am on Thursday and didn't return until Friday night at 2am. That's 41 hours straight, no sleep, no poop, no special massage, no internets, no steakhouse dinners, no champagne, caviar, or bubble baths. No relief of any kind. I must have downed 18 cups of coffee in the 41 hours. Somehow, my bowels held up.

By the end of the 41 I was punch-drunk and wobbly and I had lost control of my thoughts and movements. Words were coming out of my mouth before I could think to say them, and as a result most of them made no sense. It was a really unhealthy, disorienting kind of fatigue/nausea/panic/depression that I can't quite describe. I think it's probably sort of what The Bends feels like. You tweakers probably know what I was dealing with. Same goes for doctors who's worked multiple shifts back to back, anyone who's ever been trapped in a building collapse, anyone who's watched a Real World marathon on MTV, and Jack Torrance.

As I groggily stepped into a cab at the end of this monstrous shift, the ass of my pants ripped spectacularly -- right up the seam, a good eight inches. It was all too appropriate.

I won't say any more about any of this other than how gratifying it was that all our efforts paid off: we saved that ten year-old boy's life.

Oh, wait...we actually didn't. We just made some stuff and sent it out to the people for consumption.

One thing I really wanted to do was an iPhone review, but I haven't had time. Now I have like eight minutes, so here goes.

Cons:
1. internet is painfully slow unless connected to wifi
2. rarely connects to wifi; how many hotspots are big enough to stay with you as you walk or drive around? zero.
3. cannot create your own ringtones by yelling stuff into phone
4. camera fairly well sucks; if you twitch or if your subject twitches you get a blurry piece of shit. if it's dark, you'd be better off just making a quick pencil sketch. however, if conditions are good, you can get a decent shot. here is a cute one of Baby Bungle:

5. touch-screen typing sucks, you must stare at screen to type and still get frequent key misses
6. vibrate mode is not vibratey enough, leading to numerous missed calls
7. ATT service sucks, leading to dropped calls, missed calls, and lots of what?-based conversations
8. need to press multiple buttons to dial a call
9. iPod interface kinda sucks. not enough controls handy and need to press buttons more than once to register a press all the damn time. then accidentally starts or stops playing at random moments because it brushes against a piece of lint in your pocket
10. battery does not last as long as they say it does, i forgot to charge the phone one night and it actually died the next day; this never happened to me before with a phone
11. The Asshole Factor: it is hard to walk around with a $500 phone and not feel like an asshole. As a result, when I make calls on it at work I find myself sneaking away so nobody can see it. I went to a bachelor party a few years ago for a friend who I hadn't seen much in recent years. There were some people I knew there and then some other dudes who I'd never met. One of these new dudes had some fancy-ass cell phone with a sliding spinning panel thing on it, and he kept showing it off and bragging about it. Finally, somebody (possibly me) made a sarcastic comment about it and he replied, "You have no idea how much pussy this phone has gotten me." I let this declaration of assholery stand instead of piling on top of it, a decision I now regret. Whatever, the point is that people who have $300, $400, or $500 cell phones are usually assholes. Pussy-gettin' assholes, but assholes nonetheless. So I need to distance myself from them -- I assume it will be easier now with the price drop and the ensuing ubiquity of the iPhone.
12. touch screen in general activates too often by accident, and not often enough when you want it to
13. no cutting and pasting
14. cannot use blogger for some reason
15. hands-free does not sound all that good

Pros:
1. Every time I hold it I feel so irrationally happy that I nearly pee myself.

That's it.

Seriously, I also like the voicemail interface a lot -- you can see a readout on the screen of your messages and choose which ones to listen to and in what order. And one thing I never thought I'd care about, but I do -- having all my devices in one unit. I love not bringing an iPod to work anymore.

There are lots of other cool grabby features and stuff but they get old after awhile. Overall I would say that I love having it but I expect the one that comes out in 6 months to be 85% better than this one (and cheaper, too).