If you answered yes to the title, then Infiniti has a car for you!

It’s called the FX Millionaire Edition, and as the name suggests, it’s based on the FX. You can get the package on either the FX37 or the FX50, though I suspect the market this is aiming at will most likely prefer the FX50.

On the exterior, you get some nice dark graphite trim, much better than the usual chrome manufacturers place on their special editions. You can get it in either Obsidian Black or White Moonlight paint schemes. It must look fantastic in Obsidian Black.

The interior gets Alcantra with brown stitching and carbon fibre trim. You also get all the optional goodies in the catalog, including sat-nav, Infiniti’s Around View Monitor system and a Bose audio system.

The package is only available in Europe though, and no more than 100 will be made. The FX50 version sells for roughly 145,000 USD, nearly twice the base price of the FX50. That seems like a hell of a lot for just a view additions, but then again, you get to say you have a “Millionaire Edition” car, and the target market probably doesn’t care how much it costs anyways. The car will be unveiled next week at Amsterdam’s Millionaire Fair.

Source: Autoblog

Infiniti’s second-generation flagship FX, unveiled at Geneva in March of 2008, will be available in three drivetrain combinations, with two of them reflected in the FX35. As the name suggests, the five-passenger SUV is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 and can be had with either an all-wheel drive system or driving the rear wheels only. All FX models, regardless of engine and drivetrain, are equipped with a brand-new 7-speed automatic transmission, which is Infiniti’s first.

The transmission blips the throttle on downshifts to match engine revs to road speed, and can be shifted with optional magnesium paddle shifters mounted on the steering column.

The engine is an updated version of Infiniti’s common and award-winning VQ35 and is good for 303 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. It returns better fuel economy than in last year’s FX, a feat that is helped by the FX35’s improved drag coefficient of 0.35 from the preceding model’s 0.37, thanks in part to the sculpting of the rear LED taillights.

The factory-issue wheels for 2009 FX35 models are 18-inch alloys, shod with all-season tires, and opting for the Deluxe Touring Package upgrades them to 20-inch metallic finish rims. All paints covering the FX’s new, lighter body utilize Infiniti’s Scratch Shield technology that uses sunlight to heat the clear coat and fill in any fine scratches it may have endured.

Safety systems on all FX trims include Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution, as well as traction and stability systems. Optional is Intelligent Brake Assist for warning of a frontal collision and capable of automatic braking, Distance Control Assist (DCA) for keeping pre-set distances from the vehicle ahead in heavy traffic and a Lane Departure Warning/Lane Departure Prevention system, which helps keep the FX in its lane.

Find out more about Lake Norman Infiniti’s future car lineup

Everyone likes top 10 lists.  It’s pretty much written in stone.  On that note, here’s Bob’s own top 10 of things he’s into at the moment.

TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller
 

I’ll tell ya.  This book is badass.  It’s got sex, it’s got drugs, it’s got literary merit.  It’s even got a few violent cases of the clap.  AND it has a naked chick on the front.  Perfect on all accounts.

For those less familiar (which I was before I started reading and researching), Miller is a predominantly autobiographical writer.  While his books I guess would be considered fiction, they’re written mostly in the 1st person and based largely on his own experience.  Tropic of Cancer is about his adventures in Paris and the countryside, at least as far as I’ve gotten, and touches on a variety of themes, including the value of wealthy/poverty, American/European sensibilities, sex, language, loneliness, health, etc.

Many consider TOC now to be one of the greatest books of the 20th century.  I’m not sure I would go that far, as Miller’s up against some pretty stiff company (Joyce, Nabokov, etc.), but I would venture to say that this book has a great deal of literary merit AND it’s eminently readable, which two qualities don’t always go hand in hand.  Pick it up if you have a chance.

EISENHOWER by The Slip

I’ve been following this band for years and consider them, without question, to be my favorite.  They are a trio and have been together forever at this point, uniting not too long after they dropped out of Berkelee College of Music in Boston.  Their music is somewhere between jazz, folk, and indie rock, though I wouldn’t pigeonhole them into any of these categories exclusively. 

The lead singer and guitarist, Brad Barr, is unbelievable.  His guitar chops stand up with just about anyone and stand out from everyone because of their inventive quality and syncopation.  This is a dude that’s clearly put some time in.  His vocals have a sort of Dylanesque quality about them, as his voice is not the purest or most classically trained, but harbors a sincerity that is unmatched elsewhere.  His songwriting is perhaps his greatest talent, enabling him to touch on subjects ranging from rats to the meaning of life, and everything in between.  He’s flanked by Mark Friedman, the perfect comlementary bassist and himself an innovator in his use of sound and structure.  And Andrew Barr, Brad’s younger brother, bangs the drums and I would say is the driving force behind the band.  He’s simultaenously hip-hop, reggae, jazz, rock, punk, and anything else you can think of all rolled up into one and tied directly into Marc and Brad’s brainwaves, as if through ESP.

Their latest relase, Eisenhower, is the first one to be nationally promoted (at least intensely so) and really marks a much more mature and melodic movement for them.  Their earlier albums, like “From the Ghecko” and “Does,” were very spacey and exploratory.  I loved them and still consider them to be some of the finest music I’ve ever heard…but I wouldn’t say they’re for everyone.  If nothign else, go pick up a copy of “Eisenhower.”  You’ll be glad you did.

KELLY JOHNSON Atlanta Braves

I’ve got to admit that I’m developing a little bit of a man-crush.  I’m comfortable admitting this because the guy’s name is Kelly, and that’s a girl’s name, so it’s ok.

Anyway, Kelly Johnson is the secondbaseman for the Atlanta Braves.  This kid has been around the league a couple years, but missed most of last year with Tommy John surgery on his elbow.  When the Braves let Marcus Giles, a cornerstone of the team, go at the beginning of this year, I thought we were screwed.  But KJ has come in and just torn the cover off the ball.  He’s hitting a mean leadoff, using a combination of a great eye and some pop in his bat to set the pace for the rest of the offense. 

The one question mark on him was his defense, as he originally came up through the ranks as an outfielder.  But, so far this season, he’s been great at second and looks like he’ll continue that way. 

Don’t know where we’d be without the guy and he’s quickly becoming one of my favorites on the team.  Gotta love KJ.

JENNIFER MORRISON House

I’m a quickly falling in love with this little vixen.

Jennifer Morrison is a staple on the tv show “House,” a medical drama on FOX.  And she is a sexpot.

Jennifer’s kicked around the B-level of tv fame for a while, but House has brought her to the forefront and I’m pretty pleased about it.  She’s hot in that sultry, I’m-smart-as-hell kind of way.  She’s got great hair, beautiful eyes, nicely shaped tats, and a quality posterior.  I’m a fan, all the way around.

The only thing I’m not such a big fan of is that she’s dating Jesse Spencer, the aussie guy that’s her coworker on the show.  But, you know what?  He’s actually moderately cool and he’s an aussie, so I guess I can’t hold this all against him.  If I were you?  I’d consider Jennifer for my next practice session on the skin flute.

PACIFICO Beer

There are no two ways about it.  Pacifico Beer is the shit.

I started drinking it in celebration of the fact that summer is upon us, and I have not been disappointed.  It is a Mexican Pilsner beer and it tastes amazing with a lime and a lady, not necessarily in that order.  And the best part?  It’s pretty cheap.

NICK’S CRISPY TACOS San Francisco, CA

Nick’s is a little taco joint on Polk Street in San Francisco, no more than a block or so from my apartment.  And everything about it kicks ass.

During the day and the evening, Nick’s is a bar with a bunch of swanky booths and some picnic tables strewn across the floor.  They serve a variety of Mexican deliciousness, most notably tacos (hence the name) and they do so at a moderate price and a quick speed.  The food is great, especially if you pay the little bit extra to get the tacos “Nick’s Way,” which means deep fried with guacamole.  Their guac is out of this world, too, so it’s an added bonus.  And guess what else?!?  They serve Pacific!  HOORAY BEER!

INFINITI Fx

Typically, I’m a fan of older cars.  I love old school Saabs, I love Porches, I love older Beamers.  But, recently, I’ve had a change of heart and I’ve really started liking the Infiniti FX for some reason.  Why?  I don’t know…but I think it’s cool.

I don’t particularly like SUVs, but this one is suave.  It’s got nice lines, it’s got a solid engine, and it looks good with a smokin hot lady in the front seat (although, what doesn’t?).  If you have an extra 50k lying around, you might want to go buy one. 

TELEMARK Skiing

I’m a long time ski enthusiast.  I lived in Vail, CO for a few years and went to college in Vermont, so it goes without saying that I love snow sports.

Last year, however, I started to get just a tad bit bored with alpine skiing.  Perhaps it was a product of having skiied in excess of 50 days that year, I don’t know.  But, in any case, I decided it was time for something new.  I don’t particularly like snowboarding…not that I don’t like watching others do it, just that it’s not for me.  So, what choice did I have?

Telemarking.

Telemarking is like cross country skiing downhill, more or less.  Your heel is free from a binding (and so the term “free heeling), and your foot is locked in at the toes.  Telemarking requires a pretty good amount of athleticism and some intense concentration, but it looks friggin sweet when you start getting good at it.  I am starting to prefer it now because it not only allows you easier access to the back country, but also keep you much more invested in your turns and gives you a better workout.

Plus, chicks dig free-heelers.  It’s a proven fact.

STRANGER THAN FICTION Will Ferrell

It goes without saying that everyone loves Will Ferrell.  The man is laughter anthropomorphized.  But, it’s not always a certainty when a funnyman decides to tackle something a little more serious.

In this case, Will couldn’t have done me any prouder.  He demonstrates himself to be a very talented and capable actor, even in serious roles, and turns in an outstanding performance in this flick based around meta-fiction and post-modernism.

I’m a huge po-mo fan, in fact it’s what I studied in school and the kind of art and literature I love most.  But, this movie does a great job with it.  It’s cleverly conceived, beautifully shot, very thoughtful, and a great departure from all the mega-blockbuster horseshit nonsense that’s stuffed down our throats all the time by Hollywood.

Dustin Hoffman, of course, is marvelous, as is Maggie Gyllenhal.  And, contrary to popular opinion, I think Maggie’s kind of cute.  Slightly sexy, actually.

Plus, the movie features some pretty cool guitars, a good sound track, and very thought-provoking issues…all in all, it’s coming to stand as one of my all-time favorites.  Put it in your netflix STAT.

MVP 06 Ncaa Baseball

Yeah, I know.  At this point, this is a pretty old game.  It’s on an old system.  It’s college baseball and who gives a shit?

But, actually, this game has grown into one of my favorites.  It was the last in EA Sports’ installments of baseball games on XBOX and by far the best.

The reason it’s so fun for me is that I’ve renamed and recalibrated all the players on my team to match my high school varsity baseball team.  I know, I’m a huge tool.

But, it’s great.  I made myself awesome, of course.  And I’ve added some of my teachers as shut-down relief pitchers.  All in all, the team is pretty much unbeatable and we’re going for the College World Series championship this weekend.  Should be a big event.

 That’s all, folks.