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First Drive of 2006 MLs
ML500-View from the back seat. Burl Walnut, navigation (an option), Keyless Go (optional--that's why there's a silver button on the keyhole. Leave the key in your pocket. Push that to start and stop the engine. Remove it if you're going to put in the regular key for Varlet Parkers or whatever.
The flash blanked out the multifunction display. As the latest MFD, it's the best so far.
Now you see it, the 6-disc CD Changer (optional)
Now you don't. Ignore the "stuff" in the glovebox. There should be a plug and charger for an iPod, but whether it's standard or optional, I don't know yet. (Sport interior, no wood)
Shifter of the future. As Formula 1 technology-Steering Wheel mounted shift buttons-become more common, the floor shfter is obsolete except for manual transmissions (also, sadly, obsolete). The shifter is electronic. A display is on the MultiFunction Display. Push up to go to Reverse, down to Neutral and D. Push button on the end to go to Park--or take the key out. Manual shifting of the smooth, responsive, 7-speed automatic is done with behind-the-steering wheel paddles at 3 and 9 o'clock. But you'll have little need to shift manually other than to occupy yourself in heavy traffic.
Now these are CUPHOLDERS! They hold everything from Evian bottles to 32 oz. Super Size drinks. Pull a tab, and they turn to one 44 oz. drink holder. People demanding cup holders for your milk jug please go bug BMW.
Sport Interior--Alcantara Suede and leather twin, aluminum instead of wood trim, sport seats and pedals, all part of the Appearance Package.
Rear Seat entry--Lots of Leg Room for an SUV.
Rear Seat (left 2/3_ folded down. Pull up on seat bottom release. Pull seatback release and pull forward. Retract headrests if necessary. Nothing to it. This is an accessory display vehicle. The cage apparatus behind the seat is a luggage protector. It doesn't protect luggage. It protects you from flying luggage. Google "Tom Mix" and you'll understand (Silent Movie Star, cowboy, Wild West Show performer killed by his own luggage in a Cord--not an ACcord, a Cord.)
Cavernous storage area. This accessory display car has the aforementioned "cage" protector, a "tray", and a bin box. There's also a neat rails system I couldn't get assembled to photograph, but I'd get it. The Luggage cover is removable when you want to fold the seat down and fill the back of the truck to the gunnels with goodies.
Back Seat Armrest showing cupholders and hidden storage area. If you think it looks like an S-Class, you're right. Look at the bottom of the center console between the front seat. It has two 12 volt plugs. I think there are 5 altogether, but it could be a higher total. This truck has the accessory heavy duty mud and snow rubber mats. My current ones have been in 3 MLs and are still going strong. When they wear out, sell the truck.
New ML-first drive
Mercedes spirited us to an undisclosed location in north Houston, or was it Oz? There we studied and drove the new ML 350 and 500 and some well-optioned RX330s for comparison.
Standard Key Features
-Multifunction steering wheel (wood/leather is optional)
-7-GTRONIC transmission with column shifter and steering wheel shift buttons. (The buttons are different from AMG's paddle shifters. Each button can downshift AND upshift, depending on which side is pressed. No, I don't know why they're doing it differently. At least they're doing it, unlike BMW when the new 7s came out. Only downshift worked on the BMWs.
-Unibody design for maximum on-road comfort, handling, and body fit/finish. The previous design had a monocoque body on a ladder type frame, kind of suspenders and belt. The previous model was more oriented to off road with a two-speed transfer case. We'll be coming out with an off-road package next year, so this one was optimized for the way people really drive themon road. It has the hill-hold feature and the downhill mode, but it has a 1-speed transfer case. The off-road package will have 3 locking differentials like the G500 and will come with the Airmatic Dual Control suspension so it can be raised up 4" from its 8.5" ground clearance.
-2-32 oz. cupholders in center console-or they can be converted magically into one 44 oz. cupholder. (What? No 64 Oz?)
-Permanent 4WD.
-Flat loading cargo bay
-17" wheels for V6, 18" wheels for V8
-New Iridium Silver replaces Brilliant Silver
-Power Front Seats
-All new 3.5 L V6 (268 hp.) or 5.0 L V8 (302 hp.)
-No third row seat option or power pop-out windows available. We'll have a 7-seat SUV next spring, so if you need 7-seats, hang on. This one is optimized for 5 people.
-Dual Zone Climate Control Thermatic
-Rear seat folds easily
-6" longer than previous ML
-2" wider than previous ML
-4" longer wheelbase than current ML
Technical Features
-Unibody design saves weight, improves ride comfort
-Front & Rear independent suspension
-Auxiliary input in glove box
-Auto up-down for all 4 windows
-Downhill Speed Regulator
-Hill hold function
-Multifunction instrument cluster display
-Projector Beam headlamps
Options
-AirMatic Dual Control suspension with Active Damping System (+3-4" ground clearance)
-Bi-Xenon Curve-illuminating Headlights®, Corner-Illuminating Front Foglamps.
-New sound system Harman Kardon Logic 7 System with 6-disc CD changer in glove box. Neat CD changer.. All 6 CDs go through one slot. You push a button, and the changer comes down out of the top of the glove box. After you've loaded it, you can push it back up out of the way.
-Keyless Go
-Power Liftgate
-DVD Navigation
-Power Steering column & folding mirrors (Std V8)
-Multi-contour seat
Standard Equipment on the ML500
-5.0 L V8 engine with 302 hp.
-Trim Package (Leather Trim, Burl Walnut wood trim, Privacy Glass, TeleAid, Roof Rails, and Homelink)
-Heated Seats
-18" wheels (255/55)
-Silver painted grille with chrome ribs
-Chrome door handles, tailgate trim, and side molding
-Electric adjustable steering column
-Blue Tinted Sport Glass
-Parameter Steering
-Power Folding Mirrors
-Rain Sensor
Things that got my attention
The lighting switch is like a Mercedes again. With the easy-to-use navigation system, a compass will show in the multifunction display if NAV is selected with no destination in the nav. It also tells you what road you're on. Instructions show on the multifunction display as well.
The fuel filler is back on the right side where it belonged all along! (Hooray!)
Interiors include leather twin, leather, and Alcantara and leather, and both wood and aluminum trim is available.
Window switches are on the driver's door just like a S-Class.
The column shifter is electronic. A display on the dash shows whether it's in Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive. Push up for reverse, down for drive. Push the button on the end for Park, or take out the key, and it automatically goes into park. The 7-speed automatic is so smooth and responsive that the steering wheel mounted shift-buttons will be superfluous for most drivers.
The Airmatic Dual Control suspension, which was on the ML500 we drove, makes it into a 4WD S-Class SUV. The ride is really smooth. It comes with Parameter Steering. All of that combined with the big tires of the 500 make it really nice to drive, responsive, fast, smooth.
Mistakes
They made 3 decisions we consider mistakes.
1. Rear Air bags are optional at first. Side Curtains for all 4 outside positions are standard, but rear door bags are optional. This violates the "no optional safety equipment" principle, and it lowers them to the level of the competition. They all have no rear side bags as standard, and most don't have them as options. We're ordering them on all "stock" units, but there will be some without the bags (but with curtains).
2. The trailer hitch must be factory installed. We have a lot of used ML buyers add trailer hitches, and we've put on a lot on new MLs in stock.
3. Sirius Satellite Radio must be factory installed (but it's only $500).
Of course, I consider it a mistake that they don't have a Bluetooth phone base kit so you can use the phone Verizon sold you and not have to wait for our phones to come out (and pay the extra price), but that's true for all MBs, not just this model.
Good things
1. An iPod plug and charger in the glove box will be available (whether standard or optional I do not know. I would assume optional, but the literature is conflicting).
2. The glove box is lockable, and the center console storage is huge now that there's no floor shifter. The really fine cupholders go where the shifter used to, and if you spill your Evian Water, it won't get into the transmission. (Remember what Evian spells backwards.)
3. The (skinny) spare tire is inside the vehicle and easily accessible. Yes, if your vehicle is full of "stuff," you'll have to pull it out to change the spare. But I had to do that when I had a flat with the ML430 fifty miles from Colorado Springs. I couldn't get the tools out.
4. The rear seat fold is REALLY easy. Pull a handle to raise the bottom to vertical, and pull on a lever on the seat back to lower it. Headrests have to be lowered, not removed.
5. Getting into and out of the back seat is easy. There is more rear seat leg room than on the current model. The seat is quite comfortable.
6. 12-volt sockets are all over the vehicle. I lost count.
RX330
They had us drive new RX330s as competition. I know I'm a slow learner, but I still can't figure out why people buy it. As you all know, it's a Camry with a tall, ungainly body grafted on. Most of them are front wheel drive. 4 wheel drive is an option. (Repeat after me: Front wheel drive is for mini-cars). Inside it is quite small, with little storage room with the rear seat up. The high point of the vehicle is the rear seat, which moves back and forth and reclines a few degrees, kind of like an economy class Cattlecar Airlines seat.
But the front seats and driving position leave a lot to be desired. The 5-speed shifter comes awkwardly out of the bottom of the dash console. The optional navigation looks good, but I could never figure it out. The touch-screen was already bumpy and covered in fingerprints that wouldn't come off.
Backing up required 2 ground guides. The C/D Pillar goes to the back at a 30° angle, and it's over 30" wide. Combine that with headrests that don't retract, and there is NO rear vision. Oh, but wait! They advertise a backup camera. It requires purchase of the optional navigation. You have to spend over $2,000 just to have a fish-eye lens showing what's behind the car. Try using it. The lens is so disconcerting you'll need a long time to get used to it. Looking forward to back up, you won't see the oncoming truck out of your peripheral vision.MB has Parktronic available, and no navigation is required. But more importantly, the MB has good rear vision, retractable headrests and narrow D-Pillars.
The ride of the RX330 is quite choppy, surprisingly so after driving either ML. Remember the RX has a C-Class-like 106" wheelbase. It has much overhang front and rear. It can't help but be choppy.
The narrow tires make its emergency handling mediocre.
Though their literature claims good acceleration numbers, it was slower than the current ML.. The numbers aren't out for the new MLs, but they'll be faster.
But it parks easily and has the Lexus loaner car program. Women seem to love it.
(both ML350 and 500 unless noted)
-Metallic Paint, $690
-Parktronic, $750
-Rear Side Bags, $385
-DVD Navigation, $1,240
-Sirius Satellite Radio, $500
-Trailer Hitch, $490
-Thermatronic Climate Control (3-Zone, digital), $750
-Heated Front Seats, $690, ML350, Standard on ML500
-Keyless go, $1,080, available on ML500 only
-Power Liftgate, $520
18" Wheel Design II, ML350, $900, ML500, $250
Option Packages
Step 1: All packages require Sunroof Package. Choose one of the following packages:
Trim Package
Standard ML500, $2,200 ML350
Not available with Appearance Package. Leather Twin, Bird's Eye Wood Trim (ML350), Privacy Glass, TeleAid, Roof Rails and Homelink
Appearance Package
Not available with Premium Package, Trim package, AMG Sport Package, or Comfort Package. $2500 ML350, $950 ML500
Sport Exterior/Interior. 19" Sport Wheels, Sport Pedals, Silver painted/Chromed Grill, Chromed Door Handles, Side Molding, Tailgate Trim, Sport Seats (Alcantara/Leather Twin), 3-position memory buttons for driver and passenger front seats, power steering column and exterior mirrors, Blue Privacy Glass, Sport Instrument Cluster, Standard bumpers, TeleAid*, Homelink*, and Roof Rails*
With Chrome Wheels, ML350 $3,350, ML500, $1,750
Premium Package
$6,150 ML350, $3,750 ML500
Not Available with Appearance Package. Includes Trim Package.
Full Leather Seats (replaces Leather Twin), Burl Walnut Wood (replaces Bird's Eye Wood ML350), Premium Interior Lighting, Power Liftgate, Wood/Leather Steering Wheel, Multi-contour Front Seats, DVD Navigation
Step 2, Requires either Trim Package or Premium Package
Comfort Package
$1,450
Not available with Appearance Package.
Auto-Dimming Mirror*, Memory Seats/Mirrors, Power Folding Mirrors, Power Steering Column, Cargo Rails with Cargo Management System and Cargo Cover/Net
AMG Sport Package
$4,500 ML350, $4,200 ML500
Not available with Appearance Package.
Unique Front/Rear Bumpers, Chromed/Squared dual exhaust tips, 19" AMG Spoke Polished Alloy wheels
Requires either Trim Package, Appearance Package, or Premium Package
Lighting Package:
$690
Bi-Xenon Lights and Headlight Cleaning System, Curve-Illuminating Headlights, Corner-illuminating Front Foglamps.
Entertainment Package
$1,080
Harman-Kardon Logic 7 Surround Sound System, Glovebox CD Changer
Air Suspension Package
$1,575
Adjustable Air Suspension (plus 3-4" ground clearance), Active Damping Shocks (with sport and comfort settings) and parameter steering*
Sunroof Package
$1,390 ML350, $1,290 ML500
Electric Sunroof and Rain Sensor*
*Standard ML500
CLS500 Pricing
Base - $64,900
Destination and Delivery - $720
Gas Guzzler Tax - $1,300
Nappa leather (vs. leather, nc) - $950
SIRIUS Satellite Radio - $699
(VPC Installed. Includes 14 month subscription)
Integrated Motorola Digital Telephone with Voice Control System - $1450
Distronic - $3,130
Parktronic - $1100
(Parking assist device with front and rear sensors to notify driver how close he/she is to object)
DVD Navigation - $1240
CD Changer -$430
Heated front seats - $690
Electronic Trunk Closer - $510
Keyless Go -$1,080
Mercedes Extended Run-Flat Tires $200
(Delayed availability. Not available with AMG Sport Package)
Option Packages
Comfort Package - $1,500
(Active Ventilated Seats with Heating Feature, Multi-Contour Front Seats and Rear Window Sunshade)
Trim Package - $890
(Wood and Leather Steering wheel, Wood Shift Knob. Cannot be ordered with AMG Sport Package)
Lighting Package -$1,220
(Bi-Xenon Headlamps with Active Curve Illumination and Headlamp Washers)
Entertainment Package - $980
(harman/kardon LOGIC7 Surround Sound, CD Changer)
AMG Sport Package -$4,950
(18" AMG 5-Double Spoke Wheels, High-performance Tires, Body-colored AMG-designed Sculpted Front Air Dam, Side Skirts, Rear Apron, Steering Wheel Mounted Gearshift Buttons. Not available with Mercedes Extended Run Flat Tires)
Premium Package - $3,650
(Active Ventilated Front Seats with Heating Feature, Multi-contour Front Seats, Rear Window Sunshade, CD Changer, DVD Navigation, harman/kardon LOGIC7 Surround Sound,
As is usual with a hot, new Mercedes, we have a lot of
orders for this neat coupe.
.
iPod Integration Kit
Mercedes-Benz is First Automaker to Deliver Full iPod Music Navigation
DETROIT and SAN FRANCISCO - January 11, 2005 - Mercedes-Benz USA and Apple® today announced the iPod Integration Kit for Mercedes-Benz, making Mercedes-Benz the first automaker to provide full iPod music navigation for drivers to listen to their entire iPod music collection through the Mercedes-Benz audio system, as well as select their music using artist, album or playlist with the multifunction controls on the steering wheel and the integrated multifunction display in their instrument cluster.
The iPod Integration Kit for Mercedes-Benz will debut this April in the US with the all-new 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, and will be introduced for most other 2005 and 2006 models later this year.
"Music lovers want to listen to their digital music in their cars, and we're delighted to be working with Mercedes-Benz to offer a fully integrated solution," said Steve Jobs, Apples CEO. "The iPod Integration Kit for Mercedes-Benz features the quality and attention to detail Mercedes is famous for, perfectly complementing Apple's innovative iPod."
"We are very excited to partner with Apple to deliver this wonderful solution," said Paul Halata, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "Bringing motorists the world's most elegant iPod solution with full navigation and display continues the Mercedes tradition of offering our customers the innovation and premium quality they expect."
The iPod Integration Kit for Mercedes-Benz provides outstanding sound quality while charging the iPod, and conveniently connects and stores in the glove compartment. The solution also allows the driver to "See What You're Hearing" with music title or playlist information shown on the integrated multifunction display in the instrument cluster. Drivers will be able to easily access their entire iPod music library, shuffle songs and skip between tracks and playlists.
Pricing & Availability
The iPod Integration Kit for Mercedes-Benz will be available to customers for the MSRP of $299 (US) plus installation from authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The Mercedes-Benz iPod Integration Kit will debut this April in the US with the all-new 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, and for most other 2005 and 2006 Mercedes-Benz models later this year. In addition, the solution can be retrofitted to many model year 2005 Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Everything I know I learned in the Army
*"I will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate it among my peers."
This is a tough oath, tougher than the one in which you swear to defend the country against all enemies foreign and domestic. Thus it's broken more often. Standing your ground in a firefight might be just a fear of ostracism if you run or the realization that you can't shoot back while running away, but the world is full of liars, cheaters, and thieves. Peer pressure is a terrible thing. Thus this is a more important oath. For those of you who haven't seen this oath, it's a military school oath. All academy graduates have taken this oath and had to live by it, at least until graduation.
*Anything you do in combat can get you killed, including doing nothing.
Thus there's no reason to fear anything. Eddie Rickenbacker, Alvin York, and Joe Foss died in old age. Other people were killed crossing the street.
*All of life is combat
Everybody dies. Anything can kill you-or not.
*Do dangerous things very carefully
If you're scuba diving, skydiving, getting married, or driving to work, do it carefully. More people are killed by carelessness than enemy action.
*Murphy was a grunt
Murphy rules in all things. All of the corollaries apply. Everything that can go wrong WILL go wrong. Count on it.
*You can trust professionals to act rationally, but the world is full of amateurs.
The Titanic was built by professionals, however, and the Ark was built by amateurs. You never know.
*Show up on time.
In the Army if you don't, serious repercussions occur. In the civilian world you stand out.
*Polish your shoes.
In the civilian world, unlike the military world, no one is likely to be inspecting your shoes. But subconsciously you know they look good, show pride in your appearance, neatness, and self-discipline.
*Never ask any of your men to do anything you're not willing and able to do yourself.
This is a tenet of leadership not apparently taught in the business world. A leader who follows this is rare and can probably be trusted.
*Leadership is summed up in two words: "Follow me."
This goes along with the above. If this is followed, the rule above it isn't needed. However...
*When leading a charge, it's a good idea to look back occasionally and see if anyone is following you.
To be a leader, you have to get people to follow.
*Excellence does not equal promotions, and rank does not equal excellence.
The Peter Principle works in the Army and in business. Most senior officers are competent. A few are outstanding. A remarkable number, however, are, to put it politely, in way over their heads.
*Never stand when you can sit. Never sit when you can lie down. Don't pass up any latrine breaks.
You don't know when you'll need to be sharp and focused.
*Your support staff is more important than you are.
A good support staff can make anyone look good if you're smart enough to keep out of their way. The most important thing a second lieutenant learns is when to say, "Carry on, sergeant."
A bad support staff can make George Patton look like Fred Flintstone. Of course, Patton wouldn't accept a bad support staff. Good officers find good staff members and treat them very well. This is as true in civilian life as it is in the military. You can't do everything. You have to have people you can trust around you. Like the military you don't always have the ability to choose those people, so when you get some, be nice to them.
*Friendly fire isn't.
Anyone who doesn't believe this applies to business probably hasn't gotten out of school yet. If that's the case, remember the sniping from your peers you're enduring in school. It won't quit when you get a job.
*The ability to work around the system in order to accomplish goals is as important as the ability to work within the system.
Sometimes the system is set up to be self-defeating. We went to war in Vietnam with so many rules that victory was pretty well impossible, and learning which rules to violate and get away with it was absolutely necessary for survival.
Anyone who doesn't think this is applicable in business hasn't been in business. The Car Biz has a lot of rules designed to keep you from selling cars. Sometime it takes more effort getting around them than it does to sell the car.
*Take all the leave (vacation) time offered you.
It was considered not a good thing for an officer to take all of his leave. I thought this was silly. Now that I get zero days paid leave, I wish I had taken it all when I did have it.
*Do what you would do if you weren't afraid
It's okay to be afraid. It's not okay to allow your fear to affect your actions. When afraid, ask yourself, "What would I do if I weren't afraid?" Then do it. This is not always easy. It can be quite hard. However it is usually the right thing to do.
*There are 2 types of people behind desks. One says, "What does this guy want, and how can I help him?" The other says, "What does this guy want, and how can I keep him from doing it?"
This is true of all bureaucracies. If you're sitting behind the desk, be type 1. If you're on the other side, avoid type 2.
*Sometime your life/career will depend on the actions of your worst employee
If you can't trust your worst employee, you should either fire him or train/motivate him better. In the Army these people have weapons. In civilian life they can destroy your chances of promotion/making a sale, etc.
*Know the name of everyone who works for you
Everyone is important. If, someday, you have to write "the letter" to his surviving family, it's a good idea to know enough about him to be believable. If you're in a hole, and he's the only one around to pull you out, it might be helpful to know his name. Lots of people don't respond well to "Hey, you."
*You take more casualties withdrawing than attacking
This should make you think in more ways than one. First of all, will the attack succeed? Is it the best way to take the objective? If it doesn't, the retreat won't be pretty. This is directly applicable to politics and business.
*A pretty good plan executed quickly beats a perfect plan executed too late.
Nathan Bedford Forrest said it best, "Be there fustest with the mostest." What he lacked in grammar, he made up in succinctness.
*When you're under fire, the best behavior is usually to ignore it while taking action to stop it.
I don't mean stand up when you don't have to or walk slowly when you should be running like hell, but if you have a job to do, do it. If your boss and multiple customers are all presenting conflicting demands, put them in order and do them as expeditiously as possible in the order that makes the most sense. Trying to do everything at once will mean nothing will get done properly.
*Unnecessarily exposing yourself to enemy fire doesn't impress anyone, and it pleases the enemy doing the shooting
The difference between courage under fire and stupidity is usually more evident to the onlookers than the person involved.
*Never Hurry. Hurrying will get you killed. Act with deliberate speed.
This goes with the above. The Colonel who preached that to me hurried one bright, sunny day to follow his much shorter ARVN counterpart and ran into a helicopter blade. While the lecture might not have gotten through, the practical demonstration stuck with me.
*There is always that 3% that doesn't get the word.
This is pretty self-explanatory to me-and probably 97% of the readers.
*No organization is run by the people on top.
In the Army the Sergeants-Major, First Sergeants, and Platoon Sergeants did the hard jobs, and the COs and platoon leaders took the credit or blame. In corporate America, the company lives and dies on the basis of how well its secretaries executive assistants-do their jobs. The guys getting the big bucks make the decisions, but they don't carry them out.
*Your hair grows on Army (company) time
Once upon a time I told my sergeant I was going to get my hair cut after 5. His response was, "Lieutenant, your hair grows on Army time. You can get it cut on Army time."
*If no one is shooting at you, life is good
And life is still good as long as they aren't hitting you when they shoot at you.
*Being under fire is exhilarating. Shooting back is more exhilarating. Making hits is most exhilarating.
Winston Churchill noted the first truth. But apparently he didn't hit anything, or he didn't mention it.
*You can withstand more than you think you can. You can accomplish more than you think you can. You can endure more than you think you can.
Lucky soldiers learn this in training. That's the purpose of several training courses, to make your perceived limits equal your real limits.
Others learn where the incoming fire is real.
*There are 2 kinds of discipline, external and self
Those who don't have self-discipline are condemned to live under external discipline.
*Compliment workers doing a good job
If you're going to have a stick, it helps to have a carrot.
*It takes no skill to motivate through fear
It also produces mediocre results.
*No one is guaranteed another sunrise. Make the most of today. Everyone is on borrowed time
Tell your loved ones you love them every day.
*Cats and combat vets have 9 lives
Some have used up more than others. You can usually tell by the scars on either one.
*Always tip the bartender
Cat Mind Games...
(While this came in an e-mail, The Redhead is convinced Arthur Pendragon wrote some of it)
Stare with the exact same expression whether you're looking at nothing or an axe-murderer.
Wait till your human lays out their clothes and decide this would be the perfect place to take a nap.
Race through the house, hair on end and stop in an attack pose. Then walk off nonchalantly. Repeat as necessary.
Play with invisible objects.
Wait till your human is asleep and jump up and start kneading any available body parts.
Figure 8 your humans legs while they are walking around the kitchen cooking something you won't get a bite of.
Before your human gets out of their bed, make sure you're napping in the bathroom doorway.
Leave gifts of small animal body parts in your human's shoes. Then wait to be praised. Stalk off if not rewarded for your gift.
If you absolutely have to go to the vet, cling to your human's head, howl at the top of your lungs, and spew hairballs on the vet.
Wait till your human is eating, then jump on the table and shed.
Using the litter box at your human's mealtimes can be great fun.
Actually, Arthur Pendragon indicated approval of most of them. He added: :
Lie on the floor and roll around on your back, inviting your people to scratch your tummy. When they try, run away.
Reading the paper is bad for humans at breakfast. Sit on it until they are through eating.
Curt Rich February 2005