Sure, Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day for giving thanks to those who have made a positive impact on our lives.
Obviously this isn’t the only reason why we make such a big deal out of this somewhat pointless holiday.
That’s right, pointless!
Do we really need a designated day to thank someone? That should be an everyday thing. We also go around saying, “Happy Thanksgiving!” When we should really be saying, “Thank you for … (insert reason).”
Anyways, the real reason we celebrate it, well it’s for the food of course! Bringing friends and families together for a joyous occasion filled with great fun is also another great part of that reason, but it’s the memories created that you tend to cherish above all else.
There have been some Thanksgivings that went by in a blur and there was no real point in remembering them. However, there have been some memories which have been permanently ingrained into my mind that will be almost impossible to forget.
One of the more unforgettable moments that occurred on Thanksgiving took place at my Grandmother’s place.
The turkey was cooking in the oven and the fire alarm went off. When we went to go check on it, a small fire had started setting the turkey aflame.
What dawned on me first was, oh great, there goes dinner.
As we tried to find a way to put out the fire, one of the visitors had this grand idea to fill a bowl with water and dump it over the fire.
Any of you who, by mere common sense, know that a grease fire and water don’t exactly go well together can just imagine what happened next.
Instantly, what started out as only a small fire, turned into a huge fire that shot straight up onto the ceiling.
A state of panic instantly took over my grandma and she was just freaking out. The fire was slowly subsiding and no, no one had dared to call 911 just yet.
Don’t ask me why.
Just then and what almost seemed like a Thanksgiving miracle, my uncle, who was just coming in through the door, went straight into the kitchen and removed the flaming turkey from the oven and took it outside.
We rescheduled Thanksgiving for the following day.
Another one of my more memorable Thanksgiving moments was being able to reunite with my cousins after about seven years.
They happen to be cousins from my dad’s side of the family. When my mom and dad split up we didn’t really make an effort to keep in touch with his side of the family despite how great we got along. It’s a long story, but we just assumed that they had sided with our dad.
Last year, however; my cousin Elva invited my mom, sister and me to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house. My mom was working that day, but still went with my sister.
We had a blast! Our cousins are absolutely hilarious. Even better, there was an XBOX 360 involved. It couldn’t have been any better.
My cousin had invited us over again to celebrate Christmas at her house and we left with our stomachs aching from so much laughter.
This year we had been invited once again for Thanksgiving, but our mom’s boyfriend wanted to cook for us.
My pumpkin pie didn’t come out so well, but it was my first attempt, so no big deal. The turkey on the other hand was absolutely juicy and delicious!
Only 24 more days until Christmas dinner!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Electronics Dispensing Machine
You’d have to see it to believe it, but it’s certainly not the candy dispensing machine you’re used to. That’s right, it’s a dispensing machine that dispenses... electronics!
Surprisingly enough it has been around for many months, maybe even a little over a year.
One of these happen to be located in a Macy’s in Arden Fair Mall.
Unbelievable right?!?
Obviously it’s a highly unlikely place for this kind of machine to be situated in since this department store mainly sales clothes, shoes, fragrances, jewelry, accessories and more with the exception of electronics.
Well, believe it!
This particular dispensing machine allows you to purchase iPods, PS2s, digital cameras, memory cards and the fascinating Myvu®, which will be covered in just a moment.
This machine will take cash, credit cards and even Macy’s cards.
Simply use your finger to operate the attached touch screen. There you will be able to view a wide assortment of available products that are currently in-stock within the machine itself.
You can add what you’ve selected into the shopping cart and continue to shop some more.
When checking some of the prices on the screen it seems as though it stays consistent with market value.
The iPod nanos for instance were being sold at $149.99. Which is what they retail for if you were to purchase it in an Apple store.
Once you’ve completed your transaction simply touch the check-out option and pay for your wonderful new merch!
Your items will then be obtainable from the machine’s square output box or slot.
Now as for the Myvu, which just so happens to be available as a dispensable item is actually quite amazing.
The Myvu, which look almost similar to sunglasses, only they are much narrower and it will also allow anyone who owns an iPod video or even an iPhone, to watch videos and movies.
Attached to the glasses are earphones which will obviously allow you to listen to the movie.
The earphones, or earbuds as they call it, are not only comfortable, but also has sound isolation.
The glasses come in different styles and have up to four hours of battery life.
One of these, more specifically, the Myvu Crystal goes for $299.95 plus tax. According to their website, these glasses feature Kopin’s Cyberdisplay technology, which supposedly has the highest pixel density and sharpest resolution.
There are others which go for as little as $99.95.
It’s all a matter of taste!
If you’re ever in the Arden area in Sacramento, the dispensing machine is actually a neat thing to take a look at.
If you thought it was neat to order coffee or cocoa from a similar machine, just wait until you see this.
Come to think of it, the machine reminds me as if it were something straight out of The Sims 2 PC game.
If you’ve played it then you know which one I’m talking about. It is the second expansion pack that has a college theme to it. In it there was a similar machine where the Sims could buy anything from MP3s to handheld electronic games and even cell phones.
Unlike the candy machines, it's going to cost a bit more than a dollar to get anything out of this machine.
Surprisingly enough it has been around for many months, maybe even a little over a year.
One of these happen to be located in a Macy’s in Arden Fair Mall.
Unbelievable right?!?
Obviously it’s a highly unlikely place for this kind of machine to be situated in since this department store mainly sales clothes, shoes, fragrances, jewelry, accessories and more with the exception of electronics.
Well, believe it!
This particular dispensing machine allows you to purchase iPods, PS2s, digital cameras, memory cards and the fascinating Myvu®, which will be covered in just a moment.
This machine will take cash, credit cards and even Macy’s cards.
Simply use your finger to operate the attached touch screen. There you will be able to view a wide assortment of available products that are currently in-stock within the machine itself.
You can add what you’ve selected into the shopping cart and continue to shop some more.
When checking some of the prices on the screen it seems as though it stays consistent with market value.
The iPod nanos for instance were being sold at $149.99. Which is what they retail for if you were to purchase it in an Apple store.
Once you’ve completed your transaction simply touch the check-out option and pay for your wonderful new merch!
Your items will then be obtainable from the machine’s square output box or slot.
Now as for the Myvu, which just so happens to be available as a dispensable item is actually quite amazing.
The Myvu, which look almost similar to sunglasses, only they are much narrower and it will also allow anyone who owns an iPod video or even an iPhone, to watch videos and movies.
Attached to the glasses are earphones which will obviously allow you to listen to the movie.
The earphones, or earbuds as they call it, are not only comfortable, but also has sound isolation.
The glasses come in different styles and have up to four hours of battery life.
One of these, more specifically, the Myvu Crystal goes for $299.95 plus tax. According to their website, these glasses feature Kopin’s Cyberdisplay technology, which supposedly has the highest pixel density and sharpest resolution.
There are others which go for as little as $99.95.
It’s all a matter of taste!
If you’re ever in the Arden area in Sacramento, the dispensing machine is actually a neat thing to take a look at.
If you thought it was neat to order coffee or cocoa from a similar machine, just wait until you see this.
Come to think of it, the machine reminds me as if it were something straight out of The Sims 2 PC game.
If you’ve played it then you know which one I’m talking about. It is the second expansion pack that has a college theme to it. In it there was a similar machine where the Sims could buy anything from MP3s to handheld electronic games and even cell phones.
Unlike the candy machines, it's going to cost a bit more than a dollar to get anything out of this machine.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Videophones and Pizza via TiVo, the Future is Here
It didn’t seem that far off.Webcams and cell phones that are permitting you to view videos were a dead on clue that we would someday soon be able to visually communicate with people through our very own cell phone screens.
What I’m referring to is the ASUS AiGuru SV1 internet videophone.
Sure it’s a bit of a mouthful, but who cares? It’s a videophone for crying out loud.
Features on the phone include a webcam, microphone, speakerphone and a built-in screen, obviously. A rechargeable battery is also included and is portable for the most part. A reviewer at Coolest-Reviews stated that it’s a bit on the heavy side.
Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls will be free and Skype will also offer low rates for customers who want to call mobile and landline numbers. Internet is a requirement in order to operate the vid-calls, (my silly attempt at coining a cool word for what may soon be the latest craze. It sounds a little catchy).
This phone will also allow you to make and receive conference calls with up to three people, but because you won’t be able to use the video option in this particular aspect, it’ll strictly be voice only on these particular occasions.
The greatest thing about it is that it’s available now for purchase from Skype, no joke!
This is almost as exciting as the time when iPods were first making their way out on the scene.
For the time being this phone is priced at $299.95, but like everything else it’s bound to be marked down at some point in the future.
On another subject, something to keep in mind is how far TiVo might and probably will take their capabilities.
I’m sure that you’ve experienced it at one point or another. You’re watching either a great show or movie on TV, and a commercial for some tasty looking food item appears. Your mouth begins to water and you start craving it.
You want to go and get it, but at the same time you’re comfortable right where you’re at.
This debate goes on in your head for the next five to eight minutes or so until you finally decide to act on it, or not.
Well lo and behold, TiVo has partnered up with Domino’s Pizza to make it so that you can instantly place your order, directly from your TV!
You can forget about having to spend any unnecessary extra time flipping through the yellow pages or dialing 411 to get the number to your nearest pizza place.
Once an ad for Domino’s Pizza appears you can select it with your remote where you will be directed to an ordering screen.
You’ll be able to specify preferences for your order and it will be delivered to your door in approximately half an hour.
At some point I’m sure the options will begin to grow and allowing a wider variety of meal options to choose from, but this is certainly a start.
As if people didn’t have enough reasons to be lazy. Soon we may very well be the laziest country of the world!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Extraordinary Service & Mediocre Food, if You Can Find the Entrance
Locating the Malabar in Natomas off of I-5 North was a cinch. Living in the area was a plus, but regardless of that fact, the restaurant's sign is really well lit so that it is easily visible from the freeway.
It was finding the entrance into the place that had me slightly confused.
The door, which was my first guess, had me second guessing if it was even the entrance. It wasn’t elaborately designed and it could have easily passed as the back door to the restaurant.
After deciding to go around and see if there was by chance another door that would actually lead me in, two gentlemen walked past and one looked at me in a sort of funny way. He then pointed back to the door.
Once inside, the hostess greets incoming customers with a smile, but some of my classmates were already there and seated in a booth not too far from the entrance.
Lighting in the restaurant was dim, in addition to the subtle glows illuminating from the candle lit tabletops. This is particularly essential for evening dining.
Since it was election night, my biggest concern was missing out on all the fun of the race between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain for presidency.
No worries there.
Nine flat screen TVs were mounted along the walls of the restaurant. All but one was tuned into CNN, which was obviously reporting on the incoming polls.
Our server was very observant. She instantly recognized when there were new arrivals at the table and promptly provided menus and asked for drink orders.
At first sip, the soda tasted a bit flat. Not surprising, usually a common situation at various restaurants, but not a big deal.
We started with the three cheese garlic bread. At $3.95 the price was reasonable. The plate consisted of two slices of bread, more like a half of a loaf, topped and baked with provolone, asiago and mozzarella cheese.
It was tasty, but lukewarm.
When the orders were placed, a set of stairs behind me caught my attention.
According to our server, the second floor provided space for larger dinner parties and banquets.
In conjunction with the restaurant’s name there was also a bar available towards the back. Then it dawned on me that this was somewhat like the Elephant Bar.
All of our dinner plates arrived at the same time and everything was accurate.
My order, which complemented the appetizer, was a three cheese pizza. The cheeses used on the appetizer were the same ingredients.
After taking a few bites my palate picked up on a hint of jalapeño flavor, which was peculiar since there were no jalapeño toppings.
Portion size was good, about what a medium sized pizza would be. Price was fair at $8.95. Taste was…Eh.
Deciding on whether or not to have dessert is determined by how the food has tasted up until that point. Since nothing really satisfied my taste buds, dessert was out of the question.
All dessert prices were $6.50 each and the menu included the standard. Crème Brulees, cheesecake, sundaes, etc. Nothing that quite stood out.
The restaurant specialized in American cooking, but as one of my classmates pointed out, a majority of the menu options seemed influenced. Pasta, for example, is obviously Italian.
Regardless of the food’s mediocrity taste, the service was great. Our server personally boxed some of the meals to go, was informative and we were never low on drinks.
Cheers to the next President!
It was finding the entrance into the place that had me slightly confused.
The door, which was my first guess, had me second guessing if it was even the entrance. It wasn’t elaborately designed and it could have easily passed as the back door to the restaurant.
After deciding to go around and see if there was by chance another door that would actually lead me in, two gentlemen walked past and one looked at me in a sort of funny way. He then pointed back to the door.
Once inside, the hostess greets incoming customers with a smile, but some of my classmates were already there and seated in a booth not too far from the entrance.
Lighting in the restaurant was dim, in addition to the subtle glows illuminating from the candle lit tabletops. This is particularly essential for evening dining.
Since it was election night, my biggest concern was missing out on all the fun of the race between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain for presidency.
No worries there.
Nine flat screen TVs were mounted along the walls of the restaurant. All but one was tuned into CNN, which was obviously reporting on the incoming polls.
Our server was very observant. She instantly recognized when there were new arrivals at the table and promptly provided menus and asked for drink orders.
At first sip, the soda tasted a bit flat. Not surprising, usually a common situation at various restaurants, but not a big deal.
We started with the three cheese garlic bread. At $3.95 the price was reasonable. The plate consisted of two slices of bread, more like a half of a loaf, topped and baked with provolone, asiago and mozzarella cheese.
It was tasty, but lukewarm.
When the orders were placed, a set of stairs behind me caught my attention.
According to our server, the second floor provided space for larger dinner parties and banquets.
In conjunction with the restaurant’s name there was also a bar available towards the back. Then it dawned on me that this was somewhat like the Elephant Bar.
All of our dinner plates arrived at the same time and everything was accurate.
My order, which complemented the appetizer, was a three cheese pizza. The cheeses used on the appetizer were the same ingredients.
After taking a few bites my palate picked up on a hint of jalapeño flavor, which was peculiar since there were no jalapeño toppings.
Portion size was good, about what a medium sized pizza would be. Price was fair at $8.95. Taste was…Eh.
Deciding on whether or not to have dessert is determined by how the food has tasted up until that point. Since nothing really satisfied my taste buds, dessert was out of the question.
All dessert prices were $6.50 each and the menu included the standard. Crème Brulees, cheesecake, sundaes, etc. Nothing that quite stood out.
The restaurant specialized in American cooking, but as one of my classmates pointed out, a majority of the menu options seemed influenced. Pasta, for example, is obviously Italian.
Regardless of the food’s mediocrity taste, the service was great. Our server personally boxed some of the meals to go, was informative and we were never low on drinks.
Cheers to the next President!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Future Dining To Be Fast and Easy
As life continues to get busier, more and more people who don’t have sufficient time to make dinner at home have resorted to dining out.
More than likely you have all been there before…
…occasionally during busy dining hours you may have found yourself waiting 20 maybe even 45 minutes to just acquire a seat in a restaurant. Another 15 minutes might pass until you actually get the chance to talk to your waiter.
If you’re alone and you know what to order then obviously you can put in your request as soon as the waiter gets to your table. However, there are times when you have other people with you that tend to be indecisive and will ask that the waiter come back in a little while, hence adding on more time until you actually begin to eat.
Once you’ve eaten, it’s acquiring the check in a timely matter so you can pay and commence with the rest of your day.
Soon enough you can find yourself saying goodbye to all of these experiences when dining out
thanks to a wonderful new invention called EPOS-lite by allport.
This gadget would be the world’s lightest cash register with a built-in menu.
Its purpose is plain and simple.
As you are seated, this little number will be placed on or already available at your table. The EPOS-lite would have a touch screen so you can glimpse through the appetizer, dinner, drink or even dessert menu, which will also be complete with photographs to preview your desired plate.
After you’ve decided on what you would like to have you can place your order right then without the need for a server. The order will automatically be seen by the chef.
When dinner is over and you’re ready to pay you won’t need to head towards the cashier or even ask your waiter for the check. Simply go back to the EPOS-lite and select your form of payment.
More than likely you have all been there before…
…occasionally during busy dining hours you may have found yourself waiting 20 maybe even 45 minutes to just acquire a seat in a restaurant. Another 15 minutes might pass until you actually get the chance to talk to your waiter.
If you’re alone and you know what to order then obviously you can put in your request as soon as the waiter gets to your table. However, there are times when you have other people with you that tend to be indecisive and will ask that the waiter come back in a little while, hence adding on more time until you actually begin to eat.
Once you’ve eaten, it’s acquiring the check in a timely matter so you can pay and commence with the rest of your day.
Soon enough you can find yourself saying goodbye to all of these experiences when dining out
thanks to a wonderful new invention called EPOS-lite by allport.This gadget would be the world’s lightest cash register with a built-in menu.
Its purpose is plain and simple.
As you are seated, this little number will be placed on or already available at your table. The EPOS-lite would have a touch screen so you can glimpse through the appetizer, dinner, drink or even dessert menu, which will also be complete with photographs to preview your desired plate.
After you’ve decided on what you would like to have you can place your order right then without the need for a server. The order will automatically be seen by the chef.
When dinner is over and you’re ready to pay you won’t need to head towards the cashier or even ask your waiter for the check. Simply go back to the EPOS-lite and select your form of payment.
That’s it! You’re done and set to go without the excessive waiting time.
Batteries or even a cord won’t be needed to keep the EPOS-lite going. Charging will take place right from the table it’s placed on.
The menu can also be quickly updated without the unnecessary re-printing of menus. This can immediately result in it being an environmentally friendly gadget since there will be a reduction of paper use.
EPOS-lite for the time being is only a concept, but according to Bēhance Network, there have been some major companies looking to market this product in the future.
Showcasing of the EPOS-lite has begun this year starting with the University of Wolverhampton degree show ‘08 and then at New Designers ’08 in London. Feedback has so far been positive.
Of course with most things there are cons to accompany the pros. Some jobs could potentially be cut since there wouldn’t be a need for a restaurant cashier.
Although considering the type of inventions that are soon to come, I’m sure it will only be a matter of time until we start living like The Jetsons. Just the idea that dinner could instantly be made by the click of a few buttons would be absolutely amazing!
Batteries or even a cord won’t be needed to keep the EPOS-lite going. Charging will take place right from the table it’s placed on.
The menu can also be quickly updated without the unnecessary re-printing of menus. This can immediately result in it being an environmentally friendly gadget since there will be a reduction of paper use.
EPOS-lite for the time being is only a concept, but according to Bēhance Network, there have been some major companies looking to market this product in the future.
Showcasing of the EPOS-lite has begun this year starting with the University of Wolverhampton degree show ‘08 and then at New Designers ’08 in London. Feedback has so far been positive.
Of course with most things there are cons to accompany the pros. Some jobs could potentially be cut since there wouldn’t be a need for a restaurant cashier.
Although considering the type of inventions that are soon to come, I’m sure it will only be a matter of time until we start living like The Jetsons. Just the idea that dinner could instantly be made by the click of a few buttons would be absolutely amazing!
Monday, October 27, 2008
GPS Devices, Not Just for Vehicles
It was only yesterday when traveling to unknown destinations via road trip was made less complicated by the use of a GPS device. Unfortunately the primary use was only limited to just that, vehicles.
Let’s go ahead and use our imaginations for a moment to create a potential scenario…
…an off the trail hike takes you into some unknown surroundings, daylight is quickly fading and that sorry excuse for a map, which you can barely read with all the crinkles or tears from all of the folding and not to mention all of that small print, isn’t quite working out as efficiently as you’d like it to.
Fortunately for those who have a love for the outdoors and enjoy taking long hikes through such locations as Yosemite, but without the fear of getting lost and never finding home again, GPS has also been incorporated into handheld devices just for this purpose alone.
Yes, obviously these wonderful tools have been available to the public for quite awhile, but like everything else they tend to become upgraded over time with the latest and greatest features!
Garmin, a company which specializes in GPS devices, has quite an assortment to choose from.
One of the most affordable as well as portable due to their small size and weight are the eTrex devices from Garmin.
The first is eTrex Venture® HC. Its high-sensitivity allows for your position, wherever that may be (deep canyons or woods), to not only be located rapidly, but is also precise.
The basemap contains interstates, lakes, cities, highways and coastlines. 24 MB of memory is also included for downloading waypoints and routes from MapSource®, a software which is included with your purchase.
Reading and viewing map details can also be easily accomplished even under that sometimes too bright sunlight because the 256-color display is designed specifically for this circumstance.
It is waterproof and it includes sun and moon information, area calculation, as well as hunting and fishing calendars. Only 2 AA batteries are required to operate it. The retail price according to Garmin’s website is $169.00, but is on sale at Amazon.com for $114.95.
Another eTrex device is the eTrex Vista® HCx. There are many similarities, but this one tends to stand out due to its barometric altimeter. This tracks changes in pressure to calculate your altitude. Barometric pressure can be plotted over time to assist you with changing weather conditions.
An electronic compass is also included. You also get 25 hours of battery life versus the 14 hours you would receive with the previous device using the same amount of batteries. The retail price for this is $299.99, but Amazon will surely give you a much better deal.
When looking into purchasing one of these gadgets everyone has their own preferences as to what they need. If hiking alone it would probably be best to get one that can communicate with other similar handheld devices. This will allow other hikers to locate you in case of an emergency.
It is definitely getting easier for people to seek out their own personal adventures in unfamiliar places.
Let’s go ahead and use our imaginations for a moment to create a potential scenario…
…an off the trail hike takes you into some unknown surroundings, daylight is quickly fading and that sorry excuse for a map, which you can barely read with all the crinkles or tears from all of the folding and not to mention all of that small print, isn’t quite working out as efficiently as you’d like it to.
Fortunately for those who have a love for the outdoors and enjoy taking long hikes through such locations as Yosemite, but without the fear of getting lost and never finding home again, GPS has also been incorporated into handheld devices just for this purpose alone.
Yes, obviously these wonderful tools have been available to the public for quite awhile, but like everything else they tend to become upgraded over time with the latest and greatest features!
Garmin, a company which specializes in GPS devices, has quite an assortment to choose from.
One of the most affordable as well as portable due to their small size and weight are the eTrex devices from Garmin.
The first is eTrex Venture® HC. Its high-sensitivity allows for your position, wherever that may be (deep canyons or woods), to not only be located rapidly, but is also precise.
The basemap contains interstates, lakes, cities, highways and coastlines. 24 MB of memory is also included for downloading waypoints and routes from MapSource®, a software which is included with your purchase.
Reading and viewing map details can also be easily accomplished even under that sometimes too bright sunlight because the 256-color display is designed specifically for this circumstance.
It is waterproof and it includes sun and moon information, area calculation, as well as hunting and fishing calendars. Only 2 AA batteries are required to operate it. The retail price according to Garmin’s website is $169.00, but is on sale at Amazon.com for $114.95.
Another eTrex device is the eTrex Vista® HCx. There are many similarities, but this one tends to stand out due to its barometric altimeter. This tracks changes in pressure to calculate your altitude. Barometric pressure can be plotted over time to assist you with changing weather conditions.
An electronic compass is also included. You also get 25 hours of battery life versus the 14 hours you would receive with the previous device using the same amount of batteries. The retail price for this is $299.99, but Amazon will surely give you a much better deal.
When looking into purchasing one of these gadgets everyone has their own preferences as to what they need. If hiking alone it would probably be best to get one that can communicate with other similar handheld devices. This will allow other hikers to locate you in case of an emergency.
It is definitely getting easier for people to seek out their own personal adventures in unfamiliar places.
Monday, October 20, 2008
A Fixation for the Smaller Things in Life
Bigger is not always better.
All sorts of companies have been gradually manufacturing cutesy little objects, and especially gadgets, that have a tendency of baffling consumers.
We have the mini credit card that you can easily hang from your keychain in accompaniment with your home and car keys, (it’s quite probable that its purpose was to become a great motivator not to lose your keys).
Having worked as a front office agent for some time, these credit cards made their presence known on several occasions. If it weren’t for the keychain, the itty bitty tiny card would have quickly disappeared into the slot used for swiping.
Of course we now have the iPods that continue getting smaller, and not to mention shorter.
The iPod shuffle for instance, can easily be clipped to your clothing and makes it ridiculously easy to be on the move as well as listen to music. You wouldn’t have to worry about some clunky object in your pocket or even the concern that it might fall out so you find yourself checking to see if it’s still there every five minutes.
My favorite little guy is the laptop.
Sitting in one of my classes a few years ago, a classmate sitting across from me had pulled out this incredibly small laptop. How convenient! It was about 12 inches and you could just slip it right into a tote or backpack and be merrily on your way. It was my first laptop and to this day it still works incredibly well. It definitely makes room for needed textbooks.
Nothing would have prepared me for what my eyes saw about a week ago.
Getting off of the elevator on the second floor at the University Union in Sac State and headed to my first class of the day, sitting as discretely and inconspicuous as possible, on a table in front of a student was an extremely small laptop. It could practically fit in the palms of two hands.
The student told me that it was called ASUS and that she had bought it off of Amazon.com for a little over $300.00. That’s right $300.00!!
Being a very curious individual and wanting to learn more, a quick search on Amazon game me all the 411 on this mini device.
The going price on Amazon is $334.99, but there are only four currently left in stock.
Its display is only 8.9 inches and it has 16G and 1 GB of RAM and weighs in at a little over 4 pounds. Only two colors are offered, black or white.
This particular laptop is primarily used for easy access to the internet and definitely useful for people constantly on the move. You won’t have a lot of the applications that come with a normal laptop. It is on the other hand affordable and it not only fits in a tote, but it could even fit in a purse!
A four and a half star rating out of five was given by other people who purchased this particular item.
All sorts of companies have been gradually manufacturing cutesy little objects, and especially gadgets, that have a tendency of baffling consumers.
We have the mini credit card that you can easily hang from your keychain in accompaniment with your home and car keys, (it’s quite probable that its purpose was to become a great motivator not to lose your keys).
Having worked as a front office agent for some time, these credit cards made their presence known on several occasions. If it weren’t for the keychain, the itty bitty tiny card would have quickly disappeared into the slot used for swiping.
Of course we now have the iPods that continue getting smaller, and not to mention shorter.
The iPod shuffle for instance, can easily be clipped to your clothing and makes it ridiculously easy to be on the move as well as listen to music. You wouldn’t have to worry about some clunky object in your pocket or even the concern that it might fall out so you find yourself checking to see if it’s still there every five minutes.
My favorite little guy is the laptop.
Sitting in one of my classes a few years ago, a classmate sitting across from me had pulled out this incredibly small laptop. How convenient! It was about 12 inches and you could just slip it right into a tote or backpack and be merrily on your way. It was my first laptop and to this day it still works incredibly well. It definitely makes room for needed textbooks.
Nothing would have prepared me for what my eyes saw about a week ago.
Getting off of the elevator on the second floor at the University Union in Sac State and headed to my first class of the day, sitting as discretely and inconspicuous as possible, on a table in front of a student was an extremely small laptop. It could practically fit in the palms of two hands.
The student told me that it was called ASUS and that she had bought it off of Amazon.com for a little over $300.00. That’s right $300.00!!
Being a very curious individual and wanting to learn more, a quick search on Amazon game me all the 411 on this mini device.
The going price on Amazon is $334.99, but there are only four currently left in stock.
Its display is only 8.9 inches and it has 16G and 1 GB of RAM and weighs in at a little over 4 pounds. Only two colors are offered, black or white.
This particular laptop is primarily used for easy access to the internet and definitely useful for people constantly on the move. You won’t have a lot of the applications that come with a normal laptop. It is on the other hand affordable and it not only fits in a tote, but it could even fit in a purse!
A four and a half star rating out of five was given by other people who purchased this particular item.
Meet Joel Stein of the L.A. Times
According to Joel Stein’s biography provided on the L.A. Times and not to mention his very own personal website as well, he is a man ‘desperate for attention’.
He’ll get just that from this column because this is a profile on a columnist of my choice.
He grew up in Edison, N.J. and went to Stanford where he majored in English. He then worked for Martha Stewart and was later hired as a sports editor for Time Out New York. A couple of years passed and he soon found himself working for Time Magazine, where he spent seven and half years as a staff writer and wrote a dozen cover stories.
Stein ventured out and began appearing on t.v. for networks such as HBO and Comedy Central.
In 2005 he moved to Los Angeles after having taught a class on humor writing at Princeton, and was hired as a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has also unsuccessfully tried to be a sitcom writer, and partook in pilots which have unfortunately failed.
Regardless of the mediocre track record, which he seems oddly proud of according to his website, it’s his ability to write columns with a wonderful sense of humor that made me decide this was the writer my profile should be on.
Obviously like many columnists, Stein writes about current dilemmas that our nation currently faces. However, unlike some writers he uses humor that makes light of even a terrible situation, which makes it enjoyable.
For instance, the most current addition to his column was titled Survival Tips for a Depression, which was published online at the L.A. Times on October 17. Personally, the title alone makes you aware that the story is based on our economic standing today, but the words survival tips stand out. More than likely our hard times will look like a piece of cake compared to the Great Depression.
In this story Stein uses his grandma, who actually “lived through the Great Depression.” This definitely added a personal touch. Then came this…
“She didn't think I needed to get rid of HBO yet, but her family did hold back on entertainment. ‘The movies were very, very, very spare. We didn't go unless it was an Al Jolson picture. And then you went to a matinee because it was cheaper,’ she said. It was oddly comforting to picture a 12-year-old Mama Ann giggling at Jolson's 1933 musical comedy, ‘Hallelujah, I'm a Bum!’ That's the kind of fun I'm hoping for.”
It may be my misunderstanding, but did he really say he was looking forward to the fun of being a…bum? This is exactly how he stands out. He takes what most people dread and pokes fun at it.
He then concludes with this positive outlook by his grandma, “Cutting back didn't make her childhood miserable. She has fond memories of sharing clothes with friends and of her mom baking an extra challah for worse-off neighbors. ‘Today there are people who are more into money and nice homes,’ she said. ‘But you never heard in the house anyone say that we didn't have enough. I don't think we had welfare then, and there was no unemployment insurance. But you know, if there's love in the family, you live through it.’ ”
The media usually likes to stir up the fear in people, but if more columnists can use the sort of spin that Stein does then people wouldn’t be as worked up over things they couldn’t control.
This is why Stein is my preferred choice of columnists!
For more information on Joel Stein please check out the links below:
Joel Stein's website
L.A. Times
He’ll get just that from this column because this is a profile on a columnist of my choice.
He grew up in Edison, N.J. and went to Stanford where he majored in English. He then worked for Martha Stewart and was later hired as a sports editor for Time Out New York. A couple of years passed and he soon found himself working for Time Magazine, where he spent seven and half years as a staff writer and wrote a dozen cover stories.
Stein ventured out and began appearing on t.v. for networks such as HBO and Comedy Central.
In 2005 he moved to Los Angeles after having taught a class on humor writing at Princeton, and was hired as a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has also unsuccessfully tried to be a sitcom writer, and partook in pilots which have unfortunately failed.
Regardless of the mediocre track record, which he seems oddly proud of according to his website, it’s his ability to write columns with a wonderful sense of humor that made me decide this was the writer my profile should be on.
Obviously like many columnists, Stein writes about current dilemmas that our nation currently faces. However, unlike some writers he uses humor that makes light of even a terrible situation, which makes it enjoyable.
For instance, the most current addition to his column was titled Survival Tips for a Depression, which was published online at the L.A. Times on October 17. Personally, the title alone makes you aware that the story is based on our economic standing today, but the words survival tips stand out. More than likely our hard times will look like a piece of cake compared to the Great Depression.
In this story Stein uses his grandma, who actually “lived through the Great Depression.” This definitely added a personal touch. Then came this…
“She didn't think I needed to get rid of HBO yet, but her family did hold back on entertainment. ‘The movies were very, very, very spare. We didn't go unless it was an Al Jolson picture. And then you went to a matinee because it was cheaper,’ she said. It was oddly comforting to picture a 12-year-old Mama Ann giggling at Jolson's 1933 musical comedy, ‘Hallelujah, I'm a Bum!’ That's the kind of fun I'm hoping for.”
It may be my misunderstanding, but did he really say he was looking forward to the fun of being a…bum? This is exactly how he stands out. He takes what most people dread and pokes fun at it.
He then concludes with this positive outlook by his grandma, “Cutting back didn't make her childhood miserable. She has fond memories of sharing clothes with friends and of her mom baking an extra challah for worse-off neighbors. ‘Today there are people who are more into money and nice homes,’ she said. ‘But you never heard in the house anyone say that we didn't have enough. I don't think we had welfare then, and there was no unemployment insurance. But you know, if there's love in the family, you live through it.’ ”
The media usually likes to stir up the fear in people, but if more columnists can use the sort of spin that Stein does then people wouldn’t be as worked up over things they couldn’t control.
This is why Stein is my preferred choice of columnists!
For more information on Joel Stein please check out the links below:
Joel Stein's website
L.A. Times
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Possibilities for the Future are Limitless
It’s fascinating how we always seem to get to a point in life where a great invention is made and it’s a wonder how that’ll ever be topped. Yet, there are people with amazing ideas, who strive for perfecting and creating that next gadget that will have everyone oooh’ing and aaah’ing only to be replaced by the next successor.
Well...for now, meet the io-Jacket!
I’m sure that at some point you’ve been to a department store and have noticed a particular pair of jeans and even sweatshirts that have been designed to accommodate iPods and cell phones. Backpacks especially have been doing this for quite sometime, even having added compartments some years ago for the long forgotten CD players.
The io-Jacket, which is obviously not on the market yet, might someday be on many Christmas lists in the future.
It’s not your everyday jacket.
Londenfrey is the German company we have to thank for this wonderful invention/apparel.
The jacket has a Bluetooth and MP3 player as well as touch sensitive control pads on the sleeve to control these devices.
Sure, this all sounds pretty nifty so far, but as usual the best is always saved for last.
The most clever and absolutely fascinating aspect about this jacket is its compatibility with GPSoverIP.
What in the world is GPSoverIP? (You may ask).
GPSoverIP stands for Global Positioning System over Internet Protocol. In other words, it is the transmission of GPS data via the internet. It provides geographical coordinates over the Internet. (http://www.gpsoverip.de/international/).
Now let’s just say that this could possibly hold the solution to some of the everyday critical problems, we as people tend to face.
GPSoverIP, in my opinion, should one day win the Noble Peace Prize for creating the possibility of making situations, like kidnapping, a thing of the past.
A person wearing this jacket will have the capability to make their every movement and present location known to friends and families with internet access. This could prove to be quite useful unless you have a psychotic ex-boyfriend/girlfriend you're trying to avoid.
Well...for now, meet the io-Jacket!
I’m sure that at some point you’ve been to a department store and have noticed a particular pair of jeans and even sweatshirts that have been designed to accommodate iPods and cell phones. Backpacks especially have been doing this for quite sometime, even having added compartments some years ago for the long forgotten CD players.
The io-Jacket, which is obviously not on the market yet, might someday be on many Christmas lists in the future.
It’s not your everyday jacket.
Londenfrey is the German company we have to thank for this wonderful invention/apparel.
The jacket has a Bluetooth and MP3 player as well as touch sensitive control pads on the sleeve to control these devices.
Sure, this all sounds pretty nifty so far, but as usual the best is always saved for last.
The most clever and absolutely fascinating aspect about this jacket is its compatibility with GPSoverIP.
What in the world is GPSoverIP? (You may ask).
GPSoverIP stands for Global Positioning System over Internet Protocol. In other words, it is the transmission of GPS data via the internet. It provides geographical coordinates over the Internet. (http://www.gpsoverip.de/international/).
Now let’s just say that this could possibly hold the solution to some of the everyday critical problems, we as people tend to face.
GPSoverIP, in my opinion, should one day win the Noble Peace Prize for creating the possibility of making situations, like kidnapping, a thing of the past.
A person wearing this jacket will have the capability to make their every movement and present location known to friends and families with internet access. This could prove to be quite useful unless you have a psychotic ex-boyfriend/girlfriend you're trying to avoid.
Even inside buildings where signals tend to drop, the io-Jacket will have the ability to stay connected.
An interesting idea that was brought up by http://www.gizmophobe.co.uk/, was the fact that these jackets could serve to assist those who work in certain fields where it would be critical to know ones location. For instance those who might do undercover work and even the technology itself could be used for those working in Fire Departments.
Luckily the io-Jacket looks just as trendy enough to wear without looking ridiculously out of place. Sure enough these will probably be available in the color of your choosing.
No price has been provided for this item, but no doubt it will definitely come with a hefty price.
According to http://www.gizmophobe.co.uk/ only 10 of these io-Jackets have been produced and one has been sold to benefit a charity. I’m sure it will be quite awhile until these are made available to the public, at your nearest Nordstrom perhaps, but when they are this will definitely change the daily lifestyles of many.
An interesting idea that was brought up by http://www.gizmophobe.co.uk/, was the fact that these jackets could serve to assist those who work in certain fields where it would be critical to know ones location. For instance those who might do undercover work and even the technology itself could be used for those working in Fire Departments.
Luckily the io-Jacket looks just as trendy enough to wear without looking ridiculously out of place. Sure enough these will probably be available in the color of your choosing.
No price has been provided for this item, but no doubt it will definitely come with a hefty price.
According to http://www.gizmophobe.co.uk/ only 10 of these io-Jackets have been produced and one has been sold to benefit a charity. I’m sure it will be quite awhile until these are made available to the public, at your nearest Nordstrom perhaps, but when they are this will definitely change the daily lifestyles of many.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Obama & McCain Go For Round 2!
Ready…set…go! The 2nd Presidential, and unusually humorous debate is on, ‘my friends.’
While tuned into this debate, many American viewers may be looking to see what our candidates for Presidency have to say about our obviously deteriorating economic situation.
How many times are we going to cover the same issues and hear similar and sometimes contradicting responses? When will we stop talking and whining about our situation and actually act on improving our circumstances in the United States?
So, unlike those viewers my interests leaned towards their mannerisms, witty, pointless and remarks that contained a hint of inconsistency.
Although this is not usually the key importance of Presidential debates it does in some ways reflect their individual characteristics and it portrays how they are as a person rather than a candidate with semi-prepared speeches by people behind the curtains.
First, what was really interesting about the beginning is how Sen. John McCain had his back turned away from the audience at various times during the debate, whereas Sen. Barack Obama used continuous eye contact with the audience and individuals asking the questions.
Not to pick on McCain, although he seems to be the expert with his smart-alecky remarks towards Obama, but is it me or does he portray a spitting image of a cross between President George W. Bush and Bilbo Baggins?
Unfortunately it just seems as though McCain is so old and frail that he may not even make it through the first Presidential term.
Unlike Obama, whose confident posture and strong presence gives off the vibe of someone who portrays the stature of a true leader, which our country is in dire need of.
However, the witty remarks and immaturity portrayed by these two grown men during the debate had me thinking back to the good ol’ days of elementary.
It wouldn’t have surprised me if Tom Brokaw would had ended up acting as a playground monitor to break up these two candidates from the subtle name calling, mainly carried out by McCain.
“…[T]hat one,” said McCain and emphasizing its meaning toward Obama.
Wow, how mature.
On second thought, the maturity level of a Kindergarten class is probably much more higher than what these two combined possess.
Besides the pointless name-calling there were also the ridiculous and sometimes contradicting answers.
At the beginning of the debate, Brokaw asked each of them whom they would prefer as Treasurer.
“Not you Tom,” said McCain.
Ok…obviously not Tom. Now that answer was pretty pointless.
At the beginning of the debate Obama explained how our economic situation is at its worst since the great depression.
Fast forward through some of the debate and Obama later claims that he is pretty confident about our economic situation.
I’m not so sure about everyone else, but by the looks of it, there is no reason to be confident about the financial situation this country is in and has been in for years and years. Especially since it’s, “the worst since the great depression.”
Brokaw also had to keep these two, especially Obama in check and from abusing the amount of time given to each of them for their responses.
Something as simple as abiding by time restraints says a lot about a person. It shows the amount of respect one has for rules, regardless of how small and insignificant they are.
These two have a lot to learn as far as knowing how to act professionally and respectably towards one another.
Hopefully they’ll do a little growing up prior to Round 3.
Monday, October 6, 2008
‘Easy Money’ Tries To Get Just That
The commercials that ran on CW, channel 31, prior to Easy Money’s season premiere on October 5, made it a point to state that this particular show was being brought to us by the producers of The Sopranos, (Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider).
How anyone could possibly put these two shows into the same category is beyond my comprehension because…
…the apple sure fell from the tree on this one.
This show is centered on a family of loan sharks. The Buffkins.
No, not the kind often portrayed in movies. The sleazy, sneaky guy in a suit, who will collect his money by any means necessary and by any means meaning, death threats or even murder.
These loan sharks are the people you would literally find at your nearest Check into Cash. They run a legitimate business, Prestige Payday Loans, making money from high percentage fees being charged to people who seem to be stuck in a rut from advancing money on a continuous basis.
Unfortunately only the first ten minutes were slightly entertaining and sort of enjoyable with the first customer of the day being rejected from taking out any more loans due to non-payment and NSF checks.
He threatens Bobette Buffkin, (Laurie Metcalf of Desperate Housewives and Roseanne), the cashier and head of the family it seems.
The customer takes a plastic chair and flings it across the room hitting the window shielding Bobette and repeatedly demands her to give him a loan, “I need that money b*#$%! Give me the money! Give me the money!”
Her sons, Cooper and Morgan, escort the irate customer out the door only to be arrested by a cop with a grudge. The car he and his girlfriend share was re-possessed because of his inability to pay back the loans he too had taken out. The cop manages to blackmail the two into getting his car back along with $3,000 to, “…recover from his humiliation.”
Morgan stands out from the rest of the cast because he tends to be the brawns of the family and also seems to possess what every other member in his family lacks, a conscience.
A private investigator is hired by Morgan to get some dirt on the cop. Turns out the cop has a wife who is oblivious to her husband’s extra-curricular activities. Morgan takes the cop’s car and rear-ends him at a parking lot and is victorious in collecting their debt in exchange for keeping his mouth closed about the other woman he has on the side.
Unlike the people who work in Check into Cash, these characters tend to take matters into their own hands by using blackmail and the occasional fist fight to their advantage.
In the end, the show makes it all about family in the cheesiest way possible and the results of a DNA test that Morgan and his sister took left questions as to who in the family didn’t quite belong.
Considering how bad the economic situation is now, there might be more and more people who will probably be able to relate to the show and be all too familiar with some of the terms being used, like ‘NSF’ for instance, (insufficient funds).
However, simple minded and just plain dumb one-liners were used sporadically through the show and it eventually had me questioning myself. How was it that an hour of my life could have been given up so easily?
Then again I’m not exactly sure where my mind was when assuming that this network, which brings us Smallville and now Valentine would be able to grace us with another great show like The Sopranos.
Yeah, not happening, atleast not anytime soon.
How anyone could possibly put these two shows into the same category is beyond my comprehension because…
…the apple sure fell from the tree on this one.
This show is centered on a family of loan sharks. The Buffkins.
No, not the kind often portrayed in movies. The sleazy, sneaky guy in a suit, who will collect his money by any means necessary and by any means meaning, death threats or even murder.
These loan sharks are the people you would literally find at your nearest Check into Cash. They run a legitimate business, Prestige Payday Loans, making money from high percentage fees being charged to people who seem to be stuck in a rut from advancing money on a continuous basis.
Unfortunately only the first ten minutes were slightly entertaining and sort of enjoyable with the first customer of the day being rejected from taking out any more loans due to non-payment and NSF checks.
He threatens Bobette Buffkin, (Laurie Metcalf of Desperate Housewives and Roseanne), the cashier and head of the family it seems.
The customer takes a plastic chair and flings it across the room hitting the window shielding Bobette and repeatedly demands her to give him a loan, “I need that money b*#$%! Give me the money! Give me the money!”
Her sons, Cooper and Morgan, escort the irate customer out the door only to be arrested by a cop with a grudge. The car he and his girlfriend share was re-possessed because of his inability to pay back the loans he too had taken out. The cop manages to blackmail the two into getting his car back along with $3,000 to, “…recover from his humiliation.”
Morgan stands out from the rest of the cast because he tends to be the brawns of the family and also seems to possess what every other member in his family lacks, a conscience.
A private investigator is hired by Morgan to get some dirt on the cop. Turns out the cop has a wife who is oblivious to her husband’s extra-curricular activities. Morgan takes the cop’s car and rear-ends him at a parking lot and is victorious in collecting their debt in exchange for keeping his mouth closed about the other woman he has on the side.
Unlike the people who work in Check into Cash, these characters tend to take matters into their own hands by using blackmail and the occasional fist fight to their advantage.
In the end, the show makes it all about family in the cheesiest way possible and the results of a DNA test that Morgan and his sister took left questions as to who in the family didn’t quite belong.
Considering how bad the economic situation is now, there might be more and more people who will probably be able to relate to the show and be all too familiar with some of the terms being used, like ‘NSF’ for instance, (insufficient funds).
However, simple minded and just plain dumb one-liners were used sporadically through the show and it eventually had me questioning myself. How was it that an hour of my life could have been given up so easily?
Then again I’m not exactly sure where my mind was when assuming that this network, which brings us Smallville and now Valentine would be able to grace us with another great show like The Sopranos.
Yeah, not happening, atleast not anytime soon.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Search for a Late Night Coffee Fix
After my sister took a bite of her velvet chocolate cupcake she took a sip from her iced caramel macchiato.
"This is pretty good," said Nancy.
My carrot cupcake and mocha frappuccino was also delicious; Starbucks wasn’t my preferred coffee place, but was nevertheless there for us at a time of need. Our unfailing fall back plan.
The night slightly, but not remotely close, felt like a cheap re-make of Harold & Kumar go to White Castle.
At about 9 p.m. our plan was to head to True Love Coffeehouse on K st. and obtain a cup of their tasty mint mocha frap. We were giving it a second chance.
True Love had undergone some remodeling to house a Mediterranean eatery. It wasn’t the same after the make over. Like a case of plastic surgery having gone terribly wrong.
It was September 13th. A second Saturday, which meant only one thing.
My sister drove down J st. at about 10-15 m.p.h., due to traffic of course. The sidewalks were packed with people. Mainly art enthusiasts walking in and out of shops and galleries displaying various types of art.
A live band was performing on a platform attached to a trailer.
This night was unlike anything we had ever experienced in midtown. Probably because we don’t get out much, but that’s beside the point!
A lady had hopped out from the passenger’s seat of a neighboring vehicle on 20th and J. Boy was she trashy. She had on a pink strapless dress that stopped just slightly below her bare ass. How do you not remember to throw on some underwear before you walk out the door?
Looking at my sister it dawned on me that she wasn’t staring at the skank, but at the reactions on people’s faces as the lady crossed their paths.
"I find it kind of funny how people react to those type of situations," she said, somewhere along those lines.
From my window it was easy to tell who my sister was referring to. The shock on a passerby’s face was unmistakable.
Luckily my sister managed to find parking just around the corner from True Love.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw next. We made our way to the white picket fences that bordered the front of True Love. A belly dancer was outside entertaining customers who were sitting at the round iron tables and chairs. Some of them smoking from what appeared to be hookahs.
When it was solely True Love in this white, two-story, possibly Victorian home, we could have entered from ground level and surely wouldn’t have been wierded out by a belly dancer who, by the way, seemed a bit out of place.
We made our way through to the left, up about five steps, a sharp turn to the right and higher up a longer flight of stairs.
Once in line my sister glanced at a sign.
"Are they still only accepting cash?" she asked.
A Barista answered her question.
"There’s an ATM downstairs."
Last time we had to literally find a bank. Now, we were to head back down the stairs and pay a $2.50 fee to dispense cash for two coffee drinks. Who doesn’t accept plastic?
We were defeated. We gave up. Goodbye True Love.
As we finished our Starbucks’ drinks and tasty pastries my sister said, "we need to find a new coffeehouse."
Is it so hard to find a nice coffee shop, besides Starbucks, where we could get late night coffee fixes from?
The search continues.
"This is pretty good," said Nancy.
My carrot cupcake and mocha frappuccino was also delicious; Starbucks wasn’t my preferred coffee place, but was nevertheless there for us at a time of need. Our unfailing fall back plan.
The night slightly, but not remotely close, felt like a cheap re-make of Harold & Kumar go to White Castle.
At about 9 p.m. our plan was to head to True Love Coffeehouse on K st. and obtain a cup of their tasty mint mocha frap. We were giving it a second chance.
True Love had undergone some remodeling to house a Mediterranean eatery. It wasn’t the same after the make over. Like a case of plastic surgery having gone terribly wrong.
It was September 13th. A second Saturday, which meant only one thing.
My sister drove down J st. at about 10-15 m.p.h., due to traffic of course. The sidewalks were packed with people. Mainly art enthusiasts walking in and out of shops and galleries displaying various types of art.
A live band was performing on a platform attached to a trailer.
This night was unlike anything we had ever experienced in midtown. Probably because we don’t get out much, but that’s beside the point!
A lady had hopped out from the passenger’s seat of a neighboring vehicle on 20th and J. Boy was she trashy. She had on a pink strapless dress that stopped just slightly below her bare ass. How do you not remember to throw on some underwear before you walk out the door?
Looking at my sister it dawned on me that she wasn’t staring at the skank, but at the reactions on people’s faces as the lady crossed their paths.
"I find it kind of funny how people react to those type of situations," she said, somewhere along those lines.
From my window it was easy to tell who my sister was referring to. The shock on a passerby’s face was unmistakable.
Luckily my sister managed to find parking just around the corner from True Love.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw next. We made our way to the white picket fences that bordered the front of True Love. A belly dancer was outside entertaining customers who were sitting at the round iron tables and chairs. Some of them smoking from what appeared to be hookahs.
When it was solely True Love in this white, two-story, possibly Victorian home, we could have entered from ground level and surely wouldn’t have been wierded out by a belly dancer who, by the way, seemed a bit out of place.
We made our way through to the left, up about five steps, a sharp turn to the right and higher up a longer flight of stairs.
Once in line my sister glanced at a sign.
"Are they still only accepting cash?" she asked.
A Barista answered her question.
"There’s an ATM downstairs."
Last time we had to literally find a bank. Now, we were to head back down the stairs and pay a $2.50 fee to dispense cash for two coffee drinks. Who doesn’t accept plastic?
We were defeated. We gave up. Goodbye True Love.
As we finished our Starbucks’ drinks and tasty pastries my sister said, "we need to find a new coffeehouse."
Is it so hard to find a nice coffee shop, besides Starbucks, where we could get late night coffee fixes from?
The search continues.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Urban Outfitters Holds Onto the Past
It always struck me as sort of odd whenever my eyes caught sight of vinyl records next to the CD rack at Hot Topic. Weren’t we past all this? My guess is no because a trip to Urban Outfitters just the other day made me feel as though it were some sort of time machine.
For starters, customers are being re-introduced to the old fashioned turntable. Believe it or not, there was a turntable that looked as though it had come straight out of the 70s just propped up on a counter as if it were the latest craze. This Crosley portable turntable does in fact play LPs and is thankfully USB ready. Yes, it’s PC and MAC compatible, but the most shocking tid bit about this device is the price.
If someone is really intending to go out of their way to own one of these ridiculous contraptions then the price is $160.00. This is not only absurd, but strange considering that the newest iPod nanos are going for $149.00. It may not seem like much of a difference, price wise, but when you’re taking into consideration what’s new versus what’s been done then the difference is absolutely outrageous. Their website description for this item states that one could get started as a DJ using this turntable. Do we really need a turntable to be a DJ when so many DJs use iPods instead?
Moving around the counter something else stood out, only this object was far more atrocious than the turntable. A boombox! Really?!? Really? Are you kidding me? Where’s Ashton? Maybe this was another one of his lame shows. Wasn’t our intention to consistently move forward into the future by creating new gadgets with advanced technology? The boombox has a spring-loaded door for your iPod, no not for a cassette, which serves the same purpose as an iPod stereo dock. Only the stereo docks would probably cost about $99 now, whereas this stereo would cost you $220. That’s about how much someone would have to pay me to help compensate for the embarrassment that lugging this thing around will cause. The boombox is 14.5’’ high and 25.5’’in width. It’s pretty enormous compared to all the small objects we have all become accustomed to. So to be quite honest, that amount of money may not be nearly enough to cover the humiliation. Why not bring out the parachute pants to match? At this rate it’s probably not that far along. Better yet, when are the 8-tracks coming back in?
Oh it gets better, only this next item may seem more reasonable in other aspects, which will be covered in just a moment. Lo and behold, it’s the good ol’ typewriter. When these first came out and before the magic of tape correction came into existence, one error would send you straight back to type out another page and more than likely that mistake would be fixed only to find another error elsewhere. Writing this column alone there have been a minimum of 40 mistakes and counting. Luckily this was done on a PC where fixing a mistake is as easy as highlighting an incorrect set of words and re-typing the corrections. Even Microsoft Word will automatically switch letters around on a word that has been misspelled. As inconvenient as the typewriter may seem, authors have been known to still use them. This may be for security reasons. No one can hack into a typewriter. This reason alone is pretty understandable. The price is $140 and is reasonable compared to the previous items mentioned.
Maybe it’s difficult for some to let go of the past’s treasures, but with nifty gadgets being created why not venture out and explore a little.
For starters, customers are being re-introduced to the old fashioned turntable. Believe it or not, there was a turntable that looked as though it had come straight out of the 70s just propped up on a counter as if it were the latest craze. This Crosley portable turntable does in fact play LPs and is thankfully USB ready. Yes, it’s PC and MAC compatible, but the most shocking tid bit about this device is the price.
If someone is really intending to go out of their way to own one of these ridiculous contraptions then the price is $160.00. This is not only absurd, but strange considering that the newest iPod nanos are going for $149.00. It may not seem like much of a difference, price wise, but when you’re taking into consideration what’s new versus what’s been done then the difference is absolutely outrageous. Their website description for this item states that one could get started as a DJ using this turntable. Do we really need a turntable to be a DJ when so many DJs use iPods instead?
Moving around the counter something else stood out, only this object was far more atrocious than the turntable. A boombox! Really?!? Really? Are you kidding me? Where’s Ashton? Maybe this was another one of his lame shows. Wasn’t our intention to consistently move forward into the future by creating new gadgets with advanced technology? The boombox has a spring-loaded door for your iPod, no not for a cassette, which serves the same purpose as an iPod stereo dock. Only the stereo docks would probably cost about $99 now, whereas this stereo would cost you $220. That’s about how much someone would have to pay me to help compensate for the embarrassment that lugging this thing around will cause. The boombox is 14.5’’ high and 25.5’’in width. It’s pretty enormous compared to all the small objects we have all become accustomed to. So to be quite honest, that amount of money may not be nearly enough to cover the humiliation. Why not bring out the parachute pants to match? At this rate it’s probably not that far along. Better yet, when are the 8-tracks coming back in?
Oh it gets better, only this next item may seem more reasonable in other aspects, which will be covered in just a moment. Lo and behold, it’s the good ol’ typewriter. When these first came out and before the magic of tape correction came into existence, one error would send you straight back to type out another page and more than likely that mistake would be fixed only to find another error elsewhere. Writing this column alone there have been a minimum of 40 mistakes and counting. Luckily this was done on a PC where fixing a mistake is as easy as highlighting an incorrect set of words and re-typing the corrections. Even Microsoft Word will automatically switch letters around on a word that has been misspelled. As inconvenient as the typewriter may seem, authors have been known to still use them. This may be for security reasons. No one can hack into a typewriter. This reason alone is pretty understandable. The price is $140 and is reasonable compared to the previous items mentioned.Maybe it’s difficult for some to let go of the past’s treasures, but with nifty gadgets being created why not venture out and explore a little.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Apple Stays on Top of the Game
As the hype begins to subside from the outrageous price markdown of their specialized iPhone, Apple ensures to secure their popularity by bringing us the latest technology all wrapped up into their new iPod nano. Aside from the appealing color variety these iPods usually tend to come in, nine different colors now to be exact, it’s the nifty features that have you thinking a little on the Wii side.
These iPod nanos are slightly more on the interactive aspect. Just picture the Wii controller in your right or left hand, which ever you prefer, and imagine yourself shaking it as you play Zelda and you’re slashing away with your sword. Now envision an iPod nano in the place of that controller. That’s right, shuffling songs are now as easy as giving the nano a little shake. Even the games available on these new gadgets will let you use the tilt and shake options to play. According to Apple.com these games respond to the way you move. Although only one game (Maze) is included, the iTunes store will provide a wider variety of games to purchase.
The tilting option also gives you a couple of different viewing choices for your photos, landscape or portrait. Viewing videos might also prove to be more enjoyable on the high-resolution 2-inch widescreen display.
As featured on the iPhone, the iPod nano will also allow consumers to see album art in Cover Flow just by tilting it horizontally. Adding a song to the on the go playlist is now as simple as pressing the button in the center once the desired artist or song is found.
Alright, now for the greatest function this iPod has to offer, a built in DJ. Well, sort of. This nano provides you with Genius, a feature which will choose a song from your library that will complement the song you have just previously listened to all the while creating a playlist at the same time.
Conveniently enough these nanos only weigh in at 1.3 ounces and is 1.5 inches wide. Its physique is a curved aluminum glass design. Very svelte indeed.
The nanos start at $149.00 with 8GB, which technically translates into 2,000 songs, eight hours of video or 7,000 viewable photo downloads. For $50.00 more (taxes are obviously not included in these prices), the iPod nano will double its package in mostly all aspects, 16GB, 16 hours of video, 4,000 songs and 14,000 photos! Shipping will take a little longer on the 16GB nanos, but luckily shipping is free as well as the option to engrave. Apple is known for their price drops so it might be wise to hold off on this little number, at the very least for a few months, but then again that’s just me.
To accompany these iPod nanos will also be iPod touch. Its name says it all. Like the iPhone you will be able to scroll through playlists with the simple touch of your finger and it will also include built-in speakers for the gamer’s enjoyment. Genius will also be featured and prices start at $229.00 for the 8GB.
My iPod mini is now what you would consider obsolete. Usually it is my tendency to wait on purchasing these sorts of gadgets until they’ve gone through complete transformations, which obviously they have tremendously done so in the last couple of years alone. This nano has certainly won me over and is definitely going be my mini’s replacement.
With all of these new fascinating features and obviously in the color of your choosing, it’s a wonder what Apple might come out with next.
These iPod nanos are slightly more on the interactive aspect. Just picture the Wii controller in your right or left hand, which ever you prefer, and imagine yourself shaking it as you play Zelda and you’re slashing away with your sword. Now envision an iPod nano in the place of that controller. That’s right, shuffling songs are now as easy as giving the nano a little shake. Even the games available on these new gadgets will let you use the tilt and shake options to play. According to Apple.com these games respond to the way you move. Although only one game (Maze) is included, the iTunes store will provide a wider variety of games to purchase.
The tilting option also gives you a couple of different viewing choices for your photos, landscape or portrait. Viewing videos might also prove to be more enjoyable on the high-resolution 2-inch widescreen display.
As featured on the iPhone, the iPod nano will also allow consumers to see album art in Cover Flow just by tilting it horizontally. Adding a song to the on the go playlist is now as simple as pressing the button in the center once the desired artist or song is found.
Alright, now for the greatest function this iPod has to offer, a built in DJ. Well, sort of. This nano provides you with Genius, a feature which will choose a song from your library that will complement the song you have just previously listened to all the while creating a playlist at the same time.
Conveniently enough these nanos only weigh in at 1.3 ounces and is 1.5 inches wide. Its physique is a curved aluminum glass design. Very svelte indeed.
The nanos start at $149.00 with 8GB, which technically translates into 2,000 songs, eight hours of video or 7,000 viewable photo downloads. For $50.00 more (taxes are obviously not included in these prices), the iPod nano will double its package in mostly all aspects, 16GB, 16 hours of video, 4,000 songs and 14,000 photos! Shipping will take a little longer on the 16GB nanos, but luckily shipping is free as well as the option to engrave. Apple is known for their price drops so it might be wise to hold off on this little number, at the very least for a few months, but then again that’s just me.
To accompany these iPod nanos will also be iPod touch. Its name says it all. Like the iPhone you will be able to scroll through playlists with the simple touch of your finger and it will also include built-in speakers for the gamer’s enjoyment. Genius will also be featured and prices start at $229.00 for the 8GB.
My iPod mini is now what you would consider obsolete. Usually it is my tendency to wait on purchasing these sorts of gadgets until they’ve gone through complete transformations, which obviously they have tremendously done so in the last couple of years alone. This nano has certainly won me over and is definitely going be my mini’s replacement.
With all of these new fascinating features and obviously in the color of your choosing, it’s a wonder what Apple might come out with next.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Pointless Cell Phone Law
As many Californians know by now, talking on the phone while driving is absolutely prohibited. Oh... that’s right, it’s not. Not completely anyway. If you’re lucky enough to be 18 or older then this law is for the most part, irrelevant to you. Talking on the cell phone while you’re going 50 or even 70 miles per hour is still a possibility, thanks to the wonderful contraption known as...a Bluetooth.
A thought that had crossed my mind initially was whether or not this cell phone law was just a scheme derived from companies, who manufacture Bluetooth devices, to get into the wallets of consumers. Remarkably enough the NPD Group just so happened to have a press release on July 23, 2008, (http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080723a.html), explaining how "[s]ales of Bluetooth headset devices surged in the months prior to the new law going on the books." Also on that press release was an interesting quote from Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD, "[l]egislation has given a helping hand to hands-free technologies." Well they didn’t get a dime from me because it just so happens that this law also allows you to use the speaker phone option.
In most cases with the speaker phone you would still have to hold onto your phone and place it just inches away from your ear. This doesn’t make all that much of a difference then just simply using your phone.
Although it may seem unlikely, this law has more options as to what you can do versus what you can’t. The most shocking of these, and to my disbelief, is still having the option to text message. Text messaging has become just as popular as, if not more so, making calls from your phone.
It was a month ago or so when my eyes caught sight of a vehicle making slow zig-zag motions from one lane into another. Luckily there was minimal traffic. It was early in the evening so there was a probability that this was a potential drunk driver, but not exactly the case in this situation. It was an older man who looked as though he were in his mid to late 50s. He had been glancing up and then down, but his eyes were for the most part diverted from the road. The top of the cell phone finally made its appearance. Although this law doesn’t necessarily encourage you to use the text messaging option, it doesn’t really discourage you either.
A slap on the wrist is all you’ll receive if you dare break this law. A mere $20 for the first offense and some court fees. Not even a violation point on your license according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Any offenses thereafter are $50, but yet again no violation points.
This law is not only pointless, it’s ineffective. It makes no sense having a law like this unless there are restrictions that could potentially make the roads even more safe from reckless drivers and would actually pertain to those who are 18 and over.
Why not make a cell phone law that would actually make sense? A law that would require people to turn off or leave their cell phones either at home or in the car before they step into a movie theatre. It’s bad enough having to sit through a movie you’ve been wanting to see with a baby screaming their lungs out just a few rows behind you, but to also have to hear somebody carrying a conversation with a person who isn’t physically present, is ridiculous.
We can all thank Senator Joe Simitian and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for providing the state of California with yet another pointless law to add to the list, right along with women not being able to drive in a house coat!
A thought that had crossed my mind initially was whether or not this cell phone law was just a scheme derived from companies, who manufacture Bluetooth devices, to get into the wallets of consumers. Remarkably enough the NPD Group just so happened to have a press release on July 23, 2008, (http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080723a.html), explaining how "[s]ales of Bluetooth headset devices surged in the months prior to the new law going on the books." Also on that press release was an interesting quote from Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD, "[l]egislation has given a helping hand to hands-free technologies." Well they didn’t get a dime from me because it just so happens that this law also allows you to use the speaker phone option.
In most cases with the speaker phone you would still have to hold onto your phone and place it just inches away from your ear. This doesn’t make all that much of a difference then just simply using your phone.
Although it may seem unlikely, this law has more options as to what you can do versus what you can’t. The most shocking of these, and to my disbelief, is still having the option to text message. Text messaging has become just as popular as, if not more so, making calls from your phone.
It was a month ago or so when my eyes caught sight of a vehicle making slow zig-zag motions from one lane into another. Luckily there was minimal traffic. It was early in the evening so there was a probability that this was a potential drunk driver, but not exactly the case in this situation. It was an older man who looked as though he were in his mid to late 50s. He had been glancing up and then down, but his eyes were for the most part diverted from the road. The top of the cell phone finally made its appearance. Although this law doesn’t necessarily encourage you to use the text messaging option, it doesn’t really discourage you either.
A slap on the wrist is all you’ll receive if you dare break this law. A mere $20 for the first offense and some court fees. Not even a violation point on your license according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Any offenses thereafter are $50, but yet again no violation points.
This law is not only pointless, it’s ineffective. It makes no sense having a law like this unless there are restrictions that could potentially make the roads even more safe from reckless drivers and would actually pertain to those who are 18 and over.
Why not make a cell phone law that would actually make sense? A law that would require people to turn off or leave their cell phones either at home or in the car before they step into a movie theatre. It’s bad enough having to sit through a movie you’ve been wanting to see with a baby screaming their lungs out just a few rows behind you, but to also have to hear somebody carrying a conversation with a person who isn’t physically present, is ridiculous.
We can all thank Senator Joe Simitian and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for providing the state of California with yet another pointless law to add to the list, right along with women not being able to drive in a house coat!
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