Friday, December 18, 2009

Friday 5 for December 18: Wrapping

Poof Standing Guard

Once again Scrivener's Friday 5 site comes up with a timely topic.

1. How seriously do you take gift-wrapping when you give gifts?

Not very. Fact is if I buy a gift and take it on a plane to the Big Island of Hawaii for my family, federal airport security laws require that gifts not be wrapped!

Overall it is faster to just put gifts in a gift bags or give a gift certificate or money.

2. Do you save gift-wrapping to re-use later?

YES! Gift bags and bows are definitely saved and recycled for the next year. Cheaper than having to buy new ones. Ribbons and wrap are saved depending on the condition at time after opening.

3. How picky are you when it comes to selecting wrapping paper?

Not very. I wait for the AFTER Christmas blowout sales when all of that crap can be found for 50 to 70% off at some stores. Why spend big bucks on something most people just tear up on Christmas day? The main purpose of gift wrap is to keep the gift hidden until the big day. No one should be spending exuberant amounts of money on gift wrap.

4. How much attention do you pay to the way gifts you receive are wrapped?

Not much - the gifts just have to look good while sitting under the tree until the big day.

5. Among people you know, who is the most talented at wrapping gifts?

My mom, my sister and some women in general.

Photo at the top: My sister's cat "Poof" know what to do with gifts and wrap!
Below: Enjoy the Christmas video below. Aloha!


Friday, December 11, 2009

Friday 5 for December 11: Remorse

From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog: Remorse - what a negative topic! Here goes....

Buyer’s remorse is a well-known condition that strikes us all, but what other kinds of remorse have you experienced?

1. When did you last experience emailer’s remorse?

I haven't sent out an offensive email that I was remorseful about in years... last time was probably in the 1990s.

2. When did you last experience diner’s remorse?

Once I had a bad reaction to macaroni salad eaten at a popular take out place... and another time I probably had bad poki... spent way too much time after these meals running back and forth to the porcelain throne!

3. When did you last experience movie-goer’s remorse?

BoratI rarely go to movies at the theater anymore. The last time I had movie-goer's remorse was when I borrowed a copy of Borat (DVD) from a friend. That movie absolutely stunk. Luckily I did not pay to see it.

4. When did you last experience caring friend’s remorse?

Can't remember if I did.

alternate question in case that last one was too personal:

5. When did you last experience function-attender’s remorse?

I generally avoid crowded social situations (parties, etc) unless I have to be there taking photos of the function.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Friday 5 for December 4: The Middle

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we all know where to check out your responses! Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What film have you seen in the past year that’s completely average?

The only movie I paid to see at the theater this year was way above average. That leaves me with DVD movies that I have. The most mediocre that I saw this year is one called The Virgin Chronicles which I bought for $5 as part of a double DVD in WalMart coupled with American Beauty. Not a bad movie, but not very good either. Mediocre at best.

2. Who’s the most average-looking person you know?

There are plenty, too numerous to pick only one.

3. In what area of your life are you performing just well enough?

My whole life is mostly average.

My Sony AM-FM Portable Radio

4. A new radio station features music you neither like nor dislike! What are three songs you’re likely to hear on it?

I don't know about "new" radio stations. Mostly our old ones get an occasionally makeover (format change). That said the current makeover of KPOI 105.9 FM (The Ride) has sunken to further mediocrity by playing predictable but average hits such as REO Speedwagon's "Time for Me to Fly", John Cougar Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" and "Roseanna" by Toto. They were good songs in the day, but today they are just part of a bigger, bland mix typical of most classic rock, oldies, 80s and AC formatted stations.

Most music radio stations are pretty bland overall because a lot of them opt to run computerized, voice tracked programming or syndicated content that sounds the same everywhere else in the U.S. Hardly any real time local DJs in many timeslots except for morning drive... usually.

Another bunch of bland radio stations in our market include KSSK AM & FM, KRTR 96.3 FM and KUMU 94.7 FM. They all feature an adult contemporary format and play mediocre tracks by artists such as Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Leona Lewis, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, and Kelly Clarkson to name a few. A mix of the average to mediocre old stuff and new hits. Yawn.

KSSK is also very difficult to listen to during the holidays as they only play Christmas music for the entire season up to December 25. While I like Christmas music, I can't stand hearing it around the clock 24-7.

5. What game or sport are you just okay in?

I am a mediocre to terrible chess player. I like Stratego and Checkers but am rusty in both today. I don't do very well with some of the games I have on my Nintendo DSi or the various Macintosh computers I own.

I totally suck at all sports, which means I don't play any.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Friday 5 for Nov. 27 - Finale

This week’s 5 are in honor of a certain award-winning American TV series finally coming to its quirky conclusion (this week and next, I think). What? You thought finale meant the bowing-out of Friday 5? Ha! In your dreams! Friday 5 cannot hope to be stopped; it can only hope to be delayed a few hours, as with this week’s questions!

1. What television series finale did you particularly enjoy?





"Sleeping in Light", the last episode of Babylon 5 that wrapped the 5 year story arc to the award winning science fiction TV series. 1993 - 1998. My favorite TV show ever.

2. What television series finale did you think was a disservice to the series as a whole?

Just about anything that was not a finale because the series ended due to low ratings and network cancellation. One of the worst for me...

The final scene in season 2 of Michael Mann's hard hitting NBC-TV series Crime Story. Lt. Torello and his nemesis Ray Luca are fighting in a plane that is in a steep nosedive and crashes into the water... umm... yeah are they dead or what? Did the producers know the series was going to end? Very disappointing end to an otherwise good series.


3. What is your favorite dessert?

Not in any order - pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, custard pie, ice cream, whatever.


4. What were the circumstances surrounding your most dramatic exit from a room?

An argument.

5. If you could choose any symbolic way to end 2009, how would you end it?

Kicking an effigy of Obummer in the butt.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Friday 5 for Nov. 20: Book Titles


IMG_7762
Originally uploaded by Tyson Hamilton


I don't get this Friday 5 on Book Titles cause I never heard of any of these books and most of the questions do not apply to me.

1. What color is your parachute?

I don't skydive. I don't own a parachute. One is required if you plan to jump out of an airplane.

2. Who moved your cheese?

No one.

3. Where’s Waldo?

Not in my home.

4. Are you my mother?

No. I am not a female.

5. What’s happening to your body?

Getting older by the minute every day and every hour. Can't stop it. Sad.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday 5 for Friday the 13th - Shapes

Happy Friday the 13th folks.

Hello! Welcome to this week’s Friday 5. Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we can all check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your webspace!

1. What is your favorite shape of pasta?

I like spaghetti, so I go with the long spaghetti noodles that I can pour onion mix meat sauce and meatballs over. The long shape is perfect to wrap around your fork.

2. Which of the Lucky Charms marshmallows is (or was) your favorite?

Never gave that much of a thought, but I guess I'd go with moon and stars. Not the biggest fan of that cereal.

3. Of people you know who are older than forty, who’s in the best shape?

Some of the people at work.

4. What shape is one of the more interesting scars on your body?

My birthmark is not a scar and maybe shaped like a pineapple.

5. Of a human’s internal organs, which you think has the most interesting shape?

Never gave that much thought but perhaps the brain. It has to fit in our head without oozing out through our eye, ear and nose holes.

In conjunction with this week's theme, I leave you this video from 2006 called "Pull Shapes" by the British rock group The Pipettes.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Friday 5 for November 6: Fall Classic



This week’s (Friday) 5 honors the World Series. Yes, it is the second set of baseball-themed questions we’ve done in the past couple of years. It’s okay.

1. According to the cliche, if you “spare the rod,” you “spoil the child.” Who in your life was probably spared A Rod while growing up?

Perhaps my brother.

2. In how many directions this week did you feel you were being Yanked?

Maybe one or two, but not much.

3. On whom have you depended for relief this week?

No one.

4. Who deserves a standing ovation this week (or even a hip-hip Jorge)?

My Dad for just being so resilient and even stubborn in his old age. He lives life one day at the time.

5. When did you last have a taste of Champagne?

I don't drink alcoholic beverages - so the answer to this is "never". Remember folks, if you drink, don't drive!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday 5 for October 30: At the Movies


1. What’s your favorite sports movie?

I am not a big sports fan, but I have several sports movies that I like. My current favorite is Rudy about the Notre Dame football player that never gave up until he played in the final game.

2. What’s your favorite romantic comedy film?

I always laugh at the old Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah classic, Splash! Eugene "behold the mermaid!" Levy was hilarious as the scientist who went out of his way to prove that Madison was a mermaid. John Candy was also great as the brother. This movie is romantic, funny and quite a fantasy.

3. What’s your favorite animated Disney movie?

Bambi was quite riveting when I was kid. Saw it only once. Still have a memory of this. Runner-up Lilo & Stitch, the only Disney animated movie I have in my DVD collection.

4. What’s your favorite non-Disney movie musical?

Grease is the word! Runner-up The Sound of Music.

And while it is not a flat out musical, I always loved George Lucas' American Graffiti... classic rock n roll music that was perfectly used in the storyline.

Oh yeah, gotta add The Wizard of Oz to this too.

I guess I could name other musicals or movies with music in it as the focus of the film... umm... A Hard Days' Night... yeah... The Beatles!!!!!

5. What’s your favorite stranger-in-a-strange-land / fish-out-of-water movie?

Planet of the Apes - the original version with Charlton Heston from 1968. One of my all time favorite movies... "Get your filthy paws off me you damn dirty ape!"

Runner up- The Time Machine from 1960.... the time traveler meets the Eloi and the Morlocks in the distant future. This is a great George Pal movie and HG Wells story.

Check out other people's responses at Friday5.org.

Photo: Planet of the Apes from 20th Century Fox.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Friday 5 for October 23: Resilience




1. Who in your life seems especially resilient?


My Dad (photo) has been resilient and through a lot in more than 80 years.

2. What characteristics would a person need to develop in order to become resilient?

There are probably many characteristics - among them a person should be optimistic, able to withstand criticism, ability to bounce back from bad situations, have a sense of humor and not to take everything too seriously. I am sure there are more.

3. In what areas of your life do you think you’ve been resilient?

I've been able to bounce back from some bad situations like illness and unemployment. You have to in order to move on with life.

4. It is often said among educators that a strong indicator of resiliency in children is the presence of a “charismatic adult.” In your own childhood, who was the charismatic adult who inspired you to grow positively?

Not anyone in particular.

5. Can one be tough and resilient at the same time, or are they opposite traits?

I think you have to be tough in order to be resilient. I would add "strong" and "tough" to the characteristics in the question #2 above.

Check out more responses to these questions at Friday5.org.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Friday 5 for October 16: LOUD



LOUD!

Friday 5 for October 16, 2009

1. When in the past seven days were you loudest?

Used to be whenever I played my old stereo. That broke, I gave it away with the large speakers. For now my computer is the loudest when I play music (it has an external speaker system) by groups such as Kiss, Metallica, Grand Funk Railroad, Led Zeppelin or The Who. Of course I can’t play my music too loud since I live in a building and the neighbors would complain. The last time that happened was several years ago when a neighbor came in late in the night complaining about the loud noise coming from my apartment. Was not music, but a loud movie also playing through that same old stereo.



I remember The Who was once named as the world's loudest rock group according to the Guiness Book of World Records.

2. In the past seven days, what was loud but not noisy?

Antonov AN 225

I'm sure if I were closer to the airport to take the photo, this plane, the Antolov AN 225 would have been quite loud taking off. Shot 10-15-09.

Last month I enjoyed the loudness of the USAF Thunderbirds.



3. In the past seven days, what was not especially loud but quite noisy?

Emergency Crossing

I live in a building near a fire station. There are always sirens going off every day and night near me. It's noisy but I've gotten used to it. Car alarms are also noisy too, especially when they go off late in the night and no one turns em off for an hour or more.

4. In the past seven days, what’s something that was not allowed?

My Aging iPods

Since July 1st, can't legally hold and use my iPods and digital cameras in my car while driving. This is a result of a cellular phone and text messaging law that was passed by the city council that also covered other electronic devices. I don't own a cell phone, so that part of the law does not impact me. But it is hard to not pick up that iPod while driving and skip over to the next song, or whip out the small digital camera to take a picture of the asshole driving in front of me.

5. What are those clouds gathering on your horizon for next week?

Maybe some rain clouds and stormy weather. We probably need some rain around here, but the forecasts for this winter don't look very good for that.

Here are more items that go along with "loud":



This is something I would love to see and hear:



Now this is loud:



Some people have a lot of time on their hands:



I recorded this video clip in January - downtown Honolulu



Someone's garage band takes on Metallica's "Master of Puppets":



OK, that's it. This topic was fun. I like LOUD!

Embedded videos from YouTube.com may be removed without notice by their respective publishers or the YouTube.com service itself.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday 5 for October 5: Similes


I make it a policy that I not mention names of family, friends or associates in these posts. Therefore in answer to this week's Friday 5 questions:

1. Who in your life is as blind as a bat?

I don't know anyone who is legally blind, nor anyone that close. I have friends and relatives who wear glasses, but most can see.

2. Who in your life is as happy as a clam?

People who are too happy and too optimistic are suspect in my book at times.

3. Who in your life is as mad as a wet hen?

I don't like being caught in the rain if I don't have any extra clothes to change into nearby.

4. Who in your life is as stubborn as a mule?

I know some luddites who don't want to adapt to computer technology. Some of these luddites use computers but don't want to learn or use new stuff. It's hard having to work with luddites when you want to make work or file exchanges easier.

5. Who in your life is as quiet as a mouse?

Can't think of anyone who is very quiet at this moment. Perhaps it is a good thing for them as they are not noticed because of their quietness.

Photograph: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Friday, October 2, 2009

Friday 5 for October 2 - Stories


DISASTERS MAKE GOOD STORIES


1. Which of your stories have you probably told the greatest number of times to the most people?

Disasters in my life or in Hawaii make for good stories in hindsight. I often tell friends about the big earthquakes I survived through my life in Hawaii.

The first one was the most exciting since I was a teenager caught in a big crowd at a public place during a school performance. We were in the audience and suddenly the building rolled and shook violently for what seemed to be an eternity.

Just like in a disaster movie, we all went into a panic and ran like idiots for the nearest door which of course was jammed with people. Meanwhile the plaster from the ceiling fell on us and on the floor as younger, elementary age kids got trampled on and separated. Fortunately after the shaking stopped, there were no serious injuries, but a lot of rattled nerves... and millions of dollars of damage to the entire island.

This all occurred on April 26, 1973 at 10:26 AM in Honokaa, on the Big Island of Hawaii. There is more to tell in the story, but that was the main highlight. The quake measured 6.25 on the Richter scale after all was tallied and done.

Two other major earthquakes that I was unfortunate enough to be caught in occurred during Thanksgiving 1975 at 7.25 magnitude and the 6.7 magnitude temblor on October 15, 2006.

Scary plane rides are also in my story arsenol.... Back in the 1980s I was on a Mid Pacific Air YS-11 turboprop night flight from Honolulu to Hilo... we flew into bad weather with rain, thunder, lightning and wind... that old turboprop shook us around in the violent sky, flashes of lightning coming into the window as the twin Rolls Royce turboprops strained to keep us aloft while the crew slowly descended in the angry clouds to our destination. Upon landing I wanted to kiss the ground.

In 2004 I was on an Aloha Airlines flight that had to abort its landing. The photo above is from another 737-200 Aloha Airlines flight that I was on.

In 1975 and 1976 I got into near deadly car accidents but escaped in the nick of time!

So there.. I just referred to several stories of which the earthquake ones are told the most often.


2. What’s a story someone else often tells about you, much to your chagrin?

I haven't heard too many stories about me told by other people which is a good thing in my book. If there are, I'd rather not hear them.


3. What oft-told story from a chapter in your life seems to be remembered differently by different people who were there?


Probably the different experiences of 9-11-2001 from different people, even here in Hawaii.


4. What are some of the details, without retelling the whole story, of a story you’ve told often but never to your parents?

Some stories are best untold.


5. What song would be an appropriate soundtrack to the story of your most embarrassing moment?

Song? "Here's Where the Story Ends" by The Sundays.

Have a wonderful Friday 5 weekend folks.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Friday 5 for September 25



GETTING TO KNOW YOU
from Scrivener's Friday 5

1. What are the titles of the last three books you read all of?
  • The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkein
  • Outcast, Stallion of Hawaii by Harlan Thompson
  • Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media by John Stossel
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (read it twice in the last couple of months; its simple, nicely illustrated, will be a movie, how can it have more dialogue in a movie, there is not much in the book!)
2. What are the titles of between three and five magazines you subscribe to or used to subscribe to?

I used to subscribe to these at one time or another; today I have zero subscriptions. The web is more timely.
  • MacWorld
  • MacUser (defunct)
  • MacAddict (defunct)
  • Popular Photography
  • Modern Photography (defunct; merged into Popular Photography)
  • Hawaii Business
  • Consumer Reports
3. What’s on your night table? (we figured this one was borderline, since it involves the bedroom, but if the vibe is right and you preface the question with the background story I told above, you could make it work)

I live in a studio apartment so I don't have a night table, but a general table with too much stuff on it to mention. A laptop computer and my Nintendo DSi are couple of items that are on it.

4. What are the three best things that happened to you in the past seven days?
  • I woke up and did not die in my sleep
  • There were no earthquakes or other natural pheonomena that destroyed my home or killed me
  • I am still borrowing my friend's MacBook Pro and loving it.
5. What was your senior yearbook quote, and what would your yearbook quote be this year if there were such a thing?

I don't think I had a senior quote. Unfortunately my high school yearbook is like 250 miles away from me on another island at my parents' place. I was on the yearbook staff as sports section editor of all things. I am not a huge sports fan.

If there was a yearbook quote for this year... mine would be "Liberals are dangerous; America's going to hell because of them."

Friday, September 18, 2009

Friday 5 for Sept. 18: What's It Take?

Granted

1. What does it take to get you to grab the mic and sing in a karaoke room?

MONEY and plenty of it. I won't do embarrassing stuff unless somebody pays me. Yes I'm no fun, but then I don't sing in public either.

2. What does it take to get you to give up a whole Saturday to hang out with people you don’t like?

Again, MONEY and plenty of it (more than pictured above). Why would I want to spend a whole day with people I don't like? Ugh!

3. What does it take to get you out of bed without your hitting the snooze button?

Not much for this. I am a relatively light sleeper. External noises early in the morning will get me up - car alarms, sirens, garbage trucks, rainstorms, thunder, lightning... you name it, I'll wake up. I don't have an alarm clock so I don't hit snooze either. I get up go on the internet to do stuff like answer these questions.

4. What does it take to get you to take someone else’s turn at a really unpleasant task at work or home?

MONEY is a good motivator.

5. What does it take to get you to eat something you really dislike?

MONEY and more of it the grosser the food is.

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog.

Friday, September 11, 2009

9-11-09: Strange Days 9-11-01

Original image from Brandon Loy's tribute page.


Found this most timely Friday 5 set at Cinn's Friday 5.


[01] Where were you on September 11, 2001 during the attacks on NYC, DC, and Pennsylvania?

I was at home asleep in Hawaii but woke up to unusual chatter on our talk radio station. Turned on the TV shortly after and "oh my God!".... For us in Hawaii the attacks occurred at the 3 or 4 am hour. Most people were asleep. After we got up, we were all glued to the TV with edgy caution, disbelief and fear that day.

[02] If you live in or near the three cities, have you been to the memorial sites?

Nope. I live too far away. We have a couple of memorials in Honolulu.

[03] Do you think our country is more or less safe than that date eight years ago?

Safer thanks to the efforts started by the administration of President George W. Bush.

[04] Do you think that the Obama administration will be able to keep terrorists at bay as effectively as the former administration?

I hope so. But I don't trust our current president.

[05] How will you spend this day today?

At work and perhaps reflecting on this later this evening.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Reply to the Other Friday 5

Starting with this post, I'll make an occasional reply to this Friday Five.

Hawaiian Airlines 767-300 ER

Summer Travel

1. Will or did you go on vacation this summer?

I was planning a trip back home to the Big Island of Hawaii in July but I got sick on the day I was supposed to go. With great financial penalty from the airline, I had to cancel my trip. Good thing because I got even more sick after the cancellation. This was in July. I have since fully recovered.

2. Where will/did you go?

Planning to take cancelled trip in October. I always go back to the Big Island of Hawaii at least once or twice a year.

3. What do you like about the place?

My childhood home, my parents and most of my relatives also live there.

4. What don't you like about the place?

Employment opportunities are less than they are in urban Honolulu, and access to major medical care is limited and very expensive because people have to spend big money to come to Honolulu for better care.

5. Where do you want to go next summer?

The Big Island again. I haven't gone out of the State of Hawaii since 1993. Too expensive to travel and I don't like the thought of being on a two engine jet traveling for more than 5 hours over 2,200+ miles of water. In the olden days jet aircraft had 3 or 4 engines. Built in safety redundancy. Sure, today's twinjets are certified through ETOPS regulations... but still... 3 is better than 2 and 4 is better than 3. Give me the days of the Boeing 747 again.

That all said, I live in Hawaii so if I take a day off or get the weekend off, just going to Waikiki or the beach could be a vacation.

Friday 5 for Sept. 11: Bottles


Better in the Bottle
Originally uploaded by ɱΛ††

1. When did you last drink something out of a glass bottle?

Hamakua Soda Works on the Big Island used to sell glass bottled soda water in the 1960s and early 1970s. After they went out of business, perhaps in the 1970s I either drank a Coke or 7up out of a bottle last. I don't do beer or alcoholic beverages of any kind which means I don't drink out of any current glass bottles these days.

2. Whose energy would you like to bottle for those future listless days?

Reddy Kilowatt because he was so electric! I can't live without electricity.

3. How many plastic bottles are there in your shower, and what’s in them?

None at this time.

4. Who in your life could be described as lightning in a bottle?

I don't know anyone in my immediate circle that is much like lightning in a bottle.

5. You’re playing Spin-the-Bottle with your sixth-grade classmates. When it’s your turn, to whom do you want the bottle pointing?

Never played that game, which means I don't know what the significance of pointing the bottle at someone is. Sorry.

Questions generated from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog.


Friday, September 4, 2009

September 4's Friday 5: More or Less

THE FRIDAY 5

1. In what way this week were you reckless?


About the most reckless thing I do is eat too much of the wrong type of foods.

Blue Nintendo DSi

2. In what way this week were you shameless?

I took my own photo with my Nintendo DSi and modified it in "Flipnote Studio." I could upload the animated flipbook photo to Nintendo's partner site called Flipnote Hatena. I won't.

3. In what way this week were you fearless?

I generally refrain from doing really stupid and foolish things that require me to leave fear behind. No bungie jumping, pole vaulting, freeway racing or anything like that for me.

4. In what way this week were you thoughtless?

I am usually void of all thought when I am asleep.

Apple MacBook Pro

5. In what way this week were you doubtless?

I know for a fact that whenever I turn on and use my Macintosh computers, I am confident beyond a reasonable doubt that I will never get a nasty Microsoft Windows malware virus or something.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Friday 5 for August 28: Tolerance

Tolerance

Opposition to Civil Unions
Levels of tolerance differ among various issues.


1. How’s your tolerance for alcohol?


I don't drink, so zero for me personally. However if others want to consume alcohol, just don't drink and drive.

2. How’s your tolerance for noisy neighbors?

I am sometimes noisy myself (loud stereo music) so I don't complain about noisy neighbors. Our building is usually quiet.

3. How’s your tolerance for physical pain?

Not much.

4. How’s your tolerance for intolerant people?

It varies depending on issues and personal values.

5. How’s your tolerance for bad music?

I have almost no tolerance hip-hop and gangsta rap. Zero for opera too. Sorry.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Firday 5 for August 21 - States

Hawaii Statehood 1959

Today, Hawaii commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of its admission to the United States of America. It is a day of celebration for some, while for others it is a day of mourning. This week, the Friday 5 sidesteps the controversy but marks the day with five questions about statehood!

1. Who in your life is most likely at any time to be in a state of confusion?

Um… maybe it is myself!

2. Some people have described nirvana as a state of perfect nothingness. Which of the fifty United States could best be described as a state of perfect nothingness?

I haven’t been to many of the United States but one that comes to mind that has prefect nothingness could be Alaska. They have a lot of land that have barely anything on it except snow, bears, moose, and reindeer. Must be a nice place to visit or to drill for some much needed oil.

Hawaii is probably a runner up as we have a lot of ocean and northern atolls that are part of the state with hardly anything on them either.

3. When were you last asked to state your name and address?

Can’t remember… maybe when I last applied to get new checks from the bank and make sure that data was correct.

4. How many of the United States have you been in?

Let’s see – California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New York, Massachussetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Virginia and Texas… plus Hawaii! So that would be 12.

I only drove into Arizona for about 10 minutes after crossing the Hoover Dam and then turned around. Virginia and Maryland just passed through on a bus to Pennsylvania.. oh I guess we stopped in Virginia since Arlington National Cemetery is there. I remember visiting that. Texas only in the airport awaiting a connecting flight between Florida to Nevada.

5. Why does it seem harder to maintain a positive state of mind than to maintain a negative state of mind?

Because it is way easier to focus on the bad things in life and have those things bother the shit out of you. We often take the positive side of things for granted so much that we probably never notice it.

PHOTO CAPTION: Back in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th State of the Union. There was a huge public celebration. Parades, hula shows, speeches, entertainment, cannon fire and a fly-over where some of the aspects of the far off first celebration. Hawaii people voted for statehood by a 94% margin.

50 years later the celebration of Hawaii's statehood is mired in Hawaiian activist politics. The voices for Hawaii soverignty and secession from the United States is a small but loud minority. As a result the state in fear of not offending these loudmouths, have subdued the 50th observance of statehood.

I blogged about today's statehood here...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday 5 for August 14: U G L Y !

U! G! L! Y! You ain’t got no alibi!

Welcome to this week’s Friday 5. Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we all know where to check out your responses! Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What’s so ugly it’s kind of cute?

Isetta Car

The old Isetta bubble car that was built in the 1950s and 1960s for the European market. This is the kind of car the Obama administration and the environmental wackos want us to drive someday... except have it powered by some kind of expensive biofuel such as corn. Or maybe pedal power like The Flintstones!

The Isetta is so ugly that in a way it is kind of cute. But I'd never buy one. Get into a collision with an SUV and your guts and brains will be part of the pavement.

Runner-up: Nash Metropolitan. 2nd runner up: Scion xB

2. What’s the ugliest article of clothing in your wardrobe?

Socks and underwear with holes. Good thing WalMart is nearby and most of the time no one can see these items of clothing if I wear them.

3. What’s the ugliest car on the streets today?

I absolutely hate those big "hoochie mama", pimp-mobile, bling cars, trucks and SUVs. You know which ones I am talking about. They are usually Cadillac Escalades, Lincoln Navigators, Town Cars, Ford Crown Vics or large Lexus LS 460's that have excessive bling and after-market accessories tacked on to them. They are topped off with those oversize 22, 24, 26 and 30(?) inch tires with the rims that remain stationary or move very slowly even when the vehicle is in motion! And you can hear the worst ones from a mile away because the owner-drivers have the stereo blasting awful hip hop and rap music long before the vehicle can be seen. YUCK. UGLY!!!

Pontiac Aztek

Runner Up: Any remaining Pontiac Aztek still on the road. These monstrosities of automotive design need to all be scrapped as soon as possible. CASH for CLUNKERS folks!!!!

4. Under what circumstances are you most likely to whip out your ugliest behavior?

When I am at deadline and a last minute change takes place and I cannot deal with it simply by using a computer (or get others to do the same).

5. Which of the United States of America has the ugliest shape?

West Virginia because it was the hardest one to draw when I used to draw U.S. maps back in grade school for some assignments. Whoever created the borders for this state was probably drunk or owed too many political favors to congressmen from other states... or maybe the Indians still occupied lands that went zig and zag near there. Right next to it is Maryland which is also shaped goofy and a bitch to draw. They should have made all the states look like Colorado, Wyoming and Utah... yeah that would be easy!

OK, now I'll try to have a good weekend and look for a Pontiac Aztek or a bling vehicle to take a photograph of.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday 5 for August 7: Baseball Clichés

These are my responses to this week's Friday 5, Baseball Clichés.

1. In what way this week did you strike out?

I may strike out if I am not fully prepared for the possible hurricane on Monday.

2. In what way this week did you hit a home run?

I only hit a home run once in my life during 4th grade P.E .baseball. Since then home runs for in my life are non existent. And definitely none this week!

3. In what way this week did you make a twin killing?

I smacked a big ass cockroach with my shoe in our parking garage. But that is only one killing. Not enough to do this question justice.

4. In what way this week did you make a diving save?

I save money every week by not going to the movies; they're too expensive. Cheaper to just wait for the DVD to come out and even after that wait a few more years before several movies that are hot now on DVD are selling for $9 or less at WalMart. And that is a long dive into saving.

I also saved several music and photo files to a new external 500 gig hard drive and some CDs.

5. Who saved the game for you in the late innings?

One of my doctors saved me from a misdiagnosed prescription product.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Friday 5 for July 31: Taboo!


Taboo (Arthur Lyman), originally uploaded by s0ntee.

From Scrivener's Friday5.org, here are today's questions and situation:

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy the questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we all know where to check out your responses! Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

This week’s 5 is inspired by the party game called Taboo, in which players must make their teammates utter key words by giving them clues. The twist is that each key word is assigned five Taboo words, and players are forbidden from using the Taboo words in their clues. For example, one key word might be milk, and its Taboo words might be dairy, cow, drink, white, and carton. Your clue might be something like, “It’s a beverage from Bessie,” or “You add it to coffee,” or “The land of BLANK and honey,” or “It comes out of breasts.”

Your task is simply to answer these five questions without using any of the Taboo words or phrases. Challenge yourself not just to avoid using the words, but to think of fresh, new answers to these sort of cliched meme questions!

OK I avoided using the words and still answered the questions. Maybe I don't totally get this exercise, but I still answered the questions.

1. Who’s making a positive difference in your life?
Taboo words: friends, family, husband/wife/spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend.

Maybe my boss, maybe a very close relative, maybe a very good acquaintance. Mostly though, no one.

2. Where would you like to be right now? Taboo words: home, bed, anywhere but here.

Hilo, Hawaii 2005

Honokaa, Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii.

3. What’s the first thing you’d do with a $5,000 (or your local equivalent) gift?
Taboo words: save, debt, vacation, payments, invest.

If there is no tax penalty, I'd use some of it to buy an Apple MacPro tower or MacBook Pro. Deposit the rest in the bank. Or maybe use all of it to apply to the cost of buying a new car.

4. What super-power would you really like to have?
Taboo words: invisibility, x-ray vision, flying, strength, transform.

If I can't use the above words, then I'd like to be totally literally transparent, super fast, super smart and persuasive beyond fault.

5. What’s your favorite sound?
Taboo words: laughter, music, ocean, wind, ____’s voice.

The Beatles! If not maybe the exotic xylophone of Arthur Lyman from the album pictured above or my favorite "Yellow Bird".

Friday, July 24, 2009

Friday 5 for July 24: Usefulness


Blue on blue
Originally uploaded by Jennie Faber
1. What’s something in your possession that has long outlived its usefulness?

Smith Corona Coronet electric typewriter exactly like the one pictured here.

2. Who in your life has proven to be a very useful person to know?

It depends on what information or help I need.

3. For group projects requiring collaborative planning and then collaborative execution, in what capacity are you most useful?

Doing some online research or even offline, writing & formatting the report.

4. What’s something someone gave you that you didn’t think much of but later became surprisingly useful?

I got the Smith Corona typewriter (above) as a Christmas gift when I was still in high school. It went with me to college where it was used to type out several reports and papers... this was about the same time the Apple II computer hit the market... but of course our school had no computers except a shared terminal system... which forced me to use the typewriter.

The machine is still around but hardly ever used. I think one of the keys is stuck.

5. What is the most useful book in your house?

Books are mostly for casual reading and information. When I had a DOS computer, a DOS book was handy to have. Manuals for some of my computer application programs were also handy in the old days. Nowdays most manuals are online or in PDF form.

Otherwise it was Webster's Dictionary, but that has been replaced with Dictionary.com online.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Friday 5 for July 17: Scattergories

What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator? (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)

S

1. With what famous person, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, would you most like to be stuck on a desert island?

I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone on a desert island as the competition for food and resources would be too demanding and we'd end up trying to kill each other.



But for the sake of this exercise, and hoping that the desert island is more like "Gilligan's Island" instead of "Survivor Island", then a famous person I would like to be stuck with in such a place starting with the letter "S" would be Shakira!

You know the latin pop singer from Colombia... Shakira could at least sing and dance for me and help me alleviate hours of boredom awaiting rescue... of course it is Shakira so given enough resources, maybe rescue would not be needed as we could get to know each other better... yeah right.

3. What food item, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, can always be found in your pantry?

Salt and Sugar!



4. What song, whose title begins with the letter in question #1, always makes you feel good?



"Sugar Sugar" by The Archies always made me feel good from when I was a kid.

5. What is your least-favorite film whose title begins with the letter in question #1?

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" - if you saw this Star Trek movie you know it is the dog of the bunch. William Shatner should never have been in the director's chair for this cinematic stinker.

6. What unusual animal, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, would be a fun pet?

Siamese Cat - I generally like cats, and well, this one starts with the letter "S" (okay it is not unusual, sorry)!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Friday 5 for July 10: Holes

1. Where can you go for a really good bagel, and how do you like yours?

I'm not a big fan of bagels, so I don't have any particular place to get one. If I do eat a bagel, I generally like them plain or with a light coating of butter.

2. What is your favorite style of doughnut?

Sugar glazed or chocolate glazed.

3. What’s your favorite flavor of Lifesavers?

I like the cherry ones best. I don't know if Lifesavers still sells the pack with only the red ones.

4. What O-shaped breakfast cereals do you like?

Cheeri-O's or Apple Jacks.

5. How do you feel about onion rings, and where can you get some good ones?

I like onion rings. Don't have any particular place to get good ones... I usually get em at Burger King but I would suspect there are other places that have better ones.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Friday 5 for July 3: Fireworks

4th of July 2006 in Hawaii

The Friday 5 master says:

Happy Independence Day, those of you in the United States, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5. Please copy these five questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we’ll all be able to check out your responses! Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. How do you feel about fireworks displays?

Professional fireworks displays are good. They are somewhat of a challenge to photograph. I enjoy them especially on the 4th of July. There are several good ones on the island of Oahu. The Honolulu Ala Moana Center show is usually the biggest and the best. Happy Independence Day!

2. What were the details surrounding one of your mishaps with fire?

Recently my old toaster accidentally caught fire with my breakfast waffles in it. I had to unplug the thing with the fire still burning and threw it in the kitchen sink under running water to put the fire out. That was the end of my 25 year old J.C. Penney toaster. The old toaster was dumped, and a new one was a bought.

3. Who in your life could be described as a real firecracker?

Not anyone in particular.

4. When did you last feel you were being put on display?

Whenever someone takes a photo or vid of me and it ends up on public display on the internet or in the media. I'm ugly. I'm not photogenic. Don't take my picture.

5. How confident are you in your barbecue skills?

I haven't barbecued anything in ages. I would say my skills are very minimal at best. I can strike a match!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Friday 5 June 26: News

WHERE DO I GET MY NEWS is the subject of the questions in this week's Friday 5:

1. Where do you get most of your information about current local (Hawaii) events?

a. Internet websites - HawaiiReporter.com, StarBulletin.com, Advertister.com, Twitter, Facebook, RSS feeds, Hawaii blogs
b. Radio - KHVH local news, Rick Hamada Show, KSSK Perry & Price when there is a local crisis, NOAA weather radio
c. TV local news - KGMB KITV KHON KFVE
d. local newspaper - Advertiser, StarBulletin, neigbbor island newspapers

The New Honolulu Star-Bulletin

The shrinking size of local newspapers are a signal that their days as a news and advertising medium are numbered. I think we'll be getting most of our news in the future from the internet, if not already. Surely many internet resources are dubious, but we want it for free and if a Tweet passes for news, then so be it.

2. Where do you get most of your information about current national and international events?

a. Internet - Drudge Report, Human Events, FoxNews.com, google reader, RSS content from news sites.
b. TV - Fox News, CBS, ABC, BBC, other networks,
c. Radio - KHVH, KHBZ, KHNR conservative radio talk shows, Fox News radio, Rush, Sean Hannity, George Noorey, Jerry Doyle, Michael Savage

3. Who in your family always is most likely to know what’s up with everyone else in your family?

Since I am the only family (myself) here on this island, I get news from me... otherwise on the Big Island, my mom.

4. Who at work (or school) always seems to know what’s going on?

Usually myself, my boss, some colleagues

5. What other kinds of news do you try to keep up-to-date on and where do you get it?

Most of my alternate news comes from the internet - RSS feeds, websites, Twitter feeds, some Facebook and blogs.

Macintosh news - Macintouch, LowEndMac.com, MacObserver.com, Tidbits.com, Apple.com, rss feeds

Other type of news- (no URLs sorry) Politics, Conservatism, Fox News Online, Drudge Report, Palm OS News, blogs, Tech, Photography, Cameras, Radio & Records website (up to early June), Billboard.com, music news, Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo, Yahoo Groups, Google groups, science fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, LOST, TV, radio, movies, IMDB, etc., etc. Who has time to keep up with everything?

Radio - Kim Komando Show

Fallen by the wayside: magazines, other newspapers.

Got a problem with the links? Don't click em!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Dairy Products - Friday 5 6-19-09

Sundae

1. What are your feelings about milk?

I don't quite care for it, although I like milk products such as ice cream and milk shakes. See the tasty picture above... best way to have a milk product... ice cream or ice milk sundae in this case... at McDonalds'.

2. What are your feelings about cheese?

It's good with pizza and spaghetti. I don't over do cheese.

3. What are your feelings about yogurt?

I don't care for it.

4. How do you feel about soy milk?

Nope, that is not for me.

5. How far are you from the nearest cow?

There are some probably in the rural areas of Oahu... maybe about 20 miles or more away.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Eat & Drink

I guess everyone who eats has an opinion on what and how we eat. Here's my responses to today's Friday 5 "Eat & Drink" questions.

1. What’s something you will not eat unless you also have ketchup?

I usually like to have ketchup with Meat Loaf.

2. What’s something you will not drink unless it is served on ice cubes?

I like cold drinks but I do not require ice cubes all of the time. Ice cubes are nice when they are available, especially if you can control how many cubes you put in your drink. I do soft drinks only. No alcohol for me.

That all said, I hate when you go to a food place and the cup is filled mostly with ice cubes and not too much soda. Eating places make a lot of money selling soda with mostly ice cubes in them.

3. What’s something you will not eat unless it is served between slices of bread?

Generally peanut butter, but then if I have crackers, I like peanut butter with that too. Lately I haven’t done peanut butter because of recent salmonella poisoning news.


4. What’s something you will not drink unless you have a straw?

Icee! I like the red straw with the scooper at the end. Strawberry icee is my favorite.

5. What’s something else you will not eat except under very specific circumstances?

Beets - unless it is the last food on earth that is available.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Friday 5 for June 5: BUGS!!!!

Starting with this post, the new home for my "Friday 5" blog responses is here.

I started posting Friday 5 responses to my main blog, but after a while I felt some of the categories did not fit in with the more political, technical and life stuff that I write about there. So for a few entries I used my Tumblr blog. Tumblr is limited, so I decided, hell Blogspot offers its users an unlimited amount of space to post a blog... so here I am, with a new blog just for the Friday 5 answers.

I'll be posting the first entry for Friday June 5 here and will drag my earlier entries to this area in a few days.

Without further delay, here is my Friday 5 response to.....

BUGS!!!!

1. What bugs truly freak you out?

COCKROACHES - especially the big brown, ugly American Cockroach. I hate when they fly, walk upside down on my ceiling and worst land on me. When you try to kill them they have a hard time accepting death, and usually run away when you squish em.... only to find them dead in some nook or cranny days later.

2. Which Bugs Bunny cartoon do you remember most fondly?

While I like the entire stable of Warner Brothers cartoons better than anything from Disney (too goody goody) and Hana Barbera (awful mostly), I can't exactly place a favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon. I generally like the Road Runner and Coyote ones better. That said any cartoon where Bugs would harass Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd are always good ones.

3. What bugs you most about your life online?

A. Spam
B. Instrusive Pop Up and Pop Under Ads
C. Intrusive Pop Ups @ Yahoo that ask me to chat (just defeated that)
D. Overuse of unnecessary FLASH.
E. Flash introductions to websites before they let you in to see the real content.
F. Phishing Schemes
G. People who pass on long chain emails with everyone's addresses in them.
H. Friends & Acquaintances who love to pass around junk emails and jokes without using BCC.
I. Tiered internet pricing
J. Cookies
K. Attachments I never asked for.
L. Streamline Tax - Internet Taxation - coming soon because of liberal Democrats and Obama
M. DRM
N. Netflix Pop Under Ads - like dog shit on your desktop
O. Websites that demand I punch in my cell phone number to get a text message. Hello? I don't own or use a freakin' cell phone!!!!!!!
P. Paying for content that was once free.
Q. Underlining links and text
R. Ugly crap on MySpace.com
S. Apparent long term freeze at Finetune.com
T. Disappearance of Muxtape as we once knew it.
U. The always changing TheSixty-One.com website and their now lousy flash based, points based download system for some songs.
V. I spend too much time online.
W. Not enough free wifi hotspots in my city.
X. Message board sites with too many liberal viewpoints.
Y. Some of my friends are not online yet... sheesh. Can't deal with luddites.
Z. People who don't want to upgrade their operating system and be on some websites for their own good.

With all those bugs, I can't fathom why I continue to pay and use the darn internet. Makes me want to go back to the good old BBS days when things were a lot simpler even though they were slower.

4. Which of your favorite websites seems often to be especially buggy?

Honolulu StarBulletin.com - Around September of 2008 they started using a lot of pop over and pop under advertising. It is extremely annoying when flash based pop ups block the content you want to view. And in some cases when you press the so called "close box" on the offending ad, instead of closing it takes you to the advertiser's website! StarBulletin.com... you are an asshole for instigating intrusive pop up and pop over ads on your content. Use of the mobile site is recommended.

Finetune.com - Once my favorite streaming website that let users create an unlimited number of mixes using popular music and letting users embed those mixes in blogs and websites... Now the entire site is frozen. Our content is still there but we cannot do nothing with it except listen. I strongly suspect this is not entirely Finetune.com's fault but has something to do with the evil RIAA.

MySpace.com - Some people's pages are so overloaded with crap, that they sometimes freeze my browser. Luckily I don't go there as often as I did now that most of my friends are on Facebook.

5. When were you last too sick to get out of bed?

Several years ago I was so sick that I was running out of bed and to the toilet so much that I got badly dehydrated. I had to go to the hospital for a day. They put me on a slow I.V. drip to get my fluids back!!!! It was awful.