Friday, December 31, 2010

Friday 5 for December 31: Saving

Save That Loose Change

1. When dining out, do you usually save room for dessert?

Sometimes.

2. How do you feel about saving places in line or saving seats in theaters?

I generally don't like it.


3. What’s one thing you did to save money this past year?

I have regular savings accounts that are routinely updated on a regular interval.


4. Besides money, what’s something you’re saving for later?

A small emergency supply of water and food.

5. In what way did you recently save the best for last?

Can't think of anything recent.

These are answers to questions posted at the weekly Friday 5 blog.

Happy New Year.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Catching Up with the Friday 5

Haven't done this in weeks due to a death in my family.

Kilauea Caldera

Friday 5 for December 17: Excursions

1. Of excursions you remember taking in elementary school, which was your favorite?

JPO excursion to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while in the 5th grade.

2. Of excursions you remember taking in elementary school, which was your least favorite?

Can't think of any - all excursions were good because we got out of regular classwork.

3. What seems like a really good school excursion destination that nobody seems to take?

Mortuary

4. Which of your recent activities might pass for an educational excursion?

Preparing and arranging for a funeral. Learned a lot from a recent experience.

5. When a sack lunch was needed for a field trip, what was most likely in your brown paper bag? How about now?

Generally food that I like.





Friday 5 for December 10: Rain

1. What’s the worst thing about really bad rainstorms?

Flying in a heavy rainstorm, flooding - damage to homes and businesses, loss of lives, catastrophic landslides, cars getting stuck or getting into a rain related accident, power outages


2. What’s the best thing about really bad rainstorms? 

Perhaps staying home and watching videos - if the power stays on.


3. What’s your favorite (be honest!) way to pass the time when the power’s out?

Listening to the radio to find out if the power outage is localized or widespread, and find out what time the power may come back on. Also calling friends and relatives to see if they have power or not.

4. In what ways are you always prepared for a bad storm?

I live in a condo - I have food, flashlight, radio, videos, - I stay home if at all possible.

5. What’s your favorite song with the word “rain” in the title?

1. "Rain" by The Beatles 

2nd favorite "Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Friday 5 for November 5: Packing

La maleta de Robespierre / RobespierreĀ“s suitcase

Questions from the Friday 5 blog.

1. How far ahead of time do you begin packing for a weekend trip?

Usually the day or night before I leave. I only travel to one island usually, and I already have stuff there, so packing is minimal when it comes to clothes. Only additions are camera and laptop computer. Gotta have those.


2. What was your most recent purchase of a six-pack?

I've drastically cut down on buying anything in bottles or cans because of the bottle tax.

3. What do you look for in a good everyday backpack?

I don't own a backpack, and I don't like being near people with dirty backpacks.

4. Among people you know, who’s the worst packrat?

Myself.

5. How do you know when it’s time to pack it in each evening?

When I start cussing the computer when something goes wrong.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Friday 5 for October 29 - Excess



It's Saturday and here's the Friday 5 for October 29. Whoopeee!!!!

1. What has there been too much of in your life lately?

Junk food. Need to cut back.


2. In what areas of your life might you currently be overextended?

Keeping up with managing and editing several websites including this one.

3. What seems about to be going into overtime?

Lack of sleep.

4. In what way does your cup runneth over?

When I forget to turn off the faucet while filling up a cup.


5. What’s your favorite INXS song?

And this is the question I wanted to answer. My favorite INXS song? Easy - "Ordinary Sin" has been my favorite song by this Australian band since I first saw the video (posted above) on WTBS Night Tracks way back in around 1983! Boy does that date me. A lot of music that I like date me.

Anyways, my top 5 INXS songs just on a whim are...

1. Ordinary Sin
2. Need You Tonight
3. Calling All Nations
4. Suicide Blonde
5. I Send A Message

Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday 5 for October 22: Holy Moly

Photo by WmJs. See this picture super sized.

"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’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!"

1. What gives you the heebie-jeebies?

COCKROACHES... especially the big, flying "B-52" sized American Cockroach just like the one pictured above. Horrible creepy creatures. I hate them when they fly. I hate them when they are on the ground. They give me the creeps when I try to kill them... stepping on them makes a horrible crispy cornflakes like crushing sound... and they still get up! And try to run. Repulsive sons of bitches these things are. They might as well be like that big Alien Ripley was trying to kill in those famous movies... yeach!

2. When were you most recently in double trouble?

Nothing recently or even in the not so distant past.

3. What puts you in the mood for some hanky-panky?

I'm a boring person. I don't engage in such activities.


4. What easy-breezy task is still a pain in the neck to accomplish?

Christmas shopping.

5. What area in your life seems especially rife with mumbo-jumbo?

Politics from the other side of the aisle. Some of those people on the other side are like cockroaches.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Catching Up with the Friday 5

This week I have answers to 2 Friday 5's. I looked at last week's 5 and thought they were good enough to answer one week late. I was not near the internet too often last weekend.

Friday 5 for October 15
Every Sha La La La... it's Yesterday Once More...




The Carpenters... Karen and Richard. Unbelievable that Richard is now 64. Wow.

I totally relate to their music since my long ago deceased sister first became a fan. "Now and Then" with the extended "Yesterday Once More" medley combined with 60s oldies is my favorite Carpenters song / side... great stuff!!!!


1. Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?

They long to be "Close to You" and looking for a free handout!!!!

2. What always gets you down? Paying taxes.


3. If you had to live yesterday once more (literally yesterday, as in Thursday the 14th), which part might be worth writing a pretty pop song about?

"Resizing Photos with Malia"

4. Where’s the coolest place you’ve been where you could look “down on creation?”

That would have to be Volcanoes National Park  - Looking at hot lava oozing out of a crater is the ultimate rush in seeing something being created


5. What’s something in your life that has only just begun? Diet.




Friday 5 for October 8
Mementos

1. Do you still have your senior yearbook? Where is it?

Yes. It's at my parents' place. I have a photo of it and the previous year. See above.

2. What souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?

Pictures and a video clip of my Dad.


3. What visible signs are there of your most recent injury?

Scratch on my knee from Poof the Cat.


4. What’s the neatest wedding favor you’ve ever seen?

Can't recall any recent or distant ones.

5. What do you do with playbills and movie-ticket stubs?

I've kept some of them... Rolling Stones ticket stub from 1998.... movie stubs from Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back. Several others. Sadly others have been lost.. Fleetwood Mac 1977 and 1979 concerts.... Eagles 1976 concert.... Elton John 1980 concert...

Friday, October 1, 2010

Friday 5 for October 1: Drops

Suck on this[Day334]*

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’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What was the last thing you dropped on the kitchen floor? Ice cubes.

2. What cough drops do you like, and do they work very well?

Halls mentholyptus - the red, blue or clear white ones. They provide temporary relief form sore throats and coughing, but no cure.

3. Who was the last person you dropped off somewhere? My boss at the airport.

4. When were you ever dropped like a bad habit?

In May 2010.

5. What are your favorite kind of raindrops?

The ones that drizzle, barely touches the surface and then instantly evaporates.

One of my favorite songs about "drops":



Kenny Rogers & the First Edition
Just Dropped In (to See What Condition my Condition was in)

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friday 5 for September 17: Nagging




1. What kinds of nagging injuries do you have? Pain in my right shoulder that has persisted now for more than 2 months. Doctor just gave me pain reliever so far.

2. What long-procrastinated task is nagging at you lately? Taxes usually.

3. In what way have you been a nag to someone else? n/a

4. Who in your life is a world-class nag? No one I can think of.

5. Nag is such an ugly word. What would be a nicer way to describe someone who exhibits nagging tendencies?

Negative persistence.

While "Nag" is such an ugly word, it makes for a great rock n roll song. See video above.

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Friday 5 for September 10: Fields

Waikiki 1-1-10


Friday 5 for Sept. 10: Fields
Questions from the weekly Friday 5 website.

1. What is the field nearest your home like?

There are a couple of scrawny baseball fields in Ala Moana Park. That's about the nearest "field" to my home. I live in urban Honolulu. As far as fields go, my favorite is Kapiolani Park - the place has a big, expansive field that can be used for multiple events at the same time. However the best time for me to go there is when hardly anyone is using it. I just like to simply walk through it and admire the not so distant landmarks from there... Diamond Head to the east and Waikiki's urban jungle to the west.


2. How did you get into the professional field you’re in? If you’re not working, what field are you most likely to find yourself in some day?

Currently I'm an administrative type of person, but I spend a lot of time creating, modifying, editing various media projects for my employer as well as a handful of other individuals and organizations. Those media things are usually web pages, blogs, photography, news writing and some graphic arts. These learned skills have been applied to my job in the political field.

3. What’s the most interesting sight within your current field of vision?

Not much in my cluttered apartment... so the most interesting sight within my current filed of vision is the MacBook Pro computer I'm typing this entry on.


4. Where were you the last time you fielded questions from several people in turn?

A few months ago at work, and occasionally during the slow season, a few phone calls from people with questions on procedure, process and issues.


5. How are you feeling right now?

Ho-hum (9-9-10) because I was not feeling very well for part of the day. Had a medical problem recur. Will be talking to my doctor tomorrow (9-10-10).

Friday, September 3, 2010

Friday 5 for Sept. 3 - Ink

Sharpie
Photo by Matthew Cook as seen on Flickr

Friday 5 for September 3: Ink

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

1. What are the coolest and ugliest tattoos you’ve ever seen?


I have no tattoos, and am not a fan of them. Therefore I don't have much of an opinion of them as art one way or another. I just personally don't like them.

2. Have you ever had a meal in which squid ink was an ingredient? How was it?

No to the first question and can't answer the second.

3. Are you one of those people who has a favorite pen, or one of those people who just uses whatever’s at hand? What’re your favorite pens like?


I have long ago given up on "favorite pens" because back in the day when I did have a few good ones like Parker or Sheaffer fountain pens, they only got lost or stolen. Although now after thinking about this I want to run out to the store and get myself another nice pen.

Back in the olden days of manual paste-up I used also use a Rapidograph pen to draw fine, straight, black lines. Those were nice and costly.

4. There’s a box of colored markers on the table, and someone tells everyone assembled to grab one. If you have first pick, what do you take?

Black because it is a good place to start and perhaps finish too. Hopefully it's a fine point Sharpie.

5. Have you ever written on a wall in a public place?

Not really, I respect public and private property. I think graffiti should not be promoted as "art" if it ambushes property owners. People who dwell in illegal graffiti ought to be put in jail, pay a hefty fine and paint the graffiti over at the place they committed the crime using their own funds. Grafitti is just trashy, unauthorized art especially when done to just to mark territory like dogs. Despicable.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday 5 for August 20: Mint!

Gimmie Two!

Friday 5 for August 20 - Mint!
Questions from Scrivener's weekly Friday 5 site.

1. How picky are you about toothpaste?

I usually stick with Crest Regular.


2. What’s the best cooked dish you’ve had that included mint?

None that I can think of.

3. How far would you have to go from where you are right now to get a breath mint?

About 1 block away from my home to the store.

4. Got any gum?

No.

5. What’s something you keep in mint condition?

A few of my coins that I have kept are in mint condition as well as the two-dollar bills shown above.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Friday 5 for July 30: Oceans

From Scrivener's Friday 5 website, this week's questions deal with oceans.

"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’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!"

Open Ocean

1. When were you last in ocean waters?

On July 6 I went on a trip to nowhere aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. You can read about it here and also see more photos here. The photo above is of the open ocean as seen from one of the hangar decks aboard the huge aircraft carrier. By the way I am not in the military. I was invited to go on this trip as part of a media tour for the first day of RIMPAC operations.

2. When did you last fly over ocean waters?

I rode a U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopter over 50 miles of open ocean from the USS Ronald Reagan back north to the island of Oahu and Hickam Air Force Base on July 6. I will be taking a 400+ mile jet round trip from Oahu to the Big Island of Hawaii in August.

Flight Back to Oahu
Here's a view of the open ocean and the island of Oahu in the distance as I flew back on the Seahawk helicopter. The entire trip from carrier to base took about 35 minutes flying at an altitude of about 600 feet.

3. What ocean sports activity seems like the most fun?

Probably surfing but I am not a surfer. Would be nice if I had learned because it looks like a great place to take pictures from. But alas, I am way too old and out of shape for that kind of stuff today. I prefer to stay safely on shore and just watch the waves.

Surfer #2
A surf shot I took several months ago.

4. What are your thoughts or feelings about public aquariums?

They are great places to look at fish and other lifeforms in an underwater environment without risking your life and limb. Just pay the admission and walk through the many displays.

5. What are your thoughts or feelings about sushi?

I love it especially with pieces of raw fish in it and wrapped in nori. Great rice alternative. Try it if you ever have a chance.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Friday 5 for July 16: Legend and Lore

Hey, it's Saturday and here are my answers to yesterday's Friday 5!

1. Most neighborhoods have at least one place that’s (according to lore) haunted. What the haunted place in your neighborhood (or in the neighborhood where you grew up), and what’s the story?

See the story in #2 below (haunted and stupid combined).

Old Church Near Honokaa

2. Most neighborhoods have at least one place where some kid (according to legend) did something daring, dangerous, and most likely stupid. What’s the place in your neighborhood (or in the neighborhood where you grew up), and what’s the story?

Can't remember the name of this church right off hand. It is located near a former cane field that is now surrounded by an agricultural forest. For the most part this church is not known to be haunted.

About 25 years ago my kid brother and his friends went up to the church after a party one night and fooled around inside the structure and in the cemetery next to it. They had broken into the church and vandalized it. My brother told me that some kind of haunted spirits came after them. He said one person was levitated and thrown in a truck. The others were scared and ran out of the church and property. I forget most of the details of his story, but needless to say these young teens (at the time) got out of Dodge on their vehicles and went home.

While they were at home, many of them could not sleep and had other emotional problems for days. One day they had to confess to someone and upon doing so had to get the situation remedied. So they had to meet the caretaker of the church, an older Hawaiian man and got a Hawaiian blessing to chase the spirits away from them and apparently make everything “pono” again. After that they were apparently ok.

My brother told me the story in vivid detail but generally doesn’t like to repeat it. A picture of the church that I took in 1995 appears above.

The Cinerama Theater

3. Most neighborhoods have some lame building (like a bank or a gas station) where there used to be something much, much cooler. What’s the place in your neighborhood (or in the neighborhood where you grew up), and what’s the story?

I am still saddened that one of my favorite theaters of all time, the Cinerama on King and Punahou Streets in Honolulu closed in 1999 and became a Checker car parts store. That is the theater that I spent many of my college and later years watching first run movies such as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

Another set of theaters that have closed are the old Waikiki #3 theater and the newer Waikiki #1 and #2 theaters. The Waikiki #3 was built in the 1930s and finally went out of business in 2002. I saw a lot of movies there including the re-edited Star Wars (1997) and many others. Last movie I saw at the Waikiki #3 was Lilo & Stitch.

All of the theaters mentioned here were single screen venues with very large screens, generally good, comfortable seating and fantastic sound for their time. The Waikiki #3 is especially known for its dƩcor that featured palm trees, fake clouds and a real organ that if you were lucky enough, some guy was playing while you waited for the movie to start.

The Waikiki #3 was torn down and ritzy tourist trap shops were put in its place.

The Waikiki #1 and #2 opened in 1970 and closed in 2003. Those huge twin screen theaters remained vacant until this year when it was announced that they’ll be gutted and placed in its interior will be the largest Ross’s discount clothing store in Hawaii.

Fact is I miss most of the single screen, movie palace type theaters. The old New Royal Theater in Waikiki was razed many years ago and today a big concrete hotel sits on that property. The old Kuhio Theater in Waikiki was a nice single screen venue, that was split into 2 screens in the 1970s and torn down in the 1990s to make way for another development.

Such is the pace of progress….

4. In most neighborhoods of our youths, there are a few places that almost always cause us to say, “That’s the place where I _________.” What’s one such place in the neighborhood where you grew up, and what’s the story?

Back in my college days I spent way too much time hanging out in the darkroom and our college newspaper office putting the paper together in the old fashioned way without the use of any desktop publishing system and using chemicals to develop film and print pictures from that film of what we took. Plenty of hours, too much time to be efficient in today’s computer world. The college paper is still around in the same place today but of course everything is computerized.


5. Where in the neighborhood where you grew up would you most likely run into someone today who knew you when you were a kid?

If I go back to my hometown people are bound to run into someone they know at the post office or the local grocery store.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Friday 5 for July 2: Dog & Pony Shows

Great questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog....

Of course I'm spinning them in my own way! Enjoy....


Aloha Festivals Parade
Here's a zoo animal that costs the taxpayers too much money.

1. What’s your favorite zoo animal?

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is one of my favorite Honolulu zoo animals. The guy is a political bully and is largely responsible for the added tax burden upon the State of Hawaii's people. Why? Because we are and will be paying a huge cash outlay to fund his egotistic, unneeded, heavy gauge, fixed rail, choo choo train mass transit project. The thing will cost at least $6 billion to build and countless millions and billions to maintain and sustain. Plus it will be the biggest, ugliest blight ever constructed in the City of Honolulu. It will ruin our sense of place and divide communities.

Former U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie can rival any squealing or howling monkey at the zoo when giving a speech espousing his socialistic and collective views.

2. What’s your favorite circus act?

Democrats in the Hawaii State Legislature, Democrats in the U.S. Congress and President Barack Obama. All of these circus acts make great fodder for conservative talk radio. Sadly these circus acts cost the taxpayers way too much money while they take away more of our freedoms.

Last Day Hawaii State Legislature

3. When did you last attend (or participate in) a parade?



The last parade I attended was the annual Downtown Honolulu Chinese New Year parade and festival. Check out the photo slideshow above.

4. When did you last attend a sporting event?

While waiting for a political meeting to start this past February at a local gymnasium, I watched a pretty good game of amateur, co-ed pick up league basketball.

5. What unique festivals does your area feature in celebration of some kind of food?

While I have never been to it, the Waikiki Spam Jam is quite notable and popular in these parts. It pays homage and celebrates the strange meat in the blue can. It is not a festival for junk emails.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Friday 5 for June 25: Breakfast

Pancake
I like pancakes and waffles for breakfast.

1. Oh my goodness! You have to run out the door right now and you haven’t eaten! Before dashing out, what do you grab to wolf down on your way?

Often I simply don't eat but grab a snack later at the store.


2. What’s a popular breakfast you dislike?

Easy over eggs. I don't like any eggs that seem to be raw. Scrambled eggs are just fine.

I also dislike raisin bran cereals - all types.

3. You’re going out for breakfast anywhere you want, and someone else is treating! Where do you go and what do you order?

No place in particular except maybe at my Mom's house. Air fare anyone?


4. What do you have when you need a simple, healthy (or healthy-ish, for those of you who just don’t do healthy!) breakfast?

Diamond Saloon Pilot Crackers with peanut butter. The old Hilo Saloon Pilot Crackers were better.

Check out my recipe for "Cracker Toast"


5. You’ve been invited to a breakfast potluck. What are you most likely to bring?

I try to avoid 99% of most potlucks.

I'm surprised there is no favorite breakfast food question. My favorite breakfast foods are waffles with butter & syrup, hot whipped chocolate or pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Friday 5 for May 14: Cookieeee!




1. What is absolutely the best cookie you’ve ever had?

I think any cookie that is homemade, coming out warm, fresh from the oven is the best. My aunt used to make good cookies.

2. What is a cookie you really don’t care for?

Any cookie with raisins. I don't like raisins. Because of that I'll either break the cookie up to pick out and toss the raisins or not eat it at all.

I also don't like most of the cookies that get loaded into my browser cache that come from many websites - especially advertising websites. It is always a good idea to clear your brower's cache and history, especially on your work computer.


3. What are some other cookies you are rather fond of?

Many types, especially those that are coated with chocolate, wafers, Oreos, chocolate battered, chocolate chipped, etc.

4. Grocery-store cookies are, of course, never as good as anything that comes out of someone’s kitchen, but what’s a packaged cookie that’s still pretty good?

Lately my favorites are Tim Tams.



Tim Tam, originally uploaded by ģŠ¤ķŠœģ™€ķŠø.

5. In general, do you think cookies should be chewy and gooey, or should they be crispy and crunchy?

I like chewy cand gooey but crispy and crunchy is OK too.

Questions from the weekly Friday 5 website.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday 5 for April 30: Red

Fun With Light

RED: The color a lot of people's bank accounts will be after the State of Hawaii and Federal Government tax increases take more of our money!!!

And now the questions as asked from the weekly Friday 5 website:

1. What is your favorite red food?

Probably some sort of sashimi dish or poki aku or ahi. For you mainlanders that is raw fish. Yum!


2. When were you last caught red-handed?

When I accidentally cut a finger with a knife a few months ago.

3. What's your nicest red article of clothing?

A shirt that I wore to the Tax Day TEA Party. That shirt symbolizes all of the red ink our wallets and bank accounts will incur after the tax increases passed by the Hawaii State Legislature and the Obummer administration kick in.


4. Who's got the loveliest red hair?

Can't think of anyone I know personally.

There are hundreds and thousands of famous personalities with that trait. I guess for me it would be Marcia Cross an actress who is on the TV series "Desparate Housewives". I think singer Neko Case is pretty too. Years previous, I'd also vote for actress Molly Ringwald. She was pretty sweet in the movie Sixteen Candles.

Of course who is a true red head these days since anyone can color their hair red or all other shades of the rainbow.

5. What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!?

Never saw the movie.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Friday 5 for April 9: Multimedia


1. What Rolling Stones song best summarizes the week you just had?

"Time Waits For No One", and it won't wait for me..... yes, I got sick this past week and missed a lot of things and had to catch up for a while on stuff. Actually a better song for me this past week would have been Aerosmith's "Sick as a Dog".

2. What movie reminds you most of your childhood?

Too many to mention... but probably the original "Planet of the Apes" with Charlton Hestion is my late childhood favorite since I saw that several times in the theater between 1968 to 1970, when it was double billed with “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”... The movie often brings back childhood memories for me when I think about the childhood friends that I went to the theater with to see this movie.

3. What part of the newspaper do you never (or almost never) read?

The classifieds, most of the sports section, some of the world news section, it depends on the paper. Classifieds are really a waste of time since there are hardly any ads other than those put up by car dealerships and real estate firms. We can all thank Craigslist for this since most of the real world classified ads now appear online at this free service.

I also never read horoscopes (waste of time and I don't believe in that crap), bridge column, Dear Abby, crossword puzzle, most of the liberal left opinion writers.

4. What television show is a lot better than you thought it would be?

The most recent one would have to be the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica which aired on the SciFi channel for the past 4 years between 2005 – 2009. It was based on the original series of the same name which aired in the late 1970s.

The new version blew that old one out of the water with a better, darker storyline that unraveled like a serial over its 4 year run. It had better character development , some twisted storyline sub-plots, a mythical ethos, death, destruction and better special effects.

The new version of V is also better than its 1980s original, though the original mini-series from 1983 that started it all still holds strong today IMO.

5. What station is the radio nearest you set on at this moment?

KHVH 830 AM News and Talk. I have several radios and most of the time when I listen to radio today, I am on KHVH. They air my most of my favorite conservative talk radio shows including the locally hosted Rick Hamada Show, and the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Coast to Coast AM shows. Yes, I am a Tea Party conservative and in this day and age when Obummer and his ilk are driving our great country further and further to the left in their unlentless march to socialism, it is conservative talk radio and Fox News Channel that we need the most in today’s twisted world.

Photo: Cast and characters of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica TV series.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday 5 for April 2: Baskets

4 Baskets

1. What is your laundry basket like?

Plastic. 2 of them.

2. What in your life is threatening to go to hell in a handbasket?

Higher taxes, more cost and less freedom due to the liberal wackos in charge of running our country and the socialist state of Hawaii.

3. What was the occasion for your receiving your last gift basket, and what was in it?

Have not gotten a gift basket in recent years.

4. When could you last have been described as a basket case?

When I had to have an invasive medical procedure done on me last year.

5. How’s your bread basket?

I keep my bread in a cupboard. The green bread stays in the bank.

Answer these questions at the Friday 5 weblog.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Friday 5 for March 26 - Sleep

What's on my iTunes
Listening to music on iTunes sometimes put me to sleep.

1. How many hours’ sleep do you need in order to be at your best, and what’s the minimum you can get on a regular basis and still be functional?


8 hours is ideal, however 5 to 6 is ok.

4 hours just makes it, and anything under that is not so good.

2. What’s your favorite sleeping position?

Lying down.

3. What was the cause of your most recent difficulty sleeping?

Coughing due to a bad cold last month.

4. When you can’t seem to drift off to sleep right away, what are some things you do to bring about sleep?

Listen to late night talk radio or music on my iTunes/Power Mac G4.

5. When did you last doze off at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate place?

Recently for a few minutes at work.... mostly nodding off.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Friday 5 for March 19 - Chit Chat

Aura Aura Climber

Totally useless Friday 5 questions, but here goes...

1. “Come here often?”

I don't have a "here" that I go to often that other people ask me about. And if they did my answer would be "no". Fact is the only "here" that I go to often is work and home. Home is my best "here".

2. “What’s new?”

That would depend on what was new at the moment. If there is nothing, then more often than not, "nothing new". But once in a while there is something new - like a new car, new computer, new song or a new place. "What's new" like most of these are just idle chatter topics people come up with when there is nothing to really talk about.

Currently the latest "what's new" for me is a $2 game I bought online for the Nintendo DSi called "Aura Aura Climber". Got it last week. Kind of cutesy game probably aimed at kids but a good pass time for a few minutes.

3. “[insert your recent weather condition here] enough for ya?”

"Rain" enough for you - maybe, maybe not. No one ever asks "hurricane" enough for you.

4. “How’s it hangin?”

I don't like that question, never ask it myself. Sounds so hip-hoppish.

5. “How ’bout them [insert local sports team here]?”

"How bout them Rainbow Warriors", which in most cases the answer is "not so good".

Friday, March 12, 2010

Friday 5 for March 12: Deadlines

Vigrass & Osborne

1. When was the last time you had a serious deadline to make, and did you make it?

We have frequent deadlines at my workplace. I have met all of them so far this year. I’ve been at this workplace for 10+ years.

2. Do you generally plan for deadlines, or are they more likely to sneak up on you until you’re frantic?

I generally plan for them. I generally like to start early and hopefully finish early. I am one of those types of people that I just have to be at the airport early for my flight. When I was in school and was the newspaper and yearbook editor (at different times), I always made the deadline… which of course meant staying up late into the wee hours. In those days we did not have Macintosh computers!

3. When did you last set a deadline for someone else, and did that person make it?

At work we have routine deadlines that not only I have to follow, but the rest of our staff. They usually make it.

4. How flexible and understanding are you when it comes to other people meeting your deadlines?

It depends on the task. If another department requires us to meet that deadline I am pretty stringent on us meeting it. Not very flexible in those occasions because the rest of the organization will just leave us behind.

5. What were the circumstances the last time you hung up on someone in the middle of a phone call, or the last time someone hung up on you in the middle of a phone call?

A few days ago someone hung up on me after calling me an "asshole".

Photo: An almost entirely forgotten song called "Mr. Deadline" by Vigrass and Osborne never made a dent on the charts back in its day of 1972.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Friday 5 for March 5 - Staples

Fried Rice @ Kuhio Grill

1. Of all the hundreds of sizes and shapes bread seems to come in, what is your favorite?

Whatever is affordable and tastes good.

2. What’s your favorite thing to eat with rice?

Any plate lunch or dinner type of foods - chicken, beef, fish, etc. Fried rice is a favorite.

3. What are your feelings about milk?

I like it with cereal, but I don't like it if the cereal gets too soggy. Best to eat milked cereal quickly.

4. What was wrapped in the tortilla you most recently ate?

Probably beef and beans, maybe cheese. Been a while since I had one.

5. How many staplers are there in your house and where are they?

I have 2 staplers in my house and right now I don't know where either of them are.

Photo above: Fried rice is one of my favorite rice dishes.

Questions taken from the weekly Friday 5 blog by Scrivener.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday 5 for February 19 - Rules

Wrong Way

1. Be honest: what are some rules you have for yourself that don’t
really make much sense?

Don't walk outside barefooted - you may step on glass, a bee or a sharp metal object.

2. What rules of questionable sense did your parents have for you when
you were young?

Probably going to bed at 8pm and missing some prime time TV that occurred after that. This was through my early elementary school years.

3. What’s a rule most people (if not all people) seem never to obey?

There are plenty...

a. Running red lights.
b. Crossing against the orange flashing light. Also J-walkers.
c. Running through crosswalks when the countdown timer says less than 5 seconds.
d. Drivers not using turn signals.
e. Drivers who talk on their cell phone while driving even though we have a law that prohibits that.
f. Drivers who do not yield the right of way for pedestrians at crosswalks.
g. Drivers who follow your vehicle too closely (tailgaters).

h. Idiots who burst illegal fireworks.
i. Idiots who burst legal fireworks on illegal fireworks days (about 360 days a year).
j. Smokers who smoke in "no smoking zones". The signs clearly say that. The law says so. Yet they smoke!!!!

k. People who let their cell phones ring at movie theaters or in church.
l. People who take cell phone calls while seated in the theater or church while the performance is going on.'

m. I hate people who try to sneak their small dogs into apartment/condo complexes that have a "no pets allowed" house rule.

n. People who go beyond the marked /signed barrier at lookout points near cliffs. Hello, the sign is there to protect you and the state from falling/liability.

o. People who talk on their cell phones and use their electronic devices on planes even after the announcement comes on saying turn off cell phones and electronic devices for takeoff and landing.

p. People who use the express line at the supermarket where the sign says 1o items or less and they have a cart load of more than 10 items. That irks me!
q. The check out clerk at the supermarket who allow the line violating scafflow (above) through with more than 10 items when the sign clearly says "10 items or less".

4. There are no rules governing the giving and receiving of Valentine’s Day gifts, but what rules should there be?

Never assume everyone likes Valentine's Day. I don't celebrate this non-holiday.

5. If the Golden Rule says you should do unto others as you’d have others do unto you, what would the Silver and Bronze rules say?

Do not tax us for more than we can afford.

Stop wasteful government spending.

Questions were originally posted at the Friday 5 website.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Friday 5 for February 12 - Warmth

Warmth

I'm back with answering the weekly Friday 5. This week's topic, "Warmth" doesn't bring much to my table.

1. What is your favorite blanket like?

Old and worn.

2. What was the last thing you baked?

Nothing recently.

Obama's Book & more

3. What television personality gets you most hot and bothered?

Barrack Hussein Obama - did not vote for him, don't support any of his policies and "changes" for a more liberal, left leaning, baby killing, same sex, socialistic America.

4. When did you last burn yourself?

Last year, slight minor burn on a finger while cooking something. Not a pleasant feeling.'

5. What are your feelings about hot sauce?

Not too crazy about it. Hardly use it.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

"Fried Day" for February 5

What's For Lunch?

OK. So this is Saturday. I'm a day late and several dollars short, but who's counting or even cares? Missed last week, but now I am back. Bring on the questions.

1. When you come home from a long day of whatever it is you do and your brain is totally fried, what therapy do you normally seek?

Sleep!

2. Of the myriad of desserts made primarily of fried dough, what is your favorite?

Malasadas.

3. Most fried foods are best right out of the fryer, but what‚Ć„Ć“s a fried food that you enjoy cold?

Fried chicken is okay when it is cold.


4. What's the most unusual deep-fried food you've ever tried?

Can't think of any.


5. Where can you get really good French fries?

McDonalds - consistent across most of all of their locations. I'm sure there are better fries elsewhere, but McDonalds comes to mind when I think about good french fry quality all around.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday 5 - January 22 - Personal Adds

Sundae
Can I have some whipped cream on this?

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! Don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What’s your favorite “just add water!” food?

Water is a great food in and of itself. Just add water and you get water!

2. What’s your favorite thing to add vinegar to?

Easter egg dye.

3. What’s something weird you’ve added to normal food?

Nothing. I prefer to keep my normal food, normal.

4. What’s your favorite thing to add whipped cream to?

Chocolate and hot fudge sundae, pudding, hot chocolate, pie, cake.

5. What’s something you refuse to add anything to, even though most people add something?

Poi. Plain is the best way to eat it.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Friday 5 for Jan. 15 - Misses

iPod Shuffles
I keep on misplacing my iPod Shuffles among other things.

This week's Friday 5 on misses....

1. What’s something you frequently misplace?


Many items including wallet, keys, comb, scissors. scotch tape, pens, pencils, checkbook, TV & DVD remote controls and iPod Shuffle. Most of this stuff gets misplaced in my small, cluttered home.

2. For whom are you often mistaken?

No one that I know of.

3. When were you last misinformed about something important?

Can't remember anything recently.

4. Where in your home do you have a seemingly random collection of miscellanea?

Desk drawers, closets, in boxes, in my car - yes, I have quite a collection of clutter. It is no wonder why there are so many storage facility warehouse places in Honolulu.

5. Upon meeting someone for the first time, what qualities in the other person are likely to cause you to misjudge him or her?

It depends on the person - perhaps their looks, what they have to say about certain issues....

Friday, January 8, 2010

Friday 5 January 8 - Last Resort


1. What’s something you wear only when you’re just about out of clean clothes?

Clothes of colors I don't like. I usually do laundry once a week, so this rarely happens.

2. Who’s someone you hang out with only if nobody else is available?

Myself.

3. What’s something you eat only when the budget is really, really tight?

Vienna sausage or spam.

4. Who’s someone you call for help only if you absolutely must?

A friend.

5. What’s something you’ll watch on television only because it’s slightly better than watching nothing?

The TV security image of our front lobby in my condominium on Channel 57. It is interesting to see who is coming and going or if the security guard is asleep at his post late nights. Single camera only one angle 24-7-365 days a year; no sound.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Friday 5 Late: Newness

My New MacBook Pro

OK. I did not do Friday 5 the week before last, and this one is 5 days late... January 5. I guess its a good day to do a Friday 5 on a Tuesday which is the 5th day of the month and the new year.

1. What’s something that’s better when the newness has worn off?

My vinyl record collection. I appreciate many of my old records more today than when they were new years ago.

2. What’s something you already own that could stand to be replaced by the newer version?

Um... yes.. I just bought a new MacBook Pro laptop computer that replaces my Power Mac G4 tower as my primary computer. While I love the new Mac, the old tower as well as my older G3 Power Macintosh iBook laptop still serves loyal duty as a file / music server (G4) and smaller road warrior (iBook).

3. What’s something that was better before someone made it “new and improved?”

Apple iPod Shuffle... I think the original gum stick design is the best. I have 2 of them and they still work fine. Apple really screwed up with the 3rd generation iPod Shuffle by making it too small (easy for me to lose) and moving all of the major controls to the ear bud cord... like um.. that is a bad idea because you cannot connect a third party headphone to the new iPod Shuffle without some kind of proprietary, Apple approved adapter or use the device to plug into a car audio or home stereo system... all of which I can do with my original model shuffle and 3 other iPods that I own without any proprietary adapter thingy.

4. Of geographic locations whose names begin with the word “new,” which seems like the most interesting place to visit?

I have heard that New Zealand is a very nice place to visit and take photographs.

5. On what date will 2010 no longer feel like the new year?

Probably around the end of January... like say, January 21 onward.