Friday 5 for April 22: Moves Like Jagger

From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog... here are the questions.

1. What are you moving toward?

Old age and my eventual demise.

2.What moves you right out the door?

High prices. Often I won't even go into that door.

3. When did you recently move a scheduled meeting, appointment, get-together, or date?

When it was inconvenient.

4. Whats keeping you from moving on something?

Money.

5. Whats a memorable move (successful or not) someone made on you, or a memorable move you made on someone?

Oh gawd, I hate moving. I had to help my friend move a few years ago and it was far from a pleasant experience. I dread having to move out myself someday. Ugh.

Friday 5 for April 13: National Library Week

Shown above: The Hawaii State Public Library, main branch in Honolulu.

1. What were the libraries at your elementary and high school like?

Small and quaint... at least that is what I remember from more than 40 years ago.

2. What’s interesting about your nearest community library?

I live closest to the main branch of the State Library (shown above). I guess what makes that library interesting is that it is in an old, probably historic building in the Capitol District of downtown Honolulu.

3. What is the longest you’ve had an overdue library book? 

Not a book but somewhere in a closet I probably have an overdue issue of "Mechanix Illustrated" magazine from 1969.

4. Among people you know who aren’t already librarians, who would make a good librarian?

Perhaps you or anyone who likes reading, has patience to keep things neatly filed and a good sense of customer service.

5. Who is your favorite librarian?

The ones I knew from kid time have probably died. Sad.

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 website.

Friday 5 for March 30: Handle

Again... a day late and probably a dollar short.



1. How well do you handle the sight of blood?

It's somewhat tolerable.

2. How well do you handle bumpy plane rides?

I think about plane crash statistics when this happens and remind myself flying is safer than driving your own car. Of course it depends on the severity of the turbulence.

On another note read this speculative story about deadly air turbulence.

3. How well do you handle spicy food?

Tolerable.

4. How well do you handle (or think you could handle) yourself in fisticuffs?

My natural instinct is to flee from a situation. Luckily it hasn't happened since maybe 2nd grade.

5. How well do you handle a chef’s knife?

I'm not a culinary expert, but I would presume I could cut something with it.

Friday 5 for March 9: String

A day late and probably a dollar short, but hey... this is from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog:



1. What’s a film that always tugs at your heartstrings?

It's a toss-up between "Forrest Gump" and "My Girl".

2. How long would it take you to come up with a six-inch length of string if someone needed it right now?

About 2 minutes... I have several feet of string in my large medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

3. What are your thoughts on string cheese?

None because I never heard of it.

4. Among people you know, who’s the best guitar-player?

Personally? No one that comes to mind...

In the rock world... well Jimi Hendrix. Lindsey Buckingham. Eric Clapton.

5. What memories do you have of Silly String?

Colorful stringy mess.

Friday 5 for Februray 24: Anniversaries

1. What significant anniversary will you be celebrating sometime this year?

The usual birthdays, anniversaries of my father's death, anniversary of my sister's death years ago... Nothing much to celebrate to tell you the truth.

2. In your life, what is today the one-month anniversary of?



A month ago I posted these old family photos to my Flickr account. See them here.

3. What is today the one-week anniversary of?

I had shoyu chicken with rice, broccoli and carrots that I bought from the Thai plate lunch place on Bishop Street, Downtown Honolulu. See photo below:



4. Sometimes the traditional wedding anniversary gifts seem a bit staid. If you had your way, what would be the right gift themes for the five years’ worth of wedding anniversaries?

A five year old car!

5. Among your friends, who’s been married the longest?

My friends in Hilo who have been married since at least 1982.... my cousins in Kona who have been married since at least 1978. Not mentioning any names or posting photos.

Questions from Scriverner's Friday 5.

Friday 5 for February 17 - Green

My favorite shade of green usually has a dead president on it. Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog.

1. What’s your favorite green article of clothing? 

I have a green shirt.

2. What could you do with a little bit of extra spending green this weekend?

Buy stuff I don't have but want... like maybe a new wide angle lens for my camera.

3. In what way are you conservative of natural resources?

I reuse my plastic bags to dump trash in. The whole green movement thing is a crock of shit.

4. When did you last shoot some pool?

Never.

5. Of whom are you envious lately?

No one.

Friday 5 for January 27 - Storage

A week late but hey, no Friday 5 for this week is posted yet.

1. What are your favorite storage containers like?

Sterilite Show Offs exactly like the one shown above with different colored covers. They're great for storing stuff like CDs, DVDs, small objects, etc.

2. What seems to require more time and energy to store than it’s worth?

I'm kind of a pack rat. Everything has some kind of value... though my floor seems to be a storage area for stuff with nowhere to go.

3. What unusual container are you storing something in?

Long cylindrical cookie can with a rubberized eyeball in it.

4. What packaged product has a container you really like?



Apple products such as the iPod Touch and iPhone. Nicely packaged. Even their computers are nicely packaged.

Ask me about product containers I hate -- I have two words for you: Blister Pack.

5. If you suddenly had some new storage space in your home, what would likely go there?

Most of the stuff I have on the floor (see #2 above).

Friday 5 for January 20, 2012 - A Stitch in Time

The Video: "A Stitch in Time" by Smashing Pumpkins



The Meme: From Scrivener's Friday 5 - A Stitch in Time

Q & A: My responses

1. What was your first wristwatch like?

I think it was a Timex.

2. What lately seems to have been a thief of time?

Paperwork, computer graphics & layout, photo and video editing.

3. What were yesterday’s quietest five minutes like?

Sleepy

4. In what way have you lately been saving time?

Going to work early.

5. We are often charged hourly rates for labor, but we never get to reciprocate in kind when promised completion times don’t match actual completion. If you could bill people for the time you spend waiting, what would be a reasonable amount?

$1 a minute for the first 10 minutes... $3 a minute any time beyond that.

Friday 5 for January 13, 2012: Type

1. What’s a decorative font you really like?

I've used Snell Roundhand on stuff like wedding invitations.
I don't really have a favorite but that is the script font I use for that rare thing which looks good in script.

2. MS Word uses Times New Roman as the default plain font; Apple Pages uses Helvetica. Is there a plain font you like better?

I like Helvetica. For some reason my copy of Word 2008 on the Mac defaults to Calibri. I think it is the same on the office PC with Word 7 or whatever it is that is on Windows 7.

As an alternate I also like Franklin Gothic and to fill space up, Bookman.

3. In words per minute, how fast do you type? (if you Google “check your typing speed” or something like that, you’ll find many online options for testing yourself)

If I did not go back and correct mistakes as I typed perhaps a dismal 55 words per minute... of course that is looking at text someone else first wrote. I think I type a little faster if I am just writing from the top of my head without a text to look at.

4. Who in your life is just your type, but for some reason not romantically compatible with you?

There is no one in my life except the various Macintosh computers and cameras I own. They don't qualify as people, so there you go.

5. What’s your blood type?

B+

By the way I come from the old school of computerized typesetting when it was a highly specialized skill utilizing expensive, proprietary systems such as the Compugraphic or the Itek Quadritek. I spent several years typesetting for our school, a small printing firm and an ad agency before I and everyone else moved on to the Macintosh platform.

Today any schmuck can set type on their Windows PC or Macintosh computer. If they don't know much about type they usually end up with shoddy, crappy looking type.

The video shown above is a glass font wafer that was used on the old Itek Quadritek machine of which I have a page for on the my website.

Friday 5 questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 site.

Friday 5 for January 6, 2012 - Inventions

1. If they could invent a remote control for something in your house that doesn’t have one, what would you wish it to be?

A remote control that would find the missing remote controls for my devices. What I envision is a remote control that sits stationary. You clap your hands in its direction and the device locates the regular, missing remotes by activating their infrared signals and showing the location on my TV or computer screen.

2. What could your car really use that they just hasn’t invented yet?

The ability to jump over obstacles and traffic like Speed Racer's Mach 5. Also the ability for the car to have power saws to cut new roads while on the go... just like the Mach 5.... Also a car with a remote homing device camera to enable the driver to see objects way ahead of or behind him... just like the Mach 5. In fact just about everything the Mach 5 can do, I wish my car could do too. See video at top.

Of course one thing that would make cars and even some flying machines obsolete is the invention of the TRANSPORTER like they have on Star Trek. Beam me up Scotty!

3. Who among your friends could probably be a great inventor if he or she had enough funding to do it?

No one.

4. What invention seems to do its job in a less-satisfying manner than the old-fashioned way?

Mac OSX Lion - I like Snow Leopard better. Too much dumbing down of the Mac OS to make it more like iOS.

5. Lately, vending machines have gone beyond drinks and snacks: you can rent DVDs from them or even purchase iPods from them. What’s something your life could be improved by if it were available in vending machines?

Maybe one that could sell you gift cards for iTunes Store, Amazon.com, WalMart, Outback Steakhouse, and other merchants. I'm not that big on vending machines, but that could probably be popular. Never seen anything like that... though I would think someone already invented it.

Another good one would be a vending machine that sold airline ticket coupons.

Questions generated from Scivener's Friday 5 blogsite.

Friday 5 for December 30: Closing Time

WalMart's always open. This is good when you have to buy stuff at 2 in the morning.

From Scrivener's Friday 5 website:

1. What business establishment’s recent closing was the most disappointing for you?

Rainbow Records near University Ave. They were around for a very long time. Used to sell a good selection of used books, records, CDs, and videos. Now gone. Jellys' remains the biggest retailer of used books, records, CDs and videos in Honolulu. Online is killing brick and mortar music, video and book stores.

2. At what place of business or service are you most likely to be the day’s last customer out the door?

Perhaps McDonalds' -- my friend and I spend some time there because of the free wi-fi access.

3. What place of business or service seems to be closed at times inconvenient to you?

Hawaii State Library system.

4. Where in the real world (not online) will you most likely spend your last 2011 money?

More than likely Don Quijote store at Kaheka in Honolulu. I have to buy groceries after I get back to Honolulu tomorrow.

5. What business or service has been the biggest blessing to you because it is always open?

WalMart

Friday 5 for December 16 - Award Season

Golden Globes nominees were announced this week, and while it should be clear by now to anyone paying attention that they are fully irrelevant, they do kick off the season for reflective retrospection, at least in certain parts of life. In that spirit, please announce your awards for the year 2011 in these categories!

From Scrivener's Friday 5:

1. What wins your award for Best Supporting Household Appliance?

Rice Cooker.

2. What wins your award for Outstanding Performance by Something that Comes in a Bottle or Can?

Bottled Water

3. Who wins your award for Excellence in Poor Timing?

Anyone who brings in something for me to do at the last minute and wants it an hour from now... or even tomorrow. Depending on what it is. I hate to produce last minute stuff, unless I know well in advance that there could be last minute stuff in the workflow... like breaking news for example.

4. What wins your award for Wardrobe Newcomer of the Year?

Nothing. I'm not big on fashion.

5. What wins your award for Outstanding Achievement in Stealing Time?

Angry Birds - It's a good thing I have it on only one Mac!

6. (bonus question!) The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences calls its trophy the Oscar. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences calls its trophy the Grammy. What do you call yours?



The Grouchies

Thanks for participating, and have an award-winning weekend!

Friday 5 for November 25: Leftovers.

From the Friday 5 website: LEFTOVERS.

1. Leftover from April 17, 2009: What’s a creature comfort (practically unnecessary) you must take with you on an overnight trip in the great outdoors? Please consider a phone something that has practical necessity!

iPod Touch and another camera. I don't own a cell phone. iPod Touch comes in handy for listening to music, taking pictures or video, light reading, video viewing and more. Camera... well I use that to take pictures.

2. Leftover from August 31, 2007: What did yesterday cost you? Thanksgiving in the U.S., but answer it for wherever you are and whatever you did!

For starters $210 round trip fare from Honolulu to Big Island of Hawaii and back. Travel cost to get to Honokaa from Hilo + meal costs contributed to family meal.

3. Leftover from January 25, 2008: What was your excuse the last time you were REALLY late for something?

Could not find my keys.

4. Leftover from February 18, 2011: What was your first online purchase?

It was probably a CD from Amazon.com in 1997.

5. Leftover from December 25, 2009: Which of your gifts do you think you do not put to its best, fullest use?

Color rotating light fixture. It's still in the box from the person I got it from. Haven't used it.

Friday 5 for November 18 - Moving

You have to get up early to get pictures of cruise ships coming into Honolulu Harbor.

---

From Scrivener's weekly Friday 5 website (which moved to a new, strange URL this week) comes this week's meme... Moving... what else?


1. When did you last move residences?

1984.

2. What song leaves you completely unmoved even though it seems everyone else is moved by it?

Anything by Glee Cast. I don't see the point in people getting excited by this TV show or all of the lame cover songs that sell in the millions and make the charts with regularity. Glee Cast.... lame, lame, lame.

3. On what kinds of mornings is it easiest for you to jump out of bed and get moving?

When I know some nice ship is coming in like the MS Queen Mary. All of the cruise ships that come into Honolulu Harbor tend to be here just before or during sunrise. Gotta wake up early to get a good picture of these. Another thing that gets me moving early is if I have to catch an early morning flight to somewhere... and once I had to catch an early morning ride on the Hawaii Superferry. Getting a good sunrise picture or photographing a rare celestial event requires an early rising.



4. What object do you get most annoyed about when people move it without letting you know?

My wallet, comb, keys, scissors, scotch tape or iPod Shuffle... Of course since I live by myself, I only have me to blame for this.

5. In what way are you waiting on someone else to make a move?

I wait for an eternity, don't initiate much and let the person get away.

Friday 5 for 11-11-11: What to Take

What to Take - the latest topic from Scrivener's Friday 5 website.

Let's face it, I take a camera just about everywhere I go.

1. What do you usually take to the beach?

Camera



Yes, there are a lot of sights to see and photograph at the beach! Camera is essential.




2. What do you find essential for a trip to the mall?

Money and camera



I often carry a small camera such as this one on my trips to the mall, even to the beach and elsewhere. I like this camera because it is stealthy.

3. What’s something you take to the ballgame?

Camera



It's been a long time since I been to a ballgame.

4. What do you take to the movies?

Money, ticket, iPod for listening to music before the movie starts. And yes a small camera.



Here's a photo of the old Peoples' Theater in Honokaa Hawaii that is still in operation.


5. This one may not have broad enough a relevance, but what do you take when you go to the symphony?

If I went to the symphony, I'd take my camera. Also the ticket to get in.



A small non-SLR camera with a good long lens may be ideal to take to symphonies and other types of concerts where the long zoom and silent mode may come in handy.

Friday 5 for November 4: Hanging Out

From Scrivener's Friday 5 site, the topic this week is "Hanging Out".


1. Where did you hang out with friends when you were a teen?

Mostly at school. I was mostly a stay at home kid.

2. Where did you hang out with friends when you were in your twenties?

School, workplace and record stores.

3. Where do you hang out with friends now? If you’re still in your teens or twenties, where do you imagine you’ll hang out with friends when you’re older?

Facebook. Twitter. Workplace. I mostly stay at home. I'm an old fart. Don't go out much.

4. What’s great hanging-out memories do you have?

Scouring through stacks of records and later CDs with my friends and deciding what we wanted to buy, trade and make mixed tapes with.

5. What ingredient makes hanging out better sometimes than others?

 Food and music? Girls?

 Not too sure which in priority.

Friday 5 for September 23: To The Table

1. Some friends have invited you over to watch the big game. What do you bring for the snack table?

Anything that is already made that I can conveniently buy from a store... cookies, chips, other snack food types.


2. What do you bring for a potluck lunch at work (or school)?

We usually just buy pizza from Pizza Hut. Easy and they deliver. No need to bring anything. Can buy pizza online too.

3. It’s a regifting party! Everyone brings some gift they never opened or used and leaves with someone else’s. What do you bring?

Star Wars lego spaceship thing that I never opened.

From Friday 5 Answers

4. You’re going camping for a long weekend with a bunch of friends. Everybody agrees to bring one thing that others often don’t think to bring. What’s your contribution?

AM / FM radio with VHF weather band. Comes in handy if you want to know what the forecast may be. (The thing could also receive TV audio but after conversion to digital that part of the radio is now blank).



5. Road trip! The car in which you’re going to spend twenty hours with your closest friends only has a CD player. What do you bring?

Mixed CDs that I made on my Mac, The Beatles #1s, Fleetwood Mac Rumours, Dengue Fever CDs, anything else from my collection that can fit in a small carryon case.

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

Friday 5 for August 12: Evidence

A photograph that is not in focus.

1. What could serve as physical evidence that you sometimes lose focus?

When I take a photo (like the one shown above) that is not in focus.

2. What could serve as physical evidence that you are loved?

My mother.


3. What could serve as physical evidence that you’re from wherever you’re from?

Property tax bill.

4. What could serve as physical evidence that you went anywhere this past week?

Gas station fuel receipt from Lex Brodie's.

5. What could serve as physical evidence that you recently caved in to temptation?

My weight.

Friday 5 for July 29, 2011 - Public Options

1. When did you last use a public restroom?

Today at work.

2. When did you last ride public transportation?



Airlines are a form of public transportation run by private companies. That was the last time I rode public transportation. Specifically it was done on a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 in June 2011. Plan to ride again in August.

3. How far away from your home is the nearest public housing?

Several miles away from the Next Step Homeless shelter and Mayor Wright Housing.

4. Which of your public utilities is the least reliable?

While I have not had a water main break in my area for ages, our city's water system is subjected to frequent pipe breakages every week.

5. What did you last view on public television or listen to on public radio?

For TV that was probably sometime in January. More than likely I watched the show "Nova" on PBS. My TV broke since that time, I dis-contiued cable, haven't bought a new set yet, and watch available TV content online or on DVD. As for public radio, I rarely listen, and when I do it is either "Bytemarks" on Wednesday afternoons or the BBC News.

These questions were generated from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog.

Friday 5 for July 15: Long Journeys

1. What is the longest distance you’ve traveled (in one trip) by foot?

I think the longest was way back in 1981 when a friend and I hiked from the Laie Cemetery up to Laie Falls. That's what 4 miles uphill and then back down??? Don't know. Maybe it's only 2 miles each way.

2. What is the longest trip you’ve taken by car?

Driving around the island of Hawaii (Big Island) - Honokaa to Hilo to Volcano to Kailua-Kona to Waimea back to Honokaa. A few times in the last 40 years.

3. What is the longest trip you’ve taken by plane?

Honolulu to Seattle on a Pan Am Boeing 707. Later Honolulu to Las Angeles and back in a United Airlines 747. Also flew across the U.S. to Boston but made a few stops for several days between points. This was a couple of decades ago.


4. What is the longest trip you’ve taken on some kind of water craft?

Honolulu to Kahului Maui and back on the Hawaii Superferry, December 2007.


Photo: On the open ocean in the Hawaii Superferry. More photos.



The second long trip was last year, 2010 - a trip from Pearl Harbor out to nowhere 250 miles south of Honolulu aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. Flew back to Hickam AFB on a U.S. Navy helicopter. All in one day. Reported for online news source. More photos. The photo above was taken in the open ocean far away from land from the bridge deck of the aircraft carrier.

5. What is the longest trip you’ve taken aboard a bus or train?

6 miles on the old Lahaina railroad for tourists.

Around the island of Oahu several times on either TheBus #52 or #55 (back in the 1970s when I used to live way up there).

A trip from Edmonton Alberta to Banff National Park, 1974 on a "Motorcoach" (fancy tour bus).

Questions compiled from the weekly Friday 5 weblog.