Friday 5 for September 2: Falling

From the Friday 5 website:



"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!"

1. What were the circumstances surrounding your most embarrassing (physical) stumble?

I fell in the mud more than 30 years ago while taking a picture at an amusement park in California.

2. As summer winds down and autumn makes its approach, what are you most looking forward to in the changing of the seasons?

Sunsets that set back in the water instead of behind the Waianae mountains from this part of Honolulu. (See photo above)

3. What’s something you’ve recently fallen for?



MacBook Pro 13 inch. Bought it in June.

Last week I bought a new Canon 600D - Rebel T3i camera body because my only DSLR body, an 8 year old Digital Rebel 300D broke! Awaiting the new camera from Amazon.com.

4. Of what has there been a shortfall in your life recently?

Time, maybe money... but time mostly to do stuff I need to do.

5. Has there been any kind of windfall in your life in the past few months?

If it is money.... no. Can't think of anything else.

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 August 5: Lifelong Learning

A week late and probably a dollar short, but here's last week's answers to the Friday 5.

1. What’s something you recently learned how to do on a computer?

How to download YouTube videos so that I can play them offline with Quicktime, iTunes and on my iPod Touch. Thanks Srivenrer for the link to Evom - http://thelittleappfactory.com/evom/




2. What’s something you recently learned in the kitchen?

To generally avoid it.

3. What’s something you recently learned about the town where you live?

That it costs more as a local resident to subscribe to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser than someone who lives out of town, off island or elsewhere in the world. As a result I ain't subscribing. I already found other news and opinion sources.... for free.

4. What’s something you recently learned from television?

Um... to unsubscribe to Time Warner Oceanic Cable TV after the rates went up earlier this year again. I get a satisfactory amount of decent content from OTA, internet and DVDs.

5. What’s something you recently learned the hard way?

Nothing recently....

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.

Friday 5 for June 24: Summer Blockbusters

 Here is the perfect summer song for 2011:



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!


1. What transformation do you undergo on summer Fridays at midnight?

I stay up later? I usually stay up after midnight on Fridays summer or not.


2. What super power do the kids in your neighborhood seem to have?

The power to annoy us old folks on their skateboards and loud rap music.

3. Who (or what!) is your nemesis in these warm summer days?

Cockroaches.


4. What is your trustiest weapon against the evil heat monster?

The air conditioner and if outside, more ice, more water.


5. What seems to be invading your life lately, and how will you fend it off?

Clutter - need to toss some of it out.

Friday 5 for June 3: Summer

On the beach at Waikiki, visit Hawaii this summer!


1. What was your best summer vacation like?

Taking a tour on the U.S. mainland (West to East Coast) back in 1974 and meeting some interesting people and seeing different places.

2. What was your worst summer vacation like?

Probably the year my sister got mortally sick and eventually died 8 months later.

3. What food or drink reminds you of a particular summer?

Nothing in particular.



4. What summer-only activity do you now look most forward to every year?

Probably 4th of July fireworks.

5. What summer movie or summer reading are you most looking forward to this year?

No movies in particular. My previous summers were filled with great sci-fi and fantasy movies such as "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and the "Star Trek" movies... nowdays, not too many movies prompt me to part with my money. Ticket prices are too high.

I plan to finish reading "Atlas Shrugged" among other books I own.