Tune in Tokyo
Despite the fact that the iPod has seen significant upgrades since I purchased my monochrome 20GB model, i would be hard pressed to part with it. I think this weekend E and I will run by the
Apple store at la Cantera. I really want to take a look at the video iPods. I'm curious to see one in action; I want to see the quality of the video. However, I don't think I'll be buying one. At least not for me. I'm still quite partial to my archaic 3rd generation click wheel. I've taken good care of it. It hardly has any scratches it and of course it is still perfectly functional.
(However, I would love to have one of the new iMacs. That would be an amazing anniversary gift. We'll see.)
One of the recent highlights in my search for entertaining podcasts in
Tokyo Calling. This podcast is hosted by an American living in Japan teaching english. He's very entertaining and very insightful on things that an American might find amusing or enlightening about Japanese culture. He also peppers some Japanese terminology throughout his half-hour productions. Next to David Pogue's podcast teaching me more efficient ways to use Spotlight, this is my new favorite.
An Apple a Day...
Could you imagine Kimi Raikkonen racing a Dodge Dart at the Monaco Grand Prix? Could you imagine Lance Armstrong racing a time trial with an off-the-shelf Schwinn? Probably not. So how can I perform at the top of my game with a slow, dated, flawed Windows PC on my desk at work. More and more I'm convinced that my company would be better off switching to Macs. The Spotlight feature alone saves a tremendous amount of time looking up files or spreadsheets with multi-layer analytics embedded in them. As it is now, I'm clicking file after file and waiting seconds for information to be streamed. Uggg, it's frustrating.
Spider Man & The BBC
There are very few things I look forward to. Weekends, typically, are not one of them. Nothing good every happens on a weekend. Weekends are when I'm stressed about all the stuff that needs to be done around the house and I'm too lazy to get anything accomplished.
Last night Liz woke me up around 1:50am because she had been picking at her spider bite and she was in so much pain she couldn't move. I was half asleep with dry, blurry contacts. I don't remember what I did to help her; I think I got her tylenol or something. I do remember at one point I looked at
WebMD, but couldn't find anything of real value on how to treat a spider bite or alleviate the pain associated with an insect bite.
The bright spot about the night is finding a BBC America mini-marathon of
Black Books, starring Dylan Moran (of Sean of the Dead fame). I've noticed that Good Britain is churning out some quality A-list comedic actors. And most of them have either been associated with
The Office or
Sean of the Dead.
What I'd really like to do is find another template for my blog, something with a slightly smaller font size so as not to dominate the browser space with a single entry. I'll keep looking, but no luck as of yet.
Napkin 10.15.2005
Initial D is probably the greatest anime series that I've ever seen. It makes me want to go out and by a new sport car and start drifting down hill. I've seen all of Stage 1 but I've seen it with the "Tricked Out" TokyoPop edition which is dubbed in English. Liz and I have read that this is the worst version of Initial D because of the bad Japanese to English translation and lackluster audio during the racing scenes.
Liz is so sweet. For our anniversary coming up she spent time researching on the internet about Initial D and how to get the best package with all the different stages. So instead of waiting to get the movies from Netflix, I'll be able to get all the discs at the same time. I think I would have to call in sick to work and lock myself in my room for a couple of days.
As I'm typing this this blog entry I'm watching Steve Jobs October 12th presentation introducing the new iMac. I have been an Apple whore since I got my first iPod. And now that Liz and I bought a 17" PowerBook with all the accessories I couldn't imagine using any other hardware. Yeah, we still keep a Windows notebook in our bedroom, but only because it's small and easy to take on trips. This PowerBook is too large to fit into my WF issued brief case. And like any true Mac aficionado, I'm constantly trying to convince other people to switch over to Apple. Even when E, Lionel and I flew up to Dallas this past week, I spend most of the flight trying to convince E to buy a Mac mini or an iBook. I've also been trying to convince my aunt who is a G5 iMac owner to buy an iSight module so we can teleconference and my mom and grandmother can see and talk to her children whenever she wants.
Big 'D', Initial D and iPod Envy
I'm off to Dallas tomorrow morning, but just for the day. I bought Dane Cook's new CD
Retaliation to listen to on the flight. I fly back later in the afternoon and then I've got a business "social event" that I have to attend. This has already been a long week. My partner is on vacation so that just leaves me to handle the already heavy work load.
However, I'm totally psyched to hear about the new video iPod. I don't think I'll run out and buy one. I'm quite partial to my old 20 GB, monochrome iPod. I was so happy when I got it and I'm not ready to part with it just yet. Even if there is something as cool as the iPod Nano or video iPod out.
On the other hand, the new iMac G5 is something I would run out and buy. It's slimmer. It's more powerful. it's got integrated iSight. Apple apparently focused on the media aspect on this unit. I'm still 100% psyched over my 17" PowerBook, but we could use a 'family' computer. But I've always said that if I bought another Apple right away it would be either an iBook or 12" PowerBook for traveling. Decisions, decisions.
I'm totally jones-ing for the next two dics of Initial D. Probably the coolest, most engaging anime series that I've seen to date. We have it set up on Netflix that I get two dics of Initial D for every one movie. I'm a little more than half way though the entire series as it has been released in America. I don't know what I'll do when I run out battles to watch.
Japanese Grand Prix
Congratulations to Kimi Raikkonen and Team Mclaren-Mercedes for a 1st place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix. Kimi started from dead last in the qualifying to first place on the checkered flag.
'Z' Car for Me
Maybe?
What a Small World
Anybody who knows me, knows that I don't like to go anywhere. My wife will always hear me sign when I learn of an engagement that requires me to drive north of San Antonio's I-10/410 interechange. However, now that I'm traveling so much more for work I'm realizing what a small world we live in. It's nothing for me to catch a flight to one of the coasts. Well, as long as I have my iPod.
I was looking at pictures of Honda Preludes on
PBase and found many Americans who bought cars while living in Japan. I've always wanted to go to Japan, but the thought of spending all that time on a plane dashed any real consideration of the trip. Not to mention having to navigate a completely strange city where not everybody speaks english and those that do have very strong accents. But I got to thinking, I travel because I'm paid to and because I believe in what I'm trying to achieve. What's the difference if I'm traveling for personal reasons. It should be much more enjoyable because I'm not rushing to make meetings or having to find office buildings in strange metropolitan settings or navigate the local public transit system (forget about me trying to figure out highway systems, bad experience).
Maybe for our fifth anniversary Liz and I will make a trip to Japan.
Hitting the big 365
My 1st wedding anniversary is this month. I've heard from some of my married co-workers that the first year is the hardest. So I'm expecting easy sailing between 2nd to 50th.
The challenge is what to get Liz. I've figured on taking her out to eat, probably Morton's or some other pricey, buy your baked potato separately steak house. I don't really know what to get her. I was thinking of the Dual Processor PowerMac, but we really don't have any place to put it. I'll wait until we move into our own place. I can always make a stop at
Tiffany's and buy something really nice.
She hasn't asked, but I would probably tell her to buy me Madden '06 (PS2) or some new cuff links. Speaking of cuff links, I get more comments on my Brooks Brother's gear (aka "The Brethren). That was a smart investment. People know you mean business when your sporting a baffled, hanging ewe on your crest.
I'm thinking whatever we do we'll probably bring Phia along with us. She's gotten so big and such an integral part of our lives. That's probably an odd thing to say of your child. But when you look at her and realize that no matter what happens the rest of your life, this tiny, precious human being will always be etherally connected to you. That you will hurt when she hurts and you will do everything possible to give her the best life you can.
Great...now I'm craving steak.
Initial D: Disc 2 and 3
I've never been a true fan of anima, but Initial D has been an absolute enjoyment to watch. I first found out about when Disc 13 came out and Suncoast had an eye-catching display. I ordered the Disc 1 from Netflix and let it sit around for almost two weeks before putting into my DVD player. Now, I can't wait to ge the next episode.
The story is engaging, the subject matter (street racing) is cool and the animation takes me back to the few anime titles I've enjoyed in the past.
I should be getting Discs 4 and 5 soon. I can't wait.
Every time I watch the show I want to take my Honda out and drift down some mountain. Although, I don't think the Accord sedan was really meant for that type of action.
