Trivial Question-Left Turn Right Turn

As we walk, drive, ride, etc through life, do you think we make more left or right turns? I doubt they would even out totally. In the course of your calculations, remember that 3 consecutive turns in any direction equates to one turn of the opposite direction. Keep a running count in your head as you go through the day

For Future Reference

Let me introduce you to some of my family and friends. I may need to refer to them in the future. No names have been changed to protect the innocent cuz non of them are.

My father A, mother E, sister A, and brother C

Friend A and wife J
Friend G and wife P with son 1st K and son 2nd K
G & P's sister-in-law/sister W and husband W with son A and J
Friend A
Friend D
Friend R and wife S with son J and K
Friend H and wife L with daughter C and R
Friend M and wife G with sone A and E
Friend T

Theres more but thats all for now

Convenience-Remote Controls

I must admit that convenience has made us lazy. After all, when was the last time you got up to change the channel on the TV? Nowadays, we just get up to change the DVD. Either that or we succomb to bodily needs and evacuate to the proper facilities to address the situation. The humble remote control device has stealthfully lead many to the road of ruin that we call inactivity, myself included. It is with much faith that we will deny that a remote does not work to the very last fiber of our beings. By most accounts we would rather inch closer with the remote pointed at the TV than walk the gargantuan distance in a single movement to the TV because we believe the remote would never let us down like that. Of course, its not the remote thats not functioning. Its the batteries have been drained and caused the predicament. We turn our anger towards these good for nothing for their short lifespans. Then, we beg forgiveness from the remote for ever thinking they would let us down.

Tokyo 2009-Spring Festival at Meiji con't

Some lanterns stradling the main entry Prayers and well wishes

Bang the big taiko drum slowly

Performances at the festival in a stage erected in the center of the temple courtyard

Gilroy Garlic Festival

The Gilroy Garlic Festival took place over the weekend. Its held every year on the last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of July. I did not go this year. For that matter, I have not gone in several years. Although its been many years since Gilroy has lost its title, the festival goes on and no one seems to care. Gilroy is located about 1.5 hours south of the city. The main draw is the food but artisans hawk their wares, cooking demonstrations and contests ply some people to attend, and live music under the clear sky and warm day make for a great outting. There are several food booths that you would see at any street fair in the city. However, they just make the main ingredient more prominent while at the festival. One can nosh on deep-fried artichoke hearts in garlic aioli, chicken or steak grilled with garlic, and the infamous garlic ice cream. In gourmet alley, they cook up calamari, pasta, and tri-tip sandwiches. The most notable being the fireball that erupts when wine is added to the gigantic skillets filled with calamari and garlic. With this being California, wine is available but no one has come up with one that is infused with garlic.

Surrounding the festival site is alot of farm land. On your way in or out, you can stop by and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables. One place has fresh fire-roasted chiles. Also, within a short drive is an outlet mall. If you arent tired when you come out of the festivities, you can put forth that last bit of effort towards reviving the economy.

Edit: Apparently, there is garlic wine and unconfirmed rumours of garlic beer

Going Back To Japan...Or At Least Thinking About It

Since my first visit to Japan back in 2001, I had averaged one trip a year until 2008. Due to the high cost for fuel and subsequent increases in airfare, I did not make it back. In 2009, although no friends could make it, I was still intent on getting back there. Mission accomplished. Now, I have pared down my travel plans for Japan to once every other year instead of every year. This will give me a chance to visit other places. Last year, it was Paris and London. Next year, Im not sure yet. The plan seems to work out well as I have a friend who wants to go back in 2011. She had been with me on the first few trips we had taken. Due to job and school, she could not find the time. Another reason 2011 fits so well into the cycle is because of the timing of the Sapporo Snow Festival. My friends and I haave made this a 5 year plan. We were there in 2001 on the first trip and went back in 2006. For 2011, we will be including this into our itinerary.

Tokyo 2009-Spring Festival At Meiji

While I was in Tokyo, there was a Spring Festival at Meiji Shrine. The entry gate, torii, is just behind Harajuku station on the Yamanote line

Sake barrels

The entry into the main temple area

A carving into one of the doors

Same But Different

As I peruse websites pertaining to Japan and having been there a few times myself, there are a few things that they have there that we have here...only slightly different. Pringles had what seemed like some strange flavors like funky soy sauce or consumme. But, they were more rebranding flavors that we already have here. Kit Kat and Coke/Pepsi have ventured into areas which boggle the mind at times. I have seen Kit Kat flavors such as red bean, sweet potato, cherry blossom, and yubari melon. On my last trip, I could have sworn I saw soy sauce flavor. Since I didnt see it again, I thought I was hallucinating. Lo and behold, I found that particular Kit Kat at a site that has been chronicling all the different flavors of the candy treat. For the most part, most of them dont taste too bad. Although, its not to the liking of some people I know. The cola wars rage on in Japan and I feel that the general public, at times, may be the victims. What do you think of flavors like cucumber, shiso leaf, or even green tea with your cola? Pepsi has even offered a concoction with yogurt of all things.

Fog

(Pics taken on my cell phone)
One of the most noted accompanyments to the city is the fog. To some it lends a certain romanticism to the city. To others it just another dreary day. At night, the fog lends a glow to light sources casting long undefined shadows. Small pockets of light adorn the streets and avenues. Orbs of mist pass at speed down major thoroughfares.

It can be dramatic as it climbs over mountains and hills and cascades down the backside. The way it pushes undaunted through the Golden Gate Bridge as it stands sentry at the mouth of the bay. For many it connotates doom and gloom as it usually blocks out sunlight to create a gray day. For the city of Pacifica, to the south, it is annually celebrated with a street fair called Fog Fest.

On The Job-The Financial District, Chinatown

(Pics taken on my cell phone)
Today, the job takes me to the heart of the city's financial District. Like many such areas, high-rises and skyscrapers abound and cosnpire to block out the sun from the pedestrians below. Aside from the banks and financial institutions, other types of businesses that either support or rely on them tend to sprinkle themselves amongst the rest of them.

Undoubtedly, rents are very high and so are the parking rates. $5 for 15 minutes would be considered cheap. Adjacent to the Financial District, Chinatown offers more affordable parking and very good chinese food if you are so inclined

Trivial Question-One Leg At A Time

When you put on your shoes and socks, do you put them on sock sock shoe shoe or sock shoe sock shoe? Any other choices would be invalid and just plain weird. I, myself, have a tendency to switch off between the two without really thinking about it.

Sidetracked

A funny thing happened on the way to South Lake Tahoe...I didnt make it. Plans were changed at the last minute and went to Cache Creek indian casino. This place is only a two hour drive from the city, half the time it takes to get to SLT. I have always resisted going to these casinos that within a short drive. Going to SLT or Reno involves a long 4 hour or more drive. This keeps my trips to a minimum. My fear is getting addicted to the gambling. Im not a big gambler by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I have been on a big losing streak as of late. While at Cache Creek, I dropped $60 really quick. I know, thats not a whole lot. But, that was an omen of how my luck was going to be. It took some will power to stop and not try to win it back. Thankfully, left after a short while. On the way back, stopped of at the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield. It was late afternoon and a bad idea. They offer a free tour showing how their candies are made. With all the kids out for the summer, the line for the tour stretched all the way to the entrance. This equates to over an hour wait in line for the tour. I decided to forgo this and went home

On The Job-Pier 39

(Pics taken on my cell phone)
My job took me to the waterfront area of the city, specifically around the tourist attraction of Pier 39. On the northeast part of where the city meets the bay, the pier is a collection of shops and restaurants with entertainment venues including an aquarium. From the back of the pier, there are great view of the bay, Alcatraz, Angel Island and both bridges that span the bay.

Also, from here you can board ferry boats to Alcatraz, Angel Island, or Tibouron(sp?). Ferry tours of the bay launch from here as well. Off to the west, Fisherman's Wharf is an adjacent tourist spot.

TGIF...kind of

Today is Thursday and tommorrow is Friday. I have elected to take tommorrow off. This, in effect, makes today Friday for me. I plan to go up to South Lake Tahoe for a day trip. A few hours to take in the scenery and get in some gambling. I play a bit of slots, Black Jack, and Pai Gow Poker. I have played Texas Hold'em with friends but have not mustered up the courage to play against actual people for real amounts of money. Its been a while since I was last in a casino to gamble. I was in Las Vegas last November. But, that was just a stopping over point on my way to the Grand Canyon. Flew in, had dinner, then went to bed early before getting up early the next morning to drive to the Garnd Canyon. I was planning on doing some gamblind once I got back to Vegas. I got side-tracked and never made it back to Vegas, but thats a whole other story. Lake Tahoe is a great year 'round destination. Summer has warm days on a clear lake fed by snow run off. Camping and nature are the big lures at this time of year. Winter offers skiing and snow. There are a number of ski resorts that ring the lake.

For Lunch-Mitchell's Ice Cream

No, I did not go there for lunch. But, I did go there after lunch. Considered to be one of the best ice creams in the city. They have a wide selection of flavors. I tend to prefer fruitty flavors over others, especially tropical flavors. They offer peach, coconut, young coconut, banana, strawberry, etc. They also offer some flavors that arent well known to american tongues like jackfruit, ube(purple yam), and halo halo. Halo halo is a filipino drink made with beans and jellies in condensed milk.

Another favorite is Polly Ann Ice Cream. They are widely known for their durian ice cream. The prepacked containers are left in back so as not to mingle with any other flavor. If you dont know what durian is, look it up. They have a large variety of flavors. Like Mitchell's they have some flavors you may not be accustommed to like rose. If you have trouble deciding what to get, you can spin the wheel and let it decide for you. You could even win a free cone. They offer free cones for your pet pooch, dog(ue), that is

Digital camera

Digital photography has become a hobby of mine over the past couple of years. I started with videoes and gradually moved to the still camera. I still currently own all the digital cameras I have ever had. I started with a Canon S330, then Canon SD500, and now a Canon SD850. Most of the pics seen in this blog have been taken with the latter two cameras. I do prefer small compact cameras that I can fit into my pocket and pull out when needed. I loved the Canons for their durable metal bodies and photo quality. However, I have not had much success with their low light and night pictures. I have considered getting a new camera and have narrowed it down to the Canon G10 or Panasonic LX3. Each has their own advantages/disadvantages.

G10:
Bigger
Better zoom
Auto lens cover
Wide angle may be compensated in stitch mode, as I have found in my current camera

LX3:
Smaller
only 2.5x zoom
Manual lens cap
Better wide angle
Possibly better low light/night shots

I am leaning towards the LX3. What do you think? However, the Olympus EP1 may be a contender but price puts it out of the running. You have the ability to switch lenses like the DSLRs.

Rant-Flying Poop Sacks

Its no secret that I have an intense dislike for pigeons. Pigeons are the scourge of the urban landscape. They are bad enough in public places, even worse when they find a roost somewhere near your home. Whereever they are, they leave plenty of evidence of their existence. They befuddle buildings, statues, bus stops, etc. I wish people would stop feeding them too. Tourists and other folks think its so damn cute to have a pigeon come up and feed out of your hand. Isnt it just so adorable to drop a piece of bread and have one of these flying poop sacks swoop in to eat it. You are not doing us any favors by ingratiating yourself to them. They just learn not to fear us. I expect pigeons to clear a path when I walk through. Now, they look at you with disdain when you dont feed them. They also turn their backs on you thinking with their little pea brains, "Whateverrrrrrrr!" While they wait for their next meal, they might as well poop all over. Coo coo coo, PLOP!! Coo, PLOP!! PLOP!! Eat,eat,eat,PLOP!! You catch them in the act and they are all like, "What? Whaaaaaaat?!?!"

Matters are worse when they find a home around your home. Then they poop all over your stuff! The house, your car, anything left outside is fair game. Here, they also become habituated to idle threats of foot stomping or loud noises. You need to present a real physical threat or they will walk, coo, PLOP!! all over you

Tokyo 2009-Noodle soup

Ramen at Setagaya in Shinagawa-fish based broth

Ramen at Ivan Ramen

Miso Ramen in Akihabara at a shop across the street from Showa Dori exit
Soba in Shinjuku around the corner from the Star Hotel

Miso Ramen at Saigo in Shinagawa

Tonkotsu Ramen at a shop on the way to Enoshima

Ah, Monday

If Friday is the most anticipated day of the week, then Monday is the total opposite. No day engenders more hatred and dread than the first day of the work week. Tuesday and Thursdays are apathetic, though Thursday less so due to its proximity to Friday. People are relieved for Wednesday due to the psychological affects of being halfway through the week. Fridays are a relief because the signals the eventual end to the work week. Saturday is joyous as its the first day off. Sundays are mournful or sorrowful because its the last day off.

There is the minority that looks forward to going back. To them, I say"Huzzah!" To find something that you enjoy doing and doing for a profession is a rare commodity. Heres a raised glass to all of you who look on Monday with such anticipation.

Paintball

I had taken up the sport around 1987 and, until a few years ago, would play several times a year. Friends and I used to drive 1.5 hours to the closest field that we knew about. The game and the equipment was much different back then. The equipment: pump guns using CO2 cartridges with 10-15 round stick feeds with 10 round tubes to reload from. Slightly thereafter, the stick feeds increased to 20-40 round ammo boxes. The apparel: camoflage. The game: capture the flag with 30-45 minute time limit. The field: wooded and rural areas with forts at each flag station.

Over the years, the game and equipment have evolved. The guns have evloved to shoot faster and the game has grown to reflect a faster-paced, high-energy game that has made several appearances on TV. Now, the equipment:electronic semi/full auto guns using compressed air in mini scuba tanks. The ammo boxes hold up to 200 rounds with motors and electronics to make them feed reliably. The apparel: bright flashy jerseys and kevlar padded purpose-built pants. The game: for the most part still capture the flag but the goal is more elimination than getting the flag with 15-20 minute time limit. The field: much shorter and smaller with obstacles or inflated bunkers or even indoor locations as well.

Over the years, I have had to upgrade my equipment to keep up with the arms race. I even gave into paintball fashion. Through the years of playing, I probably have owned a little over 10 but less than 20 guns, 4 of which I still own. Some people have owned that many at any given time. I tended to purchase guns that were mid to low end and my skills were mid to low end. Nothing over $400-$500 ever made it into my inventory. There have been guns that cost in excess of $1500.

In the last few years, there has been a resurgence, you might say, for the old school style of play. To this, I mean the growth of the military simulation, milsim, or scenario-based games. These involved elaborate storylines with mulitple goals to accomplish played on a large scale with possibly hundreds of participants. These games have been set up on military bases or training grounds as well as large intricately set up fields. The guns do not have to be blazing at 33 rounds per second. More often than not, these players opt for weapons that tend to look more realistic. An added benefit of these games involves you being able to come back in after you have been shot out. Not so with regular paintball. Once you are out, you wait until the next game starts up. another twist is the ability to play 24 hours straight through the night.

I may not have been very good at it but I enjoyed playing it and thats all that really matters. I question why I keep most of my paintball stuff around. If I sell it off, it signals the end of an era. There are so many places to play nowadays, maybe you should get out there and give it a shot.

For Lunch-Dos Pinas

Lunch was mexican today at restaurant near the office. Office mates and I try to get together for lunch on Fridays whenever we can. The last time I was there, I had the chicken chile verde burrito with guacamole. I liked it so much I had the same thing today. Another coworker ordered likewise. The other two ordered a beef burrito and chicken enchilada with red sauce. I have also enjoyed their grilled chicken tacos and Baja Burger wrap, basically a bacon cheese burger wrap. The food is good and inexpensive. Plus, its nice to get out of the office, relax, and chat over a meal.

Tokyo 2009-more pics

1:1 scale Gundam robot being erected in Odaiba on a rainy day. Taken back in May, it was completed in early July

The resort island of Enoshima as seen from the Enoden line on a rainy day

The main entrance after crossing over to the island on a rainy day

New neighbors

Several years ago, new neighbors moved in next door. They spruced up the place, replace the back porch, and landscaped the backyard. Recently, they moved out and put the place up for sale. I was surprised at how quick the house sold. It was not on the market that long. I thought the asking price of $837K was very high in this market and in this neighborhood. Mind you the neighborhood is not ghetto but it is fairly nice and quiet

Yesterday, I ran across the new neighbor. B(female) has a 14 month old. She did not mention a husband/partner. I like to think Im a good neighbor. Quiet, no loud parties, keep to myself but not in a serial murderer kind of way.

TGIF

So, we've made it to another Friday. This is the Holy Grail of the work week. But, this is relative. Any day before the weekend or the start of time off is Friday for me. All the days of toil leading up to some personal time and sleeping in. However, I rather pefer Saturday myself. Friday is still a work day so you need to get through that before the fun starts. Once you wake up on Saturday, the party has already started!

And the reverse of this would be Monday, dreary Monday. That day we have to return to work. That day where it all starts over again.

Movie Review-Transformers 2 Revenge Of The Fallen

Probably the biggest movie of the 2009 summer movie season. This followup is an over-the-top action movie sure to wow you with its special effects and stunts. The movie picks up a few years after the end of the previous movie. Sam and Micheala are dating. Humans and Autobots have banded together to fight the Decepticons. During one of these battles, the Autobots discover a plan by a defeated Decepticon to revive someone called the Fallen. It is discovered that our two races have encountered each other before. During one of the encounters, the character known as the Fallen, has fallen out of grace with his bretheren. He vows revenge with the assistance of Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, and a cadre of Decepticons


The movie basically goes from one action sequence to the next with some little fiddly parts in the middle. The scope is very large with the Autobots and Decepticons battling it out amongst the backdrop of desserts, forests, and cityscapes. After a while, the battle scenes become a big blur of action. Unnecessary shakey camera scenes. Bloated slow motion segments. The meticulous detail of the robots make it hard to differentiate who is who when they are tumbling around in the sand.


There is a sprinkling of humour throughout the movie. Some of the funnier characters were Wheelie, Mudflap, and Skids. Bumble Bee gets a few chuckles too. The film would have benefitted from more humour. Nonetheless, it is one of those turn your brain off and enjoy the ride kind of flicks.


This is something worth seeing on the big screen. Maybe Imax would be too big. What else is there to say? Megan Fox, `nuff said.


I would pay full price to see it the first time.

For Lunch-Ayola

Had lunch today at Ayola, a little Greek place near a garage that I park at on occasion. I had the small gyros with fries and drink. I usually have the gyros. Once in a while, I will have spanokopita with it. For a change, I order the falafel. Both are very good and the fries are nice and crisp outside and fluffy inside. I have read reviews about this place on a few websites. They all seem to agree on the food and especially the chicken shawerma. They all hate the chicken shawerma. Call it fear, call it being persuaded but I dont think Im going to order it any time soon. Sure, I should make up my own mind about it but I dont feel like risking it right now

Numerology

A few things that I heard on the news today and on TMZ.

Today at the right time, it will be:
12:34:56 7/8/9 twice!

TMZ:
Micheal Jackson was the 7th child.
Signed his will on 7/7/02
Memorialized on 7/7/09, 7 years after signing his will

Micheal Jackson

Now that MJ has had his ceremony, ardent hardcore fans are asking the media to leave him alone. A politician from the east coast has called him a child molester and pedophile. I myself will admit to enjoying some of his music, though not a big fan of the man himself.

Basically, people want to know the truth about him. Did he do what he was accused of? Is he just misunderstood? For me, aside from the accusations, he was a very odd person in his later life. A person who was out of touch with the world around him and about his own fame.

Time travel and parallel universes

I have a theory that hopefully I will elaborate on at a later time. Now, I have no proof for my belief. Then again, there are established beliefs that are not proven as well.

I believe that our existence in time is all occuring concurrently. Things are happening now no matter when it happened. Also, things happen that are meant to happen and cannot be changed. Our futures are static because they have already happened or about to take place as they are meant to. The time paradox of someone going back in time to change their present or future will not occur. If someone were to go back in time, it would have already happened and was meant to happen so it does not change any events from that point forward.

Since our future is already planned out, so to speak, this eliminates the possiblility of parallel universes where each moment in time can be splintered into thousands of alternate realities based upon our actions.

Tokyo 2009

Over the last several years, I have made numerous trips to Japan. Much of that time was spent in Tokyo. Here is a sampling from my last trip in May 2009.

Imperial Palace

A statue near the grounds of the Imperial Palace

Movie Review-The Proposal

Starring Sandra Bullock as a headstrong career oriented single woman who, due circumstances, is going to be deported. Ryan Reynolds literally walks into her plans to stay in the States. Bullock plays a character who is intelligent but socially awkward. Their adventures begin when they inform an INS agent that they will be spending the weekend at Reynolds' hometown to attend the birthday of his grandmother. They announce their plans to wed and are hurried into a ceremony before the weekend is out.

The two get to know each other as they are domiciled in the same room. After a period of time, they warm up to each other. Their plans are thrown into an upheaval and later salvaged

Betty White plays the spry grandmother and steals the show whenever she is on screen. Sandra plays her usual likable role. A light breezy fare that is entertaining.

I would pay half price to see it

Ghosts

Ghosts, I dont believe in them in the sense that they are manifestations of lives that have passed from existence. But, like most things, I believe that there is something to it. What? I dont know right now.

An odd thing that I have noticed is that ghosts seem to be regional. They usually reflect the folklore and customs of their geographic areas. True, this may be due to ghosts being evidence of lives long gone from those who inhabited the area. Photographic instances of spirits bore this out. You never see a japanese white faced girl with long dark hair lurking the castles of Scotland. Nor will you see Pilgrims frolicking on the beaches of Hawaii.

Another issue that seems irksome. On a website somewhere, someone came up with a very provoking thought, why are ghosts clothed? I would give credit to this person if I could remember where I saw it. When a person dies, their clothes dont die with them. Clothes dont have ghosts nor after lives. And again, they are always dressed in the period they would have passed on in.

All in all, people will believe what they want to believe and they will see what they want to see. A flash of light, the movement of an object, or that strange unexplainable sound in the hallway will invariably be the family pet, wind, or a ghost.

First post

I just thought I would start a blog to put pencil to paper about thoughts swirling through my mind. There will be posts of my travel logs to keep friends informed when Im out of town. Occasional movie reviews will spring up as well. Like most, I dont know if anyone will read or even care about what I post. If nothing else, I know its here.