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Target Kailua Getting Self Serving

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Now this is a very welcomed change to the Target location on the Windward side. Check this out.


Yes, that is a self checkout station. One of several in fact that’s being installed where the previous express registers were. If you’ve shopped at Target Kailua, you know of the line imbalance. There’s usually one or two open regular cashiers and one express cashier. But most of the buyers have a handful of items, so that express line is packed and not so express. The buyers with carts overwhelm the regular cashiers. Needless to say, buying stuff is a time consuming hassle.

These self check out stands have got to help. I’ll report back in a week or two…

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The Largest Starbucks?

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This is most likely the largest Starbucks I have ever seen or been in, and this is at Universal Studios Hollywood. Keep in mind that Universal has several Starbucks locations. There’s one undergoing renovation at the CityWalk.

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Starbucks on Universal CityWalk

If you’re going to ride all those escalators to the Lower Lot, Universal has your Starbucks needs covered there.

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Starbucks at Universal Studios Lower Lot

But the biggest location is in the Upper Lot. Its signage doesn’t give away anything about the interior size.

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But when you walk in, you’ll see an expanse of people in line, waiting for orders, and dining in.

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While the ordering line may look daunting, it moves fast, mainly because there’s like four dedicated registers going at the same time.

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I had to stitch together a panorama to capture the vast dimensions of this location. When you really take a look, you’ll realize how big this place really is.

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There are some cool highlights of this Upper Lot Starbucks. The ceiling lights are distinctive.

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The product wall has interesting artwork.

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And I especially like its look at night.

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Even though inside an amusement park and servicing crowds of caffeine-deprived parkgoers, this Starbucks menu was up-to-date featuring the Caramelized Honey Latte that launched that day (March 22, 2016). Now, if Starbucks collaborates with Universal Studios for unique combinations that would be super cool. Butterbeer Latte anyone? A Chocolate Frog Frap?

Changes at Windward Mall

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Could it be that I haven’t been to Windward Mall since the holiday shopping season of 2015? Wow, that’s a long time, and in that time, there have been several changes. Let’s take a look shall we?

While the food court has been blanketed in free WiFi for some time and Starbucks provides speedy Google WiFi service, now the entire mall is connected. I admit that I haven’t tried the mall’s WiFi since typically these are just oversaturated and bogged down.

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I think this is a change, but the upstairs Aeropostle store is now a Factory Store, assumedly offering discounted, older lines.

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Sadly the kids play area outside of Sports Authority (and the now closed Children’s Place) is rather sad.

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Yes, it’s open, but without the islands to climb on, this open space isn’t so fun. But I do recall hearing that the play area is moving to another wing so maybe, this is just transitional during the relocation.

Jeans Warehouse is on the move.

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Already moved are Journeys and Local Motion. Previously located on the ground floor near the mall’s center, these locations are now upstairs.

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But then, if these two long-time tenants moved, what’s in their former locations? Take a look from upstairs.

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Here’s a closer look.

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Yup, the Secrets of Victoria will be gracing the Windward side residents in a sizable location starting the Spring of 2016.

Is the Shannara Chronicles Done?

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So after ten episodes of the Shannara Chronicles, is it all done? Is this storyline/saga over and will there be follow-on shows? I admit this series has been fun with solid costumes and effects although some of the big bads didn’t seem that bad. There are still questions to be answered, and not having read the books, I don’t know how faithful the television adaptation has been. But still though, definitely a fun ride through the Four Lands.

Oh, here’s music from the Shannara Chronicles.

Next up, the end of Downton Abbey. 🙁

Time to Get Versed in the Harry Potter Universe?

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Although the official opening for Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter doesn’t open until April 7, 2016, “technical rehearsals” are underway. These soft openings are unannounced and somewhat random, likely to open and close whenever. But the point being, you can actually experience Hogwarts in California now (if you’re lucky).

Never interested in the Harry Potter series previously, I may just have to dig into a book (or two) to get versed with Harry and his pals.

Dear Employee

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did-you-knowWhen I ask that the stamps of two separate loyalty cards be combined, I don’t mean add one set of stamps to the other card and give me back BOTH cards. I mean I’m grateful that 14 stamps were transferred to complete one card, and I still have those 14 stamps on a second card, but that’s not how it works. I guess we’ll call it even since you didn’t add stamps for my $4 drink transaction.

Macy’s Kailua Now Up to 50% Off

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The closing of Macy’s Kailua continues with items discounted as much as 50% off. But… I don’t know where these items are. Instead, I find mostly regularly priced items with marginal markdowns. A $65 pair of Hurley and Nike shorts at 20% off is still expensive.

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Nonetheless, the store is gradually emptying out. G Shock watches are all gone with only high end watches left. The aloha shirts are wiped out unless you’re looking for off sizes.

But this look is still available if you’re so inclined.

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Note to Self: Evergreen Post Tweeter and WordPress Timer

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Just a reminder to myself that the Evergreen Post Tweeter plugin conflicted with the WordPress timer service, at least for my blog. As a symptom of this, scheduled posts wouldn’t post on the publish date and time, and there would be a backlog of actions queued up.

I was only aware of this since the UpdraftPlus backup plugin wouldn’t run its automated backups. UpdraftPlus itself would complain about incomplete actions. On a hunch, I disabled Evergreen Post Tweeter since it times the posting of old posts on Twitter. Sure enough, after disabling Evergreen Post Tweeter, WordPress started behaving normally. Scheduled posts published on cue, and I have yet to see incomplete actions reported by UpdraftPlus.

LED Bug Lights

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Time to replace incandescent bug lights with an LED version and see how they work. Apparently, a few LED bug lights are merely regular LED lights with a yellow coating on the bulb, not actual yellow light. Amazon reviews say the effect of not-attracting bugs is the same although overall brightness from the light sounds less. I shall soon see…

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