A Right Justified Cake
As soon as I saw the decoration on this cake, I knew the “artistry” was done purposely for effect. Why else would a cake feature right justified writing on it? 😉
Life
Why Did I Bother?
I gotta learn to overcome my habit of correcting technical mistakes. So I got an email at work that said something technically incorrect. After indirectly telling the sender about the correction, I get a follow-on email telling me how my correction isn’t a better solution. Umm, I didn’t say it was better, but it is the correct term for the topic at hand.
I shoulda left well enough alone. Even after a venti mocha and a nap, I feel exhausted from this wasted effort.
Batter Up, Seagate
Strike 1! Western Digital 500-GB external drive that powers up but then is completely silent.
Strike 2! A different WD 500-GB external drive model that powers up. But then the drive sounds like it keeps trying to spin up again and again and again.
Strike 3! An external Maxtor 750-GB drive that powers up, spins up, and mounts on the desktop. But when I try to actually use it, I get errors and delays. Disk Utility says it needs to be repaired even though I just freshly formatted it. 🙁
After striking out with Maxtor and Western Digital, the next batter up is Seagate. And I’m hoping to drive one out of the park, swing for the fences at 4 TB!!
Look Out, I’m Certified in VMware
Well sorta. I did attend training in VMware vSphere 5.1 all week and took an independent certification offered by ESXLab. While I didn’t attain the higher ESXLab Certified Virtualization Specialist (ECVS) certification, I did manage to qualify as an ESXLab Certified Virtualization Technician (ECVT).
It’s all good though since I didn’t think I’d pass the test at all. But then I figured why not try? As I learned from @abaggy, you can’t win if you don’t enter. Mind you, he’s talking about contests, but same train of thought for this certification testing. If I pass, I pass. If I don’t, I don’t. Fortunately, I did. Now, let me at your ESXi virtual machines and let me do some damage. 😉
The Best Nike LunarEclipse
The heritage of Nike’s LunarEclipse running shoe dates back only three generations, but I must say that the latest LunarEclipse 3 is the best one to date. Ha, that’s an easy conclusion with so few models. But I have all three LunarEclipses, and the LunarEclipse 3 continues to improve, fixing problems in previous pairs.
Like there were improvements between the LE1 to LE2, there are more adjustments with the LE3. The LE1 featured Flywire which was ditched for the “fingers” of the LE2. Flywire makes a reappearance on the LE3 and stylishly so as cables for lockdowning your foot.
The toebox is snug like the LE2, and it feels like the LE3 includes stiffer foam under the arches for better crash protecting support. I don’t think the floating heel cup is in the LE3, but it does feature a “heel support clip” (whatever that is). Visually, the off-centered lacing gives the shoe an edginess to it, not following the norm of laces down the midline. I like it. Maybe this asymmetric orientation actually affects performance, maybe it doesn’t, but it definitely looks cool.
The sole of the LE3 looks much the same as the LE2. The flex grooves may be marginally deeper and wider.
The engineered mesh upper seemingly gives the LE3 less (visible) layers than the LE2. This should help with weight and ventilation.
As a runner who needs support both in the arches and heel, the LunarEclipse 3 provides an excellent combination. The LunarEclipse is now my running shoe of choice with its great balance of support, lightness, and comfort.
More pictures of the LunarEclipse 3 and comparisons with the LunarEclipse 2.
Why My Thumbs Went Numb
After about a combined 60 minutes of LEGO Minifigure hunting, my thumbs have gone numb. I didn’t (and didn’t expect to) find Mr. Gold but I finally did manage to get most (maybe all) of the ones wanted.
I accidentally thought the Captain’s bird’s wings were those of the Bee Girl. But I did manage to find the bona fide Bee Girl. The Trend Setter female was a rare find. I suggest feeling for her dog since it’s not a typical LEGO-ish block shape. The painter guy’s paint can and roller are unique feeling though both are “unassembled.”
I’m hoping I’m done with Series 10 so my thumbs can recover.
Grinds in Moiliili
It’s not often that I’m in town looking for places to eat, and that’s why I never knew about Teddy’s Bigger Burgers and Kokoro Tei in the Moiliili area. I don’t remember what was in this area before, but surely, it wasn’t this mini-complex of food eateries that also includes Domino’s Pizza.
You’re probably well aware of Teddy’s yummy burgers, but have you heard of the made-to-order Japenese bentos of Kokoro Tei? Not only is your bento made to order, but prices are very affordable. Don’t expect huge portions but enough to feel satiated. Look for their sign on Beretania St.
Here’s just a sampling of the newer menu items.
Don’t expect to dine in with only six seats available on two tables!
After a short wait, here’s what your bento looks like.
Now for the biggest problem with location – the limited parking. Sure, the adjoining parking lot looks big until you see this sign.
Yep, park in only the 20 marked stalls since the rest are for residents in the upper apartments. Still though, the grinds are good enough to deal with the limited parking.
Test Driving Google Now
Google Now recently became available on iOS via an updated Google search app, so one morning I took it for a test drive. Nothing fancy, app defaults taken, minimal customization, and a daily commute to work.
Here’s what Google Now presented to me.
Pretty mundane. Nothing out of the ordinary. Let’s compare the weather. Google Now reports 75-degree weather with some clouds and rain.
Car reported outside temperature was 76 degrees, and it was an overcast morning, so that’s a +1 for Google Now. How about the commute? 26 minutes seems about right with light traffic, but even Google doesn’t know and can’t integrate everything (yet). You see, there was a traffic accident reported on the H3 that morning. I had heard about the mishap on the radio at the start of my drive and was hoping the accident would be cleared by the time I got to the H3. Not quite.
There were lines of cars before the H3 Harano tunnels with one lane closed off. Fortunately traffic was flowing, albeit slowly compared to most mornings. Was this “light traffic” according to Google? From my daily commutes, I would consider this heavy traffic for the H3. So my commute did take longer than normal, quite possibly the 26 minutes estimated by Google Now from the starting point of traffic slowdown.
My overall first experience with Google Now wasn’t totally amazing but modestly intriguing. I can see how this intersection of relevant data is very cool and convenient, and I have to tinker with Google Now settings to see what else it can do.
Signs of Hawaii: U Down or Not?
Look closely at this sign, and you’ll spot something out of place. But if you casually glance at the sign, you’d never know any better.
This has to be an alteration, but it looks legit, mimicking the typeface and size. On closer inspection, the modification looks like a sticker or actually two stickers since the trailing “s” is layered. Must say, that’s some detailed work. U down?
A Successful Lunch Excursion
On a lunch break, I went hunting at Toys R Us for the new LEGO Minifigures Series 10 that debuted in May. The LEGO section showed no signs of Series 10, just the older Series 9. On my way out, I passed some kiosk stands near the check out registers, and a gold glint caught my eye. Whoa, there were four packs of Series 10 minifigures!
I looked around for more but couldn’t find any. I asked a worker about additional stock and was told there was none. Not sure where or when these were released at Toys R Us since they seemingly were wiped out already. Anyways, I was happy with my find which turned out to be…
Two sad clowns, the Warrior Woman, and the Motorcycle Mechanic. I love the sad, black and white clown and like the detail of the Motorcycle Mechanic. He even has a tat on his arm!
Costco Deep Dish Pizza Is a Gut Buster
Costco now sells a deep dish pizza to bake at home. Have you tried this gut buster?
While it takes an hour to cook, these pies are a good variation of the Costco pizza. The deep dish tastes similar to the regular pizza, only deeper, and saltier, and cheesier, and meatier. After two medium sized slices, you’re done.
The sausage toppings are huge nuggets, not crumbs.
Can you spot the layers of pepperoni lining the crust?
If you’re looking for pure carnivore pizza indulgence, pick up a pair of these deep dish, gut busting pies.
Seen at Foot Locker House of Hoops
Two pairs of kicks caught my eye this weekend while perusing the Ala Moana Foot Locker. This House of Hoops locale still had the LeBron X Low Easter colorway in size 10 (at least two pairs).
The recent Nike Zoom HyperFlight Premium inspired by the universe was there as well.
Oh, those HyperFlight, gotta love and hate this minimalist shoe.