New Refrigerator, New Water Filter
With a new Samsung refrigerator, I need to buy new water (and air?) filters.
Passion
Yeti Tumbler Spillproof Lid
Liking my new Yeti 20 oz tumbler that I picked up from Costco. This cup keeps hot things hot and cold drinks cold. The one thing that I’m missing is a sealable lid. It doesn’t have to be completely leakproof but being able to seal it enough so liquids don’t leak out while being schlossed around is welcomed.
There are a few types of spillproof lids available on Amazon, but I’m looking at this Yeti-branded magnetic version. The main draw for me is the ease of cleaning the sliding cover. Kinda pricey since you can find two sealable lids for about the same cost. But some of these pop open lids touch your nose when drinking. And this is really irritating. Really.
Buzzed by a Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew
The new Starbucks location in Nuuanu (in the former Hungry Lion spot) is open for business and is the second third store on Oahu to serve Starbucks’ Nitro Cold Brew. Cold brewed for hours, infused with nitrogen, and served from a tap, this is an interesting drink. Because there’s no ice, the drink isn’t super cold, but it feels like you get more drink for your dollar.
It’s foamy on top, and it doesn’t come sweetened or with any kind of milk or cream. According to the barista, it’s the most caffeinated drink on their menu, and I believe it. After a few sips, I started getting a headache that I tend to encounter after too much caffeine throughout the day. But did I feel more awake and alert.
The Nuuanu Shopping Plaza has gotten a resurgence with the arrival of Starbucks. Before whenever I would drive by, the parking lot had some cars, but the smallish lot is now packed with Starbucks patrons I’m guessing. The lot was completely full yesterday afternoon with several cars jockeying for an open stall. But as one of the few Starbucks serving Nitro Cold Brew, you gotta go and make a visit.
Mauna Kea Mist, the Newest Instagram Hotspot
The next hotspot for viral Instagram pics has to be Mauna Kea Mist inside of the Shirokiya Village Walk, Ala Moana. What’s all the fuss about? It starts with the frozen colorful balls that’s like cereal, not ice.
Then you pop one in your mouth and watch the mists of Mauna Kea arise.
In the Shirokiya Village Walk, head towards the back wall and look for space #32. You’ll probably find customers waiting in line or in front of the location, exhausting frozen mist for all of social media to see.
Mauna Kea Mist serves other cold goodies like mochi ice cream, F’real shakes, and my favorite, the Hawaiian Honey Cane. Like the Jipangyi that I missed out in Korea, this corn pop tasting tube is filled with vanilla soft serve for a crunchy yet soft experience.
One last word of warning – do not drink the liquid nitrogen.
Make a Pinhole Camera to View the Upcoming Solar Eclipse
Seems easy enough to make one from a cereal box. Looking at an eclipse incorrectly will cause permaent damage.
Stay Away
My caution to you is to stay away from Starbuck’s new Salted Caramel Mocha bottled drink. Found at grocery stores, this limited edition drink sounds wonderful but falls short on the promise. Not caramel-y enough, not mocha-y enough, and (thankfully) not salty enough, this drink isn’t worth its cost of +$3.
Dolby Atmos and Netflix
Regards Dolby Atmos content, Netflix does have a few titles available for streaming. But there are other requirements for Atmos and Netflix.
- You need Atmos compatible audio gear.
- You need the appropriate Netflix streaming plan “4 Screens + Ultra HD.” This is the top tier streaming plan Netflix offers.
- A fast Internet connection to stream the additional Atmos data
- Only certain devices support Atmos on Netflix. These are:
- Xbox One
- Xbox One S
- 2017 LG OLED televisions
Hmmm, I don’t think I have all of these…
7.1 Speaker Setup Equals Dolby Atmos 5.1.2?
So if I already have a 7.1 speaker setup with two of those speakers ceiling mounted then do I essentially have a setup ready for Dolby Atmos 5.1.2?
Does it matter that the 5 traditional speakers is handled by an older soundbar, Polk Audio SurroundBar AM4055?
Craving These ASICS Kicks Collaboration
atmos teaming with ASICSTIGER for these tiger camo Gel-LyteIII is simply crave worthy.
ASICSTIGER × atmos GEL-LYTE? "GREEN CAMO" from atmos tokyo on Vimeo.
Comings and Goings at Ala Moana
While at Ala Moana today, I saw some changes happening. There’s a new coffee place, Island Brew, where Gloria Jeans was. Not so sure about this choice since um, Gloria Jeans went out of business seemingly not too long after opening.
While we wish Island Brew good luck, we also need to say farewell to ivivva. Specializing in activewear for girls, the brand is moving to the cloud, closing down its retail locations and focusing on online sales. ivivva Ala Moana closes its doors on August 20, 2017.
One thing that hasn’t changed and is comforting in an odd kind of way is this all-too-familiar scene. It’s for “preventative maintenance.”
Must Eat at Ramen Bario
$7 for parking in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. I don’t care. Cash only. I don’t care. All the other eateries in Waikiki Yokocho. I don’t care (well not yet anyways). Our server mixed up one of our dishes. I don’t care. Kinda pricey. I don’t care.
All I care about is that ramen broth, specifically that of the tsukemen ramen from Ramen Bario. OH MY GOODNESS. I initially sampled the broth to check its spiciness, and a few spoonfuls later, I had almost forgotten about the noodles themselves. That broth is so rich and so different that I thought it was perfect. But then I added a spoonful of fresh garlic, and the flavor went up another level. Then I added a spoonful of the chili pepper, and the flavor of the broth just exploded. My, oh my.
Go check out the interesting decor and all the eateries at Waikiki Yokocho, but be sure to visit Ramen Bario first.
Researching OLED Television
No upgrade is imminent, but curiosity calls…
Current OLEDs from Sony and LG all use the same panel made by LG. That panel is the same panel used in all models (at least in the LG lineup of B, C, G, E, and W). So the most basic and the most decked out LG OLED display are essentially the same picture. The hardware surrounding the screen is the main differentiator.
Focusing on the LG lineup. The B-line the cheapest LG series but is not widely available. Costco sells it and Target has the older model.
Two sizes are available at 55-in and 65-in, but I’m looking at the 55-in model.
The B6 is a good deal since the B7 has marginal improvements that may not justify the higher cost. Costco only has the B7. Here’s a B6 review.
The B7 loses the component inputs the B6 has. But the B6 component input is “shared” with the composite input (not sure what shared means).
The B7 has better support for gaming, able to keep up without lag. The B7 has WebOS 3.5, while the B6 has verion 3.0.
Dolby Atmos on the B7 is currently a waste of time since the Atmos sound can only come from the dinky television speakers, not through external speakers.
Active HDR. I don’t know what that is but the B7 has it. The B6 does not according to LG’s specs.
LOL. The B7 has 802.11ac wireless and the B6 has “802.11 a/c.” Same difference.
Here’s the LG-OLED-B6-B7-comparison.
TL;DR. The B6 looks like a deal right around $2000. But the $2150 B7 has some useful improvements, and if bought at Costco with the Costco credit cards, it includes two more years of warranty.