…is packed! I guess partying until the new year doesn’t stop avid shoppers looking for a bargain.
An anonymous pulpy texter sent me this image of the Fukubukuro crowds at Ala Moana. Not sure what store they’re waiting for, Lupicia for tea deals?
Here’s a partial pic of the Fukubukuro participating stores.
Here’s the full list.
On social media circles, you’re bound to see a Best Nine of 2015 picture collage tagged #2015bestnine. Scouring for your nine most liked pictures on Instagram, this web site does it for you. Enter in your (or anyone’s) Instagram username and wait a few minutes to get your best nine. Here’s mine.
There’s the Starbucks Halloween-themed Frappula. Pictures from #HIChina15, especially the Great Wall, were popular. I see a few pictures from the July 4th fireworks show at Kailua Beach, the Iolani Fair, the Holei Sea Arch on the Big Island, and French fries that I can’t place. The biggest surprise is that Star Wars crochet book from Costco. Never would have guessed book would be in my best nine. How’s yours look?
Oh Fresh Foams, how much I wanted this relationship to last. How you made my feet feel when I took my first step. So cushioned, so soft, so comforting. I knew I needed you in my life.
And what a journey it’s been, but this love has been an unrequited one because the foams are not for my best interests. My New Balance MH988 look great, sophisticated and eye catching. And the speckles in the foam soles add a nice touch. However. That however. The longterm wear. It’s just not good for me. The shoes feel great for short distances, but they’re just not supportive enough for medium to long distances. The sole is continuous foam with no added plates for spot support, and I need that support for my arches. Without enough arch support, I start feeling fatigue in my knees. So I know this relationship will come to an end sooner rather than later, and once done, it will be awhile before I open my heart up to a new foam experience.
While the holiday season is a time filled with fun and joy, it can also get hectic and overwhelmingly busy. Now that Christmas is over, there are no more parties to attend and no more fancy meals to prepare… for a few days at least. During this downtime, might I suggest dining at a nearby CPK and let them do the cooking from their “Next Chapter” menu.
For us Hawaii residents, the Next Chapter offerings also include a few Oahu-only dishes. That would be the Crispy Ahi Tuna Egg Rolls, the Wild Caught Sesame Seared Ahi, and the Poke Chop Chop Salad. Thanks to the generosity of karsha chang public relations, I sampled a few of the Hawaii-only ahi dishes along with other Next Chapter items. Here’s how our meal looked.
We started with the Crispy Ahi Tuna Egg Rolls which was an awesome start. The healthy portion of avocado brings a balance to these rolls. Paired with ginger and Srirachi dipping sauces, these appetizers are hearty.
Then the flat breads came. We couldn’t decide between Smoked Ham + Swiss and the Brussels + Bacon, so we got one of each. Good choice! The Ham and Swiss is named accordingly, tasting just like ham and swiss. The Brussels and Bacon is a good change and with bacon, you can’t go wrong.
For the salad course, I went with the Poke Chop Chop Salad and we also ordered a Harvest Kale. The Poke Chop Chop is a Hawaii exclusive, and it’s an interesting combination. I think this salad could be turned up a bit more for the local palate. Kimchi pears could have more zing, and while the consistency of the ahi is nice, I would prefer a shoyu poke to add a tinge of saltiness.
Where there’s salad, there’s soup, so we sampled a small Baked Potato soup. Aptly named as it felt like I slurped down a molten baked potato with fixings.
Of course, we went to CPK to order pizza, and we went for the obvious, ordering the seasonal Sunny Side Up Bacon + Potato pizza. Yes, there are two sunny side eggs topping the pizza along with bacon and potato. I don’t know what sunny side eggs has to do with the season, but let me tell you, it works. At first the eggs seemed a little odd, but then the flavors combine and your slice is gone, reaching for another. The eggs aren’t the only highlights with the potatoes adding subtle texture and taste.
By now, we were fully satiated, but we had to try the new S’mores dessert. To be honest, this dessert needs some work or at least, more practice with preparation. Our marshmallow topping was a little torched and didn’t look like the sample pictured in the menu. And it’s a mix of hot and cold with the warm top layer over the cold pudding. The taste is okay, but for me, the dessert is not a must-have.
Now we were done. Really. Really, really done, and with leftovers to spare. Thanks to Frank and Nanette of CPK Ala Moana for their hospitality and again, special thanks to karsha chang public relations for this dining opportunity. For more information about the CPK Next Chapter menu along with Hawaii exclusives, here’s the press release.
This lineup of kicks is all from my era.
Of these on display, I’ve owned the (former) Chris Webber signature shoes and the heavy-as-bricks Pippens. I never owned those Barkleys and wanted the Zoom Flight 95 with “eyes” since 2007. What a vintage collection on display at Foot Locker.
All this time I’ve had Oceanic’s Internet Ultimate 200 data plan and didn’t realize it. Simply put, my household could get 200 Mbps download speeds which is way greater than the 50 Mbps Extreme package I had back in the day. But my older Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 modem maxed out at 100 Mbps. Lose out!
So I purchased a new modem, the NetGear CM500-100NAS. Despite the name, this unit does not include a NAS but is just a plain old cable modem with no WiFi. Since I already have a good enough WiFi router, there’s no need to replace it. This NetGear model is on Oceanic Time Warner’s list of approved modems.
In order to activate the modem, I did have to call Oceanic Tech Support to authorize the new MAC address. Once that was done, it was 200 Mbps Internet surfing. It doesn’t feel faster for short, bursty downloads, but you can feel the speed increase when downloading big files. Oddly enough, while this modem just works, the best part I really like about it are its status lights. The usual complement of LEDs are on the front of the device, but their colors are muted, almost too much so. Kinda hard to see when the room lights are on, but not irritatingly bright at night like the blue LEDs of the SurfBoard SB6141. These LEDs would light up a room at night that could cause sleep issues.
Finally saw The Force Awakens, Episode 7 of the Star Wars saga. I enjoyed the show especially the nostaligia it brought back, but I have questions about the film that I need to capture.
Needless to say, spoilers ahead. So don’t read any more unless you’ve seen The Force Awakens or don’t mind learning a few details from the movie.
Kylo Ren’s father was identified in The Force Awakens but there are still mysteries behind Rey and Finn’s lineage. Is Rey the daughter of Luke or Han? Could be either. First, I thought Luke, but then Rey’s familiarity and taking command of the Millenium Falcon hints at a Solo background. Sharing an embrace with General Leia looked materally intimate.
Who’s Finn’s daddy? For obvious reasons, Finn’s dad has to be the Lando Calrissian. Possibly Mace Windu (as the only other prominent brother in all of Star Wars) but I don’t think the timeline matches up.
Is Maz Kanata daughter of Yoda or possibly Mrs. Yoda? Too many hints indicate her ties with the Force are just a little more than coincidental.
Sorry, I’m just not digging the names of the new characters – Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma, Maz Kanata. These just don’t have the flair like the originals of Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett.
The storyline of The Force Awakens surely felt like that of the original A New Hope. This has to be intentional, but will Episodes 8 and 9 follow this familiar pattern? Maybe. Is Jedi Master Luke essentially replaying the past timeline to make corrections leading to a different outcome?
We know something went wrong leading to Luke’s disappearance. While the details haven’t been revealed, we know establishing his new order of Jedi didn’t succeed, bringing the rise of the new bad, Kylo Ren. After Return of the Jedi, the good guys with the help of the Ewoks had won, defeating the Empire. Ultimately was balance of the Force achieved? Seemingly not.
After the downfall of the new Jedi, perhaps Luke realized that everything that had transpired was not the end game. He and his father had not brought order to the Force…yet. So why not redo the past, but this time make different decisions, leading to different outcomes that could stabilize the balance of good and evil forever.
So maybe, we’ll see familiar storylines in Episodes 8 and 9 but with slight wrinkles, orchestrated by the last Jedi. Or maybe, all of this is just a ruse to draw out the new holographic big bad, Supreme Leader Snoke (another name without flair).
Wow, my mind is so weak that I didn’t even realize that I succumbed. No pink shoes then. No pink shoes again, but then there they were – pink kicks!
Well really hyperpunch, not pink but a fine semantic line if you know what I mean. Where and when did this happen? I was looking for a higher cut shoe after some recent ankle pain and my low cut and beloved Air Max HAM beginning to wear down. Then I saw the Nike HyperDunk 2013 with this price tag of “Fiddy,” and I was sold.
No issues with fit as with my experiences with signature shoes. That outsole grip is amazing and while the shoe looks stiff, it’s pretty pliable. And there it is, pink kicks for my weak mind that didn’t realize I had pink kicks.
Click on the image below for more pics of the HyperDunk 2013.
Sadly, I must accept the fact that I need to shun signature sneakers. While I love the tech, design, and branding of the kicks worn by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kobe Bryant, I have to realize that their signature shoes are, well, made for them – their style of play, their body mechanics, the anatomy of their feet.
If your style or body doesn’t match the marquee players then you’re just out of luck. Got flat feet like me? LeBron don’t so don’t expect arch support in the LeBrons or Soldier lines. Historically, Kobe rocked the low tops so guess what you’ll see in the Kobe lineup (but not since his Achilles surgery)? Slash and drive like Kyrie? That’s why his shoes feature a propelling curved sole.
For me, Kobe’s low tops feel like they’re going to slip off my feet. Even with the impressive strap system of the LeBron Zoom Soldier 9, I couldn’t manage a lockdown that didn’t irritate my (non-)arches. Kevin Durant feet must match his lean, lanky frame. It’s like you need slim feet to properly fit the KD7.
Now, the exception to this, of course, is Air Jordans. All Air Jordans somehow fit my feet, even if they’re half a size different. It’s weird. There’s never been an Air Jordan that hasn’t fit me. Gotta be the shoes, right? 😉
So my personal takeaway is that I must shun signature kicks except for Air Jordans.
Remember the last time I was allured by pink kicks? I eventually resisted, but the temptation returned when I saw these KD7 shoes on discount at Sports Authority. Technically, the colorway is not pink, rather hyper punch, but hey, if you had to describe these shoes, I think you’d say they’re grey and pink.
Doing a little bit of research, I learned these are the “Calm Before the Storm” launched in August 2014 for $150. Unlike my first pink temptation, these are for men (with a strong sense of confidence). Unfortunately, these didn’t work out for me. It’s not the confidence part, it’s my flat feet. Or maybe, it’s really Kevin Durant’s arched “skinny” feet. Since these are his signature shoes, they’re molded for his foot anatomy.
While the shoes look big and spacious, they are fairly narrow. The width of the toebox was okay but the my flat feet were squished in the mid region. And the tops of my feet were feeling some pressure. Loosening the strap helped a tiny bit but not enough. So even though, the Calm Before the Storm was in pristine (and discounted) condition, I didn’t want to get shoes that would hurt wearing them.
Pink kicks foiled again.
From California to the global scene, CPK has a refreshed look and an updated menu as it enters a New Chapter. CPK’s New Chapter menu highlights local flavors, and for Hawaii, our selections include the revamped menu along with these Ahi dishes:
These Ahi specials are only served in the five Oahu, Hawaii locations. No where else. How’s that for a new island style chapter for CPK?
While I’m a fan of CPK’s pizzas, I do love their different salads, and the Poke Chop Chop Salad is no exception. While I haven’t had a chance to sample the New Chapter yet, I’m already thinking about Kimchi pears paired with poke – all in a salad!
Here is the CPK New Chapter press release.
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN’S ‘NEXT CHAPTER’ MENU ARRIVES
ON OAHU
Ala Moana, Kahala, Kailua, Pearlridge and Waikiki CPKs Feature
New Next Chapter Menu, Along With Several Dishes Found Only in Hawaii
HONOLULU – California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the authority in creative dining with a California vibe, announced the arrival of its new “Next Chapter” menu to its Oahu locations. With a focus on high quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients, inventive main plates, hand-crafted cocktails and locally brewed beers alongside classic CPK favorites, the new and expanded menu is part of CPK’s transformational “Next Chapter” initiative, currently rolling out to CPK locations nationwide. Additionally, CPK’s Oahu restaurants will be the only venues throughout CPK’s global system to offer several new, exclusive Ahi dishes.
“We are upping our game with this transformation, which we call the Next Chapter,” said
G. J. Hart, CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. “We’ve taken the best of our history and soul, and innovated to make it current for today’s sophisticated guest. The new menu and experience create a space to relax and unwind in a welcoming neighborhood environment.”
CPK Hawaii Regional Partner Eddie Spencer added, “Our new menu offers fresh, seasonal dishes that take inspiration from local and global flavors. We’re excited to welcome in our loyal guests and newcomers to experience what’s new at CPK, including our amazing new Ahi dishes you can only find at CPK’s Oahu locations.”
CPK No Ka Oi: Exclusive Hawaii-Only Ahi Delights
Celebrating the island’s fresh seafood, these five CPKs will be the only restaurants within CPK’s family of nearly 300 restaurants to feature several exclusive Ahi dishes. These include:
· Crispy Ahi Tuna Egg Rolls: Wild-caught Ahi tuna, avocado, nori and shaved cabbage hand-rolled in a crispy wonton with our house-made tamari ginger dipping sauce
· Wild Caught Sesame Seared Ahi: Sesame-crusted Ahi tuna steak with seared baby bok choy, over a stir-fry of roasted farro, Shiitake mushrooms and red chili
· Poke Chop Chop Salad: Marinated fresh Ahi tuna served over baby bok choy greens, spicy Kimchi pears, fresh arugula, cucumber and cilantro, tossed in our house-made black sesame vinaigrette.
Fresh and Inspired Flavors, from Small Plates to Mains
Alongside classics like the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, highlights of CPK’s new menu include a Fire-Grilled Ribeye cooked with house-made pinot noir sea salt, topped with creamy bleu cheese butter and served with roasted fingerling potatoes and lemon-garlic wild arugula salad. Another new favorite is the Hearth-Roasted Halibut, wild caught from Alaska and roasted on a cedar plank with butternut squash farro, grilled asparagus and baby kale.
Seasonal offerings for fall include the Brussels + Bacon Flatbread, with Nueske’s Applewood-smoked bacon, sweet caramelized onions and creamy goat cheese; the Harvest Kale Salad, with tender baby kale, fresh Bosc pears, roasted butternut squash, spiced pecans, goat cheese and cranberries; and the Sunny Side Up Bacon + Potato Pizza, with Nueske’s Applewood-smoked bacon, caramelized leeks, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and two fresh sunny-side up eggs, atop CPK’s hand-stretched pizza dough. For the complete menu, visit www.cpk.com/reimagined.
Craft Cocktails, Premium Wines and Local Brews
CPK’s new hand-crafted cocktails feature premium alcohols with fresh fruit purees and herbs, like the California Roots, made with fresh avocado, shaken smooth with Svedka vodka, mint and lime, with a fennel salt rim; and the Blueberry Ginger Smash, with fresh muddled blueberries, lime and cranberry with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Domaine de Canton Ginger. CPK’s Oahu locations also feature Kona-brewed Longboard Lager from Kona Brewing company, and the new wine list includes California premium wines like Buena Vista, Mark West, Sonoma-Cutrer and CPK’s custom blend by KOZ.
Modern, Rustic Design with a Focus on Sustainable Materials
In addition to the new menu, the Kahala restaurant sports CPK’s Next Chapter design, guided by the use of sustainable materials. The warm, rustic décor features reclaimed wood, stone countertops, fabrics and décor made from recycled materials, and artwork that celebrates both California and Honolulu lifestyles.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
The New CPK menu encourages diners to seek unique and seasonal flavor combinations with a Menu Adventure Guarantee: if a guest tries a new dish and is not satisfied, it will be replaced with his or her favorite item from the CPK menu. For those with specific dietary needs, CPK also has options that are under 650 calories, vegetarian or gluten-free. We also provide allergen information to those with food sensitivities.
CPKids Parties
CPK offers a special program that allows kids to play chef and make their own pizza from the freshest ingredients, getting creative and learning about food along the way. Perfect for birthday parties, CPKids parties include a VIP-style behind-the-counter restaurant tour, a meal and dessert from the award-winning CPKids menu, souvenirs and a certificate for a free CPKids Meal for each child’s next visit.
Follow CPK on Twitter at @calpizzakitchen (#NEWCPK), Instagram at @californiapizzakitchen and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
californiapizzakitchen. Download CPK’s Pizza Dough® Rewards app for iTunes and Android and check in to begin earning rewards for dining creatively. About California Pizza Kitchen
In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. Since then, CPK has launched what has become a global brand known for creative California cuisine. Today, CPK is approaching 300 restaurants in 16 countries and 218 cities around the world and has served over 15 million pizzas to more than 43 million guests. For more information on California Pizza Kitchen, visit cpk.com.
The five Oahu locations are:
Thanks to Karsha Chang of karsha chang public relations for the info about the New Chapter of CPK, especially the Hawaii-only Ahi creations. You know where I’ll be dining during the holidays!
Researching building a retro arcade gaming system using a Raspberry Pi.
Looks like RetroPie is a good start for the software emulation.
Follow this tutorial to get RetroPie installed and running.
Here’s a hardware list I’m looking at:
Anyone have any suggestions about this? You can DM me on Twitter @geewhy.