Both you and I know that the heavily used escalators at Ala Moana need some TLC. While many are being repaired, this is one way to prevent any more escalator issues.
By the former Sears, eventually Bloomingdales, there’s a new stairwell built. This definitely comes in handy to get to the upper level with all the construction on-going.
Is it the early evening darkness, the cool nights, or ornaments for sale? Whatever it is, it’s starting to look a lot like Christmas, especially with all these “gifts” that have arrived recently.
Remember my order mixup with Strong Like Bull magnets? With great customer service, the problem has been resolved and my bonus order is here.
A DreamHost convention without swag is unheard of. DreamHost giving away their conference swag is welcomed.
Yes, the simultaneous timing of all these arrivals made me wonder, then came the Klout McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte #momentsofwonder promotion. Tasty!
But legally, I must say:
I was given a free product or sample because I’m a Klout influencer. I am under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.
But I will quickly reiterate – tasty!
Since Christmas is approaching, it’s time to start up the Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide for 2013. Keep an eye on this Pinterest board for some holiday suggestions.
For you late night, caffeine-addicted zombies, there is an answer to satiate your cravings. The Starbucks drive-thru in Kaneohe (the original drive-thru in Hawaii) is now open 24 hours. Yup, all day and all night. With the holiday shopping season coming up, this is the perfect time to caffeine-up pre or post shopping.
Mommy bloggers get the attention and fame they deserve while daddy blogging isn’t so popular…unless it’s done right. Check out the Military Dad blog for an example of daddy blogging done right.
Follow along this week as Military Dad learns lessons about being a stay-at-home dad.
It’s been four days since HammerTime started broadcasting on 96.3FM KRTR in the mornings. You’ve tuned in by now, right? Truthfully, after four days, I’ve listened to about four hours of the trio of Davey D, Gregg and Shawnee Hammer. While I’m elated Hammer’s back on air, I ain’t that infatuated with the man. 😉
I know this is just the very beginning with rough spots expected, but from my limited sampling, here is Pulpconnection’s analysis and breakdown.
But before that, if you missed the launch of HammerTime, listen in to the first two minutes of HammerTime. So what if they started about 5 minutes early?
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116972762″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Just nitpicking here, but the name HammerTime is appropriate but small kine confusing. Thanks to MC Hammer, HammerTime is part of our vernacular. Gregg Hammer is a marquee draw and since two of the three members of HammerTime are Hammers, the name fits. But there’s Davey D who seems like the team’s radio lead but gets unequal billing. No, I’m not trying to disrupt the team, just pointing out an observation.
KRATER 96 plays adult contemporary music, and at my age, I don’t mind this music since it’s all familiar. Rihanna is as hip hop as it gets around here. There’s a good mix of 90’s and newer music. Trivia fact: if you listen to the launch of HammerTime, the first official song played is Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn from 1997.
Fortunately, KRTR has the best traffic reporter assigned to their station with Danielle Tucker and Traffic on the Fives. Danielle’s reports are thorough and tweaked just enough so they don’t sound like she’s repetitively reading the same report for several stations.
Let’s start with the jockette, Shawnee Hammer. Since her departure from the I-94 Wake-Up Crew way back in the day, I’m not sure what she’s been up to. But she hasn’t missed a beat. Her news delivery is a bright spot for the fledgling HammerTime. She has a quick, precise delivery with enough inflections to stress words and convey vibrancy.
Davey D is a name I’ve heard before, but I’m not familiar with his style. I’m guessing his role is the experienced point man/facilitator of the program. The problem I have is telling the difference between the voices of Davey D and Gregg. When Hammer is in caricature-mode, it’s easy to discern, but in straight up regular dialog, I can’t immediately tell. Their voices have similar qualities unlike the former pairing of Gregg and Rory Wild.
Now, the main show, Gregg Hammer. Yes, I am a fan and believe Gregg belongs on the airwaves as one of the most talented entertainers. His range is wide and his speed of improvisation is unparalleled. But… these are new times, a new station, and a new team.
At times, it feels like Gregg is a one-man show. He goes into character but has to play all the parts. Listen in.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116910650″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
While he can pull this off, the effect is more compelling when the team complements or augments the stories and jokes. Yes, the team is still adjusting to one another and will get better over time; I understand that. I’m not sure if Gregg’s team knows how to react to his skits or can’t keep up or can’t lead him to the next segment. Again, Rory Wild was the master of this. With a few, well-placed comments, questions, or even a sigh, Rory would be directing the discourse giving Gregg a new path for hilarity. The team just needs more time, more repetitions, more exchanges before everything comes together. My basis for comparison is Gregg’s time with the Wake-Up Crew that spanned years. Seemingly he’s known Rory even longer. So it’s with this bias and expectations, I listen to HammerTime.
Ugh, okay, this has got to be the worst aspect of the show. It’s no fault to any HammerTime member, just the format of KRTR. But I really hate it. It’s the whole “right after this…” teasing. What celebrity was arrested last night? Find out right after this. Where “this” is typically one or two songs and a commercial. Then there’s some banter followed by another song, news, or traffic report. Then another teaser. Now follow this format for hours. There’s just no flow. Staccato is a rhythm but not a desired flow for this morning show.
Unshackle the Hammer. When things start getting good, the format kicks in, stifling the creativity of Gregg Hammer. Remember the days of the Wake-Up Crew when they would talk for minutes, not playing any music, just doing the obligatory bill paying commercials. The dialog would carry and engage the listeners. I would stay through the commercials so I wouldn’t miss out when the conversation picked up. The current show format doesn’t allow for this, letting me leave knowing I won’t hear from Davey, Shawnee, or Gregg for some time. And when I do hear from them, it’ll be for a scant few minutes before another mandatory music interruption.
It’s the beginning, and I’ll keep listening to HammerTime. You just never know when Gregg will talk about his Instagram selfie.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116972604″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Oh, one last thing. Develop characters. Gregg needs to redefine and develop characters. Gone are the days of Tufi Claus, Robert Crazymero, Manyo the Janitor, Bubba Fujimoto, the old Japanese couple, Officer Sherman Botello, and others. Gregg needs a new cast and fast. I’m not sure if Bubbles is it though.
Remember the Kickstarter-based Juicies project back in 2011? These playful iPhone and USB cables took the scenic route to ship, but they were and still are colorfully distinctive. My green USB extension cord lengthens my Lightning iPhone 5 cable for a daily charge.
Fast forward to 2013, and Juicies is back to charge up your newer gear. Meet JUICIES+. Instead of continuing their rainbow palette, JUICIES+ is going after cable pliability. You notice how the outer jackets of cables tend to keep their shape over time? If you keep winding a cable a certain way, the cable will want to stay that way. JUICIES+ answer is a “flexible tangle free woven cable.” Made of high quality, certified materials and construction, this charging cable also has the looks to match. Added to the black or white JUICIES+ is now a champagne gold to match the iPhone 5s.
While I don’t have an iPhone 5s, having this gold JUICIES+ is a great way to indoctrinate myself to this new Apple colorspace. Oh, and with a bin of various black and white cables, this golden cable will surely shine. You have a few days to back the JUICIES+ project so don’t wait!
So if you want to be strategic as a business, you need to “commit to a different future” as Fast Company mentions and create a new future, not just keep pace. Take for example, the cronut. By now, it’s all played out, and the shark has been jumped with just about everyone making their own donut-croissant hybrid…except for Starbucks.
You see Starbucks is strategic knowing the cronut’s time is near extinction so instead, they’re moving on. Forget the donut-croissant mashup, how about the Duffin, a donut-muffin creation? Now there’s shaping your future right there, changing the game so competitors will then follow. Or wait, should it be called a MuffNut?
I think either is too blasé. The real appeal is the brownie-donut mix aka the BroNut. There’s something about this that’s appealing. Kinda taboo but who doesn’t love a good chocolaty brownie? If anyone’s out there that wants to out-strategize Starbucks, then go for the BroNut. I hear once you go black, you never go back.
But I don’t see any angels in the city
I don’t hear any holy choirs sing
And if I can’t get an angel
I can still get a boy
And a boy’d be the next best thing
The next best thing to an angel
A boy’d be the next best thing
Saturday marked Cousin Mark’s first birthday. Born with challenges, Mark’s life and that of his family is and will be very different than many will experience. But his first birthday party was simply awesome – great food, games, a photo booth, face painting, and balloon creations. Even the Kona Ice truck came by for free shave ice for the guests.
Then watching the kids flavoring their snow cones, the gravity of Cousin Mark’s challenges became real, not fully but a daunting glance. Things we take for granted are things to be appreciated, such as adding syrup to a snow cone. But there was Cousin Mark surrounded by family and friends and their love.
Say a prayer in the darkness for the magic to come
No matter what it seems
Tonight is what it means to be young
Before you know it it’s gone
Tonight is what it means to be young
Later that day was another celebration, the wedding of Chuck and Jenny. Both in their mid-twenties and so much in love. This party was alive with love in its own way, and the bride and groom, they were full of vitality, energy, and confidence. You could see the limitless potential. Were we ever like that? Was I? I don’t remember.
After the day’s events had concluded, I somehow stumbled across the song Tonight Is What It Means to be Young, and I relished it.
There were rumblings and rumors, but now it’s known. Gregg Hammer is coming back to the airwaves starting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22, 2013. But no, Mr. Hammer isn’t reuniting with his old gang, the Wake-Up Crew. Instead, this comedic genius is joining KRTR 96.3 FM for the morning show. Joining Gregg from 5am to 10am weekday mornings will be Davey D and Shawnee (Hammer).
What’s with Gregg’s return? Who knows, but it has to be an all business affair. I hoped the return of the Hammer would be with his partner-in-crime and point man, Rory Wild. The world is a better place with Rory and Gregg on the air waves, but it’s not to be as Rory is still leading the revamped Wake-Up Crew on Island 98.5. So yes, both will be broadcasting at the same time on different stations. Doesn’t that pain you too?
Also, if you’re not a KRTR listener, morning deejays Dave Lancaster and Sister Sherry have been gone for about two weeks. Again, another business matter to seemingly open a time slot for Hammer’s return.
I don’t know Davey D’s style and haven’t heard from Shawnee since becoming Mrs. Hammer, so I don’t know what to expect. Tune in tomorrow to catch the return of Gregg Hammer!
Caption this picture of Spiderman and a Chinese lion.
Of all my photos taken from Jenny and Chuck’s wedding, this is my favorite of father and daughter walking down the aisle of the Ko`olau Range.
Remember the event and #meetthehalvorsons via Storify.
I’m simplifying my Yelp review criteria for shave ice places. I’m rating them based on two main questions:
Really simple right? Sure flavor and consistency of the ice counts, but that factors into point #1. Then again, so does parking, seating, and cost.
For point #2, I view shave ice as a treat, not a heavy meal. So if it’s so dense, so huge, or so overwhelming, I’m rating it down.
Because I settled on these two points, I changed my recent Yelp review for Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes, going down a notch from 4 to 3 stars. Don’t get me wrong, Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes is a solid choice. But I doubt I’ll go back on my own choice. I’m more of a traditional shave ice fan, not the snow ice type.
The #4 mango and passion fruit combo we got was so large, three of us easily split it. I can’t imagine eating all of it myself, so that’s a negative for reason #2.
Sorry, Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes, but I gotta set and stick with my rules.