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Cell Phones Then and Now

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How times have changed in the world of cellular phones.  The Motorola “brick” and an Apple iPhone 3G.

The Motorola phone is still a better weapon though.

Are You on the Baby Food Diet?

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So Jennifer Aniston and Lady Gaga are rumored to be followers of the latest Baby Food Diet. What’s that you ask?

For the Baby Food Diet, you consume 14 jars of baby food during the day and eat a “regular” dinner. It’s that simple, and you gotta admit there might be something to this diet – already portioned, no additives, and easy to eat. One potential side effect of this diet is you might be needing some of these.

A Re-Grand Opening of Foodland

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I don’t exactly know what a “re-grand opening” is, but Foodland just had one. It looked more like a small renovation with moderate changes in layout and look. There’s now an expanded organic food section and the deli/ready made food area features an olive bar and home made gelato. I think this Foodland location is gearing up to combat the coming of Whole Foods.

How Far Would Club 939 Go (Hypothetically)?

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Of course this is purely hypothetical since Hawaii doesn’t have an NBA team but how far would Club 939 go to entice LeBron James? Would the hottest gentlemen’s club in Hawaii top the offer made by Scores in New York?

If free agent LeBron signs with the Knicks, Scores is promising free access to the club, free meals at its on-site steakhouse, and “other perks.” And don’t forget the huge signing party where the Scores dancers will be decked out in LeBron jerseys.

Got Your BEAN Shirt?

Do you have your Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf shirt “Where you BEAN?”

When you wear this $17 shirt into Coffee Bean locations on Wednesdays, you’ll receive special offers like free drinks, double stamps, and more.

Interesting idea for a promotion, but I’m not sure I’d participate.  Sorry, too lazy to change my clothes before/after work for these specials.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room

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This year we tried the Mother’s Day brunch at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room in Macy’s Ala Moana. Cost was $45 per adult (under 6 years old is free). Not bad at all. There were a variety of quality dishes instead of masses of “fillers.” The crowds were reasonable, and we weren’t packed into an overcrowded dining room

One small negative was the placement of the buffet food stations. Due to the small size of the restaurant, the food stations were spread out in the main dining area, the bar, the waiting area, and in the Macy’s special events room (where we were seated). So you have to walk around a bit to get your food. And you know going to buffets is all about being lazy! 😉

The desserts were fabulous and my favorite li hing tomatoes were on the menu. To top it off, Alan Wong himself visited each table, welcoming moms and their families and even taking countless group pictures. Here he is checking on some dishes.

Worth going back next year? You bet.

The Embrace of Mercy

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On the eve of Mother’s Day, the USNS Mercy docked in Hawaii to take on supplies and personnel before launching on its Pacific Partnership 2010 mission. Thanks to the graces of Pacific Command, the Pacific Fleet, and Naval Region Hawaii, a group of local bloggers, tweeters, and social media mavens was allowed to tour the Mercy, speak to its leadership and crew, and document every aspect of this unique visit.

This is my experience.

About the USNS Mercy

Globally, the US Navy has two hospital ships in its fleet. While the Atlantic is under the care of the USNS Comfort, the USNS Mercy embraces the Pacific region. In stark contrast to its grey-hulled Navy brethren, the USNS Mercy is visually distinct, coated white and prominently displaying the Red Cross to signify its medical mission.

Also, the heritage of the Mercy is one of a converted oil supertanker, not built in the Naval shipyards. Within the Naval fleet, only an aircraft carrier is physically bigger than the Mercy.

The Floating Hospital

The obvious way to describe the USNS Mercy is it’s like a hospital, a floating hospital. Walking the expanses of the ship was just like walking the halls of any major hospital – an emergency receiving area, radiology with a CT scanner, sterile operating rooms, intensive care units, physical therapy, a blood bank, an eye clinic, a pharmacy, and patient wards (with a capacity of 1000 beds) were all there.

However, getting on a floating hospital does require a special ambulance though.

Staggering Logistics

Once you understand that the Mercy is a moving hospital, guessing at the staggering logistics and special requirements follows. Traveling to Pacific countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste during Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10), language issues are resolved by translators who are part of the crew or volunteers from Non-Governmental Agencies in host countries. Medical expertise comes from a variety of sources and is tailored for the mission at hand. Crew members are not assigned to the Mercy on a rotational basis, but from the 18 months of planning for PP10, medical skills are identified then assembled. Even veterinarians and biomedical equipment repair personnel will be participating. Supplies are continually taken on at every port stop and stored in any available free space.

The Teamwork of Roles

The successful operation of the Mercy lies in the teamwork of the crew as they each perform their vital roles. There are three primary roles on-board represented by the three leaders of the Mercy. From my understanding, Captain Lisa Franchetti heads the overall Pacific Partnership 2010 mission for the Mercy, Captain Jeffrey Paulson is chief medical officer, and Captain David Bradshaw is in charge of the operation of the Mercy.

The crew is composed of military personnel (about 1200) and civilians (about 66), and each member also has additional roles such as firefighters and to even defend the non-combatant ship if attacked.

Comforts

While the USNS Mercy is prepared to handle medical emergencies, familiar comforts are available. The primary dining hall provides meals around the clock, and yes, they serve Starbucks coffee.

To keep the crew physically fit, spaces are converted to make shift but well equipped gyms.

Takeaways

So what are my personal takeaways after touring the USNS Mercy? It simply goes like this:

Amazed, overwhelmed, awed, honored, and lastly, thankful…

More Pictures of the USNS Mercy

More Coverage of the USNS Mercy Tour

Sign Him Up!

My pal JoJo has a future, in dancing or as a runway model, I don’t know. Check out his moves at the 1:00 minute mark.

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