Thanks to Coco Bean
Long overdue, but thanks to Coco Bean for contributing for a pulpy iPhone! Her contribution was delivered in a professional looking, hand made card with awesome words of encouragement.
Thanks Coco Bean!
Starbucks Skinny Lattes Are Horrids
I like variety and and the freedom of choice, and I am glad to see Starbucks continuing to offer new products and services. Except for their new low calorie “skinny” lattes. These things are horrids and taste terrible!
I had a skinny mocha the other day, and I could barely finish it. At first, the taste is okay, sorta like a regular mocha, but as you keep drinking, you know something’s different. I could only finish my skinny mocha by eating a meal to mask the non-mocha taste.
Usually, I like to sample a drink two or three times to give it a fair assessment, but I’ll be passing on any more skinny Starbucks drinks.
Sorry Starbucks but keep bringing out new stuff.
What Crystall of Club 939 Likes
I like the new Club 939 ads in the local Honolulu Advertiser and think they’re amusing. A series of ads is forthcoming, all patterned after personals describing likes and dislikes.
Here’s the first ad featuring Crystall who is a Libra and loves to laugh.
She also likes white iced mochas with whip cream. So of course, she’ll dislike a skinny mocha. You know what she probably dislikes? Being ripped off by Pepsi Points. You know what else? I’m not quite sure, but for some reason, I think Crystall likes iPhones. Hey, me too!
Western Digital My Book Home Fix
Saw a short note on Macintouch about an update for the Western Digital My Book Home external hard drives. The update addresses computer freezes when My Book Homes drives are connected. Yes, I have experienced this problem many times on my iMac.
Anyway, here is the link to the updated firmware version 1.0.28.
There’s an updated Drive Manager software too, but I don’t know think you need it.
Pepsi Stuff is a Rip!
Yes, I was an avid supporter of Pepsi’s partnership with iTunes giving away free music during the Superbowl. Then Pepsi changed alliances, leaving Apple and going with Amazon. Yeah, I like Amazon, but I think the current Pepsi Stuff promotion is a rip off.
Plain and simple, here’s why. While shopping the other day, I saw a 12 pack of Pepsi featuring the Pepsi Stuff logo, so I figured I’d get one to check it out. I open the box and see a redemption code good for 2 points! Two measly points!! One, two for 144 oz of Pepsi. The 12 pack wasn’t on sale or anything and cost me $4.18, closer to $5 after the HI5 recycling fees. So for $5 spent, I get 2 Pepsi points.
What kind of Pepsi Stuff can 2 points get you? Nada. Well, you can enter their sweepstakes giveaway twice (one point per entry) where you could win all kinds of great stuff. Amazon MP3 singles cost 5 points, so even if you wanted to support a local musician whose music is available on Amazon, you’d need to buy a ton of Pepsi. To at least buy a $0.99 single, you’d need to get three 12 packs, costing around $15 (or less if on sale). The entire CD costs $9! And no, I don’t consider having all that Pepsi to drink an equal trade.
In previous promotions, you had a 1 in 3 chance of outright winning a free song from a $1.25, 20-oz bottle of Pepsi. So say I bought 5 bottles for $6.25, I would have 100 oz of Pepsi to drink and probably one single, maybe more if I’m lucky. I like that deal better than spending $15 for a guaranteed single and 432 oz of Pepsi (and 5400 calories!).
Maybe I shoulda read the rules before participating. You really gotta like Pepsi to play in this promotion.
March Madness Kicks Analysis #0a: UCLA Vulnerable
Yes, it’s still early and March Madness hasn’t begun, but it’s time to start taking notes.
First note. UCLA is vulnerable. Even though they’ve been beating up on opponents, the Adidas-clad Bruins continue to have a weakness against teams wearing Nikes. Of their current 21-3 record, all three losses are to Nike teams (Texas, USC, and now Washington).
So to beat UCLA during the dance, outfit your team in old school Barkley’s and play ball-in-your-face dirty. Still a legal play. 😉
Technorati Tags: basketball, Kicks, March Madness, NCAA Tournament, Nike, shoes, sneakers
Starbucks Going Free with AT&T
You ever used the Wi-Fi access offered at Starbucks stores through T-Mobile? Me neither cause you gotta pay for the service. Now things are changing as Starbucks is switching from T-Mobile to AT&T.
With this change, AT&T customers now get free Wi-Fi access at Starbucks hot spots. If you’re not an AT&T subscriber, purchases at Starbucks will get you two free hours or if you really want, you can pay for the service ($4 for two hours). Might as well buy that grande, non-fat caramel macchiato and get two hours of Wi-Fi!
Grammys Went Social
While watching snippets of last night’s Grammy Awards, I saw actor Jason Bateman introduce two violinists and a cellist who each played real short pieces. I didn’t follow what was going on until now.
The Grammy Awards went social.
Pairing with YouTube, the Grammys sponsored the contest, My Grammy Moment, where one winner would join the Foo Fighters playing live during the awards show. What I saw was the introduction of the top three contestants, Ann Marie Calhoun, Brian Fitzgerald, and Tara Klein. Fans voted from the top three and picked Ann Marie Calhoun to rock with Foo.
Here’s Ann’s YouTube entry playing the Foo Fighter’s Pretender. Gotta be the hair (and the looks) that won her the gig.
Mix that with the original Pretender by the Foo Fighters, and you get this.
Awesome way to bring together the music and tech worlds!
Technorati Tags: music
Support the Cherry Blossom Festival
Never paid too much attention to local pageants before but how about throwing support behind the 56th Cherry Blossom Festival? How can’t you with this year’s theme of Magokoro o komete – With a Sincere Heart?
The contestants are gearing up for the pageant with public appearances at your local shopping malls. Up next is Pearlridge on February 16 then Ala Moana on February 23, culminating with the Festival Ball on March 21.
If you want to attend the Festival Ball (and vote in the Miss Popularity Contest), fill out this form with payment of $80 per attendee.
Go Keri!
Technorati Tags: Hawaii
Music Buzz from Blogs
Can blogging about music lead to better album sales? Just maybe according to this article. From some studies, online buzz about an album on blogs and MySpace tends to lead to better sales.
Wonder if Laga Savea’s Roots Satisfaction will see any kind of increase from my indirect post? 😉
Another way to get better sales is to be featured on an Apple product commercial. Feist’s single 1234 blew up as the soundtrack for the iPod Nano. Now New Soul by Yael Naim is climbing the charts as the song of the MacBook Air.
Konishiki Powers Roots Satisfaction
Former sumo champion, Saleva`a Atisanoe`e, known as Konishiki in the ring was at Borders Windward Mall this weekend supporting the musical release of Roots Satisfaction by Laga Savea. Laga’s Jawaiian-themed CD is produced by Konishiki Power Hawaii musical label with the former ozeki powering sales with personal appearances.
Konishiki’s a cool guy who took time out for a picture. Even though no longer in competition, he’s still a big guy.
How can you support Laga Savea? Get your own copy of Roots Satisfaction from Amazon.com. Buy the CD, Root’s Satisfaction.
Or you can even buy the digital version (including singles) from Amazon’s MP3 Store which also supports Pepsi Points.