Mahalo Marcus
Nike is starting its marketing machine for young Marcus Mariota. No, Nike is not making Marcus’ draft day kicks a reality for all, but the brand is starting to sell Mariota merchandise. You can pre-order Marcu’s Titans jersey or pickup this “Mahalo Marcus” shirt that says “Pride of Hawaii” on the back.
Rules of Kicks Coppin’ Know the Return Policy
So you know not to sleep on’em, and while that may be scary to plunk down cash on a pair of unknown kicks, the second kicks coppin’ rule will alleviate your concern. Know the return policy.
I’m surprised at how good return policies are. There are a few businesses that make returns difficult or costly, but for the most part, many offer liberal return policies. No cause for returns, no restocking fee, no shipping charges – look for these clauses with the business you’re dealing with. Most do have a return timeframe, usually 30 days, but that’s sufficient time to figure out if you’re keeping your kicks. Even after the 30-day window, some vendors may accept the return but issue store credit instead of a refund.
Nike has free shipping for orders more than $75 for members (membership is free). This is okay for regular kicks purchases, but you may run into issues with clearance kicks that are less than $75. But you can always buy more to get over the minimum cost then return the unwanted items. Who knows? You may keep everything.
Rules of Kicks Coppin’ – Don’t Sleep On’em
If you’re shopping for shoes aka kicks coppin’, there are a few rules you should know and heed. The first rule is don’t sleep on’em, meaning if you see a pair of shoes that you’re interested in and your size is available, you should buy now and return later.
If you wait and sleep on your purchase, the shoes will be gone. The kicks game moves so fast now, especially with limited runs, special releases, and a very competitive connected marketplace out there. This rule just doesn’t apply to online purchases but in real life as well. You may be able to sit on your purchase at a retail location like Foot Locker, but at a discount store like Ross, most definitely buy now. You never know about Ross’ inventory so you may never see that pair of kicks again, even at other locations.
Don’t sleep on’em was a lesson driven home today. This morning I came across the Saucony G9 Shadow 6 Mint Chocolate Chip, the first from its Scoops Pack. When I looked at the online sizing, there was every size, and since I didn’t know much about Saucony, I wanted to read up. Time passed and when I re-engaged two hours later, guess what? Yup, sold out. No mint chocolate chip for me, and I’m guessing ever again since I doubt there’ll be a restock.
If you see’em, get’em, and don’t sleep on’em!
Does a Tesla Powerwall Make Sense in Hawaii?
I’m intrigued by all things Tesla including their newest product, the Powerwall. The Powerwall is essentially a Tesla battery installed in the home to store excess power which can then be used later like during a power outage. Additionally, the Powerwall can charge itself when electricity rates are cheaper and then provides power to your home to avoid high cost peak times. But since Hawaii doesn’t tier its electricity rates for residences, that downplays a big feature of the Powerwall.
Couple the Powerwall with PV solar and the situation becomes more compelling. Assuming you don’t have enough solar panels to “zeroize” your electricity bill then the Powerwall could store excess electricity produced by the sun and when your home’s power consumption increases, the Powerwall provides the free power rather than getting it from (and paying) HECO.
But is this worth the $3000-3500 price tag of a single Powerwall (not including installation and other ancillary equipment)? I don’t know if there are tax considerations. More than one Powerwall can be interconnected by the way if you’re trying to live off the power grid.
Supposedly, Hawaii has the highest electrical rates in the country, and the U.S. Energy Information Admininstration says the average American home consumes about 11,000 kWh per year or about 30 kWh per day. This equates to getting three 10 kWh Powerwalls for $10,500 to store enough power daily (generated from solar) and remove your home from the commercial power grid.
Looking at my power usage (and assuming I’m doing the math right), it looks like my household averages usage of 4.3 kWh per day for months that we get power from HECO. That’s far short from the estimated 30 kWh for an average home. Anyways, with that 4.3 kWh daily usage, the 7 kWh Powerwall unit for $3000 should suffice and with room to spare.
But looking at my HECO bill, my solar panels don’t generate enough to juice up the Powerwall. So I’m not sure how it works. Do you initially charge the Powerwall using HECO and solar. Then when charged, your house draws from the Powerwall first then when depleted falls back to HECO? If that’s the case, I should be good shape with my daily average of 4.3 kWh. I would have to see the solar production numbers to verify that it can keep up that 4.3 kWh depletion. Then in theory, I would be paying the minimum monthly bill to HECO (after that Powerwall charge up).
Looking over one year’s worth of electricity bills and factoring out the roughly $18 minimum bill, I’d be saving around $360 in one year. So roughly, that equates to a 10 year return on investment?? The Powerwall does include a 10-year warranty with optional 10-year extension. Having power when the grid goes down (which seems to happen at least once a year for us) is a benefit although the 7 kWh Powerwall wasn’t designed for this (that’s the intent of the 10 kWh model but assuming only capacities differ, I’m guessing the smaller unit can serve as a power backup for a home).
Again, I’m not sure if my rough calculations are on track. But looking at my power usage, there seems to be enough benefits for Tesla’s Powerwall – paid off in about ten years (under warranty), not relying on HECO (as much), and having power during blackout and brownouts.
Major Props to Marcus Mariota
Major props to Marcus Mariota for his collegiate football career that led him to the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. But that’s not all. I’m very impressed with this commercial highlighting the ohana aspect of Mariota’s life.
Did you see that brand lineup? Yes, this production is from Beats by Dre, now owned by Apple. Marcus palms an iPhone in preparation for his workout while garbed in Nike and wearing swoosh-y cross trainers. It would have been totally over the top if Marcus beach workouts using rocks and coconuts flashed an AppleWatch on his wrist. Only that would be able to top these crazy sick Nike Lunar Force 1s custom made for Marcus for the NFL Draft event. Only two of these were produced to include the all Koa wood box. Props Marcus, props.
Ass Whooping by SharePoint
Each time I go hand-to-hand with Microsoft SharePoint, I get my ass whooped. Call it a learning experience, but I’m getting tired of it. I don’t know how organizations adopt SharePoint without also heavily investing in developers and/or experts to make SharePoint do what you want.
While I’ve learned that SharePoint can do stuff, making it do stuff is entirely different. I’m looking at our average workforce who uses SharePoint, and I know they don’t have the want to figure out how to make SharePoint do stuff. Lots of seemingly simply stuff is not so simple to do and as you figure it out, you’ll get a SharePoint beat down.
Only recently, I think I’ve tamed Content Types and actually used them correctly. But now that I’m thinking about it, I think I scoped some columns incorrectly, meaning SharePoint has just won again.
The Brady Bunch and the Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino
I’ll be honest and say right up front that the Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino is an absolutely great tasting drink. Calories and fat content aside, the drink throws various textures and yummy flavors at you. But here’s the big “but” – I don’t taste the s’mores in the S’mores Frappuccino. While the s’mores components may be there, the drink itself just tastes like a good Frappuccino, not a S’mores Frappuccino if you know what I mean. On top of that, I’m not in the s’mores target audience and can’t relate to the nostalgia the drink is supposed to evoke.
Nothing says summer like the laughter and memories shared around a crackling campfire.
But you know what? Experiencing s’mores by the campfire is something I’m sure America’s favorite family, the Bradys, must have done. In fact, this S’mores Frappuccino reminds me a lot of the Brady kids….
Starbucks describes their limited seasonal creation as follows:
The layered beverage starts with marshmallow-infused whipped cream and milk chocolate sauce; adds a creamy blend of graham, coffee, milk and ice; and is finished off with marshmallow whipped cream and a graham cracker crumble.
And here’s how Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy match up.
Marcia, Marcia, Marshmallow! You don’t have to brush your hair 100 times before realizing that the S’mores Frappuccino is all about Marcia, Marcia, Marshmallow! The visuality of this drink starts and ends with the marshmallow whip cream.
The milk chocolate sauce is for the only brown-eyed Brady, Peter. Peter’s kind of messy and all over the place just like the layer of chocolate sauce. And trust me, when you inhale that chocolate sauce, your voice will crack like a pubescent Peter Brady.
Greg Brady is the Frappuccino in the drink, bringing in the core of coffee, milk, and ice but with the s’mores graham giving some Johnny Bravo sweetness.
Then it’s more Marcia, Marcia, Marshmallow on top with a graham cracker crumble of Bobby Brady.
Sure, Bobby was around but somewhat overlooked, just like this crumble. It’s there, but once in the mix, you easily forget about Bobby.
The edible cookie straw embodies pigtailed Cindy Brady. Purse your lips to coo about Cindy’s lispy cuteness and purse your lips as you drink out of this cutesy straw.
What about middle sister, Jan Brady? Where is she in the S’mores Frappuccino? Well, the bespeckled Jan has a special place as the bottled version of the S’mores Frappuccino. Of course, the bottled version doesn’t have the Marcia, Marcia, Marshmallow and is a step-down from the prepared S’mores Frappuccino, but that is Jan’s existence.
So as you’re enjoying your S’mores Frappuccino, sing along with the theme song you already know by heart.
Air Jordan 1 Mid Black History Month 2014
Found this unusual Air Jordan 1 version at Ross the other day. The AJ1 silhouette was apparent, just not the makeup. Then I saw the “BHM” insignia that goes along with shoes specifically designed for Black History Month. These Jordans were part of the BHM 2014 collection and meant for the ladies??? So this size 13 may be a WMNS 13. Still big for a men’s equivalent of 11.5 though. It’s a catchy colorway with nice details and accents and only $50.
S’mores Frappuccino T-0, Launch!
Today’s the launch day of the Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino. I don’t have my review ready yet as I’m still drinking my too-early-in-the-morning Frappuccino. Don’t forget to ask for your free edible cookie straw.
And yes, the drink is good, very, very, very good.
S’mores Frappuccino T-1, Bottled Version
The countdown is at one day before the American public is reminded of their youthful summers via the S’mores Frappuccino. Until the crafted drink is available, there’s the bottled version that has to be just a specter of the real deal. I mean how can this premade version of the S’mores Frappuccino go up against marshmallow whip cream, chocolate sauce, and graham cracker syrup and toppings?
Let’s do a quick taste test of this S’mores Frappuccino that’s available at groceries right now. Visually, this Frappuccino is lighter in shade, more like the Bottled Vanilla Frappuccino, and expectedly, you don’t see any of the unique qualities of the prepared Frap (meaning the graham cracker sprinkles). You just see a light brown liquid. It’s 290 calories in 13.7 fl oz.
First sip. It tastes graham-y. Yes, really. The scent of the drink throws me off a little. There is a graham cracker like smell to the drink, so your head is thinking of a solid cracker but then your tongue feels a liquid.
I’m getting a aftertaste/feel after a few sips. My tongue feels kinda dry, not sure why. In general though, this bottled S’mores Frappuccino tastes like the other bottled Frappuccinos. Somewhere in between vanilla and caramel. I don’t taste the chocolate and maybe that aftertaste is supposed to be the marshmallow. In fact, I think it is indeed that.
I’m already not a fan of these bottled Frappuccinos, and the new S’mores flavor hasn’t convinced me otherwise. My recap: typical bottled Frappuccino taste, a graham-y scent, and a marshmallow-y aftertaste for +$3.00 per bottle. I’ll pass, but I am looking forward to a more authentic experience on Tuesday.
The Dregs of Lilly Pulitzer at Target
Yes, I’m still fascinated by the successful disaster that was the Lilly Pulitzer collaboration with Target. The demand and attraction, the fanfare, the hate, the Black Friday-like lines of shoppers, the crazy resale markup – all so fun to watch (from afar). In most locations, all traces of the Lilly Pulitzer launch have been sanitized, making you question its existence.
However, at the Kailua location, there’s actually a few Lillys still available, but I’m guessing this must be the dregs of the collection.
Actually, the set of colored drinking glasses is okay but not at $30.