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The $150 Gas Cap

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gas-capWhenever your car’s check engine light goes on, you never know what to expect. It could be bad, incurring a high repair cost. So when my aging Toyota’s light went on, I braced for the worst.

Diagnostics said there was a leak in the emissions/fuel system. After troubleshooting and testing, the problem ended up being a worn out seal on the gas cap. The cost of a replacement gas cap? $30. Tacking on the diagnostics fee of $120 gives me a brand new gas cap of $150. But hey, I’d rather take this than repairs costing in the thousands.

Alternate Uses of a Fan

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Credit drivers of the ultimate driving machine for their smart, alternate use of fans. Sure fans are there to move air past its holder for cooling purposes, or you can also use fans to provide shade from the glaring sun.

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Is this any safer than using a mobile phone while driving?

More Viable Than a Star Dash

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While Starbucks’ most recent Star Dash is targeted for the addicted, a better, more viable alternative is this promotion for Rewards members.

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That’s 4 bonus stars with the purchase of one espresso beverage like the new Flat White. So with one drink, you’ll earn 5 stars (one for the purchase and four bonus). Although this promotion is only good for about a week, I can see myself visiting Starbucks three times in a week to accumulate 15 stars.

Car Fire on Lehua

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Did you hear about the car fire this morning on Lehua in the Pearl City area? Thanks to his dedication to work, @locke02000 was already in the area when the car went up in flames and the fire crew arrives on scene.

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As far as I know, there’s no connection with this car fire and the discrepant story of pro golfer, Robert Allenby.

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I Bought a Selfie Stick

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But it’s okay. I passed the criteria set by The Oatmeal’s “Should you buy a selfie stick?” test. It’s all about the angles and versatility that led me to buy a selfie stick, not vanity (for real). I wanted a stick for my GoPro to get different angles for shots. But then, why buy a monopod made for one device? Why couldn’t I use the same stick for another device like an iPhone? I wouldn’t want two selfie sticks, right? That’s when I found the ThrillPro by The Alaska Life.

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Essentially the ThrillPro is a selfie stick, capable of extending 36-inches, but it’s sturdier, more versatile, and ultimately more costly than other products. But that’s okay. This single stick comes with different mounts so you can easily use it with a GoPro or any smart phone that fits its clamp (a regular encased iPhone 6 fits). In theory, you could also mount a video camcorder, SLR, or DSLR camera as well. Just don’t go too heavy. The ThrillPro is sturdy but not unbreakable. Once extended, lock rings keep everything in place.

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The angle of the head of the ThrillPro can be adjusted to turn your camera on its side or to reverse its orientation. The included strap and clip latch securely fastens the stick to your hand or a bag.

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The only negative I have is that the ThrillPro does not include a remote control capability. There’s no Bluetooth remote or other means to remotely snap a picture. You have to rely on the GoPro or iPhone’s self timer. Inconvenient but understandable. Incorporating an universal remote that can work with a GoPro, digital camera, smartphone, and camcorder would be too tall of an order. One option with a GoPro is to use a Pebble watch and GoPro app as a remote shutter, and it does work (albeit with some additional setup needed).

So if you’re looking for a versatile and sturdy selfie stick and don’t mind paying for the quality, check out the ThrillPro.

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Star Dash for the Addicted

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Wow, Starbucks’ latest personalized Star Dash is definitely one for the addicted. My goal to complete the Star Dash? Make 30 purchases to get a bonus of 15 stars. 30 purchases from January 20 to February 19, 2015.

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I don’t think the motto of “Shine on” is appropriate for this challenge. More like “Shake on” after consuming all that caffeine and/or sugar. I’ll concede this Star Dash right now thank you very much.

 

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Nike Max HAM for the Outdoors

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So what if these Nike basketball shoes were made for 2013 outdoor play? I still like the Nike Max HAM shoes featuring high abrasion material to withstand balling on the blacktop. This colorway is surprisingly good (maybe the best color combo of the HAMs), and at Ross’ cost of 50 bucks, these pickups were a no-brainer. For $50, you get a tough pair with Air Max down low and Hyperfuse up top. The laces speckled with bright citrus is just over the top good.

Walking around the outdoor mall of Ala Moana constitutes outdoor play right?

Kicks for Old Rich Guys

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Found these New Balance kicks on clearance at Nordstroms and affectionately refer to them as “kicks for old rich guys.” I mean I did find these New Balance Elite 572 “Gum Pack” at Nordstroms after all with a starting price of around $130. But with the steep clearance discount, these mature-looking kicks became very affordable. Now take in the elite makeup of this shoe, and you see the subtle additions. There’s the gum soles, the plush materials, and the soft ride. I just wish my size was available. Oh well, these made a good gift for an older rich guy.

Did Amazon Just Reboot the iPod?

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amazon-echoDon’t look now, but did Amazon reboot the venerable iPod with the introduction of the Echo? We all know the iconic iPod isn’t the draw it once was and is in need of a remake. I’ve mentioned before how the iPod could be re-imagined to a multi-purpose home device. A WiFi basestation/extender, a multi-device charger, AirPlay speakers, maybe Time Machine backups – there are many roles a revamped iPod could play, and right now, Amazon’s Echo is headed in that direction with the additional benefit of being a Siri-like end point with Alexa. Instead of grabbing an iPhone or iPad to ask Siri a question, the Amazon Echo is always listening, ready to research directed questions. This surely makes sense and makes voice recognition commands more approachable.

Along with the Alexa voice command feature, the Echo contains 360-degree audio speakers to fill a room with music, a solid addition for a living room hub. For Amazon, a very relevant aspect is Echo’s potential to create grocery lists. I can easily see an Echo in or near a kitchen. As your pantry empties out, asking Alexa to add items to a grocery list is a great convenience then having the ability for Amazon to fulfill your order, now that’s scarily possible.

While the Echo is still a new product with mixed reviews, there are definite futures for this device, and maybe your next iPod will be spelled E-c-h-o.

A Starbucks “Cultural Exchange”

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So from the Land Down Under, Starbucks North America gained the Flat White, newly featured on menus. Supposedly originating in Australia, this drink is all business with none of that fluffy, fatty stuff. In exchange for this coffee purist drink, Starbucks is giving Australia a taste of American indulgence with the Strawberry Cheesecake Frappuccino. Yes, while there is coffee in frappuccinos, this drink screams of uncoffee-like excess. Is it me or does this drink look like the strawberry sundaes you get from McD? You know you’d drink this before trying a Flat White, right.

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I’ve Eaten at a Conditional Pass Yellow Food Establishment

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And I’m okay. All around Hawaii, the Department of Health placards on are display at restaurants, and I actually found a location with a conditional pass aka “the yellow card.” The areas of improvement dealt with food temperatures and cross contamination of food (not sure what that means).

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But I’m here to say that after eating a Thai Chicken Pizza and a BBQ Chicken salad, me and the family are fine. Did you know that even green placards could mean a single infraction whereas two infractions warrant a yellow? Restaurants with a yellow card usually get a followup inspection within two days so hopefully, a green card will be displayed this week.

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