Akula Schokolade

Just another reason I love Twitter so much.

A few weeks back I twittered how much I enjoy European chocolate that I’d buy all the time when I lived in Germany. My favorite is called Kinder Schokolade (Kids Chocolate) and when my coworkers would travel to Europe I’d sweet talk them into bringing me back as much as they could fit in an extra suitcase. They never let me down.

One of my favorite Twitter followers saw my posts about the chocolate and Photoshopped this Kinder Schokolade wrapper.

I believe I’ve bought enough chocolate that a commemorative wrapper of my own wouldn’t be out of line.

Note: Akula is the alias I’ve used since 1994 for instant messaging, Twitter and such. Akula was the name of the first web server I built when I worked at a Seattle based ISP called Wolfe Internet. Over the years I’ve been told that Akula means “shark” in Russian. I’ve also been told it’s a class of submarine. For what it’s worth, I don’t speak Russian nor am I Marine so I can’t verify the validity of such claims.

akulachocolate

Microsoft Execs Burned by Windows Vista

I’m glad I wasn’t the only person who felt burned by Vista when it first launched. I’ve written about my problems running Vista on three fairly new machines and the various problems I encountered. My problems ranged from printers and DVD drives not working to various performance and instability problems.

It’s great to see several Microsoft executives also ran into the same problems and emailed Microsoft CEO, Steve Balmer, to complain.

One executive, Mike Nash, complained he was “burned” so badly by compatibility issues he was left with “a $2100 email machine”.

Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive in charge of Windows, struggled to even get his home printer working with Vista. In an email to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in February last year, Sinofsky outlined reasons why Vista struggled at launch.

He said hardware and software vendors never “really believed we would ever ship [Vista] so they didn’t start the work [on updated drivers] until very late in 2006”.

“People who rely on using all the features of their hardware (like Jon’s Nikon scanner) will not see availability for some time, if ever, depending on the [manufacturer],” Sinofsky wrote.

Ballmer responded with a terse “Righto”.

The “Jon” referred to is Microsoft board member and its former chief operating officer Jon Shirley, who experienced compatibility problems with his Epson printer and scanner and his Nikon film scanner.

You’ve got to love Balmer’s response! Do you think this is a guy who cares about those people who purchased Vista and ran into problems? If he doesn’t care about someone like Jon Shirley, who can certainly afford to upgrade his hardware, I doubt he cares much about the rest of us. The people I know who work for Microsoft DO CARE about their customers, and I’m sure is disheartening to hear such a flippant response from the CEO.

Here’s my take on Vista: The only reason to run Vista is if you purchase a brand new machine and Vista comes standard on your model. I’m running Vista on a new Lenovo X61 without any problems. But I’d strongly recommend sticking with XP on anything else. I run XP at home and Vista at work and I notice very little difference. Both are fairly stable with my XP machine feeling a little faster as desktops usually are. I like how Vista handles pictures, but there are enough annoyances to frustrate power users. I see no need to move to Vista if you’re happy with XP.

–Link to full article

Muxtape Brings the Mixed Tape to the Digital Age

A friend told me about this site called Muxtape that allows anyone to upload up to 12 of their favorite songs.

This reminds me of the times back in high school where I’d created a mixed tape from my friend’s album collections. We’d plan our album purchases in order to maximize the number of songs we could then share and record tapes from. When the CD came around, it wasn’t as easy to create a mix of songs until Mp3s arrived on the scene and the costs of burning disks came down.

Here’s my first Muxtape mix. This is a great way to uncover new music.

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How’s My Driving?

On my way into work this morning I pulled up behind a GE Service Van that had one of those How’s My Driving stickers slapped to the back. I’ve never understood why companies use these stickers. Do they magically make one a better driver when the threat of being reported is just a phone call away?

I followed the van a few blocks before pulling up to a left turn arrow near my credit union. I had my cell phone in hand and wondered if anyone would answer. I dialed the 1-888 number and was immediately forced to listen to a commercial for a fabric softener! I had no idea GE even made fabric softener. I eventually made it through. Here’s how my call when down:

GE Rep1: Can I get your name and phone number in case we get disconnected?

Me: Sure. (I give her my name and bogus number)

GE Rep1: What can I help you with today?

Me: I’d like to comment on the driving of someone in one of your service vans.

GE Rep1: Excuse me?

Me: I may not have the right extension. A sticker on the back of a GE service van invited me to call and comment on how it’s driving.

GE Rep1: Ohhh! Hold just a minute, sir.

(I wait about a minute before another lady comes on the line. It’s clear from the start that she’s not in the best mood)

GE Rep2: So you want to comment on a driver? I’ll need the van number and your location.

(The van starts to pull through the intersection and I’m having a difficult time driving, talking on the phone and trying to locate the van number. I notice the number 9290 in very small font running vertically up the left side of the back door)

Me: The only number I see is 9290. I’m in Redmond, Washington.

GE Rep2: OK. So what’s the problem?

Me: No problem at all. I figured I’d call and let someone know this driver is doing a very good job out here. He just took a left turn in front of me and it couldn’t have gone any smoother.

GE Rep2: So you haven’t noticed any problems?

Me: No, none. Do only people with problems call to comment?

GE Rep2: Mostly. But you have no problems to report?

Me: None. From what I’ve witnessed, his driving the last several blocks has been top notch.

GE Rep2: I’m happy to hear that. Do you have anything else to report.

Me: That’s all for today. Thank you.

My Four Favorite Google Search Tips

Here are four Google tips I use all the time. All these should be run from the primary Google search engine. I ran across a few of these a while back at Expert Village.

If you run Firefox (you should be!) these can be huge time savers since all can be run from the Google search bar in the upper right corner of your browser saving a few steps.

Google Calculator – You can run basic and complex computations from Google. I use this for basic multiplication and division all the time. For example, what if I want to know the answer to 240 times 37. Just type 240*37 into Google and hit enter and you’ll see this. It even handles conversions such as How many pints in a gallon or How many teaspoons in a tablespoon. I wonder how many feet are in 26 miles? Woah!

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Google Dictionary – There’s no need to find an online dictionary when you can find word definitions right from Google. For example, I keep seeing the word, schadenfreude, pop up on a few blogs but I have no idea what it means. Just type define:schadenfreude into Google and it spits out the definition. Very cool! By the way, what’s a Doppelganger? screen_2008-03-25 23.35.09

Google Flight & Weather Status– Two tips for the price of one. Sometimes I need to find flight information but don’t want to track it down from the airline or travel site where I may have to login. All I need to have are the flight number and the airline. So if I’m searching for the status of Delta flight 1410 just type delta 1410 into Google and the first result will link to the flight status I’m after. Google puts a small picture of an airplane next to these results as a visual cue. Coolness.

You can also find the current weather conditions by typing weather “city” such as weather seattle and you’ll be presented with this update which includes a 5-day forecast.  I wonder what the weather is like in Frankfurt, Germany?

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Google Movie Times – This my favorite Google tip! I use this all the time. All you need are the movie’s title and the zip code of the area where you’d like to see it. Say I want to know when the movie, Horton Hears a Who, is showing in the Auburn WA area. Just type horton hears a who 98092 and here are the results. Notice the little movie reel out to the left of the results. If you want to see all theaters in your extended area where the movie is playing just click on the More theaters link.

But what if I want to read reviews of my favorite movie, American Beauty? Easy enough.

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The $40 Dockers Jacket

I picked up the jacket on a whim while looking for Levi’s at Mervyn’s about 4 years ago. It’s a lightweight Dockers jacket that cost $40. And it’s black which everyone knows is the only color a jacket should be. I wear this thing everywhere. It’s perfect for our mild Seattle climate.

I’ve worn it so much that it’s starting to show its age. I should have the zipper replaced as well as professionally cleaned. It has the lowest CPW (cost per wear) of any item in my closet. Easily. image

But I’m bummed I’ve not been able to find a duplicate jacket. I’ve looked everywhere. I found one with a cotton lining, but that’s too heavy. It must be lightweight. And it must have a pocket on the inside for my cell phone. Next to the pocket is a small logo of a brick phone from the 80’s. Somehow that’s fitting.

It’s the perfect jacket. It can’t be improved upon. I’ll continue to check eBay. I’ve stopped by every Dockers outlet we’ve come across hoping to snag one. I have Ralph Lauren, Nautica and Helly Hansen jackets costing much more that hang in the closet, season after season.

I’ve never spent a better $40.

Day Dream Believer

The field was sopping wet and mud was getting tossed all over the shorts, socks and faces of the kids. Occasionally a soccer ball was kicked towards the goal, yet most of the time, the coach would yell, “Kick it this way!” as the ball headed out of bounce for the 20th time. I watched the coach gently turn several kids around to get them going down the field in the right direction. All in a days work when coaching a group of five year olds.

My five year old son, Lincoln, started playing soccer this year and we are surprised to see a side of him that we’d not seen before. He’s much more confident and aggressive than we expected running right into the mix after the ball.

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Lincoln spending the afternoon at a muddy soccer practice

Yet as the coach separated the kids into two teams for a scrimmage, Lincoln couldn’t keep from his hands off a large pole in a pool of mud. He’d quietly drift behind the goal till he reached the spot.  Maybe it was the pole. Maybe the mud. Either way, it was more interesting than soccer so he continued going back to it even after the coach called him back to the field several times.

Kim and I smiled at each other as we watched this struggle between player and coach from the sidelines. I supposed one of us could have gone down on the field and taken care of the issue, but we didn’t. It was a good learning experience for Lincoln in taking direction from an adult other than his parents.

As I watched Lincoln wander off I couldn’t help but think he’s a curious kid and with a short attention span. I can relate to that well as I get bored very easily and will find alternate activities to keep busy.

If Lincoln does have a little day dreamer in him, he can blame his parents.

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Nothing But Chain

Remember the McDonalds commercial that has Larry Bird and Michael Jordan playing a game of where the first person who misses gets the Big Mac and fries? Each star drains one crazy shot after another until Jordan is shooting from the parking lot. Each player ends their shot call with the phrase, “nothing but net” while we hear the loud swoosh sound

I love that sound. It brings back so many great memories as a kid. My dad had a basketball stand installed in our front yard overlooking the driveway. My friends and I would play for hours until it was dark and we couldn’t see the rim. Only mom yelling for us to come inside for dinner would pull us off the court. My favorite shot to take, especially when going for the win in a game of H-O-R-S-E, was the long bomb from the street. Any shot fired in from there was sure to put a quick end to the game. I’d practice the street shot for hours and hours. What made the shot especially difficult was the sun was in your face most of the time. I’d squint, take a quick look in the direction of the rim, get a running start and launch the ball from my hip. It’s a 1 in 30 shot if that.

But oh the sound of that net when the ball swished in! You could hear the swoosh from across the street. The sound of the ball whipping the net up and over the rim was music to my ears. The swoosh meant I’d hit the perfect shot. No rim, no backboard. Nothing but net.

I thought of this commercial as I shot baskets at a local elementary school tonight while my son played soccer. There were six baskets to shoot at and all had these terrible nets made of chain. I can imagine they use metal nets because they are less likely to be stolen and may last longer than those made of nylon. When I was in elementary school we’d start the year off with brand new white nets on all the baskets. By the end of the year the nets were stained black and most were torn or had been removed entirely.

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Neither Bird nor Jordan would approve of this net at Hazelwood Elementary.

So I guess that a chain net is better than no net at all. But part of the fun of shooting baskets is hearing the swoosh sound when you nail a shot from long range. It’s a sound anyone who plays sports will instantly recognize. The chain nets make a terrible sound as they clank around after a made shot. The reward for making a basket is that the chain shaves off a bit of your ball like a cheese grater does to a block of cheddar.

In the quest to reduce the amount of maintenance to these baskets, we’ve removed one of the nuances that make basketball such an enjoyable sport. I say bring back the nylon nets. So what if the nets need to be replaced once or twice a year. The kids should be rewarded with the sound of swooshing nets when they make a basket.

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Coloring Easter Eggs

Whoever invented the custom of coloring Easter eggs must not have had children because if any color got on our eggs it was certainly by accident. We did color a lot of other items, most of which are not at all related to Easter unless the table, chairs, hair, faces and dog count.

The egg coloring kit came with five color tablets. I carefully separated the colors pouring the recommended amounts of water and vinegar into the color coded cups. All was going well until the kids demanded they test out the flimsy egg dunker that looks like it’s made out of one extra large paperclip. I have no idea what demented mind created this thing, but it only works if you have a perfectly balanced egg and the skilled hands of a brain surgeon. The egg dunker in the hands of my kids is just a cruel way of transporting eggs from the carton onto the floor in record time.

eggs

I laughed when I picked up the egg coloring kit and saw these gorgeous eggs that must have been colored by Martha Stewart.  A more realistic picture would include the eggs my 3-year old dunked into all five colors. She reminded me of the days I’d gross out out my parents by ordering the Kamikaze snow-cone with one squirt of each flavor. She created the egg coloring equivalent of the Kamikaze.

We eventually colored all the eggs. Those that hadn’t turned black received the sticker treatment. I forget that kids don’t understand the notion of pacing themselves, and instead of putting three or four stickers on each egg, decided it was best to put 50 stickers on three eggs. No wonder Kim had to make a quick Target run leaving me in charge.

We made a mess, dyed our hands, and maybe even drank some vinegar. But we survived. And you know what? The eggs the kids created are more beautiful than those on the coloring kit cover because they were lovingly hand-crafted by by three great kids. Take that, Martha!

I Like My Chances

On my way into work, I passed two signs that caught my eye. I noticed the first sign as I passed the newly renovated Taco Bell. A large banner across the front of the store announced: "ALWAYS HIRING". I wonder if Taco Bell has so much turnover they are always looking for help?  Or maybe they constantly churn their staff. You just need to be a little better than their worst employee. Either way, I doubt it builds much employee morale.

The second sign hung from an Arby’s just down the road from the Taco Bell. When I saw the sign I couldn’t stop laughing as I imagined an Arby’s district manager coming into town and cleaning house. The sign said, "NOW HIRING 3 MANAGERS AND 3 ASSISTANT MANAGERS". I wonder who is managing the store today??

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