Sky Mall

Every now and then you have to surprise yourself. Take an unexpected path so that not everything you encounter is what you planned. It makes you think on your feet, expands your understanding of things going on around you and could inspire some creative thought.

On that note I picked up the Sky Mall on the plane today. I like looking at this magazine every now and then to see what inventions have been dreamed-up recently. It seems like SkyMall has become a repository for new inventions that fail to make it into the stores I often find myself in. Though I must admit that I have seen noticed a few of the products out in 'the real word' since picking up my copy of SkyMall. Below I discuss some of my favorites; great gifts for next year's holiday swaps.

The iPod seems to be a popular focal point for many of the items in the catalog. The breadth of accessories that have been schemed around this single item startles me. You can see that one such accessory is even featured on the cover above: the always popular iPod VW bug alarm clock. Seems a bit unnecessary, but different people have different needs. I do think the VW Beetle owners of the world like to take a certain pride in their choice of vehicle and like to keep flowers in their car. But I have a hard time figuring out who needs the iPod on the toilet. In the bathroom? Fine, but why not just buy one of the portable docks with speakers that are so common and well designed and just keep it in the bathroom?

(I have not doctored this picture in anyway, this is how it appears in Sky Mall.) I have to guess that the attention to detail and quality in many of the products is lacking because it comes across in the magazine's production. Take this product for example, the giant-size world map. Who wouldn't enjoy spending hours with their children explaining the wonders of history and culture with this amazing backdrop. Giving them a better of idea of how diverse the world is and stimulating new thoughts in their little heads. Showing them there are alternative paths to take, different ways to live life. "OK, Suzie, here is South America where indigenous culture was destroyed by the Spanish. The Spanish came across the Atlantic Ocean from the west(?) and landed here..." Maybe this a map from the future, they left off the polar ice caps.

When you're not teaching your children about the world we live in, you'll want to do your best to protect them from it. That's where the next product comes in. This child locater allows you to find your child instantly with the press of a button, effectively ending his hide and seek career. This newest model is free of all the old wires you've become used to and best of all fits on child inconspicuously disguised as a giant lady bug. Apparently, they'll love wearing it and you'll love not paying attention to where they are until you're done talking to the other moms and you're ready to leave the playground. A must have.

Finally we have the water weights. If you're like me you are rapidly running out of room for all your weights. Now there's a way to make weights when you need them using only your kitchen sink. Plus you can take you weights with you on business trips. Screw the hotel gym, you've got water weights. Actually, I like the thinking behind this idea but included it because of the picture, the guy's arm is huge.

Next time you're on the plane and you can't use your VW iPod accesories due to electronic device restrictions pick up the Sky Mall and dare to dream small.

P-trak

The last seven (7) days I was taking care of some work study I have been meaning to tend to for some time. This break in school and travel and buying a house was the opportune time to schedule the 7 days this task required. By the end of it I had covered 1,600 miles and been in a minivan for 56 hours but had not gone a single place.

It is all part of the winter monitoring phase for a study to evaluate exposures to indoor air pollution (mainly particulates) in specific microenvironments. In-vehicle exposures is part of this so we rent a minivan and drive around while the air around is being monitored. Other settings for sampling include the grocery store, hospital, bookstore and home. The sampling periods are eight hours and the work needs to be done for a full week in each environment. Here is an absolutely poor picture of the machinery.


I do not work alone. My partner in crime - we are not committing the crime, but rather having a crime committed against us, it must be against the law to ask anyone to spend so much time in a car going nowhere, but they're from Harvard so they're untouchable - is Ajay. Most fortunately we got along swell. Primarily because we teamed up to focus our anger collectively at other drivers, pedestrians, ridiculous homes, billboards, and the machinery itself. One piece of equipment was particularly bothersome with its malfunctions, specifically its constant demands for more alcohol. 100% isopropyl alcohol that is. This machine is the P-trak. A couple of times it claimed our iPod capabilities in the car because in order to silence the beep, which I can hear if I close my eyes, need to plug the tape adapter into its headphone jack. Yes, it has a headphone jack to really feel those lo-alcohol warning beeps whenever you're out doing some ultrafine particulate monitoring. The machine was by far the most problematic and most involved part of the sampling.

Besides changing out the alcohol, there is little else to do but drive. You probably can not imagine how 56 hours on Atlanta roads feels in one week. COMPLETE LOOPS OF 285. Listening to the traffic to find the accidents and then try not to avoid them. Maybe the GDOT HERO units know how it feels. Or at least they knew after the first week and by now they are completely insane.

We did get to see some very interesting parts of the city (numerous times). Parts you would normally never visit. We took exits you wouldn't ever take with time you'd never have. I feel like I know Atlanta a bit better now. We got to watch Peachtree change over the course of 8 hours. 2PM is much different from 6:30AM. We got some experience with monitoring indoor air quality and earned a little money. And I have to admit I had a pretty good time and have a newfound appreciation for not looking at this every morning.I think I just heard a beep.

Your Name Here

I was in Borders last night trying to find a gift for the upcoming Yankee Swap at Lauren's mom's pad for the holiday when I came across a gem. I faintly remember seeing once before after Googling my name or something, but it was altogether different to see it in the flesh, so to write. It was settled in the New Age section, branded with a peace sign and carrying my name. It turns out that there is a German music-making collective known as Vargo who put out soothing sounds for chill-house compilations such as Cafe del Mar and Buddha Bar. Trying to decide whether I should pick this up or e-mail them to request a free copy.

Rollin' on 700s

In a culture where the bigger your rims are the more respect you get, why is the bike not more popular? The question is a bit absurd but let's consider it for a minute.

• If you're into cruisin' you don't need the speed. Granted, you wont have a TV or loud music bumpin' but everyone will be able to see you flossin'
  
• The weather is perfect. Most nights in Atlanta are great for riding a bike and having the wind blow in your face.
  
• That brings me to the next point that it's like a convertible but better.
  
• There are not that many hills and the ride wouldn't be too strenuous. I already mentioned the speed, but would like to add that most cruising (any worth doing) occurs on Peachtree, which was built on a ridge line and is the highest point in most parts.
  
• I guess I forgot that there is a small sub-culture of blingin' bikers out there cruisin' lowriders with big handle bars and 200 spokes.
  

In the meantime, you can find me rollin' on 700s (ccs).

AWOL

Dear subscribers...

Sorry to have been away for a bit. School is occupying much of my time. Coffee most of my diet. Also, buying a house and trying to rent the apartment we now live in is weighing on the whole family (who I hardly see now). Lauren, thanks for driving me to school, doing the grocery shopping, corresponding with the various contacts for homebuying, and apartment renting. Thanks for keeping the bed warm at night and worrying about the right things. Fila, thanks for biting my arm and staying up late with me to work on this paper or that presentation. You're a real trooper. Friday I will be done but it does not end. I will starting the in-vehicle sampling week for the SCOPE study on which I work. Me, Ajay, a CO monitor, manifolds and more in a minivan for 8 hours of driving fun. And where are we going you may be wondering... in circles around the perimeter. That should make for some good stories. Stay tuned.

.v.

Home Sweet Home

You want orange juice? You go to the store, you buy it, you take it home. Ahhhhhhh, that's good OJ. But when you want a house, you have to get started early. Figure out what you can afford, find those houses, look at them, consider them, look at them again, look online and hundreds more, go back and forth, look again, make an offer, get shot down. That's how you buy a house. I have been learning a lot about buying houses lately and this weekend I learned a new step I had never even seen before. "Have offer accepted."

Yes, Lauren and I are finally engaged in a successful bid for a home and there a bunch of new steps we're starting to learn now. Get an inspection, pay, find things wrong with the home that will make you want to get out of the contract (maybe), pay lawyers, something about escrow, pay, close, pay. Oh, and then move in.

All that said we are really excited about getting a place. We're already researching Energystar appliances, CFLs, and spots in the yard for a garden. We don't mean to get ahead of ourselves but it is kinda fun. I have also been busy researching my new bus/bike routes and destinations. I still need to look into the venue and times for the meetings of our new NPU.

We'll have you over soon enough.

Atlanta is a UPS town

With all the new things we've been receiving lately it feels like the holidays came a little early this year. In a sense they have; we exchanged gifts with my family when we were home last week for Thanksgiving. My parents got us some sleeping bags we registered for and they arrived before we even headed to Detroit. We when got back home I had a new phone waiting for me free through an upgrade, and I'm sure you noticed that I've been doin' some new boot goofin'. Well to keep it going Lauren's new bike arrived yesterday.

As many of you know, she had her's stolen a few months ago. I did some research to find the perfect one and Ben came through with a great recommendation. The Jamis Coda Sport. I looked for a slightly cheaper price and came across some deals out a bike store in Reno, NV. They had old models (new bikes) and offered free shipping so I went with it and ordered it.

Yesterday it showed up and we were stoked to set her up and get her back on the road. The box showed up with a large hole in. But hey, they package these things to withstand some of the bumps in the road. So we carted it over to Ben's for his help in setting it up. Everything was going swell until we were just about to take it for a spin and try out the fit. I was inspecting the frame after removing some of the last foam and paper packing and stickers. Then I found a dent in the frame. It was, of course in the same location as the hole in the box.

We contacted FedEx and filed a claim. Now we're in the process of sending pics to the sellers and then waiting for a shipping slip from them so we can return the bike and have them send us a new one. I have no complaints about any of the parties involved thusfar. Both FedEx and the bike shop have been very pleasant to deal with and helpful, I am just disappointed about having to wait for a new bike for Lauren. I will keep you updated on the status of the situation.

New Boot Goofin'

Hey Mom, I got some new shoes. Thanks. Dad, I know you had a part in these as well, but Mom wanted me to spend money specifically on new shoes. Thus, she gets the shout out.

3 payments!!

Delray

Friday morning I did something I have been meaning to do for a while. My dad and I drove around Detroit and hit a few neighborhoods, including the one where he grew up, Del Ray. There is not much left of that neighborhood. My dad's old house is one of only two left on the entire block. He lived there until he was 11 and his dad, my grandfather, worked just down the street at Zug Island. I think it's a steel plant and it's still in operation. My grandpa used to walk to work past the tar factory right behind their house. The tar factory has since burned down. All of this is about two or three blocks from the main road that is filled with buildings that look abandoned, but there are still bus stops and a few people waiting for a ride to somewhere. The whole thing was made more eerie by the fog that would not lift from the city. On the other side of the main road there was more of a traditional neighborhood centered around a very nice church where services were held in Hungarian.

We also made a pass by the old train station. It is a stunning piece of architecture and a great example of how unwilling investors are to go downtown. I saw it featured once in an issue of Metropolis and have since learned that Mayor Kilpatrick of Detroit announced that it would be redeveloped as the police headquarters. It's anybody's guest as to the number of homeless and drug-addicted it has housed over the years. I suspect it was also the point of entry (to Detroit at least) for thousands of immigrants. There is history everywhere like that in Detroit. There are so many old, and what would in other cities be considered cool and marketable, buildings in Detroit, but none get touched. They are not even torn down because the land they stand on is not worth developing. It is a very interesting place and I will have to look into the planning that is going on there and see if there are opportunities. It would be a fascinating place to work.

We drove around the city some more and went to Hamtramck (a neighborhood I have been wanting to see for some time). It is a Polish mainstay of the city and what many refer to as the City within the City. There is a lot of street activity, houses are well kept and the population is diverse. Shop signs can be found in English, Polish, Arabic to name a few. We stopped in to a Polish bakery and picked up some pastries and then walked down the street, grabbed a coffee at a coney island diner, some socks at a new dollar store and headed on our way.

It was cool to see the city that I have been asked about so many times in planning classes from the inside rather than the outside.

Roth

If you haven't followed the Muttonchops4all link on the sidebar of this blog, you should. It's the blog of my buddy Jeff Roth who is tapped way into the world of the weird that can be discovered on the internet. He finds funny things that you never knew existed so that you don't have to. He's so 'logged-on' that he can probably even tell you a site that's better than his blog for finding such things.

For a good example see this post.

magic

Is it me, or are all the kids now-a-days saying 'magic', using it as a stand alone word? The way it's often used makes sense to me but I can't describe what it means at all. Whenever I think I'm falling behind on a slang term I turn to the urban dictionary for a refresher course. It's totally deck. Magic is in there as a synonym for cool or awesome... among other things, such the only explanation for the unexplainable.

I like the word and I think it's here to stay (for a month or two).

Magic.

dnekeew

This weekend everything went opposite of planned. Friday night Lauren and I went to dinner at a friend's house. It was our first time over to their new place over on 15th Street just east of Peachtree in Ansley Park. We parked on the street in front of their place in a row of other cars. We had great time talking and eating and drinking and listening to music and finally left around 12:30. Upon leaving we could not find our car. Oddly all of the cars on the entire street were gone. We noticed a sign that said resident only parking 6PM-6AM. This is normally the time of day when all residents put their cars in their parking garages or in the driveways of their urban mansions. This neighborhood is very rich and has enough power to have people towed by the City of Atlanta from the public street. On top of that, they do not use the street for parking (there were NO cars on the street that night). Our friends gave us a ride home and told us to call them in the morning to get to where we needed.

Saturday I woke up feeling more sick than on Friday (when I had a sore throat). We could not get a hold of anyone to help us out so we hopped on the train to catch the 55 at 5 points. We missed our 9:30 by 2 minutes and waited another 40 among the homeless reading our magazine and book. We asked the bus driver if she knew Harriet street and she asked if we were going to A-tow. This operation is such a racket; they steal your car off the street and hold it ransom from you. Anyway we got the registration, found a ticket for $25, and got a phone call from Jon who came down and picked us up.

Then we were on our way to City Hall East. Only I had to make Jon pull over into the lot of an abandoned warehouse because I felt ill and had to yack. So Jon and Lauren were with me twice for the same meal from the night before. At the police property release office everyone has the same story. They had to catch cabs down to A-tow, back to City Hall East and then back to A-tow once they got the release. RACKET!!! We were nervous about the getting the release from the police because the car is not registered and we thought we had more fines in store for us. But it was released and we pulled out of A-tow at around noon.

Next we were off to meet the real estate agent to look at one last possible house before putting an offer on one we'd been talking about for awhile now. If all went as planned we'd be done in time to watch Michigan beat Ohio State. So much for plans. We found out that the place we liked was under contract as of the night before and, thus, we could no longer bid on it. Now we can only wait and see if the offer falls through. I won't even get into the Michigan game and neither will you out of courtesy.

Sunday started off better but I was still reeling from the events of Saturday, and my performance on the soccer field suffered as a result.

I can only say that I am lucky that such a string of events only falls upon me occasionally and that there is a great deal to be learned which they do. Feeling vulnerable and helpless from time to time can be a great indicator of how prideful one can become just going through the motions. Facing conflict and surviving stripped me of some self-pride and reminded me about humility and for that I am grateful.

I need your help

Some of you (1 of the 2 people who read this) may have read a recent post I wrote about Thura, a friend at school from Iraq. I initiated a music swap: I provide a few cds of 'American' music and he shows me some Iraqi tunes. He asked if I could separate the music into categories because there is so much to listen to in the US. I have created a few playlists that I am slowly adding songs to and will eventually burn to discs. I want to organize tracks by release date so that a listen to the disc covers some history of the genre. Then if he likes anything in particular I can help him dive into that deeper. I am looking for suggestions to add to the playlists which I lay out below.

POP
I think I might be all over the place on this list; it may be the most difficult.

• Beatles - She Love's You, Sgt. Peppers LHCB (I should just give him the whole album)
  
• The Beach Boys - Sloop John B or Don't Worry Baby (the lyrics may give him a hard time)
  
• Stevie Wonder - Superstition
  
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (he's probably heard this but it's on the list to stay)
  
• B-52s - Rock Lobster (maybe it should go on the Rock playlist but it's good to dance to)
  
• Gnarles Barkley - Crazy (a newer giant pop hits)

This list could possibly add a song from The Police and definitely one from Elton John.

ROCK/BLUES

• Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (just throwing this out there)
  
• Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line (not as hard as some of the others but it's the foundation, and you don't build on sand)
  
• Ray Charles - What'd I say (just throwing this out there)
  
• Led Zepplin - Communication Breakdown, Whole Lotta Love, Immigrant Song, Black Dog (may be going overboard with them but what can you do)
  
• The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black, Satisfaction (so difficult)
  
• David Bowie - Rebel Rebel (I have to admit my own naivety here and open it up to suggestions)
  
• Metallica - Fade to Black (want something to give a taste but not turn off)
  
• Stereolab - The Sound of Carpet
  
• Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (keep it simple and save the other stuff for when he comes back asking for more)
  
• The White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

This list needs some Who, Radiohead (pop?) and perhaps another newer band whose name begins with the word 'THE' or have Warhol bananas on their album covers

That is enough to chew on for the moment. Get back to me, this is hard. I still have hip-hop and jazz to knock out.

Never

If you never say never you're actually saying never. You're also always saying never.

Like The White Stripes lyric "Forever. Just a word that she said that means never."

Hold Your Reindeer

To: the tree seller, the radio commercial with Deck the Halls in the background, to Starbucks, Macy's, and Wallmart, K-mart, K-fed and BrandsMart...

It is not Christmas time yet. It is November 13th. It is before Thanksgiving. Put away the banners, the wire fences around rows of trees, the coffee cups donned with snowflakes. You are a little to early.

I am liking fall, Michigan is about to earn a berth in the national championship game, leaves have turned, the air is crisp. I am thoroughly enjoying my fall and I am not ready for the holidays, nor should I be. Christmas is coming earlier and earlier and I am not sure who gave the go ahead to set things in motion prior to Thanksgiving but I say "bah humbug" to that idea. People are setting up tree farms, selling cards, playing holiday jingles, and changing the color of everything that holds things you buy to read and green. If I see the Salvation Army bell-ringer out front somewhere tomorrow I might lose it. It's all a little too early and I don't like it.

Of particular obnoxious holiday spirit worth mention is Starbucks. Their slogan for the season is "on with the tradition." I'm all for continuing the holiday tradition. I love the vacation, time with family, and gifts, but let's keep it in December where it's always been. And I can't help but read the phrase and feel that Starbucks is claiming some credit for the holiday spirit. Starbucks did not start the tradition nor do they add to the tradition, or signal the beginning of the traditional tradition-celebrating season. All they did was make their cups red, play different music and add a delicious mint hot chocolate late to their menu. Stop claiming Winter, Christmas and the entire holiday season, Starbucks. We'll still be in there buying your overpriced liquid drug; on with that tradition which hardly ever stops - whether it's after Thanksgiving or not.

I saw this right after the post...

Iraq Briefing

Today I spent about an hour-and-a-half talking with a friend of mine from school who is a Fulbright scholar from Iraq, Thura. While I have spent numerous small group sessions with Thura discussing the generalities of global health policy today was the first time I had a chance to speak with him about his life, his nation and his opinions.

The experience was very enlightening, as well as overwhelming and disheartening. He told me a lot about the problems of daily life in Iraq, including tales of waiting for a routine 18 hours to buy gasoline for your car, undergoing interrogation for talking to foreigners, and a timely anecdote of participating in the referendum election under Saddam. He also gave me a lot of background on the historical conflicts, how the regime came to power and the perceptions of the Iraqi people pre-US and post-Saddam.

He spoke for a long time and I tried to comprehend half of the gravity of everything he described. He asked what I thought but I was having trouble saying something without feeling like it was completely naive, spoiled and out-of-touch. Without going into his personal life I can say that he has incredible opportunities that many people will never have. Yet even though he is thousands of miles from conflict and in an enriching environment and prestigious US university he still struggles to separate himself from the misfortune of his homeland. The amount of stress he must be under is frightening. I will continue to search for ways to understand parts of his situation, and think about how I could help him enjoy his experience here (though that is a sorry attempt to help).

Speakers in da House

This week brought about what many are calling a sea change in American politics with the Democrats taking the House of Representatives, AND THE SENATE!, and Donald Rumsfeld resigning. I am more excited about Donald Rumsfeld than about the House and Senate though maybe I shouldn't be or maybe they are one in the same. People (a lot of people) have been asking for Rumie's resignation for a long time now, and now they have it. But, is all this change in such a short time is reason for optimism or some skepticism?

I must admit that I am a bit apprehensive to start the celebration just yet. Now that the Dems are in and Rums-y-poo is out what next? Changes came about as a consequence of policies and endeavors that failed severely. Now it's time to fix them or heed more change. It's a huge task and though we heard a lot during the campaigns about getting Republicans OUT of office, now we need to hear about what Democrats in office is going to mean. I'm pulling for them to succeed, but I am also realistic about the gravity of the problems they face.

On a lighter note, Nancy Pelosi is going to be the first Madam Speaker of the House. In December I had the chance to visit my very good friends Paul and Hilary in San Francisco and got a behind the scenes look at how Nance goes about her business in the City by the Bay. Check me out behind the desk of the now-Speaker of the House.

next time you're in Bozeman

You must check out this store. I recently found out that Bozeman, MT is home to my new favorite store, Vargo's Jazz City & Books. I have never been to Montana but have wanted to go for some time. If for no other reason, to check out the nature, but know I have serious sights to see. Even if it was just Vargo's Jazz City I would still be looking at flights to Bozeman. I hope they can send me a bumper sticker.

When I do finally make it out to Montana and set up my tent under that big sky you know I'll be packin; some sweet Vargo Titanium.

.v.

Cultural Learnings for to Make Glorious Benefit

Over the weekend I saw the film, Borat...

I have taken away some things from this brash and brave comedy of Sasha Baron Cohen. He is fearless in his portrayal of completely fabricated characters. It seems akward to refer to him by anything other than the name of the character he is. He completely buys into his own lie and makes the people he interacts with buy into it as well. Ironically, the act he is putting on (devoid of all veracity) draws absolute honesty from those around him. Also, he enters every situation with total disregard for consequence. Perhaps this is a product of taking on the role of Borat, but it seems a more general quality of his brand of comedy. In any case, it illicits feelings from his 'victims' so real they are unexpected, especially on the silver screen. The people he meets say anything because they feel liberated from judgement and consequence as well. By taking sterotypes to an extreme he causes 'normal' folks to exibit the qualities that define stereotypes.

True, Cohen picks and chooses his meetings and leads people where he wants them to go, but maybe it all just shows how morally weak we are. Or are we too kind to disagree? He runs into both and those that disagree with him show extreme discomfort in the things he says but the correlate is much funnier on screen.

Of course this may all change now that the cat is out of the bag and people become more familiar with what the situation is.

.v.

Welcome

Welcome.

That was mostly for me but I extend it to anyone else reading this.

I have been posting for a bit here with some friends from Georgia Tech Planning School. If you have not read any of the posts, check it out when you have time.

I am starting this for myself so that anyone else interested in what's going on with me (rather than what MARTA flaw we're complaining about today) can get the scoop.

Please comment often.