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.