a few reMarks

I am at the airport once again, fortunately (or unforunately) I am not drunk. The San Francisco International Terminal is a very impressive architectural structure and design. It is also filled in with some great art. They had a small display on modern furniture design with molded plywood, and a section on Thailand's Buddha sculptures. Since when did airports get so loaded with cool stuff? I just may have never noticed.

As a child, whenever I went to the airport with my folks, it was a hurried and anxious affair. Constantly being rushed by my dad, and doing nothing but waiting. While I was strolling through the terminal chugging my non-regulation 5oz. water, I realized that damn this isn't so bad. I have leveraged all sorts of techniques to make flying out not stressful at all. Here's some stuff I did:

-Technology: Virgin America has self-check kiosks with by far the easiest confirmation codes to remember. No need to even print out a ticket. I just memorized my 6 letter code.
-Luggage: I've always made it a habit, to pack as little as possible. Less really is more.
-Transportation: BART goes straight from my home to SFO. My work bus drops me off right at the BART station!

I'll elaborate more on packing light another time, but keep in mind all sorts of easy techniques that can lessen your stress when traveling.

Update: What luck, even having to go through special full security check wasn't that bad! It let me skip the line, and they fast tracked my screened stuff to the front of the line, and I cut the longer metal detector/screening line. I wonder if they treat all potential terrorist with this much VIP love.

me: we need to do some blog posts
we're slacking! losing readership!
Mark: so i am torn between water conservancy and the courtesy flush....what are your thoughts?
me: could you define the courtesy flush?
btw, i was hoping we do a spinoff blog about gentlemen lifestyle etc.
turns out they already got a magazine
Sent at 10:35 AM on Friday
me: actualy i don't think its that great
Sent at 10:36 AM on Friday
Mark: the mag or courtesy flush
me: the mag
sorry talk more about the coutesy flush
Sent at 10:38 AM on Friday
Mark: courtesy flush: flush the toilet immediately after the bowel movement has hit the water in order to minimize the amount of air contact time resulting in a minimized cloud of funk. It is generally observed only when others are in the bathroom as a common "courtesy"
Sent at 10:40 AM on Friday
me: ah
yeah there is quite a bit of water being wasted
i see it as, well the damage is done already
its gonna stink, but for how long who knows
Mark: ahh but there is quite a substantial smell reduction
linger time is brought down to seconds
have you ever tried?
me: not really
Mark: well please try and get back to me
me: well your quick turnaround almost JIT shitter
i'm more of a throne sitter, build-up and relax style
you would think, your style would be more conducive to the one-flush-one kill style
whereas mine is more apt for time and lingering, leading to wanting to reduction of aromas
Mark: yeah but the majority of the blow happens all at once still right?
me: yeah
Mark: see still opportunity for smell reduction
me: if you care much for the environment and water conservation is a big plus, then I suppose smell shouldn't bother you as much
like..hippies <3 environment, and hippies = smelly. thereby, a little poop smell isn't a big deal
Mark: yeah but i am equally concerned about the comfort of my common man
fellow* common man
Sent at 10:50 AM on Friday
me: i suppose, do it only if there is going to be others
if not, then no
Mark: thats the rule i adhere by now
me: sounds like a good rule
Sent at 10:59 AM on Friday
me: sounds like conscious gentleman's rle
rule*
Sent at 11:00 AM on Friday

Notes:
JIT is short for Just-In Time. A phrase we learned from the Lean Manufacturing classes we took.

As I sat at the pump filling up my car today for $4.53/US Gal for premium, it dawned on me that gas is becoming an appreciating commodity. Bear with me for a second. As we look at the national average for lets say a 5 year CD, we see and APR of 3.62%. The latest number on inflation from April 2007 to April 2008 (based of CPI) is 3.9%. In other words the 5 year CD would not keep your green back buying power up with inflation.

Now for the sake of this argument lets look at something a bit shorter, say 2 months. US national average for a 2 month CD is 1.87%. Lets compare this to the increase in gasoline prices in California over the last to months (April 2008 to June 2008); in this 2 month period gas prices have risen a staggering 9%.

So in this inflationary time should I be investing in gas? Should I be saving my milk cartons to fill with gas and then keep in my garage to use in my car later or maybe sell to my neighbors? Kinda makes you think.......Happy driving.

I like to wear tiessometimes.
There once was a time when I started work I attempted to have Tie Tuesdays. The unwashed IT bastards at my company eventually ridiculed and destroyed my desire to wear ties. Mainly because they themselves did not like wearing ties, they felt it appropriate to make sure no one else did. Well it is because of sort of attitude across America that the Tie Association of America closed it doorslast week. Needless to say, I am saddened by this news and will be wearing my tie this Tuesday as a sign of respect.

How much is $50 worth? Kinda seems like a rediculous question dosen't it? Well the answer may supprise you. $50 is acctually worth $55.71 or at least ebay buyer lpinok thought so. Check out this auction for a $50 gift card to Target. The winning bid was $55.71. It's amazing what inflation is doing.... well at least the winner got free shipping.

It is Monday, the first day of the work week, and by all means everything seems to be going at a grindingly slow pace.


I came across Ocelot by perusing Hypemachine, and I haven't heard much from them but this remix and the accompanying video are great. The song itself is a purely synth and beat driven affair accompanied with hints of Robyn's voice repeating the line of "you'll never will be mine." The song starts out with Robyn's eloquent yet non distinctive voice singing, followed by some heavy thumping beats. Once the synths kick it, prepare for some great build-up to some plump little nuggets of beats followed again by the second build-up. The video does a great job of creating this anticipating orgasm of music payoff.

Play to hear the music, stay for the video.