Coolest toy....ever?

Quite possibly, even though it *is* about 30 years too late. One of my favorite toys was when my parents took me to a street faire in Winterpark, Fla. I think I was about 7. I chose to spend $4 on a little wooden block car with wooden rolling wheels. While the detail on my new found toy was sparse (ok, non-existent) in my head it looked like these available from Automoblox.

Go there and lust, then buy for your favorite little guy or gal that is into cars their future 'most fond of' gift.

Its Christmas - so here's.....PAC-MAN

Before you say 'What the...', here is yet another reason why the Europeans are kicking our ass*: A Pac-Man Christmas tree!

And for those who want a little more traditional tree, click here.

To my Madrid friends (and my 'other' family), Feliz Navidad.

*: if you are wondering, for the first time ever - the US car sales market is going to be second to the EU. I blame you for not buying a new car.

Road Safety, good idea that should be implemented NOW

It would seem obvious but these Solar Powered -LED markers improve road visibility by 10X and in England where installed, have lowered night-time accidents by 70%. Yes, they cost more than the normal reflective ones, but that cost is washed out by keeping an accident from occurring. And I am not talking the tree hugger 'by saving a life, the cost is worth it' but about the cost to tax payers and insurance premiums... Click on the picture to link to original posting on Autoblog.

Now, about Beijing!

First, I apologize for not posting about our part of the trip before but there are some words the Chinese Govt isn't found of and are found in my blog, specifically about Forbidden City from my last trip to Beijing.

Anyway, now that I am in Tokyo - I can blog away and blog I shall.

Beijing is every bit as smoggy* as Shanghai - but very much cooler. One, its much further north so it was about 20 degrees cooler and two, its just cooler than Shanghai. The money is obviously in Beijing. There are over 12 *real* Louis Vuitton stores in Beijing. NYC has four. (*note the photo on the left - the portion of the building on the right is still being cleaned of pollution in Beijing). They have a Lamborghini dealer, Ferrari and Maserati dealers and every other block had a McDonald's or KFC. When they did have a Pizza Hut, the lines were looooong.

Obviously there are Starbucks as I posted in my last visit, but sadly the one inside Forbidden City is closed. In fact, there are more Western brand name stores than not but just as I was about to give up on Beijing having any of a sense of its own, I found this place: the LAN Club. Man, this club/bar/restaurant would never be in the US, except perhaps Vegas. The LAN club takes up an entire floor of a mall all by itself. A ton of money went into making this club happen and its one of many to have popped up in the past 5 or so years.

Eclectic doesn't begin to provide the justice that is this swanky bar. The bathroom is all mirrors and red velvet. ALL MIRRORS and RED VELVET, every surface is one or the other but nothing else. There is a glass (see through) sink with a sweet silver swan faucet that somehow just turns on when you approach the sink (not hand motion sensors anyway). Art is posted everywhere, especially on the ceiling, and some artsy chairs and couches from non-matching sets is also through out.

Then when you are getting tired of the DJ (which we didn't but I am sure sometimes the music might be stale) they pull out some live Jazz AND the DJ and bam, its back to unique and chill. The drink menu was large, the prices were (as with most things in Beijing) reasonable (read: low) and the wait staff well heeled and in a good mood.

I should back up however, as the LAN club was after-dinner and dinner is a story unto itself... We (Maddie and I) were with some friends in Beijing and one of them had some details on where to go and what to see. So for this night after work (this was a work trip after all but nothing bloggable ever happens at work :-P ) we were going to get some Peking Duck where locals eat it, not tourists. This info came from an ex-pat who lived in Beijing for several years so we decided it would be worth the effort.

You see, cabbies in Beijing don't speak/read english so having the english name never helps. That makes you rely upon your concierge for translation and location duties and they aren't always so good at that (see part II of my Beijing blog for more on that, but since this is part I, you will have to wait). The place we wanted to go is Li Qun Duck which, as you can see from this link, Time magazine agreed with our remote guidance - but I didn't have that data before our trek, its here for your information.

We got into a cab, handed him the card and off we went. Around Beijing, through Tiananmen Square and into the hutongs of Beijing. These are back alleys that have almost a 1000 YEARS of dust, dirt and back alley details in them folks. Our cab stops right as we enter the hutong area and tells us we are *there*. "Where is Li Qun Duck?", you might want to ask your cabbie but to no avail. Luckily for us some locals where there from the restaurant to greet us and ask us to climb onto the three wheeled taxi bikes they were driving.

They hand us a card from the restaurant and keep encouraging us onto the bikes. Hutong! Hutong! they clamored as they took off with us on the back through these long, twisty, unlit, narrow passageways. Many of the walls were falling into disrepair, bricks piling up on the road. The bicyclists were adroit at missing the numerous pot holes but as we moved along more and more - Maddie's grip on my arm began to hurt.


She wasn't the only one getting nervous - she and I were the lead bike with our friends right behind us and as some random whistling started coming, they too were nervous as to just where the heck these guys were taking us. Would it be Peking Duck or a Beijing Back-Alley rolling of some tourists? Then, just like our cabbie, these bike cabbies stop and tell us to get off. The point in a direction and say the restaurant is over that way and of course demand payment. They hold out a card asking for 100 元 per rider which is basically $50 bucks! I say no but my friend pulls out the money. Keep in mind we are now lost in some back alley with no Li Qun Duck in sight.

We had 6:30pm reservations and would only have the table for two hours we were told when the reservation was made and now we were now late and not seemingly any closer to wherever this place was supposed to be. The taxi bicyclist urged us left around a corner as he turned and took off with our money.

Well, as you can see we made it there, and as you can tell Maddie isn't that happy to be in the back alleys of Beijing for dinner. After we got inside the tiny place and noticed all the photos of the famous patrons (Al Gore among them) I read the menu: Li Qun Duck is NOT related to any of the Bicycle Cabs, use them at your own risk. We had been had, of course we had, but we did get to see the vanishing hutongs of Beijing and I had a good story to blog about :-P It was a win/win/win (me, as I have something fun to write, you as you have something fun to laugh at and the cabbies, as they got rich in one quick instant) The story ends even better - but first take a look at the next photo...

The photo caption could read something like this: "What the hell? It was right there the whole time?" Yes folks, Maddie is standing where the cabbie dropped us off and that red splotch in the distance is the sign for Li Qun Duck. The bike ride was superfluous as we could have gone directly to the restaurant with a 3 minute walk instead of a 10 minute, $50 bike ride. Oh well, c'est la vie as the say in France.

After this great dinner, we hit the LAN club and I gotta recommend if you ever get to Beijing, check it out - Raleigh says it rocks! Also, if you go to dinner at Li Qun Roast Duck, take the bike ride - just pre-negotiate the trip at say 100 yuan per BIKE first - those hutongs are worth seeing before they all disappear.

(part II tomorrow, there is some Tokyo sightseeing to be done right now) Ciao for now.

Beijing Blast - but that's all I can say for now

well, I should be blogging about this part of the trip but folks, my blog apparently has too many key words someone doesn't like. Expect a post when we hit Tokyo - besides the lack of free speech, this town rocks its hard! Will post more later.

Smoggy Shanghai in a weekend

Maddie and I just left Shanghai and are now in Beijing. We thought Shanghai was smoggy - ugh but Beijing takes it up a notch. But I digress, back to Shanghai for this blog topic. Go check out the shots in the picassa gallery - link over there on the right ------>.

We couldn't get over how SPRAWLING this city is - it just keeps going, and going and ... Well you get the point. Maddie, who grew up in NYC, couldn't believe just how huge this metropolis is - but seeing is believing.

We had a pretty good time except for everyone here wanted to sell us 'Watches Bag' - knock-offs of name brand things. Honestly every 30 seconds we were being accosted by someone else trying to get us to come by their shop and take a look. Finally on Sunday night we did and it was creepy - go through a store, a false shelf that swings open to reveal a back room with all the illegal crappy copies of bags and watches and polo shirts. Do people still wear Polo shirts?

It got so we noticed when we were left along for all of sixty seconds but soon after we'd remark, someone would approach 'watches bag'. If that didn't work they would throw in 'shoes dvd' and finally they would leave. Maddie took to answering in Spanish until we ran into a bunch of Chinese hawkers who knew how to sell in that language too!

Check out the pictures in the gallery of Yu Garden. Fairly funny story getting there. We were dropped off at some side street and the maps I had were not detailed enough to show how to enter to the garden. Well, this little old city block is huge and flanked by tourist trap stores and loads of people clamoring to sell their wares.

Eventually a little old man came up and started talking to us - claimed to be a pensioner who doesn't need our money but wanted to practice his English. He asked us were we were from and what we came to see and offered to show us around. I was nervous about the whole thing, I mean he was an old man but it seemed like we'd just be placed in a position where we'd be stuck and have to offer him money.

We spoke a little more to him but told him we wanted to go into the garden, he wanted to show us around town no doubt leading us to some stores where he was paid a commission but still, he wanted to follow. We firmly told him we were fine on our own and made some distance from him when some young woman came up and whispered to me 'watch your back'! OMG - this young girl telling me this old man is not someone to trust. As we hurriedly crossed the street it hit me - she was saying 'watches, bag' and not warning me of impending backstabbing. I was laughing and sorry that my paranoia perhaps cost us from talking more to this man.

As you can see, like the rest of Shanghai, the entrance to Yu Garden was packed. This zig-zag bridge that leads to an impossible to spell tea house (look it up for your self if you want to know) has nine zigs (or zags) to confuse spirits from following you. This pre-supposes that these evil spirits can only go in straight lines but whatever, we have our own weird folk tales.

We did venture out into the more "neighborhood area" of Shanghai and it was quite nice - loads of trees all along the street and very nice houses behind tall walls and iron gates. The place we ate at was called Yuan Yuan for some Haung Sho (spelling to be checked later folks) - which is roasted pig belly in honey BBQ sauce. If you lop off the huge honking fat and eat the meatier portion - it was great. We also had some friend rice of sorts that was also delicious, although it was sans egg as I misunderstood when the waiter asked me how many eggs we wanted... I didn't realize you can specify the eggy-ness of your rice, but there you go.

We shopped a bit but didn't buy a whole bunch. But that didn't keep Maddie's suitcase from busting - must have been from the flight from Sydney as a piece was broken off. Oh well - we have plenty of people willing to sell us a replica!

Sunrise Down Under

This picture comes from the cabin of our plane as we head 'down under' to Sydney. Not a bad way to see the sun rise, I gotta say. Pictures don't quite do it justice.

So expect some updates as we travel the South Pacific and up to China and eventually, Tokyo Japan.

Success sometimes just means not crumbling when you fail

Dallas 25, Buffalo 24

This Monday Night Football game goes down as one of the worst wins in Dallas' history - but I will take it (and being a true cowboy fan, gloat anyway). Tony Romo threw 5 (FIVE!) interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. Our kickoff was returned 103+ yards for an instant score and it just didn't appear that Dallas could beat one of the worst teams in the league.

Then the unthinkable happened - Tony didn't loose it, his head still in the game even if he made some awful choices with the same, instead he drove the team down the field TWICE for a field goal and a touchdown. Two point conversion failed it would appear our first loss was coming up. After all, it should have they way we played all night. Then came Folk - a rookie kicker who not only nailed his longest of his first year career (47 yards earlier in the night) - he pulled off a perfect onside kick. Then Romo quick snapped, a catch that wasn't made and Romo still pulled off a quick release to stop the clock with :02 seconds left.

Nick Folk nailed a 52 yarder only to have it pulled back 'cuz the bills coach (lower case on purpose here folks) called time out. Icing the kicker statistically doesn't work but coaches do it anyway. A simple retry from 53 yards out - nailed it. Perfection in two seconds. Proves this - you can screw up all the way through but pull it off in the last :02 seconds and you are still a winner. Bad choices, horrid execution and all - just believe in yourself, don't give up and have a good kicker.

Oh and Pat Aquino if you are out there - sorry bub. We continue to dominate, and how did T. Thomas get in the Hall of Fame in the first place? Must have been the same deal with which we got Michael Irvin inducted.

oh, yeah, and Paris

So I neglected posting anything about Paris - but can you blame me? We were busy and didn't have time to blog from there - just too much to do. I *did* however post pics to the Picassa link (you know there on the right --->) but let me tell ya what we did:

1) Walked, we walked our arses off and there is just so much to see
2) Drank Cafe Au Lait (well, I did anyway) several times at Le Deux Magots
3) took pictures of Maddie telling me to stop taking pictures
4) Went to the worlds best Museums (D'Orsay and Louvre) and took a ton of pictures of famous art like this:
Not sure why everyone is so short, or killing each other, but gripping none the less.

5) Shopped - take my recommendation and hire a driver/car to take you to the dozens of places to buy ridiculously priced items - on our list: shoes, hand bags, scarves, wine and more shoes. And if you think America knows how to build a mall - *this* is a mall in Paris:

6) Went and looked at still more art - look at the pics in picassa for some of my favs
7) ate - and not hoity toity food but one of the best meals (Le Grand Colbert gets my recommendation) was buying a loaf of bread from the shop next door to the hotel, some butter and some wine.
8) Walked, so I can take pictures of Paris like this, Pont Alexander - note the silver gate under the bridge at the bottom - I kid you not, its a disco at night:

Anyway - we had a great time, can't wait to buy a place in the 6th district (St. Germain Des Pres thank you very much) and if you want to come visit us there - call 6 months in advance, we are out and busy! :-P



PS - yes, we brought home some nice lung issues so we are still coughing our way to recovery - but I don't blame Paris or Dublin, I blame the old airplanes. As my friend Matt says "oh, you mean the Airbus Hantavirus" (referring to the recycled air of a 20 year old plane)

Here's looking forward to the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Dublin, for two

I have gone to Dublin almost a dozen times solo (almost, as with most prone to exaggeration on matters of trivial accuracy, so I suppose its more like 9~ish) so here are a few pics of Maddie and I.

Ok so really I am just going to upload some of the more cute pics as I am in a hurry...so this will have to do for now. -Cheers and see ya soon from Paris.

Look at that sweet FAAAAACE!

Maddie and I at Monart Spa and Maddie at the Waterford Crystal Factory

Maddie in Dublin

In Memory

A beautiful woman, my mother-in-law Dolores - may she rest in peace.

Design - still relevant after all these years

Raleigh says: while not perfect as most people have tv stands they over paid for - this is really an idea whose time has come - packaging that doesn't go into landfill (immediately anyway) and serves more than one purpose. Lets see more of this kind of thinking out there in the design community, yeah?

First Useful TV Packaging In History Transforms Into a TV Stand

Wouldn't the packaging for a big-screen TV be the perfect size for a TV stand?
Yes, and a clever designer decided to do just that. We knew there were some tricky designers working on various packaging techniques for electronics devices, judging from all the puzzle-like intricate packing schemes we've seen in the hundreds of devices passing through here. So finally, one designer got his shit together, and decided to put all of that packing material to good use. How is it done?

Useful TV Package


• 
• 
• 

First of all, designer Tom Ballhatchet placed wheels on the package itself, making the bulky box easier to roll from store to home. Then he placed the TV set into an expanded polypropylene shell, perfectly molded to its shape. Once you get the package home, the areas that the screen occupied inside this package can be used as shelves for the TV stand, and the wheels pull off the bottom of the box and can be inserted into the stand. The result? The first useful TV set packaging we've seen.

Heck, a lot of buyers who overspent on that TV set are probably already using the box it came in as a TV stand—now it's been prettied up considerably and made more practical. A lot of the TV stands on sale these days are made out of glorified cardboard anyway, so why not just put that packaging to good use? Nice.

[Yanko Design]

d more:

• design concepts
• finally
• home entertainment
• packaging
• tv

Gizmodo, the gadget guide. So much in love with shiny new toys, it's unnatural.

"We can categorically state we have not released man-eating badgers..."

British blamed for Basra badgers

The badgers appeared near the British base in Basra

British forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra.

Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic.

But several of the creatures, caught and killed by local farmers, have been identified by experts as honey badgers.

The rumours spread because the animals had appeared near the British base at Basra airport.

UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.

It is the size of a dog but his head is like a monkey Housewife Suad Hassan

"We have been told these are indigenous nocturnal carnivores that don't attack humans unless cornered."

The director of Basra's veterinary hospital, Mushtaq Abdul-Mahdi, has inspected several of the animals' corpses.

He told the AFP news agency: "These appeared before the fall of the regime in 1986. They are known locally as Al-Girta.

"Talk that this animal was brought by the British forces is incorrect and unscientific."

THE HONEY BADGER Also known as a ratel, it is a large, sharp-clawed mammal At around 100cm (39in) long it is slightly bigger than its British woodland cousin Capable of taking on a cobra, the animal weighs up to 14kg (30lb) Its Latin name is mellivora capensis, and it is indigenous to Africa and the Middle East

Dr Ghazi Yaqub Azzam, deputy dean of Basra's veterinary college, speculated that the badgers were being driven towards the city because of flooding in marshland north of Basra.

But the assurances did little to convince some members of the public.

One housewife, Suad Hassan, 30, claimed she had been attacked by one of the badgers as she slept.

"My husband hurried to shoot it but it was as swift as a deer," she said. "It is the size of a dog but his head is like a monkey," she told AFP.

'enuff said

...it's GENEVA

ok, so the all caps is a bit much - after all it turned out to be 'only Geneva'. I wouldn't go back in a hurry (unless I wanted to buy that hard to get watch) but it wasn't a bad trip. Geneva is one of those European towns that became a city by finding a niche - banking, of course.

Geneva is right at the foot of Lake Geneva and right on the border of France so it is fairly 'bound' by how much expansion the city can do. Also, since Switzerland is crammed in between the Alps and several countries - they make the most of the land with agriculture (see first pic) so the city just feels crowded, even though it wasn't overly populated. The buildings just felt as if they were encroaching.

There just wasn't much charm and the people were in a hurry. On motorcycles and scooters galore, in numerous Ferraris and Lamborghinis they tore off into all directions. I walked around a bunch and this is the more charming photo I took, so don't look at the picassa folder for more.



I did have a quite tasty Fondue - thanks to Linda and Warren's recommendation and really enjoyed the supermarket - can you say Swiss Chocolate? I don't have anything against Geneva - it just wasn't a Saltzburg even though it looked like one on the map. It was a nice excursion and something fun to do but if you are heading to Switzerland - try Zurich instead, I hear its great. But I would return for this supermarket on it's own (and did I mention to buy a watch?).

Sitting in Dublin, again

and wondering if I should blog something. I hate to blog when I don't have something more tangible to say but here's something anyhow.

I really like Europe - the people are much more friendly and things just seem to work better (then 'normal'). Now, I am not saying its better than home - different for sure and maybe more to my liking: great food, great architecture, lots of things to see and do (which so far is not that far off from home) but I gotta say I love the politics.

Not just because they aren't real fans of Geo Bushy but the fact that the average citizen here can tell me more about our foreign policy than I know, when things happened, what occurred next - which led to this thing over here. I was once schooled by a 10 year old who knew more about our political system than I imagined the average American would know. Shameful.

So here I sit, 2:30 in the am, jet lagged as all and I am trying to figure out where to spend the weekend, a quick trip, and have the following easy options:
Paris
Brussels
Geneva

There are more but not with the timing that suits me this trip... So, any suggestions?

Am I a geek? Yes, yes I am...

Now for embarrassment of all time, here is my toon from WoW (World of Warcraft). If you don't know what that is, don't bother clicking on any of this and read the next post...

From Slashdot: Man of steel next?

'Kryptonite' Discovered in Serbian Mine
Posted by Zonk on Tuesday April 24, @08:46AM -> slashdot.org
from the okay-now-nobody-find-the-red-kryptonite-and-we're-fine dept.
Movies Science
Rubinstien writes "A mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum was contracted to help identify an unknown mineral found in a Serbian mine. While he initially thought the miners had discovered a unique compound, after its crystal structure was analyzed and identified the researcher was shocked to find the material already referenced in literature. Fictional literature. Dr. Chris Stanley, from the BBC article: 'Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula — sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide — and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luthor from a museum in the film Superman Returns ... I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either — although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange.'"

So there I was, IN the Forbidden City...

China is grappling with capitalism to be sure and no where is that more apparent that on my recent visit to the Forbidden City. Sure it was the emperor's palace for over 600 years but after Chm. Mao and his little red book swept through China, there was little need for an emperor or his house. Then it was thrown open for a visiting dignitary followed by the Chinese people and has been toured ever since.

The disrepair of a palace over 600 years isn't insignificant but it wasn't totally ignored the whole time either. Never mind the fact that it was built out of sandal wood and there is NO MORE left in China so they are importing it from India...

And despite the fact that all the signs are 'sponsored' by American Express, there is a STARBUCKS inside the FORBIDDEN CITY. Now, like many American's, I have gone to a $tarBucks once or twice (a week!) but I can't really vilify the company. Their product is not the best coffee (see Pete's for that in a chain) but it IS consistent. I have tried AND TRIED and now am TIRED of trying the 'local' coffee house only to have nasty espresso poured into my drink time and time again.



But I digress - Chinese party members are not happy about the location of choice but they are happy to collect the rent to help pay for the repair bill on the palace. They really have no problem with Starbucks in general - they don't have 'local' coffee houses to be fearful of the 'scourge' of this espresso pouring monster. What this store does represent is AMERICANA in the middle of a very old heritage (a heritage they were told to not like for the past 60 years...) and that stings a bit.

But I think its more that this is a perfect mirror for what the entire country is starting to wake up to - Communism doesn't pay, capitalism does, but where does that leave room for a Communist Government? If you embrace capitalism but your government didn't collapse (like it did in the USSR) and it still is the governing body with the same little red book from Mao, how do you parse their message while counting all your RMB (yuan)?

Anyway, it might get booted out but China needs money, it needs it in all forms, and the problem of Capitalism versus Communism (these are opposing ideologies after all) isn't going away. An aging infrastructure, a world coming to your doorstep in a little over a year - the pressure to look your best is at its highest. And with over 1 BILLION copies of the little red book printed, you can't add a chapter without anyone noticing...

HOME - (almost) but in transit as I type this

Ok, so the first trip around the world is done. All that's left is actually flying home but I am on the part of the journey as I write this! YEAH and there was much rejoicing.

I gotta say, as grand as it was to actually circumnavigate the globe, and even a personal goal of mine (before 40, mark this DONE), it is time to go home. Its amazing, I used to be able to travel and never worry or even think of home - but that was loooong ago and without Maddie at home. Now that she is there along with Jill and the boys - seesh - home IS where the heart is - I GET THAT NOW.

Funny how life throws you some curves and it actually makes things BETTER than they were. Anyway, I appreciate all of you who have stopped by during this trip. I should have a few more photos and a political blog or two out of this trip coming up but for now, I need to rest with my family.

Where in the World is Raleigh? - Dublin, Ireland today

Today I am in Dublin, Ireland on the tail end of this very long trip. How long you ask?

Anyway, its been great fun and interesting challenges along the way. I know now exactly how Bill Murray was feeling in "Lost in Translation" and no, not for the Sydney portion of the trip :-P

So bear with me as I update this blog less frequently as I am working hard in Dublin, but do check my picassa pics for some updates there. Most of the pictures from China and Bali have comments for your reading pleasure.

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper -copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

The trip continues...back in Singapore for a few hours

I am blogging from the Singapore airport. Normally I would be walking around, especially after a 7 hour flight and before another 8 hour flight but this airport has seen enough of me and I it for these past two weeks. This is the third time in 9 days I have been here. Plenty of shopping to be had but nothing spectacular deal wise.

I do like the noodle house (Chen Fu Ji) on the third floor near the 7-11 where I had a breakfast of champions last time:

Yes, Charlie is on the trip with me, if you don't know don't ask but he's been all over the globe on my treks courtesy of Maddie and Christmas 2003. Some dim sum there, tiger beer (which I am growing to like a lot with spicy food), green onion cakes and some scheziuan chicken. Avoiding airline food is my first priority, except when I land in China. Then it will be to find Pizza Hut and McDonald's as I am fearful of the 'food' I may be served could be tainted with seafood and then where will I be?

Anyway, nothing cool to say except check out the photos from Sydney over in picassa and expect some from China depending on internet access and how many people in that country are currently playing WoW.

If you haven't looked in a while, check out my picassa pics

Sorry such a short blog but check out the pics over at the picassa web album (link over there on the right hand side). I have updated the pictures (a bit) from the Bali-Sydney portion of my trip. Especially love the bats, no one told me there would be bats. And yet, here they are, freakin A HUGE and as all get out.

Also, check out the Hungry Jack photo - recognize the font/logo? It's Burger King to you and me but as Mikey already told me, there was a Burger King down under long before this one tried to show up - courts ruled in his favor.

Last, since I haven't blogged about it - you gotta get a sling box. I have been able to watch my favorite shows, right off the DVR (or live if I wanted) remotely from 16,000 miles away. Killer! I setup the sling box pro and presto - remote viewing of all my stuff.

With that, I bid you g'night from Down Under.

G'Day from Down Under!

So after Singapore (two stop overs, 12 hours) and Bali (three days only) I am now in Sydney. I gotta say its a lot like San Francisco but with less traffic and more heat (and sun). The people here are super nice and the clothes and almost everything else, super expensive - everything but housing seems high.

I have some pics of the opera house but I currently can't pull them off the camera - gorgeous building let me tell you. The harbor - called Darling Harbour (oddly enough, pronounce it as if you were from Maine and Long Island and you'd have the local way down pat!) is quite pervasive, its everywhere and anything of value is near it.

Anyway, gotta go for a walk-about (:-P) and will post some pics and a day or two. Any suggestions on where I should go, just holler.

Off and Away...

Ever since I was old enough to dream, I dreamed of going around the globe... So here is the first part of my Around the World in 20 Days trip. Destination: Bali (via Seoul and Singapore) Day 1,2 - I fly....and fly....and fly....


Yeah, crude cut and past with paint... anyway, Bali for the next few days (Feb 24th - 28th) until I am off to Sydney. Will try to keep blogging along the way :-P

I did what, AGAIN?!?!

Yes, its that time of year again (January) where for no reason what so ever I go buy a new car. No, this is not deja vu - my blog did not suddenly return to last year this time. Ok, so without further adieu, here is the second to complete the AMG set!:
There is no reason an SUV needs four pipes EXCEPT when the engine kicks out over 500+ hp. Yes, this "SUV" is as fast (or slightly faster) than my other car 0 - 60 (4.7 seconds). This puppy does it in AWD so traction is not an issue.

Its the same obsidian black as the SLK and the most important thing, it is another AMG. I gotta tell you, I could not be more pleased with the balance of sport and luxury than I am. I keep saying "I" as if this were my car...Yes, its Maddie's car and I get the pleasure of being a passenger and the occasional driver. The DVD player for the backseat is for the long trips, not sure if I want to fight to drive or sit in the back! I love the key-less entry and go - just walk up to the car, touch the handle and it will unlock the doors and get inside and press the GO button and the engine fires up and the neighbors know you are leaving (Did I mention this thing has a growl?)

Last but not least, the boys fit perfectly in the back so we have a family machine that everyone can enjoy the thrill of launching forward, together! (Jack didn't like it so much the first time, he got a little motion sickness, hee hee)

One last thought before I go, apologies all around for the time it takes me to post stuff. I'd say I will get better but I am about to leave for a trip around the world and don't have a lot of time to get stuff up here. I will try to get my trip posted so you can follow along. Which you could almost do in this car if it had wings :-P