I bought myself a Christmas present and it arrived today :) It's the Planet Earth DVD set. It's the first time I've actually purchased a video for myself so you know I have high expectations! I saw the first 2 of the 11 part mini-series that covers some rare and awesome footage of wildlife and places on our planet earth. So far it's great!! The only problem is that it triggers my travel bug. Anyways, check it out when you get a chance. I think it still airs on Discover Channel, and maybe BBC. Or just buy the DVD set. It's also available in HD.
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Memory: Mt. Fuji Climb
I decided couple days ago that I am going to start looking for a house to buy. The market here is favorable to buyers, and I'm sick of wasting money on rent. Being a nomad, I am somewhat nervous about locking myself into a mortgage. However, unless I come up with a realistic career alternative, I should plan on sticking around here at least couple of years. I am also sick of wasting money on rent. The main downside to buying tho is that it could mean I may not go on vacation for a while. To keep the blog going with some travel stuff, I'm going to have to dig up some pre-blog travel experiences to write about. This one will be on my Mt. Fuji climb.
I hiked the Mt. Fuji back in 1999 - I think (this is why I blog - so when I get alzheimers some day I can look back at the blog, if I remember I have a blog). I was living in Tokyo back then and was fortunate to have friends who were always organizing trips in and out of Japan. Of course, climbing Mt. Fuji is a must-do for everyone so we went.
The idea of the climb is usually to get to the summit in time for the sunrise. We left Tokyo in the evening and hopped on a bus that took us to Mt. Fuji. It dropped us off at the 5th station where you can buy supplies (e.g. walking stick, snacks, etc.) The 5th station is already part of the way up the mountains. Yes, (most) everyone cheats. Still, it's at least a 4-5 hr climb from there. Not exactly a pleasant climb either. We started around 10 at night. The trail is mostly gravel like, and zig-zags up the mountain in the dark (bring a torch.) In the beginning you have somewhat of a clear path, but as you get higher up the mountain, you start to realize just how many people climb this mountain. There are times when there are so many people, you have to wait to move up the path. At times, we climbed past other hikers by running up the side of the mountain around them.
There are several shops along the way where you can stop for a break and get some refreshments. I think some even have sleeping/resting areas for those who need it. If you bought a walking stick at the 5th station, you can also get it branded with the current height you're at for proof of your accomplishment. To this day, I keep the stick because, supposedly, a wise man will climb it once, but only a fool would climb it twice.
I got to the top probably an hour or two before sunrise. It was soooooo cold and windy up there!! It was my first hike, and I knew nothing about climbing, so I only had a sweatshirt and a windbreaker. My bf at the time and I huddled into a shop trying to stay warm. After the sun started coming up, I ran out to get a photo. It was so cold that we started running down the mountain as soon as we got our view. It was a beautiful view tho. We were lucky that the weather was fine this night. The sun came up over the clouds and in the foreground was a shrine. I imagined heaven would look like this if I ever made it there. But no time for appreciation - we were on our way down very quickly. We didn't even do the walk around the crater.
Going downhill sucked royally. I didn't do a very good job of tieing my shoelaces tight (again from lack of hiking experience) so my toes were hurting really bad. Within 2 hrs though we were back at the 5th station and waited for others who were behind us. (Most probably get down much faster.) I think if you are slow in the beginning, you could get stuck at the flight of stairs near the top (huge bottleneck). I remember as I went downhill there was a huge long queue of people waiting to get to the top. They had already missed their sunrise from the summit.
If you're thinking about climbing it yourself, here's another article on it with more info: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020701446.html
I hiked the Mt. Fuji back in 1999 - I think (this is why I blog - so when I get alzheimers some day I can look back at the blog, if I remember I have a blog). I was living in Tokyo back then and was fortunate to have friends who were always organizing trips in and out of Japan. Of course, climbing Mt. Fuji is a must-do for everyone so we went.
The idea of the climb is usually to get to the summit in time for the sunrise. We left Tokyo in the evening and hopped on a bus that took us to Mt. Fuji. It dropped us off at the 5th station where you can buy supplies (e.g. walking stick, snacks, etc.) The 5th station is already part of the way up the mountains. Yes, (most) everyone cheats. Still, it's at least a 4-5 hr climb from there. Not exactly a pleasant climb either. We started around 10 at night. The trail is mostly gravel like, and zig-zags up the mountain in the dark (bring a torch.) In the beginning you have somewhat of a clear path, but as you get higher up the mountain, you start to realize just how many people climb this mountain. There are times when there are so many people, you have to wait to move up the path. At times, we climbed past other hikers by running up the side of the mountain around them.
There are several shops along the way where you can stop for a break and get some refreshments. I think some even have sleeping/resting areas for those who need it. If you bought a walking stick at the 5th station, you can also get it branded with the current height you're at for proof of your accomplishment. To this day, I keep the stick because, supposedly, a wise man will climb it once, but only a fool would climb it twice.
I got to the top probably an hour or two before sunrise. It was soooooo cold and windy up there!! It was my first hike, and I knew nothing about climbing, so I only had a sweatshirt and a windbreaker. My bf at the time and I huddled into a shop trying to stay warm. After the sun started coming up, I ran out to get a photo. It was so cold that we started running down the mountain as soon as we got our view. It was a beautiful view tho. We were lucky that the weather was fine this night. The sun came up over the clouds and in the foreground was a shrine. I imagined heaven would look like this if I ever made it there. But no time for appreciation - we were on our way down very quickly. We didn't even do the walk around the crater.
Going downhill sucked royally. I didn't do a very good job of tieing my shoelaces tight (again from lack of hiking experience) so my toes were hurting really bad. Within 2 hrs though we were back at the 5th station and waited for others who were behind us. (Most probably get down much faster.) I think if you are slow in the beginning, you could get stuck at the flight of stairs near the top (huge bottleneck). I remember as I went downhill there was a huge long queue of people waiting to get to the top. They had already missed their sunrise from the summit.
If you're thinking about climbing it yourself, here's another article on it with more info: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020701446.html
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Mormon Temple DC
If you ever drive down South on the Western side of the 495 beltway, you notice this huge lit up structure looming over the tall trees. Many people tend to slow down to look at this building and wonder what it is. It is the DC Mormon Temple. During the month of December, the temple grounds are decorated and lit beautifully. Additionally, on weekends, there are free concerts by an orchestra or a symphony. I was also under the impression that you could go inside the temple during this time, but I was politely told by a sister that only those who have been baptized at a Church of Jesus Christ, and in "good standing" with the church, can go in. Translation: Not us.
What you can go into is the temple's visitor center. Inside there are displays of nativity scenese from around the world, and many Christmas trees. On the outside you can walk around a little and enjoy the lights. The free show is no more than an hour. If you go, I recommend not sitting near kids. One kid sitting next to me kept grabbing my coat while another in front of me kept bounching all around on his mother's lap, distracting me from the music.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Book Review: Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters
This week I had a business trip to San Diego. I'd been to San Diego before, so I didn't extend my stay to check anything out. However, the flight there and back were 5+ hours each so I had plenty of time to get through Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters by A.S. Miller and S. Kanazawa. The book is subtitled "From Dating, Shopping, and Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire - Two Evolutionary Psychologists Explain We do What We Do."
I've always been a fan of scientific readings and have been aware that the purpose of every living being is to procreate. This book further elaborates how the human species' goal of survival affects our everyday behavior from an evolutionary psychology point of view. The fundamentals of which the entire book is based on is as follows:
Since the purpose of any person is to create a genetic copy of itself, it is in the best interest of men, who are capable of sowing its seads every 15 minutes, to inseminate as many women as possible. The bottom line is that all men care about is having sex with a woman - and the more the better since a single woman can have a child perhaps once every two years. If men are violent, it is because it is competing with other men for the women's attention. If they want to become successful, it is also for the same reason. This man's need to achieve a higher status is necessary because when it comes down to it, it is ultimately the woman's choice whether or not to have sex with the man. There is a greater risk for a woman to sleep with the wrong man (i.e. having a child from him and then getting abandoned), and therefore she will be more selective about whom she will sleep with.
The book of course elaborates in great detail of the various factors that come into play here. For example, it explains why we are really a polygnyous (where the male has more than 1 female partner) society and how that affects behavior. The book is also very honest about the evolutionary reality and is not afraid to speak the controversial or politically incorrect. For example, it explains that human males innately prefer young blonde bombshells and why that is the case. It is a cold hard fact that without the environmental (sociological) pressure to remain monogamous, older women who have reached menopause have no chance of being with a guy. Even societal pressures don't deter a lot of men. Affairs are prevalent throughout history, particularly amongst those who are successful. The only difference today is that it is done more discretely.
Genetics alone does not affect human behavior entirely, but this book does a great job of explaining human tendencies. I think every woman begins to feel the "Oh shit, I better have a baby soon" syndrome as she gets older, and this book makes sense of it all. The only thing I debate at the moment now is whether to go for the more successful guy who can invest more resources into me and my child (since that is what women innately want), but is more likely to be unfaithful. Or do I simply look for a partner to enjoy all that life has to offer with?
Oh, the book also has another interesting theory on why all suicide bombings based on religion is by Muslims. Islamic societies are generally polygynous. This means that while all women have a pretty good chance of reproducing, only men who are successful will. This is because from a woman's perspective, it is better to share one successful man than to be with someone who is undesirable (i.e. too poor to support them, or have bad genes). There are many men in these religion who are reproductive losers so what's the point of living for these guys? Apparently, the koran also promises exclusive access to 72 virgins to martyrs in Islam once they go to heaven. How's that for an incentive?
I've always been a fan of scientific readings and have been aware that the purpose of every living being is to procreate. This book further elaborates how the human species' goal of survival affects our everyday behavior from an evolutionary psychology point of view. The fundamentals of which the entire book is based on is as follows:
Since the purpose of any person is to create a genetic copy of itself, it is in the best interest of men, who are capable of sowing its seads every 15 minutes, to inseminate as many women as possible. The bottom line is that all men care about is having sex with a woman - and the more the better since a single woman can have a child perhaps once every two years. If men are violent, it is because it is competing with other men for the women's attention. If they want to become successful, it is also for the same reason. This man's need to achieve a higher status is necessary because when it comes down to it, it is ultimately the woman's choice whether or not to have sex with the man. There is a greater risk for a woman to sleep with the wrong man (i.e. having a child from him and then getting abandoned), and therefore she will be more selective about whom she will sleep with.
The book of course elaborates in great detail of the various factors that come into play here. For example, it explains why we are really a polygnyous (where the male has more than 1 female partner) society and how that affects behavior. The book is also very honest about the evolutionary reality and is not afraid to speak the controversial or politically incorrect. For example, it explains that human males innately prefer young blonde bombshells and why that is the case. It is a cold hard fact that without the environmental (sociological) pressure to remain monogamous, older women who have reached menopause have no chance of being with a guy. Even societal pressures don't deter a lot of men. Affairs are prevalent throughout history, particularly amongst those who are successful. The only difference today is that it is done more discretely.
Genetics alone does not affect human behavior entirely, but this book does a great job of explaining human tendencies. I think every woman begins to feel the "Oh shit, I better have a baby soon" syndrome as she gets older, and this book makes sense of it all. The only thing I debate at the moment now is whether to go for the more successful guy who can invest more resources into me and my child (since that is what women innately want), but is more likely to be unfaithful. Or do I simply look for a partner to enjoy all that life has to offer with?
Oh, the book also has another interesting theory on why all suicide bombings based on religion is by Muslims. Islamic societies are generally polygynous. This means that while all women have a pretty good chance of reproducing, only men who are successful will. This is because from a woman's perspective, it is better to share one successful man than to be with someone who is undesirable (i.e. too poor to support them, or have bad genes). There are many men in these religion who are reproductive losers so what's the point of living for these guys? Apparently, the koran also promises exclusive access to 72 virgins to martyrs in Islam once they go to heaven. How's that for an incentive?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
We got our first winter storm in the area today - woo hoo! I am excited only because I decided to "work from home" today. If I was one of those people stuck on the highway now in bad traffic, I'd probably be cursing instead. Hopefully I won't have to dig my car (above) out tomorrow morning.
If you haven't seen my pictures up on flickr, I also put up a Christmas tree this year. First time in like 7 years! I have a small place, so I got a small tree:
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The National Archives
Today I visited the U.S. National Archives for the first time. This is where all of our historical document, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are kept. They do a very nice job of laying out the documents relevant to some of the major events in our country's history. It's a good history lesson. However, I think I ended up spending more time reading the commentary along the document rather the document itself. Most are handwritten and faded, making it difficult to read.
Currently at the Archives, there is an interesting exhibit on the school days of our presidents. The varoius photographs and documents here include class or team photos, report cards, sick notes from mom, diplomas, etc. They also noted that every president had gone on to higher education past high school, despite it being a very difficult thing to do in some of their times. Most also played a sport of some sort. However, Bill Clinton was a band geek. I didn't see much on our current president - G.W. Bush.
Currently at the Archives, there is an interesting exhibit on the school days of our presidents. The varoius photographs and documents here include class or team photos, report cards, sick notes from mom, diplomas, etc. They also noted that every president had gone on to higher education past high school, despite it being a very difficult thing to do in some of their times. Most also played a sport of some sort. However, Bill Clinton was a band geek. I didn't see much on our current president - G.W. Bush.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
National Aquarium in Baltimore
On Friday evening I went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I went there a few years ago also, but remember it being bigger and better for some reason. Maybe it's just awesome the first time you go. I was a little disappointed with it this time around. We made it through the whole of it in an hour and a half. To annoy me more, if I would've gone just an hour later at 1700, I could've saved about $10 in parking, and $13 off the entrance (normal tickets are like $22). I think the aquarium is open late only on Fridays tho, so if you are planning a trip. Go after 5 on Fridays.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Great Falls, VA
Since it was an unseasonably warm (73F) day, we went for a walk in Great Falls on the Virginia side. This side is a lot closer (15 min drive) from home, but my friends think it's not as fun (i.e. challenging) as the MD side. Yeah, it's true, but still it's a nice walk.
There were a lot of people out there today. I would have thought everyone would be home cooking turkey or watching football, or the parade. Then again, we only stayed couple hours and then came back and began cooking. I have a visitor over this holiday weekend, and so I decided I will try cooking turkey for the first time. It's in the oven as I write. Hope it comes out edible.
Friday, November 16, 2007
The Transition - from Karate to Kung Fu
I've been doing Kung Fu for 3 or 4 weeks now. While I still enjoy it, I must admit I miss being an "advanced student" like I was in karate. It's not just about being able to do the advanced forms, techniques, etc., which are more fun. It's about being good at what you do. In karate, I could walk into class with confidence and feel good about my performance at end of the class. I can focus on such things as speed, power, and fine tuning since I have the fundamentals down. In Kung Fu, however, I'm a clueless nobody (they call us "novices") stumbling around trying to master a single stance. Looking at myself, I almost can't believe I actually have a black belt.
Kung Fu is very different from karate. Even between karate schools there are usually some slight variations in techniques. However, none have been so significant. With Kung Fu, my body has to forget a lot of what became muscle memory. From pivoting on my heel, to the positioning of blocks and strikes, to the fluidity of forms - my prior experience in another style actually hinders me as I have to retrain my muscles. About the only thing that seemed to carry over is my flexibility and ability to kick. Even then, wearing shoes during training takes a bit of getting used to.
It's been a long time since I was a beginner in karate, but it seems like there's more to learn as a novice in Kung Fu. In karate, there are 13 ranks, or kyus, until you reach black belt. Generally you learn an average of 1 form per rank, amongst other things. Here, I haven't even been going for a month and I've already learned 7 forms. Sure, they are probably the most basic of forms, but as a novice Kung Fu fighter, it's a lot to take in. There's doing the form, and then there's doing the form right. Placement of every part of your body from your finger tips to your toes has to be precise. To complicate matters, each form looks almost completely different from the rest. At the moment I barely have the movements memorized. I still have to think through most of it. I am wondering how long it will be before it all becomes second nature.
At the moment I'm only going twice a week since my weekends have been booked with visitors. Clearly, this isn't going to cut it. Even the beginners who wear a gold sash (novices wear white) look like they've been training for years. As soon as I can clear out my schedule, I'm going to have to bump this up to 3 or 4 times a week. Still, for the forseeable future, I have to be patient, keep working on the fundamentals, and look at the more advanced students with envy and awe.
Kung Fu is very different from karate. Even between karate schools there are usually some slight variations in techniques. However, none have been so significant. With Kung Fu, my body has to forget a lot of what became muscle memory. From pivoting on my heel, to the positioning of blocks and strikes, to the fluidity of forms - my prior experience in another style actually hinders me as I have to retrain my muscles. About the only thing that seemed to carry over is my flexibility and ability to kick. Even then, wearing shoes during training takes a bit of getting used to.
It's been a long time since I was a beginner in karate, but it seems like there's more to learn as a novice in Kung Fu. In karate, there are 13 ranks, or kyus, until you reach black belt. Generally you learn an average of 1 form per rank, amongst other things. Here, I haven't even been going for a month and I've already learned 7 forms. Sure, they are probably the most basic of forms, but as a novice Kung Fu fighter, it's a lot to take in. There's doing the form, and then there's doing the form right. Placement of every part of your body from your finger tips to your toes has to be precise. To complicate matters, each form looks almost completely different from the rest. At the moment I barely have the movements memorized. I still have to think through most of it. I am wondering how long it will be before it all becomes second nature.
At the moment I'm only going twice a week since my weekends have been booked with visitors. Clearly, this isn't going to cut it. Even the beginners who wear a gold sash (novices wear white) look like they've been training for years. As soon as I can clear out my schedule, I'm going to have to bump this up to 3 or 4 times a week. Still, for the forseeable future, I have to be patient, keep working on the fundamentals, and look at the more advanced students with envy and awe.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
DC: International Spy Museum
The museum to see in DC these days seem to be the International Spy Museum. I didn't realize how popular this museum was until I got there and had to stand in line for a timed-entry ticket. This one isn't free either - it's $16 per person! While a part of me had a hard time justifying spending that much on a museum when there are so many good museums in DC for free, I have to admit it is a pretty good museum. It's not cheesy in any way. There is a lot of history on spies all around the world, from ages ago, and the more recent past. It's not just about spies either. You also learn about the art of deception, and you'd be surprised how it all ties into the history you learn from textbooks. Many real-life (not the kind you see in movies) spy artifacts are also on display. The museum is also great for older kids since there are some interactive exhibits. I could've easily spent 3 hours there, but we only got in at 4 and the museum closed at 6. I suggest going early for this one.
DC: Holocaust Museum
Yesterday I visited the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. It's my second time there, but probably it will not be my last. It is such a comprehensive museum that I am always learning something new there. Museums are typically educational anyways, but I think this one is especially good. It starts with the rise of Hitler and takes you through the atrocities carried out by the Nazis, all the way to the liberation of the prisoners. Artifacts, photos, and audio help you to understand better what it was like during this period. Various thoughts and recollections by survivors of the holocaust are also on display and add emotion to your experience.
The quality of the museum can be attested by its popularity. It's one of the few museums in DC for which you have to get a timed entry ticket for. On weekends, you may expect a line outside to get through security, though it will go pretty fast. You can get same day tickets for free at the museum, or you can get them on-line for a small fee ($3). Expect to spend 2-3 hours there.
The quality of the museum can be attested by its popularity. It's one of the few museums in DC for which you have to get a timed entry ticket for. On weekends, you may expect a line outside to get through security, though it will go pretty fast. You can get same day tickets for free at the museum, or you can get them on-line for a small fee ($3). Expect to spend 2-3 hours there.
Friday, November 9, 2007
National Air and Space Museum at Udvar-Hazy Center
Today I went to Smithsonian's new Air and Space Museum at the Udvar-Hazy Center. The museum opened in December of '03 and houses the world's largest collection of space and aviation artifacts. Here is the list of things you will find there.
While I do think their collection is impressive, I think I prefer the Air and Space Museum at the mall. There they have more varied themes and exhibits, and more on the space side of the house than its counterpart. While I live close the this museum (it's right next to the airport), the $12 parking fee isn't much of an incentive to visit again. Particularly when it only takes like a hour to walk around. If you do go, I would recommend taking one of those free guided tours they have scheduled periodically. I listened in on one and they had some interesting info to tell about the crafts on display.
On a completely different subject, I want to take back what I said in my last post about the colors not being so vivid this year. This whole week, I enjoyed every drive to and from work because the colors along the back roads I take are so beautiful. I don't know what they are like usually, but I am quite happy with how they look this year.
While I do think their collection is impressive, I think I prefer the Air and Space Museum at the mall. There they have more varied themes and exhibits, and more on the space side of the house than its counterpart. While I live close the this museum (it's right next to the airport), the $12 parking fee isn't much of an incentive to visit again. Particularly when it only takes like a hour to walk around. If you do go, I would recommend taking one of those free guided tours they have scheduled periodically. I listened in on one and they had some interesting info to tell about the crafts on display.
On a completely different subject, I want to take back what I said in my last post about the colors not being so vivid this year. This whole week, I enjoyed every drive to and from work because the colors along the back roads I take are so beautiful. I don't know what they are like usually, but I am quite happy with how they look this year.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Great Falls, MD
Today I went for a short hike with some friends in Great Falls, MD. The national park is along the Potomac river and can be accessed from the Virginia side and the Maryland side. We went to the MD side because the hikes are supposed to be more challenging there. The challege comes from rock scrambling, not so much from altitude. If you go there, be sure to wear good shoes. The section on the map called the Billy Goat trail is very rocky. If it's wet, you may slip on the rocks so be especially careful. Pets aren't allowed on this trail, and rightly so. I saw one poor dog looking scared to death going down a steep rock climb. From the visitor center, I'd recommend doing the Billy Goat trail out, and then coming back along the canal to parking. This circuit is only about 2.5 hours so it's a good half day trip.
I don't care for rock scrambling much, but I liked the area. The "falls" aren't really a huge waterfall, but more of a rapid. Due to the drought, the water level is pretty low so probably it's good for the kayakers. We were waiting for couple kayakers to go down one tough looking rapid, but they paddled to the shore. They either chickened out or were doing a recon - probably a smart move. Anyways, it's just nice to be able to come to a place like this with out a long drive.
Right now is also a good time to see the fall foliage. Again though, because of the drought, the colors aren't as vivid as they would normally be. Still nice though. Definitely will try to check it out again next year for the colors.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Remembering FDR
Last weekend I took a visitor into DC and did the typical tourist circuit. Among all the memorials, the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial is one of my favorites. Not only are the fountains very nice, the memorial is dotted with many profound quotes from FDR. Here are some that I like:
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
"We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization."
"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars."
It's a bit sad when I think of the leadership we have in our country now. I hope it doesn't take the collapse our country for real leaders to emerge again.
DC: Arlington National Cemetery
Another recommended site in DC is the Arlington National Cemetery. It's not just any cemetery, it's where we bury our soldiers, our heroes. Some of the things to see here is the burial site of JFK, the tomb of the unknown soldier, and memorial to the Challenger/Columbia disasters. To see the highlights, you need about an hour or two on foot. You can see a bit more in 3. Any more and you're paying extra for parking. It's a bit of a schlep from the DC side across the Arlington Memorial bridge from the Lincoln memorial, but a lot of tourists do it. Also near the cemetery is the Marince Corps War Memorial, aka Iwo Jima statue.
DC: The Memorials
The must-sees in DC are the memorials. Most are dedicated to either a president, or a war. The major ones are clustered around on the West side of the mall, starting with the Washington monument, WWII memorial, Lincoln memorial, Vietnam War memorial, and the Korean War memorial. You can also extend this by taking a nice long walk around the tidal basin to include the FDR memorial and Jefferson memorial. You can probably walk the whole thing in 2.5 hrs, with time to stop and take photos. For parking, there is a small lot on the NE side of the tidal basin. There are also street parking here and there along Ohio drive. Be sure to eat before you head out for this walk, because there aren't any places to eat, not even a hot dog stand, along the route. Restrooms can be found in couple of places tho.Friday, October 26, 2007
Jow Ga Kung Fu and Tai Chi
I was determined to pick up martial arts once back in the US, and I've just found my new school to train at: Jow Ga Shaolin Institute. Of all the places I've looked into, this place seemed to have the best deal for me. While not cheap, it had reasonable prices, schedules, and programs. Plus, I've always been somewhat interested in trying Kung Fu and Tai Chi. I'm doing both, twice a week to start. I'm hoping the Tai Chi will help improve my health and that Kung Fu will get me back in shape. I've only had three classes but I'm enjoying it a lot so far. I've paid up 3 months in advance, so there's no quitting too soon.
The Tai Chi movements are designed to strengthen your muscles and massage your organs. Kung Fu is a mix of strengthe training and cardio. The techniques in these styles are completely different from karate. What I like about it is is that there's no high impact on any one part of body, and the moves you do sort of stretch your body out. Some classes will end in Lion Dance practices or forms to music. These are fun. Hopefully I'll have some of the basics down by my (tentative) China trip next year. I'll have to try to fit in couple of days of training while I'm there.
The Tai Chi movements are designed to strengthen your muscles and massage your organs. Kung Fu is a mix of strengthe training and cardio. The techniques in these styles are completely different from karate. What I like about it is is that there's no high impact on any one part of body, and the moves you do sort of stretch your body out. Some classes will end in Lion Dance practices or forms to music. These are fun. Hopefully I'll have some of the basics down by my (tentative) China trip next year. I'll have to try to fit in couple of days of training while I'm there.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
USNA Homecoming (c/o '97 10 year reunion)
This year marks the 10 year anniversary of my college graduation. I pretty much consider the US Coast Guard Academy my school since I spent 3 of the 4 years there. Our 10 year reunion was 2 weeks ago, but I had to skip it since it was the weekend I was moving into my new place in Reston. However, the US Naval Academy was having theirs this weekend, and since I went to NAPS, I decided to go there to see if anyone I know is there. Turns out, there was a boat load of them.
After dragging my fellow Coastie, Milinda, out of bed this morning, we drove our butts over to Annapolis. Due to heavy traffic for the homecoming (football) game, we didn't get there until pretty late. By the time we found the class of 97's tent, most had gone into see the game. We didn't actually have tickets but luckily we scored free ones at the gate, so we went in and sat in the section with c/o 97. We already knew couple people that were there, but as I looked around I saw a few more familiar faces. At half-time most people left the game so we did the same and from there on out we were seeing people we knew left and right. Since a NAPS class is generally pretty small (couple hundred or so), everyone generally knows of everyone. But it's been over 14 years since we last saw some of these people. Between the two of us, we recognized tons of NAPSters, and some even recognized us. We were just moving from one person to the next just catching up with people. There were more that we recognized but didn't get around saying hi to. It was pretty cool seeing all these people again. That year at NAPS was a blast.
In addition to seeing the c/o '93 folks from NAPS, I caught up with couple other friends who were in the area that I haven't seen since '05. Then I got home and had a MySpace message from a girl I knew from the 5th grade!!!! What a day....
Oh, btw, Navy lost to wake 44-24, or something like that.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
First Week of Work
Today was my third day at my new job. As much as I've been looking forward to starting, I can't say it's been an exciting week. The first day was spent mostly in orientation. They got us out there at an ungodly hour of 0745 so we could painfully sit through six hours of briefings. I guess they had to start that early so people won't be stuck in traffic. The commute is actually better than I expected, although I have been expecting the worst (i.e. bumper to bumper traffic). The toll road I take usually seems to move at a reasonable pace. It's just getting to and from it that sucks a bit. I also tried the back road, which is pretty scenic and pleasant, but again, getting to and from it sucks.
So it seems 0745 is our core business start time, but luckily it seems most people on my team start between 8 & 8:30. That's do-able, I think. I have this feeling that it's just a matter of time before I start strolling in around 9:30.
As far as the actual work goes, I haven't really done much yet. I seemed to have strolled in right at the beginning of the fiscal year when they're shuffling staff around. They changed projects on me twice already, and I wouldn't be surprised if I walked in tomorrow only to have another project waiting for me. I've been spending the last couple of days doing the usual new hire stuff - benefits enrollment, online training for email and code of conduct, etc. I can't wait to start doing real work though.
Work otherwise is going fine. Lots of friendly people on the team. The cafeteria is pretty good (much better than the one at my last job.) Office space and equipment are pretty good. No complaints yet.
So it seems 0745 is our core business start time, but luckily it seems most people on my team start between 8 & 8:30. That's do-able, I think. I have this feeling that it's just a matter of time before I start strolling in around 9:30.
As far as the actual work goes, I haven't really done much yet. I seemed to have strolled in right at the beginning of the fiscal year when they're shuffling staff around. They changed projects on me twice already, and I wouldn't be surprised if I walked in tomorrow only to have another project waiting for me. I've been spending the last couple of days doing the usual new hire stuff - benefits enrollment, online training for email and code of conduct, etc. I can't wait to start doing real work though.
Work otherwise is going fine. Lots of friendly people on the team. The cafeteria is pretty good (much better than the one at my last job.) Office space and equipment are pretty good. No complaints yet.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
DC: The Botanical Garden
Today couple of my friends who are big into photography went to the national botanical gardens near the Capitol building to take some photos. I tagged along since I doubted I'd find another friend who'd suggest going there again. While my friends sported their SLR's with heavy duty lenses, I brought my itsy bitsy point-and-shoot camera and felt very inadequate. Anyways, going through the gardens (most is actually indoors) with these guys forced me to take it slow and actually pay attention to some of the plants in there. There's some pretty interesting (i.e. exotic) stuff in there.
DC: The Eastern Market
Last Sunday I checked out the Eastern Market in DC with some friends. It's basically a flea market on Sundays and it sold all kinds of stuff such as fresh veggies and fruits, local art (i.e. photos, t-shirts), furniture (antiques?), and misc items from Asia (e.g. rugs, dishes). I'm not huge into shopping, particularly for junk (which a lot of the stuff was in my opinion), but if you're into these types of markets, this one seems to be the one to go to around here.
Monday, October 8, 2007
DVI to HDMI works
My friends offered yesterday to help me build my TV stand. The good news is I got my entertainment systems up sooner than I planned. The bad news is I've been playing on my new computer too much and am not getting the house tidy like I should be.
I say entertainment system, but it's actually just my new TV and computer. I was previously worried how well a DVI (PC out) to HDMI (TV) connection would work since few people told me it doesn't necessarily work. Turns out my setup worked beautifully without any display setting changes. The TV is only 32" and 720p since that was about as small and cheap as you can get these days. I was tempted to go big (50+") and better (1080p) but I didn't want to invest so much in a TV. Considering I'd been watching videos on my laptop this past year, anything was an improvement. I'm quite happy about the new setup. Now I can watch my Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, and 24 on the big screen :)
The new PC I bought came with Windows Vista. This is taking a big of getting used to. Initially, it did this annoying thing where it prompted me for confirmation every time I tried to do anything. You can disable this under a user's access controls though. I haven't noticed anything that I love about Vista yet, but I have noticed that it has the same typical problems you get with all Windows OS, such as hanging applications and what not. Btw, when I chose the graphics card, I went with one of the higher end models offered for this particular PC. I'm not sure what you need to look for exactly in order to make sure your DVI to HDMI connection works. Having a DVI output may not be enough. I'd be sure to get something that supports HDCP too.
I say entertainment system, but it's actually just my new TV and computer. I was previously worried how well a DVI (PC out) to HDMI (TV) connection would work since few people told me it doesn't necessarily work. Turns out my setup worked beautifully without any display setting changes. The TV is only 32" and 720p since that was about as small and cheap as you can get these days. I was tempted to go big (50+") and better (1080p) but I didn't want to invest so much in a TV. Considering I'd been watching videos on my laptop this past year, anything was an improvement. I'm quite happy about the new setup. Now I can watch my Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, and 24 on the big screen :)
The new PC I bought came with Windows Vista. This is taking a big of getting used to. Initially, it did this annoying thing where it prompted me for confirmation every time I tried to do anything. You can disable this under a user's access controls though. I haven't noticed anything that I love about Vista yet, but I have noticed that it has the same typical problems you get with all Windows OS, such as hanging applications and what not. Btw, when I chose the graphics card, I went with one of the higher end models offered for this particular PC. I'm not sure what you need to look for exactly in order to make sure your DVI to HDMI connection works. Having a DVI output may not be enough. I'd be sure to get something that supports HDCP too.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
New Home
Yesterday the movers came to my home to delivery my goods. Surprisingly, there was nothing broken (that I can tell). The only thing I that's missing so far is 2 small trash bins and screws to my coffee table. Fortunately IKEA has free spare parts for their furniture so that was taken care of easily. IKEA didn't have the right size trash bins though. I want one of those that you can stick a grocery bag in to keep the bin clean.
I did a pretty good job of unpacking yesterday but the house is still a huge mess. I also bought a few things in addition. I'll need to unpack a bit more though before I can build any furniture.
It's been a busy couple of days tho, particulary since I have a visitor already. A good friend from grad school was in town for business and she's staying the weekend. I made her tag along on couple shopping trips, but most of the time had been spent just hanging out. Starting Monday tho I'll get right back on it. I'm happy with the way the house is coming along though. It's a small place, but perfect for one person. It's 3 stories with a bedroom on the bottom floor, living on the main floor, and master bedroom on top floor. Plenty of space for guests. One of my friends in the neighborhood bought a huge townhouse recently though and I'm jealous. I can't wait until I buy my first house. Hopefully I can get something half as nice. Maybe next year :)
I did a pretty good job of unpacking yesterday but the house is still a huge mess. I also bought a few things in addition. I'll need to unpack a bit more though before I can build any furniture.
It's been a busy couple of days tho, particulary since I have a visitor already. A good friend from grad school was in town for business and she's staying the weekend. I made her tag along on couple shopping trips, but most of the time had been spent just hanging out. Starting Monday tho I'll get right back on it. I'm happy with the way the house is coming along though. It's a small place, but perfect for one person. It's 3 stories with a bedroom on the bottom floor, living on the main floor, and master bedroom on top floor. Plenty of space for guests. One of my friends in the neighborhood bought a huge townhouse recently though and I'm jealous. I can't wait until I buy my first house. Hopefully I can get something half as nice. Maybe next year :)
Monday, October 1, 2007
Panthers vs Tampa Bay
Yesterday I went to my first NFL game in Charlotte. The Carolina Panthers played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at their Bank of America Stadium. I haven't been to a football game, or even watched one I think, since I was in college doing my bachelor's degree. I'm not really big into watching sports at all, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to bond with my brothers. I'm not so sure it was worth it though. The tickets were $125 each. They were nosebleed $59 seats, but with a significant mark-up by the reseller. Lucky for me my brother picked up the tab on the tickets, but sitting in the scorching sun at 80 degrees temperature for 3 hours wasn't exactly my idea of fun. Our seats were also so high-up that I couldn't be bothered to take occasional cover in the shade since it was such a long walk back up. At least we were on the 30 yard-line. The worst part of it though was that we were surrounded by the Tampa Bay fans... and Tampa Bay kicked the Panthers' butts. They scored a touch down on their first play. The Tampa Bay also scored another touch down and a field goal for a 20-0 lead. In the last 30 seconds tho, the Panthers finally scored their touch down. By then tho, the disappointed fans had left the stadium half empty. The final score was 20-7 Tampa Bay.
Going to an actual game is kind of fun, but getting a decent seat would help. I don't see anything wrong though with sitting at home watching a game on a big screen TV in the comfort of your own home where there's easy access to free food and drinks. I think I'll pass on the family football trip next year....
Sunday, September 23, 2007
My New Car: 2008 Toyota Corolla
Just about 2 hours ago, I became the proud owner of a brand new silver 2008 Toyota Corolla. I had no intention of driving one home today, but the sales guy ended up offering it for my asking price. I figured I'll just take it and spare myself another day of haggling.
I actually started the day off in a Nissan dealership. I thought I would buy an economical Versa, but the Sentra looked nicer so I test drived them both. Both were ho hum on the road. I told the sales guy I wanted to check out the Toyotas first, which is what I went on to do. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted from Toyota though. I didn't like the Yaris, the RAV4 are too big now, and the Corolla just seemed too common. I had a look at the Corolla anyways, since it was about the right size and price for me. Plus, they get good mileage at about 28/35. Once I test drove the car though, I knew this was the one.
The 2 main things about the Corolla was how comfortable I felt in it. Everything was within a short arm's reach and the seat was high so I could see well over the steering wheel. The drive is also very smooth and the engine pretty quiet. I like this car better than the RAV4 I previously owned. I chose a Corolla with a sports trim that came with all of the options, including a sun roof. The only thing a Corolla doesn't have is MP3 playback capability - not even an audio jack.
The sticker price at the dealership was $19600 or so. All of the 2007's were already sold out so I was stuck trying to negotiate on a 2008. The sales dude off the bat came down to $18600 since I was paying cash. I wasn't planning to buy so I kind of threw out my "buy now" number at $17000 thinking he wouldn't match it. He said he couldn't do it, so we walked out. Sure enough he came knocking on our car window with their "invoice" price of $18300. I was firm on my $17000 so he brought it to $17500... 400... 300... 250 (at this point there's no reason for them to stop)... and finally $17000. It was almost too easy so I'm wondering if I could've gotten it for 16 something had I started with that. Probably. I think they were trying to make their end of the month sales quota. I shouldn't complain though at $2600 below MSRP and $1100 under true market value (from edmunds.com), so I'm happy with my purchase. Now I just need to make sure I don't run into a deer the first day off the lot like my friend did with her brand new Corolla (she had a silver one with the sport trim too) back in '06.
I actually started the day off in a Nissan dealership. I thought I would buy an economical Versa, but the Sentra looked nicer so I test drived them both. Both were ho hum on the road. I told the sales guy I wanted to check out the Toyotas first, which is what I went on to do. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted from Toyota though. I didn't like the Yaris, the RAV4 are too big now, and the Corolla just seemed too common. I had a look at the Corolla anyways, since it was about the right size and price for me. Plus, they get good mileage at about 28/35. Once I test drove the car though, I knew this was the one.
The 2 main things about the Corolla was how comfortable I felt in it. Everything was within a short arm's reach and the seat was high so I could see well over the steering wheel. The drive is also very smooth and the engine pretty quiet. I like this car better than the RAV4 I previously owned. I chose a Corolla with a sports trim that came with all of the options, including a sun roof. The only thing a Corolla doesn't have is MP3 playback capability - not even an audio jack.
The sticker price at the dealership was $19600 or so. All of the 2007's were already sold out so I was stuck trying to negotiate on a 2008. The sales dude off the bat came down to $18600 since I was paying cash. I wasn't planning to buy so I kind of threw out my "buy now" number at $17000 thinking he wouldn't match it. He said he couldn't do it, so we walked out. Sure enough he came knocking on our car window with their "invoice" price of $18300. I was firm on my $17000 so he brought it to $17500... 400... 300... 250 (at this point there's no reason for them to stop)... and finally $17000. It was almost too easy so I'm wondering if I could've gotten it for 16 something had I started with that. Probably. I think they were trying to make their end of the month sales quota. I shouldn't complain though at $2600 below MSRP and $1100 under true market value (from edmunds.com), so I'm happy with my purchase. Now I just need to make sure I don't run into a deer the first day off the lot like my friend did with her brand new Corolla (she had a silver one with the sport trim too) back in '06.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
First day back
The day started early, but I took it a little easy. I went and got a pedicure in the morning and then had a look around for cell phone. I'm still debating on which cell phone to go with. Verizon supposedly has the best nationwide coverage and good customer service. However, they are on a CDMA network which is not available outside the U.S. I would need a global phone with GSM capabilities in order to use the phone overseas. Sprint is also CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. I suppose no matter which GSM provider I go with, I suppose I will have the problem of a locked phone. Maybe I will be able to use European T-Mobile SIM cards with T-Mobile phones tho. I'll have to look into that. Could be screwed tho for Asia, but perhaps if I beg them enough they will unlock the phone for me when it becomes necessary. The only thing about T-Mobile is that they didn't seem to have a very good coverage map. I only checked Virginia, but their coverage seems limited to major cities and highways. If I go off into the boonies of VA, I'm not sure I'll get coverage.
One of the things I noticed as I hopped from one store to another was how polite all the customer service reps were. I know I complained a lot about the Dutch Service, but I never really thought that customer service in the U.S. was particularly spectacular. Cell phone providers were notorious for bad service, but I think perhaps people got sick of putting up with it and the BBB is cracking down or something. It wasn't just the cell phone companies either, the nail salons and the Chick-fil-A girl were also really nice and polite. Maybe I used to take it for granted and never noticed before. Speaking of Chick-fil-A, mmmmmmmm... that was yummy.
Oh, I had thought I made up my mind about getting a 30" LCD Monitor and use my computer for watching TV, movies, etc. However, my brother recently bought a 56" 1080p DLP TV and it's niiiiiice. So I'm having second thoughts. In the land where everything is big, 73" and 60" TVs are on sale like it's the norm. Who needs to go to the movies anymore with a TV that big?? They are like $4000/$3000 though, and I think my new place will not be so big. So I think 50" is more than enough, maybe even too big. I should really take a look at the place first. The only problem with my brother's DLP is that there's no DVI input, which is surprising. Anyways, I need to look into this a bit more....
I also went back to my karate class for the first time in about a year. I knew I was really out of shape but I had jump right into a fighting class. Lucky for me there were not too many advanced students so I didn't get my butt kicked much. My 6'3 200 lbs instructor, however, kicked me really hard in the back of my head with his heel. That hurt.
One of the things I noticed as I hopped from one store to another was how polite all the customer service reps were. I know I complained a lot about the Dutch Service, but I never really thought that customer service in the U.S. was particularly spectacular. Cell phone providers were notorious for bad service, but I think perhaps people got sick of putting up with it and the BBB is cracking down or something. It wasn't just the cell phone companies either, the nail salons and the Chick-fil-A girl were also really nice and polite. Maybe I used to take it for granted and never noticed before. Speaking of Chick-fil-A, mmmmmmmm... that was yummy.
Oh, I had thought I made up my mind about getting a 30" LCD Monitor and use my computer for watching TV, movies, etc. However, my brother recently bought a 56" 1080p DLP TV and it's niiiiiice. So I'm having second thoughts. In the land where everything is big, 73" and 60" TVs are on sale like it's the norm. Who needs to go to the movies anymore with a TV that big?? They are like $4000/$3000 though, and I think my new place will not be so big. So I think 50" is more than enough, maybe even too big. I should really take a look at the place first. The only problem with my brother's DLP is that there's no DVI input, which is surprising. Anyways, I need to look into this a bit more....
I also went back to my karate class for the first time in about a year. I knew I was really out of shape but I had jump right into a fighting class. Lucky for me there were not too many advanced students so I didn't get my butt kicked much. My 6'3 200 lbs instructor, however, kicked me really hard in the back of my head with his heel. That hurt.
Back in the U.S. of A.!
I made it back to the U.S. last night safe and sound. Aside from the long travel time, the flights were pretty smooth. I saw Fantastic Four and Fracture and slept rest of the way. The only strange part of my flight was that the cabin crew didn't prepare the flight for landing as usual, so I was about to land with a partially full can of soda on my table tray until I secured the can myself. I was also very lucky at customs that they didn't ask about the contents of my belongings even though I ticked off that I was bringing in "plants, seeds, food". I had 3 packages of flower bulbs, and even tho they were certified to bring into the U.S., I was sure they would want to inspect it. My suitcases were packed tight (I had to get rid of 3 kilos from one bag at check-in) and it would have been a mess if they wanted to go through all of my stuff.
Once I arrived at the Norfolk Int'l Airport, my brother and his kids were waiting for me. It was good to see them again and catch up with him since we hardly talk when I am away. This morning I was up bright and early before the crack of dawn thanks to jet lag. It's starting to get light out now so perhaps I should start getting on with my day. I have lots to do - go for a pedicure (it's hard to get one a good one in Holland), shop for cell phones, get my butt kicked in karate, see friends, etc. Tomorrow I will spend the day test driving cars with my brother.
Oh, btw, did I mention it's like 28 degrees here during the day? Summer has finally arrived for me.
Once I arrived at the Norfolk Int'l Airport, my brother and his kids were waiting for me. It was good to see them again and catch up with him since we hardly talk when I am away. This morning I was up bright and early before the crack of dawn thanks to jet lag. It's starting to get light out now so perhaps I should start getting on with my day. I have lots to do - go for a pedicure (it's hard to get one a good one in Holland), shop for cell phones, get my butt kicked in karate, see friends, etc. Tomorrow I will spend the day test driving cars with my brother.
Oh, btw, did I mention it's like 28 degrees here during the day? Summer has finally arrived for me.
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