Baila!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

My Weekend in Pictures...

My home baked carrot cake muffins!


My Breakfast Saturday!


Saturday Night!
Its Chris Rock. Yes, its bad photo from my iPhone and yes, I was in the 4th row, and yes I laughed so hard my face was covered in tears.


My Breakfast Sunday!


Driving Around Sunday!
Yes, I'm driving a convertible. Long Story!




Destination Sunday!


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions

DECISIONS
You know, its times like these where I think about how blessed I am. There has definitely been a lot of rough patches in my life, but now, life is pretty great.

What is this post about? Decisions.

Normally, there are a lot of decisions to be made in my life. Some minor, some... life altering, but I am now at the point in my life where my hardest decision is... "Where am I going on vacation?" I know it sounds stupid, but hey its my blog... so hear me out...

I currently have a round trip ticket to Portugal, which I really would like to go, but the Euro is really kicking our a$$ at the moment. I do plan to spend most of my time in Morocco if I decide to go.

My other options are...

I am also thinking of going to the Philippines for a week, which would be really inexpensive except for the plane ticket. You know visit the outer islands, get pampered for super cheap!

Go to Maui for a week. It has been almost a year since I've been and it would be great to just relax, take the super ferry over and just cruise, surf, and hang out with friends.

Or finally a week in Australia, yes I've been there 8-9 times, but hey, its a great place to be with good friends, decent exchange rates, and cute guys...

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Portugal

Morocco

Philippines

Australia

Hawai'i



Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Uncle Max

UNCLE MAX
Its official, I'm an uncle. :)

Let's welcome to the world...

Aiden Jeremiah Catoera Mesa

8 pounds, 7 ounces

20 1/2 inches

5:16 PM

Also, wish new mother, Maria Mesa a speedy recovery.



Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

It's the Stupid Economy

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

360, Jake, Avatar iPhone

360
Microsoft is surprisingly on it. I tracked my XBOX 360 this past Thursday and it had arrived at their facilities. Out of sheer boredom, because there is no surf, I tracked it again Saturday morning... "Device shipped to customer - Your console has been repaired or replaced. We are shipping it back to you." WOW that was really quick. I wonder if they just started the 360 and said, Dang, we just have to send him a new one! I am thinking of getting a 120 GB HD for my 360. There are a lot of games coming out and a lot of features that will be coming out. I currently have a 20GB and I think its time to upgrade or should I get an Apple TV? Oooohhhh!

JAKE SHIMABUKURO
So, I was bored around 4PM, Saturday and I didn't want to fall asleep, so I went to Hawaii Kai Towne Center (right next door) to get some Starbucks. It was really weird because I couldn't find parking, once I did I headed straight to Starbucks and it was so weird there were so many people there, and guess why!? Well, (if you've read the heading) Jake Shimabukuro was having a free concert!

Ok, I know this photo is small, but look between the girl's head and the guy's head. Look in the center!


AVATAR
I love the Avatar. Its a TV show in Nickelodeon, and yes its on its 3rd season and I've watched every single episode and I have purchased every single episode on iTunes. Its a cartoon, but yet it transgresses age, by talking about things that are the basis of human behavior. Don't believe me, this is an excerpt from the top iTunes review.

"One of the best shows on television, period, by pdthlem"
-Let me start off by saying that I'm 42, I have a PhD, and I love Avatar. Not because my son also loves it but because it is an incredibly well done show.



iPhone Camera!
Who says the iPhone doesn't take good photos?!


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - 2008

Aloha,

This year I am participating in the 2008 Honolulu Marathon and I will be running on behalf of Leukemia and Lymphoma. Leukemia and Lymphoma affects many people that transcends age, race and sex. My goal this year is to raise $5500, please help me get the word out by clicking on the link below and passing the word to friends and family. I know its a hard economic time for all, and if you can donate, that's a great bonus.

Click here for my personal site!



Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Video Announcement, E3 - 2008 - Microsoft

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENT
All of my new videos will no longer stream from YouTube. I am a big fan of a new company called Vimeo. Previous videos on my blogs will soon be updated.

E3 - 2008
I was going to wait until I've heard from all of the big guns: Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 before posting a blog about E3, but this is too good to pass up!

I am really excited about the XBOX 360 for the coming year; there are TONS of new features coming to this console, which I have come to love so much. Besides an updated dashboard, new avatar system, more exclusive XBOX Live Arcade games, games that were previously exclusive to Sony Playstation 3 are now coming to XBOX 360. I had planned to purchase a new Playstation 3 for the new Final Fantasy XIII game, but with this game coming to XBOX 360, I don't think I need it (PS3) anytime soon. Another major announcement, you will be able to stream movies from Netflix directly to your XBOX 360! OMG! That is huge! I don't have Internet Explorer at home, being a Apple user of course (well non-intel base), I haven't been able to stream Netflix movies, but as soon as I get my XBOX 360 back from the manufacturer, I can stream them to my system and watch them on my HDTV (I doubt that they'll be streaming in HD, but hey, its a great deal!) You'll need a XBOX 360, a netflix account and a XBOX Live Gold Membership. My last wish is a Blu Ray disk drive, either built-in or an external one. Then the PS3, is dead. There are so many RPGs coming within the next year, I'll be busy playing video games for quite some time. I am really looking forward to: Tales of Vesperia, Fable 2, The Last Remnant, Infinite Discovery and Star Ocean!







Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

A Usual Weekend, O.O.C

A USUAL WEEKEND
This past weekend was nothing out of the ordinary. On Saturday, I went surfing and basically stayed at the beach for a good 8 hours. Nothing exciting on Sunday, quick run in the morning, a trip to Walmart (to pickup certain necessities), the Apple Store, bought a surfboard sock at T&C Surf, and a quick stop at Costco. I heard on Pandora that I've always loved and I just stumbled upon it listening to a Kylie Minogue playlist. I heart Pandora! On my previous blog (RROD), I wrote about my 360. Well, it appears I am addicted to video games. (Well, it does help to mention that my DVD player was my 360, I don't like watching movies through my laptop). I am currently borrowing my roommate's Nintendo DS and I purchased a new game called Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Its such a great game. I've only played 4 hours of the game and wow, it has my brain working. Its a great story line, but within the game is PUZZLES GALORE! Here is a puzzle from the game. The first person to post the correct answer on the comment, will get a song gifted to them via iTunes (your pick of course!) Here is one the 100s of riddles.
_______
Ten candles stand burning in a dining room. A strong breeze blows in through an open window and extinguishes two of them. Checking back in on the candles later, you see that one more candle has gone out. To make sure no more flames go out, you shut the window. Assuming the wind doesn't extinguish any more candles, how many candles do you have left in the end?

Professor Layton


O.O.C
My hair is normally O.O.C, well what works the best against hair that is O.O.C? Lots of conditioner!
My First iPhone self-photo


Sorry so short, a non-eventful weekend. A good thing?

Dust off your shoes and update your iPod playlist, I'll be sending out my next Nike + challenge soon!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Time to look past Obama's rhetoric: By Graham Hawes

This article was posted in the Honolulu Advertiser today and it fully explains how I feel about the presidential election.

----------------------------------

With general election fervor rising and articles such as Mr. Ballesteros's (Advertiser, June 29) appearing, I have witnessed a continuing trend of young voters being urged to vote for Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president. I find it somewhat troubling that those doing the urging tend to use circular logic along the lines of "We're young, he's young, we're for change, he's for change, we're great, he's great, change, change, change!" — never looking beyond Sen. Obama's rhetoric.

Presidential elections are matters of great importance — especially in these uncertain times — and it is the duty of voters to rigorously examine the candidates and to resist the pressure to conform to the popular mindset or to be swept away by captivating oration. Actions speak louder than words, and it is imperative that voters, particularly young voters, compare a candidate's words with his actions, and not confuse eloquence with the ability to govern. Huey Long was a charismatic speaker — George Washington was not.

Today's candidates rose to national prominence in two very different ways, each offering us insight into the two men. After a brief career in Illinois state politics, Sen. Obama rose to national fame through the power of his rhetorical ability — first gaining the national spotlight in 2004 as the keynote speaker at the Democratic Convention. Since then, Obama has frequently stressed his uplifting mantra of "hope" and "change." With vibrant rallies, a youthful appearance and eloquent, well-rehearsed speeches, he has gained the support of many young voters. In essence, Obama has gotten where he is with words, not actions — his political career prior to 2007 was brief and not particularly distinguished. In contrast, John McCain has gotten where he is through his actions — including a brutal five-year stay in Hanoi as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, and a notable 20-year Senate career.

Americans have long desired an end to the partisan wrangling that impedes real progress and problem solving, and both candidates promise to reduce partisanship. Obama claims to be the candidate who can unite us and bring about "change we can believe in." Is there anything in his record to support this claim? During Obama's brief Senate career, he has never crossed the aisle or compromised with Republicans — not once. There is not a single issue on which he has ever voted against the official Democratic Party position. This is not encouraging to anyone who wants a unified future, free from rigid partisan and ideological lines. McCain, on the other hand, has frequently worked with Democrats and gone against the grain of the Republican Party for the sake of passing legislation and solving problems. He has demonstrated a willingness to challenge his own Party — and the powers that be — when he felt it was in the best interest of the American people.

Because it is our duty to examine the candidates, we should be given the opportunity to see them in an unrehearsed, unscripted environment — where they can spontaneously field questions and directly address the concerns of the American people. Sen. Obama has said that he will meet McCain "anywhere, anytime" in debate. Yet Obama has pointedly avoided debates, especially open-ended town hall meetings, even rejecting McCain's modest proposal of 10 joint town hall appearances. What could tell us more about the candidates than an open-ended, off-the-cuff question-and-answer session? We can only learn so much from scripted, prepared speeches. And Obama is determined that these types of speeches remain the primary way we get to know him. John McCain, to the contrary, has attended hundreds of town hall meetings throughout his career, and allowed anyone and everyone to ask him tough questions that let us know who he truly is.

Americans deserve a clear look at both candidates, and I hope that later this year we will have the opportunity to question the candidates and hear their answers in an informal environment, free from the careful packaging that has become an unfortunate feature of American politics. Unless Sen. Obama gets out of the stadiums and levels with the average citizen, many voters will be buying their tickets on the Straight Talk Express.

Graham Hawes, a Hale'iwa resident, is home-schooled and will be a high school senior this fall. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

iPhone 3G 2008

IPHONE 3G
Today is the official release for the 3G iPhone and what an exciting day it is. Considering I couldn't really sleep last night and also an outfit change because I really dressed up for the event but it was too hot (even at 5AM).

05:30
Arrived at Starbucks, ordered a grande awake, 1 bag, 2 honey packets, room for milk, with a cranberry scone. Line snakes around already, I am number 27. I busted out my laptop, mahalo nui Kahala Mall, Apple Store and Starbucks for providing free Wi-Fi. I checked emails and yeah nothing exciting.

06:00
There are 68 people in line 2 hours before the opening of the the Apple Store. My foot cramped earlier and I had to stand up and walk around.

06:30
I figured I'd start talking to everyone as oppose to having my headset on and ignoring everyone. LOL Apple employees started passing out brochures, but hello. Ummmm... do you think people would stand in line if they didn't know what they were getting into? Then again, I guess I shouldn't put it past people.

IN FRONT OF ME

BEHIND ME


07:00
Everyone is in the chatting mood. Talking about Verizon, AT&T Tilt, smartphones, iPhone features (plus and minuses - still no MMS or SMS forwarding or saving attachments), how the line is all the way at the movie theater (about 120 long now). Starbucks is passing out ice coffee and ice tea (YUM).

STARBUCKS


07:30
VIDEO QUEUE
(sort of shaky, please realize, I've had black tea and ice tea!)


08:00
Who hooooo! Party time! The 1st people are allowed into the Apple Store.
APPLE STORE


09:10
Jerome picks me out of the line to help me with the iPhone purchase and activation.(yes he is cute!) :) Here he is helping me with the grand opening of the 3G iPhone.

OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF THE 3G IPHONE (with Jerome)


09:17
I am out of the Apple Store, and guess what? My new phone works like a charm. No activation problems here! They said 2-4 hours, I walked to my car and yup, its working!

10:30
At work, and yes, not really working, syncing and updating my new iPhone, the 16GB is perfect, I have 3 movies, 20 TV shows, 40 music videos, 1000 songs (at least) and that's not even using 1/2 the memory! Other than that I will be shipping our my Xbox 360 and the 1st gen iPhone to my sister! :)

Official preliminary reviews. Its a solid phone, with better sound quality, both in call sounds and in speakerphone. I really enjoy the new App Store feature. Its a streamlined process and yup, I only have 200 SMS, please get me on AIM - hawaiiinsomniac@mac.com (I am not sure if you need the @mac.com). I really like the 16GB, I have about 6GB of room, and wow, that's a lot of stuff in the phone. I really want to get a case, but we'll see. I am waiting for official reviews on the Apple site before spending $30-$40 on a new case.

UPDATE
I love these APPS! My favorite has to be the "Remote" (surprisingly not called iRemote), and its crazy! You can control you iTunes from your iPhone! I am not too impressed with eBay's app. I love the Pandora app, great way to stream music. Movies app is pretty cool and pretty self-explanatory. I purchased the game Enigma, and yup, its good fun!

3G IPHONE PHOTOS
Back

Side

Front (notice AIM app!)


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

RROD

RROD
RROD might not mean a lot to most people, but if you're a game, specifically a XBOX 360 gamer, you've heard of the dreaded RROD (Red Ring of Death). After downloading the Top Spin 3 demo yesterday, I wanted to take it out for a test drive. Low and belold, the RROD. FCUK! Fortunately, I registered my XBOX 360, and what do you know, its comes with a 3 year warranty. Granted its going to take 3 weeks and probably longer, since postage alone is going to take 1-2 weeks, but hey, its free. I need to get back to running again anyways, but no biggie, I'll be spending some quality game time with my iPhone 3G, suckas!

RROD


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

To iPhone 3G or not to iPhone 3G?

3G
I have been debating for sometime now whether to upgrade to the new 3G iPhone. Hear me out.

CONS
I don't really care about the 3G. I have WiFi at home and at work. The GPS is a nice add-on, but hello, I live on an island. I pretty much know where I am going. All of the new additions will be included with the free upgrade (iPhone 2.0). The App Store (where you can download application straight to your iPhone, to include IM and games), the Scientific Calculator, the Microsoft Activesync will all be a free upgrade to the current iPhone. Not to mention the costs, the same plan I have now will cost me $15 more. My current plan of 450 minutes (which is way sufficient - thank you roll over minutes), 1500 SMS, and of course, free night and weekends and mobile to mobile phone calls) currently costs me $69.99 (plus taxes and blah blah), with the new iPhone plan, the same structure will cost me $84.99.

PROS
I've read 3 reviews (NY TIMES, WSJ, USA TODAY) and all of them pretty much say the same thing more or less, the call quality and the speakerphone is a HUGE improvement, to me though the biggest improvement will be the storage. There will be lots of applications available for downloads and I am not sure if 4GB will be enough. I currently have 180GB of data in iTunes, and my current iPhone doesn't allow me to carry movies around, though I do have many music videos (13), songs (428), photos (189), and still have 596MB available (a 20 minute video or another 100 songs). That is my major incentive for purchasing a new iPhone, not to mention I have already promised it to my sister. Eeps!

UPGRADE?
If I do upgrade, I will be reducing my texting plan from 1500 to 200. So yeah, if you send me a text, I will probably call you back or send you an email. I am sure with the new updates IM will be available and I do have Google Talk and AIM with my .mac account.

IPHONE FACTS


BLOG - UPDATES
As many of you know, I have reduced the number of blogs I have sent out via email. I suggest uploading a live bookmark or a RSS feed. Here is my RSS Feed: http://hawaiiinsomniac.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

7.4.2008, Tennis Ranking, Thinnest Ranking, Visiting Time

7.4.2008
My 4th of July was spent at Kualoa Beach Park. It was a great experience. Being in the outdoors, camping, without a cell phone (I turned it off for the weekend). No TV, no internet, no getting dressed up, just sun, beach, fun and of course, FOOD! Ho' cuz, get plenty food fo eat!
Scary Story Time.

Chinaman's Hat

Sunrise


TENNIS RANKING
Yes, I called it, Venus is the winner of the Wimbledon Ladies Championship against Serena. Serena is also a winner, she won with Venus on the Wimbledon Ladies Pairs Championship. Cool thing is Jie Zhang's ranking went from 144 to 40, Venus stays put at #7, and Serena moves up a spot to #5. The ranking system is a little weird, but its pretty simple. The points you earn expire in a year. Last year, Venus won the championship, so those points were erased and she earned the same amount of points, henceforth, staying at #7 in the world.
Ladies Winner

Ladies' Pairs Winners


THINNEST RANKING
Hawaii is the 2nd slimmest state in the USA. WHOOT WHOOT! Don't HATE!


VISITING TIME
My roommate will be on vacation from October 16-27. Thinking of visiting Hawaii? Start planning!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Venus vs. Serena - Wimbledon 2008

VENUS VS SERENA

Venus beat Dementieva, the latter never really standing a chance. Watching the 1st set was really painful. Venus just played way inside the baseline and with Dementieva's serve, Venus just punished her with her returns. The second set was quite different, but needless to say Venus is onto the Wimbledon Finals...

And so is Serena. This was tough for me to watch because I was cheering for Serena and for Jie. I've watched all of Jie's previous matches, and yeah she's awesome. She's only 5'4" and is ranked like 130+ in the world. Ok, first I admire her. She is donating all of her winning to her hometown, which was devastated by the earthquake. It was like she was playing for her country. She beat the #1 player in the world, Ana, in straight sets. She's the first Chinese person to make it to a semi-final of a Grand slam event! That's huge! The 2nd set was SOOOO exciting! I was literally cheering and screaming for Jie! She almost forced a 3rd set against Serena in the semi-finals. She had a set point against Serena, but the final score: 6-2 7-6 to Serena's favor. Congrats Zheng Jie!

I'm really excited about the final. The previous finals they have played against each other has really been one-sided. I think they've come a long way, and its been a while since they played in a Grand slam final.

My monies are on Venus Williams. I've always been a fan, and she's a 4 time winner, losing twice in the finals to Serena at Wimbledon, but times are a changing.

Go VENUS!

Height


Zheng Jie


Serena Williams


Venus Williams


UPDATE
Williams/Williams are also in the doubles final. Yes, not only are Venus and Serena playing in the final, but they are also in the Ladies doubles Final. They just won 6-3, 6-3 and they're looking great. What most people might not know, is they have 6 major doubles title, but they haven't been playing doubles, but I think its more of a preparation for the Olympics and not to mention to compliment their singles game. There aren't any grass courts here in the US, so the more time you spend playing, the more comfortable you'll be in court.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.