Author Archive for derek

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Flag Respect

Published on May 26, 2008 in rant by derek. Closed

So as we take this long weekend to remember our heros, I found myself at the veterans cemetery visiting with some deceased relatives. it looked like there was a plan to plant numerous flags at grave markers again this year. I started to think about how great it is for these kids to be volunteering to do this, but I got distracted when my eyes wandered to a nearby trash bin, when my heart nearly stopped.

There we noticed 4 slightly tattered flags sitting helpless in a heap with misc garbage.

WTF! This is totally unacceptable! And even more shameful at the veterans cemetery!

We rescued them from this travesty and put them back where they belong, and for the one that was beyond usable service, it will see a proper end.

Search For Squeezo (Squeezel?) Part 1

Published on April 16, 2008 in Culture, Food and Travel by derek. Closed

So anyone thats a fan of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations must be familiar with the Vietnam episode where the guide takes him to a remote village and says about the dish of the day, “I think in your language you call it Squeezo.” Theres been a lot of chatter about Squeezo/Squeezel, but it got forgotten until I recently had a conversation with someone about Kopi Luwak, the expensive coffee that comes from Southeast Asia, famous because its pre-digested by Civets (that is, its eaten as a berry, then crapped out and collected as a bean). After looking over that Wikipedia article about Kopi Luwak, Dave wondered aloud if the Civet was the elusive Squeezo, as the Civet is a common food item in that region. Reminding him that the stew had pokey quills of doom, it launched The Search fo Squeezo…

YVR Ninjas

Published on January 27, 2008 in Snow by derek. Closed

Last Day of Vancouver Trip. Root left ultra early at 0315 to make his 0839 flight, now Risu and I are at YVR waiting for the flight.

mmm beer

At the now relocated Voyages Bar.

The Bar

Boarding conditions were okay, though we only caught one day of new fall, but the remaining days were jibtastic! Right up until I broke myself!

SeaLaunch

Published on December 7, 2007 in Culture by derek. Closed

sealaunchSeaLaunch Odyssey was at Pier 10, Honolulu Harbour on Monday. It had been on station to launch the Thuraya-3 Satellite, but they experienced weather issues that forced them to scrub the launch. Thuraya-3 will extend Thuraya coverage into Asia beyond “the sandbox”.

img_3955.jpg

Odyssey is the launch platform for the SeaLaunch system. It was built upon a very large oil drilling platform, and then supersized. Driving past on nimitz there is no way you could miss this, its HUGE. They were just in for a day to get fuel, and were gone by the end of the day.

 

 

blast shield

 

SeaLaunch has had a difficult year. In January, they had a serious malfunction of the launch vehicle, resulting in the complete destruction of the blast shield. It was replaced in Hong Kong, and this launch would have been the first since the accident.

Where the heck are my socks?

Published on November 21, 2007 in rant and Travel by derek. Closed

Why is it that every time I need my socks I cannot find them?  Its not like I dont have enough socks.  I end up buying socks every time I cant find them.  There should be at least a dozen pairs of techincal socks in my house.

This again lead to a frantic packing session!  I hope I got all of it!  If I missed someting important because of the distraction of hunting madly for socks, I’m gonna be really grouchy.

Thunderbirds Are Go!

Published on September 16, 2007 in Culture by derek. Closed

Hale KoaAfter a quick meal at Islands Burgers, we huffed it over to the Hale Koa Hotel, where my sister had a ocean facing room.  There were thousands of people everywhere, all fighting the gloomy weather to catch the final show celebrating the US Air Forces’ 60th anniversary.  Started posting up some images at the gallery.  It was unfortunate that the low cloud cover really limited what they could perform, but still worth the effort!

Islands Soft Tacos

Published on September 16, 2007 in Food and Review by derek. Closed

Got an early start to see the thunderbirds, maybe too early. So Taro and I stopped by Islands Burgers and got some soft tacos

img_1103_sm.jpgI got the “Baja” soft taco, with a Newcastle

img_1104_sm.jpg And Taro got the “Northshore” soft taco with a Widmer

It was okay, but I think I’ll stick to burgers there.

Taro: I’d have to concur. “Spicy” chicken? The spicy chicken at Jack in the Box is way spicier. We’ve done much better at Wayland’s. It was pedestrian. It fit the bill of not wanting something as heavy as a burger, but for the price would have liked something more substantial in the flavor department. Ah well, the heffeweisen was good, almost qualified as a Good Morning Beer for me as I’d woken up only a couple hours earlier. Good for a cheap buzz too as my stomach was pretty empty.

OkiFest ’07

Published on September 5, 2007 in Culture and Food by derek. Closed

So another year of the Okinawan Festival has come and gone. This year marks its 25th anniversary. Many groups were visiting from Okinawa to help celebrate that milestone. Was running around with the XT and Taro’s 28-135, ended up shooting nearly a whole 2GB Card.

I’ve started posting some in the gallery.

Saw lots of old friends, and met some new ones too. Overall well worth the energy zapping, heat stroke inducing sun for a 1.5 days.

Whistler Goodness

Published on August 2, 2007 in bike by derek. Closed

This report submitted from Dave via telephone; and thusly mangled by me.

Saturday was spent getting settled and re-assembling the bikes.  Sounds like it went pretty well.  Sunday was a “Leisurely” ride going up Lost Lake, but the Hard/Wrong way; instead of taking the gravel road up, and doing the technical side down, it was reversed. Grr.  Seems that set the tone for the trip; as its just the three of them, the chosen rides have been with somewhat of a “hard edge”.  I missed what happened on monday, but tuesday was a “death march” and wednesday was picture day.  “Extreme!”  Another Death March was planned for Thursday.

It sounds like there is something for everyone during the summer, even a wuss like me could find some fun things to play around on right near town.  Daylight lasts until around 9PM or so, so you could wake up late and still get a full day of riding in.

There seem to be a few new restaurants that we may check out in the winter season.  A new greek place opened up next to IGA where the Chinese restaurant used to be; and theres finally a real Italian restaurant sort of under Tandoori Grill.  A lot of the help that we.. uh.. admire during the winter season dont seem to be around for the summer.  And in general there just seem to be less Extreme Bike Chicks.  But apparently Them White Young ‘Uns still dig Old Phat Yellow Guys.

Well thats it for now, I’m sure we will get the Final Report sometime in the coming week.

Ow, my spine!

Published on July 9, 2007 in car and rant by derek. Closed

Another weekend of back breaking stuff. Hunched over repairing caulk in the bathtub, swinging a pickaxe around for Stump Removal. The the final Insult/Injury was trying to roll a engine crane (with the engine hooked up and suspended) while said engine was still attached to the car.