*-)- welcome aboard *-)-
just me. my current interests and stories for the interwebs.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the top children’s cereals all feature a character with a downward gaze.
Every time I go grocery shopping, I'll now be well aware of what my little Norah is looking at. I'll make sure she's on my shoulders when we go through the cereal aisle!
via [FiveThirtyEight][1]
That last sentence summarizes it perfectly. This might be it folks, my last car! If you didn't already hear from the previous unveiling at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, it Mercedes new C-Class is touted to be, "Larger, lighter, quicker, more elegant, more spacious, more powerful and more luxurious than the current sedan." So if you're looking at buying a 2014 on a heavy discount, just wait a few months! You won't regret your baby S-Class.
It was the early 1980s when German automakers began introducing their aspirational four-wheeled ladders, and there are still three sedan Leitens to choose from depending on what you want your ladder to say: there's the C, E, S, the 3, 5, 7 and the A4, A6, A8. The point of any ladder, though, has always been to climb – the only reason you stepped on the bottom rung was because you intended to get to the top, or at least as close as you could muster.
That might change with this car, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It might be so good that there's no need to climb any higher.
via Autoblog
If you're going to read one final recap and review of the HIMYM series finale, head over to BoingBoing for details. What did you think about it?
“We’ll always be friends. It’s just never going to be how it was. It can’t be. It doesn’t have to be a sad thing. There’s so much wonderful stuff happening in all of our lives right now, more than enough to be grateful for. But the five of us hanging out at MacLaren’s being young and stupid? It’s just not one of those things.”
If you're like me, today is just one of those days where I lay off of the internet. Traditionally, Google has some of the best jokes and this year, it's pretty awesome. Check out the Pokemon Challenge below using Google Maps! http://youtu.be/4YMD6xELI_k
NPR's "The Salt" goes into the the details of what a great grinder can do for your morning cup of joe. I have a Baratza Virtuoso at home but have been thinking of a hand cranker since I usually find myself away stuck at an airport or hotel as of late. Specifically, I'm looking at either the Hario Slim, Hario Ceramic Skerton, or the Porlex Mini to bring along with me on trips. I'll also keep my Aeropress handy for brewing =). Below are the hand crank coffee mills in order.
The whirling blade grinder that most people have at home just doesn't cut it. The blade smashes coffee to smithereens, making boulders and fines all over the place. Instead, the coffee pros use burr grinders, which chew the beans up to a precise, consistent size by funneling them through a set of steel or ceramic teeth.
In other words, a good grinder can make all the difference between a cup of sludge and a rich, aromatic morning mug of Joe.
If you really want to, you can go for the gold and grab Orphan Espresso's Lido 2 for $175.
via NPR
Another amazing workout to end the 2014 CrossFit Open. Workout 14.5 with Briggs and Froning going head to head. Watch to see who finishes out on top. http://youtu.be/Peo8cahGS7s
Since Walmart just launched a $50 discount on the Xbox One, I'm sure you can run to Best Buy or your other favorite retailer and pick up the new Xbox One Titanfall bundle for a $449 price match. That's not only $50 off the console but also another savings on the game which adds another $59.99! I've been tempted for over a week since Titanfall came out but now I'm even more excited to go out and grab the console especially since I sold my Xbox 360 Kinect 250GB bundle for $200!
One of the major setbacks though was clearly stated and summarized by Forbes' Paul Tassi:
Trying to control the interface with gestures is like playing patty cake with an octopus, and constantly ends in frustration. What should be the most intuitive way to use the system barely works because despite all the promises, we’re a long way from Minority Report yet.
With all the time lapses of pregnancies and couples, this definitely has to be THE best one yet. This definitely took dedication. I remember thinking to myself that Adelle and I would do this too but we just kept on forgetting. =( http://youtu.be/yJ7-v7xVm3I
It does kind of stink that he was still playing guitar while she was in labor… but I kid. Congrats to the proud parents!
Dr. Terry Wahls at TEDxIowaCity presents the science behind feeding your Mitochondria and brain cells. http://youtu.be/KLjgBLwH3Wc
Dr. Terry Wahls learned how to properly fuel her body. Using the lessons she learned at the subcellular level, she used diet to cure her MS and get out of her wheelchair.
I'm definitely thinking of a life change right about now especially after those diabolical nachos.
When author Pamela Druckerman writes her columns, it's wise to read, digest and have a few laughs.
The modern 40s are so busy it’s hard to assess them. Researchers describe the new “rush hour of life,” when career and child-rearing peaks collide. Today’s 40ish professionals are the DITT generation: double income, toddler twins.
via NYTimes
If you haven't already and have a little one or maybe two, check out Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting. I'd read it even if you didn't have kids. It's really insightful into the difference between cultures.
A Filipina Hungarian American newscaster takes an ethical stand, goes off script and officially resigns on live television. Goodluck to Ms. Liz Wahl. Glory and courage to you and I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a new job anywhere in the US. Wish there were more people like you willing to take a stand.
http://youtu.be/55izx6rbCqg
update: here's her first interview with Anderson Cooper this evening. Check it out here.
In the tune of Frozen's "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?"... Tommy Chuang does it up great recalling those times when girls came before bros. http://youtu.be/wEcvzr9U5Ls
Thanks Jeremiah. We'll grab a beer when I get home ASAP.
The Brenthaven company was first introduced to me by the online Apple Store back in October 2001. I purchased my first Apple notebook, the Powerbook G4 667MHz Gigabit and chose a messenger style case. Brenthaven offered a special foam sleeve which perfectly cradled my prized titanium possession. Brenthaven knocked it out of the park providing plenty of other pockets that would fit my college notebooks and other accessories. Thirteen years later, you wouldn't be able to tell it's age.1 It stayed with me when I upgraded to the MacBook Pro and also snuggled my wife's MacBook Air comfortably. But, back to why we're here; the TSA Friendly and amazingly spacious Broadmore Backpack.
If you don't already know, my career as an airline pilot requires me to travel quite a bit. In and out of various hotels, hotel shuttles, airplanes and airports, durability is of the utmost importance. TSA friendly bags offer a welcomed bonus but that never proved to be a deciding factor. Since I upgraded to Captain, I've found that sitting on reserve in base for days at a local hotel can be quite mundane. This made it urgent that my next bag needed not only fit my laptop but accommodate a Sony Playstation 3 which I know would provide me hours of entertainment.
I received a Brenthaven Broadmore BackPack last week to review for elijahnicolas.com and it has easily become my primary bag. Packed to the brim, it's proving every bit a worthy successor to my original Brenthaven Messenger. I was impressed by the generous padding not only on the back but on the shoulder straps which are also spliced with Napa leather. The zippers are high quality and the two soft lined pockets serve for quick storage or immediate access to your iPhone / Android and sunglasses. There are also two side pockets that can easily hold a water bottle or tumbler or whatever else you'd like.
One of the defining qualities of Brenthaven's Broadmore line is the "quilted and fully padded CORE™ Protection laptop compartment."
A Protection System that wraps your laptop in high-density protective foam. Flexible bow shaped forms at either end of the laptop compartment automatically adjust to allow a snug fit for any size laptop. Patent ID #7,549,535.
I was under the impression that I would end up using a companion sleeve for my laptop but I'm surprisingly comfortable sliding my MacBook Air 13" or MacBook Pro Retina Display 15" naked into the pocket. It hugs the laptop like a glove and so far, after a couple of unintended drops, the backpack has done it's job well. And yes, even my PS3 has survived.
I mentioned that I planned on carrying my laptop and Playstation 3 but I was able to pack in even more goodies into the Broadmore Backpack. Unknown to me prior to receiving the bag, it included an awesome iPad compartment in the inner pocket. A keyring and serial number can be found inside the outer most pocket and holds just about everything else with slots for pens, pencils, USB drives and wires a plenty. You could even throw in a few Field Notes notebooks too. Don't forget the zippered pockets within the backpack than will also keep those loose trinkets from getting lost in the bottom.
Overall, I'm very happy with the bag. It holds exactly what I need and more. It's stylish, well-built and I can see it being my last.
From left to right: Contigo Autoseal Stainless Steel Travel Mug 20oz, Sony Playstation 3, MacBook Air 13", PS3 power cable, HDMI cable, Thunderbolt to HDMI cable, Sony Playstation Wireless Headset, MacBook Air Powercord, Google Nexus 7" (2012), Hidden Radio Generation 1, PS3 Controller, followed by wallet, watch, keys, bracelet and my iPhone which I used to take this photo. An impressive feat and it even fit underneath my seat on an American Airlines MD80! I like the travel somewhat light. This bag weighs 3.1 pounds while measuring 14.5" W x 18" H x 6.5" D.
This beautiful bag is available from Brenthaven at $249 and comes with a 100% Lifetime Guarantee! If you find yourself traveling as much as I do or appreciate great craftsmanship and attention to detail, make this backpack your last.
Fits: MB Air 13.3", MB Pro 13.3", 14", MB Pro 15.4"
this post was written while listening to Noon Pacific.
I have since lost the actual Brenthaven messenger strap when the bag was checked on as a valet bag on a flight years ago. ↩