TY's Blog

Testing

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:25:00 +0000

This is a test post. Welcome to the dark side.

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Sunday morning cruisin'

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:32:00 +0000

Daddy and Aika

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Testing

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:35:00 +0000

Bad self portrait

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:29:00 +0000

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.9

32gb meet 64gb

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:30:00 +0000

Silver 32gb Zune (left) ... Black 64gb Zune (right)

Hanging with friends from work

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:29:00 +0000

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.8

Good days at the beach

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:38:00 +0000

Visit #2 at Seabrook, WA is in the books. Kids loved the beach and I loved photographing them!

Good to be on vacation

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:41:00 +0000

There is something about being away from work and distraction that clears my head and gives it room to breathe. I am spending the week out in Seabrook, WA with my family and it could not have come at a better time. I just finished up a fiscal year at work and a big product launch is coming soon. Nothing quite beats being out on the beach and seeing nothing but sand and waves for as far as the eyes can see. It reminds me there is so much more outside of my world that I do not see. Perspective is important especially when one needs to gather thoughts, set priorities, and make decisions. I cannot think of a better place to be focus on family and relaxation. These are the memories I will lean on when I get back to reality next week!

Coming back to my Blog

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:36:00 +0000

It has been awhile since I last posted anything on my blog. It is so easy to let things slip away when you are busy doing other things! I cannot predict how much I will continue to post but it would be a shame to waste all of the effort I have put in so far!!

Happy Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:11:00 +0000

A great day spent with my kids … Aidan and Aika

Musical Bliss with Bose

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:01:00 +0000

As some background:
I own the BOSE around the ear Tri Port phones and a pair of Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5 Pro’s. I really like the UE’s but in general they are hard to get into my small ears and are not comfortable for long periods of use – this became painfully apparent to me after an overseas trip last month. The Tri Ports are great but are a little bulky for everyday use.

I purchased the in ear phones with some hesitation because of all of the reviews about them falling out and being heavy on the bass. I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend more money on yet another pair of phones that wouldn’t quite meet all of my needs … but I am glad I did. I did some extensive testing with the music collection on my iPod Classic. I threw everything from Akon to Diana Krall at them and here is where I came
out:

Rich sound across all ranges of music (but have a little more bass than most people prefer)
Sound best when using the Treble Booster EQ setting and letting the phones handle the bass
Had little problem with the buds falling out of my ears. The medium sized buds a near perfect. In fact, I barely know I am wearing them after awhile (I think this is what BOSE had in mind the whole time)
Price point: At 99$ not a big deal for me as I have already invested other earphones
Overall value – these are the sweet spot for. Good sound quality, compact, and did not break my check book.

Some cons:

I can see the ear buds wearing out over time but when you buy these you can register and get free extras --- Don’t forget!!
BOSE sound not for everyone. It works for me and that’s all that matters. Let your ears be the judge.
Not noise cancelling but that is clearly documented everywhere.

Wants:

An in ear noise cancelling version of these with the same comfort level – get it done BOSE!!
Overall, I am pleased with my purchase. As an avid listener of music I think I have finally found the best co-pilot for my portable music collection. Bus rides have turned into private concerts that I don’t want to end!

New Bing mobile client on the way

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000

I have been a ~~live~~ Bing search mobile user for quite some time and have been eagerly awaiting for an update to the search client. Let’s hope it works as good as it looks in the sneak preview below. More information at http://www.bing.com/community/blogs/search/archive/2009/10/05/mobile-madness-is-upon-us.aspx

Some thoughts on the Asus 1008HA

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Recently I was able to acquire the the Asus 1008HA Netbook. Since then I have been the envy of many of my officemates. Earlier I wrote about using my MSI Wind netbook which has served me very well over the last months. However, once I saw this Asus netbook I knew it had to be mine. I have used it for a little over 3 weeks now and here are my impressions

Hardware:

Ultra portable and travels nicely
Aesthetics are great - it is an attention getter. Countless people in the office have asked me about it
Screen quality is good but a little unusable in brigter light conditions.
Keyboard is very usable however I often hit the touch pad with my thumb while typing.
Battery life is acceptable –I am averaging just under 4 hours. I installed Win7 RTM so I am not able to test the ASUS power saving utilities. Note: Battery is internal which may turn some users off but I understand the compromise to achieve the clamshell form factor

Performance:

I upgraded the RAM to 2GB but it was no easy task. I found a 2 part video on youtube (Part 1, Part 2) that required me to literally disassemble almost the entire device right down to the motherboard. I worked very slowly through the process from beginning to end which ended up taking just under 90 minutes. I was nervous the entire time as I had never really done this type of stuff before. Where would I be without youtube!!! Luckily I was successful but this is no task for the common user.

Win7 RTM runs excellent with the upgraded RAM. The OS is snappy and I can run multiple programs (outlook, explorer, pandora, digsby) all at once. Upgrading from XP remove some of the function keys on the keyboard like volume and disabling wi-fi. No worries – I can manage those through the OS :)

Video quality was good. I watched some youtube and netflix without much of problem. It is not going blow people away with HD 1080p no-flicker performance but for it what it does ... it does it well.

Overall

The best part about the netbook is the size look and feel. When closed I can carry it like a book and yet have everything I need computing wise for work and play. The 1008HA will appeal to the user who wants a little more "bling" from their netbook with a few tradeoffs like internal battery and ease of upgrading the RAM. I am still amazed how much can be stuffed into a little machine like this. I think this is just the beginning of things to come.

Pictured below – My Asus 1008HA running Windows 7 RTM

Know Your Role

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:29:00 +0000

This was sent to me via email and being hockey nut that I am I had to share it …

There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of managers across Canada who will
spend the long weekend making personnel decisions in time for the September
dawn of a new season. Granted, the majority of these managers are in charge
of teams with names like 'Old Puckers', 'Rusty Blades', 'Just the Tips' and
'Nine-Inch Males,' but don't be fooled; beer-league hockey squads can be
downright tricky to put together. As with any successful organization, you
need the right mix, and that means drafting from the following beer-league
player categories:

Where do you fit: Know Your Role

The Ringer
Some teams wait until the playoffs to unveil this option. Others go with it
right from the opening face-off. Either way, without a ringer, your team is
done. The challenge for managers is convincing a good player to suit up for
a bad side. This can be accomplished a number of ways, including promises of
goal-scoring glory and awe-inspired teammates. Most effective, however, is
let him play for free. It's simple math, really. Everyone else pays an extra
$50 and everyone else gets a shot at the 'DD' Division title.

The Young Guy
At first glance, he can easily be mistaken for a ringer, since the young guy
still wears the shorts and socks of his junior or college team. But it's
time for the next phase of life now, and that means an office job. The young
guy stays in shape for the first half of the year. Sadly, an increasingly
sedentary existence and late night partying catches up to him by Christmas.
15 to 20 pounds later, he's just another player, huffing and puffing with
the rest. Welcome aboard, kid.

The Old Guy
Forget the 50-and-over league; that's not for him...even though his
gloves reach up to his armpits, and he still uses a wood stick. To be fair,
the old guy can be an effective player, especially if he's a wily old guy --
a hook here and a chop there, because that's how they did it when
professional athletes were real men. 'Eddie Shore -- now there was a hockey
player! Lost an ear against the Maroons. Sewed it back on him self. Never
missed a shift.'

The Tardy Goalie
Hey, thanks for showing up. Only five minutes gone in the first. Not
Like you play a crucial position or anything. Take your time, dickhead.

The Beginner
Required only for cheap laughs. On the one hand, you have to admire the
beginner. It takes a lot of courage to buy all brand new equipment and take
up hockey in your 40's. On the other hand, learn to take a pass, man. It's
right on your stick. How does that knock you over? And now you're friggin
offside! Not to mention the Beginner shows up at every game, no matter what
time or what day. Sunday night playoff game at 11PM - no worries, Mr
Beginner will be there.

The Complete Psycho
Also good for a few giggles . . . from afar. Most likely a cop or fireman.
The complete psycho is capable of anything: running the goalie, challenging
an entire bench, a tomahawk chop -- all in the repertoire. Do not feed the
complete psycho. He doesn't want to be fed. He wants to hunt. and, look to
him to carry on his act in the bar after the game.

The Naked Guy
Bane of the dressing room. Most players have the courtesy to stretch their
hamstrings while sporting, at the very least, a bit of underwear. Not the
naked guy. He'll carry on full conversations, and you had better maintain
eye contact like your life depended on it....or come face to face with the
swinging sausage.

The Guy with the New Girlfriend
An excellent way to lower everyone else's fees is to load up on a few of
these. The guy with the new girlfriend will show up to three games, tops, so
his payment will contribute to everyone else's and it's not like you'll lose
ice time by putting him on the roster. That said, beware that the guy with
the new girlfriend might very well turn into the guy with the new wife...at
which point he'll never miss another game.

The Organizer
This guy is absolutely brutal but since nobody else could be bothered to do
all the paperwork and collect the money he gets to play. Is frustrating to
play with because they can barely skate let alone take a pass but nobody
gets mad at him cuz he's a really nice guy. Is often heard in the dressing
room saying 'Sorry guys, that one was my fault' and if he's lucky somebody
will chip in something like 'No worries Donny, it's a team effort.' What
everybody is really thinking is 'Hey Donny, my grandmother is a better
player than you and yes you are right, that was your fault.' If you are
lucky the Organizer is usually smart enough to take himself off the ice in
critical situations.

The Minor Hockey All-star
Looks promising at a glance as they fool you with reasonably good skills but
after you get zero passes you'll get the picture. This guy topped out at
'AA' Midget and can be spotted by the huge blinders attached to his helmet.
Play is characterized by energetic rushes down the wing, (no passing), then
into the corner (still no pass), behind the net (hey dickhead I've been open
for the past 5 minutes), then into the next corner (everybody has gone back
to the bench to watch) followed by a blind give away pass to the high slot /
break out pass for the other team. Cut this guy.

The Johnny Try Hard
Great to have on your team but they suck to play against because they have
somehow managed to keep themselves in ridiculously good shape. They were
probably the star on their high school hockey team and won athlete of the
year because they played hockey, volleyball and track all in the same year.
Guaranteed they have a membership at the 'Running Room'. Play is
characterized by constant hustle which if caught off guard can embarrass the
more talented yet fatter player.

The Stanley Cup Champion
This player will raise their hands and cheer when they score. If this is an
opposing player you must nip this behavior in the bud by catching him off
guard with a sickening open ice hit that causes him to blow snot bubbles. If
this player is on your team quickly chastise him in front of the other team
to let them know that this is not how the rest of your team rolls. Remind
him how much of a loser he is by retrieving the puck from the net the next
time he scores and presenting it to him in front of the other team.

The Tough Guy
This guy maxed out at the house-league level, has never been in a fight and
is characterized by antagonizing behavior on the ice. In extreme cases he
will 'cheap shot' another player. The fact that your beer league does not
allow fighting has given this guy a false sense of courage. What this guy
does not realize is that this will not prevent someone from knocking his
teeth out if he cheap shots the wrong guy. There are a number of fun ways to
handle this player which all end with him lying on the ice bleeding, looking
for his teeth and crying.

The Wrong Guy
Not to be confused with 'The Complete Psycho'. This guy shows up, doesn't
say much and pretty much flies under the radar screen. The kid that gave him
the cheap shot will eventually look his name up on Hockey DB after his
facial surgery and realize he had 355 pims in the East Coast 3 years ago.

The Gary Roberts
Can be described as being way too intense. This guy is one of your better
players but is unable to adjust to the lower level of play. At the best of
times he will try to coach players on the fly and at the worst of times he
will snap and call his entire team a bunch of house-leaguers. He believes
the game should be played a certain way and despises 'pond hockey' style
play with no back checking or positional assignments. Most likely is
suffering from a complex of 'unfinished business' from his previous hockey
career and is looking to capture some shred of glory via the rec-league
championship. This guy is probably better off playing with his own kind in a
senior-A league

Walk in the park

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:29:00 +0000

We let the kids run wild yesterday (with a little guidance of course). I think they are beginning to enjoy their new found freedom.

Socially Networking Challenged!

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:54:00 +0000

Jamie says FML: "Today, I got my first facebook friend request in 4 months. I also got a message in my inbox. The message said: 'Sorry, I thought you were someone else. Just ignore my friend request.' FML"

Twins first trip to the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:29:00 +0000

We took a short family vacation to Seabrook, WA to get away. Our kids had never been to the beach before so we decided to let them play around and get wet. I don’t think splashing in the bath tub will ever be quite the same for them! Below are just a few of the shots I was able to get. I was reluctant to take my d70 near the water and sand but I am so glad I did.

More information here: http://www.seabrookwa.com/

A visit from law enforcement

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:01:00 +0000

Last night our local law enforcement sponsored a picnic and show and tell in our neighborhood. They brought the goods to … a police helicopter and a swat Humvee. I think I was more excited than the kids :)

I'm a PC

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Found some shirts this past week at the company store

Pre-Dinner Prep

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:27:00 +0000

Threw some steak on the grill tonight and was fooling around with my new Nikon s560.

Pac Man Joins Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:11:00 +0000

R.I.P.

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Happy Father’s Day!

noreply@blogger.com (TY) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:28:00 +0000

Had a great time with the kids and received some nice gifts too :) They are growing up too fast …. where does all of the time go??