Blogging Pictorially

A Little Bit of Elbow Grease

2010-07-10T17:49:00.000-04:00

I got the chance to clean the rust off of the 1972 Schwinn Suburban! With some really fine steel wool and Brasso (as a rust remover/polisher), it turned out very, very nice! It went from a 38 year old rust bucket to a 38 year old museum piece! Okay, maybe not that clean yet, but it is huge improvement.

So far, I've taken off the fenders (which were the cause of 90% of the noise), the chainguard, replaced the front and rear brake pads (stops on a dime now!), and just cleaned the bike up a bit. Very good improvement.

Things I still need to do:

-Replace tires
-Repack the wheel bearings
-Find a drop handlebar to replace the bars on now
-Ride it more

First Day of Many Days to Come

2010-07-06T21:16:00.001-04:00

Today was my first day at Keyence. I barely got any sleep, but I lasted the 10.5 hours at the office today. Yes, the first day on the job and it went from 7:30am to 6pm. Overtime from the very beginning...sweet!

Keyence is a company based in Osaka, Japan, that primarily makes sensors, machine vision systems (the eyes of the production line), microscopes, and various other electronics. Keyence is #1 in Japan in the automation industry and has a firm grasp of the market. It's trying to gain the same kind of market share in the US...that is why they hired me and two other guys!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I am working full-time at Keyence as a Senior Vision Support Associate in the Machine Vision department (first Keyence employee with this title). One of the other guys is also in the same position as me and the other is going into Sales. We will all be training together as a group for the next 3 months, then we will split up to do our own specialized training.

I have a feeling this overtime business is going to last for a while. But hey, they bribed me with overtime pay and amazing benefits...I am truly lucky to find such a job in this economy.

So I have 3+ months of training ahead of me and a product launch to meet. The training looks extensive, but stimulating. My seniors at the company are all amazing people and you can tell they know how to work. I can't help but be happy about a company with a clear goal and a bright future!

1972 Schwinn Suburban

2010-06-06T19:41:00.000-04:00

So this bicycle has been sitting in my garage since...I don't even know. It used to be our old neighbors and they gave this and a matching color Schwinn Breeze when they moved away. It really hasn't been touched since. Today, for some reason, I woke up to a beautiful morning at 6:30am and decided to take this bicycle down and clean it up.

Turned out to be an amazing ride! There's a lot of surface rust, but after some cleaning, lubing the chain, and filling the tire with air, it was road-worthy. Did about 15 miles with a few friends and it was a blast.

I'm new to the bicycle scene, but I really like how those road bikes look. I'm thinking about getting a drop bar to replace the handlebar that's on there now...but I'm not sure if it will be comfortable or work. More research needs to be done.

The tires and brake pads need to be replaced first...the tires are dry rotted and the brake pads have turned into hard plastic. Even though they are in that condition, they both survived, and functioned, over the 15 mile ride.

The quality of these old Schwinn bikes are amazing. Even after 38 years (yes, this bike is 38 years old), the bicycle still functions with minimal effort. More to come!

Gaps

2010-06-02T03:55:00.001-04:00

Did you guys hear about that huge sinkhole in Guatemala? It's so deep, light does not reach the bottom. It's amazing how a gap is noticeable. Oh wait, what? I haven't blogged in nearly a year? That is very noticeable too.

The funny thing is, I started a HUGE blog post about my trip to Japan...the trip was in August, the blog post in October. It never published.

Something was happening then...a change in my priorities. Blogging left the top 10.

But now I'm back, furiously trying to get that feeling back. That feeling of leaving myself a footprint I can follow later; a message not only to myself, but one that can be shared with others.

Since July 15th, I've gone through a lot. I finished my internship. I went to Japan. I graduated from college. I've frantically looked for a job. I've been jobless. I bought a new bike. Jobless still.

This terrible economy has left quite a few of us stranded...the upside to a ridiculously low income is the time that comes with it. It's hard to say why the last 6 months have flown by, but it's easy to say that it is the 6th month of the year.

Why the picture of my bike, wheel-less and floating? Only because I took that picture today...and it was a job well done.

I'm hoping my future can be as steady as the work being done on my bike. I'm SURE that effort pays off. It is definitely paying off in all of my do-it-yourself projects...it's sure to pay off with the rest of my life. I have what it takes and I'm sticking to it.

Thunder is crashing down outside, breaking the hum of my computer and the keys clicking. So comforting.

I haven't written my thoughts almost directly translated from my brain to the computer in a while. How could I forget this satisfaction?

Well, there will be more to come, my friends. I have a feeling something big is about to happen.

1000 miles in 2 and a half weeks...how has my life changed?

2009-07-15T00:41:00.000-04:00

Today, I rode my 1000th mile on my Ninja 250. How have things changed in these 2 and a half weeks?

Looking around my immediate space, my desk is filled with motorcycle stuff: some documents from the insurance company, instructions on how to clean the carbs, the duplicate key to my bike. My leather motorcycle jacket rests on the same chair I'm sitting in and luggage for my bike lay on the floor...I've been engulfed by this motorcycle.

Taking a step away, my commute now is much more exciting. On days that have no rain in the forecast, I won't think twice about hopping on the bike. The strongest coffee can't wake you up as well as a 25 mile commute through downtown Chicago on a bike can. That was a whole lot of sentence, but then again, this little bike is a whole lot of bike.

The Ninja 250 is becoming an extension of my body; a second set of legs. Its agility and ability to move where I want it to is becoming second nature. This bike is eating me alive.

Taking a bigger step away, I've opened myself to another set of people. It's brought me together with friends from the past and friends I've just met.

Old friends give me advice with their knowledge of riding. All of them completely support the choice I made and it is a very welcoming feeling.

But the new friend are just a wave away. This community of motorcycles is an exclusive one, but the people in it are not exclusive to one another. Whether it may be a Harley with straight pipes or a Yamaha dirt bike with mud on its side, a little raise of the left hand to the oncoming bike generally yields in a wave back. Catch up to another motorcycle going the same way and you can spring up a conversation, motorcycle related or not.

I'm starting to realize the joy in all of this, the addiction riders have. I'm constantly thinking of where to go and how far I should go next time. There are a lot of roads out there, but the sad truth is, I won't be able to see it all. It's a good thing that this Ninja 250 is up for any task and it's begging for it. It's just waiting for me to catch up to it.

Going to Japan!

2009-07-07T08:03:00.002-04:00

I will be in Japan from August 10th through the 22nd!! During that time, I should be in the Tokyo area from the 10th through the 15th. Please give me a holler if you are free to do something then!

My schedule is still up in the air, so give me the days you are free and maybe I can set some things in stone!

Ride with Me!

2009-06-29T21:30:00.002-04:00

I got the bike running on Thursday and I've put over 300 miles on the bike since then!!

This weekend, I set sail in and around Chicago to familiarize with my bike! She is performing beautifully although there are still things that need to be fixed. Valve adjustment, carb sync, and swapping gas tanks are all on the list, among others. The bike is road worthy though and above is a picture of Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL that Mark and I rode to. He is a fellow motorist that I've gone to school with since kindergarden and was kind enough to invite me on a cruise this day! It was windy as hell for my little 250 motorcycle, but we made it to and back safely! In the back, you can see the old decomissioned power plant.

You can also follow our cruise here:

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=1197126

Sports Tracker by Nokia's Beta Lab is what I used here on my Nokia cell phone. It works great with the built in GPS and accurately logged where we were and how fast we were going. Unfortunately, it did have some inconsistencies, especially when it lost GPS signal when we took a break at Culver's in Zion. As you can see, we somehow did a straight path through Illinois! The max speed is also not right because our top speed was much faster than that...these are some kinks I need to work out, but it's working great so far!

More motorcycle news...my helmet should be arriving tomorrow and the rest of my gear (gloves, jacket, and tail bag) should be arriving later this week! I can't wait to get them and go somewhere with them this 4th of July weekend!

My motorcycle - the Ninja 250!

2009-06-22T21:04:00.002-04:00

I got the bike safely home and it's being stripped searched now! It has been in storage for several years and not running right now, but it is in the process of being fixed. The first problem came up as I was taking off the fairings and gas started to pour out. Looks like the seller punctured the tank with too long of a screw...I think that needs fixing!

But other than that, the bike seems to be in great condition and I can't wait to get it up and running!

Internship: Day 16

2009-06-10T22:25:00.001-04:00

Above is my PPE, personal protection equipment. We need to wear this when we are in the plant area! I'm in my office so...there is no danger!

So it's been a few weeks since my orientation and have been at the power plant for 2.5 weeks. Being an engineer here has been fun, although I've mostly been following around my mentor. He's a great guy and everyone is very respectful about him. He's worked in the energy industry for a long time now and he has kids a year or two younger than me. And that is what it's like with the rest of the people here, they are getting into their 50's. They have been great though and they are all very knowledgeable and professional. But they are also silly and loves to joke around. You know how these men in their 40s and 50s can be!

But it really has been great so far. I'm learning a lot about the energy industry and most importantly, I'm learning what it takes to be an engineer. I have a few projects assigned to me and I hope to do my best with them! If you are curious, my first project is to design, price, and bid an oil filtration system for the high pressure oil line for the unit 8 turbine. Yup.

Driving back home through the Loop sucks, but it's nice to see downtown everyday...at 5am.

Internship: Day 1

2009-05-20T19:43:00.001-04:00

This is what day one of my internship looked like. We had orientation at the Joliet Annex plant in Joliet, IL. Today was filled with introductions, lots of information about the company, and tons of safety talk. Free Midwest Generation goodies and a laptop was also given out. I'll hopefully get more sleep tonight so I won't be falling asleep during all the lectures the rest of the week!

Beers in Our Makeshift Cooler

2009-05-20T01:19:00.002-04:00

The last night with Anthony's family and friends. We made good use of the Intercontinental's sink and filled it with beer and ice. What better use is there for this sink?

Shoko @ bar

2009-05-13T00:54:00.002-04:00

Our first drink together at Wxyz car bar! Happy 21st birthday!!!!

Nokia N85 Test

2009-05-05T22:11:00.004-04:00

If you can see this, I successfully upload a picture to my Blogger account using my Nokia N85! That's right, this picture is from a cell phone! Pretty amazing stuff. Thanks to my girlfriend and a early birthday gift, I'm having a lot of fun with this cell phone during finals week! Blogging pictorially continues...

No sprouts - FDA orders

2009-04-29T11:58:00.002-04:00

~~Swine flu~~ Salmonella has made it to my sandwich! I miss my sprouts...

Where are you Vitamin Energy

2009-04-14T03:29:00.004-04:00

Hi Glaceau,

I have emailed you guys in the past just to praise you guys about the awesome products you guys have. At the time, I was raving about how much Vitamin Energy has helped me out in my studies as a student at Purdue University. I really did and still do believe that the Vitamin Energy series was the best energy drink series out there...it had no adverse effects, it works, and most importantly, it is a drink that TASTES good! I couldn't put enough emphasis in how much I did like it then. I guess you guys liked my email too, because you guys sent me a Glaceau hat! Thanks very much for that!

Unfortunately, I have not seen Vitamin Energy on the shelf since...sometime in 2008. The good thing is that I am not too busy yet, but the last few weeks of this semester are approaching and it's getting near the time to throw away sleep for a chance at a better future. Yes, finals are coming up and the projects are needing to be submitted and sleep is about 10th on my list. This is where Vitamin Energy should come into my life, but....it hasn't. I haven't seen it on the shelves anywhere. I have checked multiple stores and even in different states. No luck.

So here I am now at your website searching for something that seems to be lost. And it is yet to be found here as well. It looks like the Vitamin Energy section is also gone. I hate to ask this, but has Vitamin Energy been discontinued?

A negative reply to this will be very....negative to me. That tasty drink that uplifted my enthusiasm in studying may be...gone? I'll be in denial without a doubt. But I'll try to think the Vitamin Energy way and be optimistic and hope you guys are working hard on producing more Vitamin Water10's while sacrificing Vitamin Energy production. I am crossing my fingers at heart, since crossing my fingers will make typing this much harder.

So please, please give me some good news that your Vitamin Energy is just hibernating in the northern forests of Canada and will soon come out of hiding. Please tell me that Vitamin Energy's mom grounded him for a week. Please tell me that Vitamin Energy was making big bucks but you guys felt bad for your competitors.

Thank you.

Signed,
Me

A Lurking Figure

2009-04-13T12:23:00.003-04:00

A face is cast on the side of Shoko's glass of Fresh Apple Cider from 3rd Coast Cafe.

Duck, duck, duck

2009-04-11T11:30:00.001-04:00

(Ok, so the picture above is missing a good portion of the slices of duck and the steamed buns we were devouring before the fried rice and soup came out)

Can anyone say, "The best Peking Duck in Chicago"? I sure can!

Sun Wah at 1134 W Argyle St. in Chicago is the place to go for what I call the best in Chicago. Not only is it good, it's AFFORDABLE. This $30 Peking Duck, for us, fed my girlfriend and I to the brink and had leftovers for 3 people. Yes, it's massive.

The dinner is surrounded by one whole duck. The waitress will cut you small slices of the duck then set it down nicely on a large plate. These small slices will be eaten with slices green onion, carrots, special sweet sauce, and chili sauce wrapped in a steamed bun. The duck here is very special. It is the most juicy Peking Duck I've had in Chicago and even the skin wasn't dry. Nothing, absolutely nothing was wrong with this duck. Even microwaving it and having it the next day proved this is one (damn) good duck.

Then with the rest of the duck, the leftover meat is made into an excellent fried rice and the bones are made into a delicious duck soup. The result is food fit for 5 people. We attempted this with 2.

This dinner started during Chinese New Year this year (2009) so it is still relatively new. Our waitress told us that it's been a great hit and they had recently been featured in the Chicago Reader. I found them through Yelp, but they are getting great exposure! The restaurant probably fits about 75 people max and is pretty dirty, but they are not paying much more for renovations because they will be moving just around the corner on Broadway for their new store. Be on the lookout for this as well :)

I'm really glad this restaurant is taking off because I visited them a couple years back for their awesome BBQ pork. It is a little out of the way for me so I hadn't gone back since then, but I'm glad I did this weekend. This family owned restaurant has a great atmosphere: the waiter and waitresses are all down to Earth and friendly, friendly people. It was nice talking to our waitress while she was cutting up the duck and they really do enjoy serving their great food.

Come here for great duck (obviously) but also for a laid back atmosphere!

Wtf?!

2009-03-31T01:20:00.001-04:00

Some odd things at Hobby Lobby...

Return from the Capital of Beer!

2009-03-26T11:31:00.004-04:00

So it's been a week since I've been back in the States. To be dreadfully honest, it sucks! Being in Munich was just so much fun, although today, our professor invited everyone that went on the trip to his house for a dinner party. His wife cooked us up a whole lot of food, including bratwursts, a German potato dish, and much more. We pigged out, as you can imagine. We had a good time with good food and good friends. Here are the pictures to prove it.

That's really how it was the whole week with everyone. It was just a great time. All 15 of us got along really well and really enjoyed the company of each other. When being together is that much fun, placing our group in a spectacular country just makes the experience unforgettable.

If I hadn't mentioned yet, this trip was part of a class called "Manufacturing in Germany". We have been meeting in class and have been learning about what kind of country Germany is and how they do things over there. We got to experience this first hand by going to Munich and visiting different companies, sightseeing, and even meeting with professors at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich.

The first company tour we did was with KUKA. KUKA is a company that makes arm robots that can be programmed for automation. Their application is really limitless: companies buy these arm robots to move things, weld, cut, etc. The robots come in a variety of sizes and range in strength. The largest one, the Titan, can lift an object of up to 1.2 tons in weight. But regardless of size, they are all very precise and are easily programmable.

This, among other good reasons, are why we stopped by the BMW factory in Regensburg. Regensburg has nearly 1000 of these KUKA arm robots at this factory to produce their 3 and 1 series line. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures at either companies, so I don't have pictures. Fortunately, I have words to describe it. The factory tour at BMW was...wow. Why wow?

This extensive tour started at the press building where a huge pressing machine stamped out body parts for their cars. Sheet metal turn into a complete body part in about 8 steps, each only taking about 2 seconds to complete. The machine started moving once we got there and the tour guide took us right up to the windows where other workers peer in to see the progress. Then we headed to the building where body parts and chassis parts were all welded together. With an average of 5000 welds per car, this building had a lot of activity. This is where thousands of the KUKA robots were hard at work. Sparks were flying everywhere and we were being constantly bombarded by them. Yes, we were that close. It was the most exciting part of the tour.

We could really see the cars getting put together now. The drivetrain and body is built separately, then put together with some bolts. Imagine the engine, transmission, and all suspension parts as one system just coming together with the rest of the car...it was that simple.

Then came the non-automated part. The semi-completed cars would come down the assembly line and workers would have bins full of parts to put them together. We were able to walk about 10 feet away from the cars and close enough to be able to grab a handful of whatever part they were putting on the car. We were able to look around the finished cars without anyone yelling at us. It was actually pretty unreal how "free" we were here. BMW really gave us an experience to take home to talk about...they really did!

So Germany is the capital of beer. How can our professor tie together beer and education? With a trip to the Ayinger brewery.

This brewery, about 30 minutes outside Munich by train, has a state of the art facility where their beer making is almost completely automated. Our tour guide started off by telling us how important the ingredients are, especially water, which decides 90% of what the beer will taste like. A little exaggerated, maybe, but believable. They use all local ingredients and really take pride in everything they do. German beer was something else, as I had found out in 2006. It's a way of life, not just a tool to get happy. Breweries really believe in what they do and the people drink it with the same enthusiasm and respect.

Aying's facility had very little waste and was extremely clean. The taste of their beer proved it all. I won't even try to describe it, just go experience it yourself!

You will not regret anything from a trip to Germany, unless you don't drink their beer and eat their food! Germany is a country I am very strongly considering living in if everything goes right. This is no joke; I have started researching about what it takes for an American to live there. We'll see how this goes from here on, but being there twice now, I think it's time to at least learn the language!

This Week in Germany

2009-03-13T21:44:00.001-04:00

Munich will be the place to be for me this week! We've been at the airport, or flughafen, for 4 hours now due to my paranoid professor, but atleast we will be on the plane for sure!

Motorcycle Safety Course

2009-02-22T20:48:00.002-05:00

Ever since I was little, the idea of riding a motorcycle was fascinating. My favorite super hero, Kamen Rider, is probably the most influential. My dad also rode motorcycles when he was my age and traveled around Japan.

I'll be interning in Chicago this summer. I will be living back home for the summer and I know of my schedule early this year. I was finally able to sign up for this motorcycle safety course! What is this motorcycle safety course and how does it make it special?

The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) is a government sponsored motorcycle course that holds classes for beginners and more advanced riders. The class I will be taking is for beginners, obviously, but this class will be over 4 days (2 weekends) and will include a classroom session then 3 days of hands-on motorcycle training. After the final test on the last day, you will receive a certification in the mail that will waive the motorcycle test at the DMV so you can get your motorcycle license just by going to the DMV.

It's sponsored by the US Government, so the fee for the basic course is a generous refundable $20. Yes, refundable. I hear most people just donate this to the class, but it is refundable if you want it to be.

Sounds pretty perfect, right? Well, it is a pretty damn good program. The only catch is that classes fill up very, very fast. The class I signed up for was filled up about 3 hours after registration opened. But I was lucky enough to be able to sign up!

So yes, if all goes well, I will be riding around with a motorcycle this summer. This will also make my commute to my workplace much better, as I have to go through Downtown Chicago on the Kennedy. Not fun.

Happy V-day!

2009-02-14T15:42:00.002-05:00

A little Valentine's Day surprise from my girlfriend. Handmade by Shoko herself! Pretty spectacular and pretty tasty =D

Let's Spice Things Up - Name and Idea Change

2009-02-14T03:54:00.003-05:00

After a while of blogging through my cell phone, I got lazier and lazier. This marks the first blog of 2009 for me and it is already well into the year.

To give my blog a kick start, I will broaden my horizons by broadening the images on it. I will still post pictures with the blogs, but they will now include more sources. They will still be taken by me, but on different cameras. Watch for photos from my Canon 350D, Panasonic Lumix LZ8 (that Shoko got me for Christmas), and of course, my Sony Ericsson w580i.

The photo above, taken with my LZ8, is a take on the title of this blog. I hope to get out of this blogging recession by giving myself a little bit of a stimulus. Stay tuned!

Oh yes, Happy New Year! And Happy Valentine's Day =)

Merry Christmas Bobcat!

2008-12-25T19:08:00.001-05:00

I got to drive a Bobcat skidsteer loader today. It drives like a tank and has loads of power. It was awesome!

Jackpot!

2008-12-23T00:44:00.001-05:00

Shoko and I were at Gameworks the other day. After a while of racing each other and shooting at enemies, we decided to go to the ticket game area.

We randomly selected games to play, since we weren't expecting anything from any of these games. The one that left us happy was one where a platform is filled with holes that have different ticket values. The 100 and Jackpot holes were raised up from this platform about half an inch, preventing the ball from just rolling in. I randomly hit the button for this game, the ball drops down, bounces around, and settles down and rolls around. At this point, I had given up on any big winning from the game.

The next moment, the ball gets stuck between this little piece of plastic sticking out of the glass and the raised Jackpot hole. The platform stops. And a half second later, the platform starts rotating and the ball cleanly drops into the Jackpot hole. JACKPOT!

We won 339 tickets on this single turn. We were ecstatic, especially because the little kids around us were looking at us very jealously. Awesome.

I also won two Disney characters from the claw game that day. It was very successful indeed.

Thank You Glaceau!

2008-12-09T17:03:00.004-05:00

I sent the makers of Vitamin Energy an appreciation email for making an energy drink that actually tastes good. So they sent me a nice response and a care package consisting of a Vitamin Energy hat and the following letter:

dear bob,

we know how busy people are these days, and to take time out of your day to contact us well that's just great. you obviously know a good thing when you see it and we the makers of glaceau (vitaminwater, smartwater and fruitwater) really appreciate you for doing this. as a matter of fact, we live to get these letters. our ceo and founder, darius, reads them to the internal staff on hawaiian shirt day, which is usually the fourth friday of the month. afterwards, we talk about our favorites and celebrate with a luau in the parking lot.

your email was truly appreciated. to show my appreciation, i have chosen to make you our "consumer of the day" and send you this special care package. i hope that you enjoy it and that you continue to enjoy our products.

...

thank you again, and remember to drink better water!

sincerely,

mike averell
glaceau

What an awesome surprise on dead week! Thanks Glaceau!

Where have I been?

2008-12-03T03:53:00.001-05:00

Ive been busy with EVERYTHING so here is a picture of ramen from Ken's Noodle Shnp in Boston. Oh delicious ramen...

Boston, Where The Food is Ridiculously Amazing

2008-11-03T00:36:00.005-05:00

Although it might not look it, this is one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had.

Last night, my girlfriend and I made our way to the North End of Boston. It is literally "Little Italy" over there. Streets are narrow and crowded with people. Gelato shops every so often, accordion and violin players make music to the night, and even Italian gift shops claimed their place. For being in the United States, it was a great, European atmosphere.

After much researching, we decided to go to a restaurant called "Giacomo's" on Hanover Street. We read their food was great, but don't take reservations in their 30 or so seat restaurant. Waits can be nearly an hour at times, but we decided to go for it. I'm glad my girlfriend understands why I can wait for good food!

The calamari, put simply, was great. The crispy breading and fresh squid made for an unbeatable dish.

The ziti with shrimp and clam in a garlic white sauce that my girlfriend ordered was just as satisfying. Great garlic flavor with an abundance of seafood flavorings blended together very, very nicely.

My order, one of the specials of the night, the 1/2 lobster, mussels, and clams over linguini with their "Giacomo's" house sauce was honestly the best pasta dish I have ever had. Of course, the seafood was fresh and generously served, but the sauce was incredible. They use lobster as a main flavoring for their house sauce and once you get a bite of that in your mouth, the lobster flavor takes off in all directions and massage your palates like no other. Seriously, this is a wonderful sauce. Mix that with fresh seafoods and you will truly understand what I am talking about.

We definitely had leftovers with the order above...and you know how much I can eat good food. The cost is very, very reasonable for what they give you too. That always leaves that after-dining satisfaction.

If you are ever in Boston, make sure to make your way to "Giacomo's". Just be ready to wait in line a bit. Don't worry if you get extremely hungry during the wait: their portion is LARGE.

Boston Career Forum

2008-11-02T00:32:00.001-04:00

It was an interesting weekend for me here in Boston. I got a good glimpse of what is expected from Japanese companies and it turned out to be a lot different than I expected. To word it differently, Japanese companies really want to accommodate to you and help both you and the company grow. To word it symbolically, American companies are restocking shelves whereas Japanese companies are trying to solve a puzzle.

I Voted Today

2008-10-22T12:43:00.001-04:00

I had to wake up early, sacrifice sleep time, and wait in line for 30 mins but I voted. The process was simple: wait in line, show my Purdue ID, sign a paper, receive a ballot IC chip card, slide it into machine, vote for your state and country representatives. The system is simple and fast. Hopefully, a recount will be avoided this year.

Vote!

2008-10-21T12:17:00.001-04:00

For any Indiana residents reading this...vote! Its a very close race on day two of early elections and can swing either way. Voice your opinion at this important time and make a difference!

Gas Price to Be Joyful About!

2008-10-16T21:19:00.001-04:00

When was the last time we saw this?

1st Place

2008-10-15T00:38:00.001-04:00

Trophy for the fastest time at the Maywood Park Autocross in my MR2!

Nuclear Aquarium

2008-10-12T01:44:00.001-04:00

The green glow illuminates the room around it.

Good Beer, Great Friends, Awesome Night

2008-10-06T01:35:00.004-04:00

The Place: Chicago Brauhaus
The Drink: German Beer
The People: Me, Anthony, Luke, Marco, Adam, Yo, Yo's significant other, Kelly
The Enjoyment: Endless

Vitamin Energy - The Yellow Can

2008-10-02T00:06:00.002-04:00

It helped get me through the toughest times. Thanks Vitamin Energy Tropical Citrus!

A Message From Shoko!

2008-09-30T20:49:00.001-04:00

Barack Obama visited a local Walgreens...

2008-09-30T02:46:00.002-04:00

Ok, it wasnt really him but it really looked like him from behind!

Liquid Machinery

2008-09-28T17:32:00.001-04:00

Inside the Knoy114 fluid powers lab.

Round Barn Winery

2008-08-23T17:33:00.001-04:00

The grapes that powers the winery.

Skyline GTR

2008-08-03T18:34:00.001-04:00

My heart stopped for a second when I saw this car in my rear-view mirror. The new Nissan Skyline GTR. There is no need to say more.

Seaside Town

2008-08-02T21:54:00.001-04:00

North Quincy, near Boston, MA. A seaside resort along the Atlantic filled with restaurants and the smell of the ocean breeze.

Jamaica Blue Mountain

2008-07-25T19:19:00.001-04:00

Fresh roasted and brewed by my dad. This so called world's best coffee is still in testing and tasting stage.

A Sure Sign of Summer

2008-07-19T21:07:00.002-04:00

Bbq smoke on a warm July sunset.

A Little DJ Fun

2008-07-11T19:54:00.003-04:00

I don't ever post videos on my blog, but this will be a first. This video just shows a little fun I'm having with my new Behringer BCD3000.

I'm hoping to at least have some mixes up soon! Stay tuned.

4th of July at Park Ridge

2008-07-04T02:53:00.002-04:00

The 3rd of July has always been the date for fireworks in Park Ridge. Thousands of people flock to this every year, but I hadn't gone in probably 4 years. It was exciting, to say the least, to come back to a place where I used to go every year. It's usually spent with family, but this time it was spent with friends and alcohol. Lots of fun either way.

But I still do miss the Brown's Chicken and 4th of July fireworks combination. Brown's Chicken is no more and where it used to stand is the new train station in Park Ridge. Oh well, it is still the anniversary of the US either way!

The Start of My DJ Career

2008-07-02T02:12:00.001-04:00

I'm officially a bedroom DJ. One of those guys who thinks it's cool to put two songs written by somebody else together in the comfort of their bedroom. Well, its actually lots of fun blasting your favorite songs and making them flow!

My weapons of choice:
Behringer BCD3000 MIDI Controller-connected to my Asus 12.1" laptop
Sennheiser HD205 Headphones
Old Pioneer Receiver
Old Aiwa Speakers

My first goal as a DJ: to get good enough to 'spin' at my friend's apartment by the end of the summer. Stay tuned.

Lizzy's Charles River Crunch

2008-06-28T23:28:00.001-04:00

Rich, chocolatey, crunchy. Power packed ice cream. You can survive a month with a spoonful. Of course, you would never be able to stop at one bite.

Lizzy's Homemade Ice Cream
367 Moody St.
Waltham, MA
http://www.lizzysicecream.com/

Empire Restaurant, Boston

2008-06-26T19:58:00.001-04:00

Dim sum at its fanciest. The restaurant is located in what looks like an antique theater. Complete with ceiling murals and rotundas.

The dim sum was delicious too.

Sky what?

2008-06-26T02:04:00.001-04:00

Bad advertisement.

2008 Midwest MR2 Owners Club Meet

2008-06-22T23:15:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the bad picture, it was a photo I took with my Canon Digital Rebel XT displayed onto the monitor.

Anyway, it was the 2008 Annual Midwest MR2 Owners Club Meet today and boy was it a good time! 17 MR2's made it to the meet, but more MR2's owners with alternative cars made it too!

Of all the car meets I have been to, this one was definitely the best. The people are by far the most mature, level headed, yet fun. Average age was probably mid 20's so everyone was either around my age or a little older. We definitely got along.

The weather started out bad, with thunderstorms lurking around our Chicago meeting area, then clearing up for the drive to Wisconsin. We enjoyed lots of laughs, good food, and great weather through the time we were there. Rain started falling toward the end of the meet and that ended the meet for most of us.

I'm a bit sun burned and itching with mosquito bites, but with all the people I met today, those are only minor problems!

Hai Yen in Lincoln Park

2008-06-17T02:54:00.005-04:00

This was my first Vietnamese meal this year. It was a good one.

My parents and I went to a restaurant called Hai Yen on 2723 N Clark in the Lincoln Park area. There is also another one in the Vietnamese town on Argyle street. The Clark location of Hai Yen is in the midst of a great eatery and shopping area of Clark and is filled with shoppers and hungry people. The hustle and bustle of a busy street filled with cars and people always make me a little excited.

It was about 80 degrees outside and the sun behind some clouds as we got to the restaurant. Its front was wide open so we had to think to enter through the front where there used to be a wall or the door that was still there. We entered through the door to be safe.

An initial look at the restaurant: bar to the left, tables that seat 4 in 3 rows, dark wood, dark lighting, but with natural light beaming from outside. It was comfortable to the eyes and comfortably contemporary.

The menu featured a wide range of Vietnamese foods, all in their proper Vietnamese names. We had the honor of having the only Vietnamese speaking waitress that night. She easily stumped us on the names of the dishes, so only the numbers were read.

An appetizer of Vietnamese sausage wrapped in some kind of Hawaiian leaf (Bo La Lot - $6, pictured above) and fresh, unfried spring rolls (Goi Cuon - $4.50) were ordered. The sausage had an abundant flavor but wasn't too overwhelming. It seemed deep fried so it may not be one for the light eaters, but great for the meat lovers. We ordered spring rolls with not shrimp, but grilled beef because of my mom's allergies. She was definitely delighted to see that she IS able to get spring rolls without worrying about her allergies. It was a different pace for the spring rolls but nothing unfortunate. The grilled beef went very well with the Vietnamese vermicelli noodles and the fresh vegetables inside.

For our main dishes, we got a dish with Chilean sea bass (Ca Hap Xi Dau - $16) , chicken curry (Cari Ga - $10), and pork chops (Com Suon - $10), all done Vietnamese. Surprisingly, the Chilean sea bass was very Japanese, with soy sauce as the main flavoring and very good use of fish broth for the sauce. The sea bass was as fresh as can be in the Midwest and had a perfect amount of fat. My dad enjoyed this dish very much as he does not have a taste for much else than Japanese food. The chicken curry that my mom got was also satisfying. Similar to Thai curry, coconut milk was used to blend the flavors together. There were big cuts of chicken, taro potatoes, normal potatoes, and very sweet carrots that were cooked very well. The curry itself was not very hot, but had good flavorings with different spices which I can't even imagine what that consists of. The pork chops were a perfect order for me, as it came with a good amount of meat and great flavor. The pork chop had a great barbecue flavor to it, but thinking back, I remember there being some breading on the chop. I can't tell you how they did it, but it was delicious.

My mom is one of those people who decides her main meal after looking at the dessert menu. She always needs to end with a dessert. So she picked the Chocolate Pyramid ($6) which is a hazelnut mousse and chocolate ganache filled chocolate...in the shape of a pyramid. I'm not a dessert enthusiast, but I do have my fair share of sweets that really open my eyes, but this was not one of them. It felt premade and came out of a box. The overly sweet everything of the dessert was not a good compliment to the great dinner we just had. I had two bites and I was done.

Overall, this is a great place for a relaxed, casual dinner. The prices are good for what you get, but I think you can find better prices down Argyle street. But for the atmosphere, the location, and the satisfaction, I will have to recommend Hai Yen to others. Just look out for parking if you are out of town, as finding street parking is as probable as lightning striking down on you and public parking starts at $10. Be sure to spend that parking fee wisely and shop around this wonderful area!

I Am Flying...

2008-06-10T04:25:00.001-04:00

...Into the realms only to be perceived by my ordinary imagination.

Too Much Sushi

2008-06-07T04:21:00.001-04:00

In the spirit of a graduation, sushi was the main dish. And I had too much. But it was delicious from start to end.

Beautiful Drive Through Chicago

2008-06-02T05:24:00.003-04:00

The weather: 70 degrees, no clouds, warm sun, cool lake breeze.

The environment: MR2 with the tops off, windows rolled down, uptempo music through the speakers.

The result: A little sunburn, out $10, but a great time.

This drive to be made better with my girlfriend.

Ginza Restaurant, Chicago

2008-05-30T16:51:00.001-04:00

Tower of Pens

2008-05-26T16:46:00.001-04:00

TV Japan pen tower doesnt fall easily.

It's also very colorful.

UHaul MR2

2008-05-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

As small my 2 seater is, it definitely has more space than anyone thinks it has. It is able to fit at least one golf bag in the trunk and if I am not carrying anyone else in the car, it has space in the passenger seat to pack things like what you see in the picture.

Oh the perks of owning a 2 seater, mid-engine car...

Oh, by the way, I also have a frunk. People may understand it better if I said "front trunk". Ask me about it and I will show you.

Oh the perks of owning a 2 seater, mid-engine car...

The Plague...

2008-05-21T23:47:00.001-04:00

...has spread to my bread!

Repair

2008-05-20T03:13:00.002-04:00

An awful squeaking coming from the rear left wheel has caused me to rip off the wheel. In turn, I found nothing visually wrong except for my braided right rear tire. I don't think driving on metal is a good thing...is it?

Expensive Parking

2008-05-19T03:19:00.003-04:00

The trip to China town proved to be expensive. While parked at the parking lot near the store my mom had to visit for Chinese herbs, I got a hefty $60 parking ticket.

It was for parking on the sidewalk.

$60 for parking is more than a day's worth of parking in any parking garage near Michigan Ave. Ick.

As far as I see, I am not parked on the sidewalk unless the black asphalt is the sidewalk too. In that case the whole parking lot would be the sidewalk.

I will definitely be fighting the City of Chicago for this ticket as the people in the store told me they haven't had any trouble with people parking there in the past 10 years and besides, I'm not parked on the sidewalk.

If anyone has any advice on good ways to fight this ticket, I am always looking forward to it!

Geese

2008-05-16T21:47:00.001-04:00

Geese at maine park

Going Green #1

2008-05-15T19:38:00.002-04:00

After my girlfriend bought a few of these batteries for her travels, I just needed to get them.

What's my obsession with these white batteries?

This is the Sanyo eneloop. It is a Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) based battery and boy has rechargeable batteries have come a long way. Rechargeable batteries seemed like an expensive alternative to powering any application. With the "Power Pack" from Costco, 8 AA, 4 AAA, 2 C adapter, 2 D adapter, a 4 battery charger and a case is a mere $25 plus tax. ($35 plus shipping on Amazon for those without a Costco membership)

Not only is the price great for rechargeable batteries, these batteries are green. Let me explain.

1) With the great capacity of Ni-MH batteries, these batteries last 4 times the amount of normal Duracell or Energizer alkaline batteries.

2) enloop batteries retain their charge very well. Sanyo says 85% of the charge will still be left on a fully charged battery after a year. Older rechargeable batteries run out of charge by then.

3) These batteries are usable up to 1000 times (meaning 1000 discharge and charge cycles)

What does all this mean? It means green for you and a greener environment:

1) Reduced battery waste
2) Improved charge holding reduces wasted electricity
3) No need for trucks to carry batteries from factory to your local store
4) No need for YOUR car to carry YOU to the grocery store to buy batteries
5) Solar powered chargers available for virtually free electricity

So the next time your wireless mouse runs out of battery, pick up one of Sanyo's eneloop rechargeable batteries to power it. There will be no need to buy anything else, until you use up that 1000 charge/discharge cycle.

Or of course, when we can start controlling computers with our mind.

*This is the first of many to come of my "Going Green" section of my blog where I try to reduce waste and reduce environmentally unfriendly byproducts.

Departure

2008-05-14T07:49:00.003-04:00

It will be 7 months together in a week but she will be gone for the next 3 months. She left me with lots to remember her with.

Check out her travels over the next 3 months at: http://schococo.23.dtiblog.com

1 Cylinder, 4 Cycle Engine

2008-05-14T00:02:00.001-04:00

It was the first time I got my hands dirty trying to get an old lawn mower get up and running. After a new spark plug, fresh oil, clean air filter, and some love, it was up and running again!

Shoko au Gratin

2008-05-11T04:27:00.002-04:00

Oishikatta!

4-Leaf Clover

2008-05-10T05:06:00.002-04:00

On my ceiling is the good luck charm I always had.

Fuguta

2008-05-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

Huuuge blowfish @ Living Sea aquarium

Banana split

2008-05-03T02:34:00.001-04:00

Yamato missed out on delicious ice cream