Archive for February, 2008

Kid Camera Questions

Published by
Steve
at February 29, 2008 in Kids and photography. 7 Comments

Kid Camera Comparison

Elizabeth’s THIRD birthday is approaching quickly and Erica and I have decided that the perfect gift for Elizabeth would be a digital camera - one that ACTUALLY works.

She has already taken an interest in photography and has begun to do her own ‘photo shoots’, posing her sister and taking imaginary photos with her toy camera.  Photographer ElizabethOccasionally she asks to take photos with ‘daddy’s camera’, and with my help, she manages to take a decent photo!

So, we are trying to decide what to buy for her.  Looking at what is currently being offered in the ‘Kid Camera’ category is rather disappointing.  EVERY camera in this category has received negative reviews on all the usual sites and blogs. The specs and features of a couple of them are so poor, it’s not much of a jump up from her current TOY camera!  (If every photo is tiny and blurred, what’s the point of getting a REAL camera?)

Therefore, I’m asking for your help.  Does anyone out there have experience with any of the current kid cameras?  Any advice or recommendations?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

U.S. Demand for Smart Car is High

Published by
Steve
at February 27, 2008 in USA and thoughts. 1 Comment

Smart CarWhile visiting Erica’s parents in Italy, I experienced first hand why the “Smart Car” is so popular… the roads are VERY narrow and there is no parking anywhere.   Not to mention, gas prices are super expensive all over Europe.

The Smart Car is perfect, it is 8-foot, 8-inches long, which can park nose-to-curb when others are parallel parking and it gets 40 miles to the gallon!

Smart, which reaches U.S. dealerships in January, has received $99 deposits from more than 30,000 customers to reserve the two-seater and about 9 in 10 are placing full orders, said Daimler AG Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche. More than 50,000 motorists have taken the tiny vehicle for a test drive at road shows around the country.

However, I don’t see the Smart Car catching on here in Texas - the land of the SUV.  It seems that to get anywhere here, you have to drive on the highway.  I just can’t see many people enjoying the experience of going down the highway, being passed left and right by SUVs and pickup trucks that are towering above your head.  I can see how someone in a big city might like one of these, but then again, if I lived in a big city where a Smart Car was necessary, I think I might just take public transportation.  I’ve grown fond of taking public transportation while living in Asia.

Barista Break

Published by
Steve
at February 26, 2008 in news. 2 Comments
Starbucks CoffeeWarning to Starbucks junkies who usually get a fix on their way home from work: You’re out of luck today.Starbucks plans to temporarily close its 7,100 U.S. stores on Tuesday for three hours of employee training.The coffee chain said the in-store training program which will begin at 5:30 p.m., would foster enthusiasm in its 135,000 U.S. employees and improve the quality of drinks made by Starbucks baristas.

“We believe that this is a bold demonstration of our commitment to our core and a reaffirmation of our coffee leadership,” said chief executive Howard Schultz in a statement.

Not sure what “coffee leadership” is, but I guess this is a good thing…

The article also goes on to say that other, lower-end, places are offering special deals during the 3 hour Starbucks training in order to take advantage of the Starbucks blackout.  I wonder how it will work out for them…

The Dog is back

Published by
Steve
at February 25, 2008 in TV. 0 Comments

Duane “Dog” ChapmanHONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) — TV bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman is preparing a return to the airwaves.

Duane “Dog” Chapman’s show was pulled off the air in November.

The Chapman family confirmed Thursday that filming is set to resume on the A&E show “Dog the Bounty Hunter.”

The show features Chapman and crew in pursuit of bail jumpers in Hawaii and other states.

It was the highest rated show on A&E before the network pulled it off the air in November.

Chapman was heard in a taped phone conversation using a racial slur in reference to his son’s black girlfriend.

Chapman has apologized and tried to make amends with the network and the black community.

Network officials say that since the show is about second chances, they decided to accept his apology and resume production. No air date has been announced.

Sundial Bridge

Published by
Steve
at February 23, 2008 Uncategorizedin . 0 Comments

Sun Dial Bridge

This is a pedestrian bridge crossing the Sacramento River in Redding, California.

Welcome Abigail Faith Webel!

Published by
Steve
at February 19, 2008 in Family and Webel. 0 Comments

 Abigail Webel

My brother Tim and his wife Tiffany just had their second child!

Tim & Abigail

Abigail Faith Webel

Born at 2:39 am on Feb 19, 2008
Weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces

Get ready for no sleep bro!

btw:  I wonder if “19” is the new family number?!

Lost In Translation

Published by
Steve
at February 18, 2008 in Language and funny. 3 Comments

Erica and I have done quite a bit of traveling over the past several years and while we always appreciate people’s attempts to put signage in English, sometimes we are left to guess the true meaning a sign is trying to convey.

When a non-native English speaker translates something from their native language into English, there is an ever-present danger of getting it exactly right but oh so wrong!

Here are a few examples gleaned for your enjoyment;

Japanese hotel room - You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid

Paris hotel elevator - Please leave your values at the front desk

Tokyo hotel - It is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such a thing is please not read this notice

Bucharest hotel - The list is being fixed for the next day. During this time you will be unbearable

Leipzig elevator - Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up

Athens hotel - Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11am daily

Belgrade elevator - To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving then going alphabetically in national order.

Sarajevo hotel - The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid

Moscow hotel - You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday

Swiss menu - Our wines leave you nothing to hope for

Hong Kong tailors shop - Ladies may have a fit upstairs

Bangkok dry cleaners - Drop your trousers here for best results

Paris dress shop - Dresses for street walking

Rhodes tailor shop - Order your summer suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation

Hong Kong advert - Teeth extracted by the latest methodists

Rome laundary - Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time

Swiss mountain inn - Special today… no ice cream

Copenhagen airline - We take your bags and send them in all directions

Moscow hotel - If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it

Norwegian lounge - Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar

Tokyo shop - Our nylons cost more than common but they are better for the long run

Acapulco hotel - The manager has personally passed all the water served here

Do you have any funny signs / sayings that you’ve spotted on your travels?

Mt. Lassen

Published by
Steve
at February 16, 2008 Uncategorizedin . 0 Comments

Mt. Lassen

Granny’s House…

Published by
Steve
at February 15, 2008 in Family. 5 Comments

 Granny's House

We made it to Granny’s house in California.  (The photo above is her house.)  The girls are having a blast.  Today we drove to Mt. Lassen so we could play in some snow!

Anna

Elizabeth

Going West

Published by
Steve
at February 13, 2008 in Family and Travel. 2 Comments

After a couple of full weeks at ‘home’ (Texas), we will be on the road again for a few weeks.
1st Trip to dentist
This is a photo of Elizabeth at her FIRST dentist appointment earlier this week!

We are heading west to California to visit Erica’s grandmother and then up to Washington to visit my sister and her two sons.

I’m sure we’ll have a great time.  I’ll try to post on the blog a time or two along the way.