I took my GPS to Florida recently and generally speaking it worked OK. I missed a few voice directions here and there and the always polite female voice (Samantha-in-GPS-land) resignedly said: "recalculating."
After a few misses I thought I detected a tone of exasperation in the last "recalculating." But I was totally unprepared when we started off one morning and she started giving directions in GERMAN.
At first we didn't know what she was saying and in what language. Then we started laughing hysterically
when we recognized she was speaking German.
How that happened neither I nor my wife could figure out, especially while driving. So when we heard Samantha's (I think it was still Samantha) guttural cry of: "neuberechnung!" Not only did we not know what she was saying it was enough to make me pull over to the side of the road and get to the bottom of this nonsense.
Solution: Go to "settings" and change the language to English. Problem: How it got to German? Unsolved.
By the way, I entered "recalculating" on iGoogle's translation service and got "neuberechnung" which may be what we heard and maybe does mean "recalculating."
Saturday, March 12, 2011
My mini-quake
The horror wrought by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami brought back a memory of my mini-quake while serving in the U.S. Army in Japan in the early 1950s.
I was stationed in Hokkaido, the northernmost island, and we were bunked in quonset huts. In case you don't know what a quonset hut is, its got a cement floor and a half-dome rounded metal roof. I had a single metal cot in a back room.
As I slept one night, my cot started jiggling across the floor. Although startled I nevertheless realized what it was -- a tremor strong enough to move a cot but not much else.
I went back to sleep and that was that for the rest of my tour.
Later, I went to Tokyo on R&R and stopped in at the famous Imperial Hotel built by Frank Lloyd Wright after a fire destroyed the original hotel in 1919. I believe Wright designed his hotel specifically to survive a major quake. It least, that's how I remember the story. By the way, it's still there and rated one of the finest hotels in the world.
Doesn't look at all like it did in 1954. You can Google it for a current view.
I was stationed in Hokkaido, the northernmost island, and we were bunked in quonset huts. In case you don't know what a quonset hut is, its got a cement floor and a half-dome rounded metal roof. I had a single metal cot in a back room.
As I slept one night, my cot started jiggling across the floor. Although startled I nevertheless realized what it was -- a tremor strong enough to move a cot but not much else.
I went back to sleep and that was that for the rest of my tour.
Later, I went to Tokyo on R&R and stopped in at the famous Imperial Hotel built by Frank Lloyd Wright after a fire destroyed the original hotel in 1919. I believe Wright designed his hotel specifically to survive a major quake. It least, that's how I remember the story. By the way, it's still there and rated one of the finest hotels in the world.
Doesn't look at all like it did in 1954. You can Google it for a current view.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
You Ask, I Tell
We just returned from a week in the Orlando, FL area. Had a very nice time. I golfed several times, my wife spent time with her sister, nephew, niece and grand-nieces.
The flights were pretty good, too. We flew Continental from Newark to Orlando and back. I really like the kiosk system they've installed for checking in, particularly with baggage. Very quick and simple, especially if you've printed out your boarding pass at home.
So today we get a survey from Continental via email asking us our reaction to all aspects of our trip. Basically we were pretty satisfied BUT I did point out a few things that irked.
We were prepared for the no-meal, no-snack rule so we brought our own sandwiches for lunch. They gave us a beverage. Big deal. The overhead bins were bulging (we had room for two small backpacks) but it was obvious that people are carrying on more since the airlines started charging for checked luggage. (Disclosure: we have a Continental charge card so we get one bag free).
The inflight "entertainment" is no longer free. You get endless promos on those little seat-back screens but if you actually want to see something you have to swipe your credit card and it's either $6 for plain people and $4 if you have the airline card. We opted out.
The biggest rip-off in my mind, however, is the $29 dollar fee for a seat with extra leg room, such as an exit or bulkhead row. Believe it or not, those rows were taken.
So I commented in my survey if you are going to charge extra for extra leg room, how about discounting the seats with no leg room, like all the other seats on the plane?
And, if I have to pay $29 to sit in an exit row do I also have to pay $29 to exit from that row in case of emergency? Just swipe your credit card (no cash, please) before sliding down the chute.
I wouldn't put it past them.
The flights were pretty good, too. We flew Continental from Newark to Orlando and back. I really like the kiosk system they've installed for checking in, particularly with baggage. Very quick and simple, especially if you've printed out your boarding pass at home.
So today we get a survey from Continental via email asking us our reaction to all aspects of our trip. Basically we were pretty satisfied BUT I did point out a few things that irked.
We were prepared for the no-meal, no-snack rule so we brought our own sandwiches for lunch. They gave us a beverage. Big deal. The overhead bins were bulging (we had room for two small backpacks) but it was obvious that people are carrying on more since the airlines started charging for checked luggage. (Disclosure: we have a Continental charge card so we get one bag free).
The inflight "entertainment" is no longer free. You get endless promos on those little seat-back screens but if you actually want to see something you have to swipe your credit card and it's either $6 for plain people and $4 if you have the airline card. We opted out.
The biggest rip-off in my mind, however, is the $29 dollar fee for a seat with extra leg room, such as an exit or bulkhead row. Believe it or not, those rows were taken.
So I commented in my survey if you are going to charge extra for extra leg room, how about discounting the seats with no leg room, like all the other seats on the plane?
And, if I have to pay $29 to sit in an exit row do I also have to pay $29 to exit from that row in case of emergency? Just swipe your credit card (no cash, please) before sliding down the chute.
I wouldn't put it past them.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Packing
I get nervous when I have to pack for vacation. Underwear and socks are my bugaboo. I never know if I'll have enough so naturally I overpack. Makes it tight for everthing else.
Shoes are another distraction. I'll be wearing one pair, of course, and I try to limit myself to one other pair because they're awkward and heavy to pack. But choosing the second pair is sometimes difficult. It's bedtime now and we're leaving very early in the morning and I still haven't decided which pair to take.
Chances are I will before the car service picks us up for the ride to the airport. So I'm muddling.
We check one bag each and I pack both. "Do you really need that?" is enough to start a confrontation. I try not to say it too often.
It's OK for me to ask if I really need something I'm reluctant to pack. The answer usually is: "take it." So I find room somewhere somehow for the questionable item.
The leftovers go into our backpacks. Can't travel without one each for dopp kit, books, snacks, camera and other assorted items you like to have close at hand.
Did I say we're going to Florida for a family event (and some golf on the side)?
See you in a week.
Shoes are another distraction. I'll be wearing one pair, of course, and I try to limit myself to one other pair because they're awkward and heavy to pack. But choosing the second pair is sometimes difficult. It's bedtime now and we're leaving very early in the morning and I still haven't decided which pair to take.
Chances are I will before the car service picks us up for the ride to the airport. So I'm muddling.
We check one bag each and I pack both. "Do you really need that?" is enough to start a confrontation. I try not to say it too often.
It's OK for me to ask if I really need something I'm reluctant to pack. The answer usually is: "take it." So I find room somewhere somehow for the questionable item.
The leftovers go into our backpacks. Can't travel without one each for dopp kit, books, snacks, camera and other assorted items you like to have close at hand.
Did I say we're going to Florida for a family event (and some golf on the side)?
See you in a week.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Don't Box Me In
It seems to me that ever since demographers and marketers identified the “Baby Boomers” as a distinctive grouping to be forever lumped together, other age groups also have became targets of opportunity for sales pitches.
Nowadays if you are not between the ages of 18-34 you are undesirable. You are barely tolerated if you are in the 35-55 group. Heaven help you if you are over 55 because although you might have more disposable income that the younger set, advertisers just don't see it that way, with the exception of the geniuses at AARP.
Marketers think they are building brand loyalty from childhood upward. Does it work? Who knows.
Why am I belaboring this point? I am annoyed at the many attempts to stick a demographic label on me. I am 80. So call me 80. I don't like being called a “senior citizen,” although I always take the discounts available to that cohort.
Some other categories I abhor are: “Junior Senior,” “Vital Elder,” or “old old,” a relatively new designation I saw in the paper recently. I may be an “Active Adult,” as used in pitches for retirement compounds, but I find the appellation self-serving and offensive.
I am an 80-year-old man, glad of it, and if you want to reach me just use the number not a category.
Nowadays if you are not between the ages of 18-34 you are undesirable. You are barely tolerated if you are in the 35-55 group. Heaven help you if you are over 55 because although you might have more disposable income that the younger set, advertisers just don't see it that way, with the exception of the geniuses at AARP.
Marketers think they are building brand loyalty from childhood upward. Does it work? Who knows.
Why am I belaboring this point? I am annoyed at the many attempts to stick a demographic label on me. I am 80. So call me 80. I don't like being called a “senior citizen,” although I always take the discounts available to that cohort.
Some other categories I abhor are: “Junior Senior,” “Vital Elder,” or “old old,” a relatively new designation I saw in the paper recently. I may be an “Active Adult,” as used in pitches for retirement compounds, but I find the appellation self-serving and offensive.
I am an 80-year-old man, glad of it, and if you want to reach me just use the number not a category.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Just Say "Thank You"
Me and the mute button watched the Oscars tonight. It was great. I got to see all the winners and did not have to listen to laundry lists of thank you's, no matter how heartfelt, sincere and/or deserving.
As an added bonus I was able to read the Sunday papers during the silences and the muted commercials as well. I really appreciated the short, sweet thank you's from the winners of the Best Documentary feature, "Inside Job." Too bad the financial crisis they chronicled wasn't as short as their speech.
I thought I noticed that as the hour grew closer to the broadcast's scheduled off time of 11:30 p.m. that the thank you's seemed to get briefer, the exceptions being Natalie Portman's and Colin Firth's for best actress and actor. Both their pictures are on my Netflix list so I'll see them eventually.
My own special Oscar goes to Anne Hathaway for the most wardrobe changes in a single Oscar telecast. So many I lost count.
No matter, I've discovered a way to watch the Oscars that suits me. After all, the show IS about pictures, so that's what I watched, the pictures and the winners and skipped the filler.
As we say in show biz: we're running a little late folks. Thank you and good night.
As an added bonus I was able to read the Sunday papers during the silences and the muted commercials as well. I really appreciated the short, sweet thank you's from the winners of the Best Documentary feature, "Inside Job." Too bad the financial crisis they chronicled wasn't as short as their speech.
I thought I noticed that as the hour grew closer to the broadcast's scheduled off time of 11:30 p.m. that the thank you's seemed to get briefer, the exceptions being Natalie Portman's and Colin Firth's for best actress and actor. Both their pictures are on my Netflix list so I'll see them eventually.
My own special Oscar goes to Anne Hathaway for the most wardrobe changes in a single Oscar telecast. So many I lost count.
No matter, I've discovered a way to watch the Oscars that suits me. After all, the show IS about pictures, so that's what I watched, the pictures and the winners and skipped the filler.
As we say in show biz: we're running a little late folks. Thank you and good night.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Night Before Oscar and ...
T'was the night before Oscar and all through the press,
Every entry was X-rayed for signs of distress.
The critics have listed their picks for the prizes
Dimming our hopes for any surprises.
Unless, of course, a long shot comes in
Leaving some critics with looks of chagrin
To the casual viewer watching at home
As Hollywood revels in bubbles and foam
Glittering and gleaming and holding back tears
While bravely facing down terrors and fears
We chuckle and wonder at this annual display
Of awards and thank you's beamed far away
The show must go on ..and on.. and on
Sometimes it goes on almost till dawn
Or just seems that way
To those who can't stay
Awake long enough to see the end.
We'll read or hear about it soon enough
With all the other fluff and stuff.
No doubt it will be a glorious sight
And to all who participate a pleasant good night.
Every entry was X-rayed for signs of distress.
The critics have listed their picks for the prizes
Dimming our hopes for any surprises.
Unless, of course, a long shot comes in
Leaving some critics with looks of chagrin
To the casual viewer watching at home
As Hollywood revels in bubbles and foam
Glittering and gleaming and holding back tears
While bravely facing down terrors and fears
We chuckle and wonder at this annual display
Of awards and thank you's beamed far away
The show must go on ..and on.. and on
Sometimes it goes on almost till dawn
Or just seems that way
To those who can't stay
Awake long enough to see the end.
We'll read or hear about it soon enough
With all the other fluff and stuff.
No doubt it will be a glorious sight
And to all who participate a pleasant good night.
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