Tom Cruise and Paramount?

Maybe I read the tabloids, but I thought that when Tom Cruise declared his belief in Scientology, that Paramount dropped him from all movie contracts, but several years later, back they are working together.

Technology!

While I do work in DC, I don’t work for a defense contractor, so maybe for you guys the technology is already used in the military today, but for me, real or not, it was really cool!  While more complicated than one would think, the projection screen with a camera behind it to camouflage them as they moved closer to the guard station was really nice.  Also, Apple must have shelled out a few advertizing bucks as the iPad was used quite often and they all had iPhones.

The briefcase with document printer was also really cool.  Paired with a camera contact lens, pretty cool.

Probably the cheesiest technical item were the seemingly static cling gloves.  While it did not seem that possible, the sound they made when “energizing” was truly annoying.  It was really funny when they broke after just a short time, I guess that was the realistic part :)

The Best MI Movie?

I do need to watch the first 3 over again, but I do have to agree that the movie was action packed and had the actors tossed in a fair share of comical statements along the way.  I am not sure if I will spend the money on Blu-Ray when it comes out, but it certainly will be a movie I will rent for a $1 to see again.

In an attempt to sell more gas powered cars when car companies are unable to keep up with demand for Hybrids even though they are being sold at a higher cost, Honda of Tysons Corner has produced a document given to those interested in their Civic Hybrid which basically says….”At the current price of gas, it will take 13 years based on some magical number of miles driven to make up ~$4000 price difference between gas only and hybrid.

WOW.   That is like saying, don’t recycle, just trash your glass bottle since you have to walk 4 feet to the recycle bin from the trash can that is in front of you!

Awaiting Response….

So I wrote to the Tyson’s Honda dealership and while I did not ask for an response, in fact did not want to hear the excuse, have not heard anything besides the automated “We got your email.”

Since I was not able to find an email for Honda USA customer service, I am going to write them a letter to see if I can find out if this is a corporate recommendation or a local dealership trying to sell more cars.

Hybrids are not new

I really do blame Honda for not meeting demands. It is not like they are brand new and everyone wants one.  They have been in production for quite some time and since they cost the consumer more, would think you would want to have more available.  Now I have heard that the actual cost to produce a Hybrid is much more than a standard combustion engine and maybe that is why production is slow since there would be a greater loss of revenue.

Recycled costs more

In any event, I will keep you updated.  In the mean time, don’t let anyone tell you it is bad to help the environment.  Sure it does for some unknown cost more money for the recycled products we buy such as paper, or the reduced container refills such as laundry detergent, but for the sake of future generations, please don’t give up over a little money.

After paying 10% tax on food in DC, it was so nice to not pay any sales tax at restaurants or retail stores. There is only property tax which seemed pretty cheap looking at the houses for sale and tax estimates.  One strange thing with the tax is that asphalt and concrete surfaces are considered “livable space” and are taxed.  This is why there were so many gravel driveways, or driveways that were partly paved and then gravel to the road.

Friendly’s

One of my favorite spots for ice cream sundaes, I had not seen them outside of NY on the way down to DC and was so happy to see on in Rehoboth!  The first time I was there, I had a 5 scoop sundae with 2 scoops cookie dough, 2 cookies and cream, one mint chocolate chip with Reeces Pieces and extra peanut butter topping :)  Yum!

Outlet Malls..Even QVC?!

So I don’t go shopping for clothes much, but if I had a tax free outlet mall a few minutes away….I might not keep underwear for as many years :)  Just kidding, I order those online.  LOL  Granted I do have some restraint when shopping.  I typically shop the sales rack in the stores so not only do I get clothes that were popular a few years ago which are no longer making them unique, but I save around 75% that way.  For example I got a pair of Khaki’s which were a little tight, but for $2.98 from Banana Republic, what a deal!  Polo shirts… $9.99 the next trip.

QVC Outlet?  Yeah, there is one.  It seems to be returns / discontinued items only, but was cool going through the stuff.  Since I have never ordered from QVC, it was interesting seeing the quality or lack thereof of the products.  If it seems to be to good to be true….it is!

No Helmet Law for Mopeds?

Perhaps they were just kids not abiding by the law, but I saw many without any helmets on.  I have heard that many states don’t require helmets,  but you would think that since they move fast with traffic that you would want to wear one.

Bike Friendly

• Shared turn / Bike Lanes on major routes
• Signed no bikes or skateboards on sidewalks

Republican State

Based on the number of Anti-Obama shirts for sale, one can gather :)

2.5 Scenic Hours from DC

While I may never be able to own a house in Rehoboth Beach, it is only a few hours a way on mostly back roads / small highways which seemed to pass the time.

After a long Sunday, starting at 5:30 AM with a 62 mile bike ride and volunteering at the Capital Pride Festival, I was tired and hungry!  I had wanted to try the new sports bar in Columbia Heights and finally had the chance.  It is located near the metro next to the now closed “Commonwealth Gastro Pub.”

Walking by

Walking by I always noticed the large flat screens in the covered outdoor seating area which seemed to be unique.  I would think they would not be out if the weather was poor, but it was certainly a nice touch for those patrons who wanted the fresh air and a view of the game.

Sports Bar….

We had dinner around 8 PM and it happened to be NBA Finals and all of the TVs were changed to the same station and the young fans started pouring in.  We definitely got there at the right time!

Menu

The prices seemed very reasonable and there was a specials board outside which added to the single page menu.   I enjoy American food so there were plenty of $10 burgers and salads along with dinner entrees.  My stomach was definitely talking even though I just ate 6 hours before at Buffalo Wild Wings after the Air Force Crystal Ride.

The 3 course price fixe menu drew my attention at only $25.  For that price you got…

1. Salad: House or Caesar
2. Entree: Ribs, 16 oz Porterhouse Steak, or 16 oz NY Strip and 2 sides
3. Dessert: Chocolate Mousse, Apple Pie a la mode, Brownie marshmallow thing, all but one dessert item was eligible.

I was full!

It was a great deal.  The salad was large, the 16 oz steak was very tender and the sides of mac and cheese and fries came on separate plates and were very generous.  The Mac and Cheese seemed to be homemade, but pretty plain.  Only one cheese and it was more creamy than cheesy.  There was no oil floating in it which is characteristic of cheesier versions.  I have a weakness for even boxed versions though, so I was happy :)

Dessert… :(

While the portion was very generous, the whipped topping and the mousse were not homemade.  The mousse seemed a bit “gritty.”  My partner is a chef and after he tasted it told me it was that way because it was a mix.  Needless to say I did not finish all of the mousse since it tasted a bit odd, but I did leave stuffed.

Okay, so I do like chocolate mousse and have made it from scratch on occasion since it is rather easy.

• Egg Yolks
• Egg Whites
• Heavy Cream
• Melted Chocolate

Whip and mix them all together and refrigerate and viola!

Go :)

Great value, good food, and sports.  Give them a try!

Sunday, June 12th started very early.  I got up at 5:30 AM and met a friend at the end of the block to head over the 14th street bridge on the Mt. Vernon trail to participate in the non competitive Crystal Ride.  Since Shane was part of “Team Sabre” which is the fundraising team for the ride, he got to start at the Air Force Memorial which was close to the half way mark of the course from Crystal Drive in Crystal City.  We wished each other luck and off he went to his starting location and I mine.

Wave 2

It was not so clear how to line up for the ride, but basically there were 2 waves.  Wave 1 was for those who received a Gold Metal in a previous event or were VIPs, part of “Team Sabre.”  Apparently that wave seemed to start from the Air Force Memorial since there was no division in Crystal City.  Once the serious riders lined up, I lined up with some others I was chatting with who were also first timers and watched the minutes tick down until the 7:30 AM start.  Recently the weather has been pretty hot in DC so it was good the ride was in the AM.

The Ride

The course is approximately 12.5 KM starting in Crystal City and looping around the Air Force Memorial.  There were a few hairpin turns on the leg over, but as the ride progressed, the 1500 participants spread out a bit.

The Goal

Everyone has their own goal of course, but the idea behind this ride was to ride as many laps as you can in the 3.5 hour time allotment and earn medals dependent on the number of laps completed.

• 1-3 Laps Bronze
• 4-7 Laps Silver
• 8 Laps Gold

Ready…Set…Go!

The time arrived and off we went.  I have to tell you I was so excited as I received emails the week before as I registered back in March.  While you hope you don’t have any bike problems, you do expect there to be some flat tires along the way and this ride was no different.  As more laps were completed, the number of riders diminished as did the upside down bikes getting new tubes.  I only saw one scary situation which required emergency medical assistance.  Others just stopped early.  Perhaps they met their goal, not feeling well, or body just said “Not that hill again!.” (The hill up to the Air Force Memorial seemed to take me longer each time I climbed it.  The 8th time up I was going less than 10 MPH!  Got to love gravity! :)

Lap 1 Complete

Since it was a bit slow getting going it took just over 30 minutes to make one lap of the course.   Lap 2 I think only took 20 minutes.  I am hoping to get the results later today or tomorrow to see how my laps did.   I do know my average speed was dropping on my last lap.

Time is running out Lap 8…

So I was not really sure what lap I was on.  The “Laps to Go” was counting up!  I assumed that meant laps completed, so when I crossed the start line at 7 laps with about 25 minutes to go I thought…”This is it, Gold in sight!”  As I approached “the hill” I was a bit worried about my time.  I was not sure I was going to be able to make it back to the start/finish line before 11 AM.  With only 5 minutes to go, I checked my mileage and still had a few miles.  I pushed as hard as I could!  10:59 came around and I was trying to remember how many more turns before the finish line.  At this point I was a bit shaky in my legs.  Eleven am arrived….I thought if I could make it before it was 11:01 I would be golden.  That time came, but I did not give up.  I was so close now and not going to admit defeat!

11:05 AM Course Exit

I was not sure if I had completed 8 laps or not, all I knew was that we all had to exit the course as more events were coming up.  I snagged one more bottle of water from the volunteers who were skilled at delivery while you were biking by which was cool.  I only missed a bottle one time.

Medal Pickup

I walked around the vendors at the finish line to get my medal.  They asked me how many laps I did?  Hmm…I was not quite sure but thought I did 8 laps.  Apparently if you did less than 8 they believed you and you received the medal from the staff there.  They sent me over to a tent where staff were checking the computers and the timing chips we were all wearing to see how many laps we completed.

Gold!

I was so excited when I was told I earned a Gold Medal.  Granted this was not competitive, but it was the longest continuous ride I have ever gone on.  Sadly I use my bike for transportation to cut costs and travel time.  The reason I started biking and gave up the free shuttle bus was because the bus route was changed increasing 5-10 minutes travel time.

My longest trip was about 20 miles.  I did make it to Mt. Vernon with a friend, but we stopped to eat and check out the grounds for a few hours  before getting back on the trail and biking back.

A few weeks back I marshaled Bike DC which was about 20 miles.  I took that at a more leisure pace as we were stopping to help riders in need change flats, etc.

The Day After

I took the free shuttle bus to work today since my knees seemed to not like the ride that much.  That probably means I need to be sure my bike is properly adjusted to prevent issues down the road, especially if I enter more long rides.  Short commutes do not seem to bother my knees.

My Unofficial Stats

• Start Time: 7:30 AM (Crossed start line by 7:33)
• End Time : 11:35 AM
• Average Speed*: 17.9 MPH
• Top Speed*: ~35 MPH (Somehow I cleared my data at the end :( )
• Distance*: ~ 63 Miles or 100 KM

*(According to my bike computer)

Official Stats are in!

Top view sports was kind enough to give me my lap times :)  The data showed 9 laps total with 3:51 for the one, so I added them together for lap 1.

1. 7:33 AM – 7:58 AM ~25 minutes
2. 7:58 AM – 8:23 AM 24:49 minutes
3. 8:23 AM – 8:49 AM 25:48 minutes
4. 8:49 AM – 9:14 AM 25:34 minutes
5. 9:14 AM – 9:44 AM 29:46 minutes
6. 9:44 AM – 10:10 AM 25:54 minutes
7. 10:10 AM – 10:37 AM 27 minutes
8. 10:37 AM – 11:04 AM 27:50 minutes

L to R: Me, Shane, Lisa (Met her day of event)  Why didn’t someone tell me I had helmet hair!  LOL

Enterprise has been a car rental choice for me due to the convenience.  While I have never been “picked up” by them, a branch is close to my apartment.

The Scam

Okay, not really a scam, but using some shady verbiage and a very summarized receipt, you don’t really see the full cost of your rental until you return the car.

The Receipt

The receipt lists your daily rates for everything such as the rate for the car, mileage restrictions, and the many optional services per day which they strongly encourage you to pay.  How much does it really cost to rent a car?  More than the $30 you see on those sites if you need insurance, etc.

Since I said…sure I will pay $.30 less a gallon to have you fill up the car, the rate per gallon was listed.  This was never told to me at the time of the rental, nor was the capacity of the car told to me.

Most companies take an extra deposit these days regardless of how you pay, probably to protect them if you do incur extra charges and use a bogus card.  So when I was told the total was $215, I was okay.  I was figuring I would get some back at the end.  I was wrong.

The final reciept

The receipt I received on car return had everything itemized and totaled up.  So I was able to see the car rental, airport and other fees, and a new line called FSO $78!  WOW.  I gathered what that was and confirmed by calling up Enterprise and briefly mentioned how their sales people are very good about leaving off details to make a sale.  In fact I think they should be referred to Sales Persons instead of Customer Service.  Perhaps they are already.

Summarizing ….The deal

So….thankfully there are many other car rental companies out there to choose from.  Also, I did just find out that my credit card covers the “Collision Damage Waiver” so I won’t be paying any company for that next time.

Now looking at the receipt I can see the line for $3.92, supposedly a discount per gallon of gas, but still no tank capacity.  If it take the total paid for the Gas on the receipt and divide by the cost per gallon, it appears that the car has a 20 gallon tank which I confirmed online.

One more thing.  Expedia said the total would be ~$104, but if I subtract the Gas, it turns out that it really cost me $140 to start which seems quite high even with a tax approximation.  I better give a call to Enterprise and maybe Expedia  to straighten things out.

Moral

I did think it was too good to be true.  Fill up the tank just before you return.  No company does anything to be nice to  you.  In rare cases, it may be a side effect of them being nice to themselves.  You would think it would be very nice if they offered to fill up the tank and only charge you for the gallons needed.  In fact, I would pay $.30 extra a gallon for that convenience, but for a hole tank?  The sales rep mentioned that he has heard of cars stalling in the return bay in the garage, but how many of us are that irresponsible to not fill up when the light comes on.  I don’t trust the gauge to be accurate now that they are electronic and no longer are floating on the top of the fuel, not that that was any more accurate :)

Almost Forgot the Cool Car

So I did not even get to mention how excited I was with the car.  I guess they got me for the Hybrid.  Not only did I not use a full tank of Gas, but I did not pay extra for the Altima Hybrid.  I averaged 35 MPG with the AC on all of the time which does not seem to shabby. I think that if I were to be driving in cooler weather, the car would get better gas mileage.  I did notice it seemed to kick in the Gas over 20 MPH, but not sure if that is standard or if you are cruising at a steady speed it would kick in.  The dash had an indicator when it was in “EV Mode.”  I am assuming that is “Electric Vehicle.”

I saw a seemingly good and unbiased review online and definitely will consider this car should I end up needing one permanently.  I have not tested other Hybrids, but this one definitely had the pickup to help me pass on a single lane road!

Granted the $1 tickets sold out and were likely in the upper deck where you likely needed binoculars to see anything, but I was surprised to see at some popular food items were very reasonable.

Being my first and sadly probably only Nats game due to the cost of good tickets (was able to snag 2nd row home dugout tickets on stub hub for about half price plus close to 50% fees) and knowing the cost of food and beverage at concerts, parks, and sporting events, had a burger at home before heading out to the Navy Yark for the game last night.

$1 Dogs

Upon entering we discovered signs for $1 snacks.  I saw “While Supplies Last” and thought to myself, hmm…I bet the first 1o dogs of the night were $1, but 5 innings later, was able to snag them.  If there was not a limit of 2 per trip, I am sure we could have organized a hot dog eating contest!  Popcorn and peanuts were also offered at $1 which included the tax.  Just needed cracker jacks and you could have had been “taken out to the ball game” for just $3 with a ticket!

Great Seats!

I was a bit worried with the rain since I was guessing the tickets I bought online were indeed season tickets from some ticket holder who happened to either hate the Pirates or was out of town and would not be able to exchange them for the same seats anyway.  The guys next to us were surprised by the location so I am guessing they were not “regulars” either to ask them.

While it was hard to tell if the ball was too far inside or outside, we were basically at eye level with catcher, batter and umpire to see if it could be a strike.  From the view we had…..let’s just be thankful that the cheer girls were not wearing skirts :)

Costco Watch out!?

If you are a Costco shopper, you have likely been lured over to the cafeteria.  I think the best deal up there is a huge kosher hot dog and fountain drink with refills for just $1.50.  For just a $1 you can get a dog at the Nats on special nights, but if you were to add say a bottled 20 oz Coke, you will be paying a whopping $5.50!  Costco is safe :)

Nats Win!

Off to a slow start, some home runs made the game more exciting and a win for the “home team” and cooperating weather and surprisingly good metro service made it a great night!

And just to prove it….here is a photo of me holding a dollar dog from my seat :)

I brought my modified Cyclocross bike with me which has a fender attached because the forecast looked to be ominous.  While disk brakes are now legal in the sport, my bike originally had cantilever style brakes on it.  Perfect for Cyclocross, these brakes shed mud, but don’t really stop you quickly.  After my fork was recalled by Felt, and a replacement back ordered, I decided to invest in a new disk brake compatible one.  I forgot that that meant I needed a new wheel too which set me back a bit of cash.  Needless to say, I was so happy with the disk brake and only wished I could have one on the back too.  Recently I replaced the rear brake with a V-Brake which has much better stopping power.  I needed to add a “travel agent,” cable pull doubler, to make the brake work with the road style brake levers, but am so much happier now.  In fact, I have to be careful that I don’t lock up the brake and skid, now that it actually works!

Back to the story….so on the way home I used the brakes as I normally would with the front disk brake humming a bit with the water, but stopping as quickly as ever.  I decided to try to test my theory that rim style brakes don’t work well in the rain and require much greater distances to stop.  So, at the next intersection, I only appled the back brake.  I expected a little noise and after the water dried off the rims, the brakes to work.  Not at all!  My rear  brake, which I was applying decent pressure, did not do a thing to slow me down!  I honestly could not tell a difference when the brake was not applied.

The moral of the story…..if you have the option to get disk brakes, or at least a front one, do it!  It is much cheaper if you get a bike that has them already (you can always change out the cheap ones for nice ones later) since you have the required frame and fork mount attachments.  In fact, some bikes with V-brakes have the mounts for the disks which probably come on a more expensive model.  While they do weigh more, they require less maintenance and will stop you in all kinds of weather.

There have been many new street signs going up in the District of Columbia and many more are being updated with labels.  I was walking down a side street in NW between 16th and 13th above Meridian Hill Park and discovered the following sign.  I attempted to contact d. and chose the correct category “Parking Enforcement” and was provided the following voice mail reply.  If anyone can help me understand what the “Except Tuesday 7 AM – 7 PM” means it would be much appreciated.

Voice mail response to my inquiry….

——————————–

Which should not come to parking enforcement in the first place, but since it did I will explain it to you.   The except to is for permit holders for street cleaning.  Tuesday is the only day you can park on that side of the street from 7 AM – 7 PM.  That’s it.  The signage is very clear.  People get confused by multiple signs and not understand.  There is nothing confusing about the signage and have to close this request since it has nothing to do with parking enforcement.  Thank You Good Bye.

—————————

There was a little more about street cleaning in the middle, but it was confusing to listen to.  It was in reference to parking on the opposite side of the street from the cleaning.

Sorry

Sorry I contacted the wrong department, I will just call 311 next time to get to the right place, but I was not even told where I should have emailed or if they wanted me to submit a photo which I had told them I could email.

I don’t think the signage or the response I received from d. was clear and would like to hear others opinions on the matter.

Is Blu-Ray Better?

I would have to say that I have liked Blu-Ray for the picture and uncompressed 7.1 surround sound that regular DVD cannot provide due to size limitations.  I use a 1080i projector and have a 120″ screen so while the audio has  been amazing, at the size I have the image displayed, the picture seems a little grainy.  I was in Best Buy a week ago and saw a preview of Blu-Ray.  U571 looked unreal.  Seriously, I thought I was on the set watching them shoot the action that is how it looked to me.  It made the movie look way too clear and was hard to believe they were on a submarine several decades ago.

Don’t get Blu-Ray of Old Movies

Don’t need to say much here.  Basically, if you are in the market to replace a DVD of an older movie with a Blu-Ray, it would be worth testing it out first to see if the quality is worth your purchase.  Many old movies are stored on old degrading media and while the motion picture companies do what they can to clean it up, you cannot add more definition if is not there to add!  Now, if you don’t own the movie, since most Blu-Rays for old movies seem to be in the $10 range, then it many be worth it if the corresponding DVD is about the same cost.  I test drove some older Blu-Ray releases from Netflix to see just how clear they were and I was happily surprised, but they were from post 2000 which to me is old being 2011 now :)  Not sure Sound of Music or Space Balls would be noticeably better.

Animated Movies….

Despicable Me and Wall-e on the other hand look amazing!  Especially the computer animation of today, the source files are all capable of rendering high definition and therefore there is no bottle neck when it comes to going back to the original source and “re mastering.”

Physical Media??

Granted I own more than 600 DVDs and now have begun to get some Blu-Ray movies and get rid of my DVD collection, but I wonder if Blu-Ray or physical media in general will be around much longer?  With iTunes and other services allowing you to purchase books, movies, and music in digital form and protect your purchases if something should happen to your computer, is there really any need for the security of physical media?

Advantages of Media..

Historically the ability to “lend” physical media to others was the big reason for purchasing media.  If you are an avid reader, I suppose a floor to ceiling library of physical media looks more accomplished and impressive than an external hard drive sitting on a shelf :)  Recently, more book readers have the ability to lend certain books to others.  This ability is dependent on the publishers permissions which seem to not be book specific, but rather all or nothing for a publisher.  I own a Kindle and of the small number of books I purchased only 5% are able to be lent.  Movies on the other hand are not lend-able to others.  You can of course bring your laptop with the licensed movie over to a friends to show, but this is quite different and certainly more restrictive than bringing over a DVD.

No Cost savings….

You would think if you were to purchase an electronic copy of a movie that you would get a discount.  After all, there is no media to make, no media to stock, no media to ship, etc.  This is the main reason I have not given up my DVDs.  I do subscribe to Netflix a DVD at a time, but don’t currently pay the $2 extra for Blu-Ray.  I just buy the Blu-Ray I like and live with quality of Netflix DVDs.  Need to be sure I like a movie before I spend the money :)

Environmental Impact

A topic of discussions recently.  Of course anything that is not produced physically is saving resources and energy used to produce them.  At the same time though it does reduce the workers as well which eventually will cause lay offs.  What a tangled web.  Seems like no matter what you do, you cannot seem to win.  Recycling on the other hand does not seem to have such an impact on the workforce so long as they innovate and get on board processing consumer waste as opposed to sourcing virgin materials.  The logging industry has a lot to lose by paper recycling for example, but every other industry in the production chain would not be affected much.

Should have a Play Station 3

If only I were a gamer and purchased a PS3.  Not only would I have a cutting edge gaming system, but I would also have a 3D Blu-Ray DVD Player and not have spent money on standard Blu-Ray players.  I have no intention of going to 3D as long as special glasses and TVs are required, but when I see a title in 3D that I watched in 3D Imax, I wonder just how good it would be :) As far as 3D, I will wait until we have holographic images in 3D that project from a paper thick device (Star Trek, Star Wars,SeaQuest).  I think I will be waiting a very long time and my checkbook thanks me for that.