Flying, generally, isn’t a completely bad thing, if done properly. One of the things that has to be done “properly” is learning how to pack. Baggage should be light, as well as the non-clothing things that are now travel essentals.
I’ve been a MacHead for close to two decades now. I’m of the opinion that the MacOS is the best operating system for end user use and general headache avoidance. However, after spending the past couple of years lugging a MacBrickBook around the world, I’ve come to a realization about what I really use a comp for when I’m traveling.
Email, websurfing, blogging, booking travel, photo dumping (from the camera’s memory card) and Skype.
Many of the netbooks out there can do all these things AND are a lot easier to lug around airports and the like. The problem is that the wizards at Infinite Loop refuse to build a netbook. Period. Which is a pain, considering the last true portable Apple made was the 12″ aluminum that, if you ignore the warped cases, the G4 that generated enough heat to make shabu shabu and the squishy keyboard, was the perfect size for flashpacking. So, since Apple won’t make one, guess it’s time to make one myself. Kinda.
I held my nose and ordered a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook. Since it’s bad enough to order a Dell Dull, and worse off to have to pay for windoze, I ordered the bare bones stock model with Unbuntu on a 4 GB SSD, 512K RAM, a webcam and bluetooth since it’s MUCH cheaper to order the upgrade bits through third party vendors. 32 GB SSD and 2 GB RAM for under US$100.
Now, why have I sullied my credit card to a company that makes crap pee cees that only IT geeks and people that don’t know any better worship? Because, they got it right with the Mini 9. It’s a good form factor, the screen is not too big or too small and you can actually do real work with it. Did I mention that you can install OSX on it? Yes you can!
Now here’s the question. Are these netbooks made of precious metals? Made by hand by skilled artesians? Nope. Then why does it take a MONTH?? I’ll update when and if it ever gets here…
Asia Beckons
Now that I’m used to spending at least 10 hours on a plane again, it’s time to plan my return to Asia…
Vietnam via Top Gear
I just finished watching Top Gear’s Vietnam special, where the challenge was to ride clunker bikes from Saigon to Halong Bay with no support, along with the usual TG silliness. You’ve got an hour fifteen? Watch these.
Top+Gear+Vietnam+Special+-+Part+1
Part 1
Top+Gear+Vietnam+Special+-+Part+2
Part 2
It reminded me of my trip to Hanoi a few years back, especially with all the bikes and traffic. Also how terrific looking the countryside and coast looks too. Riding the coast from South to North has been on my list of “stuff to do” for a long time now and although I’d love to do it on my V-Strom or even a BMW GS (R or F), I’ll probably wind up doing it on one of the locally available bikes, which would be the right thing to do, both for fitting in and for ease of repair. Yeah, nothing like travel shows to whet the appetite of the wanderlust monster inside all of us…
The world famous BMW Museum Featuring cars, motorcycles and engines (marine and aircraft). Part 2
I chose to break this up into two parts because there’s a lot of photos.
The 507 gets a special nod here. Not only because it’s probably one of, if not the most beatutiful BMW ever made, it was a car that helped put BMW on the map in the 1950s. This model was also imported to the USA in small quantities which helped establish the brand there.
And here’s the Z8, the modern interpretation of the 507.
The 02 series was BMW’s first mass market seller and put them on the map. It saved the company and as befitting such an important model, it gets its own space.
There’s so much more to see here…need to return.
BMW Museum
Am Olympiapark 2
80809 Munich
The world famous BMW Museum Featuring cars, motorcycles and engines (marine and aircraft). Part 1
The draw here, for those of us not collecting a car for European Delivery, is the Museum.
When you enter, there is this mobile of every model that BMW has made over the years. The museum consists of two main parts, motorcycles and cars, with a small Motorsport section.
Although I like motorrad, the draw for me are the cars. Every iconic BMW is here in mint condition as well as their recent cars.
More in Part 2
M! The most powerful letter!
Here’s a teaser from my recent visit to the BMW Museum in Munich. This was one of my favourite parts of the museum.
What’s the most powerful letter in the alphabet? M!
This traffic jam consists of ALL the M class cars ever produced. I learned that the M635csi is a true collector’s piece because it’s just a good looking car, the first generation M5 came in other colors besides black, and the first M3 (E30) is still a good looking car and the previous M3 (E46) looks pretty damn good too!
To get a feel on just how motorhead the museum is, here’s the engine exhibit; every M engine that was made for the cars you just saw. Artsy!
Munich Mileage Run, BMW Welt. It’s still a mileage run if you leave the airport!!
So on the never ending quest for status on United Airlines, necessary if you expect to be treated like a person onboard, my friend and I have been doing weekend runs to Germany since the tickets round trip are in the neighborhood of $300 for 11728 EQM (elite qualifying miles). The destination alternates between Munich (MUC) or Frankfurt (FRA). We eat in the Senator Lounge, fly out on Friday evening, land Saturday afternoon, go clubbing to practice German (das stimmt, genau), head back to the flughafen early Sunday morning for the flight back home, arriving around dinner time.
The traditional Mileage Run involves a cheap round ticket with a lot of EQM, flying the same aircraft there and back and not leaving the airport (or the gate in that matter). So there’s some controversy about if this is actually a “mileage run”. I’d argue that it is since we spend 13 hours between flights.
So this weekend it’s off to Munich. We caught an early flight so we had a few hours to kill before clubbing. My friend crashed in the hotel room and I decided to visit BMW Welt, a pilgrimage that all Bimmer fans should make a few times. The complex consists of the Welt, a very large and swish brand dealership with the latest models on the floor, snacks and drinks (though you can’t buy any there). There’s also the Museum which will be the next post. The Welt includes a training facility for technicians (mechanics) and a delivery area where lucky people can pick up their cars for European Delivery.
MT plugin for iphone
I’ve just installed a plugin for MT called iMT (clever!). What it does is provide an iPhone friendly interface to make blog entries from (you guessed it) your iPhone.
It works well, so far. I can write basic, text only entries (no pix or links); said entries can be edited later on when I’m back on mah Mac.
Hmm. Is this now one less reason to bring my Macbrick along on the plane now?
Update from mah Mac: Here’s the link to iMT. And since I do most (but not all) of my flying on UA, I’ll still need my Macbrick for AVOD since UA dun have any. Of course, if I could convert my .avi files to iphone format, then I wouldn’t have to lug my Macbrick…
Always show up before the gates close
When you fly, you want to make sure you follow the rules. When you know what time the gates will close, always get there BEFORE that time. Don’t expect the doors to be held open for you simply because you can’t be bothered to tell time. Otherwise, you’ll turn out like this:
If she tried this stunt in Singapore, she’d already be in cuffs and perp-walked away. If she tried this in San Francisco, she’d be appointed to the Board of Supervisors.
Thanks to Lucky and Cheesie, who both had this video before me!
BSG! The Oath/Blood on the Scales
Like wow…only three more new episodes and BSG is done!
This two parter left me with a butt-ache. Which means that I was firmly planted on the floor, watching these episodes (mild spoilers after the gratuitous pic!). I think Jack Bauer could relate to the day that Adama had.
Yeah, I think the General would approve…
Some thoughts: Starbuck is Patton. If any of you are familiar with the movie or his history, you’ll know he was truly alive when he was doing one thing. Starbuck is the same. Except she looks MUCH better doing it.
There IS a reckoning at the end of Blood on the Scales. The question, will there be follow through with the rest? And what about the political loose ends?
Wah, breathless!
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