Spare the Shovel, Spoil the Child

Here's a strange story about a teach who beats kids with shovels in order to be relevant.

It's Korea.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/01/113_59146.html

A Beer that Describes Your Life

I found this in a Japanese store, and thought this brand would never work in the U.S. We are too vain to drink this.

My Coffee with Steve Wozniak

On my way back to Portland from Salt Lake City, I ran into Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer. For those hardcore Apple fans out there, this is a big deal.

We chatted for awhile because I invited him to coffee. We went to Starbucks, and talked technology for about an hour. It was the geekiest time I had, and I mean that in the best possible way. I had a bit of a hard time following him, partly because he was talking over my head, and partly because I kept chanting in my head, "I'm talking to Steve Wozniak! I'm talking to Steve Wozniak!"

Steve (can I refer to him by his first name now?) was a friendly, animated guy with lots to say about what he has done and what he is doing. He works with a company called Fusion IO, as well as participating in a Segway Polo Team, and he prints his own money (!). He took out a pad of two-dollar bills, uncut, and told me he sells them for $5. I wanted to ask further, but I was afraid that I'd get involved in a counterfeiting sting operation. He talked briefly of Steve Jobs and his pot-smoking days at Reed College. I thought about asking about how Jobs screwed him out of the Atari Breakout money that could have cost Apple an early partnership with Intel, but I decided against it. Steve Jobs is quietly recovering with a new liver, and I'd hate to jinx the man.

We had a nice, uninterrupted conversation until some little kid asked, "Were you on Dancing with the Stars?" Steve said that he was, and the mom took a picture. After that, many others came up to have their picture taken with the guy from Dancing with the Stars. This barrage of fans stopped the nice flow of our conversation. Stupid fans... At least I knew that he was the Apple cofounder. (All fans think that they, and they alone, are the special fans unlike the others!)

This was one of the best experiences I've had in some time. It sure beat my playing around on my iPhone. Rather, I went right to the source!


Steve had on this strange watch with tiny hourglasses. I should have asked him about it.

Jared from Subway in Okinawa

He spoke today in our school. All this talk about junk food made me want a Little Debbie oatmeal pie.

I wanted to shake his hand, but I was afraid that it would smell like baked bread.

Apple's Newest Laptop

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Obama's Victory Plate

It's All About the Timing

See a gallery of more of these photos that were snapped at the perfect time. 

Steel Cut Oats

I have been deprived since living here in Okinawa. I love these steel
cut oats, and ate them nearly every day in Germany. The commissary in
Wiesbaden sold them often. Here in Okinawa, however, they do not
carry them. I went right to the source: Bob's Red Mill in Milwaukie,
Oregon. I placed an order for over 13 pounds of steel cut deliciousness.

After they arrived here, the commissary received their shipment as
well. I have plenty, so come on over for a bowl!

Sidenote: This summer, I went to Bob's Red Mill to taste how they
make theirs. I was pleased to discover that I like mine better. While
there, Bob himself came into the store/restaurant. I wanted a picture
of him because he really does look like that cartoon picture of him
on the packages.

More information at http://www.bobsredmill.com/home.php.

I Would be Honored...

Signed, Confused in Cambodia

As we plan our Cambodia-Vietnam trip this Christmas, I reserved a driver to take us around Angkor Wat temples. This is the same tuk-tuk driver friends used and spoke highly about. I reserved him for 25-30 December. This weekend, I received an angry message from him because he thought we reserved for 25-30 October. Here's the exchange:

On Oct 27, 2008, at 12:26 AM, san borin wrote:

Hello how are you ? WHERE ARE YOU NOE ? you are staying at BOPHA Ankgkor hotel now WHY you don't call me ,I waiting you for 2 day at BOPHA angkor hotel but Idon't know Who are you ? I think you are cheting me now . Thank you for CHET ME

From: ron.coia@mac.com

Subject: Re: WELCOME TO ANGKOR WAT

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:20:14 +0900

To: sanborin@hotmail.com

We arrive on December 25-30, not October. Please see my first email.

I do not appreciate that you accused me of cheating you. I am honest, and you did not read my email request correctly.

Ron

On Oct 28, 2008, at 12:36 AM, san borin wrote:

I am sorry about that I had read your e mail but I think this mounth, this is my foul ,I hop see you on 25 december thank you

On Oct 30, 2008, at 12:09 AM, san borin wrote:

Hello how are you ? plaese Apologiseto me this is my Mistaken , I have to keep in my mind and I hop to see you soon
GOOD LUCK FOR YOU

A Thriller Week

I heard Michael Jackson's "Thriller" playing in public three times in
the past two days. Is Michael making a comeback in the States and no
one bothered to tell me?

Starbucks's Future Threatened

In political-season fashion, Dunkin Donuts is running this campaign about how DD beat Starbucks in a blind taste test. Now, outside of a few folks I've met in Rhode Island, I haven't met many who could agree. Maybe this taste test involved a free pair of tickets to Fenway or something.

By the way, since when does popular equal better? Can't this study simply mean that more people have bad taste in coffee?

Happy Filthy Birthday to Me

Our friends Buddy and Jen thought it'd be hilarious to make fun of my germ phobia (although I refer to it as my "non-filthiness") by having their children create birthday projects in the most unsanitary environment. We'll see here in this video the children touching, licking, and biting the food before making my special birthday wraps. Unfortunately, it did not come with Purell or a penicillin shot!

It does include a minor sibling argument on who likes the Coia's more. That alone covers a multitude of germs. Almost.

Liberalism is Slavery

Here's an amusing, albeit lengthy, performance regarding why this man is voting for McCain/Palin. His words are especially directed to Black Americans who believe that Democrats provide the best options for them.

On top of this, he's wearing a Richard Pryor shirt.

Getting Kicks Outta the Little Kicks

Here's a clip from Seinfeld episode "The Little Kicks." I watched it when I was in the hotel lobby here in Okinawa. I stood there and watched it with six or so strangers. There we were, all laughing out loud at it, even though we've probably seen it dozens of times before. I felt connected to them in a strange kicky kind of way.

Is this what Carl Roger's collective consciousness is about? Was he talking about Seinfeld?

Thank You for Your Corporation

On a driveway near our place.

This Spider, Its Web, My Head

On a walk on a trail, I ran into a huge green web. As I was brushing
it out of my face and hair, I knocked this banana spider to the
ground. I doubt that you can begin to appreciate the gravity of that,
as this spider was about six inches wide. The web must have been
something Peter Parker slings up for a romantic evening with Mary
Jane. After Kristie saw it, there was no romantic night for this
spider man.

I still have a queasy stomach when I think of the incident. While I'm
not afraid of insects, I don't like ones as big as a DVD perching on
my melon.

One of these is a video, and you can hear Kristie's kind words for
me. It's something akin to, "I'm glad it was you and not me."

Dead Stuff on the Beach

And you thought you could only find seashells!

Welcoming Me to Okinawa

To give me a proper welcome, Okinawas put my name up around. You
remember that I like when people do this, right? You folks in
Portland really dropped the ball on this one. Not one Ron anywhere I
looked.

In reality, Ron is a Japanese store filled with leather boots and
hats. Perhaps it's time for me to undergo a fashion change.

Seinfeld Leaves the Fold

This may be the end of my relationship with Jerry Seinfeld.

Outside of his comedy and originality, I was always attracted to that Mac sitting in the rear of his apartment in most episodes of the show. He was a Mac user even before I was. Now this happened this week.

It's not to late to quit this, Jerry. Come back. Please?