E-Ticket Dad

Recently, I went on vacation. I needed one. That's why I went. So, there you go.

Let me start out by saying, if you don't know what an E Ticket was, go here. Briefly, an E Ticket was the bestest ride at Disneyland/World. It was the cream of the crop, the most exciting. It was Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, etc. I tell you that so you understand the title. My dad took us on an E Ticket ride through Brooklyn in New York. My only advice in case you ever find yourself driving there is two-fold: look at every traffic sign you can and look out for the pedestrians as they have no respect for the right of way.

Our vacation was a New England cruise and our departure port was Pier 12 in New York, New York. Being there a day early, we decided to attend church on Sunday at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Perfect. We have directions to the church, what could go wrong? I was the navigator and it was my role to pay attention for things that perhaps the driver would not and inform him at the last possible moment about them (last possible so I didn't look like a backseat driver). Now, I'm looking for a church and so I imagine a church-like looking structure. I'm looking and don't notice that the street we're on suddenly decides to cease being a two-way and turn into a one-way... towards us. It was a required left or right turn and both my Padre and I missed it. I can't tell you how much you want to get to church when you're going down a one way street the wrong way with cars heading for you. Well, we turn off that road pretty quick, nearly running some people over. I say, "we must have passed it because the street numbers are going the wrong way." We begin to loop around the block looking for parking as well as the actual building. Swerving around Brooklyn on a Sunday morning in a rental car with Tennessee plates is really quite exhilarating.

The next big shock was when we thought we could make a left turn only to realize it was a bus only street (why do we have those so lamely labeled), which was occupied by a bus! I didn't know if it was a two lane road, or we were going down another one way the wrong way, but I saw another one way street that was a left turn so I shouted "over there!" We zoom around the bus and, you guessed it, almost hit another person and got off the bus only road. I felt I was starting to get the hang of the one way streets and remembered that there was a bus only road at such and such a turn. Now we're making progress.

On our fourth or fifth jaunt down the street that the Brooklyn Tab is supposedly on, I finally spot the (in my opinion) small block letters on a building that looks like any other building in the area. I shout "there it is!" and we now start the quest to find parking, while I look on to the location in my mind and become aware of any turn we make so we can find our way back on foot to the entrance. A couple of more turns later and we find the parking lot that goes with the church and we park. I was never so happy to go to church in my life. You really had to be there on that drive to understand. Words don't properly describe the sheer chaos. Did I happen to mention that there was a local police precinct across the street that was no doubt watching us violate dozens of traffic laws. "Crazy tourists. When they finally hit something we'll have to go out there and help 'em out." I'm sure that's not what they were really saying. Anyhoo.

How was church? Fantastic. The choir? Everything I thought it could be and more. I love choirs. I wish I could sing in one. The power, energy, harmony... I had pins and needles. The message? Right for me. Anyway, that was the first day of my vacation. I think you can imagine how the rest of it went. I hope to have time to tell a few more stories.

Kopi Luwak

Ah, the Asian Palm Civet. Who would have thought that man would pay attention enough to the feces of this small mammal to notice the undigested coffee beans? I don't think I would have, but some people did and now for some reason the beans that have passed through this creature are the most expensive in the world. Who in their right mind would purchase these beans, or even a cup of coffee made from said beans before knowing if they would like it or not? Would you slap down fifty greenbacks for a 6oz. cup of Kopi Luwak coffee? I wouldn't. Thankfully, I don't have to now. Yes! It's true. I have now tasted this coffee with my own mouth, almost (being quite figurative here) straight from the Civet's rear. How? My roommate, the equitable Tyler J.S. Cronk has a friend from(or is) Indonesia(n) who gifted us with an entire bag. It may weigh a pound and thus, I was holding somewhere between $120 and $600 worth of Civet crap on Tuesday in my hand. Wow.

So, you're wondering what it tastes like? It has a very different brewing aroma than I'm used to and also has an even stronger smell in my cup. Doing my best to realize that what I'm about to drink has passed through the mouth, stomach, and anus of another animal, I gently sip the concoction. It has a seemingly floral and nutty flavor while at the same time not having either, if you follow me. I can't place it. It was definitely unique. Hold it! It was then that it hit me. After swallowing, I had very little to no coffee taste in my mouth. There was no bitter coffee taste. I was shocked by its strangeness. I sipped again just to make sure I wasn't mad and indeed, after four straight days, I can tell you this coffee does not leave very much taste in your mouth. I was amazed and so went to the Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom (aka Wikipedia) to find out the reason. Apparently, the Civet's digestive track breaks down the protein responsible for coffee bitterness. Seeing my question answered satisfactorily, I stopped my research and so could be completely wrong. Oh well.

So, is it worthy of the title 'most expensive coffee in the world'? Well, I can see why it would cost so much due to labor and expense, but I don't think it's expensive because it is so frickin' good. It's your standard cup of joe with a different flavor, that's all. So if you're in it for the experience or are trying to impress some hot girls somewhere, go ahead and pay out the nose for a cup. But I don't think you'll be too wowed or amazed.

Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom Link

A Few Things...

Firstly, I have a link here that is probably one of the most amusing articles from Cracked.com I have had the pleasure of reading. There is strong language but it is just too funny an article to pass up. I just had to share since I have an interest in science and the CERN Hadron super collider that will probably destory the world (sarcasm intended).

Secondly, I'd like to bring to your attention a previous post of mine. It happened to me again today and for those of you who missed it the first time around, here is your chance to experience it for the first time (obviously).

And finally I just want to point out I finally made it to my Baseball game goal for the year. Game number 5 was last night and we won. I hate to say it, but I was just a little shocked. Anywhoo, there you go.

Update

So, today I read that Brad Wright, one of the head honchos for Stargate Atlantis, is completely fine with switching from a TV show to movies as the story telling medium. In fact, everything has been done with everybody's knowledge and acceptance. I would have preferred a headline that read "Writers, Producers, Network Executives Agree to End Atlantis." That would have been a lot easier to understand and accept as a fan instead of "SciFi Channel Cancels Stargate Atlantis." So, anyway, I'm taking down the petition and asking that you don't send feedback to SciFi anymore. Thanks.

Sorrow

As if having Finals this Friday wasn't bad enough, I was quietly perusing the Internet when I ran across a post on a site I frequent, GateWorld (home of all thing Gate related). Lo and behold, they have canceled Stargate Atlantis, the successful spin off of Stargate SG-1. Although it was unavoidable, expletives great in number flew through my brain and were directed wholly at the Nielson (of the rating system) and at the SciFi network. They have canceled so many shows as of late and they are starting to hit close to home. I don't mind if a show's producers, writers, and actors decide to end a show, like Battlestar Galactica is doing, but I do hate it when they are canceled.

So who is to blame? Apparently ratings. And you know what, I just got my week old telegraph from my broker in New York about ocean front property for sale in Utah. COME ON PEOPLE! You can not use a live "night-of" rating system anymore with the power of the Internet out there. I'm sorry. I don't have TV, can't afford cable and so watch my favorite shows online. How dare a network cancel a show just because I wasn't watching their damned commercials?! I was so irate that I found the feedback email for SciFi and sent a very nice email basically saying that they're frakkin' idiots. Here is the address in case anyone wants to join in. feedback@scifi.com

I can't really say much else right now. I haven't been too impressed with the show the last season and a half but had high hopes for this season. I saw the mistakes that were being made but still watched, believing it would recover. But canceling it is just wrong.

Hysteria

It feels like it's been a while since I shared. Yet it's been all of 17 days. I can only conclude that these seventeen days have either been so filled that I haven't properly fathomed the passage of time or they have been extremely slow days. Regardless...

It's Finals [feels like it should be capitalized] week. The nine week summer quarter here at UW is reaching its end. It's been rough, I'm not going to lie. Here's what it's been like in an analogy metaphor whatever form that should ring true with anybody that has ever visited Seattle.

*shimmering cross-fade* My first quarter at the U feels like I was walking along Pike's Market, minding my own business, taking in the sites and the people, smelling the flowers, getting those flavored honey stick things when all of a sudden... [thought I'd make you wait a sec on the edge of your seat] ... a giant fish slaps me in the face, stunning me into near unconsciousness! It had come from them fish throwing folk down in the corner and boy was it a big fish! I numbly get back on my feet when one of the dudes in the orange overalls comes over real fast, helps me don my own orange pant suspender doohicky and proceeds to throw me into the fray of taking orders and throwing fish. Fully recovered from my fish in the head incident, I quickly get the hang of taking orders and throwing fish. But then the lingo starts getting more complicated and the busy time of the day is here and I can't keep up and ... and........ I freak out! There's fish everywhere! Here fish, there fish. Crawdad things are crawling out of the tubs! Mini-fireworks shoot out of the ice packs! People are dancing in the streets and that blind guitar player is going to town! Dogs and cats, living together...Mass Hysteria! *cross-fade back*

That's what it's been like. I can only hope that next quarter will be a smoother ride the whole way through.

Up and Running

Well, we're back. Not having the internet for...hold on let me check...12 days was pretty incredible (in an absolutely disturbing way). The lack of ability to do something really does show you how much you may have come to rely on that something. Not having the ability to check my email (what little there ever is) or my facebook (Lord forbid!) or my favorite sites like io9 or xkcd was just painful. On the other hand, not having the distracting power of the internet allowed me to get all sorts of other things done. Let me share.

The period during which my apartment was without internet was a busy time for schoolwork. There were two take home tests to complete, homework assignments to muddle through and readings off the wazoo that needed to be...well read. S without the distraction, coupled with my new favorite coffee shop also not having their free internet (!), I got a lot of work done. Wednesday, we were up and running again and let me tell you how much schoolwork I've done since that night. I've read two chapters out of my thermal physics book and most of that was while I was waiting for food to cook in the kitchen.

I'm a terrible addict! I hate it so much! What happened to the good ol' days when we were not all connected nearly instantaneously to each other? I can't even be at home without succumbing to the temptation of the 'net! I have to go somewhere else either without my computer (if there is internet there) or someplace with my computer that doesn't have internet (i.e. Barnes and Noble? [ah, but then there is the temptation of leaving with new books.]).

It's very important to recognize you're an easily-distracted-by-the-internet person. It's the first step on the road to recovery. Unless of course they pull a 1984 and are secretly watching me right now, will abduct me, reconvert me, and release me back to the public as an adoring fan of the internet... hmmmm. I love Big Brother.