AK! My 'Northern Exposure' : Set an Open Course

Last Friday, I set out on the M/V Columbia towards Juneau, AK for work. The ship is part of the Alaska Marine Highway System, a ferry service traveling along the west coast of Alaska, Canada, and goes as far south as Bellingham, Washington. The system has been named an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration. Due to the lack of road access in many places of Alaska, the AMHS may be the only way of transportation besides air. I left from the terminal in Bellingham and it took me about 57 hours total to get up to Alaska's capital. There were stops along the way, including Ketchikan, Wrangell, and Petersburg, AK. As you can see pics of the ship, it's a step up from a regular commuter ferry, definitely not cruise ship class though. I stayed in a cabin (really small, but I had it to myself), but you have the option of either sleeping inside the boat in many of the recliners or outside of the boat. The back of the boat has 2 decks where passengers can pitch their tents during their stay on the boat. There also is a solarium area, where people can sleep in their sleeping bags on beach chairs under a canopy. The sites on the way are nice, and the boat was quiet enough in the car deck that I was able to perform some hearing tests for the engine crew.

Click here to see the route I took via Google Maps

Have a Harry Thanksgiving

UPDATE 8/18/08: If you hadn't heard the announcement last week, looks like this film is getting pushed all the way to Summer of '09! There may be post-production issues to be worked out, but I suspect that Warner Brothers may want to try to dominate next summer the way they did with The Dark Knight.

Not only will we get to see the second Daniel Craig-incarnate Bond film, Quantum of Solace, this November but also the second to last chapter in the Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The story gives more background to the rise of Voldemort and builds up to the last book, The Deathly Hallows. This won't be the second to last movie, as The Deathly Hallows will apparently be made into 2 films to milk the franchise. Teaser was just released today:

NFL & Reebok Concerned About Hearing Conservation?

Reebok just released a commercial advertising the new NFL Reebok Speedwick Performance Tee, showcasing an array of NFL stars, including the Colts' Manning, Saturday, and Wayne (0:35). The most important thing about this commercial that I'm commenting on is the appropriate use of hearing protection in a commercial. Titans quarterback Vince Young (0:20) is shown on a riding lawn mower and wearing ear muffs. Many power mowers average around 90 dB SPL, which is definitely loud enough where the exposure will make some susceptible to noise induced hearing loss. I guess I was shocked about this commercial showing the hearing protection because if you go to lawn mower vendors' websites, you won't even see the ads or promo shots with people wearing hearing protection. Take Toro, Honda, or John Deere, I couldn't find any hearing protection in the photos or videos.

British Kids Say the Darndest Things

I've mentioned this series before, but I recently finished the entire series as it exists right now at this moment. I'm talking about the amazing Up Series, a (as of right now) 7 film documentary series that follows a number of British children from different socioeconomic backgrounds and interviews them every 7 years to watch the progression of their life. The first film, Seven Up, was film in 1964. It's amazing to see the progression of someone as they age, how they change along with the times and fashions. You find yourself trying to predict how their lives will end up, does looking at a child at seven show much of what he or she will end up for the rest of their lives. Very fascinating, director Michael Apted has somehow been able to keep this project going for this long. Watching one soon after another can be a bit repetitive since much of past footage from previous films are rehashed in the more current ones to show the progression, but finishing one does have you wanting more.
Here's the rundown of the films, Netflix them:

• Seven Up*
• 7 Plus Seven*
• 21 Up*
• 28 Up*
• 35 Up
• 42 Up*
• 49 Up
  

* Currently can be seen on Watch Instantly


I don't want to show too much footage from the series, as it's quite rewarding to watch the progression of these peoples' lives. Here's a brief clip of the latest, 49 Up(2005).




A short insight from British child Paul, from 1964 in Seven Up:

Fine Military Dining

When I think about military rations, the first thing that comes to mind are floating, rotating, non-descript brown boxes that you collect in Metal Gear Solid for increasing health. While testing for the National Guard here at the Yakima Training Center, I've gotten the opportunity to try an MRE or Meal, Ready to Eat ration. I tried some of the Pork Rib MRE, which is Meal Number 2 of 24 for the 2008 Menu - sounds like a trading card. Here's what was in the MRE:

• 1 Pork Rib
• 1 Clam Chowder
• 2 Wheat Snack Bread
• 1 Oatmeal Cookie
• 1 CHO Electrolyte Beverage (Like Gatorade Mix)
• 1 Packet of Cheese Spread
• 1 Packet of Steak Sauce
• 1 Accessory Packet A (Coffee, Sugar, Creamer, Salt, Chewing Gum, Matches, Toilet Tissue, Towelette)
• 1 Spoon
• 1 Flameless Heater
• 1 Hot Beverage Bag

The flameless ration heater is great, you add a little water to the pouch and in seconds it begins to steam. Stick the heater next to the food pouches and you've got cooked food in minutes. The food tastes doesn't taste too bad, definitely better and more filling than a Lunchables. Check out www.mreinfo.com to look more into MRE's.



Must look for a HOOAH! Bar:

Ichiro Good Luck for AL All Stars

After a long and drawn out All Star Game for the last time in Yankee Stadium, the AL All Stars finally won their 6th straight All Star Game in 15 innings. Although no team won in 2002, as a result of a tie, the NL team has not won an All Star Game since 1996. Ichiro has been to the All Star Game since 2001 representing the Mariners and has not lost in the game since. Last year, he won MVP honors in San Francisco and scoring the first in-the-park homer in All Star Game history. Recently, reports from AL All Stars are that the Japanese import is the secret to the AL's recent success due to a speech he gives before the game. He gives a speech, in English, cursing out the NL team. Ichiro usually uses an interpreter for interviews, but this speech is all on his own. It's been quoted as "Bleep, bleep, National League, bleep, bleep, bleeping National bleep." Below is an interview with Bob Costas, including Ichiro speaking some English....he' never going to play for the Royals: (Explicit Language)

Who Will Watch the Watchmen? Me!

The trailer for a film I've been waiting for since it's initial pre-production over a year ago finally has it's first trailer! The film is Watchmen, an adaptation of Alan Moore's (V for Vendetta) graphic novel about washed up superheroes in the '80's and their relevance in society. This novel appeared on Time magazine's 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present released in 2005. Elements from the novel have been used in many other modern plot lines, The Incredibles and Heroes are a couple of examples. The film is directed by Zak Snyder, who did an exceptional job adapting the novel 300. Check out the trailer!