Sunday, December 19, 2010
A month
This has to be quick because I really have to get some sleep... wow I've been in country for a month... it's flown and yet crawled by... I figure if I made it for a month, hopefully things will get a bit easier...knock on wood heavily. I have also counted on one hand the number of days it hasn't rained.... wow.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A quick note on Visas
I learned the hard way that applying for a new visa when you are already in a country is in some ways more difficult than applying from the outside. If you are applying for a visa that will replace the one you currently have, make sure you specify when you want it to take effect... otherwise it might take effect immediately and wipe out the other one for good. Not all visas are created equal...the new one might revoke privileges (e.g. like work privileges) that you are relying upon.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market
On the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets
Open generally on Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
http://www.qvm.com.au/
The Queen Victoria Market... for all intents and purposes is awesome. While it's trading hours are from 6-2 on weekdays (except closed on Wednesday), usually the massive food sections are the ones that open at 6 and the other retail parts open later. Everything looks like a good deal... but don't jump at things immediately, the strawberries at 2 packages for 3 dollars might be undercut by a nearby vendor who is offering 2 for 2. You could bring a huge suitcase and 200 AUD and easily fill it with goodies ranging from food to wigs, to shirts, souvenies, shoes, other bags, and most any other goodies you can think of... ok so they don't sell Lawn mowers and yes you could by the really expensive item here and there... but that's not what you are at the Queen Victoria Market for. You're there for good bargains on things you need to live on and to beat the price on things you'd like to send home to friends and family (T-shirts - 5 to 8 dollars). You could easily spend a day there just to look over all that's being sold....
I will say, you should bring cash because may of the vendors don't accept credit (nor are in a position to take a card and process it - would you want someone in the meat section to handle your card with his bloody hands?).
Don't forget... Wednesday nights in the summer, part of the Market opens for fun and festivities...
On the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets
Open generally on Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
http://www.qvm.com.au/
The Queen Victoria Market... for all intents and purposes is awesome. While it's trading hours are from 6-2 on weekdays (except closed on Wednesday), usually the massive food sections are the ones that open at 6 and the other retail parts open later. Everything looks like a good deal... but don't jump at things immediately, the strawberries at 2 packages for 3 dollars might be undercut by a nearby vendor who is offering 2 for 2. You could bring a huge suitcase and 200 AUD and easily fill it with goodies ranging from food to wigs, to shirts, souvenies, shoes, other bags, and most any other goodies you can think of... ok so they don't sell Lawn mowers and yes you could by the really expensive item here and there... but that's not what you are at the Queen Victoria Market for. You're there for good bargains on things you need to live on and to beat the price on things you'd like to send home to friends and family (T-shirts - 5 to 8 dollars). You could easily spend a day there just to look over all that's being sold....
I will say, you should bring cash because may of the vendors don't accept credit (nor are in a position to take a card and process it - would you want someone in the meat section to handle your card with his bloody hands?).
Don't forget... Wednesday nights in the summer, part of the Market opens for fun and festivities...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I've done it
I'm pretty busy getting started at moment... despite the odds I managed to find housing in 1/2 the time it normally takes - 2 weeks instead of 4... and that's with the University housing database totally breaking down and being of no use. I hope this bodes well for the rest of my stay here.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Money? it's only of use if you can get it.
One thing about Australia is that it's financial operations are concentrated in the "Big four" ... no this isn't Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish and Dennis Johnson, it's something far scarier and fee based: ANZ, Westpac, NAB, and Commonwealth Bank. Even if you bank with some other bank, chances are your funds might have to go through one of the big four for funds wiring or payrolls.... So if one of them fails or has a massive computer glitch like NAB did on Wednesday (and still is having) it can cause absolute chaos... and to think somewhere in there is my pay from last week and my wire transfer from the U.S.! I'm not sure what happened is something that one should heavily plan for (e.g. don't go traveling with 10,000 dollars cash in your pocket). But do be aware... it could happen!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Getting Established
Day 4 at a new place when you are intending to live there for a while is alot different than day 4 when you intend to just visit and return in a few days or a few months. When intending to live there for a while, the things you have to do you and your concerns turn to "survival" rather than just "enjoyment." If things aren't going easy, there might not be anyone to back you up or help you, and you can't simply just say, "I'll just wait a few days I'm going back." Your problems turn to how to house and feed yourself and get healthcare, rather than what's the next thing to see.... and it is far easier to become homesick when things don't come easy. You may find yourself saying in frustration: "Back in my old place/country we did things this way or that way, why can't they do things that way over here?" Why? because we want to rely on familiar things when the going gets a bit rough. Thus it's easy to feel negative about a place that is actually really nice.
It's a good idea to make a list of the things you have to do when arriving in a foreign country. Overestimate the expected time you want to get those things done. You need to allow that some routine tasks at home won't be routine at all in the new place. Above all you might feel an urgency to get all these things done (especially if the list is long) and that you are behind - even if in reality you are proceeding on or ahead of what is realistic to expect. So the proper attitude and awareness is to try to take an objective look at yourself from the outside when things don't seem well. They actually might be ok.
That being said, there are a few things you might be able to do ahead of time, if you have to move to a country like Australia that can help alot.
(1) You should try to get a tax identification number before you arrive - this will help in alot of things (including establishing payroll, bank accounts etc.).
(2) You can also establish a bank account before you arrive and have funds wired to it in advance. You probably wont be able to do anything with the funds before you walk in the bank office and show identification. However, by doing this before you arrive you might be able to save as much as a week before you can access significant funds greater than the daily limit of your atm cards - When might you need such funds? howabout when you want to rent a room or apartment/flat and you need the first month's rent with security deposit?
(3) Research the cost of some basic services (phone, internet access, etc.).
(4) Expect that house hunting might take longer.
(5) If you can find a credit card from home with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, bring it!!
It's a good idea to make a list of the things you have to do when arriving in a foreign country. Overestimate the expected time you want to get those things done. You need to allow that some routine tasks at home won't be routine at all in the new place. Above all you might feel an urgency to get all these things done (especially if the list is long) and that you are behind - even if in reality you are proceeding on or ahead of what is realistic to expect. So the proper attitude and awareness is to try to take an objective look at yourself from the outside when things don't seem well. They actually might be ok.
That being said, there are a few things you might be able to do ahead of time, if you have to move to a country like Australia that can help alot.
(1) You should try to get a tax identification number before you arrive - this will help in alot of things (including establishing payroll, bank accounts etc.).
(2) You can also establish a bank account before you arrive and have funds wired to it in advance. You probably wont be able to do anything with the funds before you walk in the bank office and show identification. However, by doing this before you arrive you might be able to save as much as a week before you can access significant funds greater than the daily limit of your atm cards - When might you need such funds? howabout when you want to rent a room or apartment/flat and you need the first month's rent with security deposit?
(3) Research the cost of some basic services (phone, internet access, etc.).
(4) Expect that house hunting might take longer.
(5) If you can find a credit card from home with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, bring it!!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Leaving to the Southern Hemisphere....from Boston to Melbourne
11/17/2010 to 11/19/2010
I have to say this whole voyage almost got off to a bad start. I arrived splendidly on time for my flight to San Francisco (SFO), only to find out at check-in that I had been rerouted to go through Los Angeles because the flight to SFO had been delayed so much I would never had made the SFO to Sydney flight. The flight to LA however also left a good 30-40 minutes earlier and with that went my margin of safety.
I think the key to making the massive 8 hour time shift was attempting to eat as if I was right on Melbourne time. That started right on my flight to LA (of course the plane also ran out of food). I met some interesting people on the flight, including one trying to make an interview in SFO, and another person who was from South Australia but had the strongest of Gaelic accents. I also finally saw an I-Pad up close. For the third time in three round trip flights, the sound system on my seat failed.
I decided after going through the gate at LAX, to run down the boarding ramp to the plane. I figured that would be the last time I would get a chance to stretch my legs in such manner.... I think however, people looked at me as if I was a nerd rushing along to be early.
The flight from LAX to SYD was a long 14 hrs. Though on an overnight flight it doesn't seem long until morning breaks when naturally there is a significant change happening in the day, you come to naturally want to have a significant change in what you are doing (i.e. you want to land).
At SYD, there is a bizarre procedure where even though you are going directly onto another flight (to MEL), they make you go through security again! Note to self: if you place your luggage on a table to rearrange things, make sure it isn't the table that is used to do random explosives checks. The officials might decided to do a conveniently random check on you and your luggage.
A little secret about SYD: there are showers tucked away near the duty free shops... take advantage of them if you want to arrive in Melbourne smelling fresh and clean as opposed to having the smell of travelling for 26+ hrs. in temperatures that make you sweat!
I have to say this whole voyage almost got off to a bad start. I arrived splendidly on time for my flight to San Francisco (SFO), only to find out at check-in that I had been rerouted to go through Los Angeles because the flight to SFO had been delayed so much I would never had made the SFO to Sydney flight. The flight to LA however also left a good 30-40 minutes earlier and with that went my margin of safety.
I think the key to making the massive 8 hour time shift was attempting to eat as if I was right on Melbourne time. That started right on my flight to LA (of course the plane also ran out of food). I met some interesting people on the flight, including one trying to make an interview in SFO, and another person who was from South Australia but had the strongest of Gaelic accents. I also finally saw an I-Pad up close. For the third time in three round trip flights, the sound system on my seat failed.
I decided after going through the gate at LAX, to run down the boarding ramp to the plane. I figured that would be the last time I would get a chance to stretch my legs in such manner.... I think however, people looked at me as if I was a nerd rushing along to be early.
The flight from LAX to SYD was a long 14 hrs. Though on an overnight flight it doesn't seem long until morning breaks when naturally there is a significant change happening in the day, you come to naturally want to have a significant change in what you are doing (i.e. you want to land).
At SYD, there is a bizarre procedure where even though you are going directly onto another flight (to MEL), they make you go through security again! Note to self: if you place your luggage on a table to rearrange things, make sure it isn't the table that is used to do random explosives checks. The officials might decided to do a conveniently random check on you and your luggage.
A little secret about SYD: there are showers tucked away near the duty free shops... take advantage of them if you want to arrive in Melbourne smelling fresh and clean as opposed to having the smell of travelling for 26+ hrs. in temperatures that make you sweat!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Price Research II. Same product + different name = different price.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
I hope you've read and found useful my previous posts on price research: "Price variations on the internet - bigger than you think" (Jan 1, 2010) and "Buying things... even a little bit of price research can help" (March 2,2010).
I'm returning to the situation when a vendor sells the exact same product under different names. This is done to position the product in different markets (read: target consumers). The vendor hopes to sell the product at different prices according to how much the average consumer in each target group is willing to pay. This is a form of price discrimination. This name changing is bad news for you because it can interfere with your price comparison search: If you search for the product under one name, the places where it is listed under the other name(s) may not come up. The vendors probably love this - so much for economic efficient world of perfect information.
There's no guarantee that you'll be able to stumble upon all the possible names a product is sold under. If the amount at money at stake is small, it might not be worth doing an extensive search (e.g. searching under product categories, product function, etc.). However, if you are about to fork over some serious cash, and you do happen to chance upon two or more products that seem to do the same thing, check the product specifications, and try to see who makes products. Don't be afraid ask for the information you need. If the product specifications match and they turn out to be made by the same manufacturer, you might seriously consider going for the lower price
I hope you've read and found useful my previous posts on price research: "Price variations on the internet - bigger than you think" (Jan 1, 2010) and "Buying things... even a little bit of price research can help" (March 2,2010).
I'm returning to the situation when a vendor sells the exact same product under different names. This is done to position the product in different markets (read: target consumers). The vendor hopes to sell the product at different prices according to how much the average consumer in each target group is willing to pay. This is a form of price discrimination. This name changing is bad news for you because it can interfere with your price comparison search: If you search for the product under one name, the places where it is listed under the other name(s) may not come up. The vendors probably love this - so much for economic efficient world of perfect information.
There's no guarantee that you'll be able to stumble upon all the possible names a product is sold under. If the amount at money at stake is small, it might not be worth doing an extensive search (e.g. searching under product categories, product function, etc.). However, if you are about to fork over some serious cash, and you do happen to chance upon two or more products that seem to do the same thing, check the product specifications, and try to see who makes products. Don't be afraid ask for the information you need. If the product specifications match and they turn out to be made by the same manufacturer, you might seriously consider going for the lower price
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Iowa Style Midwest BBQ at Jethro's
Jethro's BBQ
3100 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 279-3300
Accepts Credit Cards
Hrs:
M-F: 11 AM till late in the evening,
Sat and Sun: 9:30 AM till late in the evening.
Brunch Menu: Sat and Sun from 9:30 AM to 2 PM
Takeout and catering available, no reservations accepted.
http://www.jethrosdesmoines.com/
Located on the edge of the Drake University campus, Jethro's, with it's piping hot BBQ menu is a most welcome relief from the icy cold winter on the Iowan plains. While its menu is country themed, it has a lively big city sports bar atmosphere with a dozen HDTVs to watch your favorite games (no doubt in part to serve the student body of Drake University). The waitstaff greets you as if you have been a loyal patron for years, and the service is prompt.
The BBQ dinner combinations (served anytime of the day) are a great way to sample a wide selection of Jethro's cooking in a single meal. For a reasonable price of $21.95*, the Dinner for two option gets you 4 sides, and 4 meats in quantities that will still give you leftovers for another meal.
My favorite sides were the cornbread which is sweet but not too sweet and the apple sauce which has the delicious taste of a warm apple pie filling. As for Jethro's signature slow cooked meats, if it weren't for my stomach capacity, I'd still be there consuming the ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket. As if the tastiness of the meats weren't enough, Jethro's adds a taste-bud delighting selection of BBQ sauces to its arsenal. I personally recommend the Georgia Mustard and Jethro's Secret.
Jethro's is extremely popular with the locals (it has been voted best BBQ in Des Moines) so if you want to beat the weekday lunch crowd, try showing up just before noon after which the flood gates open.
*Prices as of March 2, 2010.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
3100 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 279-3300
Accepts Credit Cards
Hrs:
M-F: 11 AM till late in the evening,
Sat and Sun: 9:30 AM till late in the evening.
Brunch Menu: Sat and Sun from 9:30 AM to 2 PM
Takeout and catering available, no reservations accepted.
http://www.jethrosdesmoines.com/
Located on the edge of the Drake University campus, Jethro's, with it's piping hot BBQ menu is a most welcome relief from the icy cold winter on the Iowan plains. While its menu is country themed, it has a lively big city sports bar atmosphere with a dozen HDTVs to watch your favorite games (no doubt in part to serve the student body of Drake University). The waitstaff greets you as if you have been a loyal patron for years, and the service is prompt.The BBQ dinner combinations (served anytime of the day) are a great way to sample a wide selection of Jethro's cooking in a single meal. For a reasonable price of $21.95*, the Dinner for two option gets you 4 sides, and 4 meats in quantities that will still give you leftovers for another meal.
My favorite sides were the cornbread which is sweet but not too sweet and the apple sauce which has the delicious taste of a warm apple pie filling. As for Jethro's signature slow cooked meats, if it weren't for my stomach capacity, I'd still be there consuming the ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket. As if the tastiness of the meats weren't enough, Jethro's adds a taste-bud delighting selection of BBQ sauces to its arsenal. I personally recommend the Georgia Mustard and Jethro's Secret.
Jethro's is extremely popular with the locals (it has been voted best BBQ in Des Moines) so if you want to beat the weekday lunch crowd, try showing up just before noon after which the flood gates open.
*Prices as of March 2, 2010.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
Buying things... even a little bit of price research can help.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
When buying a product, even a little bit of price research might pay big dividends. As an example, in a previous article ("Price variations on the internet, bigger than you think" January 1, 2010), I found an electronic toothbrush being sold at $129.99 but then a quick online search of less than 3 minutes yielded the same toothbrush being sold from another reputable vendor for $99.99.
Here's another: In one eBay on-line store, buyers were bidding up the price of factory demo (i.e. used) Nikon D200 cameras. In almost every instance, they bid up the factory demos to several hundred dollars above the price of brand new D200s being sold directly through the same retailer's non-eBay online store. I called the retailer and his explanation was that some people felt they really needed to have a used camera instead of a brand new one. My explanation: people didn't do the research.
Markets aren't perfectly efficient otherwise such massive price differences would probably not exist.
Price research doesn't guarantee you'll get the best deal or that you'll always find the whopping savings. Also, at some point, the cost of additional research can outweigh the benefits - is it really worth it to spend 20 more hours to find a savings of 1 dollar? You be the judge.
However, even conducting basic price research will give you some peace of mind that you probably aren't getting the worst deal out there. Here are a few things to consider:
(1) The more money that is at stake, the more time you should spend on research. This is obvious for a high value item but people often overlook that a low cost item that you purchase many units of can be a huge amount too (e.g. a 5 cent price difference per unit x 2000 units = $100).
(2) Compare at least two (ideally more) vendors who are selling the product. The more vendors you can compare the better. If the amount of money at stake isn't trivial to you, you should definitely research the business record of the vendor you select (e.g. customer complaints, better business bureau records, etc.). How to research a vendor will be the focus of another article.
(3) Look to see if the product is sold in different markets (e.g. target customers, different physical locations, on-line vs. the internet). You may have to brainstorm a bit. A product could be priced differently depending on the market. Here's an example: 3M's Scotch Blue Painter's Tape (2" x 60 Yds) costs $10.99 when sold at Utrecht, a vendor that sells primarily to fine artists [1]. However, when the exact same tape is sold to construction workers, it costs $6.87 at Home Depot [2]. The poor artists are paying at least a 60% markup just because they are artists! I hope many of them think like construction workers.
(4) Sometimes the product is altered slightly and/or is sold under a different brand to fit into a different market even though the product is essentially the same: made by the same manufacturer with the same materials, same labor and same quality control. With these changes there may be associated changes in price also. At that point you'll have to use your own judgment if the branding or alterations are important to you. A friend of mine who was in the apparel industry told me that sometimes a manufacturer makes a whole set of identical clothes, puts one label on half of them and a different label on the other half. The first half goes to the high end stores (and is priced accordingly) and the second half goes to discount stores.
(5) If ordering on-line, by phone, or by catalog, compare the shipping and handling costs and product restocking fees (if there is a possibility you might need to return what you buy). Vendors use a wide variety of S+H formulas (e.g. value of product, weight, quantity, flat fee + weight) and because of that variety, shipping and handling costs may be different between vendors of the same product. It may be simpler to do your price comparisons on the total cost (product + shipping and handling).
Basic price research can often be done on-line - even if you eventually go to a brick and mortar store to make the purchase.
Sources: All website prices were accessed on March 2, 2010.
[1] Scotch Blue Painter's Tape at Utrecht
[2] Scotch Blue Painter's Tape at Home Depot
When buying a product, even a little bit of price research might pay big dividends. As an example, in a previous article ("Price variations on the internet, bigger than you think" January 1, 2010), I found an electronic toothbrush being sold at $129.99 but then a quick online search of less than 3 minutes yielded the same toothbrush being sold from another reputable vendor for $99.99.
Here's another: In one eBay on-line store, buyers were bidding up the price of factory demo (i.e. used) Nikon D200 cameras. In almost every instance, they bid up the factory demos to several hundred dollars above the price of brand new D200s being sold directly through the same retailer's non-eBay online store. I called the retailer and his explanation was that some people felt they really needed to have a used camera instead of a brand new one. My explanation: people didn't do the research.
Markets aren't perfectly efficient otherwise such massive price differences would probably not exist.
Price research doesn't guarantee you'll get the best deal or that you'll always find the whopping savings. Also, at some point, the cost of additional research can outweigh the benefits - is it really worth it to spend 20 more hours to find a savings of 1 dollar? You be the judge.
However, even conducting basic price research will give you some peace of mind that you probably aren't getting the worst deal out there. Here are a few things to consider:
(1) The more money that is at stake, the more time you should spend on research. This is obvious for a high value item but people often overlook that a low cost item that you purchase many units of can be a huge amount too (e.g. a 5 cent price difference per unit x 2000 units = $100).
(2) Compare at least two (ideally more) vendors who are selling the product. The more vendors you can compare the better. If the amount of money at stake isn't trivial to you, you should definitely research the business record of the vendor you select (e.g. customer complaints, better business bureau records, etc.). How to research a vendor will be the focus of another article.
(3) Look to see if the product is sold in different markets (e.g. target customers, different physical locations, on-line vs. the internet). You may have to brainstorm a bit. A product could be priced differently depending on the market. Here's an example: 3M's Scotch Blue Painter's Tape (2" x 60 Yds) costs $10.99 when sold at Utrecht, a vendor that sells primarily to fine artists [1]. However, when the exact same tape is sold to construction workers, it costs $6.87 at Home Depot [2]. The poor artists are paying at least a 60% markup just because they are artists! I hope many of them think like construction workers.
(4) Sometimes the product is altered slightly and/or is sold under a different brand to fit into a different market even though the product is essentially the same: made by the same manufacturer with the same materials, same labor and same quality control. With these changes there may be associated changes in price also. At that point you'll have to use your own judgment if the branding or alterations are important to you. A friend of mine who was in the apparel industry told me that sometimes a manufacturer makes a whole set of identical clothes, puts one label on half of them and a different label on the other half. The first half goes to the high end stores (and is priced accordingly) and the second half goes to discount stores.
(5) If ordering on-line, by phone, or by catalog, compare the shipping and handling costs and product restocking fees (if there is a possibility you might need to return what you buy). Vendors use a wide variety of S+H formulas (e.g. value of product, weight, quantity, flat fee + weight) and because of that variety, shipping and handling costs may be different between vendors of the same product. It may be simpler to do your price comparisons on the total cost (product + shipping and handling).
Basic price research can often be done on-line - even if you eventually go to a brick and mortar store to make the purchase.
Sources: All website prices were accessed on March 2, 2010.
[1] Scotch Blue Painter's Tape at Utrecht
[2] Scotch Blue Painter's Tape at Home Depot
Monday, March 1, 2010
Diner style eating at the Waveland Cafe (Des Moines, IA)
Waveland Cafe
4708 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA
(515) 279-4341
Accepts Credit Cards.
Hours: Open daily until 9PM.
There isn't an International House of Pancakes within the vicinity of University Ave and Polk Boulevard, and you can credit that to this diner style cafe. Founded in 1982, the Waveland has that hometown feel: dining counter, padded round seats along with regular patrons whom the waitstaff knows by name. Orders are still processed by pad and pen. It boasts locally made ingredients and breakfast served all day. Prices are reasonable considering the quantity: the Buttermilk Pancake Special gets you two eggs, a choice of meat and two pancakes that each fill the size of a dinner plate - all for $7.25 [1]. Be sure to try the Everything Hashbrowns dish which, unlike with normal humdrum hashbrowns, is filled with ham, vegetables and cheese and can be a meal in itself. Sandwiches and grill items are also available.
The waitstaff did make an error in filling my order (wrong pancake flavor). The service to fix it was prompt and courteous. I'm a firm believer in that how a person behaves after messing up speaks a lot about the service. I have no reason to believe that they make more than an occasional error (no one is perfect).
The Waveland doesn't pretend to be an institution of health-conscious eating but on the other hand your tastebuds will be in for a real treat - why not indulge once in a while? Saturday and Sunday morning brunch time are the most packed - be prepared to wait, it's worth it.
[1] Price as of January 24, 2010
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
4708 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA
(515) 279-4341
Accepts Credit Cards.
Hours: Open daily until 9PM.
There isn't an International House of Pancakes within the vicinity of University Ave and Polk Boulevard, and you can credit that to this diner style cafe. Founded in 1982, the Waveland has that hometown feel: dining counter, padded round seats along with regular patrons whom the waitstaff knows by name. Orders are still processed by pad and pen. It boasts locally made ingredients and breakfast served all day. Prices are reasonable considering the quantity: the Buttermilk Pancake Special gets you two eggs, a choice of meat and two pancakes that each fill the size of a dinner plate - all for $7.25 [1]. Be sure to try the Everything Hashbrowns dish which, unlike with normal humdrum hashbrowns, is filled with ham, vegetables and cheese and can be a meal in itself. Sandwiches and grill items are also available.
The waitstaff did make an error in filling my order (wrong pancake flavor). The service to fix it was prompt and courteous. I'm a firm believer in that how a person behaves after messing up speaks a lot about the service. I have no reason to believe that they make more than an occasional error (no one is perfect).
The Waveland doesn't pretend to be an institution of health-conscious eating but on the other hand your tastebuds will be in for a real treat - why not indulge once in a while? Saturday and Sunday morning brunch time are the most packed - be prepared to wait, it's worth it.
[1] Price as of January 24, 2010
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
Friday, February 26, 2010
Make Your Luggage Last With Sail Tape
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
Airlines claim that they use reasonable care in handling checked luggage but I don't believe that one bit. In just one short flight from Chicago to Boston, my brand new spotless Tumi suitcase appeared on the luggage claim belt belly up, like a turtle on its back, with scuffs on the corners and dents in the plastic. Other parts of the ballistic nylon shell were frayed as if sandpaper was rubbed against it. I have started to seriously wonder how long any piece of luggage can last in today's travel environment.
Of course a major step to making your luggage last is to always carry your luggage on with you and avoid checking it in. Unfortunately, you won't be always able to do this (e.g. Abandon ye any hope on the small regional commuter planes).
This is where sail tape comes in handy. Sail tape is made in a variety of colors (include the all important color black) and a 2 inch wide 25 foot long roll will cost around 14 to 15 dollars [1]. You can also use the lighter spinnaker repair tape.
Why not just a cheap roll of duct tape? Sail tape comes with an adhesive backing that you peel away. This allows you to carry a thin strip of tape (instead of a bulky roll of duct tape) for repairs on the fly. Sail tape can be applied to damp surfaces (though it is best if the surface is clean and dry) and it is waterproof and flexible over the long term. It applies on smooth and can be permanent - but it can still be removed later if you so desire. Duct tape, on the other hand, doesn't adhere well to wet surfaces, becomes mucky around the edges and eventually gets brittle and starts to peel. Sail tape also has rip stop characteristics whereas you can rip duct tape easily with your hands along two axes.
So aside from repairing a tear in your luggage (apply the sail tape to both the inside and outside of the tear), perhaps the best application of sail tape is a proactive one. When the luggage is still brand new and the surfaces are clean and dry, use the sail tape to reinforce the areas you expect will get the most abuse from handling and the elements - this means the corners, the bottom area (when held upright) near the wheels, as well as any part that comes into contact with the ground when the luggage is in a natural resting position.
Note that at airports you might have limited access to scissors which you will need to cut sail tape. If you can't bring scissors with you and you can't borrow them from the airline officials pack a few pre-cut strips 3 to 4 inches long. Strips of those lengths will usually be enough to cover any tears.
[1] Bainbridge International Ripstop Nylon Tape sold at West Marine as of February 27, 2010. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/50843?&cid=chanintel&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=50843.
Airlines claim that they use reasonable care in handling checked luggage but I don't believe that one bit. In just one short flight from Chicago to Boston, my brand new spotless Tumi suitcase appeared on the luggage claim belt belly up, like a turtle on its back, with scuffs on the corners and dents in the plastic. Other parts of the ballistic nylon shell were frayed as if sandpaper was rubbed against it. I have started to seriously wonder how long any piece of luggage can last in today's travel environment.
Of course a major step to making your luggage last is to always carry your luggage on with you and avoid checking it in. Unfortunately, you won't be always able to do this (e.g. Abandon ye any hope on the small regional commuter planes).
This is where sail tape comes in handy. Sail tape is made in a variety of colors (include the all important color black) and a 2 inch wide 25 foot long roll will cost around 14 to 15 dollars [1]. You can also use the lighter spinnaker repair tape.
Why not just a cheap roll of duct tape? Sail tape comes with an adhesive backing that you peel away. This allows you to carry a thin strip of tape (instead of a bulky roll of duct tape) for repairs on the fly. Sail tape can be applied to damp surfaces (though it is best if the surface is clean and dry) and it is waterproof and flexible over the long term. It applies on smooth and can be permanent - but it can still be removed later if you so desire. Duct tape, on the other hand, doesn't adhere well to wet surfaces, becomes mucky around the edges and eventually gets brittle and starts to peel. Sail tape also has rip stop characteristics whereas you can rip duct tape easily with your hands along two axes.
So aside from repairing a tear in your luggage (apply the sail tape to both the inside and outside of the tear), perhaps the best application of sail tape is a proactive one. When the luggage is still brand new and the surfaces are clean and dry, use the sail tape to reinforce the areas you expect will get the most abuse from handling and the elements - this means the corners, the bottom area (when held upright) near the wheels, as well as any part that comes into contact with the ground when the luggage is in a natural resting position.
Note that at airports you might have limited access to scissors which you will need to cut sail tape. If you can't bring scissors with you and you can't borrow them from the airline officials pack a few pre-cut strips 3 to 4 inches long. Strips of those lengths will usually be enough to cover any tears.
[1] Bainbridge International Ripstop Nylon Tape sold at West Marine as of February 27, 2010. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/50843?&cid=chanintel&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=50843.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Give way to transit buses - they make driving easier.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
I drive a car and take the bus. As a driver, I make a special effort to give transit buses the right of way but there are many other drivers who cut them off and don't allow them to merge into traffic. It's a rare instance when I say that people should follow my example and in this instance there are a few compelling reasons.
If you are socially conscious: When you cut off the bus, you save yourself 2-3 seconds but you delay every single passenger on board by 2-3 seconds. If there are 20 people on board, you've saved yourself 2 to 3 seconds but have caused a combined total of 80 to 120 seconds of delay to the passengers.
If you aren't socially conscious: By giving way to a bus, you make its trip quicker, smoother and more reliable. That makes it more attractive to potential users. Each person choosing to take the bus instead of driving (I acknowledge that some could bike or walk instead) means one less car on the road. For you as a driver that means less congestion. This is especially important during peak travel times when the number of cars on the road is above the "free flow" capacity of the road, and each additional car adds increasingly more and more delay to the system (until gridlock occurs).
I drive a car and take the bus. As a driver, I make a special effort to give transit buses the right of way but there are many other drivers who cut them off and don't allow them to merge into traffic. It's a rare instance when I say that people should follow my example and in this instance there are a few compelling reasons.
If you are socially conscious: When you cut off the bus, you save yourself 2-3 seconds but you delay every single passenger on board by 2-3 seconds. If there are 20 people on board, you've saved yourself 2 to 3 seconds but have caused a combined total of 80 to 120 seconds of delay to the passengers.
If you aren't socially conscious: By giving way to a bus, you make its trip quicker, smoother and more reliable. That makes it more attractive to potential users. Each person choosing to take the bus instead of driving (I acknowledge that some could bike or walk instead) means one less car on the road. For you as a driver that means less congestion. This is especially important during peak travel times when the number of cars on the road is above the "free flow" capacity of the road, and each additional car adds increasingly more and more delay to the system (until gridlock occurs).
Friday, January 1, 2010
Price variations on the internet - bigger than you think.
Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom
The waning hours of 2009, found me searching for a new electric tooth brush. Having settled on the Oral-B 4000 (because it has a charger that can be used anywhere in the world - in case you are curious), I did a quick online search. I was quite surprised by the spread of the prices (all offered free shipping):
Even when you find the lowest price, you should investigate the retailer, especially if it prices the item significantly lower than the competition. Rock bottom prices could signal an unscrupulous retailer. The horror stories abound. Here's a sampling: what is advertised isn't what you get, you get an order confirmation call where if you don't load up on accessories your item is suddenly out of stock, you get charged for things you didn't order, and you have trouble getting refunds [2]. Not all low price retailers are bad but there's enough of them out there to warrant research.
The takeaway is that the internet hasn't been the great equalizer. A single price posted on-line isn't necessarily going to be close to the lowest you can get. Don't depend on retailers searching on-line to find out if their price is competitive to others.
Sources:
All website prices were accessed on December 31, 2009 and again on January 1, 2010.
[1] Berlinski, Peter. "Ryan Preaches PL to CVS Team," Private Label Magazine, January 2006 (accessed January 1, 2010) http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/jan_2006/Ryan-Preaches-PL-to-CVS-Team.cfm .
[2] Tynan, Daniel and Tom Spring. "Camera Confidential." PCWorld, January 8, 2003 (accessed January 1, 2010)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/107855/camera_confidential.html .
The waning hours of 2009, found me searching for a new electric tooth brush. Having settled on the Oral-B 4000 (because it has a charger that can be used anywhere in the world - in case you are curious), I did a quick online search. I was quite surprised by the spread of the prices (all offered free shipping):
- CVS: $139.99 (both online at http://www.cvs.com and at the store)
- Walgreens: $129.99 (http://www.wallgreens.com )
- Drugstore.com: $99.99
Even when you find the lowest price, you should investigate the retailer, especially if it prices the item significantly lower than the competition. Rock bottom prices could signal an unscrupulous retailer. The horror stories abound. Here's a sampling: what is advertised isn't what you get, you get an order confirmation call where if you don't load up on accessories your item is suddenly out of stock, you get charged for things you didn't order, and you have trouble getting refunds [2]. Not all low price retailers are bad but there's enough of them out there to warrant research.
The takeaway is that the internet hasn't been the great equalizer. A single price posted on-line isn't necessarily going to be close to the lowest you can get. Don't depend on retailers searching on-line to find out if their price is competitive to others.
Sources:
All website prices were accessed on December 31, 2009 and again on January 1, 2010.
[1] Berlinski, Peter. "Ryan Preaches PL to CVS Team," Private Label Magazine, January 2006 (accessed January 1, 2010) http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/jan_2006/Ryan-Preaches-PL-to-CVS-Team.cfm .
[2] Tynan, Daniel and Tom Spring. "Camera Confidential." PCWorld, January 8, 2003 (accessed January 1, 2010)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/107855/camera_confidential.html .
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