The Geography of Bliss - Eric Weiner.
Before picking this up I was aware of the existence of the World Happiness Index and Bhutan's idea of a Gross National Happiness rather than Gross National Product. I like the idea of happiness... trying to figure out what the good life is... what it represents... how to get there. I also examine every aspect of my own life. This may be counterproductive after a point. I also travel some, and listen to NPR. I am pretty much exactly the target audience of this book. So, how did it go?
It's light, but worth reading. The style is perhaps a bit too much of a travel log and too light on statistics, but that may be the point. It is well illustrated that happiness is neither economic nor cultural, and more due to an individual's ambition or expectations matching up with their current place and mode of life. Different societies (countries in the book's case) tend to produce different expectations of their residents, so the premise that an individual can find happiness easier some places than others is, in my opinion, valid. As long as the individual realizes they can't go to a place and instantly be happy, just that the place is an enabler.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Additional Simplifying
Sold the Mercedes.
Zipcar works well.
It feels futuristic.
Their website shows what cars are available where and when.
Check one out and provide a return time (SMS message extensions are available if you're running late).
When you walk up to the car just put the proxcard next to the sensor and it unlocks.
The key is on a cable next to the ignition.
Drive as needed.
Return it to the original parking space and wave the proxcard at the sensor to lock it and check it in.
Car #1 - the Honda Civic Hybrid. Basically, it's a Civic which is worse to drive than the original in exchange for a few more MPG. Which is disappointing because the whole point of the Civic is a small car which drives well. (Given the vtec engine option and decent tires)
On the hybrid: between the regenerative brakes, battery assist and poor tires it makes for a hopelessly non-linear driving experience. Constant brake pressure produced inconsistent levels of braking depending on whether regeneration was working. Consistent accelerator pressure produced such poor acceleration that it didn't matter whether the batteries were working or not.
At least the interior build quality was good - no notable rattles or wear at 28k miles on this car.
Come to think of it, in the last year or so I've driven nearly every sub-15k-new sedan platform on the market. I'll use Flexcar to get to the last couple (Toyota/Scion and Subaru) and then come up with a list. Current leader is the Hyundai Elantra.
Zipcar works well.
It feels futuristic.
Their website shows what cars are available where and when.
Check one out and provide a return time (SMS message extensions are available if you're running late).
When you walk up to the car just put the proxcard next to the sensor and it unlocks.
The key is on a cable next to the ignition.
Drive as needed.
Return it to the original parking space and wave the proxcard at the sensor to lock it and check it in.
Car #1 - the Honda Civic Hybrid. Basically, it's a Civic which is worse to drive than the original in exchange for a few more MPG. Which is disappointing because the whole point of the Civic is a small car which drives well. (Given the vtec engine option and decent tires)
On the hybrid: between the regenerative brakes, battery assist and poor tires it makes for a hopelessly non-linear driving experience. Constant brake pressure produced inconsistent levels of braking depending on whether regeneration was working. Consistent accelerator pressure produced such poor acceleration that it didn't matter whether the batteries were working or not.
At least the interior build quality was good - no notable rattles or wear at 28k miles on this car.
Come to think of it, in the last year or so I've driven nearly every sub-15k-new sedan platform on the market. I'll use Flexcar to get to the last couple (Toyota/Scion and Subaru) and then come up with a list. Current leader is the Hyundai Elantra.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Light at the end of the tunnel? Is it the end or a headlight of the train engine.
NY Times article on the effects of the current recession on the city's notoriously consumerist culture ( http://nymag.com/news/features/56623/ ) has an advertisement for a $4000 watch on the sidebar. It's a flash add, the other options seem to be other gaudy jewelry.
I suppose it's a value option compared to a $15,000 Audemars Piguet or others...
I suppose it's a value option compared to a $15,000 Audemars Piguet or others...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hawaii
Supporting pictures here: http://maslows.net:12110/Site/Photos/Pages/Hawaii.html
I suppose Honolulu-Waikiki was what I expected out of Hawaii - a very tourist dependent economy with lower taxes than most states to make shopping 'friendlier' to visitors, fancy hotels and crowded beaches. A place for people to go who want to be seen, in a bikini. Basically like Los Angeles or some of the major Florida beaches. You don't initially see any reason to have travelled 5 hours to get here.
The interesting part of Honolulu was to find the small places where tourists weren't around. For instance the bento counter where the owner addressed a probable regular customer and her kids in Japanese, then when leaving her kids turned to the owner and said 'Good Bye' in English. (Good chicken with ponzu sauce and very properly done sticky white rice - chopstick friendly) Or the drive-in restaurant a dozen streets back from the beach which did not have a single rental car in the parking lot. There is normal city life there, it's just not obvious.
Going to the north shore of Oahu was a very quick and stark contrast - the beaches were nearly empty, and the only crowded places were the good restaurants in the small beach-y towns. It's a relaxing place. Only a half hour from all the conveniences of a major city, yet it might as well be an entirely different island.
However the vacation really started after leaving Oahu for the big island. Oahu, even on the north shore, seems 'normal' and 'American' - everything is familiar. Hilo and the volcano seem to represent Hawaii as it was when it was its own country - and it's infinitely more interesting for it.
- The Hilo airport doesn't have walls on all sides. There are comfortable padded lounge chairs in the main lobby area, which is not air conditioned - the breeze is comfortable even on an 80 degree day. In this era of making a grand show of security it's refreshing to see a chain link fence as the most formidable barrier.
- Even the main hotel area of Hilo, Banyan Drive, hasn't changed since it was built in the late 50's/early 60's. Hotels are family run, restaurants use locally grown or caught ingredients, the beach-y areas are filled with decidedly non-tourists - families setting up a tent and grill for the afternoon, children play on the rocks in the bay, so on. The local drive in menu is half American, half Polynesian. Quaint is the word I'm looking for, or a tropical version of Lake Woebegon(e), I suppose.
- The volcanic national park is a interesting geology 101 course - see how earth gets made - plate tectonics at work. And the miles of desolation caused by lava flows are beautifully alien to someone that is used to hiking in forests. Trees do provide shade though, which would have been appreciated, as it was hot.
------------------------
Rental cars:
- Chrysler Sebring convertible. This is the absolute worst car that I have driven. I was about to add 'except for any early 90's GM product' but even those didn't break during the rental period. Partial brake failure is one thing, falling-apart levels of quality at 20k miles is another.
- Hyundai Elantra. Perfect commuter car. Quiet, comfortable, good design. Mini-Lexus levels of fit and finish. Nice sound system. Just over 12 grand brand new - that's incredible value.
- Chevrolet Corvette. Plasticky, garish, yellow, chrome, showy, extroverted... everything I don't like in a car. And yet - the ride is comfortable and the exhaust is quiet when cruising, the engine/automatic-transmission combination is perfect, and the handling is very easy to exploit. 2nd gear through a tunnel at 60mph is one of the better automotive experiences you can have. Tire smoking sliding exits from parking lots, with an automatic transmission no less, is another. Passing a car on a 2 lane road with a quick tap of the downshift button is a third. To drive it is as fun as my previous BMW 540 or Porsche. To be seen in... I just wouldn't fit. Maybe in dark grey or black, no stripes, no chrome, maybe.
I suppose Honolulu-Waikiki was what I expected out of Hawaii - a very tourist dependent economy with lower taxes than most states to make shopping 'friendlier' to visitors, fancy hotels and crowded beaches. A place for people to go who want to be seen, in a bikini. Basically like Los Angeles or some of the major Florida beaches. You don't initially see any reason to have travelled 5 hours to get here.
The interesting part of Honolulu was to find the small places where tourists weren't around. For instance the bento counter where the owner addressed a probable regular customer and her kids in Japanese, then when leaving her kids turned to the owner and said 'Good Bye' in English. (Good chicken with ponzu sauce and very properly done sticky white rice - chopstick friendly) Or the drive-in restaurant a dozen streets back from the beach which did not have a single rental car in the parking lot. There is normal city life there, it's just not obvious.
Going to the north shore of Oahu was a very quick and stark contrast - the beaches were nearly empty, and the only crowded places were the good restaurants in the small beach-y towns. It's a relaxing place. Only a half hour from all the conveniences of a major city, yet it might as well be an entirely different island.
However the vacation really started after leaving Oahu for the big island. Oahu, even on the north shore, seems 'normal' and 'American' - everything is familiar. Hilo and the volcano seem to represent Hawaii as it was when it was its own country - and it's infinitely more interesting for it.
- The Hilo airport doesn't have walls on all sides. There are comfortable padded lounge chairs in the main lobby area, which is not air conditioned - the breeze is comfortable even on an 80 degree day. In this era of making a grand show of security it's refreshing to see a chain link fence as the most formidable barrier.
- Even the main hotel area of Hilo, Banyan Drive, hasn't changed since it was built in the late 50's/early 60's. Hotels are family run, restaurants use locally grown or caught ingredients, the beach-y areas are filled with decidedly non-tourists - families setting up a tent and grill for the afternoon, children play on the rocks in the bay, so on. The local drive in menu is half American, half Polynesian. Quaint is the word I'm looking for, or a tropical version of Lake Woebegon(e), I suppose.
- The volcanic national park is a interesting geology 101 course - see how earth gets made - plate tectonics at work. And the miles of desolation caused by lava flows are beautifully alien to someone that is used to hiking in forests. Trees do provide shade though, which would have been appreciated, as it was hot.
------------------------
Rental cars:
- Chrysler Sebring convertible. This is the absolute worst car that I have driven. I was about to add 'except for any early 90's GM product' but even those didn't break during the rental period. Partial brake failure is one thing, falling-apart levels of quality at 20k miles is another.
- Hyundai Elantra. Perfect commuter car. Quiet, comfortable, good design. Mini-Lexus levels of fit and finish. Nice sound system. Just over 12 grand brand new - that's incredible value.
- Chevrolet Corvette. Plasticky, garish, yellow, chrome, showy, extroverted... everything I don't like in a car. And yet - the ride is comfortable and the exhaust is quiet when cruising, the engine/automatic-transmission combination is perfect, and the handling is very easy to exploit. 2nd gear through a tunnel at 60mph is one of the better automotive experiences you can have. Tire smoking sliding exits from parking lots, with an automatic transmission no less, is another. Passing a car on a 2 lane road with a quick tap of the downshift button is a third. To drive it is as fun as my previous BMW 540 or Porsche. To be seen in... I just wouldn't fit. Maybe in dark grey or black, no stripes, no chrome, maybe.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Quick update
It's been a busy couple weeks.
Hawaii - interesting. Especially Hilo. Oahu is a bit too touristy for my style of travel. Longer update to follow during downtime at work this week.
3 day workweeks should be standard.
Sold the car. Going car free at least until the move. If it goes well all the better, if not it's old Porsche time again. They're just too much fun.
Mt. Si is a good intro to climbing a mountain - steep hike (3600ft up in 4 miles of trail) followed by a very rocky summit area. Too many people though. Want a more remote route next time.
Sounders played to a draw with some really crappy refereeing and lots of missed chances.
Quiet week ahead.
Hawaii - interesting. Especially Hilo. Oahu is a bit too touristy for my style of travel. Longer update to follow during downtime at work this week.
3 day workweeks should be standard.
Sold the car. Going car free at least until the move. If it goes well all the better, if not it's old Porsche time again. They're just too much fun.
Mt. Si is a good intro to climbing a mountain - steep hike (3600ft up in 4 miles of trail) followed by a very rocky summit area. Too many people though. Want a more remote route next time.
Sounders played to a draw with some really crappy refereeing and lots of missed chances.
Quiet week ahead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)