My wife wanted to spend the weekend in San Francisco and so instead of flying home at the end of a week, I just stayed in the Bay Area and used frequent flyer miles to bring her out. Waiting for her to arrive on Friday felt strange as normally I am not in the office. When it came time to pick my wife up at the San Francisco airport, I had to figure out how to get the timing correct. Airports don't like it when you pull up to the curb and wait for an hour or two for a flight to land.
Fortunately my boat that I stay on in the Bay Area sits at the end of the San Francisco airport runway. I decided to try something new just to see if the timing worked out. My wife gave me her estimated arrival time as the plane took off and then I hung out on the boat waiting for her to land. As the time got close for her arrival, I sat out in the cockpit of my boat playing my guitar, and watching planes land. I saw my wife's aircraft fly by and had that confirmed when she texted me immediately upon touchdown. Then I carefully put my guitar away, closed up the boat, and started the short drive to airport.
I pulled into SFO just as my wife called from the curb. Timing worked out perfectly. I pulled up and my wife immediately got into the car without either of us having to wait more than 15 seconds.
There are a number of smartphone apps that show when flights arrive. You can also use the phone to tell your ride when you are leaving. Unfortunately neither of these take airport congestion into account. Nothing beats sitting at the end of the runway on your sailboat watching planes land.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Thursday, October 27, 2016
A New Company Benefit: Identity Theft Protection
My company had a meeting today where they rolled out next year's changes to our benefits package. For the most part, things are better than in years previous and I can't complain about anything. One interesting new perk is that of identity theft protection. Interestingly enough I have been thinking about picking this up for myself and am happy to see I don't need to.
There are a number of companies providing identity theft protection with Lifelock being the most popular. If you go to their website, you will see that 1 in 4 people are victims of identity theft. Those are pretty high odds and I don't want to take that risk.
I am one of those people that prefers not to store credit card numbers with my online accounts. While it takes a bit more time as I have to manually add my payment information for any purchases I make from a website, it reduces the chance of a bad guy getting my financial information. Unfortunately there are a number of sites that insist on storing that information for me and so I am glad to have this new benefit. Hopefully other companies are following this trend and making it part of your benefits package. If not, now you know what to ask the next time your human resources department requests feedback.
There are a number of companies providing identity theft protection with Lifelock being the most popular. If you go to their website, you will see that 1 in 4 people are victims of identity theft. Those are pretty high odds and I don't want to take that risk.
I am one of those people that prefers not to store credit card numbers with my online accounts. While it takes a bit more time as I have to manually add my payment information for any purchases I make from a website, it reduces the chance of a bad guy getting my financial information. Unfortunately there are a number of sites that insist on storing that information for me and so I am glad to have this new benefit. Hopefully other companies are following this trend and making it part of your benefits package. If not, now you know what to ask the next time your human resources department requests feedback.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Virtual Reality
Last week Sony PlayStation released their virtual reality (VR) hardware. I ordered one for myself and finally got it set up today. Being in the video game industry I have seen countless VR demos and had the chance to share some of them with my family members today. If you haven't had a demo yet, I understand you can get them at Gamestop and several other retailers. I highly suggest seeing them first-hand as there is no way to do VR justice without a live demo.
It has been interesting to watch VR games evolve over the past several years. A few months ago I participated in a demo and it amazed me how immersive the experience is. I wondered if a game that might be rated for teens (T) suddenly becomes a mature (M) game because you feel so much more a part of the game. Specifically I am thinking about violence. When you have a first person shooter or action adventure where you shoot people but there is not graphic blood, you can get away with a T rating. Take that same game, put it in a VR environment, and suddenly certain elements deserve a much more adult rating.
I know that the adult entertainment industry is eager to adopt VR which is why I opted for the PlayStation VR over the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Sony can exercise some element of control over what content appears on their platform. While they do allow nudity in their games, they would never allow and adults-only (AO) title to appear on their console. However, this does bring up a good point. God of War, The Order 1886, and several other games from Sony studios do contain nudity. While that has only earned a mature rating in the past, will it now deserve an AO in VR?
It has been interesting to watch VR games evolve over the past several years. A few months ago I participated in a demo and it amazed me how immersive the experience is. I wondered if a game that might be rated for teens (T) suddenly becomes a mature (M) game because you feel so much more a part of the game. Specifically I am thinking about violence. When you have a first person shooter or action adventure where you shoot people but there is not graphic blood, you can get away with a T rating. Take that same game, put it in a VR environment, and suddenly certain elements deserve a much more adult rating.
I know that the adult entertainment industry is eager to adopt VR which is why I opted for the PlayStation VR over the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Sony can exercise some element of control over what content appears on their platform. While they do allow nudity in their games, they would never allow and adults-only (AO) title to appear on their console. However, this does bring up a good point. God of War, The Order 1886, and several other games from Sony studios do contain nudity. While that has only earned a mature rating in the past, will it now deserve an AO in VR?
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
No Substitute for Paper
Recently I headed out with my family for a day of rock climbing. As a fairly novice rock climber, I usually make sure to purchase a guide for the area I plan to climb. Then I just throw it in my equipment bag and reference it before starting the climb. On this particular trip, we arrived at the climbing area just after two guys from California. They started pulling out their climbing equipment and I wanted to check that we were in the right area. They confirmed it and so we parked the car. Next I pulled out my trusty guide book to determine where we should set our equipment to begin our climb. Our new friends from California took a peculiar interest in the book.
A lot of people rely on smartphones to provided directions to specific locations. Rock climbing is no exception. Unfortunately we all decided to climb someplace so remote, none of us had mobile phone reception. The guys from California drove to the correct location based off of stored GPS coordinates but didn't have the rest of the information needed to start the climb. They consulted my guide book and found a nice place to go so we would not interfere with each other. They also took a picture of the guide book page for the area in case they needed more help.
Smartphones and the ubiquitous Internet have really cut down on how much printed information we need on a daily basis. However every once and a while you may find that there is no substitute for paper. I am not sure what our new friends would have done had I not come along with my trusty guide book.
A lot of people rely on smartphones to provided directions to specific locations. Rock climbing is no exception. Unfortunately we all decided to climb someplace so remote, none of us had mobile phone reception. The guys from California drove to the correct location based off of stored GPS coordinates but didn't have the rest of the information needed to start the climb. They consulted my guide book and found a nice place to go so we would not interfere with each other. They also took a picture of the guide book page for the area in case they needed more help.
Smartphones and the ubiquitous Internet have really cut down on how much printed information we need on a daily basis. However every once and a while you may find that there is no substitute for paper. I am not sure what our new friends would have done had I not come along with my trusty guide book.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Laptop Size Recommendation
When I first started my current job, I had a laptop provided to me and didn't have the option of choosing it. I was not the first user and the computer had seen better days. Eventually the time came and I got to order a new laptop and I selected one of the larger laptops available. I did so based on the processing power available. I also liked the size of the larger screen.
I liked the new laptop and used it for several years longer than required. Our company policy allows us to refresh our computers every couple of years. At the 4-year mark, I decided to make some changes. I noticed that others carried their laptops with them a lot more than I did. The larger format of mine discouraged that. Instead of the 15-inch model, I chose the 13-inch one. I am pleased with the change. I find myself bringing my computer with me everywhere. I also find myself pulling out my laptop a lot more on planes and in airports. It is much easier to find space for a smaller machine.
If you are in the market for a new laptop, think about any changes you would like to make with your current one. Think about more than just processor speed and memory. Is your computer bag too heavy when you put your laptop in it or do you even notice. Is your screen too small to be useful or is it more than adequate. These are small things that are often overlooked but end up making more of a difference than you probably realize. I know it surprised me.
I liked the new laptop and used it for several years longer than required. Our company policy allows us to refresh our computers every couple of years. At the 4-year mark, I decided to make some changes. I noticed that others carried their laptops with them a lot more than I did. The larger format of mine discouraged that. Instead of the 15-inch model, I chose the 13-inch one. I am pleased with the change. I find myself bringing my computer with me everywhere. I also find myself pulling out my laptop a lot more on planes and in airports. It is much easier to find space for a smaller machine.
If you are in the market for a new laptop, think about any changes you would like to make with your current one. Think about more than just processor speed and memory. Is your computer bag too heavy when you put your laptop in it or do you even notice. Is your screen too small to be useful or is it more than adequate. These are small things that are often overlooked but end up making more of a difference than you probably realize. I know it surprised me.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Tokyo Game Show
I am sitting in one of the first-class lounges at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Earlier I got off a flight from Tokyo and my connecting flight to Salt Lake is delayed by more than an hour. If everything had worked out, I would have been able to spend an entire day in Tokyo, cross the International Date Line and gotten home on an hour before I left Tokyo. Instead I will get home an hour into the day after a very important day to me. I am kind of upset that I won't be home on time but there is not much I can do about it. Just remember that when you need the airlines to be on time, they won't be.
So what brought me to Tokyo? Tokyo Game Show (TGS), Japan's largest video game conference. I had some important meetings and so I needed to attend. I just wish the show occurred a week earlier or later. Then I could be home on this special day.
I don't have official numbers but the show seemed larger than last year. I didn't see any surprises other than games that are popular in Japan but not in the US. I think the one big stand-out from the show is Resident Evil 7: Biohazard from CAPCOM. I'm not sure if I gave this game more attention because one of my co-workers from Japan really likes the game and so we spent more time watching trailers. What I do know is that it looks like a scary game that should be very entertaining.
I do have to disclose that I work for a video game company but no, we don't work on Resident Evil 7. Also, I have never played a Resident Evil game but have to admit this one does look interesting. I'll have to give it a try when it releases in January of 2017.
So what brought me to Tokyo? Tokyo Game Show (TGS), Japan's largest video game conference. I had some important meetings and so I needed to attend. I just wish the show occurred a week earlier or later. Then I could be home on this special day.
I don't have official numbers but the show seemed larger than last year. I didn't see any surprises other than games that are popular in Japan but not in the US. I think the one big stand-out from the show is Resident Evil 7: Biohazard from CAPCOM. I'm not sure if I gave this game more attention because one of my co-workers from Japan really likes the game and so we spent more time watching trailers. What I do know is that it looks like a scary game that should be very entertaining.
I do have to disclose that I work for a video game company but no, we don't work on Resident Evil 7. Also, I have never played a Resident Evil game but have to admit this one does look interesting. I'll have to give it a try when it releases in January of 2017.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Online Ski Stores
A few days ago I wrote about my experience purchasing my son ski bindings from an online store. Afterwards I thought that others might be interested in sites that I find reliable for picking up ski stuff. One of the largest ski retailers in my area closed their doors earlier this year and while other stores are stepping up to fill the void, I am resorting to purchasing more and more online. Here is my list of recommended places to shop:
Backcountry.com - This site used to be my favorite as they always seemed to have the best deals around. Recently their prices have not been as good as in the past. I have purchased quite a few pairs of skis as well as a lot of rock climbing equipment from them. They also have Steep and Cheap, a site that showcases one item at a time for huge discounts. You have to be quick though as each item is only available for about 10 minutes. If it doesn't sell out, they switch to a new product. Should that happen you can always check the Department of Goods to see if they still have what you are looking for. They have a retail location in Salt Lake and so if I don't want to pay for shipping, I can always pick it up at the store. It also works great for returns.
Evo.com - Purchasing boots online is very difficult. You don't know if the boot will fit correctly and you run the risk of having to ship stuff back. Evo has a very liberal return policy that allows you to purchase several pairs of boots at once and then ship back the ones that don't fit. This came in very handy as I purchased new ski boots for my daughter last Christmas. I did have to pay to ship things back, but it is a small price to pay to get the right size. If you do need boot work after you purchase them, you will have to find a local boot fitter to take care of that for you and that may eliminate any discount from buying online.
Level 9 Sports - This is another online store with a Salt Lake retail location. I first received a recommendation to their site when looking for ski poles. They also have great deals on other ski equipment and I always make sure to compare their prices with other sites. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great purchasing experience.
There are a number of other online ski shops like skis.com. Unfortunately I have not purchased anything from them and can't make a recommendation one way or another. I do compare their prices though and would not mind trying them out. They just haven't had anything that interested me in the past.
If you can't tell, I am anxiously awaiting the start of ski season and hope to have a good one this year. If you are in the market for new stuff, hopefully this list helps you out.
Backcountry.com - This site used to be my favorite as they always seemed to have the best deals around. Recently their prices have not been as good as in the past. I have purchased quite a few pairs of skis as well as a lot of rock climbing equipment from them. They also have Steep and Cheap, a site that showcases one item at a time for huge discounts. You have to be quick though as each item is only available for about 10 minutes. If it doesn't sell out, they switch to a new product. Should that happen you can always check the Department of Goods to see if they still have what you are looking for. They have a retail location in Salt Lake and so if I don't want to pay for shipping, I can always pick it up at the store. It also works great for returns.
Evo.com - Purchasing boots online is very difficult. You don't know if the boot will fit correctly and you run the risk of having to ship stuff back. Evo has a very liberal return policy that allows you to purchase several pairs of boots at once and then ship back the ones that don't fit. This came in very handy as I purchased new ski boots for my daughter last Christmas. I did have to pay to ship things back, but it is a small price to pay to get the right size. If you do need boot work after you purchase them, you will have to find a local boot fitter to take care of that for you and that may eliminate any discount from buying online.
Level 9 Sports - This is another online store with a Salt Lake retail location. I first received a recommendation to their site when looking for ski poles. They also have great deals on other ski equipment and I always make sure to compare their prices with other sites. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great purchasing experience.
There are a number of other online ski shops like skis.com. Unfortunately I have not purchased anything from them and can't make a recommendation one way or another. I do compare their prices though and would not mind trying them out. They just haven't had anything that interested me in the past.
If you can't tell, I am anxiously awaiting the start of ski season and hope to have a good one this year. If you are in the market for new stuff, hopefully this list helps you out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
