Tretakoff Musings
Monday, June 26, 2006
Coupons on the cellphone
In my ever increasing quest to get rid of paper in favor of electronica, years ago my friend Tim and I had an idea: what if you could display bar codes on a screen, that were scannable? Coupons, movie tickets, and more would instanltly be available, with no printing costs. We looked into it, and decided it would take a lot more money than we had, and smarter people than us.
Flash forward 5 years, and it's here. Cellfire has made digital free coupons online, for cell phones. I just downloaded it; here's to the future!
Flash forward 5 years, and it's here. Cellfire has made digital free coupons online, for cell phones. I just downloaded it; here's to the future!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Vegas Hotel Reviews: New York New York
When this one was first built, I shook my head: a roller coaster in the middle of a casino? And what about all of the NYC folks that come to Vegas? Why would they want to stay there? Well, imagine a New York City from the 1930's: all deco, classic institutions, and a recognizable skyline that is actually a scaled down hotel tower. It always had a little chaotic feel to it, with the Coney Island/rollercoaster kid appeal, but it seems to have mellowed over time (or maybe I have?).
What I really like about New York New York is the fact that they "stay on message" so well. Every detail is designed to keep with the theme. The casino floors are recognizable city streets and sidewalks; the different gaming areas are themed to major NYC landmarks.
Hotel: No idea. Never stayed, but we've heard the rooms could be on the smaller side. They recently added a tasteful fountain of fireboats, commemorating 9/11, which I thought was a great touch.
Casino: Extensive, designed to convey noise and excitement. Wandering, versus uniform.
Pools: No idea.
Dining: The Chinese restaurant is all we've partaken of, and it was OK; a little on the pricey side for what it is. Also famous steakhouses (Gallagher's), and lots of NYC snacking.
Entertainment: The hotel shines here. Cirque Du Soleil does their show for mature audiences here, Zumanity: a great show. Also, Rita Rudner has a nightly show in her own theater: a classy, smart comedienne.
Overall: B. I'd like to stay here next time. Looks like it's expanding.
When this one was first built, I shook my head: a roller coaster in the middle of a casino? And what about all of the NYC folks that come to Vegas? Why would they want to stay there? Well, imagine a New York City from the 1930's: all deco, classic institutions, and a recognizable skyline that is actually a scaled down hotel tower. It always had a little chaotic feel to it, with the Coney Island/rollercoaster kid appeal, but it seems to have mellowed over time (or maybe I have?).
What I really like about New York New York is the fact that they "stay on message" so well. Every detail is designed to keep with the theme. The casino floors are recognizable city streets and sidewalks; the different gaming areas are themed to major NYC landmarks.
Hotel: No idea. Never stayed, but we've heard the rooms could be on the smaller side. They recently added a tasteful fountain of fireboats, commemorating 9/11, which I thought was a great touch.
Casino: Extensive, designed to convey noise and excitement. Wandering, versus uniform.
Pools: No idea.
Dining: The Chinese restaurant is all we've partaken of, and it was OK; a little on the pricey side for what it is. Also famous steakhouses (Gallagher's), and lots of NYC snacking.
Entertainment: The hotel shines here. Cirque Du Soleil does their show for mature audiences here, Zumanity: a great show. Also, Rita Rudner has a nightly show in her own theater: a classy, smart comedienne.
Overall: B. I'd like to stay here next time. Looks like it's expanding.
Vegas Hotel Reviews: Monte Carlo
We've been to Vegas many times, and love the whole "it's Disneyworld for adults" feel of the place. Since we've stayed at a few places and checked out most of the others on the Strip, I figured I'd mix my biased reviews and impressions of some with some pix I took on this trip. No order to the list below, just as I think of it.
Monte Carlo. This trip, this is where we stayed, for the first time. One of the original "luxury hotels" on the Strip, it still maintains it's facade, but is clearly outshined by the excess around it. Inexpensive rooms, good service (although TripAdvisor folks had different experiences), and right in the middle of the Strip. Next to New York New York, and across from the MGM Grand, the shabby hotels of the past are finally being torn down around it which makes it feel a little isolated.
Hotel: Great value, good staff, great rooms.
Casino: On the small side, with only a few reasonable minimum tables open. All about the penny and nickel slots.
Pools: 3 of them: a traditional, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Nice, but nearly as nice as the reviews made it seem; it felt a little cramped. Could use more pool serving staff.
Dining: Buffet was just OK, but great serving staff. Didn't check out the other restaurants.
Entertainment: Lance Burton does his magic show here, but the sheer onslaught of vide of it in the elevators(!) and the room, turned me off, so we passed.
Overall: B-. We'd stay again, but probably if we were in town with other people and we were going to be spending most of our time elsewhere.
Next up: New York, New York.
Monte Carlo. This trip, this is where we stayed, for the first time. One of the original "luxury hotels" on the Strip, it still maintains it's facade, but is clearly outshined by the excess around it. Inexpensive rooms, good service (although TripAdvisor folks had different experiences), and right in the middle of the Strip. Next to New York New York, and across from the MGM Grand, the shabby hotels of the past are finally being torn down around it which makes it feel a little isolated.Hotel: Great value, good staff, great rooms.
Casino: On the small side, with only a few reasonable minimum tables open. All about the penny and nickel slots.
Pools: 3 of them: a traditional, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Nice, but nearly as nice as the reviews made it seem; it felt a little cramped. Could use more pool serving staff.
Dining: Buffet was just OK, but great serving staff. Didn't check out the other restaurants.
Entertainment: Lance Burton does his magic show here, but the sheer onslaught of vide of it in the elevators(!) and the room, turned me off, so we passed.
Overall: B-. We'd stay again, but probably if we were in town with other people and we were going to be spending most of our time elsewhere.Next up: New York, New York.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Vegas!
We headed down the road a piece last week to Las Vegas, for some much needed R&R. We drove, as I find long drives in the desert as relaxing as almost anything...until Primm, NV. See, before Primm, it's all desert and mountains..relaxing, but nothing out there. And it seems every time, I fill up the car with gas in Wasco, CA...and am on fumes as I come into the mountains above Primm.
So, what is supposed to be relaxing turns into a white knuckled drive, as the low fuel light comes on, and I flash to visions of being eaten by buzzards in the desert. Staggering in the 110 degree heat, as 18 wheelers whip by, I picture crawling through the sand. Then, as I have the car in neutral, and am coasting on the downslope of the hill, wondering if the car manufacturers REALLY meant for the needle on the gas gauge to go beyond "E," the desert shimmers and shakes...and a roller coaster looms up out of the wavering heat, surrounded by casinos, hotels, outlet malls, and, most importantly...GAS.
How do we celebrate our newfound survival? Inexpensive clothing and air conditioning, of course! Outlets of Primm, we thank you for our existence; let us make a sacrifice on your altar with our American Express card!
So, what is supposed to be relaxing turns into a white knuckled drive, as the low fuel light comes on, and I flash to visions of being eaten by buzzards in the desert. Staggering in the 110 degree heat, as 18 wheelers whip by, I picture crawling through the sand. Then, as I have the car in neutral, and am coasting on the downslope of the hill, wondering if the car manufacturers REALLY meant for the needle on the gas gauge to go beyond "E," the desert shimmers and shakes...and a roller coaster looms up out of the wavering heat, surrounded by casinos, hotels, outlet malls, and, most importantly...GAS.
How do we celebrate our newfound survival? Inexpensive clothing and air conditioning, of course! Outlets of Primm, we thank you for our existence; let us make a sacrifice on your altar with our American Express card!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Fluff: Banning the ultimate food?
Has the Earth ended? Someone, and not just someone: someone from Massachusetts has decided to campaign against the greatest food ever. He should be pilloried and delivered to New Jersey to serve the rest of his ill-begotten life.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Barbeque tips from a master
Words of wisdom that I can aspire to, but alas, not live up to, straight from Doug Fleener, motivational speaker and retail god:
1. Get rid of that gas grill. I know, I know, you like the convenience. You like turning a knob and 10 minutes later you're ready to cook. Unfortunately, using a gas grill means sacrificing an incredible amount of flavor. If you do a taste comparison of something cooked on gas versus something cooked on charcoal, you will almost invariably prefer the food cooked over charcoal. Charcoal really is as easy to use as gas. The trick is to have a high quality chimney. Wad up some paper in the bottom, fill that baby up with charcoal, light it and walk away. Fifteen or twenty minutes later you're ready to dump the hot coals in your grill. Sure, it takes a bit more time but it doesn’t involve any more work.
2. Get rid of that starter fluid. The stuff is nasty, leaves a taste, and has a tendency to remove your eyebrows. The chimney is the only way to go.
3. Let your food come up to room temperature before grilling. One of the biggest mistakes people making is moving food directly from the refrigerator to the grill. Most meats should sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before going onto the grill.
4. Use rubs to enhance your meats instead of heavy sauces. Rubs are a mixture of different spices, sugars, and salts to enhance the meat flavor. For most meats it is best to put the rub on the night before and refrigerate wrapped in plastic wrap. This works especially well on chicken and pork. Fine pieces of beef don't need them. If you like to grill with BBQ sauce, put it on at the very end and then serve some on the side. Most BBQ sauces have sugar in them and burn easily.
5. Chicken grilled under a brick is easy, tastes great, and will impress your friends and family. Take a whole chicken and cut out the backbone with either shears or a sharp knife. Flatten the chicken. Rub the chicken with vegetable oil and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. If you're comfortable working with indirect heat, fire your grill up to high. If you want to work with direct heat then your fire should be about medium. Oil the grates and put the chicken skin down. Take a sheet pan, oil the bottom and place on top of the chicken. Add three bricks to flatten it even more. Close the lid and grill for about 25 - 30 minutes. Check for flare-ups but do not move the chicken. After 25 minutes check the chicken for doneness. I usually flip the chicken and cook for about another 5 minutes. Take the chicken off the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Serve with a good BBQ sauce on the side. Believe me, no matter how committed you are to healthy eating, the crispy chicken skin is hard to resist.
So fire up the grill, mix up some homemade lemonade, set the table outdoors, then sit back and enjoy the rewards of your hard work. You deserve it.
1. Get rid of that gas grill. I know, I know, you like the convenience. You like turning a knob and 10 minutes later you're ready to cook. Unfortunately, using a gas grill means sacrificing an incredible amount of flavor. If you do a taste comparison of something cooked on gas versus something cooked on charcoal, you will almost invariably prefer the food cooked over charcoal. Charcoal really is as easy to use as gas. The trick is to have a high quality chimney. Wad up some paper in the bottom, fill that baby up with charcoal, light it and walk away. Fifteen or twenty minutes later you're ready to dump the hot coals in your grill. Sure, it takes a bit more time but it doesn’t involve any more work.
2. Get rid of that starter fluid. The stuff is nasty, leaves a taste, and has a tendency to remove your eyebrows. The chimney is the only way to go.
3. Let your food come up to room temperature before grilling. One of the biggest mistakes people making is moving food directly from the refrigerator to the grill. Most meats should sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before going onto the grill.
4. Use rubs to enhance your meats instead of heavy sauces. Rubs are a mixture of different spices, sugars, and salts to enhance the meat flavor. For most meats it is best to put the rub on the night before and refrigerate wrapped in plastic wrap. This works especially well on chicken and pork. Fine pieces of beef don't need them. If you like to grill with BBQ sauce, put it on at the very end and then serve some on the side. Most BBQ sauces have sugar in them and burn easily.
5. Chicken grilled under a brick is easy, tastes great, and will impress your friends and family. Take a whole chicken and cut out the backbone with either shears or a sharp knife. Flatten the chicken. Rub the chicken with vegetable oil and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. If you're comfortable working with indirect heat, fire your grill up to high. If you want to work with direct heat then your fire should be about medium. Oil the grates and put the chicken skin down. Take a sheet pan, oil the bottom and place on top of the chicken. Add three bricks to flatten it even more. Close the lid and grill for about 25 - 30 minutes. Check for flare-ups but do not move the chicken. After 25 minutes check the chicken for doneness. I usually flip the chicken and cook for about another 5 minutes. Take the chicken off the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Serve with a good BBQ sauce on the side. Believe me, no matter how committed you are to healthy eating, the crispy chicken skin is hard to resist.
So fire up the grill, mix up some homemade lemonade, set the table outdoors, then sit back and enjoy the rewards of your hard work. You deserve it.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Nixie Clocks: the stuff of dreams
I remember going to the Museum of Science as a kid, and seeing all the cool future things there; it was like the way the future should be. Nothing fascinated me more than the Nixie computer, however. Not familiar with Nixie tubes? Gaze upon this Nixie Clock gallery, and join me in a smile for the way things could have been.
I remember going to the Museum of Science as a kid, and seeing all the cool future things there; it was like the way the future should be. Nothing fascinated me more than the Nixie computer, however. Not familiar with Nixie tubes? Gaze upon this Nixie Clock gallery, and join me in a smile for the way things could have been.
Friday, June 09, 2006
A comment on my driving
Someone knows where I grew up driving...
New Regulations in the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle's 2006 Handbook:
1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A confident Massachusetts driver avoids using them.
2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, because the space will be filled in by somebody else, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less of a chance you have of getting hit.
4. Warning! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended.
5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork, especially with RI, ME, or NH plates. With no insurance, the other operator has nothing to lose.
6. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a vigorous foot massage as the brake pedal violently pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.
7. Never pass on the left when you can pass on the right. It's a good way to prepare other drivers entering the highway.
8. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion and not enforceable in Massachusetts during rush hour.
9. Just because you're in the left lane and have no room to speed up or move over doesn't mean that a Massachusetts driver flashing his high beams behind you doesn't think he can go faster in your spot. Also true for right lane.
10. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tire. This is seen as a sign of respect for the victim.
11. Learn to swerve abruptly without signaling. Massachusetts is the home of high-speed slalom-driving along the Route 128 Speedway. This is thanks to the Department of Public Works, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them alert.
12. It is tradition in Massachusetts to honk your horn at cars in front of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns green.
13. To avoid injury in the event of a collision or rollover, it is important to exit your vehicle thru the windshield right away. Wearing your seat belt will only impede your hi-velocity escape from danger.
14. Remember that the goal of every Massachusetts driver is to get ahead of the pack by whatever means necessary.
15. In Massachusetts, 'flipping the bird' is considered a polite salute. This gesture should always be returned.
Thank You,
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
New Regulations in the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle's 2006 Handbook:
1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A confident Massachusetts driver avoids using them.
2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, because the space will be filled in by somebody else, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less of a chance you have of getting hit.
4. Warning! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended.
5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork, especially with RI, ME, or NH plates. With no insurance, the other operator has nothing to lose.
6. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a vigorous foot massage as the brake pedal violently pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.
7. Never pass on the left when you can pass on the right. It's a good way to prepare other drivers entering the highway.
8. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion and not enforceable in Massachusetts during rush hour.
9. Just because you're in the left lane and have no room to speed up or move over doesn't mean that a Massachusetts driver flashing his high beams behind you doesn't think he can go faster in your spot. Also true for right lane.
10. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tire. This is seen as a sign of respect for the victim.
11. Learn to swerve abruptly without signaling. Massachusetts is the home of high-speed slalom-driving along the Route 128 Speedway. This is thanks to the Department of Public Works, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them alert.
12. It is tradition in Massachusetts to honk your horn at cars in front of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns green.
13. To avoid injury in the event of a collision or rollover, it is important to exit your vehicle thru the windshield right away. Wearing your seat belt will only impede your hi-velocity escape from danger.
14. Remember that the goal of every Massachusetts driver is to get ahead of the pack by whatever means necessary.
15. In Massachusetts, 'flipping the bird' is considered a polite salute. This gesture should always be returned.
Thank You,
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Trillian Astra is coming!
I thought Trillian, the greatest IM client ever, had gone off into the wilderness, to die. Surprise, surprise: the new version, Astra, is coming.
Trillian is one of the few programs I gladly pay for. To me, it is everything done rightin IM, and a worthwhile investment. Heck, it's even portable to other machines! Could it be improved? yes: Jabber support could be better, and webcam integration with MSN, but for everything else, well worth $30.
I'll be excited to see what Astra brings!
I thought Trillian, the greatest IM client ever, had gone off into the wilderness, to die. Surprise, surprise: the new version, Astra, is coming.
Trillian is one of the few programs I gladly pay for. To me, it is everything done rightin IM, and a worthwhile investment. Heck, it's even portable to other machines! Could it be improved? yes: Jabber support could be better, and webcam integration with MSN, but for everything else, well worth $30.
I'll be excited to see what Astra brings!
Deadwood: Going out with a *&%#$%@ bang
It seems the demise is true, BUT the silver lining is that Deadwood is ending it's run with 2 Specials, according to CBS News. Sigh. Just when I was getting girded up. At least I can look forward to a proper ride into the sunset.
It seems the demise is true, BUT the silver lining is that Deadwood is ending it's run with 2 Specials, according to CBS News. Sigh. Just when I was getting girded up. At least I can look forward to a proper ride into the sunset.
"Visual Pollution?" Windbags.
Wind power: natural, renewable, and tecnology has finally evolved to the point that we can put windmills in the middle of the ocean, away from people. This cheap, natural, and fantastic energy source should be embraced by folks paying over $3 a gallon for gas, yes?
Nope, say Nantucket and Great Lakes residents. Why? "Visual pollution" of the ocean views. Horseshit.
Let me put it in perspective: the windmill off the coast (20 miles!) of Nantucket? Stand on the beach and look where it will be. Hold your thumb up to the horizon. See the space where your thumbnail starts and the tip of your thumb ends? THAT'S the "visual pollution" we are talking about.
Let's get our heads out of our oil addicted asses, and start getting real.
Nope, say Nantucket and Great Lakes residents. Why? "Visual pollution" of the ocean views. Horseshit.
Let me put it in perspective: the windmill off the coast (20 miles!) of Nantucket? Stand on the beach and look where it will be. Hold your thumb up to the horizon. See the space where your thumbnail starts and the tip of your thumb ends? THAT'S the "visual pollution" we are talking about.
Let's get our heads out of our oil addicted asses, and start getting real.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Why Google Office will NOT be the killer app
On Tuesday, Google is set to release Google Spreadsheets, their latest webification of a traditional desktop app. They can play it down, but they are clearly going after the Microsoft Office dominance, what with their acquisition of Writely, and the wildly popular Calendar & Gmail.
The thing that's missing? Context. In Word, when I mistype or misspell, Word automatically corrects my error. Heck, it even learns what I do. I can't type without it: blogging takes me three times as long because I have to go back and spell check everything I might accidentally fat finger.
Until Google can offer that same immediacy, their tools are great, but not indispensable. Figure out how to get Ajax to do THAT, and you have the killer app.
On Tuesday, Google is set to release Google Spreadsheets, their latest webification of a traditional desktop app. They can play it down, but they are clearly going after the Microsoft Office dominance, what with their acquisition of Writely, and the wildly popular Calendar & Gmail.
The thing that's missing? Context. In Word, when I mistype or misspell, Word automatically corrects my error. Heck, it even learns what I do. I can't type without it: blogging takes me three times as long because I have to go back and spell check everything I might accidentally fat finger.
Until Google can offer that same immediacy, their tools are great, but not indispensable. Figure out how to get Ajax to do THAT, and you have the killer app.
An American In Kuwait - The Blog
Amy's cousin, my friend, and great all around guy Rob Tess is a man not afraid of a challenge. He's been all around the country, with his company, helping to clean up some of the worst sites. Now, he's in, of all places, Kuwait, and rather than an endless stream of emails, he's started a blog.
Rob is one of the most amazingly level headed people I have ever met, but he goes with full gusto. His wry perceptions are always great for dinner, weekends, and now, a perspective on an area of the world most of us only know from CNN. A long time ago, my girlfriend's father was working there, and she used to regale me with tales of Kuwait that were equally frightening and mesmerizing. Looks like Rob is already off to describing much of the same.
Tune in for his next installment...
Rob is one of the most amazingly level headed people I have ever met, but he goes with full gusto. His wry perceptions are always great for dinner, weekends, and now, a perspective on an area of the world most of us only know from CNN. A long time ago, my girlfriend's father was working there, and she used to regale me with tales of Kuwait that were equally frightening and mesmerizing. Looks like Rob is already off to describing much of the same.
Tune in for his next installment...
Friday, June 02, 2006
Yet ANOTHER great reason to fly JetBlue
Gizmodo is reporting that JetBlue will be offering Internet Acess, but, smartly, NOT cellphone access. Sure, you can still get the annoyance if your seat-mate is using Skype, but most likely, IM will be the preferred method.
Man, JetBlue needs to take over the world. Together with Google, they'd be unstoppable, AND do no evil.
Gizmodo is reporting that JetBlue will be offering Internet Acess, but, smartly, NOT cellphone access. Sure, you can still get the annoyance if your seat-mate is using Skype, but most likely, IM will be the preferred method.
Man, JetBlue needs to take over the world. Together with Google, they'd be unstoppable, AND do no evil.
Bush can't even be a real Texan!
As quoted today, in his welcoming the Pittsburgh Steelers to White House: "'I was a Texas Cowboy fan, you know, Dallas Cowboy fan,' Bush told them."
Send the idiot back to his village.
Send the idiot back to his village.
