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Photo Brings Back Some Great Flying Memories

Feb 11th, 2010
by WanderingJustin.
5 comments

Check out this photo! So you might be wondering why I’m showing you a picture of some skinny-legged kid. Well, that kid grew up to be none other than Wandering Justin! Pretty crazy, eh?
So aside from that being a much-younger me, there’s a bigger point here. Or really, several!
1. I’m having my photo taken with a pilot. This photo shows how the role of pilots has changed. Someone in 1979 snapped this photo of me, and I was clearly pleased to pose for a snap with a pilot. And he was clearly not put out by the effort. How many 5-year-old kids these days (incorrectly) view pilots as more than glorified bus drivers? I’m hoping a pilot will speak up on this point. Unfortunately for kids these days, the era of visiting the cockpit and posing outside the plane for a snapshot with the pilot is long-gone. It’s not like pilots’ skills have diminished – automation has changed things, but they still have to know how to fly and work all the flight management computers. Don’t believe me? Get yourself a copy of Laminar Research’s X-Plane simulator and just try getting the 747 to do anything. Multiply that difficulty times a thousand and you’ll get some small idea of what a pilot does.
2. We’re outdoors! I really love airports where you’re not confined to the indoors constantly. I love using the moveable staircase rather than the jetway. You get to see the outside of the plane. You feel the place [...]

New Coffee Bar in Phoenix Offers Hits and Misses

Feb 7th, 2010
by WanderingJustin.
No comments yet

A few days ago, my ever-watchful eye detected a new coffee house in Phoenix at about 10th Street and Camelback – a sign marked “Coffee Bar” caught my attention. I wasn’t able to drop in for a look-see at the time. But I filed it away for another time.
An Unusual Twist
That time was today. Sarah and I found Dolce Espresso Video Coffee Bar at 1025 E. Camelback. According to the barista, it’s been open about two months. But they recently changed its sign, which seems to draw more people in. It’s a nice space with several video monitors. That’s part of Dolce’s schtick: Its owners have decided to play music videos for their customers. Lightweight pop and dance music seems to be their preference. If you’re not into that sort of thing, or if you’re a reader/student/worker, you might not like it.
On weekdays, they’re open from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and they stay open the entire weekend. Besides the coffee, they also do a lot of quick-hit sorts of foods, plus desserts. Good for those of you who like to go clubbing. And with the videos, you might feel like you haven’t left the clubs.
Coffee Verdict – Pretty Meh
I really don’t think Dolce is really aiming for the hard-core coffee drinkers. My cappuccino provides evidence for the prosecution: It was hotter than a Russian nuclear reactor, and the microfoam was a sad, overly bubbled sight that looked way too soapy for its own good. I read 20 pages [...]

9 Things To Know About Sumits Yoga – Review

Feb 1st, 2010
by WanderingJustin.
2 comments

A few weeks ago, I pulled a muscle in my back. I rested it for a few days to let it heal. As it was starting to get better, I figured some good, deep stretching would help it. I figured heat would be good, too.
That brilliant line of thought led me to Sumits Yoga in Phoenix, at 20th Street and Camelback. They have a “Two Weeks for $20″ deal, so I showed up, yoga mat in hand, and signed up. Here’s what you need to know about Sumits Yoga.
1. It’s a hot yoga class. The temperature is about 105 degrees. Show up with very cold water, and maybe even a sports drink. I have a 32-ounce H2O bottle and a 10-ounce bottle of Cytomax half-frozen, and topped off with their respective liquids.
2. Dress right. I find Under Armour HeatGear shirts work really well. I think they’re actually a little cooler than just going shirtless, which I also tried. They’re also fitted so they don’t get in the way. Not really happy with my pants situation. But I should probably keep wearing them, ha! The problem is that there are certain poses where I have to brace a foot against my leg, and the incredible gusher of sweat makes me slide all over.
3. Bring towels. The studio sells these fairly pricey towels that keep you from slipping on the mat. I like them a lot. But I also have a regular towel to mop the sweat off myself.
4. All the instructors [...]

A Customer Service Idea for the Yelp Age

Dec 31st, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
No comments yet

It’s a tough time to be a business owner, especially one that’s opinionated and fiercely independent. Take Cartel Coffee Lab. A barista raised the hackles of a guy on Yelp.com. He wanted coffee with caramel in it – they don’t have caramel. So he ordered a cappuccino, and the barista allegedly said “Just so you know it’s a REAL Cappuccino [sic].”
That would irritate me, too. The negative Yelp drew the attention of Jason, the owner. This guy truly cares about coffee. He loves doing it right, and he absolutely hates adjuncts. He’s a purist. I respect that. He meticulously ensures that his crew meets his standards.
And most of his staff is as personable as they are skilled. There are a few bitter beans in there, and I’d bet this came from one of them.
It’s good that Jason has his employees’ backs. But I don’t think he should tell a customer in a public online forum:
“If only you actually understood coffee, you might have been able to actually promote better coffee in AZ! You shouldn’t be commenting about coffee since you drink it with caramel anyway. You should probably rethink that life decision!”
For the record, I’ve had many conversations with Jason, and he’s a very likeable guy. And I truly understand how he feels. I love good beverages of all stripe. And when someone who drinks Corona turns a nose up at a SunUp Brewing cask-conditioned IPA, I truly believe Buddha drowns a kitten. But I also realize that people have their [...]

10 Things I Hate About Yoga

Dec 16th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
4 comments

I took my first yoga class nearly 11 years ago. I found a lot to like about it. I could feel my body snapping back into alignment. It even helped my concentration – at the time, I played a lot of hockey. After a yoga session, I’d strap on the goalie pads and the puck seemed bigger and slower.
On the flip side, I found a lot about yoga that I absolutely can’t stand. An aborted session at At One Yoga in Phoenix (more on that in a future post) really brought this to the forefront of my mind.
1. Sanskrit Chanting – Exactly what is the point of that Sanskrit song that so many yoga classes start out with? I don’t speak Sanskrit, and I’m frankly not there for a “spiritual” experience. And besides, whoever said “chanting” begat “spirituality?” I grew up going to Catholic mass, so I’ve had a bellyful of unneeded verbal repetition. Let’s get to the good stuff!
2. The overly soft, nurturing, gentle yoga teacher voice – Exactly where do some yoga teachers get that overly measured, breathy voice? It sounds ridiculous. And I say that even though one of my favorite teachers uses it. Coming from male teachers makes it even worse – it makes them sound like Mr. Van Driessen from Beavis & Butt-head.

Rating Arizona Coffeehouses

Dec 12th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
1 comment

Here’s a roundup of some of the better coffeehouses in Arizona. See my top-rated group, my second tier, and the “Way Better Than Starbucks But Not Quite There” listing. Most are concentrated in the Phoenix area since that’s where I do most of my coffee drinking.

Three Shots from the New Pentax

Feb 19th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
No comments yet

From blog photos

I’m still getting used to my Pentax K100DS. It’s easy as pie with the modern lenses, but shooting with old manual-only lenses is a bit trickier. But part of the reason I picked this camera was its ability to use cool old lenses I could score on the cheap. Sounds like a good way to learn!
We had a cloudy morning here in Phoenix a few days ago, which made for a few nice shots before going to work. I think I need to work on my focusing a bit.

From blog photos

From blog photos

Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True

Jan 31st, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
No comments yet

I know, I know … this is a travel blog. But I have to digress for a moment to write about my home. Here in Phoenix, we’re a few days from something that’s pretty unlikely – watching the Cardinals in the Superbowl.
This post is about two things: Why you should, no matter what, support your home team and uniting the colors of a city’s sports teams.
On the first, let me get something out of the way: I am not a big football fan. But I am a hometown sports fan. Under no circumstances have I ever rooted against a Phoenix team. This includes in hockey, the sport I have followed ever since Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione and Co. defeated the Soviets in Lake Placid. Being born in Chicago, my two heroes were Jim Craig and Tony Esposito. Even after moving to Arizona, I continued to be a Blackhawks fan since Phoenix had no NHL franchise. When the Winnipeg Jets pulled up stakes and became the Phoenix Coyotes, I traded my red for what was then the funky green and maroon of the Coyotes.
I did this not because I’m a traitor or a fair-weather fan. I did it because I am part of something larger: People like each of us are part of Arizona’s identity. If you live here, you are a part of it. You are here because there was an opportunity here that there wasn’t wherever else you’re from (and most of us are from somewhere else). If you [...]

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