DrMurko might have a point...

Segway...

2008-02-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

Ever driven a Segway?
It seems like it should not be possible to stand on one of those things. And yet, it somehow works.
The idea is simple: stand on the platform, lean forward, and off you go. And it goes faster than you care to admit, in an environmental friendly way.

I could get used to one of these machines.
Now I have to wait until the Dutch government passes the law to allow the Segway onto the open streets. Without the need to wear those wimpy-looking helmets.

For more information on renting the Segway in the Netherlands: Segway Sensations

Some thoughts on the MacBook Air

2008-01-16T02:18:00.000-08:00

Now that Apple has announced the MacBook Air, some thoughts have come up:

The good:
Extremely desirable formfactor: The thin design is amazing; no need to pack a razor on overnight trips.
Less clutter: less ports mean less choice. Limited choices forces one to really think what is needed.
No optical drive: With WiFI connections becoming the norm, physical media have become outdated. Remember when Apple removed the Floppy Disc from it's computers?
Multi-touch touchpad: A truly amazing feat. Say goodbye to your mouse.

The bad:
No removable battery: More money for Apple's helpdesk
Totally enclosed shell: Not even a RAM upgrade is possible.
Harddisk speed: 4200 RPM? Do they still make those?
Harddisk capacity: My Ipod has more storage.

The ugly:
Keyboard: My god, it's ugly.
The price: 3100 dollars for the 1.8 Ghz version with SSD storage?

Get one if:
You are design-conscious
You REALLY need a laptop which you can put in a manilla envelope

Pass if:
You want a solid machine for, you know, real work

One Smooth Ride

2007-10-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Gods of leasedom smiled upon DrMurko last week, and said unto him "we grant you the keys to this car, and direct you to the legions of other leased car drivers in the eternal maelstrom of trafic jams and congestions."
Hard to resist, methinks.

The car in question is a new BMW 1-series; the 3-door version. Well, what should I say? The design has a distinctive love-it-or-hate-it feel to it. To the mundane eye, it looks like the bastard child of a night gone horribly wrong between a Hummer and a Tank. Put a barrel over the bonnet and you are set.
This acquired taste for the designs slowly grows on you, as you tend to admire the subtle curves and lines more fully as time goes by.

Inside, the driver's and passenger's seats are spacious, and one can marvel at all the new bells and whistles this car has. ("Automatic light and rainsensors?", "A SIXTH gear?", and the ever-popular "BMW labelled tissues?") Obviously, DrMurko has been out of the automotive loop for some time.
The backseat is best reserved for luggage or small children, as it is relatively small. Get a room if you want to get freaky with your other half.

In the end, all small gripes are laid to rest after you have driven a while. The ride is smooth in the sense that you can feel the road unerneath you just right. None of this ultra-suspension feather-floating stuff. A real man feels the grip of the wheels on the asfalt, and this car delivers in a perfect way. Handling is great (hurray for rear-wheel drive) and changing gears is fluid.
Do what the Doctor did, and treat yourself to the audio upgrade. The BMW professional radio system does music like you have never heard in a car before.

Happy motoring. Bliss.

2007-09-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

Tom Bihn

I was recently looking for a bag which could match my many demands:
1) It must be a messenger-type bag
2) Outer pockets for easy gadget acces a must
3) Ability to carry my 17" PowerBook was a nice-to-have
4) More pockets for a different cables, gadgets and other items
5) If I could stuff some overnight gear in there as well, that would be a bonus

As European bags tend to be smallish in nature, I started to look towards the good US of A. Many independant bagmakers over there, as I found out. Eventually, after reading loads of reviews, I settled on the companay of Tom Bihn. (As an aside, I was amazed by the number of bag reviews present. I guess this piece of writing adds another one to the mix.)

After perusing the site, it was only natural I went for the the bag called the Super-Ego. Money was no objection, although afterwards could have gone to my mortgage. With transport and the o-so friendly import tariffs, I ended up paying more than 170 dollars for that behemoth.
For this amount, I expected the bag to be accompagnied by at least a thank you note from the company, expressing their gratitude in welcoming another customer; even one from Europe, no less.

Well now...
It is certainly big. Humongous is more like. Bulbuous would be another description. It certainly holds a lot of items. All this volume points to a the possibility of being able to carry a lot of weight. Wich needs to be hauled around on the shoulder.
Luckily, the strap is equally big. And broad.

To be honest, it met my requirements as stated above. But the bag is ungainly. Ugly. This enourmous "thing" lacks any grace or estethics.

If you want to have it, you can get it here:
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/200/TB0825.

But be warned, it is not something you want to carry around in any fashionable European city. Or any city for that matter.

Update:
After posting this, I was contacted by a Tom Bihn representative. Kudos for their customer service! Reading back, I realize that it might have been a very harsh assessment. As such, let me stress that this piece of writing is not an objective review; it is a purely subjective opinion (no doubt influenced by the mood I was in. Next time, I should keep the Vitriol in check.)
Objectively, it should only be fair to point out the positive aspects as well:
1) It does what it promises; the ability to carry a lot of (large) items
2) It is very well-made; sturdy and rainproof
3) Customer service and ordering went very smooth
4) Ability to accesorize your bag before ordering

So, depending on your needs and wants, your mileage may vary. Or perhaps it's a European thing after all..

2006-02-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

The penny drops

The total alienation finally hits. Although the city looks and feels like a western city, the never-ending exposure to an unknown language, either written or verbal, makes one feel to be completely detached. Instinctively, it feels like the West, but logically, it does not makes any sense. This conflict can be used to describe being in Tokyo best.
Most of the time is spent gazing and wondering at the different excesses of an alien culture; one which uses the same signs in some cases, but with a totally different symbolism. In the end, one tends to tune out the background talk, Trying to make sense of it all has no relevance, since it does not allude to any known or learned skill.
The lolita complex is everywhere; worse than I originally anticipated. Some toys, depicting various children in several sexual positions, are even considered illegal in the West. Aside from this minor negative observation, the toy cult is very prevalent, and is on a larger scale than I could possibly hope for.
Tokyo is built of popular culture; the neon signs and constant background noise give birth to a playground in which everything seems possible. The deeper meaning go beyond me at the moment. The shrines and other traditional Japanse tourist attractions are cast aside; they have no place in this world.

2006-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

...

Gashapon!
Rows and rows of brightly colored plastic balls,
containing brightly colored plastic girls
devouring my boring silver coins

2006-02-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Concrete Neon

A tremendous force that hits all the senses at the same time; that is how Tokyo can be described. Although I have enough experience with a lot of cities, including the over-the-top Las Vegas, nothing prepared me for the force that is called Tokyo.
It is amazing how this city is composed of extremes; tranquil and noisy, serene and crowded, old and new. Once you have heard the hundreds of thousands of metals pachinco balls falling inside on of the many game parlors, you just know that there is nothing that can compare. When you encounter you first co-splay girl, dressed like a french maid, you know there is no return. And when you have experienced the subway during rushhour, you will want to stay.

2006-02-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Play Misty for me

Fog is a wonderful thing, even an act of God, according to the Swiss Arlines liability clause. It also prevents planes from taking off. Meaning that the flight to Zurich was delayed. This had the nasty consequence of not being able to be on time for the Zurich to Tokyo flight. Fortunately, this act of God also made sure this was also delayed, meaning I was just in time to hop on board. This nick-of-time occasion included a run of 10 minutes through the Swiss airport, cursing for the electric train to be on time, and shouting at the gate personnel. But at least I made it. A pleasant surprise was that even my luggage was transported as well.

Small moment of reflection during the flight: rows and rows of elderly Japanese, with emotionless faces and soulless eyes. I wonder whether some of them had worked at the concentration camps, torturing some of my family members. Faces without any form of emotion.

2006-01-31T23:18:00.000-08:00

The Wait

Schiphol airport: 7:20 AM. After rising early to get some tax-free shopping done, I realise that tax-free at Schiphol means "more expensive than your average store." It is really depressing to realise that time spent waiting at the airport is being filled up with internet-related activities. I could have done that at home, except that I wouldn't be sitting next to a fat American with too much after-shave.
Time to go. Next stop: Tokyo.