2010-08-23 (Monday) by Gregory Tucker.

In an effort that is purely technical, I am switching from GREGORYTUCKER.us to GregoryTucker.com. This site is staying up while the other one is under construction, but new updates are going there. Please update your bookmarks.

Posted in Technology, Family | Print | 1 Comment »

2010-08-03 (Tuesday) by Gregory Tucker.

I haven’t been updating my personal blog lately, but it is only because I have been so busy. Life is finally starting to settle down, except for one thing–iPhone 4 is still missing in action. They are backordered 4-6 weeks throughout most SoftBank dealers in Japan.

My friend recently asked me a question about Cancun. He was planning a trip for next summer. Below is his question and my response.

So, I looked over your blog on your trip to Mexico. I have to admit I’m a bit sketched out about visiting the developing world. We were going to rent a condo in Akumal, but a coworker told me her experience of getting to hers after dark and not being able to get in and driving around in Mexico looking for a place to stay, and then getting the squats for her last three days, and being sketched out by the developing world part of Mexico. Did you ever feel uncomfortable there?

I may not be the best person to ask. I have traveled numerous times to places like South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Maldives, not to mention traditionally developed places like Australia’s gold coast, the American protectorate of Guam, and 3 islands of Hawaii. I did my honeymoon (with my ex-wife) in Costa Rica. Plus you know I lived in Japan for 10 years and am living here again. My wife has spent two weeks in the outbacks of India and has traveled several times to Hong Kong and China. She laments with the kids we don’t have money to do more traveling.

So Mexico didn’t seem all that daunting. The area in and around Cancun is fairly safe and family oriented. If you get any hotel along Cancun beach you can count on it being safe and clean. The kids are proud to say they have been to Mexico, and they often tell us they want to go back. (I think I mentioned we stayed at the Hilton at Cancun Beach). We were somewhat slightly more adventurous than your average Americans, I suppose, but only slightly. We put a priority on doing things you can only do in Mexico, which included visiting ruins, snorkeling, and eating more authentic Mexican food.

That said we had a couple snags. Driving a car is a bit harrowing. After 4 days of intense driving, I got sick of it and decided to do some things closer to the hotel for our last couple days. Mexicans routinely ignore speed limits, so they put these speed bumps all over the place where you least expect it. You try to keep an eye on them and slow down, but I had a couple near misses where, in the middle of nowhere, I almost took out my suspension. We did get defrauded at one gas station. I told my wife to bring and pay cash, but she insisted credit cards were better. Anyway the gas station attendent told us our card was rejected and so we paid cash, but upon returning we found a fraudulent charge on our credit card anyway. Bank of America took care of that but it required several calls and faxes, all for a $50 fraud charge. Plus it was my card and I was without a cash card for a few weeks until the replacement arrived. I ran out of cash in Boston. I hope my wife will listen to me next time, but I doubt it.

I am not sure if this answers your questions, but in general I would not worry much about spending a few days around Cancun. The kids will love it and there is no shortage of activities for everyone.

Posted in World | Print | 1 Comment »

2010-05-18 (Tuesday) by Gregory Tucker.

Apple and Adobe are currently fighting out the future of video on the Internet. Apple advocates the new HTML5 standard, while Adobe is attempting to protect its dominant Flash. Apple claims Flash is resource intensive, and based on my recent experience with a relatively lightweight Flash-based video presentation, Apple is right.

Posted in Technology | Print | 2 Comments »

2010-05-03 (Monday) by Gregory Tucker.

Endagdget has reported today that Apple has sold its millionth iPad just 28 days after its release. Way ahead of my prediction, Apple will sell 2 million of these in less than 6 months, and there is little evidence they are cannibalizing sales of its other products. Hooray for Apple, but Endadget also reported that Apple’s licensing restrictions on 3rd party tool kits may draw anti-trust scrutiny from regulators. (In the darkest days of Microsoft’s dominance, I never imagined two competitors–Apple and Google–and I never imagined one of them would begin with an A.)

Posted in Business, Technology | Print | 1 Comment »

2010-03-08 (Monday) by Gregory Tucker.

I put up some new photos from this weekend’s Portland Spirit cruise. We had a great time, and the weather really cooperated. I love Portland.

Posted in Portland, Family | Print | 1 Comment »

2010-01-28 (Thursday) by Gregory Tucker.

The criticisms of Apple’s newly announced iPad seem to coalesce around 3 points:

1. The name iPad. Most commonly it is written in some variation of MaxIpad. I agree that I don’t like the name–I prefer iTablet–it seems Jobs cannot get over the failure of the Newton MessagePad. This criticism is otherwise superficial.
2. It is expensive. The base is $499, while you can get a Netbook for $250. As always you get what you pay for. The Asus Netbook has such a high failure rate that one customer had to stop supporting them. Retailers hate them because customers hate them and return them at high rates. One naysayer on Facebook said he doesn’t actually own a Netbook because he can’t find one he wants. Apparently the rest of us aren’t supposed to buy an iPad because, in theory, we could get a Netbook with a faster processor for less money (but we won’t because they suck).
3. It single-tasks. However, the Kindle DX, at $489 also single-tasks, and the iPad will actually do more (like browse the web or play videos). Why don’t they direct their ire at Amazon’s bestseller? Do they target Apple and Jobs because he is so successful at marketing and at packaging products that (us foolish) people want? Please note I am not attacking the Kindle–I want to of them too, and in a head to head comparison the epaper is visible in direct sunlight, the unit is lighter and more durable, and ebooks on Amazon cost less than on the iTunes Bookstore.

I believe Apple will sell close to 2 million of these units within a year of introduction. However, I believe Apple will cannibalize its own products in order to do so.

Posted in Technology | Print | 1 Comment »

2010-01-25 (Monday) by Gregory Tucker.

This article does justice to cold brew coffee, though it neglects to mention you can buy the Toddy system for about $30, plus $10 for some extra reusable filters.

Pour 9 cups of water over 1.5 to 2 lbs of medium-ground coffee and let sit for 8-12 hours. No stirring necessary. The Toddy system includes the glass decanter for refrigerating and pouring the condensed coffee. It stays fresh for about 2 weeks. On serving mix about 1 part cold brew with 2 parts water and ice, suited to taste and served on demand.

In general cold brew is more refreshing in the summer, but it is superior to hot-brew coffee in all seasons. The Japanese call this ice coffee and offer it frequently in coffee shops, vending machines, and grocery stores without or without sugar added. The Japanese ice coffee sold in the supermarkets around Portland include only the sugar-added variety, which is inferior in taste.

Posted in Coffee, Portland, Japan | Print | No Comments »

2009-12-27 (Sunday) by Gregory Tucker.

Since 9/11 three changes have made a difference in security: 1) armored cockpit doors, 2) new protocols refusing to comply with hijackers, and 3) alert and active passengers. All the rest is security theater. Has the TSA searched your bag and ID at the gate lately? Theater at its best (or worst)

I am surprised there haven’t been more incidents of passengers mistakenly attacking an innocent passenger over “suspicious” activity. Apparently regular humans are better than “trained officials” at using common sense. Maybe there have been Incidents that weren’t publicized.

Posted in Security | Print | 2 Comments »

2009-11-17 (Tuesday) by Gregory Tucker.

As if I couldn’t be any more proud of her, Aya performed wonderfully at the Ice Crystal Classic 2009 competition at Lloyd Center on Sunday and won her division of 4 skaters. She performed all her elements very well, and her program was original and exciting.

In addition we have photos of the competition.

Aya plans to enter the Love to Skate competition in Eugene, OR, currently scheduled for February 5-7, 2010. There are rumors the skating rink will close due to financial circumstances, so some local skaters, including Aya’s coach, are interested in supporting what may be the final event at that arena. Aya plans to continue with the Soaring program at the beta level by adding a backward crossover to the program. In addition she will add a technical program.

Posted in Figure Skating, Family | Print | No Comments »

2009-10-18 (Sunday) by Gregory Tucker.

I am currently reading Jim Collins’ latest work, How The Mighty Fall. It concluded with the interesting quote:

There’s a provocative lesson: beware the hubris that can rise in conjunction with missionary zeal…Whenever people begin to confuse the nobility of their cause with the goodness and wisdom of their decisions… they can perhaps more easily lead themselves astray. Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions.

How many leaders, in business or government, have succumbed to the failings born of hubris, and is there any student of business more qualified than Jim Collins to point us in the right direction?

Posted in Business | Print | 2 Comments »