I am a Gadgetzidimo...Not a Gizmodo

Do you like gadgets like I do? I think I have an addiction- an addiction for electronic appliances. Oh yeas, it started way back. Way back when I blew up the family TV at age 8 and fiddled with live wires from the socket. Indeed, I got shocked a couple of times: nothing serious, just a couple of blood cleansing current (at least so the fable went). I was enthralled with anything that blinked light when I was young, I wanted to know what made gadget tickle. I fiddled with ‘em and I fumbled. Somehow, I think it is in the genes. Father was a perennial “radiotrician”...I used that word to mask his penchant to buy new radios every other fortnight and destroy them by trying to tune them better by opening them up. Somehow, even after old man is past fifty years hitting sixty he still thinks he has a career in electrical/electronics engineering. Over 30 radios damaged, and cassette players destroyed and father is still experimenting his way to the radio store! But I have decided to somehow formalize my genetic bias; yeah...I am an electrical engineer. Not like I could be your next door radio repairer but at least now I know not to touch live wires and get shocked...or at least I know how to acquire a lot more gadget these days.

Being a pragmatic person by nature, the gadgets I acquire are structured after my lifestyle. That is to say, unlike geeks (Gizmodos) whose life is built around their gadgets my gadget is built around my life. That is why I call myself a Gadgetzidimo...more like generalissimo. Yeah, a general and marshal of gadgets. Somehow, I enjoy combining the operability of my gadgets these days. But it just struck me ....which of these gadgets can't I do without.

I have never been a TV person - even though I have a couple, so count that out. The best thing I do with and on TV is to record those documentaries (from Discovery, History, Discovery Times, National Geographic and Military Channel) on my ILO DV-R recorder making them into DVD discs I hope to watch someday on the plane and share with my companion in arms in documentary watching...yeah, you guessed right...my dad. Yeah, my X-Box Console was not good enuf, not until I disposed of it and now I miss it enough to purchase it back. Sorry. But this does not count as much as my beloved laptop. Yeah, nicknamed: Tabular Kingmon. Thou shall not deny me access. My Inspiron 6000 widescreen laptop computer is the bomb. You with the Apple or Sony whateva- congratulations for paying more for less functions. God Bless you. Anyway, my laptop is a favorite- on bed, sitting, working, riding and flying. And guess what? It just does not serve me when I travel. It is light yet because it has a widescreen it is not as portable as I will like. So my dear leather cased Dell Axim PDA comes in handy. Don't jump to conclusion, I have no brand loyalty. Dell just happens to be the only brand in this computer and handheld that combined quality with good pricing. My pragmatic side will be hard to convince to shell out extra $400 for a Sony, HP or whatever expensive brand name that will crash on me faster than my reliable Dell Axim will. With an inbuilt wireless card, my PDA comes in handy when I travel. On it, I can browse do my word processor works and can even play games. It is just a great companion- especially on the beach: where I hop (okay, steal...sorry snoop) on other people's Wi-fi network while pretending to be enjoying the sea breeze. Tried it in Miami Beach- splendid!

But the PDA doesn't come as close to being my favorite gadget i.e. most useful. Yeah, I have a favorite past time- photography. In this direction, my ever ready Samsung 4MP digi-camera is small, portable and practical enuf to get those shots. I must confess that it is cheaper than you will think it costs; but it does way more than it sets my account back...who cares? In combination with my JVC camcorder, it works well to bring back memories. But those don’t even cut close to my favorite gadget. Indeed, my Apple I-Pod Video is a close second. But while this important piece of accessory is by far one of my most expensive, I must say it is worth every dime it costs. Plays video, stores my over 12500 song music library, carries over 300 of my pictures and keep me incredible company when I want to relax and tune out the whole world either at work, home or on the road. My Black Apple Video I-pod is the bomb. And the winner is...? Oh my cell phone. My humble Sony Ericsson k750i is my ultimate "all in one". A camera, camcorder, mp3 player and PDA all rolled in one; it is small, has long battery life and has a beautiful design to complement Sony's reputation for quality as well. And yes, Sony didn't ask me to break the bank for this either. And it serves me just right- most of the pictures on this Blog were taken using my cell phone and most if not all short clips I play on my I-Pod - were from my cell. Its size saves me the hassle and makes it easy to get cameos of actions most people will want concealed- it my 007 James Bond device- clicking and recording silently anything from voice to conversations to pictures and movies. Be careful around me. I love my k750i...and it is officially crowned my most "Practical" gadget from my collection.

I do have a couple of other mundane electronic assets that I will not bug you with but I can't close here without acknowledging my only human gadget. Yes, my first child. Her name is Tan Brisquick. The Tan Brisquick is a special breed of Honda Accord of The Bull Dog Series. My perennial workhorse will drive from Texas to Alaska any day without blinking. And this by way of acknowledgement a show of my gratuity. For without the "Tan Devil" my back will be coal tanned in Texas Summer...all hail the Tan Brisquick. Check out the movie album here.

Indeed, some people (names witheld) ask me why I can't just buy combo devices that do all that I have separate devices for ..but I laugh off that suggestion. Because they just don't just seem to get it. I like each of my gadget for the different things they do. That is why I don't have a "best" gadget even though I have a "favorite" one. Like a parent, there is a lot of sentimental value attached to each of them, and no single device can equally replace these "babies" of mine- so to you Mr. PDA phone- go kiss your pillow good nite cos I am not selling any of these devices neither am I buying your under efficient, poor battery life, expensive multi- tasking anit-christ device. Until I meet you next time...so long.

No Brake - No Jam

Since the past ten weeks I have been enduring an unusually heavy traffic driving to and fro my workplace in Houston's central business district. Houstonians love to drive: with wide roads and expansive highway network Houston can rightly be called a city of highways.However, beneath all the traffic and the associated noise and environmental pollution is a often neglected public transport system. Cars are cheap here- you can get a used Japs for less than 2 thousand buck and an American jalopy for about five hundred buck. So why bother? But after going through this stress for ten solid weeks I finally decided to try what is more convenient- take the bus baby!

This is my first full week of taking the Metro Bus using the Park and Ride system that allows me to drive five minutes (from home) to a parking station from where I take the bus to work and back using the high Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane which facilitates quicker access endless traffic. Normally, I drive 40 mins to work and 1 hr 10 mins back(Total: 110 mins). Indeed, today it is 45 mins to work and 50 mins back; plus 10 mins (making 105 mins) as the handover time from the station to my house I figured out I saved couple of minutes. And then that is not real time. Since I can do what the heck I want to do while on the bus (like sleep or read) and not suffer the fatigue and hypertensive pressure of driving- this makes it an even greater plus. Indeed, I don't have to put up with Houston drivers anymore- a breed of drivers I think require psychological examination plus driving test. And add this- I save on gas and car maintenance: it costs me approximately 30 dollars weekly, plus $12 weekly toll road expenses-now $20 will just do for the whole week. I feel good about this new way of getting to work.

The Bus drivers are very polite, the system buses are very clean and well kept but heck I miss something. One observation though, most if not all of the drivers are African Americans; it appears to me that the Whites prefer to drive the school buses a sector they seem to dominate in Houston- excuse my stereotypes. In any case, I miss the noise inside naija danfos (Hiace buses) and the crankiness of the bus driver/conductor. Everyone is proper here-no smoke, food or radios. But is all good-Houston indeed is the home of the playas and pimps. I hope my parked car helps preserve the clean air of this great city and reduces my insurance: Heck, it is America and I am always trying to save on something; much like the good people of Richmond Avenue/rd are trying to save their neighbourhood (see last picture in album) through which the next phase of Metro Rail will pass. They are trying to save it from metro riders like me: talk about one man's meat is another man's poison.

Beach Going Spring Vocation- Spring Bling!

I am back to town from a short weekend business-pleasure trip; I was out to the beautiful Island of South Padre off the coast of Texas and Mexico for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city of Houston to let out and have a good time. This was my first getaway in a year since my trip last year to Miami Beach. It was a hugely successful one also for the matter.

Somehow in my heart I am a beach boy. I love the beach - it is the ultimate rest laboratory for me. In fact I consider the beach God's purest creation of nature, an opera house of earth's creatures in beautiful harmony creating music sweet to nerves and beautiful to the soul. At the beach you find the sand from which man was made, as well as water and the creature it holds that sustains man. Air which is a basic necessity for living on this polluted planet of ours is also bountiful and mostly purer on the beach side. When I walk the beach I see the beautiful creation of God in the blue sky and the beautiful people that walk on it. The diversity of our earth and the wonderful chirps of birds even make the music sweeter and the beach irresistible for me.

South Padre was a blast. The people were friendly- and the service were superb. For a trip planned in 4-5 weeks it was extremely cheap too. The spring breakers were in town and there was no shortage of reveling. However, for those that had to go back to work on Monday- exit day was Sunday. It was three nights well spent and I perhaps did inculcate the lessons of my trip to Miami last year which was very helpful in planning l, especially traveling with a buddy - I had Hendrik Mason my college day friend and ex-student political associate with me; we both held it down before, and did it again. While he is considering entering the Catholic Priesthood we indulged ourselves for the weekend from the burden and pollution of the city.

Back to South Padre, I find the people here spectacularly nice. It was at South Padre I met the nicest waitress ever - in Dennys Called Lorraine (Lori for short). A 20 years old Hispanic girl that works 2 jobs and attends university (University of Texas at Brownsville studying management) and still manages to flash a smile that brightens up your day and be extremely polite to the extent my friend and I had to excuse her courtesy! She is well noted. The Hotel, Airline and Car Hire attendants also proved extremely accommodating allowing us slack on time for 30 mins to 1 hr as any young men will- no extra demand no waiting on tips (like everyone in Miami seemed always to be). How can I forget the French tourists we played soccer with (see picture 4 in album) and the group of 4 locals that played beach volley with us (Picture 8)- they made the journey worthwhile. These is a city nice people, and I will recommend South Padre Island and the Valley Area (including Harligen) to any beach going tourist any day any time. If you don't have a flash player to see the album here is a LINK TO THE PICTURES.

However, I must confess I am glad to be a home: Houston. Coming back to Houston and feeling like I missed out makes me realize how much I have come to fall in love with this city that I live, work and school. H Town! I hardly call anywhere home- for a a true son of Ekiti, born in Ibadan and raised in Warri - later schooling in Lagos and Texas, home is everywhere. But everyday, Houston seems to assume that title more than any place else. I am back to my Bachelor's pad- my little palace, it is quiet- heck, it is a well deserved one.