As I sit and watched the music fest that happened a few months ago  in our town – and remembered some young kids doing things and smoking weed like they didn’t care if there were people around – I wished the town would have a better counseling or rehab center for these kids.  While heroin detox rehab treatment centers  are plenty in Malibu, we don’t have very many in Canada.   It is quite sad to see all these talented young musician smoking and taking things that will affect their lives and wasting their talent away but what can you say or do when we don’t even have a rehab or treatment center here in this town to help this young people. And it’s not just the young musicians that we see doing illegal stuff to hurt their health, a lot of young people here are doing weed, heroin and all kinds of substance.  I enjoyed the music festival but went home thinking if there was a way to help them – I think of my cousin who passed away 1 year ago – because of the same problem – and I walked back to my car feeling quite helpless.  I hear in bigger cities they have more young people on illegal substance – and had we known that my cousin had problems – we would have done something before it was too late.

Not again – I hear you saying – hahah! don’t blame you – the rumor has it that the iPhone 5 is scheduled to be released this summer and it is supposed to be slimmer and better of course than the iPhone 4S – and a slightly bigger screen.  Now should I go get one when it is released? or should I keep my iPhone 3G?

Truly amazing !  after I saw the above video – I am in awe!  I can imagine the amount of information my kid can get when she reaches high school.  I’m all for the iBook 2 – with textbooks for only $14.99 or less – you definitely cannot beat that price.   Gone will be the days where children carry heavy text books to school – I loved the idea and so will you.  Apple definitely has the world in its fingers – afterall there will always be students around the world.

Last year we were at Lake Louise Ski Area for a few days for a skiing trip with friends from Japan – we had bought some north face backpacks  for hiking at the Banff National park but didn’t make it there for we got too busy doing stuff at the Ski resort.  So this year – we’ve decided to go again – because the entire family enjoyed the trip so much.

The place was very nice – the gondola prices were reasonable and it wasn’t as crowded as in the other resorts.  The snow condition was excellent – and it’s very refreshing to be there and the Lake Louise trail was a lot easier on the younger kids. I love the trail going back down because after a day or two of skiing we all were becoming expert – by the time we went home – we long to go back – and I had promise the kids that we will.  So this trip next year – we are definitely heading to the National park with our picnic all packed in our backpacks.

Now I say everyone can use a projection alarm clock and a weather monitor – every morning – don’t you think?   For about $80 – from Hammacher Schlemmer – this clock has a built in sensor that tells you the time and weather condition.  I like that when I wake up in the middle of the night – I can just look up and see the time and temperature without having to look out the window or having to turn on the computer for an update.

Simple and masculine enough for me – and if I wanted something to catch my cables – it would have to be this – no funky looking colored things that the spouse loved to buy.  But the walnut wood is very expensive at about $42 – so i think I’ll get my brother to make one for me.  Even though it may not be so fine in the finish – I think I will keep my $42 – but if you are not handy – you can buy them from Orange 22.

Like I said we meet some very interesting ones – and some can just make you wonder – which planet they came from.  For example, I have one particular customer – who would ask for a discount for everything and anything – and if you don’t give it to her – she would throw it back at you and call them rubbish.  *shake head* oh well!  I guess the good ones balance out the “interesting” ones – so that makes it bearable for us.

I don’t know about other people but the spouse and I try to buy the right gifts for the right people and not just because we have to buy stuff for people during Christmas. Many people buy just any gifts just because but the spouse is very specific on what I can get her – and that is morgan silver dollars for her investment and collections. She doesn’t believe in buying just anything – and told me many years ago – that if I wanted to get her something – it had to be gold or silver dollars – she is just not interested in games, computers or anything even jewelries. So I do the same for the kid as well – we asked her to list what she wants – and she tells us the stuff and we buy just a few for her for Christmas. If we can’t find a Christmas gift for my mom or dad – we buy them a silver dollar – for investment – to keep towards their retirement fund – I think it is more meaningful – especially for someone who has everything and don’t need anything. So this Christmas – if you can’t find the right gift for your loved ones – you may want to think about getting them something they can make use of in the future.

Why put your poor cat in a cage right?  it’s just not right – even if the spouse don’t like kitty like we do – the kitty still deserve something to crawl into at night.  This Native American Teepee is pretty unique isn’t it ? meant for your cats and made of 100% recycled cardboard that you can assemble yourself.  I’m pretty sure you can train any cat to go in there and stay in there at night.  Comes with different ornaments to decorate their new home.  A dream catcher, a feather or a tomahawk – and eagle or even a bull’s head. I like the tomahawk better. Interesting  and only at $19 from Loyal Luxe.

I could use something like that for my desk – because I’m a messy person and chuck all my stationary, pens and writing pads just about everywhere.  So when I need them – they are nowhere to be found – most embarrassing if I needed to write something important about a customer’s computer. This goes for $9  – a great deal – great Christmas present too – for your office people from Art  Lebedev.

An infrared heater cost between $299 – $499 but that’s not what I’m concerned about – I’m more concerned about the cost of running it daily.  Will it really save me money?  I’ve read reviews about it and also seen some people that I know talk about it.  They didn’t further elaborate but all of them said it worked well in their basement.  But how much will it save me during the winter – as winter is long here?  anyone knows more about it?

]]> http://www.kalamaf.com/2011/11/infrared-heaters/feed/ 0 http://www.kalamaf.com/2011/11/carry-case-for-ipads/ http://www.kalamaf.com/2011/11/carry-case-for-ipads/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:15:22 +0000 kalamaf http://www.kalamaf.com/?p=1475

If I had an iPad or a Kindle – I would love to have a carry case instead of just a folder case.  Why a carry case – it’s definitely easier to walk around with and not worry about accidentally dropping it while trying to carry other stuff – especially if you need to hold the kid’s winter jacket and her gloves.   Double up as a carry case for a 14″ laptop – it’s from PKG and at $31.50 – check it out yourself – or a great gift for the guys in your life who has a iPad that they like to carry around.