Category Archives: humor

humor, Random, Travel, Weather

San Francisco’s wintry summer

I travel to San Francisco often for business and leisure. It’s just a hop over the pond from Hawaii, and I was thinking recently of planning a visit this summer. Then remembered to my dismay that it’s July — the worst time of year to go.  Not because of crowds, but because of the weather. This may seem odd because the middle of summer may  seem like  the best time of year to visit any city at the edge of a temperate zone. But SF is different.

Locals and former residents aside, most casual travelers aren’t aware that winter typically happens in June or July, exactly the opposite of when it’s expected. So when all of the summer tourists are in town shivering in the drizzle at the Wharf or Chinatown, February looms like a beacon of pleasantness–light crowds, balmy weather, off-season discounts and tables open at the finest restaurants.

Mark Twain said, ” the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Wise words to travel by. I’ve decided to go in February instead.

humor

People’s names match their jobs

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Ever notice how some people’s names truly match their professions? Like Bernard Madoff, who “made off ” with billions of investors’ dollars. Or the lesser known Ray Gal, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, who studies galaxies.

It makes me wonder: What’s really in a name? Does a name foretell profession, or is it simply coincidence?

Turns out that a name suited to the profession of its owner is aptly called an “aptronym“. At least it’s a defined phenomenon. If you know of someone who’s name matches their job, please reply and tell us here. Here are a few more aptronyms that I’ve uncovered:

Robert Strange McNamara — Former secretary of defense who said the military action in Vietnam was wrong, but would never come out against Iraq. Strange, indeed.

Bill Medley — Musician in the Righteous Brothers band, who came up with folk rock medleys and songs.

Summer Starfield — Astronomer studies, you guessed it, stars.

Culture, Family, humor, Lifestyle, Travel

Tips for moving to Hawaii

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Hear Hawaii calling? Holly Ross has. She sent this reply to a recent blog post :

After a week on Oahu and discovering Haleiwa, I am irrevocably changed and having a hard time back in SF. I had never been so relaxed and at peace. Going back in January – already looking at houses and jobs.

Aloha, Hawaii!

Like Holly, I remember when I first fell in love with Hawaii almost 20 years ago. I fell hard, eventually uprooted my life and moved here, shining the Mainland grind forever. Before nearly everything was online, I had to learn about island living the hard way. Now it’s easy to pass along tips to make the transition from the Mainland easier.  Here are a few that I’ve discovered.

Consult this book, So You Want to Live in Hawaii (2nd ed) by Toli Polancy. It’s a great place to start learning about all of Hawaii’s cultural quirks. Just because it’s the 50th state doesn’t mean living here is like the Mainland. Oh yeah, that’s the point.

Also, check out Matson for shipping cars and belongings across the ocean. For moves between islands, you’ll need the help of Young Brothers shipping.