PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

A New Dog

Mar

31

We have a new dog today. His name is Wiley, three month old mix. He met with Tiny, Pompom and Nano. So far so good.

#Animals #Pets

I took dogs to walk at Medina Park for morning walk.
I had early lunch at Vietnamese restaurant. Dogs waited in the car.
I came back and shampooed all three dogs while I am doing the laundry.

All those done before the noon.
I will be taking nap or watch TV.

#Life #Politics #Society

Drier Sunday

Mar

30

It is not sunny but it is not raining. It feels little cold today.
I must take dogs to walk and shampoo them today.
It helps when no rain is coming down.

#Animals #Pets

Aperture Crashed

Mar

29

When I opened Aperture (Apple's Photo Album Software), it said there is a problem with the images and needed to rebuild the library. I have almost 93,000 photos in the library. I run the fix and it tool over an hour but I think I fixed the problem.

#Computer #Internet

Loco Moco Lunch

Mar

28

Rice

Greens

Hamberger

Egg

Gravy

Loco Moco

I started cook Loco Moco and girls helps me finish. It turned out very tasty. we should do this again.

I calculated that I can make this dish for less than a dollar. Such a good deal and good food for money. Sumiko, from Hawaii, said it is very good.

#Gourmet

Microsoft Office for iPad

Mar

27

Starting today you can download WORD, EXCEL and POWERPOINT for Apple iPad. Yes, I said iPad. It says free to download but I issue you have to pay something like Office 365 account to unlock.

#Computer #Internet

Safety

Mar

27

I went out to lunch today and I saw a new condominium being built. Does this look safe to you. I am sure much of the structural strength will be coming from the walls but those pilers look so skinny. I guess I am used to seeing the buildings in Japan being constructed earthquakes in mind.

#Life #Politics #Society

Organic Egg Shortage

Mar

27

There are still plenty of eggs, but they are not organic I guess.
I they are not organic, what are they?

I went to Safeway this morning and found out that we have an organic egg shortage in the US. I found the video as well. i personally do not care if eggs come from organic farm or not, but given a choice I pick organic.

#Life #Politics #Society

Image of Seattle

Mar

25

I took this picture at Pike Place Market last weekend.
What a colorful place!!!

#Life #Politics #Society

Keep Track of Your Belongings

Mar

25

I have reported about the product called Tile to keep track of your belongings. I found another one that basically does the same thing and is called "StockR TrackR" and you find the info at http://www.stickrtrackr.com

#Computer #Internet

Huge Landslide

Mar

24

here are few people sending me a message about massive landslide. It happened near the city of Oso on State Route 530. I cannot pinpoint where the landslide is but I think it is in the area I circled.

We are fine … thank you.

#NaturalDisaster

The most popular coffee shop...

Mar

23

Starbucks at Pike Place

This is must be the most popular coffee shop in the world. I wonder how much coffee they sell in a day.

#Life #Politics #Society

I shot over 100 again

Mar

22

I do not know what I was doing wrong but I shot 101 today. I really hate it.

#Sports

Best Watch Repair Shop in Town

Mar

21

I will not trust anyone else with my watches. From the cleaning up and repair to replacing the battery, do not take your watch to cheap stores specially inside the department store.

WHATCH REPAIR ETC
http://www.watchrepairetc.com

#Arts

Bop Street Records in Ballard

Mar

21

They must have no be changed in years …

http://www.bopstreetrecords.com

#Life #Politics #Society

Prosperity

Mar

21

It is sad to see homeless people on the street especially in places like Seattle. You see lots of government waist yet the government is not doing much to those people on the street.

#Life #Politics #Society

More about Jinya

Mar

20

Studio City, California, Jinya Menu

New York, Jinya Menu

Seattle, Jinya Menu

Jinya Ramenbar

I went to new Ramen restaurant called Jinya in Crossroad, Bellevue. It tasted okay but the food was very small and too over 30 minuets to serve. Too slow for Ramen. And the price was very high for Ramen.

Today, I checked the website and found the same Ramen costs $10.55 in Studio City in California costs $11.80 in Bellevue and $14.00 in New York. Considering this is a franchise restaurant, do you think it is a good idea to set different prices depending on the city?

http://www.jinya-ramenbar.com

#Business #Marketing

JINYA RAMEN

Mar

19

We went to new RAMEN restaurant, Jinya today for dinner. Food was pretty good and service was not bad either. But here is my problem.

I arrived at Crossroad Mall at 6:22pm, We were seated at 8:24pm. We ordered Gyoza and Ramen. Gyoza came our 6:41pm (15 minuets passed). We ate Gyoza and they took the plates away. Ramen came out 6:57pm. Ramen took over 30 minuets.

The portion looked very small because their bowl so so huge. Three people, 3 Gyoza plates and 3 Ramen + Tax and Tip came out to be $60. You you kidding?

Again, the food is much better than other Bellevue Ramen place. Only if they can turn around food faster, I would have enjoyed it more.

#Gourmet

Ballard

Mar

19

After Seattle Executives Association meeting, we needed to go Ballard. It is a city with very strong northern euro heritages. This city makes you feel like you are in Norway or Sweden.

#Life #Politics #Society

New Antique Clock at ClockLink.com

Mar

18

We have just released antique clock at http://www.clocklink.com. We even made the second arm move not smoothly to be more realistic. With ClockLink, you can set the clock to display any tome zone in the world. Clocks are free to use on your web site. Also this clock is made using HTML 5, so it can be displayed on iPhone and iPad.

US Pacific Standard/Daylight Savings Time

#Computer #Internet

Helicopter Crash at Fisher Plaza

Mar

18

I woke up with the news of a helicopter crash in Seattle. This helicopter was taking off from Fisher Plaza (ABC Affiliate KOMO TV operates out of this building) heliport this morning and crushed just north side of Fisher Plaza building.

Fisher Plaza is where we have our data center. We have communicated with out staff at the data center and confirmed non of out staff was involved. Farther more, we have confirmed there is no interruption in our services at this point.

Our prayers are with people effected by this tragedy.

#Blog

One more SNS Account Closure

Mar

17

I have closed Google+ account today. I was afraid that it may close Gmail and YouTube accounts but I deleted the Google Plus account anyway. So far, I see no affect on Gmail nor YouTube.

#Blog

Closing one Social Networking Account

Mar

17

I have closed XING social networking account today. I do not know why I had it and I have never used it.

https://www.xing.com

#Blog

Rain Today

Mar

16

It is raining all day today. I'm glad I played golf yesterday.

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

First golf score posted today.

Mar

15

I played golf today. I waked 18 holes and I am really tired. The core was 46/44 total 90. I have been hitting much bigger number since I started taking lessons. Also, starting March 1st, I get to post the score on the handicap system. This is my first post since last November.

#Sports

Next Business Model … Back to Basic!!!

Mar

14

Packaging boxes have arrived.
We will be making packages of our products and services.

We will be marketing our products through brick and mortar stores as well VARs and Resellers.

#Business #Marketing

Using Windows XP … Live Long and Prosper

Mar

14

You know Microsoft is stop supporting Windows XP operating system. That means you will have no update to the XP and you are thinking of purchasing new PC. Many people do buy new PC but there are some of you need to keep the software that can only run on Windows XP and you need to keep Windows XP. Here are something you can do to make sure your XP is still safe to use.

(1) Make sure you have non-Micrsoft AntiVirus software. Microsoft will stop supporting XP, but there companies like McAfee, Symantec and Panda may still support XP.

(2) Forget Outlook or Outlook Express as your email software. Download and start using Thunderbird. They are free.

(3) Internet Explorer … You need to download and start using Google Chrome or Firefox. They still work with windows XP.

(4) If you already have Office on you XP, do not upgrade it.

remember with Windows XP, you may not be able to use latest software. But if you want to use the PC for Internet Browsing and Email and some document creation, your Windows XP machine will work fine even after the end of support. Computer will not shut down to blow up.

#Computer #Internet

Holidays in Japan

Mar

13

One clear reason why Japanese economy sucks is related number of working days. This year Japan is observing 17 holidays (day offs). Compared to that the US has following 7 National Holidays.

– New Year's Day
– Memorial Day
– Independence Day
– Labor Day
– Veterans Day
– Thanksgiving
– Christmas

There are bank/trading holidays but they are not day offs to most people in the US. Also, in China there are 7 National holidays and those are

- New Year
- 1st lunar month
- Qingming Festival
- Labour Day
- Dragon Boat Festival
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- National

Come on, if you think you can compete with other nations by having 10 more days of holidays, you are dreaming.

#Life #Politics #Society

Fall of Japan

Mar

12

How important is Japan as a country?

Japan used to have second largest GDP in the world … but it is not any more.
Japan held more innovations than other countries … but it is not any more.
Japan had highest education in the world … but it is not any more.
Japan manufactured more goods and exported … but it is not any more.
Japan purchased more US bonds than anyone … but it is not any more.

So how important is Japan now?
How important do you think?

To all Japanese people including myself.
GET OUR FUCKING ACT TOGETHER, STUPID!

#Life #Politics #Society

You got to be kidding!!!

Mar

12

This contractor must not be licensed nor insured.
This is one scarily way to clean windows in high places.

#Life #Politics #Society

New Clock Is Coming

Mar

11

We created a new clock. It is actually very classic.
http://www.clocklink.com

We are new working on the new ClockLink portal site design.

#Computer #Internet

Three Years

Mar

10

It has been three years today (3/11) in Japan since the earthquake and tsunami.
We do not hear much about it anymore except Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

#NaturalDisaster

ClockLink Clock on iPad

Mar

9

It is good to see clockLink clock working on iPad now. We provide HTML5 version of clock at http://www.clocklink.com.

#Computer #Internet

One hour jet lag

Mar

9

I hate this one hour change?
What is the point of doing this?

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

The Daylight Saving Hour

Mar

8

The daylight Saving Hour will start tomorrow.
Here is the current time in Seattle…

If you want to display your time zone on your web site, use http://www.clocklink.com
It is a free service of PSPINC.

#Life #Politics #Society

Heavy Traffic

Mar

7

I went to SEATAC today. To get there at 6:00pm, I left Bellevue at 5:00pm. It took little over an hour but the same trip without traffic should take no more than 25 minuets.

Traffic really suck here in Seattle. I wish the railway is more developed.

#Life #Politics #Society

When the rain is gone ...

Mar

6

When the rain is gone, I will start driving my restored car, 1959 Mercedes Benz 220S. The nick name is Ponton.

#Bikes #Cars

Tokyo Downtown

Mar

6

When you say downtown Tokyo, which part of the city are you talking about?
Unlike west coast cities of the US, Tokyo developed around the rail stations. So, depending what you are looking for, you need to specify which train station you mean.

This is a image of Shinagawa station. This station is near the large offices sometime headquarters of companies like SONY, Microsoft, canon and other high tech companies.

#Life #Politics #Society

Downtown Seattle

Mar

5

I went downtown Seattle today to attend Seattle Executive Association meeting. We have this meeting every week and I am a member for last 10 years.

#Life #Politics #Society

Privatizing the Infrastructure

Mar

4

One thing that most foreigners are surprised when the visit Japan is the public transportation infrastructure. Unlike other countries including the US, most of the transpiration infrastructure in Japan are owned and operated by corporations not government.

The largest rail used to be called Japan National Railway (JNR) was privatized back in March 1987. Since then, no annual strike, no yearly rate hike, no government subsidization.

Post Office was privatized as well in Japan. People in the US think the public transpiration and postal services must be run by the government … think again. It might save everyone money and improve the service.

#Life #Politics #Society

Revisit ClockLink.com

Mar

4

US Pacific Standard Time

ClockLink is the only free clock you can embed in your web site that shots the time of your business' times zone. You can choose from hundreds of clocks. Just visit http://www.clocklink.com

ClockLink is a service of PSPINC.

#Computer #Internet

Tilt-Shift Photo

Mar

3

Original

Tilt-Shift Image

Have you ever heard the term "Tilt-Shift" in the photography?
Please take a look at the photo. By doing Tilt-Shit, objects became miniaturized and gain the appearance of models.

I created this Tilt-Shift image using Photoshop. What do you think?
I posted both original and modified.

#Hobby

Credit to web.com

Mar

3

I decided to cancel Web.com … although I had to call to cancel my subscription and domain with web.com, they did not give me any hard time about it. I respect that. I wish it was like under $10 per month … I would have kept it.

#Computer #Internet

Web.com … Not Cheap After All

Mar

3

After 17 minuets of waiting I get to talk to an agent. He was helpful explaining to me what I sign up. Yes, the $1.99 (actually it was $3.95 with email support) was only for the first month and the any month after that will be $20.95 (actually it was $22.95 with email support).

I asked if they have any cheaper option. He told me there is a Central Hosting that is $14.95 or email only for $7.95. If I want just keep a domain name it will be one time fee of $37.

It started with $1.99/month but it did not stay there long. I would not call it a rip off because the pricing is not that outrageous but I would call it a bait and switch. I feel like a sucker. I asked him to downgrade me to $14.95. It is still $180/year. Not as cheap as I thought.

#Computer #Internet

Web.com … bait and switch???

Mar

3

Yesterday I registered domain web/email at Web.com at low price of 1.99/month. Our hosting price is much higher than this. After looking at this, I was wondering how we can compete with this company. I cannot lower our price to $1.99.

I looked at the billing section today to find out $1.99 only applies to the first month and it will go up to $20.95 just for a web. I am calling Web.com to find out more about how much it really costs. I am currently on hold for over 10 minuets.

I will keep you updated.

#Business #Marketing