Thursday, January 25, 2024

My New Gift – Gadget Overload

Gifts can be great.  Gadget gifts can be great and fun.  For example, my family recently bought me a new watch. I have not had a watch for several years; I usually use my phone. In hindsight, I missed not having a watch.  It is so much easier than trying to hide the fact you are looking at your phone. More on this later.

First, some background. My father enjoyed gadgets and James Bond movies.  He bought me a Casio calculator when I was in high school (see picture). It still works.  I was one of the first students in my school to have one.  As I grew older, he continued to buy me cool gadgets, like the watch that was also a calculator.  You could even play a game on it (see picture).  Now it is important to remember, that was back in the 70s or over 45 years ago. 

And now to today.  My family did not buy just any watch, but a James Bond watch!   You can see it here. It looks like an ordinary watch, but it is not. I can call people, read and send texts, read and send emails, access the internet, use it as a stopwatch, etc.  Just like James Bond!  Quiet, I hear the music queuing up now.

Of course, I cannot shoot anyone, blow up a building, stun an enemy, or other key Bond needs. So, it is not perfect.

Oh yeah, it also can track my steps, tell me how my sleep was, tell me my stress level, measure my blood oxygen, etc. My family tells me that is why they bought me the watch. No surprise.  I like it because it is the watch James Bond would have.

First, I need Q to show me how to use it. It is complex. Then, I need to buy an old Auston Martin and then a Walther PPK. It would be my first sports car and gun.  Again, Q would need to show me how the car works. My son can show me how the gun works.

As noted earlier, gifts are great as are gadget gifts. Dad, you would be pleased with this gadget gift.  As for my family, are you reading this?  I see a classic car and gun in my (likely) distant future.





Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Virginia Business

 Most states and metro areas do something like this.  I really enjoy the Virginia Business editions. These are all listed on the website under the tab “Reports” and includes novel ones like Best Places to Work, CEO Pay, Most Influential Virginians…you get the idea. The various lists are posted in the monthly magazine and usually highlight an industry.  The Excel download is at a cost.  The HTML format lists an abbreviated edition of the top firms.

https://www.virginiabusiness.com/lists/