I’ve been meaning to compile a list of places that my wife and l like to frequent here in Phoenix. Having lived in some great cities in the world and most recently San Francisco, we have been fortunate to have so much good, unique dining options right outside our front door. Of course, the fact that Phoenix is now geographically larger than L.A., proximity is not a requisite for this list. As well, Phoenix, like other cities that are spread out rather than built-up seems to have a love affair with chains and rather dull, run-of-the-mill type dining options. We’re not total snobs such that we don’t like to go to chains at all (okay, maybe just a tad), but we do try to avoid them here and support local, independent shops that offer something unique not only in the quality of service and food, but have a good sense of community around them.

Also, this list serves as a directory for those coming to town or those in town looking for our latest recommendation. So here it goes...

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Tags: food, dining

Yesterday, I attended a lecture on Prayer given by Bing Hunter as a part of the Timothy program at Scottsdale Bible Church. This is the same program through which I am going to Morocco on a service project. Below, is the recorded audio and notes from the session.
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Tags: timothy, prayer

My blogging history thus far has always been more about the experimentation with the technology than trying to garner an audience or following. Since 2002, I have tried my hand at blogging in some form or another. In the last couple of years, I have used my personal blog to focus on the topic of technology and design and how these two intersect. My blog interface has actually seen some traffic (68,000 hits thus far) over the last year with my focus on the Kindle and the iPhone. However, the frequency of my posts have been sporadic at best as I have only blogged when I have made the effort with my personal time outside of work. Lately though, I have felt compelled to make a more concerted effort towards a semi-professional blog in a more meaningful genre. I use the word “semi-professional” because it remains to be a part-time, unpaid endeavor that I hope can grow into a multi-author blog that can draw in a consistent following. So, I am using my personal blog to announce this new blog endeavor that I have launched as of late last night:

http://controversialchristian.net

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Tags: blog

This weekend, I upgraded my exhaust can on my CBR600. It sounds and feels like a completely different bike now. I’ve been riding sport bikes for about eleven years now. My current bike (Honda CBR600RR) is the sixth bike I’ve owned. However, this is only the third bike that I have upgraded from the stock exhaust. Before/After pictures after the break.

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Tags: motorsport

Pictures and video from tonight’s Latte Art Throw-Down at Press Coffee:

http://www.puhala.com/latte/

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Tags: latte art

I’m a technology guy, so reviewing a piece of luggage is a bit out of step for me but I also travel for my job and find myself in and out of airports frequently. I’m always looking for ways to optimize my travel habits and when someone I follow on Twitter raved about their latest luggage purchase, I followed the link and was immediately sold on the concept. The question is whether the concept turned to reality upon actual use. Read More/Comments...

Tags: luggage, productivity

This post is inspired by a recent blog entry from O’Reilly Radar (It’s really more of an essay & series of interviews). In brief, Tim O’Reilly discusses the merits of practice as it relates to programming. The line that got me thinking was right in the opening paragraph, discussing a disturbing trend:

“the unwillingness of people to work hard to learn new skills...”

Busted! I am guilty as anyone amidst the instant gratification of today’s Internet culture to expect something for nothing. The article is rather long, but worthy of your stayed attention.

In my reflection of the past year and in my planning and dreaming for the new year, the question that I challenge myself with is what am I going to do about it? I hasten to call it a resolution, but rather more of a concerted effort and awareness that I need to instill the habit of practice in both my personal and professional life. Read More/Comments...

Tags: productivity

I recently downloaded the book to my Kindle called Enough by John C. Bogle. By far and away, this is the best business book I’ve read in the last decade. I’ve not finished it yet as I am taking my time to ponder on the very timely and poignant topics. I think the chapter titles provide enough thought provoking content and offer the best preview of what this book is about:

- Too Much Cost, Not Enough Value
- Too Much Speculation, Not Enough Investment
- Too Much Complexity, Not Enough Simplicity
- Too Much Counting, Not Enough Trust
- Too Much Business Conduct, Not Enough Professional Conduct
- Too Much Salesmanship, Not Enough Stewardship
- Too Much Management, Not Enough Leadership
- Too Much Focus on Things, Not Enough Focus on Commitment
- Too Much Twenty-First-Century Values, Not Enough Eighteenth-Century Values
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Tags: Kindle

This has been a super long-time coming; Today, I launched both my new personal website and my new personal blog. Perhaps this should be a press-release? I’ve probably been stuck on the same boring placeholder website for five years. I’ve owned puhala.com since 1998 and I’ve always thought of ways of using it and sometimes even had visions of doing something about it. It’s gone through your basic iterations of a personal site updating various aspects of my life. However, it’s always lacked a personality and certainly lacked content. That changes starting today.
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Tags: website, blog