Justin Germino Ramblings

For some reason I have some problems connecting my iPad 2 to certain Wi-Fi networks and I can’t figure out why. It seems to work fine with my WPA2 wireless network at home and some public networks but it has problems connecting to services like GoGo Inflight Internet or even to a Verizon Mobile Hotspot phone.

[easyazon-image-link asin=”B0047DVWZS” alt=”Apple iPad 2 MC916LL/A Tablet (64GB, Wifi, Black) NEWEST MODEL” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31gwzv%2ByXXL._SL160_.jpg” align=”left” width=”160″ height=”160″]What happens is the iPad 2 shows the Wireless network and seems to join it, but it only pulls down an IP and Subnet, it doesn’t show a router IP, DNS or any other information. It doesn’t let you open any browser as it just says your iPad isn’t connected to a network. I tried forgetting the network and re-joining, renewing the lease, and even tried fiddling with the http proxy by switching to manual or auto.

So basically I can’t figure out why the iPad 2 doesn’t work with some WiFi networks, has anyone else run into this issue or know a work around? Is there some limitation on the types of Wi-Fi networks or encryptions that have to be used for the iPad 2 to connect to them?

The odd thing is my wife was able to connect her iPod touch to a wi-fi network and my own iPad 2 couldn’t join to the same Wi-Fi network, nor could her iPad 2 so it isn’t just a simple issue with my own device.

I will have to do some more research and see if this is a common issue or there is something at else I have to do here that I am missing.

-Justin Germino

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It was funny waking up in Rome and looking to order breakfast, unlike the United States breakfast places all serve lunch meats like Salami, cheese, [easyazon-link asin=”B000BICL9O”]prosciutto[/easyazon-link], and even Pizza can be found at all hours of the morning. What I couldn’t find was a scrambled egg sandwich anywhere, the food is much more rich and seems like any meal of the day can be served anytime in Rome.

[easyazon-image-link asin=”B000BICL9O” alt=”Prosciutto Di Parma Imported from Italy aged 14 months” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21KNtg%2BAVBL.jpg” align=”left” width=”125″ height=”96″]I had some of the greatest tasting pastries I had experienced while in Rome, at a small Caffe, I ordered a pastry with some sort of blackberry jelly filling the middle and it was fantastic. It cost only about .60 Euro as well. My wife enjoyed countless Caffe Latte’s from various locations but her favorite was from the Portofino Cafe which is located near the Vatican City.

The pizza is all very thin crust style in Rome and every stand sells Pizza, it has almost crackerlike crust and isn’t doughy but it all is fantastic. We ordered a pizza with huge hunks of parmesian reggiano on top of it which was mouth watering. The dinner’s were rich and cream, meat and tomato sauces are plentiful.

On the night we left we ate at a ristorante which served thick pasta that was like giant versions of Rigatoni with a pomodoro sauce. Olives are everywhere and taste delicious, the rich olive diet found in all of Italy, Greece and Turkey was evident in nearly every restaurant. I even bought body wash that was derived from olive oil on one of our excursions.

I won’t miss the food in Rome and that’s for sure, my wife also enjoyed Gelato during one of our evening dessert hopping runs. This trip will leave permanent lasting memories and I hope that one day we can return to Rome and even take the train to see more of Italy.

-Justin Germino

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It was when I took 15 hours worth of flights back to back that I realized at some point I am going to have to buy a USB Battery Backup + Charger at some point. I actually didn’t even know these devices existed until I saw one by Recharge in the Skymall magazine.

These battery devices plug into any A/C outlet and charge up, then you can unplug them and take them along with you. Some have 2 USB ports and you can plugin your USB devices like an iPad, iPhone, iPod, Galaxy Tab…etc and charge your mobile devices from the battery backup. This basically extends the life of your mobile device and the external batteries can be in sizes that range from not much bigger than an iPod touch.

I have seen a few different brands of USB Battery Chargers and they all seem to work pretty well, you have to make sure you buy one that supports 10 volt (2 amp) to support charging the iPad and also supports 5 volt (1 amp) to charge normal USB devices which don’t require as much power. There are even some which come with plugs to fit the Galaxy Tab if you have one of those.

Bottom line is that if you travel frequently and don’t have stops to plugin your devices to charge them in between those travels, you will need a fully charged backup battery that you can use to extend the life and even recharge your portable devices. I would have had a lot easier time with my iPad 2 on my return trip from Rome where I did not have enough battery to use it for the 10.5 hour flight to Charlotte and then again for the 4.5 hour flight from Charlotte to Phoenix where I didn’t have any layover or time to find a way to recharge it before getting on the next flight.

Here are some of the ones I found on Amazon.com that looked pretty good, I haven’t used any of them but will be adding one to my wish list soon.  Out of this list the 16,000 mAh i.Sound Portable Power Max looks the best as it can charge 5 devices simultaneously and supports any device that takes up to 2.4 amps.

-Justin Germino

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This is a true story on how exceptional customer service can affect business brand and loyalty from customers. My wife and I enjoy traveling and in particular cruises that go all over the world. When we took our first cruise about 6 years ago we chose Royal Caribbean based on price and reputation after looking at several others. We had a great staff, pleasant experience and the whole cruise was fantastic.

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For our 2nd cruise a year later we decided to try Carnival Cruise lines, and the cruise was also good and there were more activities that were aboard the ship that catered to people who like games or party activities. There was just one thing that was missing, exceptional customer service.

[easyazon-image-link asin=”B00563KR7M” alt=”‘Cruise Ship In Caribbean Sea’ Wall Decal – 18″W x 12″H Removable Graphic” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410NlG1sEsL._SL160_.jpg” align=”left” width=”160″ height=”106″]Royal Caribbean wait staff at the dining set the bar when it came to serving, and for a few years my wife talked about Ian from Jamaica and how amazing he was at providing the best service possible. When my wife took her mother on another Royal Caribbean cruise a year later she happened to luckly have Ian again as her waiter and this made her experience even better.

Fast forward to our next cruise which was out of Orlando, Florida and sailed through Haiti, Jamaica and the Grand Caymans and my wife who previously thought she had seen the best in wait service was blown away by the outstanding service by a waiter named Gede from Indonesia. This person knew all of our dining habits and drink preferences, so that by day 2 on the cruise we literally had to ask for nothing but only tell him what we wanted off the menu for dinner that night. Glasses were never empty, plates were brought out and he even brought an extra here and there guestimating what we may want to sample and being correct on many occasions. I mean when he saw the shrimp cocktail plate was consumed in 20 seconds he didn’t ask, just set a 2nd one down without even being asked. His attention to detail was amazing and to this day two years later my wife still compares all hosts, servers to Gede and the amazing service he provided. He set the bar so high in fact that it is hard for any others to measure up.

[easyazon-image-link asin=”B00421A6WA” alt=”Phuket Ocean Scene, Photography Door Poster Print, 21 by 62-Inch” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41N6QJ9lD%2BL.jpg” align=”right” width=”250″]Now, we have been on 6 cruises and 4 of them were with Royal Caribbean as we have seen nothing but the friendliest service. Not just in wait staff at the restaurant but even on our most recent cruise the stateroom attendants are the most pleasant and friendly people to associate with. Literally, the customer service of Royal Caribbean staff keeps us coming back to where we prefer to look at Royal Caribbean before all other cruise companies.

We did take a Disney Cruise and can speak about how incredible that was, the kids loved it, the shows were the best out of any cruise. But even the Disney cruise ship staff which provided great service didn’t leave the same kind of “WOW” impression that Royal Caribbean staff has left us. Now don’t get me wrong, Disney is fantastic too. When our 2 year old had a melt down at the Animator’s Palette restaurant, it was the Disney staff who helped carry all of our food to our hotel room for us so we can finish it there.

So, this is a lesson that years later the outstanding customer service is something we talk about regularly and always is associated with our experience with Royal Caribbean. Bad customer service is always remembered as well, it is imperative to make sure in any business that customer service is the absolute best. “Average” is forgetable and doesn’t leave an impression, “Bad” is of course the worst as it leaves a permanent negative impression but if you can demand and make sure your employees go above and beyond every time. This will only help your business spread by word of mouth and reputation.

After all, Royal Caribbean has received repeat business from us 5 times in the last 8 years as a result of their exceptional service.

-Justin Germino

Our first stop after embarking the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas was in Messina, Sicily. Here we had a 7.5 hour Mt. Etna tour planned where we traveled at first to the Crateri Silvestestri (or Silvestri Crater) and walked the perimiter of this quiet volcano crater. Mt. Etna is the largest active volcano in the world and the tour guide said usually at least twice a month they can see eruptions from the mountain into the sky. There were 3 primary mouths to the volcano but two sealed off leaving just Etna for hundreds of years. Until several years ago where new craters erupted randomly and in 2003/2004 they had flowing lava and an eruption cause mass damage to the surrounding region.

The volcanic rock and ash left behind is just incredible to witness, my wife and I had visited the lava tubes in Kona, Hawaii but there is something different here. The volcanic rock is brittle and some of it glitters, we brought back several samples which they allow you to freely take. In Hawaii you cannot take volcanic rock back with you as it is considered bad luck.

We didn’t have the time to walk the largest crater in the area, but we walked one of the mid range ones and the scope of the volcanic craters makes you see why the Romans and Greeks really thought that Mars had his weapons made here in the forge of the gods. Man seems so small next to such powerful elemental forces.

Probably the coolest thing is that from the towns and landscapes you an always see Mt. Etna in the distance and it is always steaming from it’s highest point about 11,000 feet above sea level. The townsfolk are proud and thrive in the fact they live near an active volcano and are never worried that another earthquake or explosive eruption can cause them harm. The fact that an earthquake completely wiped out some of Messina in the early 1900s causing the entire city to be rebuild from scratch doesn’t concern them anymore.

Tourina meanwhile is a tourist paradise, littered with rows of stores and fashion shops that wind around hills there is hours of shopping here. Cafe after cafe with infinite restaurants it seems line decorate the streets.

On one of our stops near the craters we had authentic Sicilian Pizza with strange mushrooms, peas and exotic ingredients mixed into the pizza sauce. We also feasted on authentic cannoli with fresh ground pistachio nuts on top. The sweet riccota cream filling was incredible and it was among the best cannoli’s I had ever eaten in my life.

One other note is about the juices, they have at least two different kinds of orange juice and one is light orange while the other is a dark pink that borders red. Neither tastes like orange juice in the US and both are so much more flavorful. The light orange is sweet almost like tangerine nector or an orange/guava combination and is among the best fruit drinks I have ever tasted.

No doubt, Sicily was amazing and among the most magical places I have ever visited. I would consider doing an extensive stay here in a beach side condo someday.

Here is a photo gallery of the Messina, Sicily tour.

-Justin Germino

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Change-Up for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there.  Have you ever envied a friend for having the “perfect” life?  Whether you’re single and you want the stability, the love, the family life of one of your married friends or maybe you’re married and you long for those single life moments of drinking all night, little to no responsibilities, or not being tied down to a single woman.  This is the scenario that our friends Mitch (Reynolds) and Dave (Bateman) find themselves in.

From the creators of The Hangover and Wedding Crashers, The Change-Up brings you a classic body switching story with a modern twist.  During a drunken night together, the guys express their discontent with lives.  After a seemingly impossible wish comes true, the guys awake in the other’s body.  The guys, freaked out, try to live in each other’s shoes without destroying the life that they’ve created.  The guys quickly realize that the grass is not greener on the other side and they try to find a way to get back to their normal families.

The Change-Up is one movie that I’ll definitely be catching on it’s release date, August 5th.  Ryan Reynolds has been an actor that I admire (Blade: Trinity, The Amityville Horror, and The Green Latern) and I haven’t been disappointed by anything he’s been in.  He may not be the greatest actor, but he’s definitely getting the chance to show his acting chops.  As for Jason Bateman, I’ll admit that I’m not too familiar with his work, but he was pretty hilarious in Horrible Bosses.  With Reynolds playing the handsome guy and Bateman playing the settled down guy, the chemistry between these two should be more than enough to capture the audience.  Check out the trailer for the film below.

Change-Up will be in theaters August 5th.  Check your local listings and find it in a theater near you.  So what do you guys think?  Is this a movie that draw in huge crowds or will it fall under the radar and get little attention?  What do you think of the actors portraying best buds?  Great match or could have been better?  Watch the trailer and let’s hear your thoughts!  Later!

You have heard of people reading novels on a plane but somehow I was reading House Corrino novel in the newer Dune series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and I managed to get 85+ pages into the novel and somehow misplaced it while sitting in my seat on a 9 hour flight from Charlotte to Rome. I literally couldn’t find the book, it wasn’t under the seats, on the side or even in any of the pouches.

I spent several minutes thinking how the hell did I lose a book I was reading just 1 hour prior while sitting in the same seat on a plane? The novel was actually given to me by a gentlemen who was at our kids swim lessons just the day prior. It had a slew of political betrayal and plots, subplots and took place prior to the events of the Dune series.

It was actually the third book in the prequel trilogy but I hadn’t read the previous two. It was easy to get right back into and I remembered surprisingly large amounts from when I read the Dune series about 17 years ago. I remembered virtually everything and none of it felt new, but fortunately about three hours later I had asked the women seating behind me if they saw a book on the floor near their feet and one of them found my book shortly after.

I seriously have a bad habit of losing stuff in situations where most people just can’t lose something. I literally almost lost a thick 600 page soft cover book while sitting in the same seat on a plane.

-Justin Germino

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Over the past seven months my technology blog dragonblogger.com has transformed from being a single author blog run by myself into an online magazine type of site.  I have a staff of writers now who are writing and the site has now become an organization with the creation of a new @dragonbloggers twitter account which is monitored by my site staff. This will give my online profile 24×7 reach as I have writers in various time zones and cover almost entire 24 hours with this account being staffed.

I am using Hootsuite Pro to establish a team who all can login and tweet from and respond to any tweet with the same @dragonbloggers twitter profile.  Hootsuite Pro rocks and is one of my favorite social media tools.

In addition I have expanded and given some of my writers admin access to the DragonBloggerTech Facebook fanpage so they can help with promotions, responding and keeping activity alive.

I like that my team are called "DragonBloggers" and we are one tight knit group in constant communication on our private Facebook group as we discuss plans for the site and future growth.

Make no mistake, DragonBlogger.com is growing very rapidly in the online verse and is being picked up by more and more companies for doing product reviews, product testing and more.  It is my goal that DragonBlogger.com become a combination IGN / Destructoid / Famousbloggers / Movie Review site all in one.  Do I think we can accomplish this?

Hell yeah we can!

-Justin Germino

So while standing lines at Harkins theater the other week waiting to purchase tickets for Cars 2 I was forcible shoved by an older woman probably a good 15-20 years my senior.

It all started when there were only 2 lanes open, the lanes were very slow moving and I had a work related email come in on my blackberry.  Now I typically don’t read my phone while in a line or anything, but the lines weren’t moving and it was a distressing 110+ degrees out and I needed a distraction.

While I was reading the email a 3rd line opened up and the teller called "next in line" I hadn’t noticed because it wasn’t my line and a lady behind me forcibly shoved me in the back and said "your next" literally pushing me forward enough to where I almost dropped my phone.

I literally was stunned, now I am not a big or intimidating guy but at 170 pounds and medium build I figured a stranger would be taking a chance to just shove another stranger in public.  Now, she must have figured because I was reading my blackberry that automatically dismissed me as being any sort of aggressor (probably true) but still I was rather offended and felt a little violated that my personal space was invaded.

Truthfully I didn’t say or do anything but put my phone away and move into the line to buy the tickets, I was literally to dumbfounded for my brain to make the flight or fight decision needed to address the situation.

But I kept wondering, couldn’t she have just said they are talking to you instead of shoving me?  Or was I actually being rude by reading my email while waiting in line?

You be the judge.

-Justin Germino

So after seeing the situation affecting my own family recently I know that in the United States we need a government run healthcare program.  Hands down there is just no way the middle to lower income folks can afford healthcare without a group healthcare policy provided by an employer and these are becoming fewer and farer between.

It is often the middle age who are just too early to reach Medicare but have been let go or forced into early retirement and have to drain their life savings to pay for potential medical issues that they are suffering from. 

We need an entity that is able to negotiate and keep specific services at set rates to prevent ridiculous price gouging, this is especially true on prescriptions and medications which are astronomical in cost if you can’t get a generic for $4 at Fry’s or Wal-Mart. 

With all that is going on in the Tobacco and Alcohol taxing programs I wonder if there can be some sort of system applied to "junk food".  I mean think about it, we know that people who smoke cigarettes for 30 years are going to get lung cancer, COPD and other problems.  The same applies to people who eat nothing but carcinogenic junk food for 30 years and cause their bodies to develop diabetes and other health problems.

If the government is going to run health care costs and obesity is going to be a huge cost involved with medical problems perhaps then a certain tax needs to be applied to certain foods with a poor protein / fat / sugar ratio.  I think the funding for these taxes should go only toward the costs for providing healthcare but this could be a viable source of income to help with healthcare costs.  I mean I don’t know what kind of tax rate is required, even if it is 1 cent per dollar on soda, junk food…etc. this could be a way to bring in sources of revenue to offset the cost of government subsidized healthcare.

Honestly, what I pay now in healthcare from my own company I would rather pay in taxes to help contribute toward a healthcare system that covers everybody equally.  I wouldn’t mind paying an extra 1 cent per dollar on junk food that I know is part of the cause of poor health.  I would exclude all fresh baked goods however from this tax.

Developing the right definition of "junk food tax" would be the tricky part, it would require taking assessment of all food on the market and find the right ‘ratio’ of protein, to fat, to sugar (not just carbs since complex carbs are good for you).  It should apply to products which list corn syrup or certain oils as the primary ingredients.

The truth is that more and more people will suffer as they cannot afford healthcare, and Insurance companies are in the business of staying profitable.  There can never be the best interests in health care if profits are the main goal and concern.   I think that medical professionals deserve their just salaries and earnings for providing health care and going through the required medical training.  I also think that drug companies deserve some reward, exclusivity for spending billions of dollars in R&D for new drugs to help cure diseases.  However, I also think that malpractice insurance, lawsuits, insurance companies and others have driven up healthcare costs that it is ridiculous

Things will only get worse and eventually a revolution will occur, but not before we see a meltdown I am afraid.

-Justin Germino