I decided to run the 4GB version of the Kingmax Super Stick, one of the world's smallest USB drives, through a series of speed tests.  Read and write speeds are on the low end of the USB 2.0 scale, but still acceptable for everyday use.

Key features:
very small
USB 2.0
Vista ReadyBoost compatible (read the Bottom Line)


Setup
Formatted FAT32
3.83 GB (4,119,097,344 bytes)
As usual, a storage manufacturer uses 1000-base numbers when defining capacity, as opposed to 1024-base numbers used everywhere else in computing.


Speed tests
Very small files (avg. ~2k/file)
59.5 MB (62,440,984 bytes)
28,629 files, 1,241 folders
size on disk: 132 MB (138,883,072 bytes)
write 68:09  15 kB/sec
read  05:38  180 kB/sec

Large files
847 MB (917,473,838 bytes)
4 files, 0 folders
write 04:02   3.62 MB/sec
read  01:04  13.67 MB/sec

Large file
336 MB (352,430,632 bytes)
1 file
write 01:33   3.61 MB/sec
read  00:24  14.00 MB/sec

Various file sizes
264 MB (277,490,582 vytes)
228 files, 19 folders
write 02:24   1.84 MB/sec
read  00:33   8.02 MB/sec

Various file sizes 2
248 MB (261,037,440 bytes)
184 files, 13 folders
write 02:06   1.98 MB/sec


Bottom line
Everyday use: ~2MB/sec write, ~8MB/sec read
Large files: ~3.6MB/sec write, ~13.8MB/sec read

This is not a fast USB drive.  But given the proprietary compression Kingmax uses to keep the device extremely small, this is understandable.

Tom Archer's Blog at MSDN states the Vista's ReadyBoost requirements as:

2.5MB/sec throughput for 4K random reads and 1.75MB/sec throughput for 512K random writes

While it appears that the Kingmax Super Stick meets these requirements, the Very small file transfer speeds do not.  I acknowledge that my average file size was about half of the Vista ReadyBoost specification.  Not having a Vista system on which to test, I cannot be certain what effect this has on performance.

If one is looking for a very small USB drive and is willing to accept the slow transfer speed, the Kingmax Super Stick is a perfect fit.

This is what happens when you show up at Five Guys five minutes before they close.  I shouldn't have been surprised.  I have never seen fast food crew so happy to see a customer after they had obviously cleaned the kitchen.

Go Frederick Five Guys!

No, I did not eat them all.  And yes, I am in a bit of pleasant culinary discomfort.

苦しい～

Gion Matsuri is one of the most famous festivals in Japan.  Here, one of the Hoko makes it's way through the streets of Kyoto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri

Reported to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.

This video was shot from the window of the Shibuya Starbucks.

Notice the couple that crosses the intersection after the lights have changed.

Inagi, Japan, a suburb of Tokyo, still continues the tradition of their annual festival. A large taiko drum and small shrine are carried throughout the city during the day. At night a performance of traditional music, song, and dance is held at the town's shrine.

The Tokyo Rockabilly Club meets every Sunday near the entrance to Yoyogi Park near Harajaku, Tokyo, Japan. Leather jackets, greased hair, and 50's music.

Part 1


Part 2

Those who have flow ANA (or have seen the video from the 2005 trip) know about the Sky Map.  One channel on the in-flight tv shows the flight's progress and gives you information about flight time, speed, etc.  Appearently in Business Class, even the SKy Map is upgraded.

Photos are finally up!

EDIT: This post is from yesterday, Wednesday, the 18th.

I went to an internet cafe today to check my email.  I have never seen anything like this before.  It is open 24 hours a day.  Of course, they have computers you can use for email, etc. for 420yen/hour ($3.60/hour).  They are set up in a row in small cubbys, like you might find in a library.  The systems are loaded with all of the necessary software: Office, photo editing, etc.  But those are the basic systems.  Then, there are the upgraded workstations.  These are in cubicles that include a tv, cd player, dvd player, and PS2.  There is a giant section where you can walk around and choose from hundreds of movies, cd's and games.  This package also includes free drinks.  The price is 585yen/hour.  But wait... there's more.  Next, there are business workstations.  They add a reclining chair, suitable for sleeping.  Internet cafes are a popular place for people to go when they miss the last train.  They spend the night and either catch the first train in the morning, or simply go back to work.  Finally, there is the premium package.  This adds a massage chair and shower!  The price is around 1500yen/hour.  Looking at some of the business and premium setups was like looking at the first class cabin on the flight over.  The entire shop is clean and professional looking, with a friendly, helpfull staff.

One may wonder how late someone has tro work to miss the last train in the country with the mos developed public transportation system in the world?  The answer is: after midnight.  I caught the "shuu den" (last train) after I went to the izkaya last week.  I was shocked that the train was completely packed.  Not just that train, but every train I sw at every other station.  So many Japanese work late that not only are the last trains packed, but the train stations have lines of taxis waiting to take weary workers home.  Those that can't catch the shuu den will often spend the niht at an internet cafe, manga kissa (a coffee shop like place with comfortable chairs, where one can read manga).

EDIT: I went back to the internet cafe and I am now in one of the private business office/cubes.  As I am typing, I am sitting in a leather massage chair, going through the various massage courses.  I definately need one of these for the office! 

Today, I visited Kiyomizu Temple.  This is actually a group of temples on the side of a mountain overlooking Kyoto.  The main temple has a large deck, standing over the trees.  It has been featured in many movies shot in Japan.  I'm not Budhist, so I was surprised at the feeling I had as I entered the temple.  Perhaps it's the feeling of walking inside something hundres of years old.  It has a feeling of permanance, immutable over time.  Perhaps it's the design, the architacture.  The monks who built these temples, meant them as places of peace and rest.  And enlightenment.  I have heard non-Christians say they have a similar feeling entering the old churches in Europe.  Or perhaps, the feeling comes from something completely different.  Perhaps there's more to religion and spirituality than conventional wisdom allows.  Many religions and faiths claim to be the one, true religion; the one true path to salvation and enlightenment.  I often wonder that if there is only one true religion, then that would mean that everyone else is living an illusion.  That just doesn't make sense to me.  Perhaps these disparate religions and faiths throughout the world all are all connected to the same source.  Maybe our different cultures just create a different expression of that belief.

Regardless, it is a very peaceful place.  It is also a very crowded place.  Kyoto is a very international city.  It's a lot like Bethesda, actually, in terms of so many different people in the same place.  I tossed a few coins into the box, clapped my hands together, and instead of praying, simply let go of my thoughts.  I took off my shoes, and stepped up into the main temple.  There is a giant tone bowl, almost 1 meter across.  When someone taps it with the cloth-bound piece of wood, the sound it makes is difficult to describe.  It seems to be everywhere at once.  Including, inside of you.  The smell of incense is heavy in the air.  But, being that the temple is in a forest on the side of a mountain, the smell of trees and nature is also everywhere.  It is absolutely beautiful.  The giant trees that were fashioned into the supports of temple give it the feeling that the temple is more a part of the forest, than something human-made.  The wooden statues and carvings create a kind of transition; a blending of humanity, spirituality, and nature.

I walked over to another temple.  This one had a different feeling to it, for me at least.  Where the first temple was a little ovewhelming, this smaller one seemed a little more accessable.  For some reason, I decided to take off my shoes again and step up to the small alter at this temple.  I threw a coin in and shook the rope which rings a gong above, I think to wake the spirits/gods of the temple.  I clapped my hands together and closed my eyes.  After some time I was aware of people speaking English somewhere on the smaller deck in front of this temple.  It was only then that I realized that the familiar sound of English had pulled me back from... somewhere.  I'll leave the description of that place to anyone who wants to ask me.  But I will say, it was an experience much like the one I had back in the stone garden in Kyoto on my last visit.

EDIT: This morning I went back to Kiyomizu Dera.  There is quite a lot I want to blog.  But perhaps I will post this as is, since I haven't posted in a while.  I have the train ride back to Tokyo, then Saitama, where I will be able to write a little more.  And yes, there are pictures.  I will post them as soon as I can.  But perhaps, for now, I will lie back in the massage chair and work out the aches from carrying a backpack and walking several hours a day.  Ureshii desu ne~

Today I'm going to Nagoya to see Sumo.  I got home late from the izakaya last night.  I figured I would only be able to sleep about 3 or 4 hours because of jetlag.  Of course, I slept 5.  It was a bit of a rushed morning.  Mrs Obata prepard a great breakfast: rice, miso soup, sweet potato, and aji.  I showered and threw clothes, laptop, etc. into my bag and Mr. Obata drove me to the train station.  My morning communte was going to be a little complicated.  Yokonouchi station (I think that was the name) to Kawasaki on a local train, switch trains and go to Shinagawa, then switch trains to Shinkansen.  Oversleeping, I was a little worried.  As the Sumo tournament has already started (matches take place every day for 15 days) tickets cannot bepurchased online or by phone, only at the Aichiken Taiikukan (Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium) in Nagoya.  Yesterday, I was told that tickets sold out by 1pm.  My Shinkansen ticket had me arriving in Nagoya at 12:34.  The a cab ride to the Taiikiukan would take about 10 minutes.  That would be cutting it close, if not being too late.  Taku-san, the izakaya owner had given me a note to hand to the taxi driver, with the Taiikukan name written in kanji, in case I had any problems.  That was very thoughtful of him.

At Kawasaki, I was looking at the various signs wondering which platform I needed to go to to switch to the train bound for Shinagawa, when a salaryman (Japanese businessman) appraoached me and asked "Can I help you?"  Without thinking, I switched back to English and said I was going to Shinagawa.  He told me which track to go to and how to get there, and even told my an alternate train I could take, thought it would not be as fast as the first.  I thanked him and joined the sea of people moving through the station, only realizing too late that I had completely taken for granted that he was communicating with me in English.  The Japanese are always very supportive of foriegners who speak even a few words of English.  This trip I have been trying to be as supportive of those I meet who speak English.

At Shinagawa I decided to try to switch to an earlier train, if one was available.  That gave my Japanese langauge skills a good workout.  I was able to switch to a 10:34 train, which would arrive in Nagoya at 12:09.  It was 10:25 so of course, I thought, "Good.  I have time to buy some food for the train."

The large train stations around Tokyo, especially ones where would can meet the Shinkansen have a wide variety of shops at which to buy food.  It's like a food court at the mall, but much larger (and of substantially higher quality).  Across from the ticketing machines was an area with a higher class look, kind of like Tysons II, The Galleria.  Some shops sold traditional foods like onigiri (rice balls with various flavors and ingredients), while others sold French-style confectionaries.  I really should have taken a picture.  I've been forgetting to take pictures a lot this trip.  It's very out of character for me, especially if you've seen the hundreds of photos I've taken on other trips.  Anyway, first I bought half moon crackers with a sweet filling to give to the family I was meeting in Nagoya.  Then, I was caught between browsing the various foods and getting to my train on time.  Eventually, I bought three onigiri: shouyu (soy sauce), sake (salmon, with the rice wrapped in seaweed, and daikon (a Japanese radish, one of the staples of Japanese cuisine).  I also bought mochi (small balls of rice, which is pounded until it has a chewy consistency) dusted with a sweet powder.

Then I looked at a clock.  10:30!!!  I remembered the JR attendant saying my train was at track "Ni ju nani nani..." (twenty-something).  I looked at the signs and saw that I was in the section of the station with tracks in the teens.  I ran for the sign that said Shinkansen.  It's very convienent that at almost all JR stations in Japan and most of the subway stations in larger cities, the signs are in both Japanese and English.  I made it to the platform at 10:33.  And 30 seconds later, the train arrived.  Remember, in Japan you can set your watch by train arrivals.  Luckily, I was not far from my particular car in the train.  Don't forget that Shinkansen can be over 1,200 feet long!

Now, I am watching cities, towns, and the countryside fly by as Nozomi runs along the mountainous southern coast of Japan.  It really is beautiful country.  Currently in Japan it is tsuyu, the rainy season.  Thus, it is a very humid time of year.  I saw a hygrometer (which measures humidity).  It was pegged at 90%.  I don't think it was broken.  I will never complain about the humidity in DC again.  Although it is more humid here, it's a little cooler, which creates a very different feeling.  You don't feel as drained by the weather here as you do in DC.  But you do feel very damp.  I think the Japanese must look as forward to autumn as we do in the mid-Atlantic.

So what have I been doing since I got here?

First let me tell you what I have not been doing.  I have not been suffereing from jetlag.  What a great feeling!  There were a couple hours yesterday afternoon when I sudedenly felt tired and a little dreamy.  But it passed and I was back on track.  The first night here I only slept 3 hours, simply because that's all my body wanted to sleep.  This might be in part of flying business class.  I would like to test that theory again. However, given the prohibitive cost of flying business class (about $7,000), this may be a bit difficult.  Perhaps I can get a grant from NIH to study this in more detail.  Perhaps I will open this study to participation by friends and family.  Anyone inyterested?

Yesterday, I spent the day with Naoki, the son of the family we are staying with.  He graciously took a day off from the salon he runs to take me around Tokyo.  We took the train to Okubo to eat ramen at his favotire ramen-ya.  I had ketsumen, the current ramen in fashion in Tokyo.  The noodles are served seperately, with the thick soup base in a smaller bowl used for dipping.  It had a very delicious flavor, though I couldn't place all of the ingredients.  It was slightly salty, with a somewhat peppery heat.  Very savory.  Pork and bamboo shoots accompained the base.  The corner stall, in which patrons sit at an L-shaped counter was full, with a line ringing the counter.  We waited about 10 minutes before being seated.  After lunch, we went to a CD store so I could by a couple of CD's by Japanese bands I listen to.  However, we were told that those CD's were not in stock.  This conversation was repeated several times yesterday.  Appearently, my taste in Japanese music can be as obscure as my taste in American music.

Then we went to Shinjuku... and Misdo.  From the 2005 blog, you many remember that Mister Donut is alive and well and living happily in Japan.  Most of the reason I love Misdo is that the dounts are much lighter than say, Dunkin Donuts.  You can eat 2 or 3 and not feel like you have a rock in your stomach.  I was thus very surprised to learn that a Krispy Creme donut shop had opened in Tokyo.  Krispy Creme in Japan!?!  Everyone knows that Krispy Creme donuts are as heavy and sugary as scientificly possible.

We went to a guitar shop, where I played a Takamine guitar with an absolutly beautiful, rich sound.  And a rich price as well.  After that we went to a bookstore, where I bought some sheet music.

Nagoya update:

I'm in my hotel room at the Toyoko Inn in Nagoya.  Sumo was great!  My post will have to wait until tomorrow.  Right now, I need a bath and sleep.  And I still have to upload pictures.  Well, maybe the photos will wait until tomorrow.