Stuff I No Longer Buy

Well, not a lot anyway.  I no longer buy the following as much:

• books
• cds
• dvds

Since the internet and the multimedia advances that came with it a long time ago, I've stopped buying the above.

For music, I don't even buy from iTunes.  But if I like the soft copies I hear from specific CD albums, I go buy the CD if I have to.  Similar goes for movies/tv shows, I get their DVDs.  And even then, they'd have to be extremely to my liking that I'd find it worth my time, effort and money to go and buy.

Except for home decor I buy from my travels, I'm just one of those who naturally practices minimalist philosophy when it comes to purchases.  I'd rather not have any more junk or clutter in my home and if I have to it had better be something that serves dual or more purpose.  Even with this blog I limit the tag categories so as not to make it anymore complex than it has to be.

So for books, I'd rather buy those that can be double-purpose, something you'd also be proud to display in the house.  Not something you know you can easily give away or not care if someone doesn't return it after borrowing it.  That way it's more value for money.  Lol!  So I guess this would mean art, design or architecture books that I find interesting.  Or perhaps that's just the industrial designer in me.  I don't buy mass market bestsellers in hard cover.  Besides I no longer have as much time to read as I used to.

So I think I might also cancel my cable subscription soon and just use Internet streaming via a device like Roku.  I might do this next year once my subscription expires. Would cost me less too than the bloated fee I pay for cable.  Thank goodness for Roku or Netflix and the like.  Hehe!

Updating My Mac OSX

Ok today I've finally started the road to updating my Mac OSX from OSX Lion to Yosemite if possible.  This road involves backing up my files first prior to any update tasks.  To this end I've backed up files both manually and via my Macbook Pro's Time Machine program.  

I had to delete lots of unnecessary files from my Macbook just so the Time Machine backup would be able to fit in my external back up device.  I removed the unnecessary photos and music files from my Macbook because I've already manually backed up before.  So now Time Machine's currenty doing the back up, just less than 100 gb for everything.

I have a feeling the Time Machine back up might take 2 hours or more.  We'll see.  Until it's done, I can't proceed to my OSX update.  My OSX is so behind by 3 versions.  I have to update to the next 2 versions first before I can update to the Yosemite version.  And I'm not sure if the 2 versions are still available for my pre-Yosemite update --> Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

I hate updating versions whether its Windows or Mac but between the two, I'd prefer doing a Mac update.  I feel it's more straightforward.  I just don't want to spend most of tonight doing updates and any more complex troubleshooting. Ugh.

Good luck to me!

Little Thanksgiving Get Together

Just a pic from Thanksgiving dinner with friends.  Turkey, paella, crab cakes and lots of dessert.  Woke up with a stuffed tummy next morning still.  Gah.

Interesting 3D Ad at a Bus Stop

Snapped these pics of a bus stop ad downtown while on my way to lunch.  3D ad with the cups.  It's kinda cute.

Japadog It!

After work downtown with some time on my hands, went to the Japadog street food cart with a friend and had the Terimayo sandwich.  Japadog's a Japanese take on the hotdog sandwich. 

And also went to the park by the waters on the way home.

Tracking My Order

Tracking my package... Was curious where it would originate from and now I know.  Of course it'd originate from China, not Cupertino, California.  Ooh la la.  Should receive the silver/white slender slab of goodness before month end. :D

While in Class

 

just a pic of while I was on an ITIL training downtown with

 my frappuccino and its cute little label.. hehe.

2014 Fall Shows

So many shows this fall.  Once again it's hard to pick which one to see first.  There should be a rule that limits the shows the networks and cable networks screen in the fall.  It's too much.  Who has the time?  While in summer it's like a dead spot.  Not many interesting shows at all.  Geez.  Oh well.  These ones are recording on my PVR this season.  But it doesn't mean I get to watch them all this season.

1. The Amazing Race
2. Sleepy Hollow
3. Madame Secretary
4. The Honourable Woman
5. Survivor
6. Outlander
7. Parenthood
8. Cedar Cove
9. How to Get Away with Murder
10. Grey's Anatomy
11. Intruders
12. American Horror Story: Monsters Among Us
13. Walking Dead
14. Revenge
15. Once Upon a Time - cancelling recording of it sooner or later.. there's just not enough space.
16. The Good Wife
17. At least 2 BBC docu/shows.
18. Legends - I might delete this.
19. Elementary

Plus Les Revenants, an interesting French TV series I downloaded but I find creepy to watch in the evenings.  Lol!  :D

Les iPhones 6 et 6 Plus

I was just at the Apple store twice last week, trying out the two new iPhones.  I've been waiting for Apple to come out with a phablet as I ride out my phone's term contract with the service provider.  The contract expired this month. 

screenshot from the Apple website

I haven't got the iPhone yet let's be clear.  I'm not the sort to buy the first things that come out.  I wait and see reviews first.  I just went to the store to try both out and see which color I like best in person before I decide if I should get one.  My impressions:

• The first time I held each they felt really slippery.  That's the biggest thing that struck me quite not so favourably.  So slippery I had to grip each while trying it out.
• Because of the slippery metal back:  They look nice but the design is such that you have to buy a case if you don't want to end up with a broken iPhone much sooner (now what sort of design is that, Mr. Jony Ive? Lol).  If you don't appreciate just how fragile these things can get, please see this video of someone who did some drop tests on each model.  Eye opener there.
• Better graphics than my oldie (almost Jurassic) Google Android phone.  I loved the iPhone's UI. wah.
• Can only use the 6 Plus with both hands.  I don't think it's designed so you can use it with one hand only.  I tried but I had to tilt it some (and risk it slipping out of my hand) to be able to use it one-handed.
• I think the nicest color for me is the silver one.  I found it really looked clean.  Almost minimalist Japanese design which I also love (except it sacrificed with a slippery design you need a case for, gosh.).  Then the darker black or gray one next.
• I liked the resolution on the 6 Plus more.  I tested via a streaming youtube video of a late night talk show.
• I liked that it's really like a little tablet the 6 Plus.  Smaller than the iPad Mini.  Like another article mentioned, it should have been called iPad Nano.  Lol!  Its display orientation changes to landscape.  I didn't see a disable option on that aspect of it though when I checked the Screen/Display settings to do so.

Anyway, my reasons for having an iPhone as my next phone?

Run - Row

the baby lion by the machine

Now it's getting colder, I got a rowing machine last month for those times when it's just too cold to go out to run.  I also find I am seated a lot while watching TV (of course) and that's not exactly improving my physical wellbeing. :P  Lol.

And so... I found using a rowing machine as the solution.  I found the treadmill boring at the gym (I am just bored or lazy going to gyms or any exercise class) but at least with a rowing machine it's an all-body workout, not just the lower half and I can do it at home.  And it exercises one's core including the lower back and is lower impact than running.  Awesome!

I got it online, had it delivered at work.  And friends helped me bring the package home.  Can't carry the thing by myself.  hehe!  I use it for an hour each night or whenever possible, while watching TV.  I'm loving my machine.

Another Hotel Stay

This time, 'cause of an airline service snafu, I missed my connecting flight some weeks back, and the airline had me stay overnight at a Hilton hotel near the airport on one side of the Atlantic.  So they should!  Needless to say I no longer care about my points with this airline and would book my succeeding trips with any airline first other than this one if I can help it.  Such a disappointment.

2014 BBQs and Picnics

Just some pics of meals I had over the BBQs and picnics I attended this summer.  And I thought it was only during the Christmas holidays when we have more opportunity to gorge on food.  Gah.

At one park by a lake and nice view of the mountains.

At another park - here I skipped the ribs (not really into red meat) and the creamy pasta, and only took a little of the potato salad.  No burgers nor hotdogs served at this picnic this time.  But great salad, chicken, salmon, bread, skewered veggies, and a little brownie.  Teehee!

at our office bbq - We had two office bbqs this summer but I have only 1 pic. 

Now that's quite some food. 

Bye iPod Classic and Hello iTunes v11.4

Before the iPhone, there was the iPod Classic.  Now that iPhone 6 is released, Apple has discontinued the iPod Classic. =(

I love my iPod Classic 5th generation, with 80gb.  It's both a music and video player, a portable file back up device, and back then at least, photos straight from a camera can be backed up to the device as well!  I didn't have to bring a laptop to back up photos or find a place to back up the photos to a CD/DVD what have you when on the road travelling.  Gosh.

It's simpler to use than iTunes and I don't have to have to buy music from iTunes to play my collection.  That music player didn't have to be combined with a multimedia and communications device such as an iPhone.  There are just lots of occasions when I'd rather use my music player independently of the one in my smartphone.  I've even brought my iPod on a trek in the Himalayas.  I imagine an iPhone would be rather less useful to me up on the boondocks and past the clouds, don't you think?  And I was able to take my iPod with me running.  I can't imagine carrying a "taller"/bigger and more slippery iPhone in place of the iPod so I can have music on one ear while running.  *sighs*

Anyway, I just updated my iTunes program on my Macbook to v11.4, and now Apple wants me to sign in with my Apple ID before I can play music from "radio" in iTunes.  Gah.  Thank goodness for TuneIn radio.  I don't like the idea of having to sign in to listen to radio on the Internet.  Like what does Apple care that I have to sign in with my Apple ID before the radio feature on iTunes can be useful?  Geez.  Gathering data on me? *frowns*

I've never used nor created an iTunes/Apple ID account before this, though I've been a Mac OS X user since 2005, back when Mac laptops didn't yet run on Intel chips, but rather on Motorola ones (I believe).

Sorry I kind of digressed.  I was just annoyed by this iTunes radio Apple ID sign in bit.

So back to the iPod, this means I might have to shop around sooner or later for an alternative.  *sighs*  Thanks Apple!  Really! (smiley rolls eyes).  Sony's looks promising.  Or I'll just stick with an iPhone.  Not very happy about this at all!  Gah.  My iPod's still in good shape.  I wonder when its battery will finally die.

Utterly Precious

Just finished binge watching the last season of Breaking Bad.  It's just too precious to see Saul Goodman having a Hello Kitty phone and handing that to Jesse Pinkman. Lol!!

The Huffington Post has an article on it even. 

I think I'll download that Hello Kitty ringtone.  Lol!  :D

The Magic Carpet

Was on vacation recently... and saw this carpet among several being shown to us prospective customers.  They're all hand made and made of different materials - wool, angora, silk, etc.

I really liked this one.  It's like in one of my favorite colors.  It's light and not heavy-looking.  It's just gonna dent my pockets badly if I went ahead and bought it though. Costs about 3 round trip tickets between 2 continents with a big ocean divide. Tsk!  But whenever I see this pic, I kinda regret not buying it but I don't know. Gaaaah!!

After Soo Long

Finally got a taste of real coconut fruit and juice again.  Had it for my drink at lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant, with colleagues .  The white coconut inside, well, back home's still better 'cause it's softer.  It cost about the same as a tall Starbucks drink.  Bien.

Winter Assignment

On a business trip/project assignment last winter... some shots.

 hotel room w/ travel buddy

fjord? (cellphone pic)

Red It

These guys' shoes are more fashionable than mine. :P

While on the bus, I just had to take a pic of these hip Asian guys' get up.  Lol.

Spring Hikes

Been hiking on weekends at different locations this spring.  Some lazy shots below.

Shots from cellphone below

Olympus EM10 Unboxing and Test Shot

Just a few shots.. The package arrived: one EM10 body only, and one Zuiko 25mm f1.8 lens.  Pancake lens 14-42 mm to follow in May.  Gah.  Oh well.

the warranty card

my curious pet by the package

test shot of the Portrait scene, awesome!

My 2014 Olympus EM10 Camera Purchase

I'm now updating my camera and purchasing a micro four thirds system SLR instead of a full frame DSLR.  Mainly due to size and cost concerns and also finding sophisticated point and shoots limited still for the image quality I want.  The smaller it is, the easier it is to bring with me, and thus the more photo opps I can get.

I've opted for the Olympus OMD EM10 for value for money, over a predecessor -- the Olympus OMD EM-5:

 

screenshot of the OMD EM10 from the Olympus website

• I believe I really don't have much need for the weather sealed feature of the EM-5 and the most expensive Olympus OMD EM1
• nor the 5-axis stabilization of the EM-5 and EM-1.  3-axis is a good compromise with the EM10.
• EM10 has features of the premium EM1 that the EM-5 doesn't.  Wi-fi among them.  Wi-fi must be standard in technology offerings where it can be used and EM-5 didn't have that on its release in 2012.  Which is why I held off purchasing the EM-5 when it first came out.  Seemed half-baked to get the EM-5 at a time when competitor cameras were being released with wi-fi but didn't seem as good as the EM-5.  I waited instead.
• EM10 has a built in pop up flash.  I don't like shooting with flash but small though it is on the EM10, convenience matters a lot to me for times when you need flash as a fill in mechanism.  I don't wanna rummage around for one to attach onto the camera nor keep it on the camera always for portability as it adds to the bulkiness since it's not a pop up flash.  This is the case for the EM-5, no built in flash, just one you can attach.  So another reason for me for waiting instead and not buying the EM-5.

Because of the lack of weather sealing and a 3-axis instead of the 5-axis stabilization on the EM10, the EM10 then costs less than the EM5.  Plus the built in flash on the EM10 is sweet too.

My Sanrio Fix Today

Just bought a bunch of Sanrio stuff again, this time online, from the sanrio.com website and ebay.  I was initially looking for some cute Sanrio stickers for my camera but wound up staying on the Sanrio site and putting the products below into my shopping cart.  Ack.

The funny thing is, when I checked my order history at the Sanrio site, it's exactly a year to the day of my last order from them.  Same date, but a year later.  What a coincidence.  Lol.  And good thing that the site has a 20% off promo off the order total amount.  Nice!


So from sanrio.com I got the following:

1.  6 plush dolls,

- the 3 Goropikadons
- a classic Hello Kitty
- a Kero Kero Keroppi
- and a blue Hello Kitty Lucky Cat

Goropikadon is among those Sanrio characters I remember back when I was a kid and haven't seen for a long time.  What a pleasant surprise to see them cropping up again at the Sanrio site.


2.  a Goropikadon pen,

Updating My Camera This Year

I'm considering updating my camera this year.  And discussing a tiny bit re design here.

For my photography/camera needs, aside from wanting a camera that outputs DSLR-quality images, it has to have:

• a built-in viewfinder
• wi-fi
• art filters
• pic size can print to poster size prints
• built-in flash would be nice to have
• with a kit lens

And most importantly, be not bulky like a normal DSLR.  I don't enjoy lugging heavy gear and lenses with me.

I like street photography, candid people shots, portraits, macro, travel and culture, and not just landscapes... almost documentary-like.


Anyway, my current cameras are:

Busy 2013

Been a while since I last posted anything on this blog.  Hmmm, lotsa things happened in 2013 I suppose.

Got busy 'cause of a new job

and moving so as to be closer to new job.

Flew to another city for a temporary work assignment,

hotel room

Then had guests staying at my new place and we went to an island, did some hiking

and hung out at some beaches.

but we also dropped by my uncle's place in the country after coming back from the island.

And finally got a new pet as well after moving.  Whew.

Now things are more settled.  I have finally done a proper scoping out of my new neighborhood (walked about 5km for an hour).  This is so I'd know the best running route so I can continue my running routine.  Apparently there's an urban trail behind my neighborhood stretching all the way to the other end of the country, wow.

I passed by views of mountains and waters by the mountains, a recreation centre, as well as a few little parks including an off leash park for dogs on the way, and homes in my neighborhood on the way back.  Not bad.

I look forward to running again, after the dark wet winter last December. Perhaps will join a big 10k run some time this year, organized for the city.  My office fields its own team annually with this running event.  We shall see.