Join the iPhone Club

That is just what I did over the weekend.

Just a few days ago, I coordinated with a very good friend of mine and had my cell phone account's financial responsibility transferred on to my name. So now with TOFR completed, the account is under my name now. And of course, that called for an upgrade. It's about that time too I guess. My main Razr has been a reliable workhorse. Time for it to be the backup and have a new phone take point.

Saturday came and my good friend and his family came over, and we all had a fun time (see blog below) - cooking/baking/telling stories/playing games on the Wii and doing a Netflix movie-thon, good times! Then my friend did his sales pitch on the iPhone again. And I think that sealed the deal for the iPhone.

The following day, I went to the mall after church to get some Christmas shopping done. And I said to myself "...if I see an AT&T store here, I'll upgrade..." Not even 2 minutes after me muttering that here's the store on my right side. It's a sign!


They did a good job with this gadget, I must admit. My other candidates: Nokia 5800 and the Nokia E71.
I walked in, talked with one of the sales reps, and looked at the E71. Then I looked at the iPhone and never looked back.

Within 10 minutes, I was out the store with my new iPhone, all contacts transferred from my Razr. The Razr is still on active duty, serving as my on-call cell phone (transferred company SIM card in it).

I went to a local electronics store, and got a nice case for the iPhone and set it up after I went out as I didn't want the phone to get scratched up on the first day.

After arriving home, I charged the unit, and reviewed the specs, the plan (of course I pay more now, plus the mandatory $30 data/email (unlimited) plan), and did my ilounge forum research. The phone still has its hype and novelty, I have to admit Apple did a good job on this, as it also serves as many of the newer touch screen phones' baseline for features and the like.


Lots of personal customization is possible on the iPhone. The free apps are pretty neat too. Ability to use either the 3G connection or local wifi hotspots ftw!

So do I like it? Yes, even if the 'unlimited plan' really has a 5gb monthly cap (hence not really unlimited). The phone itself is a technological marvel, and at the lower price now, I took that opportunity and finally joined the 'iPhone club'.

I wonder what's will be the next cell phone 'hit'? Hologram imaging perhaps? Let's sit back and wait, and for the meantime, I'll hit the App store and load up some freebies to make the most of this thing. ;)

Fudge...

...Brownies anyone?

Had a very nice night gig with my friend and his family. Simple get-together that encompassed a lot of things: baby sitting, 'power' cooking, back-to-back-netflix moviethon, brownie baking, and wii sports resort adventures.

One thing to note: this is what happens to a brownie pan when it is cut by kids who had just finished playing the canoe challenge in the Wii:

Looks like it was cut with a Wii-mote :-D
But don't let the looks deceive you. The kids were serious about this brownie bake and made sure all the ingredients were properly mixed and set, and that the baking time set to a good 50 minutes at 325F. And that includes occasional toothpick checks on the brownie (for density checking).

And all of that while engaging in kendo, canoeing, cycling, and archery. Now that's multi-tasking for ya!

The verdict: one really, fudgy, yummy, and awesome brownie! Good job kids!

Next time we'll do a real cake...seriously. ;-)

Display Stand Part II

After a week of the successful display stand 1, I was given the opportunity again by TofuCarpenter-san to work on another set.

I didn't really plan too well on the measurements though, but I had a quick idea in mind for 3 single-tier ones. Two of them in the same size, and one a bit taller (5.5" vs. 3").

This time TofuCarpenter-san wanted to use rabbet joints on the connecting sides of each piece in the stand. So we went ahead and did as such.


The 'plans'.
We actually managed to churn out the three in 'record' time, and the rabbets looked great.


Note how the joining ends are shaped - this is called a 'rabbet'.

And here's the three stands. Nice, eh?
After completing the cuts, we started putting them together. For the two smaller ones we used wood glue and 2 pairs of small nails on each side. These held up great.

Now we were on record time - until we decided to play around a bit more with the bigger stand. While dry fitting it, the bigger stand appeared to be wobbly again (similar to what happened with the 2-tier stand we made earlier).

We considered putting a support bracket to it. Wood? Nope, went with aluminum. Yup, aluminum. TofuCarpenter-san had an extra L-shaped piece of aluminum (looked like small gutter) and from there, cut up two smaller pieces and we drilled holes on these to form a smaller bracket.

The plan for the bracket was great on paper, but it sort of didn't work well, moreso because of my 'precision' measurements. In short, we ditched the aluminum brackets and just used wood glue on the bigger stand too.


Larger stand clamped while waiting for the wood glue to dry. Notice one of the aluminum brackets that we added to the picture for posterity's sake.
After the wood glue dried, we put in two pairs of longer nails on each side...and guess what? The thing held up pretty well and didn't wobble at all! Lessons learned there, heh-heh.

So now they'll go the same route as the first display stand. Some wood filler first and then a staining session.

Will be posting the final outcome soon (if I don't get lazy or something)!

As always, thanks to TofuCarpenter-san for again helping out in this project. His wife Takoyaki-chan was also there to cheer us on (well she mostly played Lego Star Wars but we knew she was cheering us on - I hope).

On to the filling and staining!

Display stand - installed and done

Continuing with the 2-tier display stand saga...

The final steps were to patch some gaps (and one crack) with wood filler/putty, and then to stain it with a darker shade of brown.

First, filled in the gaps and this went pretty smooth.


There used to be a crack here, but the filler did it's job well!

I let that dry overnight, and the following day, brushed on the stain. I did a couple of coats, and it had a longer drying time due to the cold weather. I left it in the garage for a week, just to be sure.


Started staining using a brush. Last time I did staining, a co-worker recommended using a piece of cloth instead of a brush.

After a week of waiting to dry, it's finally in the Detolf and complete!


Nendo section 2-1, a.k.a., the 'Peanut Gallery'.
Everyone looks happy so far.

Thanks again to TofuCarpenter-san for his help on this project.:D

Next up, 3 more display stands. Stay tuned!

Nendo Al Azif by Good Smile Company (GSC)

Al Azif (from the game, and anime, Demonbane) photoshoot with the T1i.

As always, the patented Nendoroid 'cuteness factor' is shown in full force in this chibi version of the mystic grimoire.


Al Azif's 'smirk'.
Good Smile Company's quality is again present, and each part is well made and detailed.


Al Azif's accessories - communicator headset and her clear-cast 'familiar'.
Another hit Nendoroid from GSC. And this is even one of the earlier releases (number 29, to be exact). 9/10.

Camera: Canon T1i
Mode: Av mode, F-stop range 7-8, 1600 ISO (I keep forgetting to play around with this, but the T1i loves to default to 1600), manual selective focus points, AWB

Cheers!

Transistion

Today is my last official day in our company. And same for a couple of more other very good co-workers and friends.

You can say we are 'collateral damage' of the current economic situation that is affecting not only companies here in the US, but everywhere. It is sad, but the situation will eventually spring back, in due time.

On the other hand, a couple of us were very fortunate to have been re-employed and still work with the company (albeit, re-badged). Very lucky to have been given that opportunity, specially with the state of jobs and openings nowadays.

It is kind of sad, and weird at the same time though, to be given an 'exit interview'. Never have I experienced that before, but then again I guess there is always the first time. And as I have noted, I guess the impact isn't that bad, since there is work already set for me, though a very humbling experience during those moments when things were up in the air and everything was just uncertain.

Come Monday, me and a couple of co-workers will be 'returnees' of sorts, back on the saddle and with more challenges and new people to work with (including a group that is in a different continent and time zone). It will be very interesting how this pans out.

As for our friends and co-workers who will no longer be working with us, thanks very much for the experience and chance to have worked with you all. It's the company (meaning the people themselves, the ones we work with everyday), that really matters in the end.

Cheers to all of us and best wishes to our new endeavors!

Gambare, mina san!

Zig-zag-zoom!

The other night I was at the local Fred Meyer and just finished getting some groceries, and as I was pulling out of the parking area, I saw these orange cones that were positioned in the parking lot to redirect traffic away from the line used by those who are gassing up at the Freddy's gas station.

For fun, I decided to go through that route following the cones and cutting it close on the last cone of the 'curve'. Reminded me of my autocross days with the Subie at PIR.

Autocross is definitely fun. And I highly recommend it. You get to see and experience your car's (actual) maneuvering potential (and your driving skills) in a controlled and safe environment. And you don't need to have a fancy car at that (but lucky if you do have one). There are different classes for how each car is (stock or modified). You'll be surprised at how your car (and yourself) react in the course.


Taken from my first autocross session - back-to-back. Looking at this pic, it's interesting that the car in front of me was a Mazda Protege (which I have now). The Mazda in front of me is the Mazdaspeed (turbo) version though.

And you get to learn a lot and meet really cool folks. Aside from learning your car's handling, you get to know more about the vehicle dynamics - say how tire pressure affects handling. Understeer vs. oversteer. Proper exit speed. Trail braking. See how ABS really works (and how some don't care for it much). Rain or shine. Plus if you like working on cars (like I do), there's a lot of info and ideas readily available - just don't be shy and ask around!

One of my more memorable autocross events is the back-to-back rainy day session we had at the PIR. AWD was everywhere and pushing it. It was also the first time that I drove my Subie with summer tires in pouring rain, and that was interesting. Feeling the AWD pulling you straight when you oversteer is neat (I do not recommend this being done on regular roads though, ok?).

Braking to negotiate a 'box'. As odd as it sounds, the Subie is quite challenging to drive, despite the AWD. The AWD doesn't mean 'invincibility' at curves. Plus in stock form, the Subies just love to understeer (hence one of the first mods being made is to the suspension and front and/or rear sway bars).

Though I do not have my Subie now, I think I'll consider some autocrossing sessions for the 2010 season, with Yuki, my Mazda Protege. I'll be in stock class, so it will be interesting driving a FWD car - though they say it is much easier to drive FWD in autocross (no drifting though :-P). I will be running HP Summer Tires though, so I might be bumped one class (or sub class) up. Thinking of running lower suspension too, so that plus the tires will bump me out of stock class for sure. We'll see come spring/summer 2010.

But whether you are a motorsport/car fan, or a casual driver, I'd highly recommend taking a day or two at your local autocross course. Just don't go overboard - you'll enjoy every minute of it.

Drive safe! :)

Funky windy night!

The wind is gusting pretty hard outside. Well, not 'that' hard, but hard enough to be noticed.

I've read about the Columbus Day storm that had winds that would make this night's wind look like a cat's sneeze. Here's the Wiki Entry about the Columbus Day storm.

I'll be checking on my Jeep outside - I hear some debris flying around already - more likely plastic garbage cans and can covers.

Hey, on the bright side, I don't have to sweep all those leaves outside my walkway tomorrow. Nature's 'leaf blower' is in action tonight!

Stay safe everyone!

Go Pac-Man!

TKO win by our very own Manny 'Pac-man' Pacquiao, in the Welterweight title fight with Miguel Cotto last Saturday, 11/14/2009.

A very good friend of mine and his family hosted a PPV viewing of the event. As always, good food, very good company, and everybody had a very, very nice time. Which tripled in fun with Pacquiao's win a few moments into the 12th (and final) round.

You got to hand it to Miguel Cotto, who fought hard. We actually were kind of worried for a while, since Cotto had a good assault in the first two rounds. But Pacquiao's speed went into action and he slowly turned the tide to his favor.

At least we got more for what we paid for, unlike Pacquiao's last event with Ricky Hatton - which lasted a mere 2 rounds with Pacquiao knocking Hatton out in the closing seconds of round 2.

But congrats and cheers to Manny Pacquiao for a well deserved win! And also a big hand to Miguel Cotto for staying in there, and being a good sportsman all the way.

Cheers all! ;)

Nendoroid Comic 02: "Shana's Wish Come True"

Whoa? Back-to-back nendo comics? I do have too much free time on my hands, geez. Actually, this one took a while to do. I had the pics done, but haven't edited it in MSD 4.0 until this posting.

Actually, it also serves as learning the MSD 4.0 software, and playing/tweaking with the Nikon's settings for indoor photography.

So, here's Nendoroid Comic 02:

Shana's Wish Come True

Note: Select 'L' from the image size options for a better view.

Cheers! :D

Cupcake and Apple Pie

Day of sweet pastries today - got homemade goodies from good friends.

First, an awesome apple pie from Takoyaki-chan and TofuCarpenter-san in the morning:


Nice and loaded with apple slices. I wonder who baked it?

And topping it off in the afternoon was a banana-flavored cupcake from Cakemaster-chan. Thank you NintendoWii-san (Cakemaster-chan's hubby) for bringing over the cupcake:


Mmm...banana-cupcake with vanilla frosting...itadakimasu!!!

And in the evening - the cupcake didn't even make it past 7pm, and yes it is as good as it looks. And the apple pie? Let's say it's on its 'last legs' as of the moment. :D

Thanks for the goodies, everyone! Arigato!

Is a DSLR worth it?

I've had that question in my mind for a long time. Back then, DSLRs were still pretty expensive, and if you're not really into photography, it isn't something that you need to have. A point-and-shoot will work great for the casual user.

I guess I fall between the casual and heavy camera user. When I was in high school, we had two cameras at home - a Ricoh KR-5 SLR and a point and shoot 110 film camera (I think it was a Vivitar). Whenever the budget allows, I always get film for the 110 and bring it along and take pics as often as I can (and as often as the budget allows).

The Ricoh is owned by my sister, and before anyone can use it, one needs to ask for clearance from her before first. Of course, film and developing isn't cheap, but everytime I had my hands on that SLR, I just enjoyed taking pictures a lot more.

Back to present day - Friday (11/6) night, I was at Costco, procrastinating about getting a DSLR. I had a brand in mind already, the Canon Rebel XSi. I walk in, and fiddle with the demo models. I liked the Canon DSLRs and they do take awesome pictures. While looking around, I noticed that their newer entry-level DSLR, the T1i, was on a special sale. Now that made me procrastinate more.

The T1i is a newer model, has a better sensor than the XSi, and it has 15 megapixels (effective). Though that megapixel number really doesn't matter, and is more a concern if one is thinking to print bigger sized photos. It does sound nice though.

Time to leave first and think. So I get a churro and a drink and mulled about it more. Halfway through the churro, I decided to get the camera.


The T1i, my very first digital SLR. Will I be keeping it? Or returning it after 90 days?

Of course immediately after paying and all, I again thought, '...will I be using this thing enough to justify the cost?' I didn't have an answer then, but when I got home and started taking pictures with it, I do believe it was worth the buy.

I immediately reminisced that feeling I had when I first took and developed my first pictures with our old Ricoh SLR back then. And it was a good feeling indeed. :)

The quality of pictures and the versatility a DSLR offers is worth its weight in gold. Yes, not everybody needs one, and even some point-and-shoot digicams can (almost) rival a DSLR's picture quality, and is a no-brainer choice for casual/everyday users. The point-and-shoots are also compact and way easier to carry around (yes, captain obvious, hehehe).

But as for versatility, overall image quality, and upgradability, the buck stops there for the point-and-shoots, and this is where the DSLRs shine (provide you do know what you are doing and understand at least the photography basics). Considering too that most DSLRs can use the same lenses that the film SLR cameras use, now that is a big plus.

So I guess I'll be hanging on to this unit for a while...

...I do have 90-days to 'change my mind' though, just in case, so let's see what happens... ;)

Display Stand Project: Done!

This project started out as a 'mock up' and I wrote up a bit about it here.

Then I got the materials, and with very crucial and well appreciated help from a good friend (let's call him TofuCarpenter-san), the cardboard mock up stand became the real deal.

It was a cool and fun experience working on the stand. My friend likes doing woodworking projects a lot and has his neat 'underground' shop where he got the tools of the trade.

We started a little after 5pm, and took our time a bit. A lot of cutting was done.


One of the stand sides

It was a little dicey working with the table saw, as I'm not that used to it yet. The table saw is a tool that you definitely need to be operating with full focus and awareness! But then again, all power tools need to be used with such an attitude, regardless, as these tools can easily get loose and cause damage to someone (or something) if one is not paying attention while using such a tool.


Platforms cut!


Almost there...

After some more rough cuts, sanding, routing - we managed to get the 'final product' completed.


Done! Mock up on the right side for comparison.

I'd say we did a good job on the project. There is room for improvement, of course, but considering the time and conditions (it was cold and raining that day), we did good.

Many, many thanks to my friend TofuCarpenter-san, and his wife, let's call her Takoyaki-chan (who is a very good friend of mine too), for their time and hospitality during this project. :)

I'll still have to do some minor finishing/sanding, and am going to stain with a darker shade. Then it goes in the Detolf shelf.

Again, thanks very much - my Nendo team is all happy now!


Arigato gozaimasu, TofuCarpenter-san and Takoyaki-chan!

Now, I still have some wood left over... display stand part 2? Stay tuned!

Yosh! Dewa mata! ;)

** Cakes Galore **

One of my 'weaknesses' are cakes. From the simplest and plain pre-packed butter cake slices, to more 'complex', multi-layered ones, I'd eat a cake any time, any day.

A good friend of mine (let's call her Cakemaster-chan) started baking stuff, and she has progressed so awesomely, that if you see her creations, I bet you'll think it was specially made by a high-end bakery somewhere downtown in a secret 'VIP-only' location. And that's just the outside of the the cake.

Now grab a slice.

Then bite into it to complete the overall awesome cake experience. Yummy indeed!


One of my friend's masterpieces - an awesomely made baby shower cake!

You'll see that in every creation she makes, the effort and attention to detail speak for themselves.

Each cake is a masterpiece, a work of art, and not some run-of-the-mill-mass-produced-cake (though I do like those mass-produced kinds too...I told you, I'm a sucker for cakes!).


Not only taste, but presentation is emphasized. What's in the nice boxes? Cupcakes!


Even Rin agrees - the materials used are good enough to live in (note: Pocky snack and Rin not included)!

Check out her blog here. I've also linked her blogsite in my blog links section.

Cheers and good luck, Cakemaster-chan. For sure you have all our support (specially our tummies, hehe). Keep up the good work!

Gambare-gambare, Cakemaster-chan!! :D

Reard drum brakes...

Rear drum brakes for-the-lose (FTL)! Yep, that's my opinion. It's a bit ironic to hear from a guy with both vehicles that have rear drum brakes though. :P

Nevertheless, I believe it should be 4-wheel disc brakes standard now for ALL cars on ALL trims.

I do understand - the drum brakes cost less for the manufacturer, and sort of in a way to the consumer, since drum brakes do last longer than disks. In reality, main stopping power is handled by the front brakes, with the rears in more of an 'assist' mode.

Drum brakes are not easy to replace too (DIY). And they don't work really well for powersliding and making handbrake turns (I know it doesn't apply to all, but I like doing this from time to time...) ;-)



Handbrake-assisted turn in a Subaru WRX.

My best brake system experience to date is with my 'former' Subaru STi (4-piston front, 2-piston rear). Those Brembos are really neat, both in stopping performance and DIY maintenance. Changing out the pads and cleaning/lubing the components - such a breeze to do!

But you can't always get what you want, and I have to face the drum brake facts. I still have to try and work on a rear drum brake system, and I'll be doing one soon (with Yuki, my Mazda Protege).

Just a simple takedown and cleaning, maybe replace the shoes - I hope I don't lose any of the retaining springs and clips! :P I'll post more on this project when I start it.

Cheers! ^-^

We Pray...

We pray for strength, courage, and perseverance...

For peace, comfort, and serenity...

For betterment, hope, and guidance...

For everyone...



Amen.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

It's trick or treating time 2009!

Everyone be safe out there and good luck with getting good treats!

I remember back home when Halloween was just only seen on TV. But now, my home country is getting into the Halloween spirit too. Still not as widely celebrated here, but it's getting there.



Cheers! :D

Nendoroid Comic 01: "Kureha's 'Quiet' Time"

Was just talking about indoor photography, and here I am again with a new 'nendo comic' completed. With indoor photography remember that lighting is tricky and the tripod is your friend.

I guess I just have much free time on my hands that night, hehehe. Here's the link to the slideshow:

Kureha's 'Quiet' Time

Enjoy!

Outdoor photoshoot - 'Still Life'

Outdoor photography is just neat. I'm no photography expert, but for me, nothing beats the effect of natural (day) light on subjects.

The outdoors provides so many options to compose your photos. This depends on your location though, but with a little creativity, you can make even the most boring of locations look amazing in photographs.

Took advantage of a nice sunny Fall day last weekend to take a quick photoshoot at my friend's backyard. The subjects? Nature and a selection from my 'still life' collection. And I think the pics came out decent...


Kaori Kanzaki (from 'To Aru Majutsu no Index'), poised to draw her Samurai.



Miku Hatsune. It was interesting trying to set Miku on the Birch Tree, since the Nendos have small hands and feet, and a larger head :P. Didn't drop Miku though, so it's all good.


Yoko (from 'Gurren Lagann')- Yoko gets a bit hard to pose at times, specially with the rifle accesory. But it makes for an interesting pic!


Rin Kokonoe, easily my favorite photo subject in my Nendoroid lineup. I think I could've used a light reflector here though, to give more brightness on Rin's face (note for next time).


Group pic on the fence: From right to left, Nagi, Miku, Rin, Kureha, Yoko, and Zange. Immediately after I took this shot, a strong wind blew by and Nagi and Yoko fell off - good thing the ground is soft so no damage there, whew.

Photos were taken with a point and shoot Nikon S560, most in macro mode. I play around with the white balance, shooting modes, and the pre-defined portrait options. It's amazing what a small digicam can do now.

Of course, DSLRs still reign supreme, because of the better CCD, lenses and manual options.

But until I get a DSLR (if I ever do get one...), I will squeeze the most out of this S560 and push it to its limits (or to what I think is the limits at least, he he he).

So for now, cheers everyone!!

Minivan...eh?

The 'stigma' of the minivan. Some call it a curse. Some abhor the thought of owning one.

I must say I'm one of those. But in all fairness, the minivan does have it's place in society. Granted, it is one of the most versatile vehicles out there for transport. It seats a lot of passengers, has enough cupholders and compartments, and is easy to get in and out of. No wonder it is the 'mom mobile'.

I had the opportunity to assist a friend of ours in looking for a vehicle, and their needs hinged on the versatility of a minivan. And we were lucky enough to find the van of their choice. With that also came my first time ever to test drive a minivan. You immediately feel the 'bulk' of the drive, but in this particular model, it seems to keep a 'car-like' attitude. This vehicle does boast of features that are designed for long-range transportation, specially in the roominess and comfort department. Quad seating, chairs that fold to become tables (with matching cupholders), and not to mention the chairs can be removed to create a huge cargo area.

In retrospect, I must admit that it is one of the most ideal vehicles for transporting a large family.

And it does have its place in the motoring society....

....just not anywhere within a 100 mile radius of my garage...ever...period... ;-)

^-^* Sushi Adventures - Izakaya Sushi, Beaverton OR ^-^*

Konnichiwa! Here we are again for another round of Sushi Adventures!

Yosh! This time around we go to a new place in the Beaverton area:

Name: Izakaya Sushi
Location: 14605 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97006
Type: Sushi-go-round

Izakaya sushi is nested in a new strip mall area along Millikan Way in Beaverton. It's actually not that hard to find and those of you who are familiar with the Beaverton area should have no trouble spotting it.

Outside it didn't look like a sushi-go-round place at first, and we were a bit surprised that it was. I was happy it was since it means faster food turnaround (no pun intended) and selection time.

The setting is very nice and modern. They do have some funky bar seating though, but it works. We got there a bit early but food was out fast and lots of selections to be made.

This is one of the sushi-go-rounds though that I noticed so many drinks on the sushi trays (mineral water, energy drinks, juice). Which is actually neat I think, since you have a quick-drink selection on hand and ready to grab at a moment's notice.

The food is good too, nice selection. They have this 'sushi pizza' which was a good concoction. They allow for customization of the existing selections to cater to your needs. In our case, one of my good friends is allergic to salmon, but she wanted the sushi pizza. Our server immediately mentioned to us that they can have one made without salmon, and so my friend ordered that. It's nice of them to offer information like that, so that people get to be aware of such an option available.



They also have a wide plate/price selection, from $1.00 up to $3+. Serving size is typical and fresh.

But again, our ever elusive Takoyaki is not to be found. We were told that they did have them at one time but then it didn't catch on and some of the customers (not familiar with Tako) thought they were creme puffs and of course to their surprise, it ain't.

So far with the sushi-go-round places I've been, only two serve Takoyaki - Marinepolis Sushiland and Sushi Train (both of which I will do a writeup in another blog).

To summarize the Izakaya Sushi experience:

Food: 5
Quite good. And fresh. Satisfied customer.

Price: 5
Another sushi-go-round with a wide price/plate selection. Good for budget-conscious folks!

Selection: 4.5
The variety is there - don't forget to try the sushi pizza! (But alas, no Takoyaki...again...)

Service: 4
Service is good. We did come at a 'non-peak' time, but we were attended to promptly and courteously.

Appearance/Presentation: 4.5
Another modern looking interior design. Their conveyor has an 'aluminum' motif which adds to that overall modern look. It was making a 'squeaking' sound though at times, at our corner of the bar.

Overall: 4.5
Recommended for all sushi fans to try!


Itadakimasu!! :-D

Measure twice, cut once - make a prototype!

The saying 'measure twice, cut once' is definitely a good thing to keep in mind, specially when doing projects. Specially those of the 'furniture' kind.

I had an idea of making a 2-tier display stand to augment my anime figure display shelf and allow better use of the shelf height. This particular stand is for the Nendoroids though, since they're quite short and it's better to have them displayed in such a manner.

So I got the specs/measurements from the paper design, got some spare cardboard, old boxes, and cut the pieces as planned to make a 1:1 prototype/mock-up:



Not bad, don't you think? Considering all materials are recycled, and that it is being held up by clear/invisible tape.
It even held up a couple of my Nendos (though I had to take the pic quick as the mock-up was getting wobbly):



I'd like to add to that 'measure twice, cut once' - prototype if you can and have time. It doesn't have to be scale, but it gives you such a better idea as to how you want your project to look like.

Do you watch 'Mythbusters'? If you do, see how they do 'scaled-down' versions of big experiments first to get a better idea of what they will be doing on the actual scale experiment. And it helps a lot in the end.

Even in grand projects, like buildings. Architects do mock ups/models and show them out first so that they have a better perspective of the design. It also gives a sense of fulfillment, and also an actual object to be brainstorming or debating about.

Same with car manufacturers. Now these guys prototype a lot (and they should), since their design hinges on the quality, performance, and safety of a vehicle. Not to mention the overall looks (Note: I guess with the Pontiac Aztek, everyone in the design phase decided to pitch in and someone forgot to filter out the essential designs. There's also a saying, 'too many cooks can spoil the broth'....).

Granted, prototyping/making a mock-up wouldn't be applicable to all projects, but for those that it is applicable too, it will sure open up more ideas and thoughts to make your actual project be better and a lot 'cooler'.

So next time you have a project in mind, maybe think about making a prototype/mock-up of your idea, should the time and resources permit.

In my case, this 2-tier stand mock-up showed me what I wanted and was even able to try it out. With it I can also share the actual design with a good friend, who will hopefully be helping me with the actual project.

As for what kind of wood...and what color...hmmm.... ;-)

4-day work week?

I think this is a good idea. A 4-day work week, and then telecommute/remote access option for a day. Companies are looking to save, so this might be a good idea.

I think some companies are trying to pilot something like this. The savings are obvious, for both employer and employee. As long as they already have such access in place I guess. Otherwise, setting up the remote access might end up costing more - but then again in the long run it could be worth it.

Do you care for being able to work from home?

^-^* Sushi Adventures - Sushiville, Tualatin OR ^-^*

Konnichiwa! Here we are again for another round of Sushi Adventures!

Hai! This time, we visit the newest branch of Sushiville in the Tualatin area (7107 SW Nyberg St., Tualatin OR).

I've been to one of their 'older' branches in NW Portland (along NW 23rd), so I was expecting a similar layout inside.

Surprise-surprise. This is quite the modern version instead. The seats, decors, arrangements - very different from the rest of their other branches. Granted, this is a new branch, which just opened this September 2009. They did a good job, ambience-wise, I must say.

Now, on to the food...


I like Sushiville's wide range of plate selection, and their price. They have a good spread of plates and pricing (5-6 plate selections, $1.25-$3+).

Food is good, and a lot of variety. They do have custom sushi selections which you can order anytime. They got a wide selection of drinks too, including a favorite brew of mine (Kirin Ichiban).

The sushi is quite fresh. The Nigiri, for example, the Salmon nigiri has 'generous' slices of salmon on it. The fish overlaps each end of the nigiri and rests on the plate. The rice is pretty much 'covered' underneath it. You get more 'fish' for your cash. :-D

The other selections are good and standard fare - cali rolls, house rolls, seaweed, tamago, various nigiri, etc. I'm still swayed to the shrimp/tempura roll of Sushi Town versus Sushiville's though - perhaps because of the bigger shrimp used in Sushi Town.

The rest of the selection is comparable - though Sushiville does serve cream puffs, aside from the regular dessert plates. Go ahead and make the mistake of thinking the cream puff plate is Takoyaki and dip it in soy sauce with wasabi....surprise!!

Speaking of which, there is no elusive Takoyaki in their menu. Alas, a little disappointment there. Why no Takoyaki?

But one thing made up for the lack of Takoyaki, at least for that evening.

That night, everything was $1.50. Everything. And the dishes are not 'happy-hour-configured', meaning they are served in their regular slices and amounts, and not 'double-sliced' or less one piece than usual. But this pricing was available only that day, as it was their actual Grand Opening day. Lucky for us to be there indeed.

[Update - 9.30.2009]: All this talk about Sushiville made me want to visit their branch in NW23rd St. in Portland uptown. They have the same fare...til I noticed something in a dessert plate....a choco Pocky stick snack set on a green plate (1.25)!! Yup, the classic Glico Pocky being served as a dessert selection. Hats off to whoever thought of that idea, pretty novel. I know I'm glad ;-)

To summarize:

Food: 5
Nothing bad to say here - food is fresh and good.

Price: 5
A good 'price spread' here. You can stay below the $2 radar and get a good selection.

Selection: 4.5
Lots of options to choose from (but no Takoyaki....)

Service: 4
Now I'm not sure if it's probably because they're new - but some of the servers need to step it up notch and keep up with the customers.

Appearance/Presentation: 4.5
Nice and modern. I wouldn't mind hanging around there longer. Lots of lights and nice decor. Very loong conveyor though...

Overall: 4.5
Yes, I'd eat here in a heartbeat. Highly recommended!


Itadakimasu!! :-D

Code of Silence

Ended up at my usual Sushi spot - Sushi Town - after reading some periodicals and contemplating whether to get Persona PSP...and a PSP 3000 unit. Of course that was a no brainer - I didn't get the PSP. Well, not just yet. I can't even keep up with my DSi. Though the new Persona port to the PSP, and upcoming Persona 3 port, will surely feed my interests in getting the PSP someday.

Back to the main topic...as I sat down and readied myself to have my 6-plate showdown, I noticed two ladies seated to my right. One of the ladies was waving at one of the chefs and pointing to a plate of baked mussels. I didn't mind it at first, then I saw a few more hand gestures from her and her friend - then it dawned on me. They can't talk (mute), hence the sign language.

It's amazing watching them actually. They're both communicating fast, and it was just like a quiet version of regular chit-chat amongst those who can talk. And I somehow felt their enthusiasm and happiness as they 'talked'. It was quiet, but the sign language animates the conversation and that adds to the liveliness of their communication. And this is not through regular speech, but still, that 'energy' you still see and feel. I have a friend back home, and his brother is deaf-mute. But he always hung out with us and even taught us how to do sign language. I still remember how to do A-Z! And I remember how we get really animated while talking, while also trying to learn new sign language words and phrases. He can actually talk a bit, I'd say similar to Marlee Matlin. So he can voice out words a bit, but sign-language is his main communication line.

I wondered also how it feels like for them not to be able to talk. Definitely they have accepted that, which in turn is very impressive, since it takes a strong will and drive to do so. That's the human spirit for you I guess. :-)

And as I left the sushi place, I kind of reflected a bit, about how lucky most of us are to have complete and working 5-senses. Let's all be very grateful for that.

3-hour sleep!

Around 10-15 years ago, sleeping at around 3am is normal weekend fare.

I remember the days with my close-knit crew back home. Friday is always 'the day'. Wednesday I'll already be planning for the Friday swing and which Starbuck's branch to wind down after a movie or bar night. And planning group assignments - movie sked crew, the food crew, the advanced party crew - gotta love those days. And 2-3am would be the normal going home time. We weren't called the TGIF-club for nothing ;-)

I would be the last person home, as I make sure my friends get home safe and sound, and some of them carpool with me and I take them home. Of course, there's the mandatory 'text message me the moment you get home, ok?' for those who brought their own vehicles or had to commute. Regardless, I'd still text them to check if they are home.

Only then do I get to sleep - unless I decide to continue a cool game on the PC. The next day would feel like nothing, and we're raring again for Saturday's gimmick. Good times!

Fast forward now - last night I wasn't able to sleep until past 3:30 am and my 'body clock' woke me up automatically at around 6:40-ish am. Ack! 3+ hours of sleep! And I've been feeling sleepy all day - and caffeine doesn't really work that well for me.

I must really be getting old.... but I'm proud to say, still always young at heart ;-)

^-^* Sushi Adventures - Sushi Town ^-^*

An idea was suggested to me by a good friend - why not add quick reviews to the blog? Nothing too long, just short and terse, and something about sushi!

Well, this is the start of the Sushi Adventures series of blogs - a quick review of sushi restaurants, be it sushi-go-rounds or otherwise.


Let's start with our review of Sushi Town! Remember, this is just a 'trial run' - open to comments and suggestions. :-)

Sushi Town, located in the Tanasbourne Town Center is a nice, little sushi-go-round restaurant. I must admit that this was the place where I got over my sushi-snobbishness (I didn't really like sushi until just recently). One thing I noticed right off the bat is the place is quite clean. The staff are also very nice, polite,(Irashaimase!) and provide good service.

With regards to the food, I'm sold on this place. My favorites are their Town Roll (3 pieces), Mackerel Nigiri (2 pieces), and Salmon Roll (6 pieces).

Fear not, non-fans of raw food, they do have cooked selections, like fried shumai, baked stuffed mushrooms, fried calamari, and another favorite of mine, the Fried shrimp (Tempura) Roll.

They also serve 'custom' or special menu orders. You can order these over the counter and just mention it to the sushi chef and he/she will have it ready for you in no time.

Desserts are standard fare too, either on the conveyor (cakes, fruits) or you can order ice cream over the counter.

Price-wise, it is a little bit up there, with prices ranging from $1.45-$2.55. Sushi-go-rounds have their color-coded plates and each color has its own price designation - which bring up a little nitpick of mine. The place only has 3 color plates to stretch out their price range. It would be cool if they can add more options.

Sorry, no happy hour here folks, and price is pretty standard throughout the week. You do get a free 'sushi' dish if you are there and its your birthday. Just show proof, and you get your 'surprise'. I wonder if they give you a giant tuna roll or something?

So to summarize, here's my take on Sushi Town (scored 1-5, 5 being excellent, 1 being bad):

Food:5
The food is freshly and properly made, taste is really good. And the tea is free and refillable!

Price:4
I'd say the priciest so far, compared to other sushi-go-rounds, but it reflects in quality.

Selection:4
Wish they had more selection - Takoyaki...*cough-cough*.

Service:5
Friendly staff, from servers to the chefs.

Appearance/Presentation:5
The place is really clean and well lit.

Overall:5
Am I biased-schmiased for this? Perhaps, but quite frankly, I won't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone, anytime.

Itadakimasu!! :-D

Proof Reading is Important!

I need to get a proof-reader for my blogs :-D

I have a good friend whom I asked to proof read from time to time. A second set of eyes really helps.

You'll be surprised at how many errors (typos and grammatical errors) show up, even though one would say "I swore that I double-checked and re-read the post before I hit the publish button". Hehehe.

I wonder how many errors I have in this short blog? Can you spot one or two?

Thanks! ;-)

Monday Blues

I believe Mondays were designed to interfere, boggle, and confuse the week. But I meant that in a good way. :-)

The start of the work week normally isn't something that we all look forward to. In fairness, this would depend I guess on what type of work you are doing.

But in general, I really don't like Mondays. Nor Sunday evenings because it signals the coming of Monday (argh)!

Looking on the positive side though, that 'chaos' that Monday would bring us also helps in our development, provided that you look at it in a positive way (which is quite a challenge actually).

What's your take on Mondays?

The Mystery of Life

I guess that's the never ending question - the mystery of life. How is life created? And how priceless it is to be able to see such an event happen.

Yesterday, marked a very special day for a good friend of mine, his wife, and their kids. They welcomed a new bundle of joy in their family!

It's just amazing. I was in awe every second after I saw the baby boy. The start of life, right before my eyes. Makes one look back and think that we were all once in that hospital baby crib, crying and sleeping. It's something just amazing, totally priceless.

And one thing is certain, their family has kicked up the 'happiness factor' again a couple of notches with the newest family member. ;-)

Cheers!!

Interview blues

It's been a long time since I had my last job interview.

And I just had one this morning. The correspondence said that I will be interviewed by the head of IT, and some district representatives. As much of a scaredy-cat I am already and nervous as I can ever be, I didn't think much of it.

Maybe 3-4 people at the most.

I got there - and there were 7 people in the room! Ack! :-O

There were points that were sort of surreal, but I must admit, they were a very friendly group. Maybe it's because of their being a school district?

I'm not sure how I did. I believe I can safely say they can't call me a 'stiff' as we had quite some light moments. I do admit that I did miss out some of the questions - two of them which I even reviewed early in the morning. I wanted to hit my head on my car's steering wheel for getting a mental block on those tech questions.


It was amazing that those questions were thrown in, and I did review them. It just...dropped out of my mind. In hindsight, I was able to throw good answers I think. But of course, it's up to the board to decide while we wait.

I must say though, that the interview tips in the web, they came in very, very, very handy. I cannot stress it more - practice your interview. It helps immensely. Look at me, all dorky and all and I pulled off a satisfactory interview (meaning I didn't stutter, faint, or melt in the room of 7 interviewers).

It's been a very good experience, and humbling at that. So now, we move on.... ;-)

Need an in-car radar detector?

When I came to the US and got my first car (a black V6 'Stang), one of the first accessories my good friend recommended to me was a radar detector. My reason for getting it, aside from the 'cool' factor, was for awareness.

I didn't get it because I'd be doing +20mph at every opportunity I can, but more for the 'heads-up' and awareness factor. Sure, everyone will 'let the horses loose' once in a while (wish I could say that about my Jeep...it's more like letting goats loose...). But with my previous Subies, I would do that.

My next radar detector was a huge upgrade in both price and quality. Mostly price. But it has served me really well. It detects radar presence well beyond and far, and of course some rare false alarms now and then. But whenever it pings and says 'KA', 99.9 percent you'd see the cop around. Now with newer speed laser radars (Lidars) that's a different topic. If you're alone in the road and zipping along and the detector screams 'LASER' - you're it. I've never been tagged with a laser, but have had the thing report it more than once, as it detects the laser 'breakup' or spread from the car that was targetted.

So am I just saying these things to justify my purchase? I'd say 50/50. I do believe I've been 'saved' from speeding tickets with these gadgets - though I did say that for both the older and cheaper Cobra and my current Passport unit.

To each his/her own then. You will definitely see quality and features not found in the lower brands. As for performance, I personally believe you'll see better performance too. Again, it's a matter of personal choice.

Edit: Just off a chat regarding this matter and a very practical and sensible suggestion was suggested by a very good friend - "So just don't speed then...". Touche' ;-)

The New Ipod (again...)

Apple has released their latest offering in the form of the 5th Gen Nano Ipod - Ipod 5th Gen Link - which now has features that people have been wishing since the 1st Gen Nano came out.

First and foremost, the 5th Gen Nano finally has a FM Tuner. Finally. Better late than never. That's been a topic that I always bring up when the Ipod is discussed. Is it that hard to insert a minute FM tuner circuitry into the Ipod? Granted, Apple has its own agenda of course, but now that they finally have an FM tuner onboard, I believe this will boost sales of the Nano.

It also comes with a video recorder now. I checked the specs and another question arose - can it take pictures too? I mean, you already placed video capability on it, photo capability should be on it too right. Apparently it can't and can only take videos. C'mon Apple...what gives?

Nevertheless, the inclusion of the 'lowly' FM tuner is a blessing, and the bigger screen and that the price stayed low too, is good news to all.

They've also incorporated an Ipod Shuffle feature, the voice over feature, that speaks out the song title (provided it is music you got from iTunes that contains the required data for the voice feature to translate).

Will I be letting go of my beloved 4th Gen Nano? I still have my 1st Gen Nano as my car's music player and it still works like a charm. Perhaps I'll wait for the 6th Gen Nano - maybe that version will have internet/wifi capability... ;-)

Cheers!

Handhelds - yay or nay?

I've always been a fan of handhelds, more specifically, the Nintendo units.

They are the frontrunners, and holding their fort in this category of gaming systems to date. Of course, the next closest player would be Sony's PSP system.

I guess it applies to both handhelds and consoles - what game they provide is the actual selling point. Sure, there's battery life, wifi capability, backwards compatibility and the like - but it all boils down to the games available.

Look at the venerable PS2. It has the widest gaming library, and is also a niche for RPG gamers. As simple a unit as it is, it's still going strong.

On the handheld side, Nintendo's DS line has got a long list of titles too, and that works in their favor.

I say this because I never ever considered getting a PSP - but that changed just recently now that two of my favorite RPG games are being ported over to the PSP (the Persona SMT series).

Just goes to show how the availability of content can make a huge difference in the consumer world. ;-)

And having two handhelds doesn't sound bad, there's the variety. But does one really need it? I don't think so, but it depends again on the person. For me it's a 'yay' for handhelds - and I don't see that changing, even in the distant future.

RPGs are good - it's like chess!

Seriously, I never thought I'd pick up an RPG game ever. It was around college when I said 'no' to RPGs and joined the FPS (first-person-shooter) genre of gaming, starting with Castle Wolfenstein.

I wanted quick response, deadly action, and instant reaction in games. Didn't care for the time-consuming turn-based games.

Which leads to this irony....the first ever game that really got me hooked into PC gaming? Wasteland. And this was a heavy text-based RPG. And turn-based combat too.

And now, I'm back and loving the RPG-genre of gaming. I like the strategies involved, the cut scenes, and the allowance of time before you 'execute' your moves. Granted, it does take a lot of time to play. No lightning fast level finishes here.

What tuned me back to RPG gaming is Atlus' Persona 3:FES. I got intrigued by the 'controversialities' of this game, which deals with summoning personas (like powerful spirits/deities) to assist you in battle. The way you 'invoke' your persona was actually the one that raised concern over this game. Nevertheless, I liked it and before I knew it, poured over a 100 hours into it (...there goes 100+ hours of my life, hehehe).


Persona 3 by Atlus triggered my jump back to the RPG genre of gaming.

Then I got Tales Of Vesperia, which blew me away with the anime-type graphics and the smoothness of the gameplay. It's not a traditional turn-based RPG, but more of a free-flowing style. You do have a team, but you don't have to wait to move/attack, and that added a sense of speed into the game.


Tales of Vesperia, a free-move style RPG. Awesome animation/graphics and nice storyline.

Have finished Persona 3, which led me to wanting more Persona. Good thing Persona 4 came out Christmas of 2008.


Atlus knew what to do with Persona 4. Persona 3 was a hit, so they kept the basics, and just added more stuff to it without re-doing the architecture. The formula worked!

Maybe this is just an excuse, really, underlying the fact that - I am getting old and the slow pace of the RPG games is more in my 'comfort' zone. :-)

And I still have a couple of RPGs to finish - I'll take my time on those too. ;-)

But hey, I still love FPS games with a passion! Make no mistake on that!

Driving in the rain...

Had some light showers yesterday driving to work - a signal that fall is just around the corner.

It was kinda refreshing though. My 'OCD' for car cleaning has been activated again though...argh. :D

Drive safe in the rain and keep your distance and check your speed!

Drawing 101

Went out last weekend with a friend and his family, and had a very nice day. Weather was perfect and all, and we managed to get a lot of things done too. Time well spent, I must say.

We got back to their place, and my friend's wife told me that their daughter loves to draw - and draw anime characters at that. So their daughter showed me her sketch book. And I was totally, very impressed - made my sketches look like a work of a 5-year old (not that I am any good at all for starters...) :-P.

Manga/Anime sketch I made - character named 'Hikari'

I'm so amazed at the sketches she's made, both fan art and originals - she has definitely got a very good talent here. It's very inspiring actually.

Perhaps one of these days I can collaborate with her to draw some single frame sketches for this light story series I am trying to write up. Or maybe even a 2 or 4 panel comic online perhaps? ;-)

Well, here's a link to my few sketches worth scanning, he he he. I'll forward her this link so she can grade and critique my work. I think I need to take Drawing 101 :-P

Sketches

Cheers!

Nendoroid Comic 00 - "Pando-Rin's Box"

What is a Nendoroid, you ask? Well it is a 'chibified' or 'super deformed' figurine representation of a character from a Japanese anime. It can apply to non-Japanese anime characters as well, but predominantly it is done with the former. I guess we can call it a JDM bobble-head...without the head-bobble feature. Here's Wikipedia's take on it - Nendoroid Wiki.



Nendoroid Rin Kokonoe.


I am an avid anime fan since I was a kid. And I guess I can call myself a mild-otaku. Figure collection is one hobby I've also had since I was a kid and there's just something amazing in seeing 3d renditions of 2d characters. My Nendoroid collection just actually started (no Nendos back then), and to be honest at first I didn't like these short chibi character versions - I found them a bit odd and annoying...that is until I saw one in person and that changed my perspective on these figures. And as you will see in the pictures, 'cute' is definitely a Nendoroid's forte. ;-)

In any case, I'd like to present my very first 'Nendo-comic', entitled 'Pando-Rin's Box'. I used Manga Studio 4.0 Debut software (a nice software for manga/comic creation) to create the panels.
The stars of the show: Kureha (from Shining Tears X Wind), Miku Hatsune, Tsuruya-san, Nagi, and Rin Kokonoe.

Note: Once you click on the the link below to view the comic, select the 'Large' size so that the comic text will be more readable. You only have to do this once and it will apply the size to the rest of the pictures.You can then use your arrow keys to move thru the pictures (4 frames).

Pando-Rin's Box

Job seeker blues

I know a couple of friends who are 'journeymen' when it comes to jobs. They've at least had 4-5 jobs already. Before I thought that it seems to much of a hassle and not worth the trouble.

Now, I'm seeing it in a different light. I actually envy them - because when it comes to work and their careers, they are 'in game'. Say, compare to someone who has been in the same job for at least 8 years. When something comes up and that person now needs to look for a job, it's going to be like the first time looking for one.

But yes, it depends on the individual. Some people stay in shape, not only physically, but mentally and career-wise. Keeping up to date with technology, studying their field while at work. Of course there are the low profile ones to who are content with what is at hand. There's always two sides to a coin, right?

It is nice to keep up with what you know, one way or another. It doesn't mean that you'd be studying every night and seeing what's new out there. But an occasional online training or seminar won't hurt. You'll never know when you'll need a refresher and perhaps new skills. And it doesn't hurt to exercise our brains from time to time. ;-)

Late bloomer?

Why blog now you say? I guess since I have nothing better to do, and want a place online that I can post stuff that I can say 'is in my blog' :-D

But then again, let's see how long I keep this one up - I have my doubts, though. ;-)

Cheers!