« First…34567

Guess Who’s Back?

June 12th, 2006  |  Published in Uncategorized

Just got back from SoCal this morning. I flew Southwest since they have a good rewards program. That, and I can fly to either Burbank and/or LAX airports near home-home.

Anyways, its been a long time since New Year’s that I’ve seen home-home. The weather was great. It was around the cool 70’s the whole weekend. Although, it was drizzling a little bit Friday morning but the clouds scattered and made room for some great sunshine.

Meanwhile, it was great to see friends and fam. Friday night was a “Tacky Fundue” party at Belle and Cicely’s pad.

Cici the Tack-dresser

Fruits, vegetables, chocolate, sausage, chips, cheese… you name it–it all god dipped. That, some Atomic Bomberman four-play and some Twister made the night a non-stop action event. Too bad the city of San Gabriel makes you get a parking permit for $3.00 if you ain’t a resident.

Then came Saturday. It was Cat’s little shindig, celebrating her graduation from ICO/Chicago. Congrats Dr. El Gato, and welcome to the real world!

Besides the great food and company at Cat’s new pad in East Chula Vista, it was an early night to turn in. Belle, Cicely, Jay, Jovan and Lou were about to wake up early to go to the Mud Run. So Ry and I just went back to the hotel with them.

Fast-forward a bit. There were a lot of participants come to think of it. I expected it to be somewhat smaller but was just proven wrong. I guess it just grew throughout the years since its inception.

Meanwhile, the race was split into two categories, one for individuals and the other for teams. The overall winner finished his 10k-run around 46 minutes! This guy was fast. We saw him zoom by at the start, and finish right away when Ryan and I walked towards the last obstacle course.

Overall, it was an awesome experience. Definitely a great event to go to, shoot and cheer on friends and runners a like. I’m looking forward to doing it next year with more peeps. As usual, the more the merrier.

I Love Mud

From my mind to yours, just because its San Diego doesn’t mean that the weather doesn’t cool down to the low 50s. Stay classy, San Diego.

Sweet PICT*RE

May 23rd, 2006  |  Published in Uncategorized

Departing San Francisco

Right on, right on! I haven’t checked the web “lately” but I got a dope comment from Henning (aka. atomtigerzoo) in Flickr just yesterday. Seems like the photo above (Departing San Francisco) was selected and published on the release of Pict*re Magazine – Volume Two!

I’m totally stoked =p

April’s Fools

April 1st, 2006  |  Published in Events

April's Fools

Jen and Caren after a 15-hour trek from SF to Mammoth Lakes. In those 15 hours, we’ve gone through: 4 freeways; an avalanche; 3 gas stops; 3 bags of chips; a handful of burps and a hundred of laughs. So what is up with Jenn’s sandals in a foot of fresh snow? I guess that’s what 15-hours of being in a car will do to ya =)

The New Canon 30D

February 21st, 2006  |  Published in Photography

Canon 30D

As I was doing my late-night news roundup, I stumbled upon some interesting new Web 2.0 apps. The top two that are on my list to beta-test are Foldera and Flyspy. I can’t wait to see how Foldera works, it seems that it’ll be useful at work and at home. As for Flyspy, this thing should make it easier for those of us “remotely” working from home. I hope it saves me a ton of cash so I may have some left for some other goodies later this year. Not to mention, a couple of expenses during my big trips (Hawaii, Japan and P.I.).

Anyways, a little birdie that a new toy has just been unveiled, Canon’s 30D. It seems that it is using the same sensor as the 20D. But a couple of more intriguing changes can be highlighted as stated by Rob Gailbraith:

a 2.5-inch (diagonal) rear LCD, increased burst depth, Picture Styles, a shutter with a higher duty cycle rating and a long list of other camera usability changes.

A couple of things that I did like with the new 30D features are:

  • Canon’s more flexible Picture Style menu, which replaces the Parameters menu of the 20D
  • ISO 100-1600 is now selectable in 1/3 stop increments
  • Increased burst depth: 11 frames for RAW CR2 shooting, 30 for Large Fine JPEG and 9 for RAW+JPEG
  • Switchable High-Speed Continuous (5 fps) and Low-Speed Continuous (3 fps) frame rate settings are now included
  • An Auto setting in the Long Exposure Noise Reduction Custom Function
  • The ability, like several more-pricey Canon digital SLRs, to simultaneously apply long exposure noise processing to one picture while capturing another
  • The addition of a 3.5% spot metering mode
  • A more-precise 4-increment battery charge indicator
  • No more new folders created every 100 photos; in the 30D, a folder can hold 9999 photos (this one is a 50/50 like/dislike to me)
  • During playback, the image+shooting data screen will display either an RGB or Brightness histogram, file size and will optionally display AF markings
  • The Jump feature during image playback can now leap back and forth 10 pictures at a time, 100 pictures at a time or by the date shot

So yah, “nothin’ serious.” It looks like it’ll be shipping mid-March (US) with an MSRP of $1399. $1399? That was how much I got my 20D for back in December through Costco.com. Oh well, you can’t beat a rebate of $300 for it. Anyways, I might have to take Costco up on their 100% return/warranty policy later this year. Good times.

January Has Come and Gone

February 1st, 2006  |  Published in Uncategorized

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stechico/93966403/
Here Ye! Here Ye! by stechico.

Wow! That was one fast month. The day seems to be getting shorter and shorter, and the weather changes more frequently than ever (at least in SF).

Since the start of the year, I created a new project for myself just to use my new toys more and get more experience as well with photography. It’s pretty much a-photo-a-day. It’s hard to pick one photo that describes and sums up my day as I tend to take a bunch. But what can I tell you, so far so good. You may take a look at the Flickr set over here.

Amongst other things in the world of muah, I’ve been active as ever doing beta-testing for different Web 2.0 companies. It’s fun seeing and experience people’s accomplishments and creativity. Not to mention, it gives you ideas when the bulb is dim.

Besides the wait for my Yahoo! Mail Beta invite (still), I just signed up for a beta-test with OmniDrive. Hopefully, I can grab one and see what the fuss is all about. Techcrunch’s Michael Arrington seems to like it versus other companies currently in the online storage market.

Meanwhile, boarding season is fun so far. I went up with a couple of friends to North Tahoe for MLK Holiday Weekend. I can’t wait to go up again. Hopefully, some time soon but most likely for Biggy’s BDay first weekend of March around the South Tahoe area.

Anyways, three big trips for me this year: Hawaii, Japan and P.I. Other than the major saving-up for cash, I also need to save PTO days from MA. Going to go to Hawaii for Farida & Brad’s wedding on the first weekend of August. I think it’s in the north-west part of the Big Island. Should be good times as the old roomies from 916 are coming. That’ll be cool too as I have never been to the Big Island but have been to Oahu back in the early 90’s with my family.

Then, during the first week of November, Japan with some UCI buds. Belle seems to be the ring-leader of this trip. It’s just hard to get everyone on board this one as it is likely to span 10 days (a day or two more for relaxation after we get back from the flight). Hope it goes through, and we get a good group size to go. I can’t wait to take photos over there.

Last but not least, ever since my bro and I got here in 88-89, we haven’t spent Christmas nor New Year’s in the P.I. So, my grandma blurted out the idea that we should all go for the Holidays this year. What can I say, it’s all gravy with my grandma’s idea. Damn, that should be fun.

From my mind to yours, if you are ever in a rutt… turn to your friends for some good times!

Update:
After writing this, I got an email from Yahoo! Mail Beta regarding my invite. Finally! This thing is clean. I hope to see more new functionality. Dopeness.

« First…34567