BB (BestBuy) DoorBusted!

On black friday, there was supposedly a very good toshiba laptop deal at Best Buy. I was planing to buy the laptop for myself (Thanks to e-bay, I didn't get my laptop). But when I was going to the thanksgiving dinner, I passed emeryville BB and I lost all hope for the laptop.

I called my Japanese friend that people have been waiting in line and there was no chance of getting it (yes, it was like 7pm on thankgiving day). Then, my other friends called me and told me that there was a chance in Mountain View BB. So after the dinner, I went back to mt view from emeryville real fast (80-100 mph, unfortunately no cops around.... phew).

I arrived there around 11pm and there were a long line but my friend spot was somewhere in the middle, not so bad I think. My friend told me there is no chance of getting the laptop that I wanted. Because of my self denial, I tried to wait in line and hoped for the best.

It was freezing cold, even my 4 layers of clothing seemed to be useless. After waiting so many hours, finally the time had come. BB' people started to give vouchers for the supposedly "HOT" items to avoid fighting, etc, etc. I only planned to buy laptop, but I felt uneasy at that time. By the time, BB' people was yelling about TV, then I told him that I wanted the 32" LCD TV. I was afraid that I wasn't going to get the laptop, so I couldn't go home empty handed after waiting several hours in the freezing cold. My fear came true right after they gave me the TV voucher, the BB people were yelling "No more Laptops!" I was kind of anticipate that so I was kinda okay about that.

I ended up buying a 32" LCD TV and a wireless bluetooth (yes, the bluetooth was so cheap). Luckily, i didn't get home empty handed. I was happy when I turned on the TV, it was big and awesome (and the price too).

Next year, I probably going to wait from 5pm. Just wait and see next year =D

Thanksgiving Dinner

I went to Daimo in emeryville to celebrate thanksgiving. I ordered Hot and sour soup, dumplings, fried tofu, Singaporean chili crab, Singaporean fried rice noodles, and shrimp with walnut. The chili crab was pretty good, though I think the crab was not that fresh.

When I was first seated, I got a broken tea cup with sharp edge. Later when we were given the soup bowl, 4 out of 5 bowls were dirty. I have been to this place several times, but yesterday was a bad experience eating there.

Anyway, Happy thanksgiving.

1/2 moon bay and the stupid Triad of 3 HK people

Last weekend, I went to 1/2 moon bay with my friends (not really) for the solely purpose of taking photographs. There were 5 of us, 3 ppl from Hongkong and 1 from Malaysia (all can speak cantonese, except me). I think those Hongkong people still don't remember where they live. Yes, they live in the U.S, so they should speak English language. They were yapping about this and that in a language that I couldn't understand (Can someone slap them?).

So I felt left out, but I didn't care since I just wanted to take pictures and not make friends with them. As of right now, my hatred towards them are increasing because I have been encountering problems with Hongkong people so many times. I used to envy their cultures, but not anymore (You can shove ur f*ckin' culture up in my behind). My perceptions about the generality of Hongkong people can be described as the following: rude, over-reacting, selfish, no manner, and STINGY (worse than uncle Scrooge). I've been observing more than 10 people and basically they are like this all the time.

BTW, the trip to 1/2 moon bay was nice with the "but". Yes, I took some great pictures and stuff but I didn't stay to watch the sunset (Guess what? yes, you are correct...because of that stupid triad of 3 Hongkong people). They said they felt cold, bla, bla. Seriously, I wasn't wearing any jacket at that time and they were wearing one. Boy, I really hate them so much with all my heart....lol.

IMHO, just stay away with Hongkong people and better watch out if you happen to have one. You can't be friends with them, unless you speak their language, Cantonese (stupid). I've had it with THEM, period!

Anyway, you can take a look at my pbase album (http://pbase.com/bogelo) for 1/2 moon bay pictures.

New Pbase.com account

I just subscribe to a new pbase.com account, paid $23 for a year. From Pbase.com, I get 400MB of pictures upload. My friend told me that Picasa was a better deal $25 for 6GB, it sounds very good but I think Picasa is limited only to Picasa member and it's not so well known yet.

Check out my pictures at my Pbase.com: http://www.pbase.com/bogelo

Canon 30D camera body and 70-200mm L lens, nice combo!

I received the lens long time ago (about 1 month) and I just received the 30D camera body from B&H after painful battle with them. Everything is well built, the camera and the lens.

First I'm gonna tell my experience about the lens. WOW is the exact word to describe the "L" lens, the USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) in the lens is freakin' awesome. I tried the Nikon lenses with SWM (Silent Wave Motor) and they are nowhere near Canon USM! The Canon USM is so fast and silent, well done Canon. It's a nice lens after all, the downfall is only it's weight and size.

Now, I'm gonna tell my experience on the camera body. Settings are so confusing and buttons are everywhere (argghhhhh...), it took me 3 days to figure out how to change the aperture. But once I know everything, this body becomes a fast shooting machine. My jaw dropped when it shoot 5fps, so DAMN FASTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY 30D. My Nikon D50 again is nowhere near this 30D (I know they are different breed), but the 30d 5FPS is amazing. Topped that with 11 images for the buffer and once again, my jaw dropped. I am currently using 4GB Hitachi microdrive (they are famous because they are slow) but I have no problem with it on the 30D (thanks to large buffer).

Combining 30D and "L" lens are the best things that can happen. The result of this combination are fast, silent, and sharp images (what else do you want?). I was so amazed that I can't find any word to describe them (super awesome, perhaps?). After all the painful battle, finally my pain was paid off and I am so happy now. Luckily, I don't get the Canon Rebel XTi, the result might be different. 10 thumbs up! You can see pictures of what I took with Canon 30d + Canon 70-20mm L lens, enjoy!

Photography - Canon 30D

Xperiments with smelly foods~

Experiment #1:
Stinky tofu? How bad can it be? That was what's on my mind before, not anymore. I tried stinky tofu at an authentic Taiwanese restaurant in Cupertino Village, called A&J. First impression: you can smell it when your order is ready from far far away (yes, it was that stinky) and the smell was more like poop or garbages dump site. The food was delivered at my table then the smell became even stronger. If you smell it pretty close, it doesn't smell that bad though. I encouraged myself to try to eat it and finally I ate it. It tasted just like garbage, but not that bad while I was eating it. The worst part came after I finished them. The smell stayed in my mouth and yes, that bad smell. I will not eat another stinky tofu, ever again. Some people might say it's good but I think otherwise. I like durian, petai (stink bean or Parkia speciosa), jengkol (Pithecolobium lobatum) but I can't eat stinky tofu, period.

Experiment #2:
Nato? What is it? This is a delicacy of Japan. Every Japanese knows this food but some of them don't like it. Nato is fermented beans clustered together and the beans have formed some kind of slimy yet sticky web between them. My understanding of nato is pretty simple, it's a tempeh that hasn't complete fermentation. If you know tempeh, it has white stuff between the beans and I believe the white stuff hasn't formed and hardened in nato. That was my understand but I stand corrected.

My Japanese friend brought some nato and again, I decided to try it. Nato doesn't have any strong smell, unlike stinky tofu. First bite was plain since I didn't put any sauce that came with it. It tasted like coffee beans at first bite, but later it tasted even funnier (I can't desribe what it tasted like). After I put some mustard and sauce (I think it's soy sauce), it tasted better. But the after done eating, taste stayed in my mouth (not that bad compared to stinky tofu). The more I ate, the more I could ate them. I think I need some familiarizing period to become get used to nato. It's not that bad, it tasted unique and original.

B+W UV filter MRC

I just got the the B+W filter in the mail and I was so happy. There's still a long way to go for the completion of my dream Canon sytems (all Canon 'L' Lenses). Anyway, I'm still waiting for the Pelican Case, and the 30D camera body for the completion of my Canon systems. B+W UV MRC(Multi Resistant Coating) is made by using schott glass and I think it has something to do with Zeiss glass, some people said this is just the same with Heliopan filter, which also use Zeiss glass. It sure is expensive but it is well built and built with high precision.

If you happen to own one, you should already know what I am talking about. I was about to get Hoya Pro-1 but many people said that the best Hoya UV filters are very painful and hard to clean, contrary to B+W. This filter is just another great complement for my Canon camera systems. 1 more day countdown for the case and 2 more days countdown for the camera body. Yay!

Canon 30D, here I come!

After battling with B&H Photo video, I did not get my Canon Rebel XTi for a good price. So hell, I decided to go ahead and move on to order a 30D instead. I think I am not fated to own Canon Rebel XTi (it's been hell since my first order with Dell). It will be shipped on monday and I should receive it by wednesday (thanks to 2nd day shipping).

Bottom line is that this will be my last order with B&H for letting me down big time. I hope you enjoy your money and to hell with it. Can't wait for the camera to arrive.

B&H did not honor their own prices

I am so mad with B&H photo video, one of many camera retailers based in NYC. Pretty much, they care about money than about their customers. I bought Two canon Rebel XTi at a good price from them and they told me it was a price mistake. They stated to either buy at their wanted prices or cancel it. They don't want to honor their own mistakes and I believe it's not a price mistake, it's not even 1/2 price. I might only be a small potato for their businesses, but I contributed too. I will pursue this matter to the court if there is no resolution from them. I am so mad, mad, and mad and my vision about them has changed 360 degrees.

Fun with Macro Photography

I just bougt a macro extension tubes set from e-bay for around $20. It has 3 main tubes with 8 types of tubes setting. The purpose of those tubes is to make your current lens to become a macro lens. Macro is needed when you need to take a very close up picture of something. Macro lenses are expensive, especially the micro nikkor (dont ask me why nikon named all their macro lenses, micro-nikkor)

Because this extension tube is so cheap, everything has to be manual. It's a pain not to have Auto focus for macro photography, especially in a low light situation. Buying the actual macro lens is better but there is a price difference there.

After all it's a wise investment to buy this kit and have fun with macro photography. That's the most important part of any hobbies: Having fun! Below are picture samples from the kit.

Macro

~ X ~

X Japan, an interesting music band from Chiba, Japan. I started to listen to their songs long time ago (dont remember when, but I know they were named X, not X Japan). Their songs that I used to hear were Crucify My Love, Forever Love. They have a pretty good English and I can pretty much understand their English. Their music is divided into two, slow ballad and fast metal type, but all their songs seem to be pretty sad ones.

I just found out that the band was over in 1998 because of the suicidal act of Hide (the guitarist, RIP Hide). Thanks to youtube, I can actually see the actual people of X japan performing. You can also see Hide's funeral where X-Japan performed for the last time to honor Hide, singing Forever Love. Yoshiki looks girly but he has awesome talent and actually the foundation of X Japan (music writing, piano, and drummer at the same time). Toshi has high pitch awesome voice, except when he's sick & he's still performing (sounded very funny).

Their clothes and appearances are out of this world, but I think I know why (they need to get ur attention). I also found out on Youtube they have awesome songs, such as: Tears, Endless Rain, Say Anything, The Last Song. I especially like Kurenai, this sounded similiar to "Future World" from my favorite fast metal band: the original Helloween (with Michael Kiscke, not andy!)

I'm sad that X Japan is not making songs anymore because I really like their music, music that I can enjoy and never get bored of it.

RIP Hide ~ RIP X Japan ~ Your music lives on

Transition to become a Canonian

I just received lens for my back-ordered Canon Rebel XTI (I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!). The lens is heavy and well built and the white color adds some extra niceness to it. Though the actual color is not really white (kind gray). Enough said, it's a nice lens. But the downside is that the tripod mount cost $100 (OMG....), and no one sells a 3rd party aftermarket for the tripod mount.

I have no idea how to test whether this lens work or not (I can use a canon DSLR by now, hopeless Dell). For better or worse, I think I'm going to wait and stick my with Dell order to arrive.

I took some pictures of the lens and tried to compare it to my 18-55mm nikon lens to show the difference. I really can't wait to try out this lens. Please Dell!!!!!!!!!!!!!