Pre and Present Addictions…
Hello Everyone,
As you guys know, or knew and forgot, I had a Nokia E71. But, I found I just needed even more “power.” I’m under a constant barrage of data! But, it’s ok. :-D So, I decided to sell the E71 to X-Tine (who LOVES Nokia products) and get the Sent-From-God Blackberry Bold. I was a little worried about getting a Blackberry (BB), given that their owners tend to become zombie-like possessed with them. It’s like a crack cocaine addiction for them!
*~ Thus their nickname: Crackberries ~*
Still, I was not to be scared away with a solid-substance tech-drug addiction. I made my Rp. 1.000.000 down payment, and patiently waited for it to arrive. While waiting, I suffered a range of emotions. Like any techie/science lover, I had to monitor my vitals:
Pre-Addiction: Late September
I’ve yet BB Bold (getting it on October 10). But, I can say I have a pre-addiction to the Blackberry!
I was at a bank, waiting in queue. There was a guy sitting cross-legged so casually, thumbing the trackball his BB Curve. His little girl (maybe 8 or 9) was leaning against him, watching what he was doing, with a proud “my daddy’s better than your daddy, because he has a Blackberry” smile on her face.
I
hated
I’m now really looking forward to getting my greedy chubby fingers on that new BB Bold.
I cant wait to be hit by that “new tech toy smell” when I open the box!
*~ Opening Box: Snifff, Ahhhh Yeahhhh ~*
Newbie Confusion: October 10
I finally got word my Blackberry Bold has arrived! I’ve already downloaded various Mac tools for it, as well as a great red and black “theme” for it! I’ve also been reading all the user websites, such as www.CrackBerry.Com ! I’m Ready! *~ Assuming the 2-point American Football Stance ~*
I left work at 11:30 AM to go get it from the store (Yes, I know, an abuse of Managerial Power). After sapping my account for the $, I rushed from the store to my taxi (yes, it was waiting for me) to head to one of my cafe hideouts, to try it out.
I reached into the bag slowly, savoring that final sensation of Christmas-morning-anticipation, and I pulled out the sexy-ass black box that it comes in. And oh yessss, new tech smell! I can smell it in through the sealed box! I open the lid and; it’s beautiful! I also purchased the deep brick red “skin” for it, as well as a black skin. I’m using the red skin mostly. Now….uhhh what the…..
This “phone” is much more than a phone. It’s MUCH more than a smart phone. There are lots of new complexities (PIN, IMEI numbers??? what the F___). Amazing. I’m confused. I? Me? I am the Avatar of Tech! Batman comes to me for tech advice! How can I be confused??? Must I do the unthinkable: read the manual?
*~ Shudder: Manual Reading… ~*
Ok, this is definitely a work horse phone. It’s amazing. The design, texture, the features … Ohhhh. headache!
Hurts, But In A Good Way:
I’ve heard that some women like a little “pain” during certain “activiities.” I do not know if this is true or not, but it’s just what I’ve heard. They say “ya, it’s painful, but in a good way” (Baffling to this mere man, but uhhh cool!).
I now understand it. I’m finding this phone was painful, but I could not resist it.
*~ Ouch! ohhhhh ~*
Crack(berry) Addiction and Assimilation:
It’s all so clear… It’s so so very clear. I see the music, and I hear the colors… I’m becoming a slave to this device. When the little red light blinks (message arrived) I MUST answer it. I cant ignore it. It’s like invasion of the body snatchers!
This device (it’s not just a phone, or PIM or PDA) is GREAT! I can do so much more on it than any previous phone. And, I can do it so much more efficiently! It’s like, Super-phone! I’m on top of every email account, simultaneously, while also Yahoo Messenger, SMS, Blackberry Messenger, etc etc etc, and it’s al soooo simple. It’s like cloud logic!
To be continued… message arrived…..
Running Downhill…
Hello Hello Hello,
It’s been super busy lately, both in my personal life, my photographic life (which partly overlaps into my personal life), and my professional life.
You can read the mundane details below, but for lazy people like me, allow me to just give you the cliff notes version 
- Preparations for my current photo project has made significant leaps!
- My God, I have to give 2 critical presentations within the next month!
- After months of complaining to HR to get me CVs and Resumes, I’m FINALLY am getting quality people to potentially fill several tech support and programmer positions!
*~ If you’re a PHP Programmer, in Jakarta, EMAIL ME! ~*
. - After a battle with my company’s HR department, I was able to give two of my staff significant (more than 2x their salaries) raises.
- I really really really need to finish my paper, a study of the specific group of individual sex workers (see previous post, “Exploring The Underground World of Sex Workers”)!
Photo Project:
My company’s campus has several buildings. For some meetings, I take a quick, 30 second walk to a neighboring building, then proceed to the 7th floor. From there, I have this incredible view of the area. One such view is of a place that fits perfectly into my current photo project. The area has grown in 3 months from 2 shacks, to a community of shacks, where they sort through, and burn huge amounts of trash.
Since I’m working alone on photo projects (I really need to be more autonomous), I decided to take an extended lunch (bosses can do this hahaha) and take a 45 minute walk to that area, in shirt and tie (stupid me) to talk to the people there, to gain some form of access/entry. My phone has a dictionary, and I was practicing what to say to their camat (their community leader). Turns out my attempts paid off.
After their initial shock of seeing this huge black guy with an American accent, they seemed quite open. I told them the best I could I just wanted “foto foto aja” (photos only). When the guy was talking, I could only understand 1 out of 7 or 8 words, but it seemed they wanted money! I told them it for my own project, not gov, or magazine or tv or such. I am sure I sounded like I was using baby talk hahahaha.
Daily I take taxis to and from work. I always tell the taxi driver to use roads instead of toll roads, because I love to see the people walking on the street as well as various hidden areas I find photographically interesting. This is how I found site #2 for the photo project! So, I’ve now 2 sites to focus on for this project. Hurray!
I also found renting a car (and driver, because no way I will drive in this city!) will be easy. Some of the places I want to go in the city simply have horrid access to taxis. And, being lazy, I hate walking more than I need to (but, with camera in hand, I can walk all day).
So, the project will begin soon. Wait… Not so soon! why???? Because…….
Work Stuff!
I have to give 2 huge presentations within the next month. The first is next week, where I will cover in great detail the 2009 budget I’ve proposed: well over Rp. 50,000,000,000 (US$5.38 Million), which is maybe 5x as big as the 2008 budget. The issue will not be justifying the money; it’s clear the projects are needed. The issue is this company loves to try to “barter” for things they need. Need a new printer? They will try to “barter” for the printer, by giving the selling co some service we provide. From what I have seen, this strategy has worked only 30% of the time, and regardless, it takes months to complete. Just pay for the damn printer, and lets get it in a day!
This company has very deep pockets. There are Greek and Victorian marble statues throughout the hallways! Rosewood furniture, etc etc etc. They love to spend $ on anything that will give visitors a ‘wow, rich place” feel. But, are more than ready to underpay staff if they can get away with it (which is why I fought for those raises for my staff!).
The 2nd presentation, to be given in Bali in Mid-November (did I tell you guys? All of the directors and our immediate assistants, are going to Bali for a few days to discuss things to come in 2009). I’ve been told by my boss that my presentation is the most looked forward to by the owner and the other directors, because: 1. They love my presentations, and say I have this incredible stage presence (huh? right!). 2. My planned changes are so massive, they will be organization-transforming. So, there will be a serious political component to this presentation.
A few small groups in the company of course are not welcoming the changes. But, I’ve already taken the political steps to insure victory. Also, I made it clear in manager meetings some changes are more than needed, where some pseudo-tech groups need to fall under the umbrella of IT (information technology, the department I manage). As the Japanese saying goes: I was beating the grass, to startle the snakes.
For presentations, I have to take on the role of the Demo-God (originally coined by Bill Gates). The Demo-God is a person who can present his ideas and plans so well, they cant be argued with. A Demo-God can persuade Eskimos that while they have lots of ice, “this ice” is a must have as well. LOL.
I just have to be careful on the tiny details. That is the key to victory (in war, life, anything). Just think of the Japanese proverb of the how wars are lost (ok, will post that next blog post lol). But, presentations are not the only things I must work on…
Case Study for Group of Sex Workers:
Yes, I have been asked to turn this in. I knew it would be due eventually, but I really wish I could have been told of the due date in advance! I was asked literally just a day before it was wanted! Come on! That is not fair. I shot the pics when? Last year? If I was told ‘the paper will be needed in 1 month, or 10 months” then I could have planned my work.
As I was never asked for it, I never kept working on it. Then just last week I was asked to provide it in a day. if knew it would be needed, why not tell me when you found out when you are meeting about it? I could have prepared it, if I was given a firm deadline to have it by. And, when giving deadlines, it cant be a day or two before! It has to be planned, and stated during the project’s Analysis phase. But anyway, It’s a lesson for future projects. It’s not a huge deal, but will be time consuming, given my work presentations, plus my regular workload. :p
So, I gave what I had, the base outline that was posted on the previous blog post (which did go into detail, but not as much as the formal paper, with citations and secondary sources) and I gave the photographs. I also stated I would finish the paper next week at the latest (which is when presentation #1 is due….. Oct 14 cryyyy).
Ok, enough for now. Hope you are not as busy as me! But damn it, these presentations put off my photo project, AGAIN! I’m really thinking of that NGO photographer/writer offer that is avail in 2009… While this job is great pay, it’s cutting into my photography time big time! This is something I cannot allow for a long period of time.
At the moment I feel like I’m running downhill; at first, I’m in control of the decent, but momentum and gravity are pulling on my body mass until its a mad run, and just keeping from tripping over my own two feet! hahahahaha
What Makes Crazy People Crazy???
The Setting: Starbucks Sarinah, which is 95% empty
I’m writing this blog post in my head. Why in my head, instead of on my laptop? Because my crazy-ass stalker is sitting next to me. Why is she sitting next to me? I’ve no idea, except to bug me.
“Are you alright? How do you feel? Did you get my calls or SMS? You did not reply…”
*~ Well of course I did not reply! You’re a stalker! OMG! ~*
I think stalkers have stalker-periods. Just as women have monthly periods, stalkers have monthly or bi-monthly periods, where they come to their victims, bleed all over them, and give their victims cramps!
My stalker is especially tenacious, using every excuse in the book to make contact. First, it was contact out of ‘concern’ for my health. Second, it was contact about religious advice, with a side-dish of dieting wisdom, and reprimand-for-telling-people-cafes-are-fun desert. Third, she now wanted to meet because Dumbledore, the laptop I sold her a year ago, has a non-functional trackpad after she installed a mouse. Forth, and lastly, she wanted to meet because she wanted me to join her in Tangerang for a photo project (like I’m going to stay in a hotel with her? “F” that!). But, no matter what she says or does, I only become more adament to stay the hell away from her. I’m the world’s most stubborn man.
*~ I AM the world’s most stubborn man! I even have a plaque stating it! ~*
Off-tangent Item:
There seems to be some celebrity here! There are three photographers here shooting photos of some woman and her gentleman friend. I’m assuming the woman is the celeb, as I am sure I’ve seen her “somewhere” before, I just can’t place where. I’m sure on TV though. I can say she seems genuinely a kind soul, and is very accommodating to the photographers.
Back to Reality… Oh ya, Luxifer is sitting next to me…
Yesterday, she sent food items to my house, even though she knows knows knows I do not want anything from her! I gave them to the house-boy, because I simply cannot accept anything from her. I felt that was better than just throwing it into the trash (It’s bad to waste food).
Part of me is fully aware she “cares” in her own demented, warped way, but it does not justify terrorizing people. She’s like bi-polar! One min she spewing out talk of how I am a evil man, because I do not listen to God (why? because all she says is directly from God, and so if I do not listen to her then I am, by the transverse property of mathematics, not listening to God). Then she “switches” and talks of “why do I avoid her?” as if she has NO CLUE why, as if I just woke up and decided to not talk to her for no reason! Then she “switches” again with anger and speaking in “tongues” (Christians in America, especially Baptists know what I mean) and telling me she is a prophet, and her name is no longer Luxi <Lastname>. But, now her name is Maria-name-name-name-name-Luxi <Lastname>. *~ That scared the shit out of me! ~*
OMG, now she trying to put her arm around me? *~ GET THE FUCK OFF ME! ~*
No, I did not “say” that, but my Grrrrr seemed to convey the meaning. Now we know what is next….. the “I’m sorry” My God. Now comes “The Tangerang office needs the sex worker photos, this is business Kak Rod…” I told her “Send me their address; I will mail the CD.”
BTW, I am told “Kak” means “Sister” not “Brother” Is this true? Then why the fuck does she keep calling me Kak Rod? My skin crawls everytime I hear her call me that. I want to get up and go, but the free wifi is just too damn adhesive.
She wants to use more of that horrid “Anointing Oil” to bless me. I respectfully decline. I should say, all of my replies (the very very few I do give) are very tactful, 5-word-or-less “no thanks” or “sorry, I’m not interested.” replies. I don’t want to feed the beast!
She rubs the oil in the palm of her hand, and is about to leave. She’s making several phone calls to whoever. She wants to shake hands as if “no hard feelings.” She really does think she is the smartest person on the Planet Earth, and all others are just idiots: She wants to contaminate me with an Anointing Oil handshake?
Actually there is so so so so so much to tell, but this is enough. My mind is getting full with this text, esp while reading of how O.J. is finally going to jail.
*~ What a combo: OJ and Luxifer, hahaha ~*
A question to the universe: How to get rid of stalkers? Some friends say “move!” others say “change your number!” Both of these ideas are quite disturbing actually. Some may say only do those if the stalker is violent. Well, my stalker IS violent.
*~ One day, maybe (but most likely not) I will tell you of her physical attack at my house, and prior to that, her throwing a full bottle of Jungle Juice at me, then pushing her elderly mom when the mom and sis were screaming “KikI, Stop It!”! ~*
In the past, I would reply her SMS and emails, in some hope of explaining to her that just because someone is not doing what “she” wants, does not mean they are acting childish. Oh, if you are not willing to talk to her, you are childish. Well, I say if a person is disrespectful to you, you then have the right to choose to not associate with that person. But, my attempts are quite insane, in a way. Why? Because I’ve tried explaining “over and over and over” how I feel and think, and only getting the same result, while hoping to get a new result.
That is the very definition of insanity: doing things in same way, while expecting a different outcome. So, I am taking a new approach to get that new result: I do not reply any communication. I do not reply any emails. Items she brings to my house are given to the houseboys to do with as they want. The ONLY thing I give is the photos, which I did shoot for the city of Tangerang, thus I respectfully give that CD of photos. The entire time she was here (maybe 20min now? I lost count) I’ve said only couple sentences to her. No matter how many time she put her scaly arm around me, or try to touch my arm, I simply move away slightly to show it is not welcome, and I just turn the music up higher.
Ah, she’s going to church. Wonderful. Amen, and God Bless! Go to Heaven! (pretty please?!?)
The Starbucks girls just brought me a free Oatmeal Raisin cookie. I guess she saw I needed it. As they were staring and watching this entire infiltration into my personal space *~ LOL ~*
Take care
Sick As A Dog
This was written Monday of last week. Actually, for the last several weeks, I’ve been very sick with various illnesses, quite amazing for me! I’m finally at a point where I feel ok to answer emails, etc etc etc. There are over 207 emails from people asking why no more blog posts (most of them 207 I’ve not even know or heard of before. wow, thxthx).
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had foot injury, a 104f (f, not Celsius, 105f=dead person) fever, elevated heart beat, pain everywhere, etc etc etc. Also a near drug over dose (of cos I was not close to dying, that would just be too damn convenient, yes?)
Anyway, I’m alive, so stop worrying about me pls (I’m not used to it).
As of Monday last week:
————
I’m at SOS clinic, writing this on my smartphone, and waiting for the nurse to stick holes in my arm for blood. I hate nurses. They’re just vampires! Ouch! One just stuck a thermometer in my ear while the others had me distracted! They attack in coordinated groups like wolves!
Let me tell you how I came to be here. Over the last few weeks, Ive had one illness after another. For a couple of weeks, I had terrible flu (I’m still clearing my throat and light coughing).
But, last week was another replay of my blood pressure skyrocketing to a point I get monstrous headache to the point even touching my hair hurts, followed by foot pain. My resting-rate pulse was hyper fast. I was sweating like a marathon runner, even after taking VERY COLD showers.
*~ Now i know i said ‘replay’ but this has only happened 2 other times in my life, so dont worry. ~*
Now, my ankle hurts even no true trauma occurred–uric acid maybe? Pain pain pain!
*~ Omg I hate hospital smell! ~*
When my ankle hurts, I compensate by walking on a different part of my foot. Now that area hurts too. Cryyy.
For two weeks i hid the pain from friends as they wold worry.
Friday, i got a med from a Guardian pharmacy. I normally need 2x the dosage to have any effect. What i forgot was, i bought the 2x strong pills, meaning I ended up taking 4x the dosage!
I bought the med, then sat at the krispy kreme. I got Snapple and downed 4x the dosage. Omg! I was Seeing things. I could not focus my vision, and i was very sure those women at guardian were staring at me (a side effect of the drug is paranoia).
I was waiting for the evil twin, while people stared at me as i tried to sit and act normal reading my Japanese manga, which i was holding upside down. The evil twin helped me to walk to her car and she drove me home. We got to my home at 425pm. At 430 in bed. I did not wake up until 6am the next day.
All I remembered was dreaming I was in a Beck video, Sexx Laws, and was in some costume dancing on stage alongside Beck: I was so cool!
After two message replies, i fell back asleep until 12noon omg.
*~ children, never do drugs! ~*
Now, my head is fine but my foot is half dead. So now I’m here.
Nurse #1 is staring at me as she takes my blood pressure reading. ‘Do you feel ok? Light headed? Dizzy? Not at all? Uhhh you should lay down in the emergency room….’ Oh great….
And here we are, after two blood samples taken, and now waiting to hear the results and what meds i need. I just want to know how many days from work i will get!
I’ve now been laying here in the emergency area for able one hour. They keep asking do I feel cold. I told them honestly I feel quite ok, and asked when i may expect some results from the test. They’re checking.
They didnt really want to know if i’m cold. They just checking if i’m awakes so they can exploit my carcass!
15 more minutes pass by. I cant help but to look around at all the gadgets: ekg, ‘the padles’, and such. Very cool to get to use such wonderful toys.
Another bunch of minutes go by. Finally the results! The doc said my blood samples do not match my body. I have normal everything (even cholesterol!). He would expect the blood to be from an athletic person hahahahahaha. But I have elevated iron in my body and my uric acid is nearly 3x higher than normal (thus the reoccurring foot issues!).
Ok, let me explain uric acid. It gets trapped in joints and become crystal. The crystals hurt like hell. even slightest touch will make u scream (and I do not scream, I get pissed and grown at all around me. My poor staff!!!!!!!).
Anyway, it’s so funny. When I was little, I was told I was anemic (low blood iron) and I was forced to eat iron-rich foods (esp that horrid creme of wheat…a food of torture!). Now I am told way too much iron, to the point it’s making uric acid. CRYYYYYY……
To Be Continued…
Now I’m waiting for my meds… I have to pee. This is a new location, the working bathroom is on the far side of that floor cryyyy. So must walk on hurt foot……pain pain pain
Now, I’m waiting for the bill…. They do not have their BCA card reader working, I must go back to the first floor, walk through that place to another bank to their ATM, then back up again cryyyyyy. pain pain pain
Best regards,
Rodney in Pain
Update: I’m 99% normal again. The doc and meds cost over 1.4million (omg, that is high as hell!). Will answer each email in the order I got them. Thanks for thinking of me. Jing, stop crying, and I love ur new blog.
Busy as Hell…
Hello Everyone,
I’m still alive! I’m quite sorry for the delay, but I’ve several projects at work that demand my attention, as well as 3 projects outside of work that are taking up time (this is a good thing!) At work, it is the typical Management stuff: budgets for 2009, high-level projects, etc etc. My personal life projects are are more interesting! Anyway, I started this blog at a cafe last night. Now, I’m finishing it at work, so I must rush LOL.
Personal Project #1 (the most important one!): “Hidden Realms” Photo Project
“Hidden Realms” is my current photographic project, that is taking me into the hidden places where people live in Jakarta. You’d be amazed and shocked at what I see when I head to and from work. This project is going to be massive! I’m having trouble with some of the planning. But, some of the pieces of the puzzle are in place: renting a car and driver (because some places are hard to get a taxi from).
I’m trying to brush up on my Bahasa Indonesia as well, as it’s really needed in these places, especially when people come out to see the strange black fat guy with a huge camera. Quite often, the very poor are worried I am with the government, and will have to soon move. I have to try very hard to reassure them I’m just there for “foto-foto aja” (photos only). I’m hoping to start shooting this project in October. I miss my camera VERY MUCH!
Personal Project #2: TheCafeConnoisesur.com
This site is dedicated to exploring and reviewing cafes (NOT restaurants) around the world. We will write reviews for new cafes, and give readers insights into the good and bad about the cafes we visit, complete with pictures, and ratings. After talking to some managers, I found I will also be able to offer some discounts on the site!
Why did I create this site? First, I love cafes. And, when I say ‘cafe’ I mean it. Cafes are NOT pubs or lounges! I am always trying to find new cafes to explore and enjoy. But, after googling till my fingers hurt for cafe reviews, I found there were no sites dedicated to them! The closest thing to a cafe review I found was mixed in with various restaurants. No site went into details about the things one looks for purely in a cafe, that are not also found in restaurants–they critiqued the cafes as if they were restaurants! This site will be dedicated purely to cafes from around the globe. We will recruit other cafe lovers with writing skills to write, based on our guidelines, about the cafes they visit.
Secondly, I created The Cafe Connoisseurs because, as a photographer who studies human behavior, I’ve found cafes play an integral role in daily life, much more so than your typical restaurant. Cafes are places people go to for a myriad of reasons! People use cafes to conduct business, to get to know someone one-on-one, to meet friends, or to be alone, while slowly enjoying a perfectly brewed cup of tea or coffee, or (if you are like me) creamy iced-blended chocolate.
I strongly feel cafes are an epicenter of humanity, were every type of person, with distinct reasons for being there, coexist. I’m writing this at one of my favorite cafes. If you were here, you’d see the wallflower girl sitting quietly in the corner with her book, the geek with his MacBook on the other side, a few people with a table covered in business papers in the middle, a girl and boy talking quietly with body language that says “I think I like this person”.
*~ Which am I? The Geek. LoL ~*
We will rate essentials that make or break one’s cafe experience, such as atmosphere, the quality and selection choices of foods and drinks, music, and quality of service.
The Cafe Connoisseur’s articles will also delve into less thought of topics, such as laptop-friendliness (avaliable power plugs, free WiFi?–these things are important) and bathroom cleasnsiness. Readers will also be able to write personal-experience comments and rate the cafes mentioned!
Believe me, after visiting dozens of cafes in 8 countries, I’ve learned all toilets are not created equal! Some of the nicest looking cafes have the most horrid bathrooms, and vice versa!
The site is registered and live, but with no reviews yet. Princess Blackstar, The Evil Twin’s sister, made a wonderful banner logo for the site, but she originally misspelled “connoisseur” (French words can be confusing at times hahaha). The spelling has been fixed, but I think I need to save the banner as “medium” quality, as it takes maybe 15 seconds for the banner to load (If you visit the site, wait 20 sec! hahaha). While the site colors and design are fine, overall, I can’t help but feel the overall theme is somewhat static and ordinary. I’m thinking a more “organic” style site is needed. So, I’m rolling up my sleeves and tapping my tech wizardry creative powers to creating a new design from scratch.
For now, The Evil Twin and I will continue to use the standard theme for that site. We hope to officially launch it soon, and register it with various search engines. Of course, we need some reviews to post, which lead to…
Personal Project #3: Cafe Exploration
It’s Ramadan, the fasting month. As Indonesia is mostly a Muslims, all food/drink places are virtually abandoned between 4:30AM and 6 PM (the hours of fasting). I want to visit cafes first in the day time (as it’s easier to find the addresses) then at night, to get a complete view of the places. I’ve a list of 17 cafes to explore, just in Jakarta alone. So, after Ramadan is over, I will go with various friends to new cafes. I can’t wait, because I really love new cafes!
It’s The Phone’s Fault! & Cool Things I Came Across This Week…
It’s The Phone’s Fault!
Hi!
I know I know… I broke my 3x a week rule for the blog! I’ve been busy! Partly because my cell phone (my Sony Ericsson P1i) has stopped syning data with my MacBook Pro entirely! I am constantly having to actually remember to go to meetings, and do tasks (things I never gave a thought to, as my beloved phone always reminded me of everything!). I’ve tried all I can think of. I’ve contact SonEr’s customer service, I’ve even wiped the phone clean of data, and reloaded ths software with the latest patches! NOTHING WORKS!
For the last month I’ve been suffering with this issue. I’ve been hunting for a new phone. Sure, people who know me know I want that sexy-ass iPhone 3G, but I don’t! I’ve found out some very very disturbing things about it (eg., Bluetooth will only work with headsets; you can’t transfer files or contacts etc! AND, you can get email withattachment, but you cannot “save” the attachments on the phone! STUPID!). I’m sure one day the iPhone will be “ready” for me, but today’s not that day! I will wait for the next iPhone release (maybe in a year or 1.5yrs–typical of Apple’s releases of upgraded hardware) to see. But for now, I need a phone, so I’ve done tons of research.
*~ Phone images are copyright of BoyGeniusReport.com ~*
I’ve narrowed my choices down to either the Blackberry Bold, or the Nokia E71: So, will my new phone be a Blackberry? Or (shudder…) will it be a Nokia? I need a phone that will be 100% Compatible with Mac! Now, the Blackberry Bold is hyper hot, and is a “business user’s dream machine,” but it lacks good web browsing, especially for FLASH websites (yes, I use my phone for EVERYTHING).
For Nokia, they just released a new QWERTY phone (I love QWERTY keyboard phones): the Nokia E71. This phone is seriously nicccceeeeee. See the pics, and go “wowwwwwww” in unison! Besides being the thinnest (just 10mm thick….uh 1cm hahaha), and smallest QWERTY smartphone, it has virtually every feature! 3G, WCDMA, WiFi, GPS, ABC, EFG, HIJkLMNOP… You get the idea. The battery life is insane: 10hrs talk time, 17days standby! (and that is with 3G turned on!…so batt will last EVEN LONGER with it off). The phone is sexy too….(yes, that is a requirement!). I should mention, the Blackberry Bold is one of the only two phones who can match the batt life (the other phone being the Nokia E90 Communicator, which I hate).
According to reviews, the Blackberry does email and message better than the E71, but the E71 does everything else bettter. Well duh! Blackberry and “business messaging” are synonyms! But, when I say “better” let me give u a visual. If the Blackberry is a 10 for email/messaging, then the E71 is an 9. But, if the E71 is better for others, such as true web browsing (flash, xhtml, etc), at 9.5, then the Blackberry is a 7 for those items. Also, given the E71 uses Sybian OS, there are thousands of 3rd party applications for it…For blackberry, you will be hard pressed to find even 20 apps. Hmmmm You see my delimma?
*~ I’m 95% sure I will get the Nokia ~*
Cool Things I came Across On the Internet
Anyway, I am reading more and more news on Digg (www.digg.com). I used to dislike the site, but more and more lately, I’ve been really “digging” it hahahaha (forgive the poor pun!). I found some interesting stories! Here are 5 stories that were either informative, cool, or just fun! Ok!
1.
“HK Man Has Sex With Steel Bench & Gets Penis Stuck” - enough said! Basically, he decided to masturbate with a park bench. When his “thing” swelled it was wider than the tiny hole. Since it was tight, blood could not escape, thus he was “stuck.” hahahahaha. The police and to cut the bench from the legs, then rush him, and the bench to the emergency room hahahahahaha.
2.
“Surprise: New iPhone comes loaded with photos of girl who made it” - this is so cool! The girl (she can’t be older than 16) who works in the Chinese factory that assembles and tests the iPhone evidently took photos of herself, at the factory! Am I wrong, do I see a PC in the factory that is making Mac products? Anyway, when the UK owner turned on his new phone, instead of the iPhone default wallpaper, he got a pic of her! hahaha. Click the story title to see other photos of her. She’s so happy and sweet! I really smile when I see her photos. I just hope she did not lose her job over it!
*~ Update: According to a spokesman from the Chinese factory, which makes the majority of iPhones and iPods sold around the world, She did not lose her job. The girl was shocked her photo was seen by so many and that she became so famous, as she had no idea her coworker (who shot the photos of her, as a test of the camera) forgot to delete the photos. But fame has a downside: lots of Internet weirdos iPhone users want to meet her! Some are even planning trips to the factory (can you say “scary” boys and girls?) ~*
3.
“Superman Franchise To Be Rebooted” - THANK YOU, GOD! Nonono..I am not a Superman hater. I love the Superman movies, EXCEPT THE LAST ONE: SUPERMAN RETURNS! I waited 20 years, TWENTY YEARS for that movie! I waited through 6 Batman, 4 Star Wars, 3 Matrix, 3 X-Men, and 6-Star Trek movies, to get my beloved Superman movie. And, what did I get? Disappointment! It was a horrid movie for a number of reasons. I am so glad DC and Warner Bros will “ignore that horrid movie was ever made”, fire the idiot director, fire that “new superman” and cast, and start from scratch: Similar to how Marvel did with Hulk. lol
4.
10 People with Unbelievable Health Conditions” - Such as the woman who is allergic to water, the man who can’t stop hiccuping, and the woman (pictured here) who has 200 orgasms a day (no joke!). For ‘Miss O.” she has a hyper sensitivity issue: vibrations (from almost anything, anywhere, on any body part) make her ummm…. you know. She cant even go to movies with loud Dolby speakers, as the vibrations make her… uh…ohhh ohhhhhhh uhhhhhhh ….. sorry. LOL
5. “Police Arrest Ninja Nerds Claiming To Target Drug Dealers” - (no picture: ninjas are never seen hahaha) This story is just stupid funny. It’s like they saw “Iron Monkey” and decided to do the same stuff!
Anyway, I will write more tomorrow night!
Mail Call…
This post will be very fast. I just wanted to answer more emails that I received:
Lisa Wrote: “Hi, Rodney. Do you still do humanitarian photography? “
Yes, I do! But with this new job, which is quite demanding, I onlyh can go on weekends, after planning it. I am starting a new project in the very near future!
Justin Wrote: “What do you think of the politics there?”
Hmm, That is a sensitive topic for Indonesia! I can say they believe in diversity for political parties. While America has two main parties, and a bunch of smaller ones which rarely are even herad of, Indonesia has like 30+ parties, and all the candidates really get heard from by the people. I think more mainstream parties in the USA would be a blessing.
Janice Wrote: “I heard Jakarta has many malls. Which do you like the least?”
Wow, that is an interesting spin. First, yes, there are tons of malls in this city. Back in Norfolk, VA, there were only 2 malls that I can remember (MacAuthor Mall, and Military Circle). Here, I can’t count them all, and each one here is hugeeeeeee in size. (MacAutorh was just barely 3 floors, with the 3rd having a food court and movie theatre hahaha, and Military Circle is 1 floor only!” If people from Norfolk came here, they’d be shocked. Taman Anggrek Mall, alone, would scare them due to its size and 8 floors, with a full-sized ice skating rink (plus dozens of other stores still) on the 3rd level! Second, of all the malls, I HATE Plaza Semangi! My friends all seem to like it. I hate it. It is like floor after floor of circles. Each floor is just a circle. I hate the place. I hate going there. I do not have a favorite mall yet.
Keiko Wrote: “You have been there over a year now. Do you feel comfortable there as non-typical American Bule?”
Hi, Most people here do not see me as American. To them, Americans are whites. When they see black guys, they tend to think Nigerian (even though my friends say blacks from Nigeria and black from the West look very diff, I do not see how though). Also, Bule is only used with whites. Indonesians will say it is for all foreigners, but from what I’ve seen, it is only used with Whites. The very word means “pale” (its origins are from the old days of the dutch, when Indonesians would jokingly call the Dutch “bule” cos they were pale skinned).
My experience here is that people in Indonesia tend to be more open to “dark” people than most other Asian countries. EX: In Bangkok, they will bend over backwards to smile and “thank you! thank you!” to whites, but for me, they ignore me until they hear my voice, then suddenly “oh, you are American! ” and I get “thank you!” (but not 2 thank yous hahahaha). I think Indonesia is similar: they treat me diff once they know where I am from, but even beforehand, they are not as rude as most other Asian countries. Maybe because Indonesians have “dark” skinned Indonesians here (in the East), they are more used to seeing dark people. I find that if you are poliet, and treat people in a fair way, you will be ok here.
Christi Wrote: “What food have you not tried yet, that you hear a lot about? Why have you not tried it yet?”
Gado-gado! I hear about Gado-gado so much and often, yet not tried it, because of the horrid description of it (horrid to me). It seems to be a mix of everything else, even chips! I also have not tried Durian yet, which is a real shame. I want to try both of these!
Ok, enough email for now. Please take care!
Get Your Own Damn Fries!
Why Why Why. “Why” is the question-word of the day.
The Evil Twin (who insists on feeding her cat despite the fact it keeps it alive with a shiny coat) and I were talking recently, when I saw some girl at a the food court keep reaching for the guy’s food, even when she had her own. It reminded me of something I am sure every guy can relate to, and wonder about. I have a question for women:
Why do women (in general) want the guy’s food, instead of buying her own, especially when he is perfectly willing to buy it for her? Let me give an example of an old McDonald’s commercial from the USA…
- McD Girl: “Hello, may I take your order please?”
- Guy: “Yeah, I’d like the Big Mac value meal, “go large”"
- Girl: “I’ll have the cheeseburger and medium coke, please.”
- Guy: “You don’t want fries? You can get the combo.”
- Girl: *big smile* “Oh, it’s ok, I’ll just have some of yours.”
- Guy: *looking perplexed* “Uh no. Those are my fries. I ordered the size I wanted. You can order fries for yourself.”
- Girl: “No, I will just have a few of yours. I not want a full order.”
- Guy: *voice starting to strain* “Nooooo, I want my fries. If you only want a few, just order the small size then. I want my fries!”
- McD Girl: *looking back and forth between them like it’s a tennis match*
- Girl: *more stern voice* “I’ll have some of his.”
- Guy: *pissed and grumbling*
And he is out of fries! WTF? Why do women do that!? And it happens for a lot of things: sodas, movie popcorn, you name it! Why do women declining their own yummy munchies, yet want part of the guy’s? Why must he go with fewer snacks, especially when he is perfectly willing to buy her some of her own?
Maybe this is selfish sounding to women, but I am sure EVERY guy out there knows what I am talking about. I can hear Adam now, talking to Eve:
*~ Give Me My Damn Rib Back! ~*
Yes yes yes, from the beginning of creation, women have been taking men’s stuff! Now we have one less rib to protect or sensitive innards! Ok, I’m just kidding on the Adam/Eve part, but you get my drift!
As for my circle of friends, The Evil Us’s, we tend to pool our munchies resources every time: We pass around buckets of popcorn, drinks, and Quickly Slush Ice drinks (always a new 3-flavor combo, to keep the others guessing) I always sneak into theaters. It is understood we share it all, and everyone contributes. But, for couples, it changes! It really seems to me women want some sort of proof she’s special, but denying the guy munchies!
If you notice, it never the opposite: where the guy intentionally under-orders, so he can eat hers on purpose. And I do not want to hear anything about “men are provider” bullshit, cos he wanted to buy her her own fries, which IS providing! He wanted to provide even MORE fries. This is a case of women purely wanting the guy to have less!
So, for every guy out there, who must fake a smile while she happily takes MANY MORE THAT JUST A FEW FRIES, I will say it for you:
*~ Women: Get Your Own Damn Fries! ~*
Thank you
Tommy Hilfiger, Apples and Lemons…
I love colognes. I have used a few over the years, from Calvin Klein’s Eternity to Aigner Black (my recent fav), and I still love them all, but decided to try something new. So, I got a very nice Hugo Boss, and a yummy Tommy Hilfiger scent! I will let The Evil Twin’s sister, Princess Blackstar, be the judge of these new ones.
Ok, enough about how I smell. I have a funny (maybe tragic, but funny) story to share. And it is a REAL true story! As you know, China and Hong Kong are known for their pirated items. For example, you may see a very cool Snoopy T-shirt, but when you get closer to it, it says “SHOOPY” instead, and the dog looks slightly “different.” This is a story about such a thing: A friend’s father is in China, and doing some shopping. He made a purchase, and is so happy he calls the his daughter…
- Dewi: “Hello?”
- Dad: “Hi! I got a new laptop!”
- Dewi: “Wow! That is great! What kind is it?”
- Dad: “It’s that popular one that you see a lot of in Jakarta, with that Apple logo”
- Dewi: “Wow, you got a MacBook! Can I have it?”
- Dad: “No way! It’s mine! I love how that apple glows. That full apple looks like a full moon glowing and….”
- Dewi: “Wait….. A full apple? Apple’s logo has a bite take out of its side! You must have bought a fake MacBook!”
*~ Wow wow wow ~*
Maybe the Logo looked like: 
instead of 
I wonder what the box looked like??? Anyway, the moral of the story is be careful what you buy!
S$1900 for iPhone 3G: Am I Stu-Stu-Stu-Stupid?…
Yensi and I had a super time in Singapore during my visit there! We went all over the place, including a new (to me) mall: Cathay. She really helped to keep me calm and cheered up there (see previous blog about being terminally ill in Changi Airport).
Anyway, before there, we went to tech-heaven: Sim Lim Square!
I wanted to see what the iPhone 3G was selling for and play with one to see how easy it is to write SMS messages on a touch screen. In the USA, it’s US$199 (8GB) and US$299 (16GB). Add about US$100 for the “unlocked” (non AT&T) ones. So, US$399 is great still.
There are many levels in Sim Lim Square. The first floor, and vendors near the first floor entrance are always the priciest shops. It’s ok to get their prices, but never immediately buy from them! Check the other shops, and play them against each other for the best prices! So, I go to the first shop I see on the first floor with mobile phones. I saw the yummy iPhone 3G box in the glass display, so I asked the price:
- Rod: Hi! Is that the new iPhone 3G? How much is it?”
- Blood Sucking Salesman: “S$1750″ He said this with such big, smug smile on his face that said “Yeah, and what you gonna do about it?”
- Rod: “What??? S$1750??? Why on Earth would anyone play so much, when it can be bought in America for just $399!?”
- BS: “Maybe you should buy it in America then and buy it.” *~ What!? !@#$@! It’s on now! ~*
- Rod: “For S$1000 I actually could fly to America and buy it!” *~ Smack-down, bitch! You’ve been served! ~*
- BS: “Uh, ummm, uhhh, uhhhhh….” Thinking of what to say… forget it…
Yensi and I went around the mall, various floors asking. The prices ranged from S$1650 to S$1900!
At an Apple dealer, we aske their price. They did not have it yet. Nor did SingTel. Ahhhhh, then I realized the iPhone is not officially released in Singapore, and those Sim Lim Blood Suckers thought they would ask incredible + S$1000 prices!
I want the iPhone, but Dang! I’ll just wait for it to be released! (I’ll prob have to order it: no telling how long it will be before Jakarta gets it hahaha).