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Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts

September Favorites!

September was a good month.  The Seoul Summer Olympics turned 26, I met a popular author, I finally got my hands on some stuff that I've been wanting for a long time, and yeah, it was generally a good month.

I liked so many things this month. I don't think I have a "dislike" even! Yay, positivity all around. But September was not so nice to my pockets. Well, that's my fault entirely but hey, these purchases happened during this month lol. It was package after package; so much that my brother began to question the amount of parcels I was getting. Some were free, from a survey service, and the rest were paid - on a discount, mind you.

It was rather easy to narrow down my favorites into 10. I mean, just look at my Instagram and you'll have a general idea. I try to mix things up but sometimes, I get into these phases. A friend commented one time that my Instagram page is rather bipolar, that she couldn't pinpoint any ONE interest to describe the whole collection. Hah!  Anyway, let's get started with the list:



1. The Outlander TV series on Starz.
I don't think I ever talked about this.  I'm relatively a new fan of the this whole 1700s Scotland and what came with it but my anticipation was just as great as the older lady fans. It is just so beautiful -- from the setting to the wonderful COSTUME (that got me inspired to crochet bigger projects) and of course, the casting.  Sam Heughan is exactly the Jamie I had in my head while Caitriona Balfe (I will steal your name!) is Claire.  SHE IS CLAIRE.  I never watched a TV show on the exact day/time of airing in quite some time and you will find me in one corner of my room, curled around my iPad as I watch the show on the Starz Plat app.  The #OutlanderWedding is EVERYTHING I could ever hope for. The TV show just went on hiatus and will be back on April 4.  (To those bitching about the 6-month wait, this is NOTHING to a Sherlock fan. And if you're worried that the show will lose its steam, you have no faith. I'm getting off my soapbox now.)

2. Voyager and Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. 

I'm seriously in love and lust with the book series.  I'm trying not to turn my book blog into a Jamie Fraser quote blog.  There are just so many lovely words uttered by this man (well, from the author but hey).  I'm currently reading the 5th one in the series, The Fiery Cross.  My "least favorite" so far is Dragonfly in Amber which is the 2nd one. It wasn't as good as the first one, Outlander, while the next ones were AH-MAZING.  These two are my favorites so far.  Yes, these books are crazy long and complex but if you loved the first one, you just have to continue. It's so easy to fall for these characters, not just Jamie and Claire. Fergus and Ian share a soft spot in my heart. And wee Germain and young Jamie (when he was still a bairn) and even Jemmy are getting there also.  I just can't get enough of these books. I still have three more to go on the main series; still not sure if I'm touching the Lord John ones though. Eventually. Maybe.  I don't know.  And I have a good number of them signed. And oh yeah, multiple copies of the first book.  Och!

3. The Maze Runner movie.
As I mentioned in my full review, I met James Dashner.  And I kind of agree with what he said that the movie is going to be better than the book.  I enjoyed it so much, I watched it twice in one weekend! In fact, this was the only movie that I've seen in a cinema since Guardians of the Galaxy.

 Speaking of GOTG...



4. Lee Pace.
He plays Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy, Thranduil in The Hobbit films, Calpernia Addams in the beautiful movie Soldier's Girl, the adorable Ned the Piemaker in Pushing Daisies... the list goes on!  This last month has been all about him.  I've been rewatching Pushing Daisies and how come they never make these kinds of show anymore? Sure it deals with death and depression but it's not dark like Criminal Minds (which I love, don't get me wrong) or some other procedural crime show. It's quirky and sweet and everyone on that show is quirky and sweet.

But I digress. Lee Pace is a wonderful talent. I got so excited when the official cast list for The Hobbit was released and saw his name as Thranduil. He's this big tall guy with intimidating eyebrows... just perfect for the Mad King, and Legolas' dad. His body of work is well-rounded (I forgive that one venture into the Twilight 'verse; at least he was HAWT in that) and I can't stop collecting them!   The bulk of my purchases this month had been towards the completion of his filmography. Money well spent.

5. Alpacasso plushies.

I blame my brother for this. Last summer, he was watching Summer Games Done Quick online, everyday, all day. I get home and find him watching that. I watched a couple of them, especially the one for Resident Evil 2.  In that broadcast, someone had an alpaca plushie.  I wanted one.  So I looked it up online and I just couldn't agree on the size for the price.

One day, I found a Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle store that carried this cute things!  OMG, they were not cheap but at least I had them in my hands.  (Honestly, I have no idea if they're originals but what the heck. I just want one!)  Now, this pink "kiddie" alpacasso resides on the edge of my bed "guarding" my stack of Outlander books.

From the absolutely cute to the absolutely gruesome...

6. Hannibal TV series on NBC.
First of all, I don't watch it on NBC as it airs. I'm kind of late to the party. I planned to watch this when it came out but hey, two season went by and only now am I jumping aboard.  Oh man, Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy! Thank Valar for European men! Mads' accent kills me, omg. And he has the whole dapper Viggo Mortensen vibe, both being Danish. The cases are as gory as they come, if not more. At least for primetime TV. I've finished the first season and am currently waiting for my season 2 DVD.

7. signed books and my Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook.
I admit, I've been neglecting my Kindle Fire HD lately. *sadface* I still like it but I'm just so madly in LOVE with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. I even use it to watch my shows and movies; something that I don't even like doing on the iPad. The reading experience is pretty much the same on both platforms but with the added bonus of being able to watch videos on the SGT4N as well as the freedom of the Google Play store, I currently prefer my newest baby. My two complaints are the 8gig built-in memory and the lack of cover art when the file/book is "side loaded" or uploaded to the external SD card. My Kindle Fire HD has 32 gigabytes of built-in memory and all the books have cover art whether they be mobi or pdf.

As for signed books... okay, I've been half-cheating and half- well, making an effort.  I have signed copies of Diana Gabaldon's Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and Written in My Own Heart's Blood. I also have one of Inside the Maze Runner. Two of them, I actually met the author and had them sign and personalize it for me - Maze Runner and MOBY.  The other two... I bought them signed. And on a discount! XD  As you can see in my alpacasso picture, my Outlander books are hardcover sized. Except my Drums of Autumn copy. The listing said "paperback" instead of "mass market paperback," the smaller form, so I assumed it was the trade paperback size. Turns out, it wasn't. It was the smaller one. But signed. No complaints here.

I got spoiled by it that I got The Fiery Cross signed too. I'm looking to get the next one signed as well but looking at my options, it's too expensive. Maybe I'll just buy a trade paperback with a different cover, other than that solid colored one.  (I swear, this post is not an Outlander love letter LOL.)

For the last three, we go to food.



8. "rummy bears".
Malibu coconut rum + gummy bears = RUMmy bears.  And they are so cute when fully saturated.  I need to make a new batch. It's just my brother and I who eat them so one pack lasts us for a good while. I have a nicely sized mason jar from the 626 Night Market to put my bears into. I have a pack of gummy worms waiting in the wings and half a bottle of Malibu so we'll see how well the worms take to it. ;-)

9. Brookside Dark Chocolate, Pomegranate.
It's pricey but one large bag will last you a while. Plus, I got mine from Target using that Cartwheel app; I got 5% off or something like that. This stuff is so addictive! A co-worker brought a smaller bag to work one day and we demolished that thing in 15 minutes flat.

 10. Kit-kat Green Tea flavor.
The most sought after flavor of all. And I have 2 1/2 bags of it waiting for me.  XD  It is as amazing as a lot of people are saying. An acquired taste for some but it's still soooo good.  Different, but good.

So those are my 10 favorites for the month of September. It was a very month for food and Outlander it seems! I wonder if any of these will carry over to October. ;-)
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I Am A Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook parent!

Boy, what a mouthful.  Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook.  SGT4N.  Clever, if you think about it.  It's a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 with Nook capabilities.  I will post a roughly full-ish review on my book blog soon.  I still have to play with it some more and use it for actual reading purposes.  But so far, as a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, it's fabulous!



There she is, fresh out of the box!  I bought it on the release day.  I didn't even know B&N was coming out with a new nook so when I saw this on my feed, I had to check it out.  Being a self-confessed "tablet addict", I just couldn't resist.  Mind you, I already have a Kindle Fire HD, an iPad 2, a Samsung S3, and the first generation nook (which now is officially my mother's).  And I've been dying to get my hands on a nook Color.  It's a good thing I forwent buying the iPad mini from Target for $199 and settled for this one, on a whim, for $179.

And after a four-tooth extraction, I needed something big to make myself feel better.  ;-)

Here she is dressed in her new owl friend:



I completed this case over the weekend and didn't sleep until I had the face on.  It's not perfect but I had a ton of fun doing it.  I'm getting into my crochet craze phase again, now that autumn is just around the corner.
Like I said, I still have to mess around with it some more and use it for reading.  The nook has been my first e-reader and while I'm currently using my Kindle Fire HD for reading (I'm almost done with The Strain), I'm glad I bought SGT4N.

Sincerely,
The Tablet Addict.
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I'm a PS Vita parent!

I don't remember the last time I played on a Playstation console.  I know it was the PSP but that didn't really appeal that much to me.  My brother then did stuff to it then it broke.  I don't even know where it is right now.  By the time the PS3 and PS4 came out, I wasn't that interested in video gaming anymore.

I like the PS1/PS2 era games.  My brother is the gamer between the two of us but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy watching him play.  I know backstories and gaming strategies of various Final Fantasy characters as well as a wikia post.  I can beat ten levels of Tekken 3 using Xiao Yu or Hwoarang... on easy. ;-)  I can level up the FF8 characters to a hundred on my own, GF boosts and all.  I can solve any Resident Evil or Silent Hill puzzles without the aid of a walkthrough.  So you see, I might not be the hardcore female gamer in your head but I'm definitely the best gaming companion.

I never really like other gaming platforms.  I have no interest in the XBox or handhelds like Nintendo DS. I do play The Sims on my laptop; at least I didn't have to by a Windows-operated device so I could make my own dream house. But my attention is piqued when I hear anything PlayStation.

When my brother mentioned the PS Vita, I admit, I wasn't that interested.  To me, it was just a pumped up PSP.  And it was sold out everywhere.  But when he told me that Final Fantasy X/X-2 and VIII are going to be available on that platform, I was SOLD.



Vita looks a bit rough in that picture but it is a beautiful thing.  Such a beautiful thing.

When we saw that the PS Vita was on sale on BestBuy.com for $199.99 that comes with a Borderlands 2 pack, I bought it on the spot.  I was at a friend's place at almost 2AM, trying to make the purchase on my phone.  It's a good thing that I did that because it was taken off the site again - sold out - that afternoon.

The afternoon that we got it, we explored the games available for download.  This time, we have no plans on hacking into the thing so we can play pirated games.  I am notorious for refusing to pay full price for many things but for the beloved PS games of my childhood... here, take my gil.  I know I have some zenny left over somewhere.

I legit screamed and held my heart when I saw the likes of Final Fantasy VIII, Breath of Fire 4, Parappa the Rapper, Final Fantasy IX, etc. on the game list.  Of course, I have to BUY them first but the fact that I don't need to purchase a separate TV to play them is just amazing.  (That's one other reason why other gaming consoles flew over my head... I don't have a TV.)  Today's games look so cool and compared to the pixelated little men but I still prefer non-talking emo Squall over the life-like Leon S. Kennedy.

Speaking of Squall Leonheart...



Thank you, Square Enix sale on the PS Network Store!  My brother and I walked away with FFVIII, FF Tactics: The War of Lions, Dissidia 012 [duodecim], and Front Mission 3.  I think we're all set for the rest of the year.
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I'm a Keurig parent!

And here's my baby Keurig Mini Plus in the color RED.  I got him from Bed Bath & Beyond.  And he came with all the bells and whistles!  I luff him.



Man, it took me a long time to decide on which Keurig system to purchase.  At first, I kind of wanted the usual ones with the water reservoir but I'm the only one who regularly drinks coffee in the house.  They're tea people and hot water usually comes via the microwave.  Even so, the big Keurigs are way out of my price point, considering the K-cups and whatnot.

So after researching and reading/watching reviews, I settled with this baby.  And I love it!
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End of 2013 Survey

I could not find an "End of 2014" survey that is not about books.  So I might as well use the one I filled up last year.  It should be interesting to compare answers.

What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Dyed my hair! And I'm keeping it red.  And KCON! 


Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made good with one: to start formally learning a foreign language.  I did that for roughly six months then I plan to continue on my own.  I've acquired a couple of books.  Especially next year... we're going to South Korea!
 
Did anyone close to you give birth?
I won't say "close" but some school friends had babies this year.

Did anyone close to you die?
Again, not close but some people that I knew.

What countries did you visit?
None.  I will remedy that in 2014.

What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A better-paying job.  Again.  But to be fair, my job in 2013 paid better than the one I had in 2012.  If it follows the pattern, I hope to get a better job in 2014 with all the benefits.

What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 2, 2013.  Not just because it's my brother's birthday.  It was the red carpet premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  I cannot gush about that event enough.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hmm... being able to have short but straight conversations in Korean. :)  It was a once-a-week, two hours per day class in a span of six months but I did okay in that short amount of time.

What was your biggest failure?
I try not to think of those.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
It seems that my voice is not going with me in 2014.  At least, it's going to be late.

What was the best thing you bought?
 The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey 5-disc extended DVD set.  This brings me so much joy.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Pope Francis, I guess.

Whose behavior made you appalled?
If I answer this truthfully, I'll get a lot of hate.  It's not a fandom thing... it's a real life thing for a change.  I guess I'll just keep that to myself.

Where did most of your money go?
DVDs.  Bath and Body Works.  Hot Topic.  Especially around the Black Friday weekend. And yeah, KCON.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug premiere.  I never saw this coming.  LOTR events were always either NYC or NZ.  Finally they have something for LA and I dropped everything just to be a part of it.  Twelve years is a long time to wait.  No more.

What song will always remind you of 2013?
2013 is more about movies for me.  I listened to the same bunch of songs and even the 2013 releases didn't stand out to me that much.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? Happier.
b) Thinner or fatter? About the same.
c) Richer or poorer? Richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I wrote more.  Even fan fiction.  Especially fan fiction. ;-)  And crochet.  My stash of yarn is growing faster than I can stitch.  The season for crocheted goods isn't that long.  And oh yeah, watch more movies.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
As always, spend.  But no regrets!
crocheted good season is not very long. 

How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it up at the Hollywood sign!

What was your favorite TV program?
Storage Wars.  I'm not even kidding. XD  I could watch HOURS of this show.  The original one, not the Texas spinoff.
 
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I actually scratched a name or two off that list this year.  Improvement!

What was the best book you read?
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card.  And I have to say, The Maze Runner by James Dashner.  Serena by Ron Rash is a contender but I didn't breeze through that as easily as the other two.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm still very much in my K-pop bubble but I'm slowly coming back to indie, folk-y music, thanks to Spotify.  Sophie Madeleine is one of those finds. 

What did you want and get?
An Amazon Kindle Fire HD!  Don't get me wrong, I love real books and my nook isn't bad.  But I really wanted a Kindle for the longest time.  I have Kindle apps on my phone and iPad but being the dedicated tech person that I am, I needed a separate Kindle.  And I fulfilled last year's answer to the next question, a new MacBook Pro!

What did you want and not get?
A new iPod.  Still debating whether to get the Touch with the camera on the back or the Classic.  Leaning more towards the Touch though.  It's an extra camera for events and whatnot.

What was your favourite film of this year?
I have a list.  In no particular order:
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
  • Pacific Rim
  • Catching Fire
  •  Thor: The Dark World
  • Gravity
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 and I was at work. I planned to go to NYC and watch Orlando Bloom in Romeo and Juliet but no dice.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Sweaters and boots.  I finally got one of those Converse boots.  And some very cute white Doc Marten-looking pair from Forever 21.

What kept you sane?
Fandom.  Lately, I cannot stop talking about either The Hunger Games and/or The Hobbit/LOTR.  And good books.  I've been using the hell out of my Kindle Fire HD since I got it and I'm lucky that my picks have been good ones.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Josh Hutcherson.  Shoot me.  He's younger than me but hot DAMN, when he's in Peeta mode.... he's hot as hell.  He's cute as himself too but add my automatic sympathy for Peeta, I can't handle it.  And yes, I have a pillowcase with his face on it.  Two of them.

What political issue stirred you the most?
That Napoles debacle in the Philippines.  Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago PWNED!

Who did you miss?
My dad.  And my brother.  It's times like this when I need someone to geek out with.

Who was the best new person you met?
Our red carpet premiere group is growing.  :)

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
Just have fun.  And acknowledge the signs.  -- ditto!

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
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내게 생일 선물!


I've been a Mac user for close to ten years.  I made the switch and never went back.  Using Windows computers is a necessary work hazard but I've been pretty faithful to Mac when it comes to my personal computer.  Although I prefer the Samsung S3 over the iPhone, nothing beats an Apple computer.

I've had my trusty Macbook White for almost seven years.  It began to show signs of wear a little over a year ago.  The OS was phased out and I could not use some newer apps because I need an OS update.  And if Safari itself bails on you, that means you need to do something with your OS.  But I didn't have enough memory to go from Tiger to Mountain Lion.  Yes, Tiger.  I had to find versions of some apps so they can work with the measly OSX 10.4.11.

Spotify was one of those apps that did NOT have a version that worked on 10.4.11.  I love Spotify.  LOVE. IT.  And it irked me that I have access to it at work but not at home where I needed it the most.  It almost made me want to opt for a cheaper Windows netbook just so I can download Spotify.  But no... I held out for another year until finally, I just gave in.

There came a point where I didn't even want to attempt using my old Macbook.  It was slow, it had no memory, and it was just old.  It was time for a change.

I admit that Spotify is one of the main reasons why I caved.  I wanted it so badly.  And also, the price.  Best Buy has the least expensive price point for Apple products right now.  Plus, it's my birthday month... since my NYC (and South Korea) trip is no longer happening, I want to do something special for my quarter life year.  Even if it meant crazy spending.
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