Posts Tagged ‘opinion’

My ideal laptop

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , ,
21 December 2009
0
sturdy
long battery life

operates

fast with lots of programs

large screen
loud sound
webcamI nearly

I nearly broke my charger yet again yesterday, when I tripped on the cord at a very bad angle.  It’s got me thinking that I’d really like to just get a new computer rather than consider charger #4.  However, my computer is in pretty good shape and it’s a pity to get rid of it.  At first I was looking at some of those websites that pay you for a used laptop, but then I remembered all my relatives in China who’d love to have a nice and (relatively new) computer like this one!  Sometimes I forget how lucky I am, with access to the latest electronics and the funding to afford the ones I want.  The past two or three cameras I’ve had were all taken back to China after I broke them, fixed up, and given to a relative to use.  Same thing goes for my first laptop.  Seems like I tend to replace my electronics when my clumsy hands break them.

Dell laptop

Maybe I'll go back to my roots with a Dell.

So, though I’m not yet in the market for a new laptop, I do anticipate a new in the next year.  That got me thinking about the qualities that I need in the perfect one…  It would need to be sturdy to stand up to the abuse I put it through, occasionally dropping it, usually holding it precariously, and often stretching it to its limit.  I’d need a long battery life because I tend to use it heavily and if I am ever away from an outlet, I need to still be able to survive!  I’d also want it to operate very well with multiple programs running – I tend to have 10-30 tabs open in my browser at any given point, with some flash programs going, my instant messaging platform, a picture viewer and uploader, music player, and some documents I’m working on.  It needs to multitask like I do!  It also needs to be able to store my huge collection of pictures, videos, music, and documents, as well as support my myriad of programs.

HP Pavilion laptop

Being the brand-loyal kind of person I am, I'll probably opt for another HP.

What else?  I’m a huge fan of large screens and both my laptops have had wide screens.  I need really good speakers because I’d like to be able to hear things from afar and sometimes I think I’m a little hard of hearing.  There’d also need to be a built-in webcam for those days when Panda and I are not together and I need to see him on screen to be at ease.  It should also have a keyboard that can stand up to minor spillage and crumbs so I don’t have to worry replacing that.  And I think that they all come with wi-fi standard now, so that shouldn’t be a problem (but would definitely have to be a feature).  It’s also nice to have a CD-RW and DVD-RW drive, in case I ever need it (which isn’t that often).  Finally, I must have a card-reading slot so I don’t need to worry about cables to get pictures off of my camera.

As for things I haven’t had yet, I’d like bluetooth in this next one.  Not crucial, but a fun feature to have.  I have a remote for controlling media on this one, but I hardly used it, so that’s just a perk if it’s there.  Oh, and I’d like a long battery life without the really bulky battery that sticks out.  I like the angle it puts my keyboard at, but I don’t like how it doesn’t fit well into things.  Plus it’s suuuper heavy, so a lighter computer would be nice.  And that just about sums it up!  I’m sure when I start looking at features now in laptops, I’ll find a few more things I’d like to have.

The real reason for a mailbox

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: , ,
20 December 2009
0

Look at all the wonderful things I’ve received in the mail!  If it weren’t for that, I’d say do away with snail mail (though getting a handwritten letter is nice, but who does that anymore?).

free mock phone sock, mobile sock

My free Mock came via AirMail! Fits my phone perfectly. 🙂

apple card

A card, all shiny and new and what can it hold?

apple itunes gift card

Why, a gift card I won worth $25!

Brand loyalty

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , ,
19 December 2009
0

dog, loyaltyI am a brand loyal type of gal.  There are definitely certain brands that I prefer and remain loyal to, whether or not they are the best product/service out there.  I believe this stems from my loyal nature in general.  I’m certainly very loyal to my friends, my schools, even the places I’ve lived.  I do what I can to be on their side and defend them against differing opinions.  The same goes for products I use – it seems that part of why I learn so much about them is so I can explain them to the ignorant or the skeptics.  And when my beloved brands are in trouble, I’m fretting along with them, hoping they’ll survive and giving them as much business as I can manage (like today at the Mongolian Grill place, where I even left a tip).

I have pretty strong convictions about the Asian food I eat.  In fact,I can think of exactly what brand of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, shrimp crackers, fish sticks, and saqima I always go for.  I’m a little less picky with my American brands (food or not) and there tend to be one or two major ones of each category that I like.  I’ve stuck to mostly one store for clothes, one bank for checking and two for savings, two brands for computers, one for shampoo, one for toothpaste… you get the idea.

cattle getting branded

Yikes, not that type of branding!

I’m fascinated by branding and what motivates me stick with the brands that I end up choosing.  Once I go for one, it’s really hard for me to switch to something else.  It’s kind of like when I go to a restaurant and choose an item on the menu, the next time I go I’m likely to order the same thing, no matter how hard I try to force myself to get a different dish.  Much of it is because I have expectations the next time I go and no other dish satisfies what I was craving quite like that original one.  And that’s exactly why I wanted to eat at that particular restaurant in the first place: because I was in the mood for that dish I had there.  So similarly I wonder if perhaps I stick with my brands because I expect something very particular from them and I know that I won’t be disappointed.  Though other brands might be better in other areas, those aren’t the areas I value as much.

Yes, now that seems like a reasonable explanation.  But how do they get me in the first place?  I know there’s a certain aesthetic appeal, as well as practicality/functionality.  Sometimes a logo can really make or break it for me.  That first impression tells me a lot:

Is the company innovative and advancing?

Is the company fresh, hip, and cool or too stodgy?

Did they put enough effort into the logo for me to trust that they’d put enough effort into their product/service too?

Does the branding reflect what their company is about or are there mixed messages?

And so images that are too boring, not eye-catching, or memorable are often thrown out pretty quickly.  Names and color schemes have a similar effect, but don’t affect me quite as strongly.  The ones I’m drawn to are also judged based on usefulness and ease of use to determine the ultimate choice.  Oftentimes it’s quite a hard decision, especially when it comes to technology.  With all the new ones coming out, it’s hard to choose which company to go with.  At least in the other arenas, things don’t move quite at that breakneck speed and I’ve settled pretty comfortably into a brand I love.

Ultimately, I think it comes down to which ones can grab my attention, then give me a good enough experience to not want to try somewhere else.

Mortality

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , ,
16 December 2009
0

Facing our mortality is probably the most difficult thing for people to deal with.  We all know it’s inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any easier.  It’s even worse when you’re dying at an unnaturally fast rate because your body isn’t functioning the way it should to maintain your health.  (I don’t believe in saying because you’re dying because, well, we all are, in a way.)  The younger you are, the further thoughts of death are from your mind, until a tragedy strikes that reminds us all that we aren’t as immune to death as feel we are in youth.  Diseases that strike in children are more horrifying because we feel they didn’t get a fair chance at life.  Then there are others that are borderline, if not outright torturous.

Imagine what it would be like to be in Charles Sabine’s shoes: you know that the most likely cause of your death will be a deadly and incurable disease, Huntington’s.  On one extreme, you could fear the oncoming suffering and death and let it take over your life.  Day to day, you wonder when it’s going to start taking over.  And when it does, you worry yourself more with how quickly it will overcome you.  On the other hand, you could take advantage of every moment and go do the things you’d always put off.  You can embrace every experience and truly start living and being, not letting it consume you.  There’s nothing quite like a brush with death or knowing you have a disease that will kill you to get people to make some drastic changes to their lives.

Last night my mom told to be careful when I’m driving and be particularly wary of big rigs.  After all, it’s pretty obvious that my little car counts for nothing against one of those.  It turns out she said this because one of our family friend’s daughters had somehow collided against one hard enough to spin her car around 180 degrees so that she was facing oncoming traffic.  Perhaps she passed out or she somehow didn’t get her foot off the gas in time – either way, she was hit by an oncoming car and did not survive the impact.  It makes me wonder how it must feel to die without ever know it was coming, or have it come so fast that you hadn’t even really registered what was going on.  Is a life suddenly taken more tragic than one slowly robbed by debilitating disease?  It’s hard to say.

On one end is death by disease that you can anticipate and on the other end is death by accident that comes on suddenly.  Neither is very pleasant, but it happens all the time and it’s always a reminder of how fragile life can be.  I’d call these unnatural deaths, but technically diseases are a thing of nature, are they not?  To me, untimely deaths are ones in which you die before your parents.  There’s a saying in Chinese about how white-haired people should not ever have to bury black-haired people (aka parents shouldn’t have to live to see the day their children die).  I think that’s a pretty widely-accepted belief in cultures around the world.

Stories like those make me think about my own life and how it will end.  Of course I imagine and assume that I will reach a decently old age and have at least two generations of progeny for it really becomes more of a reality, but you never know.  I guess I don’t really think about it because it’s a scary prospect to have my life cut short so early, before I can do all the things I want to do in this world.  Besides, it’s not really something I can control, so worrying about it all the time won’t do me much good.  But I do think it’s good for us to keep in touch with our own mortalities, if it creates the motivation to do more with our lives.  And perhaps one of the best ways to respect life is to live it, truly.

I am blessed with good health and good luck, and I plan on making every bit of that work for me.  I’m going to leave an indelible mark on this world, so long as I can live out the course of a “normal” lifespan.  Even if I don’t, at least I’ll have been working towards it.

Loose socks

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , ,
08 December 2009
0

ankle socksIt’s one of my greatest pet peeves.  Well, first of all I don’t like socks.  I only use them when I have to because if you don’t with sneakers, they get nasty.  Second of all, when I do have to wear them, they must be ankle socks.  And perhaps that is where my problem lies.  Those little things don’t get much clinging space when trying to hang on to your ankle without succumbing to gravity and friction.  With wear, they inevitably get loose and then start to droop off my feet until I find them in a little scrunched ball at my toes.  Hardly protecting my feet anymore!

What I need is ankle socks made from material that can stretch as needed, yet never get too stretched out.  Those don’t seem to exist.  When they’re new, they’re fine, but with use, socks get useless pretty quickly.  I also don’t like them too thick, so the sturdier ones are out of the running.  Guess I’m stuck with what I have now.  Why do I have to be so picky about my feet?

Innovation overkill?

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , ,
06 December 2009
0

web 2.0These days I’ve just been bombarded with new sites for every imaginable aspect of web 2.0.  Many are overlapping in services, which makes it hard for me to figure out what I should actually try.  As I found a few days ago, I’m actually quite an early adopter, though I never considered myself that before.  I never realized that all the sites I’ve started to use are so new and foreign to most of my friends.  I have discovered that I’ve been using sites that many of them have never heard of and that most of them don’t have accounts on.  When I share them with friends, the ones I like best I often convey in such a way that they want to join too.  This ranges from Baseloop to Google Wave to Swagbucks.  There are so many choices out there that I don’t know what to use anymore.

facebook logoflickr logopicasa logoLet’s take sharing pictures, for example.  There’s Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, and many more that focus more on printing photos.  Facebook is useful because you can tag your friends and use the existing social network to share your photos.  Flickr is good to share your stuff with the world and make your pictures show up on image searches.  Picasa has a fun face recognition algorithm that allows you to have people pre-tagged whenever you upload new pictures.  Those people are also linked to your Google contacts, so if you already use one of the other Google services (Gmail, Voice, Wave), you can use existing contacts to tag, much like Facebook.  So when you want to share pictures, where do you go?!

google wave logoNow let’s say you want to plan an event.  Facebook comes in as a contender once again, as does Google with its new Wave.  Then there’s the up-and-coming Baseloop fully intended to cater to this need.  For Facebook, the edge in this area is once again the existing network you have on there.  Most of my friends are on there and I can easily invite them (or one of my groups) to an event I create.  Wave’s biggest setback at the moment is the lack of people using it.  I’ve finally got more than 5 people on there, but it’s still a long ways to be able to invite all of my friends to something through Wave.  I do like how you can embed a map of the location, include the weather for that day, and other nifty features that would be useful.  baseloopFinally, Baseloop caters to both events for your friends and more public events.  What I like best about them is they allow you to suggest things to do and they show you a public calendar of events going on in your area.  That way, if you’ve wanted to do something but could never seem to find the people to do it with, you can put it out there for all your friends (and even random people) to see.  Much easier than e-mailing or messaging all my friends just to see if they’re interested in a particular activity.  You can also quickly see what things there might be to do on a Saturday night when you’re bored and want to go have some fun.  But of course, few people are on it now, so when I invite friends, they’d need to set up an account.  So which of these is best for event-planning?

Similar issues arise for just choosing a social network.  There’s Facebook, Baseloop, Plaxo, Brazen Careerist, Ning, MySpace, Hi5…  Then for blogging or micro-blogging there’s WordPress, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, Livejournal, Xanga, Plurk…  Even video posting and interaction has a wide selection with YouTube, Vimeo, Tokbox, Stroome, Nurphy…  Plus search engines, like Google, Yahoo, Bing (ok technically a “decision engine,” but you get the idea), Ask, Swagbucks, Goodsearch…  Let’s not even get into the online shopping sites, mapping and direction sites, online game sites, dating sites, etc.!

Aaaah!  It’s overwhelming and there are still more sites like this popping up ALL THE TIME.  I suppose that’s what happens when it’s relatively easy for people to start online businesses.  You have little startup cost beyond the website itself and whatever you need to do to create and maintain it.  The only physical stuff you really need is computers and computing power.  Beyond that, it’s all your programming skills, creativity, and customer service put to the test.

Zen moments

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , ,
01 December 2009
0

Sometimes when you just need a bit of peace, the most eclectic set of activities can be the ones that are soothing and therapeutic.  They all involve a certain amount of solitude, but have little else in common.  Some require heavy thinking whereas others let your mind wander; some are more physically demanding while others are more mentally-challenging.

planting small plant into rich soilTake gardening, for example.  It’s one of those activities that doesn’t require much thinking, but can be more physical as you forge a bond with nature.  You can escape from the harsh noises in our lives and get a little closer to the life around you.  It’s refreshing because it’s a change from the typical daily grind and it gives our eyes a rest from the artificial lights that tend to surround us.  Growing up in the Midwest, I particularly love wandering around gardens or getting a little dirty because of the connection I get with Mother Nature.  It’s fascinating to observe some of the plants that surround us, since most of us barely glance at them as we rush by.  Taking the time to breath in the fresh air being produced by the plants, discovering some of the insects that cohabit with them, and really getting to understand where we came from is a great way to de-stress.

cool art and craft project of paper loops formed into star shape

Making things can be so satisfying.
photo credit


Arts and crafts are also a great way to let yourself go mentally (for the most part).  Once you learn the basic pattern or technique to your chosen activity, you quickly learn to automate most of the process.  You are then free to express yourself creatively through the designs that you make on the surface of your choice, whether it’s a piece of cloth or a block of wood.  When your hands are busy, your mind is free to wander with fewer inhibitions and conversations can flow more readily.  Even when you’re not speaking, it’s not an awkward silence because everyone is focused on the task at hand.  What a lovely way to pass the time by with friends, family, or even complete strangers.

Another thing I find really comforting is studying in a library.  When you enter a place like that, there’s a certain level of silence with just whispers of sound coming from the movements of others studying alongside you.  It’s kind of nice to be in such an academic setting, with everyone around you working so hard that it helps you focus too.  I find that I need to be at peace to a certain extent before I have the patience to sit down and pore over my work diligently.  The good thing is, you can really get on a roll and get a lot done when your focus is just right!

On the opposite end, when you get into the right rhythm for a sport, it’s truly a marvelous feeling.  Runner’s high isn’t something restricted only to that sport; in fact, I’d venture to say each athlete can reach a point where the physical exertion of their body is in such peace and harmony that they’ve reached that state of flow.  When you’ve hit the ball just right, moved your body perfectly, and attained something you never had before, there’s not much that can beat that feeling.  The feeling that it’s just right.

grocery shopping in the drinks aisle with tons of colors and choices

See how fun it is?


Finally, I’ve always found grocery shopping to be a pleasing outing.  Food always makes me happy and it’s the one thing that I won’t fuss over prices for.  I like to buy what I want to eat when I want it.  So, purchasing food is great for me because it means I get to satisfy my taste buds and stomach with whatever catches my eye.  Since I don’t often go with a long list and usually only have an item or two I intend to get for sure, it’s a leisurely stroll through the aisles for me as I peruse the choices and reach out to whatever captures my fancy.

So, what’s the activity that gives you your peace of mind?

Listless

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , , ,
27 November 2009
2

I’m frustrated.

job searchThis bad economy has made it very difficult for me to find a job and I’m starting to get impatient.  Here I am, at 5 (well, now nearly 8 that I’m posting this…) in the morning, still not sleeping because I’m so angst-filled I can’t.  I can only stare at job listings for so many hours a day, day in and day out, before it all becomes a blur and what I want becomes too similar to what’s out there.  Let’s not even get into the pain of sorting through the legitimate stuff and the sketchy postings.  My parents keep telling me to just get a job first and then worry about getting one I actually want.  However, I just can’t do that.  I can loosen my desired fields and responsibilities, but I am not going apply for every single job I am close to qualified for.  I’d just end up doing something I won’t care about to want to get up in the morning.  Plus, no matter how temporary, it’d be a job I’d have to stick with for a couple of months at the least.

I have this terrible fear that if I get started in a position that is too whatever-focused, I’m going to end up doing that for far too long for me to be happy.  Not that I need to be happy all the time, of course.  Right now the thought of the whole job hunt makes me cringe, but I do it because I need to support myself.  I’d love a job that’s a little bit of this and that, touching on many of my interests.  I don’t want to get restricted to just one area.  Am I being too short-sighted?  I’d love to get into some of the areas I’ve worked in, but I also don’t want to drown in them.  Also, it’d be great to work for a non-profit, but I will need to learn how a for-profit works.  Everything I do now I’d hope would be useful for me in the future as an entrepreneur.  And sure, all of the above would be great for that, but what I really want is something in the green space and/or at UCLA.  (That’s not all that I’m applying for, of course.)

I don’t really know why I am so stubborn, however I have applied for plenty of jobs that may not fit the bill of what I want perfectly, but would be something I care about enough to work hard at and have enough experience in to make a real contribution.  Unfortunately, I’m not exactly hearing back yet.  I have experience in a lot of areas, but not extensive in any particular area.  I wonder if that’s hurting me.  It’s also extremely difficult to figure what exactly is an entry-level job!  The job I really wanted I lost out to someone who’s been working for 3-5 years, I believe.  With all these people who have anywhere from 1 to 5 years edge on me, how do I leverage myself?  The competition these days is harsh and I am always up against people with more/better experience.

On the bright side, I’m going to speak with the boss at my internship next week to go over what I want to learn while I’m there and what I want to do in terms of work.  Perhaps she’ll have some useful suggestions in mind.  I just wish she could have leads too.  I had an evaluation with my manager before she left last week and she gave me great feedback.  I also hear a lot of good words from the boss.  All of that’s great, but I need it to work for me in terms of landing a full-time position somewhere.  I can only work for free for so long.  In fact, it’s already been too long and I am itching to have benefits so I can finally get my teeth checked, buy new contacts, and perhaps even get a physical.  I also can’t wait to not have to ask my parents to help me out.  I’m ready to be fully self-sufficient!

But of course, all this comes at the price of finding a job I can enjoy (at least most of the time), be qualified for, and contribute to in a meaningful way.  It’s not fair to a company to pretend I love the position to land the job only to leave them as soon as I can get another one I truly want.  I just worry that there are too many positions I’ve dismissed because I couldn’t imagine myself doing those tasks for 40 hours a week.  Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad I imagine to focus on something that is not my strongest interest.  Guess we’ll see as I continue this (seemingly) endless struggle.

Stuffing yourself? Think again.

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , ,
26 November 2009
0

I wasn’t going to write a Thanksgiving-themed entry since the holiday hardly felt like one and I don’t like holidays dictating my writing, but I happen to want to write about something that is somewhat related.

Can you fit under that?

Can you fit under that?

As I was driving home yesterday (stuck in afternoon traffic that I’d all but forgotten about until right before I was planning on leaving), there were these big rigs that were right next to me (and nicely blocking the sunlight for me!).  I could see under the one directly to my left to the one in the lane next to it and I almost felt as if my car could fit under them.  That got me thinking about whether or not someone can lay down on the ground and fit under the lower parts of the vehicle (particularly where the wheels are and under the head).

I recalled hearing about someone who jumped in front of an oncoming subway and pushed the person down there onto the ground.  The two of them made it out unscathed because the subway car was high enough on the tracks that they could fit underneath.  Or maybe it way just one guy or maybe it was under a train.  Either way, you get the idea, right?  Well, I was thinking of this in terms of those big rigs and it looked shady.  The lowest part looks too far down for anyone to not get caught and dragged along.

Next Thanksgiving, spare a turkey!

Next Thanksgiving, spare a turkey!

Well, it suddenly occurred to me that I was thinking of someone my size.  What of fat people?  I hope that this is not too insensitive, but obese people would definitely not fit under any of these vehicles!  Sooo it goes to reason that if you are extremely overweight and one day need to save your own life by fitting underneath a subway, train, or big rig… well, you’re screwed.  Hence, all those people who stuffed themselves full tonight should think again before fattening themselves.  Who knows, you might just need to save yourself from getting run over and that extra inch around your waist could make the difference.

And there is my Turkey Day entry.  😛

Baring all on Facebook

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , ,
22 November 2009
0

facebookI came across an article today detailing the dangers of giving too much away on Facebook.  People are forced to make a choice between sharing whatever they want with their friends and not “friending” anyone at work or being very cautious of what they share on their accounts and allowing people from their company to view their profile.  To a certain extent, I can understand why it is important to be more reserved and not let your wildest personal moments leak into your professional life.  However, I think some companies have taken things too far and are basically stalking their employees.  Are we not allowed a mistake here and there?  A fun day/night/weekend out with our friends?

One of the unfortunate side effects of being involved in social media is that sometimes people get to know you too much.  Whereas previously what you do on your own time rarely made it back to the office, now people don’t need to run into you to find out what you’ve been up to.  Plus, since we list our professional affiliations on our profiles, we are judged much more harshly for what we do, since it also reflects upon the company we work for.  It’s human nature to see one bad instance and suddenly discredit the person entirely, or even the organization(s) they belong to.  And so, corporations begin to crack down on this to prevent their name from being tainted by an individual within.

I’ve always struggled with how much to share.  I innately want to share much more than I probably should at times, but hiding aspects of my life just feels fake to me.  I don’t want to go around living some sort of secret, underground existence!  I don’t do things I’d be ashamed of and though I may not always do things I could tell my parents, I never do something I couldn’t tell my friends.  Some people in the world may be too uptight to appreciate some of the fun I have, but should I limit myself just because of them?  Am I not allowed to participate in silly things like Undie Run?  Am I not allowed to express my femininity in a photo shoot?  My actions aren’t always G-rated, but they’re PG-13 (which is probably the best you’re going to get from young adults!).  That’s pretty mild, yet I still feel unsure sometimes about how older generations will view me from a single picture they may have seen.

I would hope that any employer who stalks me on Facebook would be realistic enough to understand that the two or three times a year I do something unconventional do not define who I am.  I mean, I don’t curse, don’t drink, don’t smoke, and don’t even have a coffee/caffeine dependency!  If I’ve got the discipline to maintain that despite everything that’s going around me, certainly I can be trusted to have some responsible fun occasionally.  In the future when I’m running my own venture, I’d want to have a culture that accepts the alter-egos people sometimes have on their own time.  I saw a company that gives two “I just didn’t want to get out of bed” days to their employees annually because they recognize that sometimes you may not have a family emergency or be sick enough to get a day off, but you really need one anyway.  Now there’s a company that understands that employees are people!

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