Life
Mobile Blogging with Keyboard
Hey, this makes mobile blogging a lot easier. I just picked up a Logitech K380 multi-device Bluetooth keyboard and paired it with my iPhone. Typing longer posts isn’t as difficult now that I don’t have to inaccurately peck away at the iPhone’s virtual keyboard.
The K380 feels pretty good. The key layout seems just a tad cramped, but that could be my imagination. I’m still more accurate typing on the K380 than tapping on-screen.
No wires since it’s Bluetooth connected, and this keyboard can pair with three devices. Need to try out my AppleTV to see what the experience is like. I probably won’t use this keyboard with my MacBook Air since what’s the purpose. But the keyboard is small-ish and light, so it’s easily transportable to make mobile blogging a better experience.
Hmm, I just noticed that the virtual keyboard no longer shows up in WordPress while I’m using the external K380.
Daisy Chaining DisplayPort Displays
Bye VGA, bye DVI. Got Dell UltraSharp U2515H displays that only have HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. But there’s this “weird” DisplayPort that wasn’t working for me…until I learned that it’s an ouput for DisplayPort, not an input. But why would a monitor need an output port? So you can daisy chain them.
Yup, I learned that monitors that support DisplayPort 1.2 can actually be daisy chained to each other and still work as independent displays. Of course, your graphics card has to be able to keep up, pushing out all them pixels. But wow, this is convenient and with less cable clutter on your computer, especially a laptop. But… for these UltraSharp U2515, you need to enable DisplayPort 1.2. By default, it’s disabled to the more commonly used version 1.1, indicating that daisy chaining isn’t a common consumer feature.
On the Mac front however, my older MacBook Air doesn’t support daisy chaining aka Multi-Stream Transport (MST). I kinda expected that from a mid-2012 computer, but my Air does flawlessly power the U2515’s 2560 x 1440 resolution via the ThunderBolt port that shares the same form factor as a miniDisplayPort (mDP). So yay!
Next, make a return to the MacBook Pro line…
Pokemon Go Bans Are Real
So you probably heard that Pokemon Go creator, Niantic Labs, is banning users from the popular game if they suspect you for violating the game terms. In other words, you’re cheating at the game. Commonly, this cheating takes the form of using an app or service that divulges the location of Pokemon. Instead of you hunting for them, these apps miraculously tell you where to find the pocket monsters instead. Convenient, yes. Allowed, no.
So I tried a popular Android app called Smart Poke 2. In the app’s description, the developers warn you about the possibility of being banned and even tell you to register another Pokemon Trainer account. Even though the results of the app weren’t great, sure enough, it happened. I got this email from Niantic.
What can I say but busted. So let me tell you that the threat is real, and it’s not worth it. These apps don’t work so well. On the other side though, the game is getting boring, wandering around catching Pidgeys, Rattatas, Spearows, and Weedles. The game has got to figure out a better way of tracking down Pokemon.
That’s Not Winning
Well, that was unexpected. At work, I came across a list of recent award recipients and posted the list of names on our company’s SharePoint-based intranet (like I typically do). The reaction to this list of winners though was not expected. Instead of an overall congratulatory spirit for the winners, there were questions about the visibility and ordering of the names of the winners.
If you’ve used SharePoint’s Summary View for Announcements, you know that it, by default, truncates body entries. I never bothered to find the exact amount of characters displayed before being truncated, but I do know that SharePoint does not indicate that there’s more content to see. So because of this behavior, the list of award winners was truncated in the Summary View, and people took offense of being “omitted. When in fact, if they viewed the entire announcement then they would have seen the complete list of winners. And really, this Summary View has been in place for years. So you would have noticed this truncating behavior well before this one post.
Also, I copied and pasted the list of winners verbatim. I don’t know how the names were ordered nor did I care since really they all won awards, no one better than the next award winner. But I guess that’s not the perception since I asked to alphabetize the list of winners.
As a group of winners from our department, I simply care about who was acknowledged with an award. It doesn’t matter if you’re the first name on the list or the last name on the list. You did well and was duly recogized.
So what’s the underlying message here? Obviously, it’s not about representing our department as a winning team. If being the third name on the list or the tenth name matters then that’s not winning.
Great Customer Support, Nike!
Wow, I was hopeful but uncertain. But sure enough, Nike pulled through with great customer service and support, approving my return of my Air Max Lunar1. Although two years old and technically right outside the defective products period, I had nothing to lose by trying a return.
Nike.com purchases: Flawed shoes, apparel and gear can be returned if manufactured less than two years ago.
After about a week of processing, I finally received notification that my return was accepted and fully refunded. I forget how I originally paid for my Lunar1 since part of my refund is on gift card. In any case, I’m more than satisfied, and both you and I know that this act will definitely make me buy another pair of Nikes very soon. Ooops, already did!
Never Seen a Black Sugar Manapua?!?
This took me completely by surprise. Today, as I was walking around the office while eating a black sugar manapua, I had two coworkers stop me and ask what that was. They only knew of the regular pork-filled manapua aka char siu bao and had never seen the black sugar variety.
What’s so surprising is that these coworkers were born and raised in Hawaii! I can’t imagine not coming across a black sugar manapua back in the day especially small kid time buying snacks from the local manapua man. They asked where I got it from (Chun Wah Kam), but I said that I’m pretty sure most manapua places sell them.
So… I did a quick black sugar check using Frolic Hawaii’s Top 5 Manapua list. Here’s what I found.
Number 5: Libby
During my youth, this is where I remember buying manapua for parties and occasions so guarantee they gotta have. Sure enough, Libby comes through with the black sugar.
Number 4: Char Hung Sut
How about this favorite in downtown? Black sugar bao at Char Hung Sut confirmed!
Number 3: Chun Wah Kam
Chun Wah Kam is where I picked up my regular and black sugar manapua but forgot to take a pic. 🙁
Number 2: Royal Kitchen
I admit I don’t recall ever going to Royal Kitchen, but I bet their baked version of the black sugar bun is ono.
Number 1: Sing Cheong Yuan
Another downtown location and another I don’t remember eating at. Their online site is inconclusive, but trusty Yelp says they get black sugar.
There you have it. Five popular manapua shops and all five sell black sugar manapua (or a variation).
The End Is Near!
The signs of the apocalypse are mounting. This past week, the stalwart escalators of Ala Moana, the “flat” ones near Macys, actually broke down. These were seemingly the most reliable set of escalators in the entire mall. I’ve even seen the newer ones near Nordstrom being repaired, but those flat ones just kept on running.
Another sign is the disapperance of the Hoy Hoy Trap a Roach. These popular and effective roach traps are not available in stores as the roaches reign in this hot and humid weather.
The end is near!!
The Curb Now in Kailua
Wow, the shakeup of small businesses in Kailua just doesn’t stop. Sadly, Island Yogurt is leaving the Windward neighborhood, but Bee & Tea from Chicago opened their first Hawaii store on the same Hekili Street. Also opening on Hekili is The Curb that’s “keeping it fresh, hot, and cool with intentional coffee.”
Now I don’t quite understand their tagline, but hey, I’ll try some coffe with intention. The Kailua location just opened on Wednesday, so they’re still working out some issues on their fourth business day. Umm, yeah, gotta get a trash can inside the store and also an area with napkins would be good. But that wall art is cool, and I do really dig the whale wallpaper.
Their menu is tight and focused, and I went with a nitro cold brew since I don’t know where else I can find this on the Windward side. I’ve never had the foaminess of a nitro, but it’s interesting. There’s a different feel to this drink and subtle flavor changes to this cold brew. I’m not sure if this drink is for me though.
Next time, I’ll go for an espresso drink and fill my Belly.
Bee & Tea Beckons the Age of Milk Tea in Kailua
So the Age of Froyo is done after a seven-year war. Following froyo is the Age of Milk Tea. Already popular in town, Kailua joins this era with the introduction of Bee & Tea. I won’t go into the store’s background and menu since you can read great coverage here and here.
Only open one week, the store was buzzing with patrons inhaling their boba-filled drinks.
Yeah, I’m no fan of boba or milk tea drinks, preferring my coffee, so I opted for a lemonade instead. But hey, that lemonade with lychee and mango was worth it! Refreshing with the sour bite offset by the sweet lychee and mango jelly. The jellies weren’t mushy either. They were firm, holding their shape, some even in the shape of little stars. Heck, as I neared the bottom of my drink, I got a spoon out to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
The Bee & Tea menu is kinda overwhelming with drinks alone. Milk tea, cold brew coffee, shakes, smoothies – there’s a lot to look through. Personally, I think they should forgo the coffee offerings since there are so many other coffee options in the area, even a few doors down with the opening of The Curb. There’s also bao served, and really, I don’t get it. I guess the bao is a complementary food item that is the savory to the drinks’ sweetness? I just don’t envision the crowds coming to Bee & Tea for bao. But then again, I’m terrible at predicting food wants.
I do have to go back and try one of the signature milk teas, but until then, here are some pictures of Bee & Tea Kailua.
You can also follow Bee & Tea Kailua on Instagram @beeandteakailua and Facebook.
Island Yogurt Kailua Closing
Went for some froyo today at Island Yogurt in Kailua only to see this sign.
While we don’t froyo often, Island Yogurt was our go to spot with a variety of flavors and convenient parking. They’ve been there for several years (well as Orange Tree originally) but the rent just got too high.
When the Froyo Wars started in 2009, I wondered who would make it and who wouldn’t. From the list of contenders, I honestly don’t know who’s left standing, but Yogurt Mama is still holding it down in Kailua.
The Age of Froyo is essentially done superceded by the Age of Milk Tea and the continued climb of coffee…
NYDC16 Observations
So what other nuances did I observe on the East Coast in DC and NYC?
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Well, I already mentioned that Five Guys Burgers and Fries is nothing new. Unlike Hawaii where lines were constantly long, there were no lines at many of the Five Guys we passed.
Jordan Retros and Nike Foamposites
While Nike Roshes were very popular in DC, what surprised me in New York was the number of retro Jordans and Foamposites that I saw. Retro Jordans were everywhere. Even cleaning crews at Grand Central rocked the Jordans. The Jordan 8, the Jordan 6, and the Jordan 4 were pretty popular.
Unique Apple Stores
I only saw one Apple Store in DC, the one in Georgetown. On the outside and immediate interior, this location was similar to other Apple Stores. But in the back, there’s this spartan, sunlit area that’s distinctive compared to the rest of the store.
However, in New York, Apple Stores seem to have their own unique identity. I mentioned the Grand Central location that is part of the station.
While riding the bus, I got to see the glass cube at Fifth Avenue and then later, the glass corner of the Upper West Side. On the way to the MET, we passed the classic architecture of the Upper East Side. Each has its own wow factor.
Apple Pay Is Expanding
Seemingly there’s a push for businesses to adopt Apple Pay. Many vendors had signs promoting the use of Apple Pay. Levain Bakery is one of those…that I used twice.
White Earbuds
Back in the day when Apple introduced the game-changing iPod with white earbuds, who knew that the color white would be so distinguishable. Years later, white earbuds are still popular as seen on a sampling of subway riders.
Squirrels Are Aggressive
Some squirrels have gotten too accustomed to people and are even aggressive when looking for food. I thought this guy was going to launch himself at us and our food.
Police Are Everywhere
In both DC and NYC, the police are everywhere and everywhere else. There’s a sprinkling of military personnel also. The amount of security in Grand Central was kinda surreal with armed police or guards at entrances and patrolling the area.
With all that people and all there is to do at all hours in the city that never sleeps, I tip my hat to the NYPD.
Vineyard Vines
So apparently Vineyard Vines is a thing on the East Coast. Their clothes are just too bright and preppy for me, but this trucker hat on clearance beckoned to me. I doubt this brand could make it in Hawaii.
