Twinkini - Twitter for Windows Mobile

Still trying to figure out this Twitter thing (and its redundancy with Facebook status update) but I've actually found some value in it: I follow the tweets from sites such as Dell Outlet, JetBlue, Amazon, and FatWallet to get in on Twitter only deals. Also, now that I've upgraded to a Windows Mobile smartphone (HTC Touch Pro), I looked for programs that I can use on the phone to access the tweets in real time. Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I installed Twinkini, and it seems to be a great solution. Better than the free Twitter apps on my iPod Touch.

New HTPC Setup

I've been wanting to get rid of the crappy Time Warner cable HD DVR that I've had for a while and also be able to record and burn HD shows. The cable HD DVR had several issues - it froze too much, it missed recordings, it was extremely limited in capacity, and there was no way for me to extract and save the recordings. I looked at getting a TiVo HD but I balked at the high equipment fees and the recurring monthly charge. I also looked into swapping my cable DVR out for a higher capacity one, unfortunately Time Warner didn't offer such a thing. Since the cable HD DVR rental fee and my basic cable service cost $35 per month, I also explored the possibility of cutting out cable and watching over-the-air (OTA) and online programming as well. So in the end, I decided to go with a home-theater PC (HTPC) solution.

My four year old Athlon 64, while still plenty useful, just couldn't cut it when viewing HD shows. The single core processor and limited video card couldn't handle the 720p and 1080p HD streams. So I had to get a new PC. Fortunately, we also needed a new PC for HD video editing purposes. So I looked around and eventually found a refurbished one from Dell Outlet. The system that I found, a Dell Studio Slim, featured an Intel Quad Core processor at 2.33 GHz, 6 GB DDR2 RAM, 1 TB hard drive, a Blu Ray burner, and a 256 MB ATI Radeon HD video card with HDMI, which can handle 1080p. All for $640 shipped after 15% coupon. To make it a full fledged HTPC, I also needed to purchase a TV tuner. After much research, I ended up getting a Silicondust HD Homerun ATSC/ClearQAM external network dual tuner. I installed this on my network to the cable coax connection for ClearQAM, and installed a HD antenna for OTA programming. For the PC, I ditched the Windows Vista installed on it and clean installed Windows 7 Ultimate, beta build 7068. Why beta? Well, I've been test driving Windows 7 for several months and I am convinced that this is the best OS Microsoft ever made. It is extremely stable (even in beta form), doesn't use up a lot of resources, and Windows Media Center has integrated support for ClearQAM.

The last step was pairing the HTPC to an extender in the living room. I already had a device for that, and it is the Xbox 360. So that part was easy. The best thing about the Xbox 360 is the built in Netflix streaming support, so it was an added bonus to the media center.

Now, I have a setup that can tune in to free OTA uncompressed HD channels, tune it to free ClearQAM unencrypted cable channels (example, I get Showtime HD for free), can record up to 100 hours of HD, can access online video services such as Hulu, and can stream from Netflix. Plus, it can also burn the recordings to DVD and play our music, videos, and show our pictures, and can also play Blu Ray movies. The added bonus is that it is also a full-fledged PC that we can use for HD video editing, web browsing, and other uses. We are also utilizing the Xbox 360 for things other than games. All for only $10 per month. Goodbye crappy cable company DVR!

2 Years Old

Lucas is two years old today! He has grown up so fast. The little guy is now putting together 3-4 words and sometimes can speak a sentence. He talks a lot! For example, he says things like "garbage truck pick up trash." He likes to figure out how stuff are put together by screwing and unscrewing things. He may become an engineer like his grandparents one day! Here are some pictures from this evening with a red velvet cupcake from Charmed Cupcakes. Happy 2nd Birthday Lucas!

Cambodia and Thailand

We recently returned from our two week trip to Cambodia and Thailand and it was absolutely fantastic. We traveled with both grandmothers and it we thoroughly enjoyed spending the two weeks with them. We had a very full itinerary as we took a total of 10 different airplanes in this trip! At first we hesitated taking this vacation because we don't know how Lucas will react to the very long flight and to the 15 hour time change. Overall, he did pretty well, with the inbound flight being the most difficult because he was uncomfortable sleeping on our laps. He adjusted to the time change quickly though. I will break down our trip in five phases. Our pictures of Cambodia here, and our pictures of Thailand here.

Phase I: Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The day after we landed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we drove 5 hours to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor Wat temple complex. Cambodia is a third world country, make no mistake about that, but according to Lediya the country is improving. Roads are paved (albeit still choked with traffic in some places) and more people are able to own some sort of transportation (a motor scooter is by far the most numerous type of vehicle). The road trip was a great opportunity to see the small towns and villages that exist along the main highway. We checked in to the Sofitel Royal Angkor hotel in the afternoon and they promptly greeted us with a cold drink, flowers, and cold facial towels. We had a suite and the grandmas were situated next door to us. Lucas enjoyed the large pool that evening. The next day, we toured the magnificent temple complex. The pass cost $40 for three days. First stop was Angkor Wat. I was just astonished at how beautiful the 1,000 year old temple was. I was simply taken aback, and I was impressed with the apsara carvings. We spent a couple of hours there, and moved on the the Bayon. The Bayon is a temple with over 200 faces carved on the rock. Lucas loved touching the nose of one of the facial sculptures there. The next day, we visited the massive Angkor Thom (Terrace of the Elephants) and the jungle temple of Ta Prohm. It was at Ta Prohm that the first Tomb Raider movie was filmed as the temple being swallowed by the banyan trees provided a great backdrop. At Angkor Thom I could just imagine the Angkor king assembling his troops and elephants. On our third day we drove 2 hours to the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen. It was at Phnom Kulen that the Angkor civilization was born. The road up here was paved, but it was riddled with large potholes that made the drive difficult (thank goodness for the van and the driver!). Lucas and I took a dip under the cool waterfalls, and for lunch we rented a hut overlooking the river and ordered food from the local restaurant (wild boar with veggies, freshly grilled chicken, and stir fried vegetables). After lunch we drove a short distance upriver to see carvings under the water. We then returned to Angkor and checked out Banteay Srei, which is another temple ruin. This one was my favorite though as the carvings were incredibly detailed. The site was also excellently restored. After the long day we enjoyed a nice dinner and made our way back to Phnom Penh the next day.

Phase II: Bangkok, Thailand

The 1 hour flight on Bangkok Airways was short but very impressive in a couple of ways - they served us a hot meal, and they also provided free use of their lounge (with free food and Internet!). The Bangkok airport was huge and modern, it took us a while to get to the pick up area from our arrival gate. Again, we had the use of a driver and a luxury van so that made it easy as Bangkok is also choked with traffic. It was also hot there, so we limited our sightseeing on the first day. The driver took us on a driving tour of Bangkok after lunch, and because traffic was so bad everyone ended up taking a nap in the van except me! We also went to the Paragon Mall which is probably the most impressive mall I have been in. The mall has several different floors for different shopping experiences, and it also has a full grocery store and an aquarium (like Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach). Food in Thailand is inexpensive and we happily grabbed snacks and treats whenever we can (we especially enjoyed the nori flavored Lay's potato chips). As for lodging, we were able to stay at a family friend's condo located in the center of the city. On our second day, we toured the Grand Royal Palace and Wat Phra Keow, known for it's emerald (jade) Buddha. There were a lot of tourists there and it was also very hot and humid, so we didn't really stay for too long. We also toured Wat Arun and Wat Pho (where the large reclining Buddha resides). I enjoyed Wat Arun because it afforded great views of the city and it was also cooler there as it was situated next to the river. Before dinner, we headed over to the bazaar to get some shopping done (tip: go with a Thai speaking person if possible, because foreigners are charged higher). For dinner we headed over to a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant where the kitchen is at the outside of the restaurant facing the street. Very good food though. For dessert we hit the streets - we had shaved ice with fruit preserves.

Phase III: Chiang Mai, Thailand

After Bangkok, we flew to the northern capital of Chiang Mai for a change of pace. The mountain city is known for its food, culture, and a different atmosphere from the big city. Since we arrived there in the morning we had a chance to get some sightseeing in. We drove up to Doi Suthep mountain and temple, where we enjoyed local children performing traditional song and dance. We also paid our respects at the temple by ringing the bells and had ice cream there. After the temple we drove to the Hmong village to buy hand made crafts. We also visited the local orchid farm and butterfly sanctuary. In the evening we went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar to buy some souvenirs. We also had chocolate and banana roti for 30 baht. The next day we spent a couple of hours at the Mae Sa Elephant Camp. Lucas helped feed the elephants bananas and sugarcane. The elephants then were given a bath by their handlers, and then played soccer, threw darts, and incredibly, painted a painting! My mom was so impressed that she bought two of the paintings, one of a flower pot and the other of a bonzai tree. After the camp we drove to the hot springs where we boiled quail eggs (that Lucas ate) and swam at the mineral pool while the grandmas had a foot massage. For dinner we went to an upscale Chinese restaurant owned by a famous Thai singer from Chiang Mai. It was possibly the best meal we had there, topped off by coconut ice cream.

Phase IV: Koh Samui, Thailand

The 3 hour travel time to Koh Samui, Thailand was concluded by an impressive airport on the island. The open air airport served as a prelude to our wonderful time there. We stayed at the Santiburi Resort Golf and Spa. Upon arrival, as with the Sofitel, we were greeted with a cold drink made from flowers and cold towels. Our 2 bedroom condo had two flat panel TVs, free Internet, use of beach slippers, an impressive array of bath products, and king sized beds. The resort is situated right on the beach in Mae Nam, on the north shore of the island. While the sand is a bit rough, the water was calm, clear, and warm. The hotel breakfast was top notch, as well as the service of the staff. Lucas enjoyed the large pool but he enjoyed the sand and beach even more. The best part was snacking on a freshly grilled corn on the cob sold by the walking vendors on the beach. Our second day was spent touring around the island, as it only takes an hour to get around it. We drove to the Big Buddha temple on Big Buddha beach, featuring a very large Buddha. We also drove by Bophut Fisherman's Village, Chaweng Beach, and Lamai. It was at Lamai that we toured the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks, which is known for its "unique" rock formations.

Phase V: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After Koh Samui we flew back to Phnom Penh for the last portion of our trip. The one full day we had there we toured the National Museum, where a lot of the pieces from Angkor Wat are kept. We also visited the Royal Palace and the impressive Silver Pagoda, where the floor is made up entirely of silver and there is a emerald (jade) buddha similar to the one is Thailand. There is also a buddha made of gold and a thousand diamonds.tr We had lunch with Lediya's cousin Sandy and her husband Eric, both French nationals that moved to Phnom Penh to teach English. For dinner we drove to the north bank of the river to a local riverside restaurant that served excellent barbecue beef sticks and soup. The next day, we flew back home to Los Angeles.

Mammoth

We are currently spending the holiday weekend here in Mammoth Lakes. We took the two grandmas with us. We also went to sled and play on the snow with Lucas today. Check out the pictures here.

Tomorrow Lediya and I will go snowboarding!

2008 Year in Review

2008 was another great year for us because it was very fun watching Lucas grow up from a baby to a little boy. He is like a sponge, wanting to learn about anything. Anyway, here are some highlights of 2008:

Best book: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Runner up: Power Play by Joseph Finder

Best movie: The Dark Knight
Runner up: Slumdog Millionaire

Best video game: Call of Duty 4
Runner up: Gears of War 2

Best techie purchase: Asus EeePC 1000H netbook
Runner up: Nikon D60 D-SLR

Best deal of the year: Sprint SERO cell phone plan ($30 per month for 450 min, unlimited Internet, unlimited text)
Runner up: 24" HP 1080p LCD monitor with HDMI for $199 (regularly $499)

Best finance deal of the year: Saved nearly $700 from the eBay/Microsoft Live cashback promotion (30% cashback on eBay purchases)
Runner up: Made $1,900 this year from credit card cashback rewards and selling on eBay and craigslist.

Best travel experience: Staying at the $2,000 per night Lowell Hotel at the Upper East Side in Manhattan, New York City
Runner up: Hanging out at Chrissy Field, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our family and friends. May 2009 bring you the best of luck and happiness!