My iPhone headphones bit the dust around 2 weeks back and I finally broke down and got a new pair.  When I was at the Apple Store I picked up a replacement set and noticing that they were $30 (oh thank you for the markup Hawaii). Feeling uneasy about spending that much for the basic pair I wandered over to the higher end stuff to see what was there. After browsing a bit I chose to get the Altec Lansing BackBeat plus mobile model. I knew Altec Lansing was a good company for speakers having had a set in the past so I was confident with the quality. So I got them and went outside to try them out.

And WOW

The sound was 10x better than the iPhone headphones. The custom earpieces make them fit nicely in my ear. The noise cancelling and bass were incredible. I had forgotten that a lot of my music had bass haha. They cost me $50 but it is worth it for the sound quality.

I also decided to sit down and put a lot of music back in my iTunes library and put together some nice playlists.  It makes listening much more enjoyable putting grouping of music I like together. And it is helping me focus while I work better too. Noise Cancelling Rocks by the way. No more listening to my loud neighbors for a while.

Altec Lansing BackBeat plus mobile

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆~ (4/5)

So yesterday my computer finally told me that I needed to upgrade. Before I had been running Windows 7 RC with much joy. Yet as of March first though Win7 RC would regularly reboot as its way of saying “Upgrade Me!!!!

I was slightly tentative to do so though. As a student money is usually tight so I couldn’t see myself spending $300+ for the OS. I know there were student deals with other versions of the OS but I prefer the Ultimate version as it gives me the most flexibility in my opinion. Luckily as I was wondering my schools bookstore I found it. Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for $90. I jumped for joy, yet was worried as it was the Upgrade version. Having read that you couldn’t go upgrade from RC to Full I scoured the web for answers.  I new Lifehacker linked to how editing a file in the disk would make it possible but that wasn’t appealing. Then I found a nice work around.

So I was able to upgrade successfully. *FFVII Victory tune*

I was then presented with something I had not truly expected, that being, I had a fresh install meaning I was free of much of the bloat I had before.  In the process of which I installed steam.

I had installed Steam before but it was buggy (I think it was Win7 Beta’s fault not Steam’s) but I thought I’d give it a go. I was impressed by the lineup. I expected just a bunch of indie games but it seems that most mainstream games are there too. I was really pumped as in between writing, school, work, and sleep I was feeling the itch to game a little. The problem was that I lacked one of the present generation systems and a TV.

With Steam though I’ve found a lot of the games available.

But now I feel myself pausing again. Mainly being I don’t know how the PC versions fair against their console cousins. I’ve read reviews on such ports like Force Unleashed but I can’t tell that if there really is a problem with the PC version of if it’s just a bunch of console fanboys bitching.

I hope I’ll be able to weed out the crap and get solid answers cause I feel this is a great alternative.

Oh and my system feels so much faster it’s great.

It’s been over a week since I started wearing my Vibram Five Fingers so I thought I should post a little review.

I have to say that they are by far some of the best shoes I’ve worn. It’s kind of fun walking around in them. I feel a bit like a Hobbit, Halfling, or Grass Runner depending on which terminology you go by. They do what they say.　I feel more when I’m walking now also my stride and step both feel different. The KSOs do a good job of keeping stuff out though it doesn’t help for when I put my foot in with particles on my foot like kitty litter. I still get weird looks from people as toed shoes aren’t common but I don’t mind. They’re comfortable.

I think I will get a pair of the classics as they’re an easier casual shoe but I’ll hold off until I head back to the mainland for that.

I give the Vibram Five Finger KSO’s

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆½ (4.5/5)

For Valentines day my girlfriend and I along with another friend swam out to the Mokulele islands.  Located off the shore of Lanikai in Kailua about 1500m away give or take. It was both a very tiring and rewarding activity. In all it took about 3 hours as we wandered around on the island for a bit. Was a great way to spend the day I think. Muscles feel like a good workout. I’m exhausted but its a good exhaustion. Definitely good stress reliever.

We only went to one of the islands that was out there as we weren’t entirely sure whether or not we were allowed on the second island or not. Also the waves would have made it pretty rough. The kayak tours were also a challenge. The people didn’t know how to control their craft and they nearly ran into us as we approached the shore.

Afterward we went to the mall to pick out a few more items for St. Patrick’s Day. Never can have enough green after all.

Oh and it was on this day Caeser was told he would die.

I’ve been interested in these newfangled Vibram Five Fingers since Lifehacker’s article on them last summer and I finally broke down and got a pair today. It was stumbling across the  blog birthday shoes and a discussion on the Lanikai Pillbox hike with someone who actually was wearing a pair that was the last push. I got a pair of the black KSO model. KSO stands for “Keep Stuff Out” as the foot is fully covered so no stones or whatnot will get in.

Got them at the Wheatgrass store in Kaimuki. The owner was a good guy and helped me get the right size since they’re fit differently than normal shoes. Wore them out of the store and wearing them in the coffee shop as I write.  It pretty cool. I feel a lot more than with shoes and my feet are still protected. Will take some getting used to but I look forward to it.

Will write a full review after I wear them for a few days.

Today was a day of relaxation before I sit down and get started on school work. Been watching some old episodes of Robotech on hulu. Still a classic.

Doing laundry today as well. The apartment was getting a little out of hand so I picked up all the clothes and am doing two loads. It’s nice to see the floor again.

Been tinkering around with the blog too. Added some new plugins for widgets and have a really cool login screen as well. Seems like this thing is finally starting to get some personality.

Nah it’s not raining it’s actually pretty nice outside. But I’m listening to some rain ambient noise care of http://www.rainymood.com/

It’s both relaxing and allows my brain to focus on things.

And I’ve found the lounge in the campus center to be fairly comfortable.

I guess I mentioned tonight to my gaming group that I was going to be moving back to the mainland in June.  Kinda weird as it hit me how much of a nomad I am never staying in one place too long.

It kind of makes me wonder (worry?) how it will be when I finally put down roots and stay in one place.

I know it’s been a long time since I last did this but I really need to keep up with it as having a regular writing outlet is very useful.

While I love my parents, having them here was both fun yet stressful. I believe I found out the cause of why my teeth were hurting too. Apparently according to my girlfriend I had been grinding my teeth when I slept.

I’m going to work on updating this page finally to be fresh and good. I’m also linking it to my twitter account so even if there aren’t posts some information gets out.

That’s all.

I’m moving on in a number of matters at the moment.  I don’t mean that I have leaving what has happened behind but rather that I see that I am stuck.  I realized that I was stuck in the current situation not 2 hours ago, in fact this might be a instant revelation.  But that would be a lie I guess.  I actually feel like I’m starting to take steps backward.

This isn’t a bad thing though.  I think I’m moving back towards the more confident attitude that I held in the past.  In the past…oh..8 or 9 years I think I’ve encountered stages where I enact a great shift in myself from a “nervous follower” to a “confident leader.”  This has been the case before and I think its when I become comfortable with both myself and my surroundings.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane shall we?  I think the first point in which I made a change was when I was a leader back in EYG workcamp.  I actually took on a role and was recognized by both my peers and councelors as someone who could take control.  I remember being told “I was surprised with the Don I saw this past week.  You took control with projects, completed them all while looking out for your teammates.  You really impressed me.”  This made me realize that I finally came into myself for the first time.

The next two times occured while at OU.  First was at the end of my first year and begining of my second with the recreation of the anime club.  I was almost followling along through most of it putting in my ideas of what would be good, but never taking a true leading position (even though I was going to be VP).  It was the following year in which I took control at the beginning and started the path that JCON has take.  I am not saying that I am the cause for JCON today. BUT! All you fuckers who which to say different, I was the reason that the club became registered and had to deal with losing a President (while I was to be VP thereby becoming Pres.) and a Tresurer all in the same year.  I don’t hold ill will towards either of those guys, honestly.  I consider both my friends.  but man that was a pain in the ass to deal with but I succeeded.  The second occurence in college would probably be my last year after returning from Chubu.  I was different and I think it was seen in those around me.  I joined OUGA and became the treasurer and became sociable in numerous groups.

The stage before this would have to be my 2nd year in Iwate.  Jason and I seriously became a major focal point for activities there.  There wasn’t a good party out there that we weren’t either part of or had organized. haha.  I may be exaggerating a bit for my own ego but it still was a success.

I think I’ve started to find my place now.  I feel like I’m someone who has valid point to say and is a colleague to those around me.

I think what triggered this was actually purchasing some hair product from the store this evening.  It’s the same stuff I used in Japan and I think that’s why it has affected me.  It almost feels like a complete circle in how I’m returning to familiar things (product, games, otaku) but making it so much more than a weird part of me and into a successful presentation.

I think I have my position fairly clear to me now and I just have to fill in the details in between the goals.

hmmm.  Lets start that then, here and now.

1. Return to Japan summer 2009 for fieldwork.

• Received $2000 Graduate Fellowship
• Contacting housing service in Japan for a room for July and August
• swindle money from parents
• Apply for more funding

And now I sleep.