I try KonMari method

I spent this past weekend cleaning out my room in accordance to the KonMari method. I tossed away anything that I haven't used in the past year, and for things of sentiment/ornament, I kept only those that "sparked joy." Following those restrictions led to quite the production, as I literally spent the entire Saturday sorting and collating, resulting in 10 trash-bag full of junk. My closet has never been so barren yet utterly organized. 

You know how you never realize how much stuff you've accumulated until you need to move? The KonMari method does the same thing, only this time instead of moving the stuff to a new place, much of the stuff is headed for the trash-bin. Of the 10 trash-bags I threw out, three was clothing, which is amazing because I've always thought I skew towards the frugal side when it comes to clothing allowances. Turns out even someone like me who seldom buy clothes can still end up with three bags worth of items not worn in the past 12 months. 

Packing for travel will be much easier, because nearly all the clothing I now own can fit inside the 29-inch roller bag. 

A room that's gone through the KonMari tidying method is absolutely transformative. When I woke up on Sunday morning after laboring all day Saturday, there was a strangeness to the room that I've never felt before. It had the impression of the halfway point between my room of old and a freshly-cleaned hotel room. It was a new strange, but it felt instantly comfortable and inviting. Everything single item within the room, without reservation, elicited a positive interaction/reaction, and for me that's the ultimate magic of KonMari method. 

Henceforth I shall be much more deliberate in keeping things that don't make me happy away from my room. 

Spending over 1K for a phone

Did I just spend $1,200 on a phone?!

That was the my first thought as I clicked the last of many buttons to finalize my preorder for the iPhone X. I was not quick enough to be allocated a unit on launch day, rather relegated to a two to three week post-launch window. It would be wonderful if the phone would arrive before I am to take my trip to Taipei on the 18th.

Indeed the modern smartphone has become an indispensable device, the one piece of technology we interact with most by a significant margin. The devices themselves have become increasingly powerful and versatile, able to perform tasks done on a Mac or PC most people would otherwise use. With these criteria I can certainly make a solid case for spending over a grand on the iPhone X: the return on "investment" is absolutely assured.

But it still feels kind of dirty.

Justify it as I can and may, the iPhone X remains a glamour and status device, one that I ultimately I can do without - because I've already got an iPhone 7 Plus. The Apple phone of last year still performs flawlessly, and with 128GB of space I'm not likely to run out anytime soon (the 256GB model I bought of the iPhone X is complete overkill). The smart decision would be to pocket the $1,200 and continue to make the remaining payments on the 7P. Alas, if I were run on purely smart decisions I'd be a much more financially endowed man today. 

As with most trends started by Apple, the thousand dollar smartphone will be the new-normal by next year. Just you wait, my Samsung toting compatriots: your time for agony and shame in spending such absurd money on a phone will arrive soon enough. 

iPhone X preorder

Happy new iPhone preorders eve! On 12AM pacific standard time tomorrow, preorders for the iPhone X goes live. I've got everything setup and ready to go. Apple makes it surprisingly easy for those of us in the iPhone Upgrade Program. I'm already pre-approved for the new lease and have selected the particular model I want (256GB in silver). All I have to do come midnight is open the app and click the link at the top. 

There's plenty of talk - as usual - about how little initial supply there will be of the iPhone X. Certainly there's reason to believe it when you look at the phone itself: first time Apple has gone with OLED displays, and ditching the Touch ID sensor with an entirely new fascial recognition Face ID system. It's highly complicated, and one wouldn't fault Apple for having difficulties producing its usual quantities. Speculations abound that supply will be so tight that one would consider himself lucky if he gets an iPhone X this side of New Years 2018.

I'm of the opinion that supplies of the iPhone X will be no worse than any other year; for the past two years I've gotten new iPhones on launch day no issues. Apple is launching the new phone simultaneously in 55 countries, which leads me to believe they are confident demand can be met. Otherwise wouldn't you think they'd restrict to far fewer countries at launch?

Nevertheless, god speed, fellow iPhone X preorder people. It's the most wonderful time of the year. 

I'm not upgrading to the A7RIII

Sony announced today the third generation A7R full-frame camera, of which I currently own and enjoy the second generation. Before reading all the details, ill thoughts came to mind at the prospect of shelling out money needlessly to upgrade to the new model - as one does. It was to much relief then when I read the A7RIII has the same incredible sensor as the A7RII, with only a few crucial improvements at the periphery. My wallet shall remain closed and my mind at ease. 

I probably should allocate that money towards the vaunted 70-200mm G Master lens anyways. 

I remain thoroughly impressed with Sony's continued innovation in regards to their professional mirrorless cameras. In 2011 I bought its first incarnation the NEX-5, a marvelous camera that fit an APS-C sensor into a camera body the size of a regular point-and-shoot. I was able to get DSLR quality photographs in a package that fits in my pants pocket. The tremendous increase in portability allowed me to start a 365 project without having to always lug the Canon 7D kit around.

The Sony NEX-5 belongs in the imaginary photography hall of fame. 

So does the first Sony A7. Replicating the formula perfected in the NEX lineup, Sony stuffed a full-frame sensor into the smallest possible body. Depending on the lens choice, one can literally have a 35mm camera in the palm of their hand. Lightness of kit is so important to travel photographers, and I dare say Sony have revolutionize the industry in that regard. A Hasselblad X1D owes its existence to Sony's trend setting.

And let's not forget the original A7R ushering in high-megapixel counts into the mainstream.

I'm proud to be a Sony shooter, having switched over completely from Canon last year. The company continues to add features and release new products at a pace unseen from the big two. I hope their streak continues for long time to come.  

It's too hot for late October

It's the final full-week of October, we are knee-deep into fall season, yet the mercury today read upwards of 96 degrees. What the French is going on?

One month into official autumn and I've yet to break out any sort of middle garments or heavy outerwear. This is San Francisco we're talking about; we pay out the nose in housing cost for foggy and cool weather and by god aren't we a cranky bunch when we don't get it. 

I sure hope this week's tiny heat-wave is the last of it and we can all enjoy proper San Francisco weather for the next eight months. 

Thankfully this weather did not occur two weeks back while the north-bay wildfires were raging on. It would've been a national emergency indeed if the unrelenting sun were mixed in with the smoke and ashes. Unimaginable. 

Due to the amount of destruction, we all either know or transitively know someone who has lost a home to the Napa fires. I was sad to find out an ex-coworker lost her newly rented home to the fire. I urge everyone to donate to our neighbors in need.

The first Gran Turismo game I won't buy

I've owned and played all previous 6 iterations of Gran Turismo, and I'm sorry to say I will not be purchasing the newly released Gran Turismo Sport anytime soon. After reading the reviews, I can't justify spending the proper $60 for a game with so little content and such draconian requirements in order to play. 

The core attraction of Gran Turismo for me is the sheer number of cars spanning all eras and the numerous tracks I can drive those cars on. I can still remember the seminal moment it was to drive the full Nurburgring Nordschleife in GT4. The car and track count in GT:S is, without mincing words, utterly atrocious. Discounting all the variations, there's only about 90 unique cars in the game, a system shock to those us used to 600+ car libraries. GT:S only has six real-world tracks, which is bizarrely embarrassing especially when the main focus of the game is e-sport online racing utilizing the FIA license.

How did Polyphony manage to partner with the FIA yet only produce six real-world locations? Where's Silverstone? Where's La Sarthe? Spa? 

The online racing component also brings with it an enormous negative externality: GT:S requires a constant Internet connection in order to play most parts of the game. I did not think ill of this until I found out that even non-racing portions of the game such as the amazingly beautiful photo-mode is locked behind the online authentication wall. If Polyphony ever decides to turn off its game servers (as it has for GT5), GT:S as constituted today would be no more than a drink coaster. 

GT:S would need to the following updates before I part with my money: massively increase the amount of cars and tracks, add more single-player campaign events/races, bring back dynamic time/weather (how they have regressed on this from GT6 is baffling), and get rid of the online connection requirement for parts of the game that obviously don't need it. 

Being 'in the moment' is difficult

As studying stoic, one of the many things taught to us is to focus on the present, take in what's directly in front of us and not let the mind wander forward towards the future nor backwards to the past. 

Easier said than done. 

Take for example driving to work. As soon as I get into the car, I start thinking about what's ahead waiting for me once I get there. Try as I may to focus on enjoying the drive, taking in the weather, being grateful for the sublime engineering that is the Mazda MX-5, my mind inevitably skips ahead to the workplace. Being in the moment takes constant practice, and some days are more difficult than others. 

A good trick to alleviate some of the impulses is to never procrastinate at work - and at home. Whatever items need to be done, I try to complete it as soon as possible - don't wait. Otherwise the unfinished things will compound the tendencies to distract from the present, especially those of the workplace. 

I don't suppose it'll ever be perfect, this 'being present' business, but getting near it is good goal because my anxiety levels have gone down commensurately.