Why you should backup your computer

What will you do if you woke up tomorrow and found out that your entire digital music collection is GONE? What about all the photos and memories you have with family and friends - all gone? If you are like most people, you will proceed to the shit out of luck aisle because you did not backup your files. Good luck finding and downloading 10,000+ songs (legally of course... of course.) and trying to relive the precious moments in your live with only the memories in your head. 

The digital revolution have pretty much consolidated all forms of media and files into one solitary machine (or two, if that is your cup of tea). Heck I am perhaps the perfect example. Of course my music is in digital form, immaculately catalog in the bloated software called iTunes. All my movies have been ripped into a digital format (h.264. mp4. ac3) for easy access and no disc swapping (I actually threw all the disc away - the minimalist in me). I grew up in an age of digital cameras, so all photographs I have are in digital form to begin with. With a scanner, any important document that I have is not locked up in a filing cabinet, but rather the encrypted space of my hard drive.

How nice is it to basically have everything in one computer? Very much so, plus it keeps my room clean because I have less things (paper somehow always tends to stack up and take up space like no other). Anyways, having everything in one object means that it is also easy to lose it when the object disappears or malfunction. Technology may be great, but the hard drive that stores all your digital files is still only a bunch of spinning magnetic platters read by a stylus (not unlike a LP record player). And as with anything that has moving mechanical parts, it can FAIL. There is a reason the most amount of years hard drives have warranty on them is only 5 years. They are NOT built to last, hence the data you have on it are not going to either.

Unless you perform backup. In essence, it is having another copy of your data on a separate device, or in some extreme cases, separate location (you'd still have a copy of your stuff even if your house burned down when it is stored at another location). For most people though, it means having another harddrive that stores the same information, and updating it regularly. Hard drives are so dirt cheap these day that there is really no excuse not to get some and backup your data (unless you are the type that likes to play Russian roulette). 

And it is not physical deterioration of the hard drive you have to worry about. Computers in itself don't last forever (will save the conspiracy of windows for another day). Things from viruses to power surges can completely kill your machine. In that case all your data is gone too (well, not exactly, but do most people know how to extract data from a broken machine?). Another thing is, laptops are as popular as ever - so imagine a machine with all your stuff is actually MOBILE and prone to thieves (Starbucks laptop theft is at all time high I have read). In that case, perhaps losing all your music and memories may be the least of your worries. 

There is another way to backup your files - online (to the cloud!). But unless you want to pay monthly fees, the amount of free space online backups give you (I use Dropbox, which gives on 2gb free - I use it only for my documents) is not nearly enough. Online is convenience in that you can download and restore anywhere there is an internet connection. The problem is the internet connection itself. Upload speeds are absurdly slow compared to download speed no matter what ISP you have, hence the initial backup of your file may take a long time. Even with the faster download speeds, downloading gigs of data during restore will still take much much longer than simply plugging in an external hard drive. Online store still have ways to mature for it to be truly mainstream (and the fact that people's data are increasing by the gigs does not help). 

Nonetheless, the message is this - BACKUP your data. The cost is so cheap you don't have an excuse. Don't wait until that day comes when your computer goes kaput and all your files are gone. I sort of hate to always be a champion of Apple products, but if you have a mac and an external hard drive, there is software within the operating system that will do a backup for you automatically as a scheduled task (set it and forget it, thanks Rotisserie chicken machine). Even windows has its own backup software. But you don't need software, just drag and drop your files and you are good to go.

P.S. I love my music, so I actually have it in four places - the mac, external hd, iPod, and DVDs. Overkill? Not if I never lose it. 

Sorry I'm late - random thoughts

It is what happens when you procrastinate. But not really, I did NOT procrastinate at all, and still somehow someway thing still end up piling up together. You know the semester is coming to an end when you seem to have so much stuff to do yet you don't even realize you have that much (?). Such was the timeline between this past saturday and yesterday, in which literally I had thing after thing to do, and all of them were due this week (sure I fit in cleaning my far and going to a Giants game, but otherwise I would go INSANE). 

So it was to my relive that last night I slept really well because all the stuff I had to do for school (and otherwise) was over with and now i can enjoy some time for myself (like sleeping without feeling like you still have hella stuff to do - it is a great feeling). Anyways you know how I said last week that perhaps this weekend might be a bad time to go to LA? It is actually a great time to go to LA this weekend, as I literally have nothing to do that is school related (thank you god). Sure there are big things still due, but heck I can do them later (that would be procrastination).

Anyways, I finally gave in to the hype and purchase an iPhone! I originally had said that as soon as Verizon get the iPhone, I will for sure get one (no way I am ditching to AT&T for its unreliable network, and no more mobile to mobile with my Verizon network friends). Now I originally plan to wait for the iPhone 5, which usually, would come out in June according to Apple's normal refresh cycle. But it is widely believe that the fifth generation device will not bow until September, and I realize I just cannot wait that long (not to mention my contract was up). Nonetheless, here I am with my iPhone 4, and OMG it is so cool!!!!

But really, curse Apple for making products that are beautiful and make sense (and curse them for being so darn expensive). You get over the sticker shock really quick after using any Apple device (I honestly should work at an Apple store). Anyways, now that I am a slave to the $30 dollar a month ("unlimited", right...) cellular data, you bet your ass I am going to use it as much as possible to get my money back (hello Pandora!). Going to use 3G as much as I can, even if wifi is available, and it drains the battery more. 

Speaking of battery, why are people so afraid to abuse it? It is ONLY a battery, a thing that powers your device. Stop treating it like its a baby (oh, I'm trying to save the battery, wait, I better turn off stuff I don't need). It is one of those things where it deteriorates by itself even if you don't use it. Besides, if you are worried about wasting your own energy bill, charge it at a public place (thank you Starbucks, campus, public library) and pilfer other people's electricity (not that I am condoning such theft, maybe...). You freaking paid for the device, use it comfortably and not worry so much about something as minor as battery life (please environmental groups, don't sue me. my friend is not a lawyer.. yet).

So did I mention I washed my car? Yes indeed, after 7 months in the elements (I wish I had a garage), I finally gave it the bath it probably did not deserve. I did not know the car and my wheels was this color! Is it something manly that if your car is absolutely filthy on the outside (not the inside, my car's inside is always clean... can't stand a dirty interior) that shows you actually use your car and not care about how it looks (probably ties in to the low maintenance factor). But you have to clean it sometime right? (once every half a year seems like a pretty nice schedule to me). Of course when the car was new I care more about how it looks, but nowadays as long as it runs fine I am okay with it looking like pulp. It is a tool after all, to get me from point A to point B. When you are as busy as I am (wait... doing what?), keeping the car clean (on the outside) is not that much of a priority.

Which is why in the future I will lease my automobiles. First of all my liability decrease dramatically, and I get a new car every two years, which is not so bad at all (ah, that toxic plastic bonding agent that normal people refer to as new car smell). Besides, you know every year some new car will always come out and you're like WOW, too bad I can't upgrade because I am still trying to pay off the car I have and I will take a lost if I trade it in (gap insurance, people, buy it). 

But of course it rains the day after I washed the car (I love you San Francisco!). Thankfully I had waxed it too (ouch, my arm), so the water just sort of sheeted off. But still... gir. 

Hey guys, who here does NOT stare at a monitor for house on end at night (crickets...). Well I recently found an app (for both Windows and Mac) that helps preserve your eyes in these situations. It is called f.lux (http://stereopsis.com/flux/). Basically it matches the color temperature of your monitor to your interior lighting at night, and by doing so it is much easier on your eyes. It takes awhile to get use to at first, but once you do, and you stare at a monitor that does not have f.lux installed, it is as if you are staring right into the sun (my retinas). Best of all, the app is FREE. So my friends who like to burn the midnight oil by perusing their computers in bed, use the program to save your eyes (because otherwise how else will you ogle at the opposite sex?)

Three more weeks of undergrad left. Expect reflection/nostalgia blogs in the coming weeks (yay...)

(Not) Working out

One of my favorite things to poke fun at is the gluttony of the American lifestyle. Just venturing out to the ballpark proves this point with the non stop onslaught of hot dogs, fries, churros, ice cream, hot chocolate, nachos, etc (don't forget copious cups of your favorite alcoholic beverage). And then you sit on your ass for four hours to watch the game. No wonder they call baseball our national pastime - America has an obesity epidemic, so what better activity to represent it than going to a baseball game! Sitting on your ass for hours on end and binge eating!

Those of you who know me well know that I have been on a "healthy" lifestyle for a good 4 years now (started right after I got my freshman 30 - I have pictures to prove). And by now it has become just my normal lifestyle as I don't even think about it (nor is it hard to do - anymore). And it is really basic too - eat right (no sugar, low carb, good fats, fiber, and metric tons of protein), exercise (just MOVE!), water (again, by the metric tons), and good ole slumber, Sure I deviate from the "plan" plenty of times (hard to imagine, but yes it does happen), and to be honest I don't even feel guilty about "cheating" anymore. It is all just par for the course.

What is my point? To be healthy is not really a chore at all once you get used to it. But of course this is America, we want to sit on our ass and eat what ever the fuck we want and still somehow look thin and fit (some of you out there with good genetic makeup and/or super metabolisms notwithstanding). IF only that was true, then heck I would do that too. But obviously that is not how the laws of thermodynamics work (also the saying garbage in garbage out). Energy not spent is energy stored - and we all know where that gets stored in people's bodies. Hey, look at it this way, the American lifestyle has sustained a billion dollar magic weight loss food and exercise equipment industry! As a business major, I can appreciate that. 

Of course you can't have your cake and eat it too (mmm, cake). As with anything, to get the results you want, you need to work (goes with being a glutton also - just that the process to get fat is much more enjoyable, I GUESS). Speaking from my experience I don't see how anybody CAN"T do what I do (being healthy) and still enjoy the best foods out there (I eat out quite often nowadays actually), and sit on your ass all day (I sit 8 hours plus per day EASY). It is all about self control, discipline, and understanding of the bigger goal.

What is the bigger goal? Well, do you want to live long and prosper? (thanks Spock). Or spend your later years frequenting a clinic, full of health problems? Sure medicine advances millions of miles per day (probably working towards that magic weight loss pill), but I don't think for the immediate term it will save anybody from the pains of lifestyle related cardiovascular disease. Even when we bring it down to more of a compress timeline, how about not having a cold every time the season changes? But what am I saying, we ALL understand the tremendous benefits of being healthy - it is the work and sacrifice to get there we don't want to do (America, a reactive, and not a proactive country).

The number one, single best goal/reason to be healthy? VANITY. I would be absolutely lying if I said vanity was not the main reason I started working out and eating right (Freud would be proud). It may not be as crazy as Asia, but I would say vanity and body image is pretty important in America. Who does not want to look their best? (Well, clearly not everybody). Honestly, you don't really need any other reason (the other benefits are just... the icing on the cake). And it is not really about ego, it is about an ethic - one of constantly improving and putting your best self forward. I sure would hire someone who is like that over someone that is well, not (probably discrimination, but whatever). 

Yes, eating a bucket of ice cream (my favorite food!) is a much more promising form of living in terms of the the enjoyment factor compared to exercising. But honestly, if you are not willing to put in work for the most important thing in this world to you (that would be YOU), then what does that say really? Having millions of dollars while crippled on a hospital bed (exaggeration alert) is like not having it at all is it not? As my mothership will say, if you don't have your health, you have nothing.

Plus, I am not at all pleased seeing my tax dollars going to treat people that have diseases that are entirely preventable with the proper lifestyle. 

Smile - random thoughts

Again there was no Giants game tonight so there goes three hours that I would have otherwise devoted to it (amongst other things of course). Needed a mental sports day off anyways because the Giants have been doing so much winning lately (FOUR straight series win!) that if I don't get a day off I might burst from too much enthusiasm (second live game of the season this Sunday!).

Speaking of the Giants, I am very sad that the organization decided to sent Brandon Belt back to the minors. I completely understand the move, but still it is quite disappointing, as I feel Belt needed a longer time at the majors and a fair shake. But the odds were against him really. He was not exactly lighting it up on fire like Posey did last year, and the Giants just have way too many outfielders right now with the return of Cody Ross to keep Belt, who have what they call "options" (established players with a certain amount of years in the big leagues CANNOT be sent down to the minors, except for injury rehab reasons).

Today is Thursday right? (Rebecca Black?) I almost forgotten due to the super weird day that Monday was. First of all due to various circumstances, my work schedule on campus has completely changed, to now I work at night Monday to Thursday, and my usual morning hours on Friday. So thus on Monday I did not have to be on campus until 2pm, due to the fact I work at night now, and 2pm is my first (and only) class that day.

Working at night means I have to once again do my workouts in the morning - which is not so bad. The only problem is that I am not nearly as flexible in the morning as I am later in the day (can't even touch my toes with my legs straight), so stretching is a bit compromised. Other than that, the only difference is, instead of going straight to slumber after working out at night, I still now have a full day ahead of me (please don't ask me to lift that box). The thing is though, it is very satisfying to get my workout for the day out of the way and not have to think about it.

So right, on Monday I worked out and ate breakfast, only to then find that my 2pm class was cancelled due to my professor having inflammation flare ups (take your fish oil, kids). I was like okay great, guess I won't have to be on campus until 6ish. So I figure I just chill and Facebook until then (ah, the freedom of college I will miss). Well turns out the SFSU campus lost power in a catastrophic fashion, hence all classes in the afternoon and night is cancelled. Well since there is no class, it makes my job on campus redundant, hence yes I did not have to go to work on Monday either.

Overall it was just too weird. Try adjusting to a brand new schedule on the first day and then having it turn completely upside down. Sure I can't ultimately complain about it as I kind of sort of had an extra day off attached to the weekend, but I did go back to work the next day wondering to myself how much it feels like a Monday. Thankfully the rest of the week was much less confusing and straight forward. 

Today for my internship I went to a middle school's earth day extravaganza to promote and sell the company's environmental friendly stationary and pencils. And man do I feel old (I'm ONLY 23!?). Hard to believe I am almost a decade removed from my middle school days. So it was indeed a bit of nostalgia visiting a middle school, even if it was not my own. I even got to have some school food for lunch, which brought back some good memories, in that back in middle I could eat what ever the fuck I wanted and still be stick skinny (it is how I got to be so tall I bet). 

Speaking of food - what the heck are they feeding the middle school children these days? Man are they tall! Either puberty is really robust or it is the water they are drinking. At first I ask my boss is it really a junior high and not a high school we are going to. I swear most of the girls were like taller than five foot five, and the dudes were massive. Thank heavens for genetically altered, mass produced food I guess. 

So recently I have move sort of a bit beyond photography and going into videography and video editing. At this juncture I would like to say that it is better to be great at one thing than good at many things. Suffice to say I am going to keep working on photography for a long while before I move on to other visual media. It is not that videography is hard (well, maybe), it is just that like photography, there is just so many things to learn that it can be overwhelming at first. The thing is, after you learn the stuff, it is more like muscle memory and everything just clicks (that goes with everything I guess). 

The good thing is though with digital art, anything and everything you can and want to learn is available online for free. I kind of wish this kind of proliferation of knowledge was available back when I was much younger, so that by now I could have much more knowledge. Nonetheless it is probably the golden age of actually learning anything, because the internet has made it so accessible (and FREE!). So for my cooking inept friends, you no longer need to watch the food channel - just get an app on your phone). There is absolutely no reason you should stop learning things after you graduated from college (t-minus 4 weeks). 

I paid $45 dollars for tank of gas yesterday. This is getting out of control! I drive an economy car for pete's sake! Though interesting that in the latest survey by consumer report, even with the high gas prices, Americans are generally not interested in downsizing their automobiles on their next purchase (Europeans are laughing at us). Well I guess people have deeper pockets than I do, and you know what, as long as the demand is there, automobile makers will continue to make big cars that is beyond what people needs (I understand, a nice big van is very comfortable for the kids, but if you only have two, do you REALLY need the extra third row? How about just get a very tall car?).

I wonder when are we going to see news reports of people stealing gas from people's tanks again (why do they put it at such a convenient location!). You how you can save gas and have screaming fast performance? Get a bike! I would so get one if not for the fact I don't have a cover garage to safely store it from the elements. Also I am not the type to like to carry a lot of gear with me, so all that motorcycle gear I have to lug around everywhere I go is no bueno. But man can bikes rev to stratospheric levels (10k rpm +)! Sounds freaking sweet.

Sometimes I would have the inability to turn of my sarcasm tone (I run on sarcasms), and instead of saying something is meant to be sincere and meaningful, it turns sarcastic, which has the opposite affect (does not work well when you tell a girl how beautiful she is). What I need is that machine Stephen Hawking has, which is only one tone and very clear. 

What a great idea to schedule a trip to LA next weekend, when everything is piling up.