2025 Consumer Reports

Author: juno

  • I’m Sick of Dubai But Nothing to Write so I leaf through my travel note: here’s another Dubai diary: Uber Edition

    Unlike me, L plans everything ahead most of the time. You know how Uber drivers help passengers load their luggage into their boots? Last time, a young Chinese boy with a Tesla SUV didn’t even come out of his sleek SUV. I had two big, heavy Rimowas, and I had just got my nails done the day before. I almost broke my fuck you fingernail carrying those. Imagine how it would have ruined my entire trip if it had really ripped my nail. It’s not compulsory, and they have the right not to, I guess. So, on the way to the airport, I messaged L to give him a negative star since he booked the Uber 3-4 days before the day. Somehow, the Chinese young man helped me unload my big-ass luggage when we arrived. I thought he only did it because he was worried I’d scratch his sex Tesla SUV’s bum (I made some noises unwillingly when I put them in).

    L booked me Ubers thorough when I was alone in Dubai for a 19-hour layover1. When I came back from Dubai Mall to the hotel I stayed at, the driver, a Pakistani man who was very happy with his recent purchase – the Tesla 3 2024 (he said it’s only a month old, and it’s not even released in the US yet, but UAE first? Or Dubai first? I forgot2.). The driver somehow was suspiciously nice to me. He opened the door for me like an Uber Black, checking if the temperature is alright. Since I’m a lizard, you know they die if it’s too hot or too cold. The borderline between comfy temperature and death temperature is so thin that a slight temperature change may be able to kill their entire family or something, I believe. Though I think they have their own system to control their body temperature; look at blueys, they thrive in 40 degrees or even more, Australia things are wild. Anyway, the room temperature or body temperature bother me a lot. I move too much while I’m at home to turn the AC on and off. For the detailed arrangement, I use Dyson Air Purifier™, which I don’t even know if it really filters the air in my place.

    But, how does the Tesla 3 2024 enthusiast Pakistani Uber driver know I’m a lizard? I felt suss. I said, ‘It’s perfect, I love it, thank you.’ Then he goes, ‘Is L your mum? She’s very worried about you.’ (L’s legal first name can sound like a female name for some.) So I answered back, ‘Ha ha, no, he is my boyfriend.’ He then said how L was worried and overly protective, so he thought I’m his underage daughter or something and so on, but he suddenly goes, ‘Oh wow! Look at that!’ I thought this Tesla 3 2024 enthusiast Pakistani Uber driver must doom-scrolling too much like I do and have a focus deficit problem, and I looked at what he looked at – the road, where we were.

    Crazy! A month ago, when I was in Dubai for the first time, the hotel we stayed in to the devious3 Dubai Mall, it took less than 20 minutes. All major hotels are close enough to the mall, and I expected the same this time. I think it took about an hour or so this time. The road was packed with cars, and the entry of the mall to drop-off zone wasn’t moving for a long time. The African driver who dropped me off at the mall said it’s going to be like this until the 2nd of January, so keep in mind and let’s not go to Dubai on its peak time. It’s horrendous.

    no not again

    So, I looked at the road and thought, this Tesla 3 2024 enthusiast Pakistani Uber driver is surprised because traffic jam is horrible, I said, ‘Yeah, it’s craaazy. Where are they going at this time?’ It was around 10 pm, and I was shocked before at the mall already because even Kinokuniya™ at the Dubai Mall opens till 11 pm. Imagine the bookstore, and it’s three times bigger than the one in Sydney! Open until late! I came three times without rubbing my belly button because 1. It opens until late 2. Its size 3. The variety of stationary and books, and you know what, Sephora™; they’re open until midnight. Yes, you heard it right, midnight makeup shopping is real. For the first time, I thought Dubai has a lot more to offer than Sydney does. (Only because Kinokiniya and Sephora) In Sydney, most shops close at 5 pm at max unless it’s Thursday or it’s Korean-owned. You can’t get a cup of coffee from a decent coffee shop after 3 pm, considering you work until 5 pm, maybe even 6 pm. You get home by 7, have a shower, walk the dog, eat dinner, and there’s not many things left you can do. Because you gotta sleep for the next day. I was convinced before by wholesome people, say it’s good because they can spend more time with their families and the blue sky, blue ocean, greens, snakes, spiders, bushes, and magic mushrooms, all that. But considering what you can buy here and in any other cities (e.g., a 4-million-dollar house in Strathfield), makes Sydney look like a huge retirement village. And the weather (and the mosquitoes attack) these days made me want to get out of here asap.

    The Tesla 3 2024 enthusiast Pakistani Uber driver said, ‘No, look at the Tesla in front of us.’

    Only then did I begin to come to myself and realize I looked. There was another Tesla but maybe a darker colour. I couldn’t even tell; it was 10 pm, remember? He manically kept talking. It’s not just another Tesla! It’s Tesla 2024, which is released only this month. It’s a… a… I said, ‘Purple!’ He said, ‘No ma’am! It’s… it’s what’s called? Maroon! Maroon colour!’ I had to react like I’m excited too. He was that inflamed. ‘Do you like? No? What do you think? I DO love the colour. Oh man, how beautiful car and colour… I love it. I wish I chose that colour instead of just plain white.’ I pretended like I like the colour too, even though I had no such preference and I couldn’t even see the colour properly. We then talked about Dubai or UAE government and Pakistani immigrants and such. He claimed that the majority of Tesla Uber drivers in Dubai are Pakistani. I said, ‘Oh, that’s interesting’ I told L to give him 5 stars after he dropped me off at the hotel.

    1. If you layover for more than a certain number of hours in Dubai, and that’s your best option, Emirates offers ‘Dubai Connect,’ which includes a hotel, meals, shuttle bus to the hotel, etc. ↩︎
    2. I wrote this at the end of December 2023 ↩︎
    3. I call it devious because for the first few hours you can enjoy food, shopping, whatever you want. But when you want to finally go home and grab a taxi, you have to be a maze runner. There are several Uber pickup points, and if you can’t communicate well with the driver, you can waste a lot of time looking for drivers and the right pickup point. Don’t forget P4 Fashion Avenue if you’re going to book an Uber, if normal taxi: P3 ↩︎

  • Mastering Lenticular Printing: A Comprehensive Guide to Materials, Techniques, and Printer Choices for Stunning Visuals – Let’s Lenticular [2]

    10 years ago, I wrote about Brazilian jiu jitsu, 5 years ago about yoga and stone dildo, 3 years ago about freediving and spearfishing and now I’m writing about my dog’s genital organ and random photo printing. What’s next??

    [Previous post]

    So, if I can simplify the whole process:

    1. Choose photos
    2. Interlacing photos
    3. Print
    4. Attach the printed photo to the lenticular lens

    Interlacing photos

    Before interlacing your chosen pics, you need to do the pitch test. I’m not going to write in detail about the pitch test here, but download the program(eg. grape) and do what you need to. I don’t think there are people visiting my blog organically from a Google search for ‘how to lenticular print,’ but in case there is: from my understanding, lenticular lenses are not made perfectly, like ourselves.

    Your 50 LPI sheet can vary from 47~8 to 51~52 LPI (quite random) due to various factors in the manufacturing process. So you need to find the exact number by doing pitch text. The same goes for your printer—nothing is made perfect. Mine boasts 5760 x 1440 dpi (with Variable-Sized Droplet Technology), as per their official website. What baffles me is that well-known tutorials(for lenticular printing) on the internet suggest using 600 dpi1 for HP and 720 dpi for Epson when interlacing photos. After extensive reading, I couldn’t comprehend it but concluded that some people are just too lazy, and what’s even worse, they seem entitled. Some people invest their time, energy, and money to achieve something, while others seek a quicker way.

    Maybe do your research?

    I’ve noticed that the mechanical keyboard community tends to be too LGBTQI, furry, soy-boy and a range of weirdness. On the other hand, the lenticular imaging community, while having helpful, pleasant, professional members, also appears to have its challenges. Am I the only one who’s butthurt from entitled lazyass like above? They talk like others owe them something, is it English? English is my second language too.

    Anyway, getting back to the topic, if you’re using Epson like me, don’t question and waste your time—just listen and follow the instructions: use 720 dpi for interlacing. No more questions. However, if you’re like me, someone who enjoys the process and likes to understand what’s going on rather than just the result and production itself, then read these links:

    I’ll spoon-feed you:
    [Link 1]
    [Link 2]

    Now, the fun part begins when you actually start interlacing multiple photos. But why reinvent the wheel? I referenced this website [link]; it’s well-documented, and they also sell lenticular sheets. However, I didn’t buy from them; I made my purchase from Alibaba.

    Print

    I got bored writing of it at this point

    Attach the printed photo to the lenticular lens

    I cannot stress this enough—it’s crucial here. Lenticular lenses exist in a range from very coarse at 10 LPI to very fine at 100 LPI(or higher). My mistake lies in my limited research, focusing on a few websites. I learned that 75-100 LPI is suitable for small prints like postcards and business cards, while lower LPIs work better for larger prints with longer viewing distances. This logic resonated with me because I only wanted to experiment with small prints.

    75LPI failure

    As I mentioned in a previous post, do not exceed 50 LPI when purchasing lenticular sheets. Another misstep was buying lenticular sheets with double-sided adhesive. It became a significant failure point because precise framing is crucial before attaching the photo to the lens. Once the adhesive side sticks to the photo, detaching it becomes impossible and risks ripping your print. I wasted numerous photo papers, had to purchase a sticker remover (the one with the orange smell), and spent an enormous amount of time removing all adhesive. So, of course, I had to blog about it, right?

    Now, for a similar reason—having invested too much time and money—I planned to write to make them worthwhile. The original plan included:

    Let’s make t-shirts

    Let’s make stickers

    However, the thought of writing about these seemed boring and uninformative. Given the abundance of proper tutorials out there, I decided against it. So, ending the crafty review here. Goodbye!

    1. DPI: Dots Per Inch, referring to the number of ink droplets a printer will produce per inch while printing an image. ↩︎

  • On the Road By Jack Kerouac

    Every suburb, it seems, has its desex parrot—a rare breed among the 30-50 regular visitors to medium to large-sized dog parks. Strangely, it’s always a female, obsessively interested in someone else’s dog’s sexual status, and I can’t help but wonder why.

    This long weekend, I decided to read ‘On the Road‘ by Jack Kerouac, inspired by someone’s mention last week. I haven’t told L that I’m reading something, therefore I’m I skipping writing yesterday, citing the excuse that it was Australia Day. These days, I’m playing the role of a ‘staying home girlfriend with a boyfriend overseas,’ which isn’t as enjoyable as it sounds. L wants me to be productive and consistent, posting every day as if I were a ‘staying home gf with a bf overseas.’ I don’t know which is better: go to work and waste my life working for someone VS Not able do things that I like because being productive and consistent takes so much effort and energy, and I can’t even read a book openly (but I still have time to doom-scroll, so I’m just making excuses, am I not?)

    I’m torn.

    I admit, I like the book. Not that it’s easy to read—my attempt to read in English ended after a few paragraphs. Jack Kerouac wrote this book in three weeks, fueled by amphetamines, typing feverishly on a scroll of paper that was 120 feet long.

    I don’t want to cut my dog’s balls, Sometimes I wonder if they (dogs) just pretend not to speak any languages but understand everything to avoid paying taxes and bills. But even if Django speaks Korean, I don’t think any dogs, or even any animals, want to be castrated for reasons like 1. Become docile (easier to train) 2. No peeing (marking) indoor 3. make them calm, less energetic (this is the most stupid, messed-up reason)

    When desex parrots initiate their TED talks or repeat the same questions, I usually respond with a noncommittal, “Oh, I see, haha, good to know,” and swiftly exit the conversation. I’ve had dogs throughout my life and observed how hormone imbalances from unnecessary neutering can change their bodies and behavior over time. However, I don’t go around telling people about the disadvantages of cutting their dogs’ balls because, at the end of the day, they are the ones responsible for their pets and its reproduce organs.

    I once confronted a dog owner at Rhodes foreshore park because he (Chinese, I assume) abused his dog violently only because it’s a puppy, and it wanted to play with other dogs. I asked, “why do you treat your dog like that? It’s hurting your dog” There must be better ways to introduce his puppy to other dogs when the puppy has no clue because it’s its first time. And if he’s that violent, almost animal cruelty for a puppy being a puppy, there must be a reason. My curiosity won my introvert-ness. Also, I was worried he might eat that chicken nugget-looking brown colour poodle cross for dinner. A puppy being a puppy annoys him that much, made him abuse a puppy like that… He’d easily kill and eat it! He yelled at me furiously, “mind your own business!” I fucked off with both hands up. He’s in the right. Even though he has a lot of issues, especially with his emotion control, and it’s the way he trains his dog, it’s his business. I saw the angry owner and his chicken nugget poodle cross at the same park the other day; he looked happy that day. I just wish the chicken nugget the best life.

    It’s always women, always alone. There’s a lady, likely Chinese, who has asked me three times if Django is desexed. The first encounter was when we introduced ourselves at the park, and she asked about Django’s age and desexing status. I avoided that park for months to steer clear of her.

    Last month, I was FaceTiming with L and watching Django at the same time. Not gonna lie here, I’m not a great multitasker. The Chinese lady came at me asked, “is the black and white dog yours?” I said “yes.” She asked me back, “is your dog desexed?” At this point, I was already annoyed because I was watching (side-eye) how Django was interacting with other dogs at the park; he was normal, nothing sexual or aggressive. I asked back, “why are you asking? Did my dog hump yours?” Because then, I can understand why she’s concerned, concerned that much, so walk 100 metres and talked to me even though I was on the phone.

    Django humping others without consent hardly ever happens though because I hate people unsupervising their dogs or kids playing while they’re busy gossiping themselves. So I look at what Django is doing all the time when he’s not alone, and he’s full-on investigation mode. Django likes to investigate bitches’ pussy by smelling and licking it.

    Desex nazi said “No, but there’s a dog on heat in this park.”

    What the fuck is this desex police on seriously? Firstly, it’s not that your dog is on heat. Secondly, my dog is doing nothing to the dog on its heat. So I hung up the phone, walked 100 meters to where dogs were playing, met the dog on heat and its owner. Another chicken nugget-looking poodle cross dog was on a leash, with the owner; Django was smelling random dogs’ buttholes, couldn’t be peaceful except the desex police existence. The dog on heat and owner were nice; they never worried, didn’t even recognize Django was there when I asked if Django bothered them. So I don’t know what made this desex police walk 100 meters to come talk to me to warn or inform me there’s a dog on heat. Like can you relax, woman?

    Last week, my neighbor was dog-sitting his friend’s dog, and we met at the park. Despite my reluctance due to the desex nazi Asian woman, she was there again. To my surprise, she asked my neighbor if his friend’s dog was desexed, leaving me speechless. Firstly, my neighbor was dog-sitting a XX chromosome dog, so there’s no chance your dog or other dogs are getting pregnant even if my neighbor’s dog isn’t neutered. Secondly, my friend mentioned earlier that he’s doing dog sitting; this is not his dog; he’s getting to know the dog and so on… and the desex manic still asks questions like “is your friend’s dog desexed?” Like, don’t you have any better questions than desex? I started to think if she’s actually $3x manic or desperate for $3x. She needs a boyfriend, not a dog.

    It’s always a female. Not a single male has inquired about my dog’s spaying. Women seem to have their peculiarities. Famous male artists like Jack Kerouac, Murakami Haruki, David Foster Wallace, and even Van Gogh are often accused of letting their testosterone influence their work. Misogyny is prevalent, and I had to Google the opposite term, Misandry, though it’s rarely used. (and I have never heard of) The reason misogyny is so widespread is that women care too much. Men live without thinking—cum, get fed, and they are happy. But look at this woman, writing a 3,658 characters essay about dog’s balls. Crazy.

  • A Forced Post

    I and L were on the hunt for some bondage equipment, but none caught my eye. I could already picture the disappointment, a product made in China with the same factory, design, and just a different brand logo. The allure of better model, professional photoshoots, and editing making them appear a hundred times more expensive—probably crafted with illegal child labor or modern slavery, a harsh reality we can’t escape nowadays.

    Let’s compare three options:

    1. Honey Birdette 200 AUD
    2. Agent Provocateur 255 AUD *Paddle ONLY
    3. Temu 16 AUD

    In the end, I opted for a DIY approach—buying duct tape, cable ties, and cotton rope from Daiso for versatile uses beyond just tying ankles and wrists. Despite my reservations, L purchased a bunch from Love Honey™, but I’ll spare the details as Google Console isn’t particularly fond of explicit content. (Also, no sponsorship yet—HMU, Love Honey UwU🍆) It’s interesting how even GPT gets uncomfortable when $3x is brought up. Why is everyone so shy about it? It shouldn’t be.

    Today, I faced another interview—finally, a face-to-face one. Strangely, it made me more shy and nervous than talking about $3x. This time, I prepared for the interview rather than freestyling an Eminem rap. Last time, when the Korean interviewer asked about my strengths and weaknesses, I couldn’t confess to my weaknesses. It’s not that I only have strengths; it’s more like I have too many weaknesses, and if there are too many, it won’t sound good. So, I found a way to present myself well without lying too much. For example:

    My weakness list:

    • Lazy: I find the most efficient way possible. I prioritize efficiency, working really fast.
    • Give up easily: I quickly look for alternative ways to solve a problem. I’m a problem solver.
    • Judgmental: I have high standards.
    • Nitpick: I have a meticulous nature, attention to detail.

    and so on…

    I also had to white lie about my strength because if I rank my strengths:
    1st prize: I’m funny.
    2nd: Cute.
    But I don’t think any HR would hire someone just because they’re funny and cute. So, I said I’m an easily adaptive person (adaptability ranked 10552nd on my strength list) because it sounds good in an interview, right? Hiring a new person who isn’t adaptive could be a headache, I guess.

    In my previous (or should I say still current) job, I had an LGBTQI work husband. We used to call each other ‘saviour’ because without him, work wasn’t fun at all, and vice versa. We used to joke and talk dirty a lot. On a serious note, I believe we shouldn’t think we can save someone else from their problems and issues unless with moneyㅋㅋ or if they ask for help. When people with issue, they don’t even acknowledge their issues, it’s a waste of time and energy. A friend of a friend of a friend often provides shelter for drug addicts, and it always ends up badly. He said, ‘I just tried to help them.’ Another friend of a friend of an internet friend of an actual friend tries to help a girl with her problematic boyfriend, though I don’t think it will ever work. Some people have a helping and caring nature, but sometimes they confuse it with their selfish motives—they help others to feel less uncomfortable themselves if that makes sense?

    I’ve noticed an increase in my writing lately, and it’s mainly because L encourages me to do so. According to him, it’s a good habit and a valuable practice. An individual with really low self-esteem, like me, enjoys falling in love with someone or something (addictive personality traits) because it makes me feel like I’m an existing being. So, recently, I feel like I’m using L to feel alive, not gonna lie.

    When I doom-scroll through my Instagram feed for hours while lying in bed, What adds an extra layer of entertainment is reading the comments one by one, alongside the content. The unexpected bursts of laughter are incredibly addictive. It’s akin to watching a comedy movie or stand-up show where you anticipate the humor, but on social media, random people commenting on random subjects can be surprisingly hilarious. Even though these moments are rare, that’s what makes it all the more rewarding, like finding a needle in a haystack.

    This has no funny comment:

  • Dog Friendly Parks of Sydney – Rhodes, Balmain and Macquarie Park [2]

    Rhodes

    Balmain

    Macquarie Park

    • Macquarie University
    • Fontenoy Park
    • Terrys Creek Walk

    I used to be invited to dog parents’ brunch or dinner, and it was okay for 30 minutes or so because you see your dog happily playing with other doggos and things. However, 30 minutes becomes hours, and the meal finished, coffee/tea finished, they’re even thinking of the next meal together while I was dying from boredom. The question arises1 ,should we go home already? What I didn’t like was that some people just talk about superficial things like properties, cars, jewelleries, or most of the time, they talk about others. Some dogs did this, and other dogs did that. Desexing is a common topic, and someone cheated or got fired, while dogs engage in tug of war by themselves. Sometimes I feel some people use their dogs to make new friends, or socialise like can they live their life without talking garbage?

    Birchgrove Oval(Snails Bay)

    Pros: Clean, humongous

    Cons: Crowded when it’s hot

    I just looked up Balmain 2041 NSW census, latest release 2021, to see what the average age of the population is. Actually, it’s way younger than I expected. I thought the average age was around 60, but it’s 42. Although it’s still a bit older compared to the average of 39 in NSW and 32 in Rhodes. Most of the people I met in dog parks in Balmain are relatively old, at least auntie or uncle age; even dog walkers are like that. Speaking of dog walkers, I never knew that many dog walkers and businesses exist before Balmain. During peak times, you see 4-5 dog walkers in a park; they have 4 dogs each person, and owners pay them $30-$35 an hour for just walking and supervising them at the park. I thought it could be a good business and wanted to try in Macquarie Park because I have to walk my dog anyway. But I never managed to start because 1. Not many dogs around where I live(so many corgis, i don’t know why), 2. Young couples and families own dogs, so they can’t afford or are not willing to pay that much money for an hour of dog’s activity (I assumed, never asked people).

    Mortbay Park

    Pros: Bunyanesque, Harbour, Good views for city fireworks

    Cons: Tourists, Desexing obsessed lady in her 70s, Django hates fireworks

    From 2007 to 2021, my family had a teddy bear-looking, small-sized, apricot-colored poodle, and we loved him every second of it until his last day (still love him in my heart UwU). So, I don’t know what made me think nowadays I’m sick of chicken nugget-looking, brown-colored, curly-haired dogs. I don’t know since when, but the chicken nugget or teddy bear-looking, brown curly-haired poodle cross dogs became a huge trend globally. If you go to a random dog park, you’ll see 80% of brown curly hair poodle mix dogs and 20% other dogs. It’s almost insane. I don’t know if the dog owner can figure out which is which, since they all look the same.

    Elkington Park

    Pros: View, magnificent

    Cons: Windy

    I see a lot of them in Rhodes, Wentworth Point, Macquarie Park, but Balmain has some more variety. Oldies tend to be more generous and open to adopting abandoned or littered dogs. Maybe also they are financially comfortable and can spend more time and money on dogs with bigger bodies and sometimes, problems. Not only that, they are not superficial like Koreans. I got close to some dog owner neighbors, and sometimes I found myself talking to them standing up in the middle of Birchgrove Oval speaking about life generally. I mean, maintaining a conversation without talking about others’ life isn’t that hard, is it? Talk about work, dog, love, whatever it is, not like someone bought a fake Chanel bag or something. I’m not interested; I want a Birkin2!

    Balmain East

    Pros: Postcard views, Adventures

    Cons: Too many oysters can make smalls cuts on paws

    I don’t know if it’s age or race, but also in Rhodes, people tend to make a small group in the community, and you can be very active in your choice of group(group of choice? how do you say it), I’d say 4 to 10 people max in a group. I was invited to a group-chat once, with couple of couples(3 couples and me), I talked about sex few times, and a female member there gave me an uncomfortable nuisance, so I stopped talking about it. We are adults, and we know you too have sex, so why so serious? although they were nice people… brought me a birthday cake on my birthday, Let’s just not hangout for more than 30 minutes. On the other hand, Balmain peeps do mostly solo play. Maybe I was not really actively socializing, so I didn’t have a chance to notice, but most of them are retirees, some of them are old single ladies3, they were kind to me; I guess they saw their younger selves through me, I don’t know, I assume they don’t really care about their social status and such, which makes me feel more comfortable.

    Once there was a guy who owned a smooth coat Jack Russell. He lived next door, Django and the JRT got along nicely. He seemed like a person similar to me, shy. We chitchatted for about a year. One night, he finally asked for my number and a dinner date, but he was drunk. I didn’t expect him to remember and call me the next day, and I was right. Shy but extroverted only when drunk people are the worst.

    I really liked living in Balmain, I guess Django too. Much cleaner water to jump in, dogs behave better (I think because they are living carefree, and also more time spends with their owners), grass was maintained very well in all seasons. Free poop bags and bins everywhere and so often, What place can be better than this? I used to call Balmain a dog’s paradise whenever grandpas there asked me, “How are you settling down here?”, “How do you, and your dog find here?” Because.. i think it really is.

    1. Inside of my head: I find it challenging to express dissatisfaction directly, whether it’s about being bored(I just can’t say “I’m bored, I mean you guys are boring, I’m leaving bye”) or receiving a service that doesn’t meet my expectations. It’s almost like a mental block or hesitation that prevents me from stating my feelings explicitly. For instance, there were times when I disliked how my nails were done, but instead of saying, “Do it again, I don’t like it” or asking for a refund, I chose to keep quiet and leave. It feels like more than just a preference; it’s a struggle to communicate my dissatisfaction openly. Even though I tend to write fairly harsh reviews expressing my dissatisfaction, I often doubt whether platforms like Google or the owners would approve or acknowledge my negative feedback. Despite my inclination to provide honest and critical reviews, it seems challenging to have my concerns acknowledged or addressed. ↩︎
    2. or more realistcally, a garden party 36 ↩︎
    3. Which made me anxious because I didn’t want to be like that, and I’m still anxious about life without L, so I tell L from time to time if he dies before me, I’m going to bury myself with Django like Qin Shi Huang or Tutankhamun were buried with their entire colony when they died. (I briefly skim through, though I don’t think I’m recalling right people here.) ↩︎

  • Mastering Lenticular Printing: A Comprehensive Guide to Materials, Techniques, and Printer Choices for Stunning Visuals – Let’s Lenticular [1]

    If you recall my previous posts, I’ve had several meetings with HR because I didn’t go to work. First, I used all of my sick leave, then annual leave, then ADOs. At one point, I blamed my unstable mental health(I fell in love UwU dopamine overloaded) and requested unpaid leave, but I didn’t quit in the end because I still needed the income, I valued my gov.au email address, and I heard from people that you never get sacked from a cushy government job anyway.

    So, the government doesn’t really fire you, even if you don’t show up for a whole week or sometimes, even two weeks. Instead, they arranged another meeting with higher-ups in HR and forced me to change my status from permanent to casual. So, since November, I’ve been secretly unemployed; well, I am employed, but I don’t request shifts, so I don’t know my exact employment situation. I can still use my gov.au account.

    The other day, I had a job interview, sitting in my luxury chair, with a small Korean company of 18 staff, which relatively pays slightly better than the market. We chatted for an hour, asking questions back and forth, including the book I most recently read and my feelings from my last visit to Korea. You’d expect an instant job offer after an enthusiastic hour-long interview, but I received an email saying, “After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that…” Perhaps I was too dubious and had too many questions about the company’s existence while conveying a somewhat nonchalant attitude, stating, “I am currently working a cushy gov job, and I’ve heard a lot about Korean companies’ underpaying/overworking culture.” I’m still in doubt. I even asked the interviewer, “Why does such a small company pay more than a big corporation? It’s not very Korean, is it?”

    When I applied for a job at Epson last week, I had to type in my expected salary for a year, excluding tax but including superannuation, so I typed 100,000 AUD, and I never heard from them again. As a loyal customer of Epson printers, it’s their loss (???). I just don’t like the idea of them assuming they’d hire someone who sets the lowest salary expectation with the highest degree and a lot of experience. I have an Epson printer; they’re alright, nothing spectacular or glorious. I bought it simply because I wanted to do lenticular imaging.

    My expectation
    Lenticular Image - django the not gay
    The reality
    Lenticular Image - I made this!
    Driver license on Mechanical keyboard

    Let’s Lenticular!

    Here are the requirements:

    1. Lenticular Sheets/Films/Lenses: They are only sold in bulk, and the factories are either in China or the US. Either way, it’s not very cost-efficient, including shipping fees if you are a hobbyist like me. Don’t buy higher than 50 LPI1! I purchased 50, 75, 100 LPI and had to discard the 75 and 100 LPI because those are only for laser; high-definition printers, not for us hobbyists. Stick to 17, 25, 40 or 50 LPI at max if you have a home photo printer or even high-end inkjets. ONLY those industrial superpower laser printers, can go over 75 LPI. Save your money, as I’ve learned this for you.
    2. Photo Paper: Opt for high-quality and glossy ones. If you think about it, we are going to see the image reflecting through the lumpy layer over it, so I don’t think normal paper or matte photo paper will work great with it.
    3. Masking Tape: You need to stick the photo to the lens eventually, or I found that UV glue2 works better for me, even though it can be quite messy.
    4. Software: I used Photoshop only because I pay yearly subscription, but use Grape instead because it’s free from mathematics, makes the process easier, faster, and it costs zero.
    5. Printer: Buy Canon; I don’t like Epson.

    See you in the Let’s Lenticular [2].

    1. LPI: Lenticule Per Inch ↩︎
    2. Unsurprisingly, I had a uv lamp anyway ↩︎

  • Dog Friendly Parks of Sydney – Rhodes, Balmain and Macquarie Park [1]

    Rhodes

    Balmain

    • Birchgrove Oval (Snails Bay)
    • Mortbay Park
    • Balmain East (Tom Uren Trail)
    • Miscellaneous nearby: Jubilee Park

    Macquarie Park

    • Macquarie University
    • Fontenoy Park
    • Terrys Creek Walk

    Foreshore Park, Rhodes

    Address

    rhodes foreshore park
    django used to love humping this dog(also a boy)

    It wasn’t originally a designated dog park, but during the time I first met Django, it was the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. Many people, feeling lonely and bored at home, bought puppies, thinking they would continue working from home indefinitely. The park became a hub for these new pet owners, as gathering indoors was prohibited. Consequently, the park was bustling every day from morning to night. Positioned by the waterfront, with open spaces, bicycle paths, and walking trails, it attracted not only dog owners but also non-dog owners who enjoyed picnics. I speculate that people were drawn to the peculiar grey water view. Despite Django’s fondness for jumping into this water, I found it rather unpleasant, especially the smell.

    I later discovered that Rhodes was an industrial area, with factories discarding chemicals into the river, explaining the park’s smelly and grey nature. The proximity to the mangroves in Olympic Park might have contributed to the distinctive odor. On weekends, the park transformed into a chaotic scene, with people bringing food for picnics. Hungry dogs would occasionally jump onto picnic mats, creating a bit of a mess. I didn’t hold any grudges against them, as I refrain from eating in the park, and Django avoids strangers. Thus, it wasn’t my concern.

    Django crafted many childhood memories and forged lifelong friendships in this park. However, we faced challenges, including encounters with persistent individuals, like the desex-parrots persistently inquiring about Django’s desexing status. Eventually, we had to disperse for various reasons. Firstly, there was an Asian cranky uncle on the third floor who continually shouted from his balcony, claiming that we—dog owners and park-goers—were too nosy and needed to keep quiet so he could rest. While I hesitated to label it as barbarism, it seemed extreme for an Asian individual. In addition to the cranky Asian uncle’s discontent, there were others who opposed the park’s occupation. Broken glass pieces were scattered across the park, and strange activities like drifting with golf buggies ruined the grass. Sometimes, dog poop was smeared on benches and trees. I pondered that if people disliked the park’s vibrant atmosphere, they shouldn’t have bought property nearby or chosen to live in such a densely populated residential area.

    As time passed, rumors spread, claiming that city rangers were issuing tickets to dog owners for having off-leash dogs. Although I heard this from a single mom who hates men and her life so I didn’t care much, the community grew concerned. Despite having a plan to avoid rangers—running and ditching them, as they were usually older individuals over 50 who couldn’t catch up—we gradually lost interest in the park because no one was there except Django and me. People moved to a designated dog park, which was fenced and half the size of the Rhodes Foreshore Park.

    Pros:

    1. Scenic Grey Smelly Waterview
      • Enjoy the unique and picturesque grey waterscape.
      • Experience the unconventional charm of the smelly yet captivating waterfront.

    Cons:

    1. Not Exactly a Dog Park
      • Manage expectations; it may not fully meet typical dog park standards.
      • Explore alternative dedicated dog parks for a more traditional canine experience.
    2. The Cranky Asian Man on 8B Mary Street
      • Be prepared for potential encounters with a resident who might express discontent.
      • Navigate the situation with patience and understanding.

    Lower Phoenix Park Fenced Off-Leash Dog Park, Rhodes

    Address

    This park’s maintenance leaves much to be desired, and it’s undeniably small, given the size of the population and their dogs in Rhodes. The need for additional infrastructure, including more roads and bridges, is evident to alleviate the traffic congestion, making weekends less chaotic. Bald patches are scattered around, left unaddressed, and I accepted it as the norm until I relocated to Balmain. There, I observed them diligently addressing bald spots in the grass every week or so.

    Our preference leaned toward the foreshore because it was where small and easily manageable dogs gathered. In contrast, the Lower Phoenix Park Fenced Off-Leash Dog Park was often filled with dog owners who simply unleashed their dogs, allowing them to roam while they watched YouTube. The indifference to the park’s state was apparent due to its fenced nature. The presence of large dogs like huskies puzzled me, questioning the logic of having winter dogs in this hot climate, especially in apartments. While one could maintain a comfortable temperature indoors with constant AC at 18 degrees, shouldn’t walking the dog in the summer be a consideration?

    mill park, rhodes
    히이이익

    This led me to develop a disdain for some dog owners who seemed more interested in gossiping than in exercising or walking their dogs. Despite living in Australia to escape nagging and unwanted opinions, the small Korean town within the city still managed to evoke those vibes. Post-corona, as people returned to their offices, many dogs found themselves spending the majority of their time in small apartments. Factors like unnecessary desexing, spaying, and hormone imbalances or controls led to weight gain and altered personalities, resulting in peculiar behavior. Not all, but for some.

    Unpleased with these developments, I chose to avoid the park altogether. However, this was for a few years ago, I hope that the culture and environment had improved since then.

    Pros:

    1. Proximity to 46 Walker Street
      • Extremely convenient for residents of 46 Walker Street.
      • Enjoy the luxury of a nearby location for quick access.

    Cons:

    1. Lack of Cleanliness
      • Faces issues related to cleanliness.
      • Requires attention to maintain a more hygienic environment.
    2. Limited Size and Maintenance
      • Limited space available.
      • Requires improved maintenance for a more pleasant experience.

    Mill Park Off-Leash Dog Park

    Address

    Situated in an open expanse, Mill Park is a dog-friendly haven available only from 5 pm to 9 am, (other time dogs have to be on-leash, but I’ve never seen people doing it anyway) making it an ideal retreat for the office worker. A perfect spot for a leisurely stroll with your furry friend, allowing them a chance to play upon your return.

    mill park rhodes sydney australia purple sunset no filter
    #nofilter

    During weekends, the park transforms into a unique scene, occasionally hosting individuals training their birds within a substantial net. I found this sight rather intriguing. Adjacent to Mill Park, there’s the same water feature, albeit with a somewhat unpleasant smell and a grayish hue. Surprisingly, Django seems to revel in it. I can’t help but wonder how he hasn’t developed a third eye on his forehead from imbibing the somewhat toxic concoction flowing from the Parramatta River.

    Pros:

    1. Waterfront Location
      • Ideal for dogs that enjoy water activities.
      • Offers a scenic environment for a pleasant experience.

    Cons:

    1. Lack of Fencing
      • Potential safety concern with dogs jumping into the road.
      • Increased risk of accidents with passing cars due to the absence of a fence.
    2. Disregard for Time Limit
      • Challenges with enforcing time limits, impacting overall park management.
      • Potential for conflicts among park users due to varied interpretations of rules.

    I think I will have to make this as a series too, became too long

  • Indulging in a 7-Day Food, Cheese, and Wine Marathon on the French Riviera – Nice, Nicorette and The Joys of Ignorance [3]

    The Fifth Day: Sparkling Rosé, Galette des rois(King cake)

    “I’m not going to Italy tomorrow.”

    Bordighera, Italy, is just a 45-minute drive from Nice, France. Amarea Ristorante Romolo Mare, with its lengthy name, is a beachside restaurant where we arrived around noon. It was bustling with people savoring seafood and wine. On the way there, in the car, L and the in-laws engaged in a little debate about the world’s top exporter of wine, and surprisingly, it’s Italy. Until that day, I hadn’t even thought about it; there was a general assumption that it’s France (those with their French pride). However, L, because his blood is made of wine, knew it’s Italy. So, there you go, Italy is the biggest net exporter of wine, followed by Spain, France, Chile, and Australia. On the flip side, the biggest net importing country of wine is the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, Russia, the United States, and China. The more you know!

    The weather on the day we visited was cloudy and windy. I can’t wait to go back in the summer or even spring. You might want to bring something heavy if you’re on the lighter side; I felt like I could’ve been blown away into the Mediterranean Sea.

    Mediterranean Sea

    Being the weakest drinker in the universe, I was recommended a sweet sparkling rosé, even with ice cubes, and it was de-li-cious. Not as much as the Vendanges Tardives Gewürztraminer, though. I was extra careful, taking small sips to avoid the same mistake as the previous day. While I had my sips, the in-laws started with orange wine. Contrary to what I thought, it’s not made of oranges; it’s a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, resulting in a deep orange-hued finished product. [Reference: Orange Wine]

    Anyway, I’m not at that level yet, so we can talk about the orange wine when I’m there. For now, I’m happy with sweet or/and fizzy wines on the menu.

    Italian food seems more Korean-friendly (maybe it’s universally friendly since pasta and pizza are staples). Finally, we’re not having a 10-course meal, including a cheese board and chocolate, so I couldn’t be happier. I prefer seafood over veal and venison too, but most importantly, their dessert was the best among what I had in 7 days on the French Riviera. It’s pistachio-mascarpone cream with ice cream on top. After four hours of Italian wine and seafood, pasta, L had a negroni as a dessert with a double shot of espresso. I think researchers should study his liver when he dies; it’s almost supernatural, gifted.

    restaurant romolo amarea
    restaurant was empty by 4 pm

    On the way back, we took a coastal drive instead of the highway to see Monaco and the shoreline, but I found myself stuck between a 5-year-old boy on the left and L on the right, both sleeping with mouths open and emitting sleeping gas, so I fell asleep too. Lol Monaco, next time…

    After returning to France, we visited Valbonne, a beautiful little old town with buildings dating back to the 17th century, all well-maintained. Of course, it called for a wine break (vin chaud or mulled wine). I finally could drink Coke (zero). We spontaneously bought galette des rois and pastries, returned to the in-laws to continue drinking and celebrating. L was the king of the day! Ended the second last day in France with L in a crown, and me learning the French idiom: water makes rust.

    The Sixth Day: Nice, Nicorette

    They say “water makes rust” because alcohol doesn’t, implying that it’s better to drink more wine than water.

    emoji kitchen blowing mind but still confused
    emoji-kitchen™ (built-in google pixel 8 pro)

    On our last day, we woke up for a morning stroll in Antibes. Accomplished the final foie gras sandwich, the last visit to the Antibes market. We bought saucisson in pepper and truffle flavours from the market to enjoy while walking around.

    antibe marina
    antibes morning
    saucisson
    yummo!
    friend of kevin bacon sydney alexandia NSW australia
    it’s sad, like the kevin bacon at the ground, alexandria NSW Australia

    Finally, we headed to Nice, France. For lunch, we had sandwiches at Robbi, and look at L, even wine for the sandwich, as if he wouldn’t be able to drink wine anymore once back in London.

    french cola
    french cola
    wine with sandwich

    We strolled around Nice, feeling more at home because it’s very touristy and had many Asians, including Koreans. I hoped they also explored Antibes and other areas rather than staying only in Nice because, while Nice is beautiful, it’s not the only stunning city on the French Riviera.

    hashtag i love nice
    #ILoveNICE
    nice beachfront
    like this, very long
    nice town square

    Anyways, onto the “new year, new me” project: I hadn’t been vaping since the morning, and I guess I was craving badly it. I asked L to buy me a pack of Nicorette and chose the highest dosage, thinking it would give me a better hit and reduce the craving faster. I chewed two 4mg gums in a very short time, making everyone concerned. Immediately, I experienced intense nausea, couldn’t even sit down still, and had to puke multiple times everything I had that day, including saucisson, sandwich, vanilla flan, locally made Coke, and more. I had to have a cocktail made of an orange pill and kids’ anti-nausea syrup; it tasted like a Negroni.

    random bar in nice shit mocktail and nicorette
    nicorette with sugary water mocktail(sounded very interesting on the menu), this is why i don’t like touristy areas

    I got better, and with no break, we headed to our final destination: Cinq in Tourrettes sur loup. The chef is Northern European, Swedish or Norwegian? I forgot… There also was a very serious wine lady who took wine very seriously. We started at 8 pm and finished by 11 pm, with bottles of wine and 4 or 5 courses of a shared meal, including dessert and clementines.

    wine with bird labels on
    a lot of birds on labels
    wine with bird labels on
    birds, why?
    bottles and bottles

    Seriously though, at this point, I became French and wasn’t afraid to be opinionated. French people are opinionated, and they take wine very seriously. Choosing a bottle of wine or a block of cheese takes 20-30 minutes, and then another 30 minutes is spent discussing it, including describing the taste, comparisons to ones previously they had, and compatibility with dishes. It keeps going on and on until the bottle is empty. It was, firstly, shocking, and now I am more astonished at how many words can be used when describing wine. How would I even know what a ‘short’ flavour is? It’s like the taste remains on your palate only for a brief time. For me, most white wine tastes like an expensive vinegar, red wine like a pencil water with a touch of vinegar. Only the dessert, ice, sweet kind of dangerous wines satisfy my palate so far, after the bootcamp. I don’t know if it’s a bliss or a curse to know and learn about so many flavours like this. I asked L, “How many years should I practice wine to reach your level?” He said, “Maybe it will take forever, but we keep on trying.”

    decanter
    some wines have to be poured in this kind of large jar? because they need to breath. yeah idk
    le chocolat alan ducasse
    le chocolat alan ducasse

    I remember women in laws having a debate on chocolate: LAC vs Alain Ducasse. You see, for me, all kinds of chocolate, including Reese’s and Caramello, taste like heaven. But if you know too many and have an opinion about them, you gotta fight for it.

    The seventh: Leaving Nice

    gld and platinum member luggage tags from emirates
    gold member ™
    on the way to nice international airport from antibes
    on the way to nice international airport

    We were leaving separately; L went back to London, and I returned to Sydney. For breakfast, we enjoyed leftover saucisson with coffee and took a lot of selfies so I can use them when I describe French breakfast radish. The Nice airport lounge was nothing special. I had four mini foie gras sandwiches, some jambon. I think no other lounges can beat Dubai’s, and I’ve only been to Terminal A (L said Terminal B is different, including a Moet bar, etc., but do you think I care about Moet?).

    BUT the Nice lounge had cup noodles, even in an Asian (alike) flavour!! It was enough to cure my French hangover. A very nice touch, well done Nice.

    nice International airport food
    Orangina on the rocks
    nice International airport food
    nice International airport food

    It took only 2 hours for L to get back to his place, but for me, it was a day plus 10 hours, including a 3-hour layover in Dubai. Ugh, I can’t wait to move to London already.

    wine in the freezer
    wine in the freezer
    no corkscrew
    no corkscrew
    bought a corkscrew
    cork trying to escape after being frozen 8 hours in the freezer
    hi
    wine slurpee
    wine slurpee, and i don’t have wine cup either

    Brought another syrupy wine and couldn’t wait to try it as soon as I arrived at my place. I was told to put it in the freezer while I was having a shower so I could have nicely chilled wine, but L overestimated that I have a corkscrew. No I don’t. So, I had to wait until the vintage cellar opens at 10 am the next morning. I also didn’t move it to the fridge; I left it in the freezer because I was told to keep my gins in the freezer, and I thought all kinds of alcohol could be kept in the freezer. The next morning, when I finally bought a corkscrew and a wine mouthpiece(?), the cork was already 80% popped out. When I finally could have a sip, it was like a slurpee. I really loved it, with more complexity1 that I gave up on explaining because I don’t know if it’s really from the wine or if I ruined it by freezing and defrosting it. It took 10 days to finish the bottle, and over time, the flavour changed ever so slightly. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be like this, but who cares at the end of the day.

    aged truffle cheddar from coles
    fake comté

    Comté and Truffle cheddar from Coles don’t taste the same anymore, and I miss France already. See? Ignorance is true bliss sometimes.

    1. The robe is golden yellow with light reflections, of medium intensity. The disk is bright, limpid and transparent. The wine shows youth.
      The nose is marked, pleasant and intense. We perceive a dominant of exotic scents, starfruit, banana, mango, papaya and passion fruit. The airing enhances these scents and reveals flowers, violet, candied citrus fruits, citron, orange blossom and spices, Sichuan pepper. The fragrance profile is perfect, very exotic. It is still fresh and gives a lot of pleasure.
      The onset in the mouth is dense and shows a beautiful silky and mellow touch. The alcohol support is well-balanced. The wine evolves on an incisive medium, marked by a sparkling note. We find the same aromas as on the nose, still dominated by banana, starfruit, papaya, mango, passion fruit, flowers, violet, citron, orange blossom, spices, candied ginger and Sichuan pepper. We perceive a fine tasty bitterness. The finish has a long length, 11-12 caudalies, as well as a light bitterness and a fine persistent liveliness.
      The balance of this wine shows a beautifully digestible liqueur, compensated by a fantastic liveliness that purifies the tasting and the aromatic radiance of the grape variety. ↩︎

  • Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: 16 Years with Apple, My Unexpected Switch, and the Sleep Mystery

    I got pixel in 29th October 2023 primarily because I liked the built-in Emoji Kitchen™, allowing me to mix emojis and create a whole set of new ones. You can try it out here. The decision was also influenced by the iPhone 13 Mini constantly bothering me with system updates, as I don’t have Wi-Fi at home and it always requires Wi-Fi, but I don’t want to use public Wi-Fi. Frustrated with the iPhone’s issues(became a brick at some point), I impulsively bought the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Surprisingly, my iPhone started working perfectly again after I signed the contract. Additionally, I grew tired of Tim Cook’s repetitive iPhone releases without any real innovation, missing the days of Steve and the Apple cult. I also criticized iPhone users(around me) as lazy conformists because I see many upgrading their iPhones every year without much thought, simply because they can. I didn’t want to be someone who says, “I like to be a blue bubble when I text someone”—it’s just silly Apple pride. Over two decades, I’ve used various Apple products, including iMacs, MacBooks, iPads, Mac Mini, Airport, and even the Apple Pencil, destroyed by my dog along with my AirPods.

    a broken apple pencil
    thanks

    I did cheat on Steve a few times with Blackberries but never considered switching to Android until I discovered Emoji Kitchen, and I can’t stand the Samsung phone please, gosh so ugly.

    After only three months of using the Google Pixel 8 Pro, I’m contemplating returning to being Apple’s loyal hoe for several reasons:

    Alarm Malfunction

    The alarm not going off twice has become a perplexing part of my routine, and to be fair, it might be because I couldn’t hear it due to its 14% volume.

    [missed alarm] your alarm volume was low: 14%
    i couldn’t hear anything
    [missed alarm] your alarm volume was low: 14%
    seriously but thanks for letting me know

    This has never happened to me with an iPhone.

    Lately, my sleep patterns have been unusual, with an average of 12 hours per day. In comparison, I used to sleep a more typical 8 hours daily. I find myself wondering why I’ve been sleeping like a hibernating Winnie the Pooh. Eliminating the possibility of pregnancy (as I recently finished my menstrual cycle) and dismissing jet lag(after sleeping excessively last week, seemingly compensating for any sleep debt), I explore alternative explanations. Drawing a parallel with rodents like rabbits and chinchillas that don’t sleep deeply due to the constant need for vigilance against predators, I contemplate the idea that a lifetime of anxiety about an uncertain future might have conditioned me to sleep with one eye open. However, I now find myself in a relatively comfortable situation, which perhaps explains my recent deep, prolonged slumbers—feeling like the king of the jungle or a top-level predator.

    hi

    If this hypothesis doesn’t hold, I point fingers at Django, my dog, who sleeps like a log all day and emits some kind of sleep-inducing gas, maybe even transmittable—I jest, but who knows?

    django: life with no worries

    Alternatively, I blame the time zone difference caused by L being in New York this week. I just got used to an 11-hour time difference, and now it’s 16 hours. That might mess with my sleep.

    Despite these speculations, L suggests that my recent lifestyle changes, particularly cutting out refined sugars and processed foods, might be causing my body to detox. He believes that the stress on my body from this drastic change, coupled with overall stress levels, could be overwhelming. I think it makes sense, leading to a forceful shutdown similar to an iOS update that turns off and on multiple times? The quest to unravel the mystery behind my extended and unusual sleep continues, fueled by these intriguing possibilities.

    Phone Size

    The size is too big, requiring two hands and hindering multitasking. I prefer a smaller phone that I can use with one hand.

    Issues with iCloud

    I pay $15 a month for iCloud, but there’s no dedicated Android app; it can only be accessed via web browsers, limiting its functionality.

    Google Play Store Being Tight Ass

    Refund Rejections and Subscription Woes. Unlike the Apple App Store, I faced rejection when attempting refunds for unwanted auto-subscriptions. Trying to trim down my unnecessary luxuries, like YouTube PREMIUM, I can’t fathom why canceling the subscription is such a challenge, especially when Google owns YouTube. Is it really that difficult?

    Video Zooming is Way Too Laggy

    The ‘Google Play Store Being Tight Ass‘ is just me being plainly stupid, in NOT canceling the plan before the monthly subscription ended. This(video zoom being laggy) is mechanical or software faulty whatnot and Non-negotiable frustration. Despite trying various methods, I can’t find a way to achieve the smooth zoom-in and out experience that the iPhone offers.

    Airdrop

    My usual documentation process involves searching for the right photo or video in the “photo” app and Airdropping it to my laptop or desktop. However, none of these seamless transfers work with Android. As a workaround, I now manually select the pictures and videos I want to use, send them through WhatsApp-web, and download them from there. iMac and MacBook fail to recognize Google Pixel 8 Pro as a portable storage or a removable disk too, leading to more confusion! FRUSTRATION!!!!

    Pixel watch LTE not working

    Because it is so big(that’s what she said), I bought the Pixel Watch LTE so i don’t have to bring the big ass phone everywhere. However it doesn’t work with Vodafone yet. Had to refund it at JB Hi-Fi Macquarie Centre. Kudos to the staff there who was confident about availability across all telecom companies in Australia, but unfortunately, he was very wrong. It’s currently only available with Telstra in Australia.

    Despite these issues, I hesitate to return to Apple because:

    1. Pixel Buds Pro and Otter Box: I’ve invested in Pixel Buds Pro, which Django hasn’t eaten yet, and a robust Otter Box. Those aren’t cheap.
    2. Three-Year Plan: I committed to a three-year plan.
    3. Ego Crash: L keeps saying, “I told you,” and I’m reluctant to add another item to the “L told you so” list.
    but i can use these thanks

  • Indulging in a 7-Day Food, Cheese, and Wine Marathon on the French Riviera – Gewürztraminer, LAC Chocolatier [2]

    The Third Day: New Year’s Eve

    Antibes sunrise
    antibes 8 am
    Antibes Marina sunrise
    sun is lazy here

    Although I remained bewildered and stunned by my first-ever family dinner marathon experience from the previous night, we embarked on another round of wine and cheese shopping early in the morning. Don’t misunderstand me, I enjoy shopping at various places such as Maloney’s, QE, perhaps some hidden IGAs, and even Harris Farm. What they offer is distinct from what Colesworth has on their shelves. I spend hours there reveling in the packaging and labels; it’s a delight! (Just not two days in a row…) In Antibes, there are gourmet shops lined up one after another, each specializing in specific items. Some exclusively sell wines, others focus on cheeses, and there are even shops dedicated to foie gras (they craft sandwiches in a corner of the shop, and it’s the best—I need to discuss it separately in a dedicated post). Olive and olive oil shops, as well as establishments offering a bit of everything for a sharkboard(charcuterie board), saucisson, and jambon, also abound. These specialized products seem to have been meticulously chosen by the owners, showcasing their refined taste cultivated over years of experience.

    As for the butcher, you can tell them what you want to cook and the desired texture. After a thorough discussion with the qualified butcherist (butcher + artist), you may determine the specific cut of meat to purchase. No wonder there are no overweight people in France; they take their eating and drinking seriously.

    random cheese shop in antibes
    more cheese
    Bubble tea in monoprix
    found my item in monoprix
    dinner table ready at 7

    Buying more cheese from here, some from there, additional wine, champagne, and yet more wine from another shop, and then indulging in some cakes from the chocolate shop… At that point, I started wondering if we could actually finish all this food. Dinner kicked off at 7 pm with mussels in parsley butter, followed by the first main course of beef and veggies. Then came another cut of beef with veggies, and we wrapped it up with a cheese platter (I still think Comté is the best, and anything with truffle is good too. Someday, I want to teach my dog to find truffles).

    django
    meanwhile my dog
    new year's eve dinner
    asian mimosa

    The night before, when I had a cheese board from the restaurant, I couldn’t have a certain kind of goat cheese. However, on this day, I could because there was blue cheese next to it. The goat cheese became very mild next to the blue cheese. I thought gorgonzola equaled blue cheese, and in Korea, the gorgonzola + honey combo is quite common and popular. Possibly, they(Korean) put 10% of it in pizza, with the other 90% being substitutes, I think; otherwise, it’s almost overpoweringly stinky—it hurts my nostrils like wasabi.

    new year's eve cheese
    cat under the Christmas tree
    are you tired? me too
    new year's eve dessert
    chocolate ice cream cake from LAC chocolatier
    the best
    new year's eve fireworks (but not showing in the photo)

    Desserts came around, and I decided to spice up my champagne with Orangina. I jokingly called it the “Asian Mimosa.” I took a sip, added more Orangina, repeated, and by the countdown, it was pretty much full-on Orangina. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Bonne Année! We kissed, danced, took a selfie, and got into a chat about capitalism, fascism, and the whole wedding ring thing (should you always wear it or is it okay to skip?). The New Year’s Eve dinner marathon was finally wrapping up. We tried to get an Uber from 1 am for hours, but no luck. We could’ve stayed there, but we really wanted to do our New Year’s lewd exercise, so “I” took the wheel and drove on the wrong side of the road for about 30 minutes.

    The takeaway from this day is that it was the largest, longest family dinner I’ve ever had, totaling 12 heads (including 1 newborn and 2 well-behaved children). I’m still in shock, overwhelmed, sleeping 12 hours a day, even though it happened two weeks ago. L doesn’t understand but calls me a lizard.

    The Fourth Day: Cannes, New Year’s Day

    random people in cannes
    i don’t know them but thought they were cute
    random people in cannes
    european enjoying sun is cute

    Cannes’ beach is filled with boujee beach clubs, reminiscent of Seminyak, Bali, but with more of a European vibe and fewer Australians. Luxury hotel chains and jewelry shops line the beachfront, and the beach walk was bustling with crowds celebrating New Year’s Day, even though the shops were closed. It was okay, though, as those shops are usually open almost 24/7 in Dubai Mall.

    Today, we’re indulging in seafood! We started with prawns and langoustines (scampi). L had norovirus in London and was sick for days, so no oysters for him. He suggested that a cup of scotch can kill all viruses and germs, though, which seemed ridiculous.

    ortiz tuna and sardines in a bottle
    korean tuna in a can
    I like Korean tuna cans more

    L bought a bottle of wine specifically for me on New Year’s Eve.

    Gewürztraminer Vendange Tardive
    Gewürztraminer Vendange Tardive

    and it was time for me to try it. L was very confident, saying I’ll like it for sure, and he was right. When we were together in France, I involuntarily, strictly restricted my sugar consumption. For example, I couldn’t have two milk teas a day, and L moved away the chocolate box from me whenever I tried sneaking a chocolate.

    a half emptied box of chocolate
    but anyway I finished a box when I was alone again

    This wine is genuinely sweet. You know how many times people say, ‘Oh, this wine is sweet, moscato, blah blah,‘ but it’s not actually sweet? This isn’t like that. It’s not even like a cup of grape juice; it’s sweet like honey water, with no other flavors (no sourness and bitterness) but sweet, like lychees or nougat. This wine is thick and oily. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could describe alcohol as ‘oily,’ but if you think about isopropyl, it’s oily and slippery and it’s alcohol at the same time. I was going to say the texture is like lubricant but not as thick as lube if I didn’t know I can say wine is oily. It’s creamy and syrupy; how can I not like it? I gulped half a cup of it in 15 minutes. It was that tasty, considering I was craving sugar so badly. By the time I was so drunk that I didn’t know what was going on at the table, L cooked his specialty dish: fish, and I couldn’t even try. I said I wanted to lie down urgently; my vision was blurry, and I was breathing heavily. And… I slept for three hours. L came to the room and checked on me every hour, but I didn’t want to get up and do things; I just felt too awful to wake up. After all, I was told about the ‘sugar rush,‘ so the moral of the story on New Year’s Day is: don’t drink sweet wine or any sweet alcohol too fast, especially if you are weak like me; it will ruin your whole day in 15 minutes.

    Upon our return, I had a tantrum, expressing my uncertainty with tears, saying, “I don’t know if I can do this(dinner, wine marathon) anymore, booo hoooo.” L misunderstood my intention, thinking I was referring to our relationship. This led to an argument that night, during which I bluntly stated, “I’m not going to Italy tomorrow.” Continue reading