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One Small Step 12 Oct 2012 7:05 PM (13 years ago)

Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong after his historic moonwalk. Credit: NASA

On a warm summer's night in the middle of nowhere, I found out that Neil Armstrong had passed away. A famously reclusive man who inspired generations to go where no one had gone before. In part, he was the reason I wanted to become an engineer. With the steady decline of NASA's budget and mandate since his walk, I'm not sure young kids will have the same dreams to strive for.

Time's Obituary.

The Art of Science and Cooking 25 Jul 2012 1:46 PM (13 years ago)

Two of my favourite things are food and science.  Not to be mistaken with Food Science. That's a whole other kettle of fish. I'm talking about stripping down food to it's basic components and then reassembling them into something exquisite. The folks over at Modernist Cuisine are trying to do just that. These series of videos Tested produced on their recent visit to Modernist Cuisine's kitchen excite the imagination. 

I tend to lean towards baking whenever I attempt to cook. The precise measurements and times gives me sense of control that I find comforting. If something goes wrong I can usually trace the source of the error. Not so in cooking, where a myriad of things could have affected the outcome. I think that's what appeals to me about their approach to cooking. It's precise. 

Modernist Cuisine has a series of cookbooks detailing their methods, but at $500 it way out of my reach. The good news is they are releasing a home version for about $150 on October 8th. Now that's something I can save my pennies nickels for.

MCA - The Beastie Boys 4 May 2012 7:23 PM (13 years ago)

The last few years I haven't been really listening to a lot of music. I usually rely on my friends to keep me up to date on what's topping the charts. When asked by dream on rainy days for music to play for my birthday last year, all I could muster was Michael Jackson and The Beastie Boys. 

I was stunned to learn of the recent passing of Adam Yauch(MCA of the Beastie Boys). I knew he had cancer, but I didn't realize how severe it had gotten. Just last year they released a new album, which I quickly devoured, and a few weeks ago they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yauch was admitted to hospital the same day. 

Their music has always been apart of my youth, my life. A constant background noise. Comforting. Permanent. It was like an out of body experience when I found out a Beastie Boys had died. You think they would always be around, and suddenly they aren't. 

This slight brush with death has reminded me to not take for granted the ones who are close to me. To tell them you care and to be there for them when they need you. Because when death is not just a cool breeze, but a knock on the door or a phone call, you will need them more than anything.

I had always found it odd that Fight For Your Right was their best known track. It's not representative of their usual sound. That rhythmic, mic-passing style that they do so well. You can't pick your hits I guess. For my money Intergalactic was where it was at.

My Trini Accent(Or Lack Thereof) 18 Feb 2012 12:16 PM (13 years ago)

Many people I meet are surprised to find out that I'm Trinidadian. Even colleagues I've worked with for years find it hard to believe. It's probably due to my lack of an accent. That instantly recognizable speech pattern that Trinidadians are known for the world over.

I lost mine after moving to Canada at a very young age. It took a while though. Conversations with my Canadian cousin about the proper way to pronounce the word "bat-a-re" - or "bat-tree" as I argued - are vivid in my memory. In recent years, I've see this type of conversation pop up again as to what's the "correct" way to pronounce certain words.

"Speak to me in your accent." It's a request I've gotten over and over that I can't seem to fulfill. But where did my accent go? Did it gradually faded away as I acclimatized to my new life in Canada or had I taken an active role in its eradication? Honestly, I'm not sure, but it's probably a combination of both. 

I didn't really have many Trini friends growing up in my new surroundings as I mostly hung out with Asian, East Indian, and Caucasian kids. I would try and fit in and a weird accent was not part of the plan. 

Even my parents, who have now lived in Canada longer than they lived back home have mellowed their accent to barely a trace. To me at least. I find it surprising that it only takes a few words for others to place them as Trini, even when they sound like a typical Canadian.

To be fair, I can speak with an accent, but it takes considerable effort. I have to carefully construct how it is supposed to sound and even then, it takes too much effort to sustain it and I tire quickly. When I'm back in T&T, it comes to me more naturally, because there are examples all around and it's just a matter of recalling overheard words and creating the sentence I want. 

That conversation of pronunciation was not by accident. Now that my circle of friends includes a Trinidadian with an accent, it happens regularly. The conversation then turns to me, in which I nod in agreement at my fellow countryman, but do not engage in and I'm ask once again: "Speak to me in your accent." They continue, "Why don't you have an accent? It's a sexy accent."  But of course I cannot oblige. I've lost it somewhere along the way, and I don't know if I can ever find it again. Even if I desperately want to.  

Bejeweled: The Making of a Bracelet 10 Feb 2012 6:02 AM (13 years ago)

A good friend of mine's birthday is coming up. The kind of friend where it's impossible to find a gift for. Surely, as they are a close friend, I could pick up something I know they'd like? But as a close friend I want to get them something they would love. I decided to take a chance and make some jewellery. I would make them a bracelet. It is a risk because they would either love it or chuck it in a drawer and never wear it.

I got the idea form this blog post. Which was very helpful and I recommend you check out their other DIY projects.

I have never made any kind of jewelry before so this project was very daunting. I first had to determine if it was even feasible. I went to several jewellery/bead shops asking for advice and checking if they had all of the materials. I was finally able to collect all the items. There was one change, however from the instructions. The clasp used in the blog was changed for a more reliable type based on the recommendation of a elderly shop owner.

Supplies

One minor dilemma that occurred was determining the length of her wrist in order to cut the chain, but that was quickly obtained with the help of a friend(Team Blue!) at a recent boardgame night during the holidays.

Early stagesIt was slow going in the beginning. The black cord, infuratingly, would not stay stright. I got the hang of it eventually but there are still some sections that never quite sit right. The clasps required the rotation of two pliers which was a little tricky.

Finished bracelet

At the top you can see the finished product. It's not bad for a first attempt, but the real test is yet to come. Wish me luck!

The Professional Kitchen 9 Nov 2011 9:12 AM (13 years ago)

When I was in high school, I was watching a local variety show when Anthony Bourdain, then referred to as Tony Bourdain, came on to promote his new book: Kitchen Confidential. I instantly liked the cut of his jib. For some reason, Miss Dream on Rainy Days remembers this(and the fact that I don't like to read) and got me the audiobook. It's read by the author himself, which I like due to his salty vocabulary. 

One particular section that resonated with me was the chapter on what it's like to work in a professional kitchen. In many ways it's similar to my own experiences in that environment. The copius amounts swearing and sexual innuendo. Getting cuts and burns, taping it up and getting back to work without complaining. Kitchen staff having a general mistrust of the front crew. Being sick or late or lazy not being tolarated. But mostly, having to work weekends when everyone else is off. Missing dinners, birthday, and holidays. 

I ended up picking up a paperback copy of Kitchen Confidential, not to read, just to put on my bookshelf in case I ever want to refer to it.

Growing Up Geek: Apple 7 Oct 2011 6:21 PM (14 years ago)

Apple homepage remembering Steve Jobs

The recent passing of Steve Jobs, Apple and Pixar CEO, got me thinking of the first computer I ever used. An Apple computer. I was in 3rd grade. The teacher was asking some sort of question that I got right. The reward was time on the class computer. I had never touched a computer before, but I was able to use it without any instruction. That is the core of Apple. Designing technology that was easy to use as well as a powerful tool. The intersection of technology and liberal arts. I spent the rest of lunch time playing Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

I'm not going to go into my later love/hate relationship with Apple's products and decisions over the 20 years subsequent. That's a post for another time. As for Growing Up Geek, I think I may continue this series in the future.

Now You're Playing With Power 18 Aug 2011 7:01 AM (14 years ago)

Nintendo vs Apple

Nintendo has been enjoying record success during the most recent console cycle. With the Wii and the DS selling like hot cakes, the risk they took on motion controls and touch screen gaming seemed to have paid off. However, Nintendo's fortunes have taken a sharp down turn recently. The Wii's sales have dropped significantly and their freshly launched 3DS has not been selling a well as predicted.

There has been a lot of discussion as to the cause of Nintendo's recent woes, most of which seem to center around the idea that motion gaming is a novelty and that there is no compelling reason to own a 3DS.

Increasingly in recent years the smartphone is becoming a convergent device. It has already replaced my point-and-shoot camera, my iPod, my GPS, and my PSP. Why carry around all that when your smartphone can do most of those functions, if not the best, at an acceptable level?

As for the games on the mobile space, there is a huge price gap between a 99 iPhone game and a $40 DS cartridge. Granted the games on the 3DS have a high production value, but is that really necessary for a game you want to pick-up and play for 5-10min while on the subway or waiting for a bus?

At the 99¢  price point, developers are allowed to take more risks and have come up with some truly innovative games for the smartphone, but on the 3DS, publishers are not willing to invest the $5-10 million on a game unless they know it will be a success. The market is filled with a bunch of remakes and squeals as a result. Nintendo's President recently apologized for the companies' failings in an open letter. It was surprising to hear a executive speak so frankly on the matter.

In a world where everyone will soon own a smartphone that can do most of what they want reasonably well, I fear that the dedicated gaming hand-held is going the way of the Dodo.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Thoughts 29 Jun 2011 8:56 AM (14 years ago)

I saw Transformers: Dark of the Moon last night and I've been struggling to figure out if I liked it or not.  A little back story: I was a fan of the 80s TV show and toys. So when the first Transformers movie came out I was dismayed at what Bay had done to the character designs. Then when I saw Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen I felt as if they had mutated the franchise into a CGI tech demo.  I came into Dark of the Moon with very low expectations. How much worse could it possibly get? 

First, let me talk about the action scenes, because you don't see this movie for the story.  These were some of the best actions scenes I have ever seen. Not only the quality of the CGI, which was expertly done by ILM, or the fight chorography, but the scale.  The scale of these scenes are incredible. In the last 45min action scene, a building is severed in half as our heroes are still inside.

The 3-D was just as impressive. Bay used the same crew from Avatar, and it shows. Moviegoers are getting tired of bad post-production ports of 3-D movies and have stopped spending the extra money on those tickets. But when 3-D is done well, it is worth the extra money. Something you can't get at home(yet). 

If you're going to see a Michael Bay movie, you're going to see a spectacle. Bay shoots women like they're cars, and cars like they're women. Everything is this movie is sexy and shiny. It's like having cake with ice cream topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. It is so good, but you can't eat too much. The last action scene was like that for me. It was constantly at eleven for what seemed like 45min. 

Part of why I felt it dragged was because the movie was so schizophrenic. One minute you're in an action movie next you're laughing at hangover style humor next you're your in a buddy cop film with a quirky sidekick. It felt like I was watching several movies and considering the runtime, I could have.

The story is nonsensical and is barely worth a mention because there barely is any.  The relationship between LaBeouf and the android like Huntington-Whiteley is hardly believable in the best of circumstances. There is little chemistry between them.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon not a very good movie, but you should go see it. Go see it because it is about the spectacle and not the story. Go see it in 3-D because it's actually good 3-D.  Go see it because it is cheesy, has hot actors, fast cars, and great action.  Go see it because it is summer and this is a summer blockbuster through and through.

F1: The Number One Formula 6 May 2011 2:38 PM (14 years ago)

Jenson Button - McLaren MP4-26

I just wanted to do a quick blog post about one of my favourite sports Formula 1(F1). The season is only three races old and there is no shortage of excitement, pomp and circumstance. The last race in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix saw Mark Webber start 18th and finish 3rd while the win, by Lewis Hamilton, wasn't decided until 4 laps from the end. 

F1 combines two things I'm passionate about: Sports and Technology. The Technical Regulations have really made the races this year pretty unpredictable. Particularly, the departing of Bridgestone and the introduction of Pirelli. Pirelli have been tasked with the unusual goal of making their tyres less durable. This single rule has upended all the team's strategies this year.

I cannot wait until the season moves to europe starting with Turkey this weekend. Won't you join me in watching?

Sebastian Vettel (Current World Champion) in the drivers parade at the Chinese Grand Prix