Low Key Attempt at Nostalgic Hanging Decor

Here's a low key attempt at photographing some intended nostalgic decor at Fat Spoon at Uptown Damansara. You can clearly see a hanging light bulb, a food container and in the shadows a cattle. Didn't do much editing except for some minor sharpening and saturation through Instagram.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 30, 2015 at 8:04am PDT

Confusion

It was a bad Monday and this photo pretty much sums up how confusing and "noisy" the day was.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 27, 2015 at 7:48am PDT

An Encounter with Nana's Green Tea

What was supposed to be just drinks on a Sunday became a full lunch. On a mission for a quick drink, my partner and I stumbled upon this place called Nana's Green Tea. We were attracted by its parfait photo put up on Instagram by a relative last year. Only reminded by the promotional signage (indeed, placement of signage is very important!) on the way up from 1 Utama's parking, we headed there without hesitation.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 26, 2015 at 6:56am PDT

The set meals seemed like a deal at RM21.90 each considering that the food itself already exceeded that price if you ordered ala carte, what more there was also a drink that would come with the set (not that RM21.90 is cheap by any means). Presented with not much of food choice (especially if you compare with chains like Sushi Tei, Sakae Sushi, etc.), we ordered the Salmon Don and Loco Hamburg sets with Azuki Latte (red bean) and Matcha Latte, respectively. Note the loose usage of the word latte which we normally associate with coffee together with milk. There were no coffee in the drinks today.

The portions were reasonable and the food acceptable. Nothing to shout about but nothing to really criticise either. I particularly like the Matcha Latte - it tasted almost like concentrated milk green tea. I was geared for a normal milky green tea (I was silently wishing for an ice-blended but there was no such option with the set) until I tasted it. Very satisfying if you don't mind the slight bitterness of green tea overdose. :D

We almost gave up on dessert because of a heavy breakfast but being kiasu Malaysians, we decided to order the Matcha "Nama Chocolate" Parfait. I'm at a lost because I didn't taste any chocolate but the rest of the stuff - green tea and vanilla ice-cream,  red bean, cornflakes, whipped cream, green tea jelly - made for a good dessert. No regrets here.

If you are looking for a Japanese meal, the limited food menu might not satisfy you. 2/5

However, if Japanese desserts (primarily green tea-based) are what you fancy, this could be one of the place for ya. 4/5

Looking for ambience while you enjoy your desserts? I particularly like the ceiling and the reflection off its surrounding glazing. It's bright and a place to hangout for a couple of hours. Good air-conditioning, too. 3/5

Yes, I would like to return to try out more of its parfait and other green tea-based drinks but I'm in no hurry to do that anytime soon, though. 3/5

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 26, 2015 at 7:36am PDT

Jaring in Liquidation

Malaysia's first mass internet service provider and also my first service provider to get connected to the outside world back in the 90s, Jaring, is now in liquidation. I've almost forgotten about Jaring and those days of dialup internet using a modem.

I could still remember the need to dial a local phone number and when the connection slowed, became unstable or there were tonnes of people connected to it, we struggle to find other numbers to dialup. Connections were faster during the wee hours of morning. Connection was charged by the minute with the first 20 hours free (or something like that). Charges went up when Telekom decided that they, too, will charge local calls by the minute. Later on, a general 1511 with discounted local call rate would automatically connect us to a Jaring local number. We've come so far now with mobile internet being faster than typical copper broadband that dialup belongs in the history books.

It's still sad to know that despite being the pioneer, Jaring could not keep up. Well, there's still hope as long as Jaring still exists... so all the best to you!

via The Malaysian Insider.

Panda Goodness: Xin Xin's falling

@natgeo continues with more panda goodness on their Instagram:

Video by @amivitale #onassignment for @natgeo. Watch as a panda named Sen Sen pushes Xin Xin out of a tree at the Gengda Giant Panda base that is part of the Wolong Natural Reserve and China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. #panda #ipanda #pandacub #giantpanda #wolong #sichuan #china #natureispeaking #nikon #nikonambassador #nikonnofilter #amivitale #photojournalism @ipandacam @natgeocreative @thephotosociety @nikonusa

A video posted by National Geographic (@natgeo) on Apr 24, 2015 at 2:41pm PDT

Earth Day Desserts

Looks like some awesome desserts best taken on Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, folks! Remember to love the Earth just as much even on normal days.

via flickr blog.

"Chewie, we're home."

That's what you get to hear an ageing Han Solo say to his pal in the second teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There're also a crashed Star Destroyer, X-Wings and TIE Fighters, too! If you're really curious, head on to here to check out the analysis of the teaser trailer.

And just in case you miss the first teaser, here it is with the real BB-8 rolling on:

Extra: There will also a BB-8 toy coming soon. GASP!

The First Batman v Superman Teaser Trailer

The 2016 movie is teased in the trailer below:

It's such a bleak and sad trailer. It's like the world is going to end soon. :(

Top of the bird's nest fern

I had always wanted to take a photo of the bird's nest fern from the top but never got to it. Who knows the opportunity came about when I was about to finish my last appointment of the day which I was not too enthusiastic about.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 16, 2015 at 7:59am PDT

Mother Panda and Her Cub

A panda and her cub Too lovely not to share.

A photo posted by National Geographic (@natgeo) on Apr 12, 2015 at 9:36pm PDT

via natgeo.

Snapseed 2.0 for iOS Update

At last, Google's Snapseed is able to do what I had always hoped it could with its latest iOS 2.0 update (along with a whole new interface), especially the highlighted one below:

• Stacks allow you to re-edit any image
• Copy your edits from one image to another
• 5 new filters including Lens Blur, Tonal Contrast and Glamour Glow, previously a premium feature
• Lens blur that’s adjustable in all directions
• Brush tools to apply effects to sections of an image
• Spot Repair for detailed editing, healing, and retouching
• Transform adjusts perspective across vertical and horizontal axes, then fills in empty areas after rotations

I had always longed for one single photo editing app on mobile that can do everything. Perhaps this could be it.

And it's got a nice new app icon, too! 

via App Store.

Wallpapers That Remind You to Stay Away From Your Phone

Do you look at your phone one too many times? Are you developing the obsessive behaviour of reaching for your all the time, sometimes just to switch it on and look at your home screen? Or are you twitting away every step of your life but forgot those around you? Or taking photos of everything, even the mundane stuff every other second? If you're guilty of some or worse, ALL, then these wallpapers will help.

via Huffington Post.

Star Trek - Green Lantern Crossover

I don't know, guys. A Star Trek and Green Lantern comics crossover this summer? It's difficult for me to visualise how the Federation will boldly go where no one has gone before during the brightest days and the blackest nights. I can't take it! I can't!

STAR TREK/GREEN LANTERN: THE SPECTRUM WAR is six-part monthly mini-series and will be written by veteran Star Trek comic writer Mike Johnson with interior art by Angel Hernandez (INFINITE CRISIS: FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE, ARROW). STAR TREK/GREEN LANTERN: THE SPECTRUM WAR #1 will be available in stores and online in July, boasting covers from Gabriel Rodriguez,Francesco Francavilla,Elsa Charretier, and Garry Brown. Following issues will feature covers from an amazing lineup that includes Declan Shalvey, Marc Laming, and more!

via Newsarama.

Fractals and Mandelbrot

This is, obviously, a photo taken under a tree but somehow, it reminds me of Fractals and Mandelbrot sets. These are complex mathematical stuff that go on and one. I got to know about these during my Atari ST days. It was hot stuff during that time. People were writing software to generate them.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Apr 4, 2015 at 9:18pm PDT

Penang Scholarship

The Penang government is introducing the Penang Future Foundation scholarship, starting with RM20 million. Malaysians aged below 25 years with household income of less than RM15,000 are eligible to apply. There's only one catch which isn't really a catch after all - the scholars are required to work in Penang for one year with any organisation of their choice for every RM20,000 received.

via The Sun Daily.