LGBT Pride Colours

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As I noticed more and more people/publishers/etc. replace their social media profile photos with supposedly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride colours to join in the celebration of legalised same sex marriage in the US, I wonder if some of them knew what the colours meant and if they got the correct representation because for one, I didn't until I did a search today.

The ever awesome Wikipedia had the answer, so check it out here to get it right. The original pride flag actually had 8 colours as below while subsequent versions became 7 and eventually 6:

hot pink: sexuality

red: life

orange: healing

yellow: sunlight

green: nature

turquoise: magic/art

indigo/blue: serenity/harmony

violet: spirit

While we are at it, did you know there are other symbols that represent LGBT? Once again, Wikipedia had the info. Did you also know how the word 'gay' eventually mean homosexual? Today I Found Out had this covered.

Polaroid Cube/Cube+

View image | gettyimages.com

I got all excited when I first heard of the Polaroid Cube and subsequently, the follow-up Cube+. It's small, it's US$100 (US$150 for the Cube+), it takes videos and photos, it's small, lightweight, shockproof and weatherproof. The Cube+ even makes up for the original's shortfall, that is it comes with Wifi and accompanying app for iOS and Android that allows the smartphones to be the viewfinder (the Cube/Cube+ do not have any means of a display). Sounds like it's got everything that a guy that's interested in photography and some video should get one to play with.

Unfortunately, after reading the reviews here and here, and after my mind started to cool off, I can't find any reasons for me to consider one. Video quality not too good, no stabiliser, and photo quality can be better. Sadly and most importantly, no spare cash. No doubt that if I have loads of cash, I would surely acquire one to just go around snapping photos at random. Would be interesting to see what the results could be at the end of the day when I plug it in.

Well, this toy is just not for me... yet.

Blue X

Part of a very blue grill. A very, very blue metal grill.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 27, 2015 at 6:56am PDT

Hot Chocolate Art - The Milky Way

It's amazing how latte art actually spread to soup and hot chocolate. I was quite sure I saw our very own Milky Way Galaxy in there.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 26, 2015 at 7:09am PDT

Radiation Drink

Here you go. A bottle of glowing green liquid.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 22, 2015 at 6:26am PDT

Soup Art

Do you know that you can make art out of everything? In this case it's soup art. Looks like a plum.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 17, 2015 at 6:42am PDT

A Stalk of Rose

Though not in its full bloom and possibly in the process of drying up, it's always nice to have some plants (in this case, a rose) in an otherwise concrete and wood restaurant. I was wondering how I could make the photo greater by doing something with the angle and the shadow but I didn't get it. :(

Crime Scene Investigation ends run with 2-hour finale, leaving behind in its wake lacklustre CSI: Cyber

Along with the rest of the world, I became a CSI fan. I tagged along to become a CSI: Miami and CSI: New York fan as well. The two spinoffs ended earlier and now, after 15 seasons, it's the original's turn. What better way to go than with a 2 hour long finale, bringing back Gil Grissom (oh yes, my all time favourite character among all the CSIs and its spinoffs) and Catherine Willows.

Meanwhile, the CSI legacy continues through CSI: Cyber albeit not a very popular one. Current CSI leading man Ted Danson is set to join the second season. I've just watched the premiere episode and was not very impressed. There wasn't anything to differentiate it from typical crime dramas even as cyberspace goes. The first three CSIs were already very high on tech. I get it that it's got some very big shoes to fill but it looked like it's still searching for the right size.

All the best in the next season. I'd hate to see a year without any CSIs. 

via CSI Files.

Yeah, baby! What fun it'll be to solve another crime with this crew. #CSI pic.twitter.com/kR3MpPVVdM

— Marg Helgenberger (@MargHelgen) May 13, 2015

Dessert Art

I didn't quite get it when dessert came because art is difficult to interpret so I will just admire it and appreciate a great meal on an awesome day.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 11, 2015 at 8:11am PDT

Samsung's Latest S6 Ads Standing on Edge

View image | gettyimages.com

I get it if fans of certain products get angry offended whenever a rival comes out with ads that criticise specific features while showing off their superiority. Samsung is one that's synonymous with its ads against Apple.

I am amazed, though, that Samsung's recent couple of ads showcasing the company's S6 wireless charging and curved screen technologies received quite the backlash. If the rumours are true that the S6 phones are not selling that well, I guess it's high time Samsung REALLY change tactics and focus.

Water in Perspective

It's amazing that all of us were wowed at the same time by this manmade water fountain in a newly reopened shopping complex, the Atria Shopping Gallery. It's nostalgia for Petaling Jaya citizens because this mall existed for a couple of decades at least before it was torn down and rebuilt to what it is today.

Traffic Jams a Blur

I get increasingly impatient whenever I get stuck in a traffic jam. Sometimes, it's easy to spot inconsiderate drivers who make things worse. It blurs the line between good and evil. Ok, I might be exaggerating a little.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 5, 2015 at 6:57am PDT

It Was a Rainy Night

I was leaving my workplace when I realised the sky had opened up. Not wanting to go all the way up to the office to get my umbrella, I braved the rain to my transport. On the way home, I noticed rain water streaming down the road. It was my intention to try to capture that but instead I got all of these: car headlights, blur and reflected raindrops in the foreground and, of course, the rainwater flowing down the street.

It's going to be a cooling night.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 3, 2015 at 7:48am PDT

The Mighty Ang Ku Kuih (紅龜粿)

A colleague bought us these mighty Chinese "pastry" that had sticky skin on the outside and green bean paste inside. Wikipedia calls it the red tortoise cake because of its resemblance to a tortoise shell. Its Chinese writing is 紅龜粿 and pronounced as "ang ku kuih".

Red tortoise cakes are shaped like tortoise shells because the Chinese traditionally believed that eating tortoises would bring longevity to those who are eating it and bring about good fortune and prosperity.

Due to modernisation, these cakes come in a variety of colours, fillings and flavours. As demonstrated today, perhaps because of profiteering, these guys come in smaller sizes. I felt like the ang ku kuih of today could be half the size of the ang ku kuih of yesteryears. Well, giving the benefit of the doubt, I suppose it could be shortage of ingredients... yeah right.

A photo posted by @ionbuck on Jun 2, 2015 at 7:44am PDT

It's Important to Write

I couldn't agree more with our former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir regarding how important it is to write, and to write properly at that.

For example, for is shortened to ‘4’ while you to ‘u’. It is fun as you can send long messages compressed into just a few letters. But over time, we lose the art of writing which is precious.

Not only are we shortening the words while writing, we are guilty of just typing them out from the computer and recently, from our intelligent phones and tablets. I think my handwriting is approaching illegibility as we speak.

If anything, it's also great to hear Tun talk about something as important as writing instead of those demoralising politic stuff for a change.

via The Malaysian Insider.