Jamaipanese

Appreciating Twitter – Six Years After Joining

Jamaipanese — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:43:33 +0000

6 years ago I signed up for a Twitter account, it was new, it was unknown and I liked experimenting with new stuff. For the first few months my Twitter profile was devoid of any content with a whopping 8 tweets in the first 9 months the first of which being “eating dinner and watching anime” which was sent at 7:08pm on May 21st 2007.

My first Tweet

Web 2.0 Wave

Quite honestly I didn’t trust Twitter, not in the sense that it was going to run off with my random ramblings; more in the sense that it was one of the the gazillion services riding the “web 2.0″ wave at the time. It was clunky and unreliable with a logo that tried to hump your eyeballs when you looked at it for extended periods. Fast forward a few years, various redesigns, updates and almost 20,000 tweets later and like an old geezer, I rub my chin and smoke my imaginary pipe thinking about back in the day when Twitter was for geeks.

The Most Social Social Network

I love Twitter, I use it frequently but have nowhere near the tweetcounts of the Twitter junkies in my extended Twitter circle. I have said it many times but Twitter is the most social social network I have used and trust me I have at least tried them all. I have made many friends, stayed in touch with others, learned so much and stayed in the know in today’s age of information overload.

My most popular Tweet in recent months

There is Youtube, Google+, Facebook, Instagram and so many others vying for my attention but the simplicity and control that Twitter provides has kept it useful to me for many years and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. You can always find me in the twitterverse @Jamaipanese, (un)fortunately nothing has changed since I announced my arrival on Twitter as you can still follow me to “read random useful (and not so useful) crap about what I am doing, reading, feeling, hating, loving or killing”.

Have a Twitter memory? Remember your first Tweet? Have an awesome Twitter related story to share? Leave a comment or tweet me @Jamaipanese

Star Trek Into Darkness

Jamaipanese — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:46:44 +0000

My annual summertime love affair with expensive action-packed blockbusters has begun. I skipped Iron Man 3 in favour of Star Trek Into Darkness as quite frankly I wasn’t a fan of the first two Iron Man movies. Star Trek on the other had runs thick in my geeky veins and last night I lost myself in the aptly titled Star Trek Into Darkness.

Star Trek Into Darkness Plot Synopsis

Following up on the 2009 Star Trek movie, Into Darkness picks up with Captain Kirk violating the prime directive leading to him being demoted and stripped of the Enterprise. Not long after Starfleet is attacked and suffer heavy casualties to high-ranking Starfleet officers. Kirk is tasked with searching for an recovering the fugitive but soon discovers that there is much more that has been hidden from him. Thus starts an epic three way battle which will shake the very foundations of Starfleet.

Great movie to kick off the summer blockbuster season

From the opening scene right to the end Star Trek Into Darkness is flooded with action and excellent special effects. However it does find time to mix in some comedy and emotion albeit with limited character development. Without going into details that would spoil the well written plot I cans ay the Sta Wars Into Darkness is a great movie to kick off the summer blockbuster season. Go see it at the theatre with a group of friends and enjoy.

Looking forward to watching Star Trek Into Darkness? Have you seen it already? Share your thoughts via a comment our tweet me @Jamaipanese.

My First Loot Crate – Gamer Geek Goodies

Jamaipanese — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:39:15 +0000

Its no secret I am a gamer and I am a very proud geek, so when I discovered a website a few months ago that promised to send me epic gamer geek goodies every month I was ecstatic… until I realized that they don’t ship to Jamaica. So for month and months I wished and hoped that one day I would have a loot crate to call my own, that day has finally come. But before I go into that.

What is Loot Crate?

In a nutshell Loot Crate is a monthly subscription service where you spend about US$20 including shipping on a box filled with geek/gamer loot under a particular theme. With a subscription comes a chance to win a “Mega Crate” a $250 treasure trove that bound to give the lucky recipient one of the most memorable geekgasms.

For the life of me I am unable to beat Guile’s top score in Space Invaders. Can you?

Which Crate did I get?

My first and only loot crate so far is the April 2013 crate which was under the theme “Token”. In it I got a few items that reminded me of the good old days of the video game arcade. Items covering Space invaders, Street Fighter, an arcade token, Mario and candy. I liked my first loot crate but I honestly think it could have been a little better, however for $20 plus an extra $5 to have a courier ship to me in Jamaica I cannot complain. I am already looking forward to May 2013′s loot crate which seems to be RPG related and under the theme “Equip”.

Loot Crate April 2013 Unboxing Video!

What did I get in my crate?

In my April 2013 crate under the theme “Token” I got.

A Mushroom Kingdom Circuit Racing bag
Kid Robot Street Fighter blind box – Guile
Kid Robot Street Fighter Key chain – Blanka vs Zangief
Space Invaders Candy
8-bit Zombie Arcade Token
Root Beer and Mini Burger Candy

Random Poll: Blanka vs Zangief – who do you think would win?

Who do you think would win in a brawl between Blanka and Zangief? Vote in the poll below and tweet me @Jamaipanese to share your answer and I’ll do the same!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Achievement Unlocked! First year of college complete

Jamaipanese — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:29:27 +0000

2 semesters, 9 courses and almost 10 months after stepping into UTECH for my official first day as a university student I can report that I survived the first year. All courses passed with a few disappointing grades but a feeling of satisfaction that is so hard to explain. If it feels so good to just be done with the first of 4 years I’ll be over the moon when I graduate.

I’ve manage to balance work and school so far although there were times in the last few weeks when I nearly imploded. I’ve even banished my fear of programming and now really enjoying my programming-related courses the most. Now all I can do is enjoy my 2 weeks break before the summer semester begins and I battle the dreaded Calculus for 10 weeks. Stay tuned and hopefully my next update on my journey through college will be as high-spirited as this one…

Chronixx – Smile Jamaica – Video and Lyrics

Jamaipanese — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:22:31 +0000

Jamaica’s local music scene has spawned many international hits and superstars over the decades and our music has influenced artists and sounds globally. The latest local son that seems destined for global stardom is Chronixx, a young vocalist who burst on the scene last year with his conscious positive messages that is overdue in a local music void of uplifting messages especially for the young. The latest in a number of Chronixx songs I like is “Smile Jamaica” which I can only describe as a long song to the country of Jamaica itself with some underlying messages for keen ears. Check out the video and lyrics below and share your thoughts via comments or tweet me @Jamaipanese.

Chronixx – Smile Jamaica – Video

Chronixx – Smile Jamaica – Lyrics

Oh I met a girl this morning
She was love at first sight
Oh I met a girl this morning
And she was beauty to my eyes
I asked her if she finds the… in the Tropics
She asked me what’s my name
I told her that it’s Chronixx
And I said girl tell me what’s your name
She told me that her name is Jamaica

And I said
Smile girl smile
Smile for me Jamaica
x 2

Never you cry
Here am i
I’m here for you Jamaica
Dry your eyes
Girl smile

She has a rich history
A beautiful woman with the sweetest gifts
Beautiful sunrise and an evening kiss
I find a nice sunset on the evenin seas
But she told me that she’s tired
Tired of exploit and liars
She gave them reggae beaches flowers and ferns
All she got was abusing in turn

And I said
Don’t you worry yourself mama
Chronixx is here to help mama
I said no worry yourself mama
What can I do for you

And I said
Smile girl smile
Smile for me Jamaica
x 2

Never you cry
Here am i
I’m here for you Jamaica
Dry your eyes
Girl smile

Mount Fuji may become a UNESCO World Heritage site

Jamaipanese — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:56:45 +0000

Japan’s list of Unesco World Heritage sites could rise to 13 if Mount Fuji gets added to the list when the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meets in Cambodia next month. Mount Fuji or Fuji-san/Fuji-yama as it is called by the locals has been a cultural, spiritual, artistic and geographic icon in Japan for hundreds of years. It is the tallest mountain in Japan and an active volcano that last erupted in the early 1700s.

Mount Fuji is being considered as a “cultural” heritage site, rather than a “natural” heritage site by UNESCO. UNESCO’s World Heritage programme is governed by an international treaty intended to “encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.”

Mount Fuji was one of the major attractions I was unable to visit while I was in Japan, although I did manage to see it from Tokyo on a clear day and while riding the bullet train very early in the morning. After my experience hiking Jamaica’s own tallest mountain (Blue Mountains) which is only 2256m tall, I don’t think I’ll be able to tackle Fuji-san’s 3,776m height.

Fujisan is Japan’s highest mountain, a graceful conical stratovolcano that represents and symbolizes Japan itself, and is an exceptional cultural landscape deeply associated with Japanese mountain worship and the country’s artistic and literary tradition. Throughout the ages, it is impossible to find a comparable example of a mountain so deeply integrated into the bedrock of a nation’s culture – UNESCO

Sources – BBC | Japan Times

Jamaipanese is now on Instagram!

Jamaipanese — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:20:44 +0000

I recently acquired a Samsung Galaxy S4 (more on that later) to replace my now ancient HTC Legend and while going app download crazy over the last few days I discovered that Instagram in now on Android! Why didn’t anyone tell me Instagram was on Android now? I thought you were all my friends! I’ll forgive everyone (but only this time). As a photographer who is used to using bulky DSLR cameras, flashes, backgrounds and expensive photo editing software I have watched cell phone cameras evolve from useless VGA crapshoots to the 13 megapixel, tricked out, multi-functional monster that is on my newly minted Galaxy S4. Other than its zoom potential my cellphone camera makes my secondary camera, a Sony DSC-H9 look like a washed up hasbin; although my Nikon D70, who I like to think of more of a classic than prehistoric is still my primary photographic weapon… especially when I want to impress the geeky ladies. But enough of my blabbering, Instagram.

I joined instagram a few days ago and not surprisingly you can find me at instagram.com/jamaipanese. I’m going to be experimenting a lot in the first few weeks but I should be posting at least one photo a day. What kind of photos do you expect to see? My profile description should say it all: “Proud Jamaican and Japan Enthusiast. Blogger, Gamer, Techie, Student and Photographer”, so expect pictures of unicorns, my secret moonbase and my imaginary marriage to Michelle Rodriguez. Don’t miss out Follow me on Instagram now! Who knows maybe if I find your photos interesting I’ll follow you too!

Like any true geek with a power level of over 9000 you can also find me on Twitter @Jamaipanese and if you have’t done so already like the Jamaipanese.com Facebook page.

Solid State Drive upgrade for my aging Gaming PC

Jamaipanese — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:16:13 +0000

I often day-dream about some day owning uber awesome gaming rig complete with $1000 graphics cards, dual 32 inch monitors and a computer chair that beams me into the kitchen/bathroom/bedroom and back at the click of a button. Then I wake up and I look at my current desktop computer at home, sulk, then smile as I remember our 10+ year relationship.

Frank as in Frankenstein

I spent some quality time with my aging desktop computer over the long Easter weekend. It has had many names over the years, from Betsie to Rambo to it’s current name… Frank as in Frankenstein because of the pieced together nature of my rig and the fact that the case is almost perpetually opened so I can poke things if it fails to start or pull it all down and put it back together again if really decides to act up.

I got a new upgrade for Frank recently- a solid state drive. I attached it over the weekend and now Frank has a little extra pep in his step. Recently, most of my PC time is spent at work (doing mostly work) or on my ultrabook doing school work or projects or watching classic anime. However I do manage to get in a couple hours here and there of gaming goodness – my current primary game being the MMORPG Star Wars the Old Republic.

Co-operative Wallet

The plan is to upgrade Frank piece by piece over the next few months. The hard drive was super old so that had to go first but next I plan a mobo and memory upgrade, then a processor, then a graphics card! Hopefully my wallet cooperates…

In case you were wondering the new drive I got is – SanDisk Extreme SSD 120 GB

Jamaipanese portrait by @Khisayama – Thank You!

Jamaipanese — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:30:04 +0000

A few days ago during my regular perusal of the Twittersphere I happened upon a tweet by my pal @RYOtheSKYWALKER that showed a cool-looking portrait of himself. I asked about it and he revealed that it was done by portrait painter @Khisayama. I inquired about getting one done of myself and a he obliged! Below is my new self-portrait that I really really really really (did I say really?) love. I plan to print it out, frame it and hang it in my mancave. Thank you @Khisayama!!!!

Love the artsy look and the detail on the leaf ;)

@Khisayama tweets in Japanese but seems to be doing portraits for persons who ask and send him a photo. Maybe if you ask nicely you can have one done for you too? For now this is a good addition to my about page as well, I’ve been meaning to update that page for months.

Japan Earthquake 2 Years Later

Jamaipanese — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:20:56 +0000

Two years ago today on March 11th 2011 Japan was rocked by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake plus the resulting tsunami and nuclear problems is collectively known as the Tōhoku Disaster. The disaster affected Japan greatly and the effects were felt globally.

When I visited Japan in September 2011 I stayed away from the disaster area and my visit was unaffected by the recovery efforts. Japan has really recovered quickly from the disaster and over the past few days I have browsed various websites showing before and after pictures and videos of the most devastated areas. My absolute favourite before and after gallery is by theatlantic.com. The photos really show the devastation and recovery of many areas.

Japan Earthquake, 2 Years Later: Before and After