Shamamwiches!

In which I speak of a job I had, and a video I'm in.

Lytro

I'm not too into photography, but I thought the idea behind these little cameras was crazy. Not only is the form factor really different from your every-day camera, but you can focus the photos after they take them. I can totally see this becoming a popular tool within the journalism industry. It's the quick and simple alternative to finding the perfect view from which to focus a shot. It would also be useful for experimental photographers trying to perfect other techniques where focus doesn't have to be an issue. I don't know what it is about Lytro cameras, -- I'm not even considering buying one -- but I thought they were definitely worth sharing on here. 

Anyway, go ahead and check out their site if you wanna learn more.

Thank you, Steve.

Upon hearing the news about Steve Jobs' death, I felt really uneasy. I couldn't quite figure out why. I'm not an Apple fangirl. I don't even own an iPhone. Steve Jobs doesn't really affect my day-to-day activities, with the exception that I own an iPod Nano. Then I came to realize that my unease wasn't as much about Apple as it was about Jobs' contributions to technology. His visions, his perseverance, and his need for perfection.

I remember reading this story once about how he freaked out because a gradient on one letter of an iPhone icon didn't seem to match the rest. I always knew he was a perfectionist, but if I remember correctly he called it an "ICON EMERGENCY." Not to mention the times the white iPhone has been delayed because they couldn't get the shading the exact way he wanted. I've never known there to be an Apple beta released to the public because Steve Jobs would never release something if he wasn't sure it was one hundred percent complete.

While I don't appreciate Apple's media manipulation, I do agree that in most cases with Apple, "it just works." There's no fragmentation because only one product (or series of products) is released at a time. Apple uses the same manufacturers, same software developers, and designers for all their Macbooks, iPhones, iPods, and iPads. It isn't like Windows where your computer can be made by HP, Lenovo, IBM, Dell, etc. Not like Android phones and tablets which can be made by Samsung, HTC, or Motorola running on Honeycomb, Froyo, or Donut. With Apple, there's never been an issue of having too much to choose from or not knowing what you're getting. There is no fragmentation within the Apple ecosystem. While that can be a really limiting problem for tech-conscious people like me, it's wonderful for the general consumer.

I think that's what I liked about Steve Jobs' vision. He created products that were simple and powerful for general consumers and technology enthusiasts alike. He knew that design wasn't about what something looks like, but what it feels like.

With that, I would just like to say: thanks, Steve. For what you've done for technology, for your company, and for me. I hope that one day I too can be as driven and motivated as you.

Panini et Crepe

A combination crepe and panini shop with the same menu for both. The more I think about it, the better the idea sounds. Not in the near future, but maybe ten years. Gives me time to keep working on graphic design and communications while experimenting with recipes and standardizing my style. Not to mention I'd still have to learn the business behind opening up a restaurant. But I can totally see it happening. One menu, with the option of crepe or panini. Along with baked chips, popchips, coffee, lattes, teas, sodas, cream sodas, maybe a few pastries.

If this still seems like a good idea in one or two years, I might actually make it happen. Deal?

Ay, there's the rub.

This is gonna be one of those why-I-haven't-been-active-on-the-internet posts.

While I've been regularly checking my Facebook and Twitter accounts, I haven't been creating content to show you guys at all. I haven't posted videos on my YouTube channel since April, I haven't been making YouTube/Twitter backgrounds recently, I obviously haven't been blogging either.

It's not that I haven't been wanting to do this stuff. It's just every time I grab my camera to make a vlog, I realize how dull the topic I want to talk about is and that no one would care to watch the video. And every time I want to start a new project on Photoshop, I suddenly lose my creative flow. (Which is why I'm taking design and typography classes right now. I'd love to get back into graphic design.)

CircuitBuzz has also been on hiatus for a while, but that's not entirely due to lack of ideas. Tech stories occur every day. Truth is I ended up being too busy this summer to commit to a new channel, and I'd much rather post nothing at all than a bunch of consistently half-assed videos.

In regards to my non-online life:

• I got my first real job at the beginning of summer. There's a lot of bread and mustard involved.
• I finally got a smartphone. Sprint. Google. Samsung. Nexus S. I love it.
• I'll hopefully be transferring out of ELAC at the beginning of 2012. (I've been there way too long.) Either as a Communications major to a Cal State or Graphic Design major at Art Institute.
• I'll be meeting my friend Jacob at the end of this month, after knowing him for 8 years. (Excited!)
• I've been planning a trip to England for the end of the year with a friend of mine. (Also excited!)
• I'm turning 21 this month. Crazy.

And because this is a personal post...

Last coffee shop visit: Starbucks, Grande Iced Chai Latte.

CircuitBuzz

My friend Josh and I have started a new channel on YouTube called CircuitBuzz, where we talk about technology and online media. It's like a mini BuzzReport or GeekBeat and we're hoping it evolves into something more.

I've been referring to it on Twitter as my #sekritproject and haven't been linking it on Facebook at all. In fact, I won't even link to this blog post on Facebook.

The thing is, we wanted to start fresh on YouTube. We aren't associating CircuitBuzz with our old collab channel or our personal channels yet. As much as Josh and I both love our audiences, we want to see how far we can go without them. So far, we've posted 5 videos and they've been fun to make. Within time we'll standardize our videos and hopefully engage a new audience.

Since reynavilla.com is where I have the smallest audience, I figured it's safe to share it here. Anyone else would have to either look for it or come across it. Here's my first video introducing the project:



We also have a blog, Twitter, and Facebook if you're interested.

Comic Relief via Social Media

Most Americans have heard by now that Osama Bin Laden was killed. While it probably isn't proper to be celebrating death, everyone seems relieved that there is one less threat out there. It must be the case especially for those who lost loved ones during the 9/11 attacks. As a friend of mine said, she didn't let it get to her when the attack happened because she knew there was nothing she could do about it, but now that the man behind the operation has been caught there is reason to celebrate.

And while everyone was glued to their television, computer screen, or mobile device waiting for President Obama to announce the news, the world of Twitter seemed to be having a blast waiting for the fireside chat. It is during these mass events that humor gets the best of social media. Even though some things shouldn't be joked about, I can't help but giggle at the few clever ones. Heck, I join in on the fun myself most of the time.

That said, here are a few tweets I caught last night that got a chuckle out of me.

Obama was scheduled to make the announcement at 7:30pm Pacific. Didn't start 'til after 8.

Nobody likes spoilers. Ha.

There were many variations of this joke regarding Donald Trump's "birther" campaign.

In reference to how Sony's PSN information was recently compromised.

The reaction of every Harry Potter fan once they realized Osama was killed the same day as Voldemort.

With every recent event comes a parody Twitter profile. Osama's death was no exception.

I finally worked up the courage to click play.

I'm not ready for this to end. ♥
Gonna spend the rest of the day reading the last half of the book.

Spring Break!

Hey, everyone. Spring Break starts tomorrow and I figured I'd take the week to brush up on my Photoshop skills. I've made a page where you guys can request custom YouTube and Twitter backgrounds. All you need to do is fill out a form telling me what you want it to look like. Link in the navigation bar!

And in case you missed it, I posted a few videos on YouTube recently.
My first time at the Downtown LA Art Walk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1PEO7Zpol0

An awkward phone call I had:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F28DW4U9V8s

Rihanna lyrics, and where I remind myself why I never considered singing as a profession:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmfPEve2by8

Quidditch IRL

Last weekend, I attended an event called the Western Cup, organized by the International Quidditch Association. It was quite fun! It's not every day I get to watch people run around with brooms between their legs.

Mexican Pointy Boots

Just watch it.


The best part is a lot of the comments on the video basically translate to "Goddamnit. Now white people are gonna think we're fucking retarded" and "HAHAHA. LOOK AT THOSE DOUCHEBAGS." I think it's safe to assume pointy boots are the Ed Hardy of Mexico.

If You Don't Have an iPhone, You Don't Have an iPhone

No shit, Apple.


I've never been one to hate on Apple products. Their specs are pretty great, after all. I have, however, commented on their over-manipulation of the media and consumers. But I figure that just as any other company, they're doing what they know how to do to stay relevant in such a competitive market. Sure, I've said that I hate the general consumer's Apple-centric view about technology, but even then I know it's only because Apple's been smart enough to make people feel they're the best of the best.

But with ads like this one, I feel they stopped caring about collecting new consumers and fans on their own. They know their current fanbase is huge, loud, and willing to make comments snotty enough that they make non-iPhone/Mac users feel like they own subpar technology. Instead of making ads that introduce an iPhone's features and why one should use them, Apple went ahead and acknowledged that everyone knows about their app store, uses it for both important and mundane purposes, and that everyone that doesn't all ready own an iPhone... well, they wouldn't know what it's like because they don't own an iPhone.

This ad may have had the opposite effect on me. It made me feel like iPhone users are a bunch of bigots and that I shouldn't associate with them because they'll only make me feel like crap for not owning one. But alas, I have friends who've fallen for the iPhone game. I know people who have bought the iPhone only because it's the iPhone and not because they care about the specs or functionality or customization or DRM issues.

And don't even get me started on how this ad completely disregarded the fact that Android and BlackBerry also have app stores with apps that are "easy to find" and "easy to download." (Not to mention both apps they featured are not exclusive to the iPhone.)

Two things.

1. This song is so catchy it hurts.
2. Miley needs to cover it.

I'm giving up meat for lent.

So far it’s been great (except for that one tiny chicken strip that was forced upon me). I decided not to tell my family because I remember trying the whole vegetarian thing before and they would treat me weird. I’d get a lot of questions and a lot of people arguing about why it’s a bad idea, and then I feel sometimes my mom would feel bad that I didn’t always eat what she cooked. Since I’m not often home during dinner nowadays, I don’t think this’ll be a problem anymore. If it does start to become a problem, I'll let them know that I'm only doing it for lent. Just to see if I can. Otherwise, I will continue to order garden burgers, food with tofu instead of beef, and tacos with only beans and veggies in them.

I have no intent on becoming a vegetarian right now, but I would like to start eating and cooking more vegetarian meals just because they're healthier most of the time.

Last coffee shop visit: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in East Los Angeles. Jasmine-Dragon Tea Latte.
^ I hadn't done the last snippet thing in a while.

Update: I'm no longer doing this. For reasons I don't feel like writing about right now.

Feedback, updates, etc.

A vlog in which I talk read a few comments, and update you on my life.


Stuff I mentioned that might require links:
Alex Carpenter/Kristina Horner music video: http://youtu.be/ZUvV0f5SAZU
Web comic I like: http://questionablecontent.net

Goodbye Missed Connections

Sometime around 2006, when I was in high school, I remember sitting at a Burger King with a friend of mine. We were enabling Bluetooth access on our phones so that we could share files when we noticed there were about five people near us who also had Bluetooth enabled on their devices. We tried to figure out which Bluetooth device names corresponded to which of the people that were sitting at Burger King with us. Then I said something along the lines of "Wouldn't it be funny if we send our files to those people instead? What would they say?" Followed by "It would be cool if we could, like, chat with the people around us via Bluetooth. It'd decrease Missed Connections on Craigslist by, like, half."

We don't hear much about sharing files with other phones/devices via Bluetooth these days because most of it's been replaced by Wi-Fi and apps. And the whole idea of knowing who is in the same room as you by looking at your phone has been replaced by check-in services, like Foursquare and Gowalla.

The third, -- chatting with people who are near you -- I just found out about today. There's an iPhone app called Yobongo, which allows you to do just that. I thought it was brilliant when I heard of it. It allows you to communicate with people around you, people you've talked to before, and people you already know. It's still in Beta and will be available for free in March. While I don't own an iPhone, I'm glad this idea has come into fruition. I'm a sucker for innovations in communication. And more of a sucker for services that allow us to talk to people when we find interesting if we don't want to embarrass ourselves in person first.

Slow Internet Speed + YouTube

In the spirit of LifeHacker, I thought I'd stop by and give you folk with slower internet speeds a tip for viewing videos on YouTube. Oh, wait. You mean, I'm the only person out there with internet too slow to load HD videos on the spot? Heh.

As you've probably noticed if you've read my blogs the past year or so, I have strong opinions about my internet experience. Ever since my internet was downgraded I've had trouble watching YouTube videos in a large size, both pixel-wise and file size ...wise. I've reached the point where I value speed over quality. If there is a way for me to watch a video in lower quality without having to wait a bit for it to buffer, I will take it.

I prefer watching videos in full screen, or have them take up more space than the standard 640x390 YouTube video. I noticed that every time I tried to make a video full screen, it would automatically switch my video from 360p to either 480p or 720p, which take a considerably longer amount of time to load.

Then I found a work-around that both kept my video at 360p and made my video size larger. It was so simple and so genius.


The trick: Zoom in on the page. (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+). This increases the size of the video and keeps it at 360p so that  you don't have to sit through the load.


Unfortunately, it doesn't work this way for all flash video players. I tested this method on others, and it only made text and images around the video larger while the video remained the same size.

Embracing Change

I always find it funny when people whine and moan every time a major website gets a redesign. I saw it a lot in 2009 when Facebook was constantly changing its design. Then later on when #newtwitter came along. And most recently, YouTube's redesign.

When #newtwitter rolled out, everyone complained about how confusing and ugly it was. Contrastingly, I was happy that Twitter finally decided to step it up and implement a couple features that independently owned Twitter clients were all ready providing (embedded photo and video, lists, suggestions, etc.). I guess they just thought it was too much. Which I now totally understand. What always differentiated Twitter from other social networking sites was that it kept everything short and simple. But as the site grew more and more, it was clear that they needed to innovate. And that they did... despite everyone's protests.

With YouTube's recent homepage design, I heard complaints about how the subscription boxes turned into a feed, and how one no longer had the option to go back to the old design. To be frank, I was pretty surprised there was so much hate. I'd changed my YouTube settings to the redesign as soon as it was in beta. Months later I see tweets "OMG YOUTUBE IS SO STUPID NOW!!!!1!1!" Apparently YouTube made the switch to the new design permanent. It was bound to happen sooner or later. People are kidding themselves if they think they have the option to keep an old design 'til whenever they choose.

What I think others fail to see is that there is always reason for what web developers and designers do. They don't arbitrarily make changes to websites because they think it would be cool. They make plans, they examine what people do online and try their best to make tweaks that will make features easier for the user to access in the long run. Everyone is so used to their damned used to their sub boxes and 140 character text-only feeds that they freak out when something changes. Believe me when I say, the designers did not intend to piss you off. They want to make user experience simpler and more functional. Whenever a website or program is in beta I always opt for the newest version (unless I later find that it's too buggy to use). If a site offers me the option to go back to the old settings after a new version is released, I never go back to the old one. I know that in the long run, I'd only be screwing myself. I like to embrace change and feel that everyone else should, too.

Whenever a website or program you frequently use changes, there is reason for it. Stop and think about why someone may have made the changes before you go ramble on about how terrible you think it is because you don't know how to use it yet.

Of Netbooks and Tablets

Sometimes when I'm sitting at the computer at home, my bother wants to go online and do his usual Facebook browsing, crop harvesting, and funny video watching. Unfortunately for him, I'm sometimes busy editing a video, or working on something for school, or in the middle of a Skype call and can't really get off the computer until I finish whatever I'm doing. He gets annoyed, and grabs my netbook to browse instead. My netbook's starting to become old and slow, and I think it'll be time for an upgrade in the next few months.

Lucky for me, the tablet device market is gonna be booming this year. None of this "iPad is an original device" crap. Hush it, Jobs. It isn't revolutionary, and it sure as hell ain't magical. Also, I'm kind of tired of the Apple-centricity of today. I've heard so many people either talk about how cool the iPad is or how it's just a big iPod Touch. Not once have I heard anyone say that the Samsung Galaxy Tab looks like a big Droid, or the BlackBerry PlayBook is simply a blown up BlackBerry Storm.

ANYWAY. I've been thinking that once my netbook is obsolete, I might want to replace it with a tablet of sorts. One that supports Adobe Flash, has both back and front facing cameras, and whatever novelites are out there that I've yet to think about as necessities in gadgets these days. Because GOD FORBID I can't collect my rent or harvest my crops from CityVille on a tablet device.

What I'm trying to say is: I want a Motorola Xoom. It was probably the sexiest gadget to come out of CES this year.

Quick overview of the specs: Dual-core processor, Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), front and rear-facing cameras, camcorder, Adobe Flash Player, 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, supports Wi-Fi, 1280x800 screen res.

Let me just say that THE SCREEN SIZE AND RESOLUTION ARE BIGGER THAN MY NETBOOK. I want. I just hope it doesn't cost millions of dollars.


Slightly-related fun fact: A few nights ago, I had a dream in which I owned an iPad that could project video onto my wall. It was really cool. Developers and hardware manufacturers: GET ON THAT.

COMPUTER ELECTRONICALLY MONITORED AT ALL TIMES

That’s what it says on a laminated card that’s taped to the right side of my monitor right now. I’m at school, see. Just finished my project a few minutes ago, but I still have some time to kill before I head off to class.

I feel like I’m being watched by the Department of Homeland Security, like on Little Brother.

I wonder if they’ll kick me off.

As the sign says, these computers are FOR ACADEMIC USE ONLY!! If I do, fuck it. I’ll just head to class early, I suppose.

Since I’m being monitored and all, does this mean someone right now is reading every single word I type? In real time? That’s so cool.

It’s a shame no one’s kicking me off for not doing academic work on here.

This turned out to be a lot less exciting than I thought it was.

Maybe if I write something provocative in huge bold text.

GAY HORSE SEX

Anyway. I should head to class now. The clock on this computer seems to be a few minutes ahead, and I now have less time to kill than I thought I did.

Happy new year, eveyone. /6dayslate