One semester of Spanish Love Song

Me gusta mucho. Si.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all got gifts you enjoyed this holiday season!

Purchasing a camera

It occurred to me the other night, as I tried to take a picture with the .000001 megapixel camera in my iPhone, that I want a better camera. My last two were Canon point-n-clicks (PowerShots). Honestly, though, I'm tired of them. They're nice because of the portability, but the reliability I've experienced thus far, as well as the photo quality, have left a lot to be desired. Both died after some sort of mechanical issues inside the aperture, and both had a lot of trouble with zoom and night shots, both of which I enjoy. Bad color, too.

So I've therefore decided to invest in a REAL camera. Y'know, one of those big-ass cameras that look like cameras that pretentious "photographers" use. You know the type. The guys who pull out tripods to take a photograph of a candy wrapper on the sidewalk or some slightly unattractive woman molesting a building.

Awesome.

I thought about picking up a "zoom point-n-shoot" like this:

Canon Powershot SX110

However, I think I've settled on a dSLR. The Canon Rebel XS, to be exact:



Canon EOS Rebel XS

Here's the dilemma: the first one will take better pictures than a standard "point-n-click," but will not offer the modularity of the dSLR Rebel. The Rebel, however, is a lot more scratch, and will be harder for others to use.

I still think the Rebel is happening though. Any suggestions, though, as to alternatives"?

Thanks, Google Adsense

This ad is just... I had to share it.

EDIT: Some didn't seem to get WHY I posted this. The answer is simple: it's really outlandishly gross. I mean, gross in a way that I don't know how to describe. It makes me feel gross, and I'm not even remotely interested in joining this "community" of apparently sort of fat white men who are interested in meeting comely Asian women.

Really though, I find it funny that Google AdSense has this ad at all. Thanks, Google!

UCLAri's cheese review: Trader Joe's Blue Stilton

I've decided to start reviewing some stuff besides video games. For one, tons of people already review them. Also, I believe that I can offer something of value to the world by reviewing things that are outside of my core area of expertise. I think amateur reviews can offer something that "expert" reviews cannot: perspective. I don't know much about cheese beyond the fact that I like it, I know what kind of cheeses I like, and I know that Europeans are really stuffy about it.

I'm not stuffy.

So let's begin with Trader Joe's Blue Stilton. This is definitely not a cheese for the faint of heart. This is some CHEESY cheese. And I LOVE it. See, I'm the kind of person who thinks that cheese should taste like cheese. Not like that namby pamby American shit you buy at the "super" market. I want my cheese to smell, and taste, like goddamn CHEESE.

And this doesn't disappoint. This blue Stilton is aromatic like a good blue should be. You can smell it through the plastic. That's how awesome it is. If you like a good strong blue, this will definitely impress. It's sharp (but not painfully so,) and has a nice crumbly and soft texture that makes it a good cracker topper. I recommend jelly of some sort as an accompanying food. Apricot has worked well so far.

One thing that I might try and later report on is its utility as a topper in soup. I have a can of black bean soup I think it might go well with.

I recommend this cheese to cheese lovers, but can say for certain that if you are a strong cheese avoider, then you shouldn't come within ten feet of it, as it's not meant for you weaklings.

A quick and dirty guide to buying an HDTV when you have to save money but don't want a piece of crap

Thinking of buying an HDTV? Wondering what really matters? Don't get all the terminology? Want to get a TV, but feel guilty because the NBER just announced we're in a recession? Want to give someone an awesome holiday present? Just can't wait to watch "Wheel of Fortune" in HD?

Well, here's my "quick and dirty guide" to your next TV. I'll even show you tricks to saving money without even going to a store.

720p or 1080p? -- The problem with 1080p is the eye's ability to resolve the difference is naturally limited. Think of it this way: inkjet printers use tiny little dots to actually print, but you can't see the difference in the quality of the resolution unless you get really close. A TV's picture follows the same logic for the most part. 1080p is only "useful" at a certain distance * size range. Here's the chart I used to decide (it's approximate):

So, if you're only going to have a 40 inch set (which I believe is still the "sweet spot" for price * size), then don't bother with 1080p unless you plan on sitting like 5 feet from your set. Instead, spend the "1080p premium" on a better set overall. In other words, don't get a crap Wal*Mart brand TV with 1080p when you can get a nicer "1st tier brand" TV like a Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic, etc.

And without further ado, about tiers...

1st tier, 2nd tier, 3rd tier brands -- the 1st tier brands are pretty obvious: Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic. The 2nd tier is a bit more nebulous, and tends to be much more finicky: Philips, LG, any American brand (sad, but true). The 3rd tier is your "store brand."

While the 3rd tier offers you a big TV for the price, it also generally means a much worse picture. One thing I find to be almost universally true is that the hardware INSIDE the set is as important as the screen itself. You won't get a good picture if you're running a POS processor. Sony and Samsung are really the leaders in terms of processing technology. If you don't believe me that processing is a big deal, go to Best Buy and compare a TV with the processing bells and whistles to one that doesn't have it. A good comparison is the Samsung LN350 vs the LN650 series TVs.

Same LCD for the most part, but one has significantly better processing capabilities.

120hz (Motion Smoothing)-- this is a newest deal with HDTVs. Basically, the TVs just have better hardware inside and have better refresh rates (like on a monitor) than others. Some love it, some hate it. It'll cost you $400 or more at the same size screen, so I would just check it out first and see if you like it. You don't want to spend extra $$$ for something you'll turn off the second you get home. I personally like it, but some have told me it makes the image seem "too real." I don't get that.

LCD vs Plasma-- Plasma is good for the big sets, but I personally find them a bit less good looking at the medium sizes (40" or so). However, they do have the advantage of deep blacks and excellent color (due to the nature of the plasma screen itself). At 40" or so, however, I don't think it matters much. LCDs seem better for gaming, so I chose LCD. Your mileage may vary here. If you're "energy conscious," then LCD is the obvious choice, as LCD TVs use less energy than plasma sets.

How many damn plugs do I need?

Lots. Preferably HDMI plugs. Everything is going to be in HDMI in the next few years, so get used to it. HDMI, for those who don't know, is the newest standard of plug. It's super awesome and you must bow to it. Really though, consider the fact that you probably have at least a cable box and a DVD/Blu-Ray player if you want to take advantage of the HDTV's full capabilities (if you don't, why get one?) Add in a game system, and that's 3 HDMI plugs.

Yeah, they go fast.

Also, HDMI's much easier to work with than any of the other cable standards because it's "all-in-one."

Saving $$$-- The best way to save money on a set is to NOT buy it from a big box store. There are a few reasons for this: 1. Big box stores have terrible prices to begin with; 2. They almost always charge for shipping from the store to your home (assuming you don't have a big enough vehicle to get it home); 3. Service comes from the manufacturer anyway, not the store.

Number 3 is the best reason to buy online, in my opinion. If something goes wrong, Best Buy won't do squat. Why pay for a brick-and-mortar store when you can stay at home and shop from stores that offer a greater selection, fewer teeming masses, and better prices overall? Seriously, if you're a deal lover, go with the cheapest reputable online store (I got mine from Butterfly Photo, but there are other good ones.) I got a set that sold at Best Buy for over $1k for $950 after tax and expedited shipping. I saved at least 10% on my purchase.

Also, do yourself a HUGE favor and ONLY go with an Energy Star set. The lifetime savings is HUGE. While you may spend $50 more now, you'll save much more than that in the long run. I'm not saying this just because I'm a greentard. I'm saying this because it's financially smart.

President Barack Obama

I usually don't deal with politics on this blog, as I prefer to talk about video games and sillier things, but I can't help but want to make a comment about what was one of the most important events of my lifetime and the history of the United States.

Love him or hate him, the fact that the United States elected a minority to the highest office in the land is, as one conservative blogger I read said, "Barack Obama’s election is a wonderful symbolic victory for tolerance and understanding." But I think of it as more than that. I think it's a victory for the SPIRIT of being an American. A victory for the idea that no matter who you are, you can accomplish almost anything in this country. It's that spirit that I have always thought makes America stand above other nations, no matter how free their political system may be. It is that spirit that Obama has reaffirmed.

But it is my hope, sincerely, that this spirit is extended to EVERYONE. I mean that. Obama was gracious and hopeful that we, as Americans can succeed. McCain offered the same spirit of warmth and cooperation. While I am sure that politics will get in the way of cooperation (it always does), I also believe that it is times of crisis when America stands strongest. It is now, more than ever, that I think that the US will stand as an exemplar for the world.

Let that be the real lesson: it was not who won or lost that mattered last night, per se, but that we, as Americans, chose the person who will lead us an example. I am, as I always am, hopeful. I am hopeful that this president improves upon the last, just like I was sincerely hopeful that the last would have done the same. Ultimately, no matter who is in the office of president, he is OUR president, OUR face to the rest of the world, and OUR chosen leader.

May the next four years be better than the last four, and let us hope for -- nay, let us work for-- a greater future.

Barack Obama, I wish you the best of luck.