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November 4, 2010

Tengobaila does a special dance for Doobie McDonald

Filed under: Reviews — Tyler @ 6:20 pm
Peek a Boo

peek a boo (I see You) dance

This dance by Diana from the Tengobaila channel, had me Star-Struck and enchanted. You may have already heard about the celebrity with a beard named, Doobie McDonald. He is a very entertaining and his music and personality has inspired literally hundred and maybe even thousands of people around the world. I know for a fact that people from Germany are interested in Doobie McDonald. So he has a global influence. That influence is so apparent in the, “Peek a Boo dance” that it must be shared with the world. The way Diana twists and turns to the heart-thumping track, “Peek a Boo (I see You)” does nothing less than set the soul free. Diana has such command over the dance floor that she demonstrates both creativity and skill with flawless victory. David3legs from YouTube said, “Smooth and gracefull.” Thank you David3legs, you took the words right from my mouth.

Dance is not easy. It takes both coordination and a zest for life that defies both gravity and emotional walls. One can communicate story and feelings through gentle movements and accurate beats. Tengobaila does just that with a style that elevates. I could say more but you need to see this piece of fluid living art for yourself:

-Tyler

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Kean Coffee latte art

Filed under: Reviews — Tyler @ 4:13 pm
Kean Coffee

Kean Coffee latte art - click to enlarge

Kean Coffee

2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660

HOURS: 6 AM to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday

6 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday was my second time visiting Kean Coffee. I ordered a large whole milk latte in a for here cup. The picture to the left was the result. The latte art was a type of leaf. I really liked it so I took a picture. The leaf looks like maybe some kind of fern. It definitely had an Autumn look to it. I love how the brown intermixed with the white foam to give a textured look.

And the latte itself tasted delicious. It was almost as good as the latte from Jack’s Coffee, but not quite. The latte had a good strength to it. I could definitely taste the coffee but it wasn’t too bitter. But it still was a little bitter, which is OK. It’s just that it wasn’t mind ending like Jack’s. But even being able to compare the coffee at Kean to Jack’s is a major compliment.

One great thing about Kean Coffee is that there is a lot of seating available. There is a patio and a living room area that is big enough to fit over 40 people. The seats are comfortable and even though I was there both times at 9AM on weekdays, I was still able to get a seat for me and my friend after hovering around for a little bit. There is a raised area with tall booth-like seats. This area is interesting because it is a mix between a boot and a bar. To better describe it imagine a long curved booth that has tables along it. And on the other side of the tables are high-chairs.

The rest of the interior living room area was tables and chairs. The tables were all high quality and sturdy. They didn’t tip over or tilt. And that is always a plus when trying to write or read. I haven’t tried their outdoor seating yet but the people there seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The employees were nice even though it was busy. And they really appreciated it when I bussed a table for myself. And something that was new at a coffee shop was that one barista came over to our table and asked us how everything was. That was really interesting to me because it made me feel like I was in a nicer sit down restaurant instead of a coffee house.

Kean Coffee and blueberry

Kean Coffee and blueberry item

But let’s get back to the coffee. Both times I was there, my latte tasted great. It was a little on the stronger side. The milk temperature and flavor was great. But the first time I was there the Latte art was not quite as good as the second time. As you can see from the picture on the right, the latte had a swirl type design but it wasn’t as impressive as the other one. If you look you will see a blueberry croissant. That was very tasty. Although the blueberry insides was decadent instead of healthy tasting. It had a gel-like blueberry consistency instead of a thick and chunky fruity insides. The outside of the croissant was lightly covered in a sugar topping. And the flaky croissant tasted fresh and was easily divided by the use of a fork.

I definitely am going to go to Kean again. I don’t mind having to drive a while for a latte, especially if I am meeting someone there. The decor of Kean’s Coffee is excellent. There are coffee colored drapes that set the mood. And there is a wood motif that isn’t overwhelming. It is a very comfortable setting to share ideas and get the creative mind cooking.

-Tyler

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October 30, 2010

the USB Super RetroPad is so good I considered skipping Halloween

Filed under: Gaming,Reviews — Tyler @ 6:07 pm
USB Super Retropad main view

USB Super RetroPad - Click to enlarge

There are many USB controllers available on the internet for purchase. Some of them look like Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) controllers and plug into your computer so you can play games with a cool retro-looking controller. The problem is that many of these controllers are NON-Genuine SNES controllers. In fact, a bunch of them that are available from places like Amazon.com have reviews that the controllers don’t even look like what the advertisement picture promised. And there are many fake SNES controllers floating around the internet and Ebay. But I wanted an authentic USB SNES controller so I diligently researched the different options, read reviews, looked at forums and eventually I came upon an interesting piece of information. According to one forum, someone mentioned that the company, “The Retrozone” which you can visit by clicking on THIS link, offered a SNES USB SuperPad that was high quality and made from an authentic SNES controller. I looked at the website and it seemed familiar. It turns out that a couple of years ago I purchased a USB Super RetroPORT, which is a little bit different. Well what the RetroPORT does is that it makes it so if you have an actual SNES controller you can plug it into the RetroPORT and it will make it work as a USB controller for a Laptop or PC, and I think even a MAC. At the time I had a few SNES controller laying around so I purchased the RetroPORT and it worked great. But unfortunately my RetroPORT and SNES controllers are all in storage, so I can’t get at them. So when I saw that Retrozone offered a SNES SuperPad that was already converted to USB I was extremely excited.

Here’s what I paid for the USB Super RetroPad:

——————————————————
1 x USB Super RetroPad = 38.00
——————————————————
Sub-Total: 38.00
Zone Based Shipping Rates (USPS Priority Mail): 6.00
CA TAX: 3.23
Total: 47.23

OK, so it cost me just under $50 for the whole item. That may sound expensive, but the reality is that I wanted to pay a lot of money for my controller. This may seem crazy, but the fact is there are so many fake controllers that are low quality and NON-Authentic that were around $20 or so that I was willing to pay more for a product I would trust and appreciate.

USB Super Retropad wtih Packaging

USB Super Retropad wtih Packaging

So I purchased the controller and it said that it is, “In Production.” This was a good thing because these Super RetroPads are custom built by some dude and his, “minions.” I really like how he calls his assistants, minions. It gets me in the gaming vibe. I ordered it on the 23rd of October. And it was In Production for about 4 business days. Then it took only a couple more days for the item to get to me by USPS. Retrozone provided me with a tracking number once my controller was finished being constructed and was shipped. All I had to do was click on the link in my e-mail to track the shipment of my order. When I opened the package I was so stoked that the controller was in such good condition. It looked extremely clean and ready-to-be-used. I liked how Retrozone used bubble wrap to protect the controller during shipment. Also the quality of the USB cable from the controller was new and of perfect length to be used with my laptop. Roughly judging the cord length, I’d say it is about 3 or 4 feet in length.

USB Super RetroPad Model information

USB Super RetroPad Model information - Click to Enlarge

After taking a look at the cord and pressing the buttons to make sure none of them stuck or were too loose, I examined the back of the RetroPad to evaluate the model number and other information. It showed the correct insignia and model info. For example it said: MODEL NO. SNS-005 Rd. 1991 Nintendo Made in Japan. When I saw that I was relieved and vindicated for spending my money on the thing. But that didn’t come close to how I felt when I actually got the controller working on my laptop. I use Windows 7 and I plugged the RetroPad into my USB port with the computer turned OFF. Then I booted her up. Once Windows was loaded a status indicator informed me that the USB input device was being installed. I watched the little green bubble dance around the icon for multiple rotations, each moment taunting me with anticipation. Finally it said that the controller was installed properly and was working. YES! I wanted to confirm this so I entered the control panel and looked at my connected device settings. I looked for a calibration setting but couldn’t find one. That’s when I remembered that the FAQ on the Retrozone website said that the USB Super RetroPad does not require calibration. It showed a cool icon for the RetroPad and I was ready to test the controller.

I loaded up a piece of software that emulates Nintendo Homebrew games. I activated one game and set up the input information. I changed the key settings from keyboard to the appropriate buttons on the RetroPad. I tested everything from movement to jumping and firing and everything was perfect. My fingers felt the specific form of pleasure from the accurate pressing of a button and watching the sprite on the screen dutifully follow that command. Mouse controlled games are fun, but the sheer visceral gratification of using an authentic SNES gamepad is unparalleled.

Thus I had a problem. Today is the day of the Halloween party. There are going to be sexy girls there and people in cool costumes. I also purchased a costume that I think will be fun, total spending was $65. In addition to a costume I bought some non-alcoholic beverages for myself and to share with everybody else. The guy at Trader Joes said that my drinks might make good, “chasers.” So everything was looking good for the party…Except, I now have my USB Super RetroPad. So I had a couple options that I was considering. I could go to the party and wait to use the RetroPad. Or another option was that I would throw out my costume and pour my drinks down the drain. I was really on the fence until I jumped on Facebook. My friend asked me if I was ready to have a great time at the party and I mentioned my situation. He seemed disturbed that I was even considering not going. But I just love the way the buttons for “Y” and “X” are concave and inviting, while the buttons for “B” and “A” are convex and bold.

After careful deliberation I decided that I am still going to go to the party. But the truth is, that part of me will always be here, with my USB Super RetroPad.

Click HERE if you want to get a USB Super RetroPad.

-Tyler

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October 24, 2010

Key Lime Cheesecake rap

Filed under: Reviews — Tyler @ 8:51 pm
Keylime Cheesecake

Key Lime Cheesecake

A couple months ago I had a big slice of Key Lime Cheesecake after lunch at the Cheesecake Factory in Irvine. The slice was huge and extremely filling and it tasted great. But my portion for my chicken lunch entree was delicious and impressively filling. So when the meal rolled around to getting to the cheesecake slice, I was already half-full. But I really wanted a Key Lime Cheesecake slice without fail. One thing to note was the the server had a good attitude and was funny, but he ended up getting switched out for another server. I notice that bigger restaurants often do that, they are all about the clock so servers sometimes get swapped. I don’t like it when that happens, it destroys the illusion of the dining experience and brings one back to the realization that they are in fact, just eating some food on a plate. The slice of Key Lime Cheesecake was extremely good but I couldn’t finish it. In fact, that slice finished me. Here’s my rap about it:

Here’s a little story about my cheese-cake,
It was a key-lime-slice and it made my beat break,
Made out of real dairy and crust that ain’t fake,
It stuffed my face like a demon-cheese-snake,
I sat and digested,
The flavor manifested,
My homie sure attested,
That I had just got bested,
So now before I order a-nother-slice,
I make sure if I got room for a-nother-vice,
Because getting too full fo-sure ain’t nice,
-Gamblin’ with your tums with a roll of the dice!

-Tyler

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