A few months ago Mike and Lorna came to visit me in Mountain View. We went to dinner on Castro where they brought their SLRs (cameras) and showed me all the cool things they could do with them. They even allowed me to take a few pictures of my own! Afterwards we went back to my apartment where they showed me pictures they took from their trip to the Galapagos Islands. It made me want a Digital SLR so bad but I could never bring myself to buy one for one reason or another. Well earlier this week after talking to Robert and Adrian I decided to take the plunge and purchase one (especially since I work on photo software). I am SO happy I did. I bought the body and Robert bought me a lens for my birthday! (he got me a 28mm-105mm EF 3.5-4.5 II USM. Yes … i know he’s the coolest boss ever )

I’m excited to go places now just so I can bring my camera along and shoot stuff. I’m not very good and I don’t know much at all, but I’m learning. Thankfully I know a handful of really good photographers who I know will help me. I haven’t had as much time to play with it as i’d like because i’ve been busy but this weekend I will take tons of photos

Check out my Rebel XT Gallery and let me know if you have any tips or tricks I should know about. I just purchased a 1.8 50mm for portraits so I’m on my way!! Woohoo!

Most of you that know me have seen this already. But in case you haven't you need to watch it. It's a Korean group called the expression crew dancing to French classical music from the movie Amelie. It's unlike anything i've ever seen. Richard, Erick and I are learning the part that happens at 4:20 but it is impossibly hard. We've gotten the first 16 counts but that lasts about 2.5 seconds literally. Anyways enjoy the video:

I was honestly always a little bothered by Jiffy Lube’s service whenever I would bring my car there. They would always tell me about the million things that they thought I needed that I knew I didn’t. For example, a few months ago I took my car to Jiffy Lube for a standard service because I had some time to kill and it was right there (i usually take it to my mechanic in Mountain View). Anyhow they informed me I needed a new air filter which i replaced just 3k miles before! I questioned them about this and showed them the receipt to which they replied “Sometimes and air filter has to be replaced every month”!!! right? Well I was Blogsurfing and I came across one of VO’s friends Blogs. He has a link to PROOF that Jiffy Lube are crooks.

Do you love In-N-Out like I do?  Here are some secret menu items you might not know about

The Hidden In-N-Out Burger (aka In and Out Burger) – The Most Accurate Secret Menu

In-N-Out Burger has a secret unpublished menu for insiders who are In-The-Know. Next time you’re at In-N-Out (i.e. tomorrow . . . or maybe tonight), order a bag of these off-the-menu specials:

“3-by-3″ = three meat patties and three slices of cheese.

“4-by-4″ = four meat patties and four slices of cheese.

“2-by-4″ = two meat patties and four slices of cheese.

*Note: You can get a burger with as many meat patties or cheese slices as you want. Just tell the In-N-Out Burger cashier how many meat patties and how much cheese you want and that is what you’ll get! For instance, if you want 6 pieces of meat and 10 pieces of cheese tell them you want a “6-by-10.”

“Double Meat” = like a Double Double without cheese.

“3 by Meat” = three meat patties and no cheese.

“Animal Style” = the meat is cooked and fried with mustard and then pickles are added, extra spread and grilled onions are added.

“Animal Style Fries” = fries with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).

“Protein Style” = for all you low-carbohydrate dieters, this is a burger with no bun (wrapped in lettuce).

“Flying Dutchman” = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else – not even a bun!

Fries “Well-Done” = extra crispy fries . . . even better than the regular!

Fries “Light” = opposite of fries well-done, more raw than most people like ‘em

“Grilled Cheese” = no meat, just melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun.

“Veggie Burger” = burger without the patty or cheese. Sometimes we call this the “Wish Burger.”

“Neapolitan” Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate blended together.

The friendly employees of In-N-Out Burger will take your special order without question, if you use the right terminology. The printed receipt will have your special request typed on it just as we said it.

Try it!

Sorry it’s been so long but I just don’t have the enthusiasm to blog as much nearly as much as I used to. I’m still at work right now. We just pushed Picasa Web Albums! This has taken up a good chunk of my time at Google and I’m pretty proud of the product. I personally think that people that are labeling it as the “flickr killer” have it all wrong. This is something I can share with my sister and my parents and have them use it just as actively as I do. (Sash already has!)

http://picasaweb.google.com

In other news life has been good. Marisa is taking me on a surprise trip at the end of the month which I’m really excited about. We are flying somewhere. If I had to guess it would be Hawaii, but that may be a bit far for 5 days. Or is it? I also have been enjoying my new macbook. It’s probably one of the best investments i’ve ever made. Not only is it a beautiful machine, but it’s powerful and fast as hell!

Wow. amazing how stupid some people are:

Read the Full Story: God Missing in Action

A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in Kiev zoo after he crept into the animal’s enclosure, a zoo official said on Monday.

“The man shouted ‘God will save me, if he exists’, lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions,” the official said.

“A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery.”