New Charging Station: Campfire+Cooking Pot

For emergencies (and no electricity) this sounds to be the most practical invention I had come across. Japan inventors never fails to come up with something good from bad experiences. take a look at this new charging station that TES NewEnergy came up with. You can simultaneously charge your phone and cook meals using heat and energy from a single source.

image from here

their target market are those from the developing countries. I would love to have those pot. would you?

full story here.

Gadgets Frenzy: Functional or Trendy?

Now that the iPad 2 was finally launched, I wonder what would be the next product in line.

I have not bought any iPads nor any of their other product lines. But I did plan and saved up to buy an iPod touch before they offered the 4th Gen. However, with the new gen being so much like the computer and too expensive I have to change my mind. Not because I can't afford it but because there are other things that can make me happy sans the spending of Php 16,900 {online local reseller price} savings. I have to do some gadget inventory and here is what I got:

• Motorola Q8 - a smartphone that i had for years
• Sony Erickson P990i - another PDA phone with a very good camera

I recently switched from my Moto Q to the SE P990i because the former has been having some problems because of memory issues. The SE P990i connects well with WiFi, easy to use when typing, great camera to boot and the only con that I can find is too bulky.

I am using it as a qwerty, the flip pad was removed to make it less bulky {photo from here}

It has the office applications you can find on PDAs and if only I still read books when traveling, the screen is big enough for reading. However, will all the gadgets that we have at home and the busy schedules that take up most of our "me time" we have to squeeze in a "silent time" somewhere. And riding home is one of those time that I can do some relaxing without people talking to me or asking me about work.

If you give it some hard thinking, a gadget like iPad 2 and the iPod touch {the only gadget of Apple that I ever wanted to buy} is something that people  buy because of its portability. And since portability is something that you need when you are on the run and do not have time to sit down at your office or at your home, these  gadgets is a must. However, I no longer do that. I slowed down a bit after last year with all the activities that almost put me into burn out mode.

And another thing, I recently changed my schedule at home. We turn off the lights at around 8pm and sleep before 10pm. It means a lot when we do that because we feel relaxed and well rested the next day.

I have to admit though that we use to be gadget crazy too. We bought a Wii and an LCD TV few years ago just because it is the new thing. But with the heavy schedule and less sleeping time, we only use them occasionally.

Are you gadget crazy too?

(photo credits here and here )

Back to Business

We are back on business. This blog has been on private mode for more than a year to allow some writing and school time for the author.

Now that school is over and the interest on different technologies is intense that ever, this blog is back for more interesting post. However, the blog will be focusing on technologies and product reviews from now on.

Articles on food, bento, technology management, health & beauty and craft will be posted on my other blogs: 

Taking One Step at a Time  

and 

Life Simplified

 

Random Photos

We were busy on weekends but baking has been a neglected activity in the house. Last week, we tried cookies. We cheated. We used a pancake mix. And here's the result:



cookies look too pale for me.




Here's the batch of cookies that we had.

and the "cheat"



******

Yesterday I tried bento. Since there is not much leftover in the house, I came up with a fruit bento.





I'll try a real bento next time.

Carbon Footprint and Getting Green

One of the subjects taught during my undergraduate studies is environmental engineering. One of the lessons I learned is that resources is important to keep a manufacturing running. It is actually a common sense. You preserve the environment because you are not living for just for today; there is the future to consider.

The first thing that came to mind since getting green became one of the things I want to include in my daily existence is the so-talked about carbon footprint. I have searched the net to understand it. Technically, I found the meaning of carbon footprint. In fact, I was able to read some articles that subjected some known celebrities who are great contributors of carbon and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to ridicule. It was a surprise that mere transportation in the air (airplane) contributes to the greenhouse gases that eventually results to climate change. I wonder if they were told why they were on the top contributors before they were accused. I tried to read more and finally came across the Kyoto Protocol. I was able to read few pages but I definitely have to stop. My search for a greener environment is not just reading articles and knowing the technical aspects. I am looking for something that will have tangible results. But for those who are interested to be educated on the protocols and other technical know how on carbon footprint, click here.

I, however, prefers to go and find something that will have more tangible product or process. So my current reading project (despite the reading materials assigned in school) is focused on the EPA website. One of the thing that interested me most is the Energy Star.




I know that it somehow helps in the environment but never occurred to me how big is the contribution. A blog is dedicated for this, and you can find there good topics that can help in your budget as well. It's not just doing the right thing, the website also provide information on energy conservation (that somehow can a gain in the budget) as well.

Pause. For Awhile.

Forgive me for writing personal stuff once in awhile. And this is one of those "personal stuff" that pops up every now and then.

It caught me off guard. I was too self-absorbed I did not notice.

Pardon me for overstaying your kindness. And for making you feel manipulated. And also for pushing you to the wall. I am at fault. It's not my upbringing or past experiences. I have been busy pursuing goals and killing enemies that I forgot to be a friend. Its always been "me". Me, that matters. Me that should be the priority. "Me", for everything that surrounds me.

Of course I care. Always cared about you. I just don't show it.

Don't worry, I'll get out of your way for now. It seems that I have been ruining most of your days.