1. Formatting your text using the WordPress client for iPad is not going to happen, no options available at all for that.

2. The lack of multitasking can be a pain, as you can only focus on doing one thing at a time on the iPad. No alt-tabbing to check on IMs or email in another window. If you’re taking notes and want to switch out, you’ll have to close the notes app first. Can’t wait for iOS4 and multitasking to happen on the iPad.

3. The onscreen keyboard is pretty decent, I could take notes at a half decent clip (even with my two-fingered typing skillz). Didn’t have to bust out the Nokia Bluetooth keyboard at all.

4. Transferring files to and fro with ease will be an issue, unless you have a data connection handy. While images transferred over fine with the camera connection kit, I had to email files from my HTC Desire over to myself at times, and then download the attachment via email on the iPad. Must remind myself to get my Dropbox account sorted out soon.

5. If you happen to be shacked up in a hotel with free Internet, but only on a wired connection, you’re pretty much screwed.

This is still only the second day that I’ve had the iPad out in active field duty, and I’m still figuring out the best way to do things with the combination of apps that i have. If anyone has any better suggestions, I would love to know and learn more.

What I’m carrying: Flip Mino HD, mini tripod, an assortment of USB chargers and cables, the Apple camera connection kit, and finally, my iPad 16GB WiFi. Not lugging a digital camera around this trip as I plan to borrow one from some media friends based in KL, also because I couldn’t be arced to heave my Canon 550D around, and my Panasonic LX3 is on loan to a colleague.

Just heard the boarding announcement, see you all when I land.

In typical blogger fashion, putting things down in writing in public is likely a good way to keep myself on the straight and narrow. In this case, keeping track of my progress at training up for the upcoming Vertical Marathon at Swissôtel The Stamford in November this year. It’s now May, and that gives me more or less five months to get my lard butt in shape, and hopefully lose a couple of kilos in the process. Also, I signed up for the Vertical Marathon the last round, but chickened out at the last minute. Ahem.

While I write this, i’m sweating a puddle in my study, having woken up at 630am this morning for day one of my ‘training’ regimen: jogging around my HDB block as a warm up, and then climbing up the 25 floors of my HDB block. Suffice to say, 25 storeys took me approximately 15 minutes to do, resting in between included.

The view from up top was spectacular in the early hours of the morning, totally worth the climb, and I would have taken a snapshot to share, but a) i didn’t bring my phone along, and b) i was already seeing a number of stars spinning around my noggin.

Now to see if I can squeeze in a trip or three to the gym during the week.

Given that my last post was back in late 2009, it seemed high time that I actually made use of this blog. So here goes.

The picture above shows a pair of film SLR cameras that belonged to my dad; a Fujica AX-1 and Asahi-Pentax ES II. I just picked up a Canon EOS 550D about a month ago, while those two actually came back to Singapore with me after the Chinese Lunar New Year get together back in February. According to my old man, the pair are about as old as I am, having bought them around the time I was born.

While I do edit the top tech magazine in Singapore, I’ll be the first to admit that my skill set doesn’t reach far into photography. Yes, I used to own a string of Canon Ixus compacts since the Ixus V2, and my other compact is the Panasonic Lumix LX3. At this stage, you could classify me as the classic gear whore; owns some damn good stuff, but hasn’t done anything noteworthy since aside from going “Oh yea, I have that one as well”. My Flickr Pro account is evidence enough; one or two half decent shots by my standards, and everything else is pretty much meh. I’m no film user either, and opening the film loading bays of the Pentax and Fujica cameras above took me more than a few minutes to figure out.

So what better way to really start getting into photography than going back to the basics?

Both the Fujica and the Pentax were in pretty bad shape. The shutter seemed jammed on both, while fungus had taken up residence just about anywhere there was glass. Better yet, when visiting the Camera Hospital at Sunshine Plaza earlier today on the recommendation of Lucas, the store owner found that the pentaprisms(?) on both cameras were borked. Replacements go for about S$180 each, not counting the fee for cleaning and servicing the cameras. So I decided to just get the Pentax fixed first, and leave the Fujica for another day when I have extra cash to spare.

This more or less means I won’t be picking up a Sony PS3 anytime soon for my growing stash of Blu-ray movies, but getting down with photography might not be a bad decision after all.

Work, play, family, friends; we live in a time where there’s nothing much else to do in life than work, eat and sleep from Monday to Friday; leaving not much time left over for the things that matter; family, friends and even self.

Is this rat race really worth it? Is the measure of one’s self worth the amount of money that sits in one’s bank account at the end of each month?

Talking about rediscovering oneself is easy. After all, the call to action is merely that: a call. The really tough part is actually doing something about it. And that, maybe, is the hardest thing of all.

PT aside, looks like Project 600 is helping greatly.

5 down, at least another 30 more to go.

Cabbie: where you going?

Me: Genting Lane, please.

Cabbie: Wha?

Me: GEN-ting lane, SPH Media Center.

Cabbie: Wtf har? (Don’t remember his exact words, but somewhere along those lines.)

Me: Sigh. JEN-ting lane.

Cabbie: Orh got it.

Me: (Under my breath) &^%$^%.

Each time I do that, usually when getting on cab to get back to the office, a little bit of me dies inside.

Gyms aren’t new to me. Over the past couple of years, i’ve had memberships in various fitness centers. Each time, i’d go in for a week or two, then find a convenient excuse to slack off. Work, life, the (then) girlfriend; whatever. If it was a legitimate excuse to get away from the muscle aches and soreness, i’d grab at it, even as I knew how good it actually feels when you’ve just completed a workout.

Two weeks ago, I decided to take the next step. This time, i’m hitting myself where it really hurts: in the wallet. How? By signing up for a personal trainer, something I’d swore earlier that I’d never do. 30 sessions in total, roughly S$2.4K committed. That’s like five Nintendo Wiis. Or a pair of 42″ LCD televisions. Two awesomely configured PCs. Four Xbox 360s.

Damn.

I think I finally realise just why you’re paying these dudes to kick your ass. So far, it’s been two sessions, combined with copious cardio in between, and despite the persistent muscle aches, this is the best I’ve felt in a long time.

2 down, 28 to go. Must remember to go pick up a proper weighing scale soon.

In the spirit of getting my tubby behind in shape (despite the oft used cliche that round is in fact, a shape), I decided to revisit one of the oldest internet memes I can remember. One that remains as a personal favorite. Yes folks, its Badger Badger Badger.

Also helps greatly that said badger appears to be exercising; or doing calisthenics to be more precise.

Mushroom Mushroom!

This isn’t the first time i’ve set up a blog. This is probably the twentieth or thirtieth time installing WordPress, and the fourth domain i’ve got under my belt. Hope this one sticks, because damnit, I actually have my name up there (and below) for once. What’s this going to be about? We’ll see. I’ve learnt that the best laid plans can go awry, and that planning for the worst sometimes doesn’t even turn out the way you imagine things to fuck up.

Ohai, internets. I’m David Chieng. Hear me /rawr.