Cheap Eye Glasses Part 1

10
Mar/104

I bought my current pair of glasses at the Toronto Eaton Centre’s Lenscrafters store in 2003. They’re light, stylish, and I’ve never seen anyone else wearing a similar pair. Of course, they did cost $420 Cdn. OUCH!

Fast forward to 2007… I came across a website called http://www.ZenniOptical.com, which promised to sell me cheap high-quality glasses. I didn’t need new glasses at the time, so I forgot about it.

Recently, the rubber nosepiece broke off my glasses, leaving the metal bit exposed, and digging into my nost. I had an eye exam a few months ago, and got a new prescription, but never bothered buying the glasses, because these ones were working just fine… but not any more.

So today, I went onto http://www.ZenniOptical.com and found about 18 pairs that I liked! It took me a while, but I eventually narrowed it down to 3 pairs, which are all approximately the same size as my current pair, so I know they’ll fit my head/face. The key measurements Zenni Optical displays for every pair of glasses on their site are:

  • Lens width: 53mm (from the left to right side of one lens)
  • Lens height: 25mm (from the top to bottom of one lens)
  • Bridge: 15mm (from the middle of one nosepad to the other)
  • Frame width: 130mm (from outside edge-to-edge of the frame’s front)
  • Temple length: 145mm (distance between the arms at your temples)

The actual measurements above are the ones I made on my own glasses using a ruler. It took 2 seconds to do. You can also search their site by “pupillary distance”, which is the most important thing when buying glasses. It’s the distance from the centre of one pupil to the other, and it is written on every prescription, sometimes abbreviated as PD. If it’s not on your prescription, call your eye doctor. They have it on file, and they must give it to you. It is part of the prescription you paid for. This measurement is constant for your entire life, so once you know it, just write it down somewhere safe so you have it for next time. Mine is 65mm.

I tried to decide which one to buy, and then decided to just buy all 3 pairs, for 3 different purposes. Think I’m being EXTRAVAGANT? Just keep reading…

I ordered:

#7324, #7024, #3833

#7324, #7024, #3833

  1. a pair of #7324. I chose to have black rims instead of the default silver ones. These will be my regular indoor glasses.
  2. a pair of #7024. I upgraded the lenses to polycarbonate high-impact resistance. These will be my biking/sports/driving/workshop glasses.
  3. a pair of #3833. I upgraded the lenses so they turn from clear to dark grey outdoors. These will be my indoor/outdoor/travel glasses, great for at the cottage.

All 3 pairs have UV protection, and anti-reflective coating.

So, how much did they cost?
$34.90, $39.90, and $36.90.

My total was $126.65 for all 3 pair, including shipping.

All with UV protection & anti-glare, and with 2 of the 3 pair having upgraded lenses. That’s just over one quarter of the cost of my current pair of glasses, for three pair!

If $34.90 is still too expensive, don’t worry, Zenni offers glasses starting at $8/pair, including frames, lenses, and UV-protection. Frickin’ crazy.

How can Zenni be so cheap?

  1. They don’t pay for or sell brand name frames or designs.
  2. They design all of the glasses they sell
  3. They manufacture all of the glasses they sell
  4. They have no retail-space costs
  5. There are no middleman to increase the cost. They sell direct to us.
  6. They have no advertising budget, relying solely on word-of-mouth.

To me, the fact that they rely on their reputation to do their selling is the best guarantee that their glasses will be high quality. They need us to say good things about them, so they need to make us happy.

Mine should arrive within 2 weeks, at which point I’ll post Part 2 of this review/experiment. I’m so excited!

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4 Comments
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  1. Juan
    2:26 pm on March 10th, 2010

    I think these glasses are manufactured overseas, which is why they’re cheap.

  2. Derek
    2:50 pm on March 10th, 2010

    Betcha $100 that Lenscrafters’ glasses are also manufactured overseas. Maybe even in a factory next door to Zenni’s factory (which is in China). Also, remember this: in a global economy, cheap no longer means low-quality. My $20.00 printer ink from Hong Kong is just as good as the $240.00 printer ink that Best Buy tried to sell me. Inexpensive might be a better descriptor.

  3. VK
    4:32 pm on March 10th, 2010

    I’ll wait for your second part before even considering this :)

  4. cK
    11:20 am on March 12th, 2010

    Clearly Contacts also has great deals on their glasses. Last year I payed $25 for a pair of Calvin Klein and a pair of Armani glasses with lenses, shipping included. They have good deals on once in a while and brand name frames, so check them out sometime too.

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insanely great

27
Jan/1017
Insanely Great
The Tablet has arrived.
It is everything i want in a casual computing device.
It’s perfect for web browsing, watching videos, playing games, and reading.
It’s powerful enough to do your basic word processing & presentation stuff, too.
Coupled with the keyboard dock, I believe it is in fact good enough to be most people’s ONLY computer.
This is the next computer I want my mom, dad, and sister to own, because my “Tech Support” role will simply evapourate.
The Tablet is the first computer built for mere mortals.
Surprises from the event:
1) It is, unfortunately, called the “iPad”
2) I am dumbfounded that even though there is a mic, there is no front-facing webcam
3) They decided to use the open ePub book format instead of developing their own format. I’m happy I was wrong in this case. Openness is SO important for books.
4) No ability to annotate books. I’m upset about that.
5) No iPhone OS updates, which means no multi-tasking. :(
6) There appears to be a 1 inch border all the way around the screen
7) The onscreen keyboard looks like the physical aluminum keyboards, and Steve typed on it using both hands at once.
8) Full iWork office suite for just $29.97 USD is amazing
9) They totally stole Will Shipley’s bookcase interface for iBooks
I made a lot of Apple Tablet predictions.
So, how’d I do?
I made 64 predictions, and 32.5 of them were correct!
That’s 50.78% !
If the list of predictions had been pre-determined, and I just had to say “yes or no” that 50.78% would be pure luck. But that’s not how it was. I had no direction; an infinite array of possibilities. As such, 50.78% is amazing.
For the record, here’s a record of all my predictions, and how they actually turned out.
Legend:
R = right
W = wrong
H = half marks
U = unknown/not mentioned
Purpose: 8/8
R – New paradigm in computing. Redefines what a personal computer is.
R – Aimed primarily at regular people, not computer people
R – Designed to be a standalone primary computer
R – Also useful as a secondary computer
R – Great for reading books & magazines & websites
R – Great for watching videos, listening to music, and playing games
R – It will be the best & only device in its category
R – It will be more important to Apple than the iPhone, because it will capture an as yet untapped demographic: people who don’t necessarily like or use computers
Naming: 0/1
R – likely called “Canvas”, not iTablet/iSlate/iPad/Tablet/Tableau
Software: 8/26
R – customized version of the iPhone OS
R – on-screen keyboard, just like the iPhone
R – Tablet runs full iTunes natively, because the Tablet can be your only computer.
W – Multi-user support
W – Free MobileMe Lite accounts to host your user profile & basic data (bookmarks)
W – coverflow everywhere (finger friendly)
W – new file format for eBooks, like iTunes LP & Extras
W – use tablet as multi-touch or pen-based input for another Mac
W – run apps on your existing mac as if running on tablet (Unity-like abstraction)
W – run apps on your existing mac through remote desktop client
W – stream content from 1 Mac to another (i.e. from Mac to Tablet)
R – new app: iLibrary for organizing & creating books
R – new app: iPaint for drawing/painting directly ON the ‘canvas’
W – new system preference to always allow apps to know my location
W – multi-tasking by tapping into Apple’s existing background processes
OR by limiting # of apps allowed to run at once, and revealing them through
something like Expose, iPhone Safari’s browser pages, or desktop Safari’s favourite page thumbnails
W – iTunes goes back to being all about music. Sports new web-based frontend.
W – a new Store & syncing program is debuted, possibly called iGuide or Apple Media Store or simply “AppStore”
W – possible social networking features regarding books
W – Genius for Books
W – move away from Google Maps to Apple’s own solution
W – move away from Google Search to Bing Search
W – built-in Friend tracking (like Google Latitude & Loopt)
W – built-in navigation app with voice directions & controls
R – no Adobe Flash support
R – runs existing iPhone apps
R – SDK available immediately
Publishing: 1/2
H – Deals with all 6 major American publishers
W – Allow anyone to author & sell their own books
Hardware: 10/18
R – It will be flat. It won’t fold like other Tablet PCs
R – 2 models, consumer (wifi) & pro (wifi+3g)
R – 802.11n plus b/g
R – faster CPU than iPhone (1.2Ghz?)
R – faster graphics than iPhone (to drive larger display)
U – more RAM than iPhone (512MB)
R – 64GB of solid-state storage
W – OR 32 plus some cloud-based storage (on MobileMe)
W – either hybrid LCD/eInk OR 24 hours of eBook reading
W – gorgeous 10.1 inch full colour screen with higher-than-standard DPI
W – front facing webcam for video chat & multi-user facial recognition
W – plastic body with multi-touch on the back
W – available in the same colours as the current iPod Nano
W – Zero dock connectors, 1 USB port. Again, the Tablet can be your primary computer. You can sync your iPod with your Tablet. You will not sync the Tablet with your Mac.
R – no tactile/haptic keyboard
R – no integrated kickstand. too breakable.
R – no integrated home automation (too fringe)
R – comes with a very nice travel case, or one is available at launch
W – possibly launch a new Airport Express A/V
Sales: 2.5/5
R – much cheaper than the expected $1000
W – $699-$799 unsubsidized
H – $499 subsidized (by publishers or Apple itself)
W – AT&T exclusivity ends. Hello Verizon.
R – ships in March
Flip-Flops: 3/4
R – Initially said possible rebranding of MacBook. Later decided no.
R – Initially said both models include a stylus for optional pen-based input.
Later decided no (but it will be available as an option).
H – Initially said docking station available. Later said no. Really unsure.
H – Initially said keyboard supported. Later said no. Really unsure.

ipadThe Tablet has arrived.
It is everything i want in a casual computing device.
It’s perfect for web browsing, watching videos, playing games, and reading. It’s powerful enough to do your basic word processing & presentation stuff, too. Coupled with the keyboard dock, I believe it is in fact good enough to be most people’s ONLY computer. The Tablet is the first computer built for mere mortals.

It is definitely the next computer I want my mom, dad, and sister to own, because my “Tech Support” role will simply evapourate.

Surprises from the event:

  1. It is, unfortunately, called the “iPad”
  2. I was right about the $499 price, but wrong in that I said that would be a subsidized price.
  3. I was very surprised that Steve Jobs did not position this as the only computer most people need, but I still think that’s exactly what it is
  4. I am dumbfounded that even though there is a mic, there is no front-facing webcam
  5. They decided to use the open ePub book format instead of developing their own format. I’m happy I was wrong in this case. Openness is SO important for books.
  6. No ability to annotate books. I’m upset about that. I always write in the margins.
  7. No iPhone OS updates, which means no multi-tasking. :(
  8. There appears to be a 1 inch border all the way around the screen
  9. The onscreen keyboard looks like the physical aluminum keyboards, and Steve typed on it using both hands at once.
  10. Full iWork office suite for just $29.97 USD is an amazing deal
  11. They totally stole Will Shipley’s “Delicious Library” bookcase interface for iBooks

A few insights:

  1. A friend complained that because it doesn’t run OSX, he won’t be able to program on it. Don’t be so sure. You can easily use Mozilla Bespin, which is a cloud-based IDE that runs inside Safari.
  2. Another said “I don’t get why I would want a data plan for this. I don’t need one for my laptop. My home wi-fi works just fine.” — The answer is that the iPad can be your ONLY computer, and your ONLY internet connection. You don’t need a router/wi-fi if this is your only computer. The unlimited 3G will do just fine.
  3. There’s something else you won’t need soon, if you have an iPad, and that is a phoneline or cellular voice contract. The iPad is a Trojan Horse. It is the first device I know of that has a mic and a 3G connection built right in that does NOT also require you to have a voice plan. Apple is smart. They now have a contract with AT&T and other carriers that lets this sort of device onto their network. My guess is that the iPod Touch is also covered by this contract. I predict that very soon, Skype (or iChat) will be positioned as a replacement for a voice plan. I know some geeks are already doing this, but I think Apple will make it happen in a mainstream kind of way. AT&T won’t like it, but they’ve already signed the contract.

But enough of that…. I made 64 Apple Tablet predictions. How’d I do?

32 of them were correct!
That’s 50% !

If the list of predictions had been pre-determined, and I just had to say “yes or no” that 50% would be pure luck. But that’s not how it was. I had no direction; an infinite array of possibilities. As such, 50% is amazing.

For the record, here’s a record of all my predictions, and how they actually turned out.

Legend:

  • R = right
  • W = wrong
  • H = half marks
  • U = unknown/not mentioned

Purpose: 8/8

  • R – New paradigm in computing. Redefines what a personal computer is.
  • R – Aimed primarily at regular people, not computer people
  • R – Designed to be a standalone primary computer
  • R – Also useful as a secondary computer
  • R – Great for reading books & magazines & websites
  • R – Great for watching videos, listening to music, and playing games
  • R – It will be the best & only device in its category
  • R – It will be more important to Apple than the iPhone, because it will capture an as yet untapped demographic: people who don’t necessarily like or use computers

Naming: 0/1

  • R – likely called “Canvas”, not iTablet/iSlate/iPad/Tablet/Tableau

Software: 8/26

  • R – customized version of the iPhone OS
  • R – on-screen keyboard, just like the iPhone
  • R – Tablet runs full iTunes natively, because the Tablet can be your only computer.
  • W – Multi-user support
  • W – Free MobileMe Lite accounts to host your user profile & basic data (bookmarks)W – coverflow everywhere (finger friendly)W – new file format for eBooks, like iTunes LP & Extras
  • W – use tablet as multi-touch or pen-based input for another Mac
  • W – run apps on your existing mac as if running on tablet (Unity-like abstraction)
  • W – run apps on your existing mac through remote desktop client
  • W – stream content from 1 Mac to another (i.e. from Mac to Tablet)
  • R – new app: iLibrary for organizing & creating books
  • R – new app: iPaint for drawing/painting directly ON the ‘canvas’
  • W – new system preference to always allow apps to know my location
  • W – multi-tasking by tapping into Apple’s existing background processes OR by limiting # of apps allowed to run at once, and revealing them through something like Expose, iPhone Safari’s browser pages, or desktop Safari’s favourite page thumbnails
  • W – iTunes goes back to being all about music. Sports new web-based frontend.
  • W – a new Store & syncing program is debuted, possibly called iGuide or Apple Media Store or simply “AppStore”
  • W – possible social networking features regarding books
  • W – Genius for Books
  • W – move away from Google Maps to Apple’s own solution
  • W – move away from Google Search to Bing Search
  • W – built-in Friend tracking (like Google Latitude & Loopt)
  • W – built-in navigation app with voice directions & controls
  • R – no Adobe Flash support
  • R – runs existing iPhone apps
  • R – SDK available immediately

Publishing: 0.5/2

  • H – Deals with all 6 major American publishers
  • W – Allow anyone to author & sell their own books

Hardware: 10/18

  • R – It will be flat. It won’t fold like other Tablet PCs
  • R – 2 models, consumer (wifi) & pro (wifi+3g)
  • R – 802.11n plus b/g
  • R – faster CPU than iPhone (1.2Ghz?)
  • R – faster graphics than iPhone (to drive larger display)
  • U – more RAM than iPhone (512MB)
  • R – 64GB of solid-state storage
  • W – OR 32 plus some cloud-based storage (on MobileMe)
  • W – either hybrid LCD/eInk OR 24 hours of eBook reading
  • W – gorgeous 10.1 inch full colour screen with higher-than-standard DPI
  • W – front facing webcam for video chat & multi-user facial recognition
  • W – plastic body with multi-touch on the back
  • W – available in the same colours as the current iPod Nano
  • W – Zero dock connectors, 1 USB port. Again, the Tablet can be your primary computer. You can sync your iPod with your Tablet. You will not sync the Tablet with your Mac.
  • R – no tactile/haptic keyboard
  • R – no integrated kickstand. too breakable.
  • R – no integrated home automation (too fringe)
  • R – comes with a very nice travel case, or one is available at launch
  • W – possibly launch a new Airport Express A/V

Sales: 2.5/5

  • R – much cheaper than the expected $1000
  • W – $699-$799 unsubsidized
  • H – $499 subsidized (by publishers or Apple itself)
  • W – AT&T exclusivity ends. Hello Verizon.
  • R – ships in March

Flip-Flops: 3/4

  • R – Initially said possible rebranding of MacBook. Later decided no.
  • R – Initially said both models include a stylus for optional pen-based input.
  • Later decided no (but it will be available as an option).
  • H – Initially said docking station available. Later said no. Really unsure.
  • H – Initially said keyboard supported. Later said no. Really unsure.
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17 Comments
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  1. Ian
    6:30 pm on January 27th, 2010

    I also think it’s great. I’m super surprised at how cheap it is. And I agree with your consensus about it being the only computer for someone, and their only internet connection. I think it’s feasible.

    In terms of it being one’s only computer.. I think it’s doable, and I think the situation will improve as they move iTunes more into the cloud..

  2. Richard
    9:21 pm on January 27th, 2010

    Insanely great? No, I would not say that. In fact, I was expecting better. It’s a nice device though, don’t get me wrong. It’s a simple computer that is not a computer.

    But my mom is not a computer expert at all but I don’t see her replacing her computer with an iPad (yet?). I know she likes some multitasking and she needs a camera (although I am sure that will come in the future).

    Of course I wouldn’t mind having one but I don’t really need one. I doesn’t add enough to my daily routine also because I am not an e-book reader.

    But it has potential and since it is a apple log on it, it has the potential to be a success.

  3. u.c.
    1:43 am on January 28th, 2010

    That will do nicely. Nothing on Apple UK website yet so have no idea of availability in UK yet.

  4. u.c.
    3:10 am on January 28th, 2010

    double yet above,my English teacher would shoot me.

    Very interesting Apple made its own chip for the iPad,could this be significant for the future.

  5. Derek
    8:12 am on January 28th, 2010

    Yes, Apple purchased a chip design company a little while ago, called PA-Semi. They also purchased a mapping company called PlaceBase, which I think will eventually replace Google Maps on the iPhone & iPad.

  6. Dennis Jordan
    10:08 am on January 28th, 2010

    Great review; I agree that it could easily be your only computer, or at least your only “laptop.” Apple’s biggest error in this was making it too good. With the tablet in the netbook price range and with it a lot sexier than a MacBook, that $1100-$2000+ MacBook price is looking a lot like an Eagles concert — an overpriced dinosaur.

    Furthermore, all this crap about the tablet being four iPhones duct-taped together misses the point. The game changed and an iPod Touch is now a quarter-tablet; an iPhone is a $2500 quarter tablet, given the contract.

    The tablet is definitely Apple’s fourth “it” device, after the Mac in ‘84, the iMac in 1999 or so and the iPod shortly after. But instead of standing alone or adding value to the rest of the lineup, I think it’s going to cannibalize — or net-bookize — both Apple’s laptop line and its mobile-device line. I mean, unless the tablet’s external keyboard is $1100, there absolutely no reason to buy an Air.

    What will be left is the $2000+ pro and the tablet.

    (I’d love to see an iPad Nano next Christmas; just a Touch but $400).

  7. Julian
    9:55 pm on January 28th, 2010

    I find strange that you actually think bespin is a workable alternative to a real development environment. If you were told today that you had to use it instead of Zend would you be happy?
    I’m also surprised that you don’t seem to have even the tiniest bit of moral outrage toward the fact that apple’s potentially coolest new piece of hardware goes entirely against open computing. It was fine (not great) when it was just a phone but this is a computer.
    Somehow this idea that it’s more ‘accessible to the masses’ stacks up at greater value for you and taking a giant leap backwards in openness worth it to you?
    Don’t get me wrong this thing looks like an awesome toy… I’d love to play with it. But the idea that this represents the future of computing for the masses, as Apple and you seem to be suggesting, scares the shit out of me.

  8. Derek
    9:56 pm on January 28th, 2010

    Regarding Bespin versus Zend, no I would not be happy. I don’t mean to say that Bespin is in any way equivalent to Zend. I’m just using it to point out that coding on an iPad isn’t impossible. In fact, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until someone releases a $9.99 PHP editor on the AppStore. My guess is that it’ll be by Aptana, who already have their own cloud service.

    As for the Apple stuff, I can’t explain myself any better than Stephen Fry explained himself: “I do like and have tried to champion OpenSource software. How can I square that with my love of Apple? I’m complicated. I’m a human being. I also believe in a mixed economy and mixed nuts. I love our National Health Service and the National Theatre, but I also love Fortnum and Mason’s and Hollywood movies.”

    I know intuitively that Openness must and will succeed, but at the same time I have an increasingly low tolerance for stuff that isn’t superbly designed. I don’t ever want to have to tweak/configure/fix things. They should just work. Apple’s products, by and large, do just that.

    Ubuntu has made great strides in the last few years, but I won’t be going back to a fully open ecosystem until it approaches the simplicity & design I can get from Apple.

    Fry’s excellent article – http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/01/28/ipad-about/

  9. Derek
    11:18 pm on January 28th, 2010

    @DennisJordan

    >>all this crap about the tablet being four iPhones duct-taped together misses the point. The game changed and an iPod Touch is now a quarter-tablet

    I agree 100% !

    >>The tablet is definitely Apple’s fourth “it” device, after the Mac in ‘84, the iMac in 1999 or so and the iPod shortly after.

    Even though the iPhone is really a mini-iPad, I still think the iPhone was the 4th.
    Mobile internet was SUPERSHIT before it came out. Have you ever tried to browse a WAP/WEP website? Eeeek!
    Data was 10x more expensive.
    Multi-touch didn’t exist.
    Mobile games were limited to Nintendo DS & PSP.

    >>Apple’s biggest error in this was making it too good. . . sexier than a MacBook . . . overpriced dinosaur. Instead of standing alone or adding value to the rest of the lineup, I think it’s going to cannibalize

    I thought that, too.
    Then I saw this quote:
    “If anyone is going to cannibalize the sale of our products it might as well be us.” – Steve Jobs

    He’s got all the angles covered ;)

    >> What will be left is the $2000+ pro and the tablet.

    techies will continue to buy their desktops & laptops, because they need access to more hardcore stuff
    but what’s going to happen is that everyone else will buy ipads
    i don’t mean “everyone who would otherwise have bought a laptop or desktop”
    i mean something closer to “everyone who is alive and wants to be online”
    there are SO MANY people who don’t have computers because computers make them feel stupid or dumb, or because they think they won’t be able to figure them out.
    apple is going to sell an ipad to 50% of those people
    then those people will each convince 1 friend to get one, because it’s so easy to use

    word of mouth rules

    apple stores will help a lot too, because they’re a no-pressure place where people can hold them, and try them out, and ask all sorts of questions.

  10. VK
    12:55 pm on January 30th, 2010

    most of your “R” predictions are general in nature and applicable to almost any new “tablet” gadget (i.e., Dell, HP and others will be release one of their own this year).

    >Coupled with the keyboard dock, I believe it is in fact good enough to be most >people’s ONLY computer.

    no it’s not. web experience is not complete w/o Flash. no USB = no connectivity to printer, USB drive, etc. no webcam = inability to video conference.

    yes, it’s fast, slim, beautiful but… useless as the “only computer”. I will wait for the second generation of the iPad or get one from another manufacturer that will include the aforesaid necessities.

    Apple can’t be “excused” by taking so much time, bulding up so much hype/expection, and then releasing a barely useful device.

  11. Derek
    8:39 pm on January 31st, 2010

    My “predictions” seem general now that it has been launched. Yes, “tablets” have been available by Dell, HP, and others for years, but they all sucked ass! They never took off.

    I use my iPhone for a LOT of web browsing, and 99% of the time I don’t miss Flash. USB is also not required – you can do a lot via WiFi these days. Many printers support WiFi printing. In an interview, Steve Jobs said the iPad will support printing at launch.

    Lack of web cam is not a huge deal (though I agree it is annoying). The amount of people who think video conferencing is cool is very high, but the amount of people who actually DO video conferencing is very low. Not a deal breaker, just a nice to have.

    It may be useless as YOUR only computer, but most people don’t require all the features you would use. They’re not “necessities”. Just useful-for-geeks.

  12. VK
    7:51 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    I am talking about tablets that were announced at CES, which took place before your predictions.

    I’ve been using iPhone since the first generation, most of my daily web browsing is done on the deive and one thing I greatly miss is Flash.

    This device is for non-geeks; basically, those people who will use it on their couch, browse non-CSS compliant web sites (most likely with Flash) and chat with their relatives/grandchildren (most likely with video). I would have purchased it for my dad who hates his PC, and all he does is exactly that: browse the web and videoconference with me and other folks. It’s a deal breaker, and I am pretty sure it’s a deal breaker for many. One reassuring thing is that some leaked photos of the iPad taken apart show an empty space for camera (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/01/ipad-enclosure-has-empty-space-for-camera/)

    USB? Essential. If we’re talking about the “only” computer, then who wouldn’t want to take photos with their pocket camera, take the memory card out, stick in a reader and show to friends?

    In any case, I will wait for the second generation. Hopefully iPad will face some competition from the planned releases by HP, DELL, et al. It will give Apple a good reason to include some of the obvious features the current generation is lacking.

    Let’s see what happens with iPhone this coming summer. Google’s Nexus One is a worthy competitor, so Mr. Jobs can no longer sit back and relax.

  13. Derek
    9:05 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    I didn’t pay much attention to CES, so my predictions aren’t from there. The tablets I did see from CES, though, were just small computers running Windows 7. None of them were optimized for the tablet form factor.

    I have no idea what you’re talking about when you said “non-CSS compliant”. I’ve never had a problem with Mobile Safari rendering anything… except Flash.

    As for the whole USB thing, Apple actually released USB and SD-Card attachments for the iPad. They’re kind of hokey, but at least they let you use USB & SD. See’em here: http://www.aworldofchange.info/2010/01/27/apple-ipads-myriad-optional-dongles-usb-sd-ac-bbq-apple/

    It’s only a matter of time until Belkin or someone releases a full-featured dock that includes a USB hub, nice external speakers, keyboard, a top-mounted webcam, and some kind of harddrive that backs up the iPad automatically. It won’t be too expensive, and it’ll be well worth it.

    I think I’ll get a first generation iPad (16 gig, wifi only) just to see if I like it. If I do,I’ll sell it as soon as the 2nd generation is announced, and order myself a top-of-the-line iPad 2.0 with max storage, 3G, and whatever else it includes.

  14. VK
    10:50 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    Dongles, docks… I would rather sacrifice slightly thickness than having to pay extra for cable attachments.

    A number of tiny tablets were showcased at CES. Lots will hit the market. Starting from 5″ devices (http://www.slipperybrick.com/2010/01/dell-unveils-mini-5-tablet-prototype/).

    I am tempted to get the iPad but won’t be lining up to buy it.

  15. Derek
    9:32 am on February 3rd, 2010

    I’m not a fan of dongles either, but I wouldn’t mind if it required a dock to connect to other devices.

    I’m pretty “meh” about the CES tablets. Everyone and their brother is releasing Android devices. Some of the hardware is great, and the OS is great, but NOBODY is taking the time and spending the money to make a suite of custom-designed apps for their Android-based devices. Without that, it won’t be a slick, custom experience, optimized for the tablet form-factor. Without that, the iPad will continue to kick their asses for a long time to come.

    The original iPod beat every other MP3 player in exactly the same way: it came with iTunes. Apple wins because it builds & optimizes both the hardware and the software, so they work together perfectly.

    Yes, there were geeks who insisted their Creative MP3 Player was better, because it had an FM tuner, but eventually they realized how inferior “Creative Jukebox” was to iTunes, and they switched. Today, some people use Songbird to manage their music, but this is 10 years later! It has taken SO long for the rest of their industry to get their shit together and design a single elegant competitor. Insanity.

  16. VK
    12:10 pm on February 3rd, 2010

    >Yes, there were geeks who insisted their Creative MP3 Player was better,
    >because it had an FM tuner, but eventually they realized how inferior “Creative
    >Jukebox” was to iTunes, and they switched.

    I had a Creative MP3 player. Still have it. It has superior sounding qualities, files could be dragged and dropped, FM tuner, etc. I don’t use it not because of shitty “Creative Jukebox” (I never even tried it). I use iPhone because I want all-in-one. The only time I use iTunes is to sync apps and contacts. Music and videos are synced with a third-party application, which is much more flexible and I can simply drag and drop files.

    >NOBODY is taking the time and spending the money to make a suite of custom-
    >designed apps for their Android-based devices.

    Google does. Nexus works great, so does Droid. I am pretty sure that tablets that will be released will provide a decent user experience. While Apple definitely rocks at doing that, they compromise on some essential features. I am waiting for a no-compromise tool. Give me 8 hours of playback but include a camera. Charge a bit more but if you’re including 3G, don’t introduce mini-SIM cards and don’t lock it to data only. Etc. It’ll be great to see what the modding community does with this toy. Maybe when in London, ON, I’ll drop by check out your new iPad.

  17. VK
    2:09 pm on February 3rd, 2010

    P.S. Here’s something new from Google: http://dev.chromium.org/chromium-os/user-experience/form-factors/tablet

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  1. Ian
    6:30 pm on January 27th, 2010

    I also think it’s great. I’m super surprised at how cheap it is. And I agree with your consensus about it being the only computer for someone, and their only internet connection. I think it’s feasible.

    In terms of it being one’s only computer.. I think it’s doable, and I think the situation will improve as they move iTunes more into the cloud..

  2. Richard
    9:21 pm on January 27th, 2010

    Insanely great? No, I would not say that. In fact, I was expecting better. It’s a nice device though, don’t get me wrong. It’s a simple computer that is not a computer.

    But my mom is not a computer expert at all but I don’t see her replacing her computer with an iPad (yet?). I know she likes some multitasking and she needs a camera (although I am sure that will come in the future).

    Of course I wouldn’t mind having one but I don’t really need one. I doesn’t add enough to my daily routine also because I am not an e-book reader.

    But it has potential and since it is a apple log on it, it has the potential to be a success.

  3. u.c.
    1:43 am on January 28th, 2010

    That will do nicely. Nothing on Apple UK website yet so have no idea of availability in UK yet.

  4. u.c.
    3:10 am on January 28th, 2010

    double yet above,my English teacher would shoot me.

    Very interesting Apple made its own chip for the iPad,could this be significant for the future.

  5. Derek
    8:12 am on January 28th, 2010

    Yes, Apple purchased a chip design company a little while ago, called PA-Semi. They also purchased a mapping company called PlaceBase, which I think will eventually replace Google Maps on the iPhone & iPad.

  6. Dennis Jordan
    10:08 am on January 28th, 2010

    Great review; I agree that it could easily be your only computer, or at least your only “laptop.” Apple’s biggest error in this was making it too good. With the tablet in the netbook price range and with it a lot sexier than a MacBook, that $1100-$2000+ MacBook price is looking a lot like an Eagles concert — an overpriced dinosaur.

    Furthermore, all this crap about the tablet being four iPhones duct-taped together misses the point. The game changed and an iPod Touch is now a quarter-tablet; an iPhone is a $2500 quarter tablet, given the contract.

    The tablet is definitely Apple’s fourth “it” device, after the Mac in ‘84, the iMac in 1999 or so and the iPod shortly after. But instead of standing alone or adding value to the rest of the lineup, I think it’s going to cannibalize — or net-bookize — both Apple’s laptop line and its mobile-device line. I mean, unless the tablet’s external keyboard is $1100, there absolutely no reason to buy an Air.

    What will be left is the $2000+ pro and the tablet.

    (I’d love to see an iPad Nano next Christmas; just a Touch but $400).

  7. Julian
    9:55 pm on January 28th, 2010

    I find strange that you actually think bespin is a workable alternative to a real development environment. If you were told today that you had to use it instead of Zend would you be happy?
    I’m also surprised that you don’t seem to have even the tiniest bit of moral outrage toward the fact that apple’s potentially coolest new piece of hardware goes entirely against open computing. It was fine (not great) when it was just a phone but this is a computer.
    Somehow this idea that it’s more ‘accessible to the masses’ stacks up at greater value for you and taking a giant leap backwards in openness worth it to you?
    Don’t get me wrong this thing looks like an awesome toy… I’d love to play with it. But the idea that this represents the future of computing for the masses, as Apple and you seem to be suggesting, scares the shit out of me.

  8. Derek
    9:56 pm on January 28th, 2010

    Regarding Bespin versus Zend, no I would not be happy. I don’t mean to say that Bespin is in any way equivalent to Zend. I’m just using it to point out that coding on an iPad isn’t impossible. In fact, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until someone releases a $9.99 PHP editor on the AppStore. My guess is that it’ll be by Aptana, who already have their own cloud service.

    As for the Apple stuff, I can’t explain myself any better than Stephen Fry explained himself: “I do like and have tried to champion OpenSource software. How can I square that with my love of Apple? I’m complicated. I’m a human being. I also believe in a mixed economy and mixed nuts. I love our National Health Service and the National Theatre, but I also love Fortnum and Mason’s and Hollywood movies.”

    I know intuitively that Openness must and will succeed, but at the same time I have an increasingly low tolerance for stuff that isn’t superbly designed. I don’t ever want to have to tweak/configure/fix things. They should just work. Apple’s products, by and large, do just that.

    Ubuntu has made great strides in the last few years, but I won’t be going back to a fully open ecosystem until it approaches the simplicity & design I can get from Apple.

    Fry’s excellent article – http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/01/28/ipad-about/

  9. Derek
    11:18 pm on January 28th, 2010

    @DennisJordan

    >>all this crap about the tablet being four iPhones duct-taped together misses the point. The game changed and an iPod Touch is now a quarter-tablet

    I agree 100% !

    >>The tablet is definitely Apple’s fourth “it” device, after the Mac in ‘84, the iMac in 1999 or so and the iPod shortly after.

    Even though the iPhone is really a mini-iPad, I still think the iPhone was the 4th.
    Mobile internet was SUPERSHIT before it came out. Have you ever tried to browse a WAP/WEP website? Eeeek!
    Data was 10x more expensive.
    Multi-touch didn’t exist.
    Mobile games were limited to Nintendo DS & PSP.

    >>Apple’s biggest error in this was making it too good. . . sexier than a MacBook . . . overpriced dinosaur. Instead of standing alone or adding value to the rest of the lineup, I think it’s going to cannibalize

    I thought that, too.
    Then I saw this quote:
    “If anyone is going to cannibalize the sale of our products it might as well be us.” – Steve Jobs

    He’s got all the angles covered ;)

    >> What will be left is the $2000+ pro and the tablet.

    techies will continue to buy their desktops & laptops, because they need access to more hardcore stuff
    but what’s going to happen is that everyone else will buy ipads
    i don’t mean “everyone who would otherwise have bought a laptop or desktop”
    i mean something closer to “everyone who is alive and wants to be online”
    there are SO MANY people who don’t have computers because computers make them feel stupid or dumb, or because they think they won’t be able to figure them out.
    apple is going to sell an ipad to 50% of those people
    then those people will each convince 1 friend to get one, because it’s so easy to use

    word of mouth rules

    apple stores will help a lot too, because they’re a no-pressure place where people can hold them, and try them out, and ask all sorts of questions.

  10. VK
    12:55 pm on January 30th, 2010

    most of your “R” predictions are general in nature and applicable to almost any new “tablet” gadget (i.e., Dell, HP and others will be release one of their own this year).

    >Coupled with the keyboard dock, I believe it is in fact good enough to be most >people’s ONLY computer.

    no it’s not. web experience is not complete w/o Flash. no USB = no connectivity to printer, USB drive, etc. no webcam = inability to video conference.

    yes, it’s fast, slim, beautiful but… useless as the “only computer”. I will wait for the second generation of the iPad or get one from another manufacturer that will include the aforesaid necessities.

    Apple can’t be “excused” by taking so much time, bulding up so much hype/expection, and then releasing a barely useful device.

  11. Derek
    8:39 pm on January 31st, 2010

    My “predictions” seem general now that it has been launched. Yes, “tablets” have been available by Dell, HP, and others for years, but they all sucked ass! They never took off.

    I use my iPhone for a LOT of web browsing, and 99% of the time I don’t miss Flash. USB is also not required – you can do a lot via WiFi these days. Many printers support WiFi printing. In an interview, Steve Jobs said the iPad will support printing at launch.

    Lack of web cam is not a huge deal (though I agree it is annoying). The amount of people who think video conferencing is cool is very high, but the amount of people who actually DO video conferencing is very low. Not a deal breaker, just a nice to have.

    It may be useless as YOUR only computer, but most people don’t require all the features you would use. They’re not “necessities”. Just useful-for-geeks.

  12. VK
    7:51 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    I am talking about tablets that were announced at CES, which took place before your predictions.

    I’ve been using iPhone since the first generation, most of my daily web browsing is done on the deive and one thing I greatly miss is Flash.

    This device is for non-geeks; basically, those people who will use it on their couch, browse non-CSS compliant web sites (most likely with Flash) and chat with their relatives/grandchildren (most likely with video). I would have purchased it for my dad who hates his PC, and all he does is exactly that: browse the web and videoconference with me and other folks. It’s a deal breaker, and I am pretty sure it’s a deal breaker for many. One reassuring thing is that some leaked photos of the iPad taken apart show an empty space for camera (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/01/ipad-enclosure-has-empty-space-for-camera/)

    USB? Essential. If we’re talking about the “only” computer, then who wouldn’t want to take photos with their pocket camera, take the memory card out, stick in a reader and show to friends?

    In any case, I will wait for the second generation. Hopefully iPad will face some competition from the planned releases by HP, DELL, et al. It will give Apple a good reason to include some of the obvious features the current generation is lacking.

    Let’s see what happens with iPhone this coming summer. Google’s Nexus One is a worthy competitor, so Mr. Jobs can no longer sit back and relax.

  13. Derek
    9:05 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    I didn’t pay much attention to CES, so my predictions aren’t from there. The tablets I did see from CES, though, were just small computers running Windows 7. None of them were optimized for the tablet form factor.

    I have no idea what you’re talking about when you said “non-CSS compliant”. I’ve never had a problem with Mobile Safari rendering anything… except Flash.

    As for the whole USB thing, Apple actually released USB and SD-Card attachments for the iPad. They’re kind of hokey, but at least they let you use USB & SD. See’em here: http://www.aworldofchange.info/2010/01/27/apple-ipads-myriad-optional-dongles-usb-sd-ac-bbq-apple/

    It’s only a matter of time until Belkin or someone releases a full-featured dock that includes a USB hub, nice external speakers, keyboard, a top-mounted webcam, and some kind of harddrive that backs up the iPad automatically. It won’t be too expensive, and it’ll be well worth it.

    I think I’ll get a first generation iPad (16 gig, wifi only) just to see if I like it. If I do,I’ll sell it as soon as the 2nd generation is announced, and order myself a top-of-the-line iPad 2.0 with max storage, 3G, and whatever else it includes.

  14. VK
    10:50 pm on February 2nd, 2010

    Dongles, docks… I would rather sacrifice slightly thickness than having to pay extra for cable attachments.

    A number of tiny tablets were showcased at CES. Lots will hit the market. Starting from 5″ devices (http://www.slipperybrick.com/2010/01/dell-unveils-mini-5-tablet-prototype/).

    I am tempted to get the iPad but won’t be lining up to buy it.

  15. Derek
    9:32 am on February 3rd, 2010

    I’m not a fan of dongles either, but I wouldn’t mind if it required a dock to connect to other devices.

    I’m pretty “meh” about the CES tablets. Everyone and their brother is releasing Android devices. Some of the hardware is great, and the OS is great, but NOBODY is taking the time and spending the money to make a suite of custom-designed apps for their Android-based devices. Without that, it won’t be a slick, custom experience, optimized for the tablet form-factor. Without that, the iPad will continue to kick their asses for a long time to come.

    The original iPod beat every other MP3 player in exactly the same way: it came with iTunes. Apple wins because it builds & optimizes both the hardware and the software, so they work together perfectly.

    Yes, there were geeks who insisted their Creative MP3 Player was better, because it had an FM tuner, but eventually they realized how inferior “Creative Jukebox” was to iTunes, and they switched. Today, some people use Songbird to manage their music, but this is 10 years later! It has taken SO long for the rest of their industry to get their shit together and design a single elegant competitor. Insanity.

  16. VK
    12:10 pm on February 3rd, 2010

    >Yes, there were geeks who insisted their Creative MP3 Player was better,
    >because it had an FM tuner, but eventually they realized how inferior “Creative
    >Jukebox” was to iTunes, and they switched.

    I had a Creative MP3 player. Still have it. It has superior sounding qualities, files could be dragged and dropped, FM tuner, etc. I don’t use it not because of shitty “Creative Jukebox” (I never even tried it). I use iPhone because I want all-in-one. The only time I use iTunes is to sync apps and contacts. Music and videos are synced with a third-party application, which is much more flexible and I can simply drag and drop files.

    >NOBODY is taking the time and spending the money to make a suite of custom-
    >designed apps for their Android-based devices.

    Google does. Nexus works great, so does Droid. I am pretty sure that tablets that will be released will provide a decent user experience. While Apple definitely rocks at doing that, they compromise on some essential features. I am waiting for a no-compromise tool. Give me 8 hours of playback but include a camera. Charge a bit more but if you’re including 3G, don’t introduce mini-SIM cards and don’t lock it to data only. Etc. It’ll be great to see what the modding community does with this toy. Maybe when in London, ON, I’ll drop by check out your new iPad.

  17. VK
    2:09 pm on February 3rd, 2010

    P.S. Here’s something new from Google: http://dev.chromium.org/chromium-os/user-experience/form-factors/tablet

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Life Plan

31
Dec/094

I was reading Spencer Fry’s blog the other day, and he was talking about his new 50 year life plan. He created one because he believes thinking about the big picture because gives him a horizon to drive towards, regardless of whether he’ll achieve everything or not. I thought that was a pretty good idea, and decided that I’d try to write one, too.

You can’t achieve your goals until you define your goals, so here I am, putting them down “on paper”, ready to be put into action on the first day of 2010. If ever I feel that I’ve lost perspective, I’ll refer back to this.

My list is different from Spencer Fry’s in a few key ways, though.
His plan is serial. He plans our year by year what he wants to get done.
It’s a great theory if you know exactly what you want to do, and if you love doing 1 thing at a time.
That’s not me, though. I love to be doing lots of things regularly, so my plan will be more parallel.

I will have 3 streams of focus, and each stream will have its own set of projects or goals. I’ll be free to adjust my projects & goals along the way, as life happens and things change. What I don’t see changing are my main areas of focus — the streams themselves.

My 3 Streams are:

  1. Body (health, fitness, fun)
  2. Mind (learning, problem solving, working)
  3. Spirit (love, family, giving, oneness)

Body Goals

  • Eat well (whole foods, mostly plants, not too much)
  • Exercise regularly
  • Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake (if I need to stay awake, go for pure sugar instead)

Mind Goals

  • Continue to advance in my trade (web development & entrepreneurism)
  • Create my own revenue generating websites and become self-sustaining
  • Become competent in electronics & magnetism

Spirit Goals

  • Develop my ability to concentrate, imagine, & visualize (necessary for lucid dreaming, gnosis, etc)
  • Raise a family in our home & yet-to-be-acquired cottage. Build as much as possible with my own 2 hands. Travel with family as much a possible.
  • Develop my community, both in my neighbourhood, and with like-minded people in the city, by seeking out existing groups and creating new ones. Examples: Habitat for Humanity, St John’s Ambulance, Community Choir, CSETI Contact Teams, Paranormal Researchers

How will I work on all of this?
Well, I’m sure the process will evolve quite a bit over time (especially when a kid/kids are added to the mix), but here’s my initial stab at it:

Weekday Routine (work & personal project focus)
6:30-07am – spirit – meditation to plan the day
07am-08am – spirit (reading for fun) OR body (workout)
08am-12pm – mind – work
12pm-01pm – body – healthy lunch sitting at the dining table
01pm-04pm – mind – work
04pm-05pm – body (workout) OR spirit (reading for fun)
05pm-06pm – body – healthy dinner sitting at the dining table
06pm-07pm – mind/spirit – electronics/magnetism
07pm-08pm – mind/spirit – electronics/magnetism
08pm-09pm – mind/spirit – personal web dev project
09pm-10pm – mind/spirit – personal web dev project
10pm-11pm – body/mind – watch TV or play video game to wind down
11-11:30pm – spirit – meditation to end the day (plan dreams/probs to solve, express gratitude)

Saturday Routine (family focus)
6:30-07am – spirit – meditation to plan the day
07am-08am – spirit (reading for fun) OR body (workout)
08am-12pm – spirit – chores/renovations
12pm-01pm – body – healthy lunch sitting at the dining table
01pm-04pm – spirit – chores/renovations
04pm-05pm – body (workout) OR spirit (reading for fun)
05pm-06pm – body – healthy dinner sitting at the dining table
06pm-11pm – spirit – family time
11-11:30pm – spirit – meditation to end the day (plan dreams/probs to solve, express gratitude)

Sunday Routine (community focus)
6:30-07am – spirit – meditation to plan the day
07am-08am – spirit (spiritual reading for fun) OR body (workout)
08am-11am – spirit – volunteer/community involvement
11am-12pm – spirit – church/zen/temple/community event
12pm-01pm – body – healthy lunch sitting at the dining table
01pm-04pm – spirit – volunteer/community involvement
04pm-05pm – body (workout) OR spirit (spiritual reading for fun)
05pm-06pm – body – healthy dinner sitting at the dining table
06pm-11pm – spirit – family time
11-11:30pm – spirit – meditation to end the day (plan dreams/probs to solve, express gratitude)

Because I’m not specifying years, I am free to adjust plans accordingly. I don’t think it’s important that I plan specific goals so much as it is important that I set aside the time for everything I want to be able to do. If I can stick to the plan most of the time, I should be able to accomplish a great deal.

Oddly, when I finished writing this, I went into a directory of images to find one for this post, and I stumbled upon a photo that was taken 10 years ago tonight! We had just finished making a “couch cushion fort” at Amy’s house, to hide in, because it was about to switch from 1999 to 2000, and everyone was mildly worried about the Y2K bug. Shortly after this photo was taken, we decided it would be better to be outside at midnight, so we went out into the corn field to hunt for sharks. Long story.

MarkAndD2Small

To infinity, and beyond.

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  1. u.c.
    1:52 am on January 1st, 2010

    There goes the value of my shares in Canadian Jello Doughnuts with sprinkles on:)

    Seems a good healthy mix . GO FOR IT…

    06.51 01.01.2010.

  2. sacha
    11:07 am on January 1st, 2010

    I think my *new* new year’s resolution is to become as proactive as Derek.

  3. Kellie B
    2:06 pm on January 2nd, 2010

    Hey Derek–this is a great and inspirational list! I’ve been working on something similar the last little while. Seeing this has helped me focus my own list more. Thanks!

  4. rebecca
    10:10 pm on January 2nd, 2010

    i made a plan about 8 years ago, at that time it was about how i would take care of nurturing myself. then about 5 years ago i set some specific goals. i gave the paper to a frend and 2 years ago after forgetting all about it, we re-opened it. amazing is all i can say. for the most part i have stayed on the path i wanted to be on, even though i had forgotten about it. i guess if you have it in your mind, you work in that direction even when you are not aware of it. i am still moving forward, and a friend of mine said, if you move forward and fall flat on your face, you are still moving in the right direction. on that note i would like to say Happy New Year to the world, keep on moving forward, we will all end up in the same place. see you there ! lol

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  1. u.c.
    1:52 am on January 1st, 2010

    There goes the value of my shares in Canadian Jello Doughnuts with sprinkles on:)

    Seems a good healthy mix . GO FOR IT…

    06.51 01.01.2010.

  2. sacha
    11:07 am on January 1st, 2010

    I think my *new* new year’s resolution is to become as proactive as Derek.

  3. Kellie B
    2:06 pm on January 2nd, 2010

    Hey Derek–this is a great and inspirational list! I’ve been working on something similar the last little while. Seeing this has helped me focus my own list more. Thanks!

  4. rebecca
    10:10 pm on January 2nd, 2010

    i made a plan about 8 years ago, at that time it was about how i would take care of nurturing myself. then about 5 years ago i set some specific goals. i gave the paper to a frend and 2 years ago after forgetting all about it, we re-opened it. amazing is all i can say. for the most part i have stayed on the path i wanted to be on, even though i had forgotten about it. i guess if you have it in your mind, you work in that direction even when you are not aware of it. i am still moving forward, and a friend of mine said, if you move forward and fall flat on your face, you are still moving in the right direction. on that note i would like to say Happy New Year to the world, keep on moving forward, we will all end up in the same place. see you there ! lol

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Christmas 2009

30
Dec/092

christmas_treeChristmas was ridiculously good this year.

Ula’s family is Polish-Canadian, and they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, whereas my family is British-Canadian, and we celebrate on Christmas Day. Since our families are in different cities, this works out perfectly :)

Another way our traditions differ is that instead of everyone buying things for everyone (which can get crazy-expensive) Ula’s family does Secret Santas (each person buys for 1 other person, whose name is drawn from a hat). I like Secret Santas because they it makes you appreciate the gift more, but I also like presents-for-everyone because of the avalanche of gifts :) Neither way is better or worse – they’re just different – and each way has its charm.

So, on Christmas Eve at around 3pm, we headed over to Ula’s parents house, where her mom, dad, 2 sisters, brother-in-law, and grandpa were already waiting to get their Christmas on.

We hung out and chatted until about 7:30.
When the first star came out, dinner began. It was five courses of goodness (borscht, fish, barley, etc).
After dinner, Ula and her sisters played piano, while we all sang carols.
Then we exchanged gifts. This year my Secret Santa was Ula’s older sister. As fate would have it, her Secret Santa was me! So, we exchanged gifts, and we both loved what the other person had given us. We were both giddy and it was great :)
Then we played 2 rousing games of Pictionary, before heading home to sleep.
It was lots of fun :)

The next morning, bright and early, we headed to Petrolia to spend Christmas Day & Boxing Day with my mom, dad, sister & uncle.

When I was little (ok, right up until last year) we would wake up at the crack of dawn and run downstairs to see if Santa had come. When we saw that our stockings were overflowing, we’d call our Granny and tell her to hurry hurry! Come over! Santa came!

We’d open our stockings and have a cup of tea while waiting for her to arrive… but she passed away last October. I miss making that telephone call, but we continue the tradition of starting the day with stockings & tea.

The stockings are usually filled with things that are:
a) handy (zip ties, super-glue, hair elastics)
b) amusing (magic tricks, whoopee cushions, odd toys)
c) delicious (mints, chocolates, life savers)

After the stockings are done, we move to the living room to exchange gifts. Most of us sit on couches & chairs, while the youngest person (my sister) sits on the floor and hands the gifts to their intended recipients. They are passed out one at a time so each gift has its moment in the spotlight.

After the gift exchange, we have a large breakfast of strawberry & raspberry crepes with whipped cream. Back in the day, a sweet breakfast was the only way my mom could get us kids away from our toys for long enough to eat something. Now it’s just a tasty treat.

We spend the rest of the day enjoying one another’s company. Around 5 o’clock, a big turkey dinner is served, complete with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, green beans, fresh rolls, wine, and I can’t remember what else.

We always start the meal with “christmas poppers”, which are those paper things you pull the ends of, and they explode, and a little prize, a joke, and a paper crown fall out. We each read our joke aloud, and put on our crown, which we wear for the duration of the meal.

For dessert, we have a choice of either a) trifle; b) christmas pudding with brown sugar sauce; or c) both. Most of us go for c, but my sweet tooth isn’t what it used to be. This year I had christmas pudding for dessert, and waited until Boxing Day to have some trifle.

From singing carols to christmas pudding, a fantastic time was had by all.
I never want Christmases like this to end.

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  1. Breslin
    11:12 pm on December 30th, 2009

    i really miss making that call to granny too :*(
    but she will always be with us in our hearts.
    and possibly her spirit will swing by from time to time and leark around the house ;)
    xoxo

  2. u.c.
    12:41 am on December 31st, 2009

    The best of both Worlds. Nice;)

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  1. Breslin
    11:12 pm on December 30th, 2009

    i really miss making that call to granny too :*(
    but she will always be with us in our hearts.
    and possibly her spirit will swing by from time to time and leark around the house ;)
    xoxo

  2. u.c.
    12:41 am on December 31st, 2009

    The best of both Worlds. Nice;)

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Heavy

23
Dec/095

A melancholy overcame me the other day when I was listening to Frank Fairfield, a 20-something musician who sounds & lives as if it’s pre-WWI. He loves the old hillbilly music, and once said:

“They have something that we’re losing — something that we’ve lost. These people are connected to the earth. These people are singing straight from the ground. They walk past a rabbit, and they sing about the rabbit — it’s real.”

While I was wrapping presents for my family, I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life“. The main character is George Bailey. He runs a savings & loan company and loses a bunch of money, which threatens to bankrupt him. The town pulls together and gives (not loans) him enough money to recover, and a Merry Christmas is had by all.

This reminded me that up until recently I’ve always been surrounded by friends over the holidays. We’d walk to Tim Horton’s and play chess, and watch movies, and give one another ridiculous gifts, and rides home at ungodly hours, even if it was far away. As in It’s a Wonderful Life, my friends would have bailed me out of bankruptcy… but these days it feels as if my friendships are all a thing of the past, and if I were in trouble, only family would take notice. It’s incredibly disheartening.

The friends I’ve made in my life are the best that anyone could ask for, which only amplifies my sense of loss. I don’t want new friends, I just want to be more present with my existing friends. You’re the best of the best, but you’re also far away. I wish you were closer. I wish I had enough time & money to visit you on a regular basis, but Toronto & Boston & Vancouver & Montreal & England & Zagreb are all so far apart.

I miss you all. Just because I haven’t called, doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It just means I don’t like using telephones.

Earlier today I saw a newspaper that said something to the effect of “Not everyone celebrates Christmas during the holidays, but everyone appreciates the comfort of family and friends“. I couldn’t agree more… I just wish my friends were local.

This sense of loss has been deepening for a while now. Ula does what she can to help me, by encouraging me to go out and meet new people, but for some reason, at this time in my life, that challenge seems almost insurmountable.

I have been a heavy internet user since it first became publicly available in 1994. Heck, I used it regularly even before that, by connecting to a BBS on a dial-up modem. Every day at midnight, the BBS would connect to the internet and download everyone’s inter-BBS mail in one huge batch. I’ve emailed roommates instead of walking down the hallway to talk with them. If anyone can leverage community online, it’s me.

But I’m not feelin’ it.
I moved to London from Toronto about 16 months ago, and I still keep in touch with my friends via Instant Messaging, Facebook, email, and the occasional Skype or phone call… but the lack of physical proximity is starting to suck. We can’t just go out to see a movie, or have a pint at the pub, or play video games. Frank Fairfield would say “it’s not real“.

I used to argue that online friends are just as good as offline ones, but now I think that only holds true when you have a combination of both. Whereas you don’t need online friends, you do need offline friends in order to have a healthy mental state.

Have I mentioned that I work from home? That certainly doesn’t help the situation, because I don’t have co-workers to hang out & explore the city with. There are no interesting Meetups (meetup.com) listed in London. Nor are there any interesting meetings listed for London on Kijiji or Craigslist.

The economies of scale I was accustomed to in Toronto (population 4 million) simply don’t apply here in London (population 400,000). The internet can help you find anything local, but this assumes that the local resource you’re looking for actually exists. In this way, the internet is failing me.

So, dear Internet, my question to you is this:
How can I get out of this funk and build a community for myself?
How can I rediscover a sense of connectedness in this new locale?
How can I meet people in London, given that I work from home, and never went to school here?

My Christmas Wish this year is for a sense of connectedness, but not in a virtual way.

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  1. Napalm
    8:17 pm on December 23rd, 2009

    I suspect the main issue (besides the limits imposed by proximity) is that you aren’t putting much effort into holding on to your friends. My sense is that you get wrapped up in your life and don’t reach out much. If you want to reconnect with your old friends, you need to show them that you still care about the relationship.

  2. u.c.
    2:06 am on December 24th, 2009

    I remember the feeling when I moved from London UK (xxmillions) to Plymouth 25k some 25 years ago.Its hard keeping up with old friends but u have to phone them/email them (at LEAST monthly) and even if its only once a year meet up. I rebuilt my life and it starts with getting into your local community.Plymouth is very very different from London. (less choices of things to do).
    First get to know your neighbours and have an open door policy.It usually starts in the summer when folks are tending their front gardens.Go over and chat,offer help if u think they need it, ask them in for a coffee.(remember they know whats going in in your area)
    Second you cant be working 24/7, if u r lifes not right.Get out and do something in your community. I did a lot of Charity work and made new friends of my age.Im sure little London has stuff like the Red Cross,Rotary (Shelter Box),and lots more. Give them some of your time but avoid what u do for a living.There is masses of places wanting young people like you to help out.(with other like you)
    Third. Ask friends to come and stay- sure they would just love to.
    Fourth- integrate your partners friends as yours.
    Fifth-give out and u get back.
    If transport isnt available to you when u need to get out get some- its a priority.
    Being stuck at home is a NO NO. Working at home is OK if u treat where u work as the OFFICE then when u finish move away from it and get into the REAL world.
    I spend about 4/5 hours a day online but it dosnt interfere with my day to day life.It must not or Life as we know it ceases to exist.
    Even if u work odd hours and your partner does u can find time to do something for your community where u will make lots of new local friends. U gotta get OUT>>>>
    Derek— you have one hell of a lot to offer other people—-make it SO.
    Give out and Get back.
    Im now very very Happy in my community but its been a lot of work.But worth it!!

  3. dinko
    11:27 am on December 24th, 2009

    Hi my friend. Answer to your question if you really need new people in this new environment is to start doing something that needs physical contact.
    You didn’t meet people at Zagreb by staying home. It doesn’t matter what you do, whatever. Go to the gym or library or club.

    Also you should be aware that this is time of year that your kind of thoughts come to mind. Lets see will you in three weeks feel the same.

  4. u.c.
    1:13 pm on December 24th, 2009

    p.s. even the little chap on the right is giving u a few hints – indoor sports club?meet the locals!

  5. Chris Kemp
    6:33 pm on December 24th, 2009

    We still love you here in Toronto, D-mart! And you know I’m always available for a coffee if you’re in the Big Smoke even though I know it’s difficult to get out here.

    Merry Christmas!

    cK

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  1. Napalm
    8:17 pm on December 23rd, 2009

    I suspect the main issue (besides the limits imposed by proximity) is that you aren’t putting much effort into holding on to your friends. My sense is that you get wrapped up in your life and don’t reach out much. If you want to reconnect with your old friends, you need to show them that you still care about the relationship.

  2. u.c.
    2:06 am on December 24th, 2009

    I remember the feeling when I moved from London UK (xxmillions) to Plymouth 25k some 25 years ago.Its hard keeping up with old friends but u have to phone them/email them (at LEAST monthly) and even if its only once a year meet up. I rebuilt my life and it starts with getting into your local community.Plymouth is very very different from London. (less choices of things to do).
    First get to know your neighbours and have an open door policy.It usually starts in the summer when folks are tending their front gardens.Go over and chat,offer help if u think they need it, ask them in for a coffee.(remember they know whats going in in your area)
    Second you cant be working 24/7, if u r lifes not right.Get out and do something in your community. I did a lot of Charity work and made new friends of my age.Im sure little London has stuff like the Red Cross,Rotary (Shelter Box),and lots more. Give them some of your time but avoid what u do for a living.There is masses of places wanting young people like you to help out.(with other like you)
    Third. Ask friends to come and stay- sure they would just love to.
    Fourth- integrate your partners friends as yours.
    Fifth-give out and u get back.
    If transport isnt available to you when u need to get out get some- its a priority.
    Being stuck at home is a NO NO. Working at home is OK if u treat where u work as the OFFICE then when u finish move away from it and get into the REAL world.
    I spend about 4/5 hours a day online but it dosnt interfere with my day to day life.It must not or Life as we know it ceases to exist.
    Even if u work odd hours and your partner does u can find time to do something for your community where u will make lots of new local friends. U gotta get OUT>>>>
    Derek— you have one hell of a lot to offer other people—-make it SO.
    Give out and Get back.
    Im now very very Happy in my community but its been a lot of work.But worth it!!

  3. dinko
    11:27 am on December 24th, 2009

    Hi my friend. Answer to your question if you really need new people in this new environment is to start doing something that needs physical contact.
    You didn’t meet people at Zagreb by staying home. It doesn’t matter what you do, whatever. Go to the gym or library or club.

    Also you should be aware that this is time of year that your kind of thoughts come to mind. Lets see will you in three weeks feel the same.

  4. u.c.
    1:13 pm on December 24th, 2009

    p.s. even the little chap on the right is giving u a few hints – indoor sports club?meet the locals!

  5. Chris Kemp
    6:33 pm on December 24th, 2009

    We still love you here in Toronto, D-mart! And you know I’m always available for a coffee if you’re in the Big Smoke even though I know it’s difficult to get out here.

    Merry Christmas!

    cK

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