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Everyone needs a friend

2014-11-08T13:08:28-05:00

I saw this video recently. It’s a heartwarming reminder of our need—perceived or not— for a friend, for someone to look out for us. Sometimes it’s a person, sometimes it’s a pet. It is terribly easy, when caught up in the rush of everyday life, or when tired and spent, to forget our friend, who’s always there.

Everyone needs a friend was originally published by Terry Wong at twong.com on November 08, 2014.

Add Oil! Errrr...Step on it!

2014-08-19T08:51:00-04:00

I’m in the middle of a rather busy period, with major deadlines looming, and a house move as well. A common expression of encouragement in China was offered to me, the always uplifting 加油!!! (jia you), character-for-character translated into English as “add oil”! My English speaking friends here in Hong Kong, even those who know little Chinese beyond ni hao, all understand and even use “add oil”. The most common occurrence is in fact on Facebook. It’s just entered into the expat lexicon with little fanfare.

I’ve wondered at the origins and possible explanations behind the adoption of the term into Chinglish. The linked article has some intriguing, even fanciful ideas.

Add Oil! Errrr...Step on it! was originally published by Terry Wong at twong.com on August 19, 2014.

Itching to Try a Nomiku

2014-08-12T11:21:00-04:00

The devilishly clever folks at BoingBoing turned me on to the Nomiku immersion circulator and sous vide machine. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at this modernist cooking technique, but couldn’t see spending the cash on the gear, much less allocating the space in my inadequately sized Hong Kong kitchen. But now, it’s different. The product is so successful that a new version, complete with a handset app and WiFi connectivity is being funded and promoted through a Kickstarter campaign.

Technology folks who struggle to communicate the Internet of Things (IoT) concept, and who cling to the hope of a kitchen or home automation more compelling than the smart fridge can now breathe a sign of relief. As for me, I think I’ll make some eggs, and think about the intersection of modernist cuisine, foodiness, maker culture, mobile apps, devices, crowdfunding…

Itching to Try a Nomiku was originally published by Terry Wong at twong.com on August 12, 2014.

New Year, New Blog

2014-01-03T04:18:02-05:00

Happy New Year! A new year brings sharp emphasis on new: new beginnings, new resolutions, new ventures; everything new carrying with it revived optimism for life and the possibilities it offers. The passing of the previous year also brings a bit of retrospection that asks, “what have I done this year” or “how have I spent my time?” I will briefly indulge in both accountings, since here I now face the first post, akin to the first blank page in a new pristine journal.

A Beginning: Facing the Blank Page

First, the retrospective: I can say that I passed 2013 doing many of the things I love both personally and professionally. I visited two new countries and made multiple repeat visits to another two that I enjoy very much and have only begun to explore. In a corner of the British Museum, I stared into the blank masks of mummified cats that I had only seen before in classroom presentations long ago. In Fiji, I got to dive at a coral reef for the first time. In Thailand, I learned to cook new dishes with a renowned chef. All that was on breaks from my day job, where I got to work on some ground-breaking technology services, and met two brilliant technologists whose work I admire and whom I’m now happy to call friends.

New Year's Day 2014: The first rainbow of the year seen from Denarau Island, Fiji

Now to the new: Chronicling my own life has never been a priority; I habitually allowed just enough time to sneak in a little fun between obligations. Like most other folks, I have taken to the use of social media as a matter of convenience, especially the piggybacking on network effects inherent in those media. One just has to accept on some level that one is the product, that the convenience and distribution are worth trading for one’s own data.

I have either not given myself the time or not made the commitment to build a site with this domain that I have owned and used for email since 1996–yes, for 18 years. I hang my head in shame as I admit that mine was a classic case of the cobbler’s kids with no shoes, except here I was the cobbler who made haute couture shoes AND the kid wrapped up in one.

The truth is that I could have made a quick and simple pair of sandals, instead of trying to make the ultimate pair of dress shoes. In this case, I let the perfect get in the way of the good, persistently so. If I ever have a child, I must remember to do better, both in the shoe and tech/personal website department!

This year I anticipate will be one of many changes, along many dimensions of my life. This new site is the first visible change. While I intend to continue posting new and (I hope) better photographs of things I see and enjoy in my travels and everyday life, I intend also to share more detailed thoughts about various topics that I hope will interest you.

Now we will just have to see how long I take to stop dating things <MONTH> <DAY>, 2013…

New Year, New Blog was originally published by Terry Wong at twong.com on January 03, 2014.