Coredump

Originally uploaded by iandexter.
Collecting diecast Mini Coopers is my hobby. I’m a bit of an O.C. so I want to make an inventory of my collection. So I resort to taking photos.

In my recent experiment, I used my aging Sony DSC60 camera, a Sony VTR100 tripod, a study lamp with a flexible neck, and a roll of corrugated paper for the background.

The results were, well, not what I expected. The lighting was saturated, the focus and depth were off. I attribute it to technique (read: the lack of it).

Oh well, I will have to try better.

• Registered diecastminis.com. Now, www.diecastminis.com point to my hobby blog.
• My iandexter.net Google-hosted email is having DNS problems. Hay…
• Wracking my brain all day, trying to figure out how to migrate Serena Version Manager files to Subversion. So far, PVCS-to-RCS has been successful, but it only gets the latest version — no version history!

Update: The DNS resolution issue points to my availment of a service from my domain registrar — turns out they had to point my domain to their name servers. Thus, the MX record for iandexter.net vanished. Fast propagation, though, as I got nearly instantaneous update.

Up-update: Interestingly, during the period when the MX record did not resolve, I still received spam mails. Spam is that resilient? I shudder at the thought.

By Lego. Take a look, drool and weep:

Oh, and it will only set you back US$500.

Originally uploaded by iandexter.

(Yet another “New Year’s resolutions” post.)

1. Life. I will strive to be the best tatay to my two sons and wife. Being away most of the time (and going home only on weekends) is taking its toll in my relationship with them, but I will make up for that. My wife and I will learn cooking together. Even the little one can join in if he wants, but he will be busy with his little brother. I will also continue to be a great kuya to my brother and two sisters, and a good son to Mommy and Daddy. Last year had been a year full of changes, and I had been remiss in my family duties. This year will be different. I will also go back to school.
2. Work. I will brush up on my coding skills (I really ought to review on Perl, and learn Ruby). I also resolve to blog more often, with meatier and substantive posts, not only here but for PTB. I may not be able to take on many side projects, but for those I do get, I will — as always — give the best I have, providing quality and innovation, and going beyond expectations.
3. Play. I have to write some more, and go out more often, and read more books. We will probably travel at the end of the year (when the baby is big enough for that) — nothing grand, just a regular family trip. I will see to it that my collection grows. I have been quite lazy with this the past year, but this year, I intend to double my hoard.

I’m at the Tech Lounge in Robinson’s Galleria. Free WiFi! Yay.

A while ago, I was at Toys ‘R’ Us — a kid’s dream-come-true. (And a parent’s budget nightmare. Hehe.) I bought a Vtec “laptop” for Gab, who’s turning five on Monday. But don’t tell him yet. It’s a surprise.

Anyway: I was at TRU. Man, toy heaven. Couldn’t help myself: bought a Little Einstein science kit (more for me than for Gab), a little wood box puzzle, and some 3D dinosaur puzzles. What can I say? I’m a geek, and a fun one at that.

No worthy diecasts there, though. (I should have mentioned: I collect diecast Mini Coopers on the side.) Lots of Hotwheels and Fastlanes, and a few Cararamas, Tomicas and Jada — but no diecast Minis! Grr. I’m never going back to TRU. Not!