http://www.lewislau.com/ en-us Copyright 2010 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:00:07 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Was going to post this as "Happy March", "Two months down, 10 more to go", or even "End of The Olympics", but end up choose this one above instead since the picture was taken by yours truly with my Galileoscope and my LX3 - I had planned to use two tripods but I left one of them in Germany, so had to freehand-shoot it. The result turned out okay, I think... Well the weekend is over. Going to bed.]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/happy_full_moon.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/happy_full_moon.html galileoscope lx3 moon Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:00:07 -0800 A strange combination, this weekend being President's Day Weekend, Valentines Day, but most importantly Chinese New Years! Spent last night eating like what most Chinese do with family: Full 11-course meal with fish, shrimp, crab, steak, oysters (with "hair vegetable" (image here), abalone, and more that I can't even remember :) Hope everyone had a good weekend as well...]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/happy_chinese_new_year_1.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/happy_chinese_new_year_1.html Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:01:10 -0800 So far my trip has been pretty low-key. Keeping in line with my relaxing work-week diet - last week I had no alcohol at all until the weekend. Yesterday I broke the rule and had two beers during dinner, and tonight I went "all out" (not really) and had a 1/2 pitcher of Sangria while dining at a Tapas restaurant. The picture above is a screenshot from the local newspaper featuring Thomas (Julia's dad) on its headline. What happened was that in December Thomas moved from one office to another, so he had registered with the telephone company MONTHS BEFORE to switch the old phone line to the new office once the move occurs, so his patients don't get a busy tone when they call in. The move went pretty smooth. The telephone line switch? A DISASTER from day one at the new office - the old phone line was instantly dropped once he moved out. Phone calls after phone calls to the telephone company just resulted in finger pointing (internally) back and forth, but somehow no one can pull the switch to restart his old line and forward to the new office number. Of all the technical advancements it simply takes a few F***-UPS on the human side to ruin everything. On another note, I was sitting in Starbucks this afternoon checking email, in between customer calls, when I experienced a job-training of sorts at the table next to me. It was a 30+ year-old training a late-teenager on the "art of selling". Five minutes was all that I needed to notice the BULL$*** in the trainer. His one line that triggered my "alarm" was 'If anyone asks you if this is a pyramid scheme, tell them it SOUNDS LIKE ONE, BUT IT ISN'T". Well if it smells like one, tastes like one, then IT IS ONE. He then spent ten minutes explaining to the young kid on his own special "tricks in selling insurance", before suddenly telling his trainee to NAME THREE PEOPLE WHO THE KID THINKS HE CAN CONVERT TO INSURANCE SALESPEOPLE HIMSELF... Maybe it takes a man in a upside-down triangle suit with the words GIZA across his face to notice, but the gullible one just kept listened on and fed his trainer the predator more information about himself. I couldn't listen any more so I had to walk out of there... but decided to take a glance at the lamb idiot salesperson-in-training before I walked away. The kid had nose/ear/face/lip rings all over the face (not exactly but you get the point). Here are some points on on-the-job training or interviews: Lesson #1: Your interview / training should NEVER take place at a Starbucks. Unless you 1) work for Peet's, or 2) you want to be this. Lesson #2: If you are going to an insurance sales job-training or interview (besides one for a concert roadie for this guy). Take your face piercings off, hide your full-body tribal tattoos. Lesson #3: Your interviewer/trainer should never dress more casual than you (face ring monster: dress shirt, khakis. pyramid-man: t-shirt and jeans) Lesson #4: If you need another sign to notice a scam, you are an idiot. Your calling in life is working here. Enough of this. I'm going home tomorrow :)]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/last_night_in_vegas.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/last_night_in_vegas.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:10:49 -0800 With the weekend coming to a close, I am getting ready for a short trip out to Las Vegas this coming week - the true test to see if I somehow gain all my weight back is through a business trip - difficulty in fitting a workout into my schedule, and the hard part of eating healthy while on the road... Speaking of being on the road, I saw Up In The Air last week - although I am nowhere near what George Clooney's character is in mileage-accumulation, over the past 13 years I have developed some quick traveling habits for zipping in and out of airports/planes/hotels. More of this to come as a post sometime in the next few days. Oh yeah, and with my recent weight loss I decided over the weekend to free up some room off my laptop as well - formatted the entire drive on Friday night, and while watching New Orleans destroy Indianapolis at Superbowl XLIV I finally got all my critical work programs installed. Nice to have a laptop that runs like new - I am taking my chances this time and not installing any antivirus or malware software, as I find that these programs that supposedly protect me end up making my laptop SNAIL SNOW as a result... Going to bed now. Gute Nacht.

]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/viva_las_vegas.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/viva_las_vegas.html George Clooney Health Indianapolis Las Vegas Nevada New Orleans Shopping Super Bowl XLIV Weight loss Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:15:58 -0800 My goal was to try to post once a day, but with my lazy but I end up updating about once a week. The picture above is of Emily, Leni's (almost as pretty - just don't tell either of them) sister. Unlike Leni, who I just adore, and can pet all day long, Emily is too lady-like for me to approach - every time I try to pet her she runs off quickly... The bad news is that as lady-like as she is, Emily is suddenly in a hurry to get a boyfriend the past few days... On a non-cat note, my weight has been fluctuating like a space balloon in Colorado - a month ago I peaked at 158, and suddenly I am back down at 150 - either 1) my scale is broken, or 2) I have leukemia. I am hoping for neither...]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/weight_fluctuation.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/weight_fluctuation.html Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:04:30 -0800 Not that I am counting, but my first month of this year isn't exactly spectacular. Work-wise it is just absolutely peachy, if you consider getting a dose of 30-day continuous enema (figuratively speaking) pleasurable. Merci Beaucoup, thank goodness it's over. What has happened is that while I am doing just fine with my personal life, work keeps serving me porcelain platters of slow-braised a$$holes with a side serving of sh*t-au-lait. Those whom I have considered friends end up turning on me, and constantly being thrown under the bus by my so called "buddies" doesn't kick start a Happy New Year for me. Oh well. One month down, and hoping that there aren't eleven more of these months to go. I will, however, end my post on a happy note. This picture is of the cutest cat in the world (yes, I've said it - the CUTEST) - Leni 's Julia's beautiful cat back home, and on this past vacation in Germany we've spend a lot of fun times together - some involving her purring on my stomach all night, but most are of her jumping back and forth playing with her cat toy :) Sometimes I wish I had the life of a cat, and not a small part of what some calls a "dying industry". Enough of this. I shall go to bed now and wake up in a more positive mood. MEOW.

]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/one_month_down.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/02/one_month_down.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:51:01 -0800 With the crazy weather system moving around L.A. in the past few days I really think that we are coming to an end-of-the world scenario (#1, #2 - and I just realized that both are directed by this guy - don't think I want to live in his house) very soon... Until then, I guess I should just enjoy life as it comes, and ignore all the negative people around me. The shot above is from a recent visit to the art gallery downstairs. You should be able to notice the difference between HDR and non-HDR (larger version here). I love the fact that both the shadow and highlight of the scene is captured in the same shot :) Yes I am that proud of my own creation, as I have never been the artistic type... Another HDR photo here, and here.]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/01/second_post_2010.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/01/second_post_2010.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:39:32 -0800
Well I have been back in the U.S. for more than a week now, and circumstances around me has brought me in a slight downward spiral... Not going to dwell too deep into it but all I can say is I am truly disappointed in someone whom I considered my friend. Oh well. Life goes on - like cockroaches there are always selfish a$$holes in the world. Good news is I got to spend a short vacation in Germany visiting Julia and her family for Christmas and New Years. Was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to go back soon (but never soon enough)... more pictures to come, but for now I have (finally!) posted almost all of the 2008 pictures in my travelogue section... enjoy!]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2010/01/happy_2010_sort_of.html http://www.lewislau.com/2010/01/happy_2010_sort_of.html Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:46:55 -0800 These are some pictures I have recently taken with my Lumix LX3. In the past week I have been experimenting with HDR photography, taking bright, vibrant pictures in dark areas, and I can't wait to experiment more the next few days when I attend a conference in Phoenix, AZ! 8GB SDHC6 memory card: $17 Circular Polarizer Filter: $24 LX3 lens conversion adapter: $25 Kowa Velbon Mini Tripod: $27 Shots Like These: One Two Three - and the permanent grin on my face when I look at the pictures I took: Priceless.]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/12/i_love_my_lx3.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/12/i_love_my_lx3.html Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:23:08 -0800 For those who are not from the U.S. here is a quick explanation of what Black Friday Shopping is - on the Friday after Thanksgiving all retailers begin their annual Christmas shopping season, and everyone tries to lure shoppers to their store by announcing limited quantity, too-good-to-be-true deals (like $199 for a brand new laptop, or $250 for a 42" LCD HDTV). Naturally people get in line days before opening day on Friday to be the first in the door (usually at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.) to get the deal. Me? You'll never find me at one of these lines. I love sleep too much to wake up in the middle of the night for these deals, and there is really nothing that I want right now that would warrant getting in line for (maybe a great deal on a house in L.A., and that's a BIG MAYBE). So since my brother Philip is in town we decided to go shopping at one of my current favorite retailer tonight - Banana Republic, only to be notified that EVERYTHING AT THAT SPECIFIC STORE IS 50% OFF. Hmmm. What happened to Black Friday? It is only Thursday! I guess Black Friday comes early in bad economic times. Yes, I did some crazy shopping at the store.]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/11/happy_turkey_day_2009_black_fr.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/11/happy_turkey_day_2009_black_fr.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:30:31 -0800 Spend my birthday with Tom and Family last night, and tonight I went trick-or-treating with Tom and Megan - Tom was supposed to be a Sifu (Chinese Martial Arts Teacher), but ended up looking like either a Norwegian girl, or Cousin Itt from The Addams Family. Megan was a pink Bat -Girl who got lots of candy tonight, and her brother Kyle was dressed up as a Tootsie Roll... Me? I was "Spider Man"! ]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/10/happy_halloween_happy_birthday.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/10/happy_halloween_happy_birthday.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:56:26 -0800 Me shocked today when I fine out dat my faborit videe-o since birth, Baby Einstein, is no good for me - signentests say dat theese videe-o make me have Ay-Dee-Dee (what's that?), and can't focus - oh see what's that - a popsicle! Oh yeah, almost forgot I was typing... Oh my gosh they are remaking The A-Team!. Sorry. Back to what I am trying to tell you. I think it is a croc of sheet! I think it is all a conspiree-see theorie (whoa - that was almost a ivy-leak word I just pulled out - see - I'm a genieos for watching Baby Einstein every day since I got outta the housepital!!!). What's next, telling me dat my favorite Doctor and his DS game no work either? Everyone in my family tell me dats what got me into Special Ed's class (I still haven't met him yet, this Ed guy)! (Lewis slaps and wakes himself up just in time to apologize for writing this post. Sorry)]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/10/wha_baby_einstein_no_work.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/10/wha_baby_einstein_no_work.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:00:54 -0800 Julia called me this morning before her first day at work, and told me that Paul has suddenly died in his sleep. 30 minutes after we hung up, and I am still in shock. Here are some pictures of Julia, Anne, Doris and Thomas' cat Paul. Rest In Peace Paul, and I am sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you... ]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/09/good_bye_paul.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/09/good_bye_paul.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:06:58 -0800 Hoping everyone affected by the L.A. fires this summer get out safely and don't suffer too much damages to their homes. Strange things these days making me think of life in general - in the past week my boss' sister suddenly died from a bicycling accident, then one of my customers (in his 30s) also died of a massive stroke. Life is certainly too short to f*** around with. Cherish each day and live life to its fullest.]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/08/the_fire_continues_to_burn.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/08/the_fire_continues_to_burn.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:59:08 -0800 Those who are close to me knows that I love taking pictures - it's the ASIAN inside me :) Ever since my first digital camera in 2000 I've been upgrading my camera every two years or so... I have been drooling over the Panasonic Lumix LX3 for the past few months, especially since it is the exact same camera as the Leica D-Lux4 camera, two hundred dollars less sans the red dot :) The problem? The LX3 has been out of stock ever since I've wanted one, and in the past few weeks I've even contemplated spending the extra $200 just to be able to finally get one... but I decided to just check on all the web sites, and hope that I get lucky. Well lucky I was! Before heading to bed last night I decided to spontaneously check on Amazon, and guess what? They had two in stock! These are the all the cameras I have had in the past 9 years, which I have used to take the pictures on this lewislau.com web site!]]> http://www.lewislau.com/2009/08/10_years_of_digital_photograph.html http://www.lewislau.com/2009/08/10_years_of_digital_photograph.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:46:47 -0800