favourite things
i love lists.
products i swear by and really should get a commission
the ones that get the user experience right.
- owala: changed my whole adult water drinking experience
- claude.ai: have you TRIED using gemini?
- perplexity: ranked lower than claude because the pro subscription doesn't give you super computer access (need additional creds)
- signal: #1 messaging app with all the basic functionalities done WELL and comes with better encryption and secure-r comms; search functionality and archived chat data could be better (old chat data gets lost during phone migrations)
- playstation: honestly great user experience and easy to navigate menu that doesn't change constantly just for the sake of changing.
- up: you don't know it yet but it's going to be the ultimate productivity tool (notion, i'm coming for you)
- tesla full self drive: fsd (supervised) let's me enjoy the scenery while driving, i highly recommended for long distance travel
tools i'd keep
what i reach for to get sh$% done.
- google workspace: while i may hate on gemini, workspace is what i wish microsoft would have done with m365
- claude.ai: easy to set up and use, great documentation (when you remember to ask) and easy file/project browsing
- canva: some designers might hate on it but it has literally lowered the barrier to entry for people to get into graphic design
- figma: it's kind of the web/app design gold standard
- whimsical: if you need a place to start and put together ideas, draw diagrams, sticky notes or create mind maps, this is the place to go
- confluence: imo the best technical documentation software, i hold it as a standard to my normal day-to-day note taking apps which really don't compare
books, podcasts, tv shows, movies, etc
some entertainment, some learning, all overall enjoyment.
- gundam seed, seed destiny, seed freedom, and seed zero (feb 2027): the anime i watched when i was 8-9 years old that fundamentally changed the trajectory of who i would become
- 86 eighty-six: a really beautiful and poignant light novel turned anime about war, resilience, and finding hope amidst devastation
- prophecy of the stones by flavia bujor: this ignited my love for fantasy and adventure when i was a kid
- lenny's podcast: a must for anyone in product and engineering tbh
- y-combinator podcast: i did indeed drink the koolaid
- bbc global news podcast: keeping up with world events, a daily listen, and i love british accents
- love in the clouds: i didn't think i could love a c-drama so much but obviously #1 is hou ming hao and #2 is the plot since we love an enemies to lovers trope
places
worth the trip, the walk, or full self drive baby!
- farmer's market: ubc farmer's market (being a farm practicum student means i'm biased)
- cafe obsession: isetta
- best matcha in town: oide
- best hojicha in town: mah milk bar
- favourite vietnamese food: ganh
- favourite taco truck: ruben's tacos on santa monica blvd (last time i went, i cried)
- bbq pork: it was chinatown bbq for the vibes but milk and sugar bbq bar on joyce is onto something
off the clock
the things that fill the rest of the week.
- dog: diego dog
- volleyball: ftlo
- pickleball: silly pickles
- gunpla: hg gundam aerial
- currently playing: starfield (current space fascination!)
- always playing: stardew valley (it's a classic!)
currently
updated whenever something changes, if i remember.
- reading: project maven by katrina manson (get cukor'd)
- training for: my next army career course (through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond)
- learning: discrete maths (if not or not and then what is?)
- building: a little corner of the internet (this website lol)
- listening to: the same book above because i don't actually know how to read
- thinking about: metaphysics and how to live forever
- next sidequest: spacex mars mission 2030???


