favourite things

i love lists.

products i swear by and really should get a commission

the ones that get the user experience right.

  1. owala: changed my whole adult water drinking experience
  2. claude.ai: have you TRIED using gemini?
  3. perplexity: ranked lower than claude because the pro subscription doesn't give you super computer access (need additional creds)
  4. 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)
  5. playstation: honestly great user experience and easy to navigate menu that doesn't change constantly just for the sake of changing.
  6. up: you don't know it yet but it's going to be the ultimate productivity tool (notion, i'm coming for you)
  7. 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.

  1. google workspace: while i may hate on gemini, workspace is what i wish microsoft would have done with m365
  2. claude.ai: easy to set up and use, great documentation (when you remember to ask) and easy file/project browsing
  3. canva: some designers might hate on it but it has literally lowered the barrier to entry for people to get into graphic design
  4. figma: it's kind of the web/app design gold standard
  5. 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
  6. 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.

  1. 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
  2. 86 eighty-six: a really beautiful and poignant light novel turned anime about war, resilience, and finding hope amidst devastation
  3. prophecy of the stones by flavia bujor: this ignited my love for fantasy and adventure when i was a kid
  4. lenny's podcast: a must for anyone in product and engineering tbh
  5. y-combinator podcast: i did indeed drink the koolaid
  6. bbc global news podcast: keeping up with world events, a daily listen, and i love british accents
  7. 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!

  1. farmer's market: ubc farmer's market (being a farm practicum student means i'm biased)
  2. cafe obsession: isetta
  3. best matcha in town: oide
  4. best hojicha in town: mah milk bar
  5. favourite vietnamese food: ganh
  6. favourite taco truck: ruben's tacos on santa monica blvd (last time i went, i cried)
  7. 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.

  1. dog: diego dog
  2. volleyball: ftlo
  3. pickleball: silly pickles
  4. gunpla: hg gundam aerial
  5. currently playing: starfield (current space fascination!)
  6. always playing: stardew valley (it's a classic!)

currently

updated whenever something changes, if i remember.

  1. reading: project maven by katrina manson (get cukor'd)
  2. training for: my next army career course (through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond)
  3. learning: discrete maths (if not or not and then what is?)
  4. building: a little corner of the internet (this website lol)
  5. listening to: the same book above because i don't actually know how to read
  6. thinking about: metaphysics and how to live forever
  7. next sidequest: spacex mars mission 2030???