My Official Entry into the 21st Century

Today marks my official entry into the world of the 21st Century. Sure, I've done a decent job of keeping abreast with technology--a lot of it heavily influenced by my day-to-day interactions with information technology. Web 2.0, texting, voice transcription: some technologies that were just a few decades ago considered science fiction but I now utilize on a daily basis.

But as life(style)-changing as these technologies may be, I have never really treated them as "ground-breaking" advancements; to me they have been more like ingenious inventions that have proven to be very useful. Nothing major.

Well, until now. For me, nothing speaks science fiction or 21st Century as Artificial Intelligence. And when you speak of AI, Robotics can't be very far behind. Once you embrace these technologies, then to me you have severed the last of ties that still bound you with the 20th Century. That is what I have done today. I have welcomed into our home a 14"x18" box that represented the future:



Yes, I am now one of the proud owners of a Roomba. I have done some research and if what I've read is accurate, it will prove to be a time saver for what we intend to use it: day-to-day cleaning. Nothing thorough, but just decent cleaning akin to the nightly sweeping we used to do in the Philippines. Having also seen the nice deal they had on this model in Buy.com, I decided to take the plunge.

Opening the package, I can't help but feel a whiff of excitement, like a child opening a Christmas present that he knows is impressive but is a bit unsure of what it actually does...



Inspecting the main unit, I saw this sticker, which made me realize even more of the wide-reaching potential of this technology:



I can't wait to test it.

Garage Sales

One of the things I liked when I moved to the US was garage or yard sales. I was introduced to this concept during my first spring here back in 2001. The basic principle--selling used stuff to the public--is not new to me; we were doing this for fund-raising back in college. It is also common for Filipinos to sell something they own, especially something of considerable value like electronics or furniture, to friends or neighbors. However, since Filipinos typically use something they buy up until the last part breaks (or gets stolen, whichever happens first), they rarely accumulate stuff to the point that they need to get rid of things just to "declutter" their houses. In this aspect, I think garage sales are unique to developed countries, especially within relatively well-off communities.

Before coming to the US, I have heard stories of people in Japan throwing TV sets away because electronics are so cheap. I thought this was so cool, imagine getting TV sets for free by picking them up by the sidewalk! I thought I'd never get to experience them, but luckily for me this sort of thing was also practiced here.

To those who haven't been to one, the way a garage sale works is pretty simple: one family puts out flyers or announcements that they are having a garage sale (usually scheduled on the weekends). Then, on the scheduled days, they would put out stuff that they don't need anymore or want to dispose of, in their garage or on their driveway. Each item for sale will have a sticker on it indicating its price. People passing by or people who knew of the sale would come up and look at the stuff, and if they like something they can get it for the sticker price or, as what commonly happens, ask if they can get it for a cheaper price.

To me this is one of the most elegant forms of human interaction, because everyone essentially wins--there are no losers in this transaction. The seller is happy because they got rid of something that they didn't want and even got paid for it, while the buyer is happy because they got what they wanted and paid very little for it.

Come springtime, when people are shrugging off those winter blues and starting to do some major reorganizing around the house, you can see signs for garage sales start to crop up around neighborhoods. Over the years, we've learned a few tips and tricks to make garage-sale-hopping more efficient and fun:

• Make a list of what you need. This way you limit yourself on what you buy. Precisely because they're cheap, it's very tempting to buy things even if you don't really need them. Typically your list will include things that you consider too expensive to buy new.
• Make a note of where the sales are going on. Neighborhood sales are preferable because then you have many choices without driving too much. Sometimes you can just walk from house to house. More affluent neighborhoods tend to have better stuff, so prioritize them. Plan your route so you don't waste time traveling.
• Get there early. The best stuff goes fast.
• All prices are negotiable, so ALWAYS ask if you can get it for a lower price. If you are timid about haggling, try asking "what's the lowest price you can sell this?" Don't worry about what the seller might think; this is expected and perfectly acceptable in garage sales. And if you buy more stuff, you can ask for more discounts.
• Be aware of how much something costs new. You don't want to pay for something that almost costs you the same as the new stuff.
• If there are kids selling lemonade (and there will be), buy some. They really appreciate it. :)

How the Internet Saved My Laundry

When we bought our house four years ago, it also came with some of the basic home appliances like cooking range, dishwasher and microwave. Some of the other stuff though you had to buy on your own, like the refrigerator, washer and dryer. As anybody who’s bought any major (or minor, for that matter) appliance will tell you, these things have an uncanny ability to act up or break down just when the warranty has just expired. This is what happened to our washer. One day, out of the blue, while I was about to start laundry, it decided that it wasn’t in the mood for washing and flashed this cryptic “F DL ” message while beeping incessantly. No matter what buttons you pressed, it still kept beeping and flashing the error code.

So out came my first line of defense: the washer manual. Straight to the troubleshooting section I went, only to find out that “F DL” means some sort of “door locked” malfunction, and that to fix it I should check the door assembly. Duh! How can you check the door assembly when the door is locked? To be honest, I never really expected much from the manual but I figured it was worth a shot.

So my next line of defense, as any IT professional worth their salt will turn to, is the Internet. I submitted my plea to the almighty Google, and it responded by giving me links to a few discussion groups and blogs dedicated to appliance fixing and washer/dryer how-to’s. It took me all of 30 seconds to realize that this was not an isolated incident (which made me feel a little better actually), and that this sort of thing has happened to a lot of people who, like me, had based their washer purchase on the manufacturer’s good reputation but ended up frustrated and disappointed. It wasn’t difficult to find a discussion thread dedicated to the dreaded “F DL” problem, and I soon found one post that had a credible-sounding solution to the problem. Even though the solution involved taking out the washer’s control unit and soldering some apparently loose joints, I wasn’t too worried. We had electronics classes in high school and besides, I’ve always been tinkering with anything that plugs into an outlet (whether or not it was meant to) ever since I was a kid. What did worry me was the fact that the dryer was stacked on top of the washer, and it would take at least four guys to bring down the dryer.

So for a few times we had to do laundry at a friend’s house, until we hosted an informal dinner party and I finally had enough manpower to take down the dryer (and no, I generally don’t make my guests carry dryers but this was a clothing emergency). The next night I took out the control unit and soldered the loose joints as instructed. Although I was a bit skeptical I proceeded to reassemble the parts, and when I turned on the washer it worked!

For a few weeks, that is. After a while it started giving the “F DL”–and then a new one, “F 11″–error code. It wasn’t a big deal at first, because you could get around it by hitting “Cancel” then starting again (sort of like rebooting Windows). But it got to a point where even “rebooting” it won’t even work, so I went back to the Internet and found a tip to slam (yes, slam) the door. As weird as it sounded, I tried it, and it surprisingly worked. We were able to do our laundry relatively hassle free for a few months, until last week when even the “slamming door” technique wouldn’t work.

So off I went to see Dr. Google again, and this time I found another discussion group (I can’t believe how many people are complaining against this washer and the manufacturer doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it!). One of the posted solutions seemed barbaric, but it got a lot of positive responses. What the author said to do was while the washer is beeping and displaying the “F DL” error, give the top right corner of the washer a good hit (yes, hit) of your fist. He went on to say that you might get an “F 11″ error afterwards, but just hit Cancel then Start, then you should be fine.

Now slamming the door is one thing, but hitting it? It brought back childhood memories of tv sets with bad reception that instantly got better with a good slap on the side (come to think of it I still do this from time to time). But at this point I was out of other options (short of calling in the repair guy, but that would be tantamount to surrender) so I decided to try it anyway. All I can say is, God truly works in mysterious ways. It worked right off the bat, and not only that, it also did the “F 11″ error as described in the post and true enough, I just press Cancel then Start and I’m good to go again. One of the responses to the post best describes my reaction:

“Unbelievable! We spend $1,000 on our machines, and have to beat it up to start it! gggrrrr”

My thoughts exactly. But hey, for now it beats going to the laundromat!

Home for the Holidays, Part 5: Epilogue

I’ve been back in the U.S. for a little over two weeks now, just enough time for the jet lag to wear off but still short enough of a time to still remember the vacation. Coming back from a vacation from your home country I think is always sentimental, but this time meant something extra to me because I realized a few things:

First, I have a renewed appreciation for water—or more specifically, strong water pressure. If you live in America it’s something very easy to take for granted everyday: you turn on the faucet and water comes gushing out, sometimes even too strong. But when I went back to the Philippines and re-experienced what it’s like to take a shower with water that’s just a tad stronger than a trickle, I suddenly realized how much of a luxury I was enjoying day after day!

Second, I realized how much I came to depend on hot water off the faucet. Seems second nature to me in America—you turn any faucet on and you come to expect hot water when you turn the knob to the left. Well, the first time I turned on the faucet in the Philippines, I instinctively turned the knob to the left and my brain automatically expected hot water to come out, but my hands got confused because the water was still cold! And that’s when I realized another everyday convenience that I had gotten used to.

Third, Traffic. Ah, the infamous Manila traffic. I realized I had gotten so spoiled by the Albany “traffic” that when I encountered real traffic—the one that renders you so helpless that you don’t have any choice but to sleep (while commuting of course, not while driving)—I was mildly shocked. Even though I used to live this life everyday—commuting three or more hours day in and day out—it was still disconcerting for me to experience it all over again. Having gotten so used to counting my Albany driving by the minute, it was extremely frustrating for me to have to waste precious hours just idling away.

Lastly, Retirement. I realized that, even though I appreciate very much all the conveniences that I enjoy in America, I would still eventually settle down and retire in the Philippines. I know, it seems counter-intuitive given all the daily obstacles and frustrations involved in Manila life, but the people and the culture are too embedded in me to want to retire somewhere else. Not anytime soon though, this is way down the road… for now I still plan to enjoy life in America. :)

Home for the Holidays, Part 2b: Filipinos and Music

Filipinos are legendary lovers of music. Why or how it happened, I have no idea. But if you grew up in the Philippines, it would be impossible not to be exposed to music on a daily basis. Singing, specifically, is such an integral part of the Filipino culture that it is readily accessible even in malls (see picture).

Being musical, to be sure, has nothing to do with singing well or sounding pleasant. You may love music, and have an innate appreciation and "feel" for rhythms and melodies, although God may not have gifted you with a pleasant singing voice. So when I say Filipinos are musical, it doesn't necessarily mean all Filipinos you meet can sing (although they may think they can!), but that Filipinos--at least the ones who grew up in the Philippines--love and appreciate music.

(Here is a brave soul trying out the booth) Even the type of music doesn't seem to matter. Here in Upstate New York, it seems tv and radio stations mainly carry the popular music: country, pop, rock, and mostly homegrown. In the Philippines, in addition to the homegrown talents, we were (and still are) constantly exposed to music from around the world, notably Europe. Being a teenager during the 80s, I always enjoy listening to radio stations when they play 80s songs. But I notice that they would only play the 80s songs that were popular here in the U.S.; I rarely hear my favorites from the European bands. Just seemed weird to me that when I went to America, I became exposed to less music. Hmm.

A testament to the Filipinos love of music is the success and popularity of the Magic Mic karaoke system. It seems a Filipino household is not complete without one of these or at least a variant of some sort. At the minimum, you will find a microphone as sure as you will find a rice cooker or a tv. Parties are never complete without bringing out the karaoke and everybody belting out their own favorites... the louder the better! (the neighbors are probably singing along anyway :) )