Hi, I'm Stephen!

A Bugatti dealer has moved in on our block. When you go in to...

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:01:26 -0500

A Bugatti dealer has moved in on our block. When you go in to look at the Veyron they lock the door and lower a shade so you can ogle with privacy.

At 萬佛寺 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:29:05 -0500

At 萬佛寺 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

I’m in a windowless white room that could be a set from...

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:27:06 -0600

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I’m in a windowless white room that could be a set from 2001 a space odyssey. In reality it’s a vodafone repair center.

Some kids in Central China trying to say my brother’s...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:55:04 -0600

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Some kids in Central China trying to say my brother’s name.

More AMG SLS action.

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:42:51 -0600

More AMG SLS action.

Holy F! It’s a 2011 AMG SLS gullwing Mercedes-Benz getting a...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:41:00 -0600

Holy F! It’s a 2011 AMG SLS gullwing Mercedes-Benz getting a detail down the street. (behind the Maybach)

A new/fun little podcast I did about China and stuff.

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:08:00 -0600

A new/fun little podcast I did about China and stuff.

A GT3 must be a painful car to own on an Island with 8 mil...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:58:19 -0600

A GT3 must be a painful car to own on an Island with 8 mil people and a speed limit of 50 mph.

Liberty Lost?

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:03:18 -0600

I was just standing in my kitchen filling up at our water cooler when I asked my wife if we should start getting two 5 gallon bottles delivered on Mondays rather than just one. She responded from the “office” with a, “whatever, we can do that” kind-of answer.

I started to respond, then I stopped myself, thinking better of what I was about to lob across the apartment. I realized how much liberty I’ve lost since my youth, and I fell into a dark reflection about growing up. What I stopped saying was, “Good, ‘cause I’m going to drain this fucker like a homeless mans ball-sack.” For some reason i cant drop that in my home anymore.

I recall a time when that would have been the least offensive thing I would say all day. A care free time when bath towels were napkins, and filth was OK. Am I heading in the right direction, or have I built myself a jail!?

I’m at Consulate General of the United States of America “Waiting....

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:03:53 -0600

I’m at Consulate General of the United States of America

“Waiting. ”

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Mustard and mayonnaise RR Phantom.

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 06:45:18 -0600

Mustard and mayonnaise RR Phantom.

A kid risking his life to get me a six foot extension cord at...

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:17:09 -0600

A kid risking his life to get me a six foot extension cord at the Wan Chai computer market.

I’m at Wifi Boutique Hotel 366 Lockhart Road ...

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:50:24 -0600

I’m at Wifi Boutique Hotel

366 Lockhart Road

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I’ll have one Full Box of Meat and a Diet Sprite, please.

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:30:37 -0600

I’ll have one Full Box of Meat and a Diet Sprite, please.

Wi-Max in the flesh

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:59:40 -0600

The best option for broadband in Hong Kong is what is commonly referred to as “fixed mobile broadband”. Basicly, its a wireless router with a USB WiMax dongle stuck in the top as an antenna.

It takes about 30 seconds to set-up and costs about 20 bucks a month for consistent 7.2mbps broadband (down). It would be tempting to take around with you everywhere in the city, but the first time you turn it on it triangulates its position and after that if you move it more than a few dozen yards it stops working.

If there weren’t a small “void” sticker I’d be tempted to pop out the dongle and stick it in my MacBook Pro.

Its a Huawei router, with the same terrible firmware UI that I came to hate in my Virgin Mobile Wi-Fi router.

The Jefferson Hour Podcast

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:23:56 -0600

The Jefferson Hour Podcast:

I really hate to harp on this, but if you’re not listening to the Jefferson Hour Podcast you’re in real danger of slipping back into the dark ages.

Clay Jenkinson is a student of Thomas Jefferson’s life and I have to say is probably waiting for us to topple the current US government and force him to lead us back into an era of liberty and enlightenment. At the very least, you’ll be inspired to be a more thoughtful American, which can’t be bad. God, I’m making it sound like church… just listen, ok?

He actually makes me want to visit the Dakotas in winter… if thats even possible.

You never forget your first horse head.

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:11:36 -0600

You never forget your first horse head.

Nokia’s last gasp. How could they release something this...

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:55:25 -0600

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Nokia’s last gasp. How could they release something this slow?

Living Low Cost in Los Angeles

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:21:00 -0500

While ‘project mayhem’ may not be in your immediate future, you don’t have to look far to start feeling a little like Tyler Durden.

As you might imagine. Living in a tent has advantages and numerous disadvantages. Its cheap, it simplify and you feel like you just dropped out of a frame of Fight Club while you glance around your office thinking, “none of these pansys live in a tent”. Beyond that its just plain roughing it.

Angelenos may associate the Palos Verdes Peninsula with high price real estate, grand sea vistas, and Trump National Golf Course. Palos Verdes (‘PV’ or simply ‘the hill’) has been the quiet conservative refuge for the ‘pony club’ set since the 60s. In PV the condos go for $1000 a square foot and the peninsula grocery store is packed with $100k whips.

I’ve decided to cut the prim and proper city down to size by tenting it long term. Well, I’m not on a crusade or anything. I’m just looking to save a buck, but I don’t mind putting a political bent on it. Two thing are for sure, the neighbors don’t like it and feeling a little bit ‘Fight Club’ is intoxicating.

Living in LA can be expensive, especially if you’re surviving on your blog’s non existent income. Most of the folks at my office are paying between $900 and $1200 a month for their modest SouthBay digs. And that only covers there part of the rent. All of them are sharing apartments or houses with groups of people. It’s the way things are done in Los Angeles. No one likes it, but everyone deals with it.

I’m no longer playing the game that way. Loyal ManyDigit readers may remember my visit to meet Jay Shafer, modern father of the Tiny House revolution. I really wanted to do something like that. Live simply and save my money for other things, like travel, and paying down credit card debt.

While camping in Colorado last month I had a revelation, I should just live in my tent. Most of my ideas go no where. I just talk about them with my friends once then they fade into the darkness. This time the stars seemed to be aligning correctly. The lease on my high priced LA apt. was coming to an end so I poked around to find someone who would be willing to sublease a camping space to me. Half jokingly I placed an add on craigslist.com, and in two days I had a deal worked out with a leaser in Palos Verdes. For $150.00 plus utilities a month I could have his patio/backyard and use of his bathroom and kitchen.

In a marathon effort, I got rid of nearly all of my furniture, I kept my clothes, my laptops, my camping gear and I moved in.. err out. I’ve been living the good life for 2 weeks now and I think I could do in indefinitely.

I’ll be writing some more about the new lifestyle I’ve discovered over the coming days and months, so check back. I will say this; the lady next do waters her garden every morning at 5:50am and inadvertently gives me and my positions a good watering down- a challenge that I’m learning to deal with.

You might ask what I’m doing with the grand a month I’ve been saving. The answer is “Whole Foods”. I’ve been eating like a king.

Tiny Houses

Tue, 08 May 2007 18:01:00 -0500

Undoubtedly, you have not heard about the housing sensation that is not sweeping the nation- tiny tiny houses.

I first read about them, when directed by my brother to an nytimes.com article. Man, are they tiny, less than 150 square feet (that is not a typo). Most of these houses would fit into a McMansion master bathroom.

They are fully equipped and free standing. The small space and efficient design lends its self to green housing. The ability to run completely “off the grid” becomes a viable possibility. This obviously isn’t a solution for everyone today, but its certainly is an interesting and very inexpensive option for some people.

They main man getting all of the credit is Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.
We recently jaunted up to his 100 square foot tiny house and office in Sanoma for a tour. It was pretty incredible. I could definitely live his life. Plus he’s been featured on Oprah, so hes practically John TRAV-OL-TA.