If you've been following Paddle Surf Hawai'i's web site or Facebook page, the names Tiffany Paglinawan and Estee Okumura should be very familiar.
In a nutshell, they're both ripping. I've never seen either of them surfing in person, but the pictures I've seen can confirm that they're ripping harder than a lot of stand up surfers out there, including myself. They're also closely tied to Paddle Surf Hawai'i, which means they get the goodies & prototype boards before the general public even knows they exist.
Jealous? Hell yes, but they're talented. They surf waves that most of us mind surf from the safety of our desk chairs... or we'd be standing with shaky knees over in the channel.
The Paddle Surf Hawai'i web site and Facebook page is loaded with epic shots, but here are some of my favorites of the Tiffany and Estee...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wahines of Paddle Surf Hawaii... Ripping!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Fish Attack Sushi House
Fish Attack Sushi House
4575 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117
http://www.fishattacksushihouse.com/
The Fish Attack Sushi House must've opened up several months ago in a small spot that was formerly a Mexican food place. It's less than a 3 minute walk from our front door and last night was the first time we've tried it.
First off, it's a small restaurant, but not too small (that's what she said). It has seating for about 15-20 people with an additional 6-8 seats along the "bar" area where you can watch the sushi chefs prepare your food.
A quick glance at the menu and I went for my "first-time-at-a-new-Japanese-restaurant" selection: Chicken Katsu and Spicy Tuna roll. My wife went for their "Hawaiian Poke" appetizer and the Phoenix Roll.
Overall, the food was super ono!!! The "Hawaiian Poke" wasn't really like poke you'd get in Hawai'i, but it was pretty good. Basically, some tuna mixed with their spicy house sauce (which isn't too spicy) and some sliced avocados on top.
Here's the Phoenix roll. It consists of: shrimp tempura, snow crab meat, cucumber, avocado, eel, wasabi tobiko and eel sauce. My wife said it's super good so I'll take her word for it. They even make um with the little dragon head to up the scary factor. Haha!
You know the standard chicken katsu and spicy tuna roll ingredients so no need mention that. But what I do need to mention is that this chicken katsu plate (katsu, salad, rice and miso soup) is only $5.25!!! Yes, five dollars and 25 cents! I think I found my new katsu fix spot when I'm jonesing for that panko-crusted-chicken-goodness.
Anyway, I think we've found our new spot for some ono grinds. Cheap, ono, close to home and did I mention ono? Yeah, the food is that good! Looking forward to taking down the rest of their menu some time real soon.
Reviews on Yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fish-attack-sushi-house-san-diego
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Facebook... For Dummies?!
I spotted this gem at Staples this past weekend. Yes, a "Mini Edition"... really!? How much was cut out from the "Full Edition"??? Hmmmm........
I guess it's a sign of the times.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Summer Is Closer Than You Think...
It's about that time to start preparing yourself for the crazy summer beach traffic.
Today may have been the first "real" beach day (70+ degrees on the coast on a weekend) and judging by the amount of cars going west to the Pacific, it's gonna be packed!!
I surfed for a couple hours this morning and this was the scene as I headed back up the hill to go home. This was taken at 10am, about a mile away from the beach... 
Friday, April 15, 2011
Technology for Braddahs - QR Codes
photo: scan the QR code up top and this is what I get Facebook Profile LinkedIn Profile Props to Paddle Surf Hawaii!
QR Code:
Quick Response (QR) code is a square barcode that makes getting URL's, location info, any text or contact information into a phone without typing anything.
- from smarterware.org
Braddah talk:
"Ho, like sample?"
"Shoots!"
"Hea, scan dis real fas."
***beep***
"See um?"
"Chee, I get um!"
"Auuurrryte!"
Ok, so you're probably asking yourself:
"so what, what I need to get this QR stuffs working!?!?"
Ho, easy bah, easy!
If you have an Android-powered phone, open your Android Market application and search "Barcode Scanner" and you'll see it. It's a lightweight application and best of all, it's free-ninety-free!
Barcode Scanner
If you drank the Apple Kool-Aid (iPhone), try some of these suggestions:
iPhone QR Code Readers
No matter what application you download, the typical procedure is to open the app on your phone, find a QR code, point your phone's camera at it and bing-bang-boom. All pau, aurrryte!
Here's what I get using Barcode Scanner on my HTC G2 (Android 2.3.3):
So now you're feeling pretty tech-savvy ah... ready to impress da chicks, maybe your friends, or you just like make like you somebody? Shoots, check out this web site and start creating your own (free) QR codes:
QR Stuff
Here are some QR codes for you so you can get your practice on. Go get um braddah!!!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Rooting My T-Mobile HTC G2
I bought the T-Mobile HTC G2 several months ago because it was supposedly the next generation of Google's infamous Nexus One. One of the major factors that sold me on this phone was its ability to run on T-Mobile's HSPA+ (sorta like a 4G) network. San Diego is T-Mobile's headquarter city, so of course they have HSPA+ set up. Another factor was the almost stock installation of the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system (OS). There was still some bloat/crap-ware like Photobucket, Amazon MP3 and a couple Google Apps that I never use, but all in all, it was a bare-bones Android 2.2 OS.
A few weeks went by and I started thinking about rooting my G2. Rooting basically means modifying your Android OS to give you complete control over it. By default, the Android OS is "locked" to essentially protect the OS from unnecessary changes, which would permanently damage your phone (a.k.a. "bricking" your phone). Rooting your phone basically allows you to customize your phone (run custom apps, remove crap-ware apps, back up your entire OS).
------------------------
DISCLAIMER:
Rooting your phone may void your warranty policy!
If not done correctly, you could permanently damage your phone!
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So I finally decided it was time and did a bunch of research to root my phone and install a custom ROM on it. I found some really good instructions (for beginners like myself) and decided to go with the Cyanogen Mod 7 ROM.
Back Up Your Shit! Seriously, back that shit up cause it's all you'll have if things go horribly wrong -
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/04/16/complete-guide-how-to-fully-back-up-and-restore-your-android-phone-using-nandroid-backup-and-clockworkmod-rom-manager/
Rooting your G2 -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=928160
Flashing a Custom ROM (in my case Cyanogen Mod 7 RC4 for the G2) -
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/05/08/complete-guide-how-to-flash-a-custom-rom-to-your-android-phone-with-rom-manager-full-backup-restore/
The following images were taken throughout the process in the guides above. I didn't flash the engineering boot since it wasn't required.
Alrighty, the steps were fairly simple and after doing it the first time, you'll be confident enough to start flashing ROM's at will. I've seriously flashed the ROM on my phone at least 10 times in the last 12 hours. It's all about finding what you like and don't like and customizing the ROM. Remember, you can always backup your ROM and restore it if you screw shit up! Happy Rooting & Flashing!!!
photo: terminal emulator commands
photo: achieving permanent root process... 
photo: S-OFF = Security Off... time to flash images! 
photo: backing up my current ROM (Android 2.2) 
photo: time to install Cyanogen Mod 7 RC4! 
photo: Cyanogen Mod 7 RC4 - Stock Android 2.3. aurrrryte!
photo: successfully installed and no bricked phone... rahjah dat! 
photo: the software details if you've installed everything correctlyMonday, April 4, 2011
Low Tide Recovery Session
photo: outrunning the closeout
photo: quick little right
All in all, it was super fun and it's good to get that salt water flowing through my veins again. Special mahalos to Michael Dixon for getting these shots!
photo: mini floater
photo: another quick right