Newsletter on Ivan: Thinking

Issue #24

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:08:00 -0700

Summer’s just started and… wait… summer’s almost over! Eeep!

Japan. Vegas. Surfing dogs. The kids start getting shipped to school everyday again, and the NFL’s ramped up again. What wonders will this coming fall bring us? What will the coming winter conceal and reveal to us in its darkness? The anxiety of the unknown in uncertain times is also the wonder that life gives us.

Or, simply put: What’s next?

Japandemonium

Although I wish we could have stayed longer and visited more shrines and temples (especially in Kyoto), we made the best of our 10 days there. We were in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo: 3 days each. I gotta say, Kyoto is my favorite, and everyone agreed we should have had one more day there.

We visited a shrine shaped like a big lion’s head in Osaka. We rented Yukata in Kyoto and walked around town during the pre-amble to the Gion Festival. We soaked in an onsen (public bath house). We met old friends, did some bar hopping, and even went clubbing in Osaka like the old days.

And the yen. OMG, the yen is so cheap right now. Coming from SF Bay Area prices, everything felt like it was half priced. We had a nice dinner that would have cost us $300-400 that ended up being closer to $150.

There’s plenty more I haven’t scribbled out yet. More to review on the trip when time permits.

Hackitty hack hack

Shortly after Japan, I packed up my things again and headed off to the desert to join my crew for DEFCON 34. I took the test and got my amateur radio license at DEFCON! I played in a ham radio fox hunt, got a portable Meshtastic node, checked out First Friday in the Arts District. I saw Bruce Schneier give a talk. What a blast.

After checking out of the hotel, getting to the airport, and waiting… 4-5 hours… my flight got canceled and Alaska Air housed me for one more night, doh! I was pretty pooped by then, so I decided against another night of hanging with the silly hacker kids, but I did manage to find a hack for my meal vouchers (grin).

Typically, after leaving DEFCON, I feel a sense of dread: the world is falling apart, everything is hacked! But after this year, I felt a camaraderie with my fellow hackers: the world is falling apart, but it’s still important for us to be humans with each other. I don’t know how to point at why I feel that way. Maybe just talking with people, feeling the creative energy, getting the sense of community, and just being kinded and being a kinder to folks.

Private Agent Man

Using AI regularly, it’s good to refine how we’re interacting with our agents. I think that, much like how we communicate with humans, it’s useful to refine how we communicate with AI. The better we get at it, the more useful the AI becomes, and the less annoying it gets in trying to get it to behave the way we want it to.

Speaking of annoying, the latest edition of iOS Dev Weekly was kind of irksome to me with its use of LLM writing. It’s not that I’m against using AI to help you write, but I am against using it blindly and producing bad writing (as opposed to just using your own human mind to make the bad writing, like me?).

Most folks are running GPT or Claude from the big AI companies. I prefer not to be sending so much to them, especially for privacy reasons. It’s so easy to just start giving more and more info to AI for the sake of convenience. We need to own our sessions in our harnesses. The memory should be under our control. We should not have to worry that we’re going to be pushed advertisements and given recommendations that may not be in our best interests when using AI agents.

I’ve been super interested in having local models run on my own machine. And it seems more folks are doing so. Friends from DEFCON noted how they’ve downgraded their Claude MAX plan to using their own local models for coding. I’ve been toying around more with it myself. This is the way.

Lilmem 2.0 is still…almost ready

Although I use Little Memory as my daily journaling app, I still keep a handy moleskine on me, and I write in it with those silly things at the ends of my arms: writing by hand is good for you.

Looks like Day One is pushing AI features on its users. I’ve been cautious about this, and also I’ve been keeping my eye on what’s been going on with local and on-device models. A huge part of the Lilmem 2.0 rewrite is to have your memories on-device, and sending your private memories to the cloud to get them sucked into the AI machine isn’t really what I want.

Speaking of machines: here are some nerdy debugging codes I learned about when debugging the 2.0 app. Beep beep boop.

Afterthoughts

Oooh, Hank’s making a new light with a built-in USB-C charger!

I’ve now got Musings for the site. So I can spit out more
silly things at you faster.

I’m available for iOS app consulting. Native apps, SwiftUI, App Store. If you know someone who needs a hand, I’d appreciate an intro.

Issue #23

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:08:00 -0700

There’s been a lot of moving and shaking recently. AI seems to be sucking up more of the world. Companies have been announcing layoffs, and yours truly is now a free agent again. I’ve been taking some time to ground myself to figure out what’s next. But I can’t stop myself from coding, so most of my screen time’s been getting Little Memory 2.0 ready for launch.

Japan’s been on my mind a lot recently too, especially with an upcoming trip we have this summer to visit Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. I hear the yen is pretty cheap these days!

Also: Ready Time is moving up the ranks at TinyLaunch. Go give it an upvote!

Confusion is the sweat of learning

Berkeley Computer Science classes are seeing a spike in F’s, and professors aren’t seeing students coming in for office hours. Of course, AI is part of this story.

MUJI Car 1000

This cute little mover from one of my favorite places to get stationary.

The J-Firm

Toyota, Panasonic, TOTO (yes, the toilet makers), Sony. These well-known Japanese companies seem to do so many things. Why?

Old Man Wisdom

My friend when I was in my late 20’s: “When you hit 30, you’re going to need glasses.” That was a while ago. He has some newer wisdom for me recently.

Spring 2026 Closet Check-in

I haven’t given an update about my capsule wardrobe in a while. Here’s what the it looks like at the moment. I feel like after several years of it that I’m comfortable with where it’s at.

Commit to the Bit

Jason Kottke, noting about Colbert’s (guest) hosting of Only in Monroe. If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend it!

Ready Time 3.3: Travel Time

Knowing when to leave used to mean bouncing between Ready Time and Maps. Ready Time 3.3 builds travel time in: add a destination, pick driving, cycling, or walking.

Japanese Chicken Curry

Mild, kid-friendly Japanese curry over rice. Easy crowd dinner for 4 adults + 2 kids, with leftovers. Made this when some parent friends came over with their kid and it was a hit!

Ready Time 3.2: Shared Plans and Daily Repeating Plans

Shared plans are here. Coordinate the same plan with your partner or family, get alerts together, and skip the screenshot routine. Plus daily repeating plans and templates.

Next Chapter of Little Memory

I’ve been in the weeds getting Little Memory 2.0 ready. Well, honestly, it actually never had a proper 1.0 version!

Internet Radio Dial

Love this UI/style and the warmth and glow of it. Even though you listen to music through your ears, the visuals that influence what you hear make a difference, much like the color of wine is the first thing that you notice before taking a smell and a sip.

Flash Finder

FlashFinder is a keychain flashlight with Apple’s Find My built in. It got me thinking: I wonder if there can be a chip on something like the Lume1 driver that can support Find My that can show battery level of the light. Hmmm?

Issue #22

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:10:00 -0700

Hello, friends,

I’ve been thinking a lot about design recently. As someone who works in iOS app development, I inevitably put my head into how to create great designs in my interfaces, and Apple does a good job making it easy for me to use the interfaces they provide us in iOS.

Another reason it’s been on my mind is because of…

The relaunch of Ready Time! Previously called Little Countdown, the app’s now been re-branded, re-themed, and re-launched. For those new to it, Ready Time is a backward planner: you set a deadline, add your steps, and it tells you when to start. Use it for flights, appointments, or morning routines. I used it when my wife’s water broke and I had to get across the country.

Download it in the App Store.

– Ivan

Tron-pilled

When I read Cory Doctorow’s thoughts on what he terms “Tron-pilled,” it makes me think of user-centered design.

Technology is not enough

Some older thoughts from John Gruber about thinking of software as art and how folks who prioritize design/UX/UI can see how other people prioritize what they care about in software. But folks who don’t prioritize design/UX/UI can’t see how people who prioritize design care about design.

NERV app

In my anime nerding hey-day, my anime of choice was Evangelion. To my surprise, there’s a real actual app named after the NERV organization from the anime. And it’s actually useful.

Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ Sauce, what else

Reminds me of stuffing condiments into the fridge door. And also weekends in my childhood helping to unpack boxes of tupperware from shipping containers.

A Netflix concern, not a user concern

I agree with John Gruber here about how new updates to the Netflix Apple TV app alienates users by trying to maintain consistency across platforms. It makes it worse for everyone.

It’s like gonna have like this tab

A fun experiment letting kids build an app using AI. What will they build? What will the prompt look like? Hmmm?

Can we see Iran’s Hormuz tolls on-chain?

Iran said they’re charging vessels a toll to transit the Strait of Hormuz, paid in crypto. That made me wonder: If the tolls are really being paid in crypto, can we see them on-chain? This may be a bit outdated, now, but it was a fun way to burn some Claude tokens.

Design in Mega Man X

This analysis of Mega Man X by Sequelitis has stuck in my mind since I first saw it. I often come back to it to remind myself about designing great experiences and products.

My Precious

Cast it into the crib. Destroy it!

Issue #21

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:03:00 -0700

Hi folks, it’s been a while.

Much has happened since the last update: I became a dad, I continue working on my apps and projects, and, yes, I still spend too much time playing with my flashlights. Anduril’s manual has seen some changes, so I’ve recently caught up on it to make sure it’s up-to-date. And, we’re now in this crazy world of AI sucking up the tech world. It’s a wild time!

The Weather Channel: RetroCast

For those Weather Channel fans out there: RetroCast. Make sure to tap that unmute button for the full experience.

Getting Ready for Ready Time

Ready Time is the rebranded name for Little Countdown. Domain: check. Website: check. App update: almost.

Catching up on Anduril 2 Manual Updates

It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve caught up to the latest revisions of the Anduril 2 manual and added a revisions page to see changes in each revision.

Uncomfortable Design

The Uncomfortable is like the opposite of The Design of Everyday things.

Coding’s the Easy Part

“Computer programming is really about communication: communicating with the machine, yes, of course — but if you’re not just coding but making an app, as I am, it’s mostly about designing the app so that it communicates with the user. So that it’s easy to understand and fun to use.

Coding’s the easy part — making a useful app that people like is the challenge and is such a reward when it works. Like any other popular art form, it’s about connecting with humans.”

— Brent Simmons

What I’m seeing with AI in March 2026

There’s been so much moving and shaking going on with AI and LLMs in tech. I thought I’d share some of my current perspective and what I’m seeing from my point of view.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all.

Ivan

Issue #20

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 13:37:00 -0700

Hello friends,

Summer’s in full swing with its long days and warm(-ish?) evenings. The pool’s open, and we’re headed to our last camp of the year next weekend. Of course, I’m gonna bring my new flashlights! Over the July 4th weekend, I got to stay at a fancy house with vineyards where I got to see how far different beams went. I was too drunk/out of it to take photos though, doh!

I got myself the Sofirn LT1S which looks so weird compared to the full LT1. And no Anduril? I’ll give it a whirl over next week’s camp to consider more how I feel about it.

If you’re a fan of the Regular Show, I recently bumped into an episode that does a great job of showing what dim sum is like. It’s surprisingly accurate minus the fortune cookie part.

Hanklight Order #8: June 2022, Shake that Wangle

The DW4 (aka Wangle) I got is the full new hotness from Hank: right angle, boost driver, and 519A LED. I’ve already been able to use it on a recent evening bike ride when our town had a movie night in the park. I’ve also really been enjoying my new KR4. Even though it doesn’t have a backlit button, the feeling of it in hand is super nice.

Not enough tritium to go around

Some lights, like the KR1 and KR4 have the option of a tritium slot where you can have a small glowing colored rod that lasts seemingly forever because of its radioactive properties. These little rods have gotten more and more expensive over time, and looks like they’re ready to get even more pricey. Evil villains have also been known to really want tritium too.

Emisar D4V2/D4SV2: New Blue Button

There’s a new button color in town: blue! Just when I thought I’d completed my collection of all the colors, Hank presents us with a new one.

You can always change.

Inspiring words from my father as I remember him for Father’s Day.

They might eventually figure out that you’re not actually that good

I don’t grok all the math in this article, but the story of June kind of reminds me of my own path of fumbling around through life through different subjects. Heck, he even took the same cooking strategy I’ve been doing for years now: cook the same dish every day. I’ve been making Sunny Side Up eggs every morning for maybe 5 years now.

Arbitrary List of Anime

I watched a lot of anime between 2001-2003. It was kind of all I did at the time. Sometimes folks ask me what’s my favorite, which is kind of like asking what my favorite movie or song is. Instead, here’s a short list of a few off the top of my head that I enjoyed (and could use a re-watch of!).

The Tops - It Rains for Three Days (The Hakkenden)

This song popped into my head while thinking about old anime I watched. Japan, its people, and its culture holds a place in my heart. I don’t keep up with Japanese politics, but the news about the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe saddens me. Feeling the words of this song helps me to express some of that sorrow.

Things I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #19

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 13:37:00 -0700

Hello friends,

It’s getting hot! June is here, and summer is upon us. We’ve been able to get some fun camps recently, and we’ve still got another in July. And y’know what’s great about camping? Flashlights! :)

I’ve begun to post details of my Hanklight orders. After looking at it, I didn’t realize I had made 5 Hanklight orders in 2021. Eep!

Apple’s big WWDC went down last week, and in it we got a glimpse into what they’ve been up to. I’m excited for Passkeys and my gut tells me Stage Manager is a precursor to an AR interface. Shared photo libraries is a welcome addition. And iPad finally has the Apple Weather App; I can’t help but laugh at that.

Emisar DW4, Anduril right angle work light, now available

The new Emisar DW4 is now available. A right angle Anduril light with a huge array of options: a hallmark of all Emisar/Noctigon lights.

Emisar D4V2 Accessories

If your mind wasn’t in enough of a tizzy from ordering a Emisar D4V2 with options like body color, LEDs, and raised vs switch buttons, there’s also accessories you can get for your light to customize it even more.

Dressing for the masquerade of life

Wearing clothes is therefore a gesture which implies the unadmitted knowledge that our personalities are put on.

Wishes of a Programmer

May the concerns be separated. May there not be any pre-optimization. May merges be without conflict.

Pablo Neruda - Walking Around

I was first introduced to this poem, spoken by Samuel L. Jackson, on the soundtrack to the delightful film Il Postino. Works like this were inspiring to me as a youngster, exploring how to use my voice in words.

Things I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #18

Tue, 10 May 2022 13:37:00 -0700

Hello friends,

Little Memory, an app which I’ve been running since 2011, has its ups and downs throughout the years. Once in a while, I get a big bump in traffic and sign-ups with an influx of new users looking for a simple way to start journaling and an easy way to reflect on their lives. Last month, one Lil’Memer shared the app in a reddit thread which subsequently bumped it up to the #2 (and later #1!) Top Paid Lifestyle app in the App Store. It’s always an honor to see folks who find the app valuable to them. 🙏🏼

On a more somber note, we recently said goodbye to our eldest dog, Bibo. We brought him to the beach and he got to smell the scents of San Francisco: the city where he spent 10 years of his life, in his last days. I feel lucky to have known him and to learn about life from the shining light of his existence as I contemplate on my own aging self.

We finally took a vacation last week in Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo. I hadn’t been to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk since I was a kid, and it was a refreshing change of scene to feel the ocean breeze while riding the rollercoasters. I think we scarred some kids for life when we over-dramatized our screaming through the (not-so-scary) haunted house ride.

Noctigon KR4: New Boost Driver

A boost driver is now available for the Noctigon KR4. If you’ve been looking for longer runtimes, more efficiency, less heat, and more stable output, you may want to consider this upgrade for your next light. The boost driver is now also available for Emisar/Noctigon’s entire line-up of lights.

Bibo 💚 Ali Mixtape

Ali leaves home. Bibo waits for her return. This is his soundtrack.

A warm tint under the warm sun

At Pismo beach in San Luis Obispo. Note: a magnetic tailcap really loves to get sand stuck to it.

Things I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #17

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:22:00 -0700

Hello friends!

April’s right around the corner, which means it’s tax season here in the US. Every year, I kind of feel like a high school student that has to finish up my homework to turn in an assignment to class on time. Don’t be late! The deadline’s coming up! What a weird thing this tax thing we have in this country is.

Our eldest dog, Bibo, has been suffering from a mysterious pain in his throat/mouth. There was a 3 day streak of him not eating, and it’s been pretty scary to hear him when he screams in pain. It’s been taking up a lot of Ali and I’s energy, but this is what love is, isn’t it? He’s 15 years old now, and the room always has a better feel to it when he’s in it.

If you’ve been checking out the site recently, you may have noticed that it now supports dark mode. So now you, my fellow vampires, can read my posts in the evenings without all that blazing white in your eyes.

Last month, I felt I didn’t have the proper flashlight to compliment the colors of Chinese New Year. So I got an Emisar D4v2 Brass to get that fancy gold look. It sure is heavy! I got it as a 2-channel light with red/amber emitters to stay on theme. Furthermore, I’ve built a custom Anduril 2 HEX with my own configuration defaults which is a lot easier than clicking through to configure it by hand. Honestly, this is so ridiculous, but I can’t stop laughing at my whole flashlight journey as I keep going down the rabbit hole.

Anduril Version Check Mode

If you’ve got a growing flashlight collection that includes (many) lights that run Anduril, it’s good to know what version of the firmware is running on your lights. It’s especially important if you’re keeping up to date with new updates and/or flashing your own custom HEXes. Here’s how to check what version your lights are running.

Anduril 2: Single-channel Turbo for Dual-Channel Flashlights

When you activate turbo on a 2-channel Anduril 2 flashlight, you’ll get all your emitters blazing at full blast. Sometimes, though, you may not want this and instead just one channel at maximum brightness. Here’s how to set up Anduril 2 to activate single-channel turbo for your dual-channel lights.

Wurkkos FC11 Manual

I had to let myself explore outside of the realm of just Anduril lights, so I thought I’d try out a Wurkkos FC11 with 2700K. The interface is a bit like Simple UI in Anduril, so it’s not too foreign to me. I can see why folks in the flashlight community recommend this to folks as their first “serious” light with its built-in USB charging, high CRI, and even magnetic tailcap. It really is a great value.

Green Aux LEDs for St. Patty’s Day

🍀🍀🍀

Things going into my earholes this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #16

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 08:28:00 -0800

Hello friends!

In California right now, the weather’s warming up, and I’m getting excited to go camping this year (and bring my flashlights, of course!).

I made a custom build of Anduril 2 for Ali’s D4v2 so that she can keep it in her purse, and I’ve completely disabled Advanced UI and even Lockout. I’ve been toying with other customizations in Anduril 2 as well.

I’ve been binge watching Attack on Titan, and I’m currently going through the final season. I got burnt out watching anime in the early 2000’s when I felt everything was getting cookie cutter and just filled with the same characters and same plots. This one’s definitely not like that.

We just celebrated the Lunar New Year with the family, and Valentine’s Day is upon us! I hope you and your family have a prosperous and healthy year of the tiger!

Anduril 2: Simple UI or Advanced UI? Check what mode you’re in

Anduril 2 has Simple UI and Advanced UI. Sometimes, it’s not clear what mode you’re in. Here are different methods for checking if you’re in one mode or the other.

Emisar D4v2: Troubleshooting Flashing Anduril with avrdude

Running into some problems when trying to update the firmware on your Emisar D4v2? Here are some common problems to help you diagnose and fix what’s going on.

Emisar D4v2: Switch Back Light Tint/Color Options

When ordering the Emisar D4v2, you’re presented with a whole gamut of options. With the Ti, Copper, and Brass (and even aluminum) models, you can select a backlit button for your light. Here’s what the current options look like.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #15

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 08:28:00 -0800

Hello friends!

We’ve made it to 2022. The long nights are getting shorter, and with each passing day, may we come closer to the winter of our woes.

I’m planning again(!) on going to DEFCON this year. Last year didn’t pan out, so here’s hoping 2022 won’t have any issues. I was gun-shy about going last year, but, honestly, I should have known that an event for security experts would do more than a good job of assessing the risks and dangers of having a conference in Vegas.

My latest flashlight is an Emisar DT8, which either looks like a safety razor or Bender from Futurama. This thing makes me laugh because it looks ridiculous, but it’s also so fun! I got Ali an Emisar D4v2 for her birthday so she’ll never be blinded by the darkness again. I got her the super warm E21A 2000K which feels like having an incandescent bulb in your hand.

2021: One Year of Hanklights

It all started with me needing an emergency flashlight. Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that I nerded out and went down the flashlight rabbit hole. Here’s the state of my collection of flashlights from Emisar/Noctigon at the end of 2021.

Anduril 2: Aux LED Voltage Colors

Anduril 2 lets you set your Aux LEDs to the Voltage Color, which shows you a color to represent how much battery you have left. Here’s a reference for what each color represents.

Practice listening to music

Taking the time to be present with a musical piece is like taking the time to hear the artist who made it. It’s a relationship between the musician and the listener: similar to the relationship between you and the shining sun.

Emisar D4v2: Aux LEDs Run Time

A common concern for new owners of the Emisar D4v2 is whether the Aux LEDs drain too much of the battery. Short answer: keep them on low brightness and you’ll be good for years.

Anduril 1 or 2? Check what version of Anduril your flashlight is running

When you get your new Anduril light, you’ll need to first check whether you’re running Anduril 1 or 2. Here’s a simple way to check what version of the firmware is loaded on your flashlight.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #14

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 08:08:00 -0700

Hello friends!

Can you feel it? All that socializing starting to happen again? Within the past month, I think I’ve been to at least one social event each week. Eek, how does one even know how to socialize anymore? Small talk? Talking about travel plans? Oi, so many of these old socializing muscles have atrophied.

Ali and I are headed to Puerto Vallarta soon. I’m hoping for a chance to bring some of my new flashlights to play with them at night on the beach. We went in 2019 and are excited to get back there and relax!

At least in Mexico, I can have an excuse for not talking much because my Spanish is definitely no bueno.

Fire Disaster Scenario Prep: 1-2 days without electricity

Fire threats are a real thing every year in Northern California. This is a scenario plan for how to handle when we may not have electricity for 1-2 days with an assessment of requirements as well as how we prepare.

Sofirn BLF LT1 Lantern Manual (Anduril UI)

The Sofirn BLF LT1 is a great lantern for camping, hanging in the yard, or use in case of power outages. If you’re not familiar with Anduril UI, it can be confusing to operate. Here’s a friendly formatted manual with instructions on how to use it.

How to start a (software) side project

I’ll sometimes get asked by friends how to have a side project. I don’t claim to be an expert at this, but I do have a little bit of experience with starting and keeping my own projects going.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #13

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 08:08:00 -0700

Hello friends!

Summer’s upon us, and the more social of us that have been itching to get out are finally getting an opportunity to do so safely with the rollout of vaccines. Of course, we should all still be a bit cautious, as variants are still a legitimate concern, especially for the unvaccinated. Stay safe out there, folks!

Ali and I had our first camping trip of 2021 at Gualala Point, and we got to use our Goal Zero Yeti 500X and solar panels. We had to test it out to be ready for fire season, cause, y’know: gotta be prepared!

iOS 14 Text Editing/Navigation Tips

I spend a lot of time in iOS editing and navigating text. Here are some techniques and tips for how I work with text in iOS that I use nearly every day.

Anduril UI: Diagram

Anduril UI diagram, including alternative versions which may help out new users.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

Marquis Hill - Coming out of the Universe
Evan Hatfield
Daft Punk - The Grid (Remixed by The Crystal Method)
Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #12

Mon, 17 May 2021 14:22:00 -0700

Hello friends!

Even though the IRS extended the deadline for this year’s taxes to May 17th, I’m sure some of you have been slacking until now to file. Doesn’t it feel like you’re still in school waiting for the last minute to do that homework?

DEF CON is back this year, and for the first time, pre-registration is available, and I’ve got my ticket! I went in 2019 and loved being able to hang out all night chatting with fellow geeks about tech and other random things on our minds. I felt like I was with my tribe. Looking forward to heading back.

Apple’s Craig Federighi on iOS 14.5’s Privacy: ATT

iOS 14.5’s new App Tracking Transparency is upsetting to some. For me, it’s an expression of Apple’s values and its integrity to those values.

Emisar D4v2: Switch Retaining Ring

When purchasing the Emisar D4v2, you’re confronted with the option to choose a type of Switch Retaining Ring. Flat version or raised version?

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

Breakdown Brass - Next Episode
Electric Youth, College - A Real Hero
DJ Khaled ft. Drake - POPSTAR (starring Justin Bieber)
Mark Slee
FrankStallone - BEEGEES vs 50 Cent - Staying Alive In Da Club

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #10

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 10:02:00 -0700

Hello friends!

Everyone’s excited about vaccines! And travel again! And hugging and sharing droplets with each other. It’s April 2021!

Our lemon tree’s started blossoming after a long winter of its leaves yellowing. The roses are making themselves known again. And the allergies–they give us a good sneeze here and there. Welcome to springtime.

Apple Augmented Reality in Spring 2021

Apple has ARKit and the LiDar sensor, sure, but Augmented Reality is more than just what you see. Apple’s been bringing to market other flavors of AR right under our noses, or rather, right under our ears and hands.

Haruki Murakami x UNIQLO

On one hand, you’re a fan of Haruki Murakami. On the other hand, you’re a fan of UNIQLO. Put your hands together, my friend.

Emisar D4v2: What is Muggle Mode in Anduril UI?

Anduril UI on the Emisar D4v2 features Muggle Mode which makes it safe to hand to non-flashlight nerds so they don’t accidentally hurt themselves with the immense power of the D4v2.

Music I’ve been listening to this past month:

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #9

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 15:02:00 -0700

Hello friends!

March means: Spring is upon us, St. Patrick’s Day, Daylight Savings (spring forward, folks!), Pi Day, and… the anniversary of the Great Toilet Paper Hoarding of 2020.

A silly story. At the start of the pandemic, I would frequent a small bodega near our home because Trader Joe’s would be lined up with people every day. I bought a big banana from the bodega one day, excited to share with my wife and sister. Turns out, it was a plantain. D’oh! But we started calling them Pandemic Plantains. I smell a new annual tradition on our hands.

Mitch Murder - Palmer’s Arcade

80’s-tastic synth moods. This track comes complete with a throwback sample from the days growing up with arcade machines and Asteroids.

Practicing with the right intentions

With our actions, the outcome may be the same no matter the intention, but the world between two intentions can make the outcome and the path to it quite different.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #8

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 00:28:00 -0800

Hello friends!

February means: Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, and… unprecedented ridiculously cold weather in the south. For those out there in the cold, I hope you’re doing alright, and please reach out if there’s anything I can do. Come to California where we have to suffer through fire seasons instead? Oi, there’s no escape.

I’m still fidgeting with the Emisar D4v2 flashlight and recently added the BLF LT1 to my collection that I was planning on using for camping, whenever that’ll happen again.

Everyday workouts: exercise without exercising

You don’t need to go to the gym. You don’t need to buy no fancy equipment. All you need is your body and to be mindful of using it efficiently in how you move it to do normal everyday activities.

Emisar D4v2: Configure Lockout Mode to show battery level

Always know the battery level of the D4v2 just by looking at the color of the Aux LEDs.

Emisar D4v2: Setting Ramping Mode Brightness Memory

Anduril UI on the Emisar D4v2 gives you the ability to configure how bright you want the light to be each time you turn it on into Ramping Mode. Here’s how to customize the Ramping Mode’s brightness memory.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #7

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:28:00 -0800

Hello friends!

Welcome to 2021. The universe hasn’t seemed to have stopped giving us more stories and excitement in the new year so far.

I’ve been a bit obsessed with my new nerd toy: the Emisar D4v2 flashlight, and I’ve posted some help for others curious and new to its UI (yes, a UI for a flashlight).

I’ve also had some time during the break to share my thoughts on Facebook’s News Feed and feelings of imposter syndrome.

Enjoy!

News Feed

For the tech-savvy and folks just generally well versed in how social media works, how the News Feed works seems obvious. But maybe it’s not? My strategy on how I manage being manipulated by my own social media usage.

iPhone Upgrade Program vs Buying, Trade In

I’ve been a fan of the iPhone Upgrade Program, but I hadn’t crunched the numbers to see how much I was paying for the luxury of doing so. Here’s an analysis and breakdown of how much it costs compared to buying an iPhone with cash.

Supposing My Words Are Whiskey

A little book by Haruki Murakami about his travels to Ireland and Scotland to taste whiskey. There isn’t an English version of this book (yet?). A couple small notes on my Chinese Edition of the book.

Emisar D4v2: Setup, Configuration, and Usage

The D4v2’s a flashlight with a single button, but it’s got a UI diagram you need to decipher to figure out how to use. It’s also got configuration options. Pure nerdiness. This is how I’ve set mine up and how I’m using it.

Confidence development

How can you stop feeling like an imposter even though you know you’ve accomplished things in your life? It took me a while to feel comfortable being called a programmer. Some ways of helping develop your own confidence in the skills you have or are building up.

Emisar D4v2: How to turn off the flashlight

If you’re a programmer, you know how hard it was to quit vi. So if you got your hands on a D4v2, you’re getting deja vu trying to turn off your flashlight.

How to use Tamanoi Sushinoko to make sushi rice

When making sushi rice at home: sure, you can go all Jiro and try to make it with rice vinegar, etc., but you can make your life a whole lot easier with some Tamanoi Sushinoko powder. Just sprinkle some on hot cooked rice and you’ll have a sushi party ready in no time.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #6

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 08:28:00 -0800

Hello folks,

Happy December! Soon, we won’t be able to talk bad about 2020 anymore, as 2021 will be the new scapegoat in town. Hope you’re having a safe and healthy holiday season.

Thinking about emotions

Growing up, emotions and feelings were gooey squishy things that I didn’t have a way of understanding. This is how I’ve been able to make them more concrete for myself so that I can understand them better.

Emisar D4V2 Manual (Anduril UI)

I asked a flashlight nerd friend for a flashlight suggestion. He enthusiastically recommended the Emisar D4V2. One button flashlight: seemed simple enough. It wasn’t.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #5

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 15:44:09 -0700

Hello friends!

Temperatures are starting to creep down as the winter comes upon us. I find it’s always a great time of year to reflect as the the new year finds its way into our minds.

7 Stages of Learning

This has been a long time coming, as I’ve wanted to distill my process of learning into a structure that was clear and digestible. I have learning martial arts as an example, but this has been a process I’ve used other places in my life as well: learning languages, men’s clothing, and even blogging.

(Back to) Normal

We’ve all heard this a lot this year: “I wish things were back to normal.” But what is this normal that we’re longing for? Is normalcy really what we want?

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #4

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 15:24:01 -0700

Hello friends!

We’ve made it to October, and the leaves outside are starting to change colors. I hope you’re all in a place where you’re growing and able to enjoy the clouds as they float across the sky in your neck of the woods.

It’s NOT about the nail

A follow-up to How to stop offering solutions, thanks to Christian Genco. My translation of what I see is happening in this video.

macOS: the Option key

Level up your typing skills in macOS by adding the Option key to your toolbelt. You don’t need to go super geek to learn and use vi to be more productive: macOS already had some goodies for you.

Sofi Tukker at Inside Lands

My thoughts on Sofi Tukker’s performance at this year’s stay at home version of San Francisco’s annual Outside Lands music festival: Inside Lands. Artists like them are working within the new constraints of the pandemic world.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #3

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:15:31 -0700

Hi folks,

We got fires in California, we got the election coming up, and of course we’re still sheltering in place. Here are the latest updates from August.

What are you?

As we think about the “other side” in politics in our world, I can’t help but to think about how we define our selves. I hope these kinds of questions, seriously considered, can help us see our relationship to the world and the people around us–even those we may find too different to ourselves to connect with.

Chage & Aska - On Your Mark

Miyazaki offered an interpretation of the angel as “Hope” and to protect hope could paradoxically mean “to let it go where no-one can touch it”.

Making Coffee with a French Press

A little guide on how we make coffee at home with our favorite french press.

As always, please reach out to me anytime to say hi. I love hearing from you all!

Ivan

Issue #2

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 11:55:52 -0700

Hi folks,

May was quite the crazy month for all of us! There have been a million things on my mind, and I managed to get a few of them out in words. Check them out.

Coronavirus Quarantine Life

Even though states are starting to open up, I’m still pretty hesitant to get out there to much. Here’s how yours truly has been handling lockdown. Also, a great gift idea to help friends/family be better at all these video calls.

How to stop offering solutions

Some of us more brainy nerdy folks can use some help with just stopping the “fix all things” that we’re so good at. Here’s how I practice being an ear to friends and loved ones who could use some help just being heard. We all could use more of this.

Simpsons/Cowboy Bebop Mashup

My old anime geeky ways peek themselves out sometimes 🤓

Not included here are my thoughts on race in America. This is an important topic with thoughts I haven’t been able to condense into written word yet. I’ve been having conversations with friends to bring these discussions to top of mind for us. If you’d like to talk about it, please reach out to me. I really would like to talk about it.

Ivan