Month: April 2017

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Young men, on rudeness

I know it is natural for older people to complain about the younger generation. “In my days, it was different”.

As I did not grow up in Japan, I do not know how it was 20 years ago.

But three incidents this morning make me feel like there is a problem.

  1. Guy in the train, standing behind me, watching his cell phone. Head down, does not try to support himself, but just create pressure on me and other people around
  2. Boarding Marunouchi line, a guy pushed me brutally from behind and then asides just to get a better place to stand in the train
  3. A young man in Tull’s ordered coffee, but eating bread from a plastic bag he purchased somewhere else. Really?

 

Is it the season ?  is it that I am less patient today? Is it the generation?

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Ricoh GR Camera case

Got tired of the camera case I bought and wanted to change the design a bit.

As always, used paper to design (not in the photos), and thought carefully which parts to sew first.

Could complete it quite fast.

30 minutes for the design, 30 minutes for cutting the leather and varnish. + 1 hour to sewing it all together.

(And time to go to Shibuya to buy some parts)

 

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Watch pouch

As I lost my previous watch pouch, I believe it was during a business trip in Seoul, decided to make one.

Used バネ口  (literal translation from Japanese, spring mouth), clasp (?). Glued silk to the inner parts to protect the watch and sewed it together.

Overall quite simple, with a very good result.

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Soko + Ninagawa Mika

Been following both Soko (musician) and Ninagawa Mika (Photographer) for a while, so you can guess how delighted I am that they met and work together.

Result will appear in Nero Magazine. Looking forward to it

https://twitter.com/SoKoQueens/status/851323336265265152

http://www.magazinenero.com/

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Buying Leather

I need to make a decision if I take another step improving my Leather Craft skills, or just continuing what I am doing now.

Do I make products only to myself, or do I start producing more leather products as presents to friends an family.

Already made a decision I will never try to sell, but for me the biggest difference is wether I continue to buy leather from Tokyu Hands or similar, or do I invest more money and buy better (and more expensive) leather.

Considering buying from Kyoshin . Seems like they have a good product in a reasonable price.

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Train

One of these mornings that I wish I stayed home.

Rain, umbrellas, busiest hour and maybe some bad luck has totally exhausted me.

Considered going out in the middle, but decided to stay.

No photos, no media. Just words and your imagination.

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Why I will not buy a MacBook Again

Update April 7th

Logic board was replaced. Effectively this is a new computer (except the screen). Obviously, the flash contents was not copied to the new board.

Received the MacBook Pro and could restore it from Backup. It seems to be working ok and I am using it to update this post.

Now, there is another issue that I am discussing with Apple support team.
In my last visit at the shop I also handed them my HDMI and Ethernet Adaptors so they can verify that the system is functional in the same manner I work with.
These accessories were not returned to me yet and will be shipped today to my home.

 

 

Since I moved to Japan I have been using MacBooks and MacMini. Several generations of both and a very happy customer.

Last year November, I purchased the new MacBookPro immediately as it came out. Upgraded the processor and memory since I plan to use for work and photography hobby.

All was great till several weeks ago when I noticed that sometimes Battery does not charge. A reboot usually solved the problem so I thought it was a software problem.
But then it stopped charging. Reboot, SMC reset did not work.

First visit Apple Shibuya
Monday. Went, waited, waited. A very nice guy tested, experienced the problem and then explain to me that they don’t have parts, Apple does not keep Parts in their repair centers (!!!).
Which means I have to give my computer and wait till parts arrive and computer fixed.
I did not like it, so we agreed that I will take the MacBook and use it while connected to Power.

From the net I learned that the new MacBook Pro design has limitations: cannot change battery without replacing the cover, SSD is soldered to the logic board
It seems Apple has done some compromises in the design which makes it problematic to service.

The only problem is, it did not work.
Parts arrived.

Second visit Apple Shibuya
Simple, just gave the MacBook Pro

Third visit Apple Shibuya
On Friday (same week) received a call from Apple Shibuya which I could not take. Tried to call, but could not understand what was the problem.
(And here we have another problem, no English phone support in Japan. All calls are routed to Australia which means they don’t know exactly what was wrong with my laptop).

Went to the shop, talked with another nice guy that explained to me that the MacBook was fixed, but during diagnostic tests, they see trackpad issue.
“You would probably won’t notice, but it is a problem we need to fix and we don’t have the parts”.
We agreed again that I will take the laptop, use it with a faulty trackpad and return when the parts arrive.

BUT, next morning (Saturday) I notice the battery does not charge again.

Fourth visit Apple Shibuya
Saturday noon rushed to Apple to give the MacBook.
The same nice guy was there, saying the parts arrive and that it will be fixed immediately and shipped to my office on Monday.
Received a call on Sunday that indeed it was fixed and no error.

Macbook arrive to my office Monday morning, seemed to work, but I noticed once when I plugged power that it was “no charging” before changing to charging mode. Strange.
Next morning, same issue, battery is not charging.

Fifth visit Apple Shibuya
Tuesday morning, waiting for the shop to open so I can give the MacBook and rush to my meetings.
Will not accept anything but a new computer.

If I get a new computer, this will be my last Apple MacBook