'personal' posts - Jason Connell

New Phone and Service March 13, 2019

I got a Google Pixel 3XL and Google Fi. With data saver I'm not really spending more than 30 bucks a month. Downloading music instead of streaming helps me keep the data bill low.

Tidying March 3, 2019

Marie Kondo has helped me with more than keeping my place tidy, as I've brought over her ideas to other aspects of my life.

Brilliant Business Idea June 17, 2014

Dollar Shave Club has this one brilliant business idea as part of their main business model, that is just brilliant and you'd be stupid to not take them up on the offer. I'm talking about the Shave Butter. It's so obvious. Why would anyone get their blades online, shipped automatically every month, but opt to go to the store for shaving cream? They could offer Dr. Carver's Pungent Shaving Poop Rash Fest Mosquito Urine Cream, and I'd still get it if I didn't have to go to the store.

But really, the Shave Butter is amazing, and I don't want to say that some genius thought of that idea, it's just so obvious that it had to be done, it would just be stupid not to offer it! But that service is great, I've been doing it for almost a year now.

Contact Lenses January 10, 2013

I can see!! Yesterday I went to the eye doctor. I went to LensCrafters since it was easy and they let me make an appointment online. The people there were friendly and funny, the doctor was young and had a good attitude, and was fun.

They showed me how to put the contacts in, and without thinking that they, at some point, would have to come out again, thought "This is so simple, why didn't I do this years ago?!". Then they had to come out! I got through it in maybe 10-15 minutes. It was great help when someone, either the doctor or the assistant, would come in to see how I was doing / offer some advice. I got dilated, got the exams, put my contacts in for the second time (much easier this time), and drove home.

I was put on a schedule, to wear them for 4 hours the first day. I put them back in around 6:10, so around 9:40 I headed upstairs to begin the arduous process of taking them out. It took me 25 minutes!! This morning I woke up feeling like I had crabs crawling around in my eyeballs!

Anyway, I put them in again this morning, and it's amazing seeing everything with clarity. I can feel them in there, but that goes away and you get used to it. Today I'm supposed to only wear them for 6 hours, and I've passed that point. I might take them out here at work...

It is great for my photography!! I can focus! I do manual focus, manual everything actually. This will lead to a higher percentage of non-blurred pictures!!

I got glasses around age 12, but in the end I only wore them at night when driving. I lost them at some point so for a few years I haven't had anything to help me see. So I got used to blur. Hence why it's amazing that I can see again :)

The computer of the next 6 years August 27, 2012

I bought a new "main" computer today. It will replace two old "main" computers. I got an MSI GE60. This is significant.

My previous main laptop was a MacBook Pro which I purchased in November 2006. It lasted a long time, but it doesn't like heat and I'm moving on. It was Core 2 Duo, 2.2 ghz or something, 2 gb of ram. I had all manner of drives connected to it, so it quit being a laptop and was permanently a desktop.

My gaming machine was also Core 2 Duo, 2 GB ram, ran XP and all my games, with its Nvidia 260 GTS I think.

One laptop to replace two machines. The GE60 is Intel Core i7 Quad Core, 2.3 GHz, can boost to 3.3 GHz. It comes with 6GB of RAM upgradeable to 16. I can order that off of newegg right now for $90. It has an NVidia GTX 650M or however you designate that. It comes with 2GB of video memory.

1080p resolution, USB 3 and USB 2, so all my old stuff will still work, and I can still have access to my data. 7200 RPM Hard drive, but I bought a 256 GB SSD to swap in.

Back in 2006, the technology wasn't that great. You couldn't really get a laptop comparable to a MacBook Pro. Or I might not have trusted the quality of other laptops. The parts were much better in the MBP. Today, though, and for $1000 roughly, you can get an all powerful machine that can run that old MBP virtually! I shall be doing that.

And if I want to do gaming, it's there too. I can run the latest games on that thing, at high settings. Awesome.

Currently Known As... July 13, 2012

Talking in work today... I'm going to change my name from "Jason" to "The Programmer Currently Known as Jason"

Hi Poop June 27, 2012

Sometimes I'll be picking up Beaker's poop when a neighbor waves at me or drives by. I'm going to make a more conscious effort to not wave a bag filled with poop at them.

Change June 12, 2012

I like change. Over the past month I've changed a lot of my life around, just to keep me on my toes. Here are a few things:

1. Previously not a father, now a father.
2. New car! I bought a 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring to replace my 2002 Monte Carlo SS.
3. New checking account. I've gone through the effort to move my banking to a new bank, which will probably result in more money for me in the long run, with less fees and just overall a better banking experience.
4. Selling my house. I could use a change in the amount of mortgages I'm paying, or helping to pay, a month.
5. New shoes! I've gone with the laceless shoes from DC. I also have sneakers but these are very comfortable.
6. I will be getting all of my t-shirts in the future from threadless.com
7. Within the year I've changed hosts for my website.
8. Galaxy S II phone in May also. Much needed upgrade.

It's good. That might be it for a while, I don't know what else I can change for now!