Fitbit – So Far, So Good

22 Feb 2013 2 Comments

by smkelly8 in opinion Tags: , , , , ,

Fitbit: Wireless Personal Trainer

Fitbit: Wireless Personal Trainer (Photo credit: mrcd@sbcglobal.net)

I got a fitbit device as a gift. Fitbit is an electronic device that measures your daily steps, calories burnt, stairs climbed, and sleep. There’s a companion website that allows you to log in your food and other activities (e.g. sports, tasks, physical activities)  I was going to sell it on ebay, but never got around to it. So about a week ago I decided to start using in. why not.

I don’t need to lose lots of weight, but I wouldn’t mind losing some. I don’t want to get fanatical about my daily calories or steps taken.

So far I’ve enjoyed the novelty of seeing how much I do or don’t do in a day. Fitbit makes it easy to log food as so  many brands and kinds of food have their nutritional data in the system. You just need to click away.

I’ve been doing well with it, though I get a little upset when I don’t wear mine thinking, “I didn’t get credit for all those stairs” or what have you.

I’ve been walking around Phnom Penh a lot and yesterday walked over 20,000 steps. I burned over 2500 calories according to Fitbit.

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A Big Discrepancy

18 Jun 2012 Leave a Comment

by smkelly8 in China, news, technology Tags: , , , , , ,

Tiananmen Square and Gate of Heavenly Peace, B...

Tiananmen Square and Gate of Heavenly Peace, Beijing (Photo credit: sfcityscape)

Near the Olympic sites, June 2012

Last week I discovered and downloaded an app for my iPad called China Air Pollution Index. This app tells users what the air quality is in major Chinese cities. For Beijing and cities with U.S. consulate offices it provides the data that the Chinese government publishes as well as the numbers that the U.S. embassy or consulate have read on site.

These numbers can vary widely. For example, today in Beijing the US Embassy meters rate the Beijing air quality hazardous with a 304 reading, while the Chinese government rates the level as lightly polluted at 183.

Sometimes the US numbers are lower than China’s. Today the Chinese government reports an index of 180 (lightly polluted) while the US consulate in the capital reports one of 305 (hazardous). Both entities recommend wearing a mask.

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Carnage

14 Jun 2012 2 Comments

by smkelly8 in film Tags: , , , , ,

Based on an award-winning play by Yasmina Reza, Carnage feels like a play from start to finish, but that didn’t bother me. I loved the dialog and characters and the conflict that brings them together held my attention.

Starring Jodi Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslett and  Christoph Waltz, Carnage is an intelligent, often witty, slice of life drama about a power couple whose son hits the son of a more liberal, Bobo (ala Bobos in Paradise) couple. They meet to resolve the issue and while dealing with the children’s conflict, flaws in their own marriages, gender differences, pretenses and hypocrisy are exposed.

The ending disappointed me as it sort of peters out leaving a lot unsaid, which considering how given to talk all the characters were, didn’t seem fitting. Still I’m glad I spent time with these characters in a film that offered a fresh look at how we live and think.

If you like theater, you’ll probably enjoy Carnage.

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Review: Exporting Raymond

19 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment

by smkelly8 in film, television Tags: , , , , ,

If cross-cultural endeavors interest you or if you’re an Everybody Loves Raymond fan, Exporting Raymond should tickle your funny bone. The documentary Exporting Raymond follows executive producer Phil Rosenthal to Moscow as he consults with the Russian team that plans to bring this down-to-earth American sitcom to an audience that loves over-the-top comedy, like the Russian versions of The Nanny or Married with Children.

Rosenthal’s witty and approachable. I empathized with him as he tried to convince the intense looking costume designer that Debra shouldn’t be dressed in white cashmere when she’s spent the day cleaning This formidable woman wouldn’t hear of it. Style was everything in her book. When Rosenthal tried to figure out whether his driver really was in the hospital or whether he was lying and just on vacation, I smiled with recognition. Yep, one never knows what the real story is, just roll with it, Phil.

I found it all fascinating from the grim, decrepit studios to the stone faced execs — all very telling. I liked the documentary so much I watched the special features and deleted scenes. As a special feature they include two episodes of Raymond and two of Everybody Loves Kostya. which I found even more interesting than the American version. Go figure.

I’m not sure if this would translate to China, probably not, but I could see a Korean version of Everybody Loves Raymond.

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