Simple Living

I'm now in Sekigahara, working on leveling up to 70.  When I get bored I travel back to Kyoto for an easy dungeon run and to level up my sword skills.  Still using my Tatsujin and Ranmagiri.  Looking for a third sword to add and the Hakujin and Helm-Splitter look promising. Stuck in Sekigahara Dang it, I need to level up friendship ratings with Shizuka.  Otherwise, I can't continue.  I kinda want to go to Kaga already.  From what I'm reading online,Shizuka needs to be at least level 10 friendship by Sekigahara and Susanoo level 15 before end game.  Good to know.

Still testing and researching online and developed a basic strategy for Onigiri. 1.   Focus on good skills.   Quality skills on weapons are better than a purely high grade or damage rating. 2.   Spam skills.  You want to be able to one hit kill enemies.  SP recovery potions are cheap, fraction of the cost of HP recovery sushi items.  Use lots of SP potions and spam away on the skills to finish dungeons faster. 3.   White class weapons.   Go for Bronze item drops and seek white class items.  These are cheaper to enhance and smelt vs blue, red or gold items.  A +50 white sword with good skills is better than a gold weapon of the same ryou cost. 4.   Max Affinity.   Put stat points in a single star that boosts your main weapons affinity.  Goal is 3,000 affinity.   At lower levels you can use +% affinity items like magatama's to get 3,000.  But later you want to switch to +% Skill Force magatama's so plan ahead and boost your stat points. 5.   Magatama's-  S

Sweet, on my third Gacha Ticket I got the top prize on  Nyankoropon Unit # 1, the Black Goth Rozen Costume with Accessory 'Property Hadou' that grants +15% Money gain for 30 days. I was hoping for the HP or SP boost costume set, but this is great too.  Makes gaining money for smelting and weapon enhancement easier.

I've tried several character types and for now settled on the Odachi/Katana Sword with Power Stat focus.  Learning as I go along and experimenting with this build.  Was able to make it to the Izumo Rest Area after about a week of casual playing. Odachi for Group fights The Odachi is the long sword and while slower than a Katana has more attack power and a wider attack range.  It's good for medium size mobs. Katana for surgical fights The Katana is proving better for fast boss strikes or single enemy duels.  You can unload several skills in rapid succession with the shorter and faster Katana. Goal is Affinity = more damage to enemies I'm focusing all my stat points towards Power.  This raises sword and Odachi affinity which boosts attack rating.  The max is 3,000 (including any +% affinity items like magatama's). Weapons Using the basic gold weapons I've found along the way.  Nothing fancy and most are just +10 to +50 enhancement.

Casio has a fantastic bargain with the model MDV-106.  It is an actual diver style, water resistant for 200 meters.  This is not a regular diver style watch, this one could actually go for a swim thanks to its screw down crown.  Which makes it a good deal as many sell for about $33 - 40. Features Unidrectional bezel marked for 60 minutes. Basic lume on hour indices and hands Date Display Quartz Movement (Casio 2784 / Miyota 2115) 200 Meter Water Resistance 44 mm case size 22 mm band width Size This watch is comparable to the Seiko SKX007 in size.  Both are 22 mm lugs and roughly the same dial and bezel width along with wrist height.  However a Seiko SKX007 is a real dive watch, this is still diver style.  For some this watch might wear a bit large, but for others it's sufficient.  For me, I prefer 20 mm lugs and a smaller face of 41.5 mm max, this one is closer to 44m w/ crown. Other Options This is a bargain basement choice, but hits well  abov

It's been over two years since I bought the Audio Technica EQ500 headphones in Tokyo.  They still sound good and look reasonably well after two years of ownership.  I've only used these casually maybe once every two weeks and at most maybe 50-60 hours a year of listening time.  But one problem has emerged and you have to play with the 1/8" audio jack as the sound cuts out from one side.  It takes a few quick twists and usually it sounds fine.  They have become my backup pair as I usually carry larger over ear headphones like the Audio Technica WM77's.  Next time I'm in Japan I may try upgrade to the EQ600's or EQ700's that include a retractable cable.  I'll need to research those newer models, but it'll be at least a year before I can fly over to Japan again.

I was curious and tried the Zenith on a NATO strap.  Watch has  19 mm lug width, but a 20 mm NATO fits snugly.  Makes the watch more useful as the weather has been hot lately and ruining the leather band.  Also, in this instance it raises the watch a bit off my wrist and makes winding much easier. Thoughts on Vintage This watch is 60 years old.  It still works great and not many things man made can claim such a feat.  Who knows where this watch has been, where its traveled and the things it's 'seen'.  Kinda cool if you think about it, it'll continue another adventure with me.  Where shall we go?  Fun with NATO On the baby blue NATO...

I bought an Eton Microlink FR160 Handcrank Radio for my Emergency Kit a few years ago and it's great, except for one thing....over time a sticky residue coats the radio's external surface.  It was driving me nuts and I thought something was wrong. Fortunately, rather than dump it I researched online and learned Eton Radios are coated with a substance to make them easier to grip, but over time it degrades and becomes a sticky mess.  Some isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls can clean most of the gunk.  Some paint maybe lost in the process, but the radio at least is not sticky anymore.

I'm really digging the Seiko SSB003 on NATO strap.  It's very light and comfortable to wear and lends itself a sense of 'appropriateness' in a casual setting like a beach resort.  I have several variations of 20mm NATO straps, but this dark navy blue and red stripe combo seems the most appealing. I'm hankering again for possibly another Seiko Quartz chronograph...possibly the SNDF87, that has a similar color scheme as the Tudor Heritage Chrono...for a fraction of the cost.  Other option is a Seiko SSB031 or variant that uses the same movement, but has lume on the hands and hour markers making it more useful for evening wear.  We'll see...for now the SSB003 is proving fun.

I bought another watch.  A Zenith Brand Caliber 126.  Dress Watch with Sub Second Dial.  Paid $450 + $20 shipping.  A simple, entry-level, vintage piece to round out my humble collection.  I could buy a Nomos Tangente, but the Zenith just speaks to me.  Idk...perhaps old age setting in?  In any case, that's enough watches for 2015.  Enough for quite some time as I have plenty to wear now.  It should arrive in the mail in about a week and I'll post pics after I've examined it further.  Hopefully, it's the genuine article and in decent condition. Some basic questions I will try to answer is what specific Caliber is the movement?  Been seeing various info about the nuances between Cal 40, 126, 126-6, et cetera.  It looks a bit beat up, so not sure if I got a deal or not. At minimum so long as it's authentic, working and wearable that should suffice. Zenith Caliber 126 Here are what specs and info I could gather on this movement. Several Vers

Passed by the Swatch shop and after considering the Sistem51, decided instead for this one..the 'Faux Fox' model SUOB709. Paid Full Retail $70.  While online you can get it for $15-20 less, the savings is marginal. I rather like it and fills a niche between a classic analog dial automatic and a rugged G-Shock digital. - Something to wear and not worry.  Just a casual and comfortable watch.  Sadly, no water resistance so nowhere near the pool or water. I did want something more vibrant and bright, but after trying on various models...the more subdued, classic look just fits me better.  Can't argue with that.

Figure I do a roundup of my modest watch collection. My 3 and 3's. In no particular order: 1.  Rolex Explorer 114270 2.  Omega Seamaster 2531.80 3.  Seiko SSB003 - Quartz 4.  Casio GLX-5600-7 5.  Casio GLX-5600-4 6.  Casio DW-6900-1 I'm comfortable with what I have.  Sure more is great, but I've plenty of options and usually end up wearing one Automatic for most of the week and change up with a G-Shock when outdoors or doing some physical work. Recently took the white G-Shock to the beach and got it blasted by the sand and waves.  No problem. A dress watch might make it complete and the Nomos Tangente is the contender at the moment. To add some color, a quirky and colorful Swatch or a Casio F91WC has crossed my mind.  Although a 5600 in a bright color would do it too, I kinda wanna try something else.  Something light and carefree.

There are many watches similar and comparable to the venerable Rolex Explorer I.  Few automatics with decent specs and at an affordable price come closer than the humble Seiko 5 model SNKK35. These can be found pre-owned for about $50 (brand new they sell for below $80). I personally, owned both the SNKK35 (Black Dial) and SNKK33 (White Dial).  I loved them both for what they offered at such a fantastic price point.   There are many things to love about this simple, yet attractive watch that does have a passing resemblance to a Rolex Explorer I (but at a fraction of the price).  There are five (5) specifics on this watch that I wanted to discuss: Movement Dial Case/Crown Bracelet Overall Movement The Seiko 5 line use the standard 7s26/36 automatic movement.  It's been around for quite a few years and is utilized in nearly all their Seiko 5 watches.  The one noticeable feature lacking on a 7s movement, it doesn't have a hacking second hand, meaning you cannot

Seiko back on NATO strap.  All the pics of the gorgeous Tudor Monte Carlo made me look back at the Seiko Chronographs.  Much more affordable and equally functional.  For now..it'll have to do.  While bracelet and leather strap were adequate...it makes the Seiko more fun to wear it on a NATO strap.  I've accumulated a small collection of a half dozen NATO straps to interchange based on my mood.

I purchased the Seiko Chronograph model: SSB003 about four (4) months ago in Nov 2014 and wrote a brief review about it then.  The stock metal bracelet is acceptable and comfortable to wear, but I prefer this watch on a leather strap.  My Hirsch Liberty strap is pulling duty on the SSB003 and contrasts well with the silver dial.  It's my 'poor man' Hamilton Khaki.   Flaws, but worth the price The watch has its flaws...primarily it's very difficult to read in poorly lit areas.  I would have preferred some luminescent materials on the hour markers and hands.  But for the price I paid...this watch has been great and it's perfect size suits me well. Casual Watch I prefer this watch when I want to dress down and sip a cup a coffee at Starbucks and not bring attention to myself.  While I could wear a G-Shock, sometimes it just doesn't suit the occasion.  It's also convenient when I forgot to keep wound the Automatics and need a traditional An

I was able to create a Linux RAID 0 Array with two (2) SanDisk 32gb Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drives.  I opted for RAID 0 - Striping as it would give me one logical 64gb Drive with theoretically 'double' the speed. Due to the Linux Test Machine having only USB 2.0 ports, the theoretical max it could achieve is limited by USB 2.0 max speed of 480mbits/sec (roughly 60mb/sec).  Initial test of Single USB Flash Drive -- 30mb/sec Read Speed. Create RAID 0 I installed mdadm .  It was conveniently located in the Ubuntu Software Center.  Reviewed other users guides and none worked exactly as described, but after reviewing each one, I was able to piece together the necessary terminal commands and steps to take. Steps Taken: sudo -s Enter Admin Password mdadm -Cv /dev/md0 -l0 -n2 /dev/sdc /dev/sdd mke2fs /dev/md0 mount /dev/md0 /mnt/samsung I had to also mess around in disks to get things to work.  And then renamed the Lost+Found folder to 'USB Files' as that was

So here is my quick review on the SanDisk CZ48 USB 3.0 Ultra Flash Drives. I purchased two (2) 32gb capacity CZ48's and have been using one for several large file transfers.  Paid $ 17/each on Amazon (had I acted sooner, I might have snagged them for $ 14.99/each).   Very quickly...the Read/Write Speeds I've been getting: Read - 75mb/second Write - 25mb/second Optimized for Read Speed Only You can read the customer comments on Amazon and SanDisk makes it clear in their response that the CZ48's only optimized for Read Speed and don't expect much on Write.  25mb/second is still decent and faster than the 4-10mb/second I would get on USB 2.0 drives so it's bearable.  Considering they are priced about the same as a USB 2.0 Cruzer Glide of the same capacity...it makes sense to buy the CZ48 Ultra instead.  But if you want fast Write Speed...skip this drive and consider the Extreme CZ80 or Extreme Pro CZ88. Pros: Decent Read Speed Good Price - abo

It has been almost a year since I last purchased the Audio Technica MTH-50's and they are still going strong.  I blogged about them back around March 2014 of last year.  They still sound great and probably better.  I wouldn't necessary call it 'burn-in'  and think more you get used to how they sound and start to pick up more of the minute details that would be blurry or drowned out in a cheaper pair of headphones.  In hindsight, while the 'white' color seemed cool...they pick up dirt and crap a lot easier and especially the pleather headband is showing some wear and tear.  I can see this eventually peeling and cracking at some point.  This doesn't detract from the sound quality and they will remain usable for a long time.  However, I do wish they had invested in higher quality materials for the headband material. Recommendation? Would I still recommend the MTH50's?  Yes.  These are worth the money.  The only other pair I might consider in this range

Linux Distributions have improved from when I last attempted to install Ubuntu in 2009.  Lubuntu 14.10 was effortless in terms of installation and nearly everything is laid-out in a very intuitive manner.  I was literally up and running within minutes and in maybe two (2) hours completely running Linux on the Toshiba Netbook NB505. Specs The Toshiba is a very weak machine and spec-wise nothing amazing.  It has a puny Intel Atom N455 1.67ghz Processor, 1gb Ram and 250gb HDD.  That's about it.  Running it on Windows 7 Starter was a painful experience and while I got it tweaked where it was reasonably functional, there were certain things you just could not do such as watch a full movie or surf the internet.  Otherwise, some basic typing was all the Netbook could offer.  With Linux however, it has given the Netbook a new lease on life and while marginally faster on boot times and most other tasks, it did make watching a movie or surfing the internet more reasonable.  There

I've always wanted a 6900 series G-Shock and decided on the classic version...a plain 6900-1v model.  I was worried about the size as the 100B I bought last year was just too big and tall.  The 6900 is bigger than a 5600, but not as bad as a 100B. Buttons a Plus The plus of the 6900 over a 5600 is the placement of the light button up front in the Big G below the watch display.  Buttons are the plain metal pushers, still easier to press than a 5600. Features Lacking One thing lacking is World Time.  I actually like this option and the 5600 has it.  Better still was my old Pathfinder 1300 with its big display and you can toggle up or down...5600 only goes one direction. Closing Been only a day, too early to tell.  I do like the black color...fitting a 'tool' watch.  One crappy side is the plastic buckle.  That ain't gonna last.  Metal buckle at least.  For less than $40, this watch is a deal.  So no complaints there.

So...my first purchase of 2015.  A Casio G-Shock 6900-1v for just $38. I've always wanted a basic 6900 and figured why not? Should be here in a few days. Yeah...was expecting to buy the Seiko Sarb, but still wavering on which color dial and they spiked the price up $30.  I'll wait for it to go back down and it'll be my second purchase of 2015....maybe.