I am cheap

Art

Diana F+ Update: Trying to Save Money on My Expensive New Hobby

My goodness developing film for these cutesy toy cameras seriously costs $$$$ for what you get. I’ve done three rolls of 120 film so far, and each time it cost about $6 to develop and $7 to print (.60 cents per picture, about 12 pics per roll). Not to mention each roll of film is $4-$6 each! Knowing this I’m trying to be much more selective about what I decide to shoot. Well… sorta 🙂

Perusing accessories and attachments online, I stumbled across back attachments that allow you to use different films with the Diana. I was smitten with the Diana Instant Back, which turns the camera into a Polaroid camera. Still, it didn’t solve my immediate affordability problem.

More research brought me to the 35mm Diana back, which may be the answers to my cheapo prayers. 35mm film is cheaper to buy and develop than 120, and each roll will give me 27-36 photos, depending upon what size frames I use in my camera (panoramic, square shaped, standard). Plus for the most part I can just drop off my photos anywhere to be developed, not necessarily a fancy photo lab. My back came today, and I’m looking forward to playing with it over the next week.

Another way I’m trying to save money is by signing up for classes at RayKo Photo Center , a local photography school and art gallery. Joseph had mentioned the place to me, and while I was pondering whether to join or not, Groupon released a coupon for the center. I took it as a sign that I should do it. Hopefully once I figure out what I’m doing I will be able to develop my film using their facilities. Er… well that’s the hope.

As a more immediate need, I’ve also been looking into purchasing a scanner, so I can finally share the 3 dozen odd photos I’ve been taking over the last month. I am very hesitant about this purchase, because when I was younger my dad purchased a scanner for me that was around 500$. I’ll admit, I had it for a long time, but when it became obsolete I ended up donating it to a local charity, and it made me feel bad. I know that things come and go, I just felt really bad for giving up something that my parents had worked so hard to get for me. Knowing that the best things will become obsolete soon enough, I really don’t want to spend lots of money just to have another bulky electronic around my house.

The one thing that makes the purchase seem like a sound investment however: If I buy a scanner that scans film, I can scan the negatives and choose which photos to print from my computer! I had no idea this existed before today, but it makes perfect sense once you know about it.

Anyways,I’m looking forward to sharing my photos once I get a scanner. So far I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the Diana photos. Using this camera is really hit-or-miss, but the hits make me swoon, and the misses are still dreamy.

 

Food

Work Lunch of Note: Sushirrito

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When I heard the buzz about Sushirrito a few months back, I knew I had to check it out. Still, the lines were said to be legendary. I bided my time. Today I met up with Tristan for a quickie lunch, and man, the lines are still brutal!

We were in line at least 30 minutes waiting just to order, and we ended up getting the same thing: the Crispy Ebi roll. From the website:

Crispy Ebi $10.50
Crispy Tempura Shrimp, Melted Pepperjack Cheese, Shredded Crab, Plantain, Avocado, Cucumber, Green Onion
Sauce: Sriracha Crema

Sounds yummy right? I got mine with a side of rice chips and chimichurri sauce (the green stuff).

I gotta say, I’ve heard mixed reviews about the service and the food, but I enjoyed my roll. It really hit the spot and filled me up without being way too heavy. It is in NO WAY a burrito, like say the Curry Up Now Tikka Masala Burritos, or the Korean Burritos at John’s Snack and Deli. It is just a giant awesome sushi roll that likes to fall apart.

So, not worth waiting 30 min in line for, but that is easily sidestepped I hear if you come early or late. Also the sushirrito is perhaps not worth 10+ dollars, but hey, where else are you going to get this? It’s so San Francisco it hurts.

Health, Work

Another Day, Another Bikram Deal on Another Social Coupon Site…

Well you know how I feel about social coupon deals for bikram yoga classes… It’s a great idea for both customer and the studio in theory (Cheap classes! Allows the studio to attract people outside their average customer base!) but the studio has to be able to handle the increase in yogis.

Here’s an example of how crazy it gets. Look at the number of people that have bought that Groupon with an hour left to go. 1,624 people. I would hate to be a Funky Door customer, because all hell is gonna break loose in that studio. That is too many damn people! Limits people, limits!

 

Money

WTF of the Day: Apple

 

My friends will remember that fateful day in early 2010 when my magnetic power cord fell in my cup of Green Monster Odwalla. Acting quickly I pulled the cord out from the spirulina smoothie and stuck the end in my mouth, sucking out the goop.

OUCH!

Yeah, I really wasn’t thinking. But my cord managed to work at least a YEAR after that. Two days ago, it suddenly crapped out. My last Mac is a few years old, so it’s at least 2 generations of power cord back. No bueno. I gotta get a new cord, or beg my friends for a little “juice.”

80 dollars, really Apple? What the fuck? And the expensive cord has an average review score of one and a half stars! Most of the reviews bitch about the price, but the most troubling thing is the multitude of negative reviews from users who have gone through multiple chargers over the course of the last year. If the charger is going to be pricey, it should at least work. Shit!