MTR Fare Saver Map

Okay, so none of you are probably interested in this Google Map, which lists some of the MTR Fare Saver machines around the more popular tourist spots here in HK. You only save about 2 HKD, which only gives you enough to take a free ride on the tram-system. Still better than nothing. Besides, if it's popular enough for the locals....



(yes, those pictures are recycled)

I didn't put all the Fare Savers on the map nor am I planning on updating it right now (even though the machines do get moved from time-to-time). If it's useful enough for people I'll let others tweak it (or I might) so let me know. You know, for those two people that actually visit this blog. =)

Lastly, there's a whole slew of terms and conditions on the MTR's Fare Saver page (English, 中文) so be sure to read them before you use it.

US mobile coverage maps

Looking at figuring out which mobile phone company to use in the US and thought I'd throw these coverage maps up here. I won't get started (er, continue ranting) on the removal of Google Voice from the iPhone.

Anyway, too bad the quality of mobile phones in the US pales in comparison to the rest of the world. For now, these are what we get to choose from (in reverse alphabetical order):

• Verizon Wireless - http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorController?requesttype=NEWREQUEST
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• T-Mobile - http://compass.t-mobile.com/Default.aspx
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Sprint - http://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• AT&T - http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/
  
  
  

Photos: Top Gelato in Venice

Given that it's summer and I just returned from a trip to Venice, here's a list in my humble opinion of the best gelato we tried in Venice.

#1 - Pear



#2 - Chocolate



Both from:
Gelati Nico
Dorsoduro, 922 - Zattere

Hands down the best gelateria in Venice that we tried and if you do a quick search for best Venice gelateria, it will be on the list and rightfully so. The pear gelato just tastes like you're biting into a real pear. The chocolate was a close second as it also tastes incredibly like a smooth bar of chocolate. If you can only make one stop in Venice for gelato, this is it. (In fact, we stopped by here every day we were in Venice....)

#3 - Watermelon



Gelateria Alaska
Santa Croce 1159, Calle Larga dei Bari

Alaska is known for the fact that they use fresh ingredients in their gelato. While for the most part we could tell that the actual ingredients were used, the flavors weren't as rich or deep as Nico. For example, the ginger had strings of real ginger, but it wasn't quite "spicy" enough for me. I did, however, quite enjoyed the watermelon gelato (in case you're wondering, Nico didn't have watermelon). One taste of that gelato made you think about warm summer afternoons lounging around biting into the deep flesh of a watermelon.

#4 - Dark Chocolate



Grom
Campo San Barnaba
30123 Venice - Italy

We stumbled across this gelateria on our meanderings through Venice and really liked their dark chocolate gelato. There was a good balance of the sweet and bitter that is dark chocolate.

#5 - Lemon



Gelateria Paolin S. Stefano
Campo Santo Stefano 2962, San Marc

We weren't too enthralled with the gelato here. M described the strawberry as "melted Starbursts" and reluctantly I have to agree as it has that overly sweet and fake taste to it. However, the lemon flavor was quite good. It tasted sweet and light, and except for the scoops that were tainted be the strawberry, quite enjoyable.

Okay, as you can tell, I won't be a food critic any time soon, but maybe the photos themselves will give you a good sense of what it might taste like. Or just make your mouth water. =) -- more --

Mac: Fixing auto connection to WiFi

I've had a hell of a time trying to figure out why my Macbook wouldn't auto-connect to my preferred networks and Googling over and over again didn't help. Basically, up pops the "none of your preferred networks are available" window. But finally, this forum post actually worked so I figured I'd repost it here. Since it's done so succinctly, rather than rewrite it, I'd just reprint the very, very helpful instructions here:

I have been searching high and low for a fix to this and none have worked…until now!

I spotted a fix to this problem that strangely centered on the specific location of the “System Preferences.app”, if other than the standard location of the root of the “Applications” folder. I had in fact moved mine and would NEVER have thought it related to this bug. Hmmm!

If you have moved the System Preferences application (not alias, actual app) to any other location for any reason, your newly joined preferred network will NOT be properly remembered and will NEVER be properly rejoined. Apparently one of the multi-step system procedures involved in properly saving a preferred network assumes the location of System Preferences to be the standard location. Period.

FIX:
1) Move “System Preferences.app” back to “Applications\”.
2) Delete all instances of “Preferred Networks” in “Network Preferences”.
3) Delete all “Airport network password” instances in “Keychain Access”.
4) Restart your Mac.
5) Add/Join applicable preferred network using the Airport pulldown menu or in Network Preferences (as if for the first time). Use “Advanced” in “Network Preferences” to confirm the existence of your preferred network and the correct settings. Use “Keychain Access” to confirm the existence of the applicable “Airport network password” instance and the correct settings.
6) Restart your Mac. The OS should now find your preferred network and join it on its own. Good Luck!

NOTE: Simply moving back System Preferences will NOT suffice. Deleting and re-adding/joining the preferred network is a must after the app has been moved.

Hopefully that solves your problem too. I'll add in my two cents that I followed these instructions and it worked beautifully. As an added bonus, I think my Macbook boots up much quicker too.