Noob Coding
Noob ReadingOmphalos, Exhalation, 2019
Let me always be inquisitive, but never be suspicious.
Omphalos, Exhalation, 2019 by Ted Chiang
Seiko Movement V172 Used As A GMT and Calibration
One reason I bought the Seiko SBPY119 is there is a hidden feature behind the alarm clock – you can actually use it as a GMT if you don’t need an alarm.
Last week my “GMT” was running 2 minutes behind. It was probably hit hard by my baby. That triggered me to relearn how to calibrate to fix the error and how to make it a GMT in the first place.
The trick is in the calibration. Basically the way alarm clock works is you have to tell the watch that the main clock and alarm clock were pointing to a same time. They have to share a starting point first before you can move the alarm clock to a different time. This is the calibration process.
To use it as a GMT, you have to deliberately make a mistake. You need to trick the watch into thinking the main clock and alarm clock are in sync and sharing the same baseline. But actually they are not. Actually you are setting the alarm clock to a different timezone.
When you pulled the crown all the way out, you can press and hold the top right chronograph start button for 2 seconds. This will cycle through the baseline adjustment for chronograph minutes, chronograph seconds and then the alarm clock (wait for the clock to finish spinning a full cycle). When it is cycled to the alarm clock, set the GMT time. Then turn the crown to set the correct local time on the main clock. Push the crown all the way in when finished. This will trick the watch into thinking the alarm clock and main clock are now pointing to a same starting time. Alarm will not be activated.
Obviously this works for all V172 movement watches.
Beautiful Seiko JDM SBTM
Got a great suggestion from this Youtube video today: Seiko SBTM series.
I always knew Seiko put some great stuff exclusively in their domestic market. This is aligned with what I observed in US. Foreign countries like to export low-quality stuff for low price to US (like China), or high price for mid and high quality. It is in their domestic markets (China, Japan) mid quality stuff for low price are provided. Because they can’t fool their own people I guess.
This SBTM series has some of the best pick-up-and-go, no-worries-in-any-condition kind of watches. Radio wave control, solar powered, thin case, sapphire glass with super clear coating, and amazing finishing. What more could you ask for in a daily watch?
From the most interested to less interested.
| Model No. | Picture | Case size | Case height | Price as of 12/2023 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBTM217 |  |
37.8mm | 8.8mm | ~$349 | Movement 7B52. Titanium. |
| SBTM341 |  |
39.5mm | 9.5mm | ~$451 | Movement 7B72. Titanium, Diamond Shield. |
| SBTM323 |  |
39.5mm | 9.5mm | ~$267 | Movement 7B72. There is also a beautiful green dial SBTM319 version with the same price. |
Research For My First Grand Seiko
One side effect of watching too many Youtube watch videos, is you can’t get Grand Seiko out of your head.
When I went to watch AD I always took a few minutes to look at Grand Seikos. But honestly they looked, kind of normal, or mundane.
Just like how they treat Tudor, Breitling or Tag Heuer, AD usually put an awful lot of Grand Seikos in a single cabinet. This really damages the beauty of dress watches like Grand Seiko. I think this is the main reason why I don’t like Grand Seikos in the store.
You need a lot of space to notice the tiny details of a dress watch. When you put so many “similar-looking” watches in a single window, they just look boring and insignificant. You don’t get the excitement. You are like shopping in Macy for some regular watches. There is no reason to spend thousands dollars on it.
Unfortuantely in the AD only Rolex got the real-estate for it to shine. Rolex probably made sure of it. The niche corner other brands got from these ADs actually do damage to their brands. But they probably have no better choice being in such a small but expensive market.
Good news is in the internet there is infinite real-estate. And Grand Seikos truly shines in that avenue.
So here we are again, giving yet another chance to Grand Seiko and looking to buy one potentially.
I am mainly looking for a classical dress watch that has a small footprint on wrist. I categorize my targets under the different reasons I got excited from them. Within each category I ranked from the most interested to the least interested.
Simple, elegant, and entry-level (cheap)
| Model No. | Picture | Collection | Case size | Case height | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBGW231 |  |
Elegance | 37.3mm | 11.6mm | $4300 | Special cream dial. Kind of unique among all brands. However I am concerned this watch is just way too popular being on Youtube so much and so “cheap”. |
| SBGW301 |  |
Elegance | 37.3mm | 11.7mm | $4800 | An updated version of the one above. I heard the dial color is slightly different. Good job on the price hike. |
| SBGW289 |  |
Heritage | 36.5mm | 11.6mm | $5400 | Thinner than usual hands. Sakura dial. Limited. No see-through case back. |
| SBGW285 |  |
Elegance | 37.3mm | 11.7mm | $4800 | Green. There are a few colors but this Green-dial one looks most interesting |
| SBGM221 |  |
Elegance | 39.5mm | 13.7mm | $4600 | GMT. Automatic. Special cream dial. But it’s big and thick. |
| SBGW281 |  |
Elegance | 37.3mm | 11.7mm | $4800 | Yellow seconds hand |
| SBGW297 |  |
Heritage | 36.5mm | 11.6mm | $5400 | Radiating dial pattern. No see-through case back. |
Looks like a King Seiko
| Model No. | Picture | Collection | Case size | Case height | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBGW305 |  |
Elegance | 37.3mm | 11.7mm | $5500 | Silver dial. |
| SBGW291 |  |
Heritage | 36.5mm | 11.6mm | $5200 | No see-through case back. |
Not Grand Seiko. A King Seiko!
| Model No. | Picture | Collection | Case size | Case height | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPB279 |  |
King Seiko | 37.0mm | 12.1mm | $1700 | Silver sunburst dial. 6R31 movement |
| SPB281 |  |
King Seiko | 37.0mm | 12.1mm | $1700 | Silver vertical brushed dial. 6R31 movement |
| SPB369 |  |
King Seiko | 39.0mm | 11.9mm | $1800 | Patterned cream dial. With date. 6R55 movement |
| SJE089 |  |
King Seiko | 38.6mm | 10.7mm | $3300 | Silver sunburst dial. With date. 6L35 movement |
Looks cool in picture
| Model No. | Picture | Collection | Case size | Case height | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBGA491 |  |
Heritage | 40.0mm | 12.5mm | $5600 | Another gold on green? I must really love this color combination. Spring drive. US exclusive. There is another variant SBGA489 with a darker dial background. |
| SBGE295 |  |
Sport | 44.0mm | 14.7mm | $6200 | Realistically I would never buy this one because it is so big and thick. But I have to say the color combination looks great. |
Watch Wishlist 2023
As I grow and learn more about watches (A.K.A. watched more Youtube), my taste for watches has understandably changed. I am still a big fan of all-rounder and chronograph. Still not as excited as others about divers, GMT or military watches. However as I spent more time in watches I started to be willing to put more hard-earned money in watches. Last year I was a very budget-watch person. This year I started to really treasure the value of watch. Not resell value but more about the enjoyment and timelessness of a watch.
This is shown by the fact that I only bought 1 watch this year, and it’s a Rolex. Buying Rolex is kind of controversial given how much love and hate it received. Another controversial thing is I haven’t even got my hands on it yet. And it’s been months after purchase. I think I will write all about it later.
Order from latest interest to the oldest interest.
All-purpose
| Brand | Model No. | Picture | Case size | Case height | Owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tudor | Black Bay 39 (M79660-0001) |  |
39mm | ??mm | For some reason I often prefer smooth bazel. Even in the Black Bay collection I think this is more interesting than traditional divers as well. Also I like it more than the Tudor Ranger. However the Tudor brand has been hurt badly in China because of its selling strategy. I don’t know if I would ever spend my money to get one. It is poisoned by Rolex’s success. MSRP $4025 | |
| Rolex | Explorer 40mm Oyster Steel (224270) |  |
40mm | 12mm |  |
Was never my interest after watching a lot of Youtube videos. But I immediately fell in love after trying it on in the Rolex store. Much better than the Submariner when trying it on. |
| Seiko | “Alpinist” SPB121J1 |  |
39.5mm | 13.2mm | |
Movement 6R35. See my post last year |
Chronograph
| Brand | Model No. | Picture | Case size | Case height | Owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenith | Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar (Ref 03.3400.3610/38.M3200) |  |
38mm | ??mm | No more weird different-color subdials. Daytona next best thing? A great upgrade from my Orient panda. Also an interesting 1/10 second chrono and moonphase and all the other complications. Is there a see-through case back? MSRP $13900 | |
| Hanhart | 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda 39 |  |
39mm | 13.3mm | Heavily influenced by TGV… But this is a gorgeous watch. | |
| Orient | Neo 70’s Panda (WV0041TX) |  |
42mm | 11.7mm | |
From 2016. My review post |
| Seiko | Spirit Solar Chronograph SBPY119 |  |
41mm | 11.4mm | |
My review post |
| Rolex | Daytona (126500LN) |  |
40mm | 11.9mm | It’s funny I had interest in this watch before I had any knowledge about watches. And I like it because it looks like a Seiko (not the other way around) a waiter weared. After I became aware of the Daytona situation I don’t think I will ever want to own one. It’s just not safe to wear it. Still this is a perfect look to me and I am impressed by the thickness which no other watch brand seems to be able to deliver. |
Dress
| Brand | Model No. | Picture | Case size | Case height | Owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiko | King Seiko SPB279 | |
37.0mm | 12.1mm | The look of the watch checked all my boxes. However I have already had another watch of the same crappy movement with only half the price… The movement is just not worth the price tag. | |
| Cartier | Santos (White Dial. Medium Model) |  |
Width 35.1mm | 8.83mm | The medium model white dial Santos is just so classy. I used to make fun of a friend who bought it for being a “niche Cartier watch”. But after trying it on and getting more knowledge of its history, this becomes my most wanted watch now. I did hear some bad things about how fragile it is and I need a very good reason for another luxury purchase. | |
| Jaeger-LeCoultre | Reverso (Ref TBD) |  |
For a very long time I wanted to own a blue-dial Master Control Ultra Thin Moon. But when I tried on a Reverso I immediately understood why this is the most popular JLC model. It’s just special. | |||
| A. Lange & Söhne | Lange 1 (191.039) |  |
38.5mm | 9.8mm | Maybe I will be able to get one before I died :) Who knows. |
Seiko Spirit Solar Chronograph SBPY119
One of my first two watches.
Orient Neo 70s Panda WV0041TX
One of my first two watches. My original plan at that time was to buy a dark chronograph. Never thought about buying a light-color watch because I thought that was too ‘dressy’. However the first time I learned the white panda concept I couldn’t help but say this type of watch is just gorgegous. Then I learned about this Orient Neo 70s from a JDM watch Youtuber and the price blew my mind. I immediately ordered one from Amazon, giving up the plan I had for weeks.
Out of the 3 watches I bought on my virgin watch journey, I liked this one the most. The hands and the indices both shine. But the most surprising thing is the circle around the 3 subdials also shines under the light, even thought you don’t see anything if you stared at them directly. I am surprised to find this level of subtlety at this price range. At first I am a bit unhappy about the lack of Tachymeter bezel. After living with this watch for a few days I realized I would never use a Tachymeter and the lack of a bezel actually makes the watch less-sporty and more classical. I began to appreciate that there is no bezel.
The biggest cons is the bottom subdial is too small to read. I don’t understand why they would give the most important subdial (chronograph minutes) the least amount of space. Also all subdial hands are invisible under some light condition. The date window is also unuseable. One final thing is the lume is close to nothing. They might as well just remove any lume.
Watch Wishlist 2022
Order from most interested to the least interested for each category and each type of watch.
Chronograph
| Brand | Model No. | Picture | Owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiko | SBPY165 |  |
 |
Didn’t bought this one because I already had the Orient white panda and I enjoyed that. This Seiko one is probably more robust but also more sporty. Not sure if I will like it or not. It’s JDM watch so I can’t easily return it. The international version SSC813 and SSC911 are double the price. |
| Orient | WV0041TX | |
|
My review post |
| Seiko | SBPY167 |  |
|
God knows how much time I wasted looking at pictures and videos about this watch. This one checks all the boxes (chrome and shiny subdials, brand) for me. I would have bought this one instead of buying the other 3 if I know this watch a week earlier. I spent a lot of contemplating if I should return all the othe watches and just buy this one. This is JDM so it’s hard to return. Also it seems the subdial chrome is much more slimmer than SBPY119. Not sure if I will enjoy it before I have my hands on it. In the end I decide to let it go. |
| Seiko | SBPY119 | |
|
My review post |
All-purpose
| Brand | Model No. | Picture | Owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolex | 124300-0001 |  |
|
If, a big if, I could buy a Rolex one day I would probably go for either an Oyster Perpetual or a Datejust. The design is simple but timeless. This one has better color than light-dial Datejust on the Rolex website. I have to admit I am influenced by the Timeless Watch Channel on Youtube. But sports series was just never my thing (perhaps it’s because I have never seen them in person). A potential alternative is the discontinued 116000 also from the channel. But that’s only 36mm. |
| Rolex | 126334-003 |  |
|
I think Datejust is probably my favorite Rolex right now. Again I am influenced by The Urban Gentry youtuber I think. I love the cyclops and don’t see it breaking the balance at all. I also really like the fluted bezel. But maybe that bezel can be too shiny for me especially if I wear them every day. I am not even sure if I should consider the fluted bezel versions dress watch or all-purpose watch. There are many Datejust I like. Two tone gold version and smooth bezel version with light-dial can all suit me potentially. |
| Seiko | SPB121J1 | |
|
When I saw this watch on the Seiko website, I fell in love with it at the first sight. I had no idea that this is the famous “Alpinist”. The green sun-burst dial and the gold elevated indices and gold hands are all perfect. It also has my favorite cyclops. There are also cons. The internal compass bezel has really bad quality. It wobbles when turning it. I don’t understand why it has a screw-down crown and 20 bar water resistence. Why would a mountain watch need that. I would rather it has an easy-to-use crown but I shouldn’t complain. The band is too stiff and does not fit the wrist comfortably. The case is 39.5mm but it looks much smaller than that. Also the watch is too thick (13.2mm) it looks like a big bump on the wrist. Overall although it was supposed to be a rugged mountaineer watch. It doesn’t feel like that at all. It feels more like fragile dress watch you can wear every day. |
I hate the hunger marketing Rolex is playing. I know it isn’t worth it for me to play such an expensive game. But I have to say this strategy really works. I couldn’t help but want to fall into it and want to own a Rolex just like every other watch lover. I want to show it off and I also want it to go up in value, although I know this is the line of thought that makes Rolex so scarce (like houses) and keeps inflating in value (like Apple stock). Rolex claimed this is not their marketing strategy but they sure are benefiting from it and not doing anything to improve it.
To be honest with myself I probably would never want to own watches with this look if there isn’t a Rolex logo on it. I would prefer Grand Seiko. Not sure if I can ever get this idea of owning a Rolex out of my head. Rolex are making brands like Tudor, Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer less appealing to me.
I have been deeply attracted to the idea of minimalist since high school. Never imagined that one day in my life I would start to get attracted to some objects that are so useless. It’s the opposite of minimalist.
It’s just so shiny and timeless I couldn’t resist it.
Ever since I started to look into watches I started to realize no matter how Apple advertise their products, almost of all them are just throw-away electronic junks :)
Westworld S04E06, 2022
You gave the puppets string long enough to strangle the world.
吉卜力的电影
- 红猪，1992。片子开头有一段简介，几乎概括了片子的所有内容，相比于其他吉卜力的作品，红猪的剧情特别简单，故事背景也没什么想象空间，所以她也是吉卜力最短的动画长片之一，简短到让人有点怀疑吉卜力拍这部片子是不是一个错误或者片子是个半成品。但看完这部片子，跟吉卜力很多作品一样，还是让人感到格外的舒适，最重要的估计就是对主角一只酷酷的猪塑造的特别成功且讨喜，剧情也成功展示了欧洲“浪漫”这个主题。想想吉卜力拍出这么一部神奇的电影时，我才刚刚1岁，让人感叹吉卜力的超前，还有艺术世界的进步其实多么缓慢，我们最有价值最珍贵的东西其实可能从来没变过。★★★☆☆
- 龙猫，1988。同样没有超凡的想象，但贯彻始终的温情和人与动物的感情，应该打动了不少观众。我之前断断续续看过多次没有看完，这次整个看下来终于理解了为什么那么多成年人喜欢，但我现在更好奇的是小孩子看这部片子究竟会是什么感觉。
幽灵公主, 1997
★★★★★
我自己主动去找时间，完整地看三遍以上的电影，应该用一只手就能数出来，其中肯定有《这个杀手不太冷》和《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》，再下一名估计就是《幽灵公主》了。
《幽灵公主》在吉卜力作品里应该算不上前三，可能是因为离吉卜力经典主题人性和温情稍微远一点，也没有超凡脱俗的想象，但在我心目中她是绝对的第一，抛去动画这个形式，这部剧本质上是一部实打实的奇幻巨作，整个世界观毫不亚于指环王。她不仅是吉卜力迄今为止最长的电影，也是最紧凑的，全片没有一句废话，也几乎没有让你喘气的慢镜头，整部电影一气呵成，因为实在有太多要讲的了。更让人心向神往的是片子里没来得及交代的内容，比如神的故事，公主的背景，以及村子之后的故事等等，随便一个地方都可以编出一个新电影，看完之后甚至有些空虚惆怅，因为片中的世界太鲜活了，好像还有好多事情要说，这种感觉超过了《旺达与巨像》。
这个背景，只是画布，真正让《幽灵公主》值得看这么多遍的，是片子对主题的阐述，人与自然，仇恨，还有小人物在历史大背景下的无奈与反抗，这么多的主题，却都能拿捏的恰到好处，没有一处给人感觉是教科书式地宣灌，看完只觉得发自心底地赞同。而在这其中还见缝插针地插入了两位主人公温情的桥段，让我觉得格外难得和感动。
在这一切的基础上，久石让的配乐又为这部片子带来了至少1/3的加成。久石让为每部吉卜力都配上了经典音乐，每一个首都几乎完美贴合了片子主题，这部的配乐在我心中也是第一，无疑是最恢宏婉转的：
喜剧演员
喜剧人喜剧演员的确想得很多，的确想得很深，他们天然带着冒犯来到世间，挑战世人或敏感或迟缓的神经，通过笑声表达他们的思考。之所以选择喜剧，是因为如果用正剧的形式，说出真话的人一早就被观众打死了。这是一个交易，一方提供了笑，而另一方则以容忍作为交换。真正合格的笑，是指向哈哈大笑的观众自身，笑声真正的价值，是他们同样认识到了这一点。
来自 和菜头 槽边往事
The Expanse S05, 2020
看完这部剧更加强烈的感受到了编剧不容易，想给这部剧续命太难了，以至于突然抛弃了外星人开始编人类恐怖分子的故事，在恐怖分子现身前，我还是挺enjoy的，多条线叙事和战斗特效都比前几季精彩，现身后就很俗套了。但这部剧有个让所有观众都感到意外的故事，就是Naomi那段，一下达到了电影大片的质量。看完网上的科普视频，才知道hard vacuum walk还真有点可能。★★★★☆
逃耻，惊奇队长，The Witness和其他
- 逃避可耻但有用 加油人类！新春特别篇！！, 2021。看之前误以为会跟原来那个轻松惬意的逃耻差不多，但看着看着才发现这部片子被赋予了更沉重的东西，变成了一种”主旋律“电影。前半部分讨论社会工作压力和女性的问题，后半部分讨论新冠，逃耻的背景只是一个壳，其实关系不大。虽然释放一些正能能量是好的，但看完还是有些失落，故事进行到这，可能原来的逃耻再也回不来了吧。
- WandaVision, 2021。我思来想去，也get不到这个创意有多好，而且片尾曲长度快跟正片有得一拼了，奇怪。和正经漫威电影比还有些小成本的感觉。★☆☆☆☆
- Captain Marvel, 2019。虽然是漫威电影里评价比价差的一部，但我却格外喜欢，可能因为最近看多了压抑的片子和并不怎么好的WW84，这部片子显得格外优秀。很多人不喜欢这个主演，觉得很stiff，不知道为什么我特别喜欢stiff的。。看完才意识到原来她在End Game里出场如此之少。★★★★☆
- Hollow Knight, 2017。2D版的魂系列，在制作组能驾驭的范围内，比较完美的还原的魂系列的精髓，但我个人不太喜欢这部作品艺术风格。
- The Witness, 2016。当年indie game兴起的时候风头最劲的游戏之一，现在终于想起来玩了下，就像gameranx评价的，在特定的心境下玩，才能感受到这个游戏的魅力。我玩这个游戏的时候盯着游戏里的天空看了好几分钟，或许这就是只有这个游戏才能带来的神奇感觉。我实在佩服Jonathan Blow的胆量，估计他是第一个敢做这么大规模的游戏，却彻底抛弃剧情背景的设计师了。玩这个游戏才让我意识到我这个人其实很俗很浮躁，没有个假模假样的剧情，玩完游戏的欲望就没有了。这个游戏可能就是No BS的极致吧，如果吸引不到现在的玩家，只能留给后世玩家来赞美了。
非自然死亡, 2018
★☆☆☆☆
豆瓣评分给予我厚望，但是我实在没什么代入感，可能题材对于看惯了欧美重口味的人来说还不够新颖，对于日剧粉石原里美+这个题材就够尖叫了。
不得不承认的是日剧的歌都太好听了，我看的紧急救命，逃耻，还有这个：
The Little Things, 2021
★★☆☆☆
电影版的True Detective，喜欢丹叔的可以看一下，就是不知道丹叔做了什么牙科手术，笑的有些奇怪 : >