I never expected to see this notification. Or rather: I never expected to see this percentage.

I never expected to see this notification. Or rather: I never expected to see this percentage.

I bought a Xiaomi wristband a while ago. It tracks how many steps I walk each day and in the evening may show me how well I did compared to other users.

The best I had achieved so far was being ahead of 40% of users. So how did I pull this one off? I played Ingress.

No, not just hacking at one location, I joined Mission Day on Sunday in Tainan and completed the 12 official missions. Because it was rather "warm" I tried to do part of it by car, but that didn't work out well. So I had to walk a bit.

When I had and was finished in the evening, Ingress had added 18km to my walked distance. I didn't think much of it, because Ingress mistakes slow driving for walking, but Xiaomi is counting steps and the wristband confirmed it.

I'm crazy. Had I known how much I would walk I had probably stayed home. But it was nice to see this message at least once. I don't think it will happen again...

#Ingress #Tainan

Aegis Nova at the Confucius temple in Tainan

Aegis Nova at the Confucius temple in Tainan

The people you see in the foreground are not Taiwanese, they belong to a group of (80?) Japanese Enlightened who came to Taiwan especially for this event. And yes, they did indeed help us win.

日本から助けにきた皆様にありがとうございました！ 皆様のご援助の下で勝ちました。

#Ingress #Tainan

Don't be deceived by the peaceful appearance, a fierce battle is raging on this meadow, a battle in Ingress.

Don't be deceived by the peaceful appearance, a fierce battle is raging on this meadow, a battle in Ingress. There is a portal right there in the middle of the photo, held by the sad camp and we are trying to take over.

We didn't succeed on this meadow, but we won the whole Aegis Nova event in Tainan and now the sad camp is even sadder. To quote Frank Sinatra: That's life...

#Tainan #Ingress

Ich habe gar nicht erst versucht, den eintragen zu lassen.

Ich habe gar nicht erst versucht, den eintragen zu lassen.

Sorry, I guess only German bikers and Germans with a little relationship to bikes will get this one. That's not because I used German, but because you have probably not seen "Werner"...

I didn't really want to install a cup/can/bottle holder on my bike, but it was a question of "to be or not to be". If you have to spend a whole day outside in a tropical city in summer, then you need to drink a lot, so you need a lot to drink.

And btw, this is the clip in "Werner" the first line is referring to: https://youtu.be/Pgo1_TjU7K4

This was the only serious downside of today's Ingress battle in Tainan: the registration was painfully slow.

This was the only serious downside of today's Ingress battle in Tainan: the registration was painfully slow. I took this photo at about 1130, when registration should have ended. After 1100, nobody should have been queuing anymore, but basically all people you see in this photo are waiting in line. Registration is at the white pavilions in the background.

That line comes down the road on the right, turns right to my position and continues for almost 200 more meters behind me. Everyone in this photo waited almost two hours in the (tropical) sun. Naturally, this was "hotly debated" online.

But other than this it was nice.

#ingress #Tainan

Let me guess: Your car is... new?

Let me guess: Your car is... new?

Protective equipment for cyclists is advancing

Protective equipment for cyclists is advancing

via Xose A​

Originally shared by null

🍁👍🏿🍁

Please have a look at the URL. Do you think this is big? You bet it is...

Please have a look at the URL. Do you think this is big? You bet it is...

#ingress #Tainan
http://ingress.tainan.gov.tw/mission.html

Potato Roses

Potato Roses

I think everyone has seen the gif that recently made the rounds, with instructions for making these. Having moved somehow recently, my kitchen was not yet fully operational, but I wanted to try this.

My potato slices are rather thin, so I need more. I also had no other mold and forgot to add butter or oil. And I have no Kevin. Yes, it's that bad.

So these ended up being vegetarian before they ended up being eaten by me. Next time I need to add some butter and maybe sprinkle some cheese over them. I also need smaller molds, so that a rose can be eaten in one bite, otherwise it may fall apart.

Btw, I used one potato for these three, starting from the right. The left rose has therefore fewer petals.

Conclusion: Do it! Really, just do. It's nice.

So that's why they don't want to change...

So that's why they don't want to change...

via Robert Partridge​

Originally shared by Craig Froehle

"metric" -- a new #drawninpowerpoint

more original comics at www.drawninpowerpoint.com

I brought part of my Ghibli collection together.

I brought part of my Ghibli collection together. The top row is purely Totoro: the small white Totoro and the dust bunny on the left edge are connected and meant to be used as hair binder for ponytails, the slightly larger dust bunny next to them can be hung somewhere. The green Totoro behind them is a regular plush figure.

The two identical grey Totoros are slippers. Yes. I had other slippers before, but gave them all away, these are the only ones now. The slightly larger grey Totoro in the back is a pillow, the dust bunny has a suction cup and the Totoro in the front is a set meant as mobile phone holder, but from before smartphones. The green Totoro on the right is a small shoulder bag.

Second row is mixed, with a Totoro plush home on the left. Yes, you can open the door. Ponyo was bought when the film came out, she's rather hard to find now. The cat bus I've had pretty long, I also have a smaller one. Somewhere. Gigi is always relatively expensive, the one on the right edge has magnets and can stick to a fridge.

Third row starts with my second largest Totoro on the left. A student sold this one on a campus flee market. This Gigi has cost as much as my biggest Totoro - or as the Porco Rosso on the right, which was a lucky find. I've never again seen one in any store. The Gigi on the right is again for windows, equipped with a suction cup.

As I said, this isn't everything. But from my point of view it's actually not that much... I do for example have nothing from Nausicaa. I've seen her rifle at the Ghibli museum store, but it was way too expensive. Sigh...

#Ghibli

#caturday selfie with friends

#caturday selfie with friends

Grocery shopping, not at the supermarket

Grocery shopping, not at the supermarket

This is a road, yes. With several companies on both sides. But during daytime it is also a very busy market for everything edible.

The market starts about 300m behind the camera and goes on for... ...some distance. I think I was the only one slowly passing the stalls on a cruiser bike with top and side cases. Still takes up less space than a car...

#Taiwan

This is sooo embarrassing...

This is sooo embarrassing...

via Willo van der Merwe​

Originally shared by Thund3rbolt

The Walk of Shame

♬ ba dump, ba dump, ba dump de dump de dump...

Bathing on #caturday is always stressful, time for some well-deserved rest...

Bathing on #caturday is always stressful, time for some well-deserved rest...

I only wish they would take that rest at night...

Eat this, Marvel!

Eat this, Marvel!

via Kristian Köhntopp​

Originally shared by Fabian Scherschel

Can't. Stop. Laughing. So much win! :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFgd_Qyhdo

Where can I get a copy?

Where can I get a copy?

via Kristian Köhntopp​

Originally shared by John Hawkins

I was so disappointed to discover this isn't in fact a real publication.

Original tweet:
https://twitter.com/QuantumPirate/status/408909916846317568

Performing Arts Centre Jiayi

Performing Arts Centre Jiayi

This is a lazy dog.

This is a lazy dog.

How lazy? After he was done with his business at the park he ran back to the bike, because he knew I wanted to go running and he didn't want to get involved with that again. That lazy.

So he waited there on the bike until I came back - about the only opportunity where he waits at the bike instead of following me everywhere.