Alex Kalmar

I took Suki to work on the far end of the city, this morning. So...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:45:07 -0400

I took Suki to work on the far end of the city, this morning. So today, this will be my office.

Last week, the clutch cable on my motorcycle was cut while in...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:02:36 -0500

Last week, the clutch cable on my motorcycle was cut while in the basement of my apartment complex. Here’s what followed…

Moving… I’ve spent the last little while finding a...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:56:00 -0500

Suki and our friend QuanQuan

My house is outside...

The moving truck?

My new office!

Moving…

I’ve spent the last little while finding a house, preparing to move, and hulling an enormous amount of stuff to my new apartment ( how do I have so much stuff?! )

Finally, at last, I’m sitting in my new office relaxing and catching up on email, Facebook and all the stuff between. The place isn’t nearly setup yet, but I have my studio monitors on the desk, with the desk situated approximately 3 feet from the walls. I have no stove, a leaking water pipe and a crap load of boxes to unpack… but I finally have usable desk space again!

Accusations against Apple are true.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:48:13 -0500

I’m guilty of using the products myself (and they’re awesome) but I’ve been hearing some pretty nasty rumours about the company, Apple Computers, lately. Some of my friends here in China talk about the bad conditions in the factories, while picking up a call on their brand new iPhone 4 in the same breath. It’s strange, but the phone works -so people buy it.

Apparently, Apple’s new CEO has issued a fancy letter to clear up the suspicion. I just want to clear that up a little further and say that according to more reasonable claims coming from China itself, the situation is not good.

Reference Article: http://gizmo.do/x0BADW

Photo

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:24:00 -0500

A friend of mine recently asked me to give advise on what...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:02:00 -0500

A friend of mine recently asked me to give advise on what headphones, currently on the market are worth looking at. I didn’t really know what to tell him at the time. I rhymed of brands that I trust, but didn’t know of a specific model to recommend.

He was looking for something for regular listening, but suitable for travel, so not too bulky. I came across these upon recommendation from another friend. I had a listen and was very impressed by the sound you hear from this small package.

With solid features like hands-free phone compatibility, noise-cancellation, and a huge frequency range (11hz - 30hz). Not to mention that they fold up and come with a nice little carrying case; great for travel.

AKG K480 - Model referred to in this post.

AKG K450 - The same great sound, without active noise-cancellation.

AKG K420 - If you’re still able to find a pair of these guys, they’re about the same as the new K480, but without all the great features (but much less cost).

Today was my 24th Birthday. I got a number of momentos written...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:34:00 -0500

Today was my 24th Birthday. I got a number of momentos written on the ol’ Facebook wall (turned out to be a refreshing finish to my day). I spend the day with my lovely bride-to-be. She and I went Prague cafe for a relaxing, late lunch; breakfast sandwich and pancakes, served with a steamy cappuccino. It was delicious.

Following that, we decided to invite a couple of our favorite Chinese friends to join us for dinner and a movie back at my place. Suki and I then spend a good portion of the afternoon tidying up my mess as I re-wired the studio monitors up to the big screen TV for movie night (sounded spectacular).

Suki bought me this awesome ink-pen for my birthday. I mean, a pen is a pen, but when it comes from your fiance, with the intent that you will write a few more songs with it, it means a lot. It really is a nice pen. I’ve seen a few nice pens, but this is by far the nicest, German engineered, aluminum bodied, ink-pen, with custom-fit-leather cased pen I’ve ever been given.

Thank you, 郭哲!

Exaggerations of China

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:59:00 -0500

To Abe Sauer and other writers I have no respect for,

It makes me angry when I read articles about China, written by people who really don’t know what they’re talking about. Recently in the news, there’ve been many stories about fake Apple stores and other fake products specifically in Kunming. The people writing these articles really have no idea. I live in Kunming… I’ve seen the stores. They’re not ripoffs, they’re just stores. The Apple product’s, but they exist because there are no official Apple stores.

And then there’s the case of the fake IKEA. It’s actually pretty cool. It looks exactly like IKEA. But it’s the only place to buy good furniture in all of Kunming. There is no IKEA.

So before you start criticizing something you know nothing about, take my word for it, there’s a lot more to it than what you’ve heard.

Visiting Home [ Early Christmas ]

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:49:56 -0500

I’ll be celebrating Christmas in Brantford a little early this year. Turns out Christmas time here in Kunming is not worth missing as a foreign musician. We’ll see if that holds true when the time comes. This will be the first Christmas I ever spend away from home.

I feel like I’m becoming more sentimental towards family as I move into this new phase of life with Suki. There’s a lot of things you don’t think about much as a young, single guy. Missing a day like Christmas doesn’t mean much to me —it never has. It’s just another day. It is however, an excuse to spend time with the family, so I’m making sure that point is not missed. I’ll only be home for two weeks, but I intend to spend it wisely with the family I don’t see too much lately.

I love you guys, and miss you lots. Can’t wait to be back with you, real soon.

Attempting to leave...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:53:36 -0400

Leaving my apartment, attempt number two; failed.

I’ve tried to leave twice so far today, the second time, I walked outside with an umbrella, reached the front gate and turned right back around. My feet were soaked through from the knees down. There’s a tropical rainstorm going on out there right now. CRAZY.

"Each passing day, I become more convinced that you prepared her for me. Tears filled my eyes today,..."

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:58:21 -0400

“Each passing day, I become more convinced that you prepared her for me. Tears filled my eyes today, as we discussed our passions together; watching as they fell into alignment. What incredible plans do you have for us?! I’m so excited.”

Dreaming of the Future

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:52:53 -0400

Suki and I were openly sharing this evening. We talked about future careers, passions and life together. Eventually we started talking about NGO’s involved with slavery and similar issues. We are both passionate about the subject and are exploring a few ideas.

I’d like to know which of the organizations I previously tracked with are already involved in some way in China or have interest in getting started.

Please keep this in mind as we explore these options.

Office Searching

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:48:00 -0400

We found an office we’re looking at renting here in Kunming. It’s in BeiChen (the north foreign corner). It’s not big, but seems adequate, it’s on the first floor at the very back of the complex.

We’re looking at building in a rehearsal space, office and storage for audio equipment yet to be purchased. It wouldn’t quite be enough if we get into warehousing microphones, cables and things of that sort, but it’s a start. We still need to get to that point before worrying about it.

Shanghai Search

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:10:46 -0400

This afternoon I made a last minute treck up to Shanghai to meet my dad and spend a few days looking for a new apartment here in Shanghai. We decided that between the family we spend enough on hotels in northern China that it makes renting an apartment in the city a worthwhile investment as well as a comvenience and comfort.

See you back in Kunming on Monday!

Slaves

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:52:38 -0400

Sometimes we become slaves by our own doing. Such as addictions or dept, but how does such a large population become slaves to an individual, or an ideology?

People were never meant to be slaves. We should be free thinking, free to work and make a living; all within reason. Of course, it’s important that a person understands they must work hard to survive, but when people become mechanical, controlled, mindless without thoughts of their own, it scares me.

Lol just a question, in what universe is Suki a Chinese name? Or am I mistaken.

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:35:47 -0400

You’re correct, but actually there are many Chinese girls that use the name Suki. Her name is actually 郭哲 GuoZhé. Chinese people pick names for themselves that are easy for us (foreign people) who can’t say their names.

I’m Engaged It’s true, I’m engaged to a girl...

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:54:00 -0400

The day we met (...arm action?).

In the mountains of LiJiang

Back home in China

I’m Engaged

It’s true, I’m engaged to a girl named 郭哲－yes, I know you have no idea what that says… it’s all Chinese to you. Well, it actually is Chinese, and so is she. She’s 22, studying law and has big, chinese, cartoon-like eyes. You can call her, Suki.

We haven’t made any plans as of yet, but here’s how the story goes:

We met in October of 2010, after my friend 全权 QuanQuan invited me out to church with him. Not long after, driving her home on my scooter became routine we looked forward to. When December came, it was time for me to make a visit back home to Canada. We talked on the phone and sent messages back and forth almost every day that month. Back in China, I found a new apartment, lost a guitar, learned some Chinese, met her family, played some music and spent a lot of time with Suki.

The next trip home would be an interesting one. As I was preparing to leave, we were talking about the future. We talked and talked; sometimes she didn’t want to talk. My Chinese is greatly in need of improvement, but her english helps compensate. I would be away, originally, for two month, which soon turned into three (a very long time). By the time I arrived in Canada, about one month after leaving China, I managed to persuade my little sister into going ring shopping with me.

Finally, I had a ring made by a great jeweller in Paris (Ontario). It’s half white gold and half yellow, because she’s Asian and I’m white………………… On July 13th at about 4:30pm I found a nice spot, under a Jade tree, on top of a mountain. She said nothing. She just kept looking at me, then hugging me, then looking at me again and nodding, then hugging me…. for about five minutes. It was awesome.

I bought my ticket!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:27:32 -0400

Toronto to Vancouver 11/07/11 8:15 PM - 10:05 PM Air Canada #33 Vancouver to Beijing 12/07/11 3:00 AM - 5:25 AM Air China #998 Beijing to Kunming 13/07/11 7:55 AM - 11:10 AM Air China #1403

Brantford life, cont.

Tue, 31 May 2011 18:02:06 -0400

Well, I’m looking for possible programs that will give me specific and valuable certifications in Audio Engineering. Hopefully something that can be completed either via the internet or within a matter of two-three weeks on location.

I wrote the M1 motorcycle test this afternoon. I arrived at the licensing office, realized I didn’t have my ID, returned home to get it. I arrived at their office for the second time with only 15 minutes left to write my test. I ran thru the test and passed, no problem. I can now legally write a motorcycle in Ontario. Awesome.

For those who haven't realized...

Tue, 24 May 2011 15:22:00 -0400

I’m Home! I’ll be hanging out in Brantford for another month. So drop me a line and buy me a coffee (kidding, but seriously, I can’t afford coffee’s with everyone…. and lunch would top the charts for sure) !