Saturday-Pentacle

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 43 – 2017

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Saturday-Pentacle, Week 43 Issue

“Saturday-Pentacle”

Saturday-Pentacle - Week 21 - 2017

Product of the week –

Backblaze

After an accident with my laptop in past year, I was looking for a backup service which is professional quality and can continuously backup my data to a secure cloud instead of a physical drive. Why?

Two important factors –

  1. Scalability – If you buy a physical backup hard drive, it has a limit and post that you need to buy a new physical hard drive.
  2. Maintenance – If you buy a physical backup hard drive, you have to take care of it pretty much all the time and if you are travelling, it’s more pain in the neck.

With Backblaze’s professional level backup service you can forget to worry about the above two points. Now comes the price point which sold me in. It’s 5$ (320-350 Indian Rupees) per month and there is no limit to your data backup size. But the pricing is per computer. For example – If you have 1 windows pc it will be charged 5$ a month for unlimited data backup storage. However, if you also have a Mac, it will be charged a separate 5$ a month fee for unlimited data backup for this separate machine.

Just in case if I got you curious, you can go check out by clicking here or the Backblaze logo above.

My most popular Instagram post recently —

Basilica of BOM Jesus!
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There is a BOM Jesus Church in Panjim, Goa’s as well but this Church in Daman has a strange attraction to it which makes me always going back to it, whenever I’m in Daman.
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Sitting in a corner of Nani Daman, this enormous church appear to fit in a seemingly small area.
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This time it was closed but we still prayed outside before heading back.

Article(s) I’m enjoying (and pondering) —

Why I Can’t Post On Time – This is funny that I can totally relate to this post, even though I’m not a perfectionist. But when I try to publish quality content I tend to lean towards perfection. Which eventually leads to your work/post never getting published.

Tim Urban’s writing on his ‘Wait But Why’ Blog always fascinates me. He is a perfectionist and in this post, he confesses his perfection and why his posts don’t come on time. Even if you are not a blogger but a creator or a normal human, still there are gems in this post to learn from.

It takes courage to talk about your vulnerabilities, but Tim totally kills with this piece. A Good read.

I’m reading/watching/listening to —

The Storytellers: All You Who Sleep Tonight – Roshan Abbas – This one is a heart-wrenching one. There are storytellers and then there are magical storytellers.

Roshan Abbas is a Theatre Director/RJ/TV Host/Filmmaker/EventManager he is a slasher by profession! Here he talks about a life-changing incident from his radio days.

Quote I’m pondering on lately –

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

― Heraclitus

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

Himanshu

A couple of things I could use your help with:

  1. Have a relevant topic, which I should be covering? Write to me directly or fill out this form and let me know.
  2. Join my reader’s list – It helps us a lot when you become a subscriber, it smoothens you experience on Lifestyle Architecture Lab. Being on email list provides you additional benefits like some exclusive content, webinar’s, free goodies and all of it will be FREE. Please click the link above to join now or put your email address in the below box and hit subscribe.

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

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Saturday-Pentacle

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 42 – 2017

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Saturday-Pentacle, Week 42 Issue

“Saturday-Pentacle”

Saturday-Pentacle - Week 21 - 2017

Update of the week –

Photo - https://windowslatest.comWindows Fall Creators Update
Photo – WindwosLatest.com

I’ve been using Windows from almost 14 years now. Whenever a new update comes. It excites me pretty much. However after the unsuccessful Windows 8, Microsoft disappointed many of us fans. But after Satya Nadela took over in 2014, with the dream of getting Windows OS back on track was a spectacle to witness.

He opened gates for open source and eventually hit the sweet spot with Windows 10. The latest update of Windows 10 is the Fall Creators Update. I installed it few days back. Even though it took me almost 2 days to resolve a display driver issue (I’m using Windows 10 Build 16299). But still i would say this update is good with many good features being added –

  1. Emojis – Press windows key + (.) Period to get the emoji input.
  2. Mixed reality – Microsoft is pushing further on 3D, AR, VR and Machine Learning altogether. In this update you can get the feel of the mixed reality, the below photo would be a good example of that. In this photo a seagull 3D model is sitting on my right shoulder. It’s amazing when you see it working on Windows, it actually moves with you, like it’s really there in real life. It’s bonkers.
  3. Fluent Design changes – The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update introduces some parts of Fluent Design, with subtle effects and animations. Fluent Design a successor of Microsoft’s Metro Design.
  4. Cortana improvements – Microsoft digital assistant Cortana gets a performance and usablity boost with phone sync and other improvements.
  5. Pinned Sites – Now you can pin sites from Microsoft Edge to the taskbar.

For detailed list of new features, go here.

Just in case if I got you curious, here is how to get the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

My most popular Instagram post recently —

Being Indian!
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A great art installation at Bandra Band stand.
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I shot this picture while my photo marathon walk in last November.
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While walking in the streets of Bandra we were looking for right angles and odd things to shoot. Tired and exhausted when I reached the band stand, I found this and many other installations. Which changed my mood instantly and I was back in the game again.

Article(s) I’m enjoying (and pondering) —

Tired of Ending Your Emails With ‘Regards’? Here Are 69 Other Options – As I was researching on the email etiquette lately and found this interesting as well as practical guide to turn your signature into something better than ‘Regards’. It contains 69 different options suited for different situations and moods. Quite useful.

I’m reading/watching/listening to —

Thoughts on humanity, fame and love – A Ted talk by our very own Shah Rukh Khan.

To be honest, the imprint on my mind has never been a good one of Shah Rukh. But I always admired his conversations with people and the interviews and talks like the one below. It tells you, even if he is labeled as the king of romance but there is a lot more to him than just being the Badshah (King) of Bollywood. He is a thoughtful person. I don’t know if he is a reader but he definitely is knowledgeable.

Quote I’m pondering on lately – A minimalist quote for today!

“My riches consist, not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”

― Joseph Brotherton

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

Himanshu

A couple of things I could use your help with:

  1. Have a relevant topic, which I should be covering? Write to me directly or fill out this form and let me know.
  2. Join my reader’s list – It helps us a lot when you become a subscriber, it smoothens you experience on Lifestyle Architecture Lab. Being on email list provides you additional benefits like some exclusive content, webinar’s, free goodies and all of it will be FREE. Please click the link above to join now or put your email address in the below box and hit subscribe.

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

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Saturday-Pentacle

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 41 – 2017

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Saturday-Pentacle, Week 41 Issue

“Saturday-Pentacle”

Saturday-Pentacle - Week 21 - 2017

App of the week –

Pushbullet

I found this app almost 4 years back when I was using an Android device  (Moto X – First Generation).

Purpose of this app is to integrate your phone seamlessly with your computer. So If you install this app both on your mobile phone and your computer, you’ll be able to do bidirectional things on both the devices.

For example – How many times you wanted to send that article from your phone to your laptop for better reading but you put it in the reading list and never opened it back on your computer. Now that problem is solved. Just share that article via push bullet app to your laptop/computer and get the article link right away on your laptop instantly.

It works backwards too, for example – How many times you wanted to quickly send your resume or any other document for that matter from your laptop to your phone instantly, but there was no option so you have to use email and send it to yourself and then read it on your mobile device. That problem is solved with Pushbullet. Just drag your file in Pushbullet – devices tab and send the file directly to your favorite device in an instant.

Plus you’ll be able to see all your phone notification on your laptop as well. But one caveat, Pushbullet will require permission to access your notification. So do it with understanding that Pushbullet can read all your notifications. It shouldn’t be a problem except for if you are a privacy nerd.

Just in case if I got you curious, you can go check out this app –

My most popular Instagram post recently —

Streets of Daman!
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Very few cities in india have that feeling of emptiness. Daman is one of them. A union territory with a Portuguese history. This place feels abandoned by the natives. Though the Nani Daman area is very structured but streets are almost empty with very few people in sight.
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When I talked to my cabbie about this, he told, natives have shifted to places like London, but visit once in one or two years.
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This city feels like a perfect example of having everything but still feeling empty.

Article(s) I’m enjoying (and pondering) —

Exploring Myself as a Minimalist – A good read on minimalism. If you are feeling overwhelmed with life, this article may guide you in the right direction.

Summary of the article – Along with a personal story of minimal lifestyle, this article guides to ask ourselves three important questions –

  1. What is important?
  2. What do I love?
  3. And what do I want my life to be like?

Actionable from the article – You should ask these three questions to yourself and see what stays in your life and what goes out.

I’m reading/watching/listening to —

Escape Everything 2 by Majestic Casual – They are back and with chill vibes. Majestic Casual is one of my favorite stations for chill music. This new playlist by them is something I work on with for hours.

Here is the YouTube link –

Quote I’m pondering on lately – 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

Himanshu

A couple of things I could use your help with:

  1. Have a relevant topic, which I should be covering? Write to me directly or fill out this form and let me know.
  2. Join my reader’s list – It helps us a lot when you become a subscriber, it smoothens you experience on Lifestyle Architecture Lab. Being on email list provides you additional benefits like some exclusive content, webinar’s, free goodies and all of it will be FREE. Please click the link above to join now or put your email address in the below box and hit subscribe.

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

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Saturday-Pentacle

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 40 – 2017

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Saturday-Pentacle, Week 40 Issue

“Saturday-Pentacle”

Saturday-Pentacle - Week 21 - 2017

App of the week –

MyFitnessPal

This week I’m re-featuring one of my favorite Lifestyle App and it’s MyFitnessPal.

If you are on a weight loss journey and feeling it’s not working, chances are you’re doing the diet wrong.

Diet tracking isn’t a very entertaining task. But if you are really serious about making your diet and exercise plans work. Then diet tracking has to be one of the top most priorities for you.

MyFitnessPal is my personal favourite for this purpose. I’ve been using this app even before it was acquired by Under Armour back in 2015. What makes this app useful is the fact that they have a website complimenting their mobile apps and that’s a huge plus. When you are in office having a few moments, you can log your diet from the website there or when you are commuting you can log your diet from mobile app. It’s really easy.

Secondly, they have a large collection of foods and meals, which even includes Indian dishes or meals. So logging a meal is a buttery smooth experience.

In my experience of diet tracking, this app has been really useful and just even the idea of having a look at what you are eating at the end of the day makes sense. It makes you conscious towards your eating choices.

Just in case if I got you curious, you can go check out this app –

My most popular Instagram post recently —

Today’s short story is dedicated to a dear friend and colleague who passed away young, couple of weeks back.⠀
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His last message – “Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.”⠀
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Story – ⠀
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Endings can be beautiful too!
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6PM.⠀
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“I think we’ll miss the sunset. But that’s ok. There is another one tomorrow.” I said.⠀
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“No! I don’t want to miss. Let’s try. Uncle, please drive fast!” She said, pushing the cabbie.⠀
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We were 5 mins late from the perfect sunset. But still, it was not down under, we caught it right before it was going to be engulfed by the sea.⠀
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We sat on a crack on that lighthouse wall and just waited for the dying orange sky to be dark.⠀
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Who thought the endings could be beautiful too?⠀

Article(s) I’m enjoying (and pondering) —

Why You Need Emotional Intelligence To Succeed In Business – Yet another good article from Darius Foroux. This article talks about EI (Emotional Intelligence), why it matters more than IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and also shares the process of how to improve your EI. Good Read.

I’m reading/watching/listening to —

Why our screens make us less happy | Adam Alter – This small (under 10 minutes) TED talk by Adam Alter is quickly becomes an eye opener as soon as you are done watching this talk. His psychological analysis of how people use screens and how addictive these screens are, is fascinating.

Adam is an Associate Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, with an affiliated appointment in the New York University Psychology Department.

Quote I’m pondering on lately – 

“In a sense, people are our proper occupation. Our job is to do them good and put up with them.”

― Marcus Aurelius (Roman Emperor from 161 til 180)

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

Himanshu

A couple of things I could use your help with:

  1. Have a relevant topic, which I should be covering? Write to me directly or fill out this form and let me know.
  2. Join my reader’s list – It helps us a lot when you become a subscriber, it smoothens you experience on Lifestyle Architecture Lab. Being on email list provides you additional benefits like some exclusive content, webinar’s, free goodies and all of it will be FREE. Please click the link above to join now or put your email address in the below box and hit subscribe.

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Continue Reading

Saturday-Pentacle

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 39 – 2017

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Saturday-Pentacle, Week 39 Issue

“Saturday-Pentacle”

Saturday-Pentacle - Week 21 - 2017

My Kit –

https://kit.com/himanshusachdeva/budget-photography-setup

Budget Photography Setup

Sharing my photography kit here, with you guys. All the products shared go well with each other as per my experience. This kit is for beginner to Intermediate level photography and will cost under 50K Rupees. If you are serious about your photography or want to level up your game from that smartphone photography, you should definitely check out my Budget Photography Setup kit.

My most popular Instagram post recently —

Be the light!
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Hello hello darkness,
My old friend,
I’ve come to talk to you again.
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But this time with a torch,
I won’t stand down, I won’t go back,
I will lit you up, even if I have to put my hand through your brick wall.

Article(s) I’m enjoying (and pondering) —

Traveling in India, Confused Kasol or Kasauli? – Not until few months back I thought Kasol and Kasauli were the same. But when I got to know about this fact they are not. I was curious to know more about Kasol. As I’ve been to Kasauli earlier but not Kasol. A good read for explorers and travelers.

I’m reading/watching/listening to —

42 Grand Central – A short – Through the VSCO community I got to know about this artist Adam Magyar, who got bored of the normal form of photography or filming, so he derived a whole new way of photography and made his own custom equipment to achieve that feat.

Check out his Vimeo Channel here, for more content. Amazing stuff.

Quote I’m pondering on lately – 

“The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.”

― Steven Pressfield (The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles)

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

Himanshu

A couple of things I could use your help with:

  1. Have a relevant topic, which I should be covering? Write to me directly or fill out this form and let me know.
  2. Join my reader’s list – It helps us a lot when you become a subscriber, it smoothens you experience on Lifestyle Architecture Lab. Being on email list provides you additional benefits like some exclusive content, webinar’s, free goodies and all of it will be FREE. Please click the link above to join now or put your email address in the below box and hit subscribe.

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Continue Reading