After many weeks of delays for what should have been a no-brainer app, Apple finally approved my first iPhone app submission yesterday, and it is now available on the App Store!


If you like the Keyboard Cat Internet meme and you have an iPod touch or iPhone, then you'll like this app. Its features are pretty simple :

• "Play off" people by playing the original keyboard cat video;
• Watch a selection of the best YouTube videos where Keyboard Cat plays off somebody, updated daily.

There are more features coming soon, such as a way to e-mail videos and a connection with Facebook and the corresponding Facebook app.

Help support indie developers like myself and grab a copy now! :) I need to build up a user base. Positive ratings and/or reviews in iTunes are also greatly appreciated.

Web site for the app, with more info : iphonekeyboardcat.com - please pass it on!

I haven't recorded a video in quite a while, but there is my latest! Just riding the Keyboard Cat wave...

A couple of minutes ago, I have finally received the magic email I have been stressing about for the past 5 years or so:

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On February 10, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

In short: I AM GETTING MY GREEN CARD!!!

After living here in the US for almost 10 years now, I am just NOW being considered a permanent resident! This new status gives me a new level of freedom: to travel, work for whom I want, etc.

We will be having a green card party at our place very soon. Stay tuned for details!

I am incredibly excited and so relieved about this!

After a sudden turn for the worse late last week, jennhi and I had to put our dearly beloved cat Gretchen to sleep on Monday. She was affected by a variety of internal health conditions, but it became apparent that her quality of life was degrading significantly.

She lived a long and happy life, coming just a few weeks short of reaching the 20 year milestone, which in itself is quite the achievement. We knew that this moment was coming sooner than later, but it didn't make it any easier.

I have only had the privilege to know her for the past two and a half years, yet it was enough time for a strong bond to form between us. I will miss her terribly. We loved her like our own daughter; that ultimate decision was all the more devastating as she kept her kitten external appearance up till the end.




We can only keep solace in the hope that we made the right decision. It has been a very tough weekend, but it gave us all a chance to say her goodbyes and give her all the attention she deserved.

May she rest in peace.

( More pictures... )

For the Firefly fans out there!

Well, I haven't posted on LJ in a long time, and I especially haven't posted any music reviews in a very long time... I just came to the point where I couldn't catch up with my backlog of concerts, and got busy with other, more interesting side projects.

However I am happy to announce that I am temporarily coming out of blogging retirement to write about the trip jennhi and I made to Pittsburgh, PA last week-end. We attended the Three Rivers Prog Rock Festival, and had a fantastic time. I felt compelled to write a review of the entire event, complete with pictures and many videos.

Check it out on last.fm if you are interested.

It was truly an unforgettable weekend!

I really doubt I'll get back to blogging more regularly, even though I still browse my LJ friends almost daily. I'm going to be busy with my new project: iPhone applications. Fun fun fun!

This update should probably have been posted much sooner, but in case you didn't hear, jennhi, Gretchen and I moved together in our new place in Culver City last month! This has been keeping both of us rather busy, but it is finally starting to feel like we're settled in at last. Everything seems to be in place, with a few exceptions, but the bulk of the work is finally done! Woohoo!

A bit more on the place itself: it's a 2-bedroom/2-bath condo (that we're renting out from the owner) in Fox Hills. We're right across from the Fox Hills Park, of which we have a great view from the large windows in the living room. We got a great kitchen, HUGE balconies, an office full of various geekery and all sorts of musical instruments, and my large screen HDTV and 7.1 surround system are now comfortably set up in the living room. :)

To top it off, the complex features a nice swimming pool, outside BBQ area, club house with pool table (!!), sauna, gym... Perfect for gatherings of friends! So be on the lookout for an invitation to the housewarming party soon! :D

What better way to celebrate the new year than with some lolcat pictures of jennhi's kitty, Gretchen? Here are a few of my attempts. Click on the picture to go rate them if you like them.