There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
Q: What do you do at Massdrop?
A: I’ve worn a lot of hats at Massdrop, but my role has always been tied to the visual end of things. Where the work involves photography, illustration, graphic design, or animation, chances are I’ve had a hand in producing it. Lately, my focus has been on creating unique imagery, concise design, and informative animations for our custom products and campaigns.
Q: What do you like most about working at Massdrop?
A: I learn something new every day. We’re filled to the brim with clever and passionate people here who are already experts on so many fronts, but no lifelong learner would ever concede to knowing everything there is to know about their crafts and hobbies. The best part of immersing yourself in the Massdrop experience is in gleaning interesting information from coworkers and community members who couldn't be more excited to let you in on what they are most passionate about.
Q: How did you get into everyday carry?
A: I bought my first EDC product (a Kershaw Storm 1470 combo edge) when I was 18 and two years into what would later become seven years of capoeira training. My friend from the same studio always had a knife or multi-tool handy and walked me through the basics of EDC knives after they piqued my interest. Other EDC items followed as frequent needs piled up: a keychain container for painkillers, a sturdy water bottle, a carabiner...even tweezers for when bits of blade would break off of our performance machetes and do what splinters are similarly wont to do. Although MacGyvering is fun, having the right tool for the job is pretty satisfying; I must have gone through a dozen rolls of athletic tape, and having a knife or card tool handy to cut the more stubborn strips was a whole lot easier (and more versatile) than using my incisors. My EDC choices are also hardly limited to assisting that one hobby, even if the passion started there; I’m also an artist, so I never leave home without some sort of sketchbook and pencil, and I like to knife-sharpen the latter for a custom edge.
Q: What are some of your favorite products in that community?
A: I hardly go anywhere without my black Kershaw Leek; it’s an easy knife to carry, has a great minimal design, and the pocket clip isn't loud. I always have a stainless steel card tool in my wallet these days, too, and I’m pretty happy with the Massdrop Brass AAA Pocket Flashlight; I never thought I’d need a compact flashlight until I started carrying one, and now I can’t seem to live without it. I like having a Leatherman multi-tool around as well for when I travel and have to set up displays for my art, and along that same vein I also carry around a Moleskine for painting and sketching (I have a method for treating the pages first so they accept gouache better), an OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil 0.9, and a General's Flat Sketching Pencil.
Q: What are some of your other hobbies/interests?
A: I do a lot of digital painting when I have the time, and am also trying to get back into ZBrush just for fun. I also still traditionally sketch, paint, and sculpt, and getting away from digital mediums is a nice break from screens. When I have access to a range, I practice archery (I use a Bear Archery Kodiak Magnum 50lb recurve, but am interested in trying compound eventually), and maybe once or twice a year I’ll go fly fishing on the lower Sac. My latest passion has probably been learning more about edible native plants and safe foraging practices; this year I’d like to start pickling, drying, and fermenting ingredients I can forage locally.
Check out Olivia’s picks: ▶ SlideBelts Ratchet Belt: Premium Collection
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/slidebelts-premium-collection
▶ Prometheus Beta-QRv2 Quick-Release AAA Flashlight
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/beta-qr-flashlight
▶ Butterfly Keys
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/butterfly-key
▶ Fisher Chrome/TiNi Infinium Space Pen
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen