the simple life

Temporary Suspension

2008-12-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

Closing this blog down until project 365 is complete, see you next year:
365 Beers

Update

2008-11-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been well over a month since my last post. I guess here is a quick update of things in my neck of the woods:
-closed on house; offically moved in
-help boost the slumping economy with thousands of dollars in consumer goods
-officially can work from home 2-days out of the week and 3-days starting next month (as soon as i get internet), which leads to...
-still don't have internet/phone/cable after 3-weeks; but i don't have many options in my area so all i can do is wait... time warner has a lot of incompetent people...
-heading to taiwan tomorrow for 10-days for my grandfathers funeral

I guess that is it; a busy month taking care of house stuff - next month; payments.

Official Weigh-In

2008-10-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Tank has been larger than PiRo for quite some time. Even before we neutered Tank, he was already taller and longer than PiRo. But at the time of neutering PiRo was still 5 lbs. heavier than Tank. Today we had an official weigh-in and Tank is now officially heavier than PiRo. We both feel that PiRo is a little overweight for her size, coming in at 46.5 lbs (up from 38-40 lbs. earlier in the year). Tank, finally growing into his frame, weighed in at 50.5 lbs. Male Siberians usually fall between 50-60 lbs; that means Tank is nearing his full size.

On another note, we are about 2 weeks away from closing escrow on our new house in south Corona. Lots of busy work ahead, home inspection tomorrow, deciding on homeowners insurance, and finalizing all paperwork. Will post some pictures soon.

FT% (3)

2008-09-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

6/10
8/10
8/10
7/10
8/10
10/10
7/10
9/10
8/10
9/10

80/100 = 80%

Thinking that my FT% was inflated, I mixed things up today. For each 10 FT set for the first 5 sets; I made 5 layups before going to the line. This was to imitate real game situations; heightened heart beat, heavy breathing - as you can see it did effect my shooting. For the 2nd 50 FT's I made 5 3's before every set of 10 (the key word is 'made'; if I was shooting 33% that means I took 75 3's inbetween those FT's). Again, this simply helps me practice quickly transitioning from long range bombing to the set FT shot. After mixing in the layups and 3-pointers I'm exactly at 80%, not so bad.

I should change my blog title to "Chronicles of a Free Throw Shooter".

FT% (2)

2008-09-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

7/10
8/10
9/10
8/10
7/10
9/10
9/10
7/10
10/10
10/10

84/100 = 84%

As you can see I am starting to work on my FT's. It seems like I am a solid 80%+ during my practice sessions; I need to translate that into my game.

FT% (1)

2008-09-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

7/10
7/10
10/10
9/10
8/10
10/10
10/10
10/10
6/10
8/10

85/100 = 85%

SUAQBALB

2008-09-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

sometimes you just have to remind yourself to SUAQBALB.

Summer 2008 Stats

2008-09-03T15:56:00.001-07:00

Our new basketball season starts on 9/21. Last season we enlisted several significant others to help us with our stats. There may be a few discrepancies but overall the stats are a solid indication of our performance. Here are my season averages for the 8 games that we recorded stats:

Points: 17.25
Rebounds: 6.38
Assists: 1.38
Steals: 2.13
FG%: 39.57%
FT%: 35.90%
TO: 3.88
3's per game: 1.75

I think these are solid SF numbers. The most glaring stat is the 35.9% free throw percentage; I shot 14 of 39 over the course of the season. It is pretty piss poor and needs the most improvement. Other significant numbers are the low FG% - which will be remedied by a more focused mid-range game. Steals, points, & 3's are all team highs. My prediction for this upcoming season:

Points: 15
Rebounds: 6
Assists: 2
Steals: 2
FG%: 45%
FT%: 75%
TO: 3
3's per game: 2

We'll see how close I come to these stats.

2008 Disney 1/2 Marathon Stats

2008-09-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Longest training run: 6 miles
Longest training run in the last 2 months: 4.7 miles
Last three weeks prior to race: lots of food and alcohol

Official finish time: 2:24:55
Average mile time: 11:03
First 5k time: 42:10
2nd 5k time: 36:34
3rd 5k time: 31:16

With all the pain I am in right now I'd say I would never subject my body to this again.. but after taking a look at some of the pictures and enjoying the great gold plated made in China medal - I'm ready to sign up for 2009!!!

Where was Stitch and Simba?

2

2008-08-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

its been 2 years... hopefully i can accomplish more in the next 2 years...

most affluent city in the country

2008-08-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

I was just reading some news online when I came across this article:

Richest City in the US

Solid industry, high median income, tight-knit community, close proximity to a major international airport - make this a high potential area. My second favorite part:

Despite its affluence, the median home price is about $225,000, Evans says. By contrast, San Jose's median home price is $744,000.

And my favorite part is that the darling of the Olympics lives nearby and trains in Plano. Plus Kaini and I could own a mansion, have two horses, an extra car, 4 extra children, and 6 additional huskies for the price of a 2 bedroom here in Southern California.

Vacation in Puerto Vallarta

2008-08-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

Once you've been to the Maldives, things just don't seem as 'nice'. But then again, one night (or even one meal) on Rangali Island costs just about as much as a week in Puerto Vallarta. I had a great time but I just wasn't very impressed with the hotel, the ocean, the view, the food, the mosquitoes... However, since it was an all inclusive resort I did count the number of drinks I had (drinks = 1 beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 shot, or 1 mixed drink).

Day 1: 11
Day 2: 10.5
Day 3: 13.5
Day 4: 6
Day 5: 3
Total: 44
[on Rangali, 44 drinks at ~$8 would have been a $352 tab]

Drink of choice:

After this vacation I feel that I am all 'drunk' out. I am promising myself that I will not have another drink until 2 out of the 3 occur:
New House, New Career, New Year

F*#K this Olympics

2008-08-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by stating that I love the Olympics, I love the competitive atmosphere, I love how a life time dream can be achieved with a stick landing, or a dream and four years crushed in under 10-seconds. I love the athletes, they embody the human spirit - dedication and passion beyond measure. The one thing I am pissed about is NBC's coverage. As you may know, I am very passionate about the Redeem Team; this years Team USA basketball team. And I am very pissed off when NBC advertises 'Live' coverage yet when I wake up at 7:15am for the game, it is some lame news broadcast. The game is latter shown on TV at 10am when I (who has been following closely) already know the results. Some people might say, why not just wait and watch the game when it airs; that is bullshit. There was an estimated 1 billion viewers tuned in to Team USA vs. China; that is the whole population of the United States times 3!!! Imagine how many people would be up in arms if you aired the Superbowl 3 hours later... and how can you not know the results when they are plastered on every major website (yahoo, cnn, msn, the list goes on). And again tonight - while surfing the web I come across several headlines that Phelps has won his second gold medal. In the background, NBC is running a story about how there is major competition between the US team and the Austrailian team and enticing viewers of the upcoming big race. F$*K that shit, the results are in NBC!!! Phelps and the US team already took the GOLD!!! F! F! F!... you suck ass NBC... I'm very disappointed with this deception and coverage. This article supports my anger: My Sentiments

31 Days...

2008-07-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

... until the Disney 1/2 Marathon. My longest run so far has been 6-miles and it hurt; that was several weeks ago. 31 more days to prepare, I need some motivation...

... and if these guys can do it; I can do it too...

Dream Team

2008-07-24T10:07:00.001-07:00

Heading to Las Vegas this weekend to watch Team USA play in its one exhibition game before they head out to China for the Olympics. It's been 8 years since USA brought home the Gold and anything other than the Gold would be a major disappointment. I do feel the final roster could use more size; KG or Amare would compliment well (I'm sure they were invited; not sure why they declined...). Below, I pit this years roster against the original dream team. Who's the better team:

Chris Paul vs. John Stockton
Jason Kidd vs. Magic Johnson
Deron Williams vs. Clyde Drexler
Michael Redd vs. Chris Mullin
Dwayne Wade vs. Christian Laettner
Tayshaun Prince vs. Scottie Pippen
Carmelo Anthony vs. Charles Barkley
Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan
LeBron James vs. Larry Bird
Chris Bosh vs. Karl Malone
Carlos Boozer vs. Patrick Ewing
Dwight Howard vs. David Robinson

Personally, I think the old guys in their prime would probably destroy the 2008 Team... imagine the Admiral, the Mailman, Jordan, and Magic at the height of their game. Obviuosly the competitive landscape is different in today's game but check out some of the Dream Team stats:
The Original Dream Team Stats

My favorite being '32'; the closest in points any other team came to USA. The 92' team was that dominant - hopefully we will see some similar numbers from this group in Beijing this year.

Tennis & Golf

2008-07-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

I was just reading an article on the highest paid female athletes. 9 out of the top 10 were either in tennis or golf (the other being a race car driver). The highest paid female athlete is Maria Sharapova; barely of legal age, her annual salary comes in around $25 million (very impressive considering Kobe Bryant, the NBA's elite, only makes ~$35 million with endorsements). But I guess you can't go wrong with Sharapova; she's a top 5 player and actually wins Grand Slams - then add on her smashing body, good looks, good girl persona and you have yourself a perfect spokesperson for your product (unlike the win less and slutty Anna Kournikova). On the men's side you have baby faced Tiger Woods, who brings in a whopping $100 million a year...

Note to self: if I ever have a daughter make sure to sign her up for tennis and golf; I can be the father/coach and retire early...

Career High

2008-07-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had one of the best games (statistically) in a real refereed game (from my IM days at Cal to our recent 3 seasons in the Diamond Bar league). I put up 34 points (15 out of 26), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Actually I tapped the ball in twice and my favorite score keeper said she didn't count those as rebounds (in the NBA that would have been 2 additional offensive rebounds, putting me at 34/13); but I don't argue with the statistician so it stands at 11 - my 2nd double-double this season. I did leave out one small item; the opposing team only had 4 players - but they were shooting the lights out; final score was 68-59. Still smokin'.

Clippers Curse

2008-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

So much hope and excitement has diminished and flamed out within the last few hours. Last week Baron Davis agreed to a deal to come to the Clippers; Clipper Nation rejoiced at the possibility of a new big three (Brand, Davis, Maggette). I was truly excited for the two very strong Los Angeles teams and was ready to purchase some tickets for the upcoming season (Clipper tickets are still way cheaper than Lakers tickets)... But today the Clippers went from playoff contender back to lottery pick. Brand has decided to take 82 million from the 76'ers and Maggette is taking a deal with the Warriors. Even with Davis, it looks like the Clippers are in for a tough season.. actually a tough next few years. At least Los Angeles still has the Lakers (bringing home the championship in 09).

500 Miles

2008-07-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Topped 500 miles on my Yamaha the other day. I've traded the comfort of my air conditioned car for simply zooming through the air. I've had a chance to ride on the freeway; hitting 80 at some points, which was a little too fast for my taste - I'm happy to go the speed limit in the slow lane. Right now I'm getting about 140-150 per 3 gallons (about 46-50mpg). I know some of the bigger Harley's have about 30-35mpg so I'm surprised and happy to be hitting the 45+mpg mark.

Still a little tentative about splitting lanes...

The Beginning or the End?

2008-07-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

The Story on BBC

July 4th - a celebration of independence, the overthrowing of a tyrant; a great day to celebrate freedom. How fortunate (or unfortunate) and coincidental that this day also marks the opening of direct flights from China to Taiwan after nearly 60 years of separation. It is amazing how fast President Ma and his trusted advisors closed this deal with the Mainland. "Status quo" - I think not. Happiness to China, a boost in Taiwan's stock market, and the stuffing of many pockets. I dare say this is the beginning of the end; it won't matter if you are blue or green because soon there will only be one nation, "One Family" and one 'red' flag.

Mediocre Madness

2008-06-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

We've discovered RedBox for quite some time now; it is actually very convenient and you can usually get the newest movies for $1 a night and can return them at any of the 80,000 locations nation wide. We've watched several movies in the past 2 weeks and I have to say; they have been pretty darn mediocre - nothing blew me away; and some were pretty darn awful. Here is my list; from best of the mediocre to simply don't watch:

#1. Juno
I know there was a lot of hype behind this movie; won some awards, and was written by an ex-stripper. Smart dialogue but no one talks like that in real life... but out of the bunch, this is the one I would recommend.

#2. Bucket List
Decent movie; pretty close to Juno on my scale.

#3. Harry Potter; Order of Phoenix
The 5th installment; if you like Harry Potter I'm sure you'll like it - again, it just didn't blow me away. Read the book, use your imagination.

#4. Semi-Pro
Although I love basketball, this is not one of Will Ferrel's better movies (and I like him). It's a dud.

#5. Cloverfield
May be worth watching for its novelty; Blair Witch style meets Godzilla. Wasn't overly entertaining.

#6. 10,000 B.C.
Wow this was pretty bad; horrible acting, horrible script, no nudity, and very little gore. Visually 'ok'. Watch Apocalypto instead - almost the exact same story but definitely more fast paced and entertaining.

Saving the Oak Grove

2008-06-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Why do people sympathize with these idiots? Do you know it has cost the University as well as the UC Police Department $600,000 in the last two years? The UCPD should tranquilize these idiot monkeys and ship them to the Amazon where they can be one with the trees. So these guys have accomplished nothing in their lives and I'm sure all of their parents are very proud; really, stop wasting everyone's time and money.

Idiot Woman
This woman is just one big idiot, I wish she fell and broke her leg.

Idiot Group of Naked People
Wow, are these people the stupidest people you've ever seen. Listen to what the photographer is saying... cultish...

Shaven

2008-06-21T22:02:00.001-07:00

We've been seeing some scorching hot temperatures here in SoCal; K actually thought Tank was having a heat stroke the other day. With the onset of true summer; we took PiRo and Tank to the groomers for a shave (Money doesn't seem to mind the heat...). The groomers suggested not shaving Tank; I'm glad we listened to the recommendation - take a look at some of these hilarious before & after pictures:

The Three Stooges:

PiRo in his nice winter coat:

PiRo in the nude (HAHA - K and I couldn't stop laughing):

Before; from behind (you can see Tank's relative size - also PiRo's fluff):

Over the Hill

2008-06-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Two things:
1. It took me a painful ~31 minutes to run 3.1 miles the other day. This coming from someone who ran 5:15 miles and 18:00 5k's just 10 years ago... yikes '10' years ago - I'm over the hill...

2. I went to Pantera Park last night; one of my old stomping grounds - I would ball and dominate there several nights a week during my summer breaks etc. I drove by and saw the lights, I saw the kids, I saw the competition (this would have fueled me 5 years ago); but on this day I went across the street to the elementary school and quietly shot baskets until dusk.. by myself - I'm over the hill...

At least being over the hill I have this to look forward to; the next upgrade (after 5 or 10 years - when I'm really old...):

Harley Night Rod Special - Black and Orange HOT!!!

Update

2008-06-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since my last post. Here are some updates:

Tank is much bigger than Money now and is probably shoulder to shoulder with PiRo; another week and we'll have a new big dog on premises.

The only good thing to come out of Boston:

I passed MSF and will now cruise around on this Yamaha V-Star Custom that my wife bought me (save me a buck or two at the pump):

Waiting to get this nice summer jacket to go along with the bike:

Back to Real Life

2008-05-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

So Kaini and I are back from our honeymoon; we've been back for a week so we're getting used to real life again - no one to make us omelets in the morning, no one to make our bed and leave us mints, and no more eating whenever we want (which may prove to be a good thing). I think both of us agree that Istanbul and Santorini were our two favorite destinations; both very unique in its own way - both one of a kind cities that you won't find anywhere else in the world. It was our first cruise and I would definitely go on another - but the next big trip might be to somewhere like Cozumel where we can lay on the beach and dive (we haven't dived in over a year :(... )

Here is a link to some of our pictures (we took over 2000; many of which were historic ruins or relics in at the museums)
Honeymoon Pictures

Tank Update:
Tank is the size of Money now - he literally doubled his size in 3 weeks; when we left for our honeymoon he was 8 lbs., as of yesterday he is up to 16 lbs. I would guess in another 3 weeks he will be 25-30lbs and in 2 months he will be PiRo's size. He is growing up very fast! Come visit soon before he becomes a big bad wolf.

More Pictures

2008-04-19T13:36:00.001-07:00

Here are some of PiRo, Aiden and Tank:

PiRo with her new Coach collar (Thank you Sarah :)

Tank and my favorite nephew.

Tank biting everything in sight.

Eve of the Honeymoon

2008-04-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

I leave you all with more pictures of our beloved Tank:

TANK

2008-04-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

I want to welcome 'Tank' Lee to the family. As you can see from the pictures, his favorite past time is sleeping. He also had a very long weekend; flew in from Michigan on Thursday and stayed up late Saturday night partying with the boys. I'm sure in a week, he will be much better adjusted to West Coast time. Feel free to visit; he will also be attending Turkey Bowl later in the week.

ONE

2008-04-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER ONE:
She said 'yes' once, she will say 'yes' again tomorrow.

TWO

2008-04-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER TWO:
In our small little closet my stuff takes up 65% of the space; I have twice as many pairs of shoes, more clothes, and more gadgets. I am more of a brand whore than my future will ever be. Basically, I am the princess in this relationsihp; but on a grander scale there are many more implications and ramifications. Ultimately it make me very happy to know that my future wife and I am will truly be leading the simple (yet fulfilling and exciting) life together.

THREE

2008-04-09T16:24:00.001-07:00

REASON NUMBER THREE:
All along the same line; my future wife is straight forward, unpretentious, no-bullshit, doesn't play any games, and is relatively drama-free. What this translates to is someone who has no hidden motives and someone who is completely honest. Even if at times we don't agree - I am at ease because I know my future wife always has the best intentions in mind.

FOUR

2008-04-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER FOUR:
My future wife has a great career. Pharmacists and other positions in the health care industry seem to be least affected by what happens with the economy. Her career is mobile, flexible, and stable. A successful marriage is grounded by stability; and we will definitely have a solid foundation. You know what they say, 'behind every successful woman is a man!!!'

FIVE

2008-04-07T13:48:00.001-07:00

REASON NUMBER FIVE:
Some say opposites attract; it is partly true. My future wife is a Level 10 FOB, fitted with Giordano shirts and armed with Taiwanese CD's. Although I've recently lived in Taiwan for 3 years, I like to think of myself as only a level 3 FOB - far from being identical. However, the older I get the more important my heritage becomes; and I love the Taiwanese side of me. It is great that my future wife and I can share similar traditions, values, and a plate of stinky tofu.

SIX

2008-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER SIX:
My future wife is one of the very few people I know who can have more fun with our dogs than real people. But who could resist this little one (and really, I don't think I could be with a cat person...):

SEVEN

2008-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER SEVEN:

Woooooooooooooooooo! My future wife is sexy.

EIGHT

2008-04-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

REASON NUMBER EIGHT:
Sometimes I walk like a gorilla* down the stairs at my house. Nothing is cooler than seeing your future wife transform herself into a gorilla as well; she does make a good gorilla.

*walking like a gorilla with your arms up in the air and moving left to right actually masks your footsteps - it is a ninja move that is very useful when sneaking up on sleeping puppies.

NINE

2008-04-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

With 9 days left until the ball and chain is locked securely to my ankle; I will provide a reason a day for my undying love for my future wife (in no particular order):

REASON NUMBER NINE:
When a bar of soap becomes too thin that it slips through my butt cracks, I generally get a new bar of soap. With many small pieces left in my soap dish from past generations; my future wife combines and gives the soaps new life. Not being wasteful is definitely something to live by and instill in our future children; especially during this greening societal trend.

On a different, yet somewhat related note - proof that buying shoes is a good thing; click to read article:
Shoe Lovers Rejoice
Some of my shoes...

One More Month - 31 Days

2008-03-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Just counting down until game time; 31 more days. Less than 40 days until our honeymoon, (which I am very much looking forward to...)

Since my last posting:
Steve and Nancy Tam gave birth to a beautiful daughter; Taylor Kai-Xing Tam
I ran in the 2nd Annual LA Urban Iditarod
Fell into a fire pit and tore up my left knee
Missed my first basketball game in 3-seasons
Took the engagement pictures
Watched the Lakers win several games (on TV)

45 More Days

2008-02-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

45 more days to go; lots of small details left. RSVP if you haven't.
8 states, close to 50 vendors; the search continues.

LG 22" LCD TV

2008-02-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

My dad brought home a bunch of VCD's from Taiwan. His current DVD player doesn't play those VCD's so he wanted me to get him one that did; and he also wanted a thin TV that he could have closer to him in his bedroom (the current CRT TV is outdated.. old... ugly...). We looked at a few online and he was interested in a 15" or 17" LCD TV; we almost ordered one via Walmart before I suggested just going to the store for a look. Walmart didn't have any of the one's we wanted so we went over to Bestbuy; tons more choices and after some deliberation I bought him a 22" LG for $379.99 (I think it was on sale from 499.99!). We also brought back a Pioneer DVD player that plays DVD's, CD's, VCD's and DiVX from Target (DiVX is awesome, I have over 150 movies via DiVX - I want to get one of those too... $49.95).

59 days to go and another BLOCKBUSTER DEAL

2008-02-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

So since nothing interesting is happening in my life for the next 59-days (other than me being a top performer at my company and getting a nice little bonus on my March pay check); let's talk more basketball!

(not a basketball picture but a picture of Jason Kidd nonetheless)
The Dallas Mavericks fearing their window at a championship dwindling (especially with the recent powerhouse acquisitions of Pau and Shaq) moved today to bring in one of the games best floor generals. Jason Kidd comes back to Dallas where his career started and will try to lead the Mavericks to a championship in the Wild Wild West. Here is my (biased) analysis of how the season shakes out.

The Lakers had a solid core before Gasol came in; they look to benefit the most from these recent blockbuster deals. Gasol fits in well into the Lakers system and has already shown that he can play well besides Kobe. Anything less than a Conference title would be a disappointment. Very good chances of going all the way and brining another ring to Los Angeles.

Today's trade gives Dallas one of the best guards in NBA history. Too bad it won't be enough to stop the West elite. Nash has a better supporting cast and is arguably a better PG. Sorry Dallas, get ready for another early playoff exit.

I would say this is the biggest hurdle for the Lakers team. The Lakers can guard Duncan with Bynum/Gasol; but a healthy Shaq/Amare would be disaster for any team to play. I don't see enough fire power to take out the Lakers or even the Spurs in a 7-game series but this is a solid team who can shoot, pass, and now DEFEND. They will go far but fall short.

The Spurs are a scary team with a scary coach. They still have a solid Duncan who can dismantle teams on a nightly basis. They have a solid core with Championship experience; can they repeat last year? I don't think their bench is deep enough to contend with the Lakers. They look to go deep as well but there won't be a parade in San Antonio this year.

The Hornets are the surprise team this season. Chris Paul is slowly closing in on top PG honors; they are calling West, Chandler, & Paul the BIG 3 of the West. They are winning a lot of games but come playoffs they don't have the depth and/or experience to get out of the 2nd round. If they draft well and add additional role players, they could be back next year.

Rounding out the top 6 is the lone team from the Northwest Division. Getting into the playoffs at this point is a guarantee. Winning and going deep like they did last year is a different story. These last 3-weeks have seen a complete power shift to the West as the top teams became tougher to beat. Williams, Boozer, AK-47 (and now Kyle Krover) are as tough as they get. Depending on how the teams matchup; the teams playing in the later rounds could be running on fumes (a big plus for a young Lakers team - too bad for Shaq who'll be out of diesel by then...). It is definitely going to be an interesting playoffs.

Funny if you get it...

2008-02-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

sorry babe, not sure if you're going to get this one...

Happy New Year!

2008-02-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is the year of the Rat and what a rat-'ish' move by the Phoenix Suns in their recent shocking trade for Miami's Shaquille O'Neil. Shipping the Matrix out and bringing in the big Diesel is crazy news. The trade deadline is coming up but I don't see anything bigger than the Gasol/Shaq deals (unless the Mavericks somehow manage a deal with Kidd). The rich gets richer as the West teams continue to look more dominant. A 1/2 healthy Shaq with Amare in the front court is scary; they weigh more together than any other front court; this may even be scarier than Gasol/Bynum. Wow, I can't wait for this years playoffs...

65 more days...

Pau Gasol to the LAKERS!!!!

2008-02-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Lakers fans rejoice! We are contenders again!!!

News reports have the Lakers trading Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton for Pau Gasol. This is the biggest Lakers news since Kobe & Shaq's break-up. This is awesome for us Lakers fans; check out the line-up:

Fisher
Kobe
Odom
Gasol
Bynum

Gasol is a solid PF but imagine him (who is a pretty good shot blocker/rebounder) along side Bynum when Bynum returns. Thats two 7 footers in the middle; a giant wall for anyone to penetrate. If Odom can start hitting some outside shots, I see another Championship ring in the horizon. I would take the above roster over the league leading Celtics!!!

Referee

2008-01-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

So very randomly I am going to be refereeing for a Chinese little league basketball game tomorrow. I'm not going to look like this referee but I will get to put on a zebra jersey and call the game for 10-11 year olds. Should be interesting... fun times. Still wish I had that $10,000.

$10,000

2008-01-25T12:11:00.000-08:00

8:10am KIIS FM.
Today's month - October; I try dialing in while I was driving to work... I always get the busy signal. The $10,000 birthday was October 26. Bastards... that could have been $10,000 in my pocket.

At least it is Friday and I get to go home soon.

Takehiko Inoue

2008-01-24T09:43:00.001-08:00

I was looking online to see where I could purchase "Buzzer Beater" and happened upon my favorite artists website:

Takehiko Inoue Website

Buzzer Beater is one of the lesser known comics by Takehiko Inoue; his most famous of course being Slam Dunk. On a scale of 1-10, if Slam Dunk is a 10; I would say Buzzer Beater is a 3, but being a true fan, I must own it ALL! Actually you can read the full Buzzer Beater comic on his website (link above); click on English, then the Buzzer Beater icon - there are 81 pages and it is a little tedious to click through them, but it is free and the full comic is there to read (w/ English translations). Some pictures by Inoue; here is the artist himself:

One of the last scenes in Slam Dunk:

The characters from REAL (a more serious basketball story):

And my favorite swordsman, the star of Vagabond; Miyamoto Mushashi:

80

2008-01-23T13:57:00.001-08:00

80 more days to go... scary...

Minimum Wage

2008-01-14T16:54:00.001-08:00

The minimum wage in California is not $5.15. Actually California has the highest minimum wage in the nation; as of Jan. 1st, 2008 - it is at $8.00/hr. However, there are still 5 States in this nation without minimum wage laws and a large majority of States still in the ~$6/hr range. Some quick math will show you that if you are making $6.50/hr, your annual income would be $13,520. At $8.00, you aren't much better at $16,640. And though I am striving for the riches that lay ahead and climbing up in this world of capitalism; there are and will always be people left behind.

Oprah makes roughly $100,000,000 a year. The richest person on the planet roughly makes $27 million a day (in 4-days he will make more money than Oprah makes all year)... Just some food for thought as I am headed home tonight.

a glutton's life

2008-01-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

I was in Vegas this past weekend. Re-acquainted myself with some old buddies from National Taiwan University. I stayed with them at the Wynn and had one crazy Saturday night. Beers, gambling, shots, sake bombs, hitting up Tryst, and other fine adult entertainment. The night ended with steak and eggs down at the other end of the strip. It was hedonism at its finest; with utter disregard for my waist, wallet, and liver.

Now back in reality I have one new resolution. Both PiRo and I are getting a little too chunky so I have decided to walk PiRo everyday* (and Money when applicable) until I lose 10 lbs. Place your bets now to see how long I can keep this up. You win if I fail. I win if I walk PiRo consistently until I hit buck 60.

*both of us will stay home if it is raining outside; I don't mind walking in the rain but PiRo smells nasty when she is wet.

99

2008-01-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

Another countdown? Yes!
This time I'm counting down to the big day. Only 99 more days until the wedding. It's going to come quick and we still have quite a lot of things to take care of - will be a fun Q1.

Going to Vegas this weekend, there goes my sleep...

100

2007-12-31T21:15:00.002-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

What a 'count-up'; to celebrate 2008; I give you my 100th POST. 2007 was an interesting year; growth in my personal life but very stagnant on the career, physical, and spiritual aspects of my life. 2008 has potential to be big on all fronts. I plan on stepping it up and making sure I make giant strides across the board.

I do want to leave this year with one premonition; a prophecy that will fulfill itself in 2026: we will still be playing in our local men's basketball league but with a new starting point guard.

99

2007-12-31T21:15:00.001-08:00

98

2007-12-31T21:14:00.000-08:00

Buck 70

2007-12-20T08:55:00.001-08:00

I reached a milestone in my life yesterday. At no point prior to yesterday have I reached such a monumental achievement. Upon stepping on my electronic scale, my current weight is at an unbelievable and hefty 170*. As a self-proclaimed procrastinator it usually takes a swift kick in the butt to fire my belly. I now have a target in mind; I plan on dropping down to a slimmer, healthier 160 by the end of March, 2008. Wish my fat ass luck.

*Actually the scale originally read 169 but being so close, I drank two glasses of water and stuffed myself with rice and almonds. After several tries and more stuffing, I got myself up to the record breaking weigh-in.

Purpose of Christmas

2007-12-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

I am very glad that I have a small immediate family who aren't interested in the popular Christmas culture. I've noticed recently (before that I was in Asia for a few years and no one really cared about Christmas) that people really stress out about buying presents. And if they are not stressing out now, they will soon because so many of them spend beyond their means (why would you want to go into a new year with credit card debt?). How unfortunate for these individuals who require materialistic giving and receiving to be satisfied with Christmas. In the end, Christmas is about spending time with family; there really is no point in all this gift giving formality. Ultimately I'm the type of guy who doesn't need a special day to give; if I see something that a family member should have, they will get it without having to wait till December.

Rat Poison

2007-12-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

So PiRo got herself into some trouble yesterday. K and I were upstairs for a few minutes and when we came back downstairs a box of rat poison was spilled and across the garage floor. Rat poison is a blood thinner that eventually causes internal bleeding and usually takes a few days to take effect. We actually called poison control who informed us that about 1 oz. of rat poison was considered an emergency. The box of rat poison was 3 oz. and it didn't seem like PiRo came close to eating 1/3 of that (so it wasn't an 'emergency'). We tried inducing vomit with salt water (that is a whole separate story in itself) and based on another blood specialist's consultation, we went out and bought protein shakes for Piro (which she loved... it was vanilla flavored). She seemed totally fine but K still took her to the vet today for some blood work, vitamin K injection, and brought home some vitamin K tablets to supplement PiRo's diet for the next few weeks. [Vitamin K is the direct antidote for rat poison - mild cases; severe cases could result in blood transfusion] Ultimately K spent a little over $200 on vet bills. I guess that was necessary to ensure PiRo's safety. I think K may want to do some more blood work in the next few days; at $100+ a pop, I veto that - YES to protein shakes; NO to more useless vet visits...

Wedding Update

2007-12-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

As of today, we are exactly 4-months away from our wedding. We've made some progress in the last month or two. We've decided on the cake, wedding gown, photographer, wedding-bands, invitations, and most recently a confirmed color. We'll be speaking with the florist this weekend and the DJ in early January. Although all of this is important, the most exciting thing to me is our honeymoon decision. We've already booked and confirmed a destination; we'll be going on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. We fly into Athens and will spend 2 nights before embarking on a cruise to several Greek Islands, Alexandria (to see the Great Pyramids), and Istanbul (where we will visit the famous temple dedicated to my mother; the Hagia Sophia). 4-more months until the big day, but more importantly 4-more months until a much needed vacation.

eBay, PiRo, My Buns of Steel, and a New Season

2007-12-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

We are nearing the holidays and since I'm not big on gift giving/receiving there really isn't much to blog about.... so I have decided to blog a little about everything.

1.) eBay - for my companies annual Christmas Party everyone was supposed to bring an unwrapped toy. I have a bunch of Warcraft/Starcraft action figures courtesy of my friend who worked at Blizzard. I was going to bring those to work but went on eBay to see if they were worth anything. I have 7 action figures total; so far with 3-days remaining they have already totaled over $90. I fully expect each to sell for $20+ (one of them is already at $26.00) - nice chump change.

2.) PiRo and Money are lazy. All they do is sleep, especially in this cold weather. Below is a picture of them caught in the act... of sleeping.

3.) I've been riding on my trainer (see previous post). I hit 30-minutes today, shooting to ride 45-60 minutes 5-days a week. Good exercise, good sweat, good for my buns of steel.

4.) Season '3' for men's basketball started this past Sunday. A heartbreaking 38-34 point loss to a rival team. I picked up 4 quick fouls with ~8 minutes left in the FIRST HALF! I sat out the rest of the first but ended up playing all of the 2nd half and finished with 14 points. It is going to be a tough season w/ only 6-confirmed players. More PT but it gets hairy when someone is in foul trouble...

Vanessa

2007-12-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

You have forever filled all those around you with love. Please look after John and your family from above; we will hold you close.

CycleOps Trainer

2007-11-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last week I cleaned off the cobwebs on my bike, degreased the chain, pumped up the tires and took it out for a spin. That is when I realized that I really missed riding so I decided to get myself an early Christmas present. I've been lazy; other than the weekly basketball games, I've done nothing to improve my cardio. The best way to feed my desire to cycle and to get in shape is purchasing this trainer; I've always wanted one and after some quick research I ended up with the 2008 CycleOps Fluid Trainer. If you are unsure what this contraption is; it is basically a stationary bike except you're riding a real bike (your own bike). You hook up the back tire and you cycle in place with varying degrees of resistance and since it is your bike it feels like you're actually out on the road. I foresee some nice workouts in the near future and I look forward to rekindling my love of cycling with my Trek 1000. Buns of steel baby, buns of steel.

SICK

2007-11-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

I feel it coming on; stuffy nose, heavy eye-lids, cloudy head... I don't really want to be at work today. Hopefully I feel better as the week progresses.

I blame it on my adorable nephew Aiden.

The Melting Pot

2007-11-21T13:15:00.001-08:00

Wow, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. This year has roared by and Christmas is already on the horizon. So recently a lot of my co-workers have been talking about the Melting Pot (which recently opened near Brea) and how great the food tastes, etc. There is one in Irvine but I have never eaten there before. Yesterday, I took Kaini to the restaurant and here is my breakdown of the complete meal:

First Course: Cheese Fondue
We chose the fiesta cheese; they used a beer base and added cheese, garlic, and a lot of jalapenos; it was pretty good but heavy, the cheese was gooey. It came with vegetables, breads, and chips to dip. I think I had a little too much here.

Second Course: Salad
Several to choose from; K's Spinach Mushroom Salad was pretty good, my Athenian salad was OK. Nothing too special here.

Main Course: Fondue
We chose to use the Coq Au Vin base and chose the Fondue Fusion meal (includes; lobster, fillet mignon, ravioli, citrus pork, garlic herb chicken, etc...). The Coq Au Vin uses a burgundy wine base and adds herbs, mushrooms, garlic, etc. The main course came with as many dipping sauces as items to cook. The lobster was great; and the fillet mignon was great - midway through I was already stuffed (and started 'not' enjoying the food as much).

Dessert: Chocolate Fondue
There were a lot of different choices; we chose the Flaming Turtle which is milk chocolate and caramel flambayed with 151 (with random nuts). It was good but I was already too full before dessert to enjoy it much; the marshmallows were awesome though.

Final verdict:
Great dining experience, the food was mediocre, and it was just too pricey. I think the 'big meal' could easily feed 3 or even 4 (that would cut the cost significantly). I would go back but probably not as a couple (way too much food); or go back to just do appetizers and the dessert; not the complete meal.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Happy Birthday!!!

2007-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

PiRo is one! [wow, time flies...]

Happy Halloween

2007-10-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

POLL. Which pumpkin do you like? [one of them is by K the other by J]

27

2007-10-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting"
-the Alchemist

What are my dreams, what is my personal legend? I started reading the Alchemist again and on this 27th year of my life, I plan on dreaming larger. I've become too complacent over the last year and it just isn't my style. Dream big, aspire more, and accomplish the impossible. It's game time again.

Thanks mom, today and the rest of my life is dedicated to you.

Exclusive Resort...

2007-10-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some research on Greece and the more I read the more interested I am in going there for next years honeymoon. You have Athens, Delphi, Olympia on the mainland and then the beautiful islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, etc. You could probably spend a whole month in Greece exploring all the history and culture (and food). One place I would love to visit (although it is probably the most exclusive resort in all of Greece) is Mount Athos. And it actually isn't a resort at all; it is a cluster of monasteries in the Northeast. Why is this place so exclusive? First of all there are no roads from Greece that lead to Mount Athos; it can only be reached by boat. Secondly, there are no women or children allowed on Mount Athos. It has been this way for thousands of years. Plus they only allow 10 visitors per day and those must be requested months in advance. There is no hot water or electricity and all visitors must wake up at 3:30am to participate in the daily prayers. I read that the monks enjoy conversations with the visitors and that all food and lodging comes free of charge. Sounds like a revitalizing and spiritually awakening experience. Looks peaceful:

weekend activities

2007-10-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

saturday night marked the 2nd time in my life that i went to knotts scary farm; the first time over a decade ago. the next time... i don't think there will be a next time. reasons:
1. not that scary (i wasn't really scared in the picture...)
2. way too many people
3. lines for rides 60+ minutes
4. lines for 'old' mazes 30-45 minutes
5. lines for 'new' mazes 60-90 minutes
6. not that scary
7. way too many people
8. on a final note, we got in line to get into the park at 7:30; we didn't get through the entrance and security until 8:30 - ONE HOUR to get into the park, this was with pre-purchase tickets, i can't imagine waiting 30 minutes to get tickets and then another hour to get in...

sunday after another heartbreaking lost in the morning i was hoping going to corteo would cheer me up. to some extend it did; a few of the acts were extraordinary; most were pretty mundane. overall i did enjoy this cirque and although several of the acts had 'errors' the performers recovered quickly and the show went on; i enjoyed that. i would recommend the show for other socal residents especially if they have little ones and (50% off tickets). i would say this cirque outshines zumanity although it probably pales in comparison to the higher caliber cirques in vegas. the night and week ended with some hot ramen. perfect. back to work.

4/12/08

2007-10-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday April 12th, 2008.
See you on-board, the Majestic.

The Life of Luxury

2007-10-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

There is a whole world of luxury out there; even in the most unlikely places. I was researching Manchu Picchu and I came across Amazing Peru. It is a luxury tour company that takes you on the 4-day Inca trail in style. Normally you would find your own porters, live in small tents/sleeping bags, and stink it out for the duration of the ascent. With Amazing Peru, you roll with a full entourage including your personal masseuse, personal chef, personal guide and even personal musicians to play music for you while you dine on gourmet meals and wine. They also bring warm showers and portable restrooms for you and your loved one. You sleep in large tents with over sized mattresses; I wouldn't call this roughin' it at all. On a similar note, I came across a website for adventure cruises for small private groups. The company is called Abercrombie & Kent; the curise in the Galapagos sounds extraordinary. Once I become 'affluent' these are the types of trips I want to go on; this is the high life. Until then I'll just have to low roll it in economy baby, economy.

Amazing Peru
Abercrombie & Kent

Odom for Marion

2007-09-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

This would be a nice trade for the Lakers; Marion does a little of everything. The Lakers could have a solid line-up especially if Bynum continues to grow and plays a solid 30-35 minutes. With Marion in the line up, we would have:

PG: Derek Fischer / Jordan Farmer
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Radmonovic/Cook
C: Bynum

The 3 point shooting PF's will open up the floor for Bryant and Marion. Now imagine if the Lakers had traded Bynum for Jason Kidd in addition to Odom for Marion; we would have:

PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Radmonovic/Cook
C: Brown/Mihm

Yes a little weak in the back court, but that would be the best front line in the NBA; it would rival Garnett, Allan, & Pierce. Even without Kidd, I hope the Lakers' executives trade for Marion. If not to improve the team; do it for the fans.

Crimson DS Lite

2007-09-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Impulse buys - my favorite kind. Just recently picked up the Nintendo DS Lite; it is the new Crimson/Onyx color that comes with Brain Age 2 (I think it is a special edition color). The DS is actually a pretty cool system; backwards compatible, touch screen, great color, light, and even with only one game (so far) it is very entertaining. I've been competing with K on the various brain games - she is better at some games but I think I have more records. Everyone should get a DS. I'm going to introduce the game to my dad tonight; he just returned from his Dubai trip (he wasn't very impressed and said it was one of his worst trips...).

Snickers

2007-09-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

I love Snickers. And I've just recently had Snickers Almond. I know they've been out for a long time but didn't know they were this good. Since almonds are good for you, I think a Snicker Almond a day will keep the doctor away.

Nike Dunkesto

2007-09-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

We were on the topic of shoes today and I was telling my co-workers that I saw a really interesting pair of shoes in Taiwan that I almost bought. It was a pair of Nike Dunk Low's but it used the soft material from the old Nike Prestos (by the way, one of my favorite shoes were my old Presto's; they were super comfy). I proceeded to inform them that Asia usually has more shoe variety and many of those styles & color schemes aren't sold in the US. The conversation continued and we ended up agreeing that with Google and eBay you can pretty much find anything you want. So this afternoon, I wanted to test that theory and did a search for those shoes I saw in Taiwan; I didn't even know what they were called. I knew that it was Presto material in Dunk Low form. After some research I found them; the DUNKESTO (haha, Dunk + Presto = Dunkesto; pretty intuitive...). So on eBay there were several different color schemes and they ranged between $70-$125 (including shipping). At the low end ($70) it is actually cheaper than the price in Taiwan. I would have bought a pair on eBay if they had my size. I decided to do some additional research on the Nike website and to my surprise, they only had size 9.5, in the color I wanted (Berkeley Blue and Gold baby), and on clearance for $50.99. I know K might be mad at me for buying another pair of shoes, but it was too good to pass up. Take a look at these, they are like wearing a t-shirt on your feet and walking on air. They are going to be very comfortable. Good thing I didn't buy them in Taiwan and definitely a good thing we talked about shoes today.

Tickets to this and that...

2007-09-13T13:27:00.001-07:00

I am finally settling back into normal life again. Last Sunday, after getting beaten badly in our exhibition (practice) game, I've realized that once again I am way out of shape. I need to put my conditioning as a priority over the next few months. In the meantime I've come across several events I would like to attend:

Actually I'm not really interested in the Clippers at all; it is actually the opposing teams that I am interested in watching. Lakers tickets are too expensive so I've decided on this cheaper alternative; 4-games for $100. Not bad at all considering some of the possible games (depending on which plan you choose) would be Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Lakers, Houston, Cleveland, and most importantly Boston (who could miss the Garnett, Pierce, Allan trio). Will be deciding on which 4-game plan to purchase soon!

Phantom will be coming to Orange County next Spring (2008). My company is currently selling premium orchestra seats for under $60. Although K and I have already seen the show (I've seen it several times); I don't think I can pass it up. In addition, I'm most likely going to take Big Daddy Lee to the show - it will be his first time.

This also looks pretty good. I'm sure this Cirque du Soleil show is better than Zumanity (which was crap). It is currently at the Forum and will be coming to Orange County soon. I'll see if K wants to go; I'm sure Big Daddy Lee would be interested as well.

NAPLEX

2007-09-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Kaini passed.
She is a board taking stud.

Back to Reality

2007-09-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation, back at work, back to reality.
We took around ~1000 pictures; if you want to take a look at a few, I've uploaded them to Flickr:

our pre-marriage honeymoon

.500 Season

2007-08-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

So JETS (our basketball team) ended its rookie season with a .500 record (5-5). We brought home the bronze (not so impressive considereing there were only 4 teams). However, the most amazing part is that we went 1-4 during the first 5 games and 4-1 during the 2nd half of the season; much improvement. Our team has made giant strides and we plan on adding a few pieces during the off-season to make the team even stronger.

Fall season starts on 9/16. We better be taking home the Gold this time around.

5 more days...

2007-08-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

K and I depart from LAX Friday at 1:15pm. This will be the longest vacation I have been on since the beginning of my corporate climb. It is going to be busy at work but the reward at the end of the week certainly out weight the pain. I am also finalizing a few things for the trip. The only question I have left is: will PiRo be OK with Big Daddy Lee for ~3 weeks!?!?!

[PiRo is now 35.5 pounds - I hope it stays that way...]

Naplex and Dubai

2007-08-08T13:48:00.001-07:00

After many weeks of intensive studying, my lovely fiance took the NAPLEX board exam yesterday. Although she said it was hard (what board exam isn't); I'm sure she passed with flying colors. She has another exam to take next Tuesday then she can officially relax and not worry until we return from our vacation. Speaking of vacations, I just found out my dad will be visiting Dubai in mid-September. I am personally fascinated with Dubai; it is a desert in the middle of nowhere yet has become one of the premier destinations for the world's rich and famous. And what makes me more jealous is the fact that he will be staying one night at the Burj Al Arab; the world's most extravagant hotel (and self-proclaimed 7-star resort). It is currently the tallest hotel in the world (soon to be surpassed by another hotel in Dubai) and also one of the most expensive; one night will set you back $1,000+. Their royal suites are $25,000+ a night. I hear they shuttle you into the hotel in a Rolls Royce. Dubai in general is just amazing; the Burj Dubai has already surpassed the Taipei 101 in height; upon completion it will be the tallest man made structure in the world. Dubai also boasts the world's largest shopping mall. And if you haven't heard of 'The World', google "the world dubai"; you will piss yourself silly. And just for good measure, go ahead and google "dubailand"; I'm speechless. What a lucky dad (though much of this stuff won't be completed for another few years).

HP7

2007-08-06T09:41:00.001-07:00

Just finished reading the final installment of Harry Potter. This is all out war between good and evil; let's just say I can't wait to see how they port this one over onto the big screen. Good job Rowling; confusing at times, but you ended this with a bang.

New Number, New Home

2007-08-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

NICE.

Big Ticket in Boston

2007-07-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

KG, one of my favorite players in the NBA is leaving Minnesota and taking his game to Boston. This is big news; this makes the Celtics instant contenders in the East and the NBA at large. It is reminiscent of Shaq going to Miami and bringing home a trophy that first year. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen already formed a formidable back court, now anchor that team with Big Ticket and you have on paper a very difficult team to beat. If the 3 of them mesh well I can easily see them taking the East and winning the Eastern Conference finals. I should buy some Lakers and Clippers tickets soon... would be awesome to see KG, Allen, & Pierce play together (that is almost like an All-Star team). On a side note; K and I did see KG up close and personal when we went to a game in Philly. It was one of the last games that AI played before being deported to Denver. We payed $15 for nose bleeder seats but eventually found ourselves down at courtside. We were 6 or 7 rows right behind the Timberwolves bench; best $15 ever spent. KG is my idol.

The Original 300

2007-07-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Watching the original "300" made in 1962.
Best line:

Spartan: . . . They are drinking the rivers dry; and at night there are more of their camp fires then their are stars in the sky.

Leonidas: Good. When I was a boy, I always wanted to reach the stars with my spear. (laughs)

Spartan: (laughs)

7.4 mile commute in 45-minutes

2007-07-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Actually, the last 5.15 miles were relatively painless; probably took about 6-8 minutes. So that means the first 2 miles took me over 35 minutes. What was the cause of this absolute nonsense; a car somehow went up in flames near the on-ramp that I take, blocked off the two slow-lanes for I don't know how long. I can't believe that one idiot could ruin the commute for so many thousands of individuals. Everyone going 57-N would have suffered because of this idiot.

And everyday I drive to work I notice people doing their make-up; reading a book, etc; all while driving. Are you F*$%@!!! kidding me; these are the idiots that get into accidents; you are not only a menance to the public but a danger to yourself as well as your loved ones.

Please drive carefully. Don't hold me up from my business because you are stupid. Be stupid on your own time.

Food for Thought.. the Future.

2007-07-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I know statistics are always skewed and manipulated to make whatever point the report is trying to prove. Even if that is the case, the following information is pretty interesting; take it for what its worth.. some of it is actually pretty scary.

Sometime size does matter.
If you’re one in a million in China there are 1,300 people just like you.

In India, there are 1,100 people just like you.

The 25% of the population in China with the highest IQ’s is greater than the total population of North America. In India, it’s the top 28%
[Translation for teachers: They have more honors kids than we have kids.]

Did you know?
China will soon become the number one English speaking country in the world.

If you took every single job in the U.S. today and shipped is to China it still would have a labor surplus.

During the course of reading this:
60 babies will be born in the U.S.
244 babies will be born in China
351 babies will be born in India

Did you know?
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today’s learner will have 10 to 14 jobs by age 38.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor 1 out of 4 workers today is working for a company for whom they have been employed less than 1 year.

More the then 1 out of 2 are working for a company for whom they have worked less than 5 years.

According to former Secretary of Education Richard Riley the top 10 jobs that will be in demand in 2010 did not exist in 2004.

We are currently preparing students for jobs that currently don’t yet exist; using technologies that haven’t yet been invented in order to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet.

Did you know?
The U.S. is 20th in the world of broadband Internet penetration.

Nintendo invested more than $140 million in research and development in 2002 alone.

The U.S. Federal Government spent less than half as much on research and innovation in education.

1 of every 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met online.

There are over 106 million registered users of MySpace (as of September 2006).

If MySpace were a country, it would be the 11th largest in the world (between Japan and Mexico). The average MySpace page is visited 30 times a day.

Did you know?
We are living in exponential times.

There are over 2.7 billion searches performed on Google each month.

To whom were these questions addressed B.G. (before Google)?

The number of text messages sent and received every day exceeded the population of the planet.

There are about 540,000 words in the English language, about 5 times as many as during Shakespeare’s time.

More than 3,000 new books are published daily.

It is estimated that a week’s worth of New York Times contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century.

It is estimated that 1.5 exabytes (1,000,000,000,000,000,000) of unique new information will be generated worldwide this year.

That’s estimated to be more than in the previous 5,000 years.

The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years.

For students starting a new technical or college degree, this means that half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study.

It is predicted to double every 72 hours by 2010.

Third-generation fiber optics has recently been tested by both NEC and Alcatel that pushes 10 trillion bits per second down one strand of fiber.

That’s 1,900 CD’s, or 150 million simultaneous phone calls, every second.

It’s currently tripling about every 6 months and is expected to do so for at least the next 20 years. The fiber is already there. They’re just improving the switches on the ends, which means the marginal cost of these improvements is effectively $0.

Predictions are that e-paper will be cheaper than real paper.

47 million laptops were shipped worldwide last year.

The $100 laptop project is expecting to ship between 50 to 100 million laptops a year to children in underdeveloped countries.

Predictions are that by 2013 a supercomputer will be built that exceeds the computation capability of the human brain.

By 2023, when first-graders will be just 23 years old and beginning their (first)careers it will only take a $1,000 computer to exceed the capabilities of the human brain.

And while technical predictions farther out than about 15 years are hard to make predictions are that by 2049 a $1,000 computer will exceed the computational capabilities of the human race.

What does it all mean?

Shift happens.

Now you know.

Pictures from 07/07/07

2007-07-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

The view from dinner at the Montage in Laguna Beach. There would have been a beautiful sunset if not for the clouds.

Appetizers on the patio of the Loft. Nice presentation. Interesting pairing of foods. $$$.

On the beach a few minutes before both our lives would change.

Hmmm... I guess not much has changed except for that big ring on her finger. Love forever.

yes!

2007-07-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

she said yes.

Transformer with Heart

2007-07-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

So we ended up watching Transformers on opening night. I have to say it was a pretty cheesy movie but definitely one of the best movies I've seen all year. The movie had everything you need for a summer blockbuster; it had a hot female lead, it had fast cars and robots, it was visually stunning, and the story line was actually pretty decent. As you can see from the pictures, my favorite character from the movie was Bumblebee. I actually want one of the toys now, it looks hot (above). And check out the picture below; it is a life size model used in the production. Thinking about the movie, I think Transformers should get an Academy Award; if In the Bedroom can get best picture, so can Transformers. If Halle Barry can get a best actress award for showing her boobs, then so can Megan Fox. Transformers = Good. In the Bedroom = Bad. Megan Fox = Good. Halle Barry = Bad.

Losing, Transformers, & Baby-sitting

2007-07-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

What happened between my last post and today's post? Losing. Our basketball team is on a 3-game losing streak (not very good considering it is a 10-game season). I am very disappointed in defeat; at my own sub-par performances as well as the team's performance in general. Oh well, there are 6 weekend games for us to redeem ourselves.

On a different note, I plan on watching Transformers sometimes this week; it definitely looks good and I am excited to see how it turns out.

Also have a very important duty to perform on Saturday. K and I will be baby sitting. It will be a fun filled day hanging out with my favorite nephew. Maybe I should take him to the mall; I'm sure the little dooooooood is a chick magnet.

When do you water the grass?

2007-06-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

Should I water the grass during the day time when it is hot and when the grass is most thirsty. This will ease their thirst and help them get through the burning sun and prevent them from crisping. Or should I water the grass in the silent of night when the grass is cool. The water won't dry as quickly and will have the opportunity to seep into the roots. But the grass isn't thirsty at night and would probably be more happy swimming in the water right at noon. Maybe the best time is to water them at dusk to have the best of both worlds, but then again if you water them at dusk there are so many more hours before the sun comes out and many of the chemical reactions that require water and sun will be lost.

Remember one thing, indecisiveness killed the grass. Some things in life shouldn't be over analyzed. Sometimes it is good to have the 'just do it' mentality. My motto as always: SUABALB - sack up and quit being a little bitch. Do it.

Blockbuster Plug

2007-06-13T13:18:00.001-07:00

My two week Blockbuster trial at 3-dvd's at one time is about to end; all these DVD's come via mail from Blockbuster's distribution center. In these past two weeks I have been sent (or am in the process of being sent):
The Holiday
The Prestige
The Illusion
Pan's Labyrinth
The Last King of Scotland
Flags of Our Fathers
Little Children
Stranger than Fiction
Stomp the Yard

And since this program allows you to return the mailed DVD's in store, I have also rented from my local Blockbuster (free of charge):
Pursuit of Happyness
Rocky Balboa
Fast Food Nation
Gridiron Gang
The Hidden Blade
The Science of Sleep

With 3 more DVD en-route (bolded) from the distribution center, I can translate that into 3 more free in store rentals, which means that these two weeks resulted in a total of 18 free movies!

I am actually changing my subscription today to 1 DVD at a time and even that would be a great deal. If I watch 2 movies a week (and use my free movie coupon); I should be able to watch 6-9 movies a month; which is definitely worth the 9.99 subscription price (especially since I don't have cable, satellite, and/or any other form of multi-channel television).

Good Blockbuster. Good movie watcher.

PS. in queue:
Letters from Iwo Jima
Azumi
Stranger than Fiction
Hotel Rwanda
Stomp the Yard
Freedom Writers
Volver
Good Shepherd
...
..
.

PTO: Paid Time Off

2007-06-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

I think PTO should be re-named: Pretty Tham Owesome.

My company recently announced that all employees starting in 2008 will be eligible for 13 days worth of vacation and employees with over 2 years of service will be eligible for 15 days of vacation (me). Adding in personal days and sick days, that means I will have over 20 days of 'PTO' in 2008; good thing too, I may need it for a honeymoon :). Just for reference, 22 buisness days is equivalent to 1 month of work, which translates to 1 month of pay to go on vacation.

And actually today I submitted my PTO for my Maldivian getaway in August. Everything should be set; we will be on vacation from 8/17 - 9/4; essentially 2 1/2 weeks or 11 total business days. Since the 7 nights I am spending in the Maldives do not count against my PTO; I still have over a week and a half worth of vacation time this year.

And the best part; I am being PAID while I sit on the beach and I am getting PAID while I go diving in crystal clear waters with pristine reefs.

I know my favorite pharmacist will be making some big money after she passes the board but since most pharmacists are paid hourly; it means work = money. I'm glad for me it's; get a tan = money. And I don't think my favorite pharmacist will have as many vacation days as I will next year; does that mean I will have to travel alone (hehe)?

Return of the King

2007-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

One player took on the entire Pistons team yesterday; a Pistons team that is known for their elite defense. King James was amazing, he was the only Cav to score in the two overtime periods; he was the only Cav to score in the final 12 minutes, dropping 25 straight points on the confidence shattered Pistons team. Give him another page in the history books because what he did was unbelievable; he is truly a remarkable talent. Game 6, Saturday; I want to see the Return of the King, finish the Pistons and get ready for Tim Duncan and his cronies. I believe.

To Save or Not to Save

2007-05-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Off the bat, I'm putting away 30% of my salary into my 401; I will definitely max that out this year. Last year's company match was close to $3000; and this year should be even higher (it has been paid out, I just haven't checked the actual amount). Regardless, it seems that my checking account dips, then plateaus, a roller coaster of up and downs; more 'down' in recent days (mainly due to the $2000+ paid to car care...). I know I have my Roth and my HSBC savings but I would simply feel more secure seeing my checking move in a steady upward direction. However, I don't see that happening anytime soon as I foresee additional expenses including many additional wants (never any needs); the next likely purchase being a nice new pair of polarized Oakley sunglasses. In the mean time, both my brother and I have cleared out our closets and a group of my friends intend to hold a garage sale sometime in the next few weeks. I doubt we will make any real cash but it will certainly clear out our closets and whatever doesn't sell will be a nice tax deduction from our local Goodwill.

More money, more wants and that is perfectly fine; as Kobe's new 24-logo states, carpe diem. I'm living for today (hello new sunglasses); with all the money I'm stock piling in my 401, I shouldn't have to be worried about tomorrow.

into the REAL WORLD

2007-05-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations babe!!! After 4 long years of hard work, you will soon have a nice piece of paper to frame (haha), which will come in handy in the REAL WORLD. Here are some pictures from your graduation:

...PiRo fell asleep and no matter what we did, she wouldn't wake up; I spoke with her earlier and she feels very sad that she missed your graduation and she really hopes that you will forgive her.

Dog in Search of Heart

2007-05-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

This is a story of a dog in search of courage, heart, and valor. Starring: PiRo, the Pussy Pup.

On a misty Saturday morning our heroine PiRo the Pussy Pup leads baby-blue clad Servant Girl Kaini into the world of demon dogs.

PiRo enlists her one true ally, HiRo, the Red Hermit; they don their capes and begin an eventful journey in search of courage.

PiRo is immediately humbled by the shear size of a guardian Saint Bernard. The Saint tells PiRo to keep her head up even in the face of monstrosity.

Leaving the gaurdian behind, our heroine encounters a Wiener-Dog; he laughs at her fear. Even someone of my small stature can bring fear into your eyes.

Already defeated, PiRo runs into yet another beast. With tail between her legs, PiRo submits. What ensues is too graphic to show; the beast sniffs at PiRo and snorts, if you were 6-months older, I would ravage you.

PiRo, despondent, runs into a nearby lake and tries to wash away her fears.

Even the Red Hermit echoes his encouragement; do not fret, it is not the size of the body, but the spirit within that counts.

The journey continues but it is a complete failure. PiRo, the Pussy Pup is unable to find courage. She leaves Servant Kaini and seeks the tutelage of Master Jack. PiRo walks side by side as Master Jack provides words of wisdom. Please tune in next time to see if our Heroine, under the direct supervision of Master Jack, can discover her inner demon.

Double Double Your Enjoyment

2007-05-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Are you seeing double? Yes you are! What you are seeing is 2 brand new Canon SD1000 digital cameras. I ordered only one via an un-named source and due to a shipping glitch I ended up receiving TWO!.

I will be keeping one of these for my own usage but will be selling the other one. I've done the research for you, a brand new SD1000 will cost you (pre-tax and shipping):
Amazon: $218.00
Dell: $211.00
BestBuy: $249.99
Newegg: $219.99
Walmart: 248.84

Cheapest is... lowpricedigital.com: $165.00
If you take a look at this website you will understand why this place is so cheap; seems kind of sketchy.

Bottomline, if you want this camera, let me know: $200 O.B.O. Bring cash to me and pick it up. And know that your money will be going towards below item (edit: I will let you borrow this underwater housing anytime you want!!!):

Anger Management

2007-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

K wasn't happy with some of my previous posts and she said she has stopped reading my blog. Quick poll:
Should:
1.) K take some anger management courses.
2.) J stop posting pictures of beautiful girls (such as those below).

Since K isn't reading the blog anymore; I will be sure to let her know what the readers think.