Random Thought: December 12

Friday, December 12, 2008

So, a funny thing happened today. I was going through the usual rounds of visiting websites in the morning (you know... 1. Gmail, 2. Facebook, 3. SI.com and 4. Icanhascheezburger & co.) when I came across an interesting 'Looks like photo.'

Many of my closest friends from Arizona know me as 'Brodie.' I was given the nickname as a result of an apparent resemblance to Jason Lee's character from the Kevin Smith cult classic 'Mallrats.' More recently, I've had someone tell me I resemble Ryan Reynolds now and then.

I guess since the two of them look alike, it make sense. I just thought it was funny.

Thoughts: December 11

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Random thought for today: It feels awesome when I successfully rip a paper towel off the roll using only one hand. Next time you're feeling down or grouchy, you should try it. I guarantee you'll feel at least a little better. Now, on to more serious business. Well, not serious, but less random at least.

For a long time, when it's come to music on my iPod, I've been what I call an "album purist." I disliked having any incomplete album, opting instead to have everything in full. I figured, 'I've got 60 GB. It's not like I'm hurting for space.' The result: nearly 6,000 songs, many of which I've never even listened to. As of yesterday, I'm changing my ways. I'm going through those nearly 6,000 songs one by one and assigning a rating to each (1-5 stars) based on the following system:

• 1 Star: Either not music to begin with (i.e. filler track) or an absolutely worthless track
• 2 Star: Not worthless, but something I couldn't enjoy listening to if I tried
• 3 Star: Run of the mill, pleasant enough to keep but nothing I'm in love with
• 4 Star: I may not count it among my favorites, by my head begins to bob immediately
• 5 Star: A standout song that I can listen to over and over without growing tired of it

If a song doesn't get at least 3 stars, it's gone - with one possible exception being those albums that flow in a continuous stream from start to end. If I really like the album overall, but not a particular part, it might not be worth deleting a song and breaking up the flow.

I'm hoping to get down to 5,000 songs. As of now, only 664 to go.

* Update: 12/16/08 - 452 to go.

Thoughts: December 7

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Most of this blog entry will be dedicated to my thoughts regarding upcoming holiday travel, but first I just wanted to take a moment to lament the end of one of my favorite things about NYC: Cafe Sutra. Today I planned to meet a beautiful young lady there for coffee only to see it's cheery facade closed behind it's iron security gate and a sign saying 'Lasso Cafe coming soon.' Seriously? Lasso cafe? To the living room I never had, I will miss thee and thy comfortable chairs. RIP.

Now... on to the holidays. Part of the reason I haven't written much in the last month is because I've been focusing on making it to the holidays: first Thanksgiving, and then Christmas and New Year's. Thanksgiving meant a wonderful visit to Houston, and for Christmas and New Year's I will be celebrating amongst friends and family in Arizona. Between all these flights and finishing off my student loan this month, I haven't had a whole lot of extra cash floating around. I've got a pretty fixed routine, and can recommend planning out a 'spending' schedule if anyone out there is trying to rein in what they're paying out. Mondays and Thursdays are regular 'free' days for me - I usually come home and work out and watch my Netflix movies. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are 'low spend' days because of pool. Friday's pretty flexible; Saturday is typically 'low spend' due to sleeping in, working out and getting chores done. And Sunday finished off the week with flexibility. Anyhow... that how I've been passing the time week in and week out until the holidays arrive.

In terms of flying, here's my main thought. When I flew home from Houston, I saw an open seat in the front row of coach and snagged it. Good call, right? Wrong. With all of the airlines charging riders to check their bags, more customers than ever are going to be trying to cram their stuff into overhead bins. That means that the last fliers to board the plane will likely be s.o.l. for overhead space. (Luckily, I was able to squeeze my duffle bag under the seat in front of me in first class. I counted at least 9 people who weren't so lucky and made me wonder: Do those people have to pay to check their bags?) Now, no one wants to board first because it usually means you're in the back of the plane where the turbulence rocks hardest, the restrooms smell foulest and the wait to get off is longest. So that means that if you're flying - shoot for a seat in the middle of the section, i.e. near the wings. You'll experience less turbulence, have a moderate wait to deboard and will have a better chance of getting overhead space.

That's all for now.

On Leadership

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Much has been written and recorded on the subject of great leadership. With changes in leadership occurring in both the public (read: Presidential) and private (read: Employment) areas of my life, I have been thinking about this quality more than usual lately. The following is my definition of a great leader. I would love to hear your thoughts, so I invite you to comment!

I believe no leader can be considered great if they fail to practice what they preach. It is the nature of leadership to be watched and followed, and therefore to lead by example. Hypocrisy acts upon leadership like water to metal. The relationship is a corrosive one.

I believe leaders earn the respect of others. Those who attempt to wrest loyalty without establishing rapport can only pose as great leaders. To earn respect, they must show respect to others. It is as simple as the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a tenet of humanity I wish we all subscribed to, but regrettably, not all of us do.

I believe a great leader thrives on open-mindedness. They listen as often as they speak and hunger for knowledge and new points of view, rather than attempting only to superimpose their own stances on others. They sponsor collaboration among opposing points of view and cultivate teamwork over individualism. And they are strong enough to admit they are not always correct.

I believe great leaders make a point of supporting others. They learn what inspires people and use that knowledge to encourage and inspire them. They follow up on the tasks they delegate with a sense of genuine curiosity and a willingness to debate over the things they see differently. The antithesis of support is to override and dictate, leaving another's efforts irrelevant and wasted.

I am sure there are many more things that separate great leaders from poor ones, and hope you will share them.

The Home Stretch: Follow-Up

Monday, October 20, 2008

After my last post, an Anonymous commenter asked for a list of the pros and cons for each candidate. This would be a difficult task for two reasons: 1.) Said pros and cons change on a continuous basis as each candidate's stances on things evolve, and 2.) This list would require an extensive and unbiased understanding of both candidates that I am not qualified to provide. I recommended that Anonymous make a list of the issues that matter most to them and note which candidate's policy he or she feels best suits the issue. Overall, Anonymous might vote for the candidate whose policies most frequently fit.

Today I came across an article in the International Herald Tribune released by the Associate Press titled Where McCain, Obama Stand on the Issues. It provides a breakdown of each candidate's approach on several issues, and should be useful for anyone still deciding who they want to vote for:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/20/america/Where-They-Stand.php

Hope it helps!

The Home Stretch

Friday, October 17, 2008

(Portions of this entry have been taken from the NYTimes. To see the full article, you can visit http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17innovate.html?pagewanted=1&ref=science.)

There have been questionable messages from both Presidential campaigns in recent weeks designed to instill negativity about one another. This has the harmful effect of taking attention away from what matters: how you feel about the issues. In many cases, this effect is deliberate.

As Election Day fast approaches, I want to ask a favor of you: As you prepare to vote, please decide what matters most to you for our country. Try your hardest to block out the fluff being thrown at you and vote based on what you feel will most impact our nation.

Case in point on the fluff versus the issues: Joe the Plumber (fluff) and American Innovation (issue).

We’ve all heard of Joe the Plumber. He is the icon of Senator McCain’s argument that Senator Obama’s tax policies will harm small businesses and jobs in America. (Obama argues that his tax policy will reduce taxes for 95% of Americans - those who earn less than $250,000 per year). It is now known that Joe is actually Samuel; he is not a licensed plumber; not only does he not make the $250,000 that would see a tax increase under Obama, he actually owes back taxes; and he is a registered Republican. The bottom line is this: this is fluff designed to take your eyes of the ball. This guy isn’t the issue; tax policy is. Vote based on the tax policy you want. This likely means that if you make less than $250,000 Obama’s your guy; and if you make more than $250,000 McCain is your guy.

Now consider America’s eroding position at the leading edge of global innovation. Our nation – once the Tiger Woods of science and invention – will have a high tech trade deficit in the neighborhood of $60 billion this year. Realizing this trend, in 2005 the National Academies released a report called “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” that proposed the government sponsor scholarships for math and science teaching careers and college students studying science, math and engineering; increase the budget for basic research by 10% for seven years; and establish programs that make broadband access available nationwide at low cost. This is an issue I care about, and the candidates have very different approaches to resolving this issue.

McCain proposes deregulation and lower corporate taxes – providing businesses with more resources for research. He also favors limiting exports of certain high tech items to countries like China for security reasons. According the journal Science, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economic adviser and head of the Congressional Budget Office under Mr. Bush, serves as McCain’s “point man” on science, having been in touch with experts on climate, space and “science in general.” (He also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.)

Obama feels cutting costs and shrinking government won’t cut it, and supports increased government funding of basic research and education in math and science. He worked with other Senators (McCain not among them) to introduce a bill built on the recommendations from the National Academies. He has also established a science advisory committee led by Dr. Harold Varmus, a Nobel laureate who is president of the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and this month has the endorsement of 61 American Nobel laureates in science.

The era of American technological dominance was fueled by government investment in research and education. Would U.S. companies invest resources into R & D or pad employee salaries? These are things you must consider for yourself. And, most importantly, vote based on the approach you support.

Protein.... coma....

Monday, October 13, 2008

Just a quick random thought/update on what's going on these days! I was talking to my excellent friend Matt Estrada the other day about building muscle and he recommended a LOT more protein that I've been getting. After a little research, he was right - I'm supposed to be shooting for 150g of protein each day. That probably means cooking and eating a lot more chicken, pork, fish and beef - and thank God for tuna fish (50g in a can) - but after one day of eating 147g I am speechless. I had to eat a LOT of food today.

So if you've got any tips on foods that are high in protein and low in fat, send 'em my way. Gracias!

Review of the Presidential Debate

Saturday, September 27, 2008

I’ve decided to write a post reviewing the first debate between Obama and McCain. I will be reviewing each of the eight topics discussed in two parts: 1.) Main points from each candidate’s response, and 2.) My thoughts on each topic. I don’t know if I’ll be doing this after every debate, but after anticipating this first one for so long, I wanted to chime in.

Topic #1: This week’s financial meltdown.

OBAMA

• Inferior regulations rooted in trickle down economics put us into this situation
• The answer is to revamp regulations to meet 21st century conditions

MCCAIN

• We need more oversight of the regulators, but not more regulations
• The fundamental goodness of the American spirit will prevent this from happening again

MY THOUGHTS:

We need both stronger regulations and stricter oversight. The notion that providing more room for the wealthy to get wealthier will trickle down into the middle class has proven to be wrong.

Topic #2: Getting the US out of this financial mess.

MCCAIN

• Clean out rampant earmarks in Washington - claims he will veto any bill with an earmark
• Reduce government spending
• Reduce the 35% business tax rate in order to stimulate job growth
• Wants to double child tax credit to $7000

OBAMA

• Change the tax policy to relieve the middle class - reduced taxes for 95% of Americans
• Attacks McCain's $300 billion in tax cuts for those who earn $250,000 and up
• End tax breaks for companies who send jobs overseas
• Close loopholes that leave the corporate tax rate ineffectual

MY THOUGHTS:

McCain is to be applauded for his focus on eliminating earmarks, but not all earmarks are of evil. I would prefer the President to thoroughly review each, rather than automatically veto. Obama is to be applauded for his focus on helping the middle class, whose wages have effectively shrunk relative to inflation over the last few years.

 

Topic #3: Giving up priorities in response to the $700 billion finance rescue

OBAMA

• Can't know what will be delayed until we see what kind of budget we have to work with
• Things most important not to delay:

1. Energy independence - more domestic oil production, better fuel efficiency standards and growing alternative energies
2. Education in science, technology and math; making college affordable
3. Update infrastructure in terms of broadband lines and power grid to rural communities
   

• Locate areas of wasted spending such as money to private insurers; the war in Iraq

MCCAIN

• Rein in government spending by eliminating ineffectual spending, such as ethanol subsidies
• Total spending freeze with the exception of Defense and Veterans Care
• End to Cost + Contract defense spending, replaced with Fixed Cost spending, to eliminate massive overruns
• Reduce $700 billion that goes to other countries, some of who are hostile to us
• Create 700,000 new jobs by building 45 nuclear plants by 2030

MY THOUGHTS: In my opinion, these types of questions do more to define a candidate’s character than anything else. McCain’s answer seemed jumbled – like when he said A healthy economy with low taxes is the best recipe for having the economy recover. What?! The answer to a struggling economy is a healthy economy? If the economy is healthy, what are we recovering from? I also loved McCain’s response to Obama’s challenge that it’s hard to swallow talk of reining in spending when McCain voted for so much of Bush’s spending. McCain’s response: I’m a maverick. Well, I’m sold!

 

Topic #4: The Lessons of Iraq

MCCAIN

• Key lesson (not too brilliant): You cannot have a strategy that cause you to lose. Supported the change in strategy to the troop surge and thinks it has been successful.
• Feels we must leave Iraq a winner because we cannot afford not to - period.

OBAMA

• Key lesson: You need to know more before you get into these things. We didn't know costs, had no exit strategy, didn't think about impact on international relations, and hadn't even finished fighting Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
• Clarified McCain's attack: McCain voted against war spending with a timetable, while Obama voted against spending without a timetable

MY THOUGHTS: It all comes down to this issue of a timetable. As far as I know, Iraq’s got a $79 billion surplus (something the US will never have again) and the president there agreed with Obama’s 16-month plan for staged withdrawal of US troops. Meanwhile, attacks by Al Qaeda are picking up globally. I think that despite McCain’s assertions, Obama’s got this one right.

 

Topic #5: Strategy for Afghanistan

OBAMA

• Wants 2-3 additional brigades there as quickly as possible
• Feels that Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan is our greatest threat
• Wants to press Afghan government to work for its people, end the poppy trade
• Want to deal with safe havens for terrorists along Pakistan's northwest borders
• Would attack Al Qaeda leaders on Pakistani soil if Pakistan is unwilling or unable to act

MCCAIN

• Does not want to threaten Pakistan; wants Pakistani government to help in gaining support of people along the country's NW borders
• Feels you cannot publicly announce the US would attack without Pakistani approval
• Believes timetable for withdrawal in Iraq will have calamitous effect on Afghanistan

MY THOUGHTS: When you sift through all of back and forth and blabbering about records, both candidates make strong points. We do need increased military presence in Afghanistan. It would be great if the Pakistani government could garner the support of its people to clean terrorists out of the country’s northwest borders. But the fact is that they aren’t doing much to help us, and at some point you have to realize what’s going on and take care of business.

 

Topic #6: Threat of Iran

MCCAIN

• Form a League of Democracies with French, British and Germans to impose sanctions on Iran
• Highlights Iran's influence on Iraq War by providing weapons to US enemies and hosting special groups for training
• Attacks Obama's use of the words 'talking without precondition,' feels it immediately legitimizes hostile leaders and gives them credence
• Will sit down with hostile leaders but only with pre-conditions; believes in 'trust, but verify'

 OBAMA

• Feels the Iraq War enabled Iran to increase its influence in the region in the first place
• Feels sanctions cannot be successful with involving Russia and China who have extensive trade with Iran
• Highlights that efforts to isolate hostile leaders accelerates aggressive behavior
• Reserves the right to meet hostile leaders anytime it will make America safer; feels you cannot have a policy of 'do what we say or we won't have contact with you'
• Wants preparation and low-level diplomatic talks before leaders meet

MY THOUGHTS: Ahmadinejad is insane. But he is also not the only influential person in Iran. Stepping up diplomatic relations will be integral to finishing the Iraq War, with or without a timetable. We do need to continue to repair our relationships with longstanding allies, but will not be able to accomplish our goals without also increasing diplomatic relations with others. Minced words aside, no president will ever sit down with a hostile leader without massive prep work.

 

Topic #7: What to do About Russia

OBAMA

• US approach must be evaluated in light of Russia's unacceptable aggression in Georgia - a threat to stability in the region
• Must help rebuild Georgia's economy - Russia wants to weaken it in order to push out the president
• Warned in April that Russian peacekeepers were in Georgian territory rather than International peacekeepers
• Must support startup democracies in the region and invite others to join NATO
• Must work with Russia to stem nuclear proliferation and loose nuclear materials that can reach Al Qaeda

MCCAIN

• Need to bolster friends and allies in light of Russia's unacceptable aggression in Georgia
• Focuses on oil pipeline that runs through Georgia to European nations; feels Russia seeks to regain old Empire
• Must support inclusion of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO
• Want to work with Russia, but expects them to behave in respecting boundaries
• Highlights importance of recent political breakdown in Ukraine, ensuring positive relations with Ukraine

MY THOUGHTS: Much of what candidates said was identical, with McCain going into greater specifics such as in the case of Ukraine. I don’t think either has a real advantage over the other on this issue.

Topic #8: Likelihood of 9/11-Style Attack on the U.S.

MCCAIN

• Safer today than the day after 9/11, but far from safe
• Has worked to pass into law many recommendations made by the 9/11 Investigation Commission
  
• Must improve human intelligence and technology; ensure we have trained interrogators and never torture a prisoner
  
• Work more closely with our allies; if we fail in Iraq, it encourages Al Qaeda

OBAMA

• Safer in some ways: airport security, securing potential targets, but still a long way to go
  
• Need to harden on chemical sites and transit — ports
  
• Biggest threat is not nuclear missile in the skies, but in a suitcase. Nuclear proliferation is so important. Spending only a few hundred million dollars on proliferation is a mistake
  
• Must focus on Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan
  
• How we are perceived in the world will make a difference in rooting our terrorism. Must restore America’s standing in the world
  
• We borrow billions from China, who is active in regions where we are absent – broader strategic vision that has been missing
  

MY THOUGHTS: I think it was pretty telling that when asked to talk about restoring America’s reputation, McCain only spent time trying to bash Obama. Obviously we are far from safe—at least Obama used his time to talk about areas where we can prevent another 9/11 attack which was, after all, the point of the question.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I think Obama took the momentum early on in the debate, and McCain responded by resorting to minced words and stretched allegations for the last 45 minutes of the debate. Many of their responses had much in common, with the exceptions of tax policy, a timetable for Iraq, handling Pakistan, and diplomacy with friends and foes alike.

6 Months of Blogging

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Greetings! It's been 6 months or so since my first post, and I'd like to thank anyone who has stopped by or continues to stop by. My goal was to provide a place where friends and family could check in on me, and I hope my entries have been enjoyable. Now without further ado, here are some of my random thoughts from over the weekend:

I love movie music. A well-composed score or a well-selected song is one of my favorite elements of movie watching. It is for this reason that composers like John Williams, Yann Tiersen and Gustavo Santaolalla count among my favorite Artists. Imagine how differently movies would feel without music! In Eternal Sunshine, the music rises and fades with each of Joel's memories and emphasize those he holds most dearly. The LOTR Trilogy wouldn't have been nearly as epic without its symphonic scores. Gangster rap scattered throughout Office Space highlights the irony of white collars. Sinatra speaks Harry's mind as he sprints to find Sally after finally realizing it had to be you. Any movie with John Williems (See: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Home Alone, Superman) is as memorable as it is due largely in part to their sweeping and moving soundtracks. (To those of you with any song now stuck in your head... enjoy it.) To those of you reading - what movie music moments stand out most in your memory?

I hope cell phone usage never pervades all mass transit. I read an article in the Times today about American Airlines' decision to block VoIP access (i.e. Skype) from its new wireless broadband internet on some cross-country flights. Work addicts may decry this lack of phone access, but I most certainly do not. One of my favorite things about the subway: No mobile coverage. No squawking, shouting, one-sided bullhorns in 50 different languages flooding my ears. Compare this to my last trip home from CT on the (above ground) Metro North railroad, where I heard a man talk for the ENTIRE 90 MINUTES about everything from who looked good at a party to how his piece (read: firearm) got caught in his pants the first time he was getting down with his girl. In terms of mass transit, I will savor the quiet for as long as it continues to be.

I am ready for this no-man's land between summer and fall to just make the leap. September is an awkward month in NYC. It's cool enough during mornings to think, 'Should've worn a sweater,' but still pretty warm and muggy in the afternoons. The trees are still in full form, as if the cold hasn't yet entered their minds. I say Bring on the October. One of my favorite feelings is the nipping, crispy air on my face as humidity disappears and temperatures begin their descent into the ice box of winter. After being inundated by green for a few months, I anxiously await the firestorm of reds, yellows, oranges and purples as trees lock up their resources to last until next spring. And, of course, October means baseball playoffs. The Mariners were out after about 9 games; and after leading the NL West for most of the season the D-Backs appear to imploding way worse than people were expecting from the Haldron Collider. But, not all hope is lost... 4.5 games is a doable comeback. Either way, NYC is one of those baseball havens where you couldn't avoid news of the playoffs if you tried. And I like that.

De-Railed Finishes T-17th out of 707

Monday, August 25, 2008

Just wanted to let everybody know how the trip to Vegas went! To begin with the end, De-Railed made into the round of the Top 32 teams before losing a nail biter to finish in a tie for 17th place out of 707 teams from across the country. We were 6-1 after being eliminated, with a 5-1 individual record. We played against teams from Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana and Massachusetts; outlasted every other team from the state of NY; and went farther than any other Brooklyn-Queens 8-ball team has ever gone. Do we know that we could've gone further with just a little bit of luck? Yes. Are we proud of what we did? Yes. We can't complain!

After our run came to its close and two of us - Danielle and myself - saw our skill levels rise from 4 to 5 mid-tournament, it was pretty clear that the experience had made an imprint on all of us that won't fade anytime soon. First and foremost, I think it taught us all that we can play. We did pretty well under some intense pressure and worked as a team to do it. When one person would stumble, another would make up for it. And when that person stumbled, the favor was returned. Personally, the trip taught me that strategy is as much a part of the game as shooting ability; and that patience wins matches while aggression and haste lose them.

While it would've been nice to earn a share of the $25000 for first place, we can't complain about the $2500 we got for 17th. It meant the food for the week was taken care of, and we walked away with something intangible that you can't put a price on anyway. =) Now it's time to focus on getting my Wednesday team, "Gritz on Your Face" into the division lead, local championship and Vegas 2009. 4 of the 8 Gritzers were part of De-Railed, and the other 4 are Vegas-caliber players who would rock it given the opportunity. So here's counting down to next time.

NY in the Summer

Saturday, August 16, 2008

The last days of summer are here, and I'd like to reflect on the last few months and fill in the sizable gaps that have appeared between writings here. It's been quite an eventful time!

First, the summer has been a season of new things. I live in a new home; it took a couple of months to get settled, but I'm finally done. The final touches were added these last few weeks, and I am really happy. (On a side note: IKEA + Brooklyn = Insane.) 

In other 'new' news, my pool team De-Railed leaves for Las Vegas to compete in a national 8-ball tournament tomorrow . It's my first time both visiting Vegas as a grownup and playing in a national tournament. Thank you to everyone who has sent good luck my way. Check out the design I created for our team shirts: 

The summer has also been a reminder of how many amazing people I'm blessed to have in my life. Visits to and from friends and family recharged my batteries and helped me to shake some of NY's grime off of my inside. I got back in touch with what makes me happy. I hope to see more of you all, wherever you may be.

Lastly, it's summer in NY: my favorite season! In addition to the traditional Shakespeare in the Park (Note: The first act of Hamlet = Amazing; the second act = WTF???) there have been a couple other cool happenings. One was a painful-in-a-good way kayaking trip from 56th St. to Hoboken, NJ and back. My friend Fredie and I will repeat that one in September. Another was a last-minute discovery that one of my favorite musicians & composers, Gustavo Santaolalla, was playing with an amazing Tango-Lounge-Rock group called Bajofondo (Google them!) at Central Park's Summerstage. I got to see them from the front row.

So yeah.... wherever we go, there we are. Hope you are happy and healthy.

If You've Never Heard Obama Speak....

Thursday, July 24, 2008

... and did not see his speech from Berlin, Germany, then please take a moment to listen to what he has to say here. I do not ask you to agree or condone anything - simply to listen. It's an important and meaningful speech, and I would gladly listen to anything anyone there would like me to check out. Enjoy!

*** On a personal note, I've read some criticism that Obama was too vague on issues like NAFTA during the speech. I'll bet that if he did go into great detail the critics would say he was pompous for acting like a President before becoming one. Can't win for trying, I guess!

Be the Change You Want to See in... Yourself

Sunday, June 29, 2008

A couple of nights back I saw a film called What the [Bleep] Do We Know? It had some interesting points to make about relativity and entanglement theory—two of the precepts behind the idea that every atom in the universe (including those that make up each of us) is interconnected. It has deep implications on how we treat others and the universe we live in.

The film also introduces ideas on how our emotions create the version of world we each see. In one instance a scientist photographs molecules of water before and after an emotion is channeled into them. It is eerie enough to see that the shape changes with the introduction of an emotion. However, it is disturbing to see the difference between, say, the result of love—a beautiful snowflake-like crystal—and anger: a formless, jagged mass. If our bodies are made mostly of water, how do our emotions affect us? Perhaps there is more to being positive than we realize.

According to the film, when we feel or think the same things over and over it causes our minds to rewire into a perception of the world based around the people, places and events that created the thoughts or emotions in the first place. We experience something significant, and the brain releases hormones called peptides tied to the emotions. Over time our bodies get used to—and even dependent on—running on these things. Maybe we hesitate to get into and out of new emotional states because our bodies dread the chemical withdrawal that will take place when we change our thoughts and introduce new emotions.

I’m sure there are scientists who support or disagree with what the film has to say, but one thing looks to be possible: we have the ability to design the reality we perceive from the inside out. We can create a world for ourselves filled with love and happiness; or fear and hurt. We can push ourselves into a rut—or we can pull ourselves out of one—with the act of consciously filling our minds with the thoughts and emotions we want to act as the foundations for the world our minds will perceive.

I'm Back... Now Go See WALL-E

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Greetings, friends. It's been a month since my last post, and an explanation is due. I moved into a new apartment June 1st. (This is a good thing.) It is a semi-spacious third floor studio with ample closet space, a decent kitchen and a tiny bathroom. It's in the rear of the building, away from the street and facing a back yard that only the chap two floors below me has access to. Luckily for me, said chap happens to be a friend of mine and the person who helped me find the new place. So far I am definitely digging living by myself! I am waiting on my economic stimulus check to arrive any day now so I can go and get my new bed, and have had an eye on some of the flat-screens at Best Buy... I would say by the end of August the place will look like it does in my mind's eye. I'll make a video and post it on here so you all can see my new home once it's complete.

Anyhow, for the first two weeks of June, I had no internet access at home. In a weird way, it was both inconvenient and nice. I had no ability to look things up outside the office, but at the same time didn't feel sucked into being online at home. In the end, though, I now have internet, and thus will be writing here more frequently! This is doubly true because I think I am going to start carrying around some type of little notebook that I can jot my ideas down in while I'm on the go... I feel like there are times I mean to write something but just have too much other stuff in my brain.

So... the last month in a nutshell: a lot of billiards with my 8-ball team winning the Brooklyn Championship and qualifying for a free trip to Vegas to compete at a national tournament in August.... getting settled into the apartment with a wonderful visit from John and Katherine a couple weekends back to help me paint the place.... weekend fun with friends from work in the form of Hudson River kayaking and seeing Hamlet at Shakespeare in the Park. All in all, it has been an insanely busy period that I am rather relieved is over.

I'll wrap this post up by recommending that you all go and see WALL-E in theatres as soon as you have the chance to do so. I hardly ever go to the movies anymore because most of them deserve nowhere near $10-13, but I had a feeling that WALL-E just might. Man, oh man... it is an amazing picture on so many levels. The animation at Pixar continues to get more and more awe-inspiring, and the experience of seeing this film on a big screen is truly a pleasure. The story has two levels going on... one that will touch a range of your emotions, making you laugh out loud at times and feel a lump rising in your throat at others... and another level that I hope young viewers will take away and hold on to as they grow older. I am going to buy this DVD as soon as it is available and beseech thee: Go see it. If you haven't seen the trailer, here goes:

The List Tradition Continues!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Hey all! I came across this list of 18 rules for living that are attributed to the Dalai Lama. Big hitter, the lama. And they are slightly more helpful than receiving eternal consciousness on one's death bed. Here they are!

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. Although many great achievements do involve great risk, it's not universally true. Planning can minimize it.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. The term "losing" is interchangeable with "getting something wrong."

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. And sometimes it's more than luck... sometimes things are too coincidental to be coincidence. 

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. I think instead of saying "break them" it should be "improve them" or "amend them." No rule is permanent, because with new knowledge rules can become irrelevant or inappropriate.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. If it's a great friendship, a little dispute will probably not cause much injury to begin with. If it does, it's probably not a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. Sometimes a mistake can product a better result... so perhaps not always.

8. Spend some time alone every day. Preferably on a golf course.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. My first thought was that sometimes values change... I would write it Open your arms to change, but don't let go of what makes you who you are.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Seems I might have this one backwards right now.... tending to be silent when I should speak up, and talking too much when I should be silent.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for you life. I like this one because I'm moving on Sunday and am very excited to create a nest of my own that I am happy to come home to every day.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. I'm due for something in 2008... we'll see!

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Update on Life

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Hello all! Things haven't gotten any slower here. I've hardly had time to look around and find interesting things to write about. However, I do enjoy visiting a website called buzzdash.com. People submit poll questions there, and they scroll across the homepage. I'll find myself answering questions for 10-15 minutes before the scroll the whole way through. And what's even nicer is that they let you create your own questions for your blog. So I've created a question about something that's on my mind lately: the economic stimulus rebate check. According to the IRS website, thanks to the last two digits of social security number I shouldn't expect mine until the end of June. Even still, I've known all along what it's going toward: a delicious queen-sized bed. (No, I'm not going to try to eat it. It's figurative language.) So I decided to ask the question: what will you spend your check on?

In other news, June should be a phenomenal month. I'm moving into a studio on June 1st, and can't wait. Living by myself is something I've wanted since I moved to NYC, and two years later it's happening. Between that and my favorite time of year to be in the city thanks to all kinds of free events, I will hopefully spend a lot of time making my new place into a home and the rest getting into a lot of fun.

So, let me know what's going on with your early summer. Anything fun? And vote in the poll! =)

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Saturday, May 03, 2008

April was a pretty dry month in terms of blog posts... before I knew it the month was over and I'd only written three posts. Yikes. Things are admittedly busy lately between work and pool (and now trying to find a new place for June 1st) but I'll try to throw posts up more frequently for those actually reading. =)

I've decided to take an opportunity to throw a shout-out to a few of my favorite things: namely, some NYC locales that make me happy. I'll hopefully give a couple of good reasons as to why they're my favorites that will inspire you to think about your favorite places. If you'd like to, post a comment about your favorite places. And I'm not just talking NYC - I'm talking anywhere. Because you never know... someone could be searching on Google this very instant for a cool place to go, and your comment could turn up in the results and give them an idea!

Without further delay....

1.) Cafe Sutra, 639 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. This place is like the living room I've never had. If I'm ever a millionaire, I might just move the whole operation into my living room. Big comfortable chairs, copies of the Onion, sweet jazz and lounge tunes flowing out of crisp-sounding speakers compliments of satellite radio, and coffee drinks that make me salivate just thinking about them. They feature local artists' works and have music nights. And if that's not enough, they have free wireless. They had me at "Hello." The owner is a great guy; very friendly and interested in hearing what customers have to say. They've been experimenting with frequent purchase reward deals - buy 9, get the 10th free kinds of things. Once they've got one of those in place, you'll basically know where to find me.

My Cafe Sutra addiction is a croissant with a large Shiva: A latte with Ghiradelli Chocolate and Peppermint. (Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... must restrain myself from getting up this second and going to get one. The name of this place is highly accurate to the delicious feelings one gets when drinking a Shiva.) 

2.) BAM Cafe, 2nd floor, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a cool place in and of itself - they've got live theatre, a movie theatre, art exhibits and more. But my favorite place to be in the BAM is on the 2nd floor at 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturday nights. There, you will find the BAM Cafe. With a kind of modern hangar feeling (think metal framing, brick and soft white lights) it makes for a very intimate setting. Then you add in the fact that at 9:00 Fridays and Saturdays they have FREE concerts featuring all kinds of music (usually amazing) and it becomes an ideal date night. You can drink some wine or beer while listening to a wide array of musical styles - everything from jazz to Latin to R&B to world. Make sure you bring an extra $15-20 for the artist's CD, because it's the kind of stuff you won't find in stores but will wish you could. I can't walk out of without buying a CD. Check out their website for more info. http://www.bam.org/events/bamcafelive.aspx

3.) Juilliard, Broadway and 65th Street, New York, NY. My golfing buddy Reggie introduced me to this one. During the school year, if you head over to the calendar of events at juilliard.edu on any given day, you will find several free events going on. Musicians, singers and dancers at Juilliard may be students, but they're unbelievably talented. And in order to get experience under their belts, they put on free shows. A couple of days ago I went to a 2-hour concert by the Juilliard Orchestra where they played 5 pieces written by Juilliard music composition students. It's an added bonus that you're basically at the Lincoln Center, a beautiful group of buildings including the Metropolitan Opera. After the show you can walk by the fountain and head over to any of a number of nearby restaurants, including some amazing Mexican food and drinks at El Centro (9th Ave and 54th Street.)

What Would You Do Differently?

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Greetings all! I hope this post finds everyone happy and healthy. Things in New York are warming up (literally and figuratively!) Pretty soon I'll find myself occupied with impulses to golf and preoccupied with trying to find a new apartment. May is my last month in my current place, and I'm itching for a solo place of my own. I'll keep you posted, and am hoping to make a little video of wherever I end up so you all can see where I live.

My friend Kerry recently recommended a book to me that details a scientific exploration into the possibility of consciousness after death. They take multiple renowned psychic mediums and multiple participants and run consecutive experiments that prevent all possibilities for fraud, only to have some pretty incredible things start coming up. It's called The Afterlife Experiments, for those who are up for a truly interesting read. The idea is that if you live a life filled with love, you will maintain a connection with others after your body is no longer a part of the existential equation. At its root, this meshes well with my favorite goals in life: treat others the way you'd like to be treated, and love one another. It also fits the dreamer in me that believes much of what might be seen as coincidence is actually a nudge from someone that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but only felt with the heart.

Now this type of subject matter can get dicey or touchy when different religions get involved. The beauty of this book is its objective point of view. It simply amasses factual evidence that points to a strong possibility of consciousness after death. And then it asks: What would you do differently if you knew the entities that are "you" and "loved ones who have passed" would exist infinitely, like the light that long-dead stars emitted thousands of years ago? Would you drop a grudge against someone? Or conversely, be more careful about crossing others? Spend less time worrying? Personally, I think it strengthens my goal of adhering to the golden rule by making the consequences for how we treat one another more weighty.

So if it is possible, what would you do differently?

Time Flies... And Then You are Grown

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Howdy all! The last week and a half has been a busy one, with trips to Seattle and Chicago for work. The highlight of the week was probably a random decision to go for a 6-mile run so that I could see the Japanese Tea Garden, only to get there and find out it was closed. It's the hardest run I've ever gone on, and possibly the longest too. Hardly any of it was flat! My left foot has been hurting for a few days now, so I'm cautiously hoping that goes away sometime soon.

During all the traveling, I lose track of things I want to write about in the blog. (I really should start keeping a little list somewhere.) However, I wanted to share an amusing article from Men's Health. (Quickly becoming one of my favorite magazines... stuff on exercise, health, food and other manly things.)

Apparently, there are 18 things a grown man should never have. If you'd like to see how I stacked up, keep on reading...

1.) A black eye. Never had one of those. I've never really even been in a fistfight. Even the skirmishes I had in elementary school were ridiculously on the defensive.

2.) A witty email signature. No quotes or song lyrics in my email. I do have my contact info beneath my work emails, but I think that falls short of witty.

3.) An empty refrigerator. Guilty as charged... perhaps when my commute is shorter in months to come I will have more time and patience for cooking. In the meantime, vive taquitos!

4.) PlayStation thumb. The last game system I had was a Nintendo 64, which I gave away a long time ago. So I've been gamer thumb free for quite some time now.

5.) A key chain with a bottle opener. Guilty... made even guiltier by the fact that it's got my college logo on it. I think this will be one of the last things to go.

6.) A lucky shirt. While I do have a few favorite shirts (i.e. my Waterbury Swimming and Yavapai T-shirts) I consider none of them lucky.

7.) An unstamped passport. Whew! Just got that one in a few months ago with a trip to Ireland. I hope to add onto that at some point.

8.) Olympic dreams. Luckily for me, golf isn't an Olympic sport. So I can dream all I want. I think there may be a stint as a golf instructor at some point in my life.

9.) Less than $20 in his wallet. I do usually carry something on me, but not always. And I'm still not carrying business cards often enough.

10.) A name for his penis. This one made me laugh. Not because I have a name for mine, but just because it's always funny. Seriously, you know you laugh at those jokes in movies.

11.) Any beer that costs less than $20 a case. There are beers that cost more than $20 a case?

12.) The need to quote The Big Lebowski/Caddyshack/Superbad. Uh oh. This one nailed me. At least in the first two cases. I have yet to quote Superbad. "Thank you very little."

13.) A futon. Guilty, but only for a few more months. After I move, it's time to bring on the queen-sized bed. Hello, comfort. Goodbye sagging into the middle. Futon, 'tis the time to embrace your role as a couch.

14.) Code words for ugly women. Along the same lines as me never being in a fistfight, I'm clear on this one. I can only hope that women out there don't have code words for ugly men.

15.) A Nerf hoop in his living room. I have golf clubs in my bedroom, but golf is a grown man's game, so I'm safe. Although I'm always tempted to buy Nerf guns when I see them.

16.) A secret handshake. None here. I have a standard 3-step handshake that I learned growing up in Waterbury, but everybody does it there. So it's not a secret.

17.) Drinking glasses with logos. I don't have any... yet. I don't know if I'd be able to resist a good sports team logo on my glass of cold beer.

18.) A recent story with the phrase "So I said to the cop..." I'd tell you something about this one, but my lawyer made it pretty clear I'm not to say anything outside a court of law.

Checking In

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Howdy all!

I just wanted to check in with you in case you began to wonder if I'd been neglecting the blog. The last week was a busy one, and I haven't had a lot of free time for random musings. That said, on with the post!

Earlier this week I traveled to Atlanta for a project I am working on. It was my first trip down there of any worthwhile amount of time, and would like you to know that it's one of the prettiest parts of the country I've been to yet. I've driven from Phoenix to Waterbury twice, and been fortunate enough to see several parts of the U.S., and Atlanta's among the top of the list. I really like being outdoors and seeing foliage. Atlanta has trees everywhere you look, and this time of year they are all flowering. All of the houses feel grand and garner respect, and it's clean almost everywhere you look. On the recommendation of one of my co-workers, we had dinner at a local place called Fat Matt's Rib Shack. (If you saw how much I ate, you'd think they named it after me.) I had me a delicious BBQ pork sandwich and a local beer whose name escapes me. The best part of the restaurant is the outdoor seating and live blues music. It made me feel like I saw a part of life down there, and the whole experience was great. We really do live in a beautiful country... the evergreens of Pacific Northwest, the flowering trees of the Atlantic Southeast, the cacti in the desert and the many colors of a New England fall all make me feel happy.

The project that I am working on is a very inspirational one that, in a roundabout way, asks, "How do you express who you are?" We are always evolving as people as we learn and see new things, and we mark our evolution within our surroundings by filling them with reminders like photos, music and more. So if you are reading this, and feel comfortable chipping in, what are some of your favorite or unique habits or means of expression that convey who you are? For me, this blog is becoming one such outlet. I don't put a lot of thought into the clothes I wear or decorating my living space, but I've put some thought into this here blog.

And for your viewing pleasure, a video another one of my coworkers shared with me. It's a pretty touching idea:

Movin' Right Along

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hello all! It's been a few days since I last wrote, and I'm "writing home to catch you up on places I've been." 

Earlier this week, I traveled up to Boston for work. It was my first time there since a field trip in sixth grade or so, and I took the train up. I learned that I really enjoy riding trains - certainly more so than riding on planes. There's no hassle about security checks, which is equally convenient and jarring. Second, there's a ton of leg room and personal space, which is great for people on the larger side. Lastly, it's really peaceful. You get to see new countryside up close and personal and feel closer to the neighborhoods you travel through. It's a much different experience than looking down on the country from 35,000 feet in an airplane. It made me feel introspective and calm.

While in Boston, I got a chance to meet up with two of my oldest friends, Latoya and Matt, for dinner. Two very cool and inspiring people. We had some PF Chang's - one of my favorites. It's great to see how well they are both doing in their lives, living as independent and successful young adults. The conversation turned to our times in the past and how they helped to get us where we are, and it's comforting to think that Waterbury helped to produce all of us in its own ways. It gives me a sense of roots and companionship to look back on our common experiences.

Up next on the schedule is Atlanta a.k.a. Hot-lanta. My flight's on Sunday, and I'll be back in NYC late Wednesday night. I'm going to miss seeing the Braves home opener by the slightest of margins, which is disappointing. I would've liked to see that. Oh well, baseball season is beginning and that makes me happy.

Now for your viewing entertainment, a video that fits in with all this travel I'm doing lately:

 

Funny Realization

Friday, March 21, 2008

For the longest time, I've noticed that for some mysterious reason, I always get little ads for Spam recipes atop my Gmail page. Spam tortillas, spam 'n eggs, spamwiches... I always wondered what I'd done to merit such unusual recommendations.

It only took me a year or so to figure out that it's just a part of how Google takes key words from your emails, etc., and makes recommendations based on them. Since the word "spam" is always present on my Gmail page, it's just making a recommendation based on that.

I found this really amusing. Ah, the simple pleasures.

I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend! I'll be using the time to prepare for a long 3 weeks of work and travel. To anyone in Boston, Atlanta, Seattle or Chicago: Let me know if you'd like meet up!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Monday, March 17, 2008

I just wanted to say a quick Happy St. Patrick's Day to everybody! I hope everyone out there has a safe and merry one. I myself will be chillin' back with some Jameson & cranberry juice, watching Boondock Saints. It's becoming my traditional way to celebrate: 2 years in a row now!

Quick notes... I learned how to make videos with my webcam today, so I've added it here! My apologies, as it's not the greatest. Hopefully they'll get better!

And! One quick note... I added a music player to the top of this blog. Right now it's just playing some of my favorite tunes, but if anyone would like to hear a song added, I can try to put it on there! I'd love to have a mix of what people are listening to, so just let me know

Death and Taxes

Saturday, March 15, 2008

For the first time, I have felt the sting of having a full-time post-college job... I owe the federal and state governments a total of $1100 in taxes. I thought it was called a "tax return," as in get something back. For a second I was really excited about having an extra $600 for the economic stimulus rebate. Now it's just a cold compress on my bruised finances... anybody else having tax nightmares? Maybe I can be like Ana Pascal from "Stranger Than Fiction" and just pay proportionately based on only the government spending I condone. TurboTax said I'm at a low risk for an audit.... tempting thought.

John's Movie!

Monday, March 10, 2008

For those of you who have (and haven't) met my good friend Johnny Doolan, he is an insanely brilliant soon-to-be-a-force-to-be-reckoned-with movie man. Dude's so fly he's got his own entry on IMDB. Click on the title of this entry to see the trailer for his first completed film, "Banshee!!!" The movie studio he works for had a script that needed work, and they put it in good hands. It'll be available on DVD later this year, so when you get yourself a gift certificate to a movie store, check to see if they've got it! (For those of you too stubborn to click the link, here's the URL:

http://syntheticcinema.net/banshee/index.html

New Post!

Hello again! I hope that this post finds you well. It finds me at home, after a Monday at work after a long weekend in Washington DC. I headed down to visit Meg M., Erin B. and Phil (over from Ireland!) The weather wasn't particularly nice, but it was a great weekend. I got to spend time with people I miss, complete with beautiful architecture, aimlessly fun conversations, some excellent movies ("Good Bye Lenin," "Once") and some singing. (They got me to sing, and as nervous as I am about it nowadays, it felt great.) Here's a weird artsy picture I made of each of the four of us in front of a sculpture in the garden at the National Gallery of Art:




And here's some things I've been thinking about the last few days:

1.) Daylight savings time is a violation of my civil rights! The government cannot censor what I say... cannot force me to follow a religion... cannot search my home without a warrant... inalienable rights. In the cases of free speech and religion, these are subjective experiences: each of us has our own meanings attached to things. Now take the notion of time. It's pretty hard to interpret differently from person to person... it can't be sped up or slowed down... rewound or fast forwarded... yet the government feels it has a right to steal an hour of my precious sleep away from me. Who's to stop them from turning the clock on its head any time they want to? This madness must be stopped. Although I do like walking home in the daylight.

2.) I've been thinking about how often I think by a process of justification... I eat "this" because I ate "that" earlier, or will eat "that" later on today... I spend "this" because I did or didn't spend "that" another time... I wonder how pervasive this balancing act is. Does it work against spontaneity? I know I tend to rationalize things, so maybe this is putting a new spin on some of that. Do other people do it? I hear it in research pretty frequently. What do you think?

Random Thoughts

Saturday, March 01, 2008

I'm reading a book for work called "The Anatomy of Buzz." It's written to attempt to explain how companies should think regarding the way our social networks impact the spread of ideas and product adoption. (Kind of like "The Tipping Point.") So far it's talked about how part of the process is that we're all part of several circles, and constantly picking up info from individuals in one circle and passing it to people in others, speaking up about positive and negative experiences as consumers. In some circles we might be leaders, making it a point to stay connected to the world outside the circle and keep learning. In others we might not go out exploring for info, and rather, simply rely on the word of others.

It made me start thinking about what circles I am in... circles of friends, family, coworkers... golfers, book enthusiasts... young adults, New Yorkers, U of A alumni... and kind of made my head spin. It's not one of those things we consciously think about, and can be kind of cool when it means you might very well be someone who influences the way others think in certain areas. So think about it: What circles are you a part of? When and where are you that influential person that others rely on for ideas and expertise? And who do you turn to for ideas and expertise on other things? It's kind of fun to think about.

I also had a couple of random thoughts today...

1.) I have a feeling that the same people who manufacture the mirrors for fitting rooms in stores also make the mirrors in barbershops and salons. In both places, you try something on or see your haircut and think, "Sweet!" Then you go home and all of a sudden it's like you're not even looking at the same thing anymore.

2.) I love it when I see older couples who walk side by side in stride, stepping left and right in sync without even realizing it. It makes me feel like there's reason to believe we could meet someone we connect with beyond a conscious level. Or, is it possible that once upon a time, these two people walked out of stride, bumping into each other or others from time to time, and only over time learned to walk together?

First Post

I don't get to keep in touch with my closest friends anywhere near as frequently as I would like to. Despite the doors of communication that the internet has opened, it's no match for time zone differences, busy schedules and a multitude of activities that can overpower even an IM with a friend. In the midst of a chapter in my life comprised largely of solitude, I miss having conversations about everything and nothing with people whose presence in my life I value very much. So I've decided to start writing about random thoughts, philosophies, activities and experiences, in the hope that anyone who would like to can turn it into an ongoing conversation. This blog isn't dedicated to any subject matter in particular. It's dedicated more to context than content: the people and energy behind the conversation, as opposed to the words themselves.

So if you're here, reading this, feel free to keep in touch. I'd really enjoy hearing from you.