History Lesson

Vincent Chin

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Song Of The Moment: Beyonce - Halo
Comment: Stupid Glee.

2010

That's nine. Which means I've implicitly signed up for death in 2010.

This will make or break me.

Let's hope it's not the latter.

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On another note, there is definitely nothing quite like reliving things you see in sitcoms. Today, we played some touch football in Battery Park. Just like out of the Friends episode. To keep in spirit, we kept sending someone "deep". To keep in even more spirit, some girls stopped by to watch. Brish yells out "nice boots!". Lining up near the sideline, we hear "nice boobs!". The girls look down confused. Their eyes brighten up as they hope we are not complete asshole and were talking about footwear. Unfortunately, they did not accept our invitation to join in. I did not get the opportunity to ask someone where the Dutch came from.

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Song Of The Moment: Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Comment: I am definitely yours.

Raptors!

The 2009-2010 season is underway and I have a few quick questions/comments already:

1) Huge benefit: they now have both the home and away broadcast available.
2) Huge weirdness: they don't play the Canadian commercials. Now, I don't miss the commercials per say, but they keep playing the mind numbing, anger causing elevator music while they wait for the commercials to end.
3) Matt Devlin < Chuck Swirsky
4) Vince Carter is injured already? Wait, why did I put a question mark behind that.
5) Isn't it interesting that so many of the good Raptors draft picks that were moved suffered injury woes? Marcus Camby, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter. Are we breaking them then trading them? :)

On another note:
In my mind, the definitive guide.

Game time!

New York, Cell Phone, Drama

Discovery is a beautiful thing.
Realization, on the other hand, can be a slap in the face.

Case in point, yesterday, I had an event that made carrying my cell phone inconvenient. As such, I decided that yesterday would be a cell phone free day. Little did I know how attached to my phone I really am.

1) Always checking your phone while waiting for public transit. While I knew about this, I never realized how much it had become second nature. While going to my intramural game, I had to take the subway, then switch to a bus. Waiting for the subway was not bad since NY (inexplicably) does not have a signal in stations still. However, while waiting 20 minutes for the bus, there was nothing to do. Sure, I had music on; but that did not really do enough to absorb my boredom.

2) After a long time away from the phone, checking it intently to find out the latest X. After the game, everyone, and I mean everyone, pulled their phones out to check up on email, calls, etc. Me? Sitting there lamely with my thumbs to twiddle. Not that it's a bad thing, but I was wondering what the situation was at work, my email account, etc. etc. Same at the bar after the game. Nothing. Just wondering...

3) Remembering things. Heading to the game, I was uncertain where the field was, how to get there, and when it was. I had been to the field once, so I vaguely remember the route, which corner the bus stop was at and what time the bus came. Without my phone, there was always doubt. The inability to double check create an aura of uncertainty. Before a data plan, I could safely say I would have checked, remembered, and if needed, written it down. Now, I choose not to remember and look it up when needed. Is this better or worse in the long run? Does my phone help me remember the 'mundane' things and concentrate on more complicated tasks? Does it let me focus more brain cells on other problems? Or does it provide a crutch so less brain cells are engaged?

Yesterday's experiment was eye-opening. I knew I was attached to my phone; I had never realized how much. Now it's just time to determine if this is a benefit or detriment to my life.

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Song Of The Moment: Jay-Z - Empire State of Mine Feat. Alicia Keys
Comment: New NYC anthem. About time.

Bad Apple

So spoiled. Like a bad apple.

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Song Of The Moment: Drake - Best I Ever Had
Comment: Jen, I hate you for getting this song in my head.

Accounting

In life, you sometimes have to know when to cut your losses.

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Song Of The Moment: Rachel Stevens - Breathe In, Breathe Out
Comment: None.

Vegas, baby!

This is how I want Vegas-Oh-Ten to turn out. Plain and simple.

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Song Of The Moment: Ne-Yo - Miss Independent

Good quote

Borrowing this quote I read:

When we first meet, I am the nicest guy in the world and will
literally give you the shirt off my back. Unless you screw me over or
slight me in some way, in which case I become a petty, vindictive
jerk. I'm trying to find some gray in my black-and-white world.

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Song Of The Moment: Jay Sean - Down Feat. Lil Wayne
Comment: Peep the special effects.

Back! And it's almost August?!

Guess who's bizzack??

With that, July is almost over and August is here. Simply put, where has the time gone. One blink and a week goes back. Blink a few times, and that's a month. Next thing you know, it's 2010.

So what's up? List time? I think so!

1) Moving: What a disaster. Still in the old place. Waiting on the new place. Time is a runnin' out. Will there be homelessness in the future? Awesome! This IS a recession after all.

2) Twitter: You know, many days go by and things happen. I have two or three quick thoughts that I want to share, to see what other people think. Normally, the plan is to save them and blog it. However, as we all know, my adhd prevents me from actually remember these thoughts to put them in the blog. As a result, this blog is a bare as... you know... and my thoughts and questions go unanswered. Now twitter might be an ideal solution for this situation. However, do I really want to jump on this bandwagon? If enough friends twitter, it would be a great way to keep up with people's lives. MSN and FB are both not as mobile. We'll see.

3) Roy Halladay: Tough loss, but it's time we see him to a better place. What could have been: Carpenter/Halladay/Escobar. Two have World Series rings. Two have Cy Youngs. Toronto had all three. Just at the wrong time. What could have been: last year's rotation, true potential from the offense. Maybe we don't talk about trading Halladay, but picking up Holliday. Alas, our Toronto Blue Jays are in the AL East.

4) iPhone 3GS: On the todo list given that my iphone is 90% busted. Funny enough, the 10% is the internet capability and this sole function is pretty much all that is required. Email, web, maps, done. Who needs to TALK to people. That's so 1950!

5) ADHD: I had more to say, but I forgot. Maybe I'll try to remember and post more often.

Or go to Twitter.

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Song Of The Moment: Chris Brown - Forever
Comment: Just because of this. Someone should do it! Who's getting married soon??

Je suis triste

The girl is gone.

On another note, I have totally cheated my last ten cokes list. There has been a few in the last few weeks. I just have not had time to update, nor has life been kind enough to allow me time and space to note these down. As such, we'll pretend they never happened. Believe me when I say that I have not had more than 2 / week at most. (If even that.)

Go Penguins!

/ End random rant.

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Song Of The Moment: 側田 - 感動
Comment: Justin, you did it again!

HK?

He's right, you know.



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Song Of The Moment: Jin - 想影相\
Comment: New mixtape. So ill, it's sick.

Playoffs

Admittedly, this is one of the more exciting playoff seasons in recent memory. Both the NHL and the NBA have had some great, exciting close games. It's been worth watching even when there is only one team to root for.

With Regina as my witness, I totally called the Lebron shot. "3-pointer to win the game. I bet you the NBA scripts this sh*t!" (Yes, I was on a few beers. Exciting game; couldn't help it.)

With the playoffs as inspiration, I took some time today to rework my jump shot. (Again). I have a practice jump shot and an in-game jump shot. Never shall the twain meet, apparently.

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Song Of The Moment: Keri Hilson - Knock You Down Feat. Kanye West, Ne-Yo
Comment: Dessert or disaster? I used to be the captain of my pimp ship flying high...

Bitter Post

In this economy, everyone worries for their jobs. In good times, everyone thinks that their company treats them like crap.

The thing is, people complain all the time about their job and they rarely do anything to change the situation.

In the bad times, they don't want to because there is a fear of not finding another job. One that they may love, or at least enjoy.

In the good times, they look to jump to the same crappy job, albeit with a better salary.

So riddle me this, why don't more people pursue the things that they are passionate about? If you love reading, be a copywriter. If you love computers, go into tech. Why labour at something where you simply wait for 5 PM (or whatever time people get off nowadays)?

This all stemmed from talk I hear all the time about the terrible economy and how tough life would be. These are the same people complaining in the good times too. Maybe complaining is what they enjoy. They should start their own radio shows. Worked for a bunch of chronic complainers, eh?

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Song Of The Moment: 王力宏 - 心跳
Comment: You did it again. Awesome!

Nothing's Up

List time:

• Too much stuff goes on in life that I keep waiting for it to end so I can catch my breath. The only problem is, another starts... usually before the first thing has ended. Air!!


• Beer + NHL playoffs is a natural match. Something is missing if the game is on without the brew. There is an automatic sip the beer right before a faceoff.


• It's getting nice. Maybe it's time to put away the winter gear. Murphy says: "When you put away the sweaters, Mother Nature will own your ass with -25 weather."


• SF4 gaming has officially stopped. Something had to give. Actually, all video gaming has stopped.


• Allergies has officially started. Not cool. Nature is not my friend.


• It's going to be a busy weekend! Bring it on!

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Song Of The Moment: The All-American Rejects - I Wanna/Another Heart Calls
Comment: This album is fun to listen to. Something decent for work. Not too up, not too down.

Old Habits Die Hard

Every time a website asks for a contact number, it is inevitable that my old Toronto number finds its way into that entry box.

The same problem does not seem to occur with addresses and the like.

Maybe this explains why girls do not call me back. They have some random Toronto number. :D

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Song Of The Moment: 王力宏 - 星期六的深夜
Comment: Late to the party.

Don Cherry

Don, you can't complain about Ovechkin's 50 goal celebration. It was awesome. He's having fun. Don't take this away from hockey. They already got the NFL and NBA.

Hockey's better than that and you know it.

Flip flop

This is an interesting time in my life. My bodily hours are not exactly aligned with anything.

During the day, yawns are being suppressed as I pray for the day to end earlier.
During the night, my knee shakes with excitement due to all thing things that need to be and can be done the next day.

Essentially, my body is never happy. When it's time to sleep, it wants to do stuff. When it's time for action, it wants to stay in bed.

Damn you stupid body. Act normal. And stop being so fat.

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Song Of The Moment: T.I. - Live Your Life Feat. Rihanna
Comment: It's almost as addictive as Umbrella.

Newness

As seen on the right, I have added a widget thingy to indicate where my last Coca-colas have been. This will not only help you, the reader, determine if I am actually sticking to my claim, but it will help me, the detoxee, determine if I have truly quit, as I believe and claim.

Let it also be on the record that I did not have a coke between that post and now. However, I have been tempted. I brought a few cokes to my desk; however, when the hustle and bustle of work got going, I forgot about my mini-urge.

In other news, I ran the reservoir today. The run itself is a very peaceful, reflective time. During the run, I think of many things that flicker in and out of my head during the normal parts of life. Unfortunately, when the run ends and regular life kicks in, I forget all about them; some of which I do want to blog.

This actually happens a whole lot more than I'd like to admit.

Meh.

Eventually, we'll get to updates by email. Until then, they'll exist solely in my head.

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Song Of The Moment: Wang Lee-Hom - 第一個清晨
Comment: Love that Asian music

Ugh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Eye_w/_Greg_Gutfeld#Mocking_of_Canadian_Military_controversy

It's easy to make fun when you are sitting at home, I betcha.
Too easy to make fun of. Too unfortunate to joke about.

This was probably said in jest, but they simply come off as bitter. Certainly, that will make us want to join the next war effort.

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Song Of The Moment: Michelle Branch - Goodbye To You
Comment: Way back play back.

Some days...

I just don't like people.

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Song Of The Moment: Asher Roth - I Love College
Comment: I do.

Habits

Today I noticed two things while in a meeting room full of people.

1) There are a lot of nailbiters in a particular room. It's not particularly attractive.

2) Many folks drink Diet Coke. Cancer in a can! Maybe I don't understand taste; how can something so disgusting be consumed by so many people? One guy had three cans in three hours. I wonder if he had to pee.

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Song Of The Moment: 吳克群 - 對不起
Comment: No, I am not sorry for anything in particular. :p

Quitting

For the past year or so, I have been working on cutting drastically on one of my many vices. Coincidentally, this happens to one that goes way, way back to the point that this is one of the things people from elementary school remember about me.

That vice is coke. (Coca-cola, not... nevermind.)

I have had this beverage for as long as I can remember. For a very long time, I was drinking (for the most part) a can a day. On stressful/hot/celebratory days, that could be more. There were also spikes where I was drinking more than a can a day.

You might be asking why.

As everyone knows, America generally introduces you to larger portions. These large portions have combined to cause my weight to climb a little bit. While that's a contributing factor, it's not a driver of the reason.

As rumors have it, Coke is consider to be the fizzier of the two main Colas. Again, this is not a reason to quit. (If anything, it's a reason to continue!)

The honest fact of the matter is, my taste buds have changed. One day, I was halfway through my daily coke when I looked at the can and said: "This thing is too sweet." After that, I just drank less and less of it. I have never considered moving to the Diet/Caffeine-free/Zero/Cherry/any other variant of it. There was never a moment I decided to taste Pepsi (because that's garbage).

Maybe I am less OCD than I thought...

It would be dishonest to say I never crave a coke or I never drink it. However, I'm probably down to one or two a week, if even that. To put an actual statistic on it; I think I will try and log every coke I drink somewhere on the page of this blog. We will truly see how much I've really quit.

And we can't finish this story without irony: I started quitting when I began to get Coke for free.

As a side note, I've noticed that I've developed a taste for many things I hated as a child. In particular: pickles and honey dijon (NOT the regular mustard, that's still garbage in my eyes).

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Song Of The Moment: Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Comment: I think this is my 2008 song.

Quick Sports Thoughts

Watched Leafs-Islanders and Knicks-Bucks.

Quick thoughts:

1) Hockey is definitely a multi-person sport to watch. There is no fun to yell out at something that might happen, then look around and realize no one is there to scare or share the excitement with.

2) New Yorkers! Larry Hughes was a huge part of the Knicks game. The announcer kept saying "Eww-ughes". Pronounce the damn "H"! "Eww-uge shot by Larry Eww-ughes!". Really? Really? Gah.

3) The upper deck of the Milwaukee game was virtually empty. I understand it's the ending stretch of the season. On the other hand, the team has a tenuous hold on eighth spot. Is the economy that bad out in the midwest?

4) Same idea with the hockey game. The quiet environment and some empty platinum seats made me think that the Islanders were at home. Then I see the giant blue maple leaf and was relatively shocked to have empty seats and dead environment to a Leaf game.

5) Watching these sports make me miss playing sports a la university. *tear*

6) As I say all the time: Hockey in HD is awesome!


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Song Of The Moment: Soulja Boy Tell'Em Feat. Sammie - Kiss Me Thru The Phone
Comment: Not going to lie. This is a guilty pleasure song.

How to fix Tal's Apple Products

As some of you may know, I have been rocking iPods in various forms for a long time.
I own a 4G iPod, 1G Shuffle, 2G shuffle, and an iPhone. After today's events, I have come to believe that these products are, from a functional standpoint, almost indestructible.

My 4G is exhibit A in this conclusion. I have body slammed this phone on two occasions snowboarding. Instead of luckily landing on snow during the fall, I decide to choose an ice patch to attempt ipod-icide. The result: a crack on both sides between the white portion and the metallic portion. However, it was still playing music with no problems.

On my trip to Europe, on a nice patio in Spain, I got up too quickly without realized my ipod was on my lap. The result: the ipod cease to work. This was going to be a huge damper on my trip. As my trip-mates could attest, I would not stop bitching about my lack of music. In Amsterdam, I took it to an Apple store we stumbled upon. The clerks told me that I would have to send it back to North America for repairs. When they saw my crestfallen face, they suggested an off-label remedy. Their experience had taught them that some people were able to fix their ipods by slamming it hard to 'bump' the hard drive head back into place. When pondering the solution, as absurd as it sounded, it was worth a shot. It wasn't working. If I slammed it and broke it, it still would not be working. What do I have to lose. I asked to clerk to perform the procedure. With a SLAM into the desk, the ipod decided to revive!

Now for my iphone. My iPhone took a trip to Whistler. Knowing my ipod experiences, I decided to play it safe and leave the phone in Julian's car. This particular weekend, it was colder than usual in Whistler (-22 degrees C). When we got back to the phone, its vibrate functionality was broken. Instead of a vibration, it made a sound like there was a dead cat in my phone. From December until now, I had put off dealing with this issue; hoping that the phone would fix itself. This weekend, the lack of vibration and missing all my calls was the final straw.

Last night, I go to the Apple store for first line defense. I was told that my phone is out of warranty and I'm S.O.L. Trading my phone would cost me, well, as much as a new one. However, I could try a few repair shops that they recommended. Today, I head down to 23rd to see these guys. As I am wandering around, trying to find the iphone help desk and leering at the sheer amount of Apple products in that store, I realize something. Subconsciously, I had been playing with my iphone's vibrate button. What do you know, the little bugger was vibrating again.

I made the trip down for no reason. Apple's reputation for revival is still strong. Having said that, I broke and fixed the vibrate a bunch of times. All it takes is a good shake. This week will be spent investigating if I can shake this vibrate mechanism back into place. Oh, Apple. How you toy with my mind. I don't understand how you can make products that seemingly fix itself. It's pretty awesome.

Yes, I jsut wasted 5 minutes of your time. You don't even want to know how long I spent writing it!

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Song Of The Moment: Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Comment: This song makes me happy.

WSF4

This is awesome!



Quick notes:

1) Why do Americans hate their job so much? Why is it so visible that they hate their job? Why do they continue to do it? There was always this concept of the American dream. How come so many look miserable?

2) Shoes are awesome. Pictures soon.

3) The Raptors break my heart. I don't understand why they are so frustrating. Well, I do. I don't understand why I continue to watch them. Well, I do. Bah. Another wasted night.

4) Why are there not enough hours in a day?

5) Why do I bitch so much?

6) Run, run, run, run.

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Song Of The Moment: Chris Brown - You
Comment: I now see Chris Brown songs in a different light.

Chris Brown

It's in Urban Dictionary!. This is awesome!

Toronto was cool. Everyone knows what happened. No recap. Too bad.

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Song Of The Moment: 吳克群 - 對不起
Comment: Sorry!