Give and Go.

  • Epic Movie Trailer

    • 19 Dec 2011
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    • Film
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  • Excited for the 25th!

    • 19 Dec 2011
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    • Basketball
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    The NBA season is upon us, my friends!  Hoop-heads, where you at? 

    I can't wait to get this season started, though shorter, at least we have a season.  I've determined there are two things in my life I can't live without.  Basketball and music. Those are my two escapes from this world.  I can easily immerse myself in the moment and forget everything else in the world around me. 

    I'm still waiting to become a Lakers season ticket holder, coming up on my fourth year on the waitlist.  As a means to quench my basketball thirst, meanwhile, you are now looking at a Clippers season ticket holder.  For those who truly know me, know that I'm a Laker fan first, but the Clippers are also welcome in this household.  I love L.A., period.  I love basketball, period.  Despite all the hubbub about the lockout, and how much money gets thrown around in this, I'm an NBA fan, period.  I personally love watching games on my own, I feel I can concentrate better on the game and the commentary, though I do like company from time to time.  The 2011-12 season will be at the peak of NBA excitement and talent.

    If you don't believe me, take Kobe's word for it.

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  • What Do You Do When Your Car Gets Hit by the Metro Bus?

    • 14 Dec 2011
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    If you haven't driven an automobile around Los Angeles, then you won't understand the firsthand experience or displeasure of traffic mayhem.  It is a running joke with those of us who are old enough to remember the video game Paperboy, that driving around the heart of L.A. is truly like dodging challenging items as if you are a newspaper boy on a bicycle.  I often wonder if the grim reaper himself isn't crouching next to an intersection.  If it isn't crater-sized potholes or bumper-to-bumper traffic where snails outpace cars, it's having to deal with the erratic bus drivers trying to stay on schedule.

    I'll paint the most common local Metro bus scenario for you.  As part of their service they pull over to the right to load and unload passengers regularly.  It isn't the service that they offer that causes mayhem, it's their sporadic driving.  Frequently, I myself have noticed that bus drivers, whether it is because they too are anxious in traffic, these bus drivers will immediately return into the lane after loading passengers, without even looking to see if there are approaching vehicles.  Also, bus drivers try to pass other buses and vehicles up, perhaps they are running behind on schedule but for whatever reason, oftentimes they're in a rush.  If one truly observes the path of a bus driver, you would find that they move in and out of lanes as they please carelessly, without truly ensuring the safety of ofther vehicles.  In traffic school, they teach you that you must be a defensive driver, and apparently it doesn't apply to bus drivers.  They are constantly on the offense, weaving in and out of lanes, without consideration of neighboring vehicles.

    Now, this isn't to say that this trait applies to ALL bus drivers.  But usually if there is a stereotype, it stems from somewhere.  I guarantee, that more often than not, you will be able to find a bus in L.A. not driving correctly within its lane, or cutting off someone else with little regard for others on the road. 

    So what do you do when a bus changes lanes into the lane next to you when you're completely stopped in traffic?  And said-bus does not just lightly sideswipes, but oh no, takes a huge chunk out of the entire side of your car from the rear to the front, denting not only the door panels, side mirror, bumpers, wheel-wells, and damaging the wheel to the point where it is rendered undrivable?   Side-swipe seems to be an understatement.  Perhaps Side-destroy would be more fitting.

    You can only do so much.  Take down all the information of the bus and the driver that has collided with you.  The more info you can obtain now, the better.  The bus driver is obligated to give you a claims card providing information you can use to file a claim with the Metro.  It is in your best interest to contact your insurance company as soon as possible and let them handle getting in touch with the other party.  In the meanwhile, another Metro official is also sent to the scene to assess the situation.  Everything seems to be structured.  Could it be, that this type of accident occurs often?  Your intent is simply to get reimbursed for damages, because at the end of the day, no one benefits from a car being struck by a bus and left undriveable.

    There is nothing else you can do but wait for the appraiser to evaluate the damages and come up with an estimate to put in a claim.  This is why insurance exists.  Thankful for the service that insurance companies provide.  Because there is a methodical system in place, now all you do is patiently wait while they take matters into their hands on your behalf.

    The only disheartening part of the situation is that the driver made a comment that disappoints me at a personal level, because it leaves you wondering how genuinely sorry they really are for their actions.  It was something to the extent that to her, it didn't quite matter, she didn't care too much because she wasn't responsible, because her employer is the one paying for the damages.  Her attitude was that since it wasn't her own car, it wasn't a huge concern to her, and that the city would handle it.  But, we ARE the city. I am a proud Los Angeleno, and the taxes we pay and the love we have all go into the city that we love.

    It is my strongest belief, that the jobs we have, the duties we have, whether we are paid for it or not, but just as common courtesy as a human being, is that we DO take pride in the work we do and we do man up to the responsibility we have.  The things we do, is an extension of our own character.   I don't work hard because I get paid a lot to do it, I work hard because I want to ensure that the person at the end-chain of my hard-work is pleased with the product and service they receive.  I think this should apply to ANY function which provides a product or service.  We, as human beings, should care at all times, regardless.  If I was a bus driver and I hit someone's car, I would be groveling with a thousand sorry's because that's how bad I would feel.  Heck, I once accidentally demagnetized someone's anime movie and I felt so bad I personally reimbursed him for the movie, though I wasn't obligated to.  I can't control how apologetic someone feels, as this is just a difference in personality but it would be uplifting to see some positive attitudes and heartfelt concern.  Simply because we are all fellow human beings.

    At the end of the day, we are rendered without our main vehicle for transportation as well as a beyond-ugly-eye-sore on a brand new car.  Since the Metro is 100% at fault, they will need to reimburse us for all damages.  I have hopes that the Metro is highly established after years of providing service to the Los Angeles community and will take care of this painlessly and quickly.    This is the backbone of our transit system.  So many people rely on the Metro to get to their careers and their homes.  So tangentially, when working for the Metro, I hope people would not merely consider themselves simply as employed by them but believe that they themselves ARE the Metro.  Represent the company you work for as if you are the driving force behind it.

     

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  • Take a Trip with me to the Moon

    • 10 Dec 2011
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    • Music
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    I love these music videos..

    versus

    [via jasmine]

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  • Touché, Bill Simmons.

    • 9 Dec 2011
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    • Basketball
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    Perhaps the BEST article I've read in a long time.  Sums up my frustrations about what went down the other day, too.  A must-read for all NBA fans >> http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7334835/the-sixth-day-nba-christmas

     

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  • I love to see the World in Action

    • 6 Dec 2011
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    Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam from Rob Whitworth on Vimeo.

    Great find!
    [via alphainspire]

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  • The Middle

    • 28 Nov 2011
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    • Television
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    This is on my current list of favorite TV shows to watch!  The kids are amazing actors.

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  • A Girl Walks Into a Bar..

    • 28 Nov 2011
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    For those who know me, I am not a bar-frequenter, though I do enjoy going to a bar on rare occasions with a group of friends.

    While I speak casually with a friend of a friend about the types of guys I normally go for, I may be speaking at a louder volume than usual.  A young Kenny G. look-a-like bartender sashays up to me while I'm in mid-sentence.  "..typically shy, Asian, tall guys." 

    He cuts me off and exclaims, "Did you just say shy, Asian, and tall?"  I furrow my eyebrow with caution but eventually shrug yes.

    He continues, "I've got the perfect guy for you."  He is intent on introducing me to this so-called "perfect" guy, and all I can think about is whether this golden-locked bartender/celebrity look-alike standing before me is also a mean saxophonist.

    It isn't long before he and another bartender are firing up their iPhones and texting with a fury in an attempt to summon this perfect man before me.  Meanwhile, I'm finding this to be quite entertaining, as I have never imagined a bartender to serve beyond drinks and provide as a matchmaker.

    V, the other young slightly quirky and permeable bartender has now made it also his full-on mission to get this guy to come to the bar on his night off.  My lady friends are all a-giggle and like me, simply curious if this guy is all they are making him out to be.

    To pass some time, I throw the question back at V and he jokes that he is looking for a girl with gigantic tits (I apologize for not censoring this post), pink handcuffs, and a tramp-stamp.  Ah, touché.  I am afraid I have left my handcuffs at home.

    As the clock approaches midnight, this would-be fairytale prince opens the door and walks in.  Does he fit the bill?  I grimace, because the only description our new bartender friends have gone off of is simply physical attributes.  It could be ANYone.

    The giddy bartenders score 33% on this test.  They only get the tall part down.  Their claim he is Asian is only 1/2 true as he is part French and Thai.  I don't discriminate if there is value to a person, all ethnicities welcome.  And apparently someone's idea of "shy" is relative.  He is not what I would call shy. 

    As he makes his way, I catch a glimpse of a blue glow emanating from his lips.  What's this?  Before I have time to figure out what he's smoking in his mouth, the bartender exclaims, "See, he's so tall he towers over clouds!" 

    I can imagine the majority of my friends and I have a slight gaping expression in disbelief.  My good friend replies, "Yeah, the only thing he's towering over is that cloud coming from his electronic cigarette!"  Tears brim up in my eyes as I cannot contain my laughter.  I have never seen this "electronic cigarette" before in my life.  And talk about first impressions.  He wouldn't let go of that thing like a pacifier. 

    Still, we are not rude people.  We realize they took the time to summon this guy to come out, the least we can do is give him some sort of chance. 

    Question 1.  How old are you?  29.  (pass)
    Question 2.  How close are you with your Thai roots?  not close at all.  (fail)
    Question 3.  Do you like sports?  I play them but it's a waste of time to watch them, plus I can't afford to watch them.  (fail)

    We are stumped after question 3.  There is no clever banter.  No smiles.  No adorable quirkiness.  Nothing and I think it is mutual.  I think all 4 of us girls would take the bartender over this guy any day.  I certainly can't avoid the distraction from the steam emitted from the blue LED poking from the faux-cigarette, which I assume is a modern-day nicotine patch.

    The moral of the story?  Two actually.
    1.  Never let your bartender try to hook you up with their friend.
    2.  When someone asks you what your "type" is, don't list physical attributes. 

    Now my answer is as follows:

    1.  Gets my goofiness and laughs with me, perhaps occasionally at me.
    2.  Brilliant.  (Not just IQ-wise, just personality wise)
    3.  Ambitious and Driven.  Motivated to always improve on themselves and enjoy their life and what they do.
    4.  Resourceful but also knows how to enjoy the occasional finer things in life.
    5.  Semi-active, or at least cares not to harm their own body.
    6.  Able to have as much fun staying home, as much as going out and exploring new places/venues/events.
    7.  Get along with my friend fam.  This is so critical for me.  My friend fam is a group of easy-going people, so I don't see this being an issue.

    Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.  The very next day you gave it away.  This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special.

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  • Great news! The NBA is baaack!

    • 26 Nov 2011
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    • Basketball
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    Tentative agreement has been reached, so hopefully the NBA starts on Christmas day. ^_^  Finally!

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  • Late Night Thoughts..

    • 26 Nov 2011
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    Another late night means I'm not sleeping.  I would prefer to just lay down and get good rest but I kind of have some things on my mind.

    I hung out with some old friends tonight, I say old, only because they're friends who I knew from high school.  I only truly keep in touch with one friend from high school who I consider one of my best friends and I would hope that he of all people knows me, considering the amount of time we spend talking to one another.

    But he made a comment tonight that was probably half joke, but at the same time sounded half serious.  "You should go out with my friend D, because he's a nice guy... even though he's not your type, he's a nice guy, you should totally date him".

    Let's back pedal in my brain for a few moments here.

    Wait.  So you want me to date him because he's "nice"?   Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being nice.  Of course, anyone you end up with you would hope that he/she is nice.  But to have this be the ONLY quality/thing in common to bring two people together?  That simply doesn't cut it for me. 

    Maybe I am picky and that is why I'm single.  I hold high standards.  The older I get, and the more interactions we have with people along the way, has made me realize the qualites that I am attracted to in the opposite sex.  They always advise not to make a laundry list of qualites you want in your ideal partner, but it's only natural to sort of collect them at least mentally. 

    Plus, it can also be clear what your definite game breakers are.  There are little things like, I don't want to date anyone who smokes, participates in drugs, drinks too much, lazy, no ambition... those are things I couldn't change in someone or expect them to change for me, therefore these are dealbreakers.

    Utimately, now I'm looking for my soulmate.  Not someone who just fits the bill of being "nice".  I want someone who personally wants to spend time with me because of my magnetic personality.  I want someone who appreciates me and gives me his full undivided attention.  I don't want someone identical to me, though having similar interests is a perk.  I love learning things so I would love someone who can teach me new things.  I want someone with a sense of humour who gets me and my deliberate goofiness which some people mistake for being overly silly.

    My friend advised that I shouldn't have to change myself for someone else either.  This is true.  Often times when you're trying to impress someone, you might go into a different mode, or dress a little differently.  I shouldn't have to become someone I'm not, as they should know the real me.

    I don't want a guy who is only looking for a trophy wife either.  I'm no supermodel, so if that's their only intent, then I wouldn't want that kind of person anyway.  Cliche as it sounds, I want someone who wants to be with me for me. Someone I can banter with, who isn't afraid to test my limits and tease back.  Is it that hard to find someone who would love my company and have this amazing chemistry with?  The point is, the chemistry has to be there.  Nice alone doesn't cut it.

    Single men, take note.

    • Be decisive. Little things like pick a place to eat so there's no dawdling.
    • Be confident.  Know your strengths and demonstrate them. Be careful.  The skill here is being able to avoid being cocky. There's a difference.
    • Be coy. Kid around. Tease. Get into the other person's mind.
    • Chivalry is not dead.  Open doors for her.  Let her walk ahead. Buy her a drink or two. 
    • Share a lot about yourself so we can get to know you.
    • Ask about her once in a while. Be genuinely interested.
    • Remember things. Are u taking mental note?  Pay attention. Remember things she likes. This comes in handy for future encounters.
    • Share your food with her. Sharing anything is a pretty big gesture. Shows your comfort level is somewhere u can trust the other person.
    • Touch. The sense of touch is powerful. Flirting is amplified with even just a little more touch than usual.
    • Communicate occasionally. Random texts show ur thinking about her.  Go overboard and you come off desperate.  Once in a while will bring a smile to her face.  Not enough will make her forget you.
    • Be a gentleman.  Walk her to her car. Or at least offer. 
    • Pay for a few things. It isn't a date unless the guy pays. Sorry guys, it's just how it is.  But I also believe it can go both ways once it becomes comfortable enough.
    • Make good eye contact. Look into her eyes during discussions.
    • Ask her out on another date.  It can be as casual as just going for a bite to eat or something more activity related.  If you like someone this is a no-brainer.

    So keep that in mind next time you non-single people try to "match-make" me with someone you think I should go for just because they are "nice".  I don't want to shut people down, but if I don't feel it, I'm not going to go for it.  On the bright side, when I do feel something with someone, I do become a little more aggressive.  I don't want to become too aggressive, but you have to give a little bit to get something back.  Last piece of my advice?  Nothing wrong with having fun. :)

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  • About

    My heart skips a beat to:
    That really good song that you can put on repeat without getting tired of it, the perfect swish from nothing but net, bright colors that scream attention which I don't like to bask in, cars that remind me of cartoons, the right sneakers for every occasion, the honest "I've-missed-you" look my dog gives me when I come home, a quick run in the dark imagining someone is chasing me, anything kawaiiiiii, frozen desserts of many fulfilling kinds, heroes or arch-nemeses, life ambitions and carpe diem actions, exercising brain power, exploring So Cal, and eating food that is yummy-yummy, in my tummy. Did I mention I'm a web-junkie? Long live internet!

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