Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru

2009-11-03T13:17:00.001-08:00

2009-11-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

Video of the Toyobaru at the Ring.

2009-10-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

2009-10-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Looks like subaru is indeed going to create a coupe version of the ft-86.

More pics of the ft-86

2009-10-08T12:52:00.001-07:00

Found these snooping around the interwebs. Enjoy.

FT-86 Photochopped PANDA

2009-10-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

I want I soooooo want!!!

FT-86 Concept video from GT5

2009-10-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

How a differential works.

2009-08-14T08:39:00.001-07:00

TAD and AR

2009-08-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

Saw this article on the BBC about AR(Augmented Reality) and it made me think of the TAD app. If you could combine the two i think that could be a game changer. Think about it that is social networking in real time, lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb0pMeg1UN0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8193951.stm

2009-06-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

If you are like me and use google notebook, here is the link to the xpi so you can still install the firefox plugin.

http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Labs-Notebook/msg/4b484097dc28d4db?pli=1

Even squirrels can learn.

2009-05-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Give A Squirrel A Helping Hand @ Yahoo! Video

Swine flu movement.

2009-04-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the swine flu pandemic. Here's a google map that's tracking the spread of the virus.

Link

red2blu

2009-04-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well if you were an early adopter like i was and bought HDDVDs you can trade up some of your collection to BluRay. Warner Brothers is offering a HD to Bluray program. It's like $5 per disc, but you get to keep the HD disc all you do is send in your cover art. You could go to kinkos and make some color copies. ;)

http://www.red2blu.com/index.html

Soooo i gotta wait till 2012 for this baby...

2009-03-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

It's the Tesla motors 7 passenger electric car.

Now that's how you play the imperial death march.

2009-03-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Pow..pow...power wheels!!!

2009-03-11T15:34:00.001-07:00

Jailbreak and sync your iPhone to google.

2009-03-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Gizmodo had a great article about how to jailbreak your iPhone painlessly.

Also you can sync your google account contacts and calendar directly to the phone now.

I want, I so so want.

2009-03-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-GB&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:a517b260-bb6b-48b9-87ac-8e2743a28ec5&showPlaylist=true&from=shared" target="_new" title="Future Vision Montage">Video: Future Vision Montage</a>

Bumptop Desktop

2008-10-17T13:38:00.001-07:00

This is kool. A desktop to that acts like your desktop.

GT-R @Nurburgring

2008-10-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Seems that Porshe didn't take to kindly to Nissan busting up their track record.

Sheeesh I want one. =)

Free Booters @Gordon Biersch 10/11/08

2008-10-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

Yes i play Worlds of Warcraft, Yes we are a bunch of nerds, this is what happens when you get a guild together for a real raid.

The only way to ride the bus :)

2008-10-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

The only nice thing about getting out late is that there are less
people on the bus.

Digital DJs, your table of the future is here!

2008-09-22T16:43:00.001-07:00

Not an encouraging sign for comutters.

2008-09-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

Saw this the other day, not a good thing when your bus has an engine
fire. Oh and i sent this from the phone! Yea for mobile blogging.

Career path color test?

2008-09-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Interesting results from an online test.

Career Path color test

Best Occupational Category

You're a RESEARCHER

Key Words:
Independent, Self-Motivated, Reserved, Introspective, Analytical, and Curious
e investigative types gather information, analyze and interpret data, and inquire to uncover new facts. They have a strong scientific orientation, enjoy academic or research environments and prefer self-reliant jobs. Dislikes are group projects, selling, and repetitive activities.
RESEARCHER OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are College Professor, Physician, Psychologist, Pharmacist, Chemist, Marketing Research, Inventor, Sales Forecasting, Project Engineer, Dentist, Identifying Consumer Demand, Chiropractor, Dentist, Medical Technician, Optometrist, Research & Development Manager, Respiratory Therapist, Real Estate Appraiser, Chiropractor, Veterinarian, Geologist, Physicist, Science Teacher, Medical Technologist, and Author of Technical Books.
RESEARCHER WORKPLACES
Task-oriented careers where you can become absorbed in the job, be original and creative, and not conform to rigid company rules will work best for you. Unstructured organizations, for example, that allow you to sail your own ship are vital.
Suggested Researcher workplaces are universities and colleges, home office positions, medical facilities, computer-related industries, scientific foundations and think tanks, research firms, and design laboratories.
2nd Best Occupational Category

You're an ORGANIZER

Key Words:
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate
These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

Metallica...Good

2008-09-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well the new album dropped last week and it is excellent. However, this little clip should reignite some disgust with our favorite metalheads. FYI, I still love Metallica.

GREMLINS!!!!

2008-09-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Too kool...

The making of...

Shoot crappy video...take snapshots and fix the video

2008-08-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is pretty freaking cool. Say you shoot some video and its overexposed, well if you took some nice photos you can then use them to FIX the video!!! Check the video.

Using Photographs to Enhance Videos of a Static Scene from pro on Vimeo.

Super Gymkana @Pomona Fairplex 8/9/2008

2008-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

Last Weekend @Fairplex

The Last Lecture

2008-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

"I mean I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it"

"You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore. I think I'm clear where I stand on the great Tigger/Eeyore debate. Never lose the childlike wonder. It's just too important. It's what drives us." -Randy Pausch 1960-2008

Words to really think about in this life. And if you haven't watched the video yet I've linked it below.

The Times article.

Louisiana Pico Seafood

2008-07-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

3601 W Pico Blvd

Good hush puppies. And the fish and shrimp were good too.

Pushing the bounderies of hip-hop...

2008-06-23T13:24:00.001-07:00

I'm a music junkie, you don't find new stuff that can blow you away too often. This is the pay as you go CD from Girl Talk I'm on track 2 and I think this is an eye opening cd to what hiphop and music in general can be. YES IT'S THAT KOOL.

George Carlin 1937-2008

2008-06-23T08:57:00.001-07:00

The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master...

2008-06-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

I read this article a while ago and there are some really good points in here. I think I should get #12 framed and hang it. Anyways I'm sharing it so enjoy.

From esquire.com

May 5, 2008, 5:24 AM

The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master

A man can be expert in nothing, but he must be practiced in many things. Skills. You don't have to master them all at once. You simply have to collect and develop a certain number of skills as the years tick by. People count on you to come through. That's why you need these, to start.

By Tom Chiarella

A Man Should Be Able To:

1. Give advice that matters in one sentence. I got run out of a job I liked once, and while it was happening, a guy stopped me in the hall. Smart guy, but prone to saying too much. I braced myself. I didn't want to hear it. I needed a white knight, and I knew it wasn't him. He just sighed and said: When nobody has your back, you gotta move your back. Then he walked away. Best advice I ever got. One sentence.

2. Tell if someone is lying. Everyone has his theory. Pick one, test it. Choose the tells that work for you. I like these: Liars change the subject quickly. Liars look up and to their right when they speak. Liars use fewer contractions. Liars will sometimes stare straight at you and employ a dead face. Liars never touch their chest or heart except self-consciously. Liars place objects between themselves and you during a conversation.

3. Take a photo. Fill the frame.

4. Score a baseball game. Scoring a game is an exercise in ciphering, creating a shorthand of your very own. In this way, it's a private language as much as a record of the game. The only given is the numbering of the positions and the use of the diamond to express each batter's progress around the bases. I black out the diamond when a run scores. I mark an RBI with a tally mark in the upper-right-hand corner. Each time you score a game, you pick up on new elements to track: pitch count, balls and strikes, foul balls. It doesn't matter that this information is available on the Internet in real time. Scoring a game is about bearing witness, expanding your own ability to observe.

5. Name a book that matters. The Catcher in the Rye does not matter. Not really. You gotta read.

6. Know at least one musical group as well as is possible. One guy at your table knows where Cobain was born and who his high school English teacher was. Another guy can argue the elegant extended trope of Liquid Swords with GZA himself. This is how it should be. Music does not demand agreement. Rilo Kiley. Nina Simone. Whitesnake. Fugazi. Otis Redding. Whatever. Choose. Nobody likes a know-it-all, because 1) you can't know it all and 2) music offers distinct and private lessons. So pick one. Except Rilo Kiley. I heard they broke up.

7. Cook meat somewhere other than the grill.

Buy The Way to Cook, by Julia Child. Try roasting. Braising. Broiling. Slow-cooking. Pan searing. Think ragouts, fricassees, stews. All of this will force you to understand the functionality of different cuts. In the end, grilling will be a choice rather than a chore, and your Weber will become a tool rather than a piece of weekend entertainment.

8. Not monopolize the conversation.

9. Write a letter.

So easy. So easily forgotten. A five-paragraph structure works pretty well: Tell why you're writing. Offer details. Ask questions. Give news. Add a specific memory or two. If your handwriting is terrible, type. Always close formally.

10. Buy a suit.

Avoid bargains. Know your likes, your dislikes, and what you need it for (work, funerals, court). Squeeze the fabric -- if it bounces back with little or no sign of wrinkling, that means it's good, sturdy material. And tug the buttons gently. If they feel loose or wobbly, that means they're probably coming off sooner rather than later. The jacket's shoulder pads are supposed to square with your shoulders; if they droop off or leave dents in the cloth, the jacket's too big. The jacket sleeves should never meet the wrist any lower than the base of the thumb -- if they do, ask to go down a size. Always get fitted.

11. Swim three different strokes. Doggie paddle doesn't count.

12. Show respect without being a suck-up. Respect the following, in this order: age, experience, record, reputation. Don't mention any of it.

13. Throw a punch. Close enough, but not too close. Swing with your shoulders, not your arm. Long punches rarely land squarely. So forget the roundhouse. You don't have a haymaker. Follow through; don't pop and pull back. The length you give the punch should come in the form of extension after the point of contact. Just remember, the bones in your hand are small and easy to break. You're better off striking hard with the heel of your palm. Or you could buy the guy a beer and talk it out.

14. Chop down a tree. Know your escape path. When the tree starts to fall, use it.

15. Calculate square footage. Width times length.

16. Tie a bow tie.

Step 1: Make a simple knot, allowing slightly more length (one to two inches) on the end of A.

Step 2: Lay A out of the way, fold B into the normal bow shape, and position it on the first knot you made.

Step 3: Drop A vertically over folded end B.

Step 4: Double back A on itself and position it over the knot so that the two folded ends make a cross.

Step 5: The hard part: Pass folded end A under and behind the left side (yours) of the knot and through the loop behind folded end B.

Step 6: Tighten the knot you have created, straightening, particularly in the center.

17. Make one drink, in large batches, very well.

When I interviewed for my first job, one of the senior guys had me to his house for a reception. He offered me a cigarette and pointed me to a bowl of whiskey sours, like I was Darrin Stephens and he was Larry Tate. I can still remember that first tight little swallow and my gratitude that I could go back for a refill without looking like a drunk. I came to admire the host over the next decade, but he never gave me the recipe. So I use this:
• For every 750-ml bottle of whiskey (use a decent bourbon or rye), add:
• 6 oz fresh-squeezed, strained lemon juice
• 6 oz simple syrup (mix superfine sugar and water in equal quantities)

To serve: Shake 3 oz per person with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice or, if you're really slick, a float of red wine. (Pour about 1/2 oz slowly into each glass over the back of a spoon; this is called a New York sour, and it's great.)

18. Speak a foreign language. Pas beaucoup. Mais faites un effort.

19. Approach a woman out of his league. Ever have a shoeshine from a guy you really admire? He works hard enough that he doesn't have to tell stupid jokes; he doesn't stare at your legs; he knows things you don't, but he doesn't talk about them every minute; he doesn't scrape or apologize for his status or his job or the way he is dressed; he does his job confidently and with a quiet relish. That stuff is wildly inviting. Act like that guy.

20. Sew a button.

21. Argue with a European without getting xenophobic or insulting soccer.

Once, in our lifetime, much of Europe was approaching cultural and political irrelevance. Then they made like us and banded together into a union of confederated states. So you can always assume that they were simply copying the United States as they now push us to the verge of cultural and political irrelevance.

22. Give a woman an orgasm so that he doesn't have to ask after it.

Otherwise, ask after it.

23. Be loyal. You will fail at it. You have already. A man who does not know loyalty, from both ends, does not know men. Loyalty is not a matter of give-and-take: He did me a favor, therefore I owe him one. No. No. No. It is the recognition of a bond, the honoring of a shared history, the reemergence of the vows we make in the tight times. It doesn't mean complete agreement or invisible blood ties. It is a currency of selflessness, given without expectation and capable of the most stellar return.

24. Know his poison, without standing there, pondering like a dope. Brand, amount, style, fast, like so: Booker's, double, neat.

25. Drive an eightpenny nail into a treated two-by-four without thinking about it.

Use a contractor's hammer. Swing hard and loose, like a tennis serve.

26. Cast a fishing rod without shrieking or sighing or otherwise admitting defeat.

27. Play gin with an old guy. Old men will try to crush you. They'll drown you in meaningless chatter, tell stories about when they were kids this or in Korea that. Or they'll retreat into a taciturn posture designed to get you to do the talking. They'll note your strategies without mentioning them, keep the stakes at a level they can control, and change up their pace of play just to get you stumbling. You have to do this -- play their game, be it dominoes or cribbage or chess. They may have been playing for decades. You take a beating as a means of absorbing the lessons they've learned without taking a lesson. But don't be afraid to take them down. They can handle it.

28. Play go fish with a kid.

You don't crush kids. You talk their ear off, make an event out of it, tell them stories about when you were a kid this or in Vegas that. You have to play their game, too, even though they may have been playing only for weeks. Observe. Teach them without once offering a lesson. And don't be afraid to win. They can handle it.

29. Understand quantum physics well enough that he can accept that a quarter might, at some point, pass straight through the table when dropped.

Sometimes the laws of physics aren't laws at all. Read The Quantum World: Quantum Physics for Everyone, by Kenneth W. Ford.

30. Feign interest. Good place to start: quantum physics.

31. Make a bed.

32. Describe a glass of wine in one sentence without using the terms nutty, fruity, oaky, finish, or kick. I once stood in a wine store in West Hollywood where the owner described a pinot noir he favored as "a night walk through a wet garden." I bought it. I went to my hotel and drank it by myself, looking at the flickering city with my feet on the windowsill. I don't know which was more right, the wine or the vision that he placed in my head. Point is, it was right.

33. Hit a jump shot in pool. It's not something you use a lot, but when you hit a jump shot, it marks you as a player and briefly impresses women. Make the angle of your cue steeper, aim for the bottommost fraction of the ball, and drive the cue smoothly six inches past the contact point, making steady, downward contact with the felt.

34. Dress a wound. First, stop the bleeding. Apply pressure using a gauze pad. Stay with the pressure. If you can't stop the bleeding, forget the next step, just get to a hospital. Once the bleeding stops, clean the wound. Use water or saline solution; a little soap is good, too. If you can't get the wound clean, then forget the next step, just get to a hospital. Finally, dress the wound. For a laceration, push the edges together and apply a butterfly bandage. For avulsions, where the skin is punctured and pulled back like a trapdoor, push the skin back and use a butterfly. Slather the area in antibacterial ointment. Cover the wound with a gauze pad taped into place. Change that dressing every 12 hours, checking carefully for signs of infection. Better yet, get to a hospital.

35. Jump-start a car (without any drama). Change a flat tire (safely). Change the oil (once).

36. Make three different bets at a craps table. Play the smallest and most poorly labeled areas, the bets where it's visually evident the casino doesn't want you to go. Simply play the pass line; once the point is set, play full odds (this is the only really good bet on the table); and when you want a little more action, tell the crew you want to lay the 4 and the 10 for the minimum bet.

37. Shuffle a deck of cards.

I play cards with guys who can't shuffle, and they lose. Always.

38. Tell a joke. Here's one:

Two guys are walking down a dark alley when a mugger approaches them and demands their money. They both grudgingly pull out their wallets and begin taking out their cash. Just then, one guy turns to the other, hands him a bill, and says, "Hey, here's that $20 I owe you."

39. Know when to split his cards in blackjack.

Aces. Eights. Always.

40. Speak to an eight-year-old so he will hear. Use his first name. Don't use baby talk. Don't crank up your energy to match his. Ask questions and wait for answers. Follow up. Don't pretend to be interested in Webkinz or Power Rangers or whatever. He's as bored with that shit as you are. Concentrate instead on seeing the child as a person of his own.

41. Speak to a waiter so he will hear.

You don't own the restaurant, so don't act like it. You own the transaction. So don't speak into the menu. Lift your chin. Make eye contact. All restaurants have secrets -- let it be known that you expect to see some of them.

42. Talk to a dog so it will hear.

Go ahead, use baby talk.

43. Install: a disposal, an electronic thermostat, or a lighting fixture without asking for help. Just turn off the damned main.

44. Ask for help.

Guys who refuse to ask for help are the most cursed men of all. The stubborn, the self-possessed, and the distant. The hell with them.

45. Break another man's grip on his wrist. Rotate your arm rapidly in the grip, toward the other guy's thumb.

46. Tell a woman's dress size.

47. Recite one poem from memory. Here you go:

WHEN YOU ARE OLD

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

--William Butler Yeats

48. Remove a stain. Blot. Always blot.

49. Say no.

50. Fry an egg sunny-side up. Cook until the white appears solid...and no longer.

51. Build a campfire.

There are three components:

1. The tinder -- bone-dry, snappable twigs, about as long as your hand. You need two complete handfuls. Try birch bark; it burns long and hot.

2. The kindling -- thick as your thumb, long as your forearm, breakable with two hands. You need two armfuls.

3. Fuel wood -- anything thick and long enough that it can't be broken by hand. It's okay if it's slightly damp. You need a knee-high stack.

Step 1: Light the tinder, turning the pile gently to get air underneath it.

Step 2: Feed the kindling into the emergent fire with some pace.

Step 3: Lay on the fuel wood. Pyramid, the log cabin, whatever -- the idea is to create some kind of structure so that plenty of air gets to the fire.

52. Step into a job no one wants to do. When I was 13, my dad called me into his office at the large urban mall he ran. He was on the phone. What followed was a fairly banal 15-minute conversation, which involved the collection of rent from a store. On and on, droning about store hours and lighting problems. I kept raising my eyebrows, pretending to stand up, and my dad kept waving me down. I could hear only his end, garrulous and unrelenting. He rolled his eyes as the excuses kept coming. His assertions were simple and to the point, like a drumbeat. He wanted the rent. He wanted the store to stay open when the mall was open. Then suddenly, having given the job the time it deserved, he put it to an end. "So if I see your gate down next Sunday afternoon, I'm going to get a drill and stick a goddamn bolt in it and lock you down for the next week, right?" When he hung up, rent collected, he took a deep breath. "I've been dreading that call," he said. "Once a week you gotta try something you never would do if you had the choice. Otherwise, why are you here?" So he gave me that. And this...

53. Sometimes, kick some ass.

54. Break up a fight. Work in pairs if possible. Don't get between people initially. Use the back of the collar, pull and urge the person downward. If you can't get him down, work for distance.

55. Point to the north at any time.

If you have a watch, you can point the hour hand at the sun. Then find the point directly between the hour hand and the 12. That's south. The opposite direction is, of course, north.

56. Create a play-list in which ten seemingly random songs provide a secret message to one person.

57. Explain what a light-year is. It's the measure of the distance that light travels over 365.25 days.

58. Avoid boredom. You have enough to eat. You can move. This must be acknowledged as a kind of freedom. You don't always have to buy things, put things in your mouth, or be delighted.

59. Write a thank-you note.

Make a habit of it. Follow a simple formula like this one: First line is a thesis statement. The second line is evidentiary. The third is a kind of assertion. Close on an uptick.

Thanks for having me over to watch game six. Even though they won, it's clear the Red Sox are a soulless, overmarketed contrivance of Fox TV. Still, I'm awfully happy you have that huge high-def television. Next time, I really will bring beer. Yours,

60. Be brand loyal to at least one product. It tells a lot about who you are and where you came from. Me? I like Hellman's mayonnaise and Genesee beer, which makes me the fleshy, stubbornly upstate ne'er-do-well that I will always be.

61. Cook bacon.

Lay out the bacon on a rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

62. Hold a baby.

Newborns should be wrapped tightly and held against the chest. They like tight spaces (consider their previous circumstances) and rhythmic movements, so hold them snug, tuck them in the crook of your elbow or against the skin of your neck. Rock your hips like you're bored, barely listening to the music at the edge of a wedding reception. No one has to notice except the baby. Don't breathe all over them.

63. Deliver a eulogy. Take the job seriously. It matters. Speak first to the family, then to the outside world. Write it down. Avoid similes. Don't read poetry. Be funny.

64. Know that Christopher Columbus was a son of a bitch. When I was a kid, because I'm Italian and because the Irish guys in my neighborhood were relentless with the beatings on St. Patrick's Day, I loved the very idea of Christopher Columbus. I loved the fact that Irish kids worshipped some gnome who drove all the rats out of Ireland or whatever, whereas my hero was an explorer. Man, I drank the Kool-Aid on that guy. Of course, I later learned that he was a hand-chopping, land-stealing egotist who sold out an entire hemisphere to European avarice. So I left Columbus behind. Your understanding of your heroes must evolve. See Roger Clemens. See Bill Belichick.

65-67. Throw a baseball over-hand with some snap. Throw a football with a tight spiral. Shoot a 12-foot jump shot reliably.

If you can't, play more ball.

68. Find his way out of the woods if lost. Note your landmarks -- mountains, power lines, the sound of a highway. Look for the sun: It sits in the south; it moves west. Gauge your direction every few minutes. If you're completely stuck, look for a small creek and follow it downstream. Water flows toward larger bodies of water, where people live.

69. Tie a knot.

Square knot: left rope over right rope, turn under. Then right rope over left rope. Tuck under. Pull. Or as my pack leader, Dave Kenyon, told me in a Boy Scouts meeting: "Left over right, right over left. What's so fucking hard about that?"

70. Shake hands. Steady, firm, pump, let go. Use the time to make eye contact, since that's where the social contract begins.

71. Iron a shirt. My uncle Tony the tailor once told me of ironing: Start rough, end gently.

72. Stock an emergency bag for the car.

Blanket. Heavy flashlight. Hand warmers. Six bottles of water. Six packs of beef jerky. Atlas. Reflectors. Gloves. Socks. Bandages. Neosporin. Inhaler. Benadryl. Motrin. Hard candy. Telescoping magnet. Screwdriver. Channel-locks. Crescent wrench. Ski hat. Bandanna.

73. Caress a woman's neck. Back of your fingers, in a slow fan.

74. Know some birds. If you can't pay attention to a bird, then you can't learn from detail, you aren't likely to appreciate the beauty of evolution, and you don't have a clue how birdlike your own habits may be. You've been looking at them blindly for years now. Get a guide.

75. Negotiate a better price. Be informed. Know the price of competitors. In a big store, look for a manager. Don't be an asshole. Use one phrase as your mantra, like "I need a little help with this one." Repeat it, as an invitation to him. Don't beg. Ever. Offer something: your loyalty, your next purchase, even your friendship, and, with the deal done, your gratitude.

My photo on the LA Times website =)

2008-05-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Click on over to the LA Times and check the photo I took.

Height

Digital Turntables!!!

2008-05-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Ok so I used to spin in jr. high and high school. Got my BS in Electrical Engineering and I am a gadget freak. Sooooo imagine my unbridled lust for these babies.

Final Technology Demo from Scott Hobbs on Vimeo.

Final Product // ATTIGO TT from Scott Hobbs on Vimeo.

Final Technology // User Testing from Scott Hobbs on Vimeo.

Aight I'm home, pics follow...

2008-05-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

New Orleans

Orlando

Key West

New York

Greetings from DisneyWorld...

2008-04-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

It's day 6, saw EPCOT yesterday and Disney Animal Kingdom today. Should be headin to downtown Disney tonight and DisneyWorld tomorrow/Hollywood adventure friday.

Greetings from New Orleans!

2008-04-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Yes I'm on vacation. And here are some picks. I've walked Burbon St, seen a plantation, and been to jazz fest. And now it's off to DisneyWorld.

Homegirl Cafe near Chinatown 4/18

2008-04-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's a gem located in a hidden part of the city. Located on Alameda north of Phillipe's. The prices are great and the service was wonderful.

Angels And Airwaves @HOB Anaheim 3/14/2008

2008-04-25T09:19:00.001-07:00

Yeah this was a month ago. So I'm lazy and didn't upload the pics till now. =P

HaaaHiiiiiiii =P

2008-04-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge Stitch fan, so lookie what I found lol.

So I've been workin on the car...

2008-04-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

...and I pulled my spindles and the hub on one side was gone. I mean really gone. Thanks to Andy and Quin @Aerodyne for all of your help.

See below.

The Forbidden Kingdom....

2008-04-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Yeah so I'm posting this late, so sue me. Saw the Forbidden Kingdom on Sunday. EXCELLENT movie. I mean this thing was BETTER than Hero & Fearless. This is the type of movie that Jackie Chan had been trying to make forever. Think Princess Bride and Neverending Story meet Drunken Master. It's THAT good. Trailer below.

Why does being nice have to hurt so bad?

2008-04-13T22:32:00.001-07:00

I'm not a wuss, i just play one on TV. LOL. Now seriously, giving blood helps to save lives. I know that the Red Cross sells blood, but think of it as converting your donation from blood to money. It's all the same in the grand scheme of things. The money can be used at a later date where as the blood would not have been viable later, just a thought. Anyways i made a link on the right for those of you that want to give it a try. No pain no gain, well not too much pain. =)

A Fine Frezy @Roxy 4/3/2008 YES the next day!

2008-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

So A Fine Frenzy was wrapping up the US leg of their tour in LA and I was able to go. It was a very different show from the previous night. People still sang along, but it was a much older set of fans. The music was excellent and there were a few added tidbits. First they covered two songs, Across the Universe by the Beatles and I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie.

The Veronica's @ Roxy 4/2/2008

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

Three shots from the Veronica's concert on wednesday night. It was a very lively show. Lots of enegry from the crowd, it was one of those concerts where the whole place is singing the lyrics to every song. The acoustics seemed a little more suited to the electronic sounds of the new material as the old stuff sounded a bit flat. All in all a very good concert, can't wait to see what they do the next time around.

What day is it?

2008-04-01T08:37:00.001-07:00

So...Goggle has a new app that lets you post date emails. Cool huh, LOL.

The koolest table EVER!!

2008-03-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

So you like rock band and just can't cut the drums on normal? Try picking up this percussion TABLE to help out with that lack of coordination. The video below is just too kool.

Looks like I need to move to Brittan...

2008-03-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Would he be even more handsome called Ryan?

I didn't write that line, it's from a BBC article about the link between people's names and the way they are perceived by others. So at least in England, "Elizabeth and James are considered the most successful sounding first names, Lucy and Jack the luckiest and Sophie and Ryan the most attractive." So it looks like I need to stop by England on a Eurotrip or something =P.

Robb's visit 3/7-3/9

2008-03-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well my middle bro Robb came to town for a few days of family and friend shenanigans.

Underconstruction - Bruce's Dana Point place

2008-03-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

What should you do when a friend asks for a "little help" with his new vacation rental unit? Runaway as fast a you can. Else you end up, slave labor to the oppressive slumlord BRUCE!!!!

Booter's @Yardhouse Jan 26, 2008

2008-03-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

What happens when online friends take their relationships offline? Lol well add alcohol and this is what you get.

Jon Foreman @Icehouse Feb 25, 2008

2008-03-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Yes I've been lazy in getting this stuff up...

Excellent show. His opening act, Tyrone Wells, was extremely impressive live. So impressive I picked up two CDs. Jon Foreman was very good live. I've seen Switchfoot perform before and do one or two songs acoustic, but seeing Foreman do his entire set live was very impressive. The style of songs that he writes on his own lend themselves very well to this kind of show.

The truth about life...

2008-03-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well probably not, but its funny as hell.

Ah, L'Amour by Don Hertzfeldt

This ones kinda sad, but oddly funny as well

I Guess you'll do by Mike Polk

Yes I grew up in da hood...

2008-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

That's my neighborhood they're marching into (kinda, sorta). I lived in Highland Park for most of my life, my parents are still there. Man some people just have no common sense, they are like spitting distance to a police substation and they have a shootout.

Quite possibly the cutest/koolest thing ever...

2008-02-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

OK, so this thing is WiFi enabled AND RFID sensative. Sooooo that means it can REACT to items in its environment AND pull information and responses FROM the NET about said item. This thing is ridiculously kool.

So I guess people actually look at your photos on Flickr...

2008-01-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Who knew. I posted a shot I took while at lunch on day and its being published on the web now as part of the Schmap Los Angeles Guide pretty cool stuff.

Here's the pic too:

KT Tunstall @Avalon 11/13/07

2007-11-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Well I went to see KT @Avalon on 11/13. Great show. She had to play the set with only her guitar and percussion, something about there being technical problems getting the rest of the band in. All in all a very enjoyable show.

Feed the world...and your mind.

2007-11-13T13:57:00.001-08:00

Wanna feed the world and practise for the GRE/SAT? Well this site donates 10 grains of rice for every word you properly define. It rates you up to 40. Its pretty fun and it feeds the world.

2007-11-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

Sooo I went to see Vanessa Carlton last night at the ivar theater. Excellent venue, seats about 200. Sat in the third row. Graham Colton opened, he was a good choice for an opener as he is a guitar player and this contrasts well with Vanessa's piano. His performance was very enthusiastic and his dialog with the audience was amusing. Vanessa's performance was excellent. Her voice rings as true in a live setting. The performance was basically her on piano and a violinist. It was very nice to be able to hear the her lament about the ways in which these songs were created. I am not sure why she played such a small venue, but it was a very intimate performance. I would recommend catching her live if you have the chance.

The single funniest thing I have seen all year...

2007-10-30T14:39:00.001-07:00

You need to hear/watch this guys weekly reviews. Nuff said.

Pics from the SF weekender 10/28

2007-10-30T07:51:00.001-07:00

We went up to SF to see the Bridge concert with Metallica. Now I've seen Metallica play the Filmore and that was the single greatest concert EVER. This is up there. They played ACOUSTIC! simply amazing.

Metallica @Shoreline 10/28

2007-10-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

So I was able to go to the Bridge school benefit concert on Sunday. Metallica was headlining. We saw John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young, and of course Metallica. Excellent show. They covered Rare Earth, Nazareth, Blue Oyster Cult, Dire Straights, and played Disposable Heros, All Within My Hands (the ENTIRE St. Anger LP would have been better off if they did them acoustic like this), Unforgiven, and Nothing Else Matters; all acoustic BTW. I'm reading on-line that nite one had them covering Garbage's Only Happy When It Rains sheesh I woulda loved to hear that but hey I got to see the acoustic set LIVE. You can see most of the sets on YouTube BTW.

New site that lets u watch anime online...

2007-10-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool site that has anime online for free. OMG I so love the flashplayer now =)
Online Videos by Veoh.com

Comcast tampering with network traffic

2007-10-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

So it looks like ISP Comcast is tampering with its users network traffic in an attempt to limit users of bit torrents and other p2p software. I never thought we'd see this kind of abuse from large service providers, you would think that they needed to protect the free usage of their customers and not the interests of large corporations. I guess that Comcast would rather you believe that your software is defective instead of telling you that they do not support p2p. Nope, that would send a message to you that you should not be using Comcast's service, so Comcast simply limits your usage without telling you about it or why they are doing it.

Jimmy Eat World @Wiltern 10/16

2007-10-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

Been kinda busy so I havent been bloggin alot, but I managed to shoot some shots at the Jimmy Eat World concert on tuesday with my new toy.

My head hurts....

2007-10-15T07:53:00.001-07:00

Ok, so here's the deal which way do you see this figure spinning? Supposedly if you see it one way you are right brained and if you see it spinning the other you are left brained. The funny thing was I started with a clockwise view and then went counter because I wanted to see if i could do it lol. Anyhow this is a pretty kool image. If you click the image it explains the whole thing.

Saving the planet and humanity one computer at a time...

2007-10-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

...basically this guy turned his life around and is helping the community and the State is hassling him. Watch the video and read the story.

So it looks like Toyota will be coming out with a Light Weight Sports car(RWD)...

2007-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

...And it's a SUBARU!!!! Well almost. Subaru engine and frame with the toyota badge. Seems like drifters are gonna be hearing alot more of the flat fours. So Steve your next Toyota will actually be a Subaru! Welcome to the club. =P

Some pics from the Aerodyne event 9/23/2007

2007-10-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

Just some pics from the trackday. Click the pic to see the rest.

It's been a busy weekend...

2007-09-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

So let's see went to a concert on friday, Dodger game on saturday, so for sunday we ended up at the beach. A very nice weekend if I do say so. And boo back to work monday.

9/14/07 Colbie Caillat @theGalaxy

2007-09-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

Went down to the Galaxy theater in Santa Ana to see Colbie Caillat. She is wonderful live. The Galaxy is kool, but the table service was horrible. And if your party is smaller then 4 you have to share your table. =P

Mac Vs. PC (South Park Style)

2007-09-12T14:38:00.001-07:00

Linkin Park - Vegas 9/8/7

2007-09-10T07:33:00.001-07:00

So I traveled to Las Vegas to see Linkin Park perform at the Hard Rock. We met up with a WoW buddy, had dinner and then hit the concert. SoB(Styles of Beyond) was the opening act and they did a nice set of their tunes and a coupla tunes from the Fort Minor Cd with Mike. I've seen LP three times, once in Long Beach when they first came on the scene(LP blew bad), once with Metallica @summer sanitarium(LP was better but still finding their presence on stage), and this show(finnally they're a rock band). All I have to say is that this was one of the best shows I've been to. I think it helped that EVERYONE in the show was singing every line of every song by heart. They did a smattering of their best cuts and had a really high energy level as well. Oh and that's our buddy Mike in the first shot, attention whore. =P

Political activism and social networking

2007-09-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

So I'm reading Digg about an individual who refused to show his receipt to a guard at Circuit City and ended up calling the cops because CC wasn't letting him leave. He then was asked for ID and gave his name but refused to produce ID . Needless to say he was arrested. Sheesh I'm glad we have the internet and the ability to highlight things like this through social networks. Rosa Parks, Dr. King, these people made a social impact with the help of media attention, these days it looks like we can take out the media and hopefully impact society directly. Powerful thinking. BTW I agree with the Michael, the shopper who was arrested, retail establishments should not impinge on my freedoms as a citizen and there by making me feel like a criminal for doing nothing wrong.

Two of the koolest uses of LEGO ever...

2007-09-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

GO SC!!! and no its not about the football season =P...

2007-09-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

Read about this on engadget. A team at USC has rendered a working 360 degree 3D display. Someone was really inspired by that holo display from Star Wars, lol. All I got to say is where's the image of Lord Vader?

Made in China has new meening...

2007-08-31T08:37:00.001-07:00

I'm not totally positive here, but sandals @walmart are producing chemical burns to peoples feet. This is extremely troubling after the recalls China has had.

Go Speed Racer Go.....

2007-08-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

So looks like the Wachowski brothers are back at it again this time with the live action version of Speed Racer. This article talks about the use of cameras that allow the foreground and background to remain in focus just like cartoons. Pretty cool.

I'm kidnapping the cute fox for my header logo...

2007-08-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

...well not really. This is Foxkeh, the mascot for Firefox Japan! So if you notice him on this site just remember he's JDM. =P

No cell phone reception no problem.....Well a little problem.....

2007-08-23T07:28:00.001-07:00

Ok so my cell phone reception sux at my place. And I was browsing thinkgeek.com and saw this. Great I thought I can finally get a signal inside and use my freakin phone. But wait, check the price tag #*%!!!!
$249.99 - $359.99!!! Man if only this was like under $100.

Core 2 duo, Quad core.... how about 64 core?

2007-08-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Well Tilera is a spinoff from MIT. Using a mesh architecture its set to add some serious scalability to the computer architecture world.

Golfing and need a scorecard? How about using your iPhone?

2007-08-20T10:07:00.001-07:00

Saw this on webware and thought that it'd be a good app for you aspiring golfers out there lol.

Got no cell phone signal @home? No problem...

2007-08-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

...at least if you have T-bizzle. T-Mobile is offering to use your internet connection to allow you to make calls from you home with your cell phone for around $9.99 a month as of 8/9/2007. They plan to bump up the price to $19.99 eventually. Basically its a voip like service integrated into you cell. The only drawback? You have to use one of two phones that they sell. Sorry, but for me that kills it right there. =(

Ok I'm a HUGE music geek....

2007-08-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

...and so a friend of mine tells me about this site that can track your tastes and give you suggestions about new music AND on top of that it does social networking. Kool....let's see if it can track me. =) Metal, Country, Pop, Rap, R&B, Jazz, JPOP, hahaha i wanna see how targeted this thing can get. So far its pretty kool. It can look at what you listen to an customize a radio like internet stream for you. Really nice for all you music addicts out there.

For all the other children of Lego out there...

2007-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was a Lego kid surprise, surprise....check this thing out. Its a lego kit designing program that lets you virtually design a lego SET!!!! Then you can upload your creation TO Lego and order the parts you need to MAKE the darn thing! Is this cool or what?

Forget your keys? The new hide-a-key!

2007-07-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

Ok so those magnetic things that hid your key under your car was a great idea until someone else found it and took your car. =( Well here's a great idea.... A hide-A-key with a combo lock!

Baseball: Hot dogs, peanuts, and Nintendo DS?

2007-07-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

A really cool idea. Take the mature Nintendo DS platform and leverage the wireless capabilities to enhance the in stadium experience for us sports nutts. BRILLIANT! Live video feeds, stats, and trivia! Too bad its only in Seattle atm.

Can u hear me now?

2007-07-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder if some other mobile carrier had better service in your area? Well someone came up with a good idea, have cell phone users self document the signal strength of their phones and list it in a google map format. Brilliant.

Late night eating and web 2.0

2007-07-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

So someone got the bright idea of listing the locations of takeout and fast food joints along with their hours of operation and delivery hours. Nice idea, but a little scarce on the listings atm.

How can a president promote and subvert racial integration at the same time?

2007-06-28T10:13:00.001-07:00

Ok, so we've had the desegregation of schools in the 50s, which Bush is promoting. At the same time the conservative supreme court appointed by said president is striking down the programs originally designed to help maintain desegregation.
Until all schools are on par with each other we cannot allow any group to claim exclusive rights to local education, whether under the guise of racial segregation or equality. By removing busing programs the supreme court has essentially said that rich neighborhoods can keep exclusive control over their own schools while less affluent areas will have to make due with substandard resources. If you are mixing a cake do you force the flower to stay on one side of the bowl and the eggs to stay on the other? This ruling does nothing to deal with the issues of racial equality, but simply creates an environment conducive to economic discrimination. At best the supreme court is saying that a government has no place in integrating society, and at worst that government should only protects the rights and interests of those with economic and political affluence.

Older means smarter =)

2007-06-22T10:31:00.001-07:00

Here's a study that validates the beliefs of older siblings. They are SMARTER. LOL

If at first you don't succeed find some other code...

2007-05-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Interesting quote at Coffee Bean.

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Add sticky notes...

2007-05-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

...to ANY website. AND share them!!! It's called Fleck. Here's the article on webware.

Fuego....

2007-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

...looks like there's a song on the Pitbull CD named after our favorite flame.

Wanna be an air traffic controler?

2007-04-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

This looks cool. Google maps merged with 3-d flight information for airline flights. It's called FboWeb.com

On a more serious note...

2007-04-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

...Little Iron Men looks like a promising film, about the American heros from Hawaii and around the United States of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Let's hope it gets Hollywood's attention and get signed to be made and distributed. I remember reading the books about the 442nd and 100th. It's a shame that mainstream America doesn't get to read about these men and their remarkable accounts of bravery and self-sacrifice. Most US school books either brush over these brave men or omit their story entirely.

Dude-liest schemes ever...

2007-04-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

One more from wired. Some of the best (read worst) patented ideas EVER. List is pretty amusing. LINK.