Castle Shima

Alyssa: Looks like a very personal story.
Holden: I finally had something personal to say.
-- from Chasing Amy

Finally, a new entry. I haven't kept up with the blog as much as I really wanted. Then again, I really haven't had much to say.

I mean life has been hectic and it just felt as things were so out of control. It has been such a maddening pace. The end of year is alway crazy, especially with the office, but this year it was just beyond belief.

I was even accused of being a hermit. Again. But I've always been a hermit I suppose. I cause less damage that way.

Then after awhile, it dawned on me that one of the reasons I didn't write anything after all this time was the fact that I didn't have anything to say. I mean if you really want to hear the doldrums of work, I've got plenty of stories there, but it's not the same thing. It simply wasn't... meaningful...

So why now? Why bother? I'm absolutely rubbish when it comes to even attempting to be serious for a moment.

Its the end of the year. Time to look back and then look forward. To change things in your life and in the lives of others. There is always so much promise at new year's and the hope that things will be different. I guess that is the purpose of the new year's resolution.

But I don't do resolutions. I make vain attempts at being somewhat a better person. And even then, that isn't quite the right thing either.

I was once told that I'm way too nice; too kind. Perhaps that is true. It's felt like that as of late.

So that will be my vain attempt I think. To be abit more unkind and not so nice. Maybe even do anger abit more because I really can do that well. I'm really good at anger.

I have absolutely no idea if this will really make me a better person. We'll see how it goes especially since its rare for people to keep their resolutions anyway. Or in this case, their vain attempt.

Will I keep mine? Will you?

The moment is upon us. It's coming.

Are you ready?

Closer To The Edge by 30 Seconds To Mars

The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life. And the body is born young and grows old. That is life's tragedy.
-- Oscar Wilde

Time flies doesn't it? I hadn't even realized how long it had been since I've updated the blog. Hell, I barely recall what I did at the beginning of the year and its already December.

Things have gone by so fast it seems so unreal. The next thing you know I will start playing soccer and act like I'm 20 again.

Ok, that is a given. Perhaps its more to the fact that I refuse to grow up. I'm still a big kid, but with expensive toys and the wierd family. Just like John Leguizamo...



Ok, maybe my family isn't *that* wierd. Or maybe they are and I just don't see it.

When you're in the battlefield, survival is all there is. Death is the only great emotion.
-- Samuel Fuller

It's Veterans Day in the US. The day to remember those that have not only fought for us, but have served us in the past and still serve us today. Its because they all bear the scars of our history.

Samuel Fuller, a veteran of World War II and film director, knew this all too well. Here is a scene from his film, The Big Red One.



So to our vets, here is a thank you to you and yours.

As a child I was what is known as a "fussy eater." 'He's fussy! He's a fussy eater!' "Fussy eater" is a euphemism for "Big pain in the ass."
-- George Carlin

Cooking normally isn't that big of a deal for most people. After all, almost everyone I know learned from their family or have their own family to cook for. I had never really been trained in that sort of thing and never really had a reason.

For most of my life, I've been the typical male that relied on others to handle the chore of cooking. While growing up, there was the mother and grandmother parental units. In college and the following decades, there was the poor female that happened to be in my life at the time. Even if I wasn't seeing anyone, I could always rely on my three neighbors: Wendy, Ron McDonald, and the King of Burger.

And if that didn't work, there was always the microwave. Oh, and the toaster. I could make a really mean pop-tart.

Then, at some point, you just get sick of having the same thing over and over again. Its not only unhealthy, but it gets plain downright boring.

Next thing I know, I've bought a pan. Then I bought I another. Then I ended up with a spatula, a wok, a bottle of olive oil, and several pairs of tongs.

Then I started watching the Cooking Channel too much. Don't get me wrong. I used to watch Rachel Ray on the Food Network all the time, but it wasn't the same thing. Watching her was more because she's a cutie as opposed to the food.

Now my DVR is loaded with episodes of chuck's Day Off, Cook Like An Iron Chef, and Kitchen Essentials.

Michael Symon, the host of Cook Like An Iron Chef, has this saying: "If you learn a recipe, you make a great dish. If you learn technique, you can make several great dishes."

That made sense to me. It even fits with my personality. Not only do I have yet another hobby, but its got nifty toys too! I even get to play with knives!

My latest experiments involved scrambled eggs and steaks. Simple right? But then again you never realize how much you can alter your food by simply changing your technique.

Here's a hint from Gordon Ramsey, who is funny as hell:


Butter? I had never done that before. Damn!

So one night for dinner I end up with portobello caps, eggs, cherry tomatos, and steak (I'll do the bread for breakfast).


Then a week later, my science project ended up being another steak, cherry tomatos, and spinach with garlic.


At least this time, I remembered to cut the meat against the grain. And before anyone says anything, I wanted the meat to come out medium rare so it actually worked out.

I will never, ever become a chef or even some worthwhile cook. I wouldn't even declare myself a foodie. The way I figure it, if the kitchen doesn't burn down, then I am in pretty good shape.

The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.
-- Norman Vincent Peale

Still in the live performance Linkin Park mood, here are a couple of songs performed at the Best Buy Theater in New York. This concert was part of the release for the latest cd A Thousands Suns.

Waiting For The End by Linkin Park


New Divide by Linkin Park

A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts.
-- Elvis Presley

I would agree with Elvis. There is always something about a live concert and the energy the crowd brings with them.

Linkin Park should be coming out again soon since they released their latest cd. I've always enjoyed watching them live, even if it was just on dvd. So I'll have to work on seeing them again. Until then...

P5hng Me A*wy by Linkin Park


In The End by Linkin Park

If wind and tide had been against us, I should have said yes.
-- Capt. Aubrey from Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World


Once more into the fray, my friends. The annual event has come upon once again and as years past, requires documentation of the festivities. If you could call them that...

So with more apologies to Peter King, here is the Things I Think I Know About the MS Bike Ride, 2010 edition.

1. Last year, we got lucky by not having the typical downpours. This year made up for it by surprising everyone. A typical conversation went something like this: "Rain? Its not supposed to rain. The weather guy said... What the?! Son of a bitch!"

2. The latest addition for the RoadKill Cafe: Crab!

3. Team Blue set a new record this year by having a ride group earn three flat tires. The previous record was two. The single rider record remains at earning two flat tires at the same time while going over a bridge.

4. I loved how DJ iPhone played Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance then ten minutes later, the live band came back and played the same song. Matter of fact, its playing now even as I right this.

5. Definition of Ironic: over 1000 cyclists are leaving the same gate and the music begins playing Lenny Kravitz's Are You Gonna Go My Way?


6. This year, the event sponsors gave the cyclists an added bonus by shortening the route. The only thing everyone had to do was ride through the wind tunnel used to test space shuttle engines. Congratulations!

7. From now on, the mixing of high winds and bridge climbing will henceforth be termed as "Knee Distress."

8. There is something scary, yet exciting, about being in a 60 man pace line, especially when you're the one on the back end.

9. Did anyone else worry about getting bedbugs while at the hotel? Maybe it was just me. Geezus, thanks for putting that image into my head, Jo.

10. And with that many thanks must go out to the Team Blue volunteers that handled the rest stop and the team tent. We couldn't continue this fight without you.

Wheels by The Foo Fighters


Cheers, mates!

If to dance is to dream, then you make dreams come true.
-- Unknown

This started out during one of my nightly blog searches and I still havent been able to stop smirking.

I dont know much about Genki Sudo other than he used to be mixed martial artist in Japan. From what I've seen, his flashy dance routines that he did as he entered the ring lead him to his entertainment career with the musical group, World Order.

How cool is that?! Asia expects its actors and singers to be interchange frequently, but its fighters? I have no idea, but I do know that I would never, ever want watch Rocky Balboa singing or dancing.

And after watching the World Order dance videos, I just had to laugh. A lot. They are just so much fun! They remind me so much of the videos from Ok Go.

If Sudo did one of these routines before every fight, its no wonder his transition into the music industry was required.

Sudo is the one with goatee and I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

Mind Shift by World Order


World Order by World Order


Hat Tip: The Daily What

Home is where you can say anything you please, because nobody pays any attention to you anyway.
-- Joe Moore

Tomorrow is moving day for our department at the office. I understand the need for it. It doesn't change the fact that I absolutely hate it.

Part of the reason for the move is that the department is barely using a fraction of the floor which is meant for three hundred people. But damn, I really loved my cube.

I know that sounds strange, especially for those that havent been in the corporate world. My cube faced a wall so I only had a few neighbors and I was close to the windows. Not only that, but the department's location had us right next to the cafeteria, the soccer field, and right above the gym. The location was perfect.

I'd also been in that cube for ten years. That's longer than I've been in my apartment.

As this week dragged on to the inevitable, everyone around me began grousing about the move as well. It became pretty obvious that most of us felt the same way; that we feel as if we're being evicted. We hate moving across campus to an older, not as nice building, and in a worse location.

Some of the newcomers didnt understand as they packed their belongings in a single box. Most of us had quite a bit more, despite the fact we were trying to purge as much as possible. We were finding things we hadnt touched in years. Old newletters, pictures, keyboards, manuals, and even 3.5 diskettes from companies that don't even exist any more.

Now it feels like I'm leaving a piece of me behind. That's wierd, I know, but after all this time, that little piece of real estate was mine. It was part of my identity. It was my home.

So I'll take my three boxes and be happy about it.

Ok, maybe not happy, but I will be thankful for the memories.

Thnks fr the Mmrs by Fall Out Boy

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-- George Santayana

Somewhere along the lines, we've forgotten. We've gotten overselves too busy, too scared of what other people think, or too fearful to make the tough decisions.

Don't think so?

Try saying these words in public: "As an American, a person has the right to burn the Quaran."

Feels tough, doesnt it?

Now trying saying these words in public: "As an American, a person has the right to burn the Bible."

Not quite the same thing, is it? There is some discomfort, but typically there is no fear involved.

I'm not condoning burning of either book, but as an American, we have the right to do it. We even have the right to say it despite how distasteful it sounds.

It always happens though. We move on and forget all the bad things that happened in the past. After all, Pearl Harbor is nothing but a footnote in history to the current generation, that is, for any of those that can actually remember their history.



So here is a little reminder from David Kravette who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald:
On the morning of September 11, I was on floor 105, tower 1. I had an 8 a.m. meeting set up with a client. He was bringing by some tech people to do some due diligence on our technology company called E-Speed. I get to work usually around seven, seven-fifteen. At eight, the client called to tell me they were running late. And I said fine. But I reminded him to bring photo ID downstairs. Ever since the last terrorist attack in '93, the building requires photo ID downstairs. He's been there before, so he knew the drill. He said, "Fine. No problem."

At 8:40, I get a phone call from the security desk downstairs, asking me if I'm expecting visitors. I said yes. "Well, they're here," they said. "But one of them forgot their ID."

I'm 105 flights up. The commute to get downstairs takes about five minutes, especially around that time. So I'm annoyed, obviously, because I have to go down now to sign these people in after I just told them to bring ID. I look at this desk assistant across from me, thinking maybe she'll help out and go down, but she's on the phone. She's also about eight months pregnant. She's a few weeks from maternity leave and she's on the phone talking to a friend and she's on a website looking at bassinets and cribs. A very nice girl expecting her first child. So how lazy am I? I decide to go myself. ...

... I take these two elevator rides down. I take the elevator from 105 to 78, change, and take the express down to the ground. I got down to the lobby. Our elevator banks actually face the visitors' gallery. And I started walking over to the visitors' gallery, I'd say it's about thirty yards, and they're standing there waiting for me. And I remember yelling, "Which one of you knuckleheads forgot your ID?"

And as I say this, you hear this really loud screeching sound. I turn around and it's kind of coming from the elevators. So I run away from it, like ten steps, and look back. And the elevators are free-falling. Then, from the middle elevator bank, not the one I came down on, but from the middle one, a huge fireball explodes in the lobby. This huge fireball is coming right toward me. People got incinerated. And I remember just looking at this thing, not feeling scared, but just sad because I knew I was going to die. But as quickly as it came toward me, it actually sucked back in on itself, and it was gone. It left a lot of smoke and everything was blown out, all the glass and revolving doors leading into the shopping area. All I felt was a big wave of heat come over me, like when you put your face too close to a fireplace. My customer and my general counsel and I just ran out. The three of us ran over the overpass to where the Financial Center is. We went down to where the marina is, where the yachts are. And that's when we found out what happened, that a plane had hit the building.

I looked up and saw this big gaping hole. I said, "What's that falling out of the window?"

My general counsel looks at me like I'm nuts. And he says, "That's people jumping out." ...

Cantor Fitzgerald had four floors in the North Tower -- 101, 103, 104, and 105. Nobody got out on those floors. Everyone who was upstairs perished. There were a lot of phone calls to wives and husbands at around nine o'clock saying good-bye, as though they knew they were going to die.
-- from Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001

He's in the endzone. I'm waiting for a flag... There's no flag. There should be.
-- Neiderman from Necessary Roughness

NFL Football is upon us once more my friends. And with that comes the tradition that many of us absolutely must endure with every season: Fantasy Football.

It always seems to me that the draft is always the best part of the whole season. After all, everyone gathers together, have a few laughs, eat some food, and drink a lot of frothy things.

A few things stuck in my mind from this year's draft:

How is it we still can't pronounce this guy's name?



There is always someone not at the draft. And when they try to call in their picks, it looks just like this...



And no matter what happens, it seems that we aren't really satisified with our teams. So Tuesdays will be tough...


So we go thru all this pain and effort to build a fake team that will inevitably break your heart. I expect to be like this in a few months...


So for my league, this is what the Hong Kong Phooeys ended up with:

Quarterbacks
Aaron Rogers, Green Bay
Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia
Matt Moore, Carolina

Running Backs
Beanie Wells, Arizona
Justin Forsett, Seattle
Darren McFadden, Oakland
Mike Bell, Philadelphia

Receivers
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas
Devin Aromashodu, Chicago
Eddie Royal, Denver
Chaz Schilens, Oakland
Mike Thomas, Jacksonville

Tight Ends
Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh

Kickers
Stephen Gostkowski, New England
Rob Bironas, Tennessee

Team Defense
Dallas
Tennessee

I really wanted to get Chris Johnson, but he went really quick. Then again, if he has a bad game, it doesnt look too good for him...


Whew. At least I didnt pick Antonio Bryant...

Can't rain all the time.
-- Eric from The Crow

Ever get in one of those moods to dance? Ok, maybe its just me.

As of late, these two videos have kind of stuck with me. They are fun and get you up and dancing.

Ride To California by Paper Tongues


This one was used with the Camp Vegas commercial ads.

Animal by Neon Trees


For whatever reason both videos had a focus on their vans. I guess the accoustics were better than the bathroom.

You're not supposed to look back. You're supposed to keep going.
-- Holly from The Lovely Bones

It's that time.

Today is the viewing for A.D., then his body will be sent back to his family in India. It will be a hard day for a lot of us because it will be time to say goodbye. Then it will be time to move forward.

I've always believed that you can't have life without having death. That is the balance in things.

A.D. may be gone, but he will be in our memories.

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday by Boys II Men


Take care, dude.

I will see you again... But not yet... Not yet...
-- Juba from Gladiator

The following entry will be semi-serious and full of grammatical as well as spelling errors.

A friend of mine died last night.

Das, or A.D. as we called him, was killed in a car accident while going to visit another friend. The news of the accident rolled like a shock wave to all those who knew A.D., especially to the many of us that saw him a few hours prior to the accident.

There we all were, having a good time. The ever present smile in the room and the vocal laugh ringing thru the crowd. Of course, there was the always present phrase of "Dude!" But with A.D.'s accent, its always been more like "Dood!"

Then today, we found ourselves gathered together reminiscing about A.D. and all the things that made us laugh about him.

Remember that snowboarding trip?!
Then he was shouting, "Dood! Are you kidding me?!
He left his credit card where?!
After he's miss the goal, he was going, "Shucks!"
A.D. did what?!
We still yell out, "Fast! Fast!" during soccer because of him...

After an impromptu memorial at the scene of the accident, we continued recalling all the adventures everyone had with A.D.



That is the life we will remember. This intelligent, fun-loving, young man affecting so many people around him. He lived his life as best as he could, savored every moment, and wanted everyone to enjoy it with him.

God speed, A.D. You will be missed, but we'll see you soon enough. And you damn well better save us some beer, dude.

Perhaps I'm old and tired, but I always think that the chances of finding out what really is going on are so absurdly remote that the only thing to do is to say hang the sense of it and just keep yourself occupied.
-- Douglas Adams

I didnt realize that a month had gone by since I've touched this thing. July is usually a busy month, but I dont recall it be being this bad as of late. I always joke about work being a pain, but this time it is down right suffocating.

On the plus side, the World Cup was a blast and the Tour de France was excellent. I'm already going thru withdrawals from both as it is.

So now that I have a moment to breathe, maybe I just needed that reminder that times, good or bad, are just moments. Perhaps they are just a test and a little motivation is in order.

I only date stewardesses. Or maybe it just seems that way. Women always seem to be showing me the exits.
-- Scott Roeben

It was tough watching Team USA getting defeated by Ghana today. The two easy goals were backbreakers for sure, but the team kept fighting, kept scrapping. It took extra time before the team was shown the door.

No shame here. The blood, sweat, and tears were left on the field so I'm still proud of them. Now its time to get back to work and get back to the dream.

Running Down A Dream by Tom Petty


I still say Ghana has been taking flopping lessons from Italy, but thats just my opinion.

For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease a couple of weeks ago... I hate baseball. I'd really much rather have been diagnosed with a basketball disease. Maybe Wilt Chamberlain disease. That's the one where you have sex 20,000 times and then you die.
-- Carla Zilbersmith

I never met Carla Zilbersmith, the accomplished singer, teacher, and comedianne. I have never even heard of her until I ran across an entry on another blog (hat tip: The Daily What).

Zilbersmith was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, better known as ALS, in 2007. Despite dying slowly, she kept living life as she wanted, the best she could. Trips, singing, and plays. She wrote her own blog Carla Muses and even starred in a documentary Leave Them Laughing: A Musical Comedy About Dying.

I'm going to have to get this movie when it becomes available.

Last month, Zilbersmith slipped into a coma and passed away. Before her death, she made this video that was to be played during her funeral. I'll be damned if she didn't make people laughing a priority.



Thank you for your humour and inspiration, Carla. We didnt get to meet, but its an honour to know you.

Anyone can cook aloo gobi, but who can bend a ball like Beckham?
-- Jess from Bend It Like Beckham



Its an exciting time for soccer fans with the World Cup going on for the next four weeks. There are have been some really excellent games so far and its only third day of the tournament. Its definately been worth the hype.



England's Rob Green will be hearing about his miscue for awhile, but as any player knows, it happens to all of us. Unfortunately for Green, it just happened during one of the biggest games ever.



At least he made an attempt to stop the ball, unlike Algeria's Fawzi Chaouchi, who watched the ball sail in. Hell, I could have done that. Maybe I can play for them! Ok, maybe not.

Japan doesn't play for a couple of days so I'll be anxious to catch that one. It will be hard as hell to try not to watch the games at work. Our network doesn't have that kind of bandwidth.

Maybe I should call in sick. For the next four weeks. Yeah, that's it. *cough cough* Hehe...

Ok, that wont happen either. I'll have to do what I can to catch as many games as possible. For now, lets play the official song for the event.

Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) by Shakira


Damn. In a few weeks, I'm going to have the same problem when the Tour de France starts.

Lt. Col Strobl: If I'm not over there, what am I? Those guys, guys like Chance. They're Marines.
Charlie Fitts: And you think you're not? Want to be with your family every night? You think you have to justify that? You'd better stop right there, sir. You've brought Chance home. You're his witness now. Without a witness, they just disappear.
-- from Taking Chance

Today is the day we Americans remember those soldiers that died for us. It doesnt matter whether or not you believe in war or not. Its there and its something that must lived through.

Its the soldier that pays the price with their life. We should never forget that.



Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead by Lord Alfred Tennyson
Home they brought her warrior dead:
She nor swooned, nor uttered cry:
All her maidens, watching, said,
‘She must weep or she will die.’

Then they praised him, soft and low,
Called him worthy to be loved,
Truest friend and noblest foe;
Yet she neither spoke nor moved.

Stole a maiden from her place,
Lightly to the warrior stepped,
Took the face-cloth from the face;
Yet she neither moved nor wept.

Rose a nurse of ninety years,
Set his child upon her knee—
Like summer tempest came her tears—
‘Sweet my child, I live for thee.’

You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning.
-- Billy Wilder

I typically have music playing whenever I'm busy, whether it be office, working out, or house work. The one advantage I have by working on office stuff at home is that I can actually sing without destroying my co-workers ears.

The other advantage is that I can do my typical video surfing at the same time, usually because thats when I stumble on the little gems.

Case in point is today's found treasure. The cover that Ling Mai's Mighty Mayo Films group does is absolutely brilliant. I loved the fun and creativity it brought out in the song.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Every Morning by Sugar Ray