One of those days...

When it would be nice to just start over. Move out of this crazy BS city (to another crazy city like SF, NY, CHI) and just start a new life. New friends, new job and become a new person. Crazy, but it's not like I haven't done it before. Time to start making plans. real plans.

Musiq Soulchild - Just Friends

This has probably always been one of my most favorite songs. Just the right tempo, staccato, rhythm, and feeling. That's what music is all about. Girl I know this might seem strange But let me know if Im out of order For stepping to you this way See Ive been watching you for a while And I just gotta let you know That Im really feeling your style Cause I have to know your name And leave you with my number And I hope that you would call me someday If you want you can give me yours too And if you dont well I aint mad atcha We can still be cool cause Im not trying to pressure you Just cant stop thinkin bout you You aint even really gotta be my girlfriend I just wanna know your name And maybe some time We can hook up, hang out, just chill Damn Im surprised that you called Cause the way you walked away I thought I wasnt gon see you no more Since you didnt wanna give me your name I thought that you were iggin me And wasnt diggin me But anyway what you doing tonight Ill probably be with my peeps If its cool with you maybe well swing by And you can just chill with us Or you can just chill with me As long as youre comfortable And you feel secure when your with me cause Im not trying to pressure you Just cant stop thinkin bout you You aint even really gotta be my girlfriend I just wanna know your name And maybe some time We can hook up, hang out, just chill Oh, oh, baby yeah Maybe we can oh Go and see a movie girl Or maybe we can hang out girl Whatever you wanna do Just let me know Its up to you Im not trying to pressure you Just cant stop thinkin bout you You aint even really gotta be my girlfriend I just wanna know your name And maybe some time We can hook up, hang out, just chill Im not trying to pressure you Just cant stop thinkin bout you You aint even really gotta be my girlfriend I just wanna know your name And maybe some time We can hook up, hang out, just chill

I need to find her

at the club

This horse dances better than most people.

My Old School CD

Artist - Name 2 Live Crew - Me So Horny 2pac - California Love 2pac, JoJo & K-Ci - How Do U Want It A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It? Afrika Bambaataa - Don't Stop...Planet Rock (Original Vocal Version) AKANYELE - Put in In Your Mouth Another Bad Creation - Iesha Another Bad Creation - Playground Beastie Boys - Intergalactic Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey Beatnuts - Watch Out Now Bel Bev Devoe - Poison Bell Biv DeVoe - Do Me! Big Pun feat Joe - Still Not a Player Big Punisher - I'm Not a Player Big Punisher featuring Fat Joe - Twinz (Deep Cover 98) Black Eyed Peas - Joints and Jam Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours (Revisited) Bobby Brown - My Prerogative Bobby Brown - Every Little Step Boyz II Men - Motownphilly Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up Color Me Badd - All 4 Love DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime DJ Quik - Tonite DMX - Party Up (Up in Here) DMX - Get at Me Dog (Radio Edit) DMX - Ruff Ryders' Anthem Dr. Dre - Wit Dre Day Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride Dr. Dre - Nuthin But a G Thang EPMD - Crossover Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul Father MC - Everything's Gonna Be Alright Father MC - I'll Do 4 U Gang Starr - Full Clip Gang Starr - Take It Personal Gang Starr - Dwyck Gang Starr - You Know My Steez Gang Starr - The Militia Gucci Crew II - Sally, That Girl Heavy D & The Boyz - Now That We Found Love Ice Cube - Check Yo Self (Remix) Ice Cube - We Be Clubbin' Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day J.J. Fad - Supersonic Jeru The Damaja - Ya Playin' Yaself Junior M.A.F.I.A. - Player's Anthem Juvenile - Back That Thang Up Kurupt, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg & Warren G - Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None) Lil' Kim - Crush On You (Explicit Version) LL Cool J - Around the Way Girl LL Cool J - Going Back to Cali LL Cool J - Rock the Bells Lords of the Underground - Funky Child Method Man - Bring the Pain Method Man - All I Need Method Man - M.E.T.H.O.D. Man (remix) Method Man & Redman - How High (Remix) Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Pt. 2 Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It Mr. Grimm - Indo Smoke Musiq - Just Friends N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (Extended Mix) N2Deep - Back to the Hotel Nappy Roots - Po folks Nas - If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray Nice & Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems The Notorious B.I.G - Going Back To Cali OutKast - ATLiens OutKast - Wheelz of Steel OutKast - Elevators P. Diddy Featuring The Notorious B.I.G., The Lox, Lil' Kim - All About the Benjamins P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (Radio Edit) The Pharcyde - Runnin' The Pharcyde - Passing Me By Pharoah Monch - Simon Says PM Dawn - Die Without You Q-Tip - Vivrant Thing Rakim - Guess Who's Back Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two Shai - Comforter Sisqo feat. Foxy Brown - Thong Song Remix (Vinyl Rip) Slick Rick - Children's Story Smilez And Southstar - Tell Me Snoop Dogg - Who Am I (What's My Name)? Snow - Informer Spooks - Things I've Seen Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam Tone-Loc - Wild Thing Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby Various Artists - Too Legit to Quit Warren G - Regulate Warren G - Do You See Warren G - This D.J. Wreckx-N-Effect - Rump Shaker (Radio Mix) Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (Bloody Version) Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nuthing ta F' Wit Young MC - Bust a Move

Slacking

I've been totally slacking on tnext this week. Between needing to hit my numbers for the month and my new baby, it's been tiring. I need to devote some time this week to bringing gadgets and useless gizmos to the masses! So in the meantime, check out a few of my recent recommendations. All the things you need to throw a rager baby...yeah baby...yeah! See more of my I'm Not an Alcoholic list at ThisNext.

Having a baby is tiring...

especially when it's a 10 week old yorkie! I'm still working on a name, but here are just a few that have been thrown in as options: - chewy - spike - bear - sam - drake - frank - howie - mandoo I don't know. I'm not good with names.

Wilshire Boulevard

I like to call certain streets "The Tour of LA" route and Wilshire Boulevard is one them. From Downtown LA to the beach, you get to capture a little bit of everything that makes LA what it is. In this video, the artist snaps a picture every 10ft. as he takes a walk down Wilshire blvd.

Happy Father's Day

Dear Dad, Happy Father's Day. I've been thinking about what I've wanted to write to you for the last fe days. I've probably done it in bits and pieces on a blog here or in my mind as I've spent countless hours in the car. And maybe a huge public forum like my blog (read by 6 people) isn't the place to do it either, but for now, this is the place that it's going to start. I miss you. I miss the fact that you aren't here to see my grow up. You and mom invested so much of your lives in me. I want you to know that you'd be proud of me. I'm thankful everyday of the sacrifices you made so that I would have the opportunities I have today. I miss being able to talk to you about things, to have you around to bounce ideas off of. I miss our random lunches where we go to Victory Restaurant for Cornish Hen, or those random bowls of Pho. I still remember our trips to the park when I was a kid and learning how to ride my bike without training wheels. You'd be there chasing behind me trying to make sure I didn't fall on my ass (even though I did). I remember all of our trips to the LA Zoo and Disneyland. I will never forget all the great food you used to cook. Maybe that's the reason why I love food as much as I do today. So on the one hand, I'm sad that you aren't here, but on the other hand, I have a huge abundance (I mean huge, you know how much crap I can store in my brain) of memories of you. So thanks dad. Thanks for everything you've taught me. Thanks for being a great father. Without you, I don't know where I would be today. You'll always be a part of my life.

Cupcakes!

There seems to be a cupcake epidemic on the 1nt3rw3b. Cupcakes...everywhere. Whether it be a cufflink, on a ring, or on your shirt...I'd rather have a cupcake in my tummy and even that is available too. Madness I tell you...madness.

Father's Day!

It's father's day and you have 4 days to get your act together. What are you going to get? Come to thisnext and check out some of quick (and not so quick) gifts to get your dad. See more of my Who's Your Daddy? list at ThisNext.

Kaenon Sunglasses

These... or these... (via Uncrate) which one would you choose???

To Buy or Not to Buy...

I am seriously considering trading in the X5 for the 335i. I just can't decide what to do though. Maybe the car is too small for me, but it's definitely not TOO fast! I now have 13 days for someone to talk me out of this little guilty pleasure

Three great articles from the NY Times today

Quantifying the Role of School Ties in Investing From the school of Freaknomics, looks into the role people's alma maters play in how fund managers invest. I'm sure some of the peeps from Williams are tied to this one way or another. When you spend 4 years studying and living in the middle of nowhere, you spend a lot of time scheming. Cocaine: Hidden in Plain Sight Takes a look at the rise and acceptance of cocaine. I still remember the War on Drugs (for better or worse), but coke usage is definitely on the rise. I just never realized its prevalence until recently (stupid me) As Women Rise, Corporate Korea Corks the BottleLooks at the rise of women in South Korea's corporate world and how it's changing the bonding culture of the workforce. Funny thing is that most of the korean women I know in the states could drink me under the table...easily.

A State of Trance 300 Video

Europe knows how to throw it down...and they appreciate electronica much more than we do in the states.

Here's a little bit of WTF!!!

This is wrong on every level...every F**KING LEVEL

Quicky Review: Blackberry Curve

I've had the opportunity to play with the Blackberry 8300 (Curve) for the last 72 hours and I have to say, this one is an absolute winner. RIM has done an incredible job of designing a phone that looks good, works well, and FITS well in your life. Although the 8800 may be the "benchmark" blackberry out right now, I envision the 8300 will become the top seller. The keyboard's tactile touch has improved tremendously, partly from them moving the keys apart. The 8300's tapered corners makes it easier to hold. Putting the three newest BB's next to each other, the 8300 is just 1/3" wider than the Pearl and 1/4" thinner than the 8800. Overall, it just feels NICER to hold up to your ear than the 8800 did. While the 8300 doesn't sport an embedded GPS, it does have an absolutely fantastic 2MP camera that works rather well. This being RIM's prosumer play, they've also jam packed this thing with multimedia icons (to buy themes, ringtones, etc. etc.) Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the 8300 and I see it replacing my Pearl as a personal device. I'll still be using the Samsung Blackjack for work, but with the 8300 as a constant reminder, that may change as well. (via Engadget Mobile)

I like to get my food in the mail...

These are just some of the items featured in this LA Times article on Airport foods that you can purchase or you can have shipped to you. They are representative of the regional tastes of each airport. What are your recommendations? Leave me a comment and I'll add it onto my list of "Airport Foods," the regional good stuff that you can't always find, but you can always mail order.

Why Wall Decals?

Can someone explain to me why these are so popular right now? I like my walls to be simple. A contrast color, maybe; a piece of artwork, definitely; but wall decals?? Check out the ridiculous number of wall decals available right now...

How can you not love this face...

That's my boy Xavier. Well, not my boy literally, since I don't have a baby mama, but you get the picture. (future baby mama's can apply via the comments section) Xavier S. Anello, future pimp superstar. Isn't he the cutest. Check out his blog here. That's right, he's got a blog and been on here longer than I have. Heading out to Hollywood for a big night out in town. After a long night of partying with the stars...

Get Covered - Govind Armstrong's Grilled Cheese Sandwich @ Table 8

I just HAD to write about my experience at Table 8 this past Saturday. I went to Table 8 for dinner and had the most AMAZING GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH EVER!!! You read right...a damn grilled cheese sandwich (with pulled pork and red onion marmalade). It was the type of food that you started eating and just thought "I've never had something so good before." What really set the thing apart was the fact that while it was rich in flavor and taste, nothing was overpowering. It was the perfect blend of short ribs, cheese, butter, and grapeseed oil. (I took a look at the recipe in his book). Needless to say, we'll be back at Table 8 to enjoy the food, and all the beautiful people that Govind Armstrong attracts to his restaurant here in LA. And don't forget to check out his book, which he signed at the restaurant.

David Guetta Part II

How about a little music to make you feel better while I go out and play

The challenge of blogging

Poor blog. I look at you and I feel like I'm staring at a puppy that I've left at home alone for too long. But I really prefer posting on thisnext. I promise I'll take good care of you. Just not today. :)

It Don’t Mean a Thing if You Ain’t Got That Ping

This article is so true. I can definitely attest to being one of these people. The first I do in the morning is reach for my blackberry, then my blackjack, then my laptop, then back to the blackberry. I've felt my hip vibrate, even though my phone is on audio or when the phone isn't EVEN on me. I don't just feel connected to the article. I AM the article. NYTIMES ARTICLE April 22, 2007 Tethered It Don’t Mean a Thing if You Ain’t Got That Ping By MATT RICHTEL THE BlackBerry network went dark last week — cache-flow problems, apparently. Service stopped for a mere 12 hours, but to bereft users, 12 minutes was too long. Information feeds our lives, they protested, and the BlackBerry provides it. What if we miss the e-mail message that makes or breaks our happiness, or our bank account? That’s always possible, of course. But what if what the users were missing was more primitive and insidious than uninterrupted access to information? Experts who study computer use say the stated yearning to stay abreast of things may mask more visceral and powerful needs, as many self-aware users themselves will attest. Seductive, nearly inescapable needs. Some theorize that constant use becomes ritualistic physical behavior, even addiction, the absorption of nervous energy, like chomping gum. This behavior is then fueled by powerful social motivators. Interaction with a device delivering data gives a feeling of validation, inclusion and desirability. (It’s no fun to be the only un-pinged person in the room.) James E. Katz, director of the Center for Mobile Computing at Rutgers University, said the data coming from the devices was really secondary. “Look at a lot of the communication — it’s idiotic in terms of substance,” Mr. Katz said. “But it’s vital in terms of meaning.” Mr. Katz argues that participation gives people a sense of belonging, one traceable to the atavistic desire to congregate and cooperate for safety and survival. In addition, he said, the constant checking is an exercise in optimism, like being an explorer or a gambler. Eternal hope delivered in tiny bits while you’re on the go. “It’s random reinforcement,” Mr. Katz said. The fact that you don’t know when important news will come, he said, “means you will quickly engage in obsessive compulsive behavior.” These social needs and yearnings may drive the use. But at some point, that use becomes an end unto itself — a physical ritual that can take on some of the qualities of actual addiction, said Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard, where he specializes in neuropsychiatry. Several years ago, Mr. Ratey began using the term “acquired attention deficit disorder” to describe the condition of people who are accustomed to a constant stream of digital stimulation and feel bored in the absence of it. Regardless of whether the stimulation is from the Internet, TV or a cellphone, the brain, he said, is hijacked. “I liken it to a drug,” Mr. Ratey said. “Drug addicts don’t think; they just start moving. Like moving for your BlackBerry.” When the BlackBerry system faltered on Tuesday night, Steven M. Krausz, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, was attending an industry dinner at a conference in Washington, D.C. The malfunction didn’t interrupt his habit. “I checked it at least a dozen times during dinner,” Mr. Krausz said, in part because he was curious about when service would be restored but also because the constant checking was a placeholder for less desirable activities. “I’d rather reach for the BlackBerry than reach for bread or dessert and put some high-cholesterol item in my mouth,” he said, calling his habit “a reflexive response.” Besides, he added, he checked his device regularly “because it was a boring dinner speaker.” There were two speakers, actually: Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Tadataka Yamada, executive director of global health for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Not the least boring to some listeners, but the threshold for boredom is low these days, say compulsive device operators. BlackBerry users do half-joke that they have become junkies, insatiable data tokers. But because the tool is tied to productivity, defined by some as essential to modern employment, overusers don’t really regard their habit as the digital equivalent of firing up a Marlboro outside work. Perhaps they should re-examine the tie to productivity, however. The technology creates the allusion that every moment can be a productive one, said Tara Hunt, 33, a marketing director for a technology consulting company in San Francisco. When you’re not participating, it’s like you’re suggesting that you’re not keeping up, she said. “I might think I’m missing out if Google bought another company and I wasn’t part of the echo chamber around it,” Ms. Hunt said, referring to the chance she’d miss news of an industry development. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter a whole lot.” B. Marc Averitt, a technology investor, said that on the face of it, his fear was that someone would send him a message, become frustrated and bored if there wasn’t an immediate response, then go look elsewhere for an answer. He keeps up, he said, because everyone else is doing it, forcing his hand. But on a deeper level, Mr. Averitt said he found a frustrating, even counterproductive, psychological fixation. And one that he sometimes has to satisfy in secret. On vacations, he said, he has been known to check his BlackBerry even after promising his wife he wouldn’t. His wife says the activity takes him out of the real emotions of the present. And perhaps, for some, that is the point. Dr. Ratey, from Harvard, likens the problem to a food addiction, which is one of the most beguiling for psychiatrists. After all, he said, food is essential for life, but problematic in excessive doses. And that’s what makes breaking technology addiction so difficult. Sometimes the habit is there even when the device isn’t. Users talk of phantom urges, like (no kidding) the feeling of a hip vibrating, as if to suggest a belt-hooked BlackBerry is buzzing when, in fact, the person is the shower. Others hear a beep in the night, say from outdoors or an alarm clock, and reach for the device. “It’s like Pavlov’s dog,” Mr. Averitt said.

So needless to say I have an addiction (or two). The first is gadgets. I'm constantly IN NEED OF GADGETS. I love to get my hands on them. I love to play with them. Most importantly, I love to talk about them. My second addiction of course is www.thisnext.com. ThisNext is the PERFECT forum for me to fulfill my need to talk about gadgets, thus sparing my friends from having to listen to me blabber on about technology and gadgets. But this stuff is fun! See more of my Gadgets list at ThisNext.

Random Thoughts

Just a few things that I needed to jot down: - The Korean cafe owner at corporate and I had an interesting conversation today while I was paying her for my salad owner: You're xxxx right? me: yup owner: are you married? no: nope owner: girlfriend? me: umm, nope (wondering where this conversation is going) owner: I'd like to set you up with my niece. If I had a daughter, I'd set her up with you. m: Gee, thanks? So needless to say, I gave her my business card. Who knows what she's going to do with it. I better not get spammed. - Totally on David Guetta's jock right now. His mixes are just make you want to dance...nonfockingstop.

Weekend in Review

Gallivanted around West LA and checked out the Penthouse (Huntley) and Viceroy. Was told that I was "quietly arrogant," which is probably the most accurate description I have heard yet. I also realized that: a. my tolerance level for alcohol has skyrocketed and/or b. I've become an alcoholic. Case in point: A few of us decided to head out to ktown Saturday night to grab a few drinks. 10 shots of soju, 2 bottles of hite, and a redbull vodka didn't so much as elicit a reaction from my body other than: "Guys, let's go see what happened to Circus now that Spundae isn't promoting there anymore." Bad. I tell you. Bad. Off to get some work done, then it is time to watch my boy Ari. Ari, get yourself a new pda man...I can recommend a great Treo 750 from at&t mobility!

The World is Mine

I love this song. David Guetta - The World is Mine feat. Depeche Mode

Pepe's Part 1

One of the things I love about my mom is her willingness to try all different types of food when I bring it home. After spending 6 hours trying to decide what I wanted for breakfast (then lunch), I went to Pepe's in Alhambra to try their machaca and Wet Burrito. What is machaca you might ask? Dry shredded beef with onions, eggs, and chile peppers. It's one of my favorite dishes when I want that mix of breakfast (egg) food served up mexican style. Their machaca was a little drier than I expected, but I think I've been spoiled by El Tepeyac's machaca, which is seasoned better, a little more moist, and topped with two sunny side up eggs.

For your inner crackhead

I just had to share this post after seeing it @ NotCot Freebase Pancakes...rock on witcha bad self. I'm not really sure what to say...but I just know that I'd need A LOT of those pancakes. Unless of course, you're one of the kids attending Derek Zoolander's Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good

Got Pesto?

Since there isn't a lot of decent food establishments near my office in San Bernardino, I often end up going to Starbucks for one of their sandwiches. The winner for the last few weeks has been the Turkey Pesto, but today was the first time I actually did some investigating. What was in the sandwich: Turkey, bread, veggies, cranberries (yum). So where was the damn pesto???? I investigated further and found it in the spread...a few specks of basil in the spread. WTF! I was wondering why my sandwich tasted so dry. Back in Massachusetts, we used to make our own pesto (for pasta and leftovers for sandwiches) and we spread that baby on thick. I guess I'm just spoiled, but now that I've found a reason to dislike the sandwich, I'm going to need to find something new to eat when I'm in SB. (the imposter pesto sandwich)

Test

How does this work? [test blog sent from pearl]

This was rather interesting

Subject: You can read this-trust me! I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! I pulled this off of someone's sig file on hofo. Did you have a problem reading this? I didn't. That's pretty crazy though.

Testing

My first post. I just popped its cherry.