Halloween

Forgive my bluntness, but Halloween sucks!...

I bet some of you are probably wondering why I think this since Halloween is a holiday of dressing up, candy, and fun overall, but to me, it is anything but that.  Halloween does evoke some of those things, but it's a drag because of my past experiences with it, and the fact I don't think of it as a real holiday.  To explain the latter, any holiday that you have to go to school for isn't a real holiday in my book (the child in me talking).  Also, it's lost meaning because children don't trick or treat as much for safety issues, which I understand, and the fact the media has changed Halloween's image.  It used to be about scariness, but now it has shifted to sexiness and parties.  Maybe it's college influencing some of my way of thinking, but if you look at ads, you'll see what I mean.

As for my own experiences, besides going trick-or-treating once with my friends and at the mall, which was alright, I didn't have many Halloween experiences growing up (sad I know).  Maybe it's an Asian thing, but at my house, normally we closed all the shades, and then turned off the lights to give off the impression we weren't home for the night.  It's not like we didn't want to give out candy, but we just didn't feel like it.  Other times, my parents would take my siblings and I out to eat and then we would just get a huge individual bag of candy from CVS.  I don't know what candy I would choose now, but back then, Starburst Hard Candy was my sweet of choice.  A shame they don't make it anymore.  It doesn't sound fun since you're with your parents, but those experiences were memorable.  And looking back, it was better eating real food than candy all night.

With that in mind, let me tell you what you should all do for Halloween.  You should do what I'm going to do and just watch all the Halloween specials of my favorite TV shows from The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, The Weekenders, Arthur, Recess, all the way to classic things such as "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".  If you aren't a fan of watching TV, then you may find this boring, but these things never change, which you can't say about Halloween.  Regardless of what you do, whether you go trick-or-treating, party, or stay in, be safe, and don't forget to set your clocks this weekend.  I'm trying to remember to.

Happy Halloween!

 

One of my favorite Halloween traditions.  Who can forget Charlie Brown getting nothing but rocks?

Resume's

Resume's are something that confuse me.  Maybe it's because I've never worked before, or maybe it's because they have so many rules to them, but regardless, something about it irks me.  Yesterday, I went to the Career Services Office at my school and met with a career counselor to talk about my future.  Besides writing, I didn't know what else I wanted to do with my life, so we tried working on different resume's to see how it would look for someone like me with no experience.  To me, the process seemed impossible based on what I had heard, and the people I knew with amazing resume's, but the person I met with was amazing, and really helped me.  Thanks Dana!  Even though I don't know when I'll start my resume, or if I'll be by again any time soon, it's nice to know my situation isn't hopeless.

The thing that irks me though is that resume's decide so much of a person's future.  I understand why companies base so much off of it since it lists accomplishments, and tells a lot about a person in a limited amount of space, but it seems so contradictory for companies to do.  They want to hire someone who represents the company well, but how can a piece of paper tell anything about me?  If social media isn't accurate, it seems ridiculous to me that a piece of paper is worth so much, but I guess that's why I've never worked.  I know eventually I'll have to someday, but it seems to wrong to me that's the way things are.  

Do you guys have any resume tips for a novice like myself?

Public Speaking

I consider myself a good writer casually or in school, but when it comes to public speaking, I loathe the thought of it.  It's not that actually talking is difficult for me, it's what comes out when I eventually do open my mouth.  Thankfully it's words, but unfortunately, they're either out of place or terribly stuttered, which leads to a variety of embarrassing things.  Something I am all too familiar with.  As a child through high school, public speaking in things like presentations worried me.  I could do them if I memorized what I had to say, but I didn't, I was monotone.  Then I incorporated hand motions, which were helpful and took pressure off me, but they were distracting.  Now, after a years of struggles, I think I have it down.  There are times when I still struggle, but when it comes to things like presentations, I can do it well if I know the material and just relax, such as by chewing gum beforehand or drinking water.  A joke now and then isn't a bad idea either.  I still have my worries like other people, but I realize in a few minutes, it'll all be over.

Out of curiosity, what's the toughest thing for you when it comes to public speaking?  And how do you cope with it?

Bill and Jalen

When it comes to first impression's, like most, I don't make them the be all-end all when it comes to meeting new people.  But when it comes to TV personalities, that's a different story.  Usually when I look at them, I can instantly tell whether I like or hate them.  And because of my stubbornness, my views rarely change.  That was the case with Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose in the past.  Years ago, I told my friend I couldn't stand anything about Bill Simmons from the way he looked, his voice, to his commentary and work on ESPN and on podcasts.  While for Jalen Rose, I didn't like him because of his attitude, such as with the Grant Hill "Uncle Tom" incident.

After a few years though, my feelings changed.  Bill Simmons wasn't the guy I disliked anymore.  I thought he was funny, well-spoken, and not to mention passionate about his work, which you can tell from his fan perspective.  The same goes for Jalen Rose.  Like many, that Duke comment was taken out of context at the time, and I recognize Jalen Rose for who he is.  He was part of the Fab 5 and NBA for years, and now he's giving his perspective, which is very interesting.  Not to mention that he's just as funny as Bill Simmons, so when you get them together, you have comic gold.  That's why I had to post about these two.  I've been watching their NBA preview videos for the past couple of weeks and they're so entertaining.  They have hilarious clips to describe team mindsets, "Clairvoyant Bill", and "Champagning and Campaigning", all while talking about the NBA seriously, which I need as I wait for the season to start.

If anyone is interested, 3 videos I recommend watching from the NBA preview countdown are the Boston Celtics (#24), Denver Nuggets (#13), and the Detroit Pistons (#12).  The Nuggets one has the funniest moment I've seen when Bill Simmons attempts a Javale McGee and eats... Well, you'll have to see and find out.  You won't be disappointed though.  All I can say after this is, how did I ever not like these guys?  They're the best, and now part of my daily routine.

Source of Picture: http://www.sportsgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bill-simmons-jalen-rose.jpg

Halfway There

I am officially halfway done with my hectic essay/midterm/project period in my mind, since I've already taken one midterm, and I've done or attempted most of my projects.  There's still one I haven't started, which worries me, but I did do an outline.  Still better then nothing in my book.  I was really stressed before, and while I still am, I feel better than I did a few days ago, which is always good considering I have high blood pressure.  I need to take it easy, especially during this busy period of the semester.  One thing I will say though, is that today was one of the best days I had in awhile.  Nothing really happened to me; I went to class, ate, and stayed in working on my essay, but I suppose the point is that I progressed and the day itself was calm.  Most people hate days or jobs where they do habitual things, but I don't mind knowing what to expect.  In life, this is one of the few times I have that luxary, so I'm grateful for it during this midterm period.  Of course, despite the positive feeling I have, I know I need to continue working to graduate.

If only getting an education wasn't this tedious, or so necessary compared to the past.  But I've come this far; I can't stop now.  For all you others in school, I hope you're all staying strong  or getting by during this time.  It's all we can do...

Go Crazy, Folks...

In honor of tonight's Game 6 NLCS match-up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals, I thought it fitting to post a clip of Ozzie Smith's famous home run called by the legendary Jack Buck (Joe Buck's father).  This call was before I was born, but since I grew up listening to baseball on the radio, I've heard it many times.  And like all baseball people, we are rooted in our history, which this call is definitely a part of.  Enjoy, and let's go Dodgers just so we can have a Game 7.

Baby Mama's

A term that is loosely thrown around in our culture is the term baby mama, which honestly, is a term that befuddles me.  On Facebook, it was used for women who wanted to be "married" to each other, and for celebrities, it is someone who is not married to the father of their child.  It has other meanings, but these two are the most used that I see.  In hindsight, I suppose it is not a big deal because people have children with different people all the time, but when it's accepted or praised in culture, I think that is when it's a problem.

Case in point, Adrian Peterson, the all-pro running back from the Minnesota Vikings.  His son he had died a few weeks ago, and there was a lot of media coverage over it.  Everyone felt sorry for AP and gave him praise for playing on Sunday, but I think they lost sight of the fact a child of his died that he never met before.  I understand he was the biological father, but someone else raised him.  I'm not here to bash AP because I think he is a great athlete, and he's been through a lot.  I just get disgusted with the way sports culture and most of America is, thinking it's alright to just have children with anyone.  Having children is a huge responsibility, so if you cannot do it, then you should not do the deed.  But that does not stop athlete's such as Antonio Cromartie and others having multiple children from many various women.  Some even praise it or think it's cool, which is a damn shame.

I know what I'm criticizing is nothing new, and adds on to the list of many reasons why athlete's are not as great as they seem sometimes; it's just that these people are more privileged then us, and are supposed to be role models, yet they overuse the power they have.  And when they do get caught, they act like they're sorry, or think they can just pay someone off, but that's not enough.  When someone has a child, being financially sound is nice, but more often then not, they need parents, and they can't have that if there father is someone who just doesn't give a damn.  I know what I'm saying only speaks to a minority of athlete's, and that there are many who are happily married that love their wives/husbands.  It's just a shame sometimes that they do not get our attention.

Midterms

With all the midterms I have the in the next upcoming weeks, I am going to unfortunately be too busy to blog on a frequent basis.  I'm disappointed because I was just starting to get back in the flow of things, and there were some interesting things I wanted to blog about, but grades come first.  I may be be too busy to blog, but if I have free time, I'll definitely say how I feel.  In the process, I hope to come back more inspired and with the same good grades I started with.  Hope you're all having a good Columbus Day weekend everybody!  And whether you read this blog or not, thank you!

City Guys

People can classify themselves as rural or city people depending on where they live, but how many people can call themselves City Guys?  Literally, many people can, but in the TV sense, only the people from the TNBC sitcom City Guys can do that.  The show, which was about 6 high school friends (Jamal, Chris, Cassidy, Dawn, Al, and L-Train) and their principal (Ms. Noble) dealing with everyday teen issues, may not have been as popular as Saved By The Bell was, or had the theme song California Dreams had, but I think that's what made it stand on its own.  It wasn't as campy or preppy as Saved By The Bell, and even though the theme song wasn't as good as California Dreams, I still like it because of how catchy it is, and the fact it depicts Jamal and Chris having fun living in New York, which every person wants to do.

Out of all the shows on TNBC, each has their own special place in my heart.  Saved By The Bell will always be there because that was the show my siblings and I grew up on, and deep down, every guy probably wishes they could be like Zack Morris (although his grades were terrible).  California Dreams wasn't as deep too me, and is the one I remember the least, but the theme song, and the fact that it was about friends playing in a band together seems so deep.  City Guys though, is by far my favorite because of how realistic it is to my life.  The cast was diverse like my high school was, the jokes were hilarious, and it depicts friends in school, dealing with real life issues, as well as recalling the good times, which my friends and I do all the time.  I wish TNBC or shows like this still existed because of the humor, and what their influence on kids, but I suppose it isn't possible now with the way TV is.  It's sad, but we'll always have the memories, and the catchy theme song: "C-I-T-Y, you can see why, these guys, the neat guys, are smart and streetwide"...

Pokémon Then And Now

Like many children growing up in the 90s, I grew up during the Pokémon craze/era.  When it first appeared on TV, I didn't understand it or think of it differently then any other show on at the time, but after a few episodes, I was hooked.  I probably should of tried watching Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, or stuck to Monster Rancher, but I didn't have cable, and new episodes of cartoons were only on Saturdays, so I was stuck following Pokémon to death.  I collected cards and bought the toys, but nothing brought me more joy than the video games when they first got released on Gameboy  in 1998.  I still remember my sister getting the first red Gameboy Pocket and Red Version, which was a little over $100 (which would be a bargain now).  Back then, she never let me play it, but I still remember sneaking around and playing it when she was asleep.  Those were the days, and that was the time when most of my friends played Pokémon.

Of course, things change.  After not being able to play a game of my own, I got Silver version when it first it came out and treasured it, playing it endlessly and trying to become the best.  I don't know if I ever succeeded in it, but I think I held my own.  As I got older though, I started playing it less and less, and focusing on things that would become the focus of my life (family, friends, school).  Despite my distance, every now and then, I would find time to try and play the newest versions of Pokémon.  Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald were fun since I thought the play on elements was nice, as well as things such as diving.  FireRed/LeafGreen version were improvements from the originals, but that's all I thought they were.  As for Diamond/Pearl/Emerald version, they were okay, but nothing special.  Then Pokémon HeartGold/Soulsilver got released, which remade my favorite generation of Pokémon and did it so well, with its graphics, and incorporating the old and the new.  Obviously, it could never wow me the way Silver version did the first time because that was the first time you could call people on the phone, and deal with times of day, but it was great to revisit that again.  And lastly, there's Black/White version, which I barely played any of because I hated the Pokémon and the confusing storyline.  So as you can see, even though I am mostly detached from Pokémon, it's still a part of me.

That brings me to the new games coming out this week: Pokémon X/Y.  I don't know much about them besides from the videos I've seen and stuff I've researched, but it looks great.  The graphics on the 3DS look amazing, the new walking and battling should be fascinating, and some of the new Pokémon such as the mega-evolutions and tyrannosaurus Pokémon look absolutely bad-ass.  I always think of Pokémon as a game franchise that can never top itself, and for the most part I don't think they do (besides on rare occasions), but this game looks great, and could bring major interest from old and new fans if it hasn't already.  Pokémon may have come out over 15 years ago, but it's just as strong now to me with its new additions and technological improvements.  Although, America and the media aren't as into it as they used to be, I don't mind because it lets us true fans focus on the game we grew up with and love.

Now I wish I owned a Nintendo 3DS, but I don't, so I can just dream about the Pikachu one I want, and think about what it will be like when the game is finally released.  I usually don't get excited for games, but I can't wait for this one, something I haven't said since Generation 2.    

Washing Your Hands

College students do a lot of disgusting things when it comes to their behavior.  They have bad eating habits, drink too much, smoke, etc.  But the thing I dislike most about them is that most of them don't wash their hands.  Now I can't speak for women because I've never been in their bathrooms, but I've been around college guys for over 4 years, and I can tell you that a majority of them don't do it for whatever reason.  Is it because of the way they were raised, the fact they're short on time, or coolness?  Because let me tell you, whatever the reason, there is no excuse.  It's not hard to do; it only takes 10-20 seconds.  And believe me when I say that even though it is basic, it saves lives and stops the spreading of diseases.  Part of how I feel is probably because of my germophobia, but another part of me hates people who do this because they put others at risk with their disgusting habits.  Change it UP!  It will be beneficial not just for college campuses everywhere, but for yourself. 

Jesse's Past and Breaking Bad's Ending

I thought it fitting to start this post with a video I found on Youtube when Aaron Paul (known as Aaron Sturtevant back then) was on 'The Price Is Right".  Why?  Because it's hilarious, and it shows how consistent Aaron Paul's personality has been, which doesn't just describe who he is, but it describes his character Jesse Pinkman from the show Breaking Bad, which ended less than a week ago (still hard for me to believe).  Despite being a drug/meth cook/dealer, Jesse used to be a happy guy.  Okay, maybe happy is the wrong word since he had a history of drug and family problems, but before he met Walter White, at least he smiled.  After that, his life was never the same.  And as the seasons of Breaking Bad went on, we saw the Jesse who used to scream "BITCH" all the time disintegrate before our eyes.  In some ways, it was good, since Jesse became more serious and his relationship with Mr. White was defined closely, but I do miss the simpler times.  With that in mind, I hope you guys find this video as entertaining as I did.  Aaron Paul seems like a great guy, and I wish he won the car on the show, but it's safe to say he found greener pastures later on in life.

As for Breaking Bad's series finale "Felina", like many, I thought it was very well done.  It wasn't as spectacular as "Ozymandias" or 'Rabid Dog" from a few episodes before, but unlike Dexter, Seinfeld, and other series finale's that have let me down, at least Breaking Bad stayed true to who it was and gave fans a satisfying ending.  There were some things I had quips with, but they were small, and looking back, they don't change how I feel about the episode.  I honestly just wish it wasn't over because this was one of the few consistent shows that I never got tired of, which is a credit to creator Vince Gilligan, and the actors from Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, etc.  I still have many questions about the episode, like what happened to Jesse, but since he was one of my favorite characters from the show, I hope he finds happiness.  He deserves it!  And man, was I glad Todd, Lydia, and all the other villains got their just desserts.  That may have been the most satisfying thing of all, besides finding down how it all went down.  I honestly predicted most of it, but I never could have predicted how much a show like this would impact me as much as it has.  Good-bye Breaking Bad!  You are definitely one of the best shows ever created!

With that in mind, time to end the night with a few clips of our favorite corrupt lawyer Saul Goodman.  Even though Breaking Bad is over, we still have Saul's new spinoff to look forward to.  Hope you all enjoy!

Making News Out Of Nothing

I go to a lot of sites daily, but I don't know if there's any site I check more than ESPN.  Even when I still had Facebook, talking to friends was nice, but I couldn't check on them all the time, like I could with sports.  Unfortunately, and frighteningly, now you can do that with Facebook, but ESPN is less creepy than that.  Their sole purpose is to bring everyone in the world all the important relevant sports news in as many different ways possible.  And for the most part, I think it does that, with good articles, videos, chats, and interesting personalities.  It's not perfect, but I couldn't go a day without it, unless I was stranded in the middle of nowhere with no technology.  Despite how I feel, there is one thing I can't stand about ESPN.

The thing I can't stand is their choice of stories sometimes.  I understand like any news outlet that you have bad/slow days, but some of the stuff is so irrelevant and pointless, that I'm amazed anyone (including myself) even cares.  Case in point, the recent interview with Michael Jordan saying he could beat Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or any player one-on-one.  It's interesting, but I don't think it's newsworthy enough to be one of your top news stories.  This is a hypothetical match-up that will never happen.  And for those who take what MJ said really seriously, it's just his opinion.  He is the greatest NBA player ever!  Plus, what's he supposed to say, "I can't beat them"?  C'mon, MJ taught everyone everything.  This is good conversation with your friends, or in barbershops if you talk sports, but this is not news, so I don't understand why it matters, along with so many other stories like top jersey sales or personal lives of athletes.  We can find that stuff anywhere online, but when we want plain old sports, that's when we want ESPN.  One of the best brands in the world!

FAMILY

As I sit here trying to blog, there are so many thoughts that go through my mind.  I'm thinking about class tomorrow and what that will be like since something big is going to happen.  I'm thinking about next week and all the essays and tests that will begin.  I'm also thinking about my friends I love who aren't with me right now.  But one thing for sure I'm thinking of is my family, who I miss and can't stop thinking about.

It seems obvious that a person would think about their family since everyone says it's the most important thing in the world, and while I believe that's true (besides maybe friendship and love), I don't think about it positively all the time.  Sometimes I dislike the fact I have to share a room with my brother, how my sisters nag, and how my parents often ask me to do irrational things, but at the end of the day, I miss them.  I miss them because I'm away from them, and because of everything we've been through together.  Also, even if I did get what I wanted, like my own room, or being a famous writer, I'd still feel lonely.  Yes, I'd have friends and potentially relationships, but they can only go so far.  They didn't know me when I was a year old, and didn't grow with me through the childhood experiences.  Even though I'm grateful and spend more time with my friends, I always remember where I came from, and am proud to say who I am and how I feel (even though it's hard sometimes).  I guess I need to change and be more open, but one thing I know will never change is my love for my family.  We have our ups and downs, but that's normal, which is why I hope everything we have lasts a long time.

To family and all the important people in our lives <3