Month: January 2011

“This Changes Everything, Again.” Again

dmilesburtonLeave a comment

“Beginning February 10, the phone that changed everything will be available on both AT&T and Verizon Wireless in the United States.” This is the message posted on the apple website recently that announces the long-awaited decision to expand the networks on which the iPhone is available.

AT&T will continue to sell the iPhone, and apple has decided that both networks will offer all of the same features (things like FaceTime and Video Recording) and has also included an incentive for Verizon customers to upgrade their phone’s, saying “Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will also have the exclusive opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.”

This marks a turning point in the mobile phone market, creating a large incentive for other major providers to step up their game. With two of the main service providers carrying one of the best smartphones in the world, the others will be playing catch up for some time. In the words of apple, “This changes everything, again.”

Back to Normal

therightliberalLeave a comment

This week saw a return to the “normal” Premier League scores, at least so far. Man City went “top” after beating a feisty Wolves teams 4-3. I put top in parenthesis because Manchester United has three games in hand and are only one point back.

Carlos Tevez

Arsenal grabbed a 3-0 win over bottom of the table West Ham. This came as no surprise as a competent Arsenal team passed West Ham off the field, showing their superiority. In my opinion Arsenal are the prettiest team to watch in the EPL right now, they pass and move, creating beautiful chances, many of which they finish.

Robin Van Persie

Chelsea managed to get a 2-0 win over Blackburn despite their mediocre play. Drogba does not look like he has the power and ability that he did before getting malaria and I hope to see him get that back. Blackburn showed why English soccer has gotten a reputation as playing ugly soccer, lumping the ball up the field for their strikers to run on to. Although this technique can prove to be effective at times, they would have had a better chance at beating Chelsea if they utilized their midfield more.

Branislav Ivanovic

I am very excited for tomorrow as Liverpool takes on Everton and Manchester United battle Tottenham. The Liverpool game will be Reds Hero Kenney Dalglish’s first return back to Anfield, trying to stop Liverpool from losing any more precious points. United looks to remain undefeated and regain their top spot in the standings. Tottenham must do something they have not been able to do in a decade, beat Sir Alex Ferguson.

To follow tomorrow’s United vs. Tottenham game go to: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=293065&cc=5901

Arizona Shootout

yourgingerkidLeave a comment

It’s weird hearing about something big happening in a quiet town you know very well.

<img src=”http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://apusa.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Arizona-Shooting.jpg&imgrefurl=http://apusa.us/arizona-shooting-8533/&usg=__dN9cjpqRPkpzuReOzm7KepjrcJ0=&h=369&w=553&sz=52&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=rFBeeJgX0xu4JM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=191&ei=MTM9TfPrNo64sQOLu5SGAw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darizona%2Bshooting%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D584%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=267&vpy=241&dur=168&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=193&ty=105&oei=MTM9TfPrNo64sQOLu5SGAw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&#8243; alt=”

After reading several articles about the tragic incident last week, it makes me look at Tuscon in a whole new light. No longer is it the quiet city in Arizona in which my grandpa lives and I spent months visiting. It is now the scene of one of the most wide-spread topics in the news now.

As most of the United States now knows, there was a shooting in Tuscon, Arizona ultimately ending with several wounded and dead. It is that site that I remember visiting with my father several times on our way from the airport and that city that holds some of my fondest memories. It’s strange looking at a location after something dramatic happens. It’s like the light of it shifts, and it seems gloomy.

I don’t know what exactly the shooter had intended, or what he knows that he has done; but now when thousands of people now grocery shop at that Safeway they will be reminded of his fatal attack.

Is it fair? No, not really. But there’s nothing to do about it now.

For I believe the latest information, click here

When I Grow Up, I…

yrreskrapLeave a comment

Life is an expensive sports car on the Autobahn. We are often caught up in the thrill of living, that adrenaline pumping feeling of exhilaration, that we often forget where we are going, or why we are where we are in the first place. Everything is just a blur. Colors, sounds, people all mesh into one, giant miasma of lights and din.

For these reasons, people sometimes forget what their aspirations are in life or where they want to be in 10-15 years. But sometimes people don’t spend enough time figuring out what they want. Sometimes people don’t know what they want and are stumbling along, playing life by ear.

I know what I want. Or at least I think I do.

When I grow up, I want to be an anesthesiologist at a well known hospital, helping save countless lives of people that won’t remember my name in a month and whose faces I will forget in a few days. I want to have a Cal Tech diploma under my name and have graduated with stellar grades.

When I grow up, I want to own a house in Northern California (preferably near San Francisco), up where the air is crisp with the hint of ocean air or in a clean beach in Southern California (so that would mean Santa Monica is out of the picture). My dream house would either be inspired by contemporary, sleek modern designs or by warm Spanish decor. The house would be complete with a beautiful kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom, and a roomy walk-in closet. The floors would be bamboo for environmentally friendly reasons and the view would have to include the beautiful ocean. The house must be big enough for 4 people but most importantly, it must be away from the noise of the city for privacy but close enough to a city for convenience.Read More »

Australia

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

Way down under (Waaaay down under), there is a country called Australia. I know what you’re thinking, Fosters’, Abo-digenies, “The Dingo ate my baby” (that actually happened by the way) and kangaroos.

Surprisingly, there is a more to that landmass that makes up most of Oceania. It’s home to one of the world’s greatest Reefs, and the world’s largest rock. Yeah, the biggest one. It’s pretty dope.

You like surfing? We’ve got surfing; just don’t let the sharks get you down.  Some of the best surfing in Australia is in Byron Bay.  You know, that’s the beach break just west of Widow’s Rock  (Side note; It’s called “Widow’s Rock” because of a shark attack that left a woman widowed).  Hey, if you don’t like sharks, just head down south and chill with the penguins. The water’s a little cold, that’s all.

Traveling in the central mainland can be pretty phenomenal. When my family drove to my mom’s hometown, Pyramid Hill, we saw some pretty cool stuff.  The first thing that catches your eye is the 300-foot tall Pyramid Hill. That is literally the only change in elevation for miles around.  And hey, if you don’t like hills, there’s a lot of sand around. A LOT of sand. It’s red too.

The small town that surrounds the hill is very interesting. However, it has been going downhill due to drought. The drought is causing the salt to rise to above ground, killing most crops. So that makes for an interesting landscape.

 

Roses for You

vabenissimo1 Comment

Who is the most memorable person in your life?

Mine would be Granny Shim.

She was a good friend of my parents and a nanny of my relatives in America. Due to her problematic visa issues, she chained her life in a monetary place of temple in South Korea, an opportunity for her to visit me from time to time.

We do not belong to the same family, but our relationship runs thicker than our blood.

She held my hands when I stepped my first foot forth on earth, taught me right from wrong, and silently stood by my side without faltering. When I chose to be educated in the land of opportunities, America, she gave me her faith for my decision. To sum up her passion for my success, I am destined to appreciate her graceful existence.

Due to her unfortunate smoking habit, she has been residing in heaven for two years.

However, her influence still trembles in my soul. And her teaching helped me to discover several lovely children who also need my hand.

To compensate her faith and compassion for me, I want to give her the most beautiful roses on earth.

Happy Birthday Granny Shim.

Motor Madness.

Yourcupatea1 Comment

This Saturday I partook in my first driving lesson, scaring both my instructor and myself. No I was not an amazing driver in fact I was the opposite. As I ventured up the Denison Grade and Sulphur Mountain Road I wondered what could possible have possessed my driving instructor to tempt such a fate.

Stepping into the Honda Accord, wisely on the passenger side, I wondered how one could possibly drive. Warning the instructor of the fate he might incur he agreed that it would be best for him to begin by driving down the rocky slopes of Sulphur Mountain.

Once in Ojai we parked in a residential area what he assured me would be free of hazards and any obstacles that may cause an injury.  Later I found out this was not to be the case. Stepping into the driver’s side I followed all instructions on controlling the car moving forward slowly and reversing slightly.

Now it was time for the accelerator. Jerk. Ok now this first motion was a bit embarrassing so I apologized sincerely and he said it was ok but if the whole lesson would be like this he may get a little travel-sick.

Travel-sick was he joking, I mean there’s me in control of a powerful car and he was worried about travel sickness, if I were in his shoes I would have been worried about who I had written in my will or at the least that I had great health insurance.

So after a few deep breaths (on his behalf) we continued onwards forgetting the previous incident. He was yet to know this was going to be the best part of the lesson.

Pink Scooters, old people, motorbikes and children all obstructed my way but as it turned out I luckily did not manage to kill, or injure anybody.

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R2C2

shredicusmaximusLeave a comment

2008, Cole Hamels wins NLCS and World Series MVP honors by leading the Philadelphia Phillies to their first championship since 1980 after having a dominant season himself.

Roy Oswalt was the NLCS MVP in 2005, the year his Houston Astros won the pennant. This three time all star is a known respected work horse of a pitcher with a career 3.18 ERA and a 150-83 record. He’s only 33.

Roy “Doc” Halladay has been called arguably the greatest pitcher of the past decade by many because of his durability and his sinker. He threw only the 2nd no hitter in post season history in his first postseason game against the Reds combined with a perfect game this past May. The postseason went under the alias, “Doctober” from then until his team lost to the World Series bound Giants a six game NLCS.

Cliff Lee has been a journey man for since the 2009 campaign and has played for four different teams since then. Until the World Series, he hadn’t lost a post season game sporting a 7-0 record. His pin point control and vast array of devastating pitches has already given him a reputation as one of the greatest playoff pitchers of all time.

Could you imagine if these four hurlers were on the same team? They are.

In a rotation called R2C2 by the Philadelphia press, the team is projected to have the most dominant starting rotation in baseball since Atlanta Braves dynasty of the mid 90’s.

Read More »

End Scene.

theycallmedameLeave a comment

Sing loud.
Keep your back straight.
Don’t look at your feet.
You move stage right, not stage left.
It’s step-ball-change not ball-change-step.
You’re que is before the beat, not on it.
Cheat out and never look upstage.
Memorize all of Act Two by Friday, no exceptions.

Instruction after instruction and command after command is what it takes to put on a production. Whether it be a production of Shakespeare or the newest and hottest musical out there, without the proper director, any show is doomed.

I’ve been doing theatre since I was in second grade, starting off with Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” playing Puck. Then I moved onto Annie, Grease (twice), The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, The Wiz (twice), Damn Yankees, Beauty and the Beast, Pandora’s Jar, Tommy, Come Together, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Every time I meet new challenges that must be conquered, and every time it is a struggle. But there is no feeling that is even remotely comparable to opening night, when the curtains first fly open and the opening song starts. The feeling of being someone else for an hour or two. It’s irreplaceable.

Performing on stage is a hobby I’ve come to love, and it is a joy every time I open a new script to start highlighting my lines for later memorization. Each performance is a journey, and one that always ends too soon.

coolest nationalities

weirdjennyLeave a comment

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A CNN survey ranks the world’s coolest nationalities, and the Brazilians come out on top.

Without Brazilians, we wouldn’t have samba and Rio Carnival, and we wouldn’t have the beauty of soccer. Moreover, their zealous characteristic has brought our world power.

The people Singapore came in second place. During this century, the knowledge of technology has been so important to us. In Singapore, they have a surprisingly computer-literate population.

The Jamaicans came in third place. They have the craziest religion, Rastafarian, and they have an accent which makes all English-speaking people jealous.

Fourth place went to the Mongolians, who still make people think that they are a group of mystery people who still live nomadic lives.

Other nationalities that made the survey include the Americans, Spanish, Japanese, Botswanans, Chinese, Nepalese, and Turks. Although this survey may not be totally accurate, it show us that every country has their own coolest part.