Beyond the High Rise

The B5 Honda Civic EG2 Challenge (RECAP), by JD

2012-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Okay so I posted this as a status update earlier but figured, meh it's a funny enough occurrence so why not just go ahead and write up in its entirety what happened IN FULL! So here we go. I'll even set it up for you.

For the sake of short hand here are the names of the people involved:

Myself (Justin), Jon, John, Calvin, and Derek

Earlier that Day

We decided to go to In & Out for lunch and opted to take my EG2. Surprised by the various little things that made this EG2 unique we went from testing its suspension and its turning abilities both without applied handbrake and with applied handbrake in quick last minute turns. Turned out the added weight helped stabilize the car preventing any real slip, but a downfall was the lack of power from my aged 1.5 litre engine.

At the Scene

Justin: I wonder out of all of our cars who's is easiest to steal?

Calvin: Well probably yours. Haha

Justin: Well let's see that shall we? Haha

I go over to my car where Jon is standing. I switch it off and quite discretely activate my car's kill switch.

Justin: Calvin, try and steal my car.

Calvin: I'm not gonna steal your car.

Justin: Nah come on. I'll even give you the KEY! Haha. Go on, try and steal it. The door is even unlocked!

Everyone migrates from Derek's car to mine.

Justin: Well I'm gonna go to the bathroom all the way at Cypress Hall.

Calvin: All the way at Nordhoff Hall. Haha

Derek: Wait does it have a kill switch?

Justin: Yeah. Haha

Derek: Okay then I'm gonna go ahead and walk home. It's 13 miles but... yeah.

Calvin switches on the ignition with the key and it fails to start. The electrics come on indicating the oil temperature, however no actual ignition has taken place -- engine is still off.

Calvin: Okay

Calvin goes about trying to figure out how to start my car.

John: Wait, does it have a kill... (switch)?

Justin: Shh (I nodded indicating yes).

Calvin: Wait there has to be some sort of sequence.

Justin: Okay... Hahaha!

John: Alright let me see this. (Goes into the passenger side)

Calvin: Wait there has to be something...

We all just stand around laughing. Calvin has begun to get a bit frustrated.

Jon: Here let me show you (goes into the car and shows where the button to disengage my kill switch is, but Calvin has failed to notice).

Calvin: Wait where's your cigarette lighter? (Calvin has become a bit impatient and began feeling around the entire car looking for a switch to disengage the kill switch)

John: Come on Calvin! It's GONE in 60 SECONDS not GONE IN 1 HOUR!

We all continue to laugh.

John: Calvin, dude the cops are gonna be here in 20 minutes! I could've stolen my car and come back and you'd still be here!

Further laughter

Calvin: There has to be some sort of sequence or something. Maybe the brake? Maybe something here... (continues to look perplexed about how to start my car).

LOL! The entire mess continues on for about 6 minutes, if timed maybe around 5:47 seconds, until finally he discovers how to get my car to start.

Calvin: Ooh it's in the...

Sorry that's gonna be the end of this STORY! Hahaha, you didn't really think I was gonna say how to start my car over the internet did you? No way. Haha

Needless to say it was a rather fun way to end a rather long, busy, but rather successful day. Thanks for the laughs Calvin and for being a sport in my little automotive security test! LOL!

February 7th - Rain, by JD

2012-02-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

Music is a part of nature in that sound is a natural aspect of it.

As sound travels in time and space it in its own way is alive and without question.

Music is defined in many ways, but no one way is right,

One thing is for certain that we have a way of manipulating the way it sounds.

Today is a rather solemn day and its only a wonder why it's raining.

Some may say that it's a bother, but I say it's rather opportune by happenstance.

Although his birthday, in theory, is the 6th here in America due to time difference,

There is nothing that suggests that the 7th isn't either.

The rain has come to wash away all the bad...

The rain has some to cry for a loss.

He would've been 38 today,

But nature chose to take him away.

Happy Birthday once again the great musical mind,

The mind who until this day continues to inspire.

Happy Birthday / Maligayang Kaarawan / お誕生日おめでとうござ生ます : 瀬場潤 / ヌジャベス / Seba Jun / Nujabes

Spiritual State - Nujabes

Nujabes RIP from Champ on Vimeo.

Sunset Blues, by JD

2012-01-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

Sunset Blues

January 25, 2012

---

I ran to the top to see the world

I ran to the top to see it fall

I watched the sunset from a distance not too far

I watched the sun die in a sea of lies

As it began to set I came to the reality,

It was not the sun I was watching but a piece of me leaving.

As the sun began to go down I realized life had no trivial meaning,

But rather that common misunderstanding that is completely underpinned.

As the sun began to set I realized that a piece of it was me.

As the sun began to set I realized that it was my fate.

As the sun began to set I thought of nothing but life

Or was it rather the memories that have died every time the sun had gone down.

Each day we wake each day we sleep

In all each day we live and die

Although there is a beginning, and there is a certain end

Life is full of nothing but what we make it be

As the sun began to set I realized one thing

It was not only setting the end of the day but more so...

As the sun began to set I realized it was not only the sun that was going down...

For as it was setting a piece of me had died.

We live, We Die, We Move On...

That is the factor of life.

Driving for Driving, by JD

2012-01-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

First I'd like to start off by saying, Happy New Year to all. I realize it's been a long while since anyone has posted anything here, and to be honest this really isn't the ideal post to be the first one of the year. But I figured, screw the whole "let's reflect and say it all dreams and aspiration" and just go on and cut to the chase. So without further adieu here we go.

Today's Topic: Driving for Driving -- What makes a fast driver? What makes a good driver? And are they both the same thing?

Answers:

A fast driver is neither good nor bad, but a good driver is just plain good but neither fast nor slow. In the end? They're not the same thing!

Being on break from school has given me many opportunities to reflect on various things in life. But one aspect of my life that's definitely gotten me to think is driving. Now this is a topic that I've been writing on and on about droning about the crap that I hate to see in other drivers. But I just realized that I never really talk about how I drive. Haha, am I perfect? The answer to that is of course, YES! No no no just kidding! No I'm far from perfect.

But the question that's been asked by some to me is this: if you don't focus on modifying your car, or even focus on the tachometer, how the hell do you drive?

The answer to that is this: I drive on feel.

Now I know what you're thinking: What the fuck is he on? Driving on feel? What you fuckin' fondle your car or something?

The answer to those questions is of course: I'm not on anything / Yes on feel / and FUCK NO!

The thing is is this: driving on feel (at least for me) is getting a sense of myself and my car at the same time as I'm driving along. Whether I'm just driving on side streets, freeways, and/or canyons etc. I've always used the way I feel and the feelings I'm getting from the car to dictate what I do and how I drive.

Is it the perfect method? No. There isn't any one method to driving that is the PERFECT method to quick paced driving. With that being said then, what makes a fast driver?

Thing is being fast isn't so much what you do with your car but more so how you work on yourself. One of my friends and I agree that in order for a person to be quick one must learn to NOT modify the car so much more than to modify oneself. Modifying a car is all good and fun, but what's the point if you yourself cannot bring out the car's potential. A fast driver is one who can go into even the slowest of cars and be able to drive like there is no tomorrow. Now does that mean a fast driver is a good driver? Answer: No. Why? Because there are many fast drivers our there who are also idiots. So what makes a good driver? Well let's find out.

Good drivers aren't the slowest drivers on the road: in fact the slowest drivers on the road are usually dumb idiots who for all intensive purposes should drive slow or else someone would die. No. So does that mean the fastest drivers on the road are the best? No, those drivers are usually just show offs or stupid fuckin' idiots who don't care about anyone else apart from themselves (oh shit did I just admit something about myself? Nah, lol!). Thing is a good driver is someone who knows all the variables but mostly themselves. They can handle themselves on any road surface and in any car ill-regardless if they know either one. Good drivers are the ones who you see respect not just themselves on the road but others. They can be quick, they can be slow and they can NOT be either one at the same time. They are just that, themselves.

So in the end, HOW DO I GO FASTER?

Simple answer: Work on yourself first and perfect your skill as a driver. It doesn't matter what road you do it on so much that you need to learn about yourself. Then crucially, feel your car. Understand what the car is telling you it can do. There MUST be a middle ground between yourself and the car. The car can only do so much to make you fast on paper, but to actually achieve that you have to work on yourself FIRST. The day that you hit something and even though you weren't injured a piece of you feels pain because your car was the one that took the blunt force is the time you know you've connected with that car.

The relationship between a driver and their mode of conveyance (car, motorcycle, etc.) is key. There must be harmony between the two. I don't mean like a fuckin' musical number or shit like that. I mean an actual relationship between the driver and the car. Where the driver can feel the car and at times be able to do certain things and at times feels on instinct that certain things shouldn't be done.

But before you buy the most expensive and fastest car or even consider modding your car you might want to consider this first: consider yourself, consider your driving style, and consider how you fit in with your car.

A real driver doesn't change the car to suit themselves. A real driver changes themselves to the car. And only when that driver realizes that although they've done all they could to themselves to suit the car does one actually make some changes are either to tires or brakes. But until you've been able to bring out the raw, natural givings of the conveyance in question, don't mod or buy something fast. Make yourself fast first then see what more you could handle.

F**K It, by JD

2011-11-15T20:03:00.000-08:00

Every fuckin' day I wake,
Every fuckin' day I slave,
I don't have sleep,
I don't have pride,
I lost my honor,
I lost my dignity
To do what I can,
Just to make you proud

In the end there's nothing left to say,
Apart from that I can't fuckin' take it this way,
I'm tired and fed up and to what point to make?
Are you proud of me? Or am I just astray?
I can't be myself around you because I know you won't accept me,
You can't admit I'm right because you don't give a shit.

You once told me that you didn't care for what I was doin'
So I guess now it's more apparent than anythin' else.
You fuckin' spill shit the second I get home,
Instead of a "how are you" is that so fuckin' hard?
You spill the shit left and right like milk,
Then you tell me to get real and there's nothin' left!

I get home and all you do is bitch...
I get home and all you do is whine...
You forget that I'm a human too...
You forget that I'm a piece of that shit that flew.
All you can do is spew?
So this is what I got for you:
FUCK YOU and take it that anyway you want
Because I don't give a damn about your fuckin' rant!

I'm Back, by JD

2011-11-15T19:55:00.001-08:00

Looks like you can't take the passion away from the writer. I JD am back.

Leaving, by JD

2011-10-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

This is one of the hardest decisions I have to make, but it's one of many that I need to make. But this one is really hard. I believe that my time here at Beyond the High Rise has come to an end. The site will always be up although I don't believe anyone will really be writing on it so it might as well as be dead. I have run my course here and it's time for my hiatus.

This is a really hard decision.

But for now at least... it's goodbye. I really enjoyed writing and sharing my ideas here. If anyone has ever read anything I've written here I'm very happy and I appreciate it. I appreciate it even more if you took something away from my ramblings. But anyway, for now it's time for me to bid all of you adieu.

Many thanks.

Goodbye

JD

Nearly Died Today, by JD

2011-10-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Okay so my day was supposed to go down like this:

1) Wake Up
2) Get Ready
3) Start on my Laundry
4) Do my Linguistics Homework (with help from a Linguistics student)
5) Study for my Linguistics Midterm Tomorrow
6) Work on my Paper w/ Quan (my partner on the paper)

Instead my day went like this:

1) Woke Up
2) Got Ready
3) Started on my First Load of Laundry
5) Got a call from my mom telling me my dad stalled his motorcycle and was stuck on the hard shoulder on the 5N
6) Called my dad and he told me where he was
7) Went out to help him
8) Nearly got PANCAKED --> Head on by not 1 but 3 CARS and REAR ENDED because of skidding stop maneuver by me by not 1 but again 3 CARS!
9) Made it to my dad intact
10) Waited for tow truck service
11) Followed the tow truck home
12) Saw what was causing the accident --> 2 motorcyclists were killed by a big rig RIP
13) Made it home
14) Went out to lunch w/ parents
15) Went and crashed James' CTVA project set with Matt at the Den
16) Ended up just hanging out and working on the paper and my Linguistics homework w/ Quan, James, and Matt still at the Den
17) Home

...

Yeah that's how my day went...

Yes you read no. 8 right. I almost died today.

I've been in various amounts of near death experiences, and anything with a car is basically home field advantage for me, meaning that I'm used to it. But there was something different with this one. I actually saw my life in front of me.

You see what had happened is that my dad got stuck on the 5N end, and in order for me to get to him I had to go south then return on the opposite end heading north. The exit/entrance combo in question was Lankershim. I didn't notice at first but as I entered the entrance there were cars heading up towards me. I thought, no this can't be it's an ENTRANCE! But no it was true, 3 cars were speeding up the entering ramp as I was heading down with three other cars behind me. The car most immediate behind me was the same Ford Taurus that killed James' Lexus IS, and in front of me was an old American car. So I was about to be pancaked by two American cars, and not to be funny because this was serious I thought: "Shit so this is how I'm going? Cars that I despise (American cars) are going to take my life." As I was pushing my brakes and without Anti-Lock my tires locked up, the car in front of me was not letting up and she was full throttle, the person behind me was trying to stop but I could see from the back they were getting to close, but luckily my reflexes were fast and I was able to skid my car and jump onto the right hand side to avoid being head on-ed and rear ended at the same time.

I don't know what it is about people and the level of patience they lack, but an entrance is an entrance and just because you don't want to wait in a traffic jam does not give you the right to risk anyone's life just to use that entrance as your personal exit. And the idea that the woman as I was honking and trying to get my car outta the way, she looked irritated at me. What the fuck is that? You're about to kill me and you're the one who's irritated? I'm sorry but I really don't know what to say.

I nearly died today, and to be honest it's really given me some perspective. I'm happy in my training with car control, but to be honest? That could've been me in the middle of those two American pieces of metal and me in a small Japanese hatchback. I thought, fuck this is really how I'm going. I was high on adrenaline so I didn't think much of it, but afterward even my mom had to ask me if I was okay. I tried to not make it obvious during lunch but I really was shaking. And when i met up with James and Matt, I just let go. I really was scared for my life. Knowing that I came that close to not being alive anymore, it really gives you some perspective. Holy Fuck man I almost died.

This is something my dad also realized today. He was really happy his motorcycle died out because if he had been up with the other motorcyclists (there was a ride today) he would have been or maybe just have been him who would have died instead of the 2 who were killed on the freeway. May their souls rest in peace. I had the misfortune that as I passed by the white cover that was supposed to hide them had lifted up and I saw the two of them. One of them bloody and possibly cut in half (it really was hard) but the other was sitting laying on the other body. Both of them dead. My dad could have been them.

If things happen for a reason, then I guess i get it now. But holy fuck, both of us nearly died today.

I just wanna thank James, Matt, and Quan for keeping me company and helping get my mind off of it for as long as they could. But to be honest I am still thinking about it and i am still shaking. Gonna be doing my work all night, but most definitely coming in late tomorrow for campus. I normally don't write stuff like this on here, but for those of you who do read this, this is me now. Not some satirist or whinging writer. This is me behind all of that. And if you read this, thanks for reading. Please do me a favor:

Share the road and be cautious of others -- if not for yourself but for others.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Superior Professors? Really?, by JD

2011-10-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

How many people that carry a PhD have you met in your lifetime? Chances are if you've gone to at least high school you've encountered at least 5. But what does a PhD really mean? Does it mean that these people who hold the highest recognized degree in the United States are the greatest teachers/professors in their field? Or possibly members of their field? What does having a PhD really mean?

In all, having a PhD only means 1 thing. ULTIMATE EGO BOOST!

Now I know while you're reading this you're probably thinking "oh joy. Another whining crackpot who has a thing against people with PhDs" -- but the thing is? I really don't. But to be honest I can't help but comment on what I observe. And from what I've observed all I can say is this, so far I've only had 1 good professor that had a PhD and that was because he actually gave a damn about his class. He cared about the dynamic his class was paying attention and for him a grade was not based solely on how many answers you got correct on a scantron -- it was on what you retained and what personal morals you took away from his class. I don't know about you, but to me, that is what having a PhD should be about.

The problem with most PhD holders is that the second they receive it they automatically think that they are above it all. I know I know, how can I be so sure? My question for you: how can YOU be so sure? As much as people want to say, nah that's not true, honestly it is. I mean seriously? If you had the highest most recognized degree in the country, wouldn't you believe that you were above it all? Really? And the sad part is this: as much as you want to say no; knowing that you have the letters PhD after your name and people usually say "Doctor" before your last name, doesn't that just help massage your ego?

Every person I've had that has a PhD (and I've had many since my two departments in college are filled with 'em) have had this in common:

1) when they walk through the door their body language and stance is straighter than most
2) the position of their eyeglasses (if they are wearing them) is usually lower down their nose just about to fall off
3) even though they have eyeglasses they prefer to look at you with just their eyes pointing straight at you
4) if they don't have glasses, just the mere look at you is enough to kill people
5) the way they control the room on body language and micro expressions alone basically says: "I have a PhD, RESPECT ME BITCHES!"

Yes if you look carefully at every PhD, you'll notice these little things here and there. More to the point, if you ever notice sometimes their heads are bobbed downward as if they're carrying a big ass sign around their necks that says: "PHD"

Now are all PhD's bad people? No. I'm not saying that. In fact some of the most interesting people do have PhD's, and contrary to a lot of what I'm saying, a lot of them really do know how to teach. What I'm talking about are the people who just don't give a damn. The second they receive their PhD, their first PhD salary, and of course every PhD's dream TENURE, they loose all credibility in their ability to teach. They don't give a damn anymore because for them they've done their time. So fuck it! They don't need to teach anymore. They just need to give you some shit that you can regurgitate on a scantron and get at least 75% of it right and send you off to the next professor.

And it is PhD's like that that we get the population of students today who graduate college not knowing dip squat shit about anything they studied in college. They can't function and/or work in society as a whole. And why? Because the professor they had had a PhD and Tenure and overall just didn't give a shit for their students. Just getting someone who isn't their life partner to say "Doctor" is just a proverbial perverse immature ego boost.

I've encountered PhD's who have actually given a damn about their class. But I think that sad part of it all is this: I've been alive now for 21+ years and in that time I've only met 1 PhD that I can say for a fact that cared for his class. He didn't give a damn if you could pass the scantron test with a 100% because in all complete honesty even if you did it meant nothing to you. Because in the end if you couldn't take away anything in the class but an A you got for memorizing shit it didn't matter that you took the class at all. He would have preferred that you got the C but actually took away something.

Class is more than something you can learn in a textbook. It's something you have to live. It's something you have to relate to yourself. It's something that you have to embrace and find the meanings and answers for yourself.

But the sad part is, without a guide... a person to inspire you... your quest is failed the second you've began. Because if all you do is memorize something, you'll forget it at one point. So who cares? But if you could find a way to use the material you use and put it to work, then that, that is the only time that the class you took matters even a modicum.

Are PhD's the greatest teachers in the world? No. They're not. Not unless they make it so. Are PhD's the smartest? No. All having a PhD means is that you had enough time of your life to waste to write a paper that probably wasn't even published and is sitting in some pile somewhere with the words GRADED, PHD WORTHY on it. But in the end?

In end...

Having a PhD means nothing. It doesn't mean you're a better teacher than someone who only hold an MA. Hell it doesn't even mean you're a better person than someone who only has a high school degree. Having a PhD in reality means nothing what so ever. And it shouldn't mean anything to anybody unless that PhD holder makes it so. Why give false glory to someone who just wrote a paper?

In the words of the father of the one PhD who made an actual impact in my life:

On the day he finally received his PhD in the mail, he called his dad to tell him that he finally earned it. His father asked him why do cows take a shit the way they do. When he failed to answer his father said this:

YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT LIFE! HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO TEACH PEOPLE ANYTHING IF YOU CAN'T EVEN ANSWER A SIMPLE QUESTION ABOUT LIFE? PHD MY ASS!

What Majoring in Psychology has Done to Me, by JD

2011-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

After spending almost 2.5 years studying Psychology in depth and performing anything from experiments to observational studies I've come to one conclusion: HUMANITY SUCKS AND HOPE IS BULLSHIT!

To be honest it's no surprise really. I mean if you go back in time or rather back into a history book and learn both sides of the same story you come to the reality, history really hasn't changed. People are all the same. People don't really change.

Things may go the right way for a while, but in the end? It's still the same shit, just a different day. There's nothing new and to be honest there's never really anything new.

Quit smoking? Yeah right for a while you may. But give it a couple of years or some traumatic event? You'll probably slip. Then you'll go back to not doing it, and then realize that you like having small slips and continue. Oh well so much for quitting.

Saying that you won't text while driving anymore or even use your phone at all? Bullshit at one point you will.

But why? Why don't people really change?

Because humanity can't change for shit. There is no hope for humanity simply because everything has already been done. Wars start and end for a moment in time and then restart over and over and over again. So is there hope for peace? Maybe a small bit and only for a small period in time. But that just preps for the next time another one happens.

People will suddenly see the fuckin' light and try to act responsibly behind the wheel of a car? You're kidding right? I'm sorry but more people do dumb shit while driving than anywhere else. From texting to talking. I mean seriously? Can't you wait to ask your lover DTF?

In Psychology we use words such as "Classical Conditioning," "Operant Conditioning," and even "Variable Encoding" but what does that all mean? We basically learn from experience. But do we really learn from experience? Well then if Pavlov had his way we're nothing but dogs living in a dog's world. You steal my bone I steal yours. Oh right, we pretty much do. Because half the dicks that run our governments are pretty much lap dogs, wouldn't you agree?

But anyway, Psychology has officially turned me into a cynic. I don't believe in society, nor do I believe that people have the ability to change. We're all animals who only have one goal in mind: survive and fuck. That's all we are essentially. We may take one side or the other to more serious depths, but in the end that's all we got.

If you don't agree with me then I don't give a shit. This is my opinion and I'm fuckin' fed up with this shit.

Unless something really changes, Humanity has no hope. And to be honest? I'm not really on the side that says that humanity really has a chance. Oh well, I guess I'll just turn into another lap dog doin' what I can just to survive. I'll be waitin' to see humanity to change, but don't get me wrong. I have no hope in humanity. It will never change.

Fuck it all.

Oh and don't get me started on Linguistics -- summarized in a few words: LANGUAGE IS ANAL!

The Conversation Never Had (FICTION), by JD

2011-10-06T10:20:00.001-07:00

THE CONVERSATION NEVER HAD

Today an old friend of mine died.  I remember when we first met… but I hate how we ended up.  It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to him last, but needless to say there was nothing else that I could do.  We had one stupid argument and that saw the last time we would ever speak… or at least that’s what I thought.

Days before he passed on I got a call from him.  I wasn’t hesitant to answer because I always knew that I was the one who was wrong.  I was just too fuckin’ stubborn to be the first one to admit it was my fault.  There was nothin’ I could do anymore apart from just answer his call.

When I answered the conversation went like this:

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah it has.”

“I just…”

“Yeah?”

“I just wanted to call because…”

“Listen, before you start.  I just wanna say I’m sorry.  I know you and I had our differences and to be honest I’ve always known it was my fault.  You know me well enough, I’m too stubborn.  Sorry I haven’t called in 6 years.”

“Nah man, it’s water under the bridge.  I just wanted to call you to let you know why I haven’t been in contact.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah I’ve been away for a long while.  6 years.”

“What have you been doin’ since then?”

“Well I… that’s not important.  I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry and I still care about you.”

“Yeah.  You too.  I mean I still care about you too.”

“Well I’d like to keep this one goin’ but I have to go now.  I’ll… you’ll see me again… one day.”

“Okay.  See ya later.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

That was the last conversation I had with him.  When he told me that we would… or rather I would see him again… I didn’t know he meant that I would see him again in a casket about to be buried 6 feet under.

I can’t say that I hate him for not telling me.  But I hate myself more because I should’ve been there.  We were best friends, and to let some stupid shit like an argument get in the middle of us was juvenile.  I hate myself for it and I’ll never forgive myself.

If I could have that time back what I would’ve done for him.  But it’s just how they say “you never know what ya got until ya loose it” right?  Fuck it all.

Sitting Around, by JD

2011-09-15T11:09:00.001-07:00

Sitting Around

I sit around and sometimes think: what is it all for?

I sit around and sometimes say: why didn’t I do it at all?

I sit around and sometimes want: the need of needs to love you more.

I sit around and sometimes hope: that all you need is me

But when I think about it in the end…

All you needed was yourself

I was there but not for you

I was there for me

For to be there was my own selfish need

To see what life was like without your liege.

Is it you or I that needs one another?

I say it’s not, it’s all but mine.

For you are the one of undoubting faith…

That life is without question nor pain or gain.

I sit alone thinking about you

But in the end I’m always with you

There’s nothing more I want or need

But what I hope is that one day you’ll see

I love you.

Change, by JD

2011-09-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Do people really change?

Is change an internal process?

Is change an external process?

What is the motivation for change?

There are many questions out there met with skepticism and often times are left unanswered all together. None so much more than the question of people; who they are, whether or not they change, or is there any possibility to help people change.

There are no real answers to these questions and many more. But in the end everyone has an opinion.

I can't say that this is my opinion alone, because it's an opinion that is shared with many. But at least this is my take on the answer to: Do people really change? Or rather do they have the ability for change?

You may have heard this somewhere before at least once or twice, and it is that people can only change if they want to change.

Is this answer the best answer?

To be honest there are no real answers, but out of a breadbox with crumbs? This is the biggest piece that is still somewhat filling.

I have experienced this many times. I have tried to help people to bring out their fullest potential. In some cases I was somewhat successful in helping them realize errors here and there and ways to avoid them. But never would I take the credit for doing this. I would give the credit to them.

People who want to be better, people who want to change, are the only ones who are able to change at all.

Why?

Simple, because when you WANT to do something, you'll BE ABLE to do it.

Any advice you get, becomes the advice to take into heart.

The sad part is not all people are like this. It's not necessarily that they do not want to change. It's sometimes the case that they are just too lazy to change or they don't care. In either respect, a failed interest to change is predominantly destined for failure, unless the unchanged behavior is beneficial in some way.

If the behavior that is exhibited is negative, then yes, failure is something that is possible.

The sad part with people who refuse to change is this: some people give up on you.

It's not that they're not good friends, they maybe are. But in the end patience is only so long, and when the evidence presents its self that the individual in question is completely hopeless, people inevitably loose hope and at worst times give up.

I can only attest from my own experience that I have felt like that I'm not necessarily beating a dead horse, but rather I'm making hopeless attempts at reviving the horse. Sometimes there's just no hope and no matter how many times you try to convince yourself there is, there's always something that will prove you wrong. Yes die trying, but sometimes it's just not worth it.

My Views on HOT HATCHES, by JD

2011-08-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

What Makes a Hot Hatch HOT?

Photo Taken from Article Posted on MyFastGTI.com

by Poster: Tony Swan

Original Photo Link: http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/reviews/comparisons/09q4/2010_mazdaspeed_3_vs._2010_volkswagen_gti_-comparison_tests/gallery/2010_mazdaspeed_3_and_2010_volkswagen_gti_5-door_photo_16/3028160-1-eng-US/2010_mazdaspeed_3_and_2010_volkswagen_gti_5_door_4_cd_gallery.jpg

(I take no credit for this photo whatsoever. I just needed a photo to use for this entry)

REMINDER: We do not profit from any inadvertent advertisement of what we write. We give credit where photos are due.

Okay so I've been thinking about writing this article for a while and after watching some YouTube videos I finally got the guts to write this.

If you don't know yet, I'm in the market to buy a brand new car to replace my old dying 1995 Honda Civic DX Hatch Back [EG2 / EH2 (Canadian Built & Sold in America)]. Originally I wasn't looking into hatch backs because I wanted something different, but found myself making the bold sacrifice of going back to the breed. But not just any hatch back... the Mazdaspeed 3.

Now I've been asked by some, WHY? Why would (you/I) get something like that? It's overpowered, front wheel drive, stiff as hell, has a weird ass smile in the front, isn't that practical on space and/or comfort, isn't particularly nice, and is pretty much made of plastic?

Answer: Because I want a HOT HATCH!

Now many have also asked me, if you want a hot hatch, why not buy the Golf GTI?

Now to be honest I have many reasons as to why I don't want to buy one. One main reason is that a friend of mine is already planning on getting one and I seriously hate looking like a copycat. But is that my main reason? No. Of course not. I'll admit I can be vain at times and a bit superficial, but that isn't why.

Some have implied that it's because of the price. I'm going cheap on the car I want to get. My answer to that is no. Why? Because I'm planning on getting the Tech Package version of the car basically costing me $27K+ in total.

So if it's not the price and it's not appearances, why the hell would I buy one? Have I lost my marbles?

Answer to that one: HELL NO! I mean I know I'm in Psychology but I've still got my sanity!

That's not the reason.

The reason is this: for me the Mazdaspeed 3 epitomizes everything a hot hatch is supposed to be. I agree with what Jeremy Clarkson said on the recent series of Top Gear when reviewing the Citroën DS3 Racing (Top Gear Series 17 Episode 2) on the basis of what defines a hot hatch and it is that:

"If you have a big BMW or Mercedes, it's like an expensive suit so it has to be a sober color -- silver, black, grey. But if you have a hot hatch... it's like a T-Shirt. It could be anything you want; it could have writing on it, it could be orange, anything."

And that is exactly what Mazda has done. They've gone completely mental on the Mazdaspeed 3.

Yes, the smile is a bit appalling by any means or standards. But to be honest? It really is starting to grow on me. Like what James May said in the very same episode: "... I want this car to drive." And you know what? That's all that matters.

Does that mean that the GTI isn't a hot hatch? No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is this: FOR ME if I'm going to get a hot hatch then I want a hot hatch and nothing else. FOR ME (meaning not applicable to all) a hot hatch is something that isn't tamed. It's something completely crazy, impractical with a smidgen of practicality, and basically telling humility to take a hike.

The reason why I don't find the GTI the best emphasis of the definition hot hatch:

Simple, it's too German.

Now I've made this comparison to others before (I'm not really sure if I've brought it up here yet), but the Asian counterparts to the European Germans would be the Japanese. Japanese Domestic Products (JDM) are all about perfection, lifetime reliability, but most importantly cheap and practical.

One thing in there: CHEAP and PRACTICAL.

Why didn't Mazda decide to make the Mazdaspeed 3 as fancy as the GTI? Because they were obsessed with one thing: Power, Handling, and Performance over looks.

The Germans on the other hand decided to focus merely on the appearance of the car rather than better improving its handling. Now many would argue that it's because the GTI was already perfect, it just needed a facelift. And to be honest I agree with them. But the thing is: does it really scream hot hatch?

Remove the Red Painted brake calipers and the rims and tell me... does it still scream hot hatch? Go inside and remove anything that says it's a GTI and tell me, does it still seem like a hot hatch?

Answer: No.

The thing is, when I say it's too German it's because everything on the GTI has a purpose. It's all purpose built and designated to certain positions that "make sense" to them. Overall it's overly built. And as a result it's like every other German car: expensive and filled with luxury.

Now is that a bad thing?

No. But in my opinion... it's not what makes a hot hatch.

A hot hatch should be somewhat uncomfortable. It shouldn't be too rich in its own tinsel. It should be small, lightweight, and still somewhat practical.

I speak from experience on both the Hatch Back end and the German car end. Those who know me know that I do not only own a Honda Civic EG2 but also a BMW 525i. And from what I learned on the BMW is that even though the car is only a mere entry level automobile many of it HAS TO BE rich in its tinsel. And to be honest it's a bit too rich for me.

Yes some say that the MS3 isn't worth it because it's too plastic-y. But you notice something? Everything that the hot hatch is is exactly what that car is. It's out of the box and completely mad.

To be honest I think by now you're somewhat lost... So let me clarify: I'm not knocking the GTI. I think it's a brilliant little car that has stood the test of time for years. But there is one thing people need to consider: there are two sides to a single spectrum.

The GTI Golf represents one end, and the MS3 represents the other. They in themselves are the two extremes.

If you will the MS3 represents the "BARE ESSENTIALS" of the Hot Hatch branding whereas the GTI represents the "STEP ABOVE" of the name.

So in the end, both cars are hot hatches in their own way, YES. But it depends on what side of the spectrum you are looking at. If you thought I was implying that the GTI wasn't a hot hatch, sorry if I lead you to that path, I didn't mean to. But the thing is this: it's my view. You may have your own.

To be honest the perfect hot hatch would be the middle between these two cars. Sadly no one has built anything that would be that but who knows what may come in the future.

Weirdly enough the Japanese have taken a new route to car making. Normally, like the Germans, the Japanese are very conservative in the designing of anything, but with the speed 3 they've opted the other route. We should give them credit for saying screw with being modest, it's a Hot Hatch for god sake! But I have to give proper credit to the GTI because it is really a brilliant little car.

So am I crazy for wanting a Mazda over a Volkswägen? Depends on what side you're looking at it from I must be. But to be honest in my opinion? I'm not. I just prefer Japanese over German. From experience I just like working on Japanese cars over any others. Although I've been dabbling into European cars recently.

If you're planning on getting a GTI all I can say is go for it. You've got nothing to loose. It's a great car.

If you're planning on getting a Mazdaspeed 3 all I can say is don't let others bog you down. Go for it, you seriously have nothing to loose either. It's an exceptional car with lots of potential. Screw what the others have to say about it.

If you're a GTI hater: man consider that car's heritage and the tradition it holds. Then most importantly, go and try it out and feel it out for yourself. It's a really great car mainly as a stick (sorry I'm not partial to flaps).

If you're a MS3 hater: go screw yourself. Seriously just because it has a motorcycle-like clutch and it has a weird awkward smile in the front, and oddly painted seats it's still a really great performing car. Give it a chance.

If you hate both cars then please, lay off guys. These cars have purposes and to be honest it's a far better cry than some other cars that are out in the market. Give these cars some credit. They are the best representations (here in the USA) of what Hot Hatches should be... since Honda doesn't produce an Si or Type R hatch back anymore. Hahaha, just had to sneak that one in there (^_^)

RANT: Dubbs vs. Subtitles, by JD

2011-08-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

This topic is one that many people have very different opinions about. To be honest it's really only because people today are far too lazy. So here goes: dubbed movies versus movies that simply use subtitles.

In my opinion I am strongly for SUBTITLES. The reason? Because people can use their imagination more. I am completely ANTI-DUBBS!

As a Linguist and a person who has experience Interpreting and Translating texts and whole conversations I know how inaccuracy can lead to confusion.

When you're watching a film you are faced with two options: 1) get what the characters are literally saying via literal translations or 2) get the interpreted versions of that conversation.

Now, the differences between Interpretations vs. Translations

In the world of Linguists, and Languages and Cultures one quickly learns that you shouldn't always translate everything and you shouldn't always interpret everything.

More to the point translations are usually WRITTEN whereas interpretations are usually SPOKEN.

The thing is is this... you need translations to bring out the original voice of written text.

You need interpretations because you can't bare to translate every single thing a person says.

But when it comes to a film, that is a different story.

The thing about a film is that a translator and/or interpreter are faced with that very decision. Well it features spoken word, so it's interpretive, but at the same time the characters are speaking via a script that has been pre-written for them and memorized then regurgitated so in theory in translations.

So what do most films do?

They do both.

The problem with interpretations:

You loose the real meaning behind the script. The problem with dubbing something is that you're going on the interpretation of one person to be your interpretation. So your view of the language used and what they're actually saying is contrary to what is actually being said. You are going on the best possible interpretation available, which is usually the quick and easy one. Trust me I've interpreted for people long enough to know that I don't always say what they're saying especially when it's not appropriate to say it.

With subtitles they are built upon actual translations; the word for word way to go.

And although it is cumbersome (trust me I've worked on translations as well) it's the best way to go simply because you as the audience get to interpret for yourself what is going on in the film and in the scene.

Now the problem with subtitles: you spend more time reading than you do watching. Well then I have one question for you: why did you bother watching a foreign film in the first place?

The problem with society today is that people are so lazy that they want everything easy and convenient. And the funny thing is when you're watching a film or any other media related work, the dubbed interpretations of a script or lyric is most of the time WRONG! So you end up getting on version of the story that isn't exactly what was intended over what was actually intended.

And although both of them have their downfalls, subtitles in the end still come out on top. Seriously try this: watch any film that is both dubbed and subbed. Watch it first without any of the dubbing or subbing (so just watch the film itself); look at the characters reactions. Then watch the film again with subtitles first. Then again but with only dubbs. Then if possible watch it a fourth time with both subtitles and dubbing. And compare them for yourself.

You'll notice that some bits will be similar, but in the end the overall message and/or theme has been changed.

So if you want to watch a foreign film, they do yourself a favor and watch it with subtitles and get what the writer of the film was really going for versus what some interpreter thought it meant.

And if you find these too complicating then do this: LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF THE FILM YOU'RE WATCHING SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON ANY OF IT!

THIS IS GETTING TO BE STUPID! I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH FOREIGN FILMS AND YET THEY DON'T WANT TO BOTHER LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF THAT FILM SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND IT! AND THEN COMPLAIN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO READ SUBTITLES!

THEN DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T WATCH IT!

RANT: Asian Films/TV Shows Remade, by JD

2011-08-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dear American Film Industry,

Do us Asians a big favor and: STOP FUCKING REMAKING OUR MOVIES AND/OR TV SHOWS AND FUCKING THEM UP! GODDAMN JUST BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE RICH ENOUGH DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE THE ABILITIES TO REMAKE OUR FILMS!

Sincerely Yours,

JD

PS: FUCK OFF!

---

Okay so as you can guess from the tenor of my small letter up there, it irritates the living shit out of me when the American Film Industry decides to poke its over sized DICK they call funding into the Asian Film Industry. The American Film Industry has to understand this, and they have to understand this NOW: just because you have the money to make an American version of an Asian film it doesn't mean that you should!

Why?

Here's why:

The Asian Film Industry for all its worth actually cares about story line and casting people who really do suit the rolls. Granted the Asian Film Industry usually doesn't have many people to choose from, but they still put in the effort to sort out who should play what roll. Oh and am I forgetting something? Hmm... Oh right, THEY DON'T CAST PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THE ETHNIC CULTURE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PLAY!

If we look at certain films such as SO CLOSE, notice how although everyone in the cast was Chinese they actually cast a 1 British male, 1 American male, and 1 Japanese male. And guess what? They actually played the characters they were ethnically representing. Holy shit!

Unlike the American Film Industry who decides to cast Korean guys to play Japanese guys! Or even better the time when they decide that having too many Asians in a film, REGARDLESS if they're remaking an Asian creation, is probably not to their liking and they decide to just cast whatever artists are BIG in America. WTF?!

Yes there aren't many Asian American actors, and YES we are getting better in casting more Asians in American films. But here's a question... if you have significantly more funding than any other film industry why is it that you can't find... oh I don't know, an entire Asian cast to play Dragon Ball Z? Or how about the Avatar? Why the hell must you cast all white people, and then, oh just to keep us happy, have one Asian in the film? What the fuck is that?!

Listen American Film Industry, you guys have a fucked up history with fucking up Asian films! So do us all a favor and just FUCKING STOP! You ruined the story lines of many great Asian films and to what end? Just so you can sell something? Oh and by the way, asking an Asian director to remake his own film for the American audience? Do you really think that that is an honor? Fuck you! That's fuckin' disrespectful you asses!

Now am I saying that whenever America remakes a film that it's usually bad?

Sorry to say it but most of the time YES! Because the standards in America are more stringent and not similar to the standards in Asia, our films come out terrible when remade. So if you know that you can't completely remake a film because it's too "sorted" for your audience, why the fuck would you bother? I just don't get it! if Americans want to watch an Asian film then for fuck sake watch an Asian film. Learn to read subtitles and watch it that way. Or if subtitles get to you then learn the language of the film you want to watch so you can just watch it. But please, STOP RUINING ASIAN FILMS!

Two Extremes, by JD

2011-08-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

After going through three years (soon to be four years) of college I have come to the reality that there are three types of students that exist.

1) Overly Ambitious and Overly Determined

These are considered by many to be the "model students;" the students that the rest of the world should look up to. They are always on par and allow nothing to get into their way. Their only goal is to study and reach their overall achievement: graduation and success.

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, because trust me when you hear my side of the story you'll know that I hate being classified under this title, but I am this kind of student.

Ever since the first day of my freshman year in all levels of school but primarily High School and College, I was always on par and never late. I always did my homework ahead of time and literally buried my head into textbooks. College, especially during my first two years, went like clockwork: wake up, take a shower, study, go to class, eat a snack, go to class, go home, study/do homework, stay up late studying, fall asleep on textbook/computer, wake up... etc. etc. etc. and the cycle just went on and one and on.

The benefits: I'm graduating on time and my grades are sufficient.

The downfall: EVERYTHING ELSE!

Why are there so many downfalls? Simple, I literally just let life pass me by. My first 2 to 2 1/2 years of college literally just went by in a blur, so much so that I don't really remember much of it. I remember studying a lot, and remember being pissed off with myself when I couldn't perform as well as I wanted and expected.

I remember, yes, making friends; many of whom I've remained friends if not gotten closer to. However, in the end, I wish I'd spent more time with them.

I mean yes, there are many benefits, I'm graduating on time! But seriously?! What's the point of graduating on time if you 1) barely remember the material you crammed into your brain at which time after the final you've forgotten, and 2) what's the point when you let the only time you really have free just go away like that? Seriously, working class people will know and understand what I'm saying. You should enjoy your college/school years because after that: you've joined the workforce, you're in massive debt, and the closest thing to a REAL vacation is your sick days and annual weekly vacations.

I literally let the brunt of my youth years just go away and not even reveled in it. Yes granted, I'm enjoying myself now, but in the long run? I wish i could have done more than just sit behind a desk.

2) Not Ambitious and Down Right Timid

To be honest before writing this entry I had this conversation with a friend of mine and he agreed that he represented this form of student. I won't mention his name, but if he reads this or people who know him will know it's him/who this person is.

Essentially this is the kind of student who takes the days not as they come but rather in stretches of two. Has an unreasonable belief system and feels like everything will just come to them. These types of students are the laziest of the class. Usually late if not accidentally doesn't show up at all. Has shitty ass work ethic and has to be forced to try and take academia seriously.

These students would rather just sit around getting high off special brownies and/or just drink themselves to oblivion and spend the rest of their time watching TV, sitting behind a computer screen, watching porn (masturbating), and/or playing video games.

These students are the ones who usually end up having the most amount of friends on Facebook; meaning they probably only know 20 of their 300+ friends. All they know is how to have a good time.

These are the people who after three years realize that they are screwed and that graduation is but a dream to reach, and a journey to be had. These are the people who end up sitting in college classrooms taking up seats for students who wish they could get the class because they really are more determined than these idiots.

These are the people who waste everyone's time, but mostly their own.

Benefits: They fully enjoy their lives and appreciate their school/college years.

Downfall: They end up fucked up and have false sense of grandeur.

In the end both of these classes of students (1 & 2) have major defects. They are what I call the Two Extremes of the student identity.

The mirror the ideals of both the person themselves and the expected perfection from others. But in the end, they are so far into the extreme that their lives are segregated and although one succeeds and the other dies in misery, they both mirror what's wrong with people. We take things to the extremes and fail to appreciate one side over the other. In the end there is only one type of student that fairs out well if at all:

3) The Balanced Student

The balanced student is the flexible person who understands and knows that they should have a goal in mind, but still be open to severe changes done by themselves. They take into account that the world is filled with various interests, and that they may feel a need to change; with that they do not fear change.

These are the students who are both determined to finish, but also enjoy having a good time occasionally.

These people are the ones who still graduate on time, but still manage to have a modicum of fun in the process.

These are the people who know how to be serious, and fun at the same time.

They are the true model students, but not by parents, but rather students like myself (1) and students like my friend (2).

The world is filled with misery and various other conundrums, and having the ability to consider the future, but still be able to live in the present is one of an enviable skill.

We must all have a balance and not live in a world of constant expectation either from others or ourselves. We need to be serious, yes, but also we need to be able to have fun.

So what if you're not graduating exactly on time? Keep your determination and you'll get there.

So what if you're not always going to have fun? Just make some time and have some fun on the side.

Balance is key.

And for those who say or feel that they are too old to be students: you're never too old. It doesn't matter how old you start and/or finish, it's the idea that you've bothered at all to make something of yourself, to make something of your life. But just remember to have a little bit of balance in the mix; be fun but be serious at the right times.

Enjoy your life, because it's only a matter of time you'll have to kick the bucket.

Decisions, by JD

2011-08-23T01:02:00.000-07:00

We are all faced with making decisions. It's just a matter of really considering what those decisions may entail versus what they actually end up entailing.

We are always faced with trying to figure out what is "right" and "wrong" -- but in the end do we really know what that means?

Lately I've really been thinking about the decisions I've made with my life, and continue to try and decide what I will do about my future. And as things may seem as simple as pie, are they really?

Are there really such things as "easy decisions"? What makes a decision easy? What makes it hard?

Is there really such a thing as a decision that is "easy to live with" as opposed to burdensome?

I ask this simply because life is complicating, and we have to appreciate the decisions we make. We have to really come to an understanding that decisions are not just simple things that we can take back or try to fix in an instance.

A decision is just that, a agreed on route of action. It is something you must live with no matter how good or bad that may be.

Things are never as simple as they appear.

My Dad's Perspective and Lessons on Driving, by JD

2011-08-18T00:15:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to start off by saying that I'm the best driver in the world, because that's impossible, no one is... well maybe except for a select few but they're in Formula 1. Nah just kidding, everyone even Formula 1 drivers have some skills that they lack.

But ever since I stepped behind the wheel of a car, my dad has drilled me hard. But to be honest, although I appear to just shove off his advice most of the time, I realize that he has a point. And when he isn't with me I'm actually working on perfecting my driving based on his lessons and advice. Of course, I'm too proud to admit it. But yeah, of course, he's been driving way longer than me, and yes, he had more than a point: HE'S JUST RIGHT!

The first time I sat behind the wheel of a car I didn't have a permit, much more a license. And it was then he started drilling me. I've been driving way longer than I've had my license but until this day he still drills and criticizes me. But his driving lessons both in theory and in practice really does make for a good driver.

He challenges you to go beyond your abilities and to stop making excuses. By the way, my dad's main policy: STOP BULLSHITTING AND JUST DO IT!

1) STOP saying that you can't drive a car because it's different. When the time comes, like when you have an emergency, that vehicle maybe an 18 wheeler and you'll be able to drive it. You'll find a way.

2) REAL drivers tailor their driving styles to the car, and not the other way around.

3) With (2) being said, if you can't get the car to suit your driving style either through modification or just finding one that suits you, then just you MUST tailor your driving to it.

4) You know you're a smooth driver when you can turn a corner and your passenger does not move even a centimeter. They should not look like they're putting in an effort to stay in their seat. You should be making it easier for them to just sit there with no problems.

5) REAL SPEED does not mean to just push the pedal and push the engine beyond its means. REAL SPEED comes from thinking things through and learning about your car. REAL SPEED is based on your relationship between you and your car.

6) STOP SHOWING OFF WHEN YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO SHOW OFF AT ALL.

7) People who complain that they cannot drive shouldn't drive at all. They're the ones causing the accidents.

8) GET OVER YOURSELF. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE BETTER AND FASTER THAN YOU.

9) Stop talking and prove your talent to others.

10) REAL FAST DRIVERS are quiet and reserved. They don't show off by moving their mouths, but through showing off their skills at the right time at the right place.

11) NEVER EVER, push a corner with your gas pedal, manual or automatic unless you're going to slide the car on purpose. Throwing your car at a turn with a gas pedal constantly moving will cause you to spin at times when you're not careful.

12) Don't be lazy and park straight. Park in the middle of the space and leave room for others.

13) DON'T BE STUPID look all the time and give way to motorcycles!

14) You're car is only as fast as you can take it. Because the car can only do so much.

15) Like all things, driving well takes time, practice, and effort.

16) IF YOU GET INTO A RACE, THERE IS ONLY ONE WINNER. AND IF THAT'S NOT YOU AND YOU MANAGE TO SURVIVE, THEN DON'T DO IT ANYMORE!

17) Be careful or else your next car... will be you in a body bag.

18) IF YOU ARE GOING TO ROAD RAGE SOMEONE, THEN MAKE SURE YOU CAN TAKE THEM ON ALL THE WAY!

19) DON'T PISS OFF OTHERS UNLESS YOU KNOW YOU CAN HANDLE IT.

20) DON'T GET INTO A RACE, UNLESS YOU PLAN ON FINISHING IT.

21) Be safe, calm, relaxed, and of course, have fun.

Thanks dad for the lessons. I know you think I dismiss them, but no I take them into consideration and practice.

Be safe everyone, okay?

Here's a quick story:

So I was driving on the 134 and a Ricer wanted to race me. I got into it, but I needed to exit so I decided not to finish the race. I completely forgot that my dad was sitting there with me and I thought he was going to be mad at me for getting into the race in the first place.

Instead he yelled at me for two things: 1) I got into the race and didn't finish it, and 2) I was too slow! He said that if it was him he could've beaten that RICER easily!

Damn, okay. Sorry to let you down on that one.

Every cloud has a silver lining... REALLY?, by JD

2011-08-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

How many of you have heard the idiom, "every cloud has a silver lining"?

To be honest I'm sure many of you have and understand that the overall message behind such a saying is basically rooted towards optimism. Basically you should be optimistic of every situation for it may have some hidden value.

In truth to say that that value is always good is incorrect.

Personally the I would interpret the saying that "every cloud has a silver lining" is by saying that every action comes with, not a reaction, but more so a consequence.

Everything we do in life has a ripple affect. And in the end we either come out on top or we come out on the bottom.

But the one dirty little secret about silver linings is this: someone always ends up at the bottom. It may not always be you, but someone usually does.

Is life fair? No it isn't. But to be honest what is fair? Fair is defined by the individual(s) at/in a given situation. One may say "yeah that's fair" whereas the other feels otherwise.

Let's take this as an example:

Let's say that your kid crashed their car into another person. Now that person has a choice: either let the kid go and say it's a minor scuff, or go through the proper channels.

Most likely depending on the magnitude, people will definitely go through the proper channels:
reporting it to the insurance companies
filing police reports
possibly hiring an attorney if the other party is negligent

etc. etc. etc.

And in the end it only comes out to two possible verdicts: one person ends up happy and the other screwed.

But what's the silver lining? The kid learns that they should be more responsible? No. That's called a life lesson. The silver lining is this:

Chances are that kid's insurance will go up
He has that accident added to his permanent record
That kid's car is in need of repair
That kid's family needs to pay for both his car and the other person's car

And if on the off chance it goes to trial and the other party WINS, here's the other catchy bit:
There is no off limits. That family will have to pay all damages including physical, psychological, and superficial, i.e. the car's repairs (if it is deemed repairable, again depending on damage).

Who remembers that commercial from not too long ago where a family is in a courtroom and the judge finds in favor of the plaintiff? The prosecution counsel goes up to the defense counsel, and the defense counsel asks basically how their going to get the funds since the family really doesn't have much. The prosecution counsel says the following (paraphrased): We'll get it somehow, college fund, retirement, etc. It ends with the family asking, "Can they do that?" and their attorney saying, "Yes, he can."

That in the end is the REAL silver lining in my example. Someone gets screwed and someone profits. Silver linings are not life lessons... they are the subsequent consequences to any given action.

If you thought it was what you learned, yeah it partially is. But in the end, it's the actual verdict and not the lesson, The lesson just comes as a result from it. A sort of silver lining to the initial silver lining.

"I'm sorry" - Just doesn't cut it all the time, by JD

2011-08-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well it was another do nothin' day here in the valley and to be honest I'm in quite a right mood right now because of a small snag I got into at the bank tryin' to cash a check. But anyway, got home and was surfin' YouTube and stumbled upon Bart Kwan's latest Bartolosophy video (24). And it got me thinkin' of how many times I've said sorry in my life, and how many times I've just kept it in.

To be honest if you knew me you'd think that I'm the type of person who holds grudges. Honestly, I have to some extent held some grudges but it's really not a grudge, it's more of just a continued disdain for some people. Why I call it that instead of a grudge? Simple, because if I held a grudge against the person I'd be rippin' on the person the very second I saw them. I usually wait a bit to see if they'll irritate me before I start any rippin' and sometimes I can get away without doin' it at all.

Bart mentions one major interesting thing and it's this: bein' the bigger man by bein' the first to apologize, EVEN THOUGH you know you are right.

I've actually done that hundreds of times to many people. Even though I knew I was right I also knew that my actions to enforce my being right was not appropriate by any measure of the manner. So I'd always apologize. And as Bart says, 9/10 it works and the other person is dumbfounded by what you just did. You apologized and they weren't expecting that at all.

But I will admit that there are times where sorry just doesn't cut it. There are just people that no matter how many times you apologize to them you know that for a fact that they do hold a grudge against you and they're always trying to prove something whenever they see you.

To be honest I've always had a dislike for people like that but nonetheless I've always opted to take the higher road of apologizing first. But sometimes even though I know it's right to do so, they've pushed me so fuckin' far that I can't take it anymore. I don't hold a grudge against them, but I keep quiet and just let them walk off angry with me not apologizing at all. I usually do, but there are times where I just can't take it anymore.

An example of where I felt angry because some idiot questioned my skills was this:

A few months back my friend was looking into buying his first car. The problem was he was being far too ambitious with what he wanted to get. So one day he told me that he wanted to test drive a used Honda Civic Si from a private owner who was more than kind enough to drive up to where my friend was. I asked my friend: "do you even know how to drive stick?" Of course his answer was a fake "yes" but to be honest he couldn't figure out where the clutch on my dad's motorcycle was much less where it is on a car.

So to be kind I decided to go with him. Kindly my friend James also opted to join us, seeing as he was also going to give me a ride home. He drives an 8th generation Honda Civic Si.

So we drive off after class was over and meet this guy who was a new college graduate bound for medical school selling his Honda Civic Si. We take a walk through and then go to an empty parking lot at the northern end of our campus to test it out. By then I had decided to ride with the guy selling the car to see how he drives the car to get an idea of the physical condition this car could be in by seeing his style.

We arrive at the parking lot and I decided to take the wheel before handing it over to James.

Now I'd like to state this outright right now: I haven't driven a manual transmission / stick shift car in about 6 years as of the date of me trying this car out. I was surprised that I didn't stall it off the line the first time.

So I take it for a quick potter playing around with the gears until finally stopping and trading seats with James. James takes it around the lot and then we decide to switch places again. Oh but here is when 6 years of me not being around a stick starts to tell. I fuckin' stall the car, not once but twice trying to get it off the line. Quickly James opts to switch with me and I quickly switch places as well to avoid any further humiliation. I simply opted to tell James what to do which was to slalom around the parking lot so we could feel how much body roll the car had.

Long story short the newbie didn't buy the Si that day (and didn't ever). But on the ride home I asked my friend, "So do you believe me now when I said I could drive stick?" Thing is I've always told people that I could drive stick but seeing as I don't have one people don't believe me until I prove it to them. James out of all people kept quiet because he saw that I had the technique, but understood that 6 years of not driving does take its toll on the driver. But my other friend however, felt otherwise. He fuckin' outright said: "Well... sort of." And when I asked him to explain what "sort of" meant he simply said, "Well you stalled twice."

This made me so fuckin' mad! I was completely insulted that a guy who at the fuckin' time didn't have a driver's license was questioning my abilities! Yes I stalled twice but fool, I haven't driven one in 6 YEARS! What makes you think I'm just gonna go in and not make any mistakes?! If you recall I managed to drive that thing off the line with no problems, only when I was going for my second run did I struggle to get along with the car!

James jumped in and actually defended me the entire time, telling off my other friend saying that he was in no position to question my skills! Why? Because I at least had the guts to test drive the damn car. My friend didn't even have the balls to take the car out for a potter around. We told him, along with the seller told him, go ahead try it out. Who cares if you stall. But he chickened out.

The fucker insulted me right there and although it sounds like it's only once he had done it to me countless amounts of times. The little shit did it to me more than once, but this time I just couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't so much him questioning my skills, but the idea that even though your friend already showed you that he clearly knows what he's talking about, one little mistake still makes you fallible and questionable! That is what really got to me.

By the time we reached my house he was in a bit of a mood and made it seem as if James and I owed him the apology, acting like a little bitch. And to be honest what happened later that day also got my sister and my mom pissed off at the shit. The funny part? This little shit was relying on ME to give him a ride home. I told him that if he didn't fuckin' shut his little mouth that I would drop him off at a bus stop at the bottom of my hill and would leave his ass there to take the bus.

He responded with, "then I'll just call my dad to pick me up." That little shit wasn't havin' it. He wouldn't give it up. By the end of the night James had gone home and wished me luck with my other friend. And I being the person that I am drove his shitty ass home and left right after droppin' him off.

The next day, feeling bad that I had gone off at him I actually apologized to him saying that it was wrong for me to have exploded the way that I did, and I explained to him why his actions and responses made me say that. He didn't say anything apart from giving me that snaring look as if he was saying: "That's right bitch, bow down to daddy" kind of shit. It got to me and it still does a bit today, but I don't hold it back against him too much.

But this is an example of where I'm sorry just doesn't cut it. Why? Simple, because guess what, until this fuckin' day he is the one holding all that shit against myself, James, and the lot of our friends. He and his wannabe elitist self with his ego far bigger than his DICK continues to hold shit like this against us, and if you're wondering, yes, he did bring this up once. He forgets who started the whole thing: HE DID!

Every argument I have ever gotten into with this friend of mine has been a result because he instigates the fucking argument with stupid ass shit that clearly isn't fuckin' true!

Here is another one:

One night he posted that he drove an S2000. James and I knew right off the bat that it was pure bullshit and tried to see what he would do if we pointed some minor flaws. We were actually harmless in doing so. We weren't hostile at all and to be honest we were just joking around. But he went right at it and there it began another argument but this time on fuckin' Facebook. FML! Seriously it just never ends with this guy. By the end of it James and I gave up and we just knocked it off as him bs-ing the world. But seriously, did he hold that against us even though we made amends a few after? YUP!

All in all, saying I'm sorry does have a limit of acceptability both from the one receiving it and the one giving it. But here is one thing, being the one saying does feel better at times, but at the same time sometimes when the one you're giving it is like this shit face? Yeah it just screams I give up. Nowadays I just say fuck it and let it go, but this shit? I dunno personally. All I can say is that he's on his own.

Behind the Post "Sick", by JD

2011-08-09T01:35:00.000-07:00

Okay so the post before this one is a new short story using only dialogue.

It's the first time I've written a horror/thriller story using sexual references.

Now 1) I'm not perverted and I'm not writing this to get out any "fantasies" I wrote it to see how well i could write a disgusting horror story. So if you read it and can't really fathom why I wrote it just think of what inspired me to write it:

What inspired me to write SICK was an Asian film from the Three Extremes Trilogy entitled Dumplings, and the American horror/thriller Fatal Attraction.

I just wondered what would happen if i would try and mix the two.

If you found it really disgusting then good, that's what I was hoping for. If you end up not wanting to eat Spaghetti and Meatballs or a Hotdog every again then I apologize. But they were the easiest foods to choose that I could easily mesh into the story.

Well that's what SICK was about and how it came about. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't worry I'll be writing normal stories again soon. I just wanted to try my hand at this genre of writing.

Sick, by JD

2011-08-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Sick

by

JD

August 8, 2011

"Hey Wei how are you?" -Tetsu

"Not bad.  How about you?" - Wei

"Same old same old.  You know how it is." - Wei

"Yeah i guess.  So are you ready for the final levels exams on Monday?" - Tetsu

"Not really.  But I'm starting to get a spur of confidence as the days come closer and closer." - Wei

"I see.  That's good.  So how are things with Shin?  Still going well?" - Tetsu

"Things are... things are okay.  We're making our coarse." - Wei

"Oh that's good.  Well it's already 9:15 I've got to get to class.  I'll see you later." - Tetsu

"Okay.  Well have a good one." - Wei

"You too." - Tetsu

---

"Yeah so you think you'll be ready?" - Unknown

"Yeah i guess." - Tetsu

"Well you know..." - Unknown

"Hey sorry...  HEY SHIN!  Shin!  Hey!  Excuse me." - Tetsu

"Oh..." - Shin

"Hey Shin how are things?" - Tetsu

"Um... they're good." - Shin

"Nice, nice.  So how's things with Wei?  Saw her earlier today." - Tetsu

"Yeah and what did she say?" - Shin

"She said you guys were good." - Tetsu

"Pshh." - Shin

"What was that?" - Tetsu

"Man that bitch is fuckin' insane!  I've been tryin' to break up with her for so fuckin' long!" - Shin

"What?  Why?  Why do you want to break up with that fine piece of ass?!" - Tetsu

"Fuck man!  She's fuckin' insane homie!  I can't stand her." - Shin

"Well that's what havin' a girlfriend usually feels like.  Haven't you dated women before?" - Tetsu

"Yeah yeah I have but nothin' like this bitch man!  I'm serious she's fuckin' mad!" - Shin

"What?  Seriously?  How is she fuckin' mad?" - Tetsu

"I'm serious man!  Okay let me give you an example.  The first time we hooked up it was great.  Standard toot and boot.  Fuck I shoulda left that shit there!  But no I went back!  Dude she's a fuckin' dominatrix or some shit like dat!  She hella insane dude!  So check it... we were gettin' frisky one night and the bitch fuckin' shoves a baseball bat up my ass!" - Shin

"Wow she's kinky!" - Tetsu

"Dude it ain't fuckin' funny man!  She's outta her mind." - Shin

"Man I had a girlfriend who'd do kinky shit in bed too.  Doesn't mean she's crazy." - Tetsu

"Dude I'm not fuckin' jokin'.  That's just one incident.  I'm serious this girl is whacked up in the fuckin' brain!  Other times dude!  Seriously she always wants my dick hard!" - Shin

"So what?  You're not that old are you?  What?  You're having trouble getting it up?" - Tetsu

"NAH MAN!  It's like she wants me hard for somethin' else!  Like she wants to chop it off!" - Shin

"Dude you're talking like a crazy person.  Are you using again?" - Tetsu

"Dude I'm not fuckin' jokin'.  I'm serious.  She's crazy!" - Shin

"Okay so let me get this straight.  Fine ass chick like Wei who likes to dominate in bed and wants her man nice and hard for her.  Yeah, right.  Pure definition of a crazy ass bitch!" - Tetsu

"Man I'm not jokin'..." - Shin

"Listen Shin I know you like to brag about the pussy you're getting but dude this is low!" - Tetsu

"Tetsu I'm not lyin' dude! Seriously..." - Shin

"Shin, save it for Dr. Phil man.  I gotta head out.  I got work at 6.  Laterz!" - Tetsu

"Tetsu!  I'm not jokin'!" - Shin

"And I have work.  Peace!" - Tetsu

---

<>

"Hey Phil waddup?" - Tetsu

"Nothin' much man!  You?" - Phil

"Nothing much." - Tetsu

"Hey by the way, have you heard from Shin lately?" - Phil

"What?  No, well, on Monday.  Why?" - Tetsu

"Nah man he didn't call me the other day.  We were supposed to hang by the 'ole road in Tujunga.  We were gonna hit up the roads." - Phil

"Nope.  Haven't heard from him." - Tetsu

"Damn, fucker left me waiting too.  Oh well.  So how are things?" - Phil

"Nothing different.  You?" - Tetsu

"Same.  Oh well." - Phil

<>

"Hey Phil I got another call.  Lemme hit you up in a bit." - Tetsu

"Aight!" - Phil

<>

"Hello." - Tetsu

<>

"Hello?" - Tetsu

"HELP ME!" - Shin

<>

"Hello?  Hello?  Shin?  Was that you?  Hello?" - Tetsu

Damn it, what the hell is going on?  Oh fuck it!

<>

Damn it Shin answer!

Hello you reached Shin Okazaki, sorry I'm unavailable so please leave me your name...

Damn it!  What the hell?

<<TEXT MESSAGE>>

Input:  Shin, was that you?  Dude hit me up!

---

One Week Later

---

"Hey Wei!" - Tetsu

"Oh hi Tetsu." - Wei

"Hey have you seen Shin?" - Tetsu

"Shin?  No.  Why?" - Wei

"Oh because I got a call from him last week and never returned my call after I called him back.  He seemed a little scared." - Tetsu

"Oh you know Shin." - Wei

"I guess.  So how are things with you guys?  You haven't seen him at all?" - Tetsu

"Oh he's... he's doing well." - Wei

"Oh... so you have seen him?" - Tetsu

"Well only briefly.  Well I have to go to class.  I'll see you later." - Wei

"Okay, bye." - Tetsu

---

"Tetsu!" - Phil

"Hey Phil what's up?" - Tetsu

"Dude where's Shin?" - Phil

"I don't know.  Why, what's up?" - Tetsu

"Dude the police found his car parked in Down Town in an abandoned building near Alameda." - Phil

"What?" - Tetsu

"Yeah man.  I think he's gone missing." - Phil

"Shit.  Come to think of it that night you and i were talkin'.  Shin called me and only yelled for help.  I didn't think anything of it because he was acting all crazy that day." - Tetsu

"Acting all crazy?" - Phil

"Yeah he was talkin' about Wei and how she wanted him hard all the time." - Tetsu

"What?  Oh well.  Dude where is Wei I want to talk to her." - Phil

"She's in her Finance 451 class right now.  It's near the café in the northern part of campus." - Tetsu

"Aight man I'll talk to you later." - Phil

"Okay, later then." - Tetsu

Shin... where the fuck are you?

The number you have dialed is out of service at this time.  Please try your call again.

What the fuck?  Shin!

<>

Input:  Shin, where the hell are you man?  It's been a week.  Dude answer me!

---

"Wei, hey Wei!" - Phil

"Oh hi Phil." - Wei

"Hey have you seen Shin?" - Phil

"No not lately, why?" - Wei

"The police found his car in Down Town and I was looking for him to see if he was okay." - Phil

"Oh my that's not good.  Well sometimes he comes over.  He leaves his car in Down Town all the time because I live on Central." - Wei

"Ah I see.  Damn where is he.  I'm worried!" - Phil

"Why don't you come over?  We'll see if he turns up." - Wei

"Sure." - Phil

"I'll drive." - Wei

"Oh but I drove my car here." - Phil

"Then follow me." - Wei

"Okay." - Phil

---

"Hello?" - Tetsu

"Hey Tetsu it's Chris!" - Chris

"Chris?" - Tetsu

"Yeah you know... Chris Lee from Accounting." - Chris

"Oh right.  Hey man how's it going?" - Tetsu

"All good man.  How about you?" - Chris

"Doing well.  So why did you call?" - Tetsu

"Oh nothing much man.  I'm just checking how the old gangs been.  Everyone still the same as ever?" - Chris

"Yeah they are.  You know how it is." - Tetsu

"Ah right.  Yeah that's good." - Chris

"Yeah.  Hey you remember Wei?" - Tetsu

"Wei?" - Chris

"Yeah, you know, Wei.  She's the Business Finance major." - Tetsu

"I know I've been gone for a year and a half now but I don't remember Wei." - Chris

"You know, Wei, that bomb ass lookin' girl." - Tetsu

"Wei?  Dude, Wei died before I graduated, remember?" - Chris

"Wait, what?" - Tetsu

"Yeah man, you're talking about Wei Li right?" - Chris

"Yeah." - Tetsu

"Dude Wei Li died a few months before my graduation.  I remember who you're talking about.  Hot girl right?  The one with a pretty decent sex drive?" - Chris

"Yeah.  Well this one does too but..." - Tetsu

"Dude Wei Li was lesbian man.  She was found murdered by her roommate." - Chris

"Wait what?" - Tetsu

"Yeah dude, don't you ever read a newspaper?" - Chris

"Clearly not." - Tetsu

"How does the girl you're calling Wei look like?" - Chris

"Big chest, nice ass, 5'5", typical Asian chick." - Tetsu

"Does she have a mole on her left cheek?" - Chris

"Yeah." - Tetsu

"Dude that's Lai Chin.  She was Wei's roommate.  Dude she used to tell me crazy stories about her.  She's like a total crazy ass bitch with freaky ass fetishes." - Chris

"Seriously?" - Tetsu

"Yeah.  Apparently she was always jealous of Wei and to be honest it was as if she wanted to be her." - Chris

"Okay." - Tetsu

"She's just nuts.  She even has a weird collection of sex toys too.  Like really odd ones." - Chris

"Like what?" - Tetsu

"Like really weird dildos man.  Seriously they're like really real penises.  Too real looking man.  It's almost scary.  And not to mention that she has these weird jars in her room filled with what looks similar to red balls.  Apparently it's her version of a lava lamp or somethin' or other." - Chris

"Wait you've been there?" - Tetsu

"Yeah.  No joke.  I was there because I was friend with Wei Li.  Dude I'm serious that chick is out of her mind.  She's like... I don't know.  Like Glen Close from Fatal Attraction." - Chris

"Shit.  Dude I gotta go." - Tetsu

"Alright man.  Nice catchin' up." - Chris

"Sorry I don't want to cut you off but there is something I really gotta do.  I'll call you back okay?" - Tetsu

"Alright man.  Later." - Chris

"Yeah, sorry." - Tetsu

Fuck...

Come on Phil answer your phone.

Hi you reached Philip Nguyen, I'm not available right now so...

Oh Come On!

"Hello?" - Phil

"Hello, Phil!" - Tetsu

"Yeah man, what's up?" - Phil

"Dude where are you?  I think Wei or Lai or whatever... I think she has something to do with Shin's disappearance!  Dude where are you?" - Tetsu

"I'm here with Wei man.  I'm here at here apartment in Down Town at between 2nd and Central." - Phil

"Dude get outta there!" - Tetsu

"I can't man, she's making me something to eat while we're waiting for Shin." - Tetsu

"Dude I don't think Shin is gonna be there man!  Get the fuck outta there!" - Tetsu

"Tetsu, dude, he's already here.  I saw him sleeping in her bed.  Dude if you want just come over.  Apartment 2B." - Phil

"Okay I'm on my way.  Dude be careful, watch your back." - Tetsu

"Yeah yeah man.  See ya in a bit." - Phil

---

"Who was that?" - Wei/Lai

"Oh that was just Tetsu.  He's comin' over." - Phil

"I see.  Well I'll be sure to make him a hot dog for when he arrives.  Anyway, yours is ready." - Wei/Lai

"Oh thanks.  You mind if I use the bathroom?" - Phil

"Sure.  It's past my room through that hallway." - Wei/Lai

"Alright, thanks." - Phil

---

Jeez Tetsu, talk about making a small scene.  Damn.  Shin?

Hey Shin, dude are you?  What the fuck?  Shin?

<>

"I see.  You found me dirty little secret." - Wei/Lai

"What the fuck?  You killed... what the fuck?" - Phil

"Well, like I said.  Your HOT DOG is ready." - Lai

"Oh fuck no." - Phil

"I don't think you have much of an option." - Lai

"If you think your tiny little slutty ass can keep me in here you got another thing coming!" - Phil

"Please by all means." - Lai

"Fuck this..." - Phil

"What the?" -->  Phil slips on Shin's blood and knocks out.

---

"What the hell happened?" - Phil

"Oh, you've woken up." - Lai

"What the hell?  Where are my clothes?" - Phil

"Oh you got blood all over them so..." - Lai

"What the hell?  Wait, why is my?  Why is my dick attached to that pulley?!  Bitch let me go!"  Wei what the fuck are you doing?" - Phil

"Okay for starters, my name isn't Wei.  It's actually Lai.  And two, I don't like being called BITCH!  And three?  Well Tetsu is coming over and he needs something warm to eat." - Lai

"Wait, what the fuck are you talking about... ahhhh what the fuck are you doing.  Please stop that hurts!" - Phil

<>

"Well all i can is this.  It only hurts for a bit." - Lai

<>

"Wait please, please!  Stop!!!  NOOOOO!  AHHHHH!" - Phil

<>

"You bitch!" - Phil

"Now now now.  That's not nice." - Lai

<>

"Well you didn't finish your hot dog.  Here, have some of Shin.  Trust me, he was tasty" - Lai

<>

---

<>

<>

"Okay where is he?" - Tetsu

"Why hello Tetsu, how may I help you?" - Wei/Lai

"Oh don't give me that shit!  I know you killed Shin!  Where is Phil?" - Tetsu

"Phil had to step out for a bit.  I made some food.  Please have some." - Wei/Lai

"No thanks.  Where is he, I demand to know where Phil is!" - Tetsu

"I told you he stepped out for a bit.  Please just sit down and relax.  I made some spaghetti and meat balls.  Fresh." - Wei/Lai

"Yeah I bet.  Cut the crap and just tell me where he is." - Tetsu

"Oh Tetsu Tetsu Tetsu.  You could never take a hint could you?" - Wei/Lai

"Like what?  The fact that your name isn't even Wei?  Huh?  The fact that your real name is Lai!  You bitch!  I know what you did.  You killed your roommate and took on her identity!" - Tetsu

"Very good Tetsu.  Very good.  But do you know why?" - Lai

"No.  Enlighten me." - Tetsu

"Because I wasn't doing too good of a business with her around." - Lai

"What?" - Tetsu

"You see young Tetsu when you're in Business Finance you learn what could be potentially risky in terms of your investments." - Lai

"So what?" - Tetsu

"Well I'm in a food industry and run a small business.  Well as you can see I cook a lot.  And by the way I don't like my food going to waste." - Lai

"And?" - Tetsu

"Well to be honest I have a big sexual appetite that only came back pretty recently." - Lai

"What the fuck are you going on about?" - Tetsu

"You know there are a lot of people out there that would pay top dollar for a 'cure' for impotency?" - Lai

"Yeah and?" - Tetsu

"Well... it's hard to come around such good ingredients... unless... you gather them yourself." - Lai

"What are you going on...  Wait, Wei.  She was..." - Tetsu

"Yes she was.  She never brought in a man.  And unfortunately, men are what I need for my recipes.  I would have cut her into my profit, but she got nosy.  My plan was perfect because I was the low key girl that no one paid attention to." - Lai

"You're sick!" - Tetsu

"Not sick.  Smart!  I cut my losses and risk of getting caught by getting rid of her.  But to make me just that more popular I took on her identity.  People remembered her for the things that men want most.  I just needed to pose as her to catch my ingredients." - Lai

"And what?  You praying mantis-ed their asses by eating the men you got hold of?" - Tetsu

"Well... only at first.  But I like to share my food with... guests." - Lai

"You're sick!  Phil isn't coming back is he?  You killed him already!" - Tetsu

"Oh my dear Tetsu.  Like I said... you are so slow.  Tell me how are you feeling right now?" - Lai

"What?  Oh shit!  I'm feeling..." - Tetsu

"You see young Tetsu..." - Lai

<>

"If you're going to charge into someone's home and accuse them of murder, you may want to make sure that they're not carrying anything while you're walking straight into the door." - Lai

<>

"What, what did you..." - Tetsu (Struggling to Speak)

"Don't worry.  I just used some temporary paralysis meds to sooth you.  You'll be fine.  Well... for now.  But you see Tetsu, out of anyone.  I like you.  So I'm going to do you a favor." - Lai

"And what is that?" - Tetsu

"Well first let me help you up." - Lai

<>

"HELP!!!" - Tetsu

"There's no point young Tetsu.  My walls are lead lined.  No one can hear you scream." - Lai

<>

"I see... Hahaha.  You must be a grower huh?" - Lai

<>

"Well here we go." - Lai

<>

"Open wide." - Lai

"Fuck no!" - Tetsu

<>

"Eat it!" - Lai

<>

"Careful not to choke on it." - Lai

"Oh god!" - Tetsu

"Good huh?  Yeah it takes some getting used to at first, but trust me.  There's nothing more nutritious than balls.  Really gets your own pumped." - Lai

"You fucking..." - Tetsu

"Ah ah ah!  No talking with your mouth full!" - Lai

<>

"You bitch!" - Tetsu

"What is it with you men and calling women bitches.  I really don't like that!" - Lai

"Let me the fuck go!" - Tetsu

"Oh young Tetsu.  It's too late for you now.  You knee deep into this now." - Lai

"FUCK YOU!" - Tetsu

"Oh you wish." - Lai

"You'll never get away with this!" - Tetsu

"Oh but young Tetsu... I already have!" - Lai

"What the..."

<>

"Hey honey, I'm home."

"No fuckin' way." - Tetsu

"I see you got dinner ready."

"Of course honey." - Lai

"Shin... You're..." - Tetsu

"Hahaha.  Oh Tetsu.  You really don't know how to take a hint.  You and Phil." - Shin

"You!  Why?!" - Tetsu

"Well to be honest, I always had a little thing for you.  And to be honest I really wanted to see you helpless.  You and Phil.  But Phil got a little curious and found someone in the bed that looked like me.  Well to be honest I knew that Lai over here was just hungry so I decided to play a half cut up corpse to help get her her fill." - Shin

"What the fuck?  Why?" - Tetsu

"Tetsu are you really that dumb?  Hahaha shit man.  Well let's put it simply... I've always wondered how it would feel to taste certain flavors that we don't normally taste and well thanks to Lai, I got that opportunity.  I wonder how you're going to taste?" - Shin

"What the fuck.  You and I were..." - Tetsu

"Friends?  Yeah, we were.  But to be honest you were always blind to everything but your own life.  Maybe before we finally get what we want from you you could reflect on where you went wrong." - Shin

"What?" - Tetsu

"Honey He's going to go cold if we don't get some of him now!" - Lai

"Okay honey.  Do your thing." - Shin

"What the hell?!  Let me go!  Please!  Let me go!!!" - Tetsu

"Good bye Tetsu.  This is the end of the line for you." - Shin

"Help!!!" - Tetsu

<>

---

One Year Later

---

NEWS:

The mysterious disappearances around Los Angeles, CA continue to escalate...

---

"Wow this is some freaky shit!"

"It is isn't it."

"Yeah, true dat!"

"You new here?"

"Yeah I just transferred from Mission.  The name's Andy" - Andy

"Hey Andy my name's Shin and this is my girlfriend Wei." - Shin

"Hi, nice to meet you." - Andy

"Nice to meet you." - Shin & Lai

Blank, by JD

2011-08-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

Blank

August 8, 2011

It's 4 am again but I woke up at 3:59. I was already sitting up by the time the damn alarm sounded off. I shut the clock up and found myself already standing in front of my mirror brushing my teeth. One more blink and I was near the front of the door putting on my shoes. One more blink I'm running down the street. One more blink I'm back home.

I walked passed the door into the kitchen so sit down and take a quick breather. The next minute I'm grabbing a bowl of cereal and a banana. After my quick breakfast I'm off to my closet prepping my clothes for work and disposing my running clothes. Soon after I'm out of the shower and getting dressed. Brushed my teeth again and now I'm almost finished with getting ready.

A quick potter past the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Now I'm in my car and backing out of my driveway. It's already 6:00 and I have work at 7:30. Damn what's with this traffic? Oh it's a funeral.

Today is different than others... it's actually cold and foggy out.

I'm at work... where is everyone? Am I early? No, it's already 7:30. Oh well might as well as start working.

It's 9:00 and still no one. Oh well just finish my work.

Well I'm finished with work... no memos to be seen about a day off. Great did I miss the word of mouth?

Damn it's still foggy out.

Wow the funeral is still on. Jeez so many people. I wonder who this person was?

What's this? There's a car on my driveway.

It's my brother's car... why is he here?

Okay what the hell is going on here? All the cars from the funeral are here.

Alright what the hell is this? Why won't my key work. Goddamn it!

Okay I'm going through the back.

Damn it all the freakin' doors are locked.

Ring the doorbell... no answer. Where is he, he's parked on my driveway. Damn it, forget it.

I'm back in my car and just driving around.

Jeez this funeral is still on?

Wow the sun really isn't going to let up huh? It's almost... wait what? It's still 9:00 am? This can't be.

What the hell is going on?

Wait is that... that's my brother!

What the hell is going on here?!

The church... I'm going in... wait what the hell?

Is this a joke?

Who's funeral is... wait... what? I don't get this... This funeral is for...

Living The Moment; Making Things Last Forever, by JD

2011-08-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

Being a college student in Los Angeles is difficult. Even when you live with your parents, supplemental income is actually pretty difficult to come by. So I make do (when I can't find any job openings or do not get jobs) by making montages.

I've been making montages ever since... ooh damn... since Power Point was the way to go? Where before auto timing it was manual timing? And when music was set separately? Where afterward you had to compress that file and burn it manually to a DVD-R? Okay so as you may have guessed, I've been making montages FOR A LONG ASS WHILE! I was doing this stuff before editing software such as Final Cut and/or Adobe CS5 was made available to the public (or rather in public reach because prices were always exorbitant). I think in total I've been doing this for about 13 years now.

Now I'm not going to say that I run a small business because to be honest I don't make enough revenue to even pay taxes. It's done on an under-the-table basis and my clients come from word of mouth. In fact back then my cousin was my partner in crime. When she wasn't practicing law she'd help edit my work.

The montage creation group we created was SnapShot Montages. Some of our work is on YouTube but unfortunately in recent years it's all been funerals. We've [I've (lately)] worked on everything from Birthdays to Bridal Showers to Baby Showers to Weddings to Funerals. Most recently I worked on an actual honorary video using Beyond the High Rise's name on the associations list (see video on YouTube or here on BTHR; title AAS 220 & Allan Aquino).

There is one thing I've come to terms with and it's the great impact my little side job has. That impact is in relation to what I actually do.

I take people's lives and summarize them in 8 minutes or less. And whilst to get an 8 minute video takes almost 16 straight hours worth of work without breaks, I find myself in aw with what I do. I literally take a person's life and summarize it with only the highlights of who they are but in some cases were.

This epiphany came to me last year when my uncle died. I helped create a montage in his honor and out of the blue I decided to do a quick eulogy right after my work had been shown.

I realized then and I still realize now that people have me make montages as long as possible so they can cherish that moment and keep that moment going on forever. We never want those moments in time to end. We wish and hope that it would stay at a constant. When we see the pictures and/or videos of the lives that people have lived we remember everything that we spent with that person and remember all the good over the bad.

Montages and/or any video work of any kind helps give solace to people. Whether it's the birthday montage recapping all that has happened within the past years of that person's life up until then, or the recapping of how two separate lives came together and what their story has been up until the moment they said "I do," or even what life has been lived when one has passed on.

Psychologically it helps give that person time to take in what is happening. Then it gives them time to enjoy the moment and remember the past. But then as with all things, they end. And it is by the ending that we creators hope that the audience viewer (that one person in the crowd) can come to an acceptance to what comes next.

I've worked on countless amounts of birthdays, weddings, and funerals to know that the reactions of people are exactly the same in either of these events. Others watch these montages and figure "oh how nice" whilst there is that one person in the room who takes it in just that much more than everyone else. Usually it's the person or persons that the montage is for. Or in other cases the spouse or family for the person it WAS for.

I've come to terms with the magnitude a simple thing like I do does for others, and have come to terms with accepting their terms. I may hate making videos last for 30 minutes because they're primarily picture based with very little video content. But with that people get a lot more than they bargained for. So yes, I summarize people's lives with the bits that matter most. And it is those bits that we can move on with our lives and live for the future.

People want to live the moment, but most importantly they always want to make it last for as long as possible, and if forever was an option they would. But all things end and all we have at that point is the memories that we all shared for that moment all put into one little 8+ or 8- package.

A Culture's Prestige: Language, by JD

2011-08-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

How many of you speak the language of whatever ethnic culture you are from at least with some level of ability? How many of you value your ability to do so? Why do you value it or rather what does it mean for you?

Now if you don't know already I am a Linguistics major and although I have many reservations about the study there is one part of it that I find the most interesting. That is the value of language to an ethnic culture.

Today we think language is just another economic skill that can get you ahead in life to make more money. But honestly, what is language?

Language is all, as defined by many Linguists, is the prestige of a culture. The ability for that culture to express itself in various ways.

Now I've blogged about this topic many times before primarily with my personal frustrations with language mixing. Today however, I'm doing something different. I'm going to share for you what my language means for me.

Now I know I sound oh so very self absorbed right now for saying that. But to be honest I don't want to speak for all, I would rather give you my feelings and then have you share with me and all who read this what your feelings are.

So here goes...

I was born in Hollywood but raised in Korea Town. It was there that my troubles with language began but were honed with time.

Living in Korea Town gave me exposure not just to (language primarily) Korean culture, but to Japanese, Pilipino, etc... as long it was Asian relative I got exposure to it.

But the one place I got my language from was my family.

Now here's a little Linguistic fact for you: children are literally like sponges, the second that their ears pop they can hear everything no matter how quiet you are. Now here's another one: all languages have speech sounds (unique sounds and/or characteristics that define that language). Last fact: When children are born they are able to produce all speech sounds. The problem is when families baby talk their children. When you baby talk to your children you are limiting their sound product to your languages sounds. Yes we all baby talk different depending on what our main language is. The sounds are from our languages.

Now here's another problem:

I asked my parents and they said that they never baby talked to me when I was little and avoided doing so with everyone that had exposure to me.

So I wasn't baby talked to. But here is what was interesting. When they were in front of me up until I was 5 or 6 years old, they used English, but only when talking to me. They did however, when talking amongst themselves use Tagalog. So as a result when I started speaking I learned 1.5 languages. I knew two languages at one time. This would prove to be bad because I struggled with phonics and only thinking in English. But in the long run? I am now able to learn multiple things, not just language, even easier than monolingual children (this is for another blog entry and time, but it is a fact in Linguistics if you want to look it up).

So growing up and over time I developed a separation between Tagalog and English. I am able to speak with no accents between the languages unless I am switching from one to the other instantaneously then I do carry over accents sometimes (yes I can have a FOBBY accent when I speak English sometimes).

Now I got screwed up growing up because I ended up also hearing Korean and Japanese on a daily basis along with some Cantonese and Mandarin.

But because it wasn't as constant I didn't have trouble bleeping them out and only concentrating on English and Tagalog. Although when I chose to learn Japanese later I was able to recall all my old Japanese hearing and limited speaking skills making it easy for me to learn.

So yeah let's see, I'm Pilipino who grew up around other Pilipinos, Koreans, and Japanese people primarily (oh yeah talk about no problems there). Hahahaha

Happy Birthday! Maligayang Kaarawan! Tanjoubi Omedetou Gozaimasu! Senghil Chuka Hamnida!

Yeah I was so bad at English when I was young that to an extent I believe my teachers probably thought I was stupid...

Teacher: Mrs. Bernardino I think your son may have a problem.
Mom: Why?
Teacher: Well I gave them this assignment and told them to circle every picture that started with the letter "S"
Mom: Yes and?
Teacher: Justin circled a banana. And this isn't the first time. He's done it on other assignments.
Mom: I see. I'll look into it.

Mom: Anak (son).
Me: Yeah?
Mom: Why did you circle Banana on this one (pointing to letter "S" test).
Me: Because it does.
Mom: No anak it starts with the letter "B"
Me: Yeah but in Tagalog it's SAGING!

Yup my teacher's probably thought I was stupid.

But overtime my ability to speak my language gave me a certain level of pride in my culture. Those of you who know me well enough I always say that I am not proud of the people who make up the Philippines, essentially I'm not proud of the people in my culture, BUT I am still proud of my culture. Or rather I am only proud of my culture overall.

And as a result when I got home I'm your typical fish out of water and to be honest I am more American than ever.

Yes I know my culture and my traditions, some of which the average Pilipino kid doesn't know at all. But I'm still a FILAM (Filipino American); of course there are some parts where I feel more Pilipino than others -- like spelling Pilipino (this way over Filipino).

But the one thing that really is sort of a link between me and my culture is my ability to speak my language; my ability to speak Tagalog.

Now the one thing that is scaring me more than ever, being a Linguistics major, is this: I'm forgetting my language.

Day after day, nowadays, because of this sad reality, I've been trying to use my Tagalog more often. Yes I can still speak it with superior accuracy, yes. But there are some things that I cannot remember at all. There are some phrases that I can no longer say. There are some words that I can no longer build. Whole sentence structures that I can no longer produce.

This is scaring me. I am forgetting my language and I'm forgetting it rather quickly.

When I was younger, around before the age of 12, you could ask me any sentence and I got translate or interpret it in Tagalog like nothing. But now? I'm struggling. This is really scaring me.

A culture's prestige is due to many factors but one big part of it is its language. And the idea that I am forgetting it is scaring the living shit out of me. I once read somewhere from a Pilipino linguist who projected that within the next 20 - 30 some odd years from now no newborns in the Philippines will be able to speak or have any knowledge of Tagalog at all.

And another thing, most FILAMs barely have a passing degree of understanding Tagalog the way it is now let alone speaking it. So if in the Philippines 20 to 30 some odd years from now Tagalog will go extinct for newborns, how about FILAMs? SHIT! I say it now that I don't want kids, but I know that my mind may change about that. And if it does I would want my kids to learn Tagalog.

But I would be a hypocrite to have my children learn Tagalog if I barely remember it myself.

My language is close to me because I cherish my culture just that much more than most people. I don't want to forget it but I'm getting to the point that my mind is filtering out stuff I'm not constantly using. I'm scared. I need practice and I need it bad.

I'm still fluent in Tagalog, and yes I'm fluent in English and Japanese. But among my three languages Tagalog is the language I am most proud of. I just hope I can prevent myself from forgetting it.

And if you think it's only FILAMs who are subject to it, you're mistaken.

My parents who were born speaking Tagalog and many of their friends and their own parents admit to themselves as well that there are a lot of things in Tagalog that they too are forgetting. It is being replaced with Taglish (Tagalog + English).

This is scary.

So that's my view. What's yours?

People & Manner of Opinions (Reviews), by JD

2011-08-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

How many people (please be truthful) believe what people say in reviews of any kind on any subject matter?

It could be about cars, restaurants, countries to visit, places to go, etc...

Seriously how many of you do it?

I'll admit that I am a victim of my own criticism when I say that I read and take into a rather large piece of consideration the level of reviews people have.

And when I say a review, I don't just mean a professional review... I mean other people's opinions as well.

However, I believe this is wrong... we should stop listening to others and taking into heavy consideration what others have to say, and actually weigh in ourselves.

In truth I believe that people's opinions matter a lot. Furthermore, I am a stern believer that if one person says it it's just an opinion and if many people say it it's a fact. But at the same time, how true is that statement as well? Because in the end you are your own person and no one can tell you what you'll prefer.

Now to be honest, I'm a hypocrite in many cases so I'm going to try and tackle on being on neutral grounds on this one because I believe all situations have a certain level of truce to it.

For example:

Let's say you want to do something completely stupid, like waste your money on certain things that you really shouldn't. You have one person telling you that you shouldn't do it because you will just waste your money. FINE, that's an opinion and you take that into consideration. Then let's say another person gives you a reason that you can't refuse, I don't know something bad will happen. You take that under advisement. But the second that review becomes 3 or more you probably should pay attention.

I'm gonna site an example from experience:

You see I have one friend who has this stupid idea of taking a bone stock car way beyond its actual capabilities. Now yes, as a mechanically inclined car person I agree, it's possible. But to be honest it should be done only by people who know cars and know what they're getting into. This kid just barely got his license and has just recently taken an interest in cars. To be honest he's full of himself; when you hear him talk about the subject -- he should seriously consider thinking about what he's saying. But to be honest he really doesn't care and as a result he get's what a JDM car petrol head friend of mine ended up calling him: a POSER (in the car world if someone tags you with that you should probably get running because POSER among car enthusiasts is trouble).

Moving on, he basically wants to do something really stupid like taking a car that has no racing credentials at all and give it some racing perks or rather "look-a-like" or RICER perks that it doesn't deserve. To be honest I've met some RICERs and even they think it's stupid to do what this kid is doing. Taking a standard road bone stock car and making it more than what it is.

The reason why this is a bad idea?

Unlike taking, let's say a WRX and turning it into an STi, most stock standard road cars are not built with racing style anything from chassis to suspension and power output from engine to coolant abilities from the radiator. WRXs on the other hand are sort of the middle ground between the road standard Imprezza and the high performance STi. The WRX is built with rallying characteristics so the switch is a bit manageable.

But taking, let's say a standard Honda Civic and making it into a Type R would just be a stupid idea. A standard Honda Civic has so many pieces of it that are different that to be honest making it into a Type R would basically mean taking apart the entire car replacing several body panels and of course, completely changing out the engine bay. It's not like taking an Si and making into a Type R, a reasonable swap overall. And much more doable.

So when you're pressed with something like this, and 1 to let's say 5 or 6 people who are professionals or people with experience with the matter tell you, DON'T DO IT, you should probably listen to them. DON'T BE A FUCKIN' PUNK ASS AND JUST LISTEN!!!

But of course people don't because they're bone eyed and stupid and much more foolish and arrogant. Then in the end realize that they should have just left the damn thing alone.

Now, a situation where you should probably listen to yourself more:

Lately I've been shopping for cars and to be honest it's been pretty tough to make a decision. But because I'm close to my goal and I've still got some time I'm really taking my time and being very picky. Hell I even test drove a car that I'm considering TWICE!

Now why shouldn't you listen to what people have to say all the time?

I'll site my own experience in the matter.

You see as I said I'm looking into buying a new car because my old car is literally falling to pieces. I'm running out of money to fix it and to be honest by the time I fix it (yes I work on my own car, no other mechanics apart from myself and my dad for me!) something else breaks and I'm stuck saving up and paying to buy the parts then taking my time (but not too much time cuz I need it to run fast; school, errands, etc.) to fix it. So it's not really economical anymore.

So after months of thinking, wanting, and now pure on consideration, I've sussed out two cars that I like and am considering on getting.

They are a:

Certified Pre-Owned 2010 Honda Civic Si (FA5)
Brand New 2011 MazdaSpeed 3

Now overall if you know your cars you know that this is a real hard choice. Those of you who go on actual knowledge and experience know that in the end these two cars are pretty much at the same level.

Now here's the problem and I noticed that I became a victim to it very recently...

I ended up really falling for the reviews. It took a friend to help me realize that it actually happened to me.

The problem is this: the MazdaSpeed 3 overall is the superior car. But no one likes it because:

1) It's too expensive for a JDM car that only comes with a manual gear box and basically childish looks and appeal
2) A lot of it is plastic
3) The clutch uptake is too quick and low
4) It's not the most comfortable of cars
5) It's got too much power for a front wheel drive car that it produces torque steer

And this got me thinking...

Why the fuck would all of that matter to me?

1) It's not too expensive because overall it lasts longer than a Golf GTi, and the parts overall are cheaper because it's only JDM and since I'm mechanically inclined I can do it myself. Oh and one last thing: it's not that fuckin' childish!!! If you're worried about that then get one in black it covers up that smile pretty well!!! And to be honest: I'M YOUNG ANYWAY!!!
2) So what if a lot of it is cheap and plastic? I want this car to drive, not too show off my wealth. I don't give a damn for swag!
3) Clutch uptake is too low? Then seriously you can't drive! Quicker clutch uptake needs experience and practice, yes. But overall it's superior to delayed clutch action.
4) Try driving my car bitch and tell me what's uncomfortable. Fuck my EG2's got stiff ass suspension from 17 years of hard driving and bushings that are metal to metal!
5) If you know how to drive then Torque Steer SHOULD NOT be a problem!

Now I am a fan of Top Gear, and I love and agree with many of their reviews. In fact I'm a fan of several car programs that review cars. But when it comes to a car like the MazdaSpeed 3, which by the way I HAVE ACTUALLY RIDDEN IN, I have to disagree with a lot of them.

The problem is that this car is similar to the Honda/Acura NSX. Now I bet you're thinking, JD what the fuck are you talking about, they're two very different cars!

In reality let me explain. Apart from the fact that both cars were honed at Laguna Seca until ultimate perfection, they were pegged with the same stereotypes. Too expensive for a JDM car, not too comfortable, styling is rubbish, etc. etc. etc. I bet many of you forgot how superior that car was. And now when people see that car they honor and respect their drivers. Why? Because it was and is a superior car.

Now am I in anyway suggesting that the MazdaSpeed 3 or MS3 (sorry I'm going to refer to it as this now because I'm getting tired of typing its full name) is just like the NSX? No. I'm just saying, they both have been pegged badly from the beginning.

The MS3, yes, is uncomfortable for today's standards and is somewhat troublesome. So who is this car meant for?

It's meant for driver's like me.

Driver's who like a challenge and want to improve on their driving skills by tackling on something hard. The sort of person who'll buy the STi over the EVO because they don't want any training wheels on (if you're getting lost the EVO has Yaw Control which basically dictates on an individual basis what tire gets the most power, and as a result the EVO is "user friendly" and doesn't understeer).

The STi and the EVO are both equally good, but one car demands more talent from its user over the other. The same in the situation between the MS3 and the Si or any other car that isn't an Si and is front wheel drive (ff). It demands just that much more skill and talent to drive.

The MS3 requires a level of talent that most CAR REVIEWERS do not have on hand all the time. CAR REVIEWERS get used to one standard and one standard alone and the second that a new car that has something different comes around they don't appreciate it.

Clutch comes in too early... OOH FUCKIN' PLEASE! I've asked people who drive manuals all the time and they agree that they wish their cars had the same clutch action as the MS3! People who on average have over 20 years of manual car driving experience. Why? Because the quicker the gear comes in the better and easier it is for the driver and the transmission overall. And if you're in a drag race... to be honest it makes for quicker speed over time.

If you complain about the MS3 because it produces Torque Steer or you can't handle that clutch then clearly no.1) you probably can't drive and/or 2) you haven't been driving for very long. True drivers DO NOT ALLOW clutch and/or torque steer to compromise their driving skills.

If you can't drive it because of your driving style and you can't tailor the car to your settings, then you must tailor your driving to the car (words of wisdom from my dad who's been driving stick since he got his first car which I think was 16 years old or so -- in the Philippines during his time as long as you had money you had a car regardless of age, but legality still was an issue).

So in all (wow I've gone off on a huge tangent but I hope you're getting why) people like myself (admittedly) get caught up in other people's reviews and judge a car or anything for that matter that has a review without considering it to the fullest degree. In the end it's up to you and you alone to decide what works for you. In THIS RESPECT!

When it comes to buying a car or choosing where to go for vacation or eating somewhere, it's really up to you, because you are the one who will be living with it for some time. It's your money.

But if people are giving you more ADVICE or FACTS over actual OPINIONs, you should probably just listen.

I hope you guys enjoyed this one and please let me know what you guys think, either my private e-mail (like some have been doing) commenting on this actual post, or commenting on Facebook. Thanks for reading.

PS: On the basis of what car I'll end up buying? It's still up in the air but as I said it's between the Si and the MS3.

PS2: Let me just finish this really quick:

In regards to my STi and EVO analogy... the Si really is like an EVO and the MS3 is much like the STi (in terms to my analogy)

Think about it:

The EVO and the Si overall are somewhat more practical in terms of performance and user friendliness.

The STi and the MS3 overall are more perfect in terms of handling and performance, and don't care for user friendliness.

Basically, a Top Gear analogy: The James May car vs. a car for the STIG or any other Nürburgring Enthusiast.

28 Days until the Beginning of the End -- A Reflection of 3 Years in 1 Post, by JD

2011-08-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

3 years ago... Damn has it really been that long already? Shit I remember how I was back then... Wow it seems so long ago... And now here I am, entering my last full year in college and just like 3 years ago I am sitting down and reflecting about it.

3 years ago, funny enough to this very day I hung out with my cousin Jason (for the sake of this post I will not be using any pseudonyms, just our straight up names) or JC (BTHR Alumni Emeritus) and we were talking about our college lives and what we were hoping they would be. I was the usual pedantic anxious really just want to graduate and be over kid and he was the same but also work minded individual.

3 years later today in fact I had another encounter with him, but admittedly it was only as I am writing this that I realized the date. Who'd ever thought that we would be sitting together again talking about college and now what is to happen in the future. Granted some differences: instead of L&L we were at Red Robbins, and instead of Starbucks we were at Coffee Bean.

The one question I've found myself asking is a question I got from the movies series Lethal Weapon and that question is "Where does the time go?"

I found it funny that three years later we sat together again at a coffee shop looking at our lives in hindsight. Seeing the unexpected turns and twists our lives have taken within the past 3 years.

3 years ago we were both somewhat friendless (in terms of college since we were both pretty new), had no cars (so we took the bus), and were both jobless. 3 years later we've come a long way. We have a group of friends, yes we have cars (granted that we wish we could replace soon because they're falling apart), and we've both worked (unfortunately for me I've hit a dry spell and have found myself unemployed).

But with all those little things we did talk about one thing and that was the future. We both agreed that no matter how far we planned ahead no one could ever say what we would be doing. To be honest when I entered college I never thought that I would have the life that I have now. I thought at best I would have only one good friend if any and would just spend my days working and doing nothing else. I am so grateful for the experiences that I've gone through both the good and the bad. I am so grateful for the people that have been there to witness it.

My life has gone through ups and downs, and to be honest right now I've hit a small plateau of sorts. I'm nearing the period where I really have to think about what I'm going to do with my life, but with life circumstances as it would have it it's proving difficult to do so. I have plans, yes. But as Jason said "no one could for see what's going to happen in the future" You have to plan when you're ahead.

We've both come a long way and we have a lot of people to thank for being there for us and for helping us get to where we've gotten to. It is those people in our lives that will help us develop more into the people we will become in the future. But until then we are left in limbo.

I remember before that summer I made my first crucial college decision. It turned out to be for the best, but my alternative turned out to be the worst in some cases. You see I was admitted into California State University, Northridge, as a Music Major with preference in Classical Violin Performance. For those of you who know me even a little may find it kind of weird and a bit of a stretch from what I do today. But yes I was a violinist obsessed with perfection and I wanted nothing more than to advance my career in the instrument. But over time as the days passed following my acceptance I opted out of the music program and entered the Department of Humanities in preference for a degree in Linguistics.

Why I opted out? To be honest there were a lot of factors... however, one of them admittedly was that I wasn't confident enough in my skills to be able to survive a degree in violin performance. I knew that the expectation was going to be high and to be honest I've always thought of myself (at that time) to be nothing more than a novice in my own craft and so I chickened out. I am ashamed that I did that, but at the same time I'm also happy. Because although my skills were more than proficient, I couldn't see myself going into that completely as a full time career. And in some cases i knew that my life didn't see through in that. But the option I chose later... that turned out to be the biggest mistake. But I shall go into that later. For now, onward.

The first year of my college life was dedicated to just simply trying to finish as much as I could. I didn't care for making friends, or even having any form of a life. I woke up, got ready, went to school, went home, did my homework, and went to bed and started the cycle all over again. I made two friends (Ali and Jonathan) within the first semester, the two friends that would test my life and time as it progressed. I learned so much about myself from these two people and I found myself constantly learning to be patient with myself and others. But of course even I recognized that patience had a price and a time period.

The second half of my first year I started to come to grips with who I was quickly becoming. I discovered some things I never would have and continued to progress in making friends. I never thought it would come to this but I ended up seeing how far friendship could really go. I never thought it would ever hit a fork and in all my education also started to tell. I was seeing the full force of what I was able to do and to see how well I could time manage my life.

During my first full year in college I was so obsessed with school that I decided what the hell I'll give up my summer and go to summer school. I went to Los Angeles Pierce College with my cousin Jason and it was there that I discovered how strong my passion for cars was. I made a new friend who both Jason and myself got along with rather quickly and well. His name was Ralph and we clicked enough to talk about cars the whole time. We found other topics to talk about but mainly it was about cars, airplanes, and school. All in good fun and we discovered a lot about each other.

After summer was over I took a small break and then I was back to school again. This time I had a more intricate view of myself and I knew what i could do. I was still questioning who I was and my identity and my choices, but I thought it was coming together a bit better with time. But it was during the Fall of 2009 back at CSUN that I would meet the one person that I would occasionally call older brother in two languages. He was the first friend I made that semester and over time I never would have guessed that he would mean more to me than any of all of my other friends. His name was James (also a writer here and a writer on three other blog sites). It was easy getting to know him because I didn't feel like I had to bring out a facade; a fake persona in order to get to know someone. I felt comfortable enough to just be myself. Making friends with him help create the biggest balance ever, and especially a moral compass in some cases as the future would come to fruition... but I'll get more into that later.

Fall ended and here came Spring. There was nothing more to say than it was one hell of a long semester and all I wanted it to be was over. I was somewhat hating my classes and was scared about some of them. I also lost one friend due to ideal conflicts and I ended up gaining another. I didn't go into much detail about him but Ralph, the guy I met at Pierce had returned to CSUN. Originally when he started he was a student at CSUN who transferred to CSUEB and found himself transferring back to CSUN. Our friendship grew and we found ourselves hanging out all the time after classes. He came to terms with my other friend Jon and was beginning to get back into the groove of CSUN life. He helped marginally keep me sane as the semester was killing me.

The two years that I spent at CSUN had done the biggest number on me. I fought myself so many times and forced myself to do things that I could never imagine. I overworked and overwhelmed even myself and I never thought i could survive. But personally that was only the beginning.

The summer had arrived and we all scattered yet again. I had been spending my days on and off hanging out with Jon and Jason usually separate but sometimes together as well. But as the summer would come and go I spent the farthest time away from both of them. But it was also during that time i discovered more about myself as well. James was forced to take a semester off and was now taking summer school. I began talking to him on Facebook more and it came clear that he was the most interesting person to have a conversation with. Riddled with mystery I began to try and figure out who he was much like how I tried to figure out the three other friends I had made. But this too was just the beginning. More later...

Now the third year had begun and life choices was beginning to tell. It was here that I became more confident of my choices but at the same time I also began to question my decisions as well.

In the Fall of 2009 i made the decision to add on Psychology as a double major. I did so and found myself finding it rewarding. I began to make new friends in the department and in the Spring of 2010 I made the one friend I would be sharing in my department for a while. His name was Kaoru. To be honest just like James I actually started talking to him because he was the only other Asian person within a desk away. I'll admit that I find starting conversations with other Asian people the easiest an he made it even easier. It turned out he knew my cousins and he was a chill guy. It was fun working with him and fun getting to know him. And it was in Fall of 2010 that we would build even higher.

In the fall of 2010 I had entered my realm of Psychology and began working full time in the degree. To be honest Linguistics had taken a turn for the worst in terms of interest, but there was nothing that I can do. So I just persevered. But it was in the Fall of 2010 that I made more friends and began to see who I would end up sticking to the most. It was also the time that I would end up mixing my friends together and seeing how it would play out. Ralph got along with Kaoru really well and Jon was along for the ride as well. Thanks to a research class I ended up making friends with Jaime and Joyce. The two people in my major who I would connect to the most quickly and have the most in common.

In Fall of 2010 we were relying on each other heavily (Jaime, Joyce, and Kaoru) in order to pass the class with flying colors. And with some hard work and help from Jon we did. We ended up impressing our professor enough that we all passed the class to the best of our abilities.

It was also in Fall of 2010 that I would begin to connect with James a bit more. He had gone through a terrible streak of car issues (one stolen, one major car accident) and he needed some pick me ups if you will. Got together with him a few times and tried to help him look beyond the bad luck. And it was at this period that I discovered what being worried for others really meant. I actually genuinely felt worried for someone on whether or not he was okay when he had just survived a rather big accident and to be honest I had no idea how to really help. But did my best, but it was definitely a first of many that I would encounter in the future after this event.

Fall 2010 was coming to an end and i decided to see what would happen if i would combine my friendships again. I held a small dinner at Boiling Crab inviting my cousin Jason, my longtime friend Jon, and my friend who I was getting to know even more, James. We had a great time and we started to really feel more comfortable with each other. It was here that our friendships were becoming more certain and as time would have it would prove who I would be closest and farthest to.

Spring 2011 was coming and James, Jason, Jon, and myself began to hang out a lot more. We started profiling joking around and really started to show each other who each of us was. Some in the end could hack it and others couldn't (won't mention who; hahaha). In the end it was just a nice thing to have. Got even closer to James and discovered that his ear was always open and his company was more than just fun to have but rewarding. Always there to lend a hand both physically and mentally during times of great hardships and basically times where I felt I just couldn't do it.

It was in this past semester of Spring 2011 that I discovered who i was and how much patience I had with others but most importantly with myself as well. I had something that I never had in a long time... a nervous breakdown. It was a moment in time that I felt I just couldn't hack it at all and was sure at failure at the very least and most.

My other friendships were there and we would still talk to each other, but who I would hang out most with was James and Jon. Jason had become completely consumed with work to the point that he became unreachable and to be honest we really didn't want to disturb him. We got somewhat irritated at one point because the answer was always the same but soon forgave him easily because we realized the massive weight of his work. He more than us was doing the impossible and even until this day we still honor and respect him for his ability to do what he could.

In the end of this semester though I discovered that out of everyone I knew and would come to know had grown so weak that I have lost everything in the end.

I began to lose patience for one of my friends due to my own personal issues and my lack of interest in his personal quests. I just couldn't take it anymore and to be honest was losing hope in his overall attitude towards everything. Even until now I still question my faith in him but to be honest I guess it's all apart of being friends with someone and with that there are many types. There should always be a give and take and to be honest he was always the type that would take more than give. I never expect anything but at one point my patience just got taken away and once it was gone I lost all control. It took the power of others to keep me restrained and James was one of those people who was not only trying to get a grip with the situation on its own but also trying to help me in the process. I was losing it and it was time for me to let loose.

Three years of hard work was starting to tear away at me and to be honest my decisions were starting to show flaws. Psychology I always say and still agree with today was the degree I never questioned. I made the right choice in the end because I found it to be interesting. But what was really starting to be a real bitch of a degree was Linguistics. It was and still is the most boring thing I have ever taken even a modicum of an interest in and I regret the decision all together. I hate that I chose to opt out of music to take this terrible degree. I HATE IT!!! I can't stand it! And to be honest it just makes me want to just grab that piece of paper in the end and just say FUCK IT! i CANNOT HANDLE IT ANYMORE.

I had many people around me this past semester but only two people really started to see how much the tolls of this semester was taking on me. They were James and my old research partner turned friend Joyce. These two people became personal therapists to the point that by the end of the semester I ended up calling them older brother (James) and older sister (Joyce). And to be honest I still feel the same way. They helped me survive the semester and helped recognize that I could actually rely on my friends to help me out with parts of life I couldn't handle whether it be actual work or just to have someone to talk to or even just to let go of my feelings. Somehow these two people understood me in a way that no one else has understood me no matter how long they've known me or ever been friends with me and to be honest it's only these two people who have ever seen the vulnerable sides of me.

Only my mother, not even my own dad, has ever seen me so frustrated with something that I have ended up either braking down or crying in front of them even just by shedding a small tear... except for two others now... James and Joyce. They in the end gave me the confidence to continue what i was doing and to persevere. They became not only my best friends but also my biggest critics as well. I learned who was really there for me to be there for me. These two exemplified was give and take was. They gave back as much as they took from. Although I don't mind if they take more, they really know how to make you feel that your friendship has some value and never complain as I do not complain about my friendships with them. Truly deserved the titles older brother (Kuya or Aniki) and older sister (Ate or Ane).

My other friendships also began to grow and it showed or rather shows some great promise as well. I maintain contact with all that have been there for me (well for the most part) and try to help them when I can. Thanks to many, friendships grew to include long standing and new bridges built. Within the past few months I've gotten to know both myself, my closest and longest friends, and many new people. Each of them with unique attributes. And I thank them all for being there and making this past summer the most interesting and eventful.

As Spring 2011 was coming to a close I finished with my head held high but my emotions for some more skewed than ever. As I said earlier my patience was tested and to be honest I've become a more cynical human being as well as still being the same patient considerate person. How you may ask because they are conflicting adjectives? Simple, just by meeting certain people I've learned to gauge my tolerance for them from the gecko but because I am patient I give the person ample time to get to know myself and I them and gauge from there my tolerance for them.

Over this past semester I've learned how my patience can be tested and that patience really does have a limit and no matter who it is it will tell. I lost my friendship with one person because I didn't appreciate the situation he put me in two years ago choosing between him and another, so I dropped him. But the person I dropped him for now too was starting to tell the tale. I began to get frustrated and just completely lost it at one point. I couldn't stand it anymore. However, with time and separation from him I've been learning to just be cool again and trying not to want to just deck the living crap out of him.

But away from the negatives I did make new friendships that have lead to the most interesting summer ever. I ended up befriending three people who ended up becoming more people in the end. And to be honest I just have to thank them all because they helped make the summer not only interesting but helped me realize a lot of what I should be fortunate with my life. It helped me see the world outside the box and it is through these various people that I learned how many turns life could be. As the summer progressed and the semester Spring 2011 became a memory it was just pure interest.

Some began treating me like an older brother and as great as that feeling was I also began to question why. But with time I'm still learning and seeing where things will lead and/or get me.

Away from friendships I also began to get closer to my family as well. I learned more about my family and began to be more appreciative of them. I got closer to my middle sister, my oldest sister, and my brother. And with time even got to somewhat better relations with my dad. My mom of course I was always close to and to be honest remained close to.

I am most grateful for getting closer to my middle sister of course through the fact that she lives with me and our parents again. It was fun getting to know her and her friends because it is through her and her friends that I get a glimpse of life for more than what it is. What life looks like beyond school and beyond the casual meet and greet there. I've learned so much from them both about school and life after school that there is no replacement for such life lessons. Thanks so much guys, but most of all thanks so much sis!

My cousins too, I began to grow a bit closer to them feeling a little more comfortable with sharing more and more with them. Learning form their life experiences as well seeing how they've turned and learning from their stories about life. It's always interesting and it never gets dull.

My parents of course i've learned more and more with time as well. But to be honest when don't you? But I've seen more expressions of strength than anywhere else and I've never been more happy to be here living with them while I can. I enjoy still have both of my parents and I am always grateful for what they give me even though at times I can be hard headed. And yes I always know that they're right but I hate admitting it as well.

I've also began to connect with some other relatives but as time will tell again it will only be the dictator of where that goes.

So life has just been swell in the end. I've grown more than I though I would and i was happy to share it with so many people. Yes some both myself and they need to tolerate each other but int he end I'm happy to have known them nonetheless.

So in reflection in three years time what have I learned? So much and I have so much to be grateful for. Thanks to everyone who's been apart of it. To my cousin Jason, who knows where we'll be in three more years? Hahaha all I can say is that I hope it's good. But only time will tell.

I still have a lot of things to overcome and to be able to share certain facts about myself. But with time again only it will dictate my abilities in the future. I can only but wait for that moment and that spurt of courage to come.

I just want to make a short list of names here but I will only be using first names so as to at least have a modicum of privacy.

But thanks so much to:

Mom, Dad, Barbie B, Bonnevie B, Kevin B, James S, Joyce P, Jason G, James V, Mark V, Matt L, Ralph Y, Kaoru S, Jaime G, MyKey D, Chris D, Charlie S, April A, Joevin H, Jason L, Melvin S, Kyle S, William L, Maritess B, and Jon S.

Thanks guys for being there at all for me during this time of me trying to figure myself out and I thank you all for your patience with me. Thanks so much for whatever positive or negatives I've incurred from you during this past time and I hope for a better continuation and development of our friendships to come. But thanks for helping me realize certain things about me that I would have never have realized before. And for also teaching me some things here and there. There is too many to mention to thoroughly describe the impacts you guys have had on me but I trust that yes you've impacted mine even in a minute way. I can only but give simple thanks in return.

So what will happen within the next three years? Who knows? All I can say is it'll be interesting to find out.

Thank you whoever you are who is reading this. I thank you for your time and attention and I hope somehow you found it enlightening.

This summer is my last "summer vacation" from school. After this... my life begins. The Beginning of the End is coming.

Cops and Cars, by JD

2011-07-31T02:19:00.000-07:00

So the time now is 2:11 (the time I'm starting to write this) and within the past 10 minutes I witnessed something rather incredible. A White DC2 or 1995 Integra (for those of you who don't know cars very much) nearly had an accident in my backyard. You see there is a road that ends in the back of my backyard but prior to that is a hard right hander. Now what had happened is that the DC2 was speeding and as he was going for the right turn he lost control and ended up facing the other direction.

I don't know really what was going on but I'm guessing he was being chased by the police with how many police arrived to stop him (3 cars, 2 cops per car, total = 6). It was incredible. He was pulled out of his car at gun point, handcuffed, then taken into the patrol unit car. Following this began the real work that police love to do and are invited to do so when they have a reasonable suspicion about certain drivers who are detained and their cars: inspection time.

Within ten minutes this guy was arrested and then taken off, and now as I am still writing this one cop unit is waiting for the tow truck to tow his car away.

Now before this happened, however, the cops began a series of quick inspections. Of course the inside of the car was inspected for the suspected alcohol, drugs, etc. Then the boot followed, and get this... the bonnet came in as well. This DC2 was mildly RICED up but it was also a welcoming chance to see what had been done to the car to see if anything was illegal in the engine bay.

Nonetheless, this car is waiting to be towed.

There is a moral lesson here... if you're planning on modding your car which by the way can be legally stopped on it's own just by simple suspicion, if you do stupid shit like this you are welcoming your car to be taken into custody. Your car can be taken from you if they suspect that something is not of the ordinary about it, ex. aftermarket parts that are not OEM standard and are not supposed to be here in America.

If this occurs your car has 3 options: 1) it can be retrieved from impound, 2) it is sent up for auction, 3) it's crushed.

These are things you should be ready for if you decide to mod your car and/or then do stupid shit.

But damn I have to say it's a bit excessive. Two units is one thing but three? Seriously what is it about cops these days and rollin' in packs of 6? FML!

I don't understand why..., by JD

2011-07-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

For a while now I've been noticing that for some odd reason people feel comfortable enough with me that they unload their personal problems on me and at times ask me to give them input about their issues.

Now I'm not talking about work... that I understand... when you're good at something then yes, expect to be asked. Or actually put more simply if you're working you really should have the presence of mind to know what you're doing so people should be able to ask you.

But what I am talking about is why people trust me so much.

I'm not the type of person that if you tell me something that you want me to keep it secret that I will tell another person. I'm really good at keeping secrets. I'm also good at listening. But these are things you can't get just from meeting or even talking to me... or are they? I really don't know or understand.

Why do people trust me so much? I don't get it. Why do people come to me when they have problems? I don't know. It only makes me curious because as much as I love to be there for all people and I usually am, I encourage people to seek me out if they want to talk, but at the same time, what is it about me that people feel so safe?

The reason why I ask is because in my life there are so many others that are more qualified to way in on certain issues. Some have more experience than I do in other issues that fall from the tree. But what is it about me that people feel safe about? I don't know. I don't get it. Why?

Now if you're one of the people who comes to me with problems and you're reading this please don't take this as me complaining because I'm not. I'm honored that you trust me so. But my question in the end is why? That's all.

Why do you come to me over others that are there?

We all know the same people, and I say this not only to friends from college, high school, etc. I say this to all people who know me. What is it about me that people come to ask for guidance and then thank me for it?

Why do you thank me? What have I done to deserve such recognition?

If anything I've always... sort of felt the opposite. I should be thanking those who trust me. I've always felt that I was the one who was honored to receive such high levels of trust. So if you are one of many who come to me in all thank you for trusting me. But if I may ask... why do you trust me so much?

Trying to Figure Things Out, by JD

2011-07-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This one is going to be a bit out of character so please bare with me.

Life is by far the most difficult thing to understand no matter how simple one believes that it is. Often times enough the simplest things in life are indeed the most difficult to understand. As I get older day by day I often think about what the purpose of life really is. I'm not talking about life in general in regards to what the point in any individual life, but rather why we are here and what are we supposed to do with this gift?

So here is where this is going out of character... I'm going to share some things about me to whoever you are who is reading this.

Like most people in the world I've always lived my life according to plans. I rarely deviate from that but I am known to be spontaneous at times as well. But with that in mind as I near the end of one part of my life I start to think what do I do now? This moment in time occurs to everyone at different moments and stages of life. Mine is fast approaching and this "oh shit" moment of sorts is quickly coming.

Nowadays although I've been unsuccessful with achieving many of my summer goals, i.e. obtaining employment, I've been using the time to figure myself out. Trying to figure out other people is actually not that hard. What's difficult is being right about your assumptions. But in fact the hardest people to really know is ourselves.

For the past 2 months I've been looking into myself trying to figure myself out. To no surprise I've come up to zero in that effort but I'm still hoping to try and figure out something by the end of my summer break.

I know people say you should stop trying to think too much and just let life take care of itself; however, the issue with that is that nothing just comes to you, you have to do something for yourself as well. And that's just the thing... doing something for myself. I've been doing it for any number of years now, but at the same time the question of FOR WHAT? always pops up as well. To what avail am I trying to achieve? Money?

The answer to that is sadly, I don't know. Every so often I'll make up a bullshit answer and say: yeah I just want money. But to be honest that's the biggest lie I've ever told.

Even though I've never lived a rich life, I've lived a privileged life getting whatever I needed and in some cases wanted. But of course i had to work for that as well, but living my life has made that goal easy. But now comes the question... what to do about my future?

I've always tried to think about the future and tried to also have a balance between that and living in the present as well. But my worries about my future sadly sometimes consume my mind so much so that I loose track of the present as well. Trying to figure out what I really want to do with my life. As much as I want to say that I'll just let life surprise me, I do want to have control over it as well. But at the same time I realize you can't control everything in life. Some things do just come.

Oh what to do? I don't know.

I'm not really looking for answers here for this one; I just wanted to get this off my chest and if whoever you are read this just know some things I just like to release into the unknown. In this case I just want to publish my personal issue and just let it go and see what happens.

Why do I write? I don't know. It helps me think I guess. Who knows how long I'll even keep on continuing to write for this blog page as well. One day it'll all just be blur and I'll fade away into a quiet existence. That is the future for all people at one point, but when you're talking about cyberspace that can come at any time as well.

I'm not saying BTHR will come to an end some time soon, but we all have to realize that things end.

As I try to figure out my life and as my future is quickly becoming a present, who knows what may happen. All I can say is this... BTHR may not be apart of it for very long. Does that mean I'll stop writing? Answer: No. I'll be writing. But whether or not it will be here has yet to be determined.

So if you're one of the [actually 50 (yes I've counted the IP addresses of the most consistent visitors]) thank you so much for reading not only my personal ramblings but the ramblings of whoever has posted here since. We appreciate that you guys actually read our stuff and it's nice to get feedback during the few times that we do. For those of you who actually got my e-mail address (thanks google for allowing that to happen) and have e-mailed concerning certain articles I've written, good or bad thanks so much for replying and lending in your thoughts. I appreciate knowing what you guys thinks.

Thanks so much again. And remember, this isn't good bye... yet (^_^)

Big Brother and What it Means to be an Active Member of Society, by JD

2011-07-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Big Brother vs. The Citizens

July 26, 2011

BIG BROTHER is everywhere...

It doesn't matter where you live or what type of government runs your country/county/etc, some variant of BIG BROTHER exists. There is no escaping its grasp and there is no escaping its influence. As it is we are stuck following its laws and furthermore we are stuck following its influence from education to news.

It is no secret that today information is monitored and dictated on the basis of what is "appropriate" for the general public to know. The most obvious signs of this are the exorbitant rules that are placed on television programs by rating organizations dictating the levels of appropriateness for modern media. But exactly how far does that reach? Does it also apply to the news?

It's no mystery or surprise that the answer to that question is yes. There are some things that happen that are not reported to the general public because it is deemed on a "need to know basis" and most of time the general public does "not need to know." Or as the cliché goes, "you're better off not knowing" or "what you don't know won't hurt you." But int he end does it actually harm us in some way?

The answer to that is yes.

The problem with modern day society is that we've become enslaved by what we call as government. Government was created to help keep society in check and its initial duties are to police the public to prevent anarchy of all kinds. However, in modern society government has become the word that is defined as the all ruling power over all lives and choices. Government has become so strong that no matter the size we fear it. And no matter if you're a democrat, republican, tea leaf, independent, etc (in terms of the United States of America), Torry, Labor, etc. (in terms of the United Kingdom), or Communist (in regards to communist countries ex. China) government basically tells you how to live.

The United States is the Land of the Free... but in certain extents no. You have to pay for your freedom... Freedom is not free... When did this be? The United States of America was founded as a haven for the people to escape religious persecution. If only they knew that America would just turn into another governing power that dictates how people should live, and overall what people should do.

The said thing is no matter how "free" we say any country could be, in reality there is no such thing as freedom. If freedom existed in theory chaos would overrule the land. There would be no order. But who said that that was actually a bad thing? Is there really no such thing as order without government? To be honest it's impossible to know, because even other members of the animal kingdom of some form of governments or hierarchy. It's just apart of life. If there was no government what would happen?

One thing is for certain... we, in order to have respect for our own existence MUST NOT FEAR TO QUESTION THE POWERS THAT BE. In order to be a responsible citizen of any country, government, or leading power we must question all things. Whether or not we have an answer in the end does not matter, what matters is this... a government of any kind community or democratic, etc. should fear its citizens more than the other way around. Soldiers die everyday and for what? Do they even know what they are fighting for?

We brainwash our soldiers into thinking that we are fighting a war for the freedom and peace of others. But do we ever stop to think why? Do we ever stop to think, what is the other side fighting for?

One thing that has always irritated me with history books is the overall moral behind them. They are HIS-STORY rather than actual history. History is always one sided and it never tells the whole story. No matter how we like to say that there is only one side, two sides do exist.

We all regret the conflict in Viet Nam, but rare is it still today does everyone ever know how wrong WE WERE during that. On average most people only now that Viet Nam is called a war but in reality it was only a conflict because the United States Congress did not actually declare war on Viet Nam. Moreover, they only know that we went in to protect the country from Communism. It was priceless that a few years back I watched a documentary about Robert McNamara. He even admitted how wrong he was about going to Viet Nam and the creators kindly added one meeting he had with a Vietnamese Historian who asked Robert, "Have you ever read a history book?" Because if you had you would have realized that the Vietnamese have been fighting Communism for 1000 years. Moreover, we created more of a rough when we left and massive genocide took place in Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos. And what did we do? Nothing. We went in, ruined the country, and left it and its people to die. Occasionally we helped some refugees, but in the end we still left the country in ruins.

Japan, we all know it to be the country that brought so much dark history to America. But does anyone ever know the other side of that story? How we as a country provoked the attacks by violating a treaty we created with them for oil equality. We only know that they attacked us, and we kicked the living shit out of them. But we never pay attention to the fact that we screwed over the little guy first. But it doesn't matter, we won right?

Philippines, my people will probably disagree with me and say that I'm wrong about this. But to be honest this is my opinion and to be honest I'm only stating what happened in history as the other side also tells it. America went into the Philippines to prevent the Japanese from completely taking over and from it being overran. We all remember the iconic heroes of our times. But what really happened? The Philippines was overrun and raped by another super power, a typical story of my people's history. Then with everything America gives us a "present" our own independence. But did anyone stop to remember what was happening during that time? The Chinese Exclusion act which prohibited the immigration of Asians from immigrating to the United States. So why give Independence to an Asian country and an Asian peoples that is under an American state? Simple, to not look hypocritical and it's the fastest way to get rid of us Asians.

We've seen it all the time. When a country, not just America, is done using people, they try and get rid of them. We saw it with Africans after the slavery was "over" and they were "freed" and "free" to "return home." We see it with the Asians when after we helped build a major network of trains and other mining properties our services were no longer needed and as such we were asked to leave. Oh but wait we forgot, we colonized an Asian country. Their under our rule. So what do we do? We give them independence. "Hey we decided to free you guys. Here's your independence." A few days later "Oh by the way that means you can't immigrate to the US anymore, you're Asian and you're independent so yeah..."

So I've basically sited stuff you would learn in any Asian American Studies class, although with the discerning tenor of society nowadays you probably haven't learned that because AAS classes are only offered in a very small selection of universities. We only want you to learn about the United States and Europe. South America, and Asia don't count as relevant pieces of history I guess.

So what's the point?

Big Brother is everywhere and no matter what you do you can't escape. But as a responsible citizen you must question everything. Finding answers, yes, that is a part of it. But is it the biggest part? No. What the biggest part is telling Big Brother, hey I realize you're here to police and govern but don't be mistaken without me you don't exist. Soldiers and commoners alike should be there to question the accepted wisdom. Don't just blindly accept everything.

Soldiers fight and die and I believe that they should know why. They should not die meaningless deaths, but more to the point they should not die at all. Fighting wars we shouldn't be fighting and getting into the business of others is our biggest problems. We get involved in everyone's business (this is not only limited to America) all countries do it. We must remind the powers that be that a government of any kind is built by the people, for the people, and of the people. Not built by certain people and elected to govern all for one cause. One's own beliefs. Votes should count but unfortunately they don't. Soldiers fight without question commands. But before they receive them it would be good if they knew everything as well.

The sad part of soldiers is that more often than not they become pawns to a government. Expendable lives that are sent to fight. We throw bodies in front of gun fire without thinking, hey you know what, they may die. Yeah we think about that, but we never have the respect for life that we should. Yes we fund millions, billions, if not trillions to military research and development. But in all we still throw bodies in front. We tell them what to do without asking them whether or not they know why. They say they're fighting for our freedom, but here's a good question... who's threatening our freedom.

In regards to America if we are so powerful, why are we so scared. If we remember we're the only country that used nuclear weapons to make a point. We always say, well they may have them. But in all if they did wouldn't they have used them by now? Or what time are they really waiting for?

Don't just blindly accept what you're told. To be a real citizen if any country we as citizens have a right to question the powers that be. Government should fear it's citizens, not the other way around. They are supposed to be doing what WE WANT, not the other way around.

--- Note ---

My political stance is not relevant to writing this piece. But if you are curious yes, I am a registered voter and if you're curious I am a registered Republican, but my mind does not vote in regards to that. I am a free thinker and I vote on the basis of my intellect and overall judgement. I may have voted for a Republican president in the past, but a majority of my votes on bills were split. I'm willing admit that I'm not much of a Republican but I'm not really apart of any other party either. I am my own person and I dictate for myself what should be done. I am a human being apart of larger whole, and I do question all things.

Speed Cameras: Just an all around bad idea, by JD

2011-07-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

So it's not new news that the average day speed camera has caused more harm than good in most cities all around the world. Naturally being a motoring enthusiast I've found myself detesting the idea behind the average speed cameras and have pleaded and hoped for their removal ever since their introduction. It seems that my prayers may be answered, tomorrow here in Los Angeles.

It seems that the governing powers of Los Angeles and in fact the entirety of California in this time of economic decay have discovered that cuts need to be made in useless parts of the governing force, ex. average speed cameras. Average speed cameras have been found to not justify the costs that the state goes through to keep the program running. In fact some have stipulated that it has caused more harm than in good in that more accidents can be caused by motorists who are worrying about getting their bloody photographs taken.

Personally I agree with that not only because I'm a motoring enthusiast but simply because it's pretty common sense. As it is when you're driving on a motorway most motorists become very cautious around certain roads due to their fear of receiving tickets. As a result they drive slower than average and in some cases cause more of an obstacle than actual stationary obstacles. Drivers who are worrying about getting a ticket are then imposed with a decision, do I speed or just keep to the speed limit? More often than not that question is answered on a 50/50 basis and the end result is a collision between people who say "fuck it" and people who say "I'll do the speed limit."

In another note speed cameras cause more of a ruckus. People fear whether or not if they pass the light when it's yellow that the camera will go off. Or even if they make a right turn at red, whether or not they can be pictured. And as a result people become stupid when they drive. I know myself I find it difficult whether or not to make a right turn at a red light even when there is no one on on coming traffic lanes. I go stupid, do you?

Anyway, as a result you have a mix of people who end up doing stupid things around speed cameras. I believe that overall the speed camera's removal will be a positive not only on economic cut backs but also motoring collisions in the LONG RUN.

What are your thoughts?

Society going to an all new low: Fortunes, by JD

2011-07-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

This is something I've never understood AT ALL! Why do people feel the need to waste their money on FORTUNE TELLERS? WTF IS GOING ON?!

Okay so this past weekend I attended the Orange County Fair with my parents along with some family friends. And as we were walking the grounds we discovered a very interesting booth: a Fortune Teller.

This "fortune teller" was charging some rather expensive fees to tell people something that any other fortune cookie from Panda Express could tell you. So why do people do it?

Why do people feel compelled to literally waste hard earned good money to rely on fortune tellers?

Or more to the point, why are people so obsessed with knowing what they do not know?

Okay so I agree people do not fear fear itself but rather the fear of not knowing what is to come. So I understand that. But why are people so quick to try and believe anything that has the LONGEST SHOT OF BEING TRUE! I don't understand it. And yes I've read some of the shit that is spewed from Horoscopes and Fortune Cookies alike and it's all bullocks.

And when there is the off chance the the fortune "comes true" they automatically attribute it to the fortune telling skills of some hack or some stupid little horoscope, etc. etc. etc. But why?! Has anyone ever thought that your brain has programmed that afterthought into itself so it does everything anyway possible to try and make that fortune come true? Or more to the point that the brain becomes more observant and analytical of certain situations and as a result decides all to itself to just interpret situations to make things fit?

Okay so let's put this to the test. After reading this I want you the reader to looking for everything around you that is BLUE. I bet that you'll find at least 30 things around you and possibly throughout the whole day will start seeing BLUE objects. But why? Because your brain is now programmed and conditioned to find things coexisting with some set of instructions. They are very simple and very easy to follow. And yes the brain is able to detect such things and becomes more focused looking for things relative to the set of given instructions.

So do the same things work for fortunes? YES! People no one can tell you what your future will be. Why? Because it's up to you to believe it and to MAKE IT happen for yourself. So stop wasting your money!

But while we're on the topic, why do you think people waste their time and hard earned money?

Society going to an all new low: Playing Dumb, by JD

2011-07-25T00:39:00.000-07:00

Okay so this happened about a month or so back and I don't believe that I've written this story at all here on this blog site yet but I know I've told some people about it already so if you're reading this apologies but it's just the same old story. But if you haven't heard this one yet then well here it is and it leads in to my sort of food for thought thing about society hitting all new lows.

Okay so a month or so ago OldbOy, our friend Matt, and myself met up together to hang out. We met up in Korea Town in Los Angeles [the middle point (literally) for both OldbOy and myself (at 22 miles each)] As we were waiting on our other friends to turn up we simply just chilled in the parking lot near our cars, my car parked one car away from OldbOy's. And the most irritable thing happened.

So there was this typical late 40s fat Caucasian male who was putting groceries into his car when he just shoved the cart away from his car and it literally made a loud bang; it had hit OldbOy's car. My head quickly shot over as I saw the man collect the cart from OldbOy's car to put it away. I walked over, OldbOy and Matt following behind and I went to where the cart had impacted. There was no dent or scratches but it was obvious that something had come into contact with OldbOy's car.

The man was about to walk off when I decided to finally take some action. I literally (pretending it was my car) got pissed off and told the man:

"Hey you hit my car!"

The man decided to literally play dumb and say, something along the lines of "what are you talking about I didn't hit your car."

I got pissed and told him "we were standing over there and we heard it!"

Matt kicked in as the man was still playing dumb and he told the man, "you hit his car!"

The man insisted that he didn't but at the same time we noticed that he was getting nervous. The man walked off nearer to my actual car holding an orange and looking over seeing as the three of us did not move. Then it occurred to me why he was probably scared.

Well let's take this into account, we're in the middle of KTown, you've got three Asian kids, two of whom are both wearing all black, and one that is ≈ 6'4" (if not taller; sorry OldbOy I don't remember the height you told me you were) and to make things worse OldbOy pulled out what looks from far away to be a Swiss army knife. The guy just kept glancing at us and Matt just insisted that we play it off and act tough enough. To be honest it wasn't really gonna be much of a fight since it's three to one and to be more honest I'm not the type that would fight for no reason, unless it's to defend myself.

I just got pissed off because it was my friend's car and it's a car that I've done some work on myself. When I do work on any car and I'm present when something bad happens to it I don't care that it isn't mine I defend that car like it is my own. And what pissed me off most is that some man who is clearly guilty tries to play dumb. Just because people like him think that they're the majority of the nation and that they can get away with anything, it just pisses me off. LISTEN ASS HOLE! YOU'RE IN KOREA TOWN! MORE ASIANS HERE OVER YOU! GO TRY LYING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE!

I mean seriously, what's wrong with just saying, "oh my I'm so sorry"? What's wrong with admitting you're wrong? Or that you did something wrong? I don't understand this anymore. This is getting out of hand.

I'm sorry but people need to step it up.

What are your thoughts? Seriously? Please let me know.

Society going to an all new low: Going to Church, by JD

2011-07-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

This is a topic that I've done over and over again, and so has fellow writer OldbOy. However, today probably proved more than ever the irony of church goers. So my question of the day leading to the title written above is this: WHAT'S THE POINT?

So today I drove my parents to church and parked the car as they went on ahead. As usual I promptly followed suit behind them, however, due to my personal preferences I did not enter the church but rather stayed outside and stood by the entrance where many other people were.

Today though, rather than just standing there like a mindless idiot I decided to actually observe the people around me. I noticed an interesting trend.

TREND 1: The majority of people who were standing outside with me were at least around the same age I was or at least a couple of years older and/or younger than myself. They were clearly dragged to church and too decided to pass the time by simply standing outside and hanging out with their friends.

TREND 2: The majority of people inside were around the ages of 35+ years of age.

TREND 3: The majority of people in the church (at least in the standing area all the way in the back) were not exactly paying attention to the mass itself but rather doing other things like talking to the people around them... oops sorry I mean whispering (yeah right).

TREND 4: The majority of people who were around 25+ outside who had children would simply arrive and stand outside and talk to their friends. They LITERALLY did not participate in the mass at all. Their wives were not present either. They were simply outside talking amongst themselves.

Noticing all these trends it hit me... what the hell do these people even bother coming to church?

In the end as OldbOy noted many times, church is simply a place people go simply to just say that they went to church. But apart from that it serves another function: it's a social gathering site.

I mean seriously, it's free (most of the time unless you decide to offer some money) and apart from that no one really bothers your as long as you're quite decent and quiet about your behaviors. But seriously, the level of topics that I literally overheard. And before you jump into saying that I was eavesdropping, let me tell you one thing: IT WASN'T THAT HARD TO DO BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WERE TALKING AS IF THEY WERE AT A PARTY! SO LOUD!

The two 35+ year olds that were next to me the entire time I was there were talking about transmission issues for what I believe to be an old '85 car judging from all the "old" terminology they were using to describe the vehicles problems, which then jumped into a new Japanese restaurant they had tried, to what movie they had just watched the day before.

The 20+ year olds standing to my right were talking about girls or guys they had dated and/or had sex with the night and/or week before. Then they went on to talk about usual guy and girl topics. The men who were (unfortunately) of Asian decent were talking about their penises and how they can't get Asian girls at all. SERIOUSLY?!

Okay okay okay, I'm winging too much. To be honest I understand why the 20+ year olds are outside... they're outside the same reason I am (sort off...); my reason is that I'm not very religious and rather than be rude to a sects of peoples' religious beliefs and being present in something I barely have faith in myself I've opted to be quiet and stay outside whereas the others were literally dragged to church. Okay I understand that, you're young and you have no real choice.

But seriously, the older people who do? No joke the two older gentlemen next to me literally came to church and met up with each other. Did not bother to go inside the church and literally just had a conversation amongst themselves. Their children were unattended and were running around like little children do and occasionally they would tell their children to behave (hahaha how ironic since someone should be telling them the same thing!) But apart from that when the mass was nearly over the two men left.

SO WHAT WAS THE POINT IN GOING? They didn't bother participating or even paying attention to the mass, and they just stood around talking about whatever they wanted to talk about. So why do it at church? If you're not planning on paying attention anyway why bother going at all? Why not just meet that person at, oh I don't know, a coffee shop? a bar? a playground so their kids could actually have something to play with? I mean seriously? Why waste your time going? So you can say you went to church?

Now I can't keep going without siting what OldbOy once mentioned which was that in church most people use it as a chance to brag to each other what they have and don't have, and at times they try and offer each other business ventures. Yes I see this too all the time. And yes it does irritate me. But in regards to my point: what the hell is the point in going? If you want to just hang out with your friends why do it in a religious area?

Okay as I've stated before, I'm not a religious guy by any notion. 13 years of Catholic school did NOT make me into an Atheist, however, I respect all religions equally to the point that I do not wish to choose one religion as my own. I figure, who am I to say that you are wrong and I am right. At the same time it is my stern belief that people should simply have faith in whatever it is they believe in over an actual religion. But I still have respect for people and the religions they practice.

I stand there waiting for my parents because I drive them there. And I stand outside to show respect that although I am present and am not a devout practitioner of my faith I do respect those who do so I stand in the sidelines to not attract attention to myself. But what is the point about people who are there to make it known that they are there attending mass and not even being present for the mass at all? I don't get that?

What are your thoughts? Here is my version of food for thought: what's the point in people who attend mass and are not there actually attending it but using it as a chance to have conversations with their mates?

Society going to an all new low: Siphoning Gas, by JD

2011-07-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

Today was like any other day, or rather in this case a Sunday. Went to church with my family and then went off to eat at a restaurant. Later on in the day, however, I drove my mum to the super market to purchase some groceries. All was well as we went in for a few minutes, collected what needed collecting and we were on our marry way. However, I discovered something as I began to motor off from the market: my petrol tank was OPEN!

Now those of you who know BMWs you know that the petrol tank lid cannot be opened unless the doors are unlocked... HOWEVER, there is actually a way to open it. You see the actual locking mechanism only locks the actual PUSH function to pop the lid open, however, if one has a thin enough object that can easily slide in then the tank lid can easily be opened.

So I was driving along and as I looked on my right side wing mirror I noticed that the lid was popped open. Now the last time I collected some petrol was some time ago and I knew FOR A FACT that my lid had never been touched or opened by myself of anyone of my parents throughout the entire day. In fact I only noticed it was open AFTER I left the market with my mother. However, throughout the entire day even when we went to another market prior to the one that we were at, my petrol lid was CLOSED!

Someone, I have no idea who tried to steal some petrol from my car! WTF?!

When I checked the meter, however, I did not see any obvious drops in fuel level at all in both addition (in the event someone may have added something that could cause my car harm) or subtraction (in the event that someone had actually siphoned any petrol from my tank). However, it boggles the mind... seriously are we getting that desperate nowadays that we are stealing petrol from each other? Seriously? Is this society's all new LOW? I mean seriously?

Now yes if you recall sometime back a company had experienced a similar thing when they noticed that their entire fleet of vans that was parked outdoors had all been siphoned of gas. But seriously? In broad daylight and in front of a supermarket no less?

Jeez I don't know what to say about this. What are your thoughts? Give me your feedback.

Changing Font, by JD

2011-07-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is a stupid announcement but I've opted to change the font I normally use to post things here (Courier New) to whatever the standard font that is preset for posts (Arial) is because I'm getting tired of having to change the font every time I post something. Laziness at its best but I will continue to use Courier New if the situation calls for it, i.e. little shorts and/or scripts of some sort or other creative works that I write on here. However, everything else, ex. little critical articles will simply be written with the standard font.

Sincerely Yours,

JD

True Driving Skills, by JD

2011-07-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been looking into cars for me to buy both new and used and to assist with the task apart from doing my own homework I've been looking into reviews of cars as well. It's come down to only four cars, two of which are at the highest of my list due to practicality and reality of my ability to afford to put them to use.

My cars list:
Honda Civic Si (8th Generation)
Mazda Speed 3 (2nd Generation)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Subaru WRX STi (Current = 2011)

But after reading, doing my own homework, etc. etc. etc. I've come to the reality of something... what does it mean to buy a car that "drives well"?

The problem today is that, yes, we'll complain that a car under steers too much or over steers or even has torque steer, but in the end in order for a car to do well it's all up to the driver to have excellent car control. I've always said that a lazy driver buys the automatic because they don't want to put too much effort into driving, but are we doing the same thing to stick shifts as well?

The thing is this... we complain about steering problems because we want to make things easy. We want a car that is tailored towards our driving styles rather than doing the opposite; tailoring our driving to the car. And I think that's wrong. We should be able to tailor our driving to the car or else what the hell are you going to do when you have no choice? I mean police officers are required to do so in terms of being able to commandeer cars during specific times, why shouldn't all people be able to do that.

We come up with excuses daily saying, "oh I can't drive trucks," or "the clutch is too sensitive" but in the end, are these legitimate complaints or simply just winging? To be honest they are legitimate, but at the same time it is also just winging.

For me at least a true driver is someone who can fluidly go from one car to another without needing to stress about over steer, under steer, and even torque steer.

Stop complaining and think of what the car has to offer.

Mazda Speed 3 vs. Honda Civic Si --> all in all both cars are actually matched and similar to each other with the exception that the Si is more fuel efficient and overall slower than the Speed 3, but more comfortable and still offers the thrills. But the Speed 3 still has rewarding qualities as well. For me at least? Either one I end up with I'll be happy. I just need to tailor my driving to either car but after a day? Nah, I'll be fine. People should be willing to have the same approach. Look at the car for what it has to offer over whether or not they can handle driving it. Then from there make a decision. Then tailor their skill set to the car. Not the other way around. Why? Because if you do it by finding a car that is tailored to you, you'll be lucky if it's a car you really like over something you don't.

The Educational System and the Mistakes We've Made, by JD

2011-07-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Every so often you get people telling you to never regret anything that you've done or will do in the future. But in truth, as much as we like to say that we don't regret anything, in the end we have to admit that we do. I don't know anyone in the world as of yet who can cleanly say that they have never regretted a decision that they have made in their lives. Not one.

To be honest in my current status in life I'm just another start up individual who is on the verge of graduating college and soon will join the masses of people looking for higher positions due to an influx of post-college influence. But in the end all I can say is this... I do have regrets of decisions I have made in college.

Ever since high school, because I was in a Catholic school, teachers always told us to shoot for the higher degrees. Don't bother with artistic or creative degrees, become the high powered lawyer, the respected doctor finding a cure for cancer, or even the top of the end stock market broker, or even if you're up to it the great politician everyone is waiting for. But really? In the end? Will we be any of those things?

In truth the answer is no, not really. Well yeah sure, some will, but in the end will all of us? I graduated in a small class of about 40 or so if not a little more or less, but in the end will all of us achieve such great feats? The sad answer to that is most likely no. So why bother shooting for it? Money?

The sad part is this, when you're in high school everyone only thinks about the amounts of money they can make doing a career that they really don't like.

Why do I have plans of going to law school?

To be honest? It's because I have a genuine interest in law. No not from movies or TV shows, but from genuine interest. My interest grew when I worked for my cousin and her partner is a small criminal defense firm adjacent to LAX. It grew my interests. But in the end I find myself asking one question: is this a job I really want to do?

My goals in life are to have at least 1 Ph.D. and at least one J.D. Yes I know it sounds like I'm just another over achieving twat that wants to collect degrees, but so what? I do. But the fields I've chosen to practice are fields that I do have genuine interest in. I love Psychology and I love the science behind human activities. Furthermore, I love the legal system and I do want to try and make a small difference in at least one person's life.

But does this mean I'm exempt from saying that I do not have any regrets?

Answer?

No. I've made some mistakes in college that I wish I could change.

Now are my mistakes about grades or classes I've chosen to take? No.

My regrets are in the pursuits that strove for whilst I was in college.

Within recent months I have come to the reality that I have made some pretty bad decisions in college on the basis of choice in major. But I've come so far now that there is no turning back, I might as well as finish what I've come to do. But the problem with that outlook on college is this: I have no real passion for what I am learning and/or doing. What my goal is now is simply graduating, which is not a good practice in goal driven work.

Graduation should be a reward for hard work that you've done over a period of time, not the pursuit of your goals in school. But when you've finally come to the reality that you've made a wrong decision and there is nothing you can do about it then you're pretty much screwed. You might as well as just make it your goal, finish, and do something with your life. But in the end who's time are you wasting.

The problem with the school system nowadays is that we only tell people what they should and shouldn't do. We don't really inspire them to try and figure things out for themselves and help guide them into making the right decisions.

So what is my regret?

I regret choosing Linguistics as my major.

You see in college I am registered as a double major in Linguistics, and Psychology. Psychology I added later on in my college career simply because it was of great interest to me. I grew to like it. But how?

Unlike Linguistics, Psychology has under division courses that were mandatory. These obstacles were minor but they helped make you decide whether or not you'd actually like majoring in the subject. Furthermore, unlike Linguistics, you could choose from being a general major or you could be more focused on something that interests you (however I think I maybe the last one to do this because since my declaration of this major the major has changed to be more general, but I think you could still focus at the same time on one thing).

Granted, the advisers that were helping me when I was first starting out were very helpful and were warning me about the topic. But I feel they kind of lacked in warning me. Of course the counselor that I ended up getting towards the end of my years at CSUN was more helpful than anyone else. She literally inspired and did her job in a way that helped me just decide, okay I'll just do it. But really? It's not the adviser's fault. It's the schools.

You see without making any under division classes and only offering uppers, one does not get early on exposure to the topic they have chosen. And as a result you get me who finally realizes that they've screwed up so late in the game. But unfortunately as a result from that there's nothing that could be done. It's such a crappy decision that unfortunately there is nothing for anyone to do about it apart from just sort of saying, "oh well screw it I'll finish it anyway." - i.e. me.

And as a result I've come to regret this decision in college but there is nothing I can do about it.

Funny enough when I first started at CSUN, or rather when I was accepted into the university, I was a music major. I was working towards a Bachelor's of Music (BM) degree in violin performance. But when it came time to do my final auditions to admitting me into the department I opted out and decided that it wasn't the department for me and it was there over the phone that I became a Linguistics major.

Do I regret giving up music?

No.

What I do regret is not exploring my options. A sad product of my private school education is that they manufactured students who are so determined that once they've made one decision that's it. They for get exploring and just go for whatever happens. But when they never helped up realize is the regrets you would have.

For the past few months even my best friend asked me: "why are you majoring in linguistics?" The reason was was because even he saw without even me complaining or saying anything about it that I wasn't happy. More to the point, although I was affluent in the topic it didn't seem like the right fit for me. And to be honest he was spot on. It really isn't. But as I've told many others, it's too late. I've come this far. Might as well.

So if I could do it all over again what would I have chosen?

To be honest two other topics crocked up. One of them I was actually recommended for three times by professors within the department.

Asian American Studies: I was recommended for this topic three times by three different professors who saw that I could benefit from majoring in this topic. And to be honest since I am somewhat a victim of my own racial status I've found that these classes truly were interesting and I do find value in taking them. It helps shape your view of the world and it also helps you analyze how you should go about day-to-day challenges that crop up. But overall it, like Psychology, has been the most rewarding of rewarding classes that I have ever taken. Furthermore, it was in these very classes that I was able to find other people like me who shared similar experiences of being Asian and living here in America and dealing with stereotypes everyday.

Cinema and Television Arts: To be honest I'm not one who enjoys actual film production. I mean it's cool to go out and see how films are shot and created and how things go from idea to storyboard to a film. But what do I find interesting in this major? My favorite part, editing. I've always been a fan of putting things together and/or just cropping up scenes and trying to make the most out of it. I've worked on a couple of things in the past helping others with small projects and only getting parts of a sequence of scenes rather than doing the whole project and to be honest, I enjoy that. I enjoy sitting behind a computer screen for hours at a time and just looking and trying to see what I could do to make one person's idea stand out. In recent months I've come to the reality that I've been doing more of this with various video projects from small documentaries, to honoring videos, to montages than I have working on my Linguistics degree. The sad part? It's as I said earlier, I realized this too late.

So what can you learn from this?

My overall lesson for whoever reads this is this:

1) Don't be afraid to explore your options, but don't take too long doing so.

2) Forget what others tell you no matter how disparaging they are to you and just go and take a risk.

3) Double Major! Double Majoring, although a shit load of work (TRUST ME I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE!) can help raise your spirits and give you more options in the future.

4) Don't, whatever you do, don't major in 2 SERIOUS topics. Major in one serious topic and one topic you find interesting.

- The biggest regret I have from college is that I chose two very serious topics that have certain ends to them. There is no room for enjoying them because all we really do in them is input worrying about getting into that top graduate program after graduation. We instill the work ethic a proper researcher should have and although you could have fun, the level and/or sort of work we give you is rather insane.

- Majoring in one serious topic and one rather interesting or even fun topic can create a balance in your education and help you enjoy being a student. Although things that you may find enjoyable may incur tons of work, as long as you find it interesting what's the harm?

5) Don't be afraid to make mistakes, just don't wait too long (like I did) to realize that you've made one. Course correction should be done early on.

6) Don't give up. As much as I've been beating myself up and telling myself to give up on Linguistics and just graduate with one major, I've realized how stupid that decision would have been. Even though I've come to hate the topic, I would hate myself more for not finishing it. You should always finish what you've started no matter how much you hate it. Why? Because it's too late. You're already there, you've given up a lot of time as it is, you might as well as just go for it.

7) Never give up hope. There are always things you could do. You just need to take the intiative,

8) Take the initiative. Even though you've graduated do what you want to do. You don't want to be 40 and saying "damn I wish I did it! I mean come on I was still young." Nowadays we've become so bent up on trying to retire as early as possible or trying to make the big bucks by the time we're 30 that we've completely decided that if we didn't do it, forget it. NO! Don't do that! Go ahead and do it! No one is rushing you apart from yourself. It's your life, do what you want.

So I bet you're wondering, I'm spilling all of this crap out, what was my decision? Well to be honest I still have one more year left (graduating on time) but I have made a decision.

I am going back for a third BA. I am going back to work on a degree that I have an interest in simply because I don't want to regret not doing it. I already regret not majoring in something else that I have a genuine interest in, but I would regret it more if I didn't do anything about it. Yes, it will cost me money, and yes it will take some extra time, but honestly could I do anything worse?

No.

I don't plan on doing what I'm doing now. Being unemployed and just dedicating my time towards education. I do have genuine plans for my future but I'm using majoring in a third subject as a chance to save some money on the side for the rest of those plans.

Am I saying that I am putting off law school and/or grad school?

Not entirely.

In truth as much as I want a third BA in something I enjoy, I have to be practical and at least try and get into law school or grad school. I mean I'm still trying to decide, but in all those two options are still there for me. I made a list of possibilities for life post-college and all of them include work. Then only difference is what I will be doing at the same time as work.

Law school is difficult and to be honest not many are advised to work at the same time as one's first year at law school. So I'd probably be unemployed again.

I've worked while I was in college but since my last job I've been out of luck in finding employment. But if I do end up working on a third BA or even working towards my MA or Ph.D. or even my J.D. I'm going to try and find work because it does not do to just sit and learn. You need some form of independence and working should be that.

So what can you learn from this?

I don't know. In all just take what you can from this part and in fact the whole thing. If you find there's nothing here for you then, oh well. Sorry you wasted your time. Thanks for reading. But go no further.

But if you find that you can take something away from this then good luck. I hope you found it enjoyable as well as educational. Do with it what you will.

The educational system will fail you no matter what because not everything in the world is perfect. But in the end it's all up to you. You need to make it your own.

People always used to tell me: "oh wow you Asians must be naturally smart huh?" The answer to that is no. We just have the determination to get things done and we do everything we can to do so. Whether that is giving up hours to study or even asking for help (bet you didn't think we did!), it's all to help up succeed because we realize that we can't do it all alone. Why? Because we're just like you, empty!

We all need some help in life and without it you will end up having many regrets and/or you will end up making various mistakes. The thing we have to do in the end is learn from those mistakes, ask for help when needed, and of course, DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Racism, Sexism, Bigotry Are Gone? Really?, by JD

2011-07-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

Everyday in this day and age many people have said that racism, sexism, and bigotry have been so absent in modern day issues that they don't exist anymore.  Really?  Has Racism, Sexism, and overall Bigotry gone extinct?  NO FUCKING WAY!

In the end there is probably more of these three things than anything else today, but the only difference is this... nowadays we are all afraid to be politically incorrect so we censor ourselves in ways that cannot be imagined.  But to say that it's all gone and we're all living in a better place?  Hahaha you need a fuckin' CAT scan or even an FMRI because to be honest, you're outta your fuckin' mind!

Innate Racism

Racism is all around us but to be honest we've become so used to it that we can't even see it anymore.  But here's a few good examples:

Dr. Scholls Commercial

Does anyone recall the most recent Dr. Scholls commercial?  How they had four people standing in a line up giving advice about foot pads.  All I remember was an Asian guy posing as a doctor/scientist, and a man who looked quite distinctly as a Jewish man acting as an accountant.  What the fuck is that?  Can you say innate racism more?

911 News Anchor

To be honest I don't want to dishonor the dead in anyway, but this one piece of troubling commentary caught my attention then and to be honest it has stuck with me since.  When the first plane hit the first tower followed by the second plane crashing into the second tower on live television, a news anchor made the commentary that the terrorists were crashing into the buildings like kamikaze pilots.

Now this seems like a harmless line does it not?  No it isn't.  I'm sorry but that is just pure racism pure and simple.  Kamikaze were not crazy ass acts of randomness.  They were Japanese pilots who decided to sacrifice their lives for a country that had imprisoned their families into internment camps for being suspected of being spies.  I'm sorry happy Americans but these were internment camps not relocation centers.  When you're pointing guns into the camp rather than the outskirts of it and have high beamed lamps following people inside the camp at night, that's an internment camp not a relocation center.

Kamikaze were honorable men who gave their lives to prove that they and their families were who they were.  Kami, which means god, and kaze which means breath/wind; they were god's wind.  They sacrificed their lives and how do we remember them?  Some bastards who flew planes into things killing themselves.  Furthermore we relate them to terrorists killing thousands of people.  Nice.

Criticism about the Obama Administration

To be honest I can't argue much about this but I have to admit when I over heard this the first time I have to admit that I found it hard to disagree.  I was sitting in a McDonalds and this man was talking to someone on the phone about politics and who he was planning on voting on for the next presidential elections coming in 2012.  He mentioned something rather interesting: "you know if Obama were white no one would care about what he's done so far."  That line was by far the truest line ever.

Let's look back at presidents past every president has made similar if not worse mistakes within their first term.  I mean hell the No Child Left Alone act alone within any measure ensured that every child was left alone and yet to be honest when it was announced there was very little criticism.  In fact anything of the past within first and/or second terms had very little criticism on the news networks.  Now all of a sudden all has changed.  Now that we have an African America president all has changed.  All light and attention has come to whatever the Obama's do.

In all it can't be denied, people are more critical of Obama because of his color over anything else.  If he was white?  Yeah he would get a second term no problem.  But because he's not?  Well it'll be a struggle.  People are simply too one dimensional.

Innate Sexism

This one is apparent everyday in the workforce whether white or blue.  To be honest it's there and there isn't much that anyone can do about it.  On national average women do in fact make less than men no matter how high the ranking position.  And overall more men are given more promotions in big business firms over women.

Much more however, is why certain people are promoted to begin with.  It's no shocker that if you want to make it out in life you might want to have a hot body.  Hell that's true even in white collar work.  On average the woman that has the most experience working but fails to give a boner to any executives has a less likelihood of being promoted or even hired in comparison to those who are able to.  It's there but the sad part is most people try to simply ignore it.

Bigotry

Need I say more?  It exists.  It's there.  We're outdated and to be honest we just don't want to change.  Screw having equality... screw having dreams... if it doesn't suit our ways just screw it.  That is the sad mentality of the world and there is nothing that anyone can really do about it.

Summation

Have we come far in society?  Yes and No.  Yes we've come far in recognizing individual differences among certain groups of people.  But have we come very far on the other hand?  No.  We're still as racist, sexist, and bigoted as ever.  It's so woven into us that it's unavoidable.  But in order to truly progress we need to recognize that these things still exist and that they are still there.  Then the second step is to do something about it.  Examine our actions and make a decision from there.  But the main point?  STOP BULLSHITTING OURSELVES.  WE'RE FOOLING NO ONE BUT OURSELVES!

Life Lessons Post 10: Nothin's Has Fuckin' Changed Dedicated to One of the Best Minds in CSUN's Psych Dept., by JD

2011-07-02T03:21:00.000-07:00

To be honest unless you're a Psychology major at California State University, Northridge and you have taken the gamble of being mind fucked by this man you will not know who the hell I'm talking about.  This professor in our Department of Psychology, I believe, is one of the greatest minds in the crippling system that it our educational system.  Retired and still teaching until his last breath this man teaches not through boring ass textbooks or through stuck up lessons, but rather his experiences from life.  He's adamant, strong, and forth coming... and to be honest if he hasn't insulted you racially, trust that at one point... he will.  But it's all in good fun.

What can you learn from a man like this?

You're asking the wrong question.  You should be asking what can't you learn from someone like this.

Something that has always irritated me about "American Culture" is that we don't respect our elders enough.  We push them off to the side as if they're nobodies and treat them all as if they're senile.  Well let me get this into your heads you little ungrateful bastards: this man is far from senile, and his tongue is as sharp as a blade.

The greatest part about this man is that he doesn't bullshit you.  He tells it how it is.  But one the of the best lines he ever had was by far his most truthful and it was when he said to us: "It's been years and you know what?  Nothin' has fuckin' changed."  He explained that the world, yes that is changing technologically such as  rather than masturbating to porn from magazines students are jacking it to online porn.  But what has not changed is this... the mentality.

Have people of various colors come a long way?  Well yeah, I mean African Americans can vote, Asians can intermarry, etc. right?

Is there really gender equality?  Well yea, I mean they can vote and work now too right?

Answer:  NO FUCKIN' WAY!

The funniest line in all of the world is how they say we've come so far.  But in reality we haven't gone that far.  We're still the same cynical bastards that made the world what it is.  Yes African Americans can vote but have you ever seen more criticism of a president more in his first term?  Or even this, terrorists bomb a building using a plane and you have a new anchor saying that they were kamikaze? WTF?

I'm sorry but in reality yes we've come far but not far enough.  Racism, Sexism, Biggotry, etc. all still exist and until we can get them out of the way Nothin' really has Fuckin' Changed.  We need to seriously get real!

Life Lessons Post 9: Life's a Bitch Dedicated to My Dead Dog, by JD

2011-07-02T02:56:00.000-07:00

Oh joy what can you possibly learn from a dead dog?

To be honest?

Loads of things.

It is from a pet that we as people learn the fundamentals of life. You learn how to take care of another life apart from your own. As well as the value of true unconditional friendship.

Now many argue that pets do not have actual concept of what is considered "unconditional" friendship in that a pet only obeys its master to obtain food. But in the end if one recalls that when a dog becomes that much more malnourished and/or deprived of actual life the dog lets go of obeying its master. Instead he/she simply disregards the master all together.

In the end however look at dogs this way... or any other pet, I'm only using dogs because this is my life lesson learned and it is this: it is from a dog/pet that I learned the fundamentals of true friendship.

True friendship does not have actual expectations and does not build too much hope in people. It is simply built up on faith. And when time comes to rely on each other then you rely on each other. True friends are the ones who you feel have your back and will follow you to the ends of the earth or at least enough to defend you in most facets of life.

True friends are the ones who don't look into things too much and start deducing anything from simple fragments here and there, but still know their place and do not try to overstep their grounds.

And yes, in the end these are things you can learn from a pet.

Life Lessons Post 8: Curiosity Never Killed a Cat... Dedicated to My Sister from Another Mister, by JD

2011-07-01T04:25:00.000-07:00

Like my brother from another mother this one is going to be hard to keep short.  I've known her only for a rather short time in comparison to my Kuya but nonetheless I've gotten a sense of her that I'm comfortable enough to call her Ate at times.  She's just one of those infectious people you should have in your life because they are there for you and can fill your life with peace of mind.

So many times often than not one can feel unsure of certain decisions and/or not confident about something, but one thing that this friend of mine is good at doing is reassuring you.  She doesn't only baby your conscience though because she also challenges you to think as well.  She won't just let you get away with anything without first understanding yourself.

As much as she says she's not a therapist she's the essence of one.  A therapist is supposed to be a listening ear and someone who can guide you overtime but not dictate your path.  A really good therapist is one, although granted usually has a $600.00 hourly rate, that is a friend to you more than anything else.

She's not only a hard worker for herself and lives her life by example, but she is the person you want in your life if you want reassurance.  Her humor can make the most depressed of people gain instant happiness and she makes you feel confident in all of your decisions.

So what can you learn here?

Well... I don't know.  Just like my Kuya I can't tell you.  But there is this if you're going to give someone advice don't let it be something that you wouldn't do yourself.  Advise based on practice and experience... not just random luck.

Life Lessons Post 7: Look & Listen, Don't Just Talk! Dedicated to My Brother from Another Mother, by JD

2011-07-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

This one is by far the easiest to write about but at the same time to do any justice I'd need a novel so let's hope I can keep it short. There are very few people in my life that I can say that I can actually keep it short and this guy, well, he's isn't one of them, it's gonna be somewhat long.

He goes by many names both online and in life but I tend to call him either Kuya or Aniki which in two different languages mean exactly the same thing: Older Brother.

In my life there are very few people who challenge you to try and see the world in a different light. In fact sad to admit this but for a long while I was one of those people who looked at the glass half full and only saw it from one side. But after getting to know the one I call Kuya very well he was probably the first to ever really challenged me to not just accept everything and to really think about things inside and out and see the world from more than one perspective.

Funny enough as I was writing these Life Long Lessons posts (which I'm fast tracking to about Post 8 because I'm going to be busy the next 8 days) he had just written a few posts about his philosophy in life and what he tries to accomplish by doing what he does. It's funny more so that he wrote that he doesn't try to impose his ideas on people but rather challenges them to look at it from more than just one point of view. It is that same philosophy that I am honored to call him my friend and is the reason why I've learned so much.

He's been there during my toughest times and is the shoulder I could lean on when mine have collapsed. He doesn't only lend his time but also his ears and his wisdom when he feels it's appropriate.

So what can you learn from this? I don't know really because there's so much to learn. If you want to find a modern day philosopher, thinker, etc. then you have to look up his writings both here, an older blog he has, and his tumblr account. I guarantee you'll learn something.

It's thanks to this guy in my life that's I've learned more about myself and the world I live in. He really was the first person to really inspire me to just go at it and not care about what people thought about what I wrote and to write without a filter to express my emotions. His middle ground ways of looking at life have left me neutral in most arguments and whilst although I will have an opinion, I admit that I will accept others' as well, regardless of whether or not I agree with it.

In the end the world is the world and there is too much silence in it. We need more to challenge the accepted wisdom and to do so in a manner of ways. Fight the good fight and have the confidence to do so in the process.

He's the purest definition of a friend... they're there for you, and they're not just there to give advice, but they're there to also listen. But more than anything than not he also recognizes the value of others' opinions and never lets one go on deaf ears.

To you ma brotha! Cheers!

Angry Amateur Film Maker
http://angryamateurfilmmaker.tumblr.com/

OldbOy
http://izzijomz.blogspot.com/
http://www.beyondthehighrise.blogspot.com

Life Lessons Post 6: FUCK THAT SHIT! NEVER GIVE UP! Dedicated to My Cousin, by JD

2011-07-01T03:54:00.000-07:00

Now I have a lot of cousins but anyone who knows the cousin I'm writing about will know full throttle who the hell I'm talkin' about. Hahaha. This particular cousin of mine can be a bit absent minded at times, but you can't help but ignore that for he lives his life to his rules and no one else's. He's a true definition of what a person should be.

My cousin doesn't ask for anything, but if anything he deserves everyone's respect regardless if my friends and I sometimes tease him about things. In the end we respect him fully.

He's not only a son but he's also a father figure for his little bro (my other cousin) and head of his household. He juggles all of that with his duties of working graveyard shift and also going to school.

What I admire most is that no matter how outlandish his dreams may be he never lets anything bog him down. No matter how hard his life is he lives it to the fullest extent and has no regrets. I admire him a lot and have taken a lot from him because I find it incredible how he's able to do what he does. And I do believe firmly that one day all of his sacrifices will be rewarded.

If you want a definition of what it takes to be a REAL MAN then you should look at him. 22 years paying his own way through college, helping his mom with bills, helping his little brother, being the man of the house, and still trying to make a life for himself by even bothering to go to college.

All I can say is this: GO FOR IT CUZ! I'M HERE FOR YOU MAN!

I don't know what you can learn here apart from, don't complain! Your life maybe easier than his or it could be harder. But stop complaining and do something about it!

Life Lessons Post 5: Do it to the Fullest Dedicated to My Brother, by JD

2011-07-01T03:46:00.000-07:00

There are many things that I could take away from my brother but one thing is for certain I take away his heart for things. The way he tackles on a set challenge for himself is one that should be envied more than anything else. Essentially, no matter what it is you do you should always put your full mind and heart into it no matter how impossible at times it may seem.

My brother's determination with certain things is almost unfathomable at times but when you really look into it you start to realize, why don't you do have the same for what you do?

Too often than not we today simply do things to do them and have very little, if any, care or heart in doing it. So what do we end up doing? We end up doing pretty shitty work and nothing to really show for it. Your heart, your mind should always be in whatever you do or else why bother doing?

So what can we learn here? Simple, don't bother doing something if you're not going to believe in yourself to do it at all. If you're going to do something, no matter how outlandish you should always put your soul into it for in the end whatever you end up doing reflects who you are and is forever apart of you.

Life Lessons Post 4: Live Your Life Dedicated to My Second Oldest Sister, by JD

2011-07-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

What can I say about my second oldest sister apart from the fact that she lives life. And what I mean by that is she lives her life according to what she wants it to be and while she does take advice she recognizes that in the end it's her decision. Everyone else is simply advice and it's up to you to take it and/or not. But at times when you probably should, she does.

If you live your life with only work in mind then life just becomes another humdrum thing that you end up loathing. But what she reminds me of is working yes brings reward, but you should also enjoy that reward. Never loose ties with your friends no matter how far they are and give up as much time to be with both your closest friends and your family because in the end the job is easy to replace but your friends and family aren't.

She taught me and still does teach me that you should live your life and not just work it.

What can you learn from this? Well that's up to you really but I hope you learn something at all.

Life Lessons Post 3: Dream Big Dedicated to My Oldest Sister, by JD

2011-07-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

In life we're always told to be practical with whatever we plan to do with our lives and as a result we're supposed to live up to a certain standard. But from what I learned from my oldest sister is that that really isn't true.

It is from her life that I came up with my saying that:

YOUR IMAGINATION IS ONLY LIMITED BY YOU AND NOT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. IT'S UP TO YOU TO ACCEPT THEIR CRITICISM BUT IT IS ALSO UP TO YOU TO TELL THEM TO FUCK OFF.

And it is that standard that I live my life. She's proved that with time the best things for one's self can happen and with that one could find genuine happiness. The time it takes doesn't matter... it's how you feel about yourself.

So what can you learn here? Simple, don't let people tell you what to do, how to do it, or even accept their criticism too much because in the end it's your life and no one else's.

Life Lessons Post 2: Getting Things Right Dedicated to My Dad, by JD

2011-07-01T02:51:00.000-07:00

In life we get things right but we mainly get things wrong. As much as we want to say we're perfect in the end we're not. My dad has this saying that has stuck with me for a while... or rather two sayings.

The first goes like this:

DON'T HALF ASS ANYTHING!

and the second goes like this:

A TRULY GOOD MECHANIC IS ONE WHO IS ALWAYS NERVOUS AROUND HIS SUPERIOR MECHANICS

In the end when you take these two quotes for its metaphorical value you find a lot of knowledge and thought have gone into it.

Lately I've been bitching about things left and right about being REAL and not being a POSER, but what makes me an expert on the topic? Nothing in truth. Except for one thing... experience.

When it comes to anything in life even when it comes to taking out the garbage you should never do things half way. You should always go above and beyond the call of duty. Do things before you're told to, etc. etc. etc.

And the second is by far the most important. You should never act as if you know something of something if you clearly don't know anything at all. That continues to also suggest that you should never be the loudest in the room because in the end there's always someone in that same room who knows way more than you.

So what can you learn from this? Simple, just do your best and remember that that isn't really your best because let's face it you could do better AND never be a showoff or a POSER because in the end you just look stupid and irritate everyone. Just be real with them and you'll have no problems.

Life Lessons Post 1: New Beginnings Dedicated to My Mom, by JD

2011-07-01T02:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, June 30, 2011, was by far the most iconic day in the history of my life. You see, ever since I was born my mom has worked at the same bank literally from the day I was born. Now she still works for the same bank no worries about that, she wasn't fired, BUT she was transferred to a different location and overall a different team. Today is July 1, 2011 and it marks day 1 of my mom's first day at the downtown offices for the bank, City National Bank.

Now this new thing got me thinking... 21 years in the same bank and being moved now? What it goes to show you is this: life is full of surprises and rather than look at things in a bad light just think of the positives. She still has a job in a rather better part of town (if you're from LA you understand why I say this Downtown is better than Beverly Hills; commute-wise), but most of all it's a NEW BEGINNING for her.

It just goes to show you it doesn't matter how long you work for someone or something, new things can still come your way further showing you that life works in mysterious ways and it can't be predicted. So why bother trying?

Well I don't want to make this to long so I'll end it by saying two things.

1) Congrats mom I hope you enjoy you're new job with you're new team.
2) Never give up on life... it always has some form of surprises in store for you.

Life Lessons... A Series Things I've Learned from People Closest to Me, by JD

2011-07-01T02:25:00.000-07:00

Okay so as the first part of the post suggests the next series of posts, or rather a post that starts off with the headline "Life Lessons" is a post that I am dedicating to a particular individual in my life where I have learned something valuable from. I plan on writing one at most (but could be more a day) seeing as this is my bday month and I believe that you should always pay tribute to those who made you who you are or who helped you get on your way. So without further ado I hope you enjoy it.

Sincerely Yours,

JD

People Need to GET REAL!, by JD

2011-06-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

People in society nowadays are so funny because they fail to see the world for what it is. The sad reality is that the world is simply put a place where we live and the lives we have are created by ourselves. Freedom is innate and taking things personally shouldn't exist, and yet it does. Yes when someone says something to you that is crude and repugnant those are painful and yes can be taken personally. But how about things that are written online? Or rather posted online? Let me tell you something people = I've been posting shit online for years and to be honest I never really took anything personally... well a couple of times I did, but most of the time I don't. Why? Because unlike the world that we live in cyberspace has no real boundaries.

Now what spurred this topic on for me? I hate to say this but my fam was watching television watching "The Family Feud" and what came right after it was none other than "Dr. Phil." Now let me get something straight here: I DON'T WATCH DR. PHIL! I'M A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR IN COLLEGE AND TO BE HONEST I FIND HIS SHOW TO BE A JOKE! PHD MY ASS! IF YOU'RE A REAL THERAPIST YOU STICK TO RESEARCH OR THERAPY. YOU DON'T GO ON TELEVISION AND MAKE PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS INTO ENTERTAINMENT!

Anyway, the telly was on and there was nothing I could do because we were eating dinner and no one was willing to get up and change the channel -- not even myself to be honest. But nonetheless the telly was on and I could hear the drivel that was being spewed in the background. To be honest Dr. Phil has gone from being a person of Psychology into a person of intervention -- yes he's an interventionist.

But tonight's episode was more comedic than anything I have ever watched on public programming. A woman was basically offended by some comments that were posted on a picture that was posted of her on a website (I won't say which because as it is mentioning as much as I have I recognize is Copyright). Okay at first I thought okay so your pic was posted on you got bad press... so what?

Then she continues to say that this photograph that was taken was originally posted on some profile on another website that was her own. Okay listen honey and listen good, when you post something online, ex. this very post... it's not really just yours anymore. It's the internet's, it's the world's! If you post it online it doesn't just go away, it's stored in a memory bank until the end of time. So yes ladies and gents those sex e-mails you've been sending, the porn sites you've been watching, etc. all of that is stored. So do yourselves a favor... stop lying that you watch porn or do naughty things online, your IP is there! Anyway, moving on... one thing like a picture that is posted online is free territory. You should know by now that someone out there will steal your picture at one point and post it somewhere else. And unlike myself who asks permission from the people who take those photographs or at least gives them proper notoriety, others don't. They will take those pictures and post them at will. What happens to it then? Well you're screwed.

What I find funny is how she's blaming the man behind the website that the picture was posted. I mean seriously? WTF? Who the fuck are you? Why?

So what? You started it! You posted your pic online for all the world to see! GET OVER IT! All you've done is made your case worse! You made the man you were getting all riled up over more popular. I mean seriously! The guy you were all up in his face for probably got 1 billion more people visiting his site as you were there spilling your problems out in front of Dr. Phil!

Let me tell you something... and not just that girl, all of you... justice really doesn't exist. I hate to break it to you but there is no such thing as justice. What? You think killing the criminal that killed your kid is justice? No, you just made it easier for them. By killing them they never have to worry about your child again. You think by yelling at someone who ruined your life on public television is going to bring justice? Nope! Nope! Nope! Okay so bringing capital punishment was not entirely relevant but I hope you see my point. Justice doesn't really exist.

So what do you do?

GET THE FUCK UP AND GET REAL WITH YOURSELF! STOP FUCKIN' COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CAN'T CHANGE!

Hahaha oh the irony of me saying that! Why? Because I'm complaining right now and what's the point, I can't change the world with this post.

I guess all I can is this... I hope whoever reads this will understand what I'm talkin' about and where I'm comin' from. Just get real with yourselves. Stop being babies. Am I being a baby right now about writing about this? Nah, I'm not. Why? Because I don't give a shit if I make a difference. I'm just another cyber space writer. So guess what I have to tell you? FUCK OFF if you don't like it!

"Your imagination is only limited by you and not the people around you. It's up to you to accept their criticism, but it is also up to you to tell them to fuck off."

Having Initiative, by JD feat. posts from JD, and Angry Amateur Film Maker and feat. pics from JD, and Charlie Sandoval

2011-06-29T01:24:00.000-07:00

Picture Taken by: JD

So tonight was by far one of the most interesting nights of my summer. I decided to hang out with a few of my friends and we got to talking about friendship and certain people we know in our lives. It's been a raining topic between myself and OldbOy (Angry Amateur Film Maker) nowadays due to some very interesting instances of anger and fed up-ness that we have been experiencing. But in the end we've made it through and let's put it this way, this wall of quotes we found was sort of the cherry on top of the cake. The one quote that explains all that people should be. And that is... People Should Have the DRIVE and/or the INITIATIVE to be themselves and not just rely on others. Furthermore they should be original and not fake.

Picture Taken by: JD

Not so long ago neither were these posts very far apart, myself and Angry Amateur Film Maker (OldbOy) posted two very similar topics.  The reason for this was simple... it wasn't on purpose.  It just so happened that both of us wrote about pretty similar topics about people we know in our lives who fulfill the category.  The difference was that whereas AAFM's article was more specific on types, my own articles were a bit more general.

NOTE:

To get an idea of what I'm talking about refer to the following links:

Angry Amateur Film Maker's Post:  Title = EGO

http://angryamateurfilmmaker.tumblr.com/tagged/Ego

JD's Posts:  Titles = FRIENDSHIP & POSERS

http://beyondthehighrise.blogspot.com/2011/06/friendship-rant-by-jd.html 

http://beyondthehighrise.blogspot.com/2011/06/posers-by-jd.html

Picture Taken by: JD

Moving on... as my friends and I were walking through Korea Town Los Angeles we stumbled upon this wall filled with quotes in front of a school.  If you couldn't read through the pictures taken it reads:

"Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves."

Picture Taken by: JD

This quote reminded myself and the friends I was with about different people in our lives who were the epitome of failing this quote.  They are the people who are as AAFM wrote: "The type of [people] that would do or plan to do  something absurd, when we  [his friends] step in to prevent him doing  something like that, [they ignore]us."

And in that respect it is true.  People who have the DRIVE or INITIATIVE in life should not just let the opinions of those who are supposed to be closest to them fall on deaf ears.  One should take what they say, consider, evaluate, and hold to the highest levels of consideration as opposed to not. 

Picture Taken by: Charlie Sandoval

And although the quote specifically identifies "Students" as the key subject it is a rather all inclusive quote.  It can be applied to all people.  And as a result I believe it should actually read this way: "[People] must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators.  They must learn to think and act for themselves."  Hell maybe we can even modernize it and further it by changing the word "imitators" to posers.

Because in the end people should be more original in life and not just copies of other people.  People should not just try and be a part of something they have nothing in common with and rather than just try and pretend they do, they should just disappear into the shadows if they cannot truly get along.  If they want to... if they have the "initiative" to do so then they should make the effort to learn rather than just pretend.  Because it is in pretending that shows arrogance and ignorance and on the basis of life arrogance and ignorance does not equate to bliss.

Well this is my little opinion on this topic.  I just got inspired to write it last minute and just by reviewing this quote over and over again.  Had a great night with my friends and to be honest it's with these people that I often see the truth behind the quote... the standard.