I’m geekin’

Thursday (which is really my Friday):
Formula 1 @ Bahrain: Practice 1 (Mobile App)

Friday:
Formula 1 @ Bahrain: Practice 2 (Speed HD)
Apple iPad pre-order
Pacquiao shoes arrive

Saturday:
Formula 1 @ Bahrain: Practice 3 (Mobile App)
Formula 1 @ Bahrain: Qualifying (Speed HD)
Pacquiao vs. Clottey (PPV)

Sunday:
Formula 1 @ Bahrain: Race (Speed HD)

Filed under: Apple iPad, Formula One, Manny Pacquiao

Nike Manny Pacquiao Trainer SC 2010 PE

I just landed a pair of Manny Pacquiao’s limited edition shoes that were released with his new apparel collection – all in time for the Clottey fight.

These are not nearly as limited as the previous shoes he had released – but still very rare and difficult to get.

Filed under: Manny Pacquiao, Nike

Deluxe version!

I think I’m going to buy it. Who can deny a Jesus action figure with glow-in-the-dark hands?

Amazon.com product description:

• Could you use a miracle today? Maybe he can help. Quite possibly the first action figure to have ‘turns water into wine’ as a selling point on the box, this wonderful Jesus character stands 5 1/4-inches tall and features glow-in-the-dark hands! He comes in an illustrated window box with 8 accessories: a jug, 2 fish, and 5 loaves of bread.
• Welcome him into your home today! The name Jesus means ‘God Saves.’ The term Christ is a title for ‘Anointed of God.’
• For Muslims and some Jews, Jesus was a prophet. Buddhists say he was enlightened. Hindus call him an Avatar (the incarnation of a deity in human form), and Christians hail him as the Son of God.
• The bible mentions 35 miracles performed by Jesus that range from wilting a fig tree to raising the dead. Jesus was an extraordinary healer and nearly a quarter of the gospels describe his powers over sickness in the human body. The 2 miracles represented by this deluxe action figure show that he also sought to fill the basic needs of his friends and followers.
• The jug represents the miracle of turning water into wine. Jesus performed this miracle at a wedding when the lengthy celebrations exhausted the supply of wine. The fish and bread represent the miracle of transforming 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread into enough food to satisfy a hungry crowd of over 5,000 people.

Filed under: Now is not the time for Jesus jokes!

While on the topic of the Kobayashi Maru…

How many ears does Captain Kirk have?

Three. His left ear, his right ear, and the final frontier.

Filed under: Uncategorized

My Kobayashi Maru

As a kid I had trouble with reading comprehension. In fact, my grade school teacher recommended that my parents enroll me in private classes away from the regular curriculum in order fix my poor reading comprehension skills. Did it help? I don’t think it did.

As an adult, I believe I still have the same problem. But these days, it’s much easier put a name to the problem – dyslexia. No, I haven’t been formerly diagnosed, but after doing a little poking around, I realized that I suffer from all symptoms: Reading problems? Check. Issues solving complex math problems? Check. …the list goes on and on.

So you are probably wondering how I finished high school and college, and also how I was able to get to where I am at now. It’s a lengthy explanation, but hopefully you will find some interest in my story. It’s a story that my own parents and siblings don’t even know about – and they probably never realized it.

People find it hard to believe that I never finished reading a book. It’s true – I have never read a book. Why not? Well, as much as I tried, my eyes would read the words, but my brain struggled to process any meaning to them. I discovered this early in high school but never found a remedy. So how did I pass my English and Math classes? If you went to high school with me, you would remember that I didn’t actually pass. I failed English as a junior and didn’t take any upper-level math classes until college. I only, later, passed English because I learned to interact with my teachers in a way that made them feel like I was their very own child. Yes, it was very manipulative, but it worked. Rather than giving me an F, they would end up giving me a C-. I had my ways of making them feel like they were going to ruin a kid’s life just because of a failing grade.

People forget how early I was introduced to computers, the internet, and many resources outside of typical textbooks. The teachers knew kids had access to Cliff’s Notes – they could spot someone using these notes a mile away. But the teachers did not have access to the same online resources that I had. I was downloading papers from others online as early as 1987. I was way ahead of the game that the teachers and their students were playing. A few, simple changes to a downloaded paper, and voila!

How did I pass all these math classes? A Computer Science degree is practically a Mathematics degree! Well, I manipulated the system here too. As soon as I knew I had a problem with the class, I didn’t hesitate to withdraw. How many “Ws” did I have before graduating? Twelve. Yes, twelve. I never failed a class. I kept taking the classes, withdrew if necessary, and signed up the following quarter until I found a professor who was “willing” to pass me!

So this is my Kobayashi Maru. People can arrive to different conclusions as to why I didn’t do so well in school. They could say I was lazy, not dedicated, bored, etc. The reality is that I suffer from this disability. I don’t feel sorry for myself, nor does anyone else have to feel sorry for me…because I understand the problem. I never felt bad about it. I just play with the cards I am dealt.

Sounds extreme, aye? None of this is an exaggeration. So why do I bring this all up? It’s nothing big, but I decided to embark on something new – reading books…but not really…I want to read so many books, but I stay reserved because I know my problem and limitations. I have turned to audiobooks to satisfy my reading desires. I toyed around with the thought of “reading” audiobooks in the past, but they used to only be available via cassette and CD. These types of media are cumbersome and also very expensive! A single audiobook on CD used to cost over $50! With all of this newer technology, equipment, and availability, I am able to enjoy an audiobook for the same price as the paperback!

I just thought it was a good opportunity to share a story about me that nobody really knew!

My first audiobook will be Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. I’ve always enjoyed Tony Bourdain’s cynical look at life. I also enjoy food and knowing everything that happens behind the scenes in restaurants. This is the perfect “first” book for me.

Other books on my list to read:
Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue: An American Life
David Cullen’s Columbine
Bill Clinton’s My Life

This should keep busy for the next month. Any recommendations are welcome.

Whew, this has to be on of my longest posts!

Filed under: Audiobooks, Kobayashi Maru

The Annoying Orange Series FTW!

Probably the best YouTube series ever made. Episode 7, with iJustine as Passion Fruit:

BTW, Justine Ezarik rules!

…and speaking of classic commercials…

Here is the full playlist of all nine episodes.

Filed under: The Annoying Orange, iJustine

TMZ

TMZ, one of my all-time favorite websites and shows, is way more interesting than CNN, NY Times, or any of the F1 links I recently fed into my website.

CNN and NY Times are way too depressing and I’m the only that is interested in F1 news.

I find the stories of Megan Fox’s “club” thumb and Tiger’s mistress’ missing tooth stories to be far more entertaining!

Filed under: TMZ

“That’s what she said.”

OMG because I have been bedridden I had the chance to watch Seasons 1 through 5 of The Office (streamed through Netflix) almost entirely straight through. There are tons of funny moments but the classic jokes are always the funniest – especially when someone puts them in a single YouTube clip:

Filed under: The Office

Trivia question

Question: What truly awesome show did Michael Ironside and Marc Singer star in together?

Prize: Solace knowing that you are true television geek.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Pneumonia

I’ve been suffering from severe pneumonia. I have been to work a total of 4 days this month. I’m still sick – it will probably be another week before I feel good enough to be in my own skin. I’ve missed way too much work.

Because of my condition, my doctor said I need complete bed rest. I have been in bed for almost 10 days straight now. I feel better, but only marginally better. My lungs have a lot of healing to do. I’m sure the bacterial infection in my lungs has subsided from the antibiotics I was prescribed, but a viral infection may still be present.

It’s awful that I have to miss out on enjoying the great weather we are having on this long weekend. I have so much I want to do but am unable to do it.

I’m really angry about my situation since I take great (extraordinary) measures to stay healthy. But people around me don’t – which is the main reason for my illness: constant exposure to sick people. On top of this, I take medication to depress my immune system because of my rheumatoid arthritis. Once I am exposed to anyone even with a simple, minor cold, I’m certain to suffer.

Sorry for my rant but I’m extremely frustrated because I have been constantly sick since mid-November and it’s not because I am not taking care of myself. People around me need to do a better job of taking care of themselves.

Message to everyone: Do me, yourself, and the rest of the world a favor. If you’re sick, stay home. Or at least stay away from me.

Filed under: Pneumonia