Finding Raymond Mar

Positives Wed Jan 11-Tue Jan 24, 2012

2012-01-25T14:08:00.001-08:00

*Watched the movie Moneyball.

*Attended a friend’s one year old daughter birthday.

*Ate at Han Yang Korean BBQ and The Red Onion restaurants for the first time.

*Finished watching Ben-to, Ika Musume season 2, and Working season 2 anime series. Ben-to is one of all time favorites.

*Tires rotated and balanced.

*Finished Half-Life 2 video game seven years later. It took me 26 hours to complete.

*Shopped at Costco Business Center for the first time.

*Too sweet for me. Ate Frosted Toast Crunch for the first time.

*Purchased Crystal Reports XI Encyclopedia to further self-teach and refresh my Crystal Reports skills.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Top Mistakes Part 3

2012-01-15T23:07:00.001-08:00

I continue sharing my top mistakes I made in life. We become better people learning from our mistakes. Here are mistakes 7-9:

Mistake 7: Trivia Is Not Trivial

I avoided trivia because it was a waste of my time and brainpower. Who cares about trivia? I rather spend time studying while I was in school? It’s not going to help me get a college degree. It’s not going to help me get a job. I have better use for my time than read useless information and memorizing weird facts.

The lesson I learned is trivia can be good. Trivia can be used to start a conversation. Trivia, if used properly and discretely, can be funny and make people laugh. Trivia can bring people together. I have witnessed it.

I signed up to receive daily trivia on my Twitter at Trivia Cafe.

Mistake 8: Doing Nothing And Waiting For Something

I did nothing and waited for something to happen during most of my 20s. I say it with sadness, angry at myself, with regret, and forgiveness. I realized life doesn’t come to me on Sat Oct 4, 2008. Seek new adventures. Experience new experiences. Learn something new.

I created a personal motto: Get out and do something, anything. That’s the lesson I learned. It’s simple, clear, and straight to the point.

Mistake 9: Food Is Food. It’s All The Same.

My mom told me food is food. We ate the same food and cooked the same way 95% of the time. I enjoyed that food. We cooked easy and healthy. I thought we ate good tasting home meals. I got bored eating the same food as time went on. The taste became bland. There are better ways to cook healthy and tasty food. In short, my mom taught me to cook lazy, cook with minimal mess, and cook enough food so I don’t cook the next day or two.

The lesson I learned is put heart into my cooking. Put effort and sincerity in preparing food. Learn how to cook new dishes. And always improve my cooking skills.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Wed Jan 4-Tue Jan 10, 2012

2012-01-11T23:13:00.001-08:00

*Ate at Taqueria Los Charros and House Of Soul Food for the first time.

*Played Mahjong (Riichi) online at Mahjong Time.

*Watched the anime movie Redline.

*Played Chez Geek for the first time since 2007.

*Saw a Chinese show performed by a Chinese dance company in San Ramon.

*Watched the animated movie Tangled.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Feeding Off One Another

2012-01-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

The answer to the question is the question for the next. I start with an event in 2009.

*2009. What classes did you take at De Anza? Strength development, social dance, and beginning accounting.

*Social dance. What was the first dance you learned? Fox trot taught by my sister.

*Fox trot. What type of dances do you like? Smooth.

*Smooth. Name a song from Michael Jackson? Smooth Criminal.

*Criminal. Fact: one of my favorite shows I watch to waste time is Cops.

*Cops. Fact: take pictures of police cars is one of my favorite hobbies.

*Hobbies. What are your longest hobbies you have done? Play video games and watch anime.

*Video games. What is your all time favorite arcade game? Gauntlet II.

*Gauntlet II. Where did you play Gauntlet II for the first time? Chuck E. Cheese in 1986.

*1986. My homeroom teachers were Mrs. Greene and Mr. Mahn in sixth grade.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Dec 24, 2011-Tue Jan 3, 2012

2012-01-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

*Merry Christmas. The best Christmas since 2008.

*Finished watching Tiger & Bunny anime series. Thank you tsubasa for the episodes.

*Chewed 5 Gum Solstice flavor for the first time.

*Watched Transporter 3 for the first time.

*Changed my car’s oil.

*Happy New Year. Watched the fireworks at San Francisco on New Year’s Eve.

*Drank Starbucks’ Hot Cocoa for the first time during breakfast. I also drank Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa for breakfast.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Top Mistakes Part 2

2011-12-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

I started to write the Top Mistakes blogs yesterday. There are many mistakes I learned throughout my life. Here are three more.

Mistake 4: Reading Non-Fiction Books Only

I started to read books consistently on 2002. The first book was Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I followed reading business, leadership, self-help, and stock investment books. Some of the books were really good and worth my time reading. However, there was something missing.

I started to read fiction books on Oct. 2008. The first book was The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. I followed that book with The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and Forever by Judy Blume. I read classic books such as The Old Man And The Sea by Ernst Hemingway and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I read 75% fiction and 25% non-fiction today.

The lesson I learned is read fiction books. I believe people learn more about life reading fiction than non-fiction.

Mistake 5: Complaining, Nagging, Taking It Out On Others

I remember working at Grubb & Ellis on Nov. and Dec. 1998. I complained, nagged, and criticize daily. I took out my life frustrations on other people. I was a guy you don’t want to be with on a Fri. night. I continued the unprofessional and negative attitude throughout my careers at Colliers International and Cisco. I believed my negative attitude affected my work productivity and my mental health. I believed work could have been less stressful if I relaxed and took a breath.

The lesson I learned is don’t criticize, condemn, and complain. They very rarely change the situation.

Mistake 6: An Immature Adult

I want to go straight to the lesson I learned on Oct. 4, 2008: grow up. Stop acting and behaving like a child. Don’t take life for granted. If I want a good life, I must earn it. I must be man with strength, courage, and honesty. Learn from my mistakes. Never stop innovating life.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Top Mistakes Part 1

2011-12-27T14:35:00.001-08:00

I thought of the Top Mistakes blog on the first week of October. I wrote down a list of mistakes I corrected here and there thinking about the list in the back of my mind. Next, I choose the top ten mistakes. I changed the number of mistakes from ten to all. All of my mistakes were worthy to share. Finally, I chose to separate the Top Mistakes into separate blogs. Here is the first blog entry of my mistakes in no particular order:

Mistake 1: Living Life With Nobody

I lived life most of the time alone. I had few friends. My family has been the people I interact. I read and hear about successful people daily such as from the entertainment, sports, politics, and business worlds. One commonality is they succeeded with people. They didn’t reach their highest potential alone.

The lesson I learned is always meet new people and make new friends. Friends come and go in our lives. People come and go in our lives. Interacting and being with people influences who and what you are. We are humans. We must have people in our lives, at least for the bare minimum to live.

Mistake 2: Take Life For Granted

I took life for granted for 34 years. I lived life saying to myself, “Life treats me good. I deserve a good life because I’m me. I’m Raymond Mar. I’m good at everything and I must be treated with respect. Nothing bad ever happens in my life because I’m Raymond Mar. I’m an all-star.” That’s the wrong way to life my life.

The lesson I learned is never take life for granted. Earn it. Life doesn’t come to me in a silver platter. Live life. Learn from my mistakes and never repeat my mistakes. Don’t sit around and hope the good life comes to me. Take action to have a better life. Work smarter. Practice smarter.

Mistake 3: My Workout Schedule

My old workout was incorrect. I took my life for granted saying my workout was the best for a person who wanted to workout for good health. One mistake was I completed one set only for all my workouts.

I want to thank Punkbuster for introducing me to Bodybuilding.com. I downloaded beginning workout plans from their website on Sept. 2008. My workouts significantly improved; for example, I separate my weight lifting and cardio into separate days instead of doing both in one day. My cardio consists of treadmill and stationary bike.

The lesson I learned is workout is important in a person’s life. I must improve my workout consistently including new workout plans and eating as healthy as possible.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

10 Question And 55 Answers

2011-12-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

I ask myself 10 questions and the number of answers per question is the numbered question. It’s self-explanatory when you start reading. Here we go:

1. How many Mahjong (Riichi) games I won? One.

2. What college degrees do I have? B.S. Economics and A.A. Accounting.

3. What companies I work at after I graduated San Jose State? Grubb & Ellis, Colliers International, and Cisco.

4. Where did I visit in the United States? Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon.

5. What video games did I complete on your PC? Command & Conquer, Team Fortress 2, Crysis, StarCraft 2, and Portal.

6. What Simpsons volumes do I own? Volumes 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. I need more Simpsons.

7. Where did I visit in San Francisco for the first time? Rode the cable car, walked around Union Square, visited Crissy Field, walked the Golden Gate Bridge, visited The Palace Of Fine Arts (since 1988), shopped at the Fillmore Shopping District, and hiked on Angel Island.

8. Who did I where a costume at anime conventions? Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist, Syaoran from Tsubasa Chronicles, Toshiro Hitsugaya from Bleach, Chrono Harlaown from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Haku from Spirited Away, Ikkaku Madarame from Bleach, Allen Walker from D. Gray Man, and Medic from Team Fortress 2.

9. List the last nine books I read: Animal House by George Orwell, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne, The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, The Season by Patricia Hornung and Robin Moore, To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, and The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

10. Share ten items in My Bucket List: Weekend at Carmel, skydive, hike at Big Basin, European trip to England, San Francisco Embarcadero walk, find a job, move out, drive an Audi A6, ride the Santa Clara County Lightrail, and visit the City of Pacifica.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon Dec 12-Fri Dec 23, 2011

2011-12-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

*Reread The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

*Purchased Family Guy Vol 6.

*Ate jerk chicken for the first time and at Dona Maria restaurant for the first time.

*Played Quarriors for the first time.

*Watched In Time and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

*Read Animal House by George Orwell.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Tue Nov 29-Sun Dec 11, 2011

2011-12-12T15:13:00.001-08:00

*New family Christmas tree with LED lights and old ornaments as far back as early 1980s.

*Hiked at the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

*Yard work. Raked leaves and helped my mom trimmed the trees.

*Satisfied finishing Access SQL. I begin practicing with another database.

*Finished reading Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

*Purchased Transporter 3.

*Ate at Cocola Bakery in Santana Row for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Nov 17-Mon Nov 28, 2011

2011-11-29T10:34:00.001-08:00

*Finished and relearned Crystal Reports XI. I reread a learning manual from a class I took in 2006.

*Ate at Pho 54, Baklava, Albert’s Cafe, The Counter, and Sonoma Chicken Coup

*Watched Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and Hugo movies.

*Chewed Wrigley’s 5 Cobalt Peppermint gum for the first time.

*Happy Thanksgiving Day. I celebrated the holiday with my family, brother’s family, and closest relatives.

*Black Friday. Purchased Family Guy Vol 5, Glee Season 1, and Firefly.

*I also purchased screen protectors and a outlet power surge protector with USB charge ports on Cyber Monday.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Who Do You Want To Give Thanks?

2011-11-24T16:15:00.001-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving Day. I want to give thanks to some people. My shoutouts:

*My parents and family. I’m still down and living at home. Everything is okay as long as I continue to do my share in the house. I’m ready to go when the moment says so. I thank my sister for introducing me to ballroom dancing.

*Alien cat. It’s almost a year we’re dating. More adventures and experiences to seek.

*The guys. mDuo13, Tsubasa, Spiritsnare, Last Exlir, Appu, gmontem, and Chun. Anime, board games, video games, J-Pop, and talking about the little things in life. There are more out there and we experience them.

*The cosplayers. Kimu, Captain Mom, Shokora, Ginryuu, Duo Monkey, Dee, Evelyn, Seattle group, Eliteslayer, SoCal FMA cosplayers, CLAMP cosplayers, and many more. Anime cons are fun being with everyone.

*Thundercloud. AD&D and other RPGs, stocks, books, and the Washington Canada trips.

*Alien cat’s friends. We need to have more game nights.

*Punkbuster. Bodybuilding.com and battle.net.

*Arashi. Some teens are wiser than adults.

*De Anza. Good memories and good opportunities. I made a few new friends. I also met a variety of classmates from recently graduated high school to students my age going back to school. The accounting department is solid.

*Colliers staff during my finals months. I think the years together were the best staff with all-star performance. I have complements to all the brokers treating me professionally.

*And everyone else I met with a connection and a where and when I met you in my life. There are always thanks.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon Nov 7-Wed Nov 16, 2011

2011-11-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

*Updated my web page Innovate Infinitely.

*Replaced old windshield wipers with new wipers.

*Installed software for my uncle’s new laptop.

*Mini-marathon and finishedKamisama No Memochou.

*Hiked the Stevens Creek Trail for the first time.

*Ate at Sweet Tomatoes for the first time in a long, long time and Chef Liu for the first time.

*Purchased my first Groupon, $20 for food and drink at Hobee’s for $10.

*Watched the movie Serenity.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Oct 30-Sun Nov 6, 2011

2011-11-07T14:54:00.001-08:00

*Drank Arizona Tea for the first time.

*Purchased a new pair of dress shoes and a optical illusions deck of cards.

*Ate at Yogurtland for the first time. Oatmeal cookie flavor tasted good. I also ate at Smart Alec’s, a fast food restaurant serving grass fed burgers and air cooked fries.

*MahJong (Riichi). I memorized all the hands and learned how to score.

*Finished watching Kamisama Dolls anime.

*Went book shopping in Berkeley. Alien cat and I parked at the Daly City BART station and we took BART to Downtown Berkeley. It was my first time I rode inside the Trans Bay Tube and my first time on BART since 1984.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Oct 20-Sat Oct 29, 2011

2011-10-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

*Satisfied my jury duty being summoned to serve.

*Purchased a new pair of sunglasses.

*Hiked at Edgewood Park & Preserve and Rancho San Antonio.

*Ate at Thai House, Muracci’s, Checker’s Pizza & Ribs, and Sushiya restaurants for the first time.

*Watched The Most Important Lecture “Arithmetic, Population, and Energy: The Greatest Shortcoming of the Human Race is our Inability to Understand the Exponential Function” by Albert Bartlett on YouTube.

*Passed my smog check for my car.

*Finished watching the TV series Firefly. Thank you alien cat for lending me the DVDs.

*Finished watching the anime series No. 6.

*Watched the movie Driver.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: Disney Solutions

2011-10-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

The answers are in bold. Hope you scored 12 out of 12 enough to earn a Mickey Mouse pin :3

1. When was the first year I attended Disneyland?
a. 1984
b. 1986
c. 1988

2. When was the latest year I attended Disneyland?
a. 1995
b. 2000
c. 2005

3. Beauty And The Beast and Pocahontas were movies I watched outside San Jose. Where did I watch them?
a. San Francisco
b. Santa Barbara
c. Los Angeles

4. Which of the following stuffed characters do I own?
a. Mickey Mouse and Meeko
b. Mickey Mouse and Donald
c. Mickey Mouse and Dopey

5. I attended Disneyworld.
a. True
b. False

6. What was the last non-Pixar or Disney-only movie I watched in the theatres?
a. Lilo and Stitch
b. Hercules
c. Tarzan

7. Which Disney-Pixar movie I didn’t watch in the theaters?
a. Toy Story
b. Toy Story 2
c. Toy Story 3

8. Which Disney afternoon TV show I never watched?
a. Darkwing Duck
b. Talespin
c. Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers

9. Which of the following NES Disney video game I played?
a. Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers
b. Ducktales
c. Mickey Mousecapade

10. Choose two of the four movies I own in laserdisc?
a. The Little Mermaid
b. Beauty And The Beast
c. Aladdin
d. The Lion King

11. Choose two of the four Disneyland rides my family and I were stuck?
a. Pirates of the Caribbean
b. It’s A Small World
c. The Haunted House
d. Monorail

12. Which of the following movies I own collectible cards?
a. The Little Mermaid
b. Beauty And The Beast
c. Toy Story
d. All Of The Above

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Oct 2-Wed Oct 19, 2011

2011-10-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

*Purchased The Lion King in BD and DVD and a new suit.

*My new suit was altered in an Italian suit boutique.

*Finished watching Madoka Magica.

*Ate yogurt at Yumi Yogurt and caramel pecan cereal for the first time.

*Hiked at Pulgas Ridge Open Preserve and visited a Vista Point on Interstate 280 nearby for the first time.

*Visited and hiked on Angel Island State Park for the first time.

*Updated my resume and cover letter.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: Disney

2011-10-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

It’s time for another quiz. I choose Disney for the theme because The Lion King was released on Tue Oct 11. I post the answers seven days later. Here we go.

1. When was the first year I attended Disneyland?
a. 1984
b. 1986
c. 1988

2. When was the latest year I attended Disneyland?
a. 1995
b. 2000
c. 2005

3. Beauty And The Beast and Pocahontas were movies I watched outside San Jose. Where did I watch them?
a. San Francisco
b. Santa Barbara
c. Los Angeles

4. Which of the following stuffed characters do I own?
a. Mickey Mouse and Meeko
b. Mickey Mouse and Donald
c. Mickey Mouse and Dopey

5. I attended Disneyworld.
a. True
b. False

6. What was the last non-Pixar or Disney-only movie I watched in the theatres?
a. Lilo and Stitch
b. Hercules
c. Tarzan

7. Which Disney-Pixar movie I didn’t watch in the theaters?
a. Toy Story
b. Toy Story 2
c. Toy Story 3

8. Which Disney afternoon TV show I never watched?
a. Darkwing Duck
b. Talespin
c. Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers

9. Which of the following NES Disney video game I played?
a. Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers
b. Ducktales
c. Mickey Mousecapade

10. Choose two of the four movies I own in laserdisc?
a. The Little Mermaid
b. Beauty And The Beast
c. Aladdin
d. The Lion King

11. Choose two of the four Disneyland rides my family and I were stuck?
a. Pirates of the Caribbean
b. It’s A Small World
c. The Haunted House
d. Monorail

12. Which of the following movies I own collectible cards?
a. The Little Mermaid
b. Beauty And The Beast
c. Toy Story
d. All Of The Above

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Sep 18-Sat Oct 1, 2011

2011-10-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

*Finished four books: The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and The Season by Patricia Hornung and Robin Moore.

*Attended a preseason San Jose Sharks hockey game.

*Ate at Amici’s restaurant for the first time.

*Played RA and High Society board games for the first time.

*Visited The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Sep 4-Sat Sep 17, 2011

2011-09-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

*Ate at Tai Pan, Green Elephant, and China Delight restaurants for the first time.

*Finished watching Ano Hina and A Channel anime series. Ano Hina is on my all time favorite list.

*Purchased Star Wars Trilogy on VHS. I wanted the originals. No Greedo shooting his gun. I also purchased the Star Wars Saga Blu Ray.

*Played Race To The Galaxy board game for the first time.

*Purchased a new pair of shoes for the winter and rainy days.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

My Life Separated By The Presidents Of The United States Of America Part 2

2011-09-11T22:20:00.001-07:00

I shared random events, moments, accomplishments, mistakes, successes, and failures in my life during President Ronald Regan’s term on Sunday June 5, 2011. I continue sharing my life during President George H.W. Bush.

President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993): Still Too Conservative

“Read my lips, no new taxes.” --President George H.W. Bush

The George H.W. Bush administration had no affect on me personally. I still had Ronald Regan in me. I continued to behave like a goody two-shoes. I concentrated most of my time on school work and tests. I had a few high school moments. Regardless, I failed to spend more time being a teenager. I failed to act, behave, and think like a teenager. I failed to make mistakes—good mistakes to learn life lessons. My sophomore year was the most active for better or for worse.

*If my high school offered comeback student of the year awards, I won the award. I had a bad academic year in my sophomore year. I received four A’s and two B’s in my junior year spring semester. What a turnaround. In all honestly, I didn’t deserve the high grades because the teachers were easy going by giving big grading curves. Blackford was closing due to the recession. The district gave the students bonus three day weekends. The teachers scrambled their lesson plans to make sure the required material was taught.

*I cheated on my first essay exam in high school. I told my English I instructor I was sick yesterday and I missed the review for To Kill A Mockingbird. I asked him to take the exam another day. He accepted. I managed to get a copy of the questions. I studied the questions the night before the make up exam. I scored an A.

*My first semester at San Jose State was too easy. It gave me a false sense college was easy—easier than some of my high school classes. I remember my brother stayed up late night finishing his homework while I slept.

*I wore stonewash black and white jeans, Nike basketball white and gray high top shoes, and a short-sleeve white button down shirt with black rectangle shapes on my first day of my freshmen year.

*My first girlfriend and my first kiss took place in my freshmen year. She was in eighth grade.

*The PE teacher put me at lead off when we played softball because of my fast speed to outrun ground balls for infield hits. I had a slump I failed to reach base for days. One day, the instructor said if I didn’t get a hit, I had to run a mile the next day. I got a hit. What a relief.

*My family and I watched our first San Francisco Giants baseball game. The opponent was the Philadelphia Phillies. Will Clark hit his first career grand slam. The Phillies’ manager and starting pitcher were ejected. The “big daddy” Rich Reuschel was the winning pitcher.

*One flag football game the instructor randomly picked teams. My team and the opponent’s team were unbalanced. We were the underdogs as if we played in the NFL. The game was close most of the time because I scored all the touchdowns. The opponent double covered me and eventually we lost the game by a landslide.

*I scored an 86 the first time on my driving test.

*I played role playing games for the first time: Shadowrun in my sophomore year and Robotech in my senior year.

*The PE locker rooms offered limited 16oz sodas for $.50. One of my friends had PE before lunch hour. I told him to get me a soda for lunch because the days were hot.

*Operation Desert Storm took place when I was a junior. I heard about it watching the news. I called a friend to tell him we attacked Iraq. He said a passerby in the park told him.

My history instructor played taped NBC nightly newscasts to teach us the Iraq War.

*Entertainment time. TV shows worth mentioning: The Simpsons and Married With Children. Movies I watched on opening night: Batman and Ghostbusters II. I watched a live performance of Madonna on cable in my uncle’s house. The live audio broadcast on radio bleeped out the profanity and the live cable didn’t.

*Every two weeks I skipped a class to attend a group meeting with my fellow classmates discussing how to prevent teenage drinking with a counselor. The meeting took place for six weeks during my sophomore year. The group got along really well. There was a connection, a chemistry as if we could have been friends if we stayed together.

The group meeting ended because there was confusion. The counselor ran the meetings as if we were alcoholics. The meetings were actually AA meetings to help us stop drinking. We were not alcoholics.

*My family went to Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios. We saw the Phantom Of The Opera.

*The Loma Preta earthquake took place on October 17, 1989. I was a sophomore studying Algebra I in my room. I ran under my door frame for cover.

*I was a freshmen when Pan America Flight 103 from London to New York crashed in Lockerbie. A bomb in the forward cargo-hold blew up the front section. I never realized I experienced terrorism at such a young age.

*I parked at the San Jose State park & ride shuttle in my first semester. I parked at the seventh street parking garage Tuesday afternoons and Fridays.

*I never went to my junior and senior proms. I don’t regret missing the proms.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Wed Aug 24-Sat Sep 3, 2011

2011-09-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

*Purchased my first LivingSocial Deal which was 50% one car wash.

*Finished customizing my smart phone Droid x2.

*Played Amorica card game for the first time.

*Four years late. Started and finished the video game Portal.

*Ate a hot dog at Wienerschnitzel. I don’t know the last time I ate at Wienerschnitzel. I upgraded to 100% beef.

*Uploaded Anime Expo 2011 cosplay pics

*Rearranged my room donating used clothing and throwing away junk.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Tue Aug 2-Tue Aug 23, 2011

2011-08-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

*Ate Cinnamon Chex, Reese’s Pieces, and Lay’s 50% Reduced Salt chips for the first time.

*Finished uploading Fanime Con 2011 Cosplay Pics

*Ate a Haagen-Dazs ice cream for the first time since 2006 and at Sizzler restaurant for the first time since 2005.

*Walked on the Golden Gate Bridge.

*Purchased a new pillow for better sleep.

*Watched E.T. The Extra Terrestrial movie outdoors.

*Played Scrabble Slam card game for the first time.

*Successfully updated my video drivers in my laptop.

*More comfortable sitting. I purchased a D ring to hold my keys on my belt.

*Ate at the San Francisco Food Festival for the first time. The festival is a collection of food trucks and street food vendors.

*Made Jell-o pudding for the first time.

*Went to my optometrist to adjust the temples on my glasses to relive the tight pressure on my head.

*Recycled my old shoes at a clothing recycle company.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon July 18-Mon Aug 1, 2011

2011-08-03T01:27:00.001-07:00

*Anime catch up. Finished watching Kimi Ni Todoke second season, Gosick, and Dog Days.

*First time cereal eating run. Ate Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries, Fiber One Honey Clusters, Golden Grahams, and Wheat Chex.

*Broiled chicken with Harris Ranch Lemon Garlic Salt for the first time.

*Ate at J.T. McHart’s Pizza for the first time.

*Played Pandemic On The Brink expansion and Looting London board games for the first time.

*Purchased Vivaldi’s Four Seasons CD. This was my last purchased at Borders.

*Calibrated my monitor using monitor calibration software.

*Stir-fried bell pepper beef using bell peppers from the farmer’s market.

*Finished reading To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.

*Watched Indian Jones And The Last Crusade outdoors. It was the first time I watched a movie out in the open excluding drive-in movie theaters.

*Ate a tostada for the first time. How do I eat a tostada?

*Went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

My Answer To The Question How I Live Life

2011-07-27T18:21:00.001-07:00

What Is Your Answer?

I live my life to lower my chances of getting Alzheimer’s Disease.

What Do You Mean?

I consistently find new adventures, experience new experiences, meet new people, and get out and do something, anything. I stay physically active such as going to the gym and hiking. And I keep my mind focus such as reading books.

You’re Saying To Stay Active?

Yes. Stay active and do better. Always find ways to change so you be a better person. Never stop innovating your life—innovate infinitely. Never settle for the same routine day after day after day.

No Matter How Big Or How Small.

An active life creates big and small changes, adventures, and experiences. Try new foods, visit a new store, drive a different route from point A to point B, take a vacation, listen to new music, and watch a new TV show are some examples. Find a new hobby such as painting, gardening, and cooking. Hiking is an easy new hobby.

Eating Healthy Is Important, Too.

Absolutely. I like cooking as a hobby because a person can cook healthy meals. Cooking also saves money from eating out. Healthy eating and exercising are required to lower a person’s chances of getting Alzheimer’s.

What Are Some Side Benefits?

My life has fewer stressful moments, almost no boring times since there’s always something to do, I’m open to learn something new, and I smile daily. I stay positive. Make lemonade out of lemons when I have a bad day.

What can a person do tomorrow?

Go outside and do something, anything. First, eat a healthy breakfast. Try a new cereal.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri July 8-Sun July 17, 2011

2011-07-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

*Hiked at Shoreline Park for the first time.

*Watched The Maltese Falcon movie at the Stanford Theater.

*Purchased Cribbage board game.

*Updated my webpage uploading the 2011 Nor Cal Cherry Blossom Festival cosplay pics.

*Began taking vitamins daily after breakfast. Thank you tsubasa for the recommendation.

*Car washed.

*Installed 2TB hard drive in my gaming PC.

*Pumice stone. Used the pumice stone to remove dead skin on my feet.

*Played Citadel card game for the first time.

*Attended the Menlo Park Street Fair.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun June 19-Thur July 7, 2011

2011-07-08T13:55:00.001-07:00

*Completed De Anza Spring ’11 quarter.

*Car maintenance. Three of my tires had ozone damage. All four were replaced with new tires. And alignment check.

*Attended Anime Expo 2011. Highlights were Hatsune Miku concert, Spirited Away cosplay on the first day, and Fullmetal Alchemist gathering. Lowlights were Valve gathering and getting sick.

*Purchased more Vocaloid CDs and Fullmetal Alchemist art book #3.

*Ate Picola for the first time.

*Upgraded my cell phone to a smartphone Droid X^2.

*Officially graduated De Anza with an AA degree in Accounting.

*Finished reading The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur June 2-Sat June 18, 2011

2011-06-19T02:22:00.001-07:00

*Played 7-Wonders and Turns & Taxis board games for the first time.

*Watched X-Men: First Class movie.

*Car maintenance: oil change and headlight restoration.

*Sprinkled ground cinnamon on toast for the first time.

*Ate Trader Joe’s Olive Oil potato chips for the first time. Too oily. I also ate Safeway sandwich creame cookies for the first time.

*Attended my cousin’s high school dinner celebration.

*Visited Coyote Point in San Mateo for the first time.

*Hit softballs in a batting cage. The last time I hit a softball was in 2002.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

My Life Separated By The Presidents Of The United States Of America

2011-06-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

I thought about this blog idea on my bed being lazy. I share random events, moments, accomplishments, mistakes, successes, and failures in my life divided by US Presidents. There are no restrictions—anything goes. I choose to write the blog in bullet format. I start with President Ronald Regan.

President Ronald Regan (1981-1989): Too Conservative

From the movie “Back To The Future”:
Dr. Emmett Brown: Then tell me, "Future Boy", who's President in the United States in 1985?
Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Emmett Brown: Ronald Reagan? The actor?

Ronald Regan defined my childhood for the most part. He was a conservative Republican. I was too conservative. I was afraid to talk to people, afraid to try new foods, and had no friends. I never took risks. I lived my life playing alone except with my brother. I avoided trouble and conflicts. I was too well behaved. My parents had little involvement in my childhood life.

* Some people say my parents did a decent job raising me. They never abused me. They didn’t divorce. I was well fed, clothed, and lived in a house. On the other hand, we never talked about drugs, sex, money, the f-word, and the common sense lessons in life. If something wasn’t broken, it wasn’t fixed. All was quiet and calm in the house, and my parents never changed how they raised me.

* I went to a private school from kindergarten through third grade between 1980-1983. My first exposure in public school was in fourth grade starting. It was also the first time I heard the f-word. And it was the first time I had to sell something for school fund raising.

* My first girlfriend was in 1988. We meet at the Christmas dance. I was in eighth grade and she was in seventh grade.

* A fellow classmate gave me the nickname “rapid” when I played lunch hour football in eighth grade. I scored many touchdowns.

* I never had any friends visit my house throughout my days in elementary school and junior high. My parents failed to teach me friends are important. That explains why my parents have very little friends and nobody visits our house.

* My brother and I played GI Joe, Transformers, and MASK. Those three TV series and toys were our “triple play.” We took turns playing the good guys and the bad guys. I thank my cousin who introduced us to GI Joe that lead my brother and I to Transformers and MASK.

* The first family boardgame was Monopoly. We played it wrong. My mom was too lazy to read the rules. I was embarrassed playing Monopoly incorrectly at a neighborhood kid’s birthday party.

* I got the chicken pox in second grade in 1982. On a rainy afternoon, there was a stray dog that jumped the side fence and stayed in the backyard. My parents called animal control. An officer came by and caught the dog.

* There were many new changes in my junior high school when I started sixth grade in the 1985-1986 school year. The sixth graders had a separate line for food in the cafeteria. Sixth graders were prohibited using lockers. My sixth grade started a ban on students taking showers after PE. And it was the last year the school awarded ice cream parties to the grade that sold the most fund raising magazines.

* There were times in elementary and junior high I was picked and teased. Obviously it wasn’t my fault. Thinking back I could have prevented it by wearing better clothes, acted and behaved a normal kid, and be more sociable. I’m glad I never told my parents because they most likely give me bad advice on how to deal and solve my bad treatment.

* The first video game consoles were pong my dad made from scratch, Atari 2600, the Coleco Telstar Arcade, and the original Nintendo Entertainment System. We played pong and the Atari 2600 on a black and white television. WTH?!?

* The first movies I watched showing nudity were Smoky and the Bandit Part II, Private School, and Revenge Of The Nerds. The first published media I saw showing nudity was a Hawaiian calendar that showed topless women.

* I almost repeated fourth grade. My studying skills and basic skills were at border line failing. I had to take a special reading class in second, fifth, and sixth grades. I have been a slow reader. How did I graduate high school and college? I must have done some big improvement I never realized.

Written report cards were given to students to give to their parents. The parents received the copied version and the teachers retained the original version. I remember the distinct report card smell. My junior high report cards were printed from a computer.

* I ran a mile every Wednesday in third grade. I participated in the weekly running program at the end of my second grade and throughout my third grade. My fast running helped me win third place in my fifth grade elementary school Olympics. My elementary school had an Olympics day were each grade competed with each other in Olympics events such as running.

* One of my favorite activities I played alone was operating a cash register in a pretend store. I used a broken old calculator I put on top of a small file cabinet which was the till. I used play money I placed inside the small file cabinet. I used colored blocks for the display so the customer knew the price. And I drew the price scanner on a piece of paper and taped it on the table.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri May 13-Wed June 1, 2011

2011-06-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

*Finished watching Yumekui Merry and Trinity Blood.

*Watched The Adjustment Bureau movie.

*Tried Costco Peach Apple juice, Fage yogurt, and Trader Joe’s cocoa with cold milk.

*Attended the Mountain View A La Carte Craft Faire.

*Finished Quickbooks class at Mission College.

*Ate at Flames and Tomatina restaurants for the first time.

*Fanime Con ’11. Highlights were I debuted Medic from Team Fortress 2 cosplay, my first video game cosplay; cosplay; swap meet; mah jong; Valve cosplay gathering; and being with friends and making new friends.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon May 3-Thur May 12, 2011

2011-05-13T11:53:00.001-07:00

*Finished reading Superfudge by Jude Blume.

*Ate Chocolate Cheerios for the first time.

*Finished watching Star Driver.

*Visited Tanforan Mall for the first time.

*Bowled at Bay Mateo. The last time I went bowling was in 2007 in Milpitas.

*Ate at Fresh Choice for the first time since 2001.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Apr 15-Sun May 2, 2011

2011-05-02T02:16:00.001-07:00

*Hiked at Stanford University’s The Dish trail.

*Ate salt & pepper potato chips for the first time.

*Walked in the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival cosplaying Syaoran.

*Checked and updated the first aid kit, flashlight batteries, and fire extinguishers.

*Shopped at the Gilroy Outlet Malls. I purchased a pair of hiking shoes for urban walking. I also shopped at the Westlake Shopping Center in Daly City and Stonestown Galleria Mall in San Francisco for the first time.

*Finished reading Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.

*Purchased Clerks movie on DVD.

*Cleaned the washer with bleach.

*Sang karaoke in a karaoke booth for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: The First Decade In The 21st Century

2011-04-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

The answers for the correct year are in bold.

2001-2010 is actually the first decade in the 21st century because there is no year zero. Guess the year that happened. Each year is used once.

First time in a foreign country which was Canada, purchased my first laptop, Innovating Common Knowledge blog created: 2004, 2005, 2006?

Visited Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, purchased Game Boy Advanced, family’s first DVD player: 2001, 2002, 2003?

Began reading business and investment books, visited Museum Mystique, started buying and selling on eBay: 2002, 2003, 2004?

Purchased my first digital camera, vacationed in Las Vegas with family, played poker: 2003, 2004, 2005?

Didn’t attend Anime Expo after nine consecutive years, visited Washington and Canada, changed my entire clothing from hats to shoes: 2006, 2007, 2008?

Started working at Cisco, purchased my first car, wore braces in my first year: 2006, 2007, 2008?

Took ice skating lessons, hiked at Pinnacles and Points Lobos for the first time, attended Paul McCartney concert: 2008, 2009, 2010?

Went bowling on Valentine’s Day weekend, met lots of new friends, took day off to visit the Santa Cruz Boardwalk: 2006, 2007, 2008?

Cosplayed for the first time at an anime con, my webpage Innovate Infinitely went online, stayed awake for 28 hours at Fanime Con: 2003, 2004, 2005

Went back to school at De Anza College taking accounting classes, visited Charles M. Schulz museum, created Facebook and Twitter accounts: 2008, 2009, 2010?

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Apr 3-Thur Apr 14, 2011

2011-04-15T02:06:00.001-07:00

*First day of school. Spring ’11 quarter started. I’m taking Auditing and Advanced Accounting.

*Finished reading Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. Thank you mDuo13 for the suggestion and Alien Cat for giving me her second copy.

*Went to the monthly book sale from the Friends of Palo Alto Library. I purchased Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge by Judy Blume.

*Ate turkey bacon for the first time. I think I ate it a long time I ago.

*Purchased a San Jose Sharks cap because . . .

* . . . I watched my first live hockey game at the HP Pavilion. It was the first time I entered the HP Pavilion, and first time I watched a live major sports playoff game. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in overtime.

*Dropped my Advanced Accounting class. Time will tell whether I made the correct choice. I dropped Beginning Japanese in Spring ’09 that was the correct choice.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon Mar 28-Sat Apr 2, 2011

2011-04-03T16:49:00.001-07:00

*Finished watching Welcome To The NHK. Thank you mDuo13 for the anime series.

*Drank Trader Joe’s hot cocoa for the first time.

*Replaced my car’s cabin air filter.

*Hiked at Uvas Canyon County Park. The last time I hiked there was June 2009. The heavy rainfalls was shown from the waterfalls and streams.

*Ate mu shu pork for the first time since I think was a child.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Wed Mar 16-Sun Mar 27, 2011

2011-03-28T23:38:00.001-07:00

*Watched A Streetcar Named Desire movie.

*Ate at Ed’s Teriyaki, Shiva’s Indian Restaurant And Bar, Hana Japan, and Bob Sang Korean restaurants for the first time.

*Winter ‘11 quarter at De Anza completed.

*Purchased a new San Francisco Giants baseball cap.

*Visited Hillsdale Mall for the first time.

*Ate pumpkin flavor Pocky and drank Trader Joe’s Hot Chocolate for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: The First Decade In The 21st Century

2011-03-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

2001-2010 is actually the first decade in the 21st century because there is no year zero. Guess the year that happened. Each year is used once.

First time in a foreign country which was Canada, purchased my first laptop, Innovating Common Knowledge blog created 2004, 2005, 2006?

Visited Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, purchased Game Boy Advanced, family’s first DVD player 2001, 2002, 2003?

Began reading business and investment books, visited Museum Mystique, started buying and selling on eBay 2002, 2003, 2004?

Purchased my first digital camera, vacationed in Las Vegas with family, played poker 2003, 2004, 2005?

Didn’t attend Anime Expo after nine consecutive years, visited Washington and Canada, changed my entire clothing from hats to shoes 2006, 2007, 2008?

Started working at Cisco, purchased my first car, wore braces in my first year 2006, 2007, 2008?

Took ice skating lessons, hiked at Pinnacles and Points Lobos for the first time, attended Paul McCartney concert 2008, 2009, 2010?

Went bowling on Valentine’s Day weekend, met lots of new friends, took day off to visit the Santa Cruz Boardwalk 2006, 2007, 2008?

Cosplayed for the first time at an anime con, my webpage Innovate Infinitely went online, stayed awake for 28 hours at Fanime Con 2003, 2004, 2005

Went back to school at De Anza College taking accounting classes, visited Charles M. Schulz museum, created Facebook and Twitter accounts 2008, 2009, 2010?

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Feb 17-Tue Mar 15, 2011

2011-03-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

*Watched Jaws, King Kong (original), and Singin’ In The Rain.

*Celebrated Valentine’s Day.

*Purchased Peanut’s Guide To Life book. It’s a future coffee table book.

*Watched Swan Lake ballet. The last time I watched Swan Lake was in March or April 1993.

*AteFrosted Mini Wheats Maple Brown Sugar flavor for the first time.

*Attended the sjDanceCo Dance A Thon fund raiser.

*Ate at Chef Chu’s for the first time.

*Went to an urgent care clinic for the first time. My month long fatigue resulted in a sinus infection; although, I think my boring classes was a factor. I took Mucenix D and a saline solution for the first time. The doctor prescribed an anti-biotic.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: My All Time Favorite . . .

2011-02-24T00:19:00.001-08:00

The answers are below. Life is easier with three choice quizzes ;)

1. Anime?
a. Fullmetal Alchemist
b. Magic Knights Rayearth
c. Sailor Moon

2. Classic Video Game?
a. Space Invaders
b. Pac Man
c. Gauntlet II

3. Anime Con?
a. Anime Expo 2003
b. Fanime Con 2009
c. Anime Expo 2005

4. Cookie?
a. Chocolate chip cookie (It’s great soft.)
b. Sugar cookie (I realized this was a strong possibility. It counts.)
c. Peanut butter

5. Soda?
a. Coke
b. Pepsi
c. 7-UP

6. Semester At San Jose State?
a. Fall ‘92
b. Spring ‘95
c. Fall ‘96

7. Board Game?
a. Settlers Of Catan
b. Life
c. Alhambra

8. Disney Movie?
a. Beauty And The Beast
b. UP!
c. Toy Story

9. Color?
a. Red
b. Blue
c. White

10. Vacation Spot?
a. Las Vegas
b. Disneyland
c. Grand Canyon

11. *bonus* Race In StarCraft?
a. Protoss
b. Terran
c. Zerg

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Wed Feb 2-Wed Feb 16, 2011

2011-02-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

*Visited Union Square and Chinatown in San Francisco.

*Super Bowl XLV. Ate Trader Joe’s lemon cookies, drank Thumb’s Up soft drink and Safeway’s French Lemonade sparkling soda for the first time.

*Ate a gyro wrap for the first time.

*Purchased my first w00t! t-shirt.

*Celebrated Chinese New Year with the family.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Jan 21-Tue Feb 1, 2011

2011-02-03T00:49:00.001-08:00

*Visited and hiked a small length at Bay Front Park.

*Ate the best strawberry shortcake at La Baguette in the Stanford Shopping Center.

*Watched The Philadelphia Story, Terminator Salvation, and On The Waterfront.

*Welcome back supersets exercises for my workouts.

*Hiked at Castle Rock State Park. It was the first time I hiked in the rain. The last time hiked here was January 2010.

*Ate Parle-G, a biscuit from India for the first time.

*First day of class at Mission College. I’m taking a class on Quickbooks.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Quiz: My All Time Favorite . . .

2011-01-27T02:16:00.001-08:00

My answers are posted at a later date.

1. Anime?
a. Fullmetal Alchemist
b. Magic Knights Rayearth
c. Sailor Moon

2. Classic Video Game?
a. Space Invaders
b. Pac Man
c. Gauntlet II

3. Anime Con?
a. Anime Expo 2003
b. Fanime Con 2009
c. Anime Expo 2005

4. Cookie?
a. Chocolate chip cookie
b. Sugar cookie
c. Peanut butter

5. Soda?
a. Coke
b. Pepsi
c. 7-UP

6. Semester At San Jose State?
a. Fall ‘92
b. Spring ‘95
c. Fall ‘96

7. Board Game?
a. Settlers Of Catan
b. Life
c. Alhambra

8. Disney Movie?
a. Beauty And The Beast
b. UP!
c. Toy Story

9. Color?
a. Red
b. Blue
c. White

10. Vacation Spot?
a. Las Vegas
b. Disneyland
c. Grand Canyon

11. *bonus* Race In StarCraft?
a. Protoss
b. Terran
c. Zerg

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Jan 6-Thur Jan 20, 2011

2011-01-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

*Drank JAL Sky Time, a drink served in the JAL or Japanese airlines airplanes.

*Played Perplex City for the first time. I purchased Perplex City. Thank you mDuo13 for the recommendation.

*Ate Trade Joe’s frozen pizza Pizza Palermo’s, Melty Blend candy, and Cinnamon Blast Cheerios for the first time. I also ate Total cereal for the first time since I was a child. There was a $2 cereal sale I take advantage to eat different cereals.

*Watched Chinatown, Grease, and Rear Window movies.

*Finished anime series for fall season: Ika Musume, MM!, and Soredemo Machi Wa Mawatteiru.

*In Mountain View, I ate at New Mongolian BBQ, walked around downtown for the first time since I was a child, and the Mountain View Cal Train station moment was very memorable.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Our Differences Between Them, You, And Me

2011-01-18T17:36:00.000-08:00

I got this blog idea last night in bed. It’s obvious everyone is different in many ways. We have different interests, different hobbies, different beliefs, different careers, different intelligence, different emotions, different physical features, different personalities, etc. We are unique, and our individual uniqueness defines our differences.

Why are you blogging an obvious observation?

The friends I spend time with the most our strongest commonality are anime, video games, computers, board games, and anything related to the anime hobby; however, I am the lowest common denominator among them. In other words, they have a stronger interest, a stronger connection, a bigger desire in our commonality than I do. I’m fortunate we have our Friday night hangouts and they invite me to events they know I have a good time. They don’t invite me to video game tournaments because they know I’m not going to have fun since I play on a causal level.

You have more friends in addition to the guys

I have other friends. I spend less time with them. They’re either busy with other activities, busy with commitments, and/or busy with their closer friends. When we do gather, they more we know each other, the more we earn our friendships, the more we become closer, then the more we spend more time. Also, there are moments and events I meet new people and make new friends. The new friends I make we may become friends at a faster rate because the connection develops quicker.

I’m fortunate and happy that all my friends share parts of who I am. The guys and I spend time on anime, computers, and board games. I have another group I play board games. And I have another group we go dancing (although we haven’t danced in a long time).

I want to meet more people and make new friends. For example, I want to have friends share my other hobbies including hiking and cooking. I want to meet new people who have the desire to go outside and do something new such as visit a new place for the first time. I want to meet people who ice skate. My desire to ice skate happened in March 2010. The bottom line is I want to meet new people and make new friends to share my other hobbies, satisfy my other desires, and match my personality (more importantly, no jerks, bitches, and assholes). The guys have friends outside our Fri night hangouts.

There is no guarantee

I was naive years ago. I thought I get along with everyone I know and meet. If I follow Dale Carnegie’s human relation rules, I always succeed. I don’t succeed. For example, my dumb ass co-worker at Colliers International. We never got along. He was stupid and childish. He was someone I don’t want to be. There are lots of people I meet I have no connection for a good reason. The few people I meet and have the connection I look forward to developing a casual, professional, or personal relationship.

Still growing up, still learning

It’s getting better. I’m getting better. I still have lots to learn, adventures to seek, experiences to experience, and wisdom to gain. In time, I’m going to achieve being a good guy. Good guys seek and attract people. After I accomplish being a good guy ten times better than today, I continue to learn, seek adventures, find new experiences, and expand my wisdom.

Side note: The blog was initially for Innovating Common Knowledge. I changed my mind to post at Finding Raymond Mar because the more I wrote, added, and deleted, the more it became personal. I choose to keep the original title.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Dec 25, 2010-Wed Jan 5, 2011

2011-01-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

*Christmas Day. Celebrated with my parents, brother’s family, and one of my uncle’s family from Southern California.

*Also on Christmas Day, we drank cranberry sparkling cider for the first time.

*Tried eggnog and a blueberry tart for the first time.

*Rode the cable car in San Francisco for the first time. We rode from Market and Powell to Hyde and Beach.

*Repaired my crack on my windshield. Insurance paid for the repair.

*Got new maps for my car. Three years was a good time to update my road maps. I think four years could be good.

*Finished reading Lord Of The Flies by William Golding.

*First Day Of School. I’m taking Intermediate Accounting Part 2, Introduction To Business, and Social Dance.

*Played Guesstures and Set board games for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

What Were Your Raymond Mar Life Key Moments?

2011-01-01T17:03:00.000-08:00

There are moments in my life I realized something new. It was like I powered up in a video game or leveled up playing role playing games. It was like I earned a promotion in Raymond Mar. I became a new person. I became wiser. My soul became brighter. Life was going my way. I earned more luck and good fortunes.

Here are the key moments in my life that changed me and continues to influence me today since 2000:

*September 2002: My co-worker at Colliers introduced me to Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad book. I became interested in reading books and learning financial education. Other moments included buying and selling on eBay and my manager was fired. The lesson I learned when my manager was fired was if you’re a nobody, you’re going to be treated as a nobody.

*September 2004: I wore a costume for the first time in an anime convention. I have worn a costume thereafter. I attend anime conventions with friends, meeting new people, and making new friends. I meet new people and make new friends even outside anime conventions.

*October 2008: I realized I must grow up. I must act and behave as a grown up. I must wise up and stop acting naive. I continue to grow up and catch up from the years I was an idiot.

*December 2010: 2010 continues from October 2008. There are new experiences, new adventures, and new knowledge in the years to come.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Tue Dec 14-Fri Dec 24, 2010

2010-12-25T14:08:00.001-08:00

*Ate at Siam Royal, a Thai restaurant in Downtown Palo Alto.

*Completed the first aid kit, flashlight, fire extinguisher, and smoke detector check.

*Purchased a money clip wallet. It’s useful when I need the bare minimum driver license, cash, and needed cards.

*Tried Safeway potato chips and sparking sodas for the first time. I also tried Merci Chocolate and a strietzl at Andersen Bakery.

*Deposited a check in the ATM for the first time. Fast and convenient.

*Ate at Sushi Factory since March. The menus are like I’m in a Chinese restaurant lol.

*Purchased Inception movie. I also purchased a table cloth for my card table. Bed Bath & Beyond earned more respect for me.

*Slept on a new pillow. There are different pillows for different sleepers.

*Updated my webpage Innovate Infinitely.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Nov 14-Mon Dec 13, 2010

2010-12-14T00:24:00.000-08:00

*Watched the following movies: Some Like It Hot and The Manchurian Candidate.

*Ate at 99 Chicken, Orenchi Ramen Noodle, and Yiassoo Greek restaurants for the first time.

*Got my car’s tires rotated, tires balanced, and alignment checked. I applied Armor All to the dashboard, vacuumed the interiors, and applied headlight restoration chemical.

*Attended a friend’s baby shower for his first child.

*Celebrated Thanksgiving with family. We watched the family’s traditional movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.” We also watched Bolt and Rosemary’s Baby.

*Black Friday. I purchased the Monopoly card game “Deal”, Bolt DVD, and a 8GB mp3 player.

*Ate Honey Bunch of Oats Cinnamon and drank blueberry cocktail and pomegranate cherry cocktail for the first time.

*Purchased a new pair of shoes. I need another pair.

*Attended the Nor Cal Winter Cosplay Gathering. I wore my Hitsugaya Xmas version cosplay.

*Completed my Fall Quarter ’10 at De Anza. I’m confident I passed my classes.

*Caught up with the Bleach manga and finished the Arrancar arc.

*I also caught up with my emails.

*Rearranged and cleaned up my room. More junk must go.

*Time to really learn MahJong. I purchased my own Japanese MahJong (riichi) set.

*Reinstalled Windows XP and my programs in my laptop. My laptop crashed. Files were backed up.

*Used a leaf blower for the first time for yard work.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

I Remember . . .

2010-11-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Here are random thoughts in my mind:

*Cool Ranch Doritos. The first time I ate cool ranch my family and one of my uncle’s family were fishing in a reservoir in Los Angeles.

*My preschool teacher was Miss Sue.

*My first professors at San Jose State were Underdal and Gerston.

*My first movie was Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

*My first favorite radio station was 1170 KLOK.

*Richard McCarville was my first dentist.

*Cupertino Square used to be Vallco Fashion Park. My favorite store when it was Vallco was King Norman’s Kingdom of Toys.

*There was a small supermarket chain called Brentwood. Safeway purchased the store I think in 1984 or 1985.

*The first time I drank Sprite was a road trip to Reno with my family and one of my uncle’s family.

*I passed my driver’s test the first time scoring an 86.

*My first traffic ticket took place at the San Jose State University Seventh Street Parking Garage.

*Donnie & Marie Osmond were my first concert at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Oct 31-Sat Nov 13, 2010

2010-11-15T01:00:00.001-08:00

*Wore my Edward Elric costume for the Halloween cosplay gathering at the Winchester Mystery House.

*The San Francisco Giants are the 2010 World Series Champions. They defeated the Texas Rangers 4-1.

*Ate at Holder’s Country Inn for the first time. We ate a Swedish pancake for the first time. The butter is very sweet.

*Purchased my own pair of ice skates. I also purchased my first Threadless t-shirt.

*I also purchased Toy Story 3.

*Played Shear Panic and Masters Gallery board games for the first time.

*Attended my first LAN party playing TF2.

*Auto maintenance. I changed the oil, replaced the air filter, and installed new headlights.

*Watched Yankee Doodle Dandy movie.

*Drank Peach Ice Green Tea Brisk for the first time.

*Attended mDuo13 birthday party. I played Telephone Pictionary for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Oct 10-Sat Oct 30, 2010

2010-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

*Watched more classic movies One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Vertigo.

*Finished watching K-On!!

*Played Puerto Rico and Alhambra board games for the first time.

*Toast & Toaster. Played Pictionary.

*A bunch of new foods: Milano Mint and Raspberry flavor, green tea cookie, and Japanese BBQ chips.

*New Trader Joe’s foods: frozen spinach, frozen peas, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks. The lesson I learned was cook spinach and peas don’t mix cooking together. Fish sticks needs sauce.

*Watched sjDanceCo annual dance performance.

*The San Francisco Giants are 2010 National League Champions. They play the Texas Rangers in the World Series.

*Cooked thin round tip steak for the first time. 1 min on the George Foreman grill and use a bowl to quick marinade.

*Ate at L&L BBQ Hawaiian Restaurant for the first time. Next time, try their sauce.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

The Lost Feeling

2010-10-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

I experienced what was like losing someone yesterday at dance class. The attendance was around 60% of full size. There were quite a few students absent. We trade partners to make sure everyone has a chance to dance and to learn faster. Switching dance partners is an effective way to learn because we dance with different partners with different skills and experiences.

Some of the students have favorite partners they dance with including husbands and wives and boyfriends and girlfriends. I have favorite partners we dance together. Unfortunately, they were absent. Obviously, this is very small potatoes I forget tomorrow. However, I experienced the lost feeling—the feeling of physical, mental, and emotional attachment; in particular, during a dance between two people. I was one step closer to fully understand the experience of losing someone special. I lost the touch, the closeness, the knowledge of dancing technique (I forgot dancing because I have the lost feeling), the happiness and joy being with her. The lost feeling I experienced brought me one step closing to being more human.

Lost is part of life. We loose a family member to death. A friendship ends on worse terms. Boyfriends and girlfriends break up. Sometimes lost is on good terms such as a business partnership ending and they split the assets equally or a neighbor moving away permanently for a new job. Losing someone is like part of me disappeared. How can I continue life without him or her? It sucks losing someone. It’s going to happen.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Sep 26-Sat Oct 9, 2010

2010-10-10T00:26:00.001-07:00

*Watched classic movies Midnight Cowboy and The French Connection.

*A weekday off doing homework. Played MahJong and Balderdash. One MahJong match was the most epic match I ever saw.

*Ate bellpepper, pineapple, and onion topping pizza, and ate Jack In The Box’s new pastrami sandwich for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Sep 19-Sat Sep 25, 2010

2010-09-26T02:35:00.001-07:00

*Ate Hostess Zinger for the first time. Very sweet.

*Ate at Elephant Bar restaurant for a birthday party for the first time since my Cisco job celebration.

*Fall ‘10 quarter started at De Anza. I’m taking Intermediate Accounting, Computer Acct. Systems, and Excel.

*Finished watching Ookami-san anime.

*Washed my clothes using Cheer liquid laundry detergent for the first time.

*Watched the dance production “Burn The Floor.”

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sun Sep 5-Sat Sep 18, 2010

2010-09-20T01:33:00.000-07:00

*Taking showers with Old Spice Odor Blocker body wash. It’s the first time I use body wash.

*Highway 1 Monterey Peninsula. Visited Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur.

*Drank Pepsi throwback, Pepsi soda with real sugar and not high fructose corn syrup.

*Ate strawberry licorice for the first time. I don’t like it. I also tried chestnut cake.

*Rewatched Bakemonogatari. The anime series is on my all-time favorite list.

*Celebrated my cousin’s birthday early, and my nephew and niece’s birthdays.

*Played Monopoly card game for the first time at a board gaming gathering. The game is on my Xmas wish list.

*Hiked at Los Trancos Open Preserve.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Let’s Talk About Summer ’09 and ’10

2010-09-18T01:59:00.000-07:00

School starts Mon Sep 20. I’m looking forward to school because vacations must end and I must work on my future. I must prepare for the next economic turnaround. Who knows? I may get a job during the fall quarter.

Summer 2009 and 2010 were catching up summers. These two summers were summers I should have experienced while I attended San Jose State. These two summers were summers I should have experienced in my late teens and early 20s. I had advantages including more spending money from my jobs and being over 21. I had disadvantages including being in my mid 30s and living with my parents; however, most 20 year olds college students live with their parents anyways, lol. Unemployed could be an advantage such as lots of free time or a disadvantage such as earning no income.

I’m happy and grateful for my new experiences experienced, adventures explored, and knowledge learned. I realized I must grow up on Oct 4, 2008. The catching up being a grown up man started on that day. Summer ’09 and ’10 were special and they helped me define who I am today. These moments I should have experienced in my 20s I’m fortunate I experienced this summer and last summer.

Quality and Quantity

There is a distinction between Summer ’09 and Summer ’10. Summer ’09 was quantity and Summer ’10 was quality. Summer ’09 I did lots of activities and I experienced small moments. There was hiking, watching lots of movies, trying new foods, visiting the Charles Schulz museum, jazz festivals, and, gosh, so much happened. Summer ’10 I did fewer activities which were big. I hiked only two times both at new trails. My family did a rare activity on one summer day visiting cavers in central California. I played StarCraft 2. I attended a Paul McCartney concert. And I started learning how to ice skate.

The activities listed above were a good amount of what I did. There was so much more that happened my list is long!

There was still . . .

Oh, absolutely. I attended Anime Expo, worked out at the gym, meet new people and make new friends, watch anime, read, write blogs, play board games, cook . . . spending time indoors and outdoors. The difference is I do better. I always improve.

I Want More

I want to skydive, attend a San Francisco Giants baseball game, and walk on the Golden Gate Bridge. The list grows.

A Top Ten List?

No top ten list. I’m in my 30s catching up what I missed. I say all my experiences, adventures, and knowledge are all number one moments.

However, I want to recognize Anime Expo (AX) 2009. I choose to attend AX ’09 days after Fanime Con ’09. (Fanime ’09 is my all time favorite anime con.) I made a good choice to attend AX’09 because it set the tone for the rest of my Summer ’09. Also, attending AX’09 debunked the negative rumors and fears when AX went back to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Without AX ’09, I don’t attend AX ’10. AX ’10 was a good con and I had a good time.

What About Fall, Winter, And Spring?

It’s all 24/7/365. It’s every season. It’s every day I experience new experiences, seek new adventures, and gain new knowledge. Summer ends, school starts, and catching up continues.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Aug 28-Sat Sep 4, 2010

2010-09-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

*Taking ice skating lessons.

*Minor face surgery. My cyst was removed on my right cheek.

*Finished reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

*Watched the movie Mao’s Last Dancer.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Update The Introduction To Say All Is Well?

2010-09-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, it’s time to update the introduction. Maturity and wisdom FTW!

I’m Raymond Mar. I have experienced new adventures and experiences and gained wisdom and knowledge since I realized I must grow up. I never have changed if I didn’t grow up and act my age. The collective new everything grows bigger day by day, and soon my growth reach epic proportions. I still don’t know what I want to do. I continue to be kind, be a strong man, be positive, and be optimistic. Never take anything and anyone for granted.

Here is the old one:

I'm Raymond Mar. I'm a human being growing up and I'm tired of acting tough 24/7. I have strengths, weaknesses, and problems. I live to battle my weaknesses and solve my problems to become stronger. I'm lonely. Like millions of other people, I don't know what to do. There are new adventures, new skills, and new people to meet and to encounter. I continue to loosen up, be positive, be kind, and be optimistic. Never take anything and anyone for granted.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Tue Aug 17-Fri Aug 27, 2010

2010-08-28T18:26:00.000-07:00

*Resumed lifting weights from a two month absence. My workout steps are stretch, weights, and cardio.

*Hiked at Monte Bello Open Preserve.

*Visited the California Academy of Sciences. We went inside the planetarium.

*Celebrated my dad’s birthday. His birthday activity was visiting the Moaning Cavern and California Cavern in central California.

*Ate Captain Crunch cereal for the first time. It tasted terrible. My breakfasts have been boring. I’m eating a variety of different cereals taking advantages of sales in grocery stores.

*Finished watching Macross Frontier.

*Drank Sarsaparilla root beer made from pure cane sugar. Now that’s root beer!

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Aug 5-Mon Aug 16, 2010

2010-08-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

*Began playing Starcraft 2.

*Birthday dinners with my friends and family.

*Watched Inception twice and Toy Story 3.

*Drank an Icy Coke for the first time in a long, long time. Popcorn with jalapenos has a kick.

*Ate at Verde Tea restaurant for the first time.

*Played Weiss Schwartz (unofficial) tournament style.

*Attended the San Jose Jazz Festival.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

What Do I Have That Keeps Me Having Friends?

2010-08-16T00:14:00.000-07:00

I ask myself that question when I go out sometimes. What do I have that my friends enjoy my company? What do I have that my friends involve me in gatherings and hanging out? I don’t have special talents. I’m not a magician. I can’t repair broken cars. I can’t hit a 400 foot home run. I can’t speak Japanese. I can’t draw. I don’t have special skills. I have average computer skills. I graduated with a degree in Economics. I have poor marketable job skills which explain why I’m going back to school.

I’m not good at everything I do. Let’s take a look at some:

*Anime. I read a few Japanese comics (manga). I watch a few anime series every season. My DVD collection is small. I’m not a die hard anime fan whose entire room is decorated with anime and the bookshelf is full of Japanese comics and DVDs. Please don’t ask me about voice actors because I don’t follow who’s who in anime series.

*Video Games. I play Team Fortress 2 (TF2) and StarCraft 2 (SC2) only. I don’t play fighting games and RPGs. I don’t own a Playstation 3 (PS3), Nintendo Wii, and a Xbox 360. My favorite arcade games are shooting. I know very little video games.

*Sports. I follow the headlines in football, baseball, and basketball. I follow very little hockey. I don’t follow golf and racing. I don’t have ESPN and I don’t read Sports Illustrated. I know enough to enjoy the games and small talk. I can’t carry long conversations; although, I follow others sport conversations.

*Physical Fitness. I follow two basic weight lifting schedules. One schedule is machines and another is free weights. I continue to learn and to improve my workout plans. I just workout to feel good, improve my health, and stay young. The fastest I ran on the treadmill is 6.5mph. Today, I’m getting back into shape after inconsistent workouts in June and early July.

*Music. I know what I know. I know little classic jazz and classical music. I just listen and enjoy. Classic rock is my favorite music. I started listening to The Beatles almost every day. One day, I want to identify Beatles songs from which record.

*Books. I’m a slow reader. I started reading fiction books in Nov. 2008. Fiction books are better than non-fiction books to learn about life. I have fun what I read. I’m not a bookworm.

*Cooking. My cooking skills are such that I know enough to survive on my own. I improve my cooking skills dramatically when I live on my own.

One of these days, I’m going to be good at something. No, I’m going to be good at a few skills, hobbies, and personality traits.

What Is The Answer?

I’m a good guy. Good guys are people you feel good hanging around with. I’m a good listener. I’m a good conversationalist. I’m interested in others’ hobbies, personalities, and who they are. I learn from others who help me determine who I am. We influence each other who we are. I’m a team person. I love action. I hate being bored. I smile when I’m happy. I’m a very open person and I talk about almost anything. 98% of who I am I’m free to speak out.

Being a good guy doesn’t mean I stop being good. I continue getting better. There is always something to improve. I improve my skills, my hobbies, my physical attributes, my knowledge, and my social skills. I learn from my successes to be better and learn from my mistakes to avoid repeating them. I seek new adventures, new interests, and new knowledge.

I want to add more than just being a good guy. Life is more than just stopping and settling somewhere at sometime. Life is taking a deep breath, stop for a moment, and ask yourself, “What is there new I want to do? There is something I want to be good at. What is it? What are they?”

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Short Q&A

2010-08-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Raymond Mar on going back to school. If your unemployed and doing nothing, then you must learn something to prepare for the recovery. I believe it’s going to take at least two years for the economy to recover. I don’t believe in the current recovery. I’m back in school learning new skills and knowledge to find a better job. Don’t sit on the couch watching TV all day. If you’re not going to school, do something, anything to keep busy. You may discover something new you want to pursue to make a living.

Raymond Mar growing up. I consider myself lucky I realized I must grow up. There are people older than me who act and behave like a child. And there are people who never grow up. Mature people don’t blame others for their problems. They take responsibilities for their actions. I see young people acting immature. That’s okay. They’re allowed to make mistakes.

Raymond Mar and cooking. I believe cooking is a skill everyone must know. My cooking skills are poor; however, I know enough to cook for myself. I respect anyone who buys groceries from a market and cook a meal. There are no microwave foods, frozen foods, and processed foods. The person buys fresh food, goes home, cook with appliances, and hot meal is served. The taste can be plain like my Mom’s, lol. The bottom line is if you cook, you have my respect.

Raymond Mar and life now. Life is good—well good in terms of free time. I make the best of my free time having fun: going back to the gym to get back in shape, working on my webpage, hiking, and finding anything new to do. Life is bad because I’m unemployed. For now, I live the present and take advantage of the free time before school begins in the fall and before I find a new job.

Raymond Mar and the movie First Blood. Finally, watch the clip staring Sylvester Stallone. I have a little more respect for him as an actor. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qIgVrOy9vM&feature=related

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Update #2: What Are You Missing In Your Life?

2010-08-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

On March 23, 2009, I asked the question, “What Are You Missing In Your Life?” My answer was to find people, meet people, and make new friends who are similar to me. On July 25, 2009, I asked the question again. My answer was to find a person like me or my best friend.

I have a new answer. My new answer is specific and detailed. First, I want to share other answers that are true except they miss the bull’s eye:

*Independence. I have some independence. I’m allowed to come and go from the house as long as I tell my parents. They’re flexible. I gain full independence in time.

*Apartment or house. My own dwelling. Like independence, I live at my own place in time. I invite friends. I initiate gatherings and hang outs--“My place is free, come on over.” I live without junk.

*Long term income. I live in Silicon Valley. It’s expensive to live here. How do families pay for expenses and pay for their mortgage? I have no idea. Credit cards and debt? I find the answer, I live in Silicon Valley for the rest of my life.

*My dream car. Hmm, I buy an Audi and make extra money being the transporter. I wear the suit, too.

*Accounting degree. A bachelors in Economics is garbage. In time, San Jose State opens admissions for those wanting a second bachelor’s degree.

My new answer is friends. I want to make new friends. I need more friends. I want lots and lots of friends. People are important in my life. Families are important. Friends are important. I live my life to the fullest with friends. I interact with friends and they interact with me. The interaction identifies, shapes, and even helps me who I am—who am I and who am I not. Being with friends makes life fun. Doing activities are more enjoyable with friends. Friends help friends when they’re in trouble. Friends celebrate the successes and birthdays. There are moments when life is bad; however, life is not that bad with friends.

I can never have too many friends. A person with lots of friends and finds time to spend with them is a great impression for me. I want to be that person. I want to be a person who has lots friends and finds time to spend with them. I want to be a person who attracts people to me and we become friends. The best way is to be a good person, and I never stop improving being a good person. The better person I am, the better the chances I make new friends.

My friends have other friends outside me. I want to have friends in other groups, too. When I’m with a group of friends, I want to mention another group of friends. I’m able to mention a few friends. I want to mention more. It’s a small world. Maybe some of my friends know some of my other friends. Never stop meeting new people.

One of these days when I have my independence living on my own in an apartment or house, I initiate parties. Long term income is nothing without friends to spend with. Friends are more important than money. Sometimes the parties and gatherings are outdoors. I need to get there driving an Audi. My degree in accounting is a huge help to find a job to make all these happen. In the meantime, presently speaking, I make as many new friends to share my dreams with them.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

500

2010-08-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Blogger's Note: To recognize my 500th blog from my Innovating Common Knowledge blog, I choose to post number 500 here.

Number 500! This blog is number 500 and the 5th anniversary for Innovating Common Knowledge. Good timing. I average 100 blogs every twelve months. That’s too low. On the other hand, 100 is a good number because I spread my time writing blogs and many other activities. There are both sides to the discussion whether I spend too much or too little time writing blogs.

On my 300th blog, I shared my top 30 blogs. I choose to repost the top 30 blogs instead of creating a top 50 blogs. The reason is the lessons I learned and the wisdom I gained from my top 30 blogs applies to today’s living--and tomorrow’s living. They are powerful for me. The lessons and wisdoms are both old lessons such as life is a marathon, not a sprit and new lessons such as age is just a number. The timing is good for another review.

I continue to write blogs promoting change, improvement, and innovation. I continue to write blogs to open myself up and to experiment what I can and what I can’t do. The Sign Of My Times (SOMT) and Accutane blogs continue as I reflect how life is changed now and when I was a child and my acne treatment, respectively.

Here is the summary of my top 30 blogs:

*01. Never take anything and anyone for granted.
*02. Trust my gut feeling.
*03. My [latest] daily top five rules for living: (1) Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others. (2) Don't act like a jerk or bitch. (3) Always speak calmly and be calm. (4) Don't daydream when driving. (5) Keep your head up high . . . look at the cute face when talking.
*04. Continue to live life finding what you want to do.
*05. Never judge a person by their appearance.
*06. Remember to learn from you failures as well as your successes.
*07. It takes patience to learn who a person is for long-term family, friend, business, and romantic relationships.
*08. Do something else to take your mind off something you hate.
*09. Meet new people and make new friends continuously.
*10. It's OK to be alone.

*11. You must earn what you want in life.
*12. You are responsible for yourself.
*13. Schools have summer vacations; life doesn't have summer vacations.
*14. Age is just a number.
*15. Have courage to say goodbye to anything precious.
*16. First years, first impressions, first go-around, and first successes are equally important as second years, second impressions, second go-around, and second successes.
*17. Everyone has the right to find happiness.
*18. Be patient. Never rush.
*19. Take life one day at a time. Have fun, learn, and enjoy.
*20. If you talk the talk, you must stand by your talk.

*21. Do something to receive something.
*22. Money is a way to help people, create action, and show appreciation.
*23. Fight the pain, the suffering, and the struggles to keep living.
*24. Use your mind to see.
*25. Time is the ultimate judge.
*26. Live the present. Live the moment.
*27. Wait 24 hours for goods or services less than $100 and 48 hours for greater than $100 to avoid the urge to splurge.
*28. Do the little things and they add up in time.
*29. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
*30. When you in a jam, go back to the basics. Go remind yourself the basics which is what I'm doing :D :D :D

My first blog was posted on Thur Aug 4, 2005. The 300th blog was posted on Sun Dec 7, 2008. Click http://ininblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/300.html to read the entire 300th blog detailing the top blogs.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri July 23-Wed Aug 4, 2010

2010-08-05T17:21:00.001-07:00

*I began listening to Beatles when I eat breakfast. I take a break listening to classic jazz.

*Ate at a fast food Thai restaurant for the first time. Fast food Thai?!? I also ate at Aqui restaurant.

*Drank mandarin lime soda and Faygo Red Pop for the first time.

*Successfully fixed my laptop cooler pad simply buying a cheap cooler pad and using the USB cord.

*Japanese manga. Finished reading the Fullmetal Alchemist manga. I caught up with the Bleach manga.

*Uploaded cosplay pics from Fanime Con and Anime Expo.

*Willow Glen Yogurt. I remember to order the child size, not the small size.

*Deposited money in the ATM for the first time.

*Finished watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood TV series. That series is my first anime BD purchase.

*Ate Suzy Q’s, a Hostess snack, for the first time.

Always Innovating and Changing Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri July 9-Thur July 22, 2010

2010-07-23T16:46:00.001-07:00

*Attended Paul McCartney's Up And Coming Tour at AT&T Park.

*Ate cold Pop Tarts and Baby Ruth Crisp candy bar, and drank Lipton Pure Leaf Green Tea With Honey for the first time.

*Finished watching the anime series Durarara, Angel Beats, and Working.

*Watched Inception movie. Sweet dreams XD I also watched This Is Spinal Tap. That was a stupid funny movie!

*Tried Baby Ruth crisp candy bar.

*Cooked using Harris Ranch marinade for the first time.

*My PC crashed. I installed Windows 7, the first time I use the latest operation system. I also purchased a new hard drive. My current hard drive was low on memory. Thanks to Appu and my dad for assistance.

*Updated my Yelp.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Random Timeline

2010-07-13T10:17:00.001-07:00

I share a random event or moment starting with 1980.

1980: I was captain of a group of kids in an actual train at a park in Alameda, CA.

1981: It was the year I started to attend a public school in second grade.

1982: I ate at Chuck E. Cheese for the first time.

1983: My family and I moved to a new house.

1984: I played GI JOE toys.

1985: My family went without air conditioning throughout the summer.

1986: My brother and I played arcade games every Saturday.

1987: I received my first stereo boombox.

1988: My first visit to a waterslide park in Manteca, CA.

1989: I biked to and from high school.

1990: I played Shadowrun, my first RPG.

1991: I got my driver's license.

1992: My brother and I got the Super Nintendo.

1993: I went biking from my house to Los Gatos during the summers.

1994: I got my first email address, a San Jose State account.

1995: A summer full of activities: whitewater rafting, Raging Water waterslide park, Santa Barbara, and Yosemite.

1996: My first retail job working at Blockbuster Video.

1997: Visited Grand Canyon and Las Vegas for the first time.

1998: My first real job working as a research analyst.

1999: Purchased my first stocks.

2000: My first and only experience inside a full nude strip club.

2001: Anime Expo took place in Long Beach, CA.

2002: My Dad, brother, sister in-law, and I went to a San Francisco Giants game.

2003: Two weddings in Southern California. In between, my family and I went to Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon.

2004: I wore a costume to an anime convention for the first time.

2005: I visited Canada, my first foreign country.

2006: I started to meet new people and make new friends.

2007: I started working at Cisco.

2008: I started to grow up.

2009: My braces were removed.

2010: Back to school. I'm taking accounting classes at De Anza college.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur June 3-Thur July 8, 2010

2010-07-09T13:14:00.001-07:00

*Watched animation and short movies at De Anza Film Animation show. Then some of us went to Outback Steakhouse. It was my second time at Outback. The food was actually good. It was a wonderful night afterwards.

*Danced the Rumba for the first time.

*New workout schedule when I have short time. I split my exercises into arms one day and cardio and legs another day. My workout schedule continues to improve.

*Cooked steak with garlic & bell pepper spice. I'm trying new spices.

*Ate at Potsticker King for the first time. The potstickers are huge.

*Finished Spring '10 quarter.

*Played Pandemic board game for the first time.

*Attended Anime Expo '10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Good con. After AX, we visited Little Tokyo and Harris Ranch restaurant and inn.

*Won my first Mah Jong (Riichi) round.

*Cleaned and rearranged my room.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Mon May 17-Thur June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T23:56:00.001-07:00

*Read Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

*Ate at Banana Leaf, a Malaysian and Thai restaurant.

*Purchased Vocaloid CDs. I have a total of four.

*Purchased a new pair of hiking pants and water bottle.

*Cooked a simple BBQ steak recipe consisting of soy sauce, ginger, and BBQ sauce.

*Shaved using the Mach 3 razor for the first time. The blades are cheaper than the Fusion razors. Three blades work well.

*Attended Fanime Con '10. Another good con.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Apr 30-Sun May 16, 2010

2010-05-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

*Routine house checks. I checked the first aid kid for expired medications and drugs. I checked the flashlight batteries.

*Updated my webpage www.innovateinfinitely.com. I uploaded pics from the 2010 San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival cosplay pics.

*Played four player Weiss Schwarz beta version.

*Attended ballroom dance lessons at San Jose State.

*Visited San Francisco.

*Celebrated Mother's Day.

*Tried Frost Glacier Freeze flavor Gatorade.

*Wore shorts in college lecture classes for the first time. PE classes excluded.

*Created rule #6 in my daily life rules: Breath with your nose and stand up straight.

*Worked out using my freeweights workout plan for the first time since around Nov '09.

*Signed up to be a member for Kinokuniya Bookstore. I get a 10% discount.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Answers To The Answers Are All In The Numbers

2010-05-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers:

1. How many years did it take to graduate with a BS in Economics from San Jose State University?
a. 4 years
b. 5 years
c. 5.5 years (I could have graduated in 5 years if I didn't change majors from mathematics to economics.)
d. 7 years

2. What was the mileage on my car the last time I changed oil on Feb 25, 2010?
a. 35,000
b. 36,489
c. 37,374 (I use Castrol motor oil and Fram oil filters.)
d. 39,976

3. What grade was I when I received my first kiss?
a. First grade (I accept "a".)
b. Fifth grade
c. Ninth grade
d. Tenth grade

4. What was the first Super Bowl I watched? (Numbers are not roman numerials)
a. 15
b. 17
c. 18
d. 21

5. What is my favorite number?
a. 1
b. 10
c. 40
d. 55

6. How many days did I wear my braces?
a. 555
b. 698
c. 936 (I love my new smile.)
d. 1,054

7. How many jazz CDs do I own?
a. 5
b. 9
c. 11
d. 18

8. What year did I visit a foreign country for the first time?
a. 2001
b. 2004
c. 2005 (Washington Canada trip where I visited Victoria and Vancouver.)
d. 2007

9. How many anime conventions did I attend? (Wonder Con '06 is included.)
a. 24
b. 29
c. 33 (13 Fanime Con, 10 Anime Expo, and more.)
d. 36

10. What is my favorite engine?
a. V4
b. V6 (I accept "b".)
c. V8

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Wed Apr 7-Thur Apr 29, 2010

2010-04-29T23:27:00.001-07:00

*Hiked at Pinnacles National Park.

*Upgraded my Edward Elric cosplay . . .

*. . . and I debuted Edward at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival.

*Finished watching Sora No Woto. The less known anime series is good. Amazing Grace!

*Learned Samba for the first time and took a Tango lesson at the San Jose State ballroom club.

*Attended Imagine Dance event.

*Purchased Avatar movie.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

I Question My Time

2010-04-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

Today's self interview question is my time. We all eat and sleep. We work, go to school, raise kids, retire, and/or be dependent for a legitimate reason. Or we're nothing, a bum, a loser.

What do I spend my time? How do I spend my time? What am I doing correctly? What am I doing wrong? How do I make my time more efficient; in other words, do more in less time. Am I doing too much of something? If yes, what activity needs to stop? I know I can do better. How? What? I find the answer in time. Here's what I do with my time currently:

Living In Present Time

I'm going back to school majoring in accounting. I also take a dance class. I spend time on homework and studying.

Outside school, the prominent activities are listening to music, cooking, working out at the gym, watching anime, writing blogs, updating Facebook, tweeting, hanging out with friends, and checking emails. I listen to classical music, classic rock, and classic jazz. I cook for my family. I want to learn more cooking to improve my skills. My cooking skill is survivable—I know enough to cook on my own. I workout two days a week at the gym. I want to workout three days a week. I watch about two episodes of anime almost every day. Sometimes I watch four episodes a day; sometimes I watch one episode a day. If I have a block of free time, then I watch anime in a marathon way. I write blogs at least two days a week. I update my Facebook using my cell phone and log on once a week. I tweet with my cell phone. And I check emails daily.

I also spend time ballroom dancing, playing board games, watching movies, and following sports. I have been taking dance classes since Spring '09. My sister introduced me to dancing in Jan '09. I want to dance more. I play board games. The recent board games include Mahjong and a Japanese card game called Weis Schwartz. My interest in movies came back in Summer '09. The summer movies overall were great. I watch a classic movie when I get the chance. The sports I follow are football and baseball. I follow a little basketball and hockey. I follow the headlines for the most part.

Reading books is another prominent activity I'm currently taking a break. I'm taking the time off reading books to watch anime. I started reading books as a prominent activity in 2002. I read business, self help, and leadership books. In Oct 2008, I started to read fiction books. I learned more about life reading fiction books than those self help books. I read more fiction than non-fiction books today.

The activities I rarely do include gamble and routine car maintenance such as change the oil. I check the tires when I drive long distance. I should check my tires more often. I want to hike more often.

I'm not an expert in one specific activity and not an expert on a general area such as "outdoorsman" or "geek" or "artist." I have a general broad array of activities such as school to earn a second degree, anime for geek, football for sports fan, books for me time, and cooking for domestics. And, obviously, I spend time to take care of myself including brushing my teeth, shower, laundry, iron clothes, and clean the house.

Eating And Sleeping

I must do something when I eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I rarely eat and do nothing. I read the newspaper most of the time; otherwise, I watch anime, DVDs, or sports on TV. If there is a family activity, then I eat with everyone.

I have been sleeping at least eight hours a night. I slept around six hours while I worked. I know experts say humans must sleep eight hours. I question the minimum hours of sleep. That's another discussion. Anyway, I want to go back to six hours so I do more everyday.

Spend More Time With Friends

I'm getting a better understanding some people are too busy to spend time with friends. They work and go to school and/or raise a family. Currently, I spend one day a week with friends. Sometimes I spend an additional day if I'm free from homework or there is an event or gathering.

I want to spend more time with my friends. One problem is I'm the lowest common denominator. They also have group of friends who are closer, more connected, and have more common interests. I want to find more friends, create closer groups of friends, be more connected, and share more interests.

What's Wrong With Your Time?

Having thought about my time, there is nothing wrong. There is always something to occupy my time. I'm rarely bored. I believe what's bothering me is not time. What's bothering me is right or wrong. Am I doing something wrong with my time such that I should have been doing something better? Am I making a mistake spending time on too many activities? Perhaps, I should have spent time on fewer activities so I'm closer to some of my friends. Lack of confidence is another concern. I lack confidence I'm spending time wisely on anything I do. Or is it something else? I'm not sure what I'm doing now is going to help me in the future. I find the answer in time.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

The Answers Are All In The Numbers

2010-04-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted a quiz. Here's something that took 15 minutes. Enjoy!

1. How many years did it take to graduate with a BS in Economics from San Jose State University?
a. 4 years
b. 5 years
c. 5.5 years
d. 7 years

2. What was the mileage on my car the last time I changed oil on Feb 25, 2010?
a. 35,000
b. 36,489
c. 37,374
d. 39,976

3. What grade was I when I received my first kiss?
a. First grade
b. Fifth grade
c. Ninth grade
d. Tenth grade

4. What was the first Super Bowl I watched? (Numbers are not roman numerials)
a. 15
b. 17
c. 18
d. 21

5. What is my favorite number?
a. 1
b. 10
c. 40
d. 55

6. How many days did I wear my braces?
a. 555
b. 698
c. 936
d. 1,054

7. How many jazz CDs do I own?
a. 5
b. 9
c. 11
d. 18

8. What year did I visit a foreign country for the first time?
a. 2001
b. 2004
c. 2005
d. 2007

9. How many anime conventions did I attend? (Wonder Con '06 is included.)
a. 24
b. 29
c. 33
d. 36

10. What is my favorite engine?
a. V4
b. V6
c. V8

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Do I Need Cosmetic Surgery To Look Handsome?

2010-04-11T22:45:00.001-07:00

The answer is no. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being handsome, I rate myself a 2. I know I'm not the best looking guy on the planet. My orthodontic treatment is almost complete. I'm wearing a retainer. I finished taking Accutane to solve my acne, blackheads, and whiteheads problem. I'm following a post-Accutane treatment. I rate myself a 4 after treatment is completed.

All is not lost. I believe I have everything to gain. I believe the older I get, the better I look—I become handsome climbing the scale. Here are some famous men I think the older they get, the more handsome they become: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Johnny Depp, and George Clooney. For females, Jennifer Aniston is the only woman I think of. I'm not sure she ever had plastic surgery. I really don't know. Christina Applegate is a maybe.

Watch the movie, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" starring Depp. He looked younger and really different. We all know Ford from Star Wars, Connery from James Bond movies, and Clooney from ER. I think Jennifer Aniston looked average in the early seasons of Friends.

I workout at the gym. Working out slows the aging process. I continue to grow old, I start to become handsome, and I stay fit.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

I Believe . . .

2010-04-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

*you have nothing, do nothing, get nothing, be nothing, and people treat you nothing.

*life is really not that bad. Skip one night of TV news.

*curses are meant to be broken.

*redemption is one of the best ways to learn—to learn from your mistakes.

*"I believe" is a good conversation starter.

*education is not always the answer.

*breakfast must always be eating to start the day.

I Continue To Innovate And Change Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Mar 26-Tue Apr 6, 2010

2010-04-07T01:57:00.001-07:00

*Ice skated for the first time. It was fun! I'm considering taking ice skating lessons in the summer.

*Played the card game Weedle for the first time.

*Updated my resume and cover letter.

*Purchased a pair of leather pants for my Edward Elric cosplay.

*Used a new kitchen knife to cook.

*Ate at the IKEA cafeteria for the first time. I just missed the breakfast.

*Corrected the way I use the dental floss.

*Updated my webpage www.innovateinfinitely.com

*Hiked at Point Lobos in Carmel, CA.

*Burned classic jazz CDs for my car. I found out my CD radio store up to six CDs.

*Anime: finished Kimi Ni Todoke and Kobato. Marathon Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's.

*De Anza Spring '10. Attended my first day of classes. I got all my classes.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Mar 6-Thur Mar 25, 2010

2010-03-26T00:58:00.001-07:00

*Created my Yelp list "Must Do Once In Your LIfe Or A Change In Your Mundane Life"

*Purchased new shoes for the gym and a pair of swim trunks.

*I realized I'm a good guy.

*Attended Nor Cal Cosplay Spring gathering. I cosplayed Haku from Spirited Away.

*Danced at the Dance-A-Thon fund raiser at the Starlite Ballroom.

*Finished Winter '10 quarter at De Anza. It's time to relax, catch up, reset for Spring '10, and seek new adventures and new experiences.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

What Are My Hobbies?

2010-03-06T14:20:00.001-08:00

I'm questioning my hobbies. The number one reason we have hobbies is to meet new people in my opinion. I list my hobbies with comments.

*Japanese Anime. I started in 1996. Anime has grown in me. I watch anime, read comic books (manga), attend conventions, and wear costumes (cosplay).

*Working Out At The Gym. Being physically fit is important to me. I workout three days a week.

*Hiking. My newest hobby. I have been hiking once a month; unfortunately, I didn't in Jan and Feb because of rain and school.

*Music. Classic rock, classical music, classic jazz.

*Video Games. The longest hobby starting with the ATARI. The video game I play are classic arcade such as Gauntlet II and TF2 (Team Fortress 2), my only video game I play on the internet.

*Books. I prefer fiction; however, I read a good nonfiction. I have not read books recently because I'm catching up with anime.

*Cooking. I have enough skills to survive. I lack skills for good tasting food.

*Board Games. Any board game I'm interested in playing. I include MahJong and casino craps. I haven't played poker in a long time.

*Dancing. I started in Jan 2009 with lessons from my sister. I'm taking classes at De Anza.

*Movies. I have a small DVD collection. I got a renewed interest in movies in 2009.

*Sports. I follow the football and baseball headlines. I follow little basketball and hockey. I know enough to at least understand a conversation.

*Television. I watch little TV.

What Are Your Feelings?

I feel I have too many hobbies. I'm not an "expert" or "advanced." I'm a casual at this. I'm a beginner at that. For example, video games. I love video games. I'm neither an expert where I win competitions nor an expert who follows video game current events. I'm not an expert to give a good opinion.

Anime is another example. I watch anime and read manga. I don't memorize the voice actors and actresses. My cosplays are not award winning. I haven't purchased an anime CD in a long time. I attend two anime conventions. No more. My manga collection is small.

Automobiles is another example. I didn't list above because I know little about cars. I like taking care of my car. I maintain my car to the best of what I know. I want to learn more.

What Else Are You Feeling Strongly?

I'm lonely. I have friends and I know people who relate to most of my hobbies. I'm missing the people in my life who relate to my hobbies closer. I'm missing the people with a closer connection. Don't get me wrong. The friends and acquaintances I get along well and I appreciate their friendship and the time spent with me. It's just I'm the lowest common denominator.

Maybe It's Who You Are, Not What You Know

Good thought. Who you are is more important than what you know. Perhaps I'm scaring people from interacting with me or perhaps I'm scared from interacting with them. I'm not attracting people. Or maybe for 35 years I fail to find people closest to me for long-term friendship.

What Lesson Your Hobbies Fail To Teach You?

Desire. Everyday I see people doing what they do best. I consider myself not an expert in all my hobbies. I didn't have the desire to be advanced, to be an expert, to be "wow, that guy is good." I started a hobby, got excited, and then the excitement stops. I lost interest to continue learning the hobby. I did the bare minimum. Why? It must be I have too many hobbies and I have nobody to share my hobbies.

What Hobbies Do You Quit To Spend Time On Others?

The answer is anime. I have been losing interest in anime. Moreover, anime is a hobby that's least likely to help me find a new job, help me earn income, help me learn life skills. Ironically and in all honestly, anime has taught me a few life lessons. And most of my friends are anime fans.

*thought* I just realized eventually I'm going to find new friends who relate to me closer to my current friends. That's sad. That's life. I want to reiterate the guys I hang out with for the last four years are great guys. These guys are important because without them, I'm truly lonely.

Remember You Wanted To Be A Jack-Of-All-Trades?

I remember. I wanted to be a jack-of-all-trades for all my hobbies. I don't consider myself that because there is a point in my hobbies I lose the desire to learn more. Maybe it's because I have too many hobbies and not enough time? Maybe I found a better hobby? I believe there's a better answer. I need to find the answer and move forward.

The Answer Is Simply Time

Possibly. Everyone has 24 hours each day. We can't be an expert in everything professionally and recreationally. Another possibly is what I said, "Maybe I found a better hobby?" I start learning and doing the new hobby and I spend less time on other hobbies. I feel sad I stop doing a hobby I really enjoy. I want to keep doing that hobby even if I spend less time. I don't want to quit that hobby. If I quit, then I lose most of my friends, and most of my friends are anime fans. I don't have time to be an expert in all my hobbies. I just said time. Can a person be an expert in all hobbies—even if the person has, say, at least ten? I think about time in another blog entry.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Feb 26-Fri Mar 5, 2010

2010-03-06T14:19:00.001-08:00

There are no positives. It's a temporary phase of down days. More positives are coming.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

What Are My Desires?

2010-03-04T02:17:00.001-08:00

Let's ask the question again. What are my desires? My desires are to continue growing up and finding who am I. Am I a kind person? Can I be nasty and kind? Can I be funny and silly and serious and smart? I want to be strong. I want to be successful and continue being successful and stronger. I want to catch up what I missed in my past from eating a new food to parachuting off an airplane.

I want to meet new people. I want new memories. I want to learn new skills. I want to innovate and change continuously. I want a new look on my face. Honestly, I don't like my face with acne and blackheads. Most people who look at me think I'm anti-social, too quiet, and too nice.

I want to move out. I don't know when. I don't know how. I don't even have the money. I'm going back to school to help me make the desire come true.

Some of my desires are open-ended and some are specific. One part of life is the unknowns, the mysteries in life. I say another desire is to seek the unknowns and mysteries in my life and solve them.

I ask the same question indefinitely as I continue to live my optimistic and soon to be happy life!

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Jan 12-Thur Feb 25, 2010

2010-02-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

*Learned how to use the DVR player.

*Watched X-Men for the second time on DVD. I thought I never saw the first X-Men. I actually did. I want to watch X-Men II, the best out of the triology.

*Car maintenance: tire rotation, tire balance, alignment check, coolant flush, transmission flush, oil change, and fuel injection cleaner.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Jan 22-Thur Feb 11, 2010

2010-02-12T19:54:00.001-08:00

*Found a IHOP restaurant closer to my home and is open 24hrs on Fri and Sat.

*Finished Umineko No Naru Koro Ni, The Sacred Blacksmith, and Nyan Koi.

*Ran 6.2mph on the treadmill, the fastest for me.

*Ate a Cliff energy bar after workout. The protein bars are expensive $-(

*Went salsa dancing at a free salsa lesson. I try to attend as many times I can.

*Attended City Lights Ballroom dance event.

*Purchased egg rolls at King Egg Rolls.

*Super Bowl XLIV. Great game! Ate pizza rolls, Tim's Potato Chips, and a chocolate soda for the first time.

*Sang a song for my midterm singing class.

*Went to Psycho Donuts for breakfast. Big, crazy donuts.

*Watched Avatar.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Jan 7-Thur Jan 21, 2010

2010-01-22T00:52:00.000-08:00

*I like Italian food. Ate at Pasta Pomodoro. I ordered the chicken pasta. Delicious!

*Purchased Simpsons Season #6.

*Hiked at Castle Rock State Park. My next hike I'm going to hike a new path.

*WatchedSherlock Holmes movie. I sneaked in Jujyfruit. I also watched Idiocracy on DVD. Carl's Jr. turns people to idiots. J/K.

*Removed maleware on my laptop. Safe Mode is F8.

*Finished watching Kannagi.

*Went salsa dancing. I want to learn more.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Dec 19, 2009-Wed Jan 6, 2010

2010-01-07T01:58:00.000-08:00

*Celebrated my sister's birthday. We watched The Blindside.

*Watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox and It's A Wonderful Life. Wonderful Life is an all-time favorite.

*More first time food and drink: ate Sour Patch candy, ate Mike & Ike candy, ate chili, ate ginger bread pancakes, and drank orange Qoo.

*I prefer to work out at night. I tried working out in the morning. Success! I have another option when planning activities for the day.

*Visited Star Trek exhibit.

*Caught up on recording my 2009 expenses to date.

*Celebrated Christmas with the family and my brother's house. We watched our traditional movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's A Wonderful Life is added Christmas 2010.

*Recovered from the stomach flu I got on Christmas Day.

*Updated my webpage Innovate Infinitely.

*One of my uncle's from SoCal visited the family.

*Watched the Riverdance performance.

*Marathon and completed Gurren Lagann. Also marathon and caught up with Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist manga.

*Last minute dinner at Tsing Tao.

*First day of school. Winter '10 began. I'm taking three accounting classes, social dance, and beginning singing.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

The Letter Of The Day Is "I"

2009-12-27T09:40:00.001-08:00

*I like taking naps. Everyone should even at work.

*I'm clumsy at love, but I'm a quick learner.

*I plan ahead. If my plans aren't working, I either rewrite the plan or forget it.

*I always find ways to avoid the usual daily life. I'm open to new ideas.

*I make mistakes and learn to be a better person.

*I enjoy both the indoors and the outdoors. Sometimes I feel like watching TV in the family room. Sometimes I feel like watching a movie in the theatre.

*I have the nerd and geek inside me.

*I'm a straightforward person. I suck at lying; although, I'm improving the little white lies ;)

*I enjoy random walking with random conversations. Quiet walking bothers me.

*I workout three days a week. Two days weights and one day cardio.

*I'm a do it now person.

*I'm a night (knight) driver.

*I actually like shopping. Reasons include I'm out of the house, I see the latest trends, and I see any goods I use with practical reasons. I never buy goods I see as junk in the future.

*I prefer to avoid eating Americanized Chinese food.

*I like to talk or I like to listen. I don't like silence.

*I eat hot dogs and fries plain.

*I wear boxers.

*I live life 80% with my gut feeling and 20% critical thinking.

*I began my wonder years in eighth grade. I'm a late bloomer.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Can I Find And Make New Friends Who Are Like Me?

2009-12-23T13:40:00.000-08:00

This is a personal critical thinking question. To avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications, I cherish, respect, value, appreciate, earn, and never take for granted my friends. I continue to be a friend and I hope my friends continue to appreciate and to accept my friendship. If you're on my Facebook, have your cell number, or we keep in touch in some way, then you're a part of me. Thank you!

I ask the question because the groups of friends I spend time with I'm the lowest common denominator. In other words, I have the least common interests, hobbies, experiences, attitudes, and personalities among my group of friends. There are times I feel left out. One can say I'm the quietest. It happens to all groups. I'm sure I'm not the only one with the same feelings. There are times I feel lonely because there are some activities I'm not invited for good reason since I don't do that or I'm doing something else my friends don't do.

Where are the people who are like me? Are there people who watch anime, play board games, read books, and also workout at the gym, listen to classic jazz (started Nov'08), cook, ballroom dance (started Jan'09), hike (started Apr'09), visit random places (want to visit more), and/or follow sports (I follow the headlines in football and baseball and some basketball and little hockey).

I just thought of a better question. Where are the people who have interests besides anime, board games, and reading books, and can I find them? For example, can I find somebody who works out at my gym and become friends? Almost everyone who works out workout alone anyways. Bad example. How about visiting new places in the Bay Area? How about going to a San Francisco Giants ballgame or watching sports at a sports bar?

I want to meet people who enjoy other hobbies I like to do. I must be having bad luck. Or maybe it's me not being good enough to attract more people and making more friends. The search continues.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

What Is My X Factor?

2009-12-21T01:29:00.001-08:00

Bill Gates' X factor is Microsoft. Kobe Bryant's X Factor is basketball. Meryl Streep's X factor is acting. Bill Clinton's X factor is politics.

What's my X factor? I don't have one, yet. I can't describe myself like those people above. I continue living my life finding what I what to do and what I'm going to do. Those answer what my X factor is.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Dec 12-Fri Dec 18, 2009

2009-12-19T13:15:00.001-08:00

*Attended my sister's dance performance.

*Purchased new digital camera for . . .

*. . . the Washington Canada '09 vacation. Visited my friend in Seattle. Highlights included visiting the Kinokuniya Bookstore; visiting Victoria, BC, Canada; and watched Point Break, Casablanca, Monty Python And The Holy Grail, Mr. Bean's Holiday, and a samurai movie.

*Purchased a second pair of jeans and a new watch for hiking and working out at the gym.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Dec 3-Fri Dec 11, 2009

2009-12-12T03:38:00.000-08:00

*Attended winter cosplay gathering at Christmas In The Park in Downtown San Jose. I'm a geek. We're geeks. I'm lost. Where's the exit?

*Completed Fall Quarter '09 at De Anza.

*Rearranged the furniture in my room. I used a new table for the Gaming PC including dual monitors using my old 19 inch flat panel.

*Tried Post cereal Waffle Crisp. Tasted like maple syrup.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

What Is Your Uniqueness?

2009-12-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

My uniqueness is lots of little things:

*Anime: Cosplay, cosplay photographer, Weiss Schwartz card game, host a panel, organized a cosplay gathering, watch videos, read manga.

*New Hobbies: Hiking, ballroom dancing, Japanese Mahjong, listening to classic jazz, reading fiction books.

*Me Online: Two blogs, personal webpage, Facebook, Twitter, AIM.

*Personality: Good conversationalist, kind, gentleman, action speaks louder than words, calm, positive, optimistic, observant, good guy.

*Long Time Hobbies: Working out at the gym, reading books, playing video games (not much, but still), cooking, playing board games.

*Looking Forward To: Learn more ballroom dancing, cosplay #7, catch up on anime, skydive, eat new foods, make new friends, visit new places to hike, watch a ballgame, grow up,. . . look forward to many more as I find new ideas.

We all change. Our uniqueness can change for the better. Always find new and better uniqueness infinitely. I always seek bigger and better uniqueness.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Fri Nov 20-Wed Dec 2, 2009

2009-12-03T01:25:00.001-08:00

*Played video games at Golfland for the first time in 2009. I played Razing Storm, a shooting game.

*More Ovaltine, Please. Drank the chocolate for the first time since I was a kid.

*Played Rat A Tat Cat card game for the first time.

*Purchased a squeegee for my car. My last squeegee the handle broke.

*Visited Gilroy Gardens with family.

*Met a friend from Southern California since last Thanksgiving. We ate at Yumi Yogurt.

*Caught up on writing blogs. Expect more blogs to be posted. I write a blog idea on paper. The problem was either I thought of a better blog idea and choose to write it or there was no time to write my backlog of blogs.

*Happy Thanksgiving Day. My family and I celebrated at my brother's place. We ate turkey. We watched our traditional movie, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles." I did different activities including playing video games and playing more video games.

*Black Friday Best Deals. Purchased GPS, a leaf blower, and 2.1 speakers. I looked at the Sunday ads following Black Friday. The Sunday ads deals sucked.

*Ate dinner at Clover, the first time I ate dinner. Usually, I buy their bakery breads. The dinner was delicious. I realized coffee is not for me.

*Went to Aki's Bakery and purchased a huge chocolate chip cookie and a cinnamon twist. Both were delicious. I can't wait to try their cakes.

*Registered for Winter Quarter '10 at De Anza college. I'm taking Financial Accounting II, Payroll and Business Taxes, Peachtree Software Training, Social Dance, and Beginning Singing. Beatles Rock Band!

*Participated in my dance classes Dance Demonstration, a dance event held once every quarter session. I danced the Nite Club Two Step and Cha Cha Cha.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Thur Nov 12-Thur Nov 19, 2009

2009-11-20T16:58:00.001-08:00

*I must remember to use olive oil more often to cook.

*Went to a birthday gathering. Ate a Chinese restaurant. The won ton soup was great. Went to a crepe place afterwards.

*Hiked at Castle Rock State Park wearing my new hiking jacket.

*Tongue Cleaner. Buy a tongue cleaner. It's located in the toothbrush aisle.

*Learned the importance to wash my face before shaving.

*Met with a friend I haven't seen in over a year. Ate at Red Robin for dinner. Tried the freckled lemonade for the first time. Then we went to a gaming gathering. I played Bang! and Dominion for the first time.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Positives Sat Oct 31-Wed Nov 11, 2009

2009-11-12T10:44:00.001-08:00

*Tried strawberry lime soda and gelato for the first time.

*Created a Twitter account. Tweeting is great!

*Checked first aid kit, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and flashlight batteries.

*Routine car maintenance. Tire rotation, tire with two screws fixed, and front end alignment. I may have front end alignment checked every 10,000 miles instead of 5,000 miles.

*Jogged to post office. Next time wait at least 30 minutes after a meal. Make sure my nose is clear of sinus.

*Ate at Ramen Halu for the first time. Best ramen I ate ever. Also ate at Red Brick Pizza. Pizza restaurant used non-real cheese.

*Won my first Japanese Mahjong (Riichi) hand.

*Watched Helvetica documentary. I watch again.

*Cleaned up my desk throwing away junk.

*Purchased UP! movie.

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Update The Introduction To Say You're Human?

2009-11-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Yes. I'm like the person next to me, you the reader, and everyone's cute faces I see daily.

I'm Raymond Mar. I'm a human being growing up and I'm tired of acting tough 24/7. I have strengths, weaknesses, and problems. I live to battle my weaknesses and solve my problems to become stronger. I'm lonely. Like millions of other people, I don't know what to do. There are new adventures, new skills, and new people to meet and to encounter. I continue to loosen up, be positive, be kind, and be optimistic. Never take anything and anyone for granted.

Here is the old one:

I'm Raymond Mar. I'm unemployed, live with my parents. I'm still growing up. I'm lucky I realize I need to and I am! Everyone has problems. I'm lucky my problems are really not that bad. I still seek new adventures, learn new skills, and meet new people and make new friends. I'm one of millions of people who don't know what to do. You're not alone. I have a positive and optimistic attitude. I'm loosening up. Never take anything and anyone for granted.

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I'm Human Just Like The Person Next To Me

2009-11-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Everyone around me is human. We are happy, sad, depress, cheerful, frighten, brave, angry, forgiving, lonely, friendly, crying, understanding, gloomy, laughing, lost, (have) resolve, loving, hating, respectful.

Humans are not perfect. We make mistakes and we learn from our mistakes. Gather courage to make mistakes and be wise to learn from them. Dealing and overcoming the pains determine how much we grow up. Walk tall with our backs straight up and our eyes watching, ears listening, and hands feeling.

We are lonely. Everyone is going to be lonely. Everyone is going to experience the lonely feeling. We meet new people and make new friends so there is one less lonely person in the world.

Humans have weaknesses. We gain strength overcoming their weaknesses, and that's victory. I'm tired of acting tough. I must be brave to show, to express, to tell everyone my weaknesses. My weakness is loneliness. I feel better letting it all out.

I want to tell everyone in the world I'm a human being. To avoid misunderstandings that really affects me, from my perspective, too many times for me. I'm a person looking for something. I don't know what. So then, what's holding me back?!?

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Positives Mon Oct 26-Fri Oct 30, 2009

2009-10-31T12:54:00.001-07:00

*Tried a cheaper milk brand. I saved at least a $1 a gallon. The cheaper milk is good.

*BevMo! Run. BevMo sells more than alcoholic beverages. I selected three sodas I drink for the first time. There is a decent selection of non-alcoholic beverages to expand your horizons. Avoid purchasing brand name sodas and bottle water because they're overpriced. Buy Ramune at a Chinese or Japanese store.

*Accutane. Doubled the dosage to 40mg.

*Ate at The Mini Gourmet, a 24 hour restaurant for the first time.

*Finished watching Bakemonogatari (Ghost Story).

*Helped a friend move to a new place.

*Borders Bookstore 40% coupon weekend. Purchased two Japanese comic books (manga) and checked out their free wifi with my laptop.

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Positives Fri Sep 25-Sun Oct 26, 2009

2009-10-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

*Played Balderdash board game for the first time.

*Learned how to play cribbage. I want to get a cribbage scoring board.

*Ate a falafel for the first time. Also drank strawberry milk for the first time.

*Also ate at La Val's pizza in Alameda, CA. The pizza place was the first time I saw Gauntlet I and Super Sprint video games. And I ate at Tsing Tao, a Chinese and Korean restaurant.

*Princess Bride. Finished reading the book. I watched the movie the next day. Highly recommended! As you wish . . .

*Pan fried tilapia fillets. I forgot to add ginger when I heated the cooking oil on the pan.

*Purchased a new pair of sneakers for casual outings. Also purchased a t-shirt. The last time I purchased a t-shirt God knows when. And I purchased a pair of jeans. The last time I wore jeans was in Aug 2005.

*I started to wear my wallet at my rear right pocket, the correct wallet pocket and I clip my cell phone on the right side of my belt. I'm now comfortable wearing shorts and pants.

*Watched Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and Where The Wild Things Are movie.

*I now brush my teeth left handed. I read an article brushing your teeth with your opposite dominate hand is one way to keep your mind sharp.

*Hiked at Castle Rock State Park. Minor incident. My car was stuck in a ditch. I called AAA for a tow truck. Then I hiked including visiting Varian Peak and climbed on top of Goat Rock for the first time. My shorts tore and I got a replacement at REI.

*Anime marathons. Finished 07-Ghost with a marathon eps 2-8. Finished The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya with a marathon eps 6-14. Caught up with Fullmetal Alchemist 2 with a marathon eps 20-28. Finished Tokyo Magnitude 8.0.

*Visited Queen's Donuts, a 24hrs donut shop. Also visited Mousier Beans, a coffee shop with wifi and power stripes.

*Found out my cell phone records video XD

*Accepted a challenge to learn Japanese Mahjong in ten days. I completed a cheat sheet to help learn.

*Tried apple and vinegar Kit Kat candy bar.

*Took my first mid-term. It was my first mid-term since I graduated San Jose State. I aced it.

*Dried clothes with Bounce for the first time since I was a kid. I think I need two sheets.

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Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Answers

2009-10-15T00:01:00.001-07:00

Here are the answers. I hope you did well and at least scored above 1,000pts ^____^

100pts: Where did Raymond Mar graduated college in 1997?
a. San Jose State University (BS Economics, Minor Mathematics)
b. Stanford University
c. Washington University
d. West Valley College

200pts: What car does Raymond drive?
a. Ford Crown Victoria
b. Toyota Camry
c. Honda Civic
d. Chevrolet Malibu

300pts: Titanic was a movie Raymond watched twice in theatres? What was his second?
a. UP (Actually, it was The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford in 1993. I didn't want to count it, lol)
b. Star Wars I
c. The Departed
d. The Matrix Reloaded

500pts: What dance did Raymond learn first?
a. Fox Trot
b. Lindy Hop
c. Nite-Club Two Step
d. Salsa

1,000pts: Who was Raymond's first character he wore a costume (cosplayed)?
a. Edward Elric (He saved me from quitting anime.)
b. Toushiro Hitsugaya
c. Haku
d. Tuxedo Mask

2,000pts: What is Raymond's favorite color?
a. Red
b. Blue
c. White
d. Brown

3,000pts: How much did Raymond paid for a cinnamon roll in 6th grade school cafeteria?
a. $.15
b. $.30 (The donuts, waffles, and cinnamon rolls were big and delicious.)
c. $.40
d. $.50

5,000pts: Raymond took three years of R.O.T.C. in high school. What was the highest rank he achieved?
a. Cadet First Sergeant
b. Cadet Second Lieutenant
c. Cadet First Lieutenant
d. Cadet Captain

10,000pts: What anime series did Raymond started becoming an anime fan?
a. Sailor Moon
b. Robotech
c. Tenchi Muyo
d. Ninja Scroll

25,000pts: What soda Raymond prefers for an ice cream float?
a. 7-Up (Critically speaking, 7-Up best soda. Just so refreshing! Nobody can't like 7-Up.)
b. Root Beer
c. Mountain Dew
d. Pepsi

50,000pts: What was the first fiction book Raymond read after college
a. The Catcher In The Rye
b. Lord Of The Rings
c. The Shack
d. The Choice (Reading fiction is a better way to learn life compared to nonfiction IMO.)

100,000pts: Raymond used Snoopy as a name for a business he played as a child. What was the business?
a. Supermarket
b. Bookstore
c. Discount department store
d. Used car dealership (I started playing Snoopy's Car Dealer after my parents purchased the family's first station wagon, an Oldsmobile `__^)

250,000pts: Who hit his first career grand slam at the Giants vs. Phillies game Raymond Mar's family attended for the first time in 1989?
a. Will Clark
b. Kevin Mitchell
c. Brett Butler
d. Greg Litton

500,000pts: Who was the make believe name of the criminal Raymond played cops and robbers in third grade?
a. Jimmy Brown
b. Owen Black
c. Edward D. Lewis (I even drew a picture who he looked like.)
d. Ronnie Silverman

1,000,000pts: Raymond almost repeated a grade in elementary school. What grade was it?
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 4th (It's true.)
d. 5th

Did you win 1,000,000 points? XD

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