Saturday, December 25, 2010

Positives Tue Dec 14-Fri Dec 24, 2010

*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

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Positives Sun Nov 14-Mon Dec 13, 2010

*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

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I Remember . . .

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

Monday, November 15, 2010

Positives Sun Oct 31-Sat Nov 13, 2010

*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

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Positives Sun Oct 10-Sat Oct 30, 2010

*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

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Lost Feeling

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

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Positives Sun Sep 26-Sat Oct 9, 2010

*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

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Positives Sun Sep 19-Sat Sep 25, 2010

*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

Monday, September 20, 2010

Positives Sun Sep 5-Sat Sep 18, 2010

*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

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Let’s Talk About Summer ’09 and ’10

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

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Positives Sat Aug 28-Sat Sep 4, 2010

*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

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Update The Introduction To Say All Is Well?

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

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Positives Tue Aug 17-Fri Aug 27, 2010

*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

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Positives Thur Aug 5-Mon Aug 16, 2010

*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

Monday, August 16, 2010

What Do I Have That Keeps Me Having Friends?

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

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Short Q&A

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

Sunday, August 8, 2010

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

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

Friday, August 6, 2010

500

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

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Positives Fri July 23-Wed Aug 4, 2010

*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

Friday, July 23, 2010

Positives Fri July 9-Thur July 22, 2010

*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

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Random Timeline

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

Friday, July 9, 2010

Positives Thur June 3-Thur July 8, 2010

*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

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Positives Mon May 17-Thur June 2, 2010

*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

Monday, May 17, 2010

Positives Fri Apr 30-Sun May 16, 2010

*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

Friday, May 7, 2010

Answers To The Answers Are All In The Numbers

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

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Positives Wed Apr 7-Thur Apr 29, 2010

*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

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I Question My Time

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

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Answers Are All In The Numbers

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

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Do I Need Cosmetic Surgery To Look Handsome?

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

Friday, April 9, 2010

I Believe . . .

*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

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Positives Fri Mar 26-Tue Apr 6, 2010

*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

Friday, March 26, 2010

Positives Sat Mar 6-Thur Mar 25, 2010

*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

Saturday, March 6, 2010

What Are My Hobbies?

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

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

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Thursday, March 4, 2010

What Are My Desires?

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

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Positives Fri Jan 12-Thur Feb 25, 2010

*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

Friday, February 12, 2010

Positives Fri Jan 22-Thur Feb 11, 2010

*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

Friday, January 22, 2010

Positives Thur Jan 7-Thur Jan 21, 2010


*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

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

More Self Interviewing Questions

* I don't know.

*What do you want in life? I don't know.

*Why are you unhappy? I don't know.

*OK, then why are you happy? I really don't know.

*Why am I here? I don't know.

*Where am I going? I don't know.

*What do you want to do after you earn your second college degree? I don't know.

*Do you know what you're doing? I don't know.

The answers are coming soon. I don't know when.

I Continue To Innovate Innovating Common Knowledge

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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

*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