Archive for the ‘Current Events’ Category:

Halloween and Racer 5

October 31st, 2007

Who doesn’t love halloween? Every year i have fun, but there’s always that “What the hell do i wear this year” dilemma. Well, this year i went back to my roots – beer and music. I seriously considered being a giant speaker – but its a bit too impractical for an active guy like myself. So that left me to stare at my favorite beer – Racer 5. While looking for a giant beer bottle costume, i noticed a speed racer outfit, and thought “Speed Racer 5” would be a good double costume. A couple days later, it was made (yes, i made the whole thing with some guidance from alice)

In searching for pictures of what speed racer and racer 5 looks like, i came across this awesome site called beeroftheday.com. It’s a really nice site – clean, tight, “less is more” philosophy .. great for when you’re drinkin’ beers.

Burningman is ON

August 19th, 2007

I’m finally getting in gear for this year’s Burningman. This will be my 9th year going. Yeah, i’m old, and nine times may seem like alot, but each year is different at burningman and for me (where i am in my life). Why do i keep going? why don’t i get burned out? Well, i see burningman as life – you get out of it what you put into it. You don’t have to party or drink or build large things that take all your time. You just have to participate. You do have to abandon some comforts of home, but you get more creativity and freedom in a larger context. I like that alot.

This year i’m going small again, minimal planning, small camp of friends tied together by the Monkey Island Art Car – brainchild of Sir Checkoway (and chef ben as the workhorse). The island is a ford taurus station wagon with the back chopped off, wood platform for the island, rocks, green plants, a generator, dj setup, and tastee beats. Right up my alley, and i’m lucky to have close friends that let me join in at the last minute. Sadly, i’m not staying with the brasstax bunnies – they’re way over at 3 o’clock and we’ll be at 9 o’clock area.

I’ve only been back in SF for about 2 weeks, so i’m still getting my feet wet in this year’s theme – the Green Man – but its right up my alley. Mainly cuz i’m looking into doing a Green MBA – environmentally and socially aware business – but i admit i’m still just looking.  But if you know me at all, you know i love nature – especially hiking in mountains.  I read that the man will be on a green mountain peak this year.  Can’t wait to climb that mtn !!

I also put together a list of DJ lineups at Burningman 2007. This will be updated till i leave on Monday. Enjoy.

VT Tragedy

April 21st, 2007

Yes, I went to school at Virginia Tech, where the recent tragedy occurred. I’m here in Asia and got the news a few days late, and i really don’t know what to say. The guy who shot and killed 32 others on Monday, April 16, was not … well …. and i feel for the families and those in Blacksburg who are coping with the tragedy. Thankfully events like this do not happen very often, but they definitely bring out the humanity in many of us. You can read many details from VT’s tragedy page., including a timeline of events. That is all.

A bomb?

February 1st, 2007

Ignignokt from Aqua Teen Hunger ForceSome news just really pisses me off. I hate to say this, but how stupid is our country? or are we really this paranoid? What i’m talking about is the bomb scare yesterday (Jan 31, 2007) in Boston. Look at this picture .. Does this look like a bomb to you?

“Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he’ll seek to punish those responsible, and indicated that the penalty could be two to five years in prison per count. . . [Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke said] Hoaxes are a tremendous burden on local law enforcement and counter-terrorism resources and there’s absolutely no place for them in a post-9/11 world” – freep.com

Aqua Teen Huger Force ChadYou’re logic is flawless, but i’m transmitting a better idea. I’m know i’m biased cause i see this picture and understand its a character (Ignignokt) from a cartoon show (Aqua Teen Hunger Force). But even if i didn’t, i still see it as character, and not a bomb. And how come out of the 10 cities that had these things, only boston freaked out? Seriously, If anything, it shows there we have a grey area that perhaps needs attention. I suggest a special unit of bomb experts in all major cities that should be first responders to stuff like this and assess if it is or is totally not a bomb (which all bomb experts would immediately do).

Bomb hoax? or funny, creative marketing? Read the Facts on wikipedia. Or see how they built it out of lightbright on youtube.

Props to stefbot for the heads up.