The Translation.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-07-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a little over a week since Michael Jackson passed away, and today was his memorial service at the Staples Center in LA. I am still very saddened by this and can't believe he's gone. No, I can't say that I was there from the start, I am quite unaware of his philanthropy, wouldn't do too well if I took a quiz on his life, and definitely wouldn't claim to be his biggest fan, but he was the first musical artist that I really loved. I didn't jump onto his fan wagon until after hearing his "Dangerous" album on cassette, but it didn't take long for me to realize how good he was and start digging into his other albums such as "Bad." I remember him coming for a concert in Honolulu and wanting to go so badly, but not being able to. I was so envious of those who got to see him and always wanted to see him perform live someday. That's one thing on my bucket list that I'll never be able to do, and I'm quite saddened by that.

Like many things in life, you really don't know what you have until it's gone. I think the world is experiencing that with Michael Jackson as I see his after death coverage on TV all the time and hear his music being played everywhere. It wasn't until recently that I came to realize just how many hits he's had in his career, so many that they can't fit onto a hits CD of his. We can try to think up names of the top pop stars of today and that's when we see that no one really is even in the same realm as him, and they actually all look up to him. Pop music wasn't the same after Michael Jackson came onto the scene, and neither was the dancing. No one did it better, it's as simple as that. Although I didn't know him personally, I, like many others, was a huge fan of his music and I feel like a part of me has gone in a way since he was the first musician I was a fan of. Rest in peace, King of Pop, you're the greatest to ever do it.

Google's Wave

2009-05-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

It seems that there are countless different social networks out there these days, each doing something better than the other. Google's Wave attempts to bring them all together and with Google's vast reach, it just may have a shot. It combines things such as a social network, GChat, email, pictures (Picasa), maps, Twitter, Google Docs, etc. all on a page that looks very cluttered at first. Some of the features include the ability to see letters typed in a chat in real time rather than waiting for them to finish the line and hit enter, work on documents simultaneously, interact on a map together, reply to specific parts of an email, and interact with other social networking sites from Wave. Oh, and spell check? Old school. Wave's version looks at the context of what you're typing, and automatically fixes your words accordingly. This is just a preview, Wave won't be in use until later this year.

Find Your Spot

2009-05-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

There's a website called Find Your Spot that helps you search for a location to live that suits you. Its accuracy remains to be debated, but it could give you some suggestions that may prove useful.

My (questionable) results:

1. Portland, OR
2. Oakland, CA
3. San Diego, CA
4. Little Rock, AR
5. Baltimore, MD
6. Washington, DC
7. Orange County, CA
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Baton Rouge, LA
10. Albuquerque, NM

And just out of the top 10: my hometown of Honolulu, HI at #11.

I'm quite certain that there were questions asked that I could've easily answered differently.

Beijing, Hong Kong & Macau

2009-04-21T14:07:00.001-07:00

I recently was able to take a trip to Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau. It was my first trip to Asia since 2001 and the first time I've visited each of these places. My expectations were low as I had heard mixed reviews from people who have been there. After getting a first-hand account, my experiences had exceeded expectations and it was a very enjoyable trip. My parents, who went there less than a decade ago, seem to think that I saw a very different place.

Possibly due to the Olympics in 2008, Beijing seems to be on the rise and in a rush to modernize. Their newer buildings are quite impressive and the people there seem to have cleaned up their act, for the most part. I even saw a guy wait until reaching a trash can to spit, imagine that. What can be seen, though, is the separation between new and old China, and it's clearly distinguished by walls around old communities in the heart of the city. How this is dealt with remains to be seen.

Perhaps due to my Beijing concerns taking over most of my thoughts, I really was surprised by Hong Kong. I marveled at their skyline and the way they condensed everything to fit on islands, I really felt like I had stepped into The Fifth Element. It definitely had an interesting feel of being an international city.

Due to being in Macau for only a day, I didn't get much of an experience there. I found much of it to be dirty and was not a fan of the casinos. Staying at a nice hotel with great service that sat across the street from rundown apartments of residents, I couldn't help but feel bad. I felt as if it was a country selling themselves out for casinos and tourists.

With so much of America focused on Europe, I strongly feel that Asia is not to be ignored. Although China has its own issues, its apparent ability to progress and modernize at such a rapid rate since my parents were there is definitely noteworthy.

Civil Unions?

2009-03-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

The states in which I've called "home" the longest, California and Hawaii, both have recently debated granting civil unions to homosexual couples. With Christianity being the religion I've identified (and wrestled) with the most, I find myself following arguments on both sides. I still can't say that I'm completely for or against either side, but I do think that equality as an American is important.

My current thoughts are these.

I think that religion should not completely influence government decisions and laws. Yes, it is a loose guidance for them, but beliefs from one religion should not dominate nor dictate the way every person lives their life, especially in the US. The Church has its followers that follow in various degrees, but the government's job is to make sure that all its citizens are able to live equally and happily.

With a heterosexual divorce rate at 50%, traditional marriage is not being protected with or without the discussion of homosexual civil unions. We can't choose to ignore the fact that divorce is against God's teachings as well. If we want to jump to extremes and use the argument that traditional marriage needs to be protected, then it should be fully protected. Marriage should be reserved for the religious or for the couples who are willing to forfeit their right to divorce in the name of God. Current and future "marriages" should be classified as "civil unions" where divorce is still an option.

With fewer and fewer people identifying with an organized religion and with a wide number of couples getting married outside the Church, it is logical to not apply religion to their unions. If the Church wants to maintain marriage the way it is now, they should not simply agree to marry any heterosexual couple that wants to marry, because they are well aware that the success rate is at an F grade. Their willingness to ignore this sad reality is a failure on their part to protect traditional marriage. Anything less than the full protection of God's teachings on marriage is condoning unequal treatment of American people and is half-assing their commitment to God.

As a heterosexual male, I admit, I'm not fully comfortable with this issue and I do feel that there are potential repercussions initially from having children with gay parents. Until there are no divorces, heterosexual parents are good parents and single people aren't allowed to adopt, however, I can't see any real justification as an American to consitutionally deny gays the right to civil unions.

Sixth Sense Mobile Technology

2009-03-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

Tom Cruise controlling computers with his hands in "Minority Report" looked pretty cool. It looks to be something that will happen faster than I thought. Our mobile phones nowadays can do so much; they let us access loads of information right in those devices. This new concept however, won't limit this porthole to a screen. Instead, it uses and interacts with the real world in front of you, letting you access information without ever having to pull out that ancient thing from your pocket. Didn't we just get cameras in our phones several years ago?!

Aloha Stadium Renovation

2009-02-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

It would cost at least $300 million to build a new stadium in Honolulu, one that would enable the University of Hawaii football team to play in and one that hosts the annual NFL Pro Bowl. It would cost a reported $180 million to renovate the stadium. I think spending more than half the cost of a new stadium on fixing one like Aloha Stadium is a waste of money and I'm not confident in the authority's decision-making. I've heard that they plan to keep the seats the same colors as they are currently (orange, blue, brown, red, yellow) and paint the stadium's frame green. Unsightly, if you ask me. Here's what I would like to do if I were in charge of renovating Aloha Stadium:

-fully Green seating (current color combo looks cheap, UH's color is green and it is more environmentally friendly)
-Light Grey stadium frame, walls and walkways
-full Field Turf
-Luxury Boxes converted from Brown level sideline seating on both sidelines
-Ribbon digital advertisements below Luxury Boxes and Press Box on both sidelines
-Video scoreboards in both endzones (replacing Jumbotron)
-joined 1st level seating in corners (helps make up for lost seating from Luxury Boxes and scoreboards)
-Walkway joining inner and outer 1st level walkways in corners (keeps breezeways, helps traffic flow, added possible vendor space)

This is in addition to the elevators up to the upper deck, structural reinforcements, possible escalators to the upper deck, etc...

Siftables: The Smart Blocks

2009-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

David Merril, an MIT grad, worked and presents Siftables. They are interactive blocks that can "communicate" with each other to help produce different outcomes. I really can't explain well, you just have to watch the video. They're a step up from old blocks we used to play with back in the day, just a little...

Those Ads Are Watching You

2009-01-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

It's just one of those things we read or hear about that really makes it seem like we are stepping into the future. Do you notice when you're searching online or are using GMail and ads show up on the side that are related to what you're looking for or are emailing about? Convenient, helpful and quite a bit scary.

Well this is where the virtual online world meets real life. Video ads in malls and what not can now have cameras hidden in them that are watching you. We have security cameras everywhere, big deal right? Well not only are they watching you, they are gathering information about you. This so-called "primitive" technology can determine your gender accurately 85-90% of the time, approximate age range and in some cases, your ethnicity. That means that companies can not only learn about who is passing their ad stations, but they can also show ads that are relevant to your demographic. As custom-fitted for you as their ads may seem, that just means that they have that much more information about you. The movie "Minority Report" shows a more advanced technology, eye-scanning cameras determine who you are and flash even more custom-fitted ads. That is in 2054 though, it's only 2009.

News Voices

2009-01-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever paid attention to how news reporters on TV sound? It is very dramatic, almost cinematic with its pauses, and it engages the viewers by keeping them in some sort of suspense wondering what's next or what happened. I'm not sure if it's overdone because some news is quite dramatic in itself, but some stories don't warrant that type of effect. I wonder if that says anything about our culture, one that is extremely interested in other peoples' lives and tragedies? I've always thought that clips and soundbites from long ago were strange in the way people spoke in the media, I'm quite sure those of tomorrow will feel the same about ours.

President Barack Obama

2009-01-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

The Presidential Inauguration was yesterday and I was lucky enough to catch the main part of it before tuning in to the CNN/Facebook feed for the rest of the day. It was quite nerve-wrecking to be honest, especially when he chose to walk during the Inaugural Parade. For many reasons, being a fellow Punahou alum being one, it was a very prideful day. I followed this election closer than any before, and I think it's incredible that I have witnessed history in the making...and in a way that people haven't before. As my grandma oddly put it, "It was just...awesome," a word I don't think I've ever heard her use.

2009

2009-01-01T19:08:00.000-08:00

It's crazy to me that we are already entering the last of the years with "00" in the middle, next year will be '10. It's not like nothing has happened since the Y2K scare, but it's amazing how time flies. I don't notice this on a day-to-day basis, but I do notice it when I travel home to Hawaii for the holidays. New Year's is a date we all take the time to think about the past and future, and I hope the future will be bright.

Election '08

2008-11-04T11:46:00.001-08:00

So today will be the second Presidential election where I am eligible to vote and that campaign I have paid attention to. I have found this one to be far more interesting, possibly due to a mix of the type of candidates that have run and because of the times. I am admittedly biased due to the fact that I have graduated from the same high school as Barack Obama, but even from the most objective standpoint I can come from, I find him to be inspirational and quite different from prior candidates. After traveling overseas and seeing how many view the US, I have come to understand the importance of not only what Americans think but what the world thinks. It is a global society after all. The entire process has been too long, but I think the Obama group has run quite a good campaign. I do feel that the country needs change, and not just as a slogan, but a different and more modern and accepting approach to the way we go about things. I don't, however, think that everything Obama has said he wants to do can be done quickly. I also think that there will be a lot to live up to should he win the Presidency. Hopefully the younger group will turn out and vote. Being a part of that group, I see many filled with excuses, lack of interest, or laziness. This is such a historic election at such a crucial time, I want to be proud to say that I was there and I voted in that election. Hopefully Obama will win and hopefully he will be the right one for the job.

Energy Drinks: Pushing Ridiculous?

2008-10-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of energy drinks ever since I was introduced to Red Bull about seven years ago. Since then, virtually everyone has entered the realm. After the 8 oz. market was saturated, in came the 16+'s with Rockstar, Monster and such. Then came the 5 Hour Energy Shots, followed by many more in a variety of different packages and tubes. I recently came across another trend which made me redraw the "WTF" line on the issue. It came in the form of a 32 oz. can which I find rather insane. Sure, Big Gulps are massive but at least they allow ice. Who can finish a 32 oz. energy drink while it's still chilled? By the time I finish that, I'll probably be way too bloated to do any of the activites I was drinking it for.

You really have to see it to understand. Keep in mind that the smaller Rockstar is about 16.9 fl. oz.

Get Cozi

2008-10-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

In a time where social networking sites and communities are flourishing (literally, there's a LOT!) from friends to travel to art to letting the world know where you are and what you're doing at the exact moment, there's one small group of people that have been overlooked: family. In a time where everyone is everywhere doing their own thing, it's hard to keep even the closest people to you organized and on the same page. I was amazed to stumble upon this site, Cozi, a site that connects your family members. You can create a family homepage equipped with a calendar full of everyone's schedules, grocery/shopping/to do lists, a family journal and a photo screensaver. If this was around when I was still living back home, we'd use this for sure!

Kina Grannis

2008-09-10T11:22:00.001-07:00

Since my friend labeled her as the next Michelle Branch or Avril Lavigne back in 2004 or so, I've been loosely following and paying attention to Kina Grannis. She happened to be his neighbor at his USC apartment in Troy Hall. It was to my surprise when I heard she was up for a Dorito's Crash the Superbowl contest in which she won, leading her to get her music video played during a commerical and an Interscope Records deal. This isn't new news or anything, but I figure I should put something up on here and she's talented.

My Time With You ft. David Choi

Stay Just A Little While ft. Emi Grannis

These Magnet Hearts

The Questions and Questions of Life

2007-12-25T00:52:00.000-08:00

Questions of fate, faith, destiny, choice, solemate, timing, and the meaning of life are among the ones that I never seem to be able to answer. How much of life is predetermined? What is my purpose? To be honest, I think these issues may simply be self-made in order to create a belief that life is something more than the basic animalistic birth-reproduction-death cycle. We need to feel that we live somewhere in between God and the wildlife but yet I can't help but keep wondering. I have a problem thinking that I had no part in the happiness in my life that I now have and that I can't do anything about my unhappiness. Of course, we cannot be in complete control of everything, but that's why we have God. By communicating with the higher power, we can at least have that power to maybe help influence the outcome. Even with these thoughts, however, I still feel the need to accomplish something through the choices I make. As to how, I'm not sure, I keep getting caught up in the questioning. I have a hard time believing that there is a map of our life layed out somewhere, and that map cannot be adjusted, adapted, or changed whatsoever.

Fight in Flight: Fight or Flight?

2007-08-14T02:06:00.000-07:00

The desire or need to travel on an airplane must be stronger than it ever was. I'd be preaching to the choir if I am to express my dislike with taking it to the air these days. My flying experience has been both good and bad, but after both flights on my most recent roundtrip got me worshiping every bit of free space around me, I began to wonder just how much our little bit of temporary real estate was worth. I may be coming off harsh, but should someone who is, say 6'2", 230lbs be able to purchase the same ticket for the same price as a petite woman whose eye level lies an inch above her steering wheel after filling up on half an extra value meal? I know it'd be more than offensive if ticket prices were related to a person's size, but as I sat there with my poorly cushioned ass in pain with a foreign leg and arm over my armrest and nowhere to move, I began wishing that each square centimeter had a price tag attached to it. Perhaps some who go too far, literally, should be required to pay an extra fee - heck, overweight luggage requires an extra fee because of safety so why not passengers? I know most times they can't help it, but since when was invasion justified and not an act of war? If I have to cross my arms and plaster myself against the wall as best as I can for five hours, aren't I not getting what I paid for? If I can't have my own arm spend time near my armrestville border without hitting enemy forces, then maybe I should get a discount or something. Even with the occasional beverage cart rounds, I still have to mentally focus myself to stay calm during the turmoil at the border. Is this a fight worth sticking out or should I do my best to either avoid the right turn into Coach upon entrance or even steer clear of the jetway entirely? First Class gets what they pay for but I was hoping Economy would still be above steerage. When we're only armed with a pillow and blanket in the fight for territory, it sure is hard to fly the friendly skies.

Fuck Haoles: The Syndrome

2007-06-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

There is an unquestioned point of view that is shared amongst many of those living in Hawaii - that mainland caucasians, or "haoles," are disliked for reasons stemming anywhere from appearance, lack of understanding of the local Hawaii culture, or simply from the way they go about their daily lives. Besides the native Hawaiians who believe they were unfairly treated by these Americans' ancestors, I find that this common outlook to be rather close-minded, unfortunately.

For a state driven by the success of its tourism, I find it ironic that so many of its residents dislike their visitors. The abundant Asian tourist population may escape with a mild snicker or a rude comment, however, the white tourist would quite possibly receive either, "fucking haole" or "stupid haole." Why is this? I unfortunately don't have an answer for this, but I would guess it would have something to do with either the conflicts between cultures, or that perhaps many of the locals on the world's most isolated islands just aren't cultured enough. Those fortunate to have experienced life at any level elsewhere seem to have a better understanding that there is much more of a world beyond the tropical beaches.

Of course, I am generalizing somewhat but I am in no way saying that there aren't those out there who haven't been "out there" who aren't so small-minded. There are many. What bothers me are the instances such as being asked, "Why would you want to go to school on the mainland? Everything you need is here." True, it can be said that everything you've experienced up to that point is everything, but what I wonder is how can someone grow up literally on an island, and not feel that the rest of the world has something to offer them? And to be quick at saying something like "fucking haole" on top of that, I just see it as arrogance from ignorance - oddly what we Americans generally suffer from.

The worst part of this syndrome, I feel, is that many locals' bosses at work are "stupid haoles." I hear this quite a bit. Now let's face it, the face of Hawaii is changing rather rapidly. Just as has happened in other desirable cities, the locals end up moving out because they can't afford to live where they grew up. The booming construction of homes in Honolulu are listed at prices that the majority of locals cannot afford. Who's buying them? - foreigners and "fucking haoles." Liliha and Ewa Beach are being bought up by outsiders; it would be unwise to think that those areas will be the same for much longer. As one who has grown up in Hawaii, it is sad to see this happening all while many locals of my age end up choosing to not go to college, or to drop out and work a low end, entry-level job which may be for a company managed or owned by a "fucking haole" who could afford to move into one of the new luxury condos. This, in the end, is an automatic submission to a higher power. "Fucking haole" ends up looking like an excuse, because while all this is happening right around them, they live as if they aren't helping the very thing they hate take place.

It's unfortunate that sometimes we have to adapt to change, especially when we're not ready for it or we simply are blind to it. I would hope that Hawaii's locals see that their world is changing whether they like it or not, and realize that they should do something positive about it. I would hate to go back to a home I don't recognize, all because some were too busy saying, "fucking haoles."