I can't stand it anymore! I have had enough of these stupid Apple/Mac fanboys. I am sick of hearing how Apple products are so perfect and everything else is crap. I am tired of the constant rhetoric that I should dump my PC and get a Mac. I am sick of hearing how Apple products "just work" and that other products are unreliable and crash all of the time. If Apple products "just worked", how come I just bricked my (Apple) iPhone when upgrading the OS when connected to my computer running (Apple) iTunes?! Let me explain...
I have an iPhone. It's sleek. It's elegant. It's easy to use. It holds my photos and music and lets me browse (most of) the web. It helps me pass the time while waiting in a doctor's office. On top of all that, it's a phone! It's a great device when it works.
But the iPhone is NOT the "Jesus" phone! It will not save your soul (unless you download the Bible app and believe what you read). It is not the best thing since sliced bread. It may seem like blasphemy but it does have its faults. For an OS that is lauded for stability, more apps have crashed on my iPhone than all of my Windows machines combined. For something that is supposed to "just work", right now it just works for only making emergency phone calls. My iPhone is telling me (in its Apple fanboy condescending way) to plug it into iTunes but it already is! Stupid iTunes does not recognize the device. If you think it's just a problem for running iTunes on Windows, try Googling "iPhone not recognized on Mac" and tell me how many hits you get.
Seriously, there is nothing more annoying than an Apple fanboy. They just repeat the same rhetoric that Steve Jobs brainwashes them with like a bunch of lemmings. The things that Apple fanboys used to complain about Microsoft now are equally applicable to Apple. "They always copy other people's products/ideas!" "They only care about money!" "Their products are buggy."
Stop trying to convince me to get rid of my PC and get a Mac! It will never ever happen. Macs are more expensive than their PC counterparts. The base price for a Mac Pro is $2,500! I spent less on my current rig and it sports a faster processor, more memory, more disk space, and a much better graphics card. I refuse to pay the "Apple" tax for inferior hardware. If I want to upgrade one of my components, I can replace that part on my PC. I couldn't do that if I owned a Mac.
Mac fanboys always say that you can do everything on a Mac that you could do on a PC. Wrong! Try playing the latest games on a Mac. Most of today's games only run on Windows. What's the point of paying all of this money for "superior" hardware but not being able to fully utilize it?
And why are things so black and white with Apple fanboys? You have to own an Apple product or you're getting a piece of junk. I love my PC but I'm not a fanboy by any means. My PC is great by itself. It doesn't need me to be an evangelist and tell everyone how great it is and how stupid they are for getting something else. If I find a better product that meets my needs at a lower price, I'll be the first in line to try it out.
Apple's latest product is the iPad. Starting at $499, it is far from revolutionary. It doesn't replace any existing products. The iPhone was great because it replaced my phone, laptop (for email/web surfing/watching videos), mp3 player, a watch, a calculator, and hand-held gaming console. It fits in my pocket and I can carry it around with me all day long.
The iPad allows you to quickly get on the web in a somewhat portable design. However, a netbook is just as portable and costs $150 less. An iPad allows you to type on its virtual keyboard but you'd get carpal tunnel syndrome if you had to type anything longer than a paragraph or two on it. Imagine me trying to type this blog post on an iPad! You can still type relatively fast on a netbook. The iPad doesn't even replace a laptop because you still need another computer with iTunes installed to transfer files back and forth.
The iPad doesn't have a built-in camera like the iPhone or most modern laptops. It doesn't have USB or HDMI ports. It doesn't support Flash so many popular webpages still won't work. It doesn't support multitasking so you're restricted to running one app at a time. The iPad would be great...if you're over 55-years-old. Sadly, that is outside of my demographic. It doesn't even make phone calls. My iPhone is better than this thing. It's just a big iTouch. They should have just called it the iTouch 2.0. For something that was billed as magical and revolutionary, I think a more fitting name would be the iDontCare.
Anyways, I'm tired of Apple telling us how perfect their products are when my iPhone is proof against that. I'd love to call Apple to complain but apparently, I'm only allowed to dial 911 right now. My phone doesn't work! I lost my mp3s! I can't play Bejeweled Blitz! If that's not an emergency, I don't know what is. I'm sick of Apple treating me like a child and telling me that it's for my own good that I can't run more than one app at the same time. I'm a computer engineer! I am pretty sure I can manage music playing in the background while I surf the web or read an email.
Well, thankfully AT&T is finally releasing several high-end Android phones soon. Even though I've had a lot of fun with the iPhone, it's time for me to move on. I can no longer support Apple and their evil empire. It's time to rage against the machine.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Father's Day Recap
This past Sunday I got to celebrate my first Father's Day as an actual father. I still can't believe that I'm a father now. I can't fully describe how happy I feel when I look at Daniel in my arms and watch him grow each day. I love the way his eyes lock onto mine when I'm feeding him. I've come to fully appreciate the gift that we call life, especially when he wraps his chubby, yet adorable hand around my pinky finger. I am blessed to have Daniel as my son.
The day started off with me waking up really late. Daniel had kept us up for most of the night so Tary and I were exhausted. He finally fell asleep but that's when I would start getting ready for Church. After a quick shower, we packed up Daniel and head out the door. We arrived at Church just in time for the singing of the 2nd hymn and before Pastor's prayer.
Today's sermon in 2 Samuel was about the consequences of our sin from the father's perspective. David was a great king, warrior, musician, poet, and religious leader. However, Pastor went on to explain that David clearly lacked as a husband and father. David's sins were great and we read about the various consequences which resulted from his sin and his attempts to covering them up.
Pastor explained that fathers ought to live for the Lord and to raise their children up to do the same. He concluded his message to the fathers in the congregation with the simple message, "Get to work". Amen.
The following note was included in this week's Church calendar. I thought it was noteworthy to include in this blog post because it provides excellent counsel to new parents like me. I definitely will revisit this list periodically as Daniel grows.
Counsel to Parents:
1. From day one teach your children obedience and respect for authority.
2. Teach them the relationship between privilege and responsibility.
3. Teach your children the relationship between actions and consequences.
After the service, we went to my parents' house to have a special Father's Day lunch. My brother, his fiancee, and Tary's parents also came for the food and fellowship. It really was nice seeing how happy our parents were to see and hold Daniel. On a side note, I'm glad I spoke with my mom the other week. She loves seeing Daniel when we come over each Sunday. And she definitely enjoyed babysitting two weeks ago when Tary and I attended a wedding.
After lunch, Tary, Daniel, and I drove to Buy Buy Baby to look into getting another baby monitor and to pick up some miscellaneous supplies. We have another baby monitor but we didn't realize the one we have does not have a parent's unit. You can view the video feed online (e.g., on your phone or laptop) but there is no sound which makes it kind of useless if you're sleeping in another room and can't hear the baby crying. So we ended up getting the baby monitor that I previously lobbied for. ;)
We stopped by a recently opened butcher shop, The Meat House, on the way home. Tary and I don't normally buy fancy cuts of meat from butcher shops so we were a little overwhelmed at the variety of meats and cuts. After asking for some recommendations, we picked up some steak tips, some ribs, and a rib eye steak. Since we bought so much food, we figured we should just invite the guys over for some BBQ so I sent out a mass text message.
By about 6 PM, I started grilling some of the steak tips. The meat was moist, tender, and delicious. We'll definitely have to buy more the next time we're there. My friends started to trickle in as the food started coming off of the grill. Tary pulled the ribs from the oven and they were fall-off-the-bone good! It's feels sooooo good to be on top of the food chain.
After everyone had enough to eat, we started a game of Star Munchkin with the Clown Wars expansion. It was another hilarious game full of plenty of blackmailing, bullying, some wasteful spending of "Level Up" cards, some fuzzy math, and ultimately ended with a 5-way tie for the winners. What made it even funnier was that there were only 6 of us playing.
So that was a recap of my first Father's Day and it was such a great day. I love being a father!
The day started off with me waking up really late. Daniel had kept us up for most of the night so Tary and I were exhausted. He finally fell asleep but that's when I would start getting ready for Church. After a quick shower, we packed up Daniel and head out the door. We arrived at Church just in time for the singing of the 2nd hymn and before Pastor's prayer.
Today's sermon in 2 Samuel was about the consequences of our sin from the father's perspective. David was a great king, warrior, musician, poet, and religious leader. However, Pastor went on to explain that David clearly lacked as a husband and father. David's sins were great and we read about the various consequences which resulted from his sin and his attempts to covering them up.
Pastor explained that fathers ought to live for the Lord and to raise their children up to do the same. He concluded his message to the fathers in the congregation with the simple message, "Get to work". Amen.
The following note was included in this week's Church calendar. I thought it was noteworthy to include in this blog post because it provides excellent counsel to new parents like me. I definitely will revisit this list periodically as Daniel grows.
Counsel to Parents:
1. From day one teach your children obedience and respect for authority.
2. Teach them the relationship between privilege and responsibility.
3. Teach your children the relationship between actions and consequences.
After the service, we went to my parents' house to have a special Father's Day lunch. My brother, his fiancee, and Tary's parents also came for the food and fellowship. It really was nice seeing how happy our parents were to see and hold Daniel. On a side note, I'm glad I spoke with my mom the other week. She loves seeing Daniel when we come over each Sunday. And she definitely enjoyed babysitting two weeks ago when Tary and I attended a wedding.
After lunch, Tary, Daniel, and I drove to Buy Buy Baby to look into getting another baby monitor and to pick up some miscellaneous supplies. We have another baby monitor but we didn't realize the one we have does not have a parent's unit. You can view the video feed online (e.g., on your phone or laptop) but there is no sound which makes it kind of useless if you're sleeping in another room and can't hear the baby crying. So we ended up getting the baby monitor that I previously lobbied for. ;)
We stopped by a recently opened butcher shop, The Meat House, on the way home. Tary and I don't normally buy fancy cuts of meat from butcher shops so we were a little overwhelmed at the variety of meats and cuts. After asking for some recommendations, we picked up some steak tips, some ribs, and a rib eye steak. Since we bought so much food, we figured we should just invite the guys over for some BBQ so I sent out a mass text message.
By about 6 PM, I started grilling some of the steak tips. The meat was moist, tender, and delicious. We'll definitely have to buy more the next time we're there. My friends started to trickle in as the food started coming off of the grill. Tary pulled the ribs from the oven and they were fall-off-the-bone good! It's feels sooooo good to be on top of the food chain.
After everyone had enough to eat, we started a game of Star Munchkin with the Clown Wars expansion. It was another hilarious game full of plenty of blackmailing, bullying, some wasteful spending of "Level Up" cards, some fuzzy math, and ultimately ended with a 5-way tie for the winners. What made it even funnier was that there were only 6 of us playing.
So that was a recap of my first Father's Day and it was such a great day. I love being a father!
Friday, June 18, 2010
2010 Boston Celtics - Final Thoughts
I am really depressed today. I live and die with my sports teams so my heart still aches after watching my beloved Boston Celtics lose in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It hurts knowing the C's struggled with injuries all year long, then suddenly get healthy when it mattered, and still come up short. It hurts knowing that this could be the end of the most recent incarnation of the "Big 3". But what hurts the most is that the Celtics lost to their hated rivals, the L.A. Lakers!
Now that I've had some time to reflect, I wanted to just share some overall thoughts from the series.
1. Even though I am extremely disappointed in how the season ended, I am still very proud of this Boston Celtics team and what they were able to accomplish. They battled injuries all year long. They struggled mightily down the stretch of the regular season. They proved that the regular season truly doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things as long as you're healthy entering the playoffs. The Celtics were underdogs in two of their Eastern Conference matchups and prevailed. They had the defending champs on the ropes and were a few minutes away from hoisting banner #18.
2. I really hate the officiating in the NBA. I don't know why I get so worked up over these games when I know the outcomes of most of the games have already been scripted. It's maddening when foul calls are so obviously one-sided. I understand that superstars get superstar treatment. Fans pay big money to see these stars perform like stars. But it's unfair that 2nd-tier superstars like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett don't get the same benefit of the calls. The refs absolutely ruined the first 4 games of the series.
3. People need to stop saying how much of a nice guy Derek Fisher is. I hate the guy. He just hacks and mauls Ray Allen while chasing through screens instead of trying to play real defense. He is the biggest flopper in the entire NBA. Every time he feels any kind of contact, he throws his arms in the air like he's been shot and always draws these [bogus] fouls. When he goes after loose balls, he's always elbowing people as if he just finished watching some highlights of Dwight Howard.
4. I didn't think it was possible but I really hate Ron Artest even more. He's another one of those maulers out there who he gets away with rough play all of the time. Then when someone stands up to him, he flops as well. I couldn't believe that in one sequence, he commits a hard foul on Garnett, Rondo comes over and lightly pushes him, and he flops backward like he got hit by a linebacker and draws a technical foul on Rondo. Are you serious?!
5. A part of me wants to give some credit to Pau Gasol in this series. But then the llama sounds take over in my head and those feelings disappear. He's grown tremendously since the last time these two teams have met in the Finals. He's probably the most skilled big man in the league right now. He's always a threat to consistently put up 20 points, pull down 10 rebounds, and get a block or two a game.
Unfortunately for him, he still plays like a Euro-weenie sometimes. He's another one of those notorious floppers. There are times when he'll graze Garnett's shoulder and collapse to the floor. He should win an Academy Award for his acting skills. Between Fisher, Artest, and Gasol, let's just call them the LA Fakers.
On a side note, Gasol wouldn't be so hate-able if he just went to thegroomers barber and just got a haircut.
6. Andrew Bynum is a beast when he's healthy and motivated. I don't think the series would have been close if he were at 100%. Too bad for the Lakers that he's got an injury history with his knees and he's only 22-years-old.
7. Rondo has grown tremendously over the past several years but he still has a long way to go. It was painful watching him at the free-throw line. I think he shot at around 25% from the stripe. To put in perspective how bad that really is, I can shoot better than that...with my left hand...with my eyes closed... after spinning 10 times on a dizzy bat. By the end of the series, Rondo was afraid to take the ball to the basket because he was afraid of either getting his shot blocked or getting fouled and being forced to toss up another pair of bricks at the rim. Without his dribble penetration, the Lakers were able to cheat off of him and make the Celtics' offense come to a grinding stop.
8. I feel really bad for Ray Allen. Contrast with Derek Fisher, Allen truly is one of those rare "good" guys in the NBA. He was on fire in Game 2 but he couldn't throw the ball into the ocean for the rest of the series. He just looked exhausted. His shots were flat and his legs didn't give him much lift. He played his tail off and did a serviceable job at slowing down Kobe. I have a feeling he might not be back with the team next year.
9. Speaking of feeling bad for players, I also feel horrible for Perkins. He gives you everything he has despite his limited skill set. But watching how he got injured was enough to make me feel queasy. I knew immediately he tore some ligaments. It was one of those rare times where I wish I didn't have HD. I hope he has a speedy recovery.
10. Why didn't the Celtic's get the ball to Pierce more? It seemed like when they went to him early and often, he would get into a rhythm and keep it going the rest of the way. And when Pierce was going, it usually spread out the floor so that other players had more room to operate. Good things usually happened when they had Pierce in pick-and-roll situations. Why they would abandon that makes no sense to me.
The Celtics' offense was just ugly in most of this series and was at its worst in Game 7. There was too much standing around. There were too many isolation plays. No one was moving without the ball or cutting to the hoop. There was no ball movement and when there was, it was a lazy pass which always seemed to get picked off and led to a layup on the other end. I guess the only rational explanation was that the Celtics ran out of gas at the end.
11. My overall opinions of Pierce, Garnett, Perkins, and Glen Davis remain the same. By now, you pretty much know what to expect each night from those players.
12. The jury is out on Marquis Daniels and Shelden Williams. Man, those players [stink]! I thought I saw their faces on the side of a milk carton this week.
13. I have never been a fan of Rasheed Wallace but I have mixed feelings about him. He gave us absolutely nothing during the regular season even though Garnett was hurt for a good chunk of it. True to his word though, he showed up in the playoffs...well, sort of. He played relatively well in Game 7. He still has a good post-up game so it drives me crazy when he parks himself behind the 3-point arc. He occasionally will drain a 3-pointer but he also routinely shoots an air-ball as well. He still can block shots pretty well but his contentious relationships with officials causes him to get fouls called on him. This of course sets off his inner Hulk which leads to a technical foul and free points for the other team. It's maddening.
14. I hate Kobe as much as the next guy but I must admit, he scares me every single time he touches the ball. He shoots the ball with such a soft touch that it seems that every shot has a fighting chance to bounce in. He almost single-handedly carried the Lakers to a comeback win in Game 5. As selfish a player that he is, he's done a better job of distributing and deferring in this series. Even when his shot wasn't falling in Game 7, he was still able to dominate with his rebounding and defense. I hate to say it, but he's a nasty player...but he still looks like a rat.
Well, it's been one tough season. I have no idea who's staying and who's gone. Maybe Doc Rivers will take a break from coaching to spend time with his kids. One absolute is that Pierce and Garnett aren't getting any younger. The Celtics definitely need to get younger, bigger in the front court, and find some more offensive players. This last loss was tough to take. I'm hurting inside. But no matter what, I'm still proud of my team. I'll be ready to cheer on my boys again next season. Go Celtics!
Now that I've had some time to reflect, I wanted to just share some overall thoughts from the series.
1. Even though I am extremely disappointed in how the season ended, I am still very proud of this Boston Celtics team and what they were able to accomplish. They battled injuries all year long. They struggled mightily down the stretch of the regular season. They proved that the regular season truly doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things as long as you're healthy entering the playoffs. The Celtics were underdogs in two of their Eastern Conference matchups and prevailed. They had the defending champs on the ropes and were a few minutes away from hoisting banner #18.
2. I really hate the officiating in the NBA. I don't know why I get so worked up over these games when I know the outcomes of most of the games have already been scripted. It's maddening when foul calls are so obviously one-sided. I understand that superstars get superstar treatment. Fans pay big money to see these stars perform like stars. But it's unfair that 2nd-tier superstars like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett don't get the same benefit of the calls. The refs absolutely ruined the first 4 games of the series.
3. People need to stop saying how much of a nice guy Derek Fisher is. I hate the guy. He just hacks and mauls Ray Allen while chasing through screens instead of trying to play real defense. He is the biggest flopper in the entire NBA. Every time he feels any kind of contact, he throws his arms in the air like he's been shot and always draws these [bogus] fouls. When he goes after loose balls, he's always elbowing people as if he just finished watching some highlights of Dwight Howard.
4. I didn't think it was possible but I really hate Ron Artest even more. He's another one of those maulers out there who he gets away with rough play all of the time. Then when someone stands up to him, he flops as well. I couldn't believe that in one sequence, he commits a hard foul on Garnett, Rondo comes over and lightly pushes him, and he flops backward like he got hit by a linebacker and draws a technical foul on Rondo. Are you serious?!
5. A part of me wants to give some credit to Pau Gasol in this series. But then the llama sounds take over in my head and those feelings disappear. He's grown tremendously since the last time these two teams have met in the Finals. He's probably the most skilled big man in the league right now. He's always a threat to consistently put up 20 points, pull down 10 rebounds, and get a block or two a game.
Unfortunately for him, he still plays like a Euro-weenie sometimes. He's another one of those notorious floppers. There are times when he'll graze Garnett's shoulder and collapse to the floor. He should win an Academy Award for his acting skills. Between Fisher, Artest, and Gasol, let's just call them the LA Fakers.
On a side note, Gasol wouldn't be so hate-able if he just went to the
6. Andrew Bynum is a beast when he's healthy and motivated. I don't think the series would have been close if he were at 100%. Too bad for the Lakers that he's got an injury history with his knees and he's only 22-years-old.
7. Rondo has grown tremendously over the past several years but he still has a long way to go. It was painful watching him at the free-throw line. I think he shot at around 25% from the stripe. To put in perspective how bad that really is, I can shoot better than that...with my left hand...with my eyes closed... after spinning 10 times on a dizzy bat. By the end of the series, Rondo was afraid to take the ball to the basket because he was afraid of either getting his shot blocked or getting fouled and being forced to toss up another pair of bricks at the rim. Without his dribble penetration, the Lakers were able to cheat off of him and make the Celtics' offense come to a grinding stop.
8. I feel really bad for Ray Allen. Contrast with Derek Fisher, Allen truly is one of those rare "good" guys in the NBA. He was on fire in Game 2 but he couldn't throw the ball into the ocean for the rest of the series. He just looked exhausted. His shots were flat and his legs didn't give him much lift. He played his tail off and did a serviceable job at slowing down Kobe. I have a feeling he might not be back with the team next year.
9. Speaking of feeling bad for players, I also feel horrible for Perkins. He gives you everything he has despite his limited skill set. But watching how he got injured was enough to make me feel queasy. I knew immediately he tore some ligaments. It was one of those rare times where I wish I didn't have HD. I hope he has a speedy recovery.
10. Why didn't the Celtic's get the ball to Pierce more? It seemed like when they went to him early and often, he would get into a rhythm and keep it going the rest of the way. And when Pierce was going, it usually spread out the floor so that other players had more room to operate. Good things usually happened when they had Pierce in pick-and-roll situations. Why they would abandon that makes no sense to me.
The Celtics' offense was just ugly in most of this series and was at its worst in Game 7. There was too much standing around. There were too many isolation plays. No one was moving without the ball or cutting to the hoop. There was no ball movement and when there was, it was a lazy pass which always seemed to get picked off and led to a layup on the other end. I guess the only rational explanation was that the Celtics ran out of gas at the end.
11. My overall opinions of Pierce, Garnett, Perkins, and Glen Davis remain the same. By now, you pretty much know what to expect each night from those players.
12. The jury is out on Marquis Daniels and Shelden Williams. Man, those players [stink]! I thought I saw their faces on the side of a milk carton this week.
13. I have never been a fan of Rasheed Wallace but I have mixed feelings about him. He gave us absolutely nothing during the regular season even though Garnett was hurt for a good chunk of it. True to his word though, he showed up in the playoffs...well, sort of. He played relatively well in Game 7. He still has a good post-up game so it drives me crazy when he parks himself behind the 3-point arc. He occasionally will drain a 3-pointer but he also routinely shoots an air-ball as well. He still can block shots pretty well but his contentious relationships with officials causes him to get fouls called on him. This of course sets off his inner Hulk which leads to a technical foul and free points for the other team. It's maddening.
14. I hate Kobe as much as the next guy but I must admit, he scares me every single time he touches the ball. He shoots the ball with such a soft touch that it seems that every shot has a fighting chance to bounce in. He almost single-handedly carried the Lakers to a comeback win in Game 5. As selfish a player that he is, he's done a better job of distributing and deferring in this series. Even when his shot wasn't falling in Game 7, he was still able to dominate with his rebounding and defense. I hate to say it, but he's a nasty player...but he still looks like a rat.
Well, it's been one tough season. I have no idea who's staying and who's gone. Maybe Doc Rivers will take a break from coaching to spend time with his kids. One absolute is that Pierce and Garnett aren't getting any younger. The Celtics definitely need to get younger, bigger in the front court, and find some more offensive players. This last loss was tough to take. I'm hurting inside. But no matter what, I'm still proud of my team. I'll be ready to cheer on my boys again next season. Go Celtics!
Monday, June 14, 2010
I'm So Nasty at Basketball
...against 13-year-old kids.
Recently, my friends and I have started playing basketball at a nearby playground. We normally play Ultimate (Frisbee) on Saturday mornings but with the Celtics still competing in the NBA Finals, excitement for basketball has peaked and we've been playing basketball instead. So this past Saturday, my friends and I started by shooting around for a bit. We then played a game of "Free" where basically it's every man for himself. Only four of us played but the scores remained close throughout so it was really fun.
Here were some observations from our game:
1. I shot free-throws like Shaq. No wait, I shot way worse than that. I shot free-throws like Rondo.
2. I can't hit a jump-shot to save my life. I could build a house with all of those bricks.
3. Apparently I run in slow motion and elevate like I have 10 lbs weights strapped to my ankles.
4. I am an expert at dribbling...off my own leg.
5. I have the conditioning of a nose tackle in football.
After the game of "Free", one of my friends had to leave to work on some wedding planning. The three of us who remained were then challenged to a game of 3-on-3 by some local youths, probably in their early teens. We accepted their challenge as a drizzle started to fall.
I was a little nervous. The kids had the edge in quickness and energy. They chased down several loose balls and were unafraid to make cuts to the basket. They seemed undaunted by the slick playing surface. Their tallest player was able to hit on a few outside shots.
Meanwhile, I am old and was pretty winded from our previous game. What I obviously lacked in energy, hustle, and skills, I had to make up for with my savvy veteran craftiness. I repeatedlyabused my old-man's move to back down my defender until he was directly underneath the hoop to score. I also got lucky and hit a few jumpers as well. The rest of my teammates moved well without the basketball so I was able to find them for some easy layups.
After watching the C's, I've learned a few things about help-defense. So on one play, one of our opponents was able to get past my teammate and was about to score on an uncontested layup. *SMACK* It was so much fun swatting the ball out of play, though it was probably a bit excessive against someone half my age (and possibly half my size). I suppose it could have been worse if I also yelled out, "Get that weak stuff outta here!"
My friends and I eventually won the game. Our egos will remain intact for at least another week. The final score was something like 15 to 11. It sure feels good to play basketball again. It feels even better that we won a game. And lastly, it feels good knowing that I still have some gas left in the tank.
Recently, my friends and I have started playing basketball at a nearby playground. We normally play Ultimate (Frisbee) on Saturday mornings but with the Celtics still competing in the NBA Finals, excitement for basketball has peaked and we've been playing basketball instead. So this past Saturday, my friends and I started by shooting around for a bit. We then played a game of "Free" where basically it's every man for himself. Only four of us played but the scores remained close throughout so it was really fun.
Here were some observations from our game:
1. I shot free-throws like Shaq. No wait, I shot way worse than that. I shot free-throws like Rondo.
2. I can't hit a jump-shot to save my life. I could build a house with all of those bricks.
3. Apparently I run in slow motion and elevate like I have 10 lbs weights strapped to my ankles.
4. I am an expert at dribbling...off my own leg.
5. I have the conditioning of a nose tackle in football.
After the game of "Free", one of my friends had to leave to work on some wedding planning. The three of us who remained were then challenged to a game of 3-on-3 by some local youths, probably in their early teens. We accepted their challenge as a drizzle started to fall.
I was a little nervous. The kids had the edge in quickness and energy. They chased down several loose balls and were unafraid to make cuts to the basket. They seemed undaunted by the slick playing surface. Their tallest player was able to hit on a few outside shots.
Meanwhile, I am old and was pretty winded from our previous game. What I obviously lacked in energy, hustle, and skills, I had to make up for with my savvy veteran craftiness. I repeatedly
After watching the C's, I've learned a few things about help-defense. So on one play, one of our opponents was able to get past my teammate and was about to score on an uncontested layup. *SMACK* It was so much fun swatting the ball out of play, though it was probably a bit excessive against someone half my age (and possibly half my size). I suppose it could have been worse if I also yelled out, "Get that weak stuff outta here!"
My friends and I eventually won the game. Our egos will remain intact for at least another week. The final score was something like 15 to 11. It sure feels good to play basketball again. It feels even better that we won a game. And lastly, it feels good knowing that I still have some gas left in the tank.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Munchkin
My friends and I have recently been playing addicted to a card game called "Munchkin". The game summarizes itself with the following: "Kill the Monsters. Steal the Treasure. Stab your Buddy." The game is played by taking turns flipping over cards and following the instructions on the cards. The cards are divided into two decks, "Doors" and "Treasures" which loosely simulates navigating through a dungeon, fighting monsters, and collecting treasures but without any of the serious role-playing stuff.
You start by "kicking down the door" by flipping over a card from the "Doors" deck. If you flip over an item card, you can equip the items (e.g., weapons, armor, etc). If a monster card is revealed, you must fight it or risk having "bad stuff" happen to you. The outcomes of combat are determined by adding your level (from 1 to 10) to your bonuses (from your items) and if that total number is greater than the monster's level, you defeat the monster and go up a level and collect some treasure (by flipping cards from a Treasure pile).
If you cannot defeat a monster, you risk having "bad stuff" happen to you unless you can run away by rolling either a 5 or 6. If you roll less than a 5, then you'll suffer whatever the "bad stuff" is which usually results in anything from losing items, losing levels, or even death. When you die, everyone else gets to loot your body (cards), you lose all of your cards, and then you eventually come back again.
In a fight, you also can request the help of one other player in exchange for some treasure or other arrangement. At that point, their bonuses are combined with yours when resolving the combat. However if the two of you still don't have enough combined points to defeat the monster(s), then each person must individually try to run away or facing having "bad stuff" happen to them.
One interesting twist is that other players can affect the outcome of anyone's combat. They can use cards that add bonuses to the monsters to make them stronger. They could use cards that reduce your bonuses or make you discard some of your cards. They could force other monsters to join the combat to make it even harder to win. Toward the end of the game when you get closer to reaching level 10, other players will tend to gang up on you to try to prevent you from winning.
The game is unique because the cards are intentionally worded to be slightly open to interpretation. That means that most cards have intended uses such as "Go Up A Level". A card like that would naturally be used on yourself to go up a level. However, one funny scenario is another player is fighting a monster which he cannot beat. Higher level monsters usually will not attack low level players so the "bad stuff" would not apply to them. However, you could use the "Go Up A Level" card on that player instead of yourself to force them to go up a level and be affected by the "bad stuff". Imagination and creativity are rewarded in this game and often with hilarious results!
We all really love this game. It's simple to get into, the cards and artwork are cute and the game purposely does not take itself too seriously. It's also hilarious when we're all backstabbing each other. On top of being a great game, it's relatively inexpensive at around $20. Munchkin also comes in many other standalone "flavors" with their own themes such as a Pirates theme, a Kung Fu theme, and even a Star Wars theme. Two or more of these sets can also be combined to make each new game a unique experience.
For more information about Munchkin, visit their official page.
You start by "kicking down the door" by flipping over a card from the "Doors" deck. If you flip over an item card, you can equip the items (e.g., weapons, armor, etc). If a monster card is revealed, you must fight it or risk having "bad stuff" happen to you. The outcomes of combat are determined by adding your level (from 1 to 10) to your bonuses (from your items) and if that total number is greater than the monster's level, you defeat the monster and go up a level and collect some treasure (by flipping cards from a Treasure pile).
If you cannot defeat a monster, you risk having "bad stuff" happen to you unless you can run away by rolling either a 5 or 6. If you roll less than a 5, then you'll suffer whatever the "bad stuff" is which usually results in anything from losing items, losing levels, or even death. When you die, everyone else gets to loot your body (cards), you lose all of your cards, and then you eventually come back again.
In a fight, you also can request the help of one other player in exchange for some treasure or other arrangement. At that point, their bonuses are combined with yours when resolving the combat. However if the two of you still don't have enough combined points to defeat the monster(s), then each person must individually try to run away or facing having "bad stuff" happen to them.
One interesting twist is that other players can affect the outcome of anyone's combat. They can use cards that add bonuses to the monsters to make them stronger. They could use cards that reduce your bonuses or make you discard some of your cards. They could force other monsters to join the combat to make it even harder to win. Toward the end of the game when you get closer to reaching level 10, other players will tend to gang up on you to try to prevent you from winning.
The game is unique because the cards are intentionally worded to be slightly open to interpretation. That means that most cards have intended uses such as "Go Up A Level". A card like that would naturally be used on yourself to go up a level. However, one funny scenario is another player is fighting a monster which he cannot beat. Higher level monsters usually will not attack low level players so the "bad stuff" would not apply to them. However, you could use the "Go Up A Level" card on that player instead of yourself to force them to go up a level and be affected by the "bad stuff". Imagination and creativity are rewarded in this game and often with hilarious results!
We all really love this game. It's simple to get into, the cards and artwork are cute and the game purposely does not take itself too seriously. It's also hilarious when we're all backstabbing each other. On top of being a great game, it's relatively inexpensive at around $20. Munchkin also comes in many other standalone "flavors" with their own themes such as a Pirates theme, a Kung Fu theme, and even a Star Wars theme. Two or more of these sets can also be combined to make each new game a unique experience.
For more information about Munchkin, visit their official page.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Next Face of Gerber?
I think we may have the cutest baby in the world. Okay, maybe I'm a little bit biased because I'm his father. But I can't help it that my ego gets a little boost when others tell us how cute our baby Daniel is.
One of our good friends sent us a link to a [baby] modeling company where you submit some photos and they'll get back to you if they select your baby for a photo shoot. Just for kicks, Tary sent in a pair of photos. To our surprise, late last week we received a call that they were interested in using Daniel for a bathtub shoot. They said they'd call back early this week if they wanted to proceed. Well, we got a confirmation this morning. Our little Danny is going to be a model!
This definitely will be a unique and interesting experience. The first thing that came to mind was I hope I didn't end up turning into one of those crazy pageant parents. I think I'm level-headed enough to avoid falling down that path. It'll be great to tell him about this when he gets older. Who knows, he may be the next face of Gerber. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
Tary and I have been considering our options for Danny's education. It would be nice to provide him with the best education that we can afford. But schools like Phillips Academy don't come cheap. We'll get some compensation in return for some photos of Danny and some of our time but every little bit helps in the long run.
It's kind of fun to speculate what Danny will end up doing when he grows up. According to our parents, he's going to be the President of the United States of America one day. My friends like to tell us that he'll be a professional athlete in the NBA or the NFL. He might just end up being an engineer like his Daddy. Who knows, maybe he'll be a movie star. Whatever he ends up becoming, I'm always going to love him. But as his father, I'm just so proud that my little man already has such a good work ethic. :)
One of our good friends sent us a link to a [baby] modeling company where you submit some photos and they'll get back to you if they select your baby for a photo shoot. Just for kicks, Tary sent in a pair of photos. To our surprise, late last week we received a call that they were interested in using Daniel for a bathtub shoot. They said they'd call back early this week if they wanted to proceed. Well, we got a confirmation this morning. Our little Danny is going to be a model!
This definitely will be a unique and interesting experience. The first thing that came to mind was I hope I didn't end up turning into one of those crazy pageant parents. I think I'm level-headed enough to avoid falling down that path. It'll be great to tell him about this when he gets older. Who knows, he may be the next face of Gerber. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
Tary and I have been considering our options for Danny's education. It would be nice to provide him with the best education that we can afford. But schools like Phillips Academy don't come cheap. We'll get some compensation in return for some photos of Danny and some of our time but every little bit helps in the long run.
It's kind of fun to speculate what Danny will end up doing when he grows up. According to our parents, he's going to be the President of the United States of America one day. My friends like to tell us that he'll be a professional athlete in the NBA or the NFL. He might just end up being an engineer like his Daddy. Who knows, maybe he'll be a movie star. Whatever he ends up becoming, I'm always going to love him. But as his father, I'm just so proud that my little man already has such a good work ethic. :)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Determined
Our little Daniel is a little more than 4 weeks old now. Where has the time gone? It's amazing how much he's grown in this time. He started off at a delicate 6 lbs 10.5 oz. and now he's a thriving 9 lbs 8 oz. His jaundice is gone. There was a brief stint of newborn acne which also came and went. Now he's built up an adorable layer of baby fat on his little body.
We as his parents have gone through our own set of changes. We have enough bags to fly around the world...twice. I went from being petrified of handling babies to becoming a baby-holding pro. Free time that used to be spent shooting baddies online has been replaced with changing diapers. Tary has always been good with children but it's a joy seeing it in practice.
I know everyone always talks about how tiring the first few months are with a newborn but you definitely don't know the feeling until you're up at 12:30 AM, 2 AM, 4 AM, 6:30 AM and then try to go to work the next day. We're tired but we love every minute with Daniel...okay, maybe we can do without the 4 AM feedings. ;)
But despite all of the early morning feedings and diaper changes, the most exhausting thing that we've had to deal with so far has been our family. Don't get me wrong; we love our family. They mean well but sometimes the "old school" ways of parenting just don't work here in America.
During labor, we chose to only inform our parents when it started but did not provide any additional updates until right after Daniel was born. I gave specific instructions that no one was allowed in with us other than the birthing staff. Knowing how Asian parents are, they would have come straight into the room with no respect for privacy. As much as we would have loved to share this experience with them, the idea of having 4 extra support people in the room was just too overwhelming.
The whole "lack of privacy" issue came up again the next day when everyone came to visit. Daniel was being passed around by the adults and he started to whimper to let us know that he was getting hungry. I let the people in the room know that it was getting close to Daniel's feeding time. Some of the ladies commented on how cute he looked as he was searching for food. Again, I reminded our visitors that it was almost time to feed Daniel. More time passed and again, they didn't get the hint. I had to lay the "Daddy-hand" down and basically tell everyone they had to leave (or at least wait in the family room nearby). *Sigh* Asian adults just don't understand that breastfeeding is an intimate, personal, and private thing and that they don't need to be there for it.
On top of the "not-respecting-our-privacy" thing, our parents and aunts were not shy about giving us plenty of advice, almost all of it was either outdated or just flat-out contradicted what the nurses have taught us. First, Tary was told not to eat beef, or sour food, or spicy food, or drink cold liquids. Btw, I'd starve to death if I had that kind of eating restriction put on me.
Then we were told to wash the baby at least 3 to 4 times a day. Of course the instructional video we watched said that every other day was sufficient. Next we were told to wash Daniel's umbilical cord frequently with alcohol but that also conflicted with current recommendations. On a side note, we followed the video's recommendation of only air-drying the umbilical cord stump and it fell off on its own on the 5th day. Then we were told to place him on his belly to sleep. Then a relative thought Daniel was cold so she placed several blankets over him, some covering his face. Tary promptly reached over and removed the blankets. Wow, how did we ever manage to reach adulthood? Lastly, we were chided for not having Daniel circumcised which we felt was unnecessary.
Fast forward a few days and Tary and I had just come home from the hospital and were completely exhausted. My parents, being that they live only a few minutes away, decided to come over unannounced. What would normally be helpful ended up stressing us out even more. The endless supply of advice continued. My mom freaked out when Tary was trying to wash the dishes. She didn't like the fact that Tary was touching cold water. She also freaked out when she saw Tary traversing the staircase. I asked my mom what new mothers did back in Vietnam. She replied that they were supposed to lie down for a month. I told her that Tary's already gotten a clean bill of health from the doctors and those mothers in Vietnam probably weren't allowed to touch water because of the lack of clean water there.
A week had passed and I returned back to work. While at work one day, I got a text from Tary saying that my parents had come over unannounced again for the third time that week. We were getting very stressed out by the situation so I had to say something. I asked Tary to pass her phone over to my mom so that I could speak with her. I tried explaining that we did not like it when they just randomly stopped by because it was really hard for us to take care of Daniel and get our things done. I asked her to call us first before stopping by. She got really upset and left before I got a chance to make it home from work. Man...
The next few weeks were awkward. Tary and I normally would have lunch at my parents' house after church each week. When the church service was over, we drove over to their house but no one was home. I called my brother to see if he was coming. He told me that mom made plans for that day. Too bad she didn't tell me that. The following Sunday, my mom made us lunch but she seemed distant. This past Sunday was similar. I couldn't deal with my mom being upset any longer so I sat down and talked to her. She instantly let out her emotions and was hurt that I would make my own family have to call ahead before visiting. I tried explaining that it wasn't just my parents that I don't want to come over unannounced. I told both sides of the family that. I then explained that we love having them be a part of Daniel's and our lives but they also had to understand that Tary and I are Americans and that Daniel was one too. The old Asian way of doing things are not always what are best for us. I also went on to say that we were tired of the constant advice because most of it was just wrong. I told her that many babies died when left on their stomachs. I hope my point was received but we're still praying that my parents would understand our feelings.
One of my best friends wrote on his blog about how happy he was for us and for Daniel. He also wrote about wanting Daniel to inherit my will to succeed in everything and Tary's kindness and gentleness. What's kind of funny though was that he also wanted Tary to help raise Daniel to not have my stubbornness. I admit that I can be pretty stubborn at times but I think a more fitting adjective is "determined".
I am determined to raise Daniel the best way I know how. I am determined to use common sense and let God be our moral compass. I am determined to not compromise on our beliefs to please the world or even family members if it conflicts with the Truth. I am determined to not repeat the same mistakes that many Asian parents make when raising their children.
One really annoying thing that Asian parents do is make fun of their kids in public. When Asian parents get together, they usually trade stories of embarrassing things about their kids, often with them nearby. These stories would draw laughter from the other adults but at the expense of their kid's self-esteem.
Another thing that Asian parents do is to over-exaggerate the accomplishments of other kids. They would say things like "Why aren't you like so-and-so's kid? He is in school for two majors and has a full-time job!" Of course, many of these accomplishments were just physically impossible to achieve. I suppose that Asian parents do this because they hope that you would aspire to match these accomplishments. Instead, I think it makes many Asian kids feel inadequate and never good enough in their parents' eyes.
So I am determined to not put down my child in front of others but to uplift him. I am determined to not use my son as a punch line. I am determined to not compare my son to some fictional and unattainable standard. I love our parents. I love them for their countless sacrifices so that we may have a better future in America. I may not always agree with their advice or methods, but I understand that they only want the best for us. So I am determined to be more patient and understanding, to discern what is good from our cultures and traditions, and to apply these lessons learned to be the best father that I can be. I promise you that, Daniel.
We as his parents have gone through our own set of changes. We have enough bags to fly around the world...twice. I went from being petrified of handling babies to becoming a baby-holding pro. Free time that used to be spent shooting baddies online has been replaced with changing diapers. Tary has always been good with children but it's a joy seeing it in practice.
I know everyone always talks about how tiring the first few months are with a newborn but you definitely don't know the feeling until you're up at 12:30 AM, 2 AM, 4 AM, 6:30 AM and then try to go to work the next day. We're tired but we love every minute with Daniel...okay, maybe we can do without the 4 AM feedings. ;)
But despite all of the early morning feedings and diaper changes, the most exhausting thing that we've had to deal with so far has been our family. Don't get me wrong; we love our family. They mean well but sometimes the "old school" ways of parenting just don't work here in America.
During labor, we chose to only inform our parents when it started but did not provide any additional updates until right after Daniel was born. I gave specific instructions that no one was allowed in with us other than the birthing staff. Knowing how Asian parents are, they would have come straight into the room with no respect for privacy. As much as we would have loved to share this experience with them, the idea of having 4 extra support people in the room was just too overwhelming.
The whole "lack of privacy" issue came up again the next day when everyone came to visit. Daniel was being passed around by the adults and he started to whimper to let us know that he was getting hungry. I let the people in the room know that it was getting close to Daniel's feeding time. Some of the ladies commented on how cute he looked as he was searching for food. Again, I reminded our visitors that it was almost time to feed Daniel. More time passed and again, they didn't get the hint. I had to lay the "Daddy-hand" down and basically tell everyone they had to leave (or at least wait in the family room nearby). *Sigh* Asian adults just don't understand that breastfeeding is an intimate, personal, and private thing and that they don't need to be there for it.
On top of the "not-respecting-our-privacy" thing, our parents and aunts were not shy about giving us plenty of advice, almost all of it was either outdated or just flat-out contradicted what the nurses have taught us. First, Tary was told not to eat beef, or sour food, or spicy food, or drink cold liquids. Btw, I'd starve to death if I had that kind of eating restriction put on me.
Then we were told to wash the baby at least 3 to 4 times a day. Of course the instructional video we watched said that every other day was sufficient. Next we were told to wash Daniel's umbilical cord frequently with alcohol but that also conflicted with current recommendations. On a side note, we followed the video's recommendation of only air-drying the umbilical cord stump and it fell off on its own on the 5th day. Then we were told to place him on his belly to sleep. Then a relative thought Daniel was cold so she placed several blankets over him, some covering his face. Tary promptly reached over and removed the blankets. Wow, how did we ever manage to reach adulthood? Lastly, we were chided for not having Daniel circumcised which we felt was unnecessary.
Fast forward a few days and Tary and I had just come home from the hospital and were completely exhausted. My parents, being that they live only a few minutes away, decided to come over unannounced. What would normally be helpful ended up stressing us out even more. The endless supply of advice continued. My mom freaked out when Tary was trying to wash the dishes. She didn't like the fact that Tary was touching cold water. She also freaked out when she saw Tary traversing the staircase. I asked my mom what new mothers did back in Vietnam. She replied that they were supposed to lie down for a month. I told her that Tary's already gotten a clean bill of health from the doctors and those mothers in Vietnam probably weren't allowed to touch water because of the lack of clean water there.
A week had passed and I returned back to work. While at work one day, I got a text from Tary saying that my parents had come over unannounced again for the third time that week. We were getting very stressed out by the situation so I had to say something. I asked Tary to pass her phone over to my mom so that I could speak with her. I tried explaining that we did not like it when they just randomly stopped by because it was really hard for us to take care of Daniel and get our things done. I asked her to call us first before stopping by. She got really upset and left before I got a chance to make it home from work. Man...
The next few weeks were awkward. Tary and I normally would have lunch at my parents' house after church each week. When the church service was over, we drove over to their house but no one was home. I called my brother to see if he was coming. He told me that mom made plans for that day. Too bad she didn't tell me that. The following Sunday, my mom made us lunch but she seemed distant. This past Sunday was similar. I couldn't deal with my mom being upset any longer so I sat down and talked to her. She instantly let out her emotions and was hurt that I would make my own family have to call ahead before visiting. I tried explaining that it wasn't just my parents that I don't want to come over unannounced. I told both sides of the family that. I then explained that we love having them be a part of Daniel's and our lives but they also had to understand that Tary and I are Americans and that Daniel was one too. The old Asian way of doing things are not always what are best for us. I also went on to say that we were tired of the constant advice because most of it was just wrong. I told her that many babies died when left on their stomachs. I hope my point was received but we're still praying that my parents would understand our feelings.
One of my best friends wrote on his blog about how happy he was for us and for Daniel. He also wrote about wanting Daniel to inherit my will to succeed in everything and Tary's kindness and gentleness. What's kind of funny though was that he also wanted Tary to help raise Daniel to not have my stubbornness. I admit that I can be pretty stubborn at times but I think a more fitting adjective is "determined".
I am determined to raise Daniel the best way I know how. I am determined to use common sense and let God be our moral compass. I am determined to not compromise on our beliefs to please the world or even family members if it conflicts with the Truth. I am determined to not repeat the same mistakes that many Asian parents make when raising their children.
One really annoying thing that Asian parents do is make fun of their kids in public. When Asian parents get together, they usually trade stories of embarrassing things about their kids, often with them nearby. These stories would draw laughter from the other adults but at the expense of their kid's self-esteem.
Another thing that Asian parents do is to over-exaggerate the accomplishments of other kids. They would say things like "Why aren't you like so-and-so's kid? He is in school for two majors and has a full-time job!" Of course, many of these accomplishments were just physically impossible to achieve. I suppose that Asian parents do this because they hope that you would aspire to match these accomplishments. Instead, I think it makes many Asian kids feel inadequate and never good enough in their parents' eyes.
So I am determined to not put down my child in front of others but to uplift him. I am determined to not use my son as a punch line. I am determined to not compare my son to some fictional and unattainable standard. I love our parents. I love them for their countless sacrifices so that we may have a better future in America. I may not always agree with their advice or methods, but I understand that they only want the best for us. So I am determined to be more patient and understanding, to discern what is good from our cultures and traditions, and to apply these lessons learned to be the best father that I can be. I promise you that, Daniel.
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