I suppose I should be excited about this new dance reality show "Live to Dance," but the promos and brief videos I've seen are so saccharine-filled fluff that it hurts my brain. Bright lights! Standing ovations! Gushing judges! ZOMG! Paula Abdul! That said, I'm very excited to see Dax Hock and Sarah Breck on…
Thanks and Farewell to Global Kids
As a reader of this blog you know that in a few weeks I am moving back to my hometown in Bay Area California in order to be closer to my family and pursue other interests. After three years at the youth development nonprofit Global Kids, I thought it would be useful to recap how…
“The Lifecycle of Software Objects”: Intriguing Free Novella about Digital Lifeforms and Virtual Worlds
"The Lifecycle of Software Objects" is a fun and thought-provoking novella that should captivate anyone who is interested in artificial intelligence, virtual worlds, or robots. A near fiction story by Ted Chiang about a young zookeeper who is hired to help develop a line of new digital pets in a virtual world. Things are going…
Who Am I Not to be Brilliant?
I’ve probably shared this quote before, but I’m really feeling it today: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually,…
Rik Rides the Train: Playing Dance Central for First Time! (video)
Here's a somewhat embarassing video of me playing "Dance Central" on the XBox 360 for the first time at Spud's place. The song: "Com'n Ride It" by the Quad City DJs (1995.) The level: Medium. The experience: AWESOME. Damn, I really want this game now.
My NYC Bucket List
I've been working on my list of things I want to be sure and do before I leave New York at the end of January. Since I've lived here for so long, there aren't a lot of things I want to do that I haven't done. But there are a few that I'm itching to…
Visiting the San Jose Friend’s Meeting… and an Unexpected Memorial
The problem with memorial services is that the person being honored is not able to appreciate all the nice things that people are saying about her or him. At least, that' usually the way it goes. Today I visited the San Jose Friend's Meeting, a Quaker community that meets in the oldest Meetinghouse in California,…
Ridiculous Xmas Light Display and Nativity Set at “Bob’s Worlds” in Pleasanton
For Christmas Eve, the family decided to stop by "Bob's World" in Pleasanton, the home of Bob Stanley, longtime Pleasanton resident who has been creating ever-more elaborate holiday decorations outside his home for the past 20 years. What impresses you most about Bob's World is in the sheer AMOUNT of lighted Santas, reindeer, snowmen, cascading…
Christmas Giving 2010: Supporting Peace and Justice in Brooklyn, DC, and around the World
In these times, contributing to charities and causes is more difficult for many people, who often are struggling to make ends meet and worrying about the future. I'm more fortunate than many, in that I don't have to worry about how the rent is getting paid, putting food on the table or healthcare. (Well, at…
Kinky Ballgag Godzilla Attacks Christmas!
I don't usually catch these references, but come on, this Godzilla is totally into BDSM. Hopefully I'm not scarring for life the little kid I'm giving this to. Right now, I'm at home with my mom, doing last minute shopping, wrapping presents, grabbing burgers at In n'Out, making pumpkin bread pudding, and watching "Law and…