Hahaha... "Breaking teachers are everywhere"

So this little video I made got shared a few times, a few people told me I was viral.
breaking teachers are everywhere

I was like: "Viral? What viral?" Cuz I was SICK at the time too so yeah, I definitely WAS viral or bacterial or had something unbalanced in my system. The video was shared, mostly by strangers,  and liked up to about 570ish, by about 400 people that I don't even know.

Only about 130 of those 570 "likes" were my network of wonderful friends, truly amazing people, most of them. Haha. And I love the hell out of them. I'm blessed for the people I know in my life. They're probably amongst the ones reading this. Thank you for being in my life!

For the other 440, I guess a dancing professional is amusing to people. Refreshing to see. Engaging to students (I hope).

When I made the video, I didn't think much of it. Just responding to my friends tagging me in the Strife.tv video. It only took like 5 minutes, I figure I'd put the quote in at the end, to make it be about Knowledge ultimately. Knowledge reigns supreme.

Anyways, that was a pretty funny experience,

and that's not even my best dancing! Most bboys wouldn't like it, cuz it's not new or dope, it's just better than that older guys', but he deserves props too for getting down in the classroom and nurturing minds daily!!

Original video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151989988466655

In fact, truth be told, it's not even a great representation of real bboying, just a simple power combo.

To a non-breaking person, it looks hard. But to be honest, even to a 2-3yr bboy, that's a basic combo.

But the idea is POWER.

You thought it was hard?
What if I told you it's actually easy?

You can harness it, and it becomes easier once you have the Knowledge.
Everything is easier once you Know how to do it.
Knowledge makes things easier.
Knowledge is Power.
And having knowledge of your power makes doing powermoves easier.

Anyone can learn it.

So I had to wrap up at the end of the video: It's easy once you have the Knowledge, so the key is the Knowledge. That unlocks your abilities to do amazing things.

What did Kenneth Bae do to be imprisoned?

1/8 - Kim Jong Un's birthday - Rodman blows up on CNN, defends basketball game in North Korea

See video here:
http://www.newsmax.com/newswidget/dennis-rodman-cnn-north-korea/2014/01/07/id/545638

Rodman, in this interview, is not a coherent speaker, sounds like he's on one, but Charles Smith is delightfully articulate. Too bad the CNN host kept interrupting him.

Interesting part to me:
The host kept bringing the topic back to Kenneth Bae. Rodman, sounding offended, replied:  "Kenneth Bae did one thing ... If you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why? ... I would love to speak on this." But he didn't speak on it. And no, no one really knows why Bae is held captive, that's why people are mad that Kenneth Bae an American imprisoned in a PRK labor camp. So what did Kenneth Bae do?? That's what I wanna know.

In a quick search, I found that Bae, an American, gave tours of North Korea, from a business he ran, based in China. From CNN: "[In 2006] [Bae] established "Nations Tour," a China-based tour company that specialized in tours of North Korea."[1]

So I guess Bae would drive into North Korea and give tours???


"He created a tourism company called "Nations Tour" for North Korean special economic zone visits that were secretly Christian missionary trips"[2]. Gotta mention, it's illegal and punishable by death to practice Christianity or to own a bible in North Korea[3]. And if he gave tours of outskirt areas? What do you think his tours would have been like? Not a good depiction. And that's why the Kim Jongs would be mad. Plus they, Bae and his tour groups, were trespassing. He invaded North Korea with his tours. That's why he was imprisoned. Now we know, right?



From Wiki, North Korea claims these are the reasons Kenneth Bae was prosecuted:

• Working with evangelical organization Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Bae is accused of preaching against the North Korean government in American and South Korean churches.^[33]
• Planning an anti-North Korean religious coup d'état called "the Operation Jericho", a reference to the biblical city whose walls were toppled by the sound of the Israelites'trumpets. Which began in the US, South Korea and China long before Bae traveled to North Korea.^[33]
• Admitting to setting up bases in China for the purpose of toppling the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
• Encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government.
• Conducting a "malignant" smear campaign.[2]

What's messed up in NK is the executions.[3]

But screw it, they're there to play basketball! I'd like to see the game, America vs N. Korea!


Sources:
[1]http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/who-is-kenneth-bae/
[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Bae
[3]http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/11/north-korea-executions_n_4254893.html

Gorgeous Norwegian Auroras (pics)

Coinciding with the annual Geminids, a solar flare made its way to Earth, providing some beautiful light shows/auroras/Northern Lights. I will likely be in Alaska some day (or Iceland, or Norway), to see Northern Lights with my own eyes. That's a travel goal.

Is this the real life?

I saw some crazy streaking meteors the other night. Every December, when it gets cold, solsticey, and holiday music starts playing, it's time for Geminids. The Geminid meteor shower is named after the constellation Gemini, which is where the "radiant point" of the shower is. Most of the shooting stars will come from there. Cool thing is that Jupiter was IN Gemini the other night, so you can just stare at Jupiter in awe while catching meteors in your peripheral. I just laid out on my car, with a jacket and some music. Beautiful show. If you missed it, there's always next year.

Is this just fantasy?

So yeah, in studying History and religions, I'm big on celestial phenomena. What does it all mean? Does it mean anything? Can we attach meaning to it if we want? Yeah, that along with climatic, political, and economic destabilization.... but we survived 2012. We should be okay. At least we don't got giant mutated rats, like the Middle East... or killer hornets, like Japan.

Full moon coming up Dec. 17. Longest full moon of the year, they call it the Full Cold Moon, or the Long Night Moon, cuz it's closest to the Winter Solstice.

By the way, aliens are real.

Photo credit and more photos here: http://www.nrk.no/nordland/...

Beauty Abounds When You Look Around

There's a free show every night.
Just look up when times get dark.

We're floating through space, so during our brief existence on Earth, we can enjoy celestial events all the time, like sunsets, sunrises, moonrises, pretty clouds, and planets. What a blessing. These are the regular events.

I say beauty abounds because it's abundant, if you know where to look.

The moon changes color as it rises!

Cool thing about spotting planets right now, you can see Venus EVERY night, and Jupiter EVERY morning. They stand way out from regular stars, and are commonly mistaken for UFOs[1]. People used to think they were Gods, Goddesses... Venus, Jupiter/Zeus, Mars[2]. Ancient Cosmology first had me interested, back in 2007.

Tonight, 12/13/13, the Geminid meteor shower peaks. It's a special night.

Geminids are crazy!

If the sky in your neighborhood is clear, then this is the BEST meteor shower of the year. I was just talking to a buddy about tonight's meteor shower. We were in the car. He looked up in the Northwest direction and a streaking meteor. Then he saw another. Two meteors in the span of a minute. And the shower's not even peaking yet!

I remember seeing some Geminid meteors a few years ago, and they're not just little meteor flashes. Geminids are known to STREAK BRIGHTLY across the sky. They can be blue/bluish-green!

Colorful streaks like this!

It's an exciting year for space. For a lot of reasons, not just Comet ISON.

If your mind is feeling tense, go outside and try to CALM IT.
Have a seat, take a breath, and keep your EYES ON the sky.

New Life in New Orleans

It's been just over 4 months since I made the drive to New Orleans. Teaching Geometry/Algebra II in NOLA has been one of the major shifts in my life, both professionally and personally. I am learning new skills, gaining new experiences, and finding myself more.

Only took 2 nights. Great road trip.

My old life was... not bad. Still love my life and my people back in Cali, but a change was due. Can't be too complacent, had to step it up.

I actually felt like I wasn't growing enough in Cali, felt bubbled-in between OC and LA, and I wasn't contributing my full potential. Felt under-utilized at the school I was working at, and I felt unfulfilled at the sales job I had consulting businesses. I still don't feel like I'm at my fullest potential, but I've made significant changes in my life since last year.

Camping during our road trip (Kartchner Caverns, Arizona)

Anyone who knew me before would say that I stay up late, I wake up late, I can't cook, and I burn leaves. Although some of that is still true, my habits have improved considerably; I wake up way earlier, I'm less lazy, and am more confident in the kitchen now. My first consistently-paying full-time job really helps too. Along with the lower cost of living here. I feel like a more effective person overall. 

She motivates me to be a better person too (Riverwalk, San Antonio)

Just a year ago, in 2012, I was hardly employed. I did go on a neat vacation to SF with my GF, but it was all on a budget. I was not doing too well professionally, or financially. At least for my standards. The two years before that, I was working part-time at a middle school in Santa Ana (Mendez). Throughout that time, I was networking, looking for classes, seminars, professional/personal development. Bubbling ideas for an LLC. I spent a few months doing Sales and MLM...I may have bugged some friends. Good thing I'm not doing THAT anymore, riiight? Overall, great learning experiences in my post-college life, but I didn't find my niche yet. Still haven't, but much progress has been made.

Gotta enjoy the journey (live from somewhere... New Mexico?)

Been one heck of a ride! (San Antonio)

I view life in seasons and segments. Chapters. This has been a pivotal chapter for me.

I came to NOLA in June knowing one person (from high school), having no place to stay, and no car.
Got trained for 5 weeks, landed a job, met the dance scene here, lived in the French Quarter (which was a blast), and then flew back to Cali in July. 3 weeks went by fast. By the end of July, I was back in Louisiana, with my gf, who joined me for the road trip. Having her here made it so much different, so much better. Having a car helped too. With Mi's assistance, I found this great house to live in, love my house mates, love the location.

Seems like a good growing season. Been sowing seeds, watering daily, snacking on some fruits, and watching roots grow. Looking forward to what 2014 has in store.

Classroom Flows!

Actually wrote this in my car in an inspired moment.

Outside the mall. Then I bought shoes. It was a dope day.

States of Matter

by Tom T.

This is to my country like American Bandstand.

With the strength that allows my friends to easily get up into a handstand,

I take a panoramic scan, from Louisiana land to Uzbekistan.

Sometimes take a seat. Sometimes take a stand.

Sometimes take a walk, sometimes have a dance.

Sometimes you can advance investing summertime for a chance.

Searched for that rare knowledge.

With thirst for that air mileage.

My days back in college were amazing, life was solid.

Since then I learned to flow. Had to know, so I scholar'd.

(some Asian shit)

Aqueous. Rhyme spontaneous. No caging this.

It's hot like a Cajun dish.

Had to calculate the changing ex (change in x).

Say what's next, way complex.

Yet it's not hard to get like the distance to the vertex.

T encourage wrecks on the musical sets, burning flesh.

Breaking beats, earning cash.

Running fast as I mentally dash,

And flashback to my days late for class, chasing ass.

Learned enough to pass, hope I don't miss the Bruin Bash.

Out in Westwood, felt the blessing, It was Good.

Understood. Burn like a candle,

Know what you can do and determine what you should.

It's good to think but it's also good to act.

Can't be indecisive saying should this and should that.

You'll become a should-head, and fall on your ass flat.

That would be wack, so get on the right track. 

Say the wrong thing and you might get smacked.

It's time to take it back, like zoo animals to they habitat.

Shoutout to the bboys who don't need a mat.

No love for the ones who still don't know how to act.

We break on our back without breaking our back.

Strangers in the street get impressed and give us cash.

Straight up, no tax, now we can pay for gas.

Might get a 20 bag, hope to make it last.

Get that paper back.

Do the math.

Or feel the wrath.

I call it "States of Matter" cuz I play with that solid-liquid gas theme, and also, the United States... that matters.

Stream the Audio, or start to follow:

https://soundcloud.com/tomt-2/classroom-flow-states-of

Home-made Frozen Blueberry Cream Smoothie

I bought one of those invisible boxes full of blueberries, from the fruit aisle.

I turned it into this delicious serving of natural berry antioxidants,
which is way less expensive than a Jamba Juice or Boba store. Less sugar too.

Here's how I made this refreshing frozen smoothie, in 9 pictures:

1) First. I put the frozen blueberries in a big cup.

2) Then I added water to clean the blueberries out without abrasively damaging the berry skins.

3) Put the washed blueberries in a blending machine.

4) Added just a little bit of milk. Don't need much, plus it's saturated fat.

5) Then I added a vitamin shake to my berries and milk. 

I prefer Vi-Shape for nutritional content.

6) Set the cover in position...

7) ...Hit blend...

8) Done in about 5-6 seconds, no ice to crush, just berries.

9) Last step, drink!

I spot a parabola and an ellipse.

This feels pretty healthy. Super easy to make, process is simple.