tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321534025406161192024-02-19T03:41:04.749-08:00Tenacity Bruinte·nac·i·ty
/təˈnasədē/
• the quality or fact of continuing to exist; persistence.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-71118488505530079512016-09-25T22:05:00.001-07:002016-09-25T22:05:27.348-07:00Vietnamese Intellectuals Against U.S. Aggression (1966)<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Vietnamese Intellectuals Against U.S. Aggression</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Book Review </div>
<br /><br /> Published in Hanoi in 1966, <i>Vietnamese Intellectuals Against U.S. Aggression</i> is the product of a strategic conference of around 650 Vietnamese delegates in North Vietnam during wartime. This meeting of doctors, engineers, scientists, researchers, and statesmen, including Ho Chi Minh and Pham Van Dong, took place on January 4, 1965, a date that the author notes is exactly 20 years after Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnamese independence. It took place in a Conference hall that overlooked the historic Ba Dinh square, where Ho made his declaration of independence. The task of the conference and the reason for its subsequently published book was equally historic: <u>to publicly establish their goals for peace not war, to evaluate their standing against United States, and to decide how to continue their national struggle for independence</u>.<br />
<br /> Firstly, to understand the book and the authors’ perspectives, we must consider the social, military, and political disposition of the North Vietnamese people during war time. In 1966, the United States was escalating their aggression in North Vietnam, and their occupancy in South Vietnam. At the time of the conference, the U.S. had increased the number of G.I.‘s in South Vietnam from 34,000 to 190,000 in the past year. Moreover, the war was extended to more air attacks over North Vietnam, targeting the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The intensification of warfare was combined with the takeover of socialism since the August Revolution in 1945. Despite the air bombings, North Vietnam was in a period of industrial, agricultural, educational development, and its leaders were trying to modernize the country. With these developments, the North Vietnamese built momentum in the two years leading up to the Tet Offensive. The book consists of a report by Professor Ta Quang Buu, a declaration against U.S. aggression, and various letters to audiences around the world. No single author is named, so I assume the book’s publication was a collaborative work of multiple writers.<br />
<br /> To place the book in the greater scale of global movements, the 20th century in hindsight had been a century of national liberation movements and de-colonialism, and Vietnam was hungry for its independence. The rhetoric of national self-determination and independence rang sweetly in the ears of the Vietnamese people, who have historically been invaded by foreign powers. After having to fight off China, France, Japan, and the United States, the Communist party was almost at the end of their long-fought battle for independence. This book was a show of Communist strength and resolve, a declaration to bring global awareness to their plight against U.S. aggression, and a plea to win the so-called “hearts and minds” of audiences around the world. Vietnam itself was ending its chapter on the war for independence, and they would soon win it in 1975.<br />
<br /> About half the book was a thorough, evaluative report, delivered by Professor Ta Quang Buu, who identified the hypocrisy of the United States as saboteurs of the 1954 Geneva Agreements, neo-colonial imperialists, and bellicose aggressors who jeopardize peace in North and South Vietnam, the whole of Indochina, and the world. He says that American leaders hypocritically cover up their occupation in Vietnam with a guise of being peace-makers, liberators, and restorers of the 1954 Geneva Agreements. He quotes Lyndon Johnson’s empty rhetoric about the “goodwill for peace,” “unconditional discussions,” and a “return to the Geneva Agreements.” Although he makes the North and South Vietnamese people seem victimized as if they did not break the agreements themselves, it is true that the U.S. maintained a political and military presence in Vietnam after the Geneva Agreements, with a puppet government of Vietnamese “advisers,” and a puppet army of American-trained Vietnamese soldiers. He said the U.S. dominated South Vietnam through invisible colonialism, pulling the strings to take administrative control of native puppets.<br />
<br /> Though it first sounds like a biased and exaggerated critique of U.S. actions, Ta Quang Buu actually makes a rational and well-substantiated case against U.S. aggression. He goes on to explain how the United States had fixed the election of Ngo Dinh Diem, had given him military and financial aid for years, and even prevented the scheduled 1956 election from happening. This is not in compliance with Pham Van Dong’s second provision in the Geneva Agreements, which held that foreign powers would have to stay out of Vietnam, militarily and politically. The report goes on to point out Lyndon Johnson’s escalation of the war into Laos and Cambodia, instead of bringing peace to the area. Ta Quang Buu criticizes U.S. imperialists’ policies of intervention and war, saying it would never lead to peace in Indochina. He makes the argument that the only way for the Vietnamese to have peace is to have independence; consequently, the only way to have independence is to have removal of the foreign presence.<br />
<br /> Ta Quang Buu critically analyzed the strong and weak points of U.S. power, and Vietnam’s advantage in the struggle against foreign aggressors. According to him, the U.S. was losing troops and airplanes, and suffered defeats from blows by the Vietnamese guerillas. At the same time, the U.S. lacked global and domestic support for their war, despite having the industrial advantage to overpower North Vietnamese forces. He identified the Vietnamese people’s advantage of having 20 years of experience in revolutionary war against the French, and over 2000 years of struggle against outside powers. Ta Quang Buu also noted that the implementation of socialism boosted North Vietnam’s productive industrial growth, and led to advances in agricultural yield and education (increased literacy and higher education rates). Unable to be free from party bias, Ta Quang Buu neglected to mention Communist losses and atrocities. He optimistically gave his support and all the delegates’ collective support for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and their Four Points for independence.<br />
<br /> After the professor’s report, the book dedicated several chapters to special letters, from the Vietnamese intellectuals, South Vietnamese intellectuals, Vietnamese intellectuals abroad, intellectuals in the United States, and intellectuals of the world. These letters appealed to the moral conscience of its audiences, continually thanking and giving appreciation for their support of the Vietnamese fight for independence, and making a case for the immediate cessation of U.S. aggression. In their letter to the U.S. intellectuals, the authors distinguish the U.S. belligerents from peace-makers and protesters. They distinguished their anti-colonial South Vietnamese compatriots from the ones who are misled by American propaganda. Based on their targeted audience (to whom the letters were addressed), I gather that the Vietnamese intellectuals were quite aware of their global and historical standing, and of the sentiments of other peace-making intellectuals about their situation.<br />
<br /> The timing of when Vietnamese Intellectuals Against U.S. Aggression was published is significant when it is placed with other relative events. Written 20 years after Ho Chi Minh’s 1945 declaration of independence, their long-awaited political sovereignty was within reach. The book was published in 1966, as the U.S. sent more troops and dropped more bombs into Indochina. It was written when the anti-war movement was still growing, before it reached its max; in fact, this book may have fueled that movement toward its peak. In 1966, North Vietnamese forces had not yet been decimated by bombs, and they were building up for the Tet Offensive two years later. The Communists and the DRV had reason to believe the momentum was shifting in their favor.<br />
<br /> The style of writing in this book was educated, eloquent, and argumentative. I can see the perspective of the book is one-sided, but the authors surely did not intend to present all sides of the argument, but rather to establish their side reasonably, so that others would know where they are coming from. Mentions of national self-determination and political sovereignty point to the fact the authors were aware of the trends of thought in the 20th century. The authors are not free of bias, however, so I would take some of their figures and arguments with a grain of rice. However, they make pleas for help and support, which are backed by logical arguments and evidence, and seem to have a genuine hope for independence. I found some of their arguments personally difficult to take in, because my family’s views are very anti-Communist. In writing this critique, I would not like to be seen as sympathetic to the Communists, but fair to all sides.<br />
<br /> Neither side is completely free of fault, but after hearing the Communist side of the war, the United States no longer seem like the peace-making liberators they portray themselves to be. This might have parallels to America’s current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Vietnamese Intellectuals Against U.S. Aggression is a great source for understanding the North Vietnamese perspective and intentions during the American-Vietnamese War period. It is a perspective that, when compared to the American side, is not well-explored in Vietnamese war literature.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-72714615360308780712016-01-19T13:37:00.002-08:002016-01-20T14:48:41.363-08:00I decided to chill on the SolarSee Previous post: <a href="http://www.tnasstbruin.com/2015/09/i-am-no-longer-teaching-math-full-time.html">I Am No Longer Teaching Math Full-time</a> <br />
<br />
HB Library on a Tuesday...<br />
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Coming to grips with my current job dissatisfaction. Classic millennial dilemma. <br />
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Started with this thought:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Screw working for the °Solar Industry, I’m going back to <u>teaching, dancing, and teaching dance</u></span>.<br />
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Those are my dharma <u>actions</u>, that’s what I <i>do</i>.<br />
That's what I've <i>been doing</i> as a private tutor, teacher, and dancer.<br />
I do that naturally and that's enough to make a living.<br />
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Separate are my <u>creations</u>, that’s what I <i>make</i>:<br />
Thoughts public, Moves, Connections, Lessons, Rhymes, Written compositions, Video Productions<br />
I do that with conscious effort, and that, I hope, will make a legacy after my life.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuESZafefepnyIe7PSdvEKIC6LG-xqwjp2pEquAQ8ch_x_-ju3JDhhdY51UlIl-g9kQtTDO8-m7t9IPcEE4iLKwQ05rSAAf5ewsfnqUgfohXo-hP0K-4hBQJCe4BkbVgTLcParjsq-VdT/s1600/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuESZafefepnyIe7PSdvEKIC6LG-xqwjp2pEquAQ8ch_x_-ju3JDhhdY51UlIl-g9kQtTDO8-m7t9IPcEE4iLKwQ05rSAAf5ewsfnqUgfohXo-hP0K-4hBQJCe4BkbVgTLcParjsq-VdT/s1600/sun.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still think the Sun is badass. This is Pluto's pretty blue sky.</td></tr>
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From my journal:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I think the Solar vision is in line with my philosophy, lifestyle, and world view about living on a space rock, but it’s not in line with my spiritual duty or course of work. I had fun permitting, but it was too easy, I was not being fully utilized, and when I got switched to sales, I basically sucked balls at that. I tried by best, but it was very difficult for me, and ultimately, Solar sales is not where I’m meant to be. I feel better tutoring and felt better teaching. That’s a sign I should align with that. Maybe Solar could be an auxiliary or supplemental component to my main purpose in life, but not at the forefront. I'm more fit to teach, dance, and teach dance. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Meanwhile, through my actions and creations, I aim to inspire,
encourage, and ignite passion. Ignitin’ day. If you feel the urge to
write, write away, you got the right of way. Ride the wave, its ups and
downs. Sure as the world is robust and round, the way we write/ride is
very much profound. Abolish the hate and let love surround. I love when
everyone I love’s around. Shout to Michael Jackson, James Brown. In
SoCal, back in town, not backing down. </blockquote>
^That happens every so often in my journal. Spontaneous word connections.<br />
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In a nutshell, I've been working in Solar since October, and I learned that although it was aligned with my philosophy, it was not aligned with my talents and skills; I thought I'd be good, but I sucked at it. And I'm excited to get back into teaching.. Whooo~<br />
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°I don't mean screw the Solar Industry itself, I like the industry, but working within it is not for me right now.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChMA9K4nUHkdel8wrDpR_bNZ-CUiZLTVIuZZdU19VgwNkxIY0UJGG22drsF4_lTznatiiQiFZzy2PLxiwFsPcIjikWNcnjTHnI6QzELiT6iqhXetBAGyGf0yY18IPstdc5_CJBgOHCPZy/s1600/sun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChMA9K4nUHkdel8wrDpR_bNZ-CUiZLTVIuZZdU19VgwNkxIY0UJGG22drsF4_lTznatiiQiFZzy2PLxiwFsPcIjikWNcnjTHnI6QzELiT6iqhXetBAGyGf0yY18IPstdc5_CJBgOHCPZy/s320/sun2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a bad-ass.</td></tr>
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<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-29388873765401641652015-11-17T10:51:00.002-08:002015-11-17T11:18:04.767-08:00Relevance of the Jasmine Revolution and the Arab Spring 2011Annotated from NPR article linked at the bottom:<br />
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The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia (a French colony, btw) started when a street vendor, and primary breadwinner for his family, was told he could not sell his fruit without a permit. Unable to provide for his large family, he set himself on fire in front of the govt office. I'm not sure how that helped his family, but the video went viral! And it led to a bunch of protests, a President step-down, and regime-change in Tunisia, 2011. Egypt followed same year in revolution, led by youth/secular activists, but after President Mubarak stepped down, the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group, was voted into power.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr9-7psV18TfoAEzn8rRbXsO8uxPYGUXEzIOpUfnN2osXIsbfrqyMN3QQvibHBAdwAmnbDLoHekwkcboSpY55ApCrzW9jmlEpwL2X3xFjLStzPP4ELWBkTRLgGvrRBFjF_V2pwaa720y7/s1600/mohamed-bouazizi-tunisie-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr9-7psV18TfoAEzn8rRbXsO8uxPYGUXEzIOpUfnN2osXIsbfrqyMN3QQvibHBAdwAmnbDLoHekwkcboSpY55ApCrzW9jmlEpwL2X3xFjLStzPP4ELWBkTRLgGvrRBFjF_V2pwaa720y7/s1600/mohamed-bouazizi-tunisie-300x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-Immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi</td></tr>
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While the youth focused on ousting the regime, political groups prepared to seize the impending power vacuum. The MB was popular, well-organized, and ready to win/dominate elections. Arab world, religiously conservative, want Islam in life affairs. Islamist groups want to enforce Sharia Law, oppressive to women. So far, revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTYIuZJkajaOd1Gw3M31pq1hqe_mRnfR-7iqdExfVvsi3va0vQEF56o8tNW-r66gwoJq3uxr560bthU4I0qQWlX1abzTVkGndSSDzVJ9KEPWdxSZuukn2gmHBhe9Hs6juyv4OpOo-nxg9/s1600/winning-the-arab-spring-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTYIuZJkajaOd1Gw3M31pq1hqe_mRnfR-7iqdExfVvsi3va0vQEF56o8tNW-r66gwoJq3uxr560bthU4I0qQWlX1abzTVkGndSSDzVJ9KEPWdxSZuukn2gmHBhe9Hs6juyv4OpOo-nxg9/s320/winning-the-arab-spring-2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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This period of revolutions was known as the "Arab Spring." It was followed by a period of wide-scale violence and political instability in the region, known as the "Arab Winter." Destabilized by rebel groups, like Houthis in Yemen, who ousted the new government while it was still fragile.<br />
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The Jasmine Revolution and Arab Spring in 2011 were uniquely Arab upheavals, other ethnic groups were not involved. Thus, these political stirrings are invariably connected to ISIS, current Middle Eastern instability, and international terror. <br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/12/17/143897126/the-arab-spring-a-year-of-revolution">http://www.npr.org/2011/12/17/143897126/the-arab-spring-a-year-of-revolution</a><br />
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Related post: "<a href="http://www.tnasstbruin.com/2015/11/the-connection-between-middle-eastern.html">The Connection between Middle Eastern occupation and Southeast Asian occupation.</a>"tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-26645304366573739962015-11-17T10:45:00.001-08:002015-11-17T11:45:57.484-08:00The Connection between Middle Eastern occupation and Southeast Asian occupation: For some related context, see: "<a href="http://www.tnasstbruin.com/2015/11/relevance-of-jasmine-revolution-and.html">Jasmine Revolutions and the Arab Spring/Winter.</a>"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western hegemony in the Middle East</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European imperialism in Southeast Asia</td></tr>
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<u><b>I Realized This Morning:</b></u><br />
<br />
-Although their situations are different, and certainly their methods for obtaining what they want are different...<br />
-What Islamic State wants politically CAN be compared to what the Communist Vietnamese wanted, after hundreds of years of degradation and European/Chinese occupation: National Sovereignty! I never even understood that phrase in AP Euro. But it makes sense now, they want Independence, their own state, they wanted to be sovereign rulers of their own land.<br />
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-Problem is, we don't trust them, and they're not proving themselves to be trustworthy. And their Sharia law is oppressive to women. End of the day, they're being jerks, and people would rather "bomb the shit" out of them than give them what they want, ESPECIALLY when...<br />
-They seem to have no forward-moving plan, aside from barbaric mass killings and beheadings, and smuggling/selling oil. There is a reason all these Syrians are FLEEING THEIR COUNTRY EN MASSE. Their actions are saying "Fuck THAT shit."<br />
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<u><b>The Positive Side of Islam:</b></u><br />
<br />
-On that note, I want to say something about Muslims that I've personally known and interacted with. Many of them are great people, diligent students, wonderful artists/musicians/activists, welcoming shopkeepers, and so forth. We should not hate them. They are subject to bullying and hatespeech in schools. I knew this poor kid when I was teaching, sharp student, but outcasted by his peers. I wish you the best, Ahmed! Unfortunately, that type of thing goes on in adult groups too, so we shouldn't direct anger toward our Muslim brothers and sisters, we should try to understand them, most of them want peace too.<br />
-I've also found almsgiving(donation of food/money to those less fortunate), one of the 5 pillars of Islam, is a worthwhile and spiritually rewarding charitable practice. <br />
-Abstaining from pig meat and intoxicants is commendable too, I can't do it, but I try.<br />
-Many rappers are Muslim or have espoused Muslim-derived ideologies, my favorites including Nas, Guru, Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Akbar, Jay-Z, Jay Electronica, and Wu-Tang Clan. The number of Muslim hip hop artists is not limited to my list.<br />
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<u><b>Nature of Islam: </b></u><br />
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-Because the religion lends itself to syncretization (merging with other people's existing beliefs), there are many types of Islam in different regions, and some are bound to be Extreme...ly obnoxious. Most are not Radical or violent. Many are peaceful, from American factions, like the Nation of Islam and the Nation of Gods and Earths, to Southeast Asian variants in Malaysian, Indonesia, and Thailand. In fact, I think there are more Asian Muslims than Arab Muslims... and I thought right, after a google check, 62% of world's Muslims live in South/Southeast Asia, and the largest Muslim country is Indonesia (ha, but knew that without Google). You don't hear from them as much because they're not as violent, and the Dalai Lama said most people just want peace and happiness, not violence and barbarism. Our intelligent species must know better than that if we are to save ourselves from ourselves. tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-29276291745712496092015-09-23T12:29:00.004-07:002015-09-23T12:43:56.217-07:00I am no longer teaching Math full-time.I got a new job in the Solar industry!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnUcm45IRaZBQNcCFqq9ZlSsvMrOOmF7E7ieyWgbMtXjWYXGdY0Eigvp0KQZ1BSE91OcGvqE3_zxwIQivGv5-KVBvjwntP-UsCAe4_GTMO3wyxPoizYPuxNlqhHRnLFibanUWFp1t3rbs/s1600/sunbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnUcm45IRaZBQNcCFqq9ZlSsvMrOOmF7E7ieyWgbMtXjWYXGdY0Eigvp0KQZ1BSE91OcGvqE3_zxwIQivGv5-KVBvjwntP-UsCAe4_GTMO3wyxPoizYPuxNlqhHRnLFibanUWFp1t3rbs/s320/sunbaby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm talkin bout the Sun, baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Why stop teaching math, Mr. Nguyen!? I won't stop teaching, and I'll still help ya, kid. <i>I will still provide private tutoring and dance lessons</i> upon request. But it's because my teaching license from Louisiana isn't accepted by the Commission for Teacher Credentialing in California.<br />
<br />
Also because I think solar/renewable energy is the way to go at this time, and there's future in it. <br />
<br />
Let's back-track a bit though.<br />
<br />
I left California in 2013 to pursue a full-time teaching position without racking up more college debt, under the impression that I could transfer my teaching credential in California after 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience. (See CTC website – <a href="http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl560.pdf">Route 2</a>)<br />
<br />
Sounds like a plan. All I needed was:<br />
<br />
•Baccalaureate from an accredited university (UCLA) √ <br />
•Basic skills requirement (I pass the CSET Maths I and II and CBEST) √√ <br />
•Letter of verification of my 2 years from out-of-state employer √<br />
•2 satisfactory performance evaluations from my employer √<br />
•Comparable teaching credential √.... but wait... <u>from Louisiana, it won't count</u>!<br />
<br />
So that's why that didn't work out for me. I'd have to go through a credentialing program, and I'd rather earn money than borrow more money right now, cuz I'm thinking of wedding and babies... ynahmsayin!!!<br />
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But it's not a total loss, because I got a lot out of my 2 years in Louisiana! I paid off all my credit card debts, paid down my student loans, bought a gas-efficient hybrid, met a ton of great people, trained/danced frequently, learned how to cook living on my own, and had enough saved to go on the best vacation of my life for 5 weeks, then stay funemployed for 3 weeks while I found a new job!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewVm-id76Rml-MEstsQ4Ep1Nf8_AajwzhjgCpz_-Du3FosbUIyJvfuXIdefbzRTwoK77Pd0041oy488s8FzbtajTGYcHYqif97fAu2oSWVFwVGTtJGihkBngqxgDmaA24ei1RJQBzuvf3/s1600/IMG_2459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewVm-id76Rml-MEstsQ4Ep1Nf8_AajwzhjgCpz_-Du3FosbUIyJvfuXIdefbzRTwoK77Pd0041oy488s8FzbtajTGYcHYqif97fAu2oSWVFwVGTtJGihkBngqxgDmaA24ei1RJQBzuvf3/s320/IMG_2459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding Oxen in Thailand</td></tr>
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So I'm not bugging, I'm super grateful to have left my Honda Civic in Louisiana, and to have come back with a Prius. I'm also grateful that I found a few jobs recently... went to 2 interviews and got offered both! I've been a Math Instructor in Cerritos for the past few weeks, but I will be leaving that position to start full-time at <u><b>Vivint Solar</b></u>, which I'm very excited for!<br />
<br />
Also just started driving for Lyft, it's fun, but not equal to a job. Extra $$ though. Flexible too.<br />
And I'm still putting together some short thematic books, to get them ready for publish and distribution! Very excited for that!! Get ready!<br />
<br />
Til next time... peace outside, peace inside.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-8249627166049393442015-09-11T15:54:00.000-07:002015-09-11T15:56:23.777-07:00Struggle is a part of life. Buddha said it.9/10<br />
If you're enduring a struggle, please understand that that's normal. Struggle is a theme that permeates our reality, from literature to history and religion. See in your own life. See in the lives of others. Everyone struggles, but as someone wise told me, "You can either break down, or break through."<br />
<br />
And some have learned to accept it as a part of life, a normalcy, and grow more successfully. Move beyond dichotomies of success/failure, toward a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness for what is given, for each blessing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, wrote this for my brothers who struggle too. It's okay bro!<br />
For my sisters too, who are so valuable to our society, yet bear burdens even heavier than the guys. <br />
<br />
Understand life's cycles. You may be in the negative for years, but if you stay on the positive slope long enough, you'll make it out. Things aren't always a straight line, very often life zig-zags, curves, and loops. It's all part of the roller coaster, gotta know both to really appreciate either, enjoy your ride.<br />
<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-55297303271919542102015-09-11T14:52:00.001-07:002015-09-11T15:27:36.880-07:00Recordings: Cycles/Enemies on the Inside/5 Ill Pieces9/11 recordings.<br />
I think they're all good, of course. The best one is 5 Ill Pieces. Hella raw.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaamOifcz8BKmE5cDDo_KftuXoa8MAaMoRUT8pkt9hJFty0ETILoTET5GzxjZto4pgpetqztJAmdqrJ1yIGbG65HzsARVbRD-xdk0nkmdaZauwxyOAlulkUCZqoEv8L1f12wLtAUFK0Mhr/s1600/StudioCar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaamOifcz8BKmE5cDDo_KftuXoa8MAaMoRUT8pkt9hJFty0ETILoTET5GzxjZto4pgpetqztJAmdqrJ1yIGbG65HzsARVbRD-xdk0nkmdaZauwxyOAlulkUCZqoEv8L1f12wLtAUFK0Mhr/s320/StudioCar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My car booth set-up was similar to this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Cycles 2:<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="180" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223444191&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
Enemies on the Inside:<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="180" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223449992&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe> <br />
<br />
5 Ill Pieces: <br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="180" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223433997&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-28053025516283066292015-04-12T19:07:00.001-07:002015-04-12T19:11:07.476-07:00Facebook De-activation Experiment (pt. 2)Day 3:<br />
- Found a profound and moving TEDx video, and felt compelled to share it with people. I didn't have an active facebook, so it went unshared. The video was brought to my attention through an email from my girlfriend. Thanks Mi ;)<br />
<br />
Here's that video though:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/21j_OCNLuYg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/21j_OCNLuYg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
- I also want to express outrage for the cop who gunned down the unarmed father of 4 who was running away from him. That's outrageous. I wonder why I feel the urge to express that to others. Ended up doing that in face-to-face interaction eating with a friend. Better than being a computer screen.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 5 of detox:<br />
- Early start to my day. I got the urge to complain yesterday when I got 2 shots in the butt at the doctor. It was very unpleasant, and an annoying pain (literally) in the butt. I guess funny stories are fun to share on social media. The doctor diagnosed me with Bronchitis and ordered my leave from work until Monday.<br />
<br />
(I didn't write much that day, went to Doctor's, pharmacy, bank, errands, etc.)<br />
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<br />
Day 7: The proceeding Sunday (4/12) after Detox<br />
<br />
Conclusions: <br />
- Though I've been doing other activities, I find myself no more productive than normal. If I don't distract myself with facebook, I distract myself with something else, and work is procrastinated and rushed eventually. That needs a fix, and I don't think it's a problem with FB. It's a problem with me, I've been feeling so much in a funk, not depressed, but I feel unmotivated to work, along with sadness and longing... also tired lately. I feel burned out from work. Reflections reflections... I gotta push through.<br />
<br />
- The main benefits of social media, for me, are:<br />
1) Being updated and connected to events - Knowing event details, FB events is helpful for that. Getting invited and inviting people to events, sessions.<br />
2) Sharing media, engaging in discourse about current events, topics of concern<br />
<br />
Essentially, it's a tool for <i>connection</i> with the world around you. Not disconnection. Social media can be both, and causes many to be disconnected. Gotta be aware of the borders.<br />
<br />
<br />
- The main benefits of not being on a screen, for me, are:<br />
1) Enjoying the present moment, awareness of surroundings;<br />
2) Alignment of the mental and physical states (mind is in the moment, connected, not distracted by cyberthoughts);<br />
3) Allowing the moment the happen without judgment; taking in the nuances of the immediate environment and finding joy from simple observation. That's pretty much it. tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-89367475286135406822015-04-12T18:46:00.000-07:002015-04-12T18:46:00.411-07:00Facebook De-activation Experiment (pt. 1)Last Sunday (4/5) I deactivated my Facebook! I was out for a week, and it felt great! It was the first time I had done that in the 9 years I've been on Facebook. I found some other things to do. These are the notes I took on Day 2 of 7.<br />
<br />
4/7 Blog: Facebook de-activation experiment (pt. 1)<br />
<br /> Why: <br /> ⁃ Someone introduced the idea of a "social media detox" to me a few months ago. I liked the idea, because it implied that social media, like water, can be a toxin at high enough levels, though useful at moderate levels.<br /> ⁃ More recently, I've felt my interest in facebook decreasing, yet time spent on it continued. My posts have felt half-assed, and my productivity has stagnated. Facebook thus became less useful and more of a timezap. Detox was in order.<br /><br />
<br />
Results:<br /> ⁃ Immediately after de-activation, it felt like a weight off my shoulders. No notifications to anticipate or wonder about (is that even normal? or a sign of disorder?). No need to update people with stati (though I enjoy doing that because of my geographical separation from home)<br /> ⁃ My deactivation began on Sunday, for 7 days. But on the same day, I needed to reactivate it because there was an event I wanted to attend, but didn't know the address! First incident where I needed facebook.<br /> ⁃ Also, I wanted to invite people to join me for an event, and I found facebook to be the easiest way to invite a bunch of people. Don't gotta pick up the phone or anything. <br /> ⁃ Also noting a change in my web-use, because one option (facebook) was eliminated, it allowed me to focus on other things. That's why you see a new blog. I should keep off facebook so that I can keep up with other things.<br /> ⁃ Though I find my motivation to get things done has not changed, still don't enjoy doing unenjoyable work, BUT my ability to get things done HAS changed due to a decrease in time/energy allocation toward facebook.<br />
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<br />
Findings:<br /> ⁃ I found the most useful thing about facebook is quick and easy communication with my network. Whether that's inviting, updating, or direct messaging...I only wish this communication was more in MY control (i.e. sending a message to everyone in a 20 miles radius, or to everyone in my SoCal networks), rather than relying on facebook's algorithm for what appears on someone's feed. I don't trust that algorithm, but I do enjoy the communicative infrastructure that facebook allows.<br /> ⁃ In the instance where I needed to find an address to an event, I found facebook to be necessary. In another instance, I wanted to search for someone, to see if they have a facebook. I could not access the search databases because my account was deactivated.<br /> ⁃ But damn, I got more shit done, and thankful just 2 days in, so far.<br /> tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-16487087205910084242015-02-25T18:02:00.001-08:002015-02-25T18:02:38.567-08:002 Recordings at 2am from my Car StudioI just bought a recording mic!!!<br />
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Enjoy these free MP3s!!<br />
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∞<a href="http://www.powerknowledge.org/uploads/3/4/7/0/3470947/tom_t_-_beginning_blessings.zip">Beginning Blessings.zip (3.1mb)</a><br />
§ 01_Just Beginning (prod. by DJ Premier)<br />
§ 02_What A Blessing (prod. by DJ Premier)<br />
<br />
Download ^that while you read this, it's only 2 song files.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKrdbUl2SwQ/VO59dVbftwI/AAAAAAAAAqY/_VlMg-vqvlA/s1600/mic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKrdbUl2SwQ/VO59dVbftwI/AAAAAAAAAqY/_VlMg-vqvlA/s1600/mic.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I grab the microphoneme, hold it tight.</td></tr>
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I recently got a mic to record higher quality audios for my audience. Though not a typical sound booth, it turns out that a CAR, while in park, has naturally good acoustics. The vibes are contained without dissipation, that's why music sounds great in the car.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup9b8P8iFZd6K65cBEiwVficncygDMZmvdNaH59TnMp8GaR81qAjB1_XndC9pvCURGseVHo2s3BM-nt0m506OUkAY0EtCjUEKzCaadZ9vPbc2545SjGEzNwJwGjXJv-0R9O90GLwu4PYV/s1600/carstudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup9b8P8iFZd6K65cBEiwVficncygDMZmvdNaH59TnMp8GaR81qAjB1_XndC9pvCURGseVHo2s3BM-nt0m506OUkAY0EtCjUEKzCaadZ9vPbc2545SjGEzNwJwGjXJv-0R9O90GLwu4PYV/s1600/carstudio.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my car, but the scene set-up looked something like this, but at 2am.</td></tr>
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The beats are not mine, they are instrumentals from the 2012 album <u>KOLEXXXION</u> by Bumpy Knuckles and DJ Premier, so I'm not gonna charge money for Premo's production.<br />
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The first track is an opening verse, my first real audio release to the world, so it's just the beginning! The verse is legit though (no bias), starting with the first 2-4 bars til the end... PEEP, DON'T SLEEP.<br />
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And the 2nd recording... It really inspired this whole thing. After I got home from session on Monday, I had this rhyme come to my head, went like this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<h4>
I miss that old feeling of having a first kiss.</h4>
<h4>
Thinking back to moments of bliss, I reminisce</h4>
<h4>
About girls once really cool with... now we're through with.</h4>
<h4>
We vibed together like music and our love was deep-rooted.</h4>
<h4>
I cared for them all... </h4>
</blockquote>
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I wrote the whole thing, then recorded it immediately, along with a few other tracks Monday night. Finished my recording session in the early AM hours.<br />
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Disclaimer though, I haven't had that many girlfriends (I count 3 real ones), but that's from the heart! I'm not with them now, but when I was, I really cared a lot for them. They were my world, joy and inspiration at the time. I hope I was a decent bf; if I had yelp reviews, I think they'd be mainly positive. And the last 6-7 bars are for my current gf, Mi Amore. I made her a song about 9 months into our relationship, and she still inspires me to write. Peace love.<br />
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Now that you've downloaded the songs, I recommend you listen to it in the car, or on headphones, because this music isn't meant to be played on a laptop/computer or while multi-tasking. At least don't judge it til you give it a good listen.<br />
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<br />
This is the journal entry I wrote right after writing "What a Blessing":<br />
<br />
2/23/15<br />
<i>I just made one of the best verse I ever made. Brand new from pure inspiration. What a
blessing. And it's almost a letter to my exes, but in a positive way,
not a usual misogynistic hip hop way, which turns off a lot of people. I
make a note to refer to all the women as queens and nothing less. I
will share in the mp3 shortly.</i><br />
<br />
Enjoy!<i> </i>tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-2569080375044119112014-10-17T02:45:00.000-07:002014-10-17T02:45:44.300-07:00Re-vised material from 2010 and new 2014 @4:00amI thought it was whatever so I never shared it. It's not bad though, but it's still whatever. I just revised it and made it a little better. Have it for free. Wrote this early 2010, in my 4th year at college.<br />
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<br />
Spare Me the Hype<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Break beats, break stereotypes. <br />I'm not a passive child,<br />Developed my rapping style<br />so i don't get smoked<br />like a joint or a roach, or a black and mild.<br />i like boo's, shoes, and acting wild.<br />it's been a long and lasting while<br />since an Asian brother like me,<br />got the chance to get free. I can't mask my smile.<br />so like the Nile, I flow and give life.<br />i bring peace/piece like a paper or a pipe.<br />and, i like melons when they ripe.<br />but Bite? not quite. stay polite with insights<br />hide when you within sight.<br />I'm the son, I been bright.<br />First came matter, and then light.<br />Don't get shocked like Dendrites* </blockquote>
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<br />
Ooooh thunderous! I like that one now. I remember exactly where I was, and what was going on, the day/moment I wrote the original.<br />
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Also written just earlier that year. I was asked to write a short bio for myself: <br />
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Tom T. Nguyen<br />is not good at writing biographies for himself. He has been a difficult person since the womb. He is not easy to put up with, or understand. He grew up in in the Garden Grove School District when it was bad, and believes that this is what makes him a little bit cool and "Mexican-washed." After moving to the Fountain Valley School District, he became a dork, and has remained that way since. This has allowed him to do well in school and be awkward around girls. In 2003, he thought learning to dance would make him cool, but it didn't. Sometimes he will devilishly advocate, and this causes arguments. He grew up atheist, but lately he has been feeling spiritual. He is now good friends with God.</blockquote>
<br />
Hell yeah! I find that sh!t hilarious, and it's actually very true. It's not a bad sum-up of me, in the style that I would do it, back in 2010. I guess that "style that I would do it" changes constantly. Something I would write in 8th grade would be different from what I would write now, right now. So the message is to write! Just write! Always be writing. I have so much written. "Write anything you don't want forgotten." At least keep a journal, but personal recording sake!<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Also wrote this this morning:<br />
<br />
10/17, Friday morning, 4:00-4:30am<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I think I'm gonna be Wolverine for Halloween.<br />It's my second year in New Orleans.<br />Gettin that green, got myself into the scene.<br />I know my royal lineage so I found myself a queen.<br />It's easy to be lazy, and nothing's what it seems.<br />What you need to do is find a winning team.<br />And then work hard and never give up on your dream.<br />That's how you rise about the average, if you know what I mean.<br /><br />I'm backed by statistics, play with linguistics<br />When I'm feeling uplifted, Young, Fresh and Gifted.<br />Wicked slickness, get wit this and bear witness.<br />Love the bare wetness. Don't compare weakness,<br />Just peep this. Make the main point, my thesis.<br />If we ALL work TOGETHER, it's harder to defeat us. <br /><br />So let's not be cheaters, let's be high achievers.<br />I expand like the Uni-verse, stay balanced like Libras.</blockquote>
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That is all for now. Have a great day! <br />
tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-88130424287297806602014-10-12T14:58:00.003-07:002014-10-12T15:54:50.146-07:00Blood Moon Eclipse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Written Wednesday night 10/8:<br />
<br />
Lucky I caught this. <br />
<br />
So stepping out my door at 6:19am this morning, I saw the moon. I said "Oh shit! The eclipse!" And I hurried my backpack and bookbag and all my workstuff into my car, then tried to take a picture of the moon on my phone. The picture turned out looking like straight bullpoo, cuz you can't take pictures of celestial bodies with a phone. I was running kinda late too, so I RAN back into my house, pulled out the Nikon, ran back out, put it on zoom and higher exposure, and snapped a few shots!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/---GlB8M8zoQ/VDXpuDBeRxI/AAAAAAAAAnA/PNPkij2XUSs/s1600/DSCN0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---GlB8M8zoQ/VDXpuDBeRxI/AAAAAAAAAnA/PNPkij2XUSs/s1600/DSCN0634.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This first shot came out right!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I had not expected to catch this so-called "impossible lunar eclipse," because I read it was only visible from the East Coast, at 6:25am EST, and only for 9 minutes. So not fitting the viewing criteria in both space and time, I had settled into thinking I was not going to see this eclipse. Apparently it's the 2nd, in a series of 4 consecutive, and an impossible occurrence of the Sun rising and Moon setting at the same time in a less than 180° view of the sky, only possible because the atmosphere refracts light and yada yada.. But I saw it anyway, and it lasted for a while too. Throughout my entire commute to work, the moon was eclipsed, made for distracted driving on the overpass, and even when I got to the school, I was still able to snap some pictures of it.<br />
<br />
The 2nd picture:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOg0v5WTdCA/VDXp1EwPNFI/AAAAAAAAAnI/ESUEBi-00OE/s1600/DSCN0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOg0v5WTdCA/VDXp1EwPNFI/AAAAAAAAAnI/ESUEBi-00OE/s1600/DSCN0635.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd shot came out tricky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-tHIfLLuH-bRF9IzkqgDAIquxRIeZxM4uT6pCsHbpOsoKOlKzm9VUHQBMxHWp33iqVhx4sDplcZasooUoKaoNnjv7LKjjfoOycjvsfLo7Nw3jRqVKYaE1zsd6NVfySVJ2SJ-9fY5C9A4/s1600/DSCN0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-tHIfLLuH-bRF9IzkqgDAIquxRIeZxM4uT6pCsHbpOsoKOlKzm9VUHQBMxHWp33iqVhx4sDplcZasooUoKaoNnjv7LKjjfoOycjvsfLo7Nw3jRqVKYaE1zsd6NVfySVJ2SJ-9fY5C9A4/s1600/DSCN0639.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd shot, using the powerlines as reference, shows how fast the moon was setting/moving/<br />
relative to Earth rotating (compared to 1st shot)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They say these celestial events coincide with shifts on earth. I don't think causation is provable, but with many new advances in technology and progressive changes in society, human civilization is at a pivotal and extreme point. We are also shifting from an industrial-based political-economy to an information-based political-economy (that's a topic for another day). Also there are at least 2-3 major wars/political conflicts going on right now... Turning my awareness toward celestial bodies in the heavens brings about calmness in the present, excitement for the future, as well as connectedness to the ancients, in a world that's really crazy these days.<br />
<br />
Worst come to worst, look up.
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<br />
It's crazy! You can just look out there in the darkness, point the telescope at the right spot, and there it is. A bright, ringed planet. Real image in real time. Not some video playback.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image was the closest I could find, to compare to what I actually saw.</td></tr>
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<br />
And another crazy thing is that it appears to be MOVING. And rather QUICKLY! After you fix the telescope to get it in view, it moves across the scope in less than a minute, looks like it's flying.<br />
<br />
At first glace, the planet looks like a "flying star," so I asked the 2 astronomers I was with: "is it really moving that fast? Why is it moving so fast?" Instead of answering my question, they told me to think about it. Then I understood it was because Earth was also rotating. It's a higher level of thought, to grasp that, every perspective is a relative perspective; it's understandable how past astronomers could have gotten it wrong, thinking geocentrically. But from Earth, the planet Saturn is still beautiful.<br />
<br />
You can see Saturn in the sky with your naked eyes, but you'd need a slightly attuned eye to distinguish it from a star. Planets are actually visible in the sky often throughout the year, especially Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, but most people just think they're stars. This thing is also in the sky throughout the year, but often obscured from view, by light pollution and atmosphere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95maFId4xFSwhd9Ikl4mYn1XtpR4SS-S66KhiRFu2kYkEzBJ-YM9DKZXDuHkosT5Ll6sxerzX9Z4ox5WgoR4hd5SteuC_RyjExTROhPb6gJti6RHIABV94CjKyQGpGArj3N2dobHBI3x5/s1600/milkyway.jpg" height="266" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We live in this shit, and it's in the sky every night.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I also saw Mars in real time, which was cool to see, thinking we have some SUV-sized rovers up there, taking pictures and collecting samples. One day might have people out there. Pretty far out. A mission to Mars is pretty crazy.... exciting to think about. New frontiers.<br />
<br />
<br />
The local astronomer guy also pointed the telescope at some globular clusters. He called some "deep space objects." Not like the planets nearby, further out, but still a part of the Milky Way. In fact, I learned that there are a lot of globular clusters (big clumps of stars, gravitationally attached) going around our galactic center, what many believe to be a SMBH (Super Massive Black Hole).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL94OnrqwEElns1xDsLVXmgqtd1Cr0aq8Cozy9q_7HR3H3YGWkLQ9EOu-h3sMbfdEUEW6Dcn7f7C5XR5RzXishyEn7cWk6vk_rGOJJyCsqx53dpk-T0DgPRt4SWEhIeaBBYOQZohJwccGU/s1600/m11_12501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL94OnrqwEElns1xDsLVXmgqtd1Cr0aq8Cozy9q_7HR3H3YGWkLQ9EOu-h3sMbfdEUEW6Dcn7f7C5XR5RzXishyEn7cWk6vk_rGOJJyCsqx53dpk-T0DgPRt4SWEhIeaBBYOQZohJwccGU/s1600/m11_12501.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M11, or Messier 11</td></tr>
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Pretty crazy that you can just look out and see this shit. I am fascinated by space. tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-31332852368551488242014-09-20T17:21:00.000-07:002014-09-20T17:25:36.489-07:009/20 SPILL Rhymes for the DayWrote these today.<br />
<br />
<br />
9/20<br />
Look around, that's using eyesight.<br />
Look back, that's using hindsight.<br />
Look ahead, that's called foresight.<br />
Look within, that's gaining insight.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Check this out, you got quarters and dimes.<br />
Make up 2 equations, can you solve it on time?<br />
It's easy and it's challenging, you gotta use your mind.<br />
That's how you climb. - It's called an incline.<br />
<br />
Rise over run, you should rise and become<br />
A positively-minded person, not one that's dumb.<br />
Yo that wouldn't be right. - So just do right.<br />
If you ask me, then I'll tell you that I do write.<br />
<br />
- But I kick flows, free style of poetry.<br />
I'm the one who knows. Guess that's why y'all blowing me<br />
When You Act Outta Line, and try to avoid ya problems.<br />
That's no real solution, you should really try to solve 'em.<br />
<br />
---<br />
The original problem was:<br />
If you have a total of 100 quarters and dimes, with a value of $14.05, how many quarters do you have?<br />
<br />
Linear systems, solve 2 equations at once.<br />
<br />
<br />
Video with music coming soon, I'm about to update it. But gonna go to session first, get my rock on. Peace!tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-25234335540168264722014-09-20T16:48:00.000-07:002014-09-20T16:48:04.217-07:00Are 2014 Midterm Elections... Important?Election time again, so you know what that means.... Plenty of depressing commercials and smear campaigns about people we don't really know.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These campaign dollars are starting to take over YouTube. Mostly attack ads. It must mean the 2014 Mid-term Elections are coming up!!!<br />
<br />
There's one big problem though. First, I consider myself to be pretty engaged in civic matters... I mean... I majored in History, minored in Civic Engagement. Compelled to do my civic duty. I even drive a Civic. That's a cool palindrome, I just realized.<br />
<br />
So I figured, for someone like me, who is engaged and interested in local, statewide, national, and international matters, frequently scouring the news, it is still a struggle to be informed. Being a voter is pretty easy, but being an <i>informed</i> voter, and knowledgeable about what/who I'm voting for, that's another challenge.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"But if it's just midterm elections, then it doesn't matter as much," says maybe 85% of people. </span><br />
<br />
That's not a real statistic, nor is it a real quote, but you get the idea. Most people ignore midterm elections... Why? Idunno, cuz it's democracy and we have freedom to vote, or not. Maybe because there's no charismatic President. But I was just talking to this college guy about his political science class, while tutoring math, and it REALLY IS important, because we're electing SENATORS to hold seats for 6 years???!<br />
<br />
Do you know how many U.S. Senators there are?<br />
Not many people do, apparently. What goes on in this "Senate" anyway?<br />
There are 100 Senators, because there are 2 per state, therefore 2x = 100 must be true, and confirms that there are 50 states. 100 Senators making important decisions for the rest of us, for 6 years of their lives at a time. So who ARE these people? How do we vote the shitty ones out, and how do we know which ones to vote in? Even more important, House Representatives who draft bills, propositions, and respond more directly to constituents (us), they are also campaigning, but do I know anyone running? NO. How can I vote for the right one that won't mess us up for 2-6 years (2 for house reps, 6 for senators)? Who knows?<br />
<br />
Also, what Propositions are up for a vote in your area? Does anyone know??? It's such a struggle to be informed, but why? I thought we lived in an INFORMATION age? Nah, I guess people would rather play with their flappy bird.<br />
<br />
<br />
If that's difficult for me, I can't imagine what voting would be like for someone who's not politically engaged. <br />
<br />
Anyways, most midterm elections tend to go overlooked. But we are in a pretty critical place right now. I hope this was a little informative.<br />
<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-83236182719805425552014-09-14T14:49:00.001-07:002014-09-14T14:56:05.136-07:00I've been writing seriously since 2005This year, 2014, marks 9 years since I started taking writing more seriously... Fall '05 senior year of high school... And 6 years since I started performing in spoken word/jazz club settings, back in '08 college years.<br />
<br />
It's been a good run. I do want to punctuate the 10th year, 2015, with something new. We'll see as the current year unfolds. Almost everywhere I go, audiences have received me warmly and I have been encouraged to write more and perform more. That means the world to me. I owe a lot to those who supported me, from my UCLA friends who saw me when I was first starting to perform, to all the great artists and people I've met along the way at different venues. I'm still creating new work, but not all of it is made for publication. I share some old and new Original Compositions on here: <a href="http://www.powerknowledge.org/">www.powerknowledge.org</a><br />
<br />
I am just beginning to explore the Spoken Word scene in New Orleans, they have a pretty dynamic slam team here, I hear. And I'm here for another year, so I'll be sure to see more before returning back to where I started. LA/OC, California!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I just came across this new spoken word video, The World is Coming to an End, thought it was pretty relevant for us this year. Not that I believe the world is coming to an end, but it is kinda crazy these days. It's going somewhere it's never been before. And this guy illuminates some of that craziness.<br />
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Happy Autumn season, enjoy the fall equinox and don't get zapped by a solar ray!tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-51976467145414109462014-09-07T19:53:00.000-07:002014-09-08T12:23:02.635-07:00Popper: "Breakdancers are lame" Hah!Yesterday, a beginner popper guy told me "breakdancers are lame" cuz I wouldn't break in public. He wanted me to dance and make a circle at the crowded (and sticky) Masquerade dancefloor like some sort of tool. No thanks! Maybe if I had only been dancing a few years, and was still in high school... but I had just come from the jam, I don't wanna break, I wanna chill. He was the lame one to me. I saw him bothering the girls too, even pushing one out of the way to try to make me dance... smh... He tried to get on the girls but failed. I don't think dancers like that are good for the community at large.<br />
<br />
On the positive side, DJ Roonie G was spinning some cool stuff, he looked like a 90s Asian Raver turned DJ. He even sang and rocked the crowd. Good for him. <br />
<br />
Anyway, they had a jam yesterday in New Orleans, an All-Styles/Popping tournament (group of us went to Masquerade/Harrah's after the jam). People from Houston, Mississippi, Alabama, Baton Rouge came through. I judged All-Styles and did a showcase. Here it is:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">11+ years in the game and I still feel like I held back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wish we could done more rounds, I got new ish...</span></div>
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Overall, the vibes were good at the jam. Modest turnout. Great dance talent, it was cool to see a popping jam... not a lot of bboys came through, just a handful. I had fun though. Big ups to Baylor aka the TalkBox, for throwing the jam. Enjoy the clip.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-33789049765922873092014-09-01T10:34:00.000-07:002014-09-01T10:34:06.420-07:00Photo Journal: Home-made Fish Tacos!I'll probably never publish a cookbook in my lifetime. But if I <i>were</i> to, it might look like this: <br />
<br />
I cooked up some fish (which is normal) then turned them into fish tacos (which is new, for me). I'll show you how. It's Eeasy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ehlPmX3QSRgjInW9icSELO7Ogh-RgJM1xff0TM_Z-worlSIVsqtoSvBPFOs8cjWRppDJ8dm5WEIXtm9poca-RZI7CmQlw80DogP-e1UW37SiXDJZvHkJeOnSIVSI0bl5WjMRvKaNgAoE/s1600/IMG_1142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ehlPmX3QSRgjInW9icSELO7Ogh-RgJM1xff0TM_Z-worlSIVsqtoSvBPFOs8cjWRppDJ8dm5WEIXtm9poca-RZI7CmQlw80DogP-e1UW37SiXDJZvHkJeOnSIVSI0bl5WjMRvKaNgAoE/s1600/IMG_1142.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<u>Ingredients:</u><br />
-Cooking oil (I used olive)<br />
-Pre-chopped onions<br />
-Pre-minced garlic<br />
-Spinach leaves <br />
-Red/Black pepper<br />
-Garlic Salt<br />
-Any other seasonings you want (I used Tony Chachare's and cayenne pepper)<br />
-Any fish you want (I used tilapia)<br />
<br />
-1 egg (optional)<br />
-Tortillas<br />
-Leftover rice<br />
<br />
Mostly basic stuff. I don't have tomato, but that could work too. <br />
So let's get started!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1.</b> Pour oil radially in a golden ratio shape to ensure best distribution on the frying pan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGqURykBIYhQ1jJqvECdhVFLZiyXohYKlzOLSmV_nFhX8YztyRih6J7CuTwayjRoUysa6QbnUM6rrv17Ru4QlPnDDGLU64HGo_-WgbZQkx-9ZPqbOWEQl9D1xOOcifMOBR37qs7XfdxAj/s1600/IMG_1132.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGqURykBIYhQ1jJqvECdhVFLZiyXohYKlzOLSmV_nFhX8YztyRih6J7CuTwayjRoUysa6QbnUM6rrv17Ru4QlPnDDGLU64HGo_-WgbZQkx-9ZPqbOWEQl9D1xOOcifMOBR37qs7XfdxAj/s1600/IMG_1132.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIeBFUWwAroBkPST4nZ3XyqHy_C3CAa63kyPoBGWnqwk8EkYKt0zl41wQTKZXE7B-fCMXYepeG8aaFulKR4nXqfDlCsIFYlw0dQ4RlKU_EtRh8T4l4L8XeIYJxQT99TYajByFrhbn2W5-/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIeBFUWwAroBkPST4nZ3XyqHy_C3CAa63kyPoBGWnqwk8EkYKt0zl41wQTKZXE7B-fCMXYepeG8aaFulKR4nXqfDlCsIFYlw0dQ4RlKU_EtRh8T4l4L8XeIYJxQT99TYajByFrhbn2W5-/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. Throw some pre-chopped onions on there. <i><br />Tip: I chop up 1-2 onions at some time in the past I don't even remember, <br />then keep them ziplocked in my fridge for easy access. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt31xVTee09TzAnLrF10xtNp13hBigb5os75tX4J_1VG6jh9jXt9sQtqmzV2wQY2Kk7rmKuDYuXFMhZj6dK8RyJBcGdkixBv2H8bm8dXYeCKrkNyec6TwXdrB_hfBGAhE-g95TAVuV-4E/s1600/IMG_1134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt31xVTee09TzAnLrF10xtNp13hBigb5os75tX4J_1VG6jh9jXt9sQtqmzV2wQY2Kk7rmKuDYuXFMhZj6dK8RyJBcGdkixBv2H8bm8dXYeCKrkNyec6TwXdrB_hfBGAhE-g95TAVuV-4E/s1600/IMG_1134.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3. Add pre-minced garlic and some salt and pepper. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hflaGNpbOMo/VASiJEAVHzI/AAAAAAAAAi8/R9tnglixzQE/s1600/IMG_1135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hflaGNpbOMo/VASiJEAVHzI/AAAAAAAAAi8/R9tnglixzQE/s1600/IMG_1135.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4. Lay some spinach leaves on top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfwpWLjlOz7sYk9iqjdctTqk0-QZ1t_Iu4Qpr3r109_q92kDCPS148vFKAxMuepFJMPkeGmdEs6w5hLSVPE6GnFDnrxvNS59H-1JAY6ZHQzKC77lx2KbJXWet7rLZLb7by8m4uvV1mXra/s1600/IMG_1137.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5. Then put the fish on top of the bed of spinach, and season
the fish! <br />I put cayenne and Tony Chachare's, and the garlic salt and
red/black pepper. <br />Let the fish cook for however long feels right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbdQhA5N5Yo/VASiRJ-9fCI/AAAAAAAAAlA/3X_omKtBo6k/s1600/IMG_1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbdQhA5N5Yo/VASiRJ-9fCI/AAAAAAAAAlA/3X_omKtBo6k/s1600/IMG_1138.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
6.
Flip the fish when it's ready. This was 2/3rds the way through my
flips. <br />I regret not taking the picture of all the fish post-seasoned but
pre-flipped. It was a delicious sight.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXUlTF6lpeNumbkmZG_rROvHpd4RJWR8IKkPMXxZXnKiXVqPJIu1DR8RepEm6PjYc6T7JvWHVJr6I_SvvonShyphenhyphenM1oZ37wRhkmOHCmlrlo9BVtKKU2-2oIaIKKvqmrlzT7kNSIMjyPADKe/s1600/IMG_1139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXUlTF6lpeNumbkmZG_rROvHpd4RJWR8IKkPMXxZXnKiXVqPJIu1DR8RepEm6PjYc6T7JvWHVJr6I_SvvonShyphenhyphenM1oZ37wRhkmOHCmlrlo9BVtKKU2-2oIaIKKvqmrlzT7kNSIMjyPADKe/s1600/IMG_1139.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7. Once the fish are flipped, let the other side cook.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Starting to look good!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxkTk1HOatmUcrSuRR5dEi5dd49im0-UG0wQ_FSrSnDq7XkzqyKw9NJFSG7ITJ02mgrcUFnbVG563PvBdhzObM-0HEYZpUlTKVuSDkTxQnUGPbOFPmVXhjR-fdHP4RLeXLQJ_zhv39bGM/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxkTk1HOatmUcrSuRR5dEi5dd49im0-UG0wQ_FSrSnDq7XkzqyKw9NJFSG7ITJ02mgrcUFnbVG563PvBdhzObM-0HEYZpUlTKVuSDkTxQnUGPbOFPmVXhjR-fdHP4RLeXLQJ_zhv39bGM/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8. Meanwhile, season the white side. <br />I also split each of the 3 fish into 6 half-fishes. Better sized for tacos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UG0-Om3ByRQ/VASiL5aDRXI/AAAAAAAAAjo/t2_AOjcacug/s1600/IMG_1143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UG0-Om3ByRQ/VASiL5aDRXI/AAAAAAAAAjo/t2_AOjcacug/s1600/IMG_1143.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9. Flip them again and now it's beautifully seared.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fish cooked! That's it. Move them elsewhere. <br />
<br />
Then....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYXxsXbdvUsh9KBzdYDaZX-ve5nsEOlokeOrhpX-nAoLksKvclf0Pb5Xn5TW1gRNOyT2USsPbliwuaYPIeoEzwYj4RzWTZLqMlM8AeeVaOuWllWOgcG3RuKRw-bC1ilYoLmR9kpNve1UP/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYXxsXbdvUsh9KBzdYDaZX-ve5nsEOlokeOrhpX-nAoLksKvclf0Pb5Xn5TW1gRNOyT2USsPbliwuaYPIeoEzwYj4RzWTZLqMlM8AeeVaOuWllWOgcG3RuKRw-bC1ilYoLmR9kpNve1UP/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Split an egg up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9udDsln_i4aMgmpH17_hR9DimBbeRWwkVfC1unOKNfAnPg9YNQSvAvKFqheKBcrP1noK2MNwYIfIYf1wg4xA7Wo7R6mmX7ZF6leUiLHxHbIQdqJOcRRXuN7gIivuC7ADafRg68Pb1Ew6/s1600/IMG_1145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9udDsln_i4aMgmpH17_hR9DimBbeRWwkVfC1unOKNfAnPg9YNQSvAvKFqheKBcrP1noK2MNwYIfIYf1wg4xA7Wo7R6mmX7ZF6leUiLHxHbIQdqJOcRRXuN7gIivuC7ADafRg68Pb1Ew6/s1600/IMG_1145.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throw some leftover rice on it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37eAMXEKSnk_GiUG1xAl3FiVkmnbPElIjkJtKpKaWDVnj9pFcsvhO_-9rox7FYDUGV-vmTOXkzUJ0Dj-32bgRnwg9hr_J_xGKCOUNrMg12Sz75DPfD55Ln2669gOe-xBJ06rqIFxT9Cz3/s1600/IMG_1146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37eAMXEKSnk_GiUG1xAl3FiVkmnbPElIjkJtKpKaWDVnj9pFcsvhO_-9rox7FYDUGV-vmTOXkzUJ0Dj-32bgRnwg9hr_J_xGKCOUNrMg12Sz75DPfD55Ln2669gOe-xBJ06rqIFxT9Cz3/s1600/IMG_1146.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I noticed the rice was starting to dry, so I added water. <br />I season the rice with Tony Chachare's too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyPcnFS1FVs/VASiNvxJ2uI/AAAAAAAAAkE/lJMbUQn2CLM/s1600/IMG_1147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyPcnFS1FVs/VASiNvxJ2uI/AAAAAAAAAkE/lJMbUQn2CLM/s1600/IMG_1147.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heat up the tortillas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb4BNUoozeI/VASiNiBcG0I/AAAAAAAAAkI/Liu7GHxUZV8/s1600/IMG_1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb4BNUoozeI/VASiNiBcG0I/AAAAAAAAAkI/Liu7GHxUZV8/s1600/IMG_1148.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find some leftover sauces. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-mtBLJOj90/VASiOXhR8qI/AAAAAAAAAkY/DGzLYpsP-Cs/s1600/IMG_1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-mtBLJOj90/VASiOXhR8qI/AAAAAAAAAkY/DGzLYpsP-Cs/s1600/IMG_1149.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDWGrsg5X3uE19ZqRRIAQmwjBH03DsFuRwkit5qKH7KJUCFMkzXKvpRGnh5TqU1sVWhX11NovMXRNR3DeDhiAutDqgBWn4kd7fd6HnNq8W7ykKt03v4kzwIPTpkS4rOCj1hpEn5rXY6Fv/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDWGrsg5X3uE19ZqRRIAQmwjBH03DsFuRwkit5qKH7KJUCFMkzXKvpRGnh5TqU1sVWhX11NovMXRNR3DeDhiAutDqgBWn4kd7fd6HnNq8W7ykKt03v4kzwIPTpkS4rOCj1hpEn5rXY6Fv/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Served!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE1vkZbAU-99J_vxHYFJUtQMeYz2yVgJbvPCVONS1ysgbQVb9F2DKGrCy_n3EVAWsB7HdsqaPNBwkijD74hm2VRbqs8R79dIjJYCm9tITaiROt0n-so7GJ7bdxK6C1M-_q900nQt76-fz/s1600/IMG_1152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE1vkZbAU-99J_vxHYFJUtQMeYz2yVgJbvPCVONS1ysgbQVb9F2DKGrCy_n3EVAWsB7HdsqaPNBwkijD74hm2VRbqs8R79dIjJYCm9tITaiROt0n-so7GJ7bdxK6C1M-_q900nQt76-fz/s1600/IMG_1152.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't forget to have a drink. Stay hydrated.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCOihO-Gvdg/VASiRK4bFlI/AAAAAAAAAlE/eaS0ILH7v9w/s1600/IMG_1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCOihO-Gvdg/VASiRK4bFlI/AAAAAAAAAlE/eaS0ILH7v9w/s1600/IMG_1158.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">haha what's it look like?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbGBOtQ8iBuQHMnrBsQ7TPdvD9UJ47OWkDQ7JbaE6EszSRXwlQ9NYfdntbWN2Gcck1gGTcCveVRDlgl4PRehbppdiypNKwgkBlhZVaJ4KuRp3prh9PonayktDyW31EJGduup1lEQ86s5d/s1600/IMG_1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbGBOtQ8iBuQHMnrBsQ7TPdvD9UJ47OWkDQ7JbaE6EszSRXwlQ9NYfdntbWN2Gcck1gGTcCveVRDlgl4PRehbppdiypNKwgkBlhZVaJ4KuRp3prh9PonayktDyW31EJGduup1lEQ86s5d/s1600/IMG_1159.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire sauce.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUwJ4ghVDz53LSdlHHR43GbPusR5vKqBkhGAVQBti8npc2qhmPltMd8f8ATxEFQEAQJxKDLM3rkalxcZs-VcWizQksDJQ2bXMn1X5Gzi3iBfOT0nFhuHHJlbphO99na2VGuF4X9LWSSIh/s1600/IMG_1160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUwJ4ghVDz53LSdlHHR43GbPusR5vKqBkhGAVQBti8npc2qhmPltMd8f8ATxEFQEAQJxKDLM3rkalxcZs-VcWizQksDJQ2bXMn1X5Gzi3iBfOT0nFhuHHJlbphO99na2VGuF4X9LWSSIh/s1600/IMG_1160.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last and most delicious taco.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxotut4Be8PHtt_OL00E9Ad74k4wHqhshHpi4YrCZBGDnpzWVc0wz7JgJn7QzJhYlwm7Fm7djO6epVZ-w5NFF9FXns7qOTFocAeFvn0oos2SmAqVn2Prl7VRUX-bMnyxxQtNnaWrBGVXfW/s1600/IMG_1161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxotut4Be8PHtt_OL00E9Ad74k4wHqhshHpi4YrCZBGDnpzWVc0wz7JgJn7QzJhYlwm7Fm7djO6epVZ-w5NFF9FXns7qOTFocAeFvn0oos2SmAqVn2Prl7VRUX-bMnyxxQtNnaWrBGVXfW/s1600/IMG_1161.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enough for future eats!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So all's well that ends well.<br />
<br />
I've been saving some money cooking and eating in this past month (August 2014). I learned a thing or two about cooking too. And I used to be terrible at cooking. It goes to show that anything can be learned for those who are willing to learn and practice. Then it can be transformed and personalized into your own. tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-10001631011108740722014-08-30T16:16:00.003-07:002014-08-30T16:18:00.852-07:00Rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6Rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6. That's the mindstate from East Flatbush Projects.<br />
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<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-41756362693180225402014-07-04T14:35:00.002-07:002014-07-04T14:40:33.541-07:00Independence Day... celebrate being single??Happy Day of Independence,<br />
I am... watchin the pen dance...<br />
Just getting my write on.<br />
Using my left and my right arm.<br />
Right on. <br />
<br />
Just having some pun to start my day.<br />
Goodness, I've been on vacation from this blog! Summer started over a month ago for me, and I've been spending time with the girl, with the family, and back in Cali. Summer Break for teachers is lovely, I don't feel tied down by work; I got no strings!<br />
<br />
So <i>Independence Day</i>...usually associated with the Declaration of Independence, 1776, America's separation from the British Crown, and fireworks (cuz they sound like bombs bursting in air?).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00_Sml0KHMQ/U7cWyc978HI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/ZxlZxkEV42U/s1600/independence-day-film-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00_Sml0KHMQ/U7cWyc978HI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/ZxlZxkEV42U/s1600/independence-day-film-poster.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes associated with alien attacks</td></tr>
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That's cool, but the day got me thinking about independent people that I know, and how we should celebrate them as well. We should celebrate the free-thinkers, the creatives, the artists, the entrepreneurs, the (r)evolutionaries, those who initiate their own projects and are unafraid to walk alone. And, saving the best for last, the SINGLE people!<br />
<br />
Being single is the definition of independence. Untethered, like a slave liberated. Like a dog off its leash. Not having to shoulder other people's burden. I haven't been single in a while, but it was those days when I was single (2008-2009ish) that I made a lot of changes in my life; I got my personal shit together, and I was able to learn more about myself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEzm2oR-9exWCOf89dkfAaoW-MCzN8sE-V2ixFuUqoXnraEG2vUA7oYqQ49cywh44OLpPxlx5CTywCoB2blODdQue27gbPlxAxROb9b8m59r5u5WPzmYO__5X8G9IezGGcVi45OPqC8fl/s1600/Transformers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEzm2oR-9exWCOf89dkfAaoW-MCzN8sE-V2ixFuUqoXnraEG2vUA7oYqQ49cywh44OLpPxlx5CTywCoB2blODdQue27gbPlxAxROb9b8m59r5u5WPzmYO__5X8G9IezGGcVi45OPqC8fl/s1600/Transformers.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me when I was single. aka, Tom in his Prime.</td></tr>
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<br />
Single years are transformative! Whether it transforms a person positively or negatively is up to them.<br />
<br />
It wasn't from some class or book (though classes and books certainly guided me in the right direction*), but it was from that self-knowledge, uncovered from being independent and single, that I strengthened my sense of self, my belief in my own gifts. I saw my potential to elevate BEFORE stepping on the elevator. I perceived my ability to climb, from the bottom of the mountain. And I love my life now. Still growing and trying to change up my routine so I don't stagnate. The past year in New Orleans has definitely been a good change and a move up. And even though I was still with my gf, we were 2000+ miles apart and I spent a lot of time alone, which is valuable. I look forward to more of that. <br />
<br />
It's not easy being single/independent, but it's not good being stagnant. In fact, stagnant water stinks.<br />
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<br />
On the topic of independence, is also the topic of dependence. What are you dependent on? Whether it is a person, an object, an organization, or a substance... Can you free yourself from that dependence?<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I think spending too much time with OTHER PEOPLE can hinder my productivity and inclination to create and write. I've been out so much, on this summer vacation, that I totally neglected my blog, my website, and other projects that I have to do. I've still be journalizing though, and writing when the inspiration hits.<br />
<br />
But still, this is a day to celebrate INDEPENDENCE! Freedom!<br />
<br />
Don't feel held back by your shackles, whatever those may be.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS3gxev5EhFKy1GU-BdIEFIx5CVB5ML-HOC2gAw2sqReHaa6JCD3894vIleSalIcJd5CFxG4-Q7HQRdYq3Zl-cvxve_WH_UA6nmN6hvVqxMJVyEJviGXVRlE0dG2RxB6V_ZciZ-kDmooW/s1600/EmancipateYourselfFromMentalSlaveryNoneButOurselvesCanFreeOurMinds_0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS3gxev5EhFKy1GU-BdIEFIx5CVB5ML-HOC2gAw2sqReHaa6JCD3894vIleSalIcJd5CFxG4-Q7HQRdYq3Zl-cvxve_WH_UA6nmN6hvVqxMJVyEJviGXVRlE0dG2RxB6V_ZciZ-kDmooW/s1600/EmancipateYourselfFromMentalSlaveryNoneButOurselvesCanFreeOurMinds_0.png" /></a></div>
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I'm reminded of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who wrote in her essay, "The Solitude of Self," about the solitude and uniqueness of each person. You are special and should not allow yourself to be held down by invisible chains or glass ceilings.<br />
<br />
<br />
Independence Day: A great day to break up with your domineering boyfriend/girlfriend.<br />
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<br />
<u>*Classes that helped me from 2008-2009:</u><br />
History of Southeast Asia<br />
History of Vietnam<br />
History of Hip Hop Dances<br />
American Intellectual History<br />
History of Science<br />
History of Religions<br />
America in the 1960s <br />
History of Social Change <br />
<br />
<u>Books that helped me from 2008-2009:</u><br />
Chang, Jeff. <i>Can't Stop Won't Stop.</i><br />
Asante, MK. <i>It's Bigger Than Hip Hop.</i><br />
RZA. <i>The Wu-Tang Manual.</i><br />
Miyakawa, Felicia. <i>Five Percenter Rap.</i>tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-70351703200122115132014-04-28T17:35:00.000-07:002014-04-28T17:46:52.846-07:00My previous post was not an implicit nod at smoking herbI'm aware it was a "420" post, and I said explicitly DO NOT SMOKE SYNTHETIC WEED, and then I proceeded to describe how spice is basically catnip and twigs sprayed in chemicals.... without mentioning anything about weed/herb/ganja/marijuana/cannabis.<br />
<br />
<br />
So there's an <i>implication</i> that can be made there... UNLESS I explicitly address that implication!<br />
<br />
<br />
So.... NO, by saying DON'T SMOKE SPICE, I am NOT implying GO SMOKE WEED.<br />
<br />
<br />
In fact, I usually don't think it's good to smoke weed! NOT THESE DAYS! More important things to handle! My days for that stuff been fading... no pun intended, they just happUN. ha ha ha. I still prefer it over alcohol, for relaxing and reflecting, but I got bigger priorities now than I did before, so very little time to waste.<br />
<br />
To weed defenders:<br />
So what if it's natural? What's <i>more</i> natural is our childhood physical state, pristine, unspoiled, and undisturbed by the physical nature of reality. Reality, by the way, is not limited to the physical, but that's another story altogether. I'm trying to get back to my younger, virginal self.<br />
<br />
So what if there's no tobacco or nicotine? It still burns and leaves tars and resins in a smokers body!<br />
<br />
So what if it's not chemically addictive? It's psychologically addictive, and that can be just as bad! I would know, I've been! I kinda still am! It's a struggle for me still. What keeps me sober is my gf... and my mom... and the thought of my future children.<br />
<br />
Truth is, weed damages. Socially, financially, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. And professionally. I could write at least a paragraph on each of those points, but the essay's not worth the effort (essayer means "to try" in French, right?).<br />
<br />
I've seen weed damage minds, bboys, careers, health in people I know... some are just lookin not healthy!<br />
<br />
Now I say "usually" I don't think it's good, because I found some things that it IS good for.<br />
All of which you can do fine on your own without it, so go do that.<br />
<br />
<br />
I should note that I'm a very functional partaker. Meaning I prefer to do stuff, or create stuff, while some prefer to watch TV, eat, or do nothing. That's not for me. I like to be active. I don't like to call myself smart, but mathematically, I could say I'm probably on the above average side of intelligence... maybe a standard deviation or two above the median. I've been driven, hungry for knowledge, and well-educated, so my experience with the stuff is REALLY different from people on the other end of the spectrum.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of dumb smokers out there. They're not reading this though, cuz I know my audience is smarter than that. But I bet a "high" number of weed-smokers would not be even able to spell "cannabis" properly without a spellchecker.<br />
<br />
If you need tutoring, hit me up.<br />
<br />
<br />
Damn, 2 weed-related blog posts in a row.. Mostly anti- though, so I probably won't get fired from my job. Kids... don't smoke! Drink tea, caffeine, and derive inspiration from the earthen nature, space, family, and the simple beauties of the universe.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-41012344118343977832014-04-20T17:36:00.002-07:002014-04-21T11:28:35.373-07:00Don't Smoke Legal/Synthetic Weed! 4/20Legal weed is bad!<br />
<br />
What's THAT??<br />
It's also known as Synthetic Weed, Spice, spices, herbal
incense, has a lot of fancy names, Head Trip, ... you can get it at smoke shops in California if you're over 18. And it's DANGEROUS!<br />
<br />
People <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG2-wMxb_so">overdose</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv2Z3ZMdaGE">go to the hospital</a> from it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The reason this topic came up is because.... I have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10103257323479456&l=3810655615295845261">cat</a>, here in New Orleans. Really nice pussycat. And I went to buy some catnip, thinking he'd enjoy it. PetCo ran out of ordinary catnip, so I bought the higher-grade organic stuff. $5 for a nice bag. Cuz <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Xrcp6k8VE">Cats love catnip</a>, I learned from National Geographic... But I was looking at my bag of catnip... and it looks JUST LIKE THAT LEGAL WEED I BOUGHT FROM THE STORE on NEWPORT BLVD off the 55!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
They just spray that shit with chemical (JWH-###) and it burns easily, so it makes for easy "Herbal Incense."</div>
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Dammit! I knew it. Shit is poison. Catnip combusts easily, but you're not supposed to smoke it.</div>
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It's not NORMAL weed. It's not natural. There's no THC. It's some flammable shit that they spray a chemical on. It's some shit called JWH-number-number. Not safe. People have overdosed and had terrible experiences. Only a little bit gets you as high as a lot of weed. And when people with high weed tolerances smoke spice/herbal incense/JWH in large amounts, they pass out! They get owned!</div>
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Why do people smoke it?</div>
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It doesn't show up on drug tests, though I think the drug test facilities are catching on.</div>
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I knew when I tried it, the stuff is terrible for you!</div>
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<br />
Turned out I was right:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSI-QU4U62E">CNN: Synthetic Drug Raid Reveals Scary Reality</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Happy 420. Play safe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-43526114098885047102014-04-04T10:16:00.001-07:002014-04-04T20:49:37.517-07:00Great. Another poor representation of my dancing got popular.So <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ncIC9F540">first</a> it was the <a href="http://tnasstbruin.blogspot.com/2014/01/hahaha-breaking-teachers-are-everywhere.html">"breaking teachers are everywhere" (nutcrackers)</a> video, which had no real dancing.<br />
Then my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my6sDH_9wwU">power trailer</a>, which really didn't have any dancing.<br />
Then this shuffle video, and I don't even shuffle.<br />
<br />
That, to me, is mad silly.<br />
I'm flabbergasted.<br />
In fact, I'm quite bewildered. <br />
Life is funnyweird. <br />
<br />
Why doesn't this happen with what I consider my 'GOOD footage'? <br />
-Like this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUkfqI0STM4">July 10, 2012 session</a><br />
-Or this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ble5X73ssCo">November 2011 session </a><br />
-And this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGzHFHknnaM">November 2012 session</a><br />
<br />
Why does this happen with what I consider 'EASY footage'?<br />
<br />
"But Tom, it doesn't look easy to me," one might say.<br />
I know, but it IS easy, you just need to practice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY_GyeAbfa1SAp1TCWjIry_nV9sCE67svoj58QixeyRRBc2bPHfVRTUrFIPRZXOGOdbUNazKIXu8KNnlDoFwD8p4rhdEwl-Jf0z2IIKqmYKUgKnuWmZvtce0MwDpy5HoWD_ywUscnhrgf/s1600/3DMILL.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY_GyeAbfa1SAp1TCWjIry_nV9sCE67svoj58QixeyRRBc2bPHfVRTUrFIPRZXOGOdbUNazKIXu8KNnlDoFwD8p4rhdEwl-Jf0z2IIKqmYKUgKnuWmZvtce0MwDpy5HoWD_ywUscnhrgf/s1600/3DMILL.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm from the pre-YouTube era of <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/bc/kuruptcrew/moves.html">animated GIFs and text guides</a></td></tr>
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Windmills are pretty easy, you just have to put in a little time and work to learn it.<br />
Shuffling is super easy. I used to hate on that style, but there's no sense in hating now. I'll still battle any shuffler though. <br />
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The more difficult part (see above links, under "GOOD footage"), which I think goes under-appreciated, is the freestyling aspect, and the intricate, creative, musical, and expressive stuff. That aspect of dancing is way cooler to me, compared to a flare>windmill>nutcracker. Basic combo.<br />
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I prefer to just dance to my heart's content.<br />
That's what I learned to prefer over my 11 years of doing this.<br />
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<u><b>Closing Points</b></u><br />
My videos that catch on more popularly are poor representations of my dance... basic power, nothing unexpected... shuffling...simple, easy... Is that the price of mass appeal? I prefer the real shit, but the "real shit" doesn't catch as much attention. <br />
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Unless it's live. Then it's really crazy and nasty. Especially powerful styles. Dancing is best when it's live and in action, not on video or GIF or text. Not even on a performance stage.<br />
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If you're in "the scene," stay there. The world needs you.<br />
If you're not in the scene, come to a jam! Cop some merchandise. Support local artists!tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-86415820419911260782014-03-09T15:57:00.000-07:002014-03-09T16:25:41.259-07:00Positive Thinking Needs Limits!! I'm surrounded by positive people, and that's a dangerous trap.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I. The Negative Side of Positivity</b></span><br />
I'm a positive person. Most people know me as being very happy and positive-thinking. And I am that, most of the time, but most people don't know that I also <i>love</i> negative thinking, skepticism, criticism, and the <i>Underdog </i>mentality. Embrace both! Positive thinking has to have its limits. No one wants to border on delusional, but that's what overly positive thoughts/expectations can sometimes do! I think I've made that mistake before.<br />
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At the same time, you don't wanna be a Debbie Downer, or a Negative Neddy. You can use both positive and negative to empower your life. Mis-use both and it can stifle your life.<br />
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Just so you know I'm not speaking out of my ass, here's an NYU/Hamburg psychology article on how "Positive Fantasies about idealized futures sap energy."<br />
<a href="http://www.psych.nyu.edu/oettingen/Barry%20Kappes,%20H.,%20&%20Oettingen,%20G.%20%282011%29.%20JESP.pdf">http://www.psych.nyu.edu/oettingen/Barry%20Kappes,%20H.,%20&%20Oettingen,%20G.%20%282011%29.%20JESP.pdf</a><br />
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Here's a poignant article I found a while back (skimming facebook) on <i>The Powerlessness of Positive Thinking</i>:</div>
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<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/currency/2014/02/the-powerlessness-of-positive-thinking.html">http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/currency/2014/02/the-powerlessness-of-positive-thinking.html</a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">II. Co-Existence of Negative and Positive</span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKgsu78byUc/Uxzv9BZDkAI/AAAAAAAAAe0/Ay902kNdzhQ/s1600/electric-charge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKgsu78byUc/Uxzv9BZDkAI/AAAAAAAAAe0/Ay902kNdzhQ/s1600/electric-charge.gif" height="81" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need both</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In regards to embracing both, just accept that <u>both positive and negative exist</u>, and <u>also co-exist,</u> meaning one brings the other into existence. You have to know a <i>bad</i> day to appreciate a <i>good</i> day. You can't have success without failure, or at least the risk of failure. You can't have triumph without struggle, since there would be nothing to triumph over. You can't fly without wind resistance. The negative reality not only exists, it is necessary! for us to appreciate the tremendous positivity that is also around.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--n5-_g3yQSQ/UxzwQJgC5hI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Djp_BGdDa3s/s1600/needboth.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--n5-_g3yQSQ/UxzwQJgC5hI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Djp_BGdDa3s/s1600/needboth.gif" height="200" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need both for a complete picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I just don't dwell on negativity. I bring it up, it makes for good references, point out potential areas of growth, identify problems, resolve issues and conflicts. Don't dwell, condemn, or complain, basic rules from Dale Carnegie.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>III. The Positive Side of Negativity</b></span><br />
That feeling of negativity can be good in the long-run, a blessing in disguise, if it pushes you to try harder. It can also discourage and crush a soul. But you gotta know what it feels like to hit the ground first, before bouncing back.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLTnwuh9dQdT6RO9ILm4ghny7ECQEBP_yzBxf44XZIjshschkMuzns5QaWlPwbx6ArFw2ZnUV_dCjP-2vB1u0a47LpCRJXNf7JMrVPsp7U_Gjd2dvRzKRMmdzHxmD-GGDshFxGhi7PJJk/s1600/magnpoles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLTnwuh9dQdT6RO9ILm4ghny7ECQEBP_yzBxf44XZIjshschkMuzns5QaWlPwbx6ArFw2ZnUV_dCjP-2vB1u0a47LpCRJXNf7JMrVPsp7U_Gjd2dvRzKRMmdzHxmD-GGDshFxGhi7PJJk/s1600/magnpoles.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the Earth</td></tr>
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As the article from the New Yorker suggests, negative thinking can push people to try harder, over-prepare, and apply themselves more than optimism and over-confidence. <br />
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For more on negative space art, do a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=negative+positive&client=firefox-a&hs=uma&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=OE0XU-iRBsT42QWF8oFA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=606#channel=sb&q=negative+positive+space&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&imgdii=_">Google search</a>.tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632153402540616119.post-83066707708795552462014-03-05T18:14:00.000-08:002014-03-05T18:42:01.123-08:00My Experience of Mardi Gras, New OrleansHappy Ash Wednesday! <br />
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It's my first year in New Orleans! Because of that, I'm less experienced than most people around here. A Mardi Gras virgin. I learned a bit from asking natives and locals about <i>their</i> experiences of Mardi Gras. Talked to teachers, friends, friends' parents, students... mostly because I thought it would be fun to listen to them, and also because they probably enjoyed talking and being listened to.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I. First Things First </b></span><br />
So first, I'd clear up the misconception that Mardi Gras is a 24/7 "Girls Gone Wild" party. It's not really like that. But you can find that if you want, on the same street you always find it. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60864-d143295-Reviews-Bourbon_Street-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html">Bourbon</a>. HAHAH. A lot of the festivities take place all over the city, and are family-oriented, appropriate for all ages.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVPgvqx49p_l06gnIVEZzXdJj3IQJNCgLIFjQH4VhMsrPIdK4gLNEGfv7HEsR_gkspCK5ZQ7l6H4oiUKLTAuVXD01H3HEdeapDfZFqTpZ4qhDE_D2wbkupYJ5KjYVbhJKHAcBGDdqHOIx/s1600/zulu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVPgvqx49p_l06gnIVEZzXdJj3IQJNCgLIFjQH4VhMsrPIdK4gLNEGfv7HEsR_gkspCK5ZQ7l6H4oiUKLTAuVXD01H3HEdeapDfZFqTpZ4qhDE_D2wbkupYJ5KjYVbhJKHAcBGDdqHOIx/s1600/zulu.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zulu Parade Float</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">II. What I Saw</span></b> <br />
There are a lot of parades! The weeks-long schedule of parades was probably the main thing the sets New Orleans apart (from other cities who celebrate the same day). Elaborately decorated floats, occupied by drunk people in costume, throwing beads and other goodies at screaming audiences. Catching stuff is fun. It's hard to go wrong. The floats were accompanied by marching bands, music, confetti, and cops. Sometimes horses.<br />
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I only went to one Saturday parade. <a href="http://mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule/parade-info/parades-endymion.html">Endymion</a>. It was pretty awesome. Didn't take any pictures though, only Snapchats. Made off with a heavy neck full of beads. Had to get there early to avoid traffic. Partook in some libations, but not much. It was a lot of fun though!<br />
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The audience is pretty diverse, pretty much everyone is outside on the streets. People camped out in the middle and sides of the street. Some barbecued. Some broiled crawfish. It was a familiar and lovely smell. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmYwbKdB8jjw2XRME6FsQBzxK_RXM6NMa9fKEdqYrQfNf9wkGg1NqLQb5a1SRaFZVV_2ju15xybotRvtnLVLUtk5KxRLb0Oy4Yl1OALlWLfCATV27NMnieSIQE6tzqwEpGYKXLcXFPxIc/s1600/kingcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmYwbKdB8jjw2XRME6FsQBzxK_RXM6NMa9fKEdqYrQfNf9wkGg1NqLQb5a1SRaFZVV_2ju15xybotRvtnLVLUtk5KxRLb0Oy4Yl1OALlWLfCATV27NMnieSIQE6tzqwEpGYKXLcXFPxIc/s1600/kingcake.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's soooo delicious. Crispy, soft, cream-filled.</td></tr>
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I got introduced to King Cake, which is delicious from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/hi-do-bakery-terrytown">Hi-Do Bakery</a>! Got it stuffed with the cream cheese. Toooo good. Need another.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">III. My Mardi Gras</span></b><br />
On Mardi Gras day itself, the weather was pretty cold, rainy. I didn't do anything crazy. Went to the supermarket. A parade rolled by in front of my neighborhood. But I stayed away from the parades/parties in the city, just to rest, avoid the mess, and take care of things at home. Cooked. My life is pretty mild these days, don't feel the urge to party or have alcohol my system. In a time when I see a lot of "turning up," I suppose I turn at my own pace. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxabGtmqKVzpOPXnuAYwqjuouwe2uLHretizjypXYwYKJqkpPl3seHE74dNkFf_Poe6xX5rZCTVGCkIYH-QqttOKh1G5pv_rHC8lPKkMYP82BHTn4GhUI2wEdxwO0Fn_4dHzK5_iLB2fn/s1600/postmardiparty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxabGtmqKVzpOPXnuAYwqjuouwe2uLHretizjypXYwYKJqkpPl3seHE74dNkFf_Poe6xX5rZCTVGCkIYH-QqttOKh1G5pv_rHC8lPKkMYP82BHTn4GhUI2wEdxwO0Fn_4dHzK5_iLB2fn/s1600/postmardiparty.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-Mardi Gras clean-up on Bourbon Street</td></tr>
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I saw enough to get a sense of what it was, and I loved it, but I guess I didn't see much at all yet. Will wait until 2015 to experience more.<br />
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I'm grateful to have had this "Mardi Gras break." It gave me an opportunity to de-stress (started it off with a massage), and to spend quality time with myself, away from the pressures of work. I made time to meditate, reflect, stretch, and clean up the neglect (cleaned my car, room, dishes, etc.). And of course, like on Valentine's Day, I danced to my heart's content. Much-needed. I love Mardi Gras.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">IV. In Conclusion,</span></b> <br />
My curiosity about the tradition led to some internet digging, and I learned some new things...<br />
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Mardi Gras is not a strictly New Orleans thing. Cities around the Gulf celebrate it, and it's also a part of something much bigger, and worldwide. Here's a really good article about all the Mardi Gras celebrations around the world, from Brazil to Italy.<br />
<a href="http://www.10news.com/news/how-mardi-gras-is-celebrated-around-the-world-03032014">http://www.10news.com/news/how-mardi-gras-is-celebrated-around-the-world-03032014</a><br />
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In the end, it's not a party thing, it's a spiritual thing. And the real journey starts on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days, 40 nights. I'm giving up some vices. Can't discuss it publicly though.<br />
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Have a blessed Lent season, eat lots of lentils!tnasstbruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08136518913994783536noreply@blogger.com0