THE BOING BOING EFFECT

Warning: This entry is pure narcissism. Remember that scene in Jerry Maguire when Jerry's sole client Rod has a fantastic game on Monday Night Football and after the game Jerry tells his 'wife' Dorthy that they had a huge day.  Well my humble blog yesterday had a huge day.

I was randomly checking my blog stat yesterday and I noticed that there was suddenly a huge upsurge of visitors.

My entry about the UPS guys unloading the iPhones got picked up by Boing Boing in one of their entries about the iPhone which was driving all these visitors to my blog.  Personally I was extremely stoked by this because that website is easily in my top three of favorite websites.  I've been rather diligently blogging for the past four years and when this happened I had a slight Sally Fields reaction.  "You really like me!  You really like me!"

The other cool thing is that as a result of these visitors my entry was also listed on the Wordpress front page for awhile as the number two "hot" post.

And in addition, it is currently the number three most popular entry.

Lastly (as if any of you are still reading this self congratulatory recap), my iPhone entry finally topped my entry about a celebrity nipple slip (seriously, I wrote this months ago and it's still the most popularly read story on here) as the top read entry on my blog.

Oh right, you sick perverts are probably wondering "Damn! What's the link again to the nipple one?!"  Here it is again.  Sickos.

Anyway, yesterday I was kind of a big deal.

IPHONE UNLEASHED VIA UPS!

Swung by the Soho Apple store just in time to catch the UPS guys unloading the new iPhones. The line was shorter than I was expecting but I imagine it'll get hectic towards the actual time they will be sold. iLine.

iNeed Sunblock.

Look at all them iPhones courtesy of UPS! I didn't notice any security presence.

iClose up of the boxes.

So many tracking numbers...what's up with that?

Hey UPS guys: Less standing and more moving! Get those phones in there!

NiPD.

The most patient kid in the planet.

These hands don't want no stinkin' photo taken. It wants an iPhone!

iPhone bridging the racial divide...or is it a love connection thanks to the iPhone?

"Hey T-Mobile, Please cancel my contract. Yea. 200 dollars to cancel? That's fine. I must cancel. Thanks."

And at the front of the line...these people will sell their iPhone on ebay to raise money for a good cause. Or so they say.

(Thanks for coming by Boing Boing readers!)

APPLE MOUTHPIECE

IPHONEEEEEEE

SUPREME COURT FOLLY

I've been reading the Supreme Court's decision rejecting Seattle's and Louisville's modest attempt to promote racial diversity and integration within their school district as unconstitutional. Many pundits have noted this, but I can't go without mentioning how horrifyingly ironic (a "cruel irony" as Justice Stevens charges in his dissent) it is that the majority decision cites in part to justify itself the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education decision overturning segregation in schools. This should be disheartening to all Americans, but I know that really it's sad for mainly "Liberals."

However, Conservatives should also disagree with this Court's decision--issues of race aside--because federalism (balancing of federal powers with that of state and local prerogative) has been trumped by the Conservatives' horror of horrors, judicial activism.

These are my summary thoughts for the moment.

WHERE CAN I BUY CHEAP GYM SHORTS?

Anyone know of a place other than Century 21 that sells decent quality, but cheap gym shorts in Manhattan (preferably near Soho)?

JAMBA JUICE'D OUT

In the past twenty-four hours, I've consumed four 16 oz smoothies courtesy of Jamba Juice. Why? A few weekends ago I was heterosexually roaming Soho with Kaizar and we stopped into Jamba Juice for smoothies. I highly recommend the Strawberry Surf Rider. Shit is crazy delicious. After paying I dropped my business card into a jar they had near the cash register and then thought nothing of it.

A week later I received a call at work from someone at Jamba Juice.

"Congratulations!" she said.

"What?" I replied. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"We drew your card here at Jamba Juice and you've won an office party hosted by Jamba Juice!"

"SWEET!"

She said they will bring up to forty-five smoothies. At most our office consists of twenty employees.

"Should I bring forty-five?" she asked.

"Uh, sure..."

They arrived yesterday afternoon carrying sure enough, forty five or crapload so of delicious ice cold smoothies. After inviting our building's maintenance guys, our PR agency's girls, and a couple friends working around the area, we still had 15 or so smoothies remaining. We put those in the freezer.

Today I discovered a tasty new way to consume them. I took one out of the freezer and I scraped at it like frozen ice cream. So eye-rollingly yummy!

I think I'm going to go to Chipotle and drop about 50 business cards in their jar.

RANT AGAINST EXISTING AIRPORT "SECURITY"

I've been meaning to write about this for awhile as it is a topic thats been brewing in my head and getting increasingly heated the more frequently I fly and have to deal with airport security. It's amazing how inefficient and by extension, idiotic "security" at airports in the US has become.

On a recent trip a couple in front of me had to empty out nearly all the contents of their carry-on bags: 2 wheeled luggages, a back pack, and a purse. By the time I made it through the x-ray machine, I remarked to the couple--who were still attempting to repack their shit--that we should all just put our stuff inside one big clear plastic garbage bag when flying from here on out.

EASY LISTENING SUNDAY

With midnight rapidly approaching this Sunday is nearly officially over, but I still have five minutes left before the calendar flips pages.  What?  You thought I was at the end of the road with my Easy Listening Sunday segments?  Never fear, let Boyz II Men ease you into Monday with this soft R&B classic : [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZcG0NBMcDA]

MY VACATION 2

This is a follow up to an earlier entry. These pictures (many of them taken by Kaizar) are from a couple weekends ago...

On the cheap Chinatown bus to Wilmington, DE.

Fantastic New Jersey scenery along the way.

Between my iPod, PSP, and camera I was able to keep myself amused on the bus ride.

Once in Delaware, we had delicious Indian cuisine like this. Seriously, it was so tasty, especially when you eat a HUGE spoonful of it in one bite.

Mufu, Kaizar and I decided to do some manly hiking in Pennsylvania. Along the way we drove through Amish country, which I'd never seen before.

Mmmm pies.

It's the Amish!

This tiny amusement park had this "mountain" with the most disgusting waterfall ever. It looked like Listerine.

What do you eat before a long hike? Pizza, of course!

The beginning of the hike.

Channeling our Steve Irwin impression: "OHhh crikey! If you look here, it's a dan-gerous wild blue towel!"

Wow, nature.

Wow, nature.

Standing atop of rocks. If you had asked me six years ago I could have told you exactly what sort of rocks I am standing on, but now...it's just rocks.

Cool view of nature and stuff.

This could be an album cover for a New Age/Christian/Sounds of Nature cd.

"Can you hear me now?"

Kaizar, Me, Mufu, and Mother Nature.

The brothers.

Branches...

ARTSY branches.

Kaizar looking over the edge. I hate heights like this. Vertigo tends to kick in.

Snicker wrapper. Later when Mariya saw these photos she asked, "Did you guys pick up the wrapper??" I realized we didn't. We are jackasses. Al Gore would be so disappointed with us.

To continue the trash theme... Kaizar and Muf's dad was angry that morning because he found a cig butt in the toilet and accused Muf of it, which he denied. So we found this cigarette butt on the trail and asked Mufu if it was his.

Walking back down.

After the hike...a jump of course.

On our way back, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner. The menu's "low carb" offerin's didn't seem too healthy to us...

Puzzle success!

The restaurant's decor is Americana kitsch, and we were struck by the hair similarities between this woman and Muf's:

Haha.

Mmmm country fried steak.

Uno JENGA! Brilliant!

WHY IS THIS PHOTO SO FUNNY?

It took me about 10 seconds before I figured it out and then I had a good ol' hearty laugh.

HARRY POTTER SPOILER

News that a spoiler for the upcoming and final chapter in the Harry Potter story was released by "Gabriel," a hacker who sneaked onto the Harry Potter's publishing companies computers is all over the Internets as well as the MSM (Mainstream News Media for those that skipped out on Mass Media taught at every. university.), including MSNBC and the New York Times--Okay, it's on their "blog," BUT it is on their website's front top page--prime real estate--as of this writing.  Of course bloggers--this one included as evident by my discussion of it here-- apparently are nearly having a bukakkesque reaction to this "news."  Side note: Do NOT google "bukakkesque" or any other spelling variation while at work, around your parents or siblings or your priest. The cynic in me thinks that this spoiler release is a great "viral" marketing ploy, as if this boy wizard doesn't get enough press or buzz as it is.  If not and Gabriel, the hacker messenger angel,  is telling the truth, then either way the publisher and the author, as well as the author's sycophant team of lawyers and advisers win either way by keeping this book at the top of the new cycle and as well as the topic du jour of the proverbial water cooler, no small feat in today's ADD environment.  Whatever it is, chalk up this "story" as yet another piece of hard hitting "soft news."  Who do I fault though?  I don't find myself writing about how the Republicans in the Senate blocked a measure that would have had the Big Oil companies pay higher taxes that would apply towards renewable energy funding nor about the fact 14 US soldiers, along with an Iraqi interpreter as well as three local civilians were killed today in Iraq.

"Yea, yea, now where's the link to the fuckin spoiler?" you're probably wondering.

Well, if you want to read the potential spoiler and save yourself the $29.99, click here.

MOST DRAMATIC SCENE GOES TO...

...this cute critter: [Watch WITH sound on]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40]

I've seen this video above appear today on both BoingBoing AND Metafilter, which can only mean one thing: This clip will eventually join the great pantheon of viral videos and stand alongside Numa Numa guy and Star Wars kid and the Not-so-back flipping martial "artist".

Seriously, if you only read through this and didn't watch the the four Youtube videos I linked to (Star Wars kid gets two versions), then stop collaborate and listen 'cause mrod is back and telling you to go watch them. Seriously.

LETTERS FROM HOME (ALASKA)

As soon as I left Alaska to attend college and interact with non-Alaskans, the vast majority of whom who have never visited my home state, I've found myself often acting as an ambassador educating people that Alaska is not a gigantic sheet of ice or completely dark for half the year. My homeboys can relate to this I think. However, I received an email today from my father that only reinforced those stereotypes people have of Alaska. He writes:

"We're having good summer weather this year. The down side is something we seldom come across. Two baby moose calves were devoured by a black bear in front of the mom moose on the front lawn of some people on O'Malley road in plain sight of the neighbors and in broad daylight. It was on the front page of the Daily News. We all felt bad since we are visited by these critters every summer."

The NY Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams signs off her entries wih "Only in New York, kids, only in New York."

I'm going to conclude this entry with "Only in Alaska, kids, only in Alaska."

MY VACATION I

I took a few much needed days off work. I didn't go anywhere particularly exciting, other than getting to enjoy New York during the day time like those people I see having a nice leisurely coffee at 11 am in Soho. (A lot of the photos during Kaizar's visit was taken by him with his camera.) Kaizar and I randomly dropped into a bike shop near my apartment. I love these bike hats. I'm demonstrating my immaculate bicycling pose.

The white hat version.

So Munira threw a welcome back party for Kaizar at the Delancey. Here's Pooja, Munira and her friend Harmit.

"Yo, do I have something in between my teeth?"

ARRRGHHHH!!

Munira and Harmit!

It's Peter!

A rare moment of peace for Kaizar. It looked like he was holding office hour like a professor with all his friends lined up like students waiting for their turn to talk.

It looks like me and Omar (Kaizar's roommate out in San Francisco) just had a quarrel.

Omar and his friend (I forgot your name! Sorry!)

After the Delancey Kaizar, Peter and I went to our favorite watering hole, Botanica for the usual can of PBR.

"HE-LLO!" Sigh. I love Botanica so much.

BEST PHOTO EVER

Me, Kaizar and Erin went to some random tiki bar on Smith Street in Brooklyn and before leaving we asked some random guy to snap a photo of us. This was the result. Brilliance in timing. If you don't get it, look at the photo again, especially the bar's TV in the background. Disturbing, but kinda hilarious too.

MORE KAIZAR!

We got some shawarma at that hole-in-the-wall joint near NYU. At the booth, there was this nasty copy of the New York Post. Gross.

Seriously, gross.

Kaizar on the other hand doesn't seem quite as disgusted.

Memo to self: I REALLY need to stop getting photographed with my mouth full of food. That is NOT how I was raised. Self lecture aside, it was sooo tasty. I've eaten here a dozen times but I can never remember what the restaurant is called. Maybe one of you knows?

Cool thing we came across. I've never noticed it before when walking through this neighborhood.

LAST NIGHT'S PARTY: KAIZAR EDITION!

Long time readers of my blog here and my old blog on Xanga will recognize this blast from the past. KAIZAR! (Now a ninja in San Francisco.) He's visiting the East Coast here for awhile which is fannnntastic.

His Blackberry pearl...isn't so pearly anymore.

We went to...shoot, I forget the name of the bar in Union Square.

Me, Lauren and Pooja!

I really don't enjoy shots at all... at all... Kaizar on the other hand is a big fan.

Yuck.

Kaizar's cousin Hussain (and his friend).

And then we headed over to the Meatpacking District thanks to the driving talents of this super cool and laid back cabbie I chatted with.

What a great way to get all close like with a girl in a cab. "Lets share a seat belt...you know, for safety...purposes."

Pooja putting on make up in the cab. Classy.

After the club, we went to Pop Burger. I'm not sure what's up with my recent drunken tendency to open my mouth full of food when the camera comes out.

Sometimes a burger is so fuckin' delicious. Am I right or am I right?

Pop burger! Haha.

UNION SQUARE CITIZEN

Living in New York City I've seen my fair share of wackos and nutjobs, but this guy here in Union Square was a straight up freak. And I love that about this city.

EASY LISTENING SUNDAY

Last night...we go to a party, and everyone turns to see this beautiful lady walking around with me. And then she asks me, "Do you feel alright?" And I say "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight." A few hours later, after passing out in the subway platform ground, I somehow managed to make it home and at that point I didn't feel so wonderful and promptly threw up. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ipQl9pywg]

SOPRANOS FINALE ALTERNATE ENDING

One would think that I'm about five days late and a dollar short by writing about the finale to the cult and popular hit show on HBO "The Sopranos," but people or rather journalists, columnists, writers, and fans are STILL continuing to write and debate its ending. Disclaimer: I'm admitting that the final episode was the only episodes of the Sopranos I actually watched in its entirety.

The cacophony of opinions confirmed something that I've always suspected and that is  the fact that Sopranos fans are no different than the nerdom of "X-File's" fans.  Or "Lost" fans.  The only difference is that the Sopranos audience paid premium for their obsession.

Anyway, someone posted on Youtube an exclusive director's cut of the actual original ending to the finale and frankly, it rocks.  Talk about closure!

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=7EwUG2nSLdw]