I have two lives

I have one life on the internet, and one in real life.

It's important to keep them in check. Very quickly the two can grind up on one another - not checking emails, miscommunication with AIM chats late at night - facebook "relationship" changes.. etc.

Balancing the two can incredibly hard, stressful and just ruin anyone's day.

Lets remember what the web is for - to make life fun and easy, to make business, send love to our cuties pies and sweeties and anything else we need. In short, I think of the internet as bowl of cherries instead of sour lemons. So with that, here are some websites that can help you get on your way!

http://twitter.com/ -> connect with people like never before!
http://www.bugmenot.com/ -> can help you bypass stupid sites that make you register for everything! i use it for nytimes.com

http://oursignal.com/ -> view news in a new and interesting way
http://www.insidesocal.com/bargain/ -> help you be a savvy shopper in real life and online


enjoy and happy hunting

New camera!

okay, that maybe a few years late, but it's still a really good camera, and I bought one (body only) from B&H refurbished for 300 bucks! that's dirtty cheap for a DSLR. I'll be using that oh so familiar 50 mm f/1.8 lens.

I've only had my canon powershot sd600 so, this is a refreshing change of pace! (this is a canon family).

Hopefully, with my new baby I can more accurately document some of my crazy travels on the metro rail, the dungeons of chinatown, the restaurants of koreatown, the cozy campus of csulb, the arcades at little tokyo, arts/events from all around town too.

Only problem is, I ordered it... and it's still not here. Expected to be here dec. 17 .. and its now... dec. 14.. im just so excited!

I'm wondering what my virgin shot will be ( first picture ) .. I think it will be a picture of my friend's dad.

lots of love -
john

Mystery girl..

Mystery girl..
Originally uploaded by najicalove

I met her... on the Green line station. I was wearing my fancy military jacket but the wind was still quite unfriendly. I looked around and saw her, standing out like a sore thumb from all the wasted lives that frequent the rail stations. She had decided to warm herself in a little corner tucked away from the wind, "Genius!" I thought. Trying to avoid any social contact I decided to try the corner on the opposite end, only to realize the wind was in my direction. After a deep breath, I walked over to her and commented on her craftiness, and joined together and joked around. We suddenly realize we're both from Torrance and I decide to offer her a ride home, with my knowledge of how cruel the transit system can be do unsuspecting patrons at late hours.

The entire car ride was just a riot, with everything laughs, as if we had been best friends since elementary school. Playing and laughing we decide to grab a bite to eat and she offers to pay for sake my giving her a ride. Sharing fries and more intricate conversations as two strangers juxtaposed in a car tend to do, I arrive at her house and let her off. At this point, I wave her goodbye, and she leaves the car.

She asks me if I have a facebook or a myspace, and to which I replied no (which was truthful at the time) and at the last minute we decided to at least take a picture together. and here it is.

I suppose I could have asked for her telephone number, or perhaps an e-mail, so that perhaps I might make sure she arrives at home safely another night, but to me, she is mystery girl..

DWP Annual Light Festival

DWP Annual Light Festival
Originally uploaded by najicalove

Just a little snippet of me and the Light Festival, also the last time i shoot film at night X_X

christmas spirit...

so there I am, sitting there, enjoying star trek, (the doomsday machine eps.) when a family comes' a' banging on my door.

Who could this be I wonder?

I hurredly run to the door, shocked to find a family, who announce themselves as Christmas carolers.

They then ask for donations for their church, and upon hearing my polite No, they decide I am no longer worth caroling for and rudely leave after wasting MY TIME.

The next time "Carolers" come around, I'll just tell them to suck some dick.

The reader should note that most prose, perhaps, all literature whether written or scribbled, or typed or transcribed, come to an author at the most peculiar hours, often interfering with their life, jobs, obligations and relationships. I can personally attest to such.

The cornerstone of my own life's dedication (up to this point) is to become; Worldly, Cultured, Aware. Perhaps not in such a linear fashion but you get the picture. However, as well conceived dedication to a principle, a lifestyle, can possibly become, (while admittedly can reek of aristocratic snobbery, rather then a "higher pleasure" as John Stuart Mill proposed) a shortcoming of this whimsical plan for myself involved losing my own identity.

An identity I share with every man, woman and child whose blood runs to home, in Korea.

Korea, while on a journey to make a name for itself internationally, is rather insignificant in a global sense of the world.

So, in a attempt to regain my heritage, I'll be watching Korean movies, drama, music, language everyday for... as long is it might take.

Remember duty to God and Country, and in my case, country is U.S.A and Korea.

-happy hunting

MEN

Part of being a man, arguably the most important - are his threads. Here are a couple website that have let me keep track of my threads.

http://manshion.net/

http://www.seejackshop.com/

http://www.sheknowsbest.com/tag/mens-shopping-blog/

although that last one kinda sucks.

spaced...

spaced...
Originally uploaded by najicalove

a little self promotion, i gotta admit, im shaping up to be a strapping young lad

UPDATE

Over the course of some time, this blog became more emotional, more personal, and gave a little insight in to my life. I'll make sure not to do that.

Instead, I'd rather be useful and point out some things while scouring the internet.

http://uncrate.com/ - if you haven't checked it out, a solid blog about Men's products from wallets to guns to cars boats and DVDs.

http://weekinreview.org/ news+drawing is love

http://www.cuil.com/ the next google... maybe joss whedon never sleeps

http://www.tuaw.com/ new macbook pro designs? who gives a shit

http://www.drhorrible.com/
joss whedon never sleeps


and in the real world...



GM cuts 15% of US/Canada salaried workers : (

Budweiser sold to French guy : (

Obama = Cocky ass hole : (

McCain = old, getting older : (

Virgin Galactic : )

Worthless iPod touch/iPhone apps : (

Spaced in (british tv show released to US with the Shaun of the Dead guy) : )

Record US defecit in to the 4 bills ( i mean billions people ) X_X

P.S. no comments means no love : (

update

I do plan on going to obon festival today at 5 pm, and betalevel swapmeet at 10 pm and the dodger game tomorrow at 1pm.

I also deleted my facebook and twitter.

I should say I deactivated my facebook, because apparently there is NO deleting that data. (or something.)

I'll take pics of all three events and post them up later.

just a thought..

Okay.

I sat down for a second before I wrote this so expect a semi-well written piece of prose with out too many grammatical errors.

I felt like making a blog post with pictures and graphs and api's and web 2.0 goodness but I was feeling.. more OG and decided to post a blog circa web 1.0, i.e. text only.

Many projects of mine have late have gone under... in every aspect.. and it is painfully easy to see such failure in the wake of a huge failure... in this time it is good to remember that life, is not for the faint of heart. The best advice I received this year was to be ruthless with my time. Utterly ruthless. That one little piece has affected a few things in my life and I'm proud to say I am now a Apple Certified Macintosh Technician, or in layman's terms a Mac Genius in a paltry six months.

The more I reflect on this past year I see a common issue, a central theme surrounding minor and major events. I simply wasn't greedy enough. I didn't strike when the iron was hot. Some of the lessons I've learned have been incredibly painful, and those resonate the most. with the last part of the year ahead, I think it's time to shift gears and be in it, to win it.

As always, the most exciting part of a change in lifestyle is the ability to control your own fate, (for the most part) and decide how to live your life, not just today, but tomorrow.


Like so many, many, many, hopeless souls in dire straits, how they perform under those circumstances shows character and self. Here is to the next six months that will be my finest hour.

it's all about the moment

the right moment. thats what mr brainwash told me for his take on life, art, and everything in general. i'll be doing an interview with him this sunday.

new music monday

here are a few things to look out for

music
new coldplay
new weezer
new girl talk
and the SXSW 2008 music pack, i'll make a muxtape of the best, im still flipping through a lot of the tracks.

i'm still enjoying the fujiya and miyagi, some MGMT and hercules and love affair.


events
70th anniversary of chinatown ( L.A. ) 6/24/08
swap meet at betalevel 6/24/08
free moca thursday 5-8pm
la film festival (continuous)

MR BRAIN WASH

mr brain wash is having a first ever show ... for those of you don't know please check it out, the opening show is wednesday at 7!

details after the jump.

http://www.artshow2008.com/beautiful.html

go metro

I'll admit it right off the bat- there are lots of cons to riding public transportation, I won't even go in to details... you crybabies.

But for those daring enough and adventurous enough, for those without a car (or sick of it) and for those who are tired of sitting at home wondering what to do, Metro is the answer.

My usual metro route would be driving a very short distance up the 110 northbound, getting of at the harbor station where you can park for free, buy a $5 all day pass and ride the green line to the blue line to the red line and ride to union station. From Union Station, I can either walk a little bit to Little Tokyo, or walk to Chinatown - great downtown LA spots if you have never been.

The whole trip is going to take one and a half hours roughly, which gives you time to relax, mingle, read a book or the paper or take a nap!

It is a little confusing at first but if random strangers from other countries can figure it out, surely us Californians can do it too. For the less brave, you can always ride with a friend and figure it out together. I'll be headed to Pasadena Chalk Art Festival and I'll be riding the rails for sure, and besides, at 5 dollars for an all day pass, it beats buying one gallon of gas.

Also I use the metro trip planner a lot. you can find it here

a cure

http://najicalove.muxtape.com/

a cure based muxtape. enjoi

check up

Look at me all smug.

It's been awhile but I've actually been avoiding the internet. I'm either on it, or out and about and having trouble integrating the two. But I do like my pretty blog and there are a few things to look forward to:

1. Status of my apple training

2. metro LA guide to riding the rails

3. A fun cure mixtape

4. and some recipes that I've enjoyed.
cheers,

john

sports flops

I like sports. I'm sure other people do, and like me, don't always have time to watch them and visit websites such as nhl.com or nba.com.

But these websites are hideous. Let me count the ways.

Take this screenshot of the NHL official website for example. What the hell is that space on the right side? Can they not design the website for different resolutions? At the very least provide a less cheesy background. There are also scores of current games, and even future games with the scorecard labeled team y 0, team x 0 .. as if they were playing and haven't scored yet- but they're not. The website also shows this "channel feature on the left side... and i remember seeing that in... 2004, and we're still using that layout 4 years later. Fail. I'd provide more screenshots of other sports websites but it really is just more of the same.

my new apple pin/lapel

my new apple pin/lapel
Originally uploaded by najicalove

It finally came in the mail. Looks pretty snazzy. I got it for attaining the level of Product Professional in their online sales training. so.. it means nothing. did i mention it was shiny and pretty? and from apple?

web 2.0 good and bad

There is a lot of crap everywhere. Web 2.0 is no exception. I have a few examples of good, and the bad.

new (to me)

Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games

Uncrate | The Buyer's Guide For Men

ChaCha. Good Answer.

classics

popurls® | popular urls to the latest web buzz

Twitter

and the (god) awful

Funny Website - Cracked.com - American's Only Humor & Video Site Since 1958

CollegeHumor - Funny Pictures, Funny Videos, Funny Links!

Break.com - Free videos, pictures, and comedy for guys

t-shirt experience

I had a recent post about my time in San Francisco, but that post left out that awesome t-shirt I bought there from a vendor on the street. The vendors (and me) just began to realize that it was raining, and they began to close shop. I stopped by and they decided to give me a shirt for 15 instead of 20.

I was very happy with this shirt.


















But when I washed it for the first time the ink faded.

Fortunately I picked up their business card, wrote them and email and got a super speedy response and they said they'd ship me a new shirt on the double. Pretty good service for buying a a shirt on the street.

If not for the internet, I'm not sure how this woulda played out.

They get an A+ in my book,

http://loveprojectsf.com/index.html

be warned though, they auto play music ( a no no )

my new twitter shirt

my new twitter shirt
Originally uploaded by najicalove

uhh yeah addiction..

Food, and where to get it

So the last time we talked I had a post about food and what to eat. But after all that good reading leaves the question, so what do I eat again? I will attempt to answer that question.

I do love food and I do love tech and thus comes my most recent device - restaurants google map.

It is open so anyone can edit the notes on any place, add restaurants and even add horrible restaurants.

I realize there are many restaurant guides and Zagat ratings but I felt a peer review, open to all style would be better.

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and add restaurants.

happy eating ( try delinews, its my favorite! )

UPDATE: Thanks for people who put places on the map! and for all of those who don't know already, Yelp is a really good service.

Web 2.0 + old skool

Old skool rules.

The smell and feel of vintage products, ads, toys just bring me back. Thats why I own original posterboards of Ameila Earhart and Pablo Picasso from the "Think different" Apple ad campaign. Also I keep my sega genesis with street fighter 2.

When web 2.0 and old skool play together, the results are genious, and thats why I'm happy about my muxtape.


muxtape.com provides a clean, simple, interface (web 2.0 out the wazoo) while kickin' it old skool with mixtapes, which are very personal and come from the heart.

Muxtapes are in. Here's mine.

http://najicalove.muxtape.com/

Yes I read

This is the cover of, In Defense of food. The book contains a myriad of details and provided good info so I'll share them. (five in no paticular order.)

1. Don't eat alone. Many of us eat food just to survive. Food is time to slow down, catch up with friends, relax us and is meant to be enjoyed.

2. Don't eat things old people would not recognize.

3. Be wary of foods that make health claims. I sadly can not eat Milton's Bread anymore.

4. Lots of food are not actually food but " food like substances."

5. Go to a farmers market. Some farmers markets or Community Supported Agriculture can deliver food to your home.

This seems like info that everyone is familiar with, but following those rules is quite difficult, if not impossible. I tried following them today when I went to Trader Joe's and all I got was some Very wholesome bread and apple sauce.

The book is on the New York Best-Seller list and is definitely worth a read.

http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

Rant

Ok, so everyone loves to whine. Things piss people off.

But I've held it in, I've let it slide but not today.

And I'm frakkin pissed.









These are not fashionable, and look ghetto and trashy.

i left my heart...

San Francisco was amazing. The only reason I was able to leave and enjoy myself for a tad was due to spring break. The atmosphere and life it was amazing. It was this trip that made me realize I was never a photographer and have no aspirations to be one - images burned in my memory were so breath taking, yet I could not converse them in to 0's and 1's with my canon powershot. Nonetheless, I did snap a few things here and there and whats of it is here. tinyurl.com/5jmxf3

Change of Heart?

Sorry blogger =\

Spring Break.

Well the hiatus is over. 

Cause its time for spring break. 

I've been playing dota more often, but that gives me so much stress X_X its like gambling....

I want to play around with the iPhone sdk... now if i just had an iPhone.. and knew X code.. ahh the memories... 

hiatus

I'd take a photo of myself right now at 3:17 am on a friday early morning but i look ( and smell ) awful so i'll skip it.

Life ( work and school ) have become too much so posting will be a problem.

It's one of those things where you wish things would just get better- but, the situation is .. difficult and you end up by yourself ... which makes getting help seem that much more impossible.. I basically want to cry without any solution in sight.

As my motto goes - learning and changing and moving forward ( sorry toyota ) I'm going to try and take that to heart in these, desperate times.


To end on a good note, I came up with the brilliant idea to blog my way as I become a Mac Genius - showing how hard ( or easy ) some things are and how I face the challenges. Hope apple doesn't have a problem with that.


Take care blog, ill be back soon.

the now

the now
Originally uploaded by najicalove

Tie and all, this is part of my change of the new year. and im lookin good too.

america

america
Originally uploaded by najicalove

This got to me pretty personally. As a lover of America, it hurts to see that there are so many dark sides to americana, and so much is illustrated here. Corporate greed, consumerism, materialism, corporate and individual responsibility - ahh.. screw it. im depressed now.

I think as members of a First world country ( we're number one baby! ) that we should have the highest standards among ourselves, our citizens and our global appearance but this clearly is not the case. It's disappointing and rude to the other people/countries that don't have the luxuries we do.

I am Mac.

Well Seeing as my training for a mac genius should naturally include macs.. it seemed only fair to have a new toy... btw i love my boss! i love my job, and i most definitely <3 the mac book pro.

king taco; and you can too!

another Asian American Fellowship meeting at King Taco. 

Three Carne Asada tacos, a large cup of tamarindo and i am done. 

I might have missed the lunar eclipse for it.. but that happens a lot right?... .... right?

ZombieHillary

ZombieHillary
Originally uploaded by digitalfilmmaker

omg... this was intense but it actually sums up my feelings as well about hillary right now. so sad.

new places new things!

I think I'm starting to fall in love with the Long Beach Art Theater. Playing off the wall films such as persepolis and really a great way to spend a Friday night. Here is a poster for the next film ( roughly next week ) which I think I'll be attending. Also its a great feeling to walk out of a movie theater to have some people play super smash brothers on a tiny tv in the lobby. lol. Maybe ill Bookmark this spot on a custom google maps and just cycle through my " bookmarks" when I want something to do. Maybe not.

Making Changes.

well, first things first, i want everyone i know on this earth to do this (even people i hate, though i doubt they'd do it, oh forget it) http://kevan.org/johari?name=john%20yang

Second, since this is a semi photo/comic blog i want to ensure that i always have that in mind. so next post ( tmw ) will have my newest comic.

Third-ly i need to get off the web.

playing around

Some new colors or colours as it were, and i think i like it. maybe they'll change.

I also added a little twitter badge so you can follow me there too.

Stalking people on the internet is too easy..

obama in chinatown

obama in chinatown
Originally uploaded by najicalove

even china is for obama lol

me

me
Originally uploaded by najicalove

the johns before me...

other things...

im working on some comics, hopefully with some of my friends, so that may or may not come soon.

I dont post every single thing so you can always check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/najicalove/

for more stuff that didnt get a blog spotlight ( so sad. lol )

street grafiti

Picture 009
Originally uploaded by najicalove

street art > traditional art

isa bowling event

isa bowling event
Originally uploaded by najicalove

this was a heck of a lot of fun. being more global, more open, more aware, I LOVE IT! college is a special place to really get a better understanding of the word GLOBAL.

persepolis

persepolis
Originally uploaded by najicalove

what a great movie! by far the best movie i've seen in... a few years. love, laughs .. very moving.

free pancakes

free pancakes
Originally uploaded by najicalove

free pancakes are the best. i just wanted to have a pic so here it is. FLICKR blogging for the win...

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

valentines day!

my sister rules.

free pancakes!

every year around mardi gras, ihop hosts national pancake day, to make a long story short, i ate 6 free pancakes. not just any pancakes, but free pancakes.

meeting new people is the best.

starting the comics again, maybe i have an artist?

happy valentines day, i couldnt get snoopy cards, so i settled for marvel. ( sigh.. )

new people

Today, right now, this second, while i wait for my freezepop album to convert from ogg. to mp3. im thinking about today, about how i met all these new people, nice people, at the asian american christian fellowship. im not religious.. but this was interesting.. i thought it was going to be filled with bible thumpers, but as i came in, they just seemed like normal people. even some were cute. i want to say im not bias or... that i keep there bible thumping in mind, but i think today was good and i think these people can be my friends too..