Saturday, September 30, 2006

September . . . Faster Than Light Speed

In one of August’s Blogs, I mentioned August was the fastest month in my life. September beats August big time. September was a busy month for me. Activities included a Labor Day gathering, Japan Town Anime Faire in San Francisco, another gathering at a mall, going back to the gym and getting back into my gym schedule, updating my webpage, cleaning up the house, creating Blogs, updating my resume and cover letter, and trying to find myself. I know I did lots more. I just can’t remember them all.

In the last two weeks, there has been police activity around my neighborhood. What’s going on? San Jose Police has a helicopter. The helicopter flew around my neighborhood with spotlight on three times in the last two weeks. When I heard the helicopter, I pause and look out the window. The latest happened two hours ago. The helicopter flew around for 15 minutes. A long time ago, the helicopter flew on top of my house with the spotlight shining the backyard. I felt both scary and curious. Bad combination @__@

I wonder how October is going to be? Faster than September or slower than March? (March has been the slowest month in my life.) The planned activities include visiting an Orthodontist for a second opinion whether I need braces, last 2006 anime convention in Millbrae, finish my resume and cover letter to post on craigslist, search for jobs on cragislist, sell my DVDs on half.com, sell a few items on eBay, update my webpage, create more Blogs, and keep my senses sharp to find my lost ways.

Today and tomorrow, it’s all going to be me. I’m going to update my webpage especially starting on the Anime Expo (AX) 2006 cosplay pics, catch up on email, update my resume and cover letter, pay credit card bills, grocery shopping, and have fun.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Find The Misinformation and Misunderstandings First

Yesterday and today, there was a problem which went out of control with management, directors, and corporate staff telling each other different stuff. I was at the center of the problem. (Trust me on the out of control. There is much more which is irrelevant to the Blog and no need to mention.)

What happened? I misunderstood information regarding a paid online subscription service for the agents. I thought all brokers have premium subscriptions paid by the company. I attempted to sign up an agent to be added to the service. It turned out the brokers have to pay for the premium subscription. The office manager emailed me I need to tell the agent when I subscribe someone to a paid service, I must inform the agent. No duh!!! If he had to pay, obviously I tell the agent. In the end, the agent refused subscription and I apologized to the agent and told him the truth I misunderstood the online service. And I never replied back to my office manager for which I have no idea who the office manger is.

The event reminded me of the movie Office Space when Peter Gibbons forgot to put new cover sheets for the T.P.S. reports. The vice president, manager, person on the telephone, and his co-workers told him he made a mistake for which Gibbons simply forgot to put the new cover sheet.

O.K. Rant time is over. On to the Innovating Common Knowledge blog ^_^

When you or someone is in an argument, disagreement, conflict, conversation turning nasty, raises voices, verbal personal attacks, giving each other the silent treatment, etc., before heading to the “I refuse to talk to him or her” attitude, find the misinformation and misunderstanding first. I believe 95% of all conflicts turning into something worst are avoidable by asking the other person or party if they understand accurately and have the correct information. Perhaps, the person wrote the wrong address by accident, missed the meeting and didn’t know the latest assignment, person gave the information had wrong information too, flight was delayed, weak cell phone signal, person who read the information misunderstood it, etc. Nobody understands everything read 100% of the time.

Its true people can use these as excuses. However, if the person is truthful, credible, and sincere, then, yes, the person wants to correct the misunderstanding and find the accurate information.

When any potential conflict is coming, activate your attitude and behavior to seek mode. Find any misunderstandings and find any misinformation from the other person or party. Ask questions. Initiate the questions and correct the misunderstandings and misinformation. As a result, you are going to be a smart person 0:-)

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

$10.00 Or Less To Protect Sight And Sound

A long time ago, my Dad asked me to start mowing the lawn. I said, "No problem." Honestly, I hated mowing the lawn. My choices in life lack the gardening spirit. And the lawn mower is older than me -__-

Two years later, my Mom told me about a news article on people losing their hearing mowing their lawn because the lawn mower is loud. I thought twice about those people. These people mowed the lawn likely once a week during the spring and summer seasons which is a few days out of the year. No worries. The X factor is how big the lawn is. My family's lawn is small such that it takes 5 minutes to mow the lawn. I thought my hearing is safe.

Then again, ear plugs cost less than $5.00. I purchased ear plugs. When I used the ear plugs to mow the lawn, I used them everytime. The earplugs make a difference.

Also, I remember a news event a woman was mowing the lawn and accidentally mowed over a metal object. One of the pieces escaped the lawn mower and hit her front body. What saved her? Her bra `O__O' The metal piece hit a wire on the bra protecting her from injury.

I also purchased a pair of eye goggles to protect my eyes at the same time I purchased the earplugs. The goggles cost around $5.00. I keep my eyes safe in case I mowed over any objects on the lawn 8-)

For less than $10.00, I have earplugs to protect my ears and I have goggles to protect my eyes. $10.00 is chump change compared to the massive loss losing either sight or sound. I image my life without either sight or sound--my life sucks big time. It costs me $10.00 to at least reduce the chances of hearing damage or sight loss.

The next time you go shopping, go to the hardware store and purchase ear plugs and safety goggles.

Monday, September 25, 2006

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

I spent Sunday afternoon updating my webpage, catching up on email, and watching a couple of quarters of football. The Seahawks are the real deal ^.^

When I updated my webpage, I listened to U2’s The Joshua Tree on cassette. My Uncle gave me the cassette when I graduated junior high. In my freshmen year at high school, I woke up and did exercises in my room and listened to The Joshua Tree.

When the song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” played, it reminded me of a recent Blog and my current life situation. What is my current situation? I’m lost. I don’t know what do to with my life. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. I thought I knew what I was doing after I graduated college. I was wrong. I thought I found what I was looking for since 2003. I’m wrong today.

I don’t know what’s going on with my life. I really don’t. I live life everyday the best I can. I hope sooner or later I find what I’m missing. I admit what I’m saying is weak and vague. Exactly, I have no clue what to do.

For the rest of 2006, I’m doing the following:

1. Use my blog to both update my current situation and write more Innovating Common Knowledge entries.
2. Exercise at least two days a week. Last week I exercised once. This week, I’m exercising three days.
3. Search for a job. Three people resigned from the company which motivated me to find another job. I have been updating and revising my resume and cover letter. And I’m breaking some of the rules and procedures I learned in the past.
4. Postpone investing in stocks and following the stock market. I think a three month break helps me get a better perspective and a clearer mind when I start over and relearn stocks.
5. Visit Santa Cruz. I plan to visit Santa Cruz in December . . . bonus if I visit more than once ^__^
6. Finish reading Anthony Robbins’ Unlimited Power.
7. Meet new people.
8. Research how to create video blogs. It’s probably easier than I think `__*
9. Eat less at restaurants and fast food places. The money spent adds up fast $-(
10. Have fun and keep my senses focused.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Are You Moving? Pack The Digital Camera Last

Purchased a new home? Moving out of your parents house—finally! Going to live in a college dorm? Renting a room? Congrats on your next step to open doors in the adventures of your life.

One item must be packed last. What is it? It’s your digital camera. Pictures speak a 1,000 words. Before digital cameras, people write down the items on a box, number the box and write the items on a master list, or write “kitchen” or “bathroom” or “living room.”

Thanks to digital cameras, use the digital camera to take pictures of the items inside the moving boxes. First, pack items, next remove the items, then take a picture of the items, put the items back in the moving box without sealing, and finally number the moving box matching the file number on the digital camera on paper. Repeat the process for all moving boxes.

After packing, print the pictures on a color printer. If you don’t have a color printer, there are places to print 8 1/2 by 11 inch color prints such as Kinkos. If you wrote the file number on the box, then match the file number on the color print with the file number on the moving box. Otherwise, look at the contents and compare the color prints. Match the color prints with the items in the box, tape the color print to the corresponding box either on top or one of the sides, and seal the box. Repeat the process for all moving boxes.

I’m aware you have to take the items out of the box immediately after finish packing the box to take a picture. When someone has to find an item and/or needs to know where the box goes at the new residence, the person looks at the pictures. It’s worth the extra time to repack after taking a digital pic. You don’t want to open the wrong box and then have to repack because one has to look for something during the move =__=

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Why Finding Nemo Is The Best Disney Movie

Disney and Pixar released Finding Nemo in 2003. I watched the movie for the first time on DVD. When I watched the movie after work, I was really tired and I almost fell asleep (-,-) Watching the number one movie in 2003 dozing off was a bad idea.

Fortunately, towards the end of the movie, the exciting part began. My eyes went wide open. I woke up big time. The pelican and seagull chase, the whale scene, and the dentist going berserk . . . awesome. All mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandmother, grandmother, friends, couples, dates, and neighbors must watch the movie. The movie is appropriate for all ages and everyone who watches to movie there are parts of the movie anyone can relate to.

To answer the question, Finding Nemo is the best Disney movie because life is an adventure. How can something happen if nothing happens? The overprotective father Marlin always kept his son Nemo close to him and prohibited Nemo from exploring and wondering. Dory said it best after Marlin promised Nemo he never let anything happen to Nemo, "You can't never let anything happen to him then nothing would ever happen to him."

Life is not meant to stay at home to avoid the bad news seen on the 11 o'clock news, CNN, MSN, and FOX. Life is not to live in fear seen watching Dateline. Everyday something bad happens. And everyday something good happens. Everyone must go outside and do something. Humans are not meant to stay at home and watch others have a good time on TV. If you don't do something, how can anything good happen to you =)

For the overprotective parents out there, your kids have gotta go out and explore to find who they are. Please don't be a Marlin type parent. Hey, look what happen to Nemo. Nemo wanted to explore and got in trouble. As a parent, watch them, guide them, encourage them, and ask questions and help them find answers. If you don't know, admit it and help your kids find the answers. The more frustrated a kid gets doing nothing, the more likely the kid gets in trouble.

After you read the Blog, go find an adventure XD

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Questioning ININ

In December 2004, my friend Steve from Washington and I vacationed in Las Vegas for three days. During the vacation, I lost my Vuarnet sunglasses I had since 1997. Later in the evening, I went to Caesar’s Place shopping mall to purchase a new pair. When I asked the worker I wanted a new pair, the worker asked my last pair. I said, “Vuarnet.” The worker responded he never heard of the company. Embarrassed, me? Somewhat. The cheapest sunglasses were $120.00. Still expensive $-\

I purchased the new pair of sunglasses. The new pair was polarized and the design of the model is sporty and cool looking. LOL! I never knew how polarized sunglasses made driving easier.

In all honestly, if I still have my 1997 pair, I never purchased a new pair. Why? The reason was because my 1997 pair still worked. On the other hand, my new pair worked much better and looked much better than my 1997 pair.

In July 2006, my Casio G-Shock watch went haywire. The watch no longer worked. I’m not sure if the battery needed to be replaced or what. The display was all lit up. I always need to wear a watch to keep track of time. Sure, I have my cell phone. A watch makes it easier for me to keep track of time, remind myself the date, and the stopwatch features are useful.

I purchased another G-Shock watch on eBay at least $40.00 cheaper than a watch store. The new watch has better lighting when I need to see the watch in the dark and the countdown feature includes the 10th of a second when the countdown is under one minute.

In all honestly, if I still have my 1996 watch, I never purchased a new watch. Why? The reason was because my 1996 watch still worked. On the other hand, my new watch included new features and looked much better than my 1996 watch.

I mentioned the sunglasses and watch because if the unfortunate incidents never happened, I still use my 1997 sunglasses and 1996 watch. I never needed to upgrade, improve, or innovate my sunglasses and watch. My philosophy in life is Never Stop Innovating Life—Innovate Infinitely. My new sunglasses and new watch were improved, I mean, innovated. Yet, on the other hand, my old sunglasses and old watch worked. I could have used the money for something else.

Interesting dilemma. I could apply the same situation for a new car, remodel my house, and buy new clothes. Are there some aspects in life which innovation is not needed? If something still works, then no need to repair it, change it, upgrade it, or innovate it. On the other hand, if the something is repaired, changed, upgraded, or innovated, does the new something make life easier?

Everyone has different choices and different priorities when it comes to innovating. We all think differently and live differently. There is no correct way to innovate. A person may choose to buy a new pair of sunglasses every two years because of the new look. Innovation? Or a waste of money?

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Resume? I don't need a resume. Here is my resume: Innovator. I'm available to innovate for hire.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

From Flux To Lost

August went by really fast. I think it’s the fastest month ever in my life. For the short week, I hope to get back to some stuff I need to do such as going to the gym, reading Unlimited Power, updating my webpage, and writing more Blogs.

Hey, what happened to stocks? Honestly speaking, I don’t know what to make of the market and the economy. At the corner gas station, gas is at $2.90. I remember gas over $3.50 last year. And we are still at war with Iraq? It’s just for me, I’m wasting my time and my energy trying to figure out what’s going on in the stock market . . .

. . . and my life now. I don’t know what to do and what I want to do. For the rest of the year, I’m going to postpone watching the stock market and replace the time to find a new job. I’m going to try Craigslist to find a new job. The major job sites Hotjobs, Careerbuilder, and Monster have never helped. Also, I’m going to finish Anthony Robbins Unlimited Power which is the last book for the 2006 year. Maybe I might start reading another book in December.

The happenings for the rest of the year include an anime convention in September, an anime convention in October, and Las Vegas in December. Also my brother’s wife is expecting in September. My parents says it’s going to be a C-Section. I plan to visit Santa Cruz again in December. I want to walk around and check out the shops. And I told my Dad I’m interested in purchasing a used car. My sister is moving out and my home has room for another car. It’s time to upgrade.

When a person is lost, one is supposed to open a map. In my present situation, I’m going to find a new map to find my way back.

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Resume? I don't need a resume. Here is my resume: Innovator. I'm available to innovate for hire.