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What is and How to Blog

A blog is essentially whatever you want it to be, as long as it can fit on a webpage.  Most people blog about politics and atheism, which nobody wants to read.  Some people have super cool blogs, like this ONE:  Some blogs totally suck, like this ONE.  Really, nobody will read your blog except your mother, spammers and Nigerian phishermen. 

Google Map of Yahi and Yana territories, Ishi's tribe

I created this historical map of the Yana people as a follow-through on my interest in California history. I'm a third-generation Californian, born and raised all over the state, I consider it as much a part of my identity as my thumbprint.  My interest in California includes learning it's history.  Part of that is the tragic treatment and eradication of its native population. 

Christmas Parade in San Felipe, Baja

Christmas in Baja is always a strange sight.  There are few places as harsh as the Baja Peninsula. Desert and cactus stretch off into the horizon with only the hazey-maroon volcanic mountains in the distance to suggest an end of the dust.  Yet in towns across Baja, from Cabo to Tijuana, enormous plastic Santas are mounted proudly in plastic sleighs on top of cinderblock houses.  Strings of blue, green and red lights flicker in many windows and the occassional Christmas tree can be seen strapped to the well gravelled roof of a 1992 Sentra. 

Hip-Hop Generation ripe for New Car Market

hip hop generation kia hamsters swagger wagonIn the 80s white people were in charge of music, and it eventually sucked so hard we rebelled by giving music back to black people.  African Americans grabbed the reigns and quickly gave the world Hip-Hop.  And we danced.  We danced with rhythm, soul and a spirit that Devo and Flock of Seaguls never even knew about.  Big hip-hop stars pulled me from high school into college where 40-ounce Mickey's bottles on Friday nights were mandated by Notorious B.I.G., SnoopDogg and Too-Short.

Why I love the World Cup

As a student studying abroad in 1998 I had serendipitously stumbled into the heart of Europe during the World Cup, held in France.  I knew of the World Cup but I didn’t KNOW about it.  The hype was building around me but I was just a normal American, raised on baseball, football and all things American.  The first real moment I knew the World Cup was something different was when I was in a small coastal town in Italy.  I had stepped off a train into the center of a tiny village.  I thought the train and town had seemed rather empty.  Italy was playing a World Cup match.  No decent Italian would be anywhere other than in front of his TV at that moment and here I was wondering around lost.  Just as I reached for my map a man ran out from a nearby café and fell to his knees. 

Coffee Creek Volunteer Fire District Chili Feed

Coffee Creek Fire District Chili Feed and Fundraiser 2010Coffee Creek, CA is a small town in the mountains of Trinity County. The nearest city is Weaverville and the nearest actual city is Redding. This April I visited some good friends of mine, who run some cabins in Trinity. Trinity is beautiful with towering snow-capped mountains and flowing rivers that still yield gold for those willing to pan for it. We were invited to the local volunteer fire department chili feed and benefit auction. The Coffee Creek Volunteer Fire District operates entirely without state funding and depends on the generosity of the community and grants, when they can get them.  I’ve heard they are a responsive bunch. Every available volunteer arrives at every available incident, the benefits of an automated phone system.

5 Questions: Model & Actor, Jarrett Robinson

Model, actor Jarrett RobinsonJarrett Robinson is a guy to keep an eye on. His burgeoning acting and modeling career is getting hot. You may have seen him in ads for McDonald's Snack Wraps, or in a Sprite ad with LeBron James or even acting as Beyonce's own personal man-servant in her concerts. I've shared a few late night booze sessions with Jarrett and he was kind enough to take a few moments out of his busy-ass schedule to answer 5 Questions:

Driving Baja: Tijuana to Cabo

The Baja Peninsula offers some of the wildest and most inspiring terrain on Earth, this is my quick guide. I have driven the Baja Peninsula from the San Francisco Bay Area to Cabo, twice, a third time I crossed at La Paz to the mainland. I have also partially navigated Northern Baja and Mexico on other occasions. If you are here looking for advice on driving the peninsula I will say it is dangerous and long. You are looking at a long three-day drive as a straight shot. But that would negate the purpose of driving the peninsula anyway, so take your time. On the next few pages are guides to key towns along the way.

NORTHERN BAJA GUIDE - - SOUTHERN BAJA GUIDE

Hinduburger

In college I waited on many tables for cash, here is the story of Table #155 in San Jose, ca. 2000.

Not a Hindu burger.A young well-dressed businessman came in to eat with three out-of-country business colleagues.  His young guests were in from India.  This is a common sight in San Jose where Indian technicians often come to work. These three Indian gentlemen had arrived before their American host and politely declined service until he arrived. 

I Wanted to be a Millionaire

This winter I tried out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I randomly put my name in by email and was selected. After much deliberation, mostly based on the comment made before I sent the email: "What if I get picked?" To which my wife replied, "I guess you have to go."

who wants to be a millionaire audition magnetSo I booked airfare to New York for the audition, emailed my buddy Raul in Brooklyn for couch rights and it was done.

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