I'm still busy trying to graduate, and my social media life is deteriorating. I have no idea what's going on in webgeekland. I have a million feeds to go through. My FriendFeed is barely hanging on.
I'll get over it.
While I was able to spend five minutes surfing the Internets, I found the video below of Kanye West, posted to his Vimeo account. Kanye and Jonah Hill are playing a (hilarious) game of Connect 4:
Connect 4 - Jonah Hill vs. Kanye from kwest on Vimeo.
Four Quick Thoughts:
I'll get over it.
While I was able to spend five minutes surfing the Internets, I found the video below of Kanye West, posted to his Vimeo account. Kanye and Jonah Hill are playing a (hilarious) game of Connect 4:
Connect 4 - Jonah Hill vs. Kanye from kwest on Vimeo.
Four Quick Thoughts:
- I love seeing Kanye on Vimeo. Not only do they have better quality video but it's slightly more nerd chic than YouTube.
- I wish he had video of the time Beyonce beat him 9 times in a row.
- I like that this was an edited video of a somewhat spontaneous event. Better than live video that drags on and overly produced/scripted video. Fun.
- I need that Yeezy Lollipop Remix in my life, like yesterday.
It's been pretty quiet over here at LizBdotscom. I wish I could say I've been doing big things, but no, not really. Just trying to survive these next few weeks.
I'm amazed I really thought I could bounce back from surgery like it was nothing. "Oh, sure, I'll have surgery on the way to graduation." Somehow it's working. Days like today were pretty rough (work, stockpiling energy so you can sit through a four hour lecture late at night), but I have so few of them left, if any.
- Still recovering from surgery. Some days are better than others, but don't cry for me Argentina.
- I bought myself a Nikon D40 with an extra 55-200mm lens and the kit. While I am no BK, maybe I can catch Boom. Or not. I just want to have fun, me and my camera.
- My first blind spin on the D40 can be found here. I took a minute in South Central to smell the roses.
- I'm writing a (long) paper about media richness theory, Seesmic and Twitter for one of my finals. Oh, the joy.
- My boys' blog VerySmartBrothas.com has officially turned one month old, and it's doing a bang up job. Every week we reach new goals. Did I mention this was a project of mine for school?
- I'm also writing business plans and product documents for a startup I made up in my Building Web Startups class. That should be interesting.
- I forgot to invite people to my graduation. Including my mom. Oops?
I'm amazed I really thought I could bounce back from surgery like it was nothing. "Oh, sure, I'll have surgery on the way to graduation." Somehow it's working. Days like today were pretty rough (work, stockpiling energy so you can sit through a four hour lecture late at night), but I have so few of them left, if any.
Bill just hipped me to this interview with Tionna Smalls on Pop17. I think it's a pretty good interview, for both parties. I was impressed and it made me rethink some other observations I've read about Tionna online. Good job Tionna and Sarah. You ladies are looking better everyday (not a cheap shot, I mean this in a good way!).
It's been four whole days since I officially took myself off the grid (meaning off the internet). I am pretty much continuously on the grid. Between my twitter, my feeds, my iPhone and e-mail, I am pretty much connected to the web at all times. Try and catch me by phone, or in real life? You might miss me.
So, why did I go off the grid?
Surgery.
Not that I've been extra public about it (though not really hiding it), but I have/had uterine fibroids: non-deadly tumors on my uterus. I have had them for about 4 years (according to hindsight) but have only known about them for the past 12 months. I did my best to ignore the hell out of them hoping they would just GO AWAY (I do not suggest trying this), but last month I had my first and last head to head with these bad boys. It took one painful experience with symptoms for me to realize they had to go, ASAP. Anyway, a couple small incisions, one really large fibroid (15 cm!), and a blood transfusion later--I am doing swell. Back home. Resting up.
Besides this experience making me a kinder, more patient person, I learned a few lessons from being off the grid these four days:
1. I truly can't go off the grid for a few days! Impossible! Due to my trusty iPhone I was checking email sending SMS messages while drugged up in the hospital. I still came home to 500 unread messages, but trust, it could have been worse. I guess I can truly go off the grid when I am visiting my family in New Mexico. They have limited dial-up on the farm out there.
2. If you are stuck with minimal cable, it's pretty much hell being without the internet. The past four days my only media outlet and source has been TV with poor cable channel selection. It is a very sad existence. My last four days has been filled with nonstop chatter about the Pope, the Pope Mobile, the Polygomyst Moms, and low self-esteem topics. Perhaps these are all related? Either way, I became newly obsessed with all of these topics due to my TV-only predicament.
3. Low self-esteem: Judging by the commercials being aired in the daytime, I am either an uneducated person without a job who needs a job OR an education quick, fast and in a hurry; I have legal problems; and/or I need to lose 60 lbs or more. Between the commercials and Oprah trying to convince me I am not a good enough mother, and Tyra telling me nobody thinks I am pretty except her, it's a messed up world out there in daytime TV land.
4. I really do love my BFF. Not only would he e-mail me a tech support question while I am laid up on my sick bed (with full disclaimers asking me not to answer anytime soon), but I sat there and figured out the answer, got back to him within 15 minutes with not only my off the cuff guesstimate, but a link with the right answer and full explanation. There are only a handful of people in this world I'd do that for, and not think twice about it.
5. Twitter still aces it as my source of information. I didn't have much patience with waiting for web pages to load, or my Google Reader to load on my iPhone (I had ADD/narcolepsy habits for a few days due to anemia). But loading my front page of twitter a few times a day kept me plugged in on the drama, the happs and the bigger news items in one fell swoop. Go Twitter.
I'm not 100% back, but slowly but surely I am getting back up to speed. Thanks to everyone who has sent me IMs, e-mails, text messages, tweets, and called me with your support and encouragement these past few weeks. I haven't been able to keep up with everyone this week, but I definitely did recieve your well wishes, and I thank you.
So, why did I go off the grid?
Surgery.
Not that I've been extra public about it (though not really hiding it), but I have/had uterine fibroids: non-deadly tumors on my uterus. I have had them for about 4 years (according to hindsight) but have only known about them for the past 12 months. I did my best to ignore the hell out of them hoping they would just GO AWAY (I do not suggest trying this), but last month I had my first and last head to head with these bad boys. It took one painful experience with symptoms for me to realize they had to go, ASAP. Anyway, a couple small incisions, one really large fibroid (15 cm!), and a blood transfusion later--I am doing swell. Back home. Resting up.
Besides this experience making me a kinder, more patient person, I learned a few lessons from being off the grid these four days:
1. I truly can't go off the grid for a few days! Impossible! Due to my trusty iPhone I was checking email sending SMS messages while drugged up in the hospital. I still came home to 500 unread messages, but trust, it could have been worse. I guess I can truly go off the grid when I am visiting my family in New Mexico. They have limited dial-up on the farm out there.
2. If you are stuck with minimal cable, it's pretty much hell being without the internet. The past four days my only media outlet and source has been TV with poor cable channel selection. It is a very sad existence. My last four days has been filled with nonstop chatter about the Pope, the Pope Mobile, the Polygomyst Moms, and low self-esteem topics. Perhaps these are all related? Either way, I became newly obsessed with all of these topics due to my TV-only predicament.
3. Low self-esteem: Judging by the commercials being aired in the daytime, I am either an uneducated person without a job who needs a job OR an education quick, fast and in a hurry; I have legal problems; and/or I need to lose 60 lbs or more. Between the commercials and Oprah trying to convince me I am not a good enough mother, and Tyra telling me nobody thinks I am pretty except her, it's a messed up world out there in daytime TV land.
4. I really do love my BFF. Not only would he e-mail me a tech support question while I am laid up on my sick bed (with full disclaimers asking me not to answer anytime soon), but I sat there and figured out the answer, got back to him within 15 minutes with not only my off the cuff guesstimate, but a link with the right answer and full explanation. There are only a handful of people in this world I'd do that for, and not think twice about it.
5. Twitter still aces it as my source of information. I didn't have much patience with waiting for web pages to load, or my Google Reader to load on my iPhone (I had ADD/narcolepsy habits for a few days due to anemia). But loading my front page of twitter a few times a day kept me plugged in on the drama, the happs and the bigger news items in one fell swoop. Go Twitter.
I'm not 100% back, but slowly but surely I am getting back up to speed. Thanks to everyone who has sent me IMs, e-mails, text messages, tweets, and called me with your support and encouragement these past few weeks. I haven't been able to keep up with everyone this week, but I definitely did recieve your well wishes, and I thank you.
If you didn't know, let me tell you: it is hot in Los Angeles. This weekend felt like the first weekend of summer for Los Angelinos. I didn't want to go anywhere. Just walking outside made me feel like I was going to sweat too much and mess up my hair.
I ended up hanging out with some old and new friends, and I think I've discovered I am officially old. My friend Jus hosted a BBQ by the pool. I hadn't seen him in what feels like years for some reason. It was great seeing everybody, and meeting a bunch of new people. After that, we walked over to campus where De la Soul and Lupe Fiasco were performing. De La had a good set. I think Lupe's set was cool, but I can't remember because my legs were in pain from standing around all day. All I could think about was how good it would feel when I got to sit down again.
Lupe took forever to get on stage. I was bitter. But, he performed Daydreamin' and I felt better. I missed Superstar, but I'll get over it.
At the late night hour of midnight, I was ready to go home. Beat. I couldn't go any further. No after party.
Officially Old.
Two of my really good friends have decided to go half on a blog and impart their wisdom on the world: Very Smart Brothas. If you've caught me on Twitter, MySpace or Facebook for the past week, I've been pushin' the blog like my life depended on it. Just a lil sly marketing on my part.
I hold these two men very close to my heart, by the way. The blog isn't for everyone (or all ages), but it focuses on love and relationships from a Very Smart Brotha point of view. Over the years, 'Panama' and 'The Champ' have been my go-to dudes when I need relationship/love advice. They give it to me straight, but then again, they may be the reasons why I stay single. Ha. Just kidding. They've talked me down from and out of the stickiest of dating situations. Anyway, I'm glad they can share their wit, humor, and thoughts on relationships with everyone. Check it out.
I hold these two men very close to my heart, by the way. The blog isn't for everyone (or all ages), but it focuses on love and relationships from a Very Smart Brotha point of view. Over the years, 'Panama' and 'The Champ' have been my go-to dudes when I need relationship/love advice. They give it to me straight, but then again, they may be the reasons why I stay single. Ha. Just kidding. They've talked me down from and out of the stickiest of dating situations. Anyway, I'm glad they can share their wit, humor, and thoughts on relationships with everyone. Check it out.
Maybe we can start again.
Memes are so 2004, but I am going to do one because I was tagged by Bill who was tagged by Jane Quigley. You’re given 4 questions and you need to give 4
answers. I'm pretty sure I have done this meme before, in my previous 5 years of blogging, but hey why not do it again?
4 Places I’ve lived
1) Tucumcari, NM
2) Compton, CA
3) Cambridge, MA
4) Southie
4 Movies I can watch over and over
1) The Color Purple
2) Glitter (don't hate!)
3) Imitation of Life
4) The Matrix
4 Things I look forward to this year
1) GRADUATION
2) My sorority's 100 Year Anniversary Convention
3) Starting my own business
4) More time to spend my money (as a result of #1, but possibly canceled out by #3)
4 of my Favorite foods:
1) Sushi
2) Thai curry dishes
3) Pesto pasta dishes
4) fried oysters
My WIRED SCIENCE Facebook app has been reviewed online, and the review was stellar! You can read it here:
Not only did we get a glowing 4.5 stars out of 5, but I think the reviewer totally understood what I was going for with the application's strategy. When we were initially throwing Facebook app ideas around, these were our priorities:
There is some other secret sauce I added, mostly the Dream Team I came up with to put this thing together, and the extra spin on mixing results with your friends. In the end, it's great to be recognized for your work, so thank you FaceReviews!
Not only did we get a glowing 4.5 stars out of 5, but I think the reviewer totally understood what I was going for with the application's strategy. When we were initially throwing Facebook app ideas around, these were our priorities:
- brand the TV show within Facebook
- be creative and fun
- be accessible to a large audience (not just science/PBS geeks)
- include some science in there somewhere (educate the masses)
- users like to show off the results of some sort of input mechanism
- users who share their widget tend to be vain (but by default, non-vain users wouldn't share the widget). I use the term 'vain' loosely.
- users like simple, quick, accessible experiences when it comes to widgets
There is some other secret sauce I added, mostly the Dream Team I came up with to put this thing together, and the extra spin on mixing results with your friends. In the end, it's great to be recognized for your work, so thank you FaceReviews!
The other night, I went to the opening of 21, with some local MIT alumni. My girl Charisse organized a get together of MIT folks to see a 21+ showing at the Arclight in Hollywood. No, there were no extra 'adult' scenes in the film, or anything. Arclight 21+ showings just have a bar outside the theater, and you can take your drinks inside with you, if you like.
Trust me, we needed the drinks.
The film was....laughable. Then again, maybe we were looking for some good laughs, the film being about an MIT student counting cards at casinos (based on a true story).
As a group we opened the film with a requisite "LSC.......Sucks!" cheer. Snickering ensued from then on. Some things I remember being funny:
Overall, the film was average. I nodded off a few times, to be honest. I agree with the protests, the film was racist to not include more Asian actors because in real life, the team consisted of more Asian students. Now that I think about it, the lone Asian actor in the film had few lines, and a minimal role of importance on the team.
Hollywood never fails to disappoint.
Trust me, we needed the drinks.
The film was....laughable. Then again, maybe we were looking for some good laughs, the film being about an MIT student counting cards at casinos (based on a true story).
As a group we opened the film with a requisite "LSC.......Sucks!" cheer. Snickering ensued from then on. Some things I remember being funny:
- The mythical 'MIT 4.0' GPA being impressive. MIT grades on a 5.0 scale, with a 5.0 being the A average. A 4.0 from MIT means you're sittin' in B-ville. Not like that's a bad thing. Just sayin. It's like graduating from MIT 'with honors.' That's impossible.
- The constant use of the term '2.090' (said: "the Two-Ninety") for our robot competition. It's actually 2.009 (said: two double-oh nine). Not sure why they chose to use a different, but similar and confusing name for the class.
- Random scene on Memorial Drive in front of Killian Court, where lead was talking to his nerdy friends. There was mad foot traffic in the scene, as if anybody walks down this sidewalk at all during school.
Overall, the film was average. I nodded off a few times, to be honest. I agree with the protests, the film was racist to not include more Asian actors because in real life, the team consisted of more Asian students. Now that I think about it, the lone Asian actor in the film had few lines, and a minimal role of importance on the team.
Hollywood never fails to disappoint.
