ROCK and ROBOTS

FRESH BAKED MUSIC: the truth blitz

2009-03-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

here are a few albums that i scored recently. both great efforts.

brother ali - the truth is here

lyrical assassin that is keeping it fresh in the old school.

the yeah yeah yeahs - it's blitz!

music to grade to.

OBTAINED: lucha libre tag team headwear

2009-02-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

last year, i came across a hat that embodied so many things that i love. the red, new era fitted that features a masked mexican wrestler could not scream BUY ME any louder.

my brother bought it for me.

it even has the laces that real lucha libre wrestlers have on the backs of their masks.

recently, at the same store in the same SALE area, i found my red hat's blue counterpart~!!! AND IT WAS CHEAPER~!!! it was a dream come true. i could finally complete the tag team~!!! notice the gold teeth on the wrestler. bonus points for bling.

and bonus points for the outline for the laces.

now the tag team is complete.

one thing that i noticed was that the mask that the wrestler on the hat is holding is rey mysterio's mask. i wonder why.

wrestling, check.

lucha libre, check.

masks, check.

fitted new era, check.

tacky loud colors, check.

victory, check.

TRANSFORMED: new devastator

2009-02-17T10:15:00.001-08:00

this guy is going to hit the shelves soon.

i wonder if i like it enough to buy it.

as you can see, he's come a long way from this:

OBEY: the law

2009-02-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite artists, shepard fairey of obey fame, second to tonyhong.net, was arrested recently on his way to give a lecture in boston.

i love his philosophy of phenomenology and his propaganda is an inspiration to a certain extent.

read about his arrest and let me know what you think about this reporter's opinion.

hit this link up for the full story.

and while you're in the clicky clicky mood, hit up www.cosmonautlife.com for some cool shirts. new designs coming soon, junior.

MONEYMAKERS: highest revenues in the music industry

2009-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

this is a list of the top revenues in the industry.

1. Madonna: $242,176,466
2. Bon Jovi: $157,177,766
3. Bruce Springsteen: $156,327,964
4. The Police: $109,976,894
5. Celine Dion: $99,171,237
6. Kenny Chesney: $90,823,990
7. Neil Diamond: $82,174,000
8. Rascall Flatts: $63,522,160
9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814
10. Coldplay: $62,175,555
11. The Eagles: $61,132,213
12. Lil Wayne: $57,441,334
13. AC/DC: $56,505,296
14. Michael Buble: $50,257,364
15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806
16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730
17. Journey: $44,787,328
18. Billy Joel: $44,581,010
19. Mary J. Blige: $43,472,850
20. Kanye West: $42,552,402

i will manage all.

CONVINCED: this is what it takes

2009-02-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

12:45:14 PM ME: come to the street fighter 4 release party with me tomorrow
12:49:23 PM mistaxbrian: lol wow
12:52:44 PM ME: lets go
12:52:49 PM ME: dj qbert is gonna be there
12:53:05 PM ME: you can dress up like guile
12:54:34 PM mistaxbrian: lol
12:54:39 PM mistaxbrian: i want to dress up like chun li
1:33:15 PM ME: do it
2:00:46 PM ME: lets go though
2:00:50 PM ME: you me mania paul kim
2:01:01 PM ME: but we should dress up like tekken characters
2:18:48 PM ME: but yeah
2:18:50 PM ME: lets go man
2:18:53 PM ME: i don't wanna go alone
2:18:58 PM ME: i'll be a loser by myself
2:19:24 PM mistaxbrian: lol
2:19:30 PM mistaxbrian: can we dress up like smash characters
2:20:05 PM ME: of course
2:22:12 PM mistaxbrian: lol
2:22:20 PM mistaxbrian: street fighter 4 opening?
2:22:22 PM mistaxbrian: what is that
2:22:25 PM mistaxbrian: arcade?
2:22:27 PM ME: its a party
2:22:30 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:22:35 PM ME: for the game that's going to be released
2:22:36 PM mistaxbrian: i don't know if i want to go to that kind of party
2:22:38 PM ME: DOOD
2:22:40 PM ME: please
2:22:44 PM ME: i'll buy you a fitted hat
2:22:52 PM mistaxbrian: i thought you were giving me all of yours
2:23:27 PM ME: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10158546-1.html
2:25:28 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:25:35 PM mistaxbrian: you know we can't go to this
2:25:48 PM mistaxbrian: at least you alrdy have a girlfriend
2:26:06 PM ME: dood
2:26:09 PM ME: me and sol are going
2:26:13 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:26:14 PM mistaxbrian: you guys would
2:26:18 PM mistaxbrian: you guys also both have gf's
2:26:38 PM ME: doooooood
2:26:41 PM ME: who cares?
2:26:58 PM mistaxbrian: the ladies
2:27:20 PM ME: dooood
2:27:26 PM ME: you'll get a girl there
2:27:34 PM ME: i'll hook it up with the chun li costume girls
2:27:37 PM ME: the fat white ones
2:27:44 PM mistaxbrian: hahah
2:27:45 PM mistaxbrian: sick
2:34:51 PM ME: plllllleeeeeeease come with me
2:34:57 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:34:58 PM mistaxbrian: dude
2:34:59 PM ME: i will give you a transformer
2:35:02 PM mistaxbrian: those places frighten me
2:35:10 PM mistaxbrian: i wouldn't even know what to do with it
2:38:20 PM ME: http://www.triumvir3.com/index2.html
2:38:26 PM ME: i know you like these shoes
2:38:51 PM mistaxbrian: what is this
2:39:02 PM ME: it's a urban clothing brand
2:39:15 PM mistaxbrian: why is julius ceasar flipping me the bird
2:39:56 PM ME: http://triumvirstore.3dcartstores.com/Triumvir-x-Street-Fighter_c_20-1-0.html
2:40:03 PM ME: we need to buy these and wear all this stuff to the party
2:40:30 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:40:33 PM mistaxbrian: what is shadaloo
2:40:49 PM ME: it's m bison's crime organization~!
2:40:57 PM mistaxbrian: wow
2:40:59 PM mistaxbrian: how do you know that
2:41:46 PM ME: because i'm a nerd
2:41:46 PM ME: dood
2:41:51 PM ME: imma pick you up at around 7
2:41:53 PM ME: tomorrow
2:46:55 PM mistaxbrian: nopee
2:47:26 PM ME: too bad
2:47:30 PM ME: not your choice
2:47:34 PM ME: you have to come
2:47:38 PM ME: it was in the contract
2:47:41 PM mistaxbrian: i can't
2:47:50 PM mistaxbrian: i have prior engagements
2:47:56 PM mistaxbrian: like....
2:48:09 PM mistaxbrian: uhhh
2:48:30 PM ME: just remember this
2:48:34 PM ME: i went to all you IM games
2:48:38 PM ME: basketball and football
2:48:43 PM mistaxbrian: not even close to the same thing
2:48:52 PM ME: (oh yeah...i'm guitling you...shameless)
2:48:56 PM ME: it is the very same thing
2:49:11 PM mistaxbrian: absolutely not
2:49:23 PM ME: fantastic
2:49:27 PM ME: so 7-7:15
2:50:17 PM mistaxbrian: you can take rainbow
2:50:20 PM mistaxbrian: dress her up as blanka
2:50:49 PM ME: see~?! you know all the characters
2:50:53 PM ME: you'll fit right in
2:50:54 PM ME: niiiiiice
2:52:02 PM mistaxbrian: never
2:52:34 PM ME: thanks for coming
3:09:32 PM mistaxbrian: haha
3:09:40 PM mistaxbrian: i'm passin out right now
3:09:56 PM ME: tired?
3:10:00 PM mistaxbrian: ya
3:44:38 PM ME: get some rest tonight
3:44:42 PM mistaxbrian: lol
3:44:43 PM ME: rest up for tomorrow's party
3:47:21 PM ME: forget it...i'm not going to the party
3:47:25 PM ME: i'm going to a different party
3:47:34 PM ME: come ok?
3:49:47 PM ME: if i get heesoo to come, will you come too?
3:50:32 PM mistaxbrian: you're really going to another party>
3:50:33 PM mistaxbrian: ?
3:50:47 PM ME: yes
3:50:53 PM mistaxbrian: lol
3:51:00 PM ME: it's a party with the models from victoria's secret
3:51:05 PM ME: and they all broke up with their boyfriends
3:51:13 PM mistaxbrian: oh the lies
3:51:16 PM ME: and they love single asian guys
3:51:30 PM ME: who can grown beards and play basketball
3:52:41 PM ME: heesoo's down though
3:52:45 PM ME: just confirmed
3:52:47 PM ME: you come too
3:52:49 PM ME: it'll be fun
3:54:19 PM mistaxbrian: wait really another party
3:54:24 PM mistaxbrian: or the street fihter party
3:54:26 PM mistaxbrian: fighter
3:54:31 PM ME: huh~?
3:54:37 PM ME: uh...
3:54:40 PM ME: another party
3:54:43 PM ME: with models
3:54:44 PM mistaxbrian: wow
3:54:45 PM ME: yeah
3:58:16 PM ME: but come with us ok?
4:00:10 PM mistaxbrian:
4:00:25 PM ME: PLEASE~!!!
4:11:47 PM mistaxbrian: dude
4:11:59 PM ME: ?
4:12:20 PM mistaxbrian: i have a plan
4:12:23 PM ME: what?
4:12:24 PM mistaxbrian: how about we all not go
4:12:29 PM ME: NOOOOOOO
4:12:31 PM mistaxbrian: hahah
4:12:34 PM ME: me and mania are going
4:12:38 PM mistaxbrian: no you're not
4:12:52 PM mistaxbrian: i don't want to hear a million people yell hadoken
4:13:21 PM ME: dood
4:13:24 PM ME: it will be awesome
4:13:28 PM ME: you can get a custom fitted hat
4:13:44 PM mistaxbrian: lol
4:15:52 PM ME: if it's really gay we'll just leave and go to ktown
4:15:56 PM ME: and get dooboo kimchi
4:26:17 PM mistaxbrian: lol
6:07:13 PM ME: streetfighter party do it
6:07:19 PM mistaxbrian: lol
6:12:02 PM ME: sfevent@capcom.com
6:12:08 PM ME: send an rsvp email to there
6:12:16 PM ME: so you can get a place
6:12:41 PM mistaxbrian: lol
6:15:46 PM ME: ure coming right?
6:16:38 PM ME: i love pau
6:35:15 PM ME: paul is coming too
6:35:17 PM ME: you come too
9:34:05 PM ME: come tomorrow
9:34:08 PM ME: rsvp
9:34:11 PM ME: we'll pick you up
9:34:12 PM ME: bye
9:34:15 PM mistaxbrian: noo
11:11:08 AM ME: dood
11:11:11 AM ME: we're going alright?
11:11:28 AM mistaxbrian: lol
11:11:33 AM mistaxbrian: you are relentless
11:11:44 AM ME: you, me, mania, bowel
11:12:47 AM ME: we're gonna get our quarter circle jab on
11:12:48 AM ME:
11:12:52 AM ME: yay yuh~!
11:12:53 AM mistaxbrian: wow
11:22:52 AM ME: do it homie
11:22:53 AM ME: rsvp
11:22:59 AM ME: sfevent@capcom.com
11:23:03 AM ME: just send an email there
11:23:18 AM mistaxbrian: lol
11:23:24 AM mistaxbrian: wow
12:36:46 PM mistaxbrian: what time is it at again
12:36:52 PM ME: 8
12:37:00 PM mistaxbrian: god demmy
12:37:05 PM mistaxbrian: let's jsut all not go
12:37:11 PM ME: noooo
12:37:12 PM ME: we gotta
12:37:19 PM ME: we're all RSVP'ed up
12:37:22 PM mistaxbrian: wow
12:37:27 PM ME: just do it man
12:37:36 PM mistaxbrian: you're so sick
12:37:43 PM mistaxbrian: what is everyone going to be doing?
12:37:49 PM ME: who cares
12:37:59 PM ME: i just wanna get a fitted hat and a picture of guile
12:38:01 PM ME: hahahaha
12:38:04 PM mistaxbrian: wow
12:38:10 PM ME: dood please come
12:38:17 PM ME: you'll have so much fun making fun of the losers there
12:38:26 PM ME: it'll be a boys night out
12:38:30 PM mistaxbrian: lol i have no right to make fun of anyone if i'm there
12:38:39 PM ME: and after we can get some drinks in a beaux
12:38:56 PM mistaxbrian: ah fine
12:39:01 PM mistaxbrian: do i have to rsvp
12:39:03 PM ME: YES~!!!!
12:39:05 PM ME: yup
12:39:08 PM ME: you gotta
12:39:14 PM ME: just send a blank email to
12:39:20 PM ME: sfevents@capcom.com
12:39:23 PM ME: they will reply
12:39:33 PM ME: and that's it
12:39:42 PM mistaxbrian: no subject line?
12:39:50 PM ME: just write rsvp
12:39:59 PM mistaxbrian: k done
12:40:16 PM ME: YES~!
12:41:37 PM mistaxbrian: this thing lasts til 12 am
12:41:39 PM mistaxbrian: u kidding me
12:41:51 PM ME: we'll just be in and out for sure
12:41:54 PM ME: i just wanna check it out
12:41:58 PM ME: and maybe win a copy of the game
12:45:10 PM mistaxbrian: haha

that's what it took.

ACCEPTED

2009-02-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

to all the guppies at berklee, pack up your gear and swim quick because the shark is coming.

INTRODUCTION: super vinyl squad 6

2009-02-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

super vinyl squad 6 is the superhero team of random vinyl figures that protects my desk from being overrun by transformers, gundams, revoltechs and other plastic villians.

respect the 6.

COSMONAUT: upandcoming

2009-01-28T09:20:00.001-08:00

emerging los angeles artist tony hong has just revealed his cosmonaut clothing line to the public. the first shirt to be released is a european take on the four gospels. it is called, the storyteller.

i managed to get my gurbby little hands the very first packaged shirt.

i would tell you the philosophy of the pig logo and the cosmonaut brand name, but you should find out for yourself at,

WWW.TONYHONG.NET

and

WWW.COSMONAUTLIFE.COM

the brand carries a lot more depth than a stupid picture of some idiotic swarming koi fish or crystallized skulls.

1/70 suckas.

tony hong is definitely making waves as of late. he won the coveted, "best in show," award at the create:fixate lucky seven art show.

here are some people drooling over the immaculate design and ultra-detailed masterpieces of the man himself.

"his art was the best art of all the art."

-roy

some more people in shock and awe.

a message to all artists: keep it simple, keep it clean.

the man, the myth, and the legend. rockin' the eye of the tiger.

congratulations, mr. hong.

you are on your way.

fin.

PS: BUY SOME SHIRTS AT WWW.COSMONAUTLIFE.COM~!!!

PHOTOSHOOT: My Personal DUB EM DEEZ

2009-01-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

it has been a long, hard (that's what she said) and expensive road to build the first element of my musical arsenal, but finally, i have a pedalboard that is worthy of showing off.

msrp: $249.95

"always use protection"

i used to just carry my effects strapped onto a plywood board from home depot, but as my collection got more and more expensive, i realized that i needed to protect my investment in a serious way. the pedal pad cases are definitely road worthy but i didn't like how the board inside was divided into two mini boards. i used my home depot skills to manufacture a single board that would hold all my pedals without the divide.

before

after

msrp: $24.95 each

"get gold, or go home."

most people think that patch cables don't have an effect on the sound, but they are seriously mistaken. as someone who has used both cheap and quality cables, i can confidently say that primo cables reduce noise and buzzing tremendously. plus, monster cables are extremely reliable and coupled with a lifetime warantee, there's no other substitute.

msrp: $190.95

"you've got the touch, you've got the power!"

ask you can see, i only use mxr/dunlop effects so it would make sense to use a power supply from the same manufacturer. this power supply sits velcroed under my pedal board where it silently feeds power to 9 volt and 18 volt effects.

msrp: $200.55

"don't wake up the baby."

my guitars enter the effects chain via zakk wylde's signature series wah. this wah features a fasel inductor like the vintage dunlop wahs to get that classic sound. however, this wah is tuned specifically to zakk's standards so it nails those thick tones exceptionally well. it is also adjustable via the torque wrench so you can set the speed of the wah's pedal mechanism.

msrp: $371.46

"good vibrations"

this effect is probably the least used of all my effects, but just like the tweezers on a swiss army knife, i do need it once in a while and am happy when its there. this pedal switches between chorus and vibrato modes, but i use it for the vibrato exclusively. this pedal gives me the watery sounds of hendrix and robin trower.

msrp: $247.95

"set phasers to eruption"

this pedal is irreplaceable. i use the script switch to bring out the vintage sounds of the original scripted phase 90 to spice up solo riffs and even clean strumming and picking. if i use this with the chorus, you can bet panties will be on stage in a second. and the eddie van halen taped paint job is just icing on the cake.

name: mxr zw-44 zakk wylde signature series grind and clear overdrive (dunlop custom shop)

msrp: approximately $300.00

"put it into overdrive!"

you couldn't buy this effect even if you wanted to. there was a very limited run and i was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. i replaced my original wylde overdrive with this one and i haven't looked back. people say that this overdrive is too weak, but that's because they aren't throwing it in front of a distorted amp like zakk does. do your homework junior! i almost always have this pedal on and cranked to maximum to get the notorious wylde tone.

msrp: $314.79

"it ain't over 'til the fat pedal sings."

this may be the bread and butter of my effects chain. i always have this pedal on. in studio guitarists can double, triple or even quadruple their guitars on any given track, but live, you have to rely on a nice chorus pedal to fatten up your sound. the stereo chorus does a great job of warming up any guitar and with the three band eq built in, i can create any chorus effect i need.

msrp: $254.61

"there's been a slight delay...or a long one...depending on what you want."

this is the newest addition to the family and a welcomed one at that. the analog delay gives my solos the extra "bam!" that they've been needing. and since it is analog, i'm not falling into the compressed, digital conversions that sound so fake. keepin' it real, baby.

msrp: $229.47

"smarty pants"

i acquired this pedal to tame the noise that the overdrive produces in front of a distorted amp. this pedal really lives up to it's name. it really is smart about what to silence, and what to let go. the unwanted noise is gone, but my tone rings true until it's last dying breath.

total msrp: $2484.48

is it worth it?

you bet.

electric drool

2009-01-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

i am never going to get all these auto show pictures up. i don't even know how the guys at speedhunters do it. anyways, here are shots of the dodge ev.

it definitely stands out in a crowd of ugly electric vehicles.

if it looks familiar, you wouldn't be all that far off. lotus makes the lightweight chassis for dodge, tesla and other electric auto makers.

i like these stock wheels. stylish with a racing bloodline.

check out the aerodynamic undercarriage. since the electric powerplant isn't built to bang out major amounts of horsepower, weight reduction and aerodynamics are key.

much prettier than a prius.

i don't get it

2009-01-15T09:50:00.000-08:00

this is a given.

this is deserved.

this i completely do not understand.

read all about it here.

i mean, come on, its called the ROCK N ROLL hall of fame, not the ROCK N ROLL SLASH RAP hall of fame.

what do you think?

how do you say happy birthday to a god?

2009-01-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

tony hong informed me that today is zakk wylde's birthday.

he is 43 and rocks harder than ever.

happy birthday to you,

happy birthday, zakk wylde

happy birthday to you.

best of 2008: musical femme fatales

2009-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

2008 is dead and gone forever. here are some songs by some women that i discovered during '08. check 'em out and give them a download. they will not disappoint.

in no particular order, the top 10 musical femme fatales of 2008 and their masterpieces (with videos to boot!!!):

m.i.a - hit that

rilo kiley - the moneymaker

jem - crazy

thao nguyen - feet asleep

susie suh - light on my shoulder

lykke li - dance, dance, dance

lily allen - womanizer (britney spears cover)

duffy - warwick avenue

the ting tings - shut up and let me go

santogold - the creator

2008 wasn't all that bad...

RANDOM SNAP: James Bond's Garage

2008-12-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

here's a nice shot of some aston martins i saw at the auto show. no wonder these are james bond's ride of choice.

PHOTOSHOOT: NISSAN 370 Z

2008-12-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

last week brought the turkey and the autoshow. one car that i was really looking forward to finally seeing was the nissan 370 z, the latest in a long line of z cars. i had seen sneak peeks and concept designs online, but i was looking to the auto show for some face to face time.

however, my plans for seeing the new z rotating under spectacular lighting was slightly altered as i saw a yellow 370 sitting in the parking lot of a japanese marketplace called mitsuwa in torrance. i remembered thinking, "well, that was anticlimactic." but after some browsing online, i found that it was the test drive car for a speedhunters.com driver who was doing a review. you can read about it here.

anyways, here are my shots from the auto show.

not too sure about those shoes though...

i hated the headlamp construction, but it is growing on me. i like how the angle of the headlamp lines up with the aerodynamic accent in the grille.

you can't deny the aggressive stance though.

however, the taillights are not growing on me.

i read that the black square between the exhausts is for a fog lamp. this feature was built for the european version of the 370, but the nismo tuned version that will be available in the states will have an extra brake light embedded in that spot.

overall, i think it is an improvement over the last generation z car as that one was just an amorphous blob of nothingness. but this car does have quirks that i don't especially like. and because it was sitting right next to its faster, prettier sibling (the gt-r), its chances of capturing the hearts of this enthusiast was next to nothing.

random snap: heels vs wheels

2008-12-03T13:43:00.001-08:00

you're going to need more than a pair of manolos to get the win over a lamborghini, blondie.

Photoshoot: fiveaxis gs 430

2008-12-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

amidst all the italian beauties and american muscle, the best in show for me at the 2008 LA auto show was the Lexus GS 430 by FIVEAXIS.

this beast was a perfect blend of style and power.

the orange accents on this aggressive front end could seem tacky to some, but it was a subtle not towards the racing heart of this vehicle. the low profile and stance of this car really set it apart from all the other cars at the lexus booth. i love the tire clearance.

the satin paint and frosted tail lights, coupled with the hidden exhaust really gave this car a classy yet aggressive look.

this is the kind of car that you don't notice in the rear view, but can't keep up with to take a closer look.

more shots from the auto show to come.

history lesson: all my mobile devices

2008-12-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

for those of you who know me, one of my many indulgences is to always have a nice phone. now, this wasn't always true. in fact, in the beginning of my phone history, i was more than content to have a free phone, but as you can see via this illustrated timeline, my fetish for sexy phones has developed into an obsession.

nokia 3593: this was my very first phone. i got it in college to appease the countless complaints of friends who could not reach me whenever they wanted. before this, i was using a small piece of paper with phone numbers written on it and local pay phones to contact people on the go. this phone was one of the first affordable color phones and survived a lot of maltreatment. one unique aspect of the phone was the interesting keypad.

samsung x497: i got this phone for when i signed up my brother for mobile phone service when he got into college. this phone had no spectacular features, but it was tiny and sleek. and actually, it was one of the hardiest phones that i have ever used. actually, i used it recently as a backup phone when i was in between mobile devices.

samsung sgh-e300: this was a phone given to me by my then, and still current romantic interest, regina. she was on t-mobile and got a new phone when she renewed her contract. she gave me this phone and i had it unlocked for cingular service for $10 at a chinese cell phone shop in torrance. this was my first camera phone and i was really happy with it. however, i lost it at the beach and had it replaced with the cingular version of the phone which i hated.

motorola e1 rokr: since i hated the cingular branded e300 so much, regina bought me the brand new motorola e1 rokr. this phone was the only phone on the market to feature itunes built into the programming. this was also the phone that sparked my passion for expensive mobile devices. ever since i touched the creamy satin plastic of the rokr, i knew i could never settle for anything that the company would provide for free.

motorola krazr: i got the krazr as a replacement phone after i gave the rokr to regina when she came over to cingular. i had this phone before anyone. it was imported directly from japan and came beautifully packaged in a motorola box that opened up like an origami masterpiece. exclusive and gourmet. however, i hated the small screen and cramped buttons, so i moved on.

cingular 8125: this was my first foray into smartphones and being a non-compromising spender of dollars, i bought the biggest and best PDA phone on the market. the cingular 8125 featured a full qwerty keyboard, touchscreen, and even wifi accessibility. i loved this phone and i must point out that regina helped buy it for me. (see, she doesn't help my addiction at all) however, like all phones in my timeline, i found something wrong with it. after a while, i got tired of strapping a brick to my belt and opted for something a bit smaller. actually a lot smaller.

blackberry 8100 pearl: in a drastic departure from huge pocket PC devices, i streamlined my mobile device to the blackberry pearl. byt this time, cingular had changed to at&t and in celebration of being part of the biggest mobile provider in the US, i had to get a new phone. once again, i did not settle, but rather splurged on the brand new pearl. this phone featured a rolling ball that acted as a pseudo mouse on screen. the suretype keypad made texting a breeze, but the lack of customization features as well as the support of a large pirate community left me wanting more.

Samsung Blackjack II: i actually had this phone in both colors. i had the wine red originally, but traded it in for the piano black version after i kept getting dropped calls. this phone is actually great for texting, but because it was a smartphone version of windows mobile and not the full on version, i was limited in the software i could install and the customization aspect of the device. the cingular 8125 had opened me up to a world of cooked roms, customized operating systems and a slew of pirated software and i missed that in both the pearl and the blackjack ii.

AT&T Tilt: to satisfy the cravings for customization and pirated games and applications, i revisted the large powerhouse offerings of HTC and picked up a Tilt. this phone did not disappoint. it had a great keypad and a tilting screen. and the ability to change the interface however i wanted was very satisfying. however, as the price of the phone began to drop on ebay and craigslist, i knew that i had to sell the phone quick if i wanted to get any decent return for my toy. i actually sold it for more than i bought it via craigslist and began another search for a new phone. during this dark time, i reverted back to basics and slid my sim card into the x497 until i found a diamond in the rough.

samsung eternity: this phone is my current phone. and since the sgh-e300, i have never been more satisfied with a mobile device. this phone features a vibrant touch screen with haptic feedback technology as well as an accelerometer. with 3g connectivity i can surf the web in full html and the expanded 4 gb memory allows for hours of songs and movies. the phone is very intuitive and i'm completely content with all aspects of this device. it's thin, sexy and eye catching. a perfect device...until the next sexy phone comes out.

random snaps: ends of the spectrum

2008-11-19T10:04:00.000-08:00

this past weekend brought a wide variety of shots, and these two epitomize the concept of being on opposite ends of the spectrum.

First: The seriousness that is conveyed by the smokescreened sun brought on by the California wildfires.

Last: The comical irony behind the fact that a name like this will never lead to a successful company.

distractions, distractions...

2008-11-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

i should be practicing my fingers to the bone right now, but i couldn't help but once again marvel at the magnificence and sheer beauty of the Alternity Nissan GT-R Convoy transformer that I preordered a few months ago.

random shot: visting the woodshed

2008-11-05T12:51:00.001-08:00

severin reed frommy old band, "almost ready" used to refer to practice sessions as woodshedding. i guess it comes from the references to whipping unruly children in the woodshed. here's a shot of me whipping paris in the woodshed.

the &^$%*ing caprice

2008-10-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

niccolo paganini's caprice no. 5

this particular transcription was done for guitar by virtuoso yngwie malmsteen.

wish me luck.

UPDATE: page 1 done and done.

a photo journal entry - a spooky, foggy morning

2008-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

here are some spooky, foggy pictures i took on a spooky, foggy morning. in light of halloween being tomorrow, i think they are very apropos.

a spooky, foggy road.

a spooky, foggy path.

a spooky, foggy fence.

a regular tree that is neither spooky or foggy. it's just a regular tree that i took a picture of on a regular morning.

random snap: nice backsides

2008-10-24T09:29:00.001-07:00

i was rearranging my room and got my axes in line for a nice shot.

politics vs patriotism

2008-10-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

this past weekend, i filled out a voter registration card.

i'm not all into politics, unlike someone we know, but i do care about my country.

i don't claim a side, democrat or republican, but i am a patriot.

ozzy the dog - post wash photoshoot

2008-10-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

ozzy, my rescued american eskimo, was way overdue for a bath/detailing. and i know i might be bias because he's my dog, but he's super good looking. all you kids with weird pit bull mixes, slobbery and smelly boston terriers, and tiny rat dog chihuahuas need to step aside and make way for the best looking dog around.

it was hard to get him to raise his ears like this for pictures.

eating a treat. look at how he holds the treat with his paws like a person. super smart and super cute.

definitely a blood

looking like a bleached, pensive fox

tastes good

the best dog ever.

the stowaways - the mission log of my gundam recon unit

2008-10-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

two gundams hid in my backpack to run a recon mission of my classroom.

i tried to put them back inside, but i was threatened by the GOUF Custom and his gatling shield.

here's a better look at what i was up against. note the dagger in the rear of the gatling shield weapon.

heavy artillery.

an impressive stance for a gundam.

posing next to a similarly colored beverage can.

the hyaku shiki kai gundam also came along for the recon mission.

one of the best looking paintjobs around.

heavy artillery: dual beam gatling guns.

the hyaku shiki, being the pretty boy of the team, is forced to lead the recon mission by the GOUF.

mexican standoff with the benq projector

discovery of the largest pencil ever

"how the hell can we get up there?"

military domination of the supply table

2008 tattoo expo

2008-10-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

this past saturday and sunday, my brother, mania and i took a detour from normal living to visit the tattoo expo at the los angeles convention center. i had been wanting to go to this exp since i got my first tattoo several years ago, but since it was always at the pomona fairgrounds, i never got the chance to make the trip.

this was the first year that the expo was held in LA. and from the glamorous sign, i'm sure you can tell it was a high class event.

it was actually a lot smaller that i had imagined, but the floor was filled with booths from dozens of well known and less famous parlors around the LA area.

vendors, artists, piercers and many more lined the rows of exhibits. i snapped this shot of tattoo machines from one of the many vendors selling tattoo equipment.

i was surprised to see an obey tattoo.

but this black and gray of mary was the best tattoo that i saw at the convention. this guy was taking part in one of the many tattoo contests. i wonder if he won.

black wave tattoo was using the more traditional method of inking.

can you guess what i got?

i'll post more about the expo later on with pictures of my new tattoo.

revoltech no. 59

2008-09-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

i've been waiting for a package from the big bad toy store, and finally this past friday, a box was waiting for me.

in the box were the two revoltech figures that i had been keeping my eye on. no. 59, the full metal panic robot, and no. 52, the lazengann robot from the gurren lagann anime.

from the side, the boxes look normal. they box have similar sizes with the classic revoltech box art.

however, the arx-8 laevatein, no. 59, is twice the length (that's what she said~) of normal revoltech boxes~!

here is the figure out of the box in a great fighting stance.

like all revoltech figures, no. 59 has great poseability. i'm not sure that's a word though.

as you can see, it's a great looking figure with great coloring and attention to detail. however, the bonus with this figure is the extra armor and oversized firearms it comes with.

here's no. 59 with the attached armor and 76mm shot cannon.

the more impressive demolition gun.

i love the magazines in the rear of the gun that show the unused bullets ready for action. once again, the attention to detail is what makes these figures worth the price.

no. 59 protecting a toki doki dog with the monomolecular cutters. notice how the demolition gun folds up and retracts to the back of the figure.

all in all, no. 59 is a great figure with tons of accessories and weapons. along with the ones i've shown, there are also two smaller anti tank daggers as well as extra robotic arms that hold grenades. by far, no. 59 is the most well equipped revoltech yet.

the no. 52 photoshoot/review will be coming soon.

the morning of new robots.

2008-09-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

the two new revoltech figures i ordered are coming today.

i decided that i would take a picture of the morning sun of the day that this monumentous event takes place.

New Transformers

2008-09-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Traveled all around Torrance to find a riser for my laptop, but ended up buying Transformers instead. At Toys R Us was selling Universe figures at buy 2 get 1 free prices. I was a fan of the Prowl figure from the start, but never was all that big on Sunstreaker.

But I always thought that $11 was too pricey for a Universe figure, so I never picked any of them up.

Then I saw Galvatron. The head sculpt on this figure is the spitting image of Galvatron from the movie.

Three more to add to the collection~!

I'll add detailed pictures later on~! But for now, enjoy the box art~!

The Fight

2008-09-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

i got into a fight.

i was trying to stand up for peace, but tony overpowered me.

the finishing blow.

the victory pose.

reminds me of this.

more robots to come.

the number one spot

2008-09-06T10:55:00.001-07:00

out of all the transformers i could ever want, there exists one that i desire more than others.

yes, a g1 devastator would make my day.

yes, the 2007 comic con nemesis prime repaint alternator would put a smile on my face.

yes, the upcoming city commander armor for classics ultra magnus would make mr. kang a happy boy.

but there is one that i desire more than all these.

arguably one of the most rare transformer ever released, the GOLD MASTERPIECE OPTIMUS PRIME, is the current apple of my eye.

in 2004, takara held a contest in japan in which you could enter a drawing to win this coveted figure after buying 5 different transformers and sending in points of some sort. only 10 of these figures were made, making it the holy grail of transformers.

"all the best stuff is made in japan!"

-Marty McFly

Park Day with the Thai Family

2008-08-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

i spent saturday morning with the thai family. a day in the park after pho was a great way to start the labor day weekend.

on our way. marie thai pays no attention to the road as she poses for a picture.

sendy riding a camel in the playground desert.

deciding how to get off...

heng and sendy swinging.

heng-ing around. hahaha. wow.

marie thai's turn on the swings.

sliding around.

peace.

it's ok to act like a kid once in a while.

climbing to the top of "eiffel tower."

not the ugly duckling any more.

postcard picture. that bird was king of the lake.

tire swinging.

monkey bars.

9,000 rpms on the tire swing.

yours truly striking the usain bolt pose.

marie thai insisted on the jumping picture.

check out my vertical.

marie thai looks like she's getting in trouble.

the thai family...my favorite chinese family.

going home.

sneak peek

2008-08-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

New Acquisitions

2008-08-19T13:44:00.001-07:00

I splurged a bit this past weekend and got me some robots.

A San Diego Comic Con EXCLUSIVE: Transformers Universe Nemesis Prime. Even the name is sinister. I picked this up from someone who actually went to the convention. Gotta love craigslist.

Love the box art. Enjoy the view because this one is staying inside.

I usually don't like repaints, but Nemesis Prime is definitely an exception.

Soon after meeting up with a complete stranger to get my robot fix, I decided to see if the nearby Target had any interesting subjects to consider. Behold in his mispainted glory, Transformers Universe Powerglide.

I don't know why they went with white for this figure. His genertion one version was red with white accents, not the other way around. Nevertheless, Hasbro stuck with the old school bomber look and even kept the basics of his transformation true to his G1 ancestor.

And just for comparison, here is G1 Powerglide. I think the modern version is a bit of an upgrade.

I also picked up Transformers Animated Soundwave because I love Soundwave in all his forms except the Titanium series. Also, he rocks a red Flying V that transforms into Laserbeak. Truly the epitome of the Rock and Robots mindset.

It was a good weekend.

Photoshoot: Gibson Les Paul Standard

2008-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Here is my main guitar, the Gibson Les Paul Standard in Honeyburst. I named her Paris after the blonde celebutante that graces the pages of so many tabloids around the world.

I replaced the original pickups with Zakk Wylde's own EMG 81/85 active pickup set. This baby roars and squeals with the best of them thanks to these pickups and their friend that is sitting pretty in the background.

The Les Paul is definitely the standard when it comes to rock guitars. Grover tuners make sure that my baby doesn't go out of tune when dropping to D.

A tribute to a fallen metal legend graces the side of my axe. I saw Kerry King of Slayer do this on his stage guitars and I decided to do the same. Dimebag was one of the reasons why I got into heavy metal and rock in the first place and if it wasn't for him and his divebombs, I might be blogging about turntables and drum machines. Thanks, Dime. Getcha Pull!

This natural top is hard to come by. Most Les Pauls come in flame tops. I personally don't like them. The original nickel hardware and black speed knobs complete the iconic Les Paul top.

Paris hanging out with some friends in the background. My ESP LTD Alexi Laiho Signature Series, Zakk Wylde pedalboard, Marshall TSL 602, and if you look carefully, some members of the Gorillaz as well as the extremely rare OBEY themed action figure.

Lastly, here is Mr. Robot trying to figure out how to play guitar. The dilemma is simple yet crucial. He has no hands.

Rock on.

Random Snap: Grimock's Meal

2008-08-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

grimlock trying to get in on a small meal.

photoshoots coming soon~!

sneak peek

2008-08-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

what you know about gibson?

stay tuned, junior.

new art

2008-08-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

there's a dance club near my workplace called club bahia. recently, a lot of new graffiti pieces have been thrown up in the parking lot. here are some of them.

i love graffiti art and can confidently draw up a nice piece, but i've never worked with spray paint.

smokescreen photoshoot

2008-07-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

the alternators version of smokescreen was the first present that my girlfriend, regina, bought me. it kind of started the whole robot collection frenzy and it also happens to be one of my favorite transformers to this day.

smokescreen's alt mode is the 2004 wrc subaru wrx sti. all the livery and other markings on the car are directly lifted off of the world rally subaru wrx.

the 2004 wrx sti also happens to be my dream car at the moment.

attention to detail is what sets this alt mode apart from the rest. the gold rally wheels, the piaa decal on the headlights and even the drivers' names on the rear window are all accurate.

the head sculpt of smoke screen stays true to it's g1 counterpart.

now i have two~! double the fun~!

definitely one of the best transformers ever.

who knew alien robots also had symmetrical all wheel drive?

the tennis star

2008-07-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

the passion...the fire...

dodging oncoming tennis balls with matrix like skill...

preparing to destroy the opposition...

the serve of a champion...

keeping his eye on the ball...

watching his opponent try to return his last shot...ozzy style...

victory.

he is the tennis star.

sneak peek

2008-07-24T13:41:00.001-07:00

time to kick up a little smoke.

revoltech no. 50 - gurren lagann

2008-07-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

i picked up the much coveted and newly released revoltech no. 50 at anime expo earlier this month. in the first 5 minutes of walking through the exhibit hall, i spotted it and snagged it for a great deal of $15!!!

yellow sunshine buddy doesn't even know that he's about to be decapitated! watch out!

the patented revoltech joints allow for virtually any pose to be attained.

i love how the chest plate is a face resembling the demons of traditional japanese art.

this figure definitely has great stance and feel to it.

the logo on the shoulder armor is super cool as well.

it ain't easy being a robot.

no. 50's armor reminds me of a futuristic version of samurai armor that i studied in eighth grade social studies. the armor plating on the waist, the helmet and even the gauntlets all remind of a samurai.

if looks could kill, you'd have a plastic boomerang in your face right now.

gurren lagann is by far one of the coolest looking robots i own. revoltech never fails to bring quality plastic into my display case.

stay tuned for the next photoshoot.

sneak peek

2008-07-21T22:05:00.001-07:00

gurren lagann photoshoot coming soon...

Wheeljack and Bulkhead

2008-07-21T14:40:00.002-07:00

Here's a better photo of the Alternators Wheeljack figure that I purchased in my recent acquisition. I love how the head mimics the head of the original G1 Wheeljack. The doors acting as shoulder accents also bring back memories of the original figure.

Wheeljack and Bulkhead maintaining the peace and sanctity of my desktop.

the best $40 spent

2008-07-20T22:17:00.001-07:00

this is my blog. it will cover two very important aspects of my life; rock music and toy robots.

to start this off, here is a collection of transformers that i bought from some guy in long beach. craigslist is a great place to prey on the necessity of the less fortunate, and this was no exception. probably the best $40 i've ever spent.

included in the collection:

unicron
classics grimlock
alternators smokescreen
alternators wheeljack (i would have paid $40 just for this one)
alternators skids
alternators hound
beast machines megatron
beast machines rat trap
beast machines black arachnia
movie edition starscream
mini devastator
mini soundwave