Linsanity is Taking Over!

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If you didn't have the chance to watch Jeremy Lin vs. the Lakeshow tonight, you missed him take it up another notch.  Jeremy Lin, by the end of the first half, put up more points than Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, & Andrew Bynum combined!  By the end of the 4th quarter, Lin put up a whopping total 38 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 awesome 3-pointers! Some points off of the NY Times / Associated Press Article:

  • First player since LeBron James in 2003 and just the sixth since 1970 to have at least 20 points and eight assists in his first two starts
  • Ratings on MSG network are up since Lin joined the lineup
  • Lin's four field goals in the first quarter matched the Lakers' total in 18 attempts
  • the 89 points Lin scored in his first three starts is the most by an N.B.A. player since the league merged with the A.B.A. in 1976
  • he has scored more points in a single game this season than Carmelo Anthony

Check out the stunning difference in stats!

What a difference playing time makes!  Here's a highlight of #Linsanity putting up an easy lay up running a 360 through the Lakers' defense!

Remote Control Jets

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Ever since the Chinese perfected the manufacturing of foam / electric turbo aired jets, the price of owning and flying a remote control plane have reached acceptable levels. Not necessarily levels to where you can set it, forget and not land smoothly, but enough where it wouldn't make you cry if you crash landed. If you've ever flown the little RC helicopters at the mall, this is that much more gratifying. Yes, the flight time is kept to a minimum due to battery capacities but 5-10 minutes of flying an awesome 70m F-86 Sabre...you can't beat that!

Jeremy Lin MANIA!!!

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After an amazing game last Saturday, New York Knick Jeremy Lin (#17) comes back for another record breaking night against Utah.  Check out the Harvard Econ Grad sink a three pointer at the shot clock buzzer. Knicks tickets are going up in price and his jerseys are selling out!

If you want to watch the entire set of his first record setting night click play or watch what he did last night in its entirety! Both full videos down below.

Watch Lin split a defender at 4:30!

Unboxing Grado's SR125i

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In all it's glory, I present to you Grado SR125i Headphones. I bought these from Stereo Design in Clairemont, San Diego, California where the service is above and beyond exceptional. They setup a listening station for me and I was able to sample the SR60i, SR80i, SR125i, and RS2i along with the Grado Headphone Amp and a Wadia 171 iTransport. An amazing setup for those with digital music. Check them out sometime, drop by and say that Elijah recommended ya! This is a picture of "my" listening station. You can always help support this blog by clicking this Grado Prestige Series SR125i Headphones or of course the Grado Mini Adaptor Cable - 1/4 Inch to 1/8 Inch Plug.

Ingredients for Viral

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Matthew Broderick and  "Oh Yeah" by Yello.

It'll definitely be a just a tad disappointing if what is revealed is Ferris Buller drinking Pepsi all day long or him finding the next big bargin on Expedia or Travelocity or maybe he's the new spokesperson for Hipmunk? The way that comments are going on YouTube, it seems as if it's a Honda commercial. Maybe for their new jet?

RE: Techmeme Redesign

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Throughout the day, I find myself on my iPhone, MacBook Air or on whatever device with the first instinct to pull up Techmeme.  It has become my go to for tech news replacing almost everything else in the last year helping me navigate the junk around the web.  Today, they launch a redesign of their website and I'll be up front.  The margin for the main body stinks.  It's no longer my home page and I refuse to visit it now on my laptop's browser.  Count me in as a mobile reader only. This is their new design.

This is the old design layout where they compare it side by side with Drudge Report but if you take a look, there is far more room for the headlines rather than the "sponsored posts."  Also, if you take a look at Mediagazer (their sister site), they have yet to implement the new look.  Which design do you prefer?

Apple...what Recession?

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Look at this graph from macrumors!  EXPONENTIAL!

Bullets from Matt Richman's "takeaways" from Apple's (Q4) 2011 earnings.

  • With a record $13.06 billion in profits, it was Apple’s best quarter ever — by far.
  • Apple has sold more iOS devices than Android devices combined.

And of course, there's the amazing fact that Apple's Profit alone ($13 billion) was great than Google's total revenue ($10.6).  (via fmanjoo)

Here's just one more kicker... HP PC sales at 15.123m where iPad sales topped out at 15.43m (via gerrymcgarry)

As always, the haters will always hate, but the numbers speak for themselves.  Congrats to the team and here's to an amazing 2012!  Can't wait for the iPad 3 and the iPhone 5 and my new Macbook Pro!  It's going to be a costly 2012 all around!

Kickstarter: Hidden Radio & BlueTooth Speaker

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Who would have ever imagined that we'd be paying upwards of $199 for Jawbone's Jambox or $299 for Bose's Soundlink Wireless!?  Forget the days of "docking as both these devices offer Bluetooth connectivity.  I personally think it's a must these days are wires have become the bane of the electornic frontier. I had the opportunity to try out both the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker and the Jawbone JAMBOX over this holiday season.  Admittingly, the sound that they produced was great.  You can't really go wrong with either one.  The Jambox doesn't "fill" a room with it's sounds presence as much as the Bose and while the Bose offers better bass, the Jambox does undercut the competition by offering itself as a bluetooth speakerphone handy for conference calls and also comes in at a $100 less.

Forget those two and take a peek at this Kickstarter offering!  The Hidden Radio & BlueTooth Speaker, which will normally retail for $175 is being offered for an introductory $119 for those willing to "kickstart" the duo.  They have some great features and sound is "touted" to being on par.  From what I can tell in their introductory video, they compare it directly to the Jawbone Jambox.

Here is a FAQ taken directly off of the website:

Q/ How long will the batteries last? A/ The rechargeable batteries last over 30 hours.

Q/ How will I know it will support my phone, tablet or computer? A/ Bluetooth is a global standard designed to work on any device.

Q/ How loud is the sound? A/ We’ve tested it over 80dB, basically it will easily fill the space of a large apartment.

Q/ Is shipping included? A/ We are offering free global shipping only for Kickstarter backers!

Q/ When will you start to manufacture? A/ Once we get to 1000 units we’ll begin production immediately. I hope you can help us bring this great product to market.

Kickstarter: Twine - Listen to your world, talk to the Internet

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Have you ever wanted your laundry machine to tweet or text you when it's done? Or maybe when a door opens of if the temperature drops, you'd want some type of alert? These guys from the MIT Media Labs have developed a device that communicates in a simple language and setup that you and I can configure. Check out the video! You have approximately 30 minutes left to get in and "back" their project! Afterwards, you'll have to wait and adopt their technology for a higher retail price. But why not and "angel" invest!

Update: If you weren't able to catch the Twine Kickstarter before their fundraising period ended, they sent out a thank you and a "you can still buy me" update. Here it is:

Kickstarter backers — you guys are amazing. When we started this 6 weeks ago, our expectations were modest, other than making a product that we wanted and that others would find useful, too. John and I cannot believe that you pushed Twine past 550K, making it one of the most successful crowd-funded projects ever! We are going to take good care of you. Twine will be that much more polished and ready to rock because of your support.

Missed the Kickstarter? Not to worry. You can still join the thousands of other awesome Twine owners by pre-ordering at the Supermechanical site. It's the next best thing to being an original backer!

Welcoming 2012!

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We rang in the New Year's with friends and family but more importantly, felt well rested waking up to 2012. It was a busy holiday season for the both of us as we hosted back to back Christmas parties in our new house filling it with good vibes, cheer and spirit. It was a lot of work but we got it done! We're thinking of spacing them apart next year but I kind of liked it! More people can come the closer to Christmas it is because everyone is home for the holidays. And then you have the Christmas Eve party on the 24th as a tradition for family. Here's to planning for 2012's party!

Adelle and I will both be running in this year's Ragnar Relay: Florida Keys this upcoming weekend and we're both really excited! I was fortunate to run with a great group last year and am looking forward to the landscape of the Keys.

2012 is going to be a big year with three weddings to attend, baby showers, receptions and the like. It's going to be quite the roller coaster!

Updated to WordPress 3.3!

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The gang over at WordPress have just released their newest iteration of their amazing content management software dubbed "Sonny" and yes, adellelijah.com is now running it! I'm going to have to admit that updating is rather easy but it always warrants a new post!

For Users

Experienced users will appreciate the new drag-and-drop uploader, hover menus for the navigation, the new toolbar, improved co-editing support, and the new Tumblr importer. We’ve also been thinking a ton about what the WordPress experience is like for people completely new to the software. Version 3.3 has significant improvements there with pointer tips for new features included in each update, a friendly welcome message for first-time users, and revamped help tabs throughout the interface. Finally we’ve improved the dashboard experience on the iPad and other tablets with better touch support.

WordPress 3.3

35F in San Diego?!

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With temperatures approaching records lows, San Diego is lining itself up for a "wintery" December. In fact, as I'm typing this post, my fingertips are beginning to become numb as the doors are still open yet I remain too stubborn to get up and close the door. I'm sure most of you know by now that if it gets below 50F, the parkas, long johns, hot coco and space heaters fly off the shelves! Next thing you know, you're shivering in the morning and don't want to get out of that semi-warm cozy bed.

Here lies the question: $59.99 for a space heater or take it up a notch (maybe overkill) and go for the gold; the Dyson Hot.

I'll say that it's safer for children as there is no visible heating element and because of that, the exposure to the smell of burning dust remains absent. Having a thermostat built in, as magnetic remote control and the option to have it function as a regular Air Multiplier just really tout it's abilities.

For a short explanation video, check this out:

If you want to see more, click here as C|NET dives into their preview and explanation of the latest household gadget.  Fast forward to the 24:15 mark.

Tantrums = Scientific Data

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On the way to Home Depot this morning, I switched on NPR and missed this whole story on Morning Edition. Excited as I was, I made note to search it later and what I found was much more interesting. Did you ever wonder what a child's tantrum consists of or how as a parent or care-taker, one might "solve" the issue? Scientists, Michael Potegal of the University of Minnesota and James A. Green of the University of Connecticut, have gathered a string of data depicting the various vocal expressions that lie within a screaming child. Published in the Emotion journal, their study included recordings of various toddlers coupled with high-sensitive microphones attached to their onesie.

Bottom line; it's quite amazing. Also included are anecdotes on how to deal with tantrums shortening their episodes which always, in my opinion, leads to a much more pleasant atmosphere.

via NPR

What is True Success? [TED Talks: John Wooden]

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Going over various questions with a friend of mine as he prepares for the onslaught of residency program interviews, he directed me to this TED Talk by John Wooden, also affectionally known by as "Coach", on true success filmed back in February 2001. Check it out below!

With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father's wisdom.

What kind of music are you listening to?

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Lately, more often than not, you can find me navigating through both of NPR's amazing iOS applications, (NPR: News / NPR: Music).  This morning, I discovered "First Listen: Michael Jackson, 'Immortal'" by Ann Powers.  Whether you listen to the entire soundtrack of the up and coming Cirque du Soleil production or chose an individual song, it provides yet another way of enjoying the king of pop's msuic.  As Ms. Powers so cleverly puts it, "...it gives your ears a slap and reminds you how fresh these great songs sounded when you first discovered them." But, I digress. The real reason I wanted to write is to introduce you to an amazing compilation that includes world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bassist Edgar Meyer, mandolinist Chris Thile and fiddler Stuart Duncan.  Entitled, The Goat Rodeo Sessions, it marks his second forray into the Americana genre with his first album dating back over 15 years ago dubbed Appalachia Waltz.  If you're into exciting, new and different, I can assure you that your ears will be pleased.  It's also great writing music!

 

  

Amazon Kindle Fire [Video Review]

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This is a really really rough cut of my first video review which happens to be on Amazon's Kindle Fire. Watch the short video, tell me what you think. You are a fan? Do you plan on buying one?

For a great and very thorough review, check out Joshua Topolsky's review on The Verge!

Have you read The Hunger Games Trilogy???

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Adelle and I, including many of our friends, have just recently completed reading Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy.  Starting with "The Hunger Games", "Catching Fire", and concluding with "Mockingjay," you follow Katniss Everdeen in continual sacrifice living in a dystopian future.  Where children are "chosen" to participate in a Japanese style gameshow with a "Highlander" like twist - "there can be only one," you are immediately swept away with emotion for the courageous protagnist.  Comparing it to a little bit of Running Man meets Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", these books are enjoyable and a welcome change to the vampire / werewolf flood.  I'd recommend reading them before the movie comes out!  There a *spoiler alert* in the trailer, so if you have any interested in the books, at least read the first one before clicking play. You can support us by clicking on the amazon links below and if you haven't yet, check out the amazing theatrical trailer that debuted this week down below!

How do you Program an App?

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If you've been having trouble realeasing your first iPhone app or any iOS app for that matter, grab some inspiration from this guy! Watch in awe how sixth grader Thomas Suarez presents at TEDxManhattanBeach about how he first started developing iPhone applications. What have you done today!?

Getting my first Brazilian...

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...Blowout :) I bought an online discount coupon for a Brazilian Blowout at the Ronk Hair Design in downtown San Diego for $100. This was a steal considering their website has the service listed for $349. I had heard about this treatment from a few friends and wanted to try it out for myself. According to the Brazilian Blowout website, this hair treatment uses bonding technologies to improve the health and condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle. I have dry, course, thick, wavy hair that can really only be managed with the right product and an expensive flat iron and getting a Brazilian Blowout seemed perfect for my hair.

I made my appointment by texting with my stylist, Nicole. It was pretty easy to schedule an appointment with her and the location was especially convenient since the salon was right down the street from our downtown apartment. Nicole told me the treatment would take an hour and a half and also advised me come with “dirty” hair because the product would adhere to my hair’s natural oils better.

When I got to the salon, Nicole took me right away. She took me to the back so she could put the product in my hair and then we went to her chair where she had to blow dry and flat iron my hair to seal in the product. She then had to take me to the back again and wash my hair in the special Brazilian Blowout shampoo and conditioner. Another round of blow drying and straightening had to be done and in an hour and a half I had my new smooth, frizz-free hair!

Unlike other hair treatments similar to this, I had the option of washing my hair whenever I felt like it and it didn’t smell like chemicals. Nicole encouraged me to purchase the Brazilian Blowout Anti Frizz shampoo and conditioner set because she could otherwise not guarantee my results would last up to 12 weeks.

It’s been more than 12 weeks since my Brazilian and I can say my results lasted about 10 weeks. The shampoo and conditioner set did last for more than 12 weeks. During the 10 weeks, I was able to blow dry my hair straight for the first time... ever. It was nice to have soft, shiny hair that just took quick run with my flat iron. The only negatives were the salon itself did not have any air conditioning and being a summer day and getting two rounds of blow drying and straightening, it got a little warm. Also, the shampoo and conditioner set was a little pricey, about $75.

My Brazilian was good while it lasted, and I would definitely consider doing it again. And it looks like 1st timers can get theirs for $149! Check out their website: Ronk Hair Design

UPDATE: "USC Chemistry Professor Confirms Brazilian Blowout Poses No Exposure Risk - Comprehensive Study Shows Formaldehyde Exposure Levels Fall Well Below All State and Federal Health and Safety Exposure Standards" via Marketwatch.com. That's another plus for Brazilian blowouts!!!

You can always help support this blog buy purchasing your Brazilian Blowout Anti Frizz supplies simply using our amazon link below. Thanks! p.s. If you didn't know already, I'm the second from the left!