Angelo Ignacio
20-something in Los Angeles striving to do some social good in this world. Recent college graduate now getting started on life in a post-recession era. Social media enthusiast determined to use what I've learned to bring social impact to the things I love and care about.
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- Mar 20, 13
I've moved on to Wordpress since the recent shut down of Google Reader. May both the RSS feed and this blog platform rest in internet peace.
Keep up with me at angelodignacio.wordpress.com. - Mar 13, 13
When I presented a workshop about religion and millennials two weeks ago at the SCPASA summit, students talked at length about several barriers, struggles, gaps and honest truths about why religion is driving them away. I facilitated a brief group analysis of why that is the case, and what we as a generation could do in figuring out how to get past the things that keep us from knowing God. My objective was to share with the audience the potential benefits of finding the right group of people within their religion or church - institutions that to them, are out of touch - to help build a relationship with God beyond private prayer.
Of course, no conversations about God are complete without personal testimony, and so below is a quick write-up of the community that is helping me build upon and celebrate my faith - a community that I have come to know as Days with the Lord.
My first encounter of Days with the Lord (often referred as Days or DWTL, members refer to each other as Dayzers) was in 2011, when my mentor invited me to attend the group's retreat that is held throughout the year. Though I hesitated on going, I went through with it and was blown away from the experience by the end of the weekend as well as ever since.I've been since able to experience the deeper tier of the Days community, moving past being just a participant but as a volunteer, sponsor and general member of a growing group of individuals who not only identify and celebrate Christ the same way that I do, but also appreciate and relate to other things such as culture and lifestyle. My most recent experience happened last weekend when I volunteered for the 43rd retreat held by our chapter in San Francisco.
The dynamic of the retreat is remarkable. An entire community of participants and volunteers make the pilgrimage to a designated retreat venue, and for three days a fully functioning village is assembled, equipped to carry out a tradition that has brought people in northern and southern California together for over 20 years.
Most of my time was spent getting to know the guys in the bay, which even included an all nighter into the morning, something I have not felt worth doing since my college days. Some of the people were folks I've already met, since they came down to Los Angeles for our retreats to help out and support. What came as a result from experiencing the retreat even from a visitor's perspective is what I believe is the remedy to the struggles and weariness millennials face towards religion: fellowship.
It's the same reason why people continue to come back, retreat after retreat despite work schedules, family lives and other obligations. There's even a couple of Dayzers who haven't missed a retreat in over 20 years. The comradery built through fellowship in the form of serving or volunteering together, or even just catching up since the last event keeps many, if not all, retreats fully staffed. Some members engage with others in the group only once a year when the retreat is held, but as I listened and talked with members of the group, it's obvious the time spent together is fully cherished by all who are present.
I've asked myself, how is this different from any other social circle? Or other communities of faith, for that matter? I have been processing these questions for the last two years over and over again, finally coming to an obvious and clear break this past weekend: the strong presence of culture. It's got to do with the proud celebration of our Filipino roots seen, heard and tasted through music, food and prayer. When pairing a cultural identity together with a spiritual identity, the effects are enormous. People feel even more connected to one another. More relevant and understanding to the sensitivities of an entire nation and people whose ties to Christianity from a historical standpoint are ironic, yet embraced by the DWTL community as any other piece of heritage you desire to preserve. This is who I am, this is who we are. The two most deepest elements that a person can identify with, coming together to form a community. It's no mistake these are the strongest bonds I have seen.As I observed the activities of the retreat, I was brought back to when I was a participant. The feelings and emotions were just as strong, it was as if I was re-living parts of the experience watching the young men go through the schedule of the day as first timers. I was reminded of how much I learned, how much I felt, the spark that allowed me to rise up and be so proud of my culture and faith. And then when I spent time with the alumni, I felt those reminiscent emotions affirm so strongly, being surrounded by others that regardless of what year we had attended retreat, we had plenty in common. I felt comfort in knowing that even beyond my experience as a participant, there is an entire community to fall back upon when life's turns make being faithful difficult. A community that I can relate to on so many levels.
No wonder people come back, year after year.
I want Days to grow. I want it to live up to its remarkable legacy of fellowship, culture and relevance to young adults. I want the same press-to-start ignition button to getting fired up about a relationship with God be made as accessible to future batches as it has for past. What this family has is so special and beautiful. And as any organization, we must ask ourselves, how do we keep this going? How, in 2013, can we continue to connect with young adults in Los Angeles and San Francisco? How do we reach the same level of brotherhood and commitment to God with the realities of a changing demographic? How can the retreat connect with 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generation Filipinos? How can it connect with people who aren't Filipino? How do we accomplish all of these things and still maintain the most richest, genuine and solid fellowship that I felt this past weekend at the Days with the Lord retreat in San Francisco? A fellowship that preserves the beauty of our heritage, the bonds of tradition.
These answers will take some of the most dynamic collaborations between all members of DWTL, past and recent. And I pray that as we work to build an even stronger retreat community, we keep our minds and hearts as wide and as open as we all did throughout our own 3-day journey. No matter what year. No matter what batch.Thank you to the entire DWTL community of San Francisco for the amazing hospitality. Photos courtesy of Cip Rose Nicholas. - Mar 08, 13
It's funny how time tells a story, or begins and extends new life chapters.
One year ago today, I came across the video on YouTube that the world would come to know as KONY 2012, a short film on child soldiers in Uganda that by now needs very little introduction. I noticed friends from all segments of my life -- college, high school, family, work, church -- share the film on their news feeds, and hashtags like #STOPKONY were consistently trending on Twitter. When I learned that the group behind it was Invisible Children, I thought back to when I first heard about the organization in 2006. I was a sophomore in college when I first learned about what was going on in Africa. I didn't attend the film screening that was held on campus, but for some reason, I briefly read up on it on my own. I even remember the GMC vans that were parked in Hannon. When I connected the dots that this was the same group advocating for the same cause, I thought to myself...This is still happening?
We all know where the story takes us next: the explosion of praise and criticism that came as a result of the video's success going viral. Just as I noticed many of my friends sharing the video, friends that I highly respect posted articles and videos that went against how Invisible Children went about telling the story of Joseph Kony and the LRA. The accusation of alleged extreme simplification, the biased and/or inaccurate telling of what actually was happening, the shady practices of their finances and of course, the idea of white savior complex.
Fast forward a year later to two days ago, when I found myself cheers-ing to the one year anniversary of the launch of KONY 2012. Only this time, I found myself at the Invisible Children HQ here in San Diego, and as a full time staff member. Yes, after a year of following the movements of social media, millennials and social good, I found myself at a cross intersection where an incredible career opportunity formed right at the perfect moment. After an unexpected layoff towards the end of 2012, I made sure to take advantage of the opportunity to take full control of the direction of what I do for a living. As I worked through the impressive leads my boss was sending me, I created a list of companies that I actually wanted to work for, regardless of whether or not I had an 'in' or 'connection.' IC was one of them.
It's funny how perceptions of brands and organizations form through the internet. But for me, especially when the job offer came through, it ultimately came down to looking at the clear facts. The radio towers, the defections, the stories of women claiming back their lives through empowerment, the young adults my age who graduated with degrees as a result of sponsorships, the rehabilitation efforts, the partnerships on the ground. None of these stories went viral like KONY 2012 or were told as loudly as those who spoke against Invisible Children. But forget the hype of any YouTube video, at the end of the day, Invisible Children was, and still is, a force for good.
One thing that I've learned about the team here is how quick we all are at humbly accepting that we are not perfect. That we are always wanting to grow and learn. Perhaps this is the reason why I was attracted so much to the culture of working here, for the sake of growing and learning. I am taken aback as I think about where I was a year ago, challenging myself to analyze the effects of KONY 2012 and whether or not I believed in it despite what some of my closest friends were saying. To think I would be working with them a year later, after every affirmation before I had even come to the thought of applying to the position I hold now is a reality that I am very much grateful for.I have committed a career to something greater than a paycheck, position title or company shares. I know it is cliche to say something about working towards something greater than yourself, but I really do feel like that every day I come to work. Not to mention the opportunity I get to work with some of the most creative people in the world. These are the people that have proven what a generation can do. What social media can do. What the power of a Share button can do. These are the people I'm so proud to call colleagues.
What a journey! And the best part about it all? It's only just begun. - Mar 02, 13
Last weekend I was in Long Beach for the 6th Annual SCPASA Summit. It was my first time presenting a workshop, as encouraged by Leezel. Below, in blog post form, is what I presented.
Religion, faith and spirituality are things that are really personal to many of us. Yet, as the case studies and statistics show, we as young adults have struggled when it comes to talking about it with others or even identifying with it at all. At the SCPASA summit last week, I had the great privilege of presenting my thoughts on why this is the case among millennials, and engaged in conversation with a group of students who attended my workshop, "Faith, Spirituality and 20-Somethings."
I shared a very familiar story about my life growing up as a Catholic. The struggles of not identifying with my faith, despite being raised by the sacraments throughout elementary school up through college. I talked about the honest admitting to myself that I was only attending mass because my parents were, and I was really only praying because well, that's what we all did together. But I shared how neither of those things made me feel closer to God, and by the time I enrolled in college -- I had more or less drifted away from Catholic traditions, and focused entirely on a personal journey on figuring out who God meant to me.
Many students were able to relate. And afterwards, I presented a few statistics from case studies about young adults in America and then asked them to share their thoughts:- 1/3 of young adults, ages 18-30 are religiously unaffiliated, the highest percentage ever recorded. Out of this same group of people, 68% of them believe in God (PEW RESEARCH 2010)
- 72% of young adults surveyed said they were "more spiritual than religious." 65% rarely or never pray with others and/or rarely attend worship services (LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES)
Why is that? The answers among the group were interesting. Some alluded to the reality that college had brought on different experiences that were different from what they had been raised to. Others talked about the choices they found outside of their family's church, and the struggle being more about finding a place where they fit in. More surprising to me, one person talked about having to be accountable for his own faith -- something he had never had to do prior to college. All of these struggles were reasons that these young adults in the workshop, yet believers of God, were shying away more and more from church, prayer groups and communities of faith. I shared some reasons I thought were driving away people, which included extremism, progressive values and the unfortunate isolated cases of corruption, politics and the commercialization of the church."This is unfortunate," I said. "Because the oldest religions of the world have been around for thousands of years. They've really stood the test of time. Yet in 2013, these very religions are driving away - by the masses- the next generation of believers and followers." I then presented the case that there was benefit in religion and church, no matter how comfortable a spiritual life away from it can feel. I challenged students to consider the possibility that religions are stronger and more present than ever before among young adults.I presented three examples that exemplified the tendencies of religion/church. (To clarify, by religious tendencies I meant 3 specific criteria: 1) able to bring people of the same belief together, 2) encourages them to perform traditions, activities and rituals together for the sake of 3) worshiping and/or adoring something or someone.) The three examples I used were: Apple, the Los Angeles Lakers and Disneyland.Notes From My White Board At Home In all three examples, we a large group identified the kinds of things that made each of these brands similar to creating a religious following. For Apple, we talked about the tradition of receiving a new Mac for college, the slang/lingo that you communicate with other Apple owners, and the icon Steve Jobs. For the Lakers, we talked about all of the superstitions that fans adhere to on game days, how the city comes together for the Great Parade, and the legends of Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn and Dr. Jerry Buss. And finally, at great length, we talked about the Disneyland experience. The must-do's, must-see's, and apparently, the must-eats. The excitement in people's voices as they talked about their experiences slowly began to unravel the realization that while folks had found themselves turned off by "religions" and "religious tendencies," they were finding them (and even participating in them) through other forms in modern day culture.I then explained how each of these examples had one common thing: they brought communities together. From here, I then made the case that while religious institutions are not things young adults are fond of (for the same reasons talked about at the beginning of the workshop,) they were able to bring communities of faith together, which was something spirituality couldn't do. I made the point that chances were that if you believed in God, your faith called for you to do things like love one another, serve those in needs, treat others nicely, etc. This was not possible if without a community. In fact, while spirituality gave us the intimate relationship with God, a community is needed to integrate the things that we are called to do/become. I briefly mentioned how this was a useful thing to understand now, as communities that college students are frequently a part of dissolve upon graduating -- the communities found with fellow believers of faith do not.I was quick to mention that I didn't recommend finding a 'balance' between the two -- personal spirituality and religious communities of faith, but it was about understanding what both had the capability of providing on a journey towards living a life closer to God.To finally tie the workshop back to the theme of this year's summit, Redefine, I shared how having a strong understanding of both sides - not just spritiual - can lead to a strong sense of identity; knowing who you are, and who you are not. Once again, I shared my story of being highly involved in several activities in college, such as a fraternity that at one point, began to label me things beyond my control. While I loved greek life, I didn't appreciate being identified by three letters on my chest. Realizing this, I delve deeply into my faith as well as communities of faith to determine once and for all who I was, and who I wasn't. I challenged the group to do the same.Overall, I could tell many of the students were coming to the workshop hoping to have some of their biggest questions about religion answered. Why does my church think this is wrong? Why do we do things this way? The workshop didn't provide the answers, clearly. But I think it helped students realize three critical things. First, the reality that they are not alone. That they were not the only ones asking/thinking about these things. Second, the power of religious communities of faith (through the form of church, youth groups or two people you talk about faith with.) And lastly, the role faith plays in identity -- along with culture, professional industries, peers and family, the idea of faith is something that truly defines who we are. I hope this talk brought them closer to figuring out how that's the case each of their lives.Thank you to SCPASA for the opportunity to present. Thank you, Leezel, for helping me put my first workshop together. - Feb 26, 13
View of the Neighborhood // PHOTO: NATE PEDRONAN
Time has flown by since November when things fell into place for me here in San Diego. Just one month before that, I was on the most aggressive job hunt of my career, living scarcely in the wild off unemployment and laying low from a lifestyle that had steadily grown thanks to four years of a stable job. A week and a half before Thanksgiving, I was blessed with an offer from Invisible Children to join their communications team and work the email strategy that they wanted to elevate in 2013. And beyond any of my expectations, I found myself packing it all up and starting a new chapter here in San Diego before 2012 would come to an end.
It's now been three months since the big move. I'll save the post about work for another day, tonight I wanted to mark how things are living here as a city. When everybody asks me how San Diego has been so far, I always say that it's been really good. But in all cases, I end up mentioning the lesson that I am quickly learning about finding new friends in a city that you're new in. It's largely different from the way I found friends in college; finding my network here is taking more effort than I thought. Thankfully, I've already met some people through some professional and church meetups so hopefully in the next three months, I'll have better news to report about this particular adaptation to the city.Cousins and Friends From LA Visiting SD // PHOTO: ALEX MAIDA All in all, I am really satisfied with where I am living. Bankers Hill is probably the best setup that I've had when it comes to the different places that I've lived, topping out Gardena and even Westchester. Downtown San Diego is not as big of a metro city like New York or Los Angeles, but it's bustling enough to feel like you're in a somewhat fast paced town. It is interesting that the city is noticeably slow and empty during the week, yet it turns into such a scene as weekends bring people from out of town and nearby suburbs to bars and restaurants in neighborhoods like the Gaslamp, Hillcrest and North Park. My personal favorite is Little Italy.The Farmers Market in Little Italy Riding Through Downtown After Work There are some things that I do miss about home, like Asian buffets, POWER 106 and Laker games being played at every bar and gym. I've found remedies to each of these to get me by, so it looks like it'll be all right.Power 106 On the iPhone, Nothing Like It Here in SD So far the highlights of the last three months include dining out during Restaurant Week, getting onto the baseball field at Petco Park and skydiving out of a plane with friends and family. There have been some learning lessons too, like getting one of the smart cars that I used as part of Car 2 Go's car sharing program cited and towed -- and then just a week later, having my bike stolen at the mall (I used a weak cable lock.) Thankfully, I've taken my dad's advice on both of these events, doing what he calls, "charging it to experience." Doing so keeps the highlights in the spotlight."Charging It to Experience," Getting Towed in December Small and Subtle Examples of Public Art - Life is Beautiful
More to come from America's Finest City... - Feb 22, 13
Sevenly is an awesome company based in southern California that raises money for different charities each week by selling beautifully designed t-shirts that portray amazing messages of hope, strength and courage. I have followed them ever since hearing about their campaign that supported LMU alum Nikole Lim's organization, Freely in Hope. When I was laid off last year, I even made a run at joining their team and had the pleasure of talking with Justin Palmer, their Director of Online Marketing. The company has proved that the social good business is possible, steadily growing their company (and fan base) since 2011 while raising over $1.6 million for charities. Their business model is simple: for seven days, $7 from every sale of a T-shirt goes to a designated charity in which merchandise is designed after. And we're not talking cheesy free SWAG that you get at 5K walks or volunteer events. Each design that I have seen on Sevenly has always been inspiring, regardless if I was ever connected to the cause.
Now in 2013, Sevenly has announced a big project that they're setting out to do: a reality show. See below:
I think it's an interesting idea. Part of the reason that I no longer pay for cable is because of the useless crap that is being aired. (I watch Hulu, now.) By getting the stories of charities, social enterprise and startups to the masses, so many stories become told. And that is something that Sevenly has shown that they can do with the countless of do-good organizations that they've worked with over the past two years. If they can pull this off, I think it would be a good huge win for shining light on nonprofits who do extraordinary work but desperately need more awareness and funds to further their impact.
The Sevenly team is hosting a crowdsourcing campaign on Indiegogo which at the time of this writing, has raised almost $9,000 of their $25,000 goal. They have a month to do it, and you can help. The perks/rewards of the project start as low as $5 (pre-release digital copy of the pilot.) Check them out if you're interested in bringing a better kind of reality show to television this year.
Good luck to all at the Sevenly team on getting this done. :) - Feb 21, 13
In case anybody missed it, coverage of tonight's tribute to Dr. Buss before the game against the Celtics. Includes a video montage, words from Kobe Bryant and an emotional Magic Johnson.
Rest in Peace, Dr. Jerry Buss. I have never been more proud to be from Los Angeles.
BTW, according to my data analysis earlier this week, tonight's win makes the road to the playoffs that much easier.Photo Credit: ESPN - Feb 20, 13
Wieden + Kennedy's Harlem Shake, Portland Edition // Photo Credit: Wieden + Kennedy
I was confused at first when I saw a post from a friend my age that said something along the lines of regretting that she wasn't young enough to participate in a Harlem Shake video. She posted a clip of one of hundreds of parodies of the internet meme known as the Harlem Shake videos. In this case, it was the version of college students from UCR getting in early on the fad. At first, I thought she was talking about the original Harlem Shake, which was featured by hip hop stars all throughout the 2000s in music videos (I later learned that the roots of dance go back to Ethipoia and was a style known as "Eskista".) I thought about the little kids in Missy Elliot's videos, Mase's videos, G.Dep & Diddy's videos. This was definitely a different Harlem Shake. A week has now passed and I've seen countless imitations of the source video that's gone on to accidental virality.What I remember the Harlem Shake being:Or this:
Now before I get super reminiscent on velour track suits, color matching headbands and fresh white on white Air Force Ones (shout out to Diana and Juan, I know ya'll read this,) I will say that I find the 2013 version of Harlem Shakes amusing, entertaining and funny. The Daily Beast shared this video of reactions from people in Harlem, New York, when they watched the video. The verdict is that people from Harlem are upset and disgusted at what appears to be a culturally insensitive mockery of their city's respected tradition. I see where these people are coming from, but I think that considering the countless Harlem Shake parodies out there offensive goes a little bit too far.
Dance styles and trends go through renditions, transitions and interpretations throughout time. Yes, its originators could consider new versions of a dance an insult to roots, but isn't that an obvious reaction to new age pop culture? Remakes will never be as good as the original. Plus, I don't think the guys who created the 2013 Harlem Shake video even knew the connection to the culturally rich tradition of the dance.
In short, I give props to the creators of this year's Harlem Shake. They've earned the right to being known as the "guys who did the original Harlem Shake video." They took 36 seconds, and threw in an outrageous sequence of outrageous movements that left you either surprised, compelled, amused or all of the above. I don't think that they did it at the expense of Harlem's culture or dance heritage, because in no way does it mock Ethiopia, people of color or Al B, the man believed to be the creator of the dance in the 1980s.
Why not? Because it wouldn't have mattered what the name of song was, it would have still gone viral.
Baauer is the name of the producer who produced the song, "Harlem Shake" which was then used by all of the videos. It's a club banger, in my opinion. And by the way, Baauer isn't from Harlem, he's from Brooklyn. But if he named his song anything from Beat Bounce, Rose Bump, or Los Get Down -- then hell, we'd be talking about the Beat Bounce videos, the Rose Bump dudes and/or the Los Get Down guys. My point is that the people of Harlem were never a target.
Harlem Shake, welcome to the class of 2013's viral videos. As your fellow classmate Kid President said, "it's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance." You've gotten all sorts of people to just that. From study groups of 5 to basketball stadiums of 20,000. That's a win in my book. Job well done.
What are your thoughts on The Harlem Shake videos. Do you think they're offensive? - Feb 19, 13
A fraternity at Duke has been suspended by its national headquarters as a result of a party that it threw in January that many have considered racist. You be the judge:
The Huffington Post published this article on February 6 that gives a good summary of the entire story. As many other people, I was pretty upset when I heard about this. As I read more into it, I found myself more upset that Duke didn't do more, if anything at all, to halt such an offensive gathering. Besides "encouragement from the University administration to cancel" the party, Duke has essentially done nothing. In fact, all retaliation on the fraternity's actions have been student led, such as this Open Discussion that was held by the Asian Students Association on campus.Duke University senior Ashley Tsai speaking out a protest of the party. // Photo Credit: Harry Lynch This isn't the first time Duke's been in the spotlight for outrageous parties. In December of 2011, Pi Kappa Phi was criticized for its Pilgrims and Indians party and its athletics program went through review after photos of a student wearing blackface makeup was posted the Duke athletics program.Why hasn't such a prestigious campus like Duke gone on to do anything about these events?To give credit where it is due, the Chapter President of the fraternity, Luke Keohane, published an op-ed piece in the student newspaper apologizing for the party. While some people might think this is a glossy PR-fashioned move, I give the student credit. As a former president of a fraternity, standing up and accepting responsibility when something goes terribly wrong is something that not all leaders think about when stepping into the position, especially a Greek organization. As an individual who put his name/personal brand on the line, this letter to the student body is appreciated.But before we go on to blast panhellenic organizations, I think we as individuals (and as organizations) should check ourselves before we go on to judge. As a Filipino-American, Kappa Sigma's party was deeply offensive to me. But as part of a fraternity in undergrad, I could not help but remember all of the ridiculous themes that my surrounding Greek brothers and sisters held that were in the same bad taste as this racist rager that went down at Duke. The Chola/Homie parties. The Native American/Indian themed teams at Friendship Games. The Halloween parties, and the culture that went on to promote such an anti-homosexual attitude towards pledges and even active members. This isn't about one group of people or one University. It's a reminder that we all have a part in this problem. No excuses.While we throw our hands up in the air and call for consequential action, let's not forget where even we - as people of color - fall short of our own judgement in similar scenarios. - Feb 18, 13
It's a sad day for Laker fans, everywhere. On a day that reminds me of when the world said farewell to Chick Hearn, we do it once again for Lakers owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, who died this morning at the age of 79. The Los Angeles Times had a fitting obituary that I read this morning. As I read through it, I remembered just how much of my own life/family memories connect to the Lakers' success. Basketball was - and still is - part of some of my favorite pastimes with my parents and friends. It is no doubt that his loss will be felt throughout the entire organization, including us, the fans. Without him, we wouldn't have such a dynasty to call our own.
Unfortunately, it's been a terrible season for the Lakers. Before news of Jerry Buss' death, things got real when on-air guest Kenny Smith said on POWER 106 earlier last week that there was "zero chance" for our team to make the playoffs. Moments like this make it painful to think about the dreadful reality of possibly not having a post-season to look forward to. But what if somebody told you what our chances really are? I'll tell you this: it's not zero.
Perhaps Buss' death will spark a newfound sense of motivation in the team and among Lakers fans who have since become estranged to the Laker Nation. On Twitter, the hashtags #WinItForBuss and #RIPDrBuss seems like a tagline that could bring us all back together. Because if we're honest with ourselves, LA fans haven't been the best at keeping the faith. We could do much better.
So for all who feel called to return, I have this for you to hang on to despite the dark reality of our playoff chances. I am a big data guy. I love numbers, stats, and predicting/projecting/averaging anything and everything. It's part of my job, though lately I've felt that the season needs some true statistical analysis. I've taken the remaining games of the Laker schedule and have analyzed past performance, conference/division performance, home vs. away game performance and team by team series records of this season and used them to ultimately calculate the probability of winning each remaining game. Below is my best attempt at explaining where we're at in the season. If you're a Laker fan, brace yourself. The news is not good. But based on the data, it's not over.
THE 19 MUST WIN LAKER GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON:- Fri, Feb 22 - Portland Trail Blazers (projected to win)
- Sun, Feb 24 - @ Dallas Mavericks (projected to lose)
- Thu, Feb 28 - Minnesota Timberwolves (projected to win)
- Sun, Mar 3 - Atlanta Hawks (projected to win)
- Wed, Mar 6 - @ New Orleans Hornets (projected to win)
- Wed, Mar 13 - @ Atlanta Hawks (projected to lose)
- Sun, Mar 17 - Sacramento Kings (projected to win)
- Mon, Mar 18 - @ Phoenix Suns (projected to lose)
- Fri, Mar 22 - Washington Wizards (projected to win)
- Mon, Mar 25 - @ Golden State Warriors (projected to win)
- Wed, Mar 27 - @ Minnesota Timberwolves (projected to win)
- Thu, Mar 28 - @ Milwaukee Bucks (projected to win)
- Sat, Mar 30 - @ Sacramento Kings (projected to lose)
- Tue, Apr 2 - Dallas Mavericks (projected to win)
- Tue, Apr 9 - New Orleans Hornets (projected to win)
- Wed, Apr 10 - @ Portland Trail Blazers (projected to lose)
- Fri, Apr 12 - Golden State Warriors (projected to win)
- Sun, Apr 14 - San Antonio Spurs (projected to win)
- Wed, Apr 17 - Houston Rockets (projected to lose)
What it has resorted to: projecting the rest of the season via Excel
The odds are surely against us. But on a day where one of the NBA's most profound team owners passes away, there are no games scheduled. As if a season holiday was instantly declared in his honor. Nothing could sound more fitting. If a hero like Jerry Buss could go through the ups and downs of the entire franchise and endure through enough to win 10 NBA championships, surely we as fans can come together to see our team through what's left of the season? - Feb 18, 13
Founders Chapel at the University of San Diego // Photo Credit: USD
Awesome homily I heard at 7PM mass tonight at USD (summarized):
A rabbi asked a man what he would do if he found a bag of coins on the ground. The man said, "Surely, I'd give it back to the owner assuming I know who it belongs to."
"You fool," said the rabbi. He then asked a second person what he would do.
"I'd keep it for myself. Surely I wouldn't let a windfall like that pass me by," the second person replied.
The rabbi called him a coward, then asked a third person.
The man said, "I don't know what I would do, Rabbi. But hopefully with the wisdom and grace of God, I will feel it in my heart to give it back to its owner." This was the answer that the rabbi was seeking.
He had called the first man a fool because he presumed that he would give back the bag of coins. He called the second man a coward because he was too weak to accept that the money was not his, yet he felt it would be nothing wrong to keep it. But he praised the answer of the last man, who accepted that his emotions, longings and intentions may get twisted and mixed up when the opportunity to come up on a material gain should come up. He was wise enough to understand that as a human being, he was subject to that imperfect tendency. But, most importantly, he was humble enough to accept that he needed God's direction and would seek it to do the right thing.
As I listened to the story, I was a confused why the first man was dismissed by the rabbi. Didn't he do the right thing? But as the story unfolded, I realized how impractical it is to assume that at every chance for us to demonstrate character and good judgement, we will always act perfectly. Placing this false expectation upon ourselves is indeed foolish, and leads us to wrongfully believe at some point that our consciences are 100% developed and unshakable.
This Lent season, I'm even more so reminded that it isn't always about shedding the not so great things about you, but knowing that we need God with us to grow past them. Sometimes, that's the more important thing.
I hope everybody's Lenten journey is off to a good start. :) - Feb 14, 13
I received an email from the LMU Alumni Association earlier this week that promoted their new LMU Bracket Madness:
I've been receiving updates from the alumni association ever since I graduated, but this is my favorite piece of content, ever. Engaging alumni is a critical part of the University business model, with a customer base that is constantly growing, ever rich and for the most part, proud and happy to be associated with their alma mater. What it takes to get them to stick around and eventually give is the challenge. I love, love, LOVE LMU's take on the upcoming March Madness/college basketball frenzy by creating an entire voting tournament around 32 well known "good things" about the campus. Many of them were people, places and things that I agreed were LMU staples. I even found myself reminiscing as I began going through and making my picks.
Great job, LMU.
LMU will pick two random participants to receive $100 gift cards, so if you haven't already, go and fill out your bracket. On a random note, I helped out with some quick photo shoots at work last week for Valentine's day promo. I happened to be wearing an LMU sweatshirt, which is fitting because my expression in the photo is exactly how I felt at some of these match picks! - Feb 13, 13
The State of the Union last night was nothing extraordinary. There were no big surprises to the President's ideas and the calls for action on things like tax loop holes, energy and immigration were close to the likes of ringing an all too familiar bell for those of us who've been following US policy. I am surprised, however, at the fact that in 2013, the President of the United States feels that in his State of the Union address, it was necessary to highlight the issues of fair pay, violence against women and voting rights. Aside from the the usual suspects of what Barack Obama wants to achieve in the coming year, these issues seem like they come straight out of a time machine from the 20s and 60s. WTF?
There were a few things that I did appreciate in last night's address. I thought that the efforts to increase manufacturing in America was a good move, citing the return of Ford, Caterpillar and Apple to stateside plants. Thought not perfect, I really enjoyed the idea of an "energy trust" that will fund research to further hybrid/electric technologies. And when it came to the standard runaround on education, one bit that I did take away was the College Scorecard implementation, which would show parents and incoming students key indicators of a school's value. Overall, I was pleased with the direction the President envisioned for the country, and look forward to keeping up with developments in all of his proposals.
One other interesting thing about the SOTU was this interactive infographic produced by the Guardian. It illustrates the readability of each address over the years, based on the Flesch-Kincaid readability test. In a very simple explanation, the higher the readability score, the more complex the text. According to the data, some would say that over time, President's have 'dumbed down' their speeches. I would argue that this is an effort to engage more of the population, and meet them where they're at in terms of communication. What that says about Americans in general is of course, another story.
>>INFOGRAPHIC: THE GUARDIAN: THE STATE OF THE UNION IS...DUMBERBut the thing that really stood out to me in the President's speech was his call for Congress to act upon bettering gun legislation in the upcoming year. Yes, this was something that everybody saw coming, but my heart broke instantly when the parents of Hadiya Pendleton were shown on screen right as the President began describing their 15 year old daughter, who performed with her school band at the inauguration and then was shot and killed by gang crossfire a week later. And of course the stories of Newton were mentioned and the fact that after two months after the deadliest school shooting in US history, lawmakers have not felt moved enough to act. The president went on to mention that in that same time period, "more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun." The next few moments were pretty emotional in the chamber as Obama went on to list the list of communities and people that deserve a vote:
"Hadiya's parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote.
Gabby Giffords deserves a vote.
The families of Newtown deserve a vote.
The families of Aurora deserve a vote.
The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence – they deserve a simple vote."
Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters
In general, Obama proposals regarding gun control call for increased requirements toward background checks, stricter restrictions on what kinds of weapons are available (such as assault weapons,) and a move towards allocating funds to provide research on the topic as well as support for mental health initiatives. To be clear, I understand the arguments on how stricter gun regulations infringe on rights granted onto us by the Second Amendment. And I do understand that violence will not necessarily stop nor will criminals be more deterred as a result of passing tougher laws. But what I don't understand is why Congress has refused to move on any sort of imitative to help the situation.
I think he said it clearly, "Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. If you want to vote no, that's your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote."
This issue is so different from past issues like Obamacare, jobs acts and even immigration. In all of these scenarios, the President has called on legislators to pass certain bills based on a certain agenda laid out by the Democratic party. Naturally, this has caused tension and push back by conservatives. But in this case, the president isn't even pushing a specific agenda. True, he has laid out proposals of what he thinks our government should do in response to the tragic events that have happened, but all he has asked for from Congress is movement. To stop sitting on their hands and do something.
In comparison to what the President has pushed Congress for in the past, the way he called/pleaded for action was exceptional. In a way, we all know that a fully controlled gun law that prohibits citizens from keeping weapons would be tough to enact, given the true nature of the intentions of the second amendment. But who's to say that there's absolutely nothing we can do?
The 113th Congress has now been in session for a month and a half. Hopefully in the upcoming months, we'll see them act upon some of, if not all, the things the President has called on. Regardless if they end up fulfilling Barack Obama's wishes to the tee, I hope they gather it up to simply move. Punting legislation for the sake of waiting for the next election would be a bad move on the GOP, let alone Americans. - Feb 12, 13
The story of Aaron Swartz is tragic, yet fascinating. In many ways it reminds me of the life stories of Steve Jobs, Julian Assange and the fictional character of Romeo. I took some time to read up on the life of the man whose recent death has taken the tech world by storm. Who was he? Why was the government after him? And what led him to take his own life?
The first aspect that comes to mind was that Aaron Swartz was close to my age, just one year older. Secondly, he was a blogger who wrote and shared his thoughts all throughout his life. His Wikipedia page describes him as "an American programmer, writer, political organizer, and Internet activist." But these descriptions of trade and interests don't do him any justice. In the Internet world, he was a true pioneer. He developed the early versions of what is known and used today as RSS (Google Reader), collaborated to form the idea of Creative Commons (free and sharable content), and most recently led the online movement against the Stop Online Piracy Act of 2012 (SOPA). I've read that without Swartz's involvement, the SOPA bill may have been much harder to block and may have even passed.Photo: Daniel J. Sieradski
Throughout his work and his life, Aaron Swartz felt that information and knowledge should be fair and free. That all humans should be given the same access to the same information as their peers, regardless of rank, power or class. In 2006 he ran a script that took the entire Library of Congress's bibliographic data and placed it on Open Library, a free site whose goal is to host a web page for every book ever written. While the government charged a small fee to access the database, the content was not copyright-protected. Now, nobody has to ever pay for access again. But his hacker talent and disrupting vision got him into trouble in 2011 when he was arrested after getting caught taking hundred of thousands of articles from an online databse (JSTOR) using the MIT network. This is really where the controversy hit, and also where the story would eventually take a turn for the worst.
The penalty for the crimes that Aaron Swartz was charged with (2 counts of wire fraud and 11 violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act) amounted to a potential of 35 years in prison and $1 million in fines. His defense team was ready to take the case fully to court, as they reluctantly passed on accepting plea deals that would assert guilt. According to folks who know about the situation, Swartz's attorneys were feeling confident about the case. But on a day that his lead attorney was heading over to review some positive findings in the prosecution's case, he received a call and learned that Aaron, the night before, hung himself. His girlfriend, Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman, wrote an emotional blog post titled, "Why Aaron Died."
There are plenty of articles out there written about this case and about Aaron's life. Slate published one over the weekend that goes into detail. What I find really interesting is the public's outcry to his death. Many point the blame at the case's prosecutor, Carmen Ortiz, the District Attorney for Massachusetts who allegedly went beyond her power in continuing to prosecute Swartz. JSTOR, the company that Swartz took documents from, condemned his actions, but did not go on to press charges. Even more so, the county district attorney planned to resolve the case with a "stern warning," but that's when the federal government took over and Carmen Ortiz came in. Since Aaron's death, a White House petition that calls for the firing of Ortiz has gathered enough signatures for a formal response.
I think Aaron Swartz case and story will shift how we think about two things: the real purpose of commercializing information and how outdated our government is when it comes to understanding today's modern structure of technology and the current laws revolving around it. While I don't know quite exactly where I stand on the ethics of his actions, I do believe that he was committing them for the sake of making the world a better and fairer place. At least in a way that he felt the world was presently rigged. In true activist fashion, Aaron went beyond what the world accepted as status quo and bluntly went against current ideals. That, I would say, is respectable.
We won't ever know why he killed himself, but when I think about Aaron, I get the same feelings that I did around the time of Steve Jobs' passing. The brilliance, innovation, boldness and uniqueness of an individual that had the potential to reach the masses and change how we do things -- gone forever. In a way, the death of Aaron Swartz is a loss for all of society. And this, I would say, is something that should get all of us to reflect on where we -- as a tech-dependent, information consuming people -- are headed.
rememberaaronsw.comPhoto: rageoss - Feb 10, 13
I have always been fascinated with the way sports organizations operate. While I never went into the industry, I tend to admire the ways major sports teams creatively appeal to their customer base, the fans. One of the most interesting classes I took in college was Sports Marketing (MRKT 4530). I took it in was my last semester of college when all the courses I enrolled in were out of pure interest (electives). Bill, if you ever read this, this one's for you. I was never a big contributor to discussions in your class and we probably only spoke once or twice, but the course you took us through was one that always comes to mind as one of my favorites. Early in the course, we learned about the benefits that come with acquiring a loyal fan base, primarily the exponential growth of engaged generation after generation. The natural attachment to a franchise/brand when emotionally tying the team into personal memories with family and/or from childhood. The example we used in class was when a father takes his son to a football game because he wants to relive and continue the tradition of attending the same football games that he did with his own father back in the day. Here, the franchise enjoys the benefits of three full generations of loyal fanship through the strongest positive association: personal life. I saw that today in full effect when I went to check out the Fanfest event at Petco Park.
Photo by Earnie Grafton
I'm not really into baseball, clearly. My LA friends would probably wonder why haven't I ever checked out anything Dodger related before checking out anything hosted by a team like the Padres. A quick Google and Wikipedia search tell me that the Padres aren't so great. But being new to San Diego, I want to do my due diligence in "taking it all in." Considering that I pass by the baseball stadium everyday on my way to and from work, I admit that I've become curious about the team that calls it home. After all, it's not like Petco Park is built in the boonies. It's based right in the heart of Downtown San Diego, literally a walk away from the Gaslamp District and in many cases just one glance south as you walk along Market and J Street. When I heard that the team was opening up the stadium for fans to come by and meet the players and new owners, tour the clubhouse and run the bases for free, I was in.View of Petco Park walking over the Harbor Blvd. Bridge
For existing Padres fans, I would imagine that this event was a win. How exciting it must have been to see fellow fans come out and support the organization (and each other) as it approaches the start of another season, for better or worse. Everybody was in their Padres gear, hanging out on the field and taking pictures in the dugout. For me, it was my first time being inside of Petco Park, which I have to admit felt nicer than Dodger stadium (especially when taking in the view from home plate.) People had their kids running around the bases and through the outfield for an event that I'm sure the organization was more than happy to put on. Anything to build up that excitement, and anything to get the families out. All of that creates memories, and more importantly, loyalty. The event was completely free, even parking. For a parent looking for something for the kids to do, this was definitely an easy call. In my opinion, if the Padres are thinking long term, then they have to focus on building their fanbase from the ground up, meaning anything they can do to achieve that precious childhood memory will keep the team fresh in mind throughout the years. I mean, c'mon, what's cooler than being able to say you got to hang out in the team dugout? I thought it was pretty cool.(New) Fans for Life!
For a non-fan who was open to checking out the team, this event was also a win. First, it got me into the venue, where I got to preview the stage/production quality of any possible games I may attend this upcoming season. And interestingly enough, the open and welcome vibe that I felt at the event made me feel that I could possibly be a fan of this team, despite being new to the city. The friendly gate greeters, the clubhouse tour, the access to the field, all of that made me feel good. Hell, it even got me looking through some of the merchandise at one point. All in all, I left feeling great about swinging by, even feeling a bit excited about the upcoming season. Magic? Probably not, just great event planning.
But here's the deal, and since we're talking about business, the bottom line. Besides a winning record, the San Diego Padres don't have much of a fan base, either. Their average home game attendance is dismal, only about 60% of the park fills up when the team comes home to play. More fans from other teams show up to root for the visiting team (like LA or New York.) Attendance has seen some ups and downs over the last ten years, but compared to 2003, the base overall hasn't really grown. So an event like the one I attended today was obviously needed and intentional, as it should be. The organization needs to do whatever it takes to get fans excited and pumped, even if the season is two months away. About 14,000 fans showed up today, which I think is great for the organization. I hope it pays off for the organization come time in April when the team plays the Los Angeles Dodgers in the season opener.
As for myself, did the event sway me into becoming a Padres fan? Well, I'll say this much: I'm going to more than one Padres game this year, that's for sure. I'll probably come out when the Dodgers or the Giants come to town, but hey - I'm buying tickets. I do look forward to planning a weekend for friends to come by so I can show off the cool stadium that I live less than ten minutes from. I'll have the cool photos from today to show when we sit down with our beers, cheering for the other team. I wouldn't be planning on coming if it weren't for today's Fanfest. Yes, today's event should be considered a success in a lot ways. Engage old fans, entertain the young upcoming fans, and in my case, open up Petco Park. But for me to legitimately root for the Padres, let alone become genuinely interested in the sport in a way the 49ers got me to enjoy football, we'll have to see a winning record, first.Favorite part of the day: Going down to check out the clubhouse! - Feb 07, 13
It was a Friday when I called my good friend Alex to get his thoughts on something serious. I was ending my first full week at my new job, but instead of feeling like going out to celebrate my first Friday, I was still at my desk at 6:15PM hoping he would pick up the phone back home in Los Angeles.
"I don't know if I can do it man," I started off the conversation. I didn't really know what I was looking for in an answer. I just knew he was the only one who could help me think things through.He asked, "What is it? The money? Or are you nervous?" He was referring to why I was potentially about to back out of a Groupon coupon for skydiving at an airfield south of San Diego."Not the money. I'm nervous about the whole thing," I said. After all, the discount was already knocking the price down by 40%. If it was ever going to be somewhat affordable, this was it. Alex didn't hesitate to answer once I replied."Then I'll do it with you," he said. "I'm in."I had spent the whole week going back and forth about whether or not I was willing to take on skydiving. Alex had always talked about the great experience he had (as does everybody else who has done it) that here he was on the other end of the phone, offering to jump with me. The Groupon was expiring that night, so I made some calls to those who've always said they'd want to go. By the next morning, the RSVPs were in. Seven of us, including myself committed to heading up into the sky and experiencing what it was like to jump out of a plane. We would all vote to opt-in to an upgrade to 13,000 feet, doubling free fall time and essentially guaranteeing total sensory overload.We arrived at the airfield at 11AM on a beautiful and clear sunny day. Earlier that morning, those who could eat ate nervously at the cafe near my apartment. We were given the shortest of instructions: 1) hold on to your straps, 2) arch your back, 3) keep your chin up towards the horizon and 4) never, ever, touch your instructor's hands. Each of us was then fitted into harnesses that would clip onto the instructors who were jumping tandem with us. While all of this probably took about forty five minutes, it felt like it only took as much as five. Before I knew it, our instructors were guiding us towards the plane which was already waiting for us out on the runway. One by one we were taken, and all I could do at that point was take deep breaths.Alex and I were the last two to board the plane. On board were friends from different chapters of my life as well as two of my closest cousins. It was a surreal experience. The plane took off as everybody had their game face on. In fact, nobody in the cabin really spoke on the way up except the tandem instructors. About five minutes passed when the man next to me signaled. Halfway up. I couldn't believe it. Halfway was already high enough, and we were on our way to doubling the altitude.
Soon after that, my world lit up.
We quickly strapped into our instructors as the door opened up. I could feel my instructor, Misha, tighten the cords and belts that latched us together. I've never felt so comfortable strung up next to another grown man. I soon realized that there was going to be no time for waiting. If I was going to take in the view, it was going to be on the way down. Alex jumped off the edge while I stood watching right next to him. In just seconds, he went from life-sized form into the size of a pinch between my fingers. I was still getting over what had just happened when Misha moved us both into position. When you go skydiving, it's too loud to count to three. So instead, there are 2 slight nudges before fully swinging into motion. To this day, I will never forget that very first nudge. This was it.
For the first half second, you cannot believe what you just did. Yes, I really did just jump out of that plane in mid-air. I am one crazy son of a bitch. But for the next fifty four or so seconds, you are in complete shock and awe. Free falling is not the same as speeding down on a roller coaster. It's not even scary. Despite the loud noise of air and the slight inability to breathe -- I was at peace. I looked up at the horizon and saw the ocean stretch out way further than I ever thought I would be able to see out of an airplane. It really did feel like I was on top of the world. Here are some of my favorites:When I felt my body yank up into the air after free falling for almost a minute, I screamed out praise knowing the parachute worked. I don't know how many times I told my instructor on the way down how amazing of an experience this was. I thanked him at least ten times while we glided down. I looked down and was still swept away at how high we were. Downtown looked so tiny from up there. We made our way back onto the airfield and I was ecstatic. My cousins and I looked at each other and could not stop smiling, hugging, high-fiving, OMGing, woo-hooing and repeating over and over again. Everybody was high on life.
It's been a couple of days since the dive, and I still can't get over it. The beauty of earth in open air is beyond words. The adrenaline is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's a physical drug that gets you high on life. You come back to the ground beyond grateful and overwhelmed with the reality of what you saw for yourself. There's been plenty of experiences that I've written in detail about for the sake of remembering every aspect, but this one above all has been my favorite, let alone one that I'll never forget.
This was the perfect way to start out the new year in San Diego. Having such great company at 13,000 feet sure brings home closer than I could have imagined. I think a lot about that Friday when I called Alex, and how I may have never gone through with the jump if he hadn't signed up with me. To be honest, it wouldn't have been the same without any of the guys on the trip and I want to thank each one of you for coming. Juan, Nate, Alex, Vern, Lainel (told you GC was going to be the least of our feats) and Omid. As I'm sure you guys can relate, the days at work immediately following the weekend have been particularly dull compared to what went down last Saturday. Thanks for getting out there with me and handling business!
Earlier this week as I sank in my chair and reminisced on recent and fresh memories, my phone buzzed with a text message from Alex: - Jan 31, 13I'm excited for Blackberry. I really am. We all should be, really. Because a lot of us were Blackberry fans back in the day. And when I say back in the day, I mean back when things like TOMS and Twitter were barely finding their place in the world. The Curve was a mean piece of industrial hardware that allowed all who owned it to express to to the world in a very pro way: I mean business.Yes, we all know that somewhere along the way, that fire died somehow. Or in my case, it was my trackball that ultimately let me down. But even if you've dropped the Berry and picked up the sweet Apple in the last five years, let's truly face it: some of us are beginning to find ourselves eagerly searching for that wood to keep the fire we have for iOS going.So as I read up on today's news about Blackberry launching one final attempt at redeeming themselves since some terrible, terrible attempts like the Torch and Playbook, I held my breath and braced for impact. They released their new operating system Blackberry 10 and revealed two new models that are soon to head to market, the Z10 and the Q10. Early reviews are good. Really good, actually. People are impressed. But there are down falls that may seal the company's fate forever.
Gizmodo Gizmodo Gizmodo
Hardware wise, this seems to be the best Blackberry to debut, ever. Yay. When you compare specs, it matches right up there with the iPhone. Early reports have talked about the steep learning curve that it will take for people to learn how the phone works, but I think that's not a big deal. The major roadblock that I see are the access to apps that users will have. Apple and even Android users are spoiled with new apps to try everyday. As of now, BB lacks that. If they won't be able to provide things like Instagram, Google Maps and Hulu, apps that have turned into essentials for many users, then call it quits, Heins. It's over.
MASHABLE: Watch People Try To Use Blackberry 10 for the First TimeBut it's early. And I think everybody at Blackberry is (and should be) very pleased with how today's launch announcement went. I was really surprised about Alicia Keys becoming the company's Creative Director. More power to you, woman. I love that. Extending the Keys brand into the tech world. How that will translate into product success, we'll have to just wait and see.Getty Images I will say this: my iPhone 4 is approaching its final days. It has served me so well, but we both know that our days together are limited, and I've been eligible for upgrades to several passing iPhone models like the 4S and the 5. I've been holding out. Tonight, may I dare say it, I'm rooting for Blackberry to make a tremendous comeback. And regardless if you're a die hard Apple/Android fan, you should root for Blackberry too. The space is in need of a good run for its money. The leaders are getting too comfortable. Apps are crashing. Calls are dropping. Gadget wise, we're kind of just...getting by. If Blackberry hits it home, then it'll be good for everybody. Innovation will return, and that competitive spirit for your choice of handheld phone will once again drive new features and faster machines.And if the enterprise giant falls flat again on its face, well - then we'll all be left with what we're all too familiar doing. Waiting through another hopeless summer for a sweeter Apple. - Jan 30, 13
And now, a message from Kid President:
If we all watched this the moment we felt our days were taking a turn for the not so good, I think gooder days would be bound to eventually turn up plenty.
So who is this kid anyways? Robbie Novak is 9 years old and through this awesome video, he has not only made my day (plus plenty of days to come,) but he's also given over 3 million viewers a reason to dance. Reading up on what's been written about him, I've learned that he's from Henderson, Tennessee...but that's not to say that his undeniable energy hasn't been noticed outside of small city limits. Rainn Wilson (Dwight in The Office) has featured Kid President in a series of videos on his feel-good website SoulPancake.com.
This one will stick with me, and what a better time for such a feel good video to drop than at the beginning of the year when so many of us are off and running towards setting and achieving goals in 2013. I won't be surprised when this little man ends up on many year end favorites down the road.Image via: http://kidpres.tumblr.com/ - Jan 29, 13
Tonight I went to what I would consider my first real social event with young adults who identify as Catholics. This is a big deal for me because when I moved out here, getting involved with this community as quickly as possible was a top priority. Yet for the first couple of weeks/months, I wasn't getting anywhere close to finding a group I could connect with which made me worried because I had such a strong base back home at the Cathedral and at LMU. A friend of mine recommended checking out an event called Theology on Tap - a diocese wide event that has become popular in many cities. I never had the chance to go to any in LA, but I knew there was a good chance that I'd meet great people in SD.
I finally found a breakthrough in my longing for spiritual community. What a relief. Theology on Tap is a social event that brings conversation and dialogue about faith to where we as young adults are: in the restaurants, in the bars, in social venues (read more about its history here.) Everybody is really welcoming, just like my friend mentioned (Thanks, Tiffany!) and I took a lot from tonight's talk.
Tonight's talk was about relationships. Actually, the title was called: Loving Your Spouse Before You Meet. There were three main points that I took away from what the couple had to share.
Reflection/Inspiration Quote:"The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." -Pope Benedict
St. Thomas Aquinas' definition of Love:Love is desiring the common good of the beloved.
And finally, one of the best things you get out of a relationship with God:Identity. You figure out who you are, and who you are not. The things you stand for, and the things you don't.
- Jan 24, 13
I recently read Umair Haque's post, How to Have a Year that Matters. (If you haven't heard of him, check it out - I really like his stuff. He writes for the Harvard Business Review and talks a lot about touchy feely stuff when it comes to developing leadership and living a well thought out life, particularly in today's day and age.) I have yet to be prompted with a deep reflection on the upcoming year, but this post got me really thinking. Umair puts up some things to think about if you're trying to avoid 2013 from being another mediocre year in your life. He comes off a bit (too) sarcastic sometimes, but if you get passed some of the dramatic run-ons, there are some good things to reflect on to answer the very simple question: Why are you here?
I highly recommend checking it out for yourself. I wrote down my answers below.
Why am I here? A few questions to help build this one out.
What do you want? I want to grow. Because in many ways, I haven't. I want to grow to be a man that can support himself not just financially, but also in a way that allows to interact independently with the world using a sound conscience and a knowledgeable mind. I want to find my way and find my own. My best friends and my closest cousins have gone so many different ways and have chosen very different paths in life. I want to find the path that best fits me. I want to find the people that best help me keep moving forward. I desire a life of significant purpose. And by that, I mean a career that I can feel good about - considering work is where we spend most of our lives (as young adults, at least.) I want to know that the things I am doing now and the ways that I am spending my time contribute to the well being of the world, but also my family - past, present and future.
How much does it matter? A lot, obviously. Speaking of just 2013, I've sacrificed a lot to be where I am today (in San Diego.) The comfort of security and in some ways convenience. Like being away from all of my family. Being alone. All of this done in the name of growing up. When I made the decision, I knew it was more than just finding a job. It meant becoming more intentional about some long term stuff.
What's it going to take? For starters, I know this will take lots of risks, calculated guesses and hard decisions. It's going to take a lot of discipline on my part, because I've seen how easy it is for two, three, four months to pass me by before taking a hard look at where I'm headed on a deeper level. It's going to take good habits - everything from keeping strong budgets to following up with people I meet - to make the most of my time here. On top of all of that, and what I think will be the most important, I will continuously have to step out of my comfort zone.
Who's on your side? God. My parents. An awesome girlfriend that has supported me in everything that I have ever set out to do or even dream of doing. I've realized how important it is to solidify your core of people that help build you up to be better every minute you spend with them. I have great friends and mentors that have stood by me during the tough times -- my goal this year is to reciprocate that as best as I can from where I now live.
Where's your true north? Love and respect. It's as simple as that.
What breaks your heart? It's tough for me to see potential go unrealized. When opportunities go to waste. I find it heartbreaking when valuable information that could make the difference in so many situations doesn't get shared. I get angry when extremists views are able to sway newly formed minds to think certain ways.
What's it worth? To answer this question as honestly as I can -- this is all worth another try. I lived on my own in 2009 for six months, crashed and burned and learned the hard way about what it meant to organize your finances in a way that you have an actual future to look forward to and live through if times get rough. It's worth being away from my home base for a while. All of this is worth another shot.
An excerpt from the ending of Umair's article:
"So let me ask again. Why are you here? Do you want this to be another year that flies by, half-hearted, arid, rootless, barely remembered, dull with dim glimpses of what might have been? Or do you want this to be a year that you savor, for the rest of your surprisingly short time on Planet Earth, as the year you started, finally, irreversibly, uncompromisingly, to explosively unfurl a life that felt fully worth living?
The choice is yours. And it always has been."
Why am I here? The final conclusion:
I am here to build a future that is worth living, and for my future children, a future worth following suit. I'm here to grow in ways that I have yet to even imagine. Learn volumes more than what I know now. I'm here to discover what it will take to create a life that is rich and secure -- both ways and in all aspects. Not just through the means of what I can provide for my family, but what I can provide to the world. Not just through a salary, but through the example of a humble life.
I am here to learn how to communicate better. To the masses as well as to my own. The masses hear so much about things that are so irrelevant (i.e., Doritos superbowl ads, biased political commentary, hateful Youtube comments) that there is a greater need of a voice for content that uplifts humanity to be more aware of their capability to love and respect one another. Aside from this, I am here to understand how to become a better person for others -- especially those on my side.
Finally, I am here because I am blessed beyond measure with opportunity. If I know this and remember this, then every risk I choose to take is worth it, and every guess and decision I make is never in the complete dark. There has never been a time where the potential to grow has been this far reaching. But that time for me is now. I am here. - Jan 22, 13
This morning I was briefed on some unexpected news. It was confirmed that over the weekend, a top LRA commander was killed by the Ugandan military. This is big news (read this article for the complete story.) Compared to what the rest of the world was focused on today - two rather big days for American culture - this wasn't news to many. But in terms of the work that we are involved in, this is a huge step towards the right direction in a region that so many are working so hard to bring peace to.
In a short but meaningful reflection today, we talked about the events that had happened over the weekend, the work/service that we give everyday and how all of that related to Martin Luther King, JR. in so many ways.
First, the struggle. The crazy amounts of opposition that Dr. King faced was brought up. From the moderates in government who half-assed civil rights to the skepticism of so many when President Ronald Reagan signed the law mandating the observing of today as an actual federal holiday in 1983. MLK had to work so hard to get people to not only care, but keep caring. Even for something as monumental as civil rights. When you believe in something so much - how do you keep that fire alive when the world is breathing down your neck to put you out? How do you keep it alive like Martin Luther King, Jr. did?
Second, the man. And how he was just that...a man. We talked about how MLK was no where near a perfect man, despite how highly regarded he is as an American thinker. An excerpt from a speech was read about how he wanted to be remembered. He said this: "I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe all to a naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." Somebody mentioned that MLK said all this, yet these were all simple things we all could do. An imperfect man who is now remembered an American hero. He did things that are not limited to only the elite of thinkers nor heroes. We all can do - let alone try - to accomplish these things in our own lives.
Lastly, the belief of non-violence. This one was tough, especially as we reflected on how that related back to the events of the killing of a top LRA commander. Another excerpt from Dr. King was read: “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. [...] Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Ironically, violence is what it took to remove one of the worst war criminals in the world. But violence and the championing of death isn't something anybody can feel really good about. So while we know that darkness cannot drive out the darkness, I prefer to focus on what I can do in my life to bring the light as well as the love to others. After all, just because a top commander is now no longer with us, the mission to support affected areas is far from over.
I'm inspired to bringing the light and love to those in the dark. Through my work, and through my personal life. - Jan 17, 13
It's been an exciting week at work, mostly because I've started at a time when the company has moved offices and the space for creativity at our new space has significantly increased through the roof. Where you spend a majority of your time throughout your day really does matter. But more so, a new class of interns have just started for the Spring and you could really tell that things are picking up in terms of energy. It's going to be an exciting year.
I've been sitting in on a few of the training sessions/workshops/talks that new interns here are going through in their first week. It's been really helpful because you are really shown what the organization is all about in terms of culture and values. One thing that I took note of from one of the sessions was a term mentioned as humble confidence. A director was talking about knowing where we excel in our industry (social media, engaging with young adults, mobilizing grassroots advocacy) and understanding when that calls for us to step up to take advantage of every opportunity that we can apply our strengths to. He labeled this kind of confidence as "humble" because he made sure to note that it was always important to understand when there are areas where we need to work harder at or learn more about as we execute. To know that we are very, very good at some things, yet no where near perfect at others. To understand this balance throughout everything we do -- working to bring out the best, and staying humble enough to remain open minded -- is what has attributed to much of the organization's success.Photo credit: @lifeatinvisible
Humble confidence is a great perspective to maintain. And a great example of this (not to be biased) is the recent industry coverage on the success of Barack Obama's past reelection campaign in regards to the technical savviness of his staff. To sum it all up, the campaign had assembled some of the most senior talent from Twitter, Google, Facebook and Craigslist, and for months in 2012 rehearsed several 'disaster' scenarios that would technologically cripple operations on or around election day. They knew that they were the best in the game, but they didn't want to mess things up (they experienced a massive crash in 2008 on election day.) Harper Reed, the campaign's CTO said this: "I know we had the best technology team I've ever worked with, but we didn't know if it would work. I was incredibly confident it would work. I was betting a lot on it. We had time. We had resources. We had done what we thought would work, and it still could have broken. Something could have happened."Harper Reed - CTO of the Obama 2012 Campaign
Photo Credit: @danxoneil
And sure enough, things did. On October 21 last year, Amazon services went down. And on October 29, Hurricane Sandy hit - taking down a big part of the campaign's east coast operation. But the campaign suffered ZERO downtime because though they were confident, they were humbled to go through the motion of securing every possible threatening scenario and match it up with a contingency action plan. The benefits paid well, especially on election day when the GOP's technological infrastructure crashed early and put campaign strategists in the dark as countless hours passed by on November 6. (For more recent articles about the tech wins of the Obama campaign, you can find them here, here and here.)
There are plenty of things that we all can and should be humbly confident about. It's the safe barrier to potential cockiness, in my opinion. - Jan 10, 13
I want to make the most of living in San Diego. Because I won’t live and work here forever. In the spirit of new beginnings, I’ve been focused on being extra conscious about this new chapter in my life, and not letting a precious season of 2013 go by without being daring enough to grow. The last big chapter was college, yet the first year of school - my freshman year - is at times such a blur. Knowing what I know now, now that I’m here at a such a similar onramp to a season of new experiences, I am so keen to making the most of a new environment. New city, new job, new network, new apartment. All new everythang.
Goals for 2013
Explore the city. When you live in an urban setting, you tend to notice much more about the city than you do when you commute across highways. You notice the people more, and make mental notes of small, local shops around town. You’re able to feel a vibe when something is going on, like a big event happening or a thunderstorm. I’ve never really lived in a place like this, and so far, I enjoy it. I want to get to know SD as well as I can, and try out the best it has to offer. Restaurants, events, bike paths, sports teams and everything else. I’m here to do and try all of it.
Grow my network. Up until now, I’ve had it easy. Being from LA, I had countless groups of friends and people that I can always count on to see and hang out with. That included coworkers, college friends, high school friends, childhood friends and family. When you move to a place where you really don’t know many people, there is certainly a challenge in finding where you fit in. But I’m excited about who I’ll meet here, both through work but more so through social life. In the last month, I checked out a runner’s group (via Meetup) and have attended a couple of book clubs held by young adults who work in nonprofit (YNPN SD) - both things that I would have never done in LA. It’s been something that I keep having to push myself, yet I've gained so much from going to things.
Avoid stretches of mediocrity. This is a big one. I want to always stay fresh. In 2012, things felt like they were so mundane, sterile and routine. Life was never horrible, but I never sensed that anything new was coming my way. And even worse, at times I felt that I had accepted that. Perhaps I was so discouraged by the economy, my family’s situation, my job, long distance relationship that I spent so much of my energy just...sustaining. But never gathered envisioned elevating. And for the worst, this would go on for months at a time. The whole season of Lent would be over before I would think about renewed beginnings. An entire summer would be gone by the time I decided I wanted to get out more. And when I got laid off, it would take up until my birthday to find reason to celebrate. Yes, I traveled a lot year but in many ways, trips were the only way I could take in fresh air. My goal is to bring that freshness in everyday, right here at home.
I’ve always wanted to leave LA (temporarily). Not because I didn’t love it - Los Angeles will always be home. But I’m fascinated about starting out and learning so much about yourself and I’ve always figured there was no better way to do that than to live away from what you would consider your hometown. I’ve watched so many of my friends who moved to and stayed in LA after college grow so much, I was always left inspired to one day try it. Sometimes I still can't believe that time is now.
At tonight’s book club meeting (sounds nerdy, but these meetups are really cool,) we talked about making sure to find what gives you energy, doing more of whatever that is so that we continue our work with passion and excitement. These kinds of goals give me energy. Goals that set the stage to learn and grow, further than what I ever thought I'd be comfortable doing. Goals that make rewards so everlasting and worth it. Working on these goals are what gives me that energy. I’m going to give it my all to keep it up all 51 weeks left in the year. - Jan 05, 13
One of the things that I've enjoyed most in the past couple of weeks has been getting settled into my place in San Diego. While I'm still getting to know the city (downtown), I've started becoming comfortable in the space that I for now call home, especially my kitchen.
Living on your own also means cooking on your own. Fortunately, that is something I love to do! I started seriously cooking in my senior year of college when I discovered that groceries were more cost effective than even the value menu found at the drive-thrus. It's been an explorer's world of trial-and-error ever since. My cooking style relies heavily on the broiler/grill - I love to cook meat and try out different marinades. I am also trying to learn how to cook my favorite Filipino dishes too (the healthy kind.) Between the veggies, pasta, sandwiches and rice - I'd say it would be pretty hard to guess what ethnicity I am (as compared to my Filipino parents who eat rice essentially everyday,) it's pretty all over the place.This year I'm looking forward to spending some quality time in the kitchen, getting to know more about different cuts, all sorts of spices and perfect cooking times. I scored some awesome appliances and kitchen items over the holidays thanks to two gift exchanges that turned out winners. Hoping that by the end of the year, I'll be able to boast some great courses. - Dec 29, 12
Writing has always been a way for me to tell a story, and I hope it always will. I have always been a much better storyteller using words rather than my physical voice because posts – usually composed privately – give the chance to reach deep within for what you truly want to say and how you want to say it. As opposed to a live audience, written words are able to be churned through drafts before they paint most closely what we feel so inclined to share up until that very moment when we click ‘Publish.’ Many of us make resolutions for the New Year, mine has always been to write more, and to write better. In 2012, I put a big deal of thought into why I write, which at times shifted the topics that I wrote about. I have never wanted to make money off a blog – or even grow a big following. But I did want to write about things that were meaningful to me. I guess you can say that I am a selfish writer because when it all comes down to moments like right now when we quite often look back to where the recent past has brought us, a personal journal is exactly what we want/need it to be: personal.
On the other hand, when I read the posts, op-eds and open letters of other writers (including myself,) I always think of the things that weren’t said because of implications or consequences that may come from choosing to share. I always think of what was written, and then erased. What was shared at first, but then cut out. I’ve asked myself: If we want something to truly be personal, shouldn’t we publish only to ourselves? Going private. Going offline. I’ve thought a lot about this, too.
Yet through this journal, I have grown so much because of sharing with those who read. I have learned more from reflecting openly than what I would’ve learned stashing thoughts into a little black book. I’ve been able to stretch further, become more creative and seek out the deeper and more meaningful things in life so that I can capture in words to share so that perhaps others can join in on thought and conversation. In 2012, I learned that your words and thoughts can start a revolution. They can spark a chain reaction of voices that echo what you thought only you were thinking (and would’ve never known others thought the same.) I realized how words can bring people closer or even together for the very first time. I also realized the missed opportunities of words that were never said. Yes, the writings found here have all been personal, though the interactions that have come from sharing with others have been just as much. Just as I have shared my reflections, thank you for sharing yours back.
In the coming year I look forward to writing more, and writing better. I feel excited bringing to life stories that so many of us think about, but don’t know how to tell. I look forward to opening my mind to take on not the things that we leave out of what we publish, but perhaps the underlying reasons why we leave things out. And as always, I look forward to growing more closely to others and growing more not just as a writer, but as an individual (still) trying to find his way.
To all my friends, the bloggers, the tumbler-ers, the insta-Gs, each of my facebookies and of course my tweeps: keep writing, keep sharing in 2013. Word.
-Angelo
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Tweets
- I just saw footage of @Invisible Children's most recent defection flier drop. That stuff gets me hyped up.May 21, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- RT @dailythunder Kevin Durant has donated $1 million to the Red Cross for Tornado relief.May 21, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Shoutout to all my LMU girls. JK. @leezelramos ♫ Private School Girl – Yale http://t.co/4YN54j75jy #NowPlaying
- I think the Warriors will pull it off tonight.May 16, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Thank you, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for giving ignorant Americans a fake excuse to be ignorant again.May 16, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Wasn't a walk off home run, but most definitely a come from behind OT rally. @stevenscg15May 16, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Certified hustlers. Pulled off work deadline just now w/ every piston firing off, everybody contributing.May 16, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Believed!! 500 in 3 days. We in this! https://t.co/Et18ur9ykJ @anaserhall @stevenscg15 @MitsMitsMits @angeladiangeMay 16, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Shout out to my colleagues @anaserhall and @stevenscg15. This is about to be a walk off home run. We BELIEVE! @angeladiange @MitsMitsMitsMay 15, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- 6AM fitness camp update: 1 week down, 5 to go. Oh boy.May 15, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Furious at myself that I threw away a completely unopened thing of Hummus. Livid!May 14, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- My team is setting the stage to pull off a fourth quarter victory. We still in this!May 14, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Time, travel & money will always be barriers to your dreams if you let them. Don't. #FourthEstateSummit @invisible http://t.co/LS4xZevnF4May 13, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Segments will win the game this week.May 13, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- "WHUDDUP, BITCHES," says Summer this morning.May 13, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Sometimes, a good morning is all about what you're listening to. Gets your mind right!May 13, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Believe. 500 in 5. @MitsMitsMits @angeladiangeMay 13, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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Photos
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Posts
Beautiful sunset sky as I walk up for Holy Thursday mass. Glad I have this place to come to, even in the heart of downtown. (at Saint Joseph Cathedral)
Malnourished sea lion pups have started arriving in northern California – by the vanload.
It’s a three-day, two-night trip for the weary mammalian travelers, with overnight stops in San Luis Obispo and Moss Landing. At the end of the road: The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, where the pups will be cared for and returned to health.
California AND baby sea lions being rescued - if that’s not worthy of a share, we don’t know what is.
(via A conversation with Visible Children’s Grant Oyston | Invisible Children Blog)
If you’ve ever read the critical blog written about KONY 2012 called VISIBLE CHILDREN, my team interviewed the writer of that post this week. It’s really an interesting read. If that post originally captivated you from the get-go (as it did for me,) I hope you will read this post as well.
Blackberry Presents: Alicia Keys feat. Miguel | KETTNER & SEPULVEDA
When we got to the venue, the first thing I noticed was the screen displays promoting the Blackberry brand. We were there about half an hour before the opening act, so we were able to not feel rushed on our way to our seats. As we walked along the corridor of the Valley View Casino Center (another topic of branding that I’ll save for another post,) we came up on what appeared to be a pop up showroom of the new Z10. About 50 phones were on display, manned with four or five staff members that answered questions about the phone.
I was pretty excited to check it out. The first thing I noticed was how quick somebody came to begin showing how to use it. The staff was polite and showed off the features of the phone, many of which I had read about a few weeks ago.
All of this sales pitch/PR strategy was 100% expected until the woman who was showing us the phone dropped a banger.
There is absolutely no beauty like Alicia Keys’ beauty. Tonight’s show was unforgettable!
Lot of pregnant ladies here tonight. Just saying. Alicia has really built out a wide teaching brand. Lol
Had to see this dude while I was up here. My brother and friend, catching up never gets old.
via KETTNER & SEPULVEDA: One year since #KONY2012
It’s funny how perceptions of brands and organizations form through the internet. But for me, especially when the job offer came through, it ultimately came down to looking at the clear facts. The radio towers, thedefections, the stories of women claiming back their lives through empowerment, the young adults my age who graduated with degrees as a result of sponsorships, the rehabilitation efforts, thepartnerships on the ground. None of these stories went viral like KONY 2012 or were told as loudly as those who spoke against Invisible Children. But forget the hype of any YouTube video, at the end of the day, Invisible Children was, and still is, a force for good.
Checking out Fr. Joe Carroll’s talk. (The Fr. Boyle of SD, I’d say.) (at University of San Diego)
(KETTNER & SEPULVEDA: Faith, Spirituality and 20-Somethings)
Religion, faith and spirituality are things that are really personal to many of us. Yet, as the case studies and statistics show, we as young adults have struggled when it comes to talking about it with others or even identifying with it at all. At the SCPASA summit last week, I had the great privilege of presenting my thoughts on why this is the case among millennials, and engaged in conversation with a group of students who attended my workshop, “Faith, Spirituality and 20-Somethings.
- VEGAS PLAYLIST
(No streaming audio available)0 plays - andrewmi: 1. Birthday Suit - The Weeknd 2. Beg For It - Chris Brown 3. Nobody - Keith Sweat 4. Sex Room (feat. Trey Songz) - Ludacris 5. Sex Therapy - Robin Thicke 6. Nice and Slow - Usher 7. Neighbors Know My Name - Trey Songz 8. End of the Night - Bei Maejor 9. Outside - The Weeknd 10. Motivation (feat. Lil Wayne) - Kelly Rowland 11. Clothes Off - HBK 12. Quickie - Miguel 13. Slow Dance - Keri Hilson 14. That’s What It’s Made For - Usher 15. So Beautiful - Musiq Soulchild 16. Can U Handle It? - Usher 17. Knockin’ Da Boots - H-Town 18. Falsetto - The Dream 19. What You Need - The Weeknd 20. So Anxious - Ginuwine 21. Give It To You - iamsu! 22. Like My Bass - Tha Outfit 23. Up (feat. LoveRance & iamsu!) - YG For future reference..
(No streaming audio available)233558 plays - blengulez: Jeremy Passion x Clara C | Catching Feelings/As
(No streaming audio available)159487 plays - 269 plays
- chrxsgxxds: In The Mood For Summer Love (Hellz x Bellz) 1.You’re No Good For Me (Notorious B.I.G. x Lana Del Rey) - Terry Urban 2. By Your Side (Neptunes Remix) - Sade 3. True Honey Buns - Bahamadia 4. Adorn - Miguel 5. Crew Love (Dennis Blaze Remix) - Drake ft The Weeknd 6. Sock It 2 Me - MIssy Elliott 7. Stars - Bahwee 8. Umm Hmm - Erykah Badu 9. Night and Day (Onra Remix) - Al B. Sure 10. That’s The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson 11. Freak Like Me - Adina Howard 12. Tell Me What You Want - Mase ft. Total 13. Right Here - SWV 14. Every Little Thing You Do - Soul For Real 15. Sky’s the Limit - No I.D. 16. Y? - The Pharcyde 17. I Get Around - 2Pac 18. Get Involved - Raphael Saadiq 19. Vivrant Thing - Q-Tip 20. Loungin’ - LL Cool J 21. More Than You Know - Emanon
(No streaming audio available)5784 plays - 29 plays
- abbyiscool: leejay: Summer’s almost here. Need some summer jams? I GOT YOU. GRAVY (2012)A Feelgood Mix by Leejay Abucayan Intro: Disney Sing-a-long vs. Major Lazer vs. Yo Gabba Gabba Tevin Campbell - I-2-I Michael Jackson - Workin’ Day and Night Quad City DJs - Space Jam Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam Major Lazer - Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix) Usher - Nice & Slow (Remix) Michael Jackson - We Are Here to Change the World (Captain EO) Kid CuDi - Pursuit of Happiness (Slink’s Hangover Remix) Playa Poncho & LA Sno - Whatz Up, Whatz Up SebastiAn - Love in Motion (Skrillex’s Funkt-Out Mix) (feat. Mayer Hawthorne) Tag Team - Whoomp! There It Is Flux Pavilion - I Can’t Stop Little Richard - You Make Me Wanna Shout Cookie Monster - C is For Cookie The Whispers - Rock Steady The Sugarhill Gang - Apache Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl E-40 - Tell Me When to Go Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap (Go Ninja Go) Boyz II Men - Motownphilly N*E*R*D - Things Are Getting Better Tech N9ne - Bout Ta’ Bubble The Grouch - The Bay to LA (feat. Murs) Michael Jackson - Another Part of Me Run-DMC - Peter Piper DOWNLOAD:SoundCloud | Server | Mediafire GO Leejay!
(No streaming audio available)6918 plays
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Info
- Email Marketing Specialist at Invisible Children Inc.Internet | Greater Los Angeles Area, USSummary
I've worked in the startup tech sector ever since graduating from LMU. I enjoy working with innovators and early adopters to bring to market the world's newest websites and tools. Through my experience, I've used social media, email and SEM to drive traffic, signups and revenue - but I've also had a strong interest in using what I've learned working in tech and applying it towards social good -- contributing to the world's greatest needs.
Most recently, I've made the jump to the non-profit world and have applied my efforts to ending one of the world's most pressing and longest standing crises. Learn more about it at invisiblechildren.com.
Specialties: social media, social good, email marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), startup tech, nonprofitExperience- Nov 2012 - PresentEmail Marketing Specialist / Invisible Children Inc.
- Oct 2011 - Oct 2012Marketing Manager / Trippy.com
- Jun 2008 - Nov 2011Social Media & Biz-Dev Associate / Lunch.com LLC
- Aug 2006 - Oct 2007Marketing Assistant / Elite Resorts & Spas
Education-
2005 - 2008Loyola Marymount UniversityB.S. in Business Administration; Marketing Concentration
Additional Information-
Websites:
