Computer glasses = snake oil

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I bought a pair of Magnivision Computer Readers (strength +1.00) to combat the eye strain of working in front of a computer monitor for long bouts of time. The lens are orange (I've also seen them tinted yellow) and they seem to work -- but that's all in the head. They don't work. In fact, my eyes felt more irritated by wearing them. I finally tore up the piece of crap and threw it in the garbage.

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Brazilian Day & Chinatown Summer Nights (L.A.)

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Yesterday I went to L.A.'s Brazilian Day Party at the La Brea Tar Pits. Loads of loud music and dancing and everybody shaking their booties to the Samba grooves. There was a square of dance floor near the stage and plenty of dancing got done. There were also mini parades and, of course, capoeira. It was a lot of fun! The Brazilian community (and Brazilian Consulate) really organized and staged one helluva FREE celebration. (Two lucky so-and-so's won round-trip flights to Sao Paulo courtesy of Korean Air. I wasn't one of them.)

Then I followed other CouchSurfers (CSers) on to a house party  where we mingled and talked and drank and ate in a more decimal-friendly environment. It was a pot luck gathering - totally impromptu - and a really good time. I think I met more people in L.A. yesterday then all my time here put together. I don't get out much. 

Then we followed that up with a visit to Chinatown. Holy ching-chong! This was my first trip to L.A.'s Chinatown. The DJ was smoking! With an even bigger dance floor than the one at Brazil Day there was lots of people dancing and bopping around. Some actually looked Chinese but most did not. I bought a souvenir T-Shirt because the price wasn't a rip-off -- and I was feeling good. 2011 is the year of the rabbit. 

 

Although both outdoor functions were FREE and freely publicized I learned of them via couchsurfing.com so I gots to give propers to the other website members who post information about happening events. Otherwise I wouldn't have had such the hopping Saturday evening!

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Tripup LA

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Last month's Tripup LA, organized by Triptrotting.com, was a new one on me and I had a really good time. Thanks to the explosion of Internet social sites I've been put off by the automation of "networking" and, more deservedly of quotation marks, "friends" and I just don't dig these meet-and-greet functions. My impression is that everyone is a walking CV and none too subtle about it. Grace, dear one: Never leave home without it (and enough bus fare to get back).

The finger food spread of gourmet fries and burgers and cheese plates was cool - and spot on! - and who can complain about free wine?

Heard about Tripup LA via a post on Couchsurfing.com. It sounded too awesome to be real and I quickly clicked my RSVP. The social was held the same Sunday evening as the MTV VMA Awards Show (also in Hollywood) and at the very swank W Hotel on Hollywood Blvd. Niiiice. I wore my new double-breasted suit and cuff links and met some other engaging young people. Many foreigners and exchange students were present. The finger food spread of gourmet fries and burgers and cheese plates was cool - and spot on! - and who can complain about free wine? (Well I did; but that was only because the first glass was 80% vinegar - just my luck to start the evening off with the one bad bottle in the crate - but the rest - and I had many more glasses - were crisp delicious!)   


I also got to meet the two young ladies who started Triptrotting.com. I tip my hat to them. The party was so organized and professional and upscale you wouldn't imagine it was all brought off by two co-eds...one half expected to see a banner with a slew of sponsorships. Paid for by Pepsi, Motorola, Nike, Dell, Powerade, Axe, Diesel jeans....

I like jazz. I like Michael Jackson. This was a perfect combination!

After our outdoor wine social we headed inside the lobby, with its plush deep red carpeted stage, to enjoy a live jazz tribute to Michael Jackson. I like jazz. I like Michael Jackson. This was a perfect combination! The music wasn't all that jazz but it was good. Live musicians and dancers are always an entertaining treat. The one celebrity I spotted in attendance was Spike Lee. He really is very short...and, true to image, wore a sport jersey instead of a suit.

triptrotting.com

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Greendot = SCAM/FRAUD

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I almost went ahead and bought one of those newfangled prepaid Greendot Visa cards. These cards are sold in popular retailers like Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens and probably some gas stations too.

Since I avoid credit cards and Paypal debit cards (also via Visa) are full of %@#! I thought these prepaid debit cards might be the perfect alternative. Nope! GREENDOT IS FRAUDULENT. Thankfully I researched consumer complaints on Consumer Affairs (some horror stories!)before throwing away my money to this shady foreign outfit. 

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Swinging around Muscle Beach (Santa Monica)

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Weeks ago I stood in the sand at Santa Monica Beach with my right hand in a temporary splint. All I could do was watch as everyone else took turns flying from ring to ring or climbing rope or doing handstands on parallel bars. It sucked. One boy told me he once broke his hand and it took three months to heal. He was waiting in line for the rings...so that was sort of encouraging.


Well yesterday I was back down at Santa Monica (original site of Muscle Beach, which is now located in Venice Beach) and took a turn on the rings. It'd only been a month since but, unlike homeboy, my injury, thankfully, required far less than 12 or so weeks to mend! It was fun. I went the whole length without a problem. And before that I climbed to the top of a rope. I was back! 


Take my word for it: it sucks not being able to play in the reindeer games.

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Crossfit crossing my mind

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Last Saturday morning I tried an introductory Crossfit workout at Crossfit Mean Streets in downtown Los Angeles. Loved it (as I knew I would)!

It wasn't easy or fun - in the ha-ha sense - mainly because one is grasping air to breath let alone any extra wind to laugh. By fun I mean it's exciting, fast, challenging, and very, very kick-ass. 

That's my instructor Ronnie in skins

When I first happened upon the gym (in Crossfit lingo it's known as a 'box') strolling one uneventful sunny Sunday morning my hand was in a splint owing to a boxer's fracture injury. That was a month ago. Once it was removed a couple of weeks later I went and sat in on a training session, which only stoked me more! I knew I could do the drills - pull-ups, squat-thrusts, rowing machine, etc. - if I joined up but I wasn't foolish enough to think it would be a cinch; BUT I KNEW I COULD DO IT.

And I did. The intro routine that Saturday morning (I did not want to leave my warm bed!) made me wish 1) I was back in bed snug and cozy under the blankets and 2) that I was in better shape. Man, was I getting winded! As a longtime athlete, though, I know that all growth requires discomfort..."no pain, no gain" isn't just some smug, meathead mantra. Or to use another cliche: if it were easy.... That's right, you know the rest.

 

Our introductory workout consisted of 500meters row followed by 21 kettlebell swing followed by 6 kettlebell shoulder presses (per arm); repeated three times as quickly as possible. The warm-up was a stretching walk holding a plastic rod over head, 15 squats with plastic rod over head, 15 crunches, 10-15 push-ups. At the end of the hour our instructor, awesome young, Ronnie Teasdale (also the hardcore gym owner) congratulated us and then dropped the bomb: our workout is what the regular attendees do for a warm-up...in under 8 mins. Hello!

I finished it in 12 mins (and breathed as much a gust of relief as I had left in me).  

Crossfit Mean Streets

213.245.1612

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" Avoiding the downfall "

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