Can I Survive Without Cable?

Yesterday marked the end of my 20+ year relationship with cable. It was not as painful as I thought it would be; all it took was a three minute conversation with a nice friendly operator. Her question to me was, "why are you canceling your cable services?" My response, "for a lifestyle change."

Television is obsolete. In today's media savvy society, everything or anything worth watching can be captured in a 30 second snippet: the girl fight at the Jersey club, celebrities' racists rants, world leaders' speeches for change, the three point buzzer beater at the NBA play offs. So what's the point of tuning in to your favorite shows or live televised events that could go on for 2 hours?

Instead--why not volunteer at a girls' organization with your mom? Read Peggy Macintosh's work and learn about the invisible knapsack. Join a local electoral campaign to raise money for public schools and see your community change. Practice your free-throws and your lay-ups with your buddies at the neighborhood park; if the hoop can be lowered practice your dunks.

Life is made up of an infinite number of 30 second snippets, every 30 seconds we have to make a conscious choice to participate in it or not. It is our choice to face and cherish the present. The alternative? Watch it fly by and live in fear of the future.

Can I survive without cable? Absolutely. Not only can we survive---we can thrive.

FAQ's Follow Up

Here are the transcripts from the video posted on May 24, 2010.

Girl: My mom said, I think, she says that Barack Obama’s taking everybody away that doesn’t has papers.

Michelle: Yeah, well, that’s something we have to work on, right, to make sure that people can be here with the right kind of papers, right?


Girl: But my mom doesn’t have [papers].

Michelle: Well, we have to work on that. We have to fix that. Everybody’s got to work together on that in Congress to make sure that happens.

What happened to this 7 year old girl after her time with Michelle Obama? School officials say they will do everything to keep her safe. Check out the full article at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127025810

Girl Asks First Lady About Immigration

How is Dora the Explorer connected to Arizona's anti-immigrant policies?

How is Dora the Explorer connected to Arizona's anti-immigrant policies? Dora the Explorer has brilliantly been used as a symbol for pro-immigrants rights particularly in response to the anti-immigrant bill signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer last month.

Pro-immigrant rights groups are showing their collective power calling for a boycott on everything and anything that has to do with Arizona. Symbolism is really important to unite the nation and to help define a cause--Dora the Explorer as a symbol of the pro-immigrant stance is brilliant. Despite the genius of this marketing strategy, it is still painful for me to internalize that we still need a gimmick in 2010 to pique Main Street America's interest on this human rights issue.

A young girl in Maryland said it best to First Lady Michelle Obama--watch the clip from YouTube: http://ingridgonzalesmedia.blogspot.com/2010/05/girl-asks-first-lady-about-immigration.html

To see the full article on Dora the Explorer go to http://abcnews.go.com/US/dora-explorer-labeled-illegal-immigrant/story?id=10711944

Photo credit: A composite image provided May 20, 2010 by Debbie Groben and FreakingNews.com

Is Pacquiao ever going to fight Mayweather?

Is Pacquiao ever going to fight Mayweather? November 6th or November 13th 2010 is when boxing champ and newly elected Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao's next fight is scheduled. But who Pacquiao will fight is still in negotiations.

There's a glimmer of hope though for boxing fans around the world. This weekend, Pacquiao has publicly made his first indication that he is willing to do the 14 day blood drug testing limit that Floyd Mayweather's camp is demanding before they fight. If it's not Mayweather, Pacquiao's opponent in the ring may have to be Mexico's Antonio Margarito. Floyd Mayweather's undefeated boxing record is at stake and Pacquiao had indicated that he wants to have just one last fight after his electoral victory in Congress.

Did you miss out on this article because you were too busy planning your "Lost" Finale party? Check out the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/8698753.stm .

Can I afford retail therapy?

Can you afford retail therapy? Simply put, no. You also can't afford to be financially illiterate. Did you know our favorite retail stores in the mall are actually stock companies? I didn't.

Growing up in Southern California, my entire adolescence revolved around our local malls. I watched movies with friends, had my first job at the mall, and even had my first date at the mall (yes it was in elementary school with my mom as chaperone, awkward!).

Why can't the paparazzi take pictures of our famous socialites reading their stock portfolio instead of walking around in their shopping bags? But then again it's all part of the matrix.

Yesterday, retail stocks have risen for the first time this week. For the full article go to: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/retail-stocks-rise-first-time-in-4-days-2010-05-21?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Can I find U2 Tickets on E-Bay?

Can you find U2 World Tour Tickets on E-Bay? Before you go on E-Bay, Craigslist and your friendly local concert scalper to find that highly coveted ticket....you better make sure that the concert is scheduled to happen.


Latest news is that U2's lead singer Bono just had emergency spinal surgery today. U2's concert in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 3rd has been postponed. Get well soon Bono, we'll see you in Oakland!


Check out the full article from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10139846.stm
And for the latest news on the 360 World Tour visit: http://www.u2.com/tour/index/

3 June, 2010 Salt Lake City UT US POSTPONED
6 June, 2010 Anaheim CA US ?
7 June, 2010 Anaheim CA US ?
12 June, 2010 Denver CO US ?
16 June, 2010 Oakland US ?
20 June, 2010 Seattle WA US?

What do you do with your awkward family photos?

What do you do with your awkward family photos? Post them online!

I haven't laughed out loud over a website before. Awkwardfamilyphotos.com is awesome because everyone can relate to having taken an awkward family photo that you hope no one in the world will uncover or scan and post on facebook.

Here's one of my awkward photos taken from the nineties...this is the "keep my bad ass athletic-self balance by leaning on my right hand and badminton racquet" pose. Who needs Tyra Banks' tips when I can 'Work It' with my badminton racquet.

See the hilarious photos at awkwardfamilyphotos.com .