OCTOBER RUNNING

After 10 months of running, I am feeling pretty good. Just the occasional ache and pain here and there. I went over 1,000 miles in October. Very cool accomplishment. Otherwise, here are the running stats for my birthday month:

Total Miles Run - 97.84 (according to mapmyrun)
Days of Running - 17
Longest Run - 11.50 miles
Approx. calories burned - 12,671
Year to date miles - 1057+ miles

FEARFUL

In honor of Oct. 31, here are a few things to be truly scared of:

1) Music by Avril Lavigne
2) David Hasselhoff
3) Chuck Norris
4) Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin
5) Michael Jackson with a child (any child)

Enjoy the candy and whatever else that comes with this "holiday"

RAIN

This morning I walked outside and realized that it had rained. When did it do this? I was more shocked then anything else. This is only the fourth day it has rained since I moved out here on July 31. Unfortunately there is more forecasted for this weekend.

To see rain in L.A. is almost as shocking as it not snowing in South Bend, IN during the month of January. Give me sun! Oh well, I guess the weather can't be perfect everyday.

NEW NICKELBACK

Have you ever listened to a song that your first thought was -- "wow, this is kind of profound and interesting" ... THEN, you think -- "this is so simple but I like it anyway."

I give you the new Nickelback song "Gotta Be Somebody"

CELL PHONE

Did you ever have one of those days were you didn't care to use your cell phone? You know, decided not to take it with you where ever you go? I recommend doing it for at least one day a week.

MOVIE REVIEWS

I watched an unusually high volume of movies on DVD this weekend - 2. (Hey, that's a lot for me!) Two movies that I've wanted to see for a few months.

Wall:E – It was a perfect setting to watch the movie. One of the student groups at USC set-up a large movie screen on one of the campus quads with free cookies. I must say that watching it outside was a perfect experience.

The movie is amazing and it really should get some sort of consideration for a best picture Oscar. It’s really that good. One of the best, if not the best, animated movies ever made. In fact, it is listed as the 32nd best movie ever on imdb.com. You almost forgot that it was animated because the story line is perfect. It is a perfect script and it is a brilliant commentary on society. From the relational needs we all have to the lazy nature of the western world. It was great! I HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone at any age level.

Spirit of the Marathon – This documentary came out several months ago in a few theaters on a few nights. Needless to say it was hard to get my schedule to align with a showing. I am kind of glad that I finished a marathon before watching it. I felt like I was put through all those emotions once again. From the absolute insanity of just entering one to the training then, of course, the drama and excitement of race. I was cheering for the six individuals like it was all happening live instead of three years ago when it was filmed.

If you ever have any interest in running, please take 90 minutes and watch! It's so motivating and yet so insane to watch all the same.

SKID ROW HOOPS LEAGUE

This is a really great video. The visuals are outstanding, the narrator is perfect. It's just a great piece. Just watched the first 14 minutes.

2008 WORLD SERIES

I've been exactly half right on my playoff predictions so far. Hopefully this one will put me over .500 for playoff predicting. Not that Vegas puts odds on World Series match-ups to start the season but I'd be willing to say that this combination of teams was about a 5,000-to-1 chance (at best). This far fetched match-up should make for some good drama.

Phillies vs. Rays

Starting Pitching - Rays
Relief Pitching - Phillies
Starting Line-Up - Rays
Bench Players - Phillies

Defense - Rays
Player Experience - Phillies

Managers - Rays

The one thing that I think the Phillies have going against them is this long lay-off. Waiting a week to play a game usually doesn't equal success in the playoffs. Your timing is off as a hitter and pitchers are creatures of habit so not pitching every five days can mess you up. This whole lay-off thing is the "X Factor" in my very humble opinion.

On the flip side the Rays are coming off a VERY emotion seven game series against Boston. Did those seven games put too much wear and tear on them or will it build confidence and only increase their momentum? The Rays seem to be a destiny.

Rays in Six.

ULTRA RUNNER

This guy is absolutely amazing (or crazy). He is definately inspiring and an awesome example of what the human spirit is capable of --

The Long Run (six minutes)

QUOTABLE COLIN POWELL

"I would talk to the American public about helping ... The world looks to America for leadership so we have to show leadership on important issues ... We have to do a lot more in poverty alleviation and helping the needy people in the world. We need to increase the amount of resources we put into our development programs to help the rest of the world. When you help the poorest in the world you start to move up the world ..."

- Colin Powell on NBC's Meet the Press when asked about helping the new President on Jan. 21, 2009

200

I just ran for the 200th time in 293 days during this year ... Wow! I'm continually shocked by how fortunate I am to run and exercise like I do. Never thought that this running this would grip me this much.

POLITICAL THOUGHT

Why is it that people don't want the government to run their life but when something goes wrong in their life (say the economy, health care, etc.) the first place they go running is the government?

Doesn't make much sense, does it?

ART

So I had my first "art experience" last week during the L.A. Artwalk through downtown. It was very interesting, fun, exciting, awkward, educational, etc., etc.

Art is definitely something you should experience with at least one other individual. Especially for the first time. Otherwise, you will probably be totally lost. You know, I totally was surprised (but probably shouldn't have been) with how fascinated artists are with the human body. I won't elaborate on that comment anymore.

We visited quite a few difference locations and the coolest piece of art was from this guy who took orange construction cones and put all kinds of drawings on them. Very cool even though I can't totally condone what he put on the cones. Enjoy ...

1,000 MILE CLUB!

This morning around 6:50 a.m. on Del Mar Ave. in Pasadena I joined the 1,000 mile club!! After pounding the pavement for days, week and months on end I went past the 1,000 mile for the year. This is such a good feeling!

Aside from completing a marathon, this is one of my most proudest running moments! I'm such a fortunate individual to not have suffered any real terrible an injury during the year to accomplish this. Just for the fun of it, here's a list of top running moments from this year so far:

* Bayshore Marathon
* Running in -6 degrees in January (dumb choice!)
* Getting hit (i.e. nudged) by a mini-van in a cross walk in March
* Running on Rodeo Drive through Beverly Hills
* Going around the Rose Bowl for the first time

I am getting more excited as the Pasadena Half-Marathon draws near! Thanks for all the e-mails, notes, etc. I have recieved so far. Remember, if you'd like to donate - here.

Run on my friends. Run On ...

NHL PREVIEW

Some how the NHL started and I hardly noticed! This always seems to happen to me. The start of the MLB playoffs seem to have about 60 percentage of my attention followed by college and pro football (35%). The other five percent is some where in NHL land. Anyway, here are my picks for the team to beat:

EASTERN CONFERNCE
New York Rangers (it pains me to pick that!)
Montreal Canadians
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
San Jose Sharks
Edmonton Oilers

If all goes as planned I expect Dallas and Detroit to battle for the western crown while the Rangers and Canadians fight it out in the east.

And if you don’t like hockey at all, one person might change your mind - Alex Ovechkin. The kid is a stud!!

STARBUCKS FIVE PRINCIPALS

The first part of the book is pretty good but the last half got fairly drawn out and boring. By the end of the book it felt like he was just saying some of the same things over and over again. The stories got kind of stall.

However, the five principals he outlines are pretty good and very applicable to anyone who is in customer service. It was midly motovating at some points.

The five prinicpals that make Starbucks the model for the customer service business:

1) MAKE IT YOUR OWN
2) EVERYTHING MATTERS
3) SURPRISE AND DELIGHT
4) EMBRACE RESISTANCE
5) LEAVE YOUR MARK

It's worth a well detailed skim through.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Let the excitement continue! So my Divisions Series picks were only half right but I press on with my picks from the League Championship Series

ALCS -- Red Sox vs. Rays

I am going to Rays on this one. Forget all that talk about experience and what not. If the Rays were going to lose a series based upon inexperience it would have been against the White Sox in the ALDS. Didn’t happen. The Rays have overcome every chance to blow this fairytale story. They are the better team and while I understand the better team doesn’t always win, they will prevail.

Rays in Six

NLCS - Phillies vs. Dodgers

This is a great series. I love the east coast vs. west coast feature to this match-up. Personally I love the fact that I once lived near Philadelphia and now live in Los Angeles. I think the Dodger pitching matches up very well with the Phillies offense. The Dodgers are playing the best they have all season and Joe Torre is a nice X factor have on your bench.

Dodgers in Six

OVERHEARD AT THE COUNTER ...

Caltech is a great place to work. The work environment is solid and the people here have absolutely brilliant academic minds (of course, that goes without saying). Today the world between common sense and academic minds came into play.

POSTDOCTORAL STUDENT: I'd like to purchase two tickets for ---- event.

ME: No problem. Can I get some information from you as well? I just need your on-campus mail code and phone number.

POSTDOCTORAL STUDENT: I don't know my mail code or phone number. In fact, I don't own a cell phone. All I do is work.

ME: You don't know your phone number?

POSTDOCTORAL STUDENT: (Walks out of office with tickets)

Not having a cell phone isn't a bad thing. No big deal. However, how on earth do you not know your mailing address as a postdoctoral student? What a scary and fun conversation.

30 YEARS OF LIFE

30th Birthday Weekend

In the past I have done a “this day in history” for each birthday but this year, I’m 30 so my posting is a little bit more involved with details and pictures!

So here’s a timeline of what Oct. 5, 2008 looked like for me. (side note – I still think that Oct. 5 is the most popular birthday in the world. I was told that when I turned 21 from the NBC Today Show)

12:04 a .m. – Go to bed after watching the Dodgers sweep the Cubs!!
7:30 a.m. – wake-up and go from brief walk then grab Starbucks!
9:00 a.m. – Mosaic11:30 a.m. – Venture around the Flea Market at PCC
12:20 p.m. – Lunch of PB&J on the George Foreman Grill!
1:00 p.m. – Watch the DOLPHINS WIN!! You know, I can’t remember too many birthday weekends that the Dolphins actually won. Miami is now 2-0 against teams the played in the AFC Championship game last season!!
1:15 p.m. – Meet Heather and head to the beach!
2:30 p.m. – Get in the water that was chilly and very violent/powerful! Only got into the water about waist deep!
3:30 p.m. – Santa Monica
4:30 p.m. – Back to the valley
5:15 p.m. – Go to dinner with Mindy to watch Steelers/Jags game. Dinner was Penne Pasta with alfredo sauce – YUM!
8:30 p.m. – Game over and get frozen yogurt at 21 Flavors in Old Town Pasadena!
9:45 p.m. – Watch Angels beat the Red Sox in game 3 of the ALDS
10:15 p.m. – Sleep!

… 364 days till 31!

$700 BILLION

Let's put some of this into a perspective:

- Number of people in the world living on $2/day or less -- Approx. 2 BILLION!

Need I say more than that? Probably not, but just check out some more numbers just for the fun of it:

- The wealthiest billion of world live on $70 a day (Americans are the upper, upper, upper million of the wealthiest)
- The combined wealth of the three wealthiest people in the world (who are all American) exceeds the Gross National Product (GNP) of the least under developed countries in the world combined (roughly 600 million people)
- 12 % of the world population uses 85% of the world’s water
- 40 % of the world lacks basic water sanitation (this is a very vicious cycle)
- 1 billion people are without safe drinking water
- Every 16 seconds someone dies from hunger
- 2 of 3 Americans are overweight
- The U.S. GNP is about 22% of the world capital while the U.S. population is about 6% of the entire world’s population
- 80% of the world lives in what is considered sub-standard living conditions (for example - flood zone, disease area)
-Average home size: Japan 1,000 square feet, Ireland – 930 squad foot, U.S.- 2349 square feet
- 2 billion people world wide have no electricity
- 1 billion people on the earth can’t sign their own name
- 1 % of the world owns a computer
- 1 % of world has college education
- About 22 million died from a preventable disease. In 2001 10 million were children
- 4 out of 5 American adults graduated from high school while 1 and 4 children worldwide have to work instead of school
- 8% of the world owns a car (a third of American families own at least three cars)
- 1 in 16 moms died during the birth process in Africa while in America the number is 1 in 3700
- During “Black Friday” (the shopping day after Christmas in the U.S.), American’s spent about $9 billion in 2006. To have water sanitation in the world, it’s about $9 billion yearly.

Did American really get "saved" by this $700 billion bill sent through the U.S. government? Only time will tell. More than anything else, as Americans we need to become more appreciative of what we have and start living within our limits. There are so many stats out there about the amount of debt American incur on a daily basis. Whatever happened to living within our means?

What got America into this problem is that so many people are living way out of control. If the last few weeks have taught this country anything, please Americans start living within your means. PLEASE!! For example, if you have $100 to spend in the bank, don't spend $150 on your credit card.

The above numbers aren't meant to be a guilt trip but rather just try and better understand how fortunate we are. If we continue to live beyond our means, we are in for a huge wake-up call. Maybe that's what this country needs. Hopefully we have all learned a little something from this problem.

MLB DIVISION SERIES

For the first time in my adult life the New York Yankees have not made the playoffs. For many of you I’m sure you are ultra-excited about this at that’s cool but just know that we will be back in the playoffs soon! Now, regardless of the Yankees failure to qualify for the postseason there is still many reasons to watch. Here’s my take on the Division Series:

ALDS

White Sox vs. Rays

The upstart Rays against the team led by raving-mad Ozzie Gullien. How he makes the playoffs and actually has won a World Series title is beyond me. I think the two extra games by the White Sox hurt them more than help them and Joe Madden has just enough fire power in his line-up to knock off the White Sox

Rays in Five

Red Sox vs. Angels

A very intriguing series. The team with the best record in baseball hasn’t won the World Series in a decade. The Angels are good enough to reverse that trend. The Red Sox also seem very beat-up and at this point in the season, being healthy is very important.

Angles in Four

NLDS

Brewers vs. Phillies

Brewers spent way too much energy just to get into the playoffs and the Phillies are determined to get over last years poor performance against the Rockies in the NLDS.

Phillies in Four

Dodgers vs. Cubs

Since I have kind of adopted the Dodgers has my team for a playoff run, I am fairly bias toward them. The Cubs are the better team but aren’t the cursed? The Cubs advance regardless of the curse. Besides the Dodgers have won exactly one playoff game since winning the World Series in 1988.

Cubs in Four