The $10 Million Question

Today I'm giving you $10,000,000.00.  Net, straight cash, homey.  What's the catch?  The catch is that you can never work again.  Well, you can work, but you can never work a paying job.  You can volunteer your time, you can guest lecture, you can do Excel spreadsheets, but no one can pay you for your time.  No more work as you know it, no more filing of W-2's.  No opening your own business. 

Can you make that $10 million last for the rest of your life?  You can invest it.  You can buy property and rent it out (some would argue that's a business, but for simplicity reasons, we'll say it's not).  You can buy stocks, bonds, art, fund start ups, or send milk to Worldvision and their starving children.  You can travel the world.  You can go to cooking school, or art school, or movie school.  I don't care if you waste it on drugs, gambling, women, men, wine, or food.  You can get that $8 million dollar villa on the coast.  You can do anything you want but work a job where someone else pays you. 

We all want security and freedom and most of us well never see $10 million dollars in our lifetime.  Can... I make that money last.   Am I selling myself short?  Does taking the money tell the world that my life is worth no more than $10 mil?   Would I be setting myself up for an undisciplined lifestyle of excess and abuse?  If you made me the offer today, I'd take it.  But what if it was $5 million instead?  Hmmmm...

Would you take the $10 million?  Why or why not?     

It's Business Time, Mutha Uckers!

The economy has slowed to such a standstill that I was stuck with multiple tickets to Flight of the Conchords shows in Berkeley and Vegas that weren't selling.  Notable because these shows had been sold out for months and had been selling for $200-400 a pair in other cities.   

I left a message with my Vegas friend: 

"I've got some really, really good seats to Flight of the Conchords at the Hard Rock that aren't selling, it would be a shame for them to go to waste.  If you're around this weekend and can use them, I'll overnight them to you!" 

My friend called back:

"Hey, thanks.  I am around this weekend and sure you can send the tickets.  Or, if you want, you could even come out and we could go together." 

It was three days before the show and I was thinking: 

"Well, I guess I could go, I don't really have plans for Memorial Day weekend.  Was she serious or joking?  She sounded half-serious." 

She wasn't joking.  I checked out room prices and gasped.  All rooms for Saturday stay were $250 minimum because of the long weekend.  Circus Circus for $250?  Luxor for $300?  You have got to be kidding.  I didn't want to stay at her place because her parents are there and maybe they'd ask a bunch of weird questions.  She wanted to avoid that too.  I called her back and she said, just stay over, don't pay $300 for a room.  Plus her parents were nice.  Whew.  On top of meeting the parents, I also went house shopping with her.  WTF???  Read this post upside down and it's full of all sorts stuff that you could misconstrue.  Ha ha ha...

The next day I got an email special.  Could this be real?  For New York, New York, it was $60 for weekends, $40 for weekdays.  I called and they said that Saturday wouldn't qualify, but the Sunday and Monday would (2 night minimum).  Considering that Sunday rooms were going for $150-200 a night, booking two nights of Sunday and Monday would still be cheaper.  The deal was sweet.  $80 for two nights, free room upgrade, and $25 in free play.  With the free play, I was basically only paying $60 per night for 1.5 nights (I only really wanted the room for Sunday, I left early on Monday). 

The room looks much better in person.  When I checked in, the front desk lady said, "OMG, where did you get this rate for Memorial Day weekend?  It's the best price I've seen all weekend.  Do you know rooms are $210 tonight?"  I told her I had just booked it two days prior.  Her jaw drops. 

Flight of the Conchords @ New Joint @ Hard Rock Hotel (May 23, 2009) 

I know, I'm crazy for trekking across the desert for 4.5 hours to see a show.  We get to our row CC seats and find out that there's no row AA, so we are actually in the 2nd row!  Here's the literal view from my seat. 

Turn around and the place looks like this... tri-level with a bar in back of the first floor.  The newly reopened and remodeled venue looks tight. 

I said hi to the girls next to me, thanking them for flying over from Maryland and paying $600 for to see the show (that's why I couldn't let my 2nd pair go to waste).  The opener, comedian Arj Barker, didn't give me an ab workout, maybe I just wasn't into his type of humor.  I haven't seen one episode of the Conchords on HBO, but I have seen some of their Youtube clips, enough for me to know that they'd be hilarious live. 

The Robot Song

If you ever get a chance to see them live, you have to go.  This recommendation is coming from me, who's not a hardcore fan.  Man, I can't believe I was this close! 

The gay, frolicky, I was in Vegas tourista photo...

The Bellagio Garden 

Jean Phillippe Patisserie 

The world's largest chocolate fountain.  I was too stuffed to have any, but the $12 crepes here look like Van Gogh creations. 

Fleur de Lys @ Mandalay Bay

When my it was my friend's birthday in April, I left her message saying that I'd take her out to dinner.  I never thought that there'd come the day that I'd actually have to pay up.  I was serious, but I was joking too, c'mon, she's in Vegas.  Who would've thunk that I'd be there a month later. 

She's a foodie and I'm a foodie, so why not treat ourselves to a foodie worthy meal?  She had been to Joel Robuchon L'Atelier before and the real Joel Robuchon runs about $200-300 a person (with one or two glasses of wine), which is a little out of my range.  Hubert Keller's "Fleur de Lys" intrigued us so we headed off. 

We each had the $130 tasting menu.  I know, not exactly cheap, throw in that we each had a glass of wine.  But get this... for Vegas locals, there was a special running, 2 for 1 pricing on the $130 tasting menu.  A full tasting menu for only $65 per person?  What a steal!  Wait, before I get ahead of myself, I need to taste the food. 

The dining room itself isn't that big, but even Optimus Prime could've stood up straight, the ceiling reached for heavens.  You will either marvel at the glory of it all or question as to why all that height (30 foot walls) seems creepily disproportionate to the room.  The eye structure is composed of 3,000 fresh cut peach colored roses. 

First Course - Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Fennel Slaw, Ginger Ponzu, and Fennel Seed Tuile.  The tuna was tasty, but the fennel slaw was over salted.  It had been pickling in some salty vinegar solution, even the more mild tuna couldn't offset the extreme slaw.  Would have have been ideal if it was half as iodized.

Second Course - Truffled Onion Soup.  I always want to know what the have to have dish at the restaurant is.  This is one of them.  Under that green and black is a mini burrito, a one inch long duck and truffle crepe.  The bring the plate to you with only the tini wrap on it then pour the warm white truffle soup around it.  So creamy, so flavorful, so delish. 

Third Course - Veal and Yukon Gold Potato Ravioli w/ Braised Root Vegetables and English Pea Emulsion.  Ahoy matey!  Ravioli's floating in the foamy Red Sea!   The ravioli was good, but the red sauce was very red saucey.  This seemed to be a theme through the night. 

Fourth Course - Yellowtail?  I forgot what fish was used here, but notice the strangely similar reddish tinge in this that you saw in the previous picture?  It had a similar tart tomatoey taste.  The fish was tender and juicy, but I just wasn't that into the sauce.  Or maybe I'm just not used to my fishes being tart. 

Fifth Course - Stout Braised Beef Shortrib w/ Root Vegetable Puree, Whole Grain Mustard, and Cornichons.  Mmmmm... so good!  This main more than impressed.  Juicy and flavorful from the cooking of the fatty rib, the meat slightly crispy on the edge.  It also had red sauce slightly tart taste, but for this plate, everything worked like a Lexus - Commitment to Perfection. 

Sixth Course - Three Cheese Plate w/ Grapes, Fruit Compote, and Honey Comb.  Dang it, I forgot the name of the cheeses.  It's bleu cheese on the far right.  And I think it was a brie or a camembert on the left.  They were served as cheese should be served, so room temperature that the cheese spread on the breads like butter.   Did I mention that I love cheese?

Seventh Course (Intermezzo) - Coconut Tapioca Soup w/ Passion Fruit, Plantain, Strawberry, and Kiwi.  First impression was that this was a play on Asian style cold desserts.  I was thrilled, shoot, I'm getting bobas at a French restaurant!  Let's not go overboard, they were clear tapiocas, not bobas.  The cool coconut soup, fresh fruit, and tapiocas melded smoothly when eaten with the passionfruit ice cream.  As refresing as it looks.

Eighth Course - Chocolate Lava Cake & Cappuccino w/ a scoop of Bailey's Ice Cream.  No need to order coffee when they give it to you for free!  The lava cake was stellar, the cappuccino was even better.  The couple next to us didn't receive the Coconut Tapioca Soup, Lava Cake, and Cappucino for their same set menu, instead they were served Chocolate Souffles.  I'm not sure if they specially requested to substitute that or if it was just the chef's choice to serve that to them but I'm glad we received the varieties instead. 

Cinderella, where did the time go?  Before we knew it, our dinner was over and it was four hours later.  Overall, we were impressed with this restaurant.  A few of the dishes could've been better, but none of them were bad.  The truffle soup, braised short rib, and coconut tapioca soup were the standouts.  By the end of the meal we were stuffed.  The servers were attentive.  A bug swam into my wine glass and they replaced it, no questions asked by the attendants, but my question...why were there a couple of tiny bugs flying around, did they come out of the roses on the wall?  Did they fly over from Rum Jungle?

Fleur de Lys also serves Absinthe.  There are quite a few variations and flavors on their drink menu.  They push out a cart and the bartender fires up and distills the concoction right in front of you.  He poured the drink in a glass and let the drinker suck up the remaining fumes out of the distiller thru a straw. The guys next to us tried it for the first time and it was such a trip that one of them had two more glasses of it.  I'll admit, I was tempted.  Have any of you tried absinthe before? 

***Tip of the Day*** 

If you want to eat something nicer than your standard buffets in Vegas, do a search for locals' specials online.  Things are so slow in Vegas this year that virtually all restaurants have three course prix fixe menu deals starting at $25 per person and up.  In Sin City, it's restaurant week every week this year.  The catch is that you have to be a local.  The hook is that no one checks your ID to verify that you're a local.  They just assume you are because you know about the specials.  If you're being seated and you don't see the specials menu that you saw online, then ask your server, usually they have a seperate menu that they don't advertise to their regular customers.   We just had an eight course French meal for $65! 

To finish it off, our petit fours were Mini Madelines w/ Chocolate Dipping Sauce. 

After dinner it was already nearly midnight so we strolled and had drinks at the Wynn.  There's something about walking in no-jacket-needed weather, on the Vegas Strip, at 3:30 a.m. with a cute girl.  I just can't quite put my finger on it.   

I Talk About the Same Thing At Work, I Talk About the Same Thing When I Get Home

I went to a baby shower this weekend and the room was filled with baby talk, baby walk, and drug breath.  Lots of toddlers and six and unders walking around.  Drug breath?  Yeah, they were all pharmacists that had gone to grad school together.  My friend informed me that so and so married so and so, and so and so married so and so and... I said, "You mean your friends went to pharm school together and lots of them married another pharmacist?" 

She warned me that some of them might tangent off into pharm talk, which happened, but I didn't notice because I was talking to someone else.  I was envious of how cool it would be to marry someone else who was in an equally stable and high paying profession, how one would never have to worry about not being able to pay the mortgage or having to choose between affording club soccer or piano lessons for the kids (why, they could have both of course!). 

I'm one of those snobs that finds 90% of all work talk boring.  Well, that's not exactly true.  I love asking people about the nuances of their jobs, but you know what I mean.  You and I might have questions on our taxes, but we don't want to hear about an accountant's bad week where he couldn't balance the books.  I want to know how rewarding it feels when a nurse bonds with a healing patient, but I don't want to hear about how the bedpan changings went.  The most interesting people to me always seem to be the artistic ones, the athletes, the entertainers, the movie makers, the world travelers, the foodies.  If I was an actor, I would totally be interested in hearing what scripts my actress wife has been reading.  If I was a pharmacist, I'd rather hear my wife talk about changing the kids' diapers than hearing about complaints from customers about having to pay for pills that aren't on the formulary.  If I was in construction, I wouldn't want to go home and have her tell me about how should couldn't get the crane permit from the city for their building project, sounds like the same thing I heard from my supervisor yesterday. 

Does it really matter?  Would I mind marrying someone who did accounting?  I don't know.  I'd prefer not to, but I wouldn't count it as a negative against her.   I guess we I wouldn't know until we cross that bridge.  All I know is that if I was a trash collector, she better not be one too. 

1. Is it better to date in or out of your industry?   And is it easier or harder for you to date within people of your profession?
2. Talking about the same topics at work and when you get home is interesting.  Talking about the same topics at work and home is damn boring.  Which is true for you?
3. Are there any of you that consciously avoid dating people in the same line of work as you?  Why? 

The World On My Mind 

Iran -  What if someone assinates Mousavi?  It is going to be full on civil war.  

North Korea -  Like guys taking off their shirts and flexing their chests.  Stupid.  This is like China firing off a missile show in the waters by Taiwan, but on a much higher level.  China was exercising, North Korea is threatening war. 

Mexico - I wonder if the drug running and violence will spill into American border towns more than it has.  One thing I don't understand is why America doesn't legalize marijuana.  I'm not for drug use, but marijuana's detrimental effects don't fry your brains or jolt your heart instantly like other drugs.  Put a high tax on it and let users pay off the national and state deficits. 

I've been following the Mexican drug trade stories semi-closely.  If you don't know why, the main reasons seem to be (in abridged versions):

America's stubborness to fight the war and imprison users, versus spending more of that money towards rehabbing users and education.

Mexico realizing that instead of being the transporter for the drug countries, like Columbia, they could be the primary distributor.  Illustration... Columbians pay Mexicans $5k a kilo to transport it over the US border for them.  Instead, Mexicans decide to just purchase the kilos for $6k-8k each and then sell it to the US for $20k a kilo, cutting out the middle man.  Anyhow you get the point. 

Mexican drug trade used to be much less violent until the leader died.  Then the routes were split among his generals which have been duking it out w/ each other because they are prideful and greedy.  Each side has been using various government officials to their advantage.  The El Chapo side even managed to get their leader to "escape" out of prison because the government wanted him to keep his rival in check. 

The US in the Middle East.  All that work that America did in Afghanistan has been torn to shreds.  The transport roads they built get bombed every day, to the point where they are now unusuable.  The police and allies they've made have been hired back by various Islamic groups.  What are we doing?  What have we accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan?  The common people enjoy their glimpses of democracy, but the government and religious structure isn't built for change. 

The Pirates of Somalia.  They are striking fear in all boats that pass their area, but how can I blame them?  They are poor and boats have valuable cargo that can be turned around for easy ransom money.  14 year-olds can make $1k-5k for their share of a successful hijack.  The ones that suffer the most are the raped women and children. 

What's Hot At Your Church?  Human Trafficking

Human trafficking has been around since the beginning of time.  Trafficking falls into a few different forms:  Slavery, indentured servantude, or prostitution.  I sit and church and feel awkward, because it feels like every church has jumped on the bandwagon in the past year or two, like it's the newest, most important thing.  I think the slave trade is the saddest thing, but I can't help but feel like churches are just going with the fad.  Human trafficking is the cool topic now so everyone wants to send a mission team here or help fund that group that helps to stop it.  I've been to a few churches around here and five years ago no one gave a crap about human trafficking.  What changed?  Five years from now, will these churches still care?   Has your church been talking this up? 

Michael Jackson?  I'll write more later.  I have to gather my thoughts and pictures.

I had to send out an all company bulletin today: 

Hi Everyone,

Please put your name at the top of your PTO Forms (vacation time request) when you submit them.  There is a place for you to type or write it in the left corner.  I get a lot of PTO forms that come to my desk nameless, at least five every pay period.  Thanks!

Howie

I wanted to say something snarky, but the compassionate side of my took over, remembering that Kindergarten was ages ago for some people. 

The Vacation Poll

As I swim to my death under a pile of papers and useless corporate expectations, my only escape is to go on vacation.  Where should I go?   I haven't been anywhere major for over two years.   That's a major drought by my standards.   Anyhow, I could definitely use your help in finding a vacation destination. 

I want to plan one or two getaways and I'd like them to last anywhere from 7-14 days.  I was thinking of exploring Italy, or maybe going back to Thailand, or Japan, or almost anywhere.  Cost is not an issue, well, I wouldn't spend $4000 on an African Safari and I can rough it (but a 5 star hotel is always nice, if it's cheap like it is in Asia).  I guess $1000-$2500 is the range I'm looking for total package out of the country.  I'd prefer to avoid cruises, as I like to walk the town or explore the region.  If it's not a "safe" area, then I'd prefer a tour, but I'm also not afraid to get lost in the city and just explore. 

Some places I've been in the past:

• China - All over
• Hong Kong
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Curitiba, Brazil
• Canada - All over
• Tijuana 
• London
• Paris

I guess I could also visit places in the US.  If any of you would like to chaperone me, then hey, I'd most definitely visit (not for week, but maybe 4 or 5 days?).  I'm low maintenance and pretty independent, just point me in the right direction before you leave for work.

Things I enjoy while on vacation (I don't expect to be able to all of the below, pardon the expansive list):

• Talking with locals
• Photography
• Checking out historic sites/architecture
• Museums
• I'm a foodie:  Fine dining, hole in the wall, street stands, bakeries, candy shops, all of that. 
• Cooking Classes
• Shopping - Clothes and walking through shopping markets (oddball snacks and fruits, etc.) 
• Nature walks
• Nightlife
• Sporting Events/Concerts (only if convenient)

So yes, very all over the place.  No one has ever blamed me for not getting enough out of my trips.  Where do you think I should check out?

1. Where have you been that you've loved? 
2. What are some good tour companies that you've dealt with?  Know of any great package deals right now?
3. For your vacations, do you tend to prefer modern cities, historic cities, or beach areas?
4. What are your favorite things to do while on vacation?    

News that can only satisfy the extremely curious... Did you know my site has been average 150 hits a day for the past couple of months?  It's coming from around the world.  I guess my pictures are showing up pretty highly ranked on certain google word searches. 

My life has been very chill the past month or two.  Thru April I was going at non-stop warp speed and didn't have time to think for myself.  It's like I'm doing the opposite now, a mental cleanse.  Catching up on normal life things, like sleep and watching movies.  Thanks to Redbox and friends, I've seen...

• Benjamin Button - Story was simple but I enjoyed it because I think about life, death, and the meaning of life all the time. 
• The Wrestler - A great, true and tragic portrayal of the wrestling scene.  Patterned roughly after Hulk Hogan's life, except Hulk had success all the way and was never in the dumps (though Hulk's wife did leave him for a 19 year-old pool boy).  Marisa Tomei is smokin' in this movie. 
• Gran Torino - A grumpy, prejudiced vigilante shows some heart after being showered with love by the people he despised.  I'm happy they used real Hmong actors for this movie.  The gang characteristics in this movie is similar to any Asian gang, not just Hmong gangs. 
• Doubt - Not as dark as the previews suggest.  It's serious, but it's not some Meryl Streep horror film.  It approaches racial, religious and moral conflicts from a unique point of view.  Amy Adams teacher character reminds me of my friend Angie Lee, except Angie's not clueless like that. 
• He's Not That Into You  - Cliches and more cliches about dating.  It was a fun watch, but I didn't learn anything from it, though some of my guy friends would benefit from watching this movie and taking notes.  Scarlett Johansson, marry me!
• Fling - Brandon Routh's starring in his second film with his wife Courtney Ford.  Lots of sex with no boob or butt scenes.  Average flick about an open relationship couple and issues that eventually pop up with that.     
• Bride Wars - Doris told me to watch this, but I hated it.  Entirely unbelievable and extremely cheesy.  I guess you'd like it if you were female and a hopeless, dreamy, cheesy romantic type. 
• Rachel Getting Married - This movie has zero flow to it but that's because that's because that's how it's meant to be.  Anne Hathaway's acting is 10x better in this than she is in Bride Wars.  Anne Hathaway plays a psychotic, bitchy sister and plays it very well.  Instead of a dream wedding, it shows a family that has issues and barely gets it together for the wedding day.  Director Jonathan Demme put together a diverse cast.  Holy smack, Fab Five Freddy?  The last time I saw him in a movie was the seminal hip-hop film "Wild Style."  Is that white girl marrying the lead singer from TV On the Radio?  Yup, that's Tunde Adebimpe.  If you want some substance, this movie's got it. 
• Curse of the Golden Flower - The story line is semi-predictable, but wow, Zhang Yimou does it again.  For two hours I marveled at the elaborate costumes, color coordination, and set design.  Then I watched the DVD extras and was even more stunned that it was all real.  They built a complete palace set over a few acres.  A whole frickin' palace!  The story as a whole is okay, but the visual aspect of it is mindrocking.  Where else you gonna see Jay Chou as a Tang Dynasty Prince? 
• The Coffee Prince - Mom brought home this version with English subtitles (originally in Korean) and asks everyday if I've watched it yet.  I haven't. 

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 2009.  I have at least 100 unread magazines that are cluttering my room, so I'm trying to anihilate ten of them every week.  So far I've gotten rid of about 20 of them.  This is really enjoyable, because I love reading, but it's very time consuming.  I make sure to read all of the articles that interest me, like tribal life in Ethiopia, Mexican Drug Wars, Nick Jonas and Elvis Costello meeting and talking music, the Style Guy, how the US lost all influence in Afghanistan, the fall of Dubai, the Citigroup Macau gaming report, all the record reviews, what Jessica Alba wore to the red carpet, closer carousels in fantasy baseball, Marc Chagall's life, the benefits of accupuncture vs. reflexology, you get the point. 

This post is about as interesting as my life.  I hope you're doing something more fun than I am! 

No, I'm Not Going To the Lakers Parade...

I can only think what could've been.  If there had been a Game 6 yesterday, if the Lakers had won on their home court...

I would've been sitting courtside!  Well, just about.  This would've been the view from my seat!  I had a 2nd row seat directly behind the Orlando Magic bench.  I would've made it on TV.  You might have seen me doing something stupid during timeouts.  I would've been on the Lakers Championship DVD.  I was planning my wardrobe... Do I wear one of my Kobe jerseys?  A hip, Hollywood looking Lakers t-shirt?  Something loud, like a flourescent green or flourescent pink shirt so that everyone could see me on TV?   Then the Lakers won it in Game 5 and I stepped away from the mirror.  

I'm not mad.  I'm not disappointed.  I'm glad the Lakers won the series in decisive fashion, but I could only think what could've been.  I lucked into this extra seat on the pre-sale and picked it up at cover price for $550.00.  The seat was worth $3k-$5k on Stubhub.  The best seat I've ever had, for the biggest game... I guess it wasn't meant to be.  At least I get a refund. 

NBA Finals, Game 1 (June 4, 2009)

Tim Ngork was my date for the night.  It was his first Finals, so we spent a few minutes outside the arena.  The hotspots to spot celebs are the will call window and the VIP entrance in the back.  Near the will call window I found one for Tim.  Coach Jim Harrick!  Sometimes it pays to wear UCLA gear to a Lakers game.   He was attending the game with his son Jim Harrick, Jr. (not pictured, but he was standing left of me), the one who was accused of academic fraud at Georgia. 

We spent about 10 minutes at the VIP entrance and spotted a few people just in that short time. 

Owner Dr. Jerry Buss.  Ice Cube.

Benji Madden (Paris Hilton's ex, in the black & white baseball cap).  The guy in black vest is Doug Christie, being dragged forward by his wife (spotted at halftime). 

Sorry, not too many great celeb pics this time since for Game 1 we sat in the uppers.  We missed the more fun celebs, like Denzel, Jack, Lauren Conrad, Ron Artest, Stephon Marbury, Tyrese, Superman (Tom Welling, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), Kanye West, Lil' Wayne.  I was hoping to get you some great pics from Games 6 and 7, but that didn't happen.  We did spot... Pikachu? 

Every regular season and every new playoff series, Laker tradition dating back to the Magic Johnson days is to have R&B artist Jeffrey Osborne sing the national anthem (known for "On the Wings of Love"). 

Though it was a blowout with the Lakers winning by 25, we did witness history, Kobe's first and only 40 point game in the NBA Finals. 

My co-worker (Mexican), came over to me on Monday and said, "Did you watch the game?  We (her and her husband) watched the new afterwards and we saw all the rioters and I told him, 'They make me so embarrassed to be Mexican.  We aren't all stupid like that.  They are all knuckleheads." 

I said, "Yeah, I saw it. I think the crowd was was 70% Mexican and then some Blacks and a few Whites."  Then I screamed like a couple of the Mexicans did on TV, in my best ese accent, "I've been down since day one.  The Lakers are number one!  LAKERS FO' LIFE!" 

She looked at me, shook her head and laughed, "OMG, so embarrassing." 

Animal Collective @ the Troubadour (February 27, 2009)

How often do you attend a concert where you know nothing about that band?   Animal Collective has been around for years, but I wasn't familiar with their work.  Their new album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, was raved about in every music magazine and blog.  Radiohead went next level with Ok Computer?  Numerous critics went so far as to say, this was Animal Collective's "Ok Computer" album.  As they say in the 'hood, "You know, that next level sh*t."  I checked out their Myspace page and their song "My Girls" was catchy.  Their video even more so. 

I bought multiple tickets and sold them all at insane prices.  Then their show got postponed for a month because their lead singer fell ill that weekend.  One music critic who lived in Vegas, who had purchased one of my tickets to the show, drove up to find out that night that the show was off.  Since he couldn't make the new date, I offered him a full refund and debated whether I should go.  Two of the other buyers said, "Are you going?  You seriously need to think about going.  At this time in our lives, this music matters."  These are random buyers telling me this.  The echo chants of  "Album of the year..." kept ringing in my head.  Multiple bidders were even trying to convince me to go, which was a first.  So instead of selling my $23 ticket for $120, I went.  

The Chemist, doin' work.  No, he's not a spelunker, he uses the light to see the mix panel since the lights are out on stage. 

Panda Bear with his soaring vocals.  Avey Tare on guitar, and also tweaking sound board.

I prepped myself by reading the Los Angeles Times review of the previous night's show (at the Fonda) by Scott Sterling.  He raved that it was one of the best shows that he had seen in a long, long time (he's the guy that I chat with online every so often, the one that got to go to a party/concert at Prince's house).  The funny thing is, I haven't ever met the guy, but we are on the same wavelength. 

The AC boys took the stage and just straight mesmerized for the next 80 minutes.  I don't really know how to describe it.  They are electronic, dance, experimental.  Pulsating, soaring (Summertime Clothes), chirping, rainforest relaxing, introspective (My Girls), tribal (Lion in a Coma), frivolous (Brother Sport), their songs were all of that.  At the show, the couple next to me told me that they too had gone to the previous night's gig.   I asked, "Which show was better?" 

They said, "Tonight was even better than yesterday!" 

Check out the song "My Girls" on Myspace.  How can you stop yourself from hitting repeat?

I lucked into taking this picture... I love the angle, colors, focus, everything about it. 

After the show all the band members were willing signers.  The each have their own symbol along w/ their signature.  The Geologist explained his shark to me, Panda Bear uses a bear face and Avey Tare sketches a face that looks like a lion? 

A rule I make for myself but almost didn't follow...  When you have a chance to catch a band that you like that's in their prime, at the defining moment/album of their careers, don't miss that moment.  Like Amy Winehouse two years ago, Radiohead last year, or Radiohead during Ok Computer, U2 during their Elevation tour, Michael Jackson during his Thriller years, A Tribe Called Quest during their Midnight Maurauders tour, Journey in the early 80's, Nirvana circa 1992, you get the point.

If you are an electronic or indie music head and want to expand your musical horizons, you have to give Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavillion" a spin, then let me know what you think.     

I'm PMS-ing

Here's my gripes from the past 30 days:

My car has been at dealer repair for 36 days and counting.  The mechanics ordered parts, then found they needed another part, then found they needed another part.  The first part took 20 days to arrive, the second part 10 days, and the last part supposedly another 10 days.  Since is a powertrain warranty issue, the I was supplied with a free rental. 

I took the rental and ok'd myself for supplemental insurance, then found out I didn't need to pay for supplemental property damage insurance since my regular auto insurance already covers that.  I was okay with paying for the number of days worth of charges that I had accumulated ($12/day).  I called Enterprise to stop the deductions going forward.  I asked the person if I needed to bring the car in for them to inspect, if there were any papers I needed to sign.  She said no, we were set, she removed the charge going forward.  I called this weekend to double check and the charge had not been removed.  The manager on duty said, "To get the removed, you have to bring the car in so that we can look at it and so that you can sign off on it, that you don't want the insurance anymore.  All of our agents know and our instructed to let you know that it has to be inspected and signed for."   After some debate, he agreed to remove the excess charges after examining the car.  I gave him the name of the employee that lied to me. 

I was driving my dad's car during the first week of repairs and then the car had to get towed from my friend's house.  The car would start, but wouldn't shift gears, not even neutral, because the brake pedal or brake lights weren't registering.  I was freaked because it was a Mercedes and I was afraid that the electrical damage would cost hundreds.  I do some research in online forums and some guys suggest changing out a $25 "brake light switch" plug under the steering wheel.  Since it's probably the cheapest Mercedes part ever made, I figure it's worth a try.  It takes me less than 10 minutes to unscrew panel, pull old plug, and put in new plug.  The fix works and probably saves me at least $200 in dealership repairs.  Minor crisis, but everything worked out. 

I open my Verizon Wireless bill and find that last month some agent has bundled a text messaging package onto my phone bill.  I call customer service and they say they can't remove or refund the charge because it wasn't put on by them.   It was done in a store.  I'm pissed that some sales person probably bundled more onto my account without my consent.  I haven't been in a store or called a rep for 8-12 months.  They tell me I have to go into a store to get the charges reversed, they don't have the authority.  I say, "You tell me you can't back out the charges, I can't speak to your supervisor, you can't tell what store or rep made the change on my account, and then you want me to wait 30 minutes after work in a line because I have a $10 charge that I didn't authorize?  That $10 is not worth my 30 minutes.  It's not the money, it's the principle that someone upsold my account without my authorization." 

The biggest pisser of all belongs to tickets I sold for $480 to Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 7.  They were e-tickets, so I sent the buyer etickets and physical tickets.  Physical tickets so that there was physical tracking.  AFTER the game, the person files a dispute case saying they never got the tickets.  For the 4 days leading up to the game, they didn't complain or contact me about not receiving them.  I do research and find out this person bought 13 pairs of tickets to that game in hopes of flipping for a profit.  They also bought many "how to sell and make money on ebay books and dvds."  They file a case against me because my tickets were the highest priced item they bought.  Claim is ruled in my favor.  The person appeals and Paypal decides to rule in their favor this time.  They used or sold the tickets, then they are awarded a refund because they claimed non receipt, then appealed under "item not as described."   What is there not to describe?  You got exact tickets for the exact seats as stated. 

I'm pissed that in all of my cases this year, Paypal hasn't protected the seller.  They've ruled in the buyer's favor even when I follow all seller protection procedures, where the buyer is either a cheat or a fraud.  Ebay and Paypal offer less seller protection than before.  It's disappointing because honest sellers are the people that make Ebay and Paypal their money.  People like me pay hundreds or thousands and thousands in fees every year to Ebay & Paypal.  The sellers I contacted were very concerned, as these issues are serious enough where it could change the way they do business.  Some of them due huge volume on Ebay, like hundreds of thousands in gross sales.   

I contacted other sellers whom had sold Game 7 tickets to this person asking if any of them had a case open against them.  None had.  After my case ended, one of the sellers replied, saying the person just opened a case against them.  I said, "I'm sorry man, Paypal couldn't see that this person was a cheat, they let them win against me, and since that worked, now they are trying to fraud more money back to themselves.  You're the next victim.  Good luck and let me know what happens with the case." 

Other things... I pulled a back muscle (it's a little hard to get out of bed) and my ankle ligaments have been acting up.  I have no idea how I aggravated them.  I don't know what bathwater I've been drinking this month, but it's dirty.  None of this really affects my life in a major way, but it's all very annoying.  Please tell me you've had worse this month so that I can feel better.  Misery would welcome your company.