Yee Family on Christmas Day
Here we are at Nanay's house on Christmas Day. Wishing you and your families a very happy holiday.
2009 DVHS Winter Ball
2009 DVHS Winter Ball 020
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.
Cameron and Alexandra went to their high school's Winter Ball this past weekend. They look hecka "grown." Time flies by fast...they're good kids ;-)
VIDEO: How To Jump-Start Your Car
Just a reminder video for those of you who might get stalled during the Winter months ;-)
VIDEO: How To Prevent Road Rage
With Bay Area traffic the way it is, I thought this might be a helpful video to watch.
VIDEO: Heat vs. Lakers (WOW!)
Kobe Bryant scores 33 points and grabs seven rebounds as the Lakers beat the Heat in dramatic fashion.
"A Truly Extraordinary Slump": Reports of Robust Recovery Premature, James Galbraith Says
Disappointing reports this week on housing starts and foreclosures, as well as the index of leading economic indicators, have cast a bit of a pall on the "robust recovery" story, putting a crimp in the stock market's ascent in the process.
University of Texas professor James Galbraith was never a believer in the V-shaped recovery and says it's going to take a very long time for the U.S. to recover from a "truly extraordinary slump."
What the optimists are missing is the impact the housing bust is having on both American's ability to borrow and banks willingness to lend. The resulting credit contraction will prevent this recovery from following the path of those following prior post-war recessions, he says.
"There's no question the U.S. economy has stabilized but [it] remains very weak and will likely continue to be weak," Galbraith says. "There's very little sign the benefits that are being felt on Wall Street will be felt in the broader country anytime soon."
Galbraith predicts the unemployment rate will continue to rise into 2010 and decline "very slowly" thereafter. The U.S. economy needs "substantially greater policy intervention," he says, focused on the following:
- Housing Woes: As of Sept. 30, over 14% of American homeowners with a mortgage are either behind on payments or in foreclosure, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday. Those figures suggest the real inventory of homes for sale is much bigger than the "official" 8-month supply, as The WSJ reports. The government must do more to prevent foreclosures, Galbraith says.
- Smart Jobs: Beyond merely putting people to work, Galbraith seeks policies that would both "create employment and set a strategic direction for the economy," most notably in the area of renewable energy.
- Boomer Blues: With millions of Baby Boomers at or near retirement age, Galbraith advocates aid for new retirees, "so the demographic transition goes more smoothly than it otherwise would. "
In sum, Galbraith still says we need a second stimulus package, as we'll discuss in more detail in a forthcoming segment.
A warning for frequent debit card swipers
By Kim Fusaro / Shine (CLICK to read more)
"It may be time to defrost my frozen credit cards. It turns out that using a debit card for every purchase—which I’m so guilty of!—is a bad idea.
From the smarty-pants over at ShopSmart, here are the do's and don’ts of using a debit card:
DON’T use debit cards for big purchases. They don’t offer the same protection that credit cards do. Credit cards allow you to reverse or dispute charges, and some will even extend the length of warranties.
DON’T use a debit card online. If you use a credit card, your liability for unauthorized charges is capped at $50, no matter what. If your debit card is lost or stolen, it must be reported within two business days to limit liability to $50. If a lost or stolen debit card is reported within 60 days, liability can go up to $500. If an unauthorized transaction is not reported within 60 days of the statement date (and the card hasn’t been reported lost or stolen), you’re on the hook for charges made after the 60th day until the report is made."
"It may be time to defrost my frozen credit cards. It turns out that using a debit card for every purchase—which I’m so guilty of!—is a bad idea.
From the smarty-pants over at ShopSmart, here are the do's and don’ts of using a debit card:
DON’T use debit cards for big purchases. They don’t offer the same protection that credit cards do. Credit cards allow you to reverse or dispute charges, and some will even extend the length of warranties.
DON’T use a debit card online. If you use a credit card, your liability for unauthorized charges is capped at $50, no matter what. If your debit card is lost or stolen, it must be reported within two business days to limit liability to $50. If a lost or stolen debit card is reported within 60 days, liability can go up to $500. If an unauthorized transaction is not reported within 60 days of the statement date (and the card hasn’t been reported lost or stolen), you’re on the hook for charges made after the 60th day until the report is made."
Andre Agassi says he used crystal meth during playing days
By Chris Chase / Yahoo! SportsNOTE from Ryan: Somehow, this "revelation" doesn't really surprise or shock me. But, I can definitely appreciate Agassi's open honesty. I'm definitely gonna read his biography now.
"Tennis legend Andre Agassi reveals in his forthcoming autobiography 'Open' that he used crystal meth during his playing career, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for the book's publisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News on Tuesday.
According to the Daily News, the eight-time Grand Slam champion admits using the illicit drug in 1997, the year he married Brooke Shields and went into a career slump that didn't end until 1999.
After pulling out of that slump, Agassi went on to win five Grand Slams and became only the fifth player to complete the career Slam. He has been heavily involved in charity work since retirement, opening his own charter school and championing educational reform throughout the country.
The information was first released this morning on the Twitter account of SI.com media analyst Richard Deitsch, but was subsequently removed:
'FYI: There's an off-the-charts book excerpt from Andre Agassi in the forthcoming SI: He admits to taking crystal meth during his career.'
Both Sports Illustrated and People will run excerpts from the book, which will be released on Nov. 9.
Releasing this admission a week ahead of the book's release is an obvious ploy to generate interest and sell copies, and it's working. Almost all autobiographies are self-serving odes to one's own pursuit of greatness. They're rarely interesting. Agassi's could be different.
He's always been forthcoming with the press about his issues, whether it be his overbearing father, the therapy he underwent while his career was in shambles (the first time) or the true reason he cut his hair. The vulnerable, intense picture on the cover suggests more of the same is inside. (Compare it to the covers of other recent tennis autobiographies that look straight out of a Sears catalog.)
Update: (11:47 p.m. ET) The first excerpts have been released and, wow, are they explosive. Not only does Agassi admit to using crystal meth, but he describes how he evaded drug testers by lying about his useage."
Commuters adjust to Bay Bridge closure
By ContraCostaTimes.com"A crash briefly marred the bridge viewed as the main alternative to the closed-down Bay Bridge early this morning, but otherwise traffic has been relatively calm as motorists gear up for the brunt of the commute.
Crews worked through the night to repair damage caused when three pieces of steel used during an emergency repair over Labor Day weekend fell onto the upper deck of the bridge, hitting a truck and two cars Tuesday evening.
Caltrans did not have an estimate for when the repairs will be completed. There was some good news, however, with the announcement that the materials needed for the repair are now on hand at the repair site east of the new S-curve on the bridge.
'We have all the materials on site,' said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney. 'But there's no prediction as to when we'll reopen.'
In general terms, Ney said the repairs should take 'days at the longest.'
The Bay Area's roadways were not significantly more crowded in the early morning hours today. A non-injury crash reported about 5:35 a.m. slowed westbound traffic on the San Mateo Bridge but that has since been cleared.
BART is expected to run longer trains beginning at 4 a.m. and as needed throughout the day, Caltrans spokeswoman Lauren Wonder said in a statement. The trains are most packed between 7 and 8 a.m., so commuters are advised to avoid traveling at that time if possible.
The Alameda-Oakland Ferry also plans to run extra service on its ferry routes.
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District announced that all southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge at the toll plaza will be open by 4 a.m. to accommodate heavy traffic.
Additionally, the district will add a high-capacity ferry departing from Larkspur for San Francisco at 7 a.m.
If necessary, Caltrans will expand to two lanes the interchange from southbound Interstate 880 to westbound Highway 92 to handle the extra traffic load possible on the San Mateo Bridge.
Toll booths at all state-owned bridges and the Golden Gate Bridge are expected to be fully staffed, Wonder said."
MUSIC: Brian McKnight sings "Home"
This is a very nice live version of this ballad. Just too bad that it cutoff at the end.
TRAVEL: Personality Hotels in Union Square, San Francisco
My French friends are staying at the Hotel Metropolis near San Francisco's Union Square—it looks like a very "fun" hotel. I may have to stay there during the Christmas Holiday. Hotel Union Square with its "kids suite" looks fun, too.
Personality Hotels from Personality Hotels on Vimeo.
RECIPE: Chef Jarod Cooks Pad See Ew
I just tried this recipe and it was easy and delicious! Yup, I'm becoming quite the "gourmet." LOL
Lifetime free flights for baby born on plane
By Yahoo! News"A baby boy who made a surprise arrival on board an AirAsia flight this week will be given free flights for life with the budget carrier, as will his mother, the airline said Friday.
AirAsia said 31-year-old passenger Liew Siaw Hsia went into labour on Wednesday's flight from the northern island of Penang to Kuching on Borneo island.
The aircraft made an emergency diversion to the Malaysian capital but the baby arrived just before landing, delivered by a doctor who was on board and who was assisted by the airline's flight attendants.
'The baby was safely delivered when flight AK 6506 was approaching Kuala Lumpur for landing at 2,000 feet,' the airline said in a statement, adding that mother and baby were taken to a nearby hospital following touchdown.
'To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to present both mother and child with free flights for life,' said AirAsia's director of operations Moses Devanayagam after visiting them in hospital."
RECIPE: How To Make Pork Siu Mai 2of2
Here's the second part of the demo on how to make pork siu mai dumplings. Yum
RECIPE: How To Make Pork Siu Mai 1of2
Pork Siu Mai is one of my ALL-TIME favorite foods. I'm gonna try this recipe over the weekend.
RECIPE: New Orleans Style French Toast
I really like Sunny Anderson's "Cooking For Real" Show on the Food Network. I'm always looking for something easy to make on the days Maria is working—the foods gotta be fun and tasty for my kids to eat it. ;-)
Touched by Oprah
By Amy & Nancy Harrington, GetBack.com (CLICK to read more)"Oprah Winfrey is the queen of daytime television, a humanitarian, and a star-maker. Whether you're a TV doctor, an author, or a candidate for President, if Oprah gives you her stamp of approval, you're pretty much a guaranteed success. Ask Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil, or even Barack Obama.
Who's the latest lucky so-and-so to stand under the fairy godmother's magic wand? Jenny McCarthy. Will she become a multimedia mogul like Oprah herself? If she learns from the choices made by past recipients of Oprah's affections, she'll do just fine."
RECIPE: How to Make Won Ton Soup & Fried Won Ton
Anyone who knows me KNOWS that won ton is my FAVORITE food (KFC is a close 2nd)! Found this how-to video online and wanted to pass it along to all of you.
Hurry Up and Credit My Account
By Yahoo! Finance (CLICK to read more)"What is it with these banks that are so quick to hit you with a fee for spending more than you have in your checking account but take their own sweet time in crediting deposits?
My colleague Andrew Martin and I heard that complaint repeatedly from readers after we wrote about overdraft fees earlier this month. The angry questions happened to arrive as we approach the five-year anniversary of when the federal law known as Check 21 took effect. The law allows banks to turn paper checks into digital images and settle them electronically instead of shipping bags of paper around the country on airplanes.
Once banks embraced the new procedures, money disappeared from your account much faster when you wrote a check. But the old laws on how quickly banks must credit your account when you make a deposit did not change at all. They still haven’t. In fact, they haven’t changed in more than 20 years.
In part because of that, consumers are suspicious that banks earn more money by not making the funds available until they absolutely have to. Banks, meanwhile, say that they often make deposited funds available before they know that the checks haven’t bounced."
NerdBoyTV: Obama "HOPE" poster animated to talk about Kanye West
I took the famous Obama "HOPE" campaign poster and animated it using Reallusion's CrazyTalk 6.0 using the audioclip of him calling Kanye West a "jackass."
NerdBoyTV: Taylor Swift animated magazine cover
Using Reallusion's CrazyTalk 6.0, I animated a magazine cover of Taylor Swift and synced it with an audioclip of her interview on The View. Kinda funny...hope you like it.
SLIDESHOW: Remembering Mom
Wow, I forgot that I made this video a few years back. My mother, who died in 1983, left me a voicemail when I was in college to remind me to set my alarm clock back for daylight savings time. I scanned some old pics of her in college at UC Berkeley and then added Paula Cole's beautiful voice. The result is this slideshow that always kinda brings a tear to my eye cause it seems like a lifetime since my mom passed away. She's missed so much, but obviously we continue to remember her always.
VIDEO: How To Fold a T-Shirt
Honestly, I didn't realize there was a specific way to fold a t-shirt...interesting ;-)
Trainer Mackie: Serena Williams Outburst Out of Character
This is a very good, insightful interview with Serena Williams' trainer regarding her outburst at the US Open. Just passing it along...
VIDEO: Whitney Houston's "Million Dollar Bill"
Wow, Whitney Houston looks GREAT in this video...thank God (literally) she's back. Enjoy the video.
VIDEO: Serena Williams has a meltdown at the US Open 2009
Oh my, Serena Williams lost it! Too bad cause it was a hard-hitting match. I can understand the frustration, but now the "establishment" is gonna really make her pay...just watch.
VIDEO: How to Choose the Right Picture Hanger for Drywall
I was looking for this information...thought I'd pass it along to you, too.
VIDEO: Laying Tile in Bathroom
This looks like a relatively easy weekend project for me and Maria. Will do this for our master bathroom. This guy makes it look really easy, huh?
VIDEO: How To Wrap Up Your Extension Cord
This is such a cool idea...had to pass this along to you. Try it. Works great!
VIDEO: How To Save Gas With Eight Secret Tips
These gas-saving tips sound very useful...check them out!
VIDEO: Comedian Steve Mazan on Letterman on 09/04/09
Comedian Steve Mazan filmed a documentary of his journey to get on David Letterman after finding out he had terminal cancer. Happily, Steve made it onto Letterman last Friday. Here is his performance...funny guy ;-)
VIDEO: How To Look Great in Photographs
Sure, a beautiful photograph takes some skill behind the lens, but it takes a little skill in front of it, too.
VIDEO: How To Get Free Movie Tickets
With some luck and pluck, you can see movies for free. Watch this video to see how...
VIDEO: Comedian Steve Mazan "Dying To Do Letterman" — He Made It Last Night!
Several years ago, Steve Mazan, a stand-up comedian, was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer. Unsure of how much time he had left, Mr. Mazan immediately set out to achieve his life-long dream — perform comedy on the David Letterman show. Yesterday night, that goal became a reality. YAY!
VIDEO: Fred Has a Vocal Lesson
Maria thinks Fred is VERY irritating, but Brandon, Nicholas, and I think Fred is hilarious!
VIDEO: Jesse Holley (reality show winner) goes long on punt return for Dallas Cowboys
Jesse Holley, winner of Michael Irvin's 4th and Long reality show on Spike TV, went long with a punt return. He went 82 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. You've gotta see this one...VERY kewl!
The Best and Worst Pizzas in America
By David Zinczenko & Matt Goulding / Yahoo! Health (CLICK to read more)"Somewhere between the brick ovens of Italy and the delivery cars of America something went horribly wrong. The traditional pizza, made with just bread, cheese and tomatoes, is now tricked out with inflated crusts, four-cheese toppings, and a surplus of pepperoni, all of which contribute to its quadrupled caloric count. And man, do we love it. With 69,000 pizza joints scattered across the U.S., it's no wonder that each man, woman and child devours an average of 46 slices a year. That's the equivalent of 23 pounds of pie!
Any way you slice it, we're taking in a lot more fat than our slimmer friends in Italy, where only 9 percent of the population is obese compared to our 34 percent . Their secret: Thin crust, half the formaggio, and extra vegetables. That's why we've included Best and Worst pizzas in our new book: Eat This, Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America! The following 7 problematic pies are pulled straight from the book: Avoid them at all costs, and see how, with the help of the Eat This, Not That! series, you can lose 10 pounds or more of belly fat--while still eating all of your favorite foods!"
High-tech kids lost in face-to-face relationships
By Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)NOTE from Ryan: This is a very interesting problem with today's technology. What do you think?
"Social networks and cell phones... you and I may find these technologies sacrosanct, but for kids getting weaned on this stuff, relationships in the real world may be suffering badly.
With the average teen sending or receiving over 2,000 text messages a month and spending nine hours a week on social networking sites, experts are worried that in-person, face-to-face social interaction is beginning to take a back seat to this twitchy, impersonal, and detached form of communication. The problem: When people rely exclusively on short bursts of written communication, those doing the texting miss out on the subtleties that come with a verbal and (especially) face-to-face discussion.
As the Wall Street Journal suggests, looking at a smiley face in an email isn't the same as seeing an actual smile on an actual face, and text-addicted teens are simply failing to learn the intricacies of bodily cues like eye movement and physical motion, not to mention all the nuance that comes with verbal conversation, cues which are learned only though a lifetime of practice in the read world. The result: Many fear we are raising a generation of kids who simply can't carry on a conversation -- or even look another person in the eye."
Is this the next Susan Boyle?
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America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up
Yahoo! Real Estate: "If you could create the ideal community to raise a child in, what ingredients would you include? First off, you'd probably want a low crime rate.
A strong school system would also be key. From there, you'd need lots of other children, expansive green spaces to play in, and plenty of nearby family events. Toss in an abundance of artistic and recreational activities, and all of a sudden you've got one heck of a place to grow up. At U.S. News, we wanted to find out if any communities like that already existed—and if so, where they were located. So we dug into our database of 2,000 different places all across the country and pinpointed the locales that met these criteria. We then examined these communities more closely to determine which places offered the best combination of safe neighborhoods, fun activities, and top-notch educators. Click on the link to read our selections for America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up."
Recession leaving couples without work
READ MORE: Reinventing America- msnbc.com: "Eleanora and Francis Scully didn’t live a lavish life, but it was a life they loved.The Scullys shared the same apartment in the New York borough of Brooklyn for 32 years, raising two sons before settling into a comfortable existence on their own again.
In the evenings after work, they would sometimes meet in front of the building and head out for a slice of pizza or a cup of coffee. On the weekends, they might go hiking in Pennsylvania or spend the day at the beach. Every once in a while, they went to Illinois or Florida to visit their grown sons.
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“Life was just — you couldn’t ask for more,” remembered Eleanora Scully, 53.
But now that life has unraveled due to job losses that eventually left the Scullys unable to pay their bills and stay in the apartment they rented for decades.
The lengthy recession is delivering a double blow to some American families, leaving both spouses without a job at the same time. The dual loss of income — and the difficult prospect of finding two new jobs — has some facing deep financial fears, including losing their homes and taking on expensive health care costs without the safety net of an employer’s insurance plan. It also is threatening the stability of some families, who are looking at a future very unlike the one they planned for."
For class of 2009, degree doesn’t mean a job
READ more on msnbc.com: "Matt Dumont has been looking for work since May.“I’ve had a couple times that I was told that I was one of the top applicants, went in for an interview, and then I just never heard back from them,” said Dumont, who graduated last spring from Abilene Christian University in Texas with a degree in English and minors in Spanish and the Bible.
Dumont was haunting the college’s Career Center last week, looking for leads and advice. But the prospects are not promising for him and thousands of other new college graduates: Employment counselors and job placement specialists say the class of 2009 faces a daunting task finding work in the worst economy since the Great Depression."
7-year-old Alexandra Yee dances "Come On Over"
Alexandra is 15-years-old now, but here she is dancing a jazz solo (Come On Over) as a 7-year-old...pretty awesome ;-)
SHOW #77 - NerdBoyTV: RealPlayer SP (beta)
In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee demos the RealPlayer SP (beta) and shows how to convert YouTube videos to play on your iPod, Blackberry, or Palm Pre.
Starbucks boosts prices on some beverages
Consumer news- msnbc.com: "Starbucks Corp. is raising prices on certain harder-to-make beverages — and cutting the costs for simpler ones like a plain cup of coffee, the company said Thursday.
The price hikes, on average between 10 and 15 cents and as much as 30 cents, went into effect Thursday.
“This is as a part of our comprehensive approach to providing the value while balancing our business responsibilities,” said spokeswoman Valerie O’Neil."
The price hikes, on average between 10 and 15 cents and as much as 30 cents, went into effect Thursday.
“This is as a part of our comprehensive approach to providing the value while balancing our business responsibilities,” said spokeswoman Valerie O’Neil."
Obama to End ‘Cash for Clunkers’ on Monday
NYTimes.com
NOTE from Ryan: This program really was a great idea! Too bad I couldn't use for my used 2003 Ford Windstar purchased near the end of July...oh well, my timing is soooooooooooo bad.
"The Obama administration plans to end the popular $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program on Monday at 8 p.m EDT, The Associated Press has learned.
Two congressional officials familiar with the plan say the Transportation Department will wind down the program that offers car buyers rebates of $3,500 or $4,500 for trading in older vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the plan.
The Obama administration was set to announce details on Thursday."
NOTE from Ryan: This program really was a great idea! Too bad I couldn't use for my used 2003 Ford Windstar purchased near the end of July...oh well, my timing is soooooooooooo bad.
"The Obama administration plans to end the popular $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program on Monday at 8 p.m EDT, The Associated Press has learned.
Two congressional officials familiar with the plan say the Transportation Department will wind down the program that offers car buyers rebates of $3,500 or $4,500 for trading in older vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the plan.
The Obama administration was set to announce details on Thursday."
SHOW #79 - NerdBoyTV: Acer Aspire One Netbook
In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee tells you how he purchased the excellent Acer Aspire One Netbook (10.1 display, 1G RAM, 160 HD, 6 cell battery) that retails for $378 for $286 out-the-door on ebay (no shipping, no sales tax).
SHOW #76 - NerdBoyTV: Nokia E71x
In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee reviews the terrific Nokia E71x cellphone with its 3.2 megapixel camera and battery that lasts up to 3 days (yes days, not hours).
The Mona Lisa Speaks! Cool
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Wow, some guy's Facebook account was "hacked!"
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
New credit card rules may reveal unwelcome details
Yahoo! Finance
NOTE from Ryan: It sure sounds like these credit card companies have ALL the cards in their hands, huh?
"The rules your credit card company operates by will start getting much clearer on Thursday. But just because you'll know what they're up to doesn't mean you're going to like what you learn.
Regulations aimed at reining in practices like unexpected interest rate increases and credit limit cuts start with two rules. Consumers will now be given advance warning of any major changes to the terms of their accounts, and get more time to pay their balance after receiving a bill."
NOTE from Ryan: It sure sounds like these credit card companies have ALL the cards in their hands, huh?
"The rules your credit card company operates by will start getting much clearer on Thursday. But just because you'll know what they're up to doesn't mean you're going to like what you learn.
Regulations aimed at reining in practices like unexpected interest rate increases and credit limit cuts start with two rules. Consumers will now be given advance warning of any major changes to the terms of their accounts, and get more time to pay their balance after receiving a bill."
10 stupidest tech company blunders
PC World- msnbc.com
Note from Ryan: I found this listing of the 10 stupidest tech company blunders soooooooooo interesting. I remember these WHEN they happened. Wanted to share them with you.
"Some of the biggest high-tech deals never happened. Some of the most promising products and services never came to be. Why? Because the people and companies involved didn't realize what they were letting slip through their fingers, or they simply couldn't foresee what would happen afterward.
Change just a few circumstances, and there might not be an Apple or a Microsoft today. Yahoo might be the king of the search hill, with Google lagging behind. You might be reading this on a Xerox-built computer via a CompuServe account while listening to your favorite tunes on a RealPod.
People say hindsight is 20-20. If so, our vision is acute. Here are our picks for the biggest missed opportunities in the history of technology."
Note from Ryan: I found this listing of the 10 stupidest tech company blunders soooooooooo interesting. I remember these WHEN they happened. Wanted to share them with you.
"Some of the biggest high-tech deals never happened. Some of the most promising products and services never came to be. Why? Because the people and companies involved didn't realize what they were letting slip through their fingers, or they simply couldn't foresee what would happen afterward.
Change just a few circumstances, and there might not be an Apple or a Microsoft today. Yahoo might be the king of the search hill, with Google lagging behind. You might be reading this on a Xerox-built computer via a CompuServe account while listening to your favorite tunes on a RealPod.
People say hindsight is 20-20. If so, our vision is acute. Here are our picks for the biggest missed opportunities in the history of technology."
Science technology math come alive
Now this sounds kinda fun for geeks! Hehehe
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Some banks won't honor California IOUs
Jeez, this is sooooo wrong. Innocent people who get these damn IOUs are the ones who suffer!
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Americans less stressed about debt
Wow, in the middle of this recession, people are actually feeling LESS stressed about their debt. Interesting.
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Remembering Randy (video tribute to my brother)
It's been 10 years since my older brother passed away. Miss him a lot. He was such a big fan of Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, so needless to say, Michael Jackson's sudden death today gently reminded me of my brother. I put this video together and fittingly used Michael Jackson's "Gone To Soon" as the soundtrack. Turned out to be pretty moving...
The Escovedo Family Dance Battle! Live at Yoshi's Oakand, CA
The Escovedo Family of Oakland High School ;-) Went to school with the guy in the red suit, Peter Michael.
NicholasTV: Cat Face Origami by Nicholas (8)
On NicholasTV, 8-year-old Nicholas shows you how to create a "cat face" using Origami paper.
Yay! Roddick gets to 4th rd French Open
Yay USA! ;-)
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Busy 4-day Weekend in May!
This has ( and will continue to be) a wild weekend. At the last minute, I decided to take Friday and Monday off for the boys' birthdays (Nicholas on 5/15 and Cameron on 5/18). Yesterday, we let Cameron play hooky from school to join me, Maria, Brandon, Nanay, and birthday boy Nicholas for a trip to Union Square in SF. We shopped at the Nordstrom's shopping center there on Market and I took Cameron and Brandon to the 4-floors of The Nike Store. Then, we drove over to Emeryville and Cameron created a customized pair of basketball shoes at THAT Nike Store (very cool idea).
Today, we went to our friend's daughter's graduation party. Stephanie graduated from UC Berkeley yesterday, quite an accomplishment. Lots of good food and fun!
Tomorrow, we go into Oakland Chinatown for a Gee Family Reunion. My three cousins (and their families) are driving down from Seattle, WA and we're ALL having dim sum. Can't wait...pictures coming soon ;-)
Then, Monday, it's Cameron's 14th Birthday...wow, I can't believe how old he's gotten...the little boy's in there somewhere, but it's hard to find now (grin).
What a weekend...
Today, we went to our friend's daughter's graduation party. Stephanie graduated from UC Berkeley yesterday, quite an accomplishment. Lots of good food and fun!
Tomorrow, we go into Oakland Chinatown for a Gee Family Reunion. My three cousins (and their families) are driving down from Seattle, WA and we're ALL having dim sum. Can't wait...pictures coming soon ;-)
Then, Monday, it's Cameron's 14th Birthday...wow, I can't believe how old he's gotten...the little boy's in there somewhere, but it's hard to find now (grin).
What a weekend...
Lynne House Gallery Exhibit
Lynne House Gallery 002
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.
Here, Nicholas and Brandon stand in front of their self-portraits in the style of Frida Kahlo at the Lynne House Gallery. This was part of our ENCORE Homeschooling Program. Good job, guys!
Q&A: Why is swine flu such a big dea
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Brandon & I login at Peet's Coffee
Brandon & I login at Peet's Coffee
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.
Nerding out on Easter Sunday. It's VERY quiet here...GOOD! Nuttin' like strong Peet's Coffee and FREE WiFi.
Easter Sunday
April 2009 210
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.
Here is Maria, Cameron, and Alexandra right before the start of our Annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt.
Still waiting for Alexandra
Yay, Thank God It's (Good) Friday!
What a long week. It started with the headlight of my Mazda needing to be replaced at the service center for the third time since October (can someone say electrical short?). At work, I finally got my brand new Dell Precision M6400 Workstation Laptop. It is SUPER fast! Looking forward to using it all weekend ;-) Hope you all had a terrific week. Take care...talk to you soon.
Body of missing Calif. girl found
This story just breaks a father's heart.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30080313/
Building an Empire around Your Blog
March 24: Obama's Second Primetime News Conference (VIDEO)
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Random screenings resume @ airport gates
TSA performing more security checks, but not because of a specific threat.
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Insurance giant AIG to pay $165 million in bonuses
With MY money? "American International Group is giving its executives tens of millions of dollars in new bonuses even though it received a taxpayer bailout of more than $170 billion dollars."
White House says economy is sound despite 'mess'
Yeah, right! "The economy is fundamentally sound despite the temporary 'mess' it's in, the White House said Sunday in the kind of upbeat assessment that Barack Obama had mocked as a presidential candidate."
Seminoles knock off No. 1 North Carolina
I watched this game, awesome
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29693727/
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29693727/
Wandering Stoneridge
Not really what I wanted to do today, but Maria's mom is trying on dresses for H&A's wedding ;-)
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day
Thanks Tim and Lori for terrific cornbeef and cabbage dinner yesterday. Nice to see u all!
Trying out Twitterfeed
Just read on cNET how to link my Blogger posts to my Twitter ones using Twitterfeed. Wondering how it will take my "longer than 140 characters" posts on Blogger and transmit them to Twitter? Will it slice them for me into appropriate lengths? Or will it cut them off with a "..."? We will see, huh? Ah technology...it's sooooooooooooooooo wonderful! ;-)
The Sweetest Love
A quick video I put together for Mady and me using Animoto; we celebrate 20 years in 2009!
VIDEO: Someone Like You
Dedicated to Heidi and Alex for their engagement and upcoming wedding ;-) All the best to you from The Yee's.
Disney Adventure & Engagement Party
This is a video of our Disneyland family trip and Alex and Heidi's Engagement Party.
Just blogging away on the weekend...
Jeez, I think I've done a lot already today. I tend to cram a LOT into the weekends after working during the week (I'm sure I'm not the only one). I'm proud that I actually made it to the gym and walked several miles today (grin). The boys joined me and Brandon did rock-climbing and Nicholas ran all over the place with a few friends. Cameron's XPS computer stopped working. Took it over to my buddy, Marvin, and determined it was the videocard. Not too bad...was crossing my fingers it wasn't something WAY bigger. Videocard I can deal with (grin). Of course, Cameron is going through a total computer withdrawal and is pacing around the house (funny). I should laugh...if I loss my computer/laptop, I wouldn't really know WHAT to do (hahaha). Maria just took off to work and won't be back until around 11PM. Her Mom is staying with us and goes back home tomorrow (bummer). Maria's brother, Uncle Alex, will be coming over tomorrow with my brand new sister-in-law, Heidi, to have lunch in celebration of his birthday...just happens to be my brother's birthday too. Looking forward to it. Take care everyone.
NerdKidTV - Brandon5900 Plays Guitar Hero 3
In this premier episode of NerdKidTV, Brandon Yee (11-years-old) talks about his website, Brandon5900.webs.com and demos Guitar Hero 3.
Another video created by Brandon
Wow, Brandon is REALLY getting creative with these videos. He's mastered the computer-generated voice feature! Awesome!
Watching Alex compete @ Lincoln High SJ
Waiting in the car
Whatta Grump!
9/11 widow and hero dies in plane crash
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Takes 4 hours for oil change
Body Language Reveals Wealth
Body Language Reveals Wealth
NOTE from Ryan: Did I happen to mention I "nod" and "laugh" a lot? Draw your own conclusions.
"A flashy handbag or Armani suit can signal a person's wealth, but so can their body language, according to a new study. People of higher socioeconomic status are more rude when conversing with others.
Psychologists Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley, videotaped pairs of undergraduate students who were strangers to one another, during one-on-one interviews. In total, 100 undergraduate students participated.
The researchers then looked for certain gestures that indicate level of interest in the other person during one-minute slices of each conversation."
NOTE from Ryan: Did I happen to mention I "nod" and "laugh" a lot? Draw your own conclusions.
"A flashy handbag or Armani suit can signal a person's wealth, but so can their body language, according to a new study. People of higher socioeconomic status are more rude when conversing with others.
Psychologists Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley, videotaped pairs of undergraduate students who were strangers to one another, during one-on-one interviews. In total, 100 undergraduate students participated.
The researchers then looked for certain gestures that indicate level of interest in the other person during one-minute slices of each conversation."
A-Rod's steroid link spells
Jeez, I'm really beginning to lose faith in our sports heroes. Dammit A-Rod!!!
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Maria relaxing at Peet's Coffee
Gotta get out of the house
Pic taken using Blackberry
My First Mobile Blog
You all know how I love cool technology. This post was made via Blogger by simply sending a MMS from my Blackberry...pretty nifty, huh?
AUDIOBLOG: Talking about Disneyland
Recorded from the car, I talk about our family's recent trip to Disneyland and Legoland this past weekend.
Disneyland at last!
Well, as you can see, The Yee Family FINALLY made it to Disneyland ;-)It's amazing how small The Matterhorn really looks 40 years after I first saw it...I remember it being gigantic as our family approached Anaheim in our station wagon on I-5. NOW, you can't even see the park that's now surrounded by parking structures and other buildings.
But, it sure hasn't lost it's magical appeal. The kids LOVED the park. We were there from 9AM when they opened to arround 8PM after getting too wet on Splash Mountain to stay in the cold. Tomorrow, we're braving California Adventure...and since we've got a Hopper Pass, I'll likely sneak back into Disneyland one last time. Brandon and I have already been on The Matterhorn several times.
We're having a blast!
Landing in Legoland
Isn't this amazing? Mount Rushmore is totally made up of Lego pieces...The Yee Boys landed in Legoland today! Brandon and Nicholas, especially, have been looking forward to this part of the trip. We took off to Carlsbad after leaving Maria, Alexandra, and Reggie in San Diego. Alex had a dance competition with those tough Southern California girl dancers who can afford to be choreographed by famous L.A. dancers (hehehe). Well, it's all in good fun anyway, right?
Well, the competitive side of me says, "Go beat 'em, Alexandra!" LOL!!!
And the good news, Alex placed fourth in the competitive solo division...YAY, Alex!
Back at Legoland, the boys and I were enjoying the rides and the $4 hot dogs (groan). If you go to YeePhotos.com, you can see pictures of some of the facinating structures (The Eifel Tower, New York City, The Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) made out of Lego pieces...truly amazing.
And still to come, Disneyland tomorrow!
