The Death of Organic Communication

You see it everywhere, especially in New York City. Bistros, fine dining, fast food, outdoor bars. Like a quickly spreading epidemic I walk by these tables and see couples sitting having a beer, or food. But there is no speaking, no yelling, no communication. Well there is rather, but all on smart phones. Take a look again at your nearby restaurant and you'll be shocked by the number of people sitting face to face but on their smart phones - texting, BBMing, fbing, four-squaring where they are.

What happened to the love of sharing food with someone you love?

What happened to the joy of food?

In an era where smart phones are becoming as much of an accessory as lipstick or your watch, communication is becoming more electronic and interconnected than ever before. You can hold 34 conversations simultaneously on your phone while updating where you are all while learning the latest Perez Hilton gossip. But this activity becomes infectious, and this worries me as the sheer activity of live communication becomes second to what buzzes in your pocket.

You see it all the time, the table is silent but to the noise of fingers clicking on the phone. Why bother going out then? The premise of going out to eat, grab a bite, catch up with a friend has lost all its value and novelty as you drive your attention to your 2.5x4" screen. The idea of being able to physically engage with your companion all while surrounded by the ability to enjoy food is something special and one of the few times in life where you can just slow down and forget what else is going on.

The inner foodie in me kills me when I see it. So do me a favor, and for the sake of all food lovers, conversation lovers, and people lovers out there: turn off your damn phone. Things can wait for 60 minutes.


>>>EDIT>>>

Seems like CNN and Netiquette agree with me as well:

Article here

Perpetual Motion Door Stopper

I can't believe its already been roughly two months since I started working. The life is live has hit the gas pedal and balancing work and leisure has been a tougher process than I thought. Go out too hard Friday and your Saturday is wasted recovering (not young anymore). But can't complain, fresh grad, employed, living in New York City.

Got the work grind during the day, GMAT classes at night, only time to run and exercise to clear my thoughts are early in the morning. I thought waking up at 6:30 each morning would be a struggle, but once you get into a routine its not so bad. Somehow I couldn't get this down when going to 8AM classes during school. Work has taken off, and I'm busy day in and day out. I can't complain, this industry is so exciting, fast paced and I love the environment I work in. From crunching the deliverables to talking to my bosses about my weekend and then staying late on failblog with my superviser - its a great mix of work and play. As busy as I am, its tough to stay on top of my GMAT studies. Quite frankly the task of taking another test sucks, and if I had a choice I would never want to take a standardized test again.

With all this that is my life I see stories pop up on my social networks or through the grape vine of my old high school classmates getting married, settling down. I really can't fathom the prospect of that at my age of 22. With the whole world left to see I couldn't imagine having to get tied down to a place, a routine, a situation and start thinking about a family. Quite frankly, I make only enough money annually to support myself. Which blows my mind to my high school classmates that are married and getting ready to have a bun in the oven. More power to you, but a certain part of me wonders shouldn't you have explored a little more before you made this big choice? At such a young age we have so much to live for - I for one still need to work in 2 more international cities before I settle down - so much we have yet to figure out about ourselves.

I can't complain about this fast paced life that I live; I love every waking minute of it. Only here can you learn how to manage with 4-5 hours of sleep a night and go at it hard the next day. But maybe its not for everybody, maybe people strive for that slow paced life. I would expect people to make one big circle. Go off to college, do some work or some other commitment abroad or across the country and eventually come back. Majority of them just stayed within a 30 mile radius of home. Looking back I wonder what I would have been had I stayed in California for school, went to a UC, just let things happen. I truly believe everybody once in their life given a chance should, no, needs to work in New York City. See if you can live it - I can't believe I've been doing it for 4 and 1/2 years.

Best news ever - Dad hooked me up with tickets to London in December. The excitement is absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go. Saving up now so I can get a Nikon D3000 and snap some sweet pictures. And writing about it. Yes. BOMB.

So anyway, live your life! Hold nothing back. Friends leaving, friends coming, Electric Zoo coming in a view weeks. Work the grind, make the cheeze, spend the cheeze, drink it away, rinse repeat. Enjoy the humidity, hate the cold, soak up the sun, exercise the head, mind, and soul. Get out of relationshits, learn to be independent. Learn how to iron a shirt, make your own stock, cook a steak.

Live the life you see fit.

Outtie.

Another World Cup Post

The last World Cup post that I will be writing for the PHD World Cup blog. Real fun and informative stuff: check out the post here:

http://tumblr.com/x8ycup8as


5 More days until the final!

Growing Old is Getting Old

This past weekend I was able to catch the recent Silversun Pickups concert with Steph Lo at Williamsburg via the Williamsburg Waterfront Summer Concert Series. If you are in the city and happen to have a free night, you should definitely check out a concert this summer there. Not to mention the fantastic view that you get of the Manhattan Skyline, some big names are coming to perform this summer including Modest Mouse, Weezer, and Keane. With my love for the band from SoCal I definitely had to pounce on the opportunity to see SSPU.

Luckily I found a friend in Slo who also shares a fondness for the music from these guys. They are as my friend coined it recently a "modern day Smashing Pumpkins". They've got a alternative beat and being signed by an independent record label Dangerbird they are able to keep their distinctive beat without pulling a sellout ala Yellowcard, Linkin Park, etc.

So you walk into the Williamsburg Waterfront after getting off the L at Bedford and you're confronted with this:
Absolutely gorgeous view of Manhattan - fortunately it wasn't super boiling out so it made for a fantastic venue. Add to it some fresh from the keg Brooklyn Lager Summer Ale and it was a recipe for a good night:
Brooklyn Lager has evolved to becoming my favorite beer of choice. There is something crisp and refreshing about it. I used to be a Sam Adams dude, but after living in New York for so long I have to stick to my guns and represent Manhattan.
Against Me! was opening for SSPU. Most of you will remember their hit "Thrash Unreal" that hit the radio waves. A great rocking band, was bummed that they didn't play "Stop!" for that was my favorite track on that album. Quite hilarious that a small little mosh pit formed to me and Slo's right during the concert, but for the most part it consisted of hipsters singing and dancing in a circle rather than causing bodily mayhem.
How far the once mighty have fallen. Remember Matt Pinfield? The once MTV VJ now Radio DJ was hanging out at the concert, and everybody was thrilled to see him - sarcasm.
The main event! Shame I couldn't take any pictures of SSPU playing when the sun set and the lights came out. My blackberry's camera isn't quite suited for that kind of picture taking. But no matter, the sound that these guys were producing were absolutely amazing. These guys can truly rock the mic and woo the crowd - from the head bobbing "Future Foe Scenarios" to the intimate and personal "Catch and Release", these guys played material from Pitkul to Carnavas to their newest LP Swoon. Of course one concert was not complete without playing "Lazy Eye", but my biggest surprise was when they busted the old track "Kissing Families". With the charttoppers "Panic Switch" and "Royal We" fit in SSPU's tracklist for the night was truly amazing - and Brian Aubert's ability to dictate the rhythm of the concert was fantastic.

As the sun set and the encore finished, I was truly blown away by these guys. If you have a chance to see them live definitely do so. If you have never heard of them I would recommend you give them a listen, especially if you're a fan of alternative music ala Smashing Pumpkins, Mute Math, Velvet Underground.

Add to that a delicious half-off hot dog from the Meat Hook and the concert experience was complete.

Oh but there was more, some schteins and bratwursts at Zum Schneider were in order. And as I left for home I can say for myself and Slo we left with full bellies and mind-blasted.

New World Cup Post!

Added another post to the World Cup blog held by my company PHD. The link to the tumblr is below:

PHD World Cup Tumblr!

if you have a chance check out the other posts contributed by my other coworkers - some articles are really interesting and insightful.

Two more weeks of the greatest tournament on earth...

Blog Contributer!

I have joined up on PHD's World Cup blog. Throughout the month we'll have updates everyday showing off any cool media, advertisements, elements of fandom, or just World Cup coolness. Follow the blog on tumblr - and in the meantime check out the post I just put up for them!

Transitioning to Filling out my Own W4's

It's a little crazy now that a month ago I was walking and picking up my diploma. They called me "Kee W. Lo" and from there on out I was no longer under the designation of "dependent" on my IRS forms.

Graduation was a little nuts. To save you the trouble of expanding on everything that week consisted of "interviewing at multiple agencies looking for a job while trying to enjoy and celebrate your last week of school then being given a choice to pick where to work after you graduate and having to make an 11th hour decision while running on little sleep and having 8 people live in your apartment". Believe me, nuts it was.

After taking a brief trip back home it was a little transport back in time to when I graduated high school. Visiting the old food joints, the old soccer pitches, seeing old friends - it was a nice way to relax my mind before I went back to New York and got into the working world. I can't believe it was 4 years since I graduated high school.

So now here I am, with my official title as "Assistant Strategist" working for the media company PHD. I am trying to make my name now and try to see where this field will take me. I am excited, from first impressions my team sounds fantastic. And I'm excited to get ready.


But not as excited as I am for the COPA MUNDIAL. I hope all y'all are ready.


More to come when I am not lazy enough to post. Most likely will post a post-USA v ENGLAND match blog.