Intense Break

I've had a good week off work during the holidays, but it's been really intense in many respects, both mentally and physically. I'll write a more detailed entry later, but in short:

• Amanda pulled through. My friend who got into a terrible car accident with little chance of survival from her doctors came back strong. She just recently blogged live from the Hospital Room. I knew she'd pull through because she is one tough cookie!
• It's a small world. Good people know good people. Having many worlds from different time periods of my life collide at once is highly entertaining to say the least.
  
• Communication is key. I'm thrilled that I have good friends who can be really honest with me, even when they know I'll be hurt. I've had to have conversations that I'm not quite used to, but I'm glad I did in the end. My whole outlook has changed for the better.
• Captain obvious is usually right. No matter how much you're in denial, the obvious will always end up being true. One's intuition can be ignored, but in most cases is spot on.
  
• Sleep is lacking. I had a surprisingly hard time sleeping in LA. I got around 4-5 hours a night, and not very good sleep at that. Not quite sure what it was, but something felt off.
• Shopping is hard. Especially when it's an all day excursion. I think I'm much more of a get in get out kinda guy... most of the time. Although, finding good deals amongst piles of crap is always fun!

I'm ready for a fresh start in 2009. It'll get off to a bang in New York City! Yay! I'll post some goals that I want to focus on in the coming year later this week. Details, pictures, etc. will be coming soon (aka. when i get some sleep)

I know she'll pull through

One of my Livejournal (LJ) buddies, Amanda (mandalvn ) was in a serious car accident on Dec. 22nd. I'm keeping track of updates from her husband. The doctors said the chance of survival initially looked grim. She has a subdural hematoma that was caused by multiple skull fractures. They were able to remove the hematoma, however there is a lot of swelling in her brain. Her femur was also shattered while trapped in the car.

She's a strong woman who's been through hell and back in life and I know she can fight this. Girl, keep fightin'! You're in my prayers. :)

Last Update: She squeezed her dad's hand even though she's unconscious. Good sign. :)

The Dating Mind Game with Mr. X & Y

Over the past 5 or so months, I've really only talked to two-ish guys (beyond the guy I actually 'dated' more seriously, mentioned in my previous entry about running into exes).

The first of whom , let's call him Mr. X, I met in the beginning of the summer '08. Mr. X is a guy I would place in the 'hot' category. Definitely in the upper echelon physically. We had our fun hanging out with each other both with friends and alone. I felt like I was putting in all the work, setting up dates and dinners, whereas he'd just accept. On top of that, he really can't communicate on a 1:1 basis. Nor would he open up about what was going on in his life. Most of his responses would be 5 words or less. So my friend Ty advised me to 'lay off' and see if he 'notices' me not being around. I took his advice --- and it took Mr. X two weeks to get proactive and send me a text without me being the one to initiate. It read something like: 'Hey How you been? Haven't heard from you in a while.'

Bammo. That's pretty much what I needed. Ty was like 'Fuck that shit.... you snooze you lose!' So that text pretty much answered my question of 'Hey I'm interested, but you really should be doing all the work still.' However, I'm now in the 'He can set up something if he wants, but I'm not putting in any more effort' mode.

So during those two weeks in October where Mr. X didn't proactively communicate with me, I met Mr. Y. I met Mr. Y in person at a club, just by random chance. What was interesting was that was the first time I went to a club in a while just to have fun with friends, with no intentions of checking people out for a date and whatnot. So I was in a really good mood because the music was fun and I was having a blast with people who surrounded me.

Truth be told, the moment I laid my eyes on Mr. Y, I thought, 'Who the hell is he?' in my head. He was what I would place in the 'Urban Adorable' category. He's not muscular in the way Mr. X was, but he had an urban style and a really cute face with a smile to match.

I noticed Mr. Y checking me out too in the corner of my eye. It would be one of those 'Look and then immediately turn your head so he doesn't notice me looking' kinda deals. We would both be dancing with our distinctive friend sets, as you do at clubs. We both were doing the eye glances to each other for a good 20 minutes before Mr. Y made the first introduction. I thought, 'Fuck, the dude actually came to me. That's a change. A proactive guy.'

We actually chatted and flirted for a good hour or so off in the corner away from both of our sets of friends. I'm pretty sure we were both sober, which was really refreshing, too. Around two hours into flirting, chatting and casually dancing with Mr. Y is when things got more interesting. That Hip Hop song that goes like 'Put your back into it, put your ass into it...' came on. I asked Mr. Y, 'Should I should follow directions?' =P He didn't oppose by any means. So we do a little grinding and dirty dancing. By the end of the evening we were making out. Mr. Y was a good kisser, too. I kinda didn't want the evening to end. (Not in that way, pervs). I would have wanted to chat a bit longer to get to know Mr. Y. We exchanged phone numbers.

He had to go back to the East Bay and I had to drive back down to the South Bay. I sent him a 'good night' text. Turns out he left his phone at his friends place, so I didn't hear from him for a while. He ended up getting a new fancy phone because his old one was decrepit. I asked to see this new fancy phone in person. (Ahem... setting up a date.)

Side note: I got near immediate feedback from Ty asking, 'Why they hell did it take 2 freaking hours to start grinding with Mr Y? We were all waiting for it to happen!' My answer: I'm shy. Plus, I'm not super aggresive in a club context. Back to the regularly scheduled program...

Let me tell you, that first date with Mr. Y took foreeeeeeever to get going. I would estimate a good month. In the meantime, we texted and chatted and whatnot. There were holidays and conflicting work/school schedules for a while. We've hung out a few times alone and in groups again. I've enjoyed every moment of it.

Strangely enough, people assumed we were an 'item' from the very beginning. I said 'I wasn't opposed' to him. Haha. But anyways, anytime I go out now people ask 'Where's Mr. Y?' or 'How are you and Mr. Y doing?' People are following us like a hawk apparently.

What I like about Mr. Y is that we met naturally (nothing felt forced) and I feel comfortable around him. I felt we clicked from the get go. Also, his friend set is completely different than mine, although, we both have met some of each others friends.

Ty doesn't want me to jump the gun. My problem now is balancing (1) Letting him know I'm interested and that I care with (2) Not overwhelming him. 'Mr. Y would be a dumbass if he didn't know you were interested,' exclaims Ty. Ty also wants me not to fall into the trap I had with Mr. X, where I was putting in all the effort and the other person wasn't setting up dates.

If you know me well, you're clued in that I'm not the most confident guy out there. That's due to a variety of reasons. When guys don't respond to me or get proactive, I start to really doubt myself and whether or not I'm worthy of a guy. It's sad, I know. I constantly feel like I'm playing a Mind Game.

My other friend Danny always proclaims, 'Why the hell aren't guys just straightforward? If you're interested, just say something! No one is fucking forward with anyone anymore in SF.'

Ty really wants me to just 'Chill.' He uses that term because I tend to freak out really quickly with guys. I really trust Ty because (1) He's Smart, (2) He's had multiple long term relationships, (3) He's not been single for over 3 years. Plus, he's kinda like a Celebrity in the Gay Community. He knows everyone.

Ty suggests a few things for me:

• Chill. Don't overanalyze. (I think it's nearly impossible for me)
• Get a hobby. I don't really have a solid one right now. I do 'things' but I really should have a solid hobby.
• If not a hobby, join an organization.
• Instead of worrying about Mr. Y, surround yourself with friends. They'll help you keep your mind of him.
• Have Mr. Y get proactive. If he snoozes, he loses.
• Date Multiple People at the Same Time. This one is particularly hard for me. Ty thinks it will then be survival of the fittest. I personally feel like I'm cheating. Well, mind cheating at the very least.

Now, It's not like I didn't know about all of this stuff. Ty just has a really good way of harping on it. You'll notice that most if not all of these things were on my '2008 Mantra: Focus On Myself and Not Dating' blog entry.

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but deep down I know I'm a great catch. Mr. Y just needs to get on it!

Those Vietnamese Boys

For some reason I get poked A LOT by Vietnamese Guys on Facebook. Especially ones with last names of Nguyen.

Just Sayin...

Running into Ex's

When you date, you'll inevitably gain an ex. Thankfully, I've always had amicable breakups on good terms. Still, the moment you randomly run into an ex is going to feel a bit awkward.

Rewind to Saturday Night. I went out to a Holiday House Party in the Castro at Ryan's Place. After the House Party, Jesse, Ian, Leo, Richard, Jordan and I headed to Lime for some hip hop. (Side Note: You know when Lime is now your Hip Hop destination, something is a bit off. Both Jet and Transfer are being remodeled).

On the walk from 19th/Castro to Lime, I bumped into Peter, who i dated for a few months during the summer. He was with another white guy --- who I can only assume he's dating. I gave a wave (mainly because it was cold) not expecting a stop/catch up talk. I don't think Peter recognized me at first. Probably because I was wearing a Santa Hat. Anywho, Peter got (overly) excited -- even doing a little mini jump in the air -- and made the effort to actually stop and say hi. We exchanged brief words and moved on.

It was definitely nice to see him because we didn't break up in person. It was just a little awkward because of (1) His Reaction, (2) It was really cold, (3) I was with a group of people but didn't introduce him.

After we continued our trek to Lime, Ian had made a comment like [insert sarcasm] 'Wow, you couldn't tell he was gay at all, huh?' He saved himself by adding... 'He was cute, though!'

All I want for Christmas...

So it's that time of year. Last minute Holiday shopping as well as getting and receiving gifts from famiy, friends and loved ones.

I think you hit a certain age where "things" start to not matter. Material possessions, while nice, aren't what's most important. Of course, retailers don't want us to think this way, eh? Especially in this economy.

So it's inevitable you get the 'So what do you want for Christmas?' question from family and friends. Sure, I'd be nice to own a couple of more DVDs or a new digital toy.

But really, what do I really want?:

• A true relationship; Boyfriend if you will.
• To travel outside North America for the first time. Experience cultures I've never thought I would.
• New memories and experiences with my friends.
• More time with my immediate family. I never get to see them, since I live in Northern California and they live in Southern California.
• More adventures with friends that are not in the Bay Area. I'd love to spend a lot more time with my High School friends, my College Friends, friends I met while living in Ann Arbor and Washington DC and other Travel Adventures.
  
• TIME in general - Time to read a book. Time to explore new hobbies. Time to actually watch DVDs. Time to work out. Time to have dinner with friends. Time to date. Time to myself. etc. etc.

I start to realize that what I really want revolves around: Relationships, Time and Happiness. Money can't buy you any of those.

Happy '3 Years Of Living in the Bay Area' To Me

Yesterday was my 3 year anniversary of moving to the Bay Area. It also so happened to be my Mom's birthday.

It's really hard for me to believe that:

• I've survived living on my own for 3 years
• Lived in Sunnyvale for this long
• I look completely physically different since I moved
• I've worked at the same company for this long

I really do love the Bay Area. I foresee myself living here for quite some time. I'll most likely live in San Francisco at some point in 2009 if I still have a steady income. Truth be told, I really like Sunnyvale, too. Even though there really isn't anything to do in the city itself beyond going to Target. (Which FYI will be knocked down in January '09... so what do I have to live for anyway?)

I love it when friends visit!

Yesterday I got to have dinner with Seymour and Ritchie, who are up here for the week from So Cal. Ty, Danny, Mark and I met up with them for dinner in the Castro at Thai House Express. It's sort of our 'Go To' restaurant for solid food for a good price. We then headed to The Mix for some drinks and lastly ended up at The Midnight Sun . Fun times all around... especially dishing about boys and watching funny clips at The Midnight Sun.

So here's an interesting friendship connection story...

I used to use Livejournal.com like a madman during my youth. It was a way for me to escape, make online friends and share my thoughts. Then one day I came across Seymour's Journal. He was a Med Student in the UCR/UCLA Med School Program. We both wen to UCR, but didn't know each other while we were both there. Seymour was technically the first person I uttered (errr... typed) the words 'I'm Gay' to. Well, Margaret Cho was the first person I said something that 'implied' I was gay, but Seymour got the full deal. Haha. We started to hang out in person and became really good friends.

Flash forward to Dec. 2006. I meet Seymour and Ritchie at the Abbey for some drinks to catch up. Ritchie had brought some of his friends... including his former roomie Ty. Now, I don't know any Ty's. Except I had recently seen that a 'Ty' had joined Google and I sent him a welcome message on Downelink. Turns out, it was the same Ty, except I didn't really connect the two.

So the chain goes like this ---> Seymour ---> Ritchie ---> Ty.

Over the past few years I've become really good friends with Ty. We share advice. I probably would have gone nuts without bouncing boy talk off of him. So yea... It's interesting how small the gay community is, especially between Northern and Southern California. I'm happy that good people know other good people. Yay!

Mark, Seymour, Ritchie, Me & Ty @ The Midnight Sun

Opinion: The Auto Bailout

I know with the economy the way it is, people are really struggling to find their way financially, including the US Auto Industry. The American Majority is against bailing out the Auto Industry with $14 Billion Dollars. I know the citizens would probably rather see that money go to a different use, especially during these economic times.

Having lived in Michigan during late 2007 / early 2008, I understand how crucial the Auto Industry is to their economy. It's actually kind of surreal living there. You drive around everywhere and everyone is driving an American Car. It's sort of Anti-American not to be doing so. You definitely stick out. In Ann Arbor, where I lived, only the yuppies and out-of-state college students would sport a Japanese or German car. But the rest of Michigan drives American. I drove a Pontaiac Grand Prix for 3 months. The thing was ginormous and got like 13 miles to the gallon. I'm just glad my commute was short.

Having grown up in Los Angeles, arguably the car lover capital of the United States, where there are 7.5 million cars for a population of 13 million, it's not uncommon for car conversations to take place. Most of those cars talks are about the latest from Germany or Japan. No one really think 'You know... I'm so excited for that Chevy Silverado!'

I know it's not the case for everyone though. The older generation, for example, can still be passionate about buying American. Take for example my Grandmother. She's a bit stubborn in that she'd never drive a Japanese Car, even though we'd love to see her in a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Instead, she chose to drive a newer Chevy Impala. Before that, she drove an Oldsmobile.

So my way of thinking is torn. Do I believe in survival of the fittest and innovation (what school and business teaches me) or do I believe in the lives, culture and local economy that would be affected without a bailout?

I read article in the New York Times such as 'City of Detroit, buckling under repeated blows, sustains another hit' and you start to see the human side of what Detroit would be without an Auto Industry. After going to Detroit on many ocassion, driving through that city even with the Auto Industry is depressing. If the Auto Industry died, that city would suffer a catastrophe. A quote from a local restaurant owner further humanizes this by saying, “We get all kinds of business from auto workers. “If the companies don’t get money, Detroit is done for.”

But then the business side of me kicks in. I start to think, Why has the American Auto Industry not pushed innovation and forward thinking? Yes, you have cars like the Chevy Volt coming out. But with innovative brands and ideas, such as those from GM's Saturn division of cars, stalling and becoming generic everyday cars, you start to wonder whether or not the Big 3 will push innovation and survive even with a $14 billion dollar bump.

In the end, I don't think it's fair to bailout the American Banks and not the Big 3 Auto Companies. I feel like as if you're going to bailout one, you should bailout the other. However, I really don't feel bailing out either was a good decision. America was built on innovation and forward thinking. I feel like a bailout pushes forward stability rather than innovation.

Maybe American Companies just need a good kick in the pants? Or maybe just a prayer (as indicated in included photo)?

Barack Obama's LGBT Agenda on Change.gov

I hope Obama really pulls through. I'm happy the LGBT community has a section on his chage.gov website. :)

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Support for the LGBT Community

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

The Obama-Biden Plan

·   Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. Barack Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

·   Fight Workplace Discrimination: Barack Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. Obama also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

·   Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

·   Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

·   Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

·   Expand Adoption Rights: Barack Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

·   Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Obama will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. Obama also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. He will continue to speak out on this issue as president.

·   Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Barack Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

Video My Vote

Now that I work at YouTube, I thought it would be appropriate to video my vote. I don't really do that much in terms of videos, mainly still photography. Maybe I'll beef up my video editing skills one day.

Anywho, I woke up at 6:30am so I could vote before going to work. I got to the polling place, Sunnyvale's Crosswalk Community Church, around 7:10am, already arriving to a line. It took about 50 minutes from beginning to end. Of course I voted No on Prop 4 & 8 and Mr. Obama for President!

Here is a video of my experience, running a little over 3 minutes long.

Official Statement from MySpace's Tom on Political Proposition Ads

As many are aware, certain proposition ads were blasted on advertising networks near election season. People were offended and uncomfortable. MySpace's Tom DeLonge wrote an email to his users that reads:

MySpace supports equality. I personally have always welcomed diversity as part of the very fabric of the MySpace community. Over the last few days, ads related to various political propositions that spoke in direct conflict to that ran on our site. These ads came through a third party ad network and we worked to immediately remove them. Like most websites, we do not always have a direct relationship with advertisers that use the ad network, so it was difficult to get them removed. As we fought to remove one advertiser, another would pop up immediately after. I'd like to apologize to anyone who was offended by these advertisement and you have my commitment that we will continue to work to prevent similar happenings in the future. MySpace is for everyone, and we do not want to offend our users by running ads that make them feel uncomfortable.

Former 49'ers Quarterback, Steve Young, Sports 'No On 8' Signs Outside Home

Former San Francisco 49'ers Quarterback, Steve Young, puts up several 'No On Prop 8' signs outside his Palo Alto home.

Interestingly enough, he's Mormon. His wife apparently donated $50,000 to No On Prop 8.

Watch the CBS 5 Video Here:
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=41267@kpix.dayport.com

No on Hate, No on Prop 8 - Cupertino, CA Rally 11.1.08

A large contingent of No on Prop 8 supporters stood out in the rain to get out the word on No on 8. We stood at 4 corners at the intersection of Stelling & Stevens Creek. We had representation from Campbell City Council Member Evan Low, Cupertino Mayor Dolly Sandoval, Vice Mayor of Mountain View Margaret Abe-Koga, Congressman Mike Honda and Paul Fong. We got lots of love and honks. A few haters, but that's to be expected.

Pictures on Facebook

Congressman Mike Honda speaks out against Proposition 8

Cupertino Mayor Dolly Sandoval Speak Out Against Proposition 8

Silicon Valley Leaders Take A Stand Against Proposition 8

Kara Swisher, writer for the blog Boomtown at All Things Digital, uncovered a huge ad meant for the San Jose Mercury News.  The ad lists Silicon Valley Leaders who take a stand against California's Proposition 8 and why they do so.

Read the article here: http://kara.allthingsd.com/20081030/silicon-valley-leaders-say-no-to-proposition-8/

The honorary co-chairs of “Silicon Valley Leaders Say NO on Proposition 8″ include:

Sergey Brin, Google Co-Founder

Bill Campbell, Chairman, Intuit

David Filo, Founder, Yahoo

Chuck Geschke, Founder and Chairman, Adobe Systems

John Morgridge, Former CEO and Chairman, Cisco Systems

Pierre Omidyar, Founder and Chairman, eBay

Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google

Jerry Yang, Founder, Yahoo

LEADERS (partial list):
Deborah Barber, Principal, Jackson Hole Group
John Battelle, Chairman and CEO, Federated Media
Larry Birenbaum, Former Senior Vice President, Cisco Systems
Lorna Borenstein, President, Move
Larry Brilliant, Executive Director, Google.org
Owen Byrd, President, Byrd Development
John Chisholm, Chairman and CEO, CustomerSat
Barry Cinnamon, CEO, Akeena Solar
Tod Cohen, Director of Government Affairs, eBay
LaDoris Cordell, Administrator, Stanford University
Sue Decker, President, Yahoo!
Jack Dorsey, Chairman, Twitter
David Drummond, SVP, Corporate Development & Chief Legal Officer, Google
Donna Dubinsky, CEO, Numenta
Alan Eustace, SVP, Engineering and Research, Google
Naomi Fine, President & CEO, Pro-Tec Data
Rachel Glaser COO/CFO, Reunion.com
Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Andre Haddad, CEO, Shopping.com
Jeff Hawkins, co-Founder Palm, Handspring, and Numenta
David Karnstedt, Investor
Scott Kaspick, Managing Director, Kaspick & Co.
Steve Kirsch, Serial Entrepreneur
John Koza, CEO, Third Millennium
Ross LaJeunesse, Head of State Policy Western US, Google
Gary Lauder, Managing Partner, Lauder Partners Venture Capital
Laura Lauder, General Partner, Lauder Partners Venture Capital
Len Lehman, Investor
John Luongo, Former CEO, Vantive Corporation
Roger McNamee, Managing Director & co-Founder, Elevation Partners
Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California
Michael Moritz, Partner, Sequoia Capital
Susan Packard Orr, CEO, Telosa Software
Randy Pond, Executive Vice President, Cisco Systems
Amy Rao, Founder & CEO, Integrated Archive Systems
Jana Rich, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds
Miriam Rivera, Former Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Google
Dan Rosensweig, Investor
Dan Rubin, Partner, Alloy Ventures
Hilary Schneider, Executive Vice President US Region, Yahoo
Len Shustek, Chairman, Computer History Museum
Jeff Skoll, Former President, eBay Inc.
Stephanie Tilenius, SVP, eBay North America
Joy Weiss, President and CEO, Dust Networks
Steve Westly, former California State Controller & former SVP eBay
Evan Williams, CEO, Twitter

The Newest Silicon Valley Blog Sensation: FuckedStartups.com

Over the past few days, there has been an enormous amount of buzz on FuckedStartups.com.

Essentially, it features tech companies that are either:
1. Going to lay off people or
2. Tipped that a company may (not confirmed) lay off people or
3. Are basically closing up shop

You'd be surprised the number of companies that are folding/laying off day after day. It's sorta shocking, even with the greater economic turmoil that's happening.

Every day, I thank my lucky stars that I still have a job. These is seeming to really feel like the early 2000's tech/internet bubble burst. Ugh.

Recently featured companies:

• Xanga
• Spotrunner
• Power Reviews
• Revision3
• Vendio
• Elance
• Evo.com
• Helium.com
• SuggestionBox.com
• Yahoo
• Eons.com
• Broadsoft
• ManiaTV.com
• WildTangent
• MySpace.com
• Pricegrabber.com
• Shopzilla.com
• Xerox
• AffinityCircles.com
• iMeem
• Mahalo.com
• Veoh.com
• Wikia.com
• E-diets
• Pandora.com
• Zillow
• SearchMe.com
• Heavy.com
• Jaxtr
• Appcelerator.com
• Sirius XM
• Adbrite
• hi5.com
• Zivity.com
• Tesla Motors
• Jive Software
• Redfin
• Seesmic
• eBay
• Gawker Media (home of the beloved Silicon Valley Gossip Site Valleywag.com)
• Nvidia
• Break.com
• Ticketmaster.com

Scary, huh?

Keepin' It Off

So I've had time to reflect as of late. Vacation on Maui was a good start. I began to think about my Weight Loss a bit more. I basically haven't really changed all that much physically in the past year/year and a half. So if you first met me within the past year, then you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

Overall, I'm happier with my weight than I've ever been. I've been a few pounds skinnier, but not by that much. I've kept off my 100+ lb. weightloss for over a year! That's really the most difficult part to be honest. When you're losing a massive amount of weight, you definiely hit road blocks and mental insanity at some point. But keeping off weight if definitely a bit more challenging. You play mental games with your head. Like, for example, you may think 'Oh hey... I'm skinnier, I can have that cupcake.' Well, that turns into a slippery slope. So really, it's good to put things into perspective.

Keep in mind your goals and stick with them. If you have bad days, brush them off and start fresh. Don't get discouraged, especially if you happen to gain a few pounds. Just remember where you came from and how far you've gotten. It's definitely not worth travelling back in time, now is it?

Bridge School Benefit Concert: Sat. October 25th, 2008

Last night marked another concert I can add to my list. I love going to see live music. Pop, Jazz, R'n'b, etc. It's all good. Last night I went to the Bridge School Benefit Concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.

The Lineup: Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, Cat Power, Band of Horses.

I really liked Jack Johnson, Sarah McLaclan and Death Cab for Cutie. Norah Jones went too country/dixie for me to enjoy. I thought Cat Power's voice was also awesome. Was a good experience under the stars on a chilly evening in the Silicon Valley.

Today, they're gonna be adding Josh Groban and Smashing Pumpkins.

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Next Concert: Madonna, Oakland Arena, Nov. 1st

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Bands/Solo Artists I've seen in the past:

Some Context: Some of these performances were seen in massive-lineup-style (a la 102.7 KIIS FM's Wango Tango) or a solo concert with opening acts. Some of these peformances I didn't seek to see but happened to be performing. In many cases, I've seen artists before they 'broke it big' when they were an opener, etc. So yea... don't judge. Haha.

The Monkees (sometime in the 80's during their reunion, I'm told)
Paul McCartney
John Mayer (x3)
Sheryl Crow
Maroon 5
Ben Folds
New Kids on the Block (circa 2008)
Donna Summer (circa 2008 Crayons Tour)
Natasha Bedingfield
The Spice Girls (circa 2008)
John Legend (@ Google)
Good Charlotte (@ Google)
Jimmy Buffett (x2 - Wrigley Field and @ Google)
Wyclef Jean (@ Google)
Justin Timberlake (x2)
The Black Eyed Peas
Christina Aguilera
Pink
Danity Kane
The Pussycat Dolls
The Counting Crows
The Killers
The Fray
Gwen Stefani
No Doubt
Kelly Rowland
Kelly Clarkson
Clay Aiken
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban
Bosson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Eifel 65 (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Hanson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Marc Antony (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Jessica Simpson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Brian McKnight (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Jessica Simpson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Sugar Ray (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Goo Goo Dolls (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Lenny Kravitz (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Enrique Igelisias (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
Sisqo (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '00)
3LW (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
The Backstreet Boys (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
American Hi-Fi (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Dream (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Eden's Crush (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Nelly Furtado (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Nikka Costa (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Shaggy (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Sean 'Puffy' Combs (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Ricky Martin (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Samantha Mumba (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Wayne Newton (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Aerosmith (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
The Bee Gees (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Vertical Horizon (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '01)
Vanessa Carlton (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Michelle Branch (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
O-Town (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Craig David (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
India Arie (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Marc Antony (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Paulino Rubio (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Nick Carter (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Kelly Osbourne (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Alanis Morissette (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Celine Dion (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Ja Rule w/ Ashanti (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Will Smith (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '02)
Sting (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Carlos Santana (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Ruben Studdard (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Lisa Marie Presley (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Mark McGrath (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Michelle Branch (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Craig David (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '03)
Snoop Dogg (Kiis Fm Jingle Ball '03)
Alicia Keys (Kiis Fm Jingle Ball '03)
Avril Lavigne (Kiis Fm Jingle Ball '03)
Christina Milian (Kiis Fm Jingle Ball '03)
JoJo (Kiis Fm Jingle Ball '03)
Ashlee Simpson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
The Backstreet Boys (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Cassidy (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Enrique Iglesias (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Fefe Dobson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
The Black Eyed Peas (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Hilary & Haylie Duff (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
J-Kwon (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
JC Chasez (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Janet Jackson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Jessica Simpson (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Clay Aiken (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Kimberley Locke (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Lenny Kravitz (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
N.E.R.D. (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)
Big Boi of Outkast (Kiis Fm Wango Tango '04)

An Untapped Market: Birthday Cards for Ex's

So It's one of my ex's birthday's next week. He was my longest relationship, which isn't saying much... about 3 and a half months --- and mostly long distance. It was a little over a year ago when we first met.

Of course, to be amicable, I want to send him a birthday card. I go to the store and check out what they have. I particularly like the stuff from Papyrus, cause it's higher quality and more interesting visually.

So there are usually sections like 'For Him, For Her, Friend, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, etc.'

You know what they're missing? Ex's! Loving cards don't quite work. Friendship cards don't quite work. There has to be something in between. Of course, you can always send a bitchy ecard from someecards.com. But that takes no effort.

I swear, I need to tap into all of my ideas one day and put my Business Administration skills together.

Big 'No On Prop 8' Donations: Google's Co-founders and Apple Computer

Google has come officially come out against California's Prop 8 on their blog:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-position-on-californias-no-on-8.html

Now both Larry and Sergey have personally donated a combined $140,000 to No on Prop 8. Read more about it here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10795816

Apple Computer also came out against Prop 8 by also donating $100,000 at the company level. On their company homepage it states:

No on Prop 8

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

Defeat Hate. Defeat Prop 8.

Prop 8 in California is now winning by an uncomfortably large margin. A new poll has Yes on Prop 8, which is titled 'Eliminates Right For Same Sex Couples to Marry,' leading - 52% in favor and 43% against among likely voters in California.

I'm not quite sure how No on Prop 8 went from being the majority to being in the minority so quickly. The two major arguments being used on the Yes side are (1) Churches could lose their tax exemption status and (2) Gay Marriage would now have to be taught in schools if defeated. Both are untrue and lies. For more facts vs fiction, please visit here.

Let's just take a look at the name of the proposition for a minute. I mean, even the title of the proposition is discriminatory ('Eliminates Right For Same Sex Couples to Marry.') It's shaped in the form of 'Eliminate Right for X to Y.'

Would you vote Yes for a proposition that was titled 'Eliminate Right for White Couples to Divorce'?

I think not! Why would YOU vote YES for anything fundamentally discriminatory? To do so, and to put it in the California CONSTITUTION no less should be a crime against humanity.

I beg for you to vote - vote for humanity. Don't vote for hate and discrimination. Prop 8 - It's Unfair, Unnecessary and Wrong.

Even Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden would vote No on Prop 8 if he lived in California, as he stated on the 'Ellen' show. He also noted Barack Obama would oppose a similar initiative if proposed nationally.

See who else is against Proposition 8 in California.

Below is the newest No on Prop 8 ad featuring the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who voiced his strong opposition to Prop 8 and the lies about the public education system. Lying is wrong. Using kids to lie is even worse.

Cooking Class Tonight @ Sur La Table SF

So I'm excited that tonight I'll be going to the city to take a cooking class with my old manager Dara.

We're going to do it at Sur La Table in SF.

The Menu is a 'Sunday Roast' theme.

Description:
The tradition of the Sunday roast is alive and well at Sur La Table. We know it's the perfect time to relax with good friends, good wine, and good food. We'll lead you through simple yet refined dishes that are perfect for a cozy Sunday, or any day that calls for that extra something.

Menu:

• Polenta and Gorgonzola Corn Cakes with Pan Roasted Wild Mushrooms
• Roasted Whole Fish and Fennel with Crushed Potatoes, Perserved Lemon, and Charmoula
• Simple & Elegant Roast Chicken
• Autumn Trifle with Roasted Apples, Pears, and Pumpkin-Caramel Sauce

Check back later to see the results!

Opening Up

So there's someone that I particularly care about and would like to get to know even better. We met online a while ago but randomly ran into each other in person back in June this year while I was visiting home in LA. We celebrated his 25th birthday together and had a fun time at LA pride... all in the same weekend. Since then, he's moved up to San Jose for Grad School. We've hung out about once a week, unless we've been out of town.

The problem? He doesn't doesn't talk. :/

I know it's hard for people to open up. It's usually really hard for me too. But it's been over 5 months and I really want to help him during his transition period. If something is on his mind, he usually doesn't want to talk about it.

If we do talk about anything, his responses tend to be super short.

I think he's adorable, very attractive, funny, smart, caring and just a fun guy to be around. We have things in common, too.

I just need to find the key to his lock...

Comparing Gay Marriage and Racial Segregation

Here is an interesting NY Times / Freakanomics article on the topic of Gay Marriage. It compares it with racial segregation and how it's morally wrong.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/my-wedding-ring/

Mobilization

I'd just like to remember that I've never seen a group like the supporters of No-On-8 in California mobilize so quickly in my life.

The number of emails, phone calls, fundraisers, volunteering events, and parties are astonishing. From West Hollywood to San Francisco, I've seen No On 8 out in force.

I'm proud to see action happen so quickly. I wish I could personally do more beyond donate for the time being.

I personally think it's important to spread the No On 8 message beyond your circle of friends. One should now be sending messages to family, allies, straight friends, etc. More importantly, encourage everyone to vote (and register!) if they haven't done so. Poll numbers mean nothing unless people are voting.

I'm looking forward to the Nov. showdown. Let's hope that the incredible mobilization (shall I say the Jedi Knights) defeats supporters of Prop 8 (let's just call 'em the Dark Side of the Force.)

Is silence really golden?

While vacationing in Hawaii, It's not uncommon to see a lot of couples. I mean... a lot of couples. Couples that are dating, married, on honeymoons, getting married... you get the whole bit in one place.

Over the past week, I've done a lot of observing. I'm noticing something I really didn't care too much to think about in the past.

What you ask? Silence

Can you hear it? Neither can I.

I've always assumed that most couples spend their time being chatty. Oh no. They're really not. We're talking a lot of time is spent being eerily silent.

I guess I've gone through life assuming silence is boring or the other person is uninterested if both people are quiet.

I mean, I know you have to be ultra comfortable with someone to get to the point of silence being golden, but I don't think I've quite been there yet.

I'll let ya know if I ever do...

Ass Play

Okay... so I know by now this still photo has made its way on the internet with many amusing captions after the last presidential debate.

To put some context, this was McCain's reaction to exiting from the wrong side of the stage.

I was watching Anderson Cooper and Jason Carroll last night on AC 360 have a caption contest for this. Quite amusing.

Anderson Cooper should just run for president already.

Newest No On Prop 8 Ad: Unfair

Below is the newest No on Prop 8 ad. It's titled 'Unfair.' I think this is one of the best No on Prop 8 ads to date. I'm actually surprised they didn't pick from a larger selection of those against Prop 8... including many conservative newspapers in California. Just see who is against Prop 8 here.

Why YOU should Vote NO on Prop 8? (If you live in California, that is)

Okay, I've made a conscience effort in the past to not be so preachy on political things on my blog. I used to be back when Bush was up for president... and we all know how that turned out. Anyways, if my company can write an official blog entry on why to defeat Prop 8 in California, I sure as hell can!

I should first start off by saying that I donated a sum of money to No on Prop 8 last week. I should have done it sooner. If you can't donate, but live in California, you can also donate your time by volunteering at a local phone bank.

Here is what you need to know:

What is Prop 8?
Dispelling the lies: Fact vs. Fiction
Why Vote No On 8?
Who Opposes Prop 8? (We're talking hella people and organizations!)

My Opinion:

Prop 8 discriminates based on sexual orientation. Just as interracial marriage laws were defeated in the past based on not discriminating against a group, gays and lesbians must not be discriminated against when it comes to the basic right of marriage.

Even when you think of this purely from an economics standpoint, Gay Marriage will help the California Economy. Think of all the new fabulous weddings you'll get to attend or plan. In all seriousness, this will help boost the economy by stimulating spending.

Just Listen to Ellen for a moment, why don't you?

Clothed

I admire the older generation being able to be so damn comfortable with their bodies.

As I lay tanning by my hotel pool in Kaanapali, I can't help but notice how comfortable the older generation is with their bodies. Of course, they've grown older together with a significant other in many cases. My assumption is by this point in their life, they have a 'i don't really care what others think' 'tude. I truly admire that.

Here I am, really uncomfortable with my body --- due mainly to the effects of major weight loss -- cringing inside when I have to remove my shirt to get rid of my farmers tan.

I do realize I won't see any of these people around me ever again, so I really shouldn't care what they think.

It's just so damn hard.

Why Vacation Matters

Aloha. So I'm on my first real vacation (i would define as a week +) since I started to work.

I've been pressured by many to take a vacation and I'm finally doing it. My old manager said to me in our last 1:1 meeting together, 'If it's one thing you learn from me... take a vacation.'

I always deemphasized this when working. I don't want to have to look at my inbox when I come back to work seeing hundreds of emails to sift through. But you know what... I freaking deserve this vacation.

Now It's Day 4 of my vacation. I haven't really done too much. Some tanning, eating, exercising, touring and photography. I also went Wine Tasting at a winery in Maui.

I forgot how much perspective you gain when you're on vacation. Especially to a place like Maui where life is so slow. You have time to think. It's really refreshing. Instead of thinking about the economy, presidential election or another world crisis, you think about what your next meal or activity will be. Sure, I feel guilty. Really I do. I even told my Mom this and she felt the same way.

I'm glad I'm gaining a bit more perspective on this trip. I'm becoming more observant. Noticing the little things around me that I would otherwise skip in my everyday life. I'm rediscovering what I love about living... things often lost in the shuffle. When I get back to Cali, maybe I'll change some of the things I was more hesitant to in the past, as well.

When I get back, I'm taking a post-vacation sanity day to recoop.

Lunch Visit with Adrian

Adrian came down from Foster City to have lunch with Ty and I in Mountain View. I spent the first half of the day in San Bruno for my first day of training for YouTube.

We had some some good convo, gave him a tour and he got to see just how different Google culture is in comparison to Visa and Goldman Sachs.

The really funny moment was the ending. As we took Adrian to his car, we were approached by a man with an accent. Oh yes... an accent from Holland! Why you ask? He flew from Europe to hand in his resume to Tech Companies in hopes of landing an internship to get US working experience.

Ty was really nice about it and offered to pass it to HR. He felt he had to represent the company in a Googley way without overpromissing him anything. In reality, he probably should have just applied at google.com/jobs.

A Total Surprise

I just want to keep a mental note: today was by far and away my best birthday ever. The only really tragic part was having to enter '25' into the age portion of the workout routine on the Elliptical at the gym.

I'll write more later.

Fall begins

Thanks GOOG for reminding me why I love the fall. It's about change... and I smell it in the air...

My girly gasp lunch moment

It's not uncommon for me to have a girly moment or two during any given day.

I was at lunch this afternoon with my old temp boss, Dara. We do these lunches about once a month or so, just to catch up on boys, life and random musings. This month was especially important because I'm off to YouTube next week.

Anywho, we decided to sit outside because the sun was out and it wasn't too hot. Then all of a sudden there was a moment where this big ass freaky bug landed on our table. It was the sickest thing I've EVER seen.

Imagine two dragonflies conjoined at the head with a bit of a praying mantis kinda feel to it. Oh yea... my girly gasp came out in full force. It was like two bugs attached to each other, but it flew as one. My first thought was that maybe it was one bug carrying another that happened to be injured. I don't think that was the case, though.

Dara, and the tables lunching near me, got a kick out of my girly reaction. It was funny cause one of the tables had the training class I'm working with. Now these kids have evidence to make fun of me with. :P

I really wish this was filmed or photographed in some fashion. Haha.

A surprising drunk call

I was chilling with Howie at his cousins (Kathleen and My Le) place in San Francisco when I got a series of phone calls from my sister.

I didn't pick up originally because I'm not a fan of talking to people in front of others. After the fourth or fifth call, I decided to pick up.

The conversation went something like this:

[picks up phone - drunk sister starts talking]

Sister: Hiiiii. What the fuck? I've been calling you.

Me: I know. I didn't pick up earlier. You got me now. What's up? Are you Drunk?

Sister: Yes. Two Things. Number 1... Shoot me an email with what you want for your birthday.

Me: Okay. Will do.

Sister: Number 2... I'm with Chris. You know how I told you I would never go to a gay bar? So he's totally cool with gay guys. [Chris' voice faint in the background: 'Ya. They're cool.'] I decided I'm going to go with you. Mom told me you're coming home soon. We're going. He's [Chris] going to be my buffer just in case anything happens.

Me: Wow. Okay...

Sister: What's that place you told me is cool?

Me: The Abbey.

Sister: We can go there. Or this gay bar in Ventura County. Paddy's.

Me: Why would I go to Ventura County? Let's go to the Abbey.

Sister: Ok. I have Halloween at Six Flags on that Friday. Saturday we're going out.

Me: Okay. Sounds good. See you later.

That was sorta random. But I'm actually really happy my sister made the effort to (1) Call Me and (2) Offer to be taken out of her comfort zone.

I never really thought I'd see the day when I'd go out with my sister to a gay bar...

Now I'm nervous...

The Big Two-Five

The older I get the more I realize how un-important physical possessions are. My family keeps asking me what I want for my 25th birthday, which is coming up on Tuesday. To be quite honest, the only thing I really crave are time and memories.

I crave time because I'm starting to realize I want more free time to pursue interests I'm really passion about, in addition to discovering ones I'm unaware of.

I crave memories because I really want to spend more time with my good friends and family. I've realized the smallest things make awesome memories. From working out with my buddy to spending more time with a loved one at home, they all stick in my memory more than a physical possession. I will remember 'red shorts' (a gym reference) moreso than that last DVD I bought. Although physical possessions can create memories, they only happen when loved ones are around.

I'd rather have awesome photos with loved ones than a new car.

I think once you realize this, you've truly grown up.

Taking Risks: The Next Chapter Begins

In my 20's, I've become quite the risk taker. I dunno, I used to be 'Mr. Safe.' To some extent, much of my life is safe. I've saved money, lived in Suburbia, etc.

A few examples of risks I've taken in my 20's:

• Interning in Washington, D.C., having never lived outside of California
• 'Coming Out' to family, friends and co-workers in full force
  
• Moving to Northern California from Southern California for a temp job, in the hopes of landing a full-hire position
• Beginning a weight-loss journey, having no idea where I'd end up

What I see as my next risk in life started a few weeks back. I was intrigued by a position that caught my eye at YouTube. (FYI - Google owns YouTube.)

I approached some friends, co-workers, ex-managers and my current manager on advice on whether I should pursue the position. I got mixed messages. Some folks thought the position would be taking a step back career-wise. Others thought I would be really good move and it was a good fit to develop my skill-set.

Ultimately, I decided to pursue the opportunity - setting my expectations really low. If anything, I would take the pursuit of the position as an opportunity to learn about internal transfers amongst departments.

The first interview was a video-conference screen with a YouTube director. I passed the screen and moved onto round 2. At this point, I was competing with a few others for the position. Round 2 was a series of 3 interviews - two with Product Managers and one with a Product Specialist. The first two interviews were in San Bruno starting at 9:15am, where YouTube is headquartered. The last one was in Mountain View at 3pm that same day. So there was a lot of driving involved. I also took the YouTube office visit as an opportunity to catch up with my friend Kenji, who's worked in that office for a while. Here is what the day of 9/5/08 looked like:

• Interview 1: Tom R. (9:15am) - I thought I rocked this interview. I was a bit nervous at first. But Tom made me feel really comfy. I thought I was able to articulate myself pretty well, given the fact I woke up early.
• Interview 2: Lane S. (10:00am) - This wasn't really an interview so much as a conversation and Q+A. I worked with Lane in AdWords, so I thought this went well.
• Lunch Break with Kenji (12pm) - Kenji used to be a temp manager in AdWords. He interviewed me way back in December of '05. It feels like forever. Kenji had a daughter recently, so he was sharing some funny stories with me. He definitely calmed me down and made me feel at ease.
• Drive to Mountain View around 1:00pm
• Interview 3: Matt L. (3pm) - Matt is a nice guy but I could tell he the down to business type. Luckily I got to gauge his personality because we had to wait a few minutes before the interview because the people in the conference room we booked went over their time. Honestly, I thought I blew this interview. Matt is a difficult interviewer. He asked a lot of hard product and process questions. He also had a lot of managerial type of questions.

After the 3rd interview I ran into Ben Ling, who recently started to work at Google again (he used to work here previously) after a short stint at Facebook. I was dressed up in a collared shirt and tie when it was like 95 degrees outside. He was like 'What you doing all dressed up?' I was like 'Ohh... I just had an interview.' I told him it was with YouTube. We parted ways after a brief convo and I tried to go find my friend Ty so we could work out. I went inside a building on main campus and funny enough... I ran into Ben again. He was squatting in an office. I found Ty and we worked out around 4:00pm.

I got home around 6:00pm or so to meet my friend Danny at my apartment. We were going to go bowling for Elizabeth and Kyle's goodbye party. After having a fun chat, I decided to open my work email around 7:30pm. I got an email from the director, Tom, stating I got the YouTube position and he needed to know if I could take the position ASAP. He even left me his cell # because it was apparently very urgent. I just about fainted. I thought I had no shot, especially after my last interview with Matt!

I was in a state of total shock and mental numbness for the next few days. To be honest, it still hasn't really hit me. I'm going to really miss my team, of which I spent nearly 3 years with. I'm especially going to miss my cubemates --- Brittany and Elizabeth.

The next few weeks will be that of transition. I'll have to get used to commuting from Sunnyvale to San Bruno (about a 35 minute drive). Thankfully I can take a shuttle from work if I choose not to drive. If I don't like the commute, I'll consider looking into apartments in San Francisco. I'll have to learn a new product, form new relationships, and make sure I foster and keep my current friendships with friends in Mountain View.

Wish me luck with my next life adventure...!

Here's a video what it's like to work at YouTube in San Bruno:

Laura's Goodbye

There are a few people I've truly admired working with at Google. Laura Johnston is one of them. She's been a true mentor and advice-giver for those of us in AdWords. I've had the pleasure of working with her on a few key projects.

Today was her last day at the company before she moves on to a new adventure. She wanted to be closer to her family in Texas. She commuted to California on a weekly basis during the week. Hell, I don't know how she did it!

During the all hands meeting, she gave a memorable speech. Key points revolved around:

• Gratefulness
• Perspective
• Abundance
• The Boll Weevil
• An Irish Wake

She treated her leave as a celebration. It was pretty awesome. She's known for her crafting skills and thus left the team some crafting supplies in the wake of her absence. I mean, who else gets to craft at work?

They also got everyone some cupcakes from Sibby's Cupcakes. I stayed a good boy and didn't eat one. Go me. I'm sure they were fab.

Laura & Will

 

Custom 'L' Cupcakes from Sibby's

How do you crack someone who's shy?

There's always been something intriguing about shy guys to me. I'm a very shy guy in social settings, especially around people I don't know.

But what happens when you are interested in a shy guy? How do you crack them open? How can you get them to reveal themselves? Is it possible to do without it being awkward? Or is it the awkwardness that's the key?

How is this even possible when you're shy yourself? Ugh.

I ask myself these questions because I've been intrigued by someone for quite a while. We've mainly hung out with each other in group settings, which has been fun. It's easy to gauge someone's personality that way. But 1:1, we're both kinda shy. I know there's something there that I really like about him. It has nothing to do with the way he looks on the outside --- it's all about the inside.

The problem also lies that I'm intimidated by what I see on the outside. Many people would put him in the 'hot' category. But that's not why I'm interested in him.

To be continued...

Putting my advice into practice

I enjoy giving advice and a fresh perspective to friends. It's even better when you follow your own advice, though!

I usually preach to people to break out of their comfort zone when they feel things are getting *too* comfy. I find I thrive when I'm taking out of my comfort zone. In this case, I'm talking about applying for a different job. Even if you don't get it, you put yourself out there, made yourself vulnerable and will ultimately learn something from your experience.

I decided to take the plunge and apply for a different position within Google. I don't want to jinx anything, so I'll talk about it after all of my interviews are done. All I can say is that I'm excited and I'll be happy either way. I'm just glad I got to be taken out of my comfort zone again.

Gary Danko & Customer Service

Last week my work started a new guest speaker series called 'Getting Customer Centric' in which guests from notable establishments come in and share their views on customer service from a variety of industries. The first guests were representatives from Restaurant Gary Danko (on Yelp). They are one of the most well known restaurants in the city in just a matter of years. The only comparable restaurant is probably the French Laundry in Napa Valley.

It was really interesting to see what service means to them and what makes them stand out. Some things can apply to my industry as well. The anecdotes from the speakers were hilarious, to boot!

Here are my notes. Forgive the typos:

8/28/08

Overview

• Clarvoyant Service - Idea is to perform the service before the guests think of it (water, wine, amos bouche, etc)
• Relationships between the back and front of the house are key.
  
• Gary Danko opened in 1999.
• Challenge was training. Small intimate feeling and have the guests feel the way they do.
• Important aspect - Commroderary. Everyone has their own strength. He digs into things you really care about and participate.
• It took a long time for them to appreciate unique personalities of others. (Some people more casual, some more formal)
  
• Follow passions leads to excitement. (e.g. Specializing in knowledge of artisan cheeses) Excitement will then bleed into excitement in the customer.
• 15 seconds to establish your presence. Have to make that person like you. Not always will be successful.
• Worst case scenario is the moment you have an opportunity to make a friend. E.g. - If you spill wine, you can win people over with your reaction and how you deal with the situation.
  

Here are the five components to excellent customer service according to Restaurant Gary Danko:

1. Communication

• Listening - Make eye contact, smile, and actively listen. They are genuininely interested and giving their best. Someone who is competent and informed. Bring them what they need in a friendly and unstuffy way.
• Read Behavior - Nothing was gonna make [this particular woman] happy. Some people want to be petted, etc. Capture the guest who wasn't gonna be happy and turn it on for them. Why do we want a guest like that back? (You gotta go back for this Salmon!)
• Follow Through Is Super Important - Manager brings it out. But you must follow through so you can gain trust in your customers. Easiest way to get through the night.
• Stay in your role - Evening will flow better. A strong support staff and team will make it easier to stay in role. (e.g. 'Heart Shaped People' every dish needs to be shapped in a heart!)

2. Ego

• You have to step out of yourself and let go of your ego.
• You have to let everyone else have theirs, though!
• Servers cant have much of an ego.
• Combative nature in service will then hopefully that will subside. They can't challenge and argue with you if you get rid of your ego.
  
• It can eat at you, the success is getting success with the most challenging of customers.

3. Empathy

• 'Instant Karma' --- bad service leads to other bad things. E.g. - Just when you think a bad thought, the worst thing will happen. Spilling water, etc.
  
• Two forms of flexibility: 
• With Flexibility -- Anything you can do to make or create trust to help people get to that point without flexibility. At least they know you're trying. (E.g. - I can't do this but I can do that.)
  
• Without Flexibility -- Nothing you can do to make someone happy.
  
• 150 guests withing a 65 seat dining room within a 5 hour schedule. How are they going to accommodate everyone if people are late?
  
• Customers are more willing to deal with limitations (3 course instead of 4 - compromise with 4 with a late reservation) when you give them more options.
  

4. Leadership

• The cooks are much more understanding when you empower them.
  
• A restaurant is only as strongest as their weakest link.
  
• Most responsibility have the worst jobs. Take ownership. (It's a healthy thing for heirarchy) - You have to work. Manager has to get their hands dirty. (e.g. Cleaning up puke)
• Gary does more cleaning than anyone else. Inspire by doing!

5. Change

• Not something you want your customers to feel. You want them to feel safe.
• However a restaurant needs to change things all the time to help keep staff motivated.
• Keeps them excited about their job.
• Allow people to have personalities.
• Create Empowerment to create new ideas and implement them (Taxi) example. Don't let failed ideas stop you.
  
• Remember, the restaurant is the staff's home away from home.