Archive for January, 2009
Just got back from the Yahoo Chinese New Year celebration. It was great– had some Chinese food, Chinese performances, etc. Very cool and i especially love to see Chinese-American folks who come to this country preserving their traditions that are hundreds of years old. Immigrants especially have always seemed to understand if you don’t preserve tradition, tradition dies.
The respect of tradition reminds me of when i lived in Cupertino, CA a couple years ago. At the time (and i’m sure still now,) the city stepped up it’s Chinese New Year celebration– and at the same time canceled it’s Forth of July fireworks show celebration. You know, in tight budgets it’s all about prioritizing…
I suppose the 4th of July, the US Constitution, Memorial Day and other things that must be too old and repeatitive– boring to most Americans now? Soon maybe we should just cancel all of it so that we can seem more culturally and internationally enlightened and focus on? I think people have forgotten what those days mean anyway.
Almost every country seems to have it’s own culture and traditions. What are ours? Oh yeah, i guess we import those as well nowadays. Funny how national pride seems like a bad word for Americans. How long can that continue? I think we’ll find out in this generations timeframe…
Hat’s off to the Chinese people and Chinese-Americans for understanding the value of preserving tradition. Happy Chinese New Years– it’s well earned.
-scott noteboom
January 30th, 2009
Headed up to SF this weekend to watch the Supercross tomorrow night. It’s been a long time…..
- Makes me remember that when i was in my early 20′s, I wrenched on two strokes with CT Racing‘s sponsored ATV motocross racers for a bit and got to travel the country with the team to Mickey Thompson and Grand National circuit races a bit. Good times….
I’ve been pretty lucky to have done some fuck shit in my life. I forget that sometimes….
- It’s been about 10 years since i’ve been to a race, and now everything is four stroke. Half of me knows i’m going to miss the two strokes howling out of the gate like bees, and the smell of mixed race fuel/oil– but then the other half of me knows that racing always sounds good– even as it evolves.
In addition, one thing remains consistent through the years…… the riders balls, agression and drive to win. That’s the tradition of racing spirit.
Will share some pictures and thoughts after…
-scott noteboom
January 30th, 2009
This is 1922 Washington DC, captured as part of the National Photo Company archive (published pics to show the Washinton life between 1850 and 1945.)
People were proud to roar in the ’20′s. Now the politicians roar behind closed doors so that Jesus won’t see them doing it.
-scott noteboom
January 29th, 2009
Idealism rarely equals realism.
One love. One World. All for one. One for all. Universal health care.
Bull shit from hippies who smoke too much weed.
Globalization. Anti-protectionism. New world order. Universal welfare.
Same bull shit from corporations and conservatives smoking dollars and getting high over power.
Democrat or Republican.
Costco or Walmart.
Universal health care or universal welfare (including the bailouts.)
Do opposite attract, or are they really not opposites at all?
Maybe it’s just a game…
Good Cop or Bad Cop.
Played on us by the same “Man”
The Sheep are being hoodwinked and herded.
Those of us that have good coats, like God intended, can remain
Our leaders need those coats to keep warm, while we just wander aimlessly
Those that don’t follow the herd are easily separated
and slaughtered.
The advancement of Socialism scares the fuck out of me.
When you only have one tribe….. you have no tribes.
With no tribe, you become prey.
Proud to be protectionist and anti-social.
Fear the world becoming smaller.
Keep it big and different.
…… nothing in life is free.
like a world currency suggests.
Think Obama will save us?
How about starting with saving yourself.
“The Administration”
Both the Bush and the Obama
Herd us via different paths (“Change”) to the same destination
And perhaps that destination just isn’t Heaven.
No matter how much you “Hope”
-scott noteboom
January 25th, 2009
Bush may be gone for now,but stay alert…..
Bush can always return.
And, for those that miss Bush..
This post is a reminder that i need to play around with my old Land 100 series polaroid .
Polaroids rule (and you can still get pack film that Fujifilm makes.)
-scott noteboom
January 24th, 2009
Glad to be back home in San Jose. Raining– but we need it.
Sparred a bit in the gym today with Kyle, one of the UFC fighters (great guy, by the way.) Being out of shape sucks– thus, 5 minute rounds suck (that’s how they roll in MMA.) I got my ass handed to me on the ground, and didn’t do as well as I would have liked striking (my strength.) I think my trainer knew this was going to happen when he put me in there– and it worked….. Now I want to put some training time in and pay him back a bit (or at least give him some better work.)
In the mean time, a good burrito will make me feel better, lol…..
Since i’m on the topic of burritos, here are some of my favorite spots for Mexican here in San Jose:
- Taqueria Tlaquepaque over on Lincoln or Willow in Willow Glen. There’s also one off 87 at Curtner. I dig the camarones (El Diablo or Al Mojo de Aho) or the Steak Tlaquepaque there. Their chavela’s rule (dark Modelo, fresh lime juice, salted rim w/ a frosty mug.)
- Los Garcia’s over on old Oakland Road. Good plates. I like the green, creamy salsa. Also good chavela’s.
- El Grullense in San Jose. Drive thru and quick. Eating patio right on San Carlos. Decent place for carne asada tacos. Camarones Coctail or tostadas are good. Horchata’s good.
- La Taqueria in downtown San Jose. I dig the burrito’s here.
- La Victoria. Have one on San Carlos, Santa Clara and one off Almaden and 85. Famous orange sauce. I usually only go for the burrito’s here… maybe a quesadilla if i’m really gorging myself.
- I think i make some pretty good carne on my bbq as well. As long as i buy my goods at Mi Pueblo.
UPDATE: – Mexico Bakery on the east side (Story Rd.) has got great torta’s and baked goods. Get’s pretty packed and no espanol can sometimes make things tougher, but it’s all worth it…
I’m running over to La Victoria, since it’s closest.
-scott noteboom
January 24th, 2009
Before i rant….. I’ve confirmed (like i do everytime i see it) what i always think when i see the Austin Motel sign (see post below.) Yep, that damn Austin Motel sign looks like cock and balls. Maybe the motel used to be an hourly joint? Anyway….
Maybe i hate everyone? I hate closed minded, Jesus freak, conservative Texans. Thus, i think i like Austin– an exception in the state…. a nice liberal artsy town, i suppose. But then, i hate hippies. I hate tattooed youngsters who are liberals that grow up to be conservatives. I hate Bush. I hate McCain. I hate Obama— but i do have hope, lol…
Then i saw him…. the smile…..the long hair…. the guitar…. the lack of a fucking job. We walked by. He stopped us, asking “don’t you guys like music?” Oh damn…..
“Mary Jane” strum, strum. “I love Mary Jane.” strum strum. “Your sweet green leafs in my mouth,” strum strum. “blah blah blah, blah blah.”
All the while this hippie was looking straight into my eyes as his sung. Normally i’d consider that respectful, but those eyes were so soft…. they creeped me out. They kept looking at me, singing, strumming about fucking Mary Jane. I wanted to punch the fucking harmless hippie in the face, I instantly felt guilty for thinking that way, and that got my blood pressure boiling even more. I tossed the guy a couple bucks (for what?) and almost ran away. Fight or flight, and i don’t like feeling confrontational like that. Maybe i’m the one who needs Mary Jane more than that guy?
The fact that i gave that guy a couple bucks for annoying me, made me stop being angry at him, and start being angry at myself.
OK, i’ll stop being negative…… I loved the warm weather. Seemed about 80 and sunny. The motel was great. I loved walking the neighborhood in the sun, checking out the old shit in antique stores. Some art. Old record store. I bought an old cowboy shirt at the thrift store / vintage store / whatever you call it. Ate some decent BBQ. Had a Red Stripe Beer (cause i like the shape of the bottle) at the Continental. Talked techie lingo w/ Dell goons for work.
I love Austin (if the hippies would just leave me alone.)
Oh, and I fucking HATE the words Mary Jane.
On a historic note, here’s a view up Congress to the Capital…. before the hippies turned conservatives came:
Here’s how it looks now, after the hippies turned conservatives turned corporate developers came:
OK, i’ll lose some of the hate….. Tattooed hippie girls are ok. I don’t hate them.
-scott noteboom
January 24th, 2009
Headed over to Austin, home of the Lonestar Roundup, tomorrow morning for a couple days to work with a work vendor.
Nope, the corporate travel tool didnt show it, but i’m staying at the good ol’ Austin Motel…. As you can see above, it’s got no additives, no preservatives and has been corporate free since it opened in 1938. What can I say, i’m a sucker for real Americana tradition.
Since i’m in the neighborhood, my as well try to head on over to the Continental Club. Opened as a private supper club in ’57…… to a burlesque club in the ’60….. to one of the finest smaller music venues now. Hell, Willie Nelson digs it and so do I (saw Southern Culture on the Skids last year there.)
Hmmmm. Also thinking about some good Texas BBQ…. or maybe some Guero’s for mexican (which gets a lot of hype, but sorry Texans…. there is much better Mexican food back home in Saint Joe, Califa.)
From a work perspective, we’re checking out vendor stuff to compare with the new still top secret inventions we’re working on. It’s all part of our goal of trying to cool these data centers cheaper and more efficient than Fonzarelli cooled Happy Days. AAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEE! Oh yeah, and to save money and keep the green hippies happy as well.
The stars at night are big and bright…
-scott noteboom
January 21st, 2009
Yes, you are a man and you are a brother.
I believe that one of the things that made Martin Luther King, Jr special was his viewpoint looking forward to the future rather than living in the past. To me, that’s a huge difference between a dream and a nightmare. What is the purpose living and looking into a rear view mirror, unless you either intend to get caught up by the past, or go backwards….
I’m sorry
For something I didn’t do
Lynched somebody
But I don’t know who
You blame me for slavery
A hundred years before I was born
Guilty of being white
I’m a convict
Of a racist crime
I’ve only served
19 years of my time
Guilty of being white
Lincoln. The 13th Amendment. The Civil Rights Movement. MLK. Now we have our first black president being sworn into office tomorrow. Let’s hope we continue to move forward, and lose both the guilt of being white and the pity of being black– both lame stigmas that continue to hold people back.
Judge me for my actions, and i’ll judge you for yours.
-scott noteboom
January 19th, 2009
This picture was taken last June when my daughter graduated from 6th grade. Just saw it and it makes me happy, so i figured i’d post it in these archives so i don’t forget about it. I dig the summer months of the year…
-scott noteboom
January 17th, 2009
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