As we say goodbye to one of the worst presidents in our country's history, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on where I was at during his worst moments. I'll try to see if I can just pick a handful of those moments, since there was so much to choose from.

Let's start with the doozie, Sept 11th, 2001. I'm sure most of us can remember this moment in our lives. Where everything we thought and felt about our safety was shattered. I was at home in Yardley, PA finishing a network design project when I was bombarded with mIRC request. I got to experience 9/11 in the newest of way possible, through my online network. Friends from NYC were mass emailing everyone telling me they were safe, and I had to call home many times to reassure my parents that I was not in NYC at the time. My closest friend, Andrea, was fully on my mind. It was a long and sombering day for me.

A few years later, the US goes to war. A war that I honestly did not look at further then. All I know was that my brother was back in Iraq. I did watch his Mission Accomplish speech on May 1st, 2003. I was in the Bristol house by now, and I do remember watching his speech in my room on the top floor. Wondering how he could proclaim mission accomplished when my brother was to leave for his now 2nd tour of Iraq soon. I didn't think of the many friends that would come through the Britsol house who later would join the war. I look now in hindsight with the rest of the nation, at what an irrisponsible declaration that was.

Hurricane Katrina was so far removed from me at the time, I didn't take much at the storm coming. Everything changed when I spent the entire Monday of August 29th, 2005 watching the news coverage. Seeing homes destroyed, cites level, and mother nature hurl her fury at New Orleans. I had much to think about my life in 2005; moving across the country, buying a house, thinking about my current job, and possibly thinking about a new one. By now, I wanted to know much more about the world around me and to see what our president planned to do to help such an amazing tradgedy in our nation. To see the inept processes to get the simpliest of help to New Orleans anger me. Made me write letters to Senators and Congressmen/women. I feel I'll have to write a more indepth post on these.

Friday was Bush's last attempt to make amends at the last 8 years. It was a 13 min process of peeeling back the scars and slowing rubbing salt into them. I came into the speech with much anger and hatered for a leader that failed us in every way. I left with disgust and a mission to not let others try to rewrite the last 8 years, +4200 lives lost, trillions dollars lost. We need to remember each one of Bush's worst moments, remember where we were, and remember that it cannot happen again.

~Philly

Oh man, someone just sent me Eric B & Rakim's Gold and Easy E's Eternal E.

That brings back some days. My gangsta days growing up in ghetto Spokane, WA. It was so gangsta that some of the kids rode 10 speeds and would try to steal logos from the local Best store.

I do remember the Eric B & Rakim album having some rad beats and lyrics. Those were the only times I think I actually could remember rap lyrics. The fact that most of the songs actually talked about something other than bitches and hos, makes the value of 80s rap millienum better

Here's a good place to start:

Let's trace the hints and check the file 
Let see who bit to detect the style 
I flip the script so they can't get foul. 
At least not now, it'll take a while 
I change the pace to complete the beat 
I drop the bass,'till mc's get weak.

Two things for today.



First, I watch Slumdog Millionaire yesterday, since there was so much hype about it. I rarely agree with critics, since their ideas of a good movie are usually the opposite of mine. This time though, they were completely right.

Slumdog is a great movie. I have to pinpoint to the reason why for me, the storyline. It is very compelling, intricate, and moving. From the very first scenes, where you get two polar opposite settings, it caught my attention. The shorts throughout the movie and Jamal's various relationships, all never seemed unreal or fake movie like. Maybe it was the portrayal of India back then and now.

The characters were amazing and never over the top. Jamal sometimes felt painfully shy and determine, but I can see how love might move you to such motives. Latika was great at the beginning, then, like a swan, gorgeous and strong. Salim was a good character to compare Jamal against, and showed what family and love really do mean.

All in all, a great movie. When it comes out in theatres, I hope others have the chance to see it.

My other note is that the Eagles play today, and we will be winners. Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. Everything is pointing to a win, but our Birds have to stay focus and energized. 4:30 will erupt in Philly at the excitement.

Well, it's another year and this one has to go down as one of the more interesting years I've had. Even compared to '95 when I lived in Hawaii with Julia, and that's saying a lot. I'm plucking memory out of my head, so hopefully I'll get the key thing down.

Starting with last years NYE party, it was fun and had moments of contempt from my friend, let call that person Snark. Still it was great to be around everyone, being silly and ringing in the New Year.

For most of Jan and Feb I was close to moving home as I was still unemployed and running out of my nest egg. It look closed there for Philly. This blog could have been called, Phil in PDX. :) Luckily, I was found by a great company, with a great product, and a perfect environment. I know I've lived a very blessed life and this opportunity was just another amazing event that somehow happened.

Work is great. The people and mission of our company really does make you change your ideas about what's of value in life. Is it money, fame, status? Or is it safety, support, and a feeling of accomplishment? Those are questions I have recently asked myself and my responses are different now then they would have been a year ago.



This year was a year of one of the most engaging election ever. Barack Obama was everything I could see and want from a president. He was the antithesis of GWB. It was satisfying to be able to work for the campaign for the 7 months that I was involved. The election recharged my batteries that stores my hope in others. Everyone involved just wanted to see others succeed. It was never about having the opponent lose, it was about having hope and safety for others. I cried pretty hard when he won. It was tears of utter joy (damn, I'm tearing up now). It was redemption for our country, it was light when it's been so dark, it was hope for a better future for others. That really was the message most of us took away from campaigning.

Summer was fun. Nothing to crazy or wild. Sea Isle was a fun and short trip. I did get back on my bike a lot. It was invigorating and freeing of myself. Headphones and a water bottle took me for miles and back. It was a great way to escape life, bills, relationship, and distractions. I'll have to get a new bike this year.


Fall came with the World Series. Now, I'm not the biggest baseball fan, let's just make sure that's out there. But I am a huge sports fan, and you can't be emotionally engaged when your city is involved and about to do something it hasn't done in 25 years. It was a great series, but I think it was even more memorable because I had the opportunity to experience it in Philly with friends from Philly. I could see how much this meant to them with each pitch and swing. When we won, my emotions could not even be close to those around me. Grown men crying, couples kissing and remembering where they were at that moment, and complete strangers excited for such history. It was a sight to see and I do hope I have a chance to experience it again. I plan to be much more intune with Philly by then.

We had a great championship parade a few days later that had over 2 million people show up on Broad St and the Sports Complex. That was amazing.

I have to thank Sherri and her family for giving me a great place to share my holiday at and a great family to share it with. It was nice to have some semblance of family during the holidays. Even if there was a great sister on sister brawl post Thanksgiving.

We end the year with lots of reflection for the new year. The economy has to rebound. People's lives need to be put back together. Anytime I complain about a bill or distraction in my life, I think of those without homes, jobs, or family and friends. It's scary right now, but I have faith and hope that we as a people will rebound and overcome. My other concern for 2009 is friends. As I grow older, my tolerance for irrationality and selfish acts thin. I have always been as honest as possible with others, and I think this new year will be me being as brutally honest as possible. I just don't see how I am helping those be better people, if I wussy foot with what I have to say. It will suck, and it might bruise some egos, but I don't have the time and tolerance anymore to let me friends stay a course that is destructive. That will be my biggest challenge.

I wish everyone a happy and safe new year. Things look bleak right now, but remember that we do live in a country built on hope and dreams, and I strongly believe we will recapture some of that splendor. Don't give up on others, and don't forget who you are. Those things alone will be needed to make things better.

God Bless.

~Philly

So, I have stayed away from politics on my blog for awhile (actually, it would look like I've stayed away period) but this was too funny and good to pass up. If you think Barack and his team are not having a good time doing this, then you might have missed the irony of the text message last night.

Everyone got their text at 3AM. Haha, as in the Hillary Clinton commercial during the primaries which tried to scare us that something would happen at 3 AM and we needed a leader to answer the call.

At first, I was complete baffled when I got this message in the middle of the night. But the next day, reading a couple blogs and drinking my juice I understood the irony and humor the Obama campaign has. It shows that they see opportunity and innovation, while still loving the job that they do. That's the kind of people we all want to work with, someone who loves what they do.

Biden is a great running mate. He holds the same values as Obama and has incredible message discipline (as shown in the last few days). Joe has much foreign and military experience. But for me, the best attribute for Joe B is that he a blunt. He doesn't ride the middle and will call things like he sees it. I'm once again charged up for Nov 4th!

~Philly

The New York Times has a great article that talked about Jon Stewart and how he's made his show into something that people choose to go to for real news. As a comedy satire news show, it says a lot about what our main stream media has taken our focus.

This clip was a great example of Jon's moral fortitude. His attempt to get these two party pundits to use their time to actually inform America and not spew party lines. It was a moment that I appreciate, a lot.

I hope everyone understands that what they see on the TV is not always real. Even when it's called the news, it's not the truth sometimes. As my dad always said, there's 3 sides to a story, his side, her side, and the truth. If you see something on the news that seems interesting or grabs your attention, please, please, please take a moment to look up the story and make sure what you heard is what it real.

~Philly

So I found this site motivated photes.com, and just cannot get enough of the hilarious posters they've collected. Its things you know you want to say, but just didn't come up with the witty comment quick enough.

Ah, internet humor.

August is coming to a close and it's been another summer that just seems to fly by. Am I getting older that I forget what happens between weekends, months, now years!? Man, I seriously cannot remember what I did last summer.

Oh wait, I know. I was laid off from ASI and took a summer break. Went to Ocean City, MD with the Devlins, NYC for a bit to see some old friends, and a Boston trip, not know what was to be instore the following year with Boston. haha

It's been a good summer I guess. Besides the trip to Sea Isle City, NJ last weekend, things we're pretty calm. DC was a riot, but it always is with Clay, Mike, and Keita. Oh! We had Chloe's grad weekend, which was fun. Bum f*** NJ is a) a treat to drive through, b) confusing as crap with the lack of major road signs, and c) scary with the people you meet.

Only thing left is Yankee stadium on the 30th, and hopefully Fenway.

As for the attached picture? Save your ones, you'll need it to take her to McDonalds.

~Philly

What does life mean to you?

"...When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me - how do I make my way in the world, and how do I become successful and how do I get the things that I want. But now, my life revolves around my two little girls. And what I think about is what kind of world I'm leaving them..." [Obama Father's Day Speech]

I haven't been on for awhile; part life, part work, part just being me. I still will finish my top 10 soon. I have the notes, just need to put them up here.

I wanted to say Happy Father's Day to my dad. I woke his butt up this morning at 7:00 AM his time, but I knew they were going to drag his behind around all day. I love you Dad.

I heard this speech today, and thought about the last question Obama reference, and thought of you and me. Thought about how when I was younger I thought of what the world could and would do for me. Now, I'm beginning to think what I can do for the world and as I prepare to start a family, what I can leave for my family.

That has always been your goal Dad, and I have always seen it. It's when others see it also, that our Dads all just want a better world for us, and that they work so hard to make one for us, it makes me even more proud (if that's possible) to say that you are my father.

We as a family went through some amazing days and incredible experiences. I don't think most families could even come close as to what we went through. And through all that, I always had my rock. My strength, my morals, my energy.

My Dad IS the greatest man on this Earth.

Love you

Philly

So I decided to liven up my blog a bit with something I truly love; music. I'm going to write a top 10 of my most favorite and memorable eletronica tracks and why/where I fell in love with the song.

The best place to start would be #10. Robert Miles - Children. Dream trance, progressive trance, dreamhouse those were categories I had never heard of until this song came out. Blasting into the rave scene in 1995, people were enthralled at the climatic build ups, haunting vocals and incredile melody from the piano. I swear there were times we'd forget that we're driving home from 9 hours of dancing in Seattle on many occasions.

I first hears this song in 1996 in London. I was on a month long History of Arts tour and the first stop was London (actually it was Edinburgh). We all wanted to go out and explore the nightlife and a local told us to check out Cream.

I digress. In 1994 my boss at the time was a DJ in the Portland scene and invited us out to see him spin. It was during the early days of the Portland rave scene, so the groups were small, everyone knew each other, and the music was minimal. Oh yeah, and we all parties pretty hard. It was that night listening to Adam spin that I realized I love Trance and all music electronica. I danced until 4:00 AM and only stopped to realized that my legs were completely gone. That night ingrained in my mind that this is how a perfect night could happen. Ever since, I've partied in 13 states and 4 countries looking for the next great experience.

Back to Cream. I, by that time, had seen some BIG venues but Cream blew those ideas of magnitude out the door! Once a warehouse for tractor trailers, it was converted to a 3 storied open-air club. It fit +3000 people and had no neighbors to complain about the noise level. Our collective jaws dropped as we approached. It was like walking up to the Kingdome in Seattle and THAT was the club.

We partied, we danced, we met people from all over Europe; we even got carded, only to be of age! It was amazing! I can remember every lighting feature, every area of the the dance floor, what the crowds looked like from the many catwalks. I could not think of anything getting better until I can hear the haunting piano from Robert Mile's - Children. I lost it at the point. My best friend Rick knew the song too and we went ballistic and start screaming like mad.

It's like those many scenes you see in movies, when everything is slow motion, the music's still playing, everyone is smiling at each other, everyone's dancing. You see that scene and you can only think of happiness. That was me, that was us. We soaked in one of the coolest moments in our lives, with strangers from various countries, on a whole new continent, with the most incredile song playing.

It's moments like that, which will always make me love electronica. I've built some of the greatest memories from songs at that moment in time. I hope you will be able to live through those moments as I count down the rest.

~Philly

This just makes me smile and miss Portland a bit. My parents, niece, sister and brother-in-law (and many friends) got the chance to see and hear Obama speak. I got a message from my mom on Friday that they were going to see him speak and I told them that it's a treat and don't come late. Just from my pass experiences in seeing him in Philly and DC. So they venture out 5 hours before the schedule time and still had to wait in a line that stretched 15-20 blocks in to downtown Portland.

This has to be the longest 36 hours I've had to wait in a long time. It's like Christmas Eve and you will do anything to stay up, only until your parents let you open a present or fall asleep next to the presents in sheer exhaustion.

During my hiatus from the full time working world, I used to write for a friend of mine doing PlayStation 3 game reviews for an online gaming website. It was out of convenience for him, since we've know each other for 4 years and both addicts of games. I also was only a handful of people who used to do QA for game developers and was a fanboy of the PS3, so it was a good match for us. I would get early release copies for review and even an occasional paycheck. As a part time working geek, this was perfect for me.

Free lance reviewers get no love or acclaim, most just do it because it gives us a chance to play a game all the way through and write about it. Some do it for lofty goals of journalism and writing experience. I was the former, since I had time on hand and liked to write.

Grand Theft Auto IV comes out this Tuesday, it's a game 4 years in the waiting for most of us. After Grand Theft Auto 3 - San Andreas, most gamers were completely overwhelm with what RockStar (the developers) could continue to accomplish. From the size of the sandbox world they dropped you in, to the multitude of people, vehicles, missions, and plotlines most of us in the gaming world were taken back at their accomplishment. We all had grand ideas for the 4th installment, and could not wait to see what RockStar would do. I think I beat San Andreas three times just to re-experience some of the amazing details and technology which was introduced in the game. I've gotten a chance to play a few minutes and some multi player of GTA4 during a game convention in New York, so my hunger has been growing ever since.

For a great review and some in-game action, you can see Gametrailer's latest review: Grand Theft Auto IV

The true geek in me will come out in the next few days, as I anxiously wait for Tuesday night.

I've definitely cut back on interaction with the gaming world. Mainly out of personal time constraint, or because most of my friends have moved away from the community also. We still get together for a fragtastic session. I also get the occasional reviewer's copy of a game I know nothing about, and I have to be honest to the company and tell them I no longer review games. Some games I open out of interest and play a few minutes and realize that I shouldn't continue or my review will be U-G-L-Y. Out of +20 reviews, I've given 6 negative reviews (that I remember). I don't want to be on that list among developers. haha.

Next weekends plans have all been put on hold. I love my friends' response to my reasoning, "Nerd."

In my time of gaming mediation, please send pizza and Jolt.

~Philly

March Madness has come and gone. Again, I am the big loser. For a guy that loves most college sports and follows my Alma mater religiously, I never seem to get it right. The closest I've ever come was 4th place, with of course good ole Gonzaga lost it for me.

Oh the woes of PAC-10 and WCC. This year I got sucked into the West Coast hype. We had one of the toughest schedules in the nation. With 6 of the PAC-10 teams rank nationally for 3 week straight, how could followers be wrong. Well, we didn't look to the fact that the ACC and Best East were monsters again. We saw the speed of Stanford and USC, but not the talent of North Carolina and Memphis. I thought the power and raw skills of UCLA's Kevin Love was enough, until he met the precision of Andre Allen and Joey Dorsey.

Another year that I land in the bottom.

And next year, I'll make my homer picks again. Oregon had the 6th best recruiting class (Scout.com) in the nation for basketball. There goes another $20.

~Philly

So, I've been out of the loop for a bit.

It's been for a good reason. I started my new job March 31th and love the crap out of it. Completely new industry, completely new way of thinking. Coming from a semi-corporate world of ASI, to a full blown world of TRF.

TRF stands for The Reinvestment Fund, which is a financial institution for the development of neighborhood revitalization. They do not work with individual, but groups or developers to help community. And the are Non-Profit.

The concept of nonprofit has always interested me, but to see it and meet those that work in the area is amazing. Some Foundations that work as nonprofit are large and have a global reach, but I get to also meet those individual that just want to give back to their community. It's amazing to meet everyone.

I have to say that each day I leave, I feel that I'm not only furthering my career and experience, but I'm doing something good for my community. It's a different feeling and I appreciate each day for it.

I'm just glad to be back in the corporate world. And happy that I get to wage war against my bank account again, hopefully coming out a winner once in a while.

~Philly

Honestly, after hearing, seeing, and experiencing some of the grosses acts of police violence, how can people say the words of Jeremiah Wright be not truthful.

This was a peaceful march on 3/14/08, in protest for the Tibetan people. Obviously, we don't know what happened to stir the police, but can you see irony of physical violence towards a peace march in front of the United Nations building.

Sometimes people make such a correct point about something, others are afraid of its truthfulness and call it blasphemy.

~Philly

This is a personal comment for me. I've been hearing this from everyone I've met and read it from others online, and I'm just confused and amazed at the lengths people go to make a point. So for anyone who's been taken back from my political comments, you should skip the rest and go to the end where I say goodbye.

**Why do people need to have Barack Obama tell the world that he now hates and would never associate with Jeremiah Wright?! Why does someone have to throw away a friendship of a person you respect, over something the public does not understand? Are people so blinded about their own personal racism; they only see 3 words said by a person, not the whole message and make definitive judgement?

I've been assaulted by others who say that Barack should explain his relationship with Rev. Wright. I ask them, what they need explaining? Do they want to know what they talked about for the +20 years they were friends? Do they need a schedule of their events to make sure none were for some Black Panther gathering? Are they surprise that Barack and Jeremiah are friends? Given what they see on TV about Obama, and the less than 5 min of Jeremiah Wright. It baffles me that people are so quick to make judgement about a person, or someone's relationship with very little knowledge. These same people are unwavering in light of facts. They demand absolute reconciliation from Obama for another man's words (taken out of context) and denouncement of a +20 year friendship, for something they know little of.

Even if you like the words Jeremiah Wight said or not, who are we to make judgement on him and Obama. Who are we to say we've NEVER thought a racist or sexist thought about another person. That we never

In the +20 years they've known each other; Barack Obama has become a State Senator, US Senator, and front runner as a Presidential nominee, all while maintain his good Christian faith and idealistic hopes. The same hope that every church in America preaches each Sunday.

It's a shame that Obama's speech on racism feel on deaf ears. He talked to us as adults. Explained how other see our country. Gave insight on what we are doing each day. Still most lost the point and continue to reciprocate those explained feelings.**

OK, that just needed to get out. Sorry for boiling up all this political stuff. It gets harder as I become more and more involve. I understand now about the 70s, about why others were so passionate about politics, why people became involved.

~Philly

I'm having problems with the way politics are heading this season. What started as something I truly am passionate about, I'm beginning to become disturb by the atmosphere. Not about my choices for supporting Obama, but about how others are driven at great lengths to not have him win.

This was a recent editorial opinion in the Oregonian (state's largest paper) by writer David Reinhard. Read Here.

I'm utterly disgusted by the actions of another to ruin the opportunity of someone for their own benefit. This is my response sent to all the editors and department heads. If you feel the same, please send your comments to them as well.

"Greetings,

In a recent article from writer David Reinhard (3/16/08), Mr Reinhard suggested Oregon Republicans and Independents re-register to the Democratic Party to continue and "have fun" in the Democratic Primaries. Not about legitimately supporting a candidate or wanting to improve our nation. Making light of our voting rights, which others have fought and died for. Asking if the action is unethical, but justifying it by calling it political. Those are some strong suggestions.

In a time when we face a recession, losing homes and jobs throughout our country, and +4000 lives are lost in a war; I feel Mr Reinhard's suggestion of others muddling in the election of our next president is a disservice to your paper and your readers.

What you are suggesting, Mr Reinhard, is voter fraud. You are not suggesting your readers to make a choice for their country, you are suggesting them to temporarily and fraudulently lie.

Mr Reinhard suggesting the idea and those making the decision have their 1st Amendment right to do so. Citizens in Ohio are facing possible felony charges for this act, you are now suggesting your readers to the same. I hoped that as a voice for the people, the Oregonian would spend its time educating and helping it's readers make informed decisions, not asking them to lie.

Even though I've moved away from Oregon, I have always called it my home. This article has made me sad to see that some might have lost the optimistic and open views I learned growing up in Oregon. I truly hope the Oregonian does not share these views, as I know some of your readers do not.

Thank you and best regards,

Phil Vu"

I really hope we, as a nation, come out of this bipartisan behavior and figure out that we are the ones causing things to go downhill. Not some president or government, us.

~Philly

I have to say how I love the ability to distort a view point by taking 5 seconds of a +6 min sermon. Those three words by themselves have caused an uproar in this nation, but the sermon should be listen by those who are using those same words indifferently.

The sermon has meaning about all of us, about our country, about it's future. Three strong words do not make a person. It's a shame.

I honestly just don't understand the publics lack of want, to have a man of such character in the office. I'm still a bit moved by this speech, so just wanted to put it here.

I'll come back to comment on this.