Final Thoughts on 2010

(UPDATED: December 2, 2011)

My blog has never had so much support and fanfare and attention. Let me share with you my thoughts on 2010 for John's Blog Space. This involves things like salutes and respect to all of my loyal readers and fans. This is a chance for me to share my mind with all of you on my blog. This blog post is my final post of 2010.

--- Thoughts on 2010 for "John's Blog Space" ---

Each heading indicates certain ideas I think about for my blog this year.

Keeping Track.

--- FEEDJIT ---
I tried out a number of things to keep track of my audience while also thinking of new ways to push my content. I've used FEEDJIT to see my international readers. I am someone who believes that ANYTHING posted online is seen by the world. Because of this, I want to make something for international audiences to enjoy. Why do I do this? I want to know that my work is viewed worldwide. It isn't stalking or anything- I just want to feel happy knowing that people around the world are viewing my content. All of my content is mostly my own with some pictures from around the Internet.

A good thing about FEEDJIT is that I learn how people accessed my blog. Some people make searches and find John's Blog Space. I sometimes read these search results because sometimes, it helps me to edit my blog to better service my readers. I may need to make some important edits to keep my material fresh and understandable based on search results I get. If I don't do this, then my blog goes flat. My goal is to appease to you with my content. I have to keep everything going strong to continually keep my blog strong. I want you to keep coming back to my blog to enjoy my content.

A good sign of FEEDJIT is when I find that people visit my blog through Email subscriptions. This makes me feel happy because people are actually subscribed to my blog via Email and are getting the latest note on my latest blog posts. It may also apply to people who share my blog posts via Email. Regardless, I'm glad you all are sharing my blog posts. I've worked really hard to make my blog relevant and enjoyable.

--- MyBlogLog ---
I check my views and readers on MyBlogLog to see how I did from the previous day. The fear was that MyBlogLog was shutting down, but it's still on. The only service that went away that I used was Bloglines. Each night at 12:00 Pacific Time (2:00 AM in Central Time), I check on my recorded material from the previous day to see who all visited and for what. This gives a baseline for what all I've worked on and what all I have worked for.

--- DISQUS ---
I then installed DISQUS to better police comments to my blog. This resulted in a decrease in spam and any personal attacks. I even got more involvement from my readers as a result. You could respond with DISQUS with any sort of social media services. The one thing that pains me, though, is that I wished I could get just a little more involvement for many of my blog posts.

--- wibiya ---
More recently, I installed a wibiya toolbar to enhance the overall viewability of my content. I noted my content became a bit more evenly distributed. I even picked up some Twitter comments for my work.


The moral of this section? NEVER stop trying to find ways to push your content! Look for anything to help push your blog further. Don't be content with what you have; press forward like you're still trying to become relevant!

Attention and Involvement.

You never know who actually visits your blog and appreciates your content. Let me share with you a brief look at some of the people who visited my blog and commented.

• I blogged about the Aquila CR1 Sports GT. One person from Aquila saw my material and commented a LOT more on it. I learned a lot more about the CR1 Sports GT.

• My blog posts "Plus Size Fashion" and "Sweet Petite!" seemed to get me noticed and some attention. I noted how a model named Shay Shaunte' was beautiful and attractive as a plus size model. The point of "Plus Size Fashion" was to discuss plus size fashion. The attention I got for my work was wonderful. I even got to meet a beautiful young lady from Ireland who has a blog called "Pearls, Lace and Ruffles : a fatshion blog" via Twitter. On the petite fashion front, TJ Petite linked to my "Sweet Petite!" blog post and even followed me on Twitter. It was great to know a company admired my work to where I got attention.

• My blog entry called "Androgyny in Fashion and Art" was fully inspired by a very handsome male model named David Paris. In total surprise, I never thought David Paris himself would comment on my work. I guess what I shown was change perceptions. The Australian (and half-Swedish) male beauty was mostly pleased that someone on the Internet would post such kind words about someone. The perception I might have changed is that there aren't average people on the Internet that don't do anything but post hateful material about others. I am a straight male, but I complimented David Paris as having genderless beauty. He is very beautiful and handsome and boasts divine beauty. As the blog became more popular, I started adding more androgynous models to spice things up. Maybe the most popular one of the ones I posted is Nagel Lanväettir. Nagel is such an androgynous beauty that his looks and body would make even some girls jealous of his lovely looks.

• When Tom Penders resigned as coach of the University of Houston's men's basketball team, I never thought I would receive a comment from a very respectful person who had spirited commentary on the athletics situation at the University of Houston. It really added some credibility to my blog post.

• Perhaps one of the largest surprises was when I blogged about the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Spain when I got a tweet from the Ricardo Tormo Circuit's Twitter feed complimented my work. I followed Ricardo Tormo Circuit's Twitter feed in return.

• A young lady saw my blog on braided/plaited hair and wanted to start her own online resource on braided/plaited hair. It was a sign that someone appreciated my work to where she came along with her own deal catering to these hairstyles. That store is called 3Trends Beauty.

• My blog post on the duPONT Registry was well-liked and resepcted by the duPONT Registry that I got some kind comments from them as well as some Twitter re-tweets of my blog post.

• Maybe the biggest and most heartwarming deal was when a man from the Philippines admired my work so much that he was looking for ways to get his blog more attention and involvement. As a friend, I wanted his blog to flourish and prosper. I talked about it and all. Sadly, there was some malware on the site, and I've been unable to access it since. Still... if you're out there, Warren, I wish you the best in all aspects of life.

The biggest thing to take away from all of this is... you never know who actually views your work! You may think people are just dropping by and leaving without offering anything in return, but that's not true. Some people really enjoy quality work. I offer my own commentary on almost anything that crosses my mind and get noticed. I have a professional mindset and vision for my blog, but I am casually professional in my work. To EVERYONE whom have visited my blog and commented- whether an average person or someone even remotely famous, THANK YOU for your support and your commentary! That even includes family members of mine whom have taken note of my blogging work.

Pleasant Surprises.

You know, I try to do this blog with professionalism while also having a hobby-like aspect to it. This is where I get to experience certain things that end up being unexpected surprises. Allow me to share some of my pleasant surprises in blogging from this year.

One of the biggest pleasant surprises was seeing how my blog has evolved over time. I would struggle to get to 100 daily views for John's Blog Space earlier this year via MyBlogLog. Nowadays, I get at least 500 daily blog views from MyBlogLog's stats. MyBlogLog reports anywhere between 500-1000 daily views on my best days. Blogger's own stats, however, say my blog usually gets between 2,900 to 3,900 blog hits daily now. I rarely surpass the 4,000 mark often times.

Another pleasant surprise is just how many males have visited my blog post on men's ankle boots. I never thought I would generate so much attention for discussing men's ankle boots. I don't usually discuss men's fashion because I'm mostly into feminine fashion and more comfortable discussing feminine fashion. Still, it's great to get some attention however you can.

By far, the BIGGEST pleasant surprise 2010 was when my blog post on my first impressions of the kiosk demo of Gran Turismo 5. For one time in my life, I felt like my work was relevant. I thanked Jordan (GTPlanet.net owner and administrator) for his great work and for linking to my blog. What that experience showed was two things- (1) the strength of Gran Turismo around the world, and (2) the strength of GTPlanet. Other websites even linked to my blog post on the GT5 kiosk demo. Never before has my work been so widely-viewed and respected.

On YouTube and in my blog, the pleasant surprise of knowing that my work has inspired others has helped me feel better inside. I feel great knowing that I have positively influenced others with my work. Someone whom I was most touched by was a young girl from the Philippines who says that I am someone who cheers her up when she's down. She has her own blog here on Blogger/Blogspot called Ericaritish. She also has a second blog where she wants to showcase her literary skills. Have a look at SEE YOU AT THE END.

These pleasant surprises have been nothing short of amazing. I am forever thankful for all whom have supported my work.

Expanding Audience to the South Pacific.

When I became fascinated with the South Pacific, I wanted to blog about it. So I launched "Oceania and the South Pacific" back in late September. Before the sort of South Pacific attention I got, I mostly got blog hits from Australia, New Zealand, one hit from Vanuatu, and sometimes Fiji. Since launching the "Pacific and Oceania" blog label, I've gotten blog hits from American Samoa, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, and most recently, Nauru.

The biggest boost to getting a South Pacific audience was the 2010 Miss South Pacific Pageant in Papua New Guinea. With the traffic I was getting for it, I tried to enhance my material to better service my South Pacific audience. I discussed how beautiful all eleven ladies were, including the MSPP 2010 winning (and who I am a fan of) Miss Cook Islands Joyana Meyer.

It was both a project and an experiment- and it worked. I want to thank everyone from the South Pacific for even caring to visit my blog. I never thought I would get such attention through my efforts to discuss the South Pacific in my blog.

Starting Two More Blogs.

I welcome all of my readers to my universe. It is a universe full of content from my mind as well as various commentaries of mine. I felt the need to create two more blogs to expand my universe to the online public. Therefore, I created "John's Shop Space" and "John's Gran Turismo Space." John's Shop Space and John's Gran Turismo Space were created for two different reasons. I created "John's Shop Space" in hopes that many of my readers can get to check out and shop for content online. Involvement has been mostly poor as it receives so few views. Then too, JSS was not really meant to be a traffic cow for my online material. John's Gran Turismo Space was started to better service my Gran Turismo fans. It all featured my own comments and resources on the Gran Turismo series. It was my first attempt at making a niche blog. Sadly, it hasn't resulted in a lot of views. I am still proud to devote a blog to the Gran Turismo series even after posting a lot of videos on Gran Turismo.

More Houston/Galveston Content.

As important as making material for an international audience is to me, I must not forget about the United States and my hometown of Houston. So I included a "Houston/Galveston" label to better service my hometown people. Maybe my biggest blog post in this category was on my favorite on-air TV personalities in Houston news. I am even surprised how people from other nations visit my blog to learn a little more about my hometown.

Fashion.

The impact of my fashion-themed material was pretty nicely felt. I've come across some people whom have loved my material. One of my supporters is the lovely Belgian beauty named Cindy, better known as Glamour Bbey. Closer to home, there were two beautiful curvy girls whom I've followed on Blogspot named Lucia (of Hello Lucie!) and Emmy (of SELECTIVE MEMORY). I came across two beautiful young Indonesian fashion bloggers I want to give mention to. Chekka Cuomova has her own lovely pictures and fashions along with the candy-sweet and fashionable cutie Michelle Koesnadi of Glisters and Blisters. Principessa Gabriella was a blog I came across once apart from "Pearls, Lace and Ruffles : a fatshion blog." The fashion princess (Principessa is Italian for "princess") is a very beautiful young lady with a lovely sense of fashion. Later, I followed Gabi Gregg's Young, Fat, and Fabulous and Allison's Curvy Girl Chic after reading Teen Vogue magazine and loving both of their sense of style. The Irish beauty of Pearls, Lace and Ruffles ; a fatshion blog was a blog I loved reading since she followed me on Twitter. Her voice is very sweet.

It was tough to name so many people on here. However, I love all the different blogs I follow. That even includes the lovely pictures in blogs like tuolomee and Estonian fallie. Interesting thing is how many some of the different blogs I follow have been featured in Teen Vogue magazine.

The Hair Blog Posts.

Most of my blog posts regarding hair are mostly digests of hair-themed blog posts have been my most widely-viewed blog posts. I give no information on maintaining hair or anything, but it still ended up being vastly-viewed blog posts. It began with "Long Hair" back in January. I ended up adding more content to it based on the traffic I was getting. I later did a blog post about how beautiful wedding hairstyles can be. This also resulted in a lot of blog hits worldwide. It was very pleasing that more people were noticing my blog posts. I then tried to take on a few more blog posts on hair. This time, on braided/plaited hair. I mentioned earlier about the lady who loved my blog post that she wanted to make her own store called 3Trends Beauty. As with the other two hair-themed blog posts, this also got a fair share of hits worldwide. It's even nice to see where in the world people have viewed my work. It is even a nice cultural deal knowing who all in the world views your content. I've gotten some decent attention from a variety of African nations for the blog on braided hair.

The Topics That Weren't Posted.

I try to blog about anything in a professional manner, but there are some topics that were a bit risky for me to post. There were a few topics that I thought would disgrace my readers and subscribers. I think posting a blog on a certain subject could give me some negative looks. So therefore, I avoided posting certain blog posts and discussing certain things. I wanted to avoid mostly posting topics that could get my parents or certain friends to look at me strange. Thing is, it's my blog, and I am my own boss. I am responsible for myself here.

As a by-product of certain topics, they've resulted in a good series of blog hits. Maybe one of my biggest gambles was in discussing androgynous males. I then also attempted to discuss same-sex relationships. So some of those controversial topics were more along the lines of GLBT issues. One other blog post I was careful to discuss concerned males wearing feminine fashions. This is where I discussed males wearing feminine clothes. Despite the subject matter, it was NOT about crossdressing. It was about males wearing feminine clothing for fashion and style. There are men who will wear high heels, skirts, or just about any feminine garment for the purpose of fashion and style.

I am looking to take a few more chances for 2011 with a few more topics that... may not be for everyone. Most important to me, however, is keeping everything friendly for all the world to see. What ticks me off sometimes is when someone posts some sort of pornographic or offensive image that's really unnecessary to post. I know there are people who'd rather view adult material online rather than read a semi-decent blog, but I care about keeping things world-friendly and safe for work. And if a blog post isn't safe for work (or may not be), I put in a Jump Break to keep my world-friendly material active.

--- A Hopeful Outlook for 2011? ---

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions, but if there were things I hope to accomplish in 2010, here are some

More Involvement.

The ratio of blog hits to comments on blog posts is pretty low. If I somehow get 3,000+ views to get so few comments and responses, that's saying I can get hits, but not much involvement. I look at various other blog posts and see a great stream of comments from various users. I struggle to get even a few comments from others. On a positive note with involvement, though, more people are viewing external links I post in certain blog entries. It feels great knowing that people are actually reading and interacting with my material. I just wish I can get more fans and comments from my readers and subscribers.

More Google Followers.

Again, this goes back to involvement. If you love my blog and my work, PLEASE follow my blog with Google Friend Connect. I call my fans as my "shining stars." I want to get more Shining Stars who love my blog. It's sad that while I get hits... I don't get fans who actually announce themselves.

More Hits.

I don't know what some other blogs get in terms of views, but I want to get more hits from more people around the world. I will always look for more ways and topics to get more hits. I will also utilize both Facebook and Twitter to keep getting more hits.

More Facebook Fans.

I will not spend money just to get more fans. I think there are people who love my work, but don't want to show it further by becoming fans. Lots of people have Facebook. Lots of people use the Internet. Why not show some love for me here by becoming a fan of mine on Facebook?

More FeedBurner Subscriptions.

FeedBurner is the one I try to follow most because I have no other way to gauge my other subscriptions. Some blogs and websites have three-figure and even five-figure FeedBurner subscribers while the most I've ever gotten (as of the date of this blog post) was about 62 for John's Blog Space. My all-time highest FeedBurner Reach (as of the date of this blog post) is 66. Keep showing your support!

(Positive) Media Attention?

I would like for one day or one time to feel like a superstar or feel respected. I am just a casual guy who operates solo, but just to feel like I've won the respect of many people would make be feel great. Part of me says that my big break will come. Either I become featured in Houston media, have an interview on a major website, get some TV time, or something along those lines. I have never felt important to very many people almost... ever. I do think that through my blogging efforts, I may get that big break that pushes me over the top. Will that moment come in 2011? I can only hope. Someone has to really give me that chance and have enough faith in me to be so supportive of my work. I want to be that casual fellow who blogs professionally... though not a professional and earns readers and subscribers on content, rather than anything really flashy.


This outlines a positive outlook I have for 2011. All I need is your (as in you reading my blog right now) support. Will you help me reach a level I long to aspire to? Please?

--- What I Want For All of my Readers and Subscribers ---

Besides obviously wishing everyone a happy and safe 2010, I just want to thank all of you. It is tough to say "thank you" in plain text. I don't post videos of my own in my blog (unless through YouTube), so this is the best I can do online. I want you to get more involved with my content. When I say that I want you to subscribe to my blog or become a fan of mine on Facebook, I don't require you to do so, but I would appreciate if you show me some support for my work. All I ask- let me know that you enjoy my work. If there is a way to gauge how work is distributed, I want to know so I can gauge if I am actually see if my work is as appreciated as I think/hope it is. This is all that I have- it's a hobby for me, but I still take my blog seriously and professionally. For a guy that doesn't have much of anything, this is the least I can do for the Internet.

Most of all- thank you so much. There are a lot of times where nobody would give me attention or the time of day. I never started to feel more relevant than when I got subscribers on YouTube and fans of my blog. I can only hope that I may actually become better respected and honored by many more people. I don't want to become the next best online superstar- I prefer being AT LEAST one of YOUR favorites. This is all that I ask for. Nothing more, nothing less. Have I done enough to win your respect? Have I done enough to positively waste your time? Is my work enjoyable that you'll come back for more? Don't answer those questions in comments- just answer these for yourself and surprise me a bit with your input.





Just to say one last time- Happy New Year and thank you for a momentous 2010! I post the blog entries, but it's up to you to make my content relevant. You gave me a chance and liked my efforts (I hope). I will keep providing quality content for all of you. I will not post anything unless I am confident that it can get some attention and respect from others. Remember- my blog and its positive progress means nothing without your support. So keep supporting and respecting my work. Keep sharing my blog and its entries with others. Keep commenting. Keep checking out JBS, but also visit John's Shop Space and John's Gran Turismo Space. If you have Facebook and love my blog, PLEASE "like" my Facebook fan page! Visit my YouTube channel to see some of my video work. My videos may not be the best, but it is far from the worst. Even for a low-key YouTube channel, I've garnered over 350 subscribers in my now third year on YouTube. Thank you if you never stopped caring or believing in my work! Last thing I want to do is disappoint anyone who I feel I can easily win over. You have my word- I'm not stopping my blog or YouTube work until I'm absolutely done with either or both.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for a great 2010! I hope to keep up the great work for 2011 and beyond. I have you all to thank for the support and for never giving up on me. Have a happy and blessed 2011, everyone! And one last thing...

Love and peace! ^_^ And yes... this is me- the creator of John's Blog Space! Nice to meet you! :D

Thank you for reading! Subscribe to my blog via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Click on the graphics below to subscribe to both of my blogs, and also Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page:
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Pajama Jeans... REALLY?

"Pajamas you can live in, jeans you'll sleep in."

-Pajama Jeans slogan

Some people will make anything to get some dopes to eventually buy them. The latest? Pajama jeans! If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me explain. I did a blog post regarding Sleep and Lounge Fashion, and talk of pajamas (among others) was the focal point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a denim diva of some kind. However, it must be very lazy to have these so called "pajama jeans" on the market. The only redeeming quality of these is that is that you can wear jeans in your sleep (and other things you normally do wearing your underwear or sleeping clothes). So you don't have to soil your real jeans around the house- you can just wear these pajama jeans! Here is a look at these:


^ from: momfabulous.com - Pajama jeans. Would YOU wear them? Would you BUY them?

Here's the infomercial on pajama jeans:


For many people, it's absolutely lazy to wear pajama pants out in public. This will therefore make the appeal of pajama jeans to be an added bit of comfort. The way I understand it, these "pajama jeans" are more like a pair of pajamas you can confidently wear inside or [especially] outside the house without feeling like you're still in your sleeping clothes. You can go to places and wear proper bottoms... though they are pajama pants designed like denim jeans.

Walletpop.com had an article online expressing its own views on these pajama jeans. To paraphrase, walletpop.com thought these jeans are the ultimate sign of laziness. It's a sign of laziness in that people would rather wear pajama pants (or certain kinds of loungewear) rather than wear a proper pair of jeans. To read the full post, find out why Aaron Crowe questions what do 'pajama jeans' say about Americans.

The real issue of this whole thing is that some people are too lazy to wear proper clothes that some have to resort to something like this. Some are lazy enough to wear pajama pants casually, so this only adds to the lazy appeal of not wearing something semi-decent. As much as I'd be embarrassed to wear a Snuggie, I'd be even more embarrassed to wear these pajama jeans (of course, if I were a female). And do you really think these will be every bit as fashionable as any basic pair of jeans.

You know why jeans are so wearable and fun? It's because of the various washes, styles, fits, and more that make jeans so wearable for males and females alike. Pajama jeans are just a sign of two things- laziness and putting something on the market so laughable that is so stupid that someone will actually buy it. No one person would want to wear any real jeans around the house, and that's the only quality I see to these pajama jeans.

Buying Things... Just 'Cause.

Still, the fact that someone would come up with something like this is a sign that some people will haplessly spend money on things no matter how stupid they are. It's almost like, "would you actually buy this?" Some would. It's like the sort of randomness I don't buy into. If it's all about buying something just to say you actually bought it, it's sad. It means you actually got something just to made a fool of by people. Who actually WANTS that?

Pardon me if I don't have a serious sense of humor or anything, but I don't see the point of just getting something just to say you actually bought it. Even I wanted (for example) the Virtual Boy a long time ago despite the fact it failed so bad. Thing is- I actuallly wanted one because I wanted to enjoy the gaming experience; not just because I say I actually owned one. You don't just spend money on any piece of crap just to say you owned one. It's as cheap of attention to me as being tagged in pictures and videos that don't actually include you.

Pajamas and Sleeping Footwear as Casual Clothes.

I wore pajama pants while doing some Christmas light watching. I was taken for a ride in a car in a sightsteeing deal. Didn't get out of the car in public in my pajamas, though. Some people do wear pajama pants in public like they couldn't find anything better to wear for bottoms. Same goes for wearing certain sleeping shoes out in public. So actually having these pajama jeans (as opposed to traditional jeans) is just increased laziness. More options to dress lazily. Do you REALLY want that?





But if you want to get these pajama jeans, I'm not stopping you. Learn more about these pajama jeans or buy your own pair by visiting pajamajeans.com. What do you make of these pajama jeans?

Thank you for reading! Subscribe to my blog via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Click on the graphics below to subscribe to both of my blogs, and also Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page:
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Natalie

(UPDATED: March 14, 2012)

A former Houston Rockets Power Dancer named Natalie had music listeners goin' crazy hearing the voice and experiencing the energy of a beautiful singer from Clear Lake, Texas, USA. Natalie, or "Nat Boogie," is a rhythm and blues-type singer that also has a pop and a hip-hop edge. She also does a good deal of dancing as well. Her first album in 2005 was a self-titled album that helped set the tone for what many could expect from her. That pace would get a little change of pace when her second album, "Everything New" shown up in 2006. This blog entry concerns the beautiful Natalie and her lovely music.

LATEST UPDATE:

MAR 12 2012 - simple edits made

--- How I Discovered Natalie ---

Before I go any further, here is the beautiful Natalie below:

^ from: amazon.com - Natalie Alvarado. She went from Houston Rockets Power Dancer to making her own slam dunk in music.

It was 2005 when there was a very sweet-sounding song playing on the radio. One girl was singing sweetly to a very smooth and soothing song. This girl was goin' crazy with such a beautiful song playing on the radio. Back when 4Kids TV used to be on FOX (nowadays on the CW network), one Saturday morning was dedicated to Natalie and her hot song, "Goin' Crazy." I was drawn to her and her singing easily. I even got a peek of "Goin' Crazy" during commercials. The morning was capped off with a show called "The Menu," which featured Natalie singing one of her other songs, "Energy" with Baby Bash.

One day, I was convinced at Natalie's singing that I wanted to get her CD. So I went out to a Walmart and got her album. Ever since, I was sold on Natalie and her singing. Natalie somehow manages to combine hip-hop flow (I think she used to do freestyle rap) while also blending in some R and B and pop in her music. The end result is a unique blend of music that only enhances her outstanding flow of music. In addition to her hit song, "Goin' Crazy," a makeup line started by Zalia Cosmetics was set up called... "Goin' Crazy."

Since then, I've had nothing but respect for this beautiful and talented singer. Yep- Natalie arrived.

--- "Natalie" (2005) ---

The same Natalie that had fans goin' crazy back in 2005 had many more songs to please fans. I'll name a few of them and offer some comments.

Goin' Crazy.

This was the song that marked the arrival of Natalie. This easily makes my list of favorite songs of the 2000s (2001-2010) if I came up my All-Star list of songs for this decade. It somehow combined sweet singing along with a hip-hop style of flow. It is a smooth love song, but it also has a kick of hip-hop to freshen up the formula. Have a look at this video to experience this hit song yourself:

^ courtesy of the YouTube channel NatalieVEVO


There are more songs than just this one! Here are some other favorites of mine:

Other Favorite Songs.

Here are some of my other favorites with some brief comments on them.

• "Energy" - not as crazy about it, but still worth listening. Features Baby Bash.
• "Better Get it Right" - hip-hop flow with some sweet singing and beats. Features Max Minelli.
• "You Don't Love Me No More" - a fun song with sweet singing. Later, she goes into a little freestyle that adds some great charm to this song.
• "Stay" - Natalie sings to a soothing set of instruments. No beats- just Natalie, her angelic singing, and her unique hip-hop flow
• "Something About You" - with Russell Lee, this is a melodic and fun sung wonderfully by both Natalie and Russell.
• "You're the One" - this song somehow both soothing and bumpin' (if I may use that word). LOVELY song.
• "Emptiness" - this song has a very nice beat and flows very nicely.
• "Where Are You?" - what can I say- I LOVE this song! Justin Roman joins Natalie, and both sing beautifully in this sweet song.

Not to be outdone, there's also a Spanish version of "Goin' Crazy" that is featured in this CD.

--- "Everything New" (2006) ---

Natalie wanted to change things up a year later for her second CD, Everything New. If I had one bit of criticism for her first CD, maybe it was that there weren't as many bumping songs. Not as many bangers. Otherwise, her first CD was fantastic. The second CD had a few more impactful-sounding songs. So with Natalie trying to change things up for her second album and keep up the great work from the previous CD.

Here are some of my favorites from this CD with some added commentary:
• "All of My Life" - one of my favorite songs from this CD. Sweet singing and sweet music with some sweeter beats.
• "Heartbreaker" - very fun and girly song. Pretty much dedicated to the flirtatious girls out there! :)
• "Slow Dance" - funky cool from the beats to the singing. You almost swear this song has a '70s vibe to it.
• "Turnin' Me On" - heavy on the beats along with some awesome singing! Great to listen to.
• "Everything New" - more hip-hop flow than sweet singing, Natalie has no problem dropping sick rhymes in this song.

The only song I didn't make mention to but liked was "What You Gonna Do?" featuring Port Authur, Texas native and Houston hip-hop legend Bun-B. There is also a bonus song (name undisclosed) that is also lovely to listen to. As a preview, here is a brief lyric: "...I love you so..."

--- What I Would Tell Natalie (if she were to read this) ---

Even five years since arriving on the music scene, I still have great respect for you on both in music and away from music. Whatever you are up to or have been up to lately, I wish you the best in all aspects of life. You've done a great job representing Houston and Houston music. Your work is as heralded and respected as almost any other Houston-area singing talent past or present. You have my full respect with your great singing as well as your very cool hip-hop style you incorporate into your music. It is a unique mix that equals great music for all to enjoy. Oh, and welcome to John's Blog Space! :D

Keep up the great work and best wishes to you in whatever you are working on, whether music or something else. Best wishes and kindest regards to you!

Would I Want to Meet Natalie if Given the Chance?

Absolutely.





Want more Natalie? Here are a few ways to show more love for Natalie:

• NATALIE on Myspace Music
• Become a Fan/Like Natalie on Facebook!
• NatBoogieTV on YouTube
• NatalieVEVO on YouTube (WARNING: it's a VEVO profile - meaning you'll face ads before actually seeing a music video)
• Follow Natalie on Twitter!
• Wikipedia entry on Natalie

Thank you for reading!

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Circuit de Catalunya

Since opening in 1991, Circuit de Catalunya is perhaps Spain's finest racing course. This was a track I was just never really good at in games. I fully respect Circuit de Catalunya. This course will challenge you on a variety of levels. You are never too far from the lovely city of Barcelona (or Barca) when talking about Catalunya. In fact, Circuit de Catalunya is located north of Barcelona in the city of Montmeló, Barcelona, Spain. Today's Catalunya is 2.875 miles in length with 16 turns. The only change is a modified configuration suited for F1 cars between Turns 12 and 16. Whether it's Formula One, MotoGP, DTM, or any other series that races at this track, victory will be tough to come by in an exciting and challenging track like Circuit de Catalunya. This track will celebrate 20 years of existence in 2011. Those 20 years have seen some amazing racing action on this intense course.

--- Circuit de Catalunya ---

Here is a look at Circuit de Catalunya, which is also called Circuit de Barcelona:

^ from: www.allf1.info - Circuit de Catalunya, including the modified F1 configuration.

Circuit de Catalunya is challenging no matter what kinds of cars or motorcycles are racing it. It has both tricky elevation changes and decisive corners. Only the most talented can race this track; only the truly adept can win. This track is tough to make passes on. It is a real mental challenge that will push you to the limit.

I don't even know where to begin describing how challenging this course is. The entire track offers you hardly any chance to stretch your legs a bit. Turn 1 (Elf) is easy to overshoot, and you need a good line to make that brief uphill trudge through Turn 2 (Renault) on into Turn 3. Turns 5 (Seat) ant especially Turn 10 (La Caixa) are absolutely crucial corners to get right. Catalunya really keeps you on your toes for all 2.8 miles of racing.

Care to see Catalunya in action? You can! Here is a video showcasing an F1 lap around Catalunya:


And this video on a motorcycle using the regular configuration:

Lap Times.

The all-time lap record around Catalunya [as of this blog post's date] is 1:21.670 by Kimi Raikkonen in 2008. A year later, however, Jensen Button of Brawn GP clocked in a lap time of about 1:19.127. The pole lap for the MotoGP race around Catalunya was 1:42.046 set by Jorge Lorenzo. So that's an idea of lap times around Catalunya.





To learn more about Catalunya, visit Circuit de Catalunya's website (Spanish link, but English also available). Want more Catalunya? Here's how to get social with Catalunya:

* Become a Fan (Like) of Circuit de Catalunya on Facebook!
* Check out Catalunya on YouTube
* Follow Circuit de Catalunya on Twitter!

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Sweater Dress With Boots

(UPDATED: December 14, 2011)

A look I've become fond of is sweater dresses with boots. If there is one thing I've learned about cold weather fashion for females, it's all about wearing your most fabulous boots while also looking equally fabulous. I've liked this as a bare-leg look. If it is too cold to go bare legs, warm tights or warm leggings are always a nice way to still look hot even while it's cold. Let me showcase this look in pictures:


^ from: kaboodle.com - Stay warm while looking hot! This sweater dress is paired with a lovely pair of boots.


^ from: www.modcloth.com - A super-cute purple sweater dress paired with honey brown mid-calf boots.


^ from: stylehive.com, by way of gap.com - Too cold for bare legs? Try tights or leggings underneath your sweater dress.


This blog post is a brief look at the sweater dress + boots look. You are welcome to comment on your thoughts about this look.

PERSONAL NOTE:

Thanks to everyone for making this post popular! I figure with temperatures getting cooler that such a look was going to be popular. I hope you enjoy your time here reading this blog post. PLEASE be sure to comment on how you feel about this fashion combination if you love my blog post.


LATEST UPDATES:
DEC 14 2011 - removed Subtitle.

--- Sweater Dress With Boots ---

You've seen the look, but what do you go with for this look? Here is a look at pairing sweater dresses with boots.

The Sweater Dress.

The best look to me is pairing a sweater dress with some fabulous knee-high boots. I think the sweater dress has to fall to about mid-thigh (meaning I'm mostly fond of mini sweater dresses). And of course, the sweater dress has to be fabulous-looking. It should be chic and beautiful and comfortable to wear. Chunnky knit sweaters can be super sweet to wear.

The Boots.

On the topic of boots, I mentioned knee-high boots. The kinds of boots I had in mind with this look are a pair of slouchy knee-high boots. Either that, or a chic pair of knee-high cuffed boots. These are the best and appropriate boots to remain stylish. I am not recommending going with combat boots or anything real tough. If you want lace-ups, you can always go with a chic pair of knee-high lace-up boots. A good pair of ankle boots are also acceptable to go with a sweater dress. However, they probably aren't recommended if your legs get cold. That is where you'd get some warm tights or leggings to cover your legs for extra warmth.


This look is great once you have the items put together to form the sweater dress with boots look. How do you wear the look?

--- Sweater Dress With Boots: Videos ---

I have some video inspiration for you all. I want to show you some videos featuring sweater dresses and boots. The first video is :



Here is a video look featuring a sweater dress with boots, and paired with leggings/tights:


And there are your video and pictoral inspirations of sweater dresses with boots! I are good blogger, eh? :)



So if you wear sweater dresses with boots, I commend your style. Look as fabulous as you want!

You may find some items on Amazon that may interest you based on this blog post's topic. Have a look around and buy anything that interests you:

For sweater dresses:



For boots (especially slouchy boots):



...or for all knee-high boots:







What do you think about this combination of sweater dresses with boots? Do you think this is a great look or a not-so-great look? Comment away! Thank you for reading!

Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page and subscribe this blog (and my others) via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Visit (or subscribe):
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Car Style - The Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation)

The 4th Generation Camaro is special to me. Why? It got me into cars back in 1997. Without it, I probably wouldn't have cared about cars. It is still a head-turner (as much as the recent Camaros) to me. I love the new Camaros, but I have a special place in my heart for the previous-generation Camaro. The 4th Generation Camaro smoothened out the lines of the 3rd Generation Camaro. The lifespan for the 4th generation Camaro was between 1993 and 2002. I enjoyed this car even when playing Gran Turismo 1 and Gran Turismo 2. It is therefore tough to ignore what this car has meant to me in getting into cars. Nothing like this car even today. This is another "Car Style" blog post regarding the car that got me into cars- the 4th-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

(some information provided from Wikipedia)

--- Car Style: The Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation) ---

I loved it because I thought the car looked like a bullet down the road. Here is a picture of the 4th-generation Camaro:





Both pictures from: hotwheels.myblog.it - (1st Picture) a 4th-generation Camaro from 1993-1997. (2nd Picture) a 4th-generation Camaro from 1998-2002.

You could imagine my disappointment when the Camaro went on hiatus. It is still very much a head-turner. Engines for the 4th-gen Camaro ranged from 160 horsepower from a 3.4-liter V6 to 325 horsepower from a 5.7-liter V8. Back in the mid and late 1990s, the Camaro sold for somewhere between $13K USD to about maybe $18K USD. Far cry from most vehicle prices today. Some of today's inexpensive cars are in the $20K USD range. It was about 1997 or 1998 when I first got to see and admire the 4th-generation Camaro. The color I've always loved was Cayenne Red Metallic for the Camaro. I usually say that the only reason why I didn't like the Camaros 1998 and on was because they didn't come in Cayenne Red Metallic. My all-time favorite 4th-generation Camaro was the Camaro RS, which had a nice rear wing to its design.

To try something different, I will refer to certain cosmetic changes to the 4th Generation Camaro. So I will note "before 1998" and then "1998-2002" to make my descriptions a bit more interesting. This is also the best way I can diffrentiate between the design changes of the Camaro.

Exterior.

The Camaro up front has always been such a beautifully aggressive car up front. The diamond-edge design from the 3rd-generation was made more like a bullet. (before 1998) The Camaro had a pair of square headlights, two on each side. Those headlights were mostly tucked away and hidden. The front air dam had some fog lights in it, and its front bumper had a modest spoiler at the bottom up front. The hood/bonnet of this car was mostly modest and added to both its aggression and its aerodynamic style. (1998 and after) With the big changes to the car's appearance starting in 1998, the Camaro took on a more aggressive and more beautiful stance. Gone are the square headlights. In their place- a more stylish set of headlights to allow for a cleaner appearance up front. The newer headlights also allows for a bit more aggressive frontal design. Especially with the late 1990s models, the SS had an aggressive hood scoop that just made the Camaro even more beastly.

The side details are about the same for just about all 4th-generation Camaros. The 4th generation Camaro's side profile is as much of a bullet as its front. The way the side profile looks suggests that it was born to cut through the wind at speed. Then too, you can't fly through the wind too much in a car that weighs about 3400 lbs. What this generation Camaro may lack in aggressive details, it makes up for with aerodynamic and fluid body design. It seems like the top half of the side profile is a bit more outward than the lower half of the car on the sides. You really tend to notice this if you see the horizontal line across the sides of the Camaro. The lower half seems to be more caved in than the top portion, making it just a touch more aerodynamic on the sides. There is not one ugly angle from the sides of the 4th-generation Camaro.

To make a lasting impression, a car must have a lovely rear view. The Camaro boasts the "Camaro" words on the rear. There were two different styles of tail lights for the 4th Generation Camaro. The older model 4th generation Camaros have some long brake lights with some somewhat small size hazard lights. The tri-color headlights started in 1997 for the 4th-generation Camaro. Regardless of how the tail lights look, the rear looks lovely and polished. The sloping rear windshield only complete the loveliness that is the 4th generation Camaro. The spoiler is very modest while also being fairly aggressive. The rear bumper is smooth-looking and stylish.

Interior.

It is very tough to do "Car Style" on older cars because it can be tough finding honest-to-goodness interiors for older cars. So I will mostly go on a general overview of unmodified interiors. The interior very sporty for a car of its time. Its instrument panel and gauges are nothing special compared to most of today's automobiles, but it is still very nice looking. The steering wheel is also sporty for a car of its time. The center console is also very '90s, so nothing too special here. All the basic controls and such are all styled nicely for a car of its time. The front seats are styled nicely and in sporty fashion. The back seats (once you fold down the front seats) are equally very nice.

I think I could have done better here, but I hope you were pleased with my effort.





The 4th generation Chevrolet Camaro got me into cars. Its great style is still charming to this day. While I still love the new modern retro Camaro, the 4th generation Camaro still warms my heart as a car fan. I still love seeing this car on the road. This is truly one of the most charming-looking cars of the '90s. It may have seen its last days in production in 2002, and while the new Camaro is an awesome car, it was the 4th Generation Camaro that got me into cars. Without the 4th Generation Camaro, I would have never gotten into cars.

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Why Should You Care? - The 12 Hours of Sebring

The 12 Hours of Sebring is one of the biggest endurances races of the year. Besides the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring is one of the finest endurance races in the United States, let alone in the state of Florida. Many others would argue that the 12 Hours of Sebring has always been a world stage-style endurance even when the classic sportscar racing format at Daytona was replaced by the Daytona Prototypes starting in 2003.

Let's set the mood with a picture I found online:




^ from: www.carenvy.ca - Frenzied action and loads of drama are guaranteed on the mostly flat 3.7-mile confines of Sebring International Raceway, especially when the 12 Hours of Sebring is the main event.

Since 1950, the former USAF air base turned race track has been home to great racing in Central Florida. The first 12 Hours of Sebring didn't see the green flag until 1952. Over 58 renditions of the 12 Hours of Sebring have run since the very first one. The 2011 version will be the 59th edition of this classic endurance. The best reason to care about this race is that this is a great race on an aging course with plenty of character. Modern sportscar racing machines on a track like this is just great to watch. The fact it's run during usually when Spring Break wraps up makes this somewhat a party destination. And we all know- race tracks make the best party zones! :D As for the on-track action, this is a great track to see cars race around whether in daylight or at night. The level of challenge racing a course like this is immense. It is a real driver's track where you will be punished for not taking a chance now and then. The track is wonderful, and the race is wonderful. Why aren't you following this race if you're a true racing fan?

The history, the action, and the fact this course is a great testing ground for the big one at Le Mans in June. It's the best big time sportscar endurance race in the USA. It may not be twice-around-the-clock like that sportscar endurance up in northern Florida, but it's still the best traditional sportscar racing endurance in the United States. It is a world stage battle for sportscar racing supremacy in central Florida. Add in the fact that this race mostly happens as Spring Break is wrapping up, and you have a happenin' atmosphere that makes the action off-track just as great as the action on-track. THAT is why you should care about the 12 Hours of Sebring!

Just So You Know...

The 2011 (and 59th annual) 12 Hours of Sebring comes your way March 16 through March 19. Learn more and purchase tickets by visiting sebringraceway.com.


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Sebring International Raceway

NOTE: Edited for better facts.

Central Florida's formidable race track is Sebring International Raceway. It began life as an Air Force base until it opened as a race track in 1950. I have seen some races where planes still use Sebring. There is a proper airplane runway adjacent to Sebring International Raceway. The venue is best known for the 12 Hours of Sebring, which brings many people out to the track. The race is usually run in the middle of March during Spring Break for most students. Therefore, you can imagine how much of a party atmosphere it can be. Sebring used to serve as the home of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix back in 1959 (though it was a financial disaster). The layout was much different then. Today's layout is a 17-turn thrill ride at over 3.7 miles (5.95 kilometers) in length. It is a mix of asphalt and concrete. I don't think anyone cares if this track is aging- Sebring has plenty of character even for a mostly flat track like Sebring. Maybe it's not as glamourous and pretty as any European track where F1 races are held, but this is still an ageless wonder of a race track. If anything, Sebring gets you ready for the big one at Le Mans because of its length and how abusive Sebring is to race on. Other than sportscar racing, it is a great race track for almost any other form of racing ranging from club racing to single-seaters. The only other major event I could think of at Sebring was the event called Sebring Octoberfest, a two-hour long race around Sebring featuring cars from the World Sportscar Championship. The only iteration of this was in 1997. There was also an FIA GT race around Sebring in 1997 that lasted for three hours. Other than that, there aren't too many other international races I can recall in Sebring's history. I doubt this track is even motorcycle racing friendly, so I am not sure this track has hosted any motorcycle racing (whether local or international).

This blog post concerns the track that has been kicking racers' butts for over sixty years- Sebring International Raceway.

--- Sebring International Raceway ---

Here is a map of Sebring International Raceway:

^ from: phors.locost7.info - the track map of the 6th generation of Sebring.

Sebring has gone through six different variations (counting the current one). I was first introduced to this track by playing "Sports Car GT" on both the PC and for the PlayStation 1. You can race this track in the Forza Motorsport series The fact this course is flat just about all around means you really have to judge your braking points well. The most joyous sight to see is four or five (sometimes six) cars wide down the front stretch. Four-wide sportscar racing. Who said sportscar racing doesn't know how to mix things up? Yeah! Take that, NASCAR! :) The toughest part of the track to me is when you head into Turn 7 after blasting down Big Bend (Turn 6). Heading into Turn 7 is where you start to see the Chateau Elan Lodge on the far left. Going full speed down Ullman Straight is always fun... as long as you're not battling the setting sun heading into the appropriately-named Sunset Bend that leads to the Start/Finish line. Nothing like this amazing racing facility.

Here is a video lap around Sebring (David Brabham for Highcroft Racing):

Bonus Video!

And here is a bonus video representing maybe one of the most epic racing moments this decade (2001-2010) at Sebring. Allow me to set it up, and you may know EXACTLY what I'm talking about if you're an ALMS fan- it was a battle in 2007 of [Houston's own] Risi Competizione vs. Flying Lizard. It was the best Ferrari team vs. the best Porsche team. The fireworks went off for Audi winning the 12 Hours of Sebring outright (to the surprise of absolutely nobody), but the REAL fireworks exploded when THIS happened (announcing crew: announcing crew for Speed Channel: Leigh Diffey, Dorsey Schroder, and Calvin Fish):

Lap Times.

The all-time record around Sebring's full course (as of the date of this blog post) is 1:43.274 by a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Here are some other lap times to take note of:

* Spec Racer Ford - 2:35.100
* Spec Miata - 2:39.700
* Formula Mazda Pro - 1:58.989
* Audi R10 - 1:47.373
* Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a - 1:53.571
* Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - 2:04.547

For more information and more details on lap times and more, visit the Sebring page on trackpedia.com.

--- What If: NASCAR at Sebring? ---

To my knowledge, NASCAR has NEVER held a race around Sebring, especially not among the top three series. NASCAR desperately needs a road course as part of the Chase for the Cup. Don't give me that stuff about how road racing isn't "racing." NASCAR needs something different as far as tracks are concerned. Unless Sebring doesn't have enough pit space for 36 NASCAR Trucks or 43 NASCAR cars, Sebring is perfectly fine a race track. Its bumpy and abrasive nature shouldn't be too much a problem for a stock car or stock truck (though some would complain about the bumpiness of Daytona). NASCAR Cup could just get rid of some insignificant and boring track and put Sebring in its place. Or to make things interesting... make the Homestead race the next-to-last event and make Sebring the final race. Not good at road courses but contesting for a championship? You need to race this course to the best of your ability.

I think NASCAR would be great to see around Sebring. Look at the reception that was given for NASCAR Nationwide at Road America as it replaced the Milwaukee Mile this season. Imagine the battles that could take place on this intense racing facility with stock cars rumbling around. Also- more NASCAR racing in the great state of Florida!

--- What If: Formula 1 Returning to Sebring? ---

Okay, it's a far-fetched concept. However, what if Sebring had some kind of extended makeover just to make Sebring more appealing as a modern European-style F1 Grand Prix venue? The track is certainly long enough at 3.7 miles. I think of Sebring like I think of Road America- a Grand Prix-worthy race course. This track could consistently be good for clocking in laps of about 1:35.000 in today's F1 cars. A track like Sebring, however, doesn't have any grandstands. A total makeover of Sebring just to host an F1 race (and maybe some other forms of international racing) would make Sebring more modern and better as a whole. However, you take away what is missing from a lot of today's Formula 1 racing- character. Do you want to run the risk of ruining Sebring just to host something like a 21st Century F1 race? Also, would someone actually transform and renovate Sebring so much to actually allow this if given the money and time? Think about when the old Hockenheim was taken from that high-speed blast through the forest... to being just another boring European race track. You run the risk of destroying the character of a racing facility when you make such drastic changes. Then too, some are for the better.

I would be curious to see how F1 cars would take on Sebring in its current form. The first F1 race around Sebring was also the last time F1 raced here- 1959.

--- What If: The Return of Sebring Octoberfest? ---

Sebring Octoberfest was a one-time deal where the World Sportscar Championship and FIA GT raced on the same weekend around Sebring. The real problem would be about what cars would race around Sebring. October somewhat belongs to the Petit Le Mans these days. Maybe if it returned, it would be pretty cool as an ALMS All-Star race.

In this day and age, you may also open up Sebring for things like drifting and time attack. When I think of an event with a name like "Octoberfest," it has to be a (not to play on words) a festival of speed around one of America's oldest road racing facilities. What kind of racing could you introduce to Sebring to please racing fans? Just a lot of things to wonder...





I want to say hello to anybody at Sebring International Raceway if anyone there were to actually read this and if they enjoyed my commentary. I'm saying this because I am often surprised at who actually reads my blog and comments on it. Like when I did my blog post about the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, I unexpectedly got a tweet from their Twitter feed complimenting my work. If you produce quality and unique content, you WILL get noticed. You never know who actually will read and admire your work. So if anyone from Sebring International Raceway actually reads this and enjoys what I have posted, I salute you all. Sebring is still a great and formidable race track even sixty years later. Learn more about Sebring International Raceway by visiting their official website at sebringraceway.com.

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The "Cool Kids"

In a lot of environments, I was never one of the "cool kids." These are the ones who get all the attention and all the love while most others are just no-name people. Only so few environments have I ever been regarded as anybody "cool." These are times that have defined me on YouTube and in blogging. I try to get some attention my way, but I always get pushed aside in favor of other people. And some of the ones who do give me the time of day decide to actually give me the kind of attention and respect I wish most others would give me. I do believe that you have to earn respect. Thing is... HOW do you earn respect among peers? It depends on the environment you're in and who you're around. If you need to really stand out to be respected, then you'll have to go for that if you're trying to be respected among the greater public at large. But then again, just being yourself and letting the chips fall where they may is also determines your worth as a person around others.

So do I try to compete among others in my fields of study? Well, you can say yes both in blogging and on YouTube. I am competing to try to win the respect of readers and subscribers. I am in a much better place as a blogger than I have been at this time last year. I would struggle to get at least 100 blog hits each day. These days, I could easily reel off 500+ blog hits each day. And what about YouTube? I don't know. Most people probably think I'm too boring and too ugly to be any kind of superstar or well-respected figure. Then again, being able to get 350 subscribers going into my third year and second month on YouTube is not bad at all. I still do feel like a nobody. Or at least... I'm a nobody outside of someone looking for a good laugh or a disgraceful insult against me. I don't want to stand out THAT way. So depending on the environment, it can be either tough or impossible to stand out.

However, I don't feel like I have a serious reputation to hold up online on a daily basis. You know like in some teen-themed or college-themed shows and movies where certain characters feel like they have a high level of stature that they try to maintain on a constant basis? I think life and society are more about trying to stand out rather than try to fit in. But considering a society where we always feel like we have to compete every day to be atop the food chain, we feel like we need to constantly prove ourselves against others. No friends- just enemies all seeming to want the same brass ring you're pursuing.

What About the Others?

What about the ones who don't care or don't try to become popular? Fact about life is- not everyone is "cool" or trying to be "cool." Some people are just trying to live life and be themselves. They don't really care if they are trying to be the biggest and the best there is. Just because they are not popular, though, most people just don't care about them enough to where they can feel respected among peers. Some people may just be great people with great personalities, even if they lack the "cool" factor. Some of these people just somehow get rejected by others. That's why the cool guy who's in a rock band or on the school's football or basketball team than the guy who has a (to some people) boring personality that consistently makes the Honor Roll. That's why the sexy girl who can get any boy as her boyfriend because of her immense charm has a better chance at love than a down-to-earth girl who'd rather take her time to find love. Society is always the battle of the "cool" people, the "uncool" people, and those in-betweeners. You may think you're a "cool" person than what most people make you out to be. The fact is, though, nobody cares about you unless you GIVE them a reason to care. If your task is to stand out, you have to do something to really validate yourself among others. It usually means doing something impressive.





If you feel like you constantly have to compete to be the best among peers, it's best you just be yourself and let the Survival of the Fittest run its course in society. Who knows? Maybe you'll be around a bunch of losers... as you're the only winner among peers. I couldn't really care if I was or wasn't one of the "cool kids." All I know is that for everyone who thought I wasn't cool, at least there are friends who would argue that I am VERY cool regardless of what most other stuck-up and uppity peers think. The battle for ultimate coolness depends entirely on the people you are around and what could be done to make yourself stand out. Maybe the best advice to help you deal is this:

"It is better to stand out than fit in."

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What If - a Full Grid of Red Bull X1s?

The Red Bull X1 in Gran Turismo 5 is an insane racing machine. Its speeds and cornering abilities are unreal. Imagine if every driver and every team used their own Red Bull X1s. The X1 was created as a racing machine that wonders what if racing machines had no limits. From what I've read, the Red Bull X1 does not feature any technologies not already found in today's automobiles and race cars. It leaves to the question of if Red Bull and/or Polyphony Digital (or somebody else) would actually produce the X1. Well, here is a baseline to give you an idea as to what could be possible if all current F1 teams all used the same Red Bull X1 (or made their own Red Bull X1s). Here is a note- EVERYTHING is in real time, and it's a two lap run:



Now imagine a full grid of these taking part in an F1 Grand Prix weekend. To me, Formula 1 really requires a great level of physical fitness. If there were 20+ of these for all the drivers, the G-forces exerted would be absolutely insane. Imagine having to have a reaction time much quicker than what most F1 racers are used to anyways. Imagine side-by-side battles in these super racing machines. What if there was a crash? How much safer would it be racing this car compared to racing in a standard F1 car?

It is important to note that this is merely a concept- just like the Nike One 2022 in Gran Turismo 4. In my view, and speaking as a racing game fan, the X1 is primarily a WipEout ship... only without weapons and with four tires. To give you perspective, the lap record around Suzuka (as of the date of this blog post) is 1:31.540 set by Kimi Raikkonen (I was unable to use the proper spelling of Raikkonen) in 2005. The X1 would lap Suzuka in the 1:05.000 range. Therefore, the X1 could lap a course by at least 20 to 25 seconds faster than any average F1 car. Also... can any of the camera workers actually keep up with these cars? Can the fans in the stands follow these cars as they blast by?

Because the X1 has headlights, could you possibly incorporate some more night races? Could it even take on Le Mans (good luck trying to squeeze in drivers!)?






Can you really imagine if this was the new F1 car? Can you imagine if this was the car (or at least a template) for what teams tried to create and race in F1? Do you think F1 would even survive with this car? Comment away, F1 fans!

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Circuit Paul Ricard

There is a work of art you can race on in southern France. Circuit Paul Ricard has officially been known as the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track (or Paul Ricard HTTT) since 1999. It also has facilities for private jets. Circuit Paul Ricard is regarded as being very safe since there is lots of asphalt around. The off-track sections are multi-colored. The track has been around since 1969 and opened a year later. It serves as a test track for many teams as well as a good track for photo opportunities of race cars. It had been a competitive racing track for some time, even hosting rounds of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix. It even played host to motorcycle racing, including the Bol d'or endurance in 1999. This track is located in Le Castellet, France; not too far from the beautiful city of Marseille. Not a lot of real racing takes place here anymore except for FIA GT and the 8 Heures du Castellet that the Le Mans Series runs.

This blog entry is all about one of the most unusual-looking racing tracks you will ever see.

--- Circuit Paul Ricard ---

Here is a map of this course:

^ from: autoracing1.com - Think of Circuit Paul Ricard as a technical race track that is also a work of art with all the colored runoff areas.

Circuit Paul Ricard is actually quite tough to race. I know having raced this track in "Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli." That game has you racing on a shorter version of Paul Ricard as opposed to the full 3.610 mile (5.809 km) course.

When you see Circuit Paul Ricard, you usually note the colored runoff areas that give this track its unique character. Despite it being a work of art with all of the colored runoff areas, the track itself is pretty tough. I've played this course in "Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli." And let me tell you- this course is no joke! There is not much in the way of elevation changes. The track is pretty intense to race on whether with some form of touring cars, when F1 cars do testing there, or for when the Le Mans Series races this course. I think the final complex of turns, from Signes to the final corner at Vigne du Pont, is the toughest complex of corners. It is a good rhythm-based section that can be pretty tough to get right. If this section was a Gran Turismo license test, it would be a good challenge to run from Signes all the way to the Start/Finish line as a license test.

Here is a lap around the full course (the car is a Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Sport):

Track Records.

The track record, back when this track was a proper racing facility, was 1:39.914 by Keke Rosberg in a Williams-Honda F1 car in 1985.





Thanks for reading this blog entry! To learn more about Circuit Paul Ricard, visit Paul Ricard HTTT's official home page. You can learn more about Paul Ricard himself by reading this Wikipedia page on Paul Ricard.

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Don't Help Others if Others Can't Help Themselves.

What bothers me in trying to offer help sometimes is when others won't allow themselves to get help. We all do what we can to help others. Is it a choice we make? It is our own generosity that help us help others in need, but when someone either doesn't want any help or takes advantage of us, it becomes an issue of "why am I helping you out anyways?" Do some people realize that through offering a helping hand and giving hope to others that we are doing this out of love and out of hope... yet some people don't allow themselves to be helped or to receive help?

Basically, if you try to lend and exhaust your services to help others, and if others either don't care or aren't grateful enough to receive such support... let them be. They don't want to be helped and probably couldn't give a damn about you trying to help them. Some people are either too good for, or don't appreciate that people actually care for other people and the welfare of such people. The fact that you don't know someone personally yet still want to help, that alone shows compassion and support. You want to make a difference for people who possibly never expected or never anticipate such support. There are a few different views of this- either there are people who have never had or wanted help from other people, or there are those who are too insensitive and unkind to be worth any attention. Therefore, it's a case of "why bother?" if someone is going to be so stubborn and ungrateful.

I think some people almost kind of goad us into opening our hearts and our compassion to them... only to be turned down. We exhaust our efforts to help them, and they don't appreciate their support. So you know what? If some people don't want to be helped despite your best efforts to help them...

"Don't help others if others can't help themselves."
-John Marine

If people are too good to be helped or don't appreciate the outpouring of support from honest-to-goodness people, let them suffer. Maybe they'll have a change of heart when it's almost too late to get some help that could have been administered a long time ago when all hope seemed lost. Sometimes, learning lessons the hard way makes us better. It is pretty sad I'm posting this blog entry only almost 3/4 of an hour away from Christmas. However, this is one of many blog posts I never finished for 2010 until now. But just to say one last time- don't bother helping people who don't want to be helped. They somehow know how to escape from situations without help from anyone (though they may admit that having some help would be nice), so let them escape from their own transgressions if they are so brave and talented. Don't help people if they can't help themselves or allow themselves to get help.




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Car Style - The Porsche Panamera

(UPDATED: March 14, 2012)

For many people, there should NEVER be a four-door Porsche. The Cayenne was a diversion from the classic Porsche coupes when it was released. Did people buy them? Sure! I've seen a number of Porsche Cayennes on the road. So, would the Panamera sell too? Sure, especially if this car can strike quite a large chord with those looking for a proper grand tourer. A lot of people hate this car because four-door Porsches don't look right or are acceptable. But, I'm not one of those "a lot of people." This blog post consists of one of the most unusual Porsches you will ever see. Most of what I will describe pertains to the base model Panamera.

--- Car Style: The Porsche Panamera ---

Meet the Porsche Panamera:


^ from: www.egmcartech.com - the Porsche Panamera is the most unusual-looking Porsche since the Cayenne.

Take a look up front, and you'll see a classic modern Porsche. But when you look on the sides, you note something... different- four doors and an elongated overall image. The Panamera is perhaps Porsche's answer to the Aston Martin Rapide or any other high-end four-door luxury sedan. The Panamera comes in five different trims (at least for the USA). The base model Panamera is good for 300 horsepower at 6200 rpm. The base model Panamera costs about $74K USD. The top-of-the-line Panamera model is the Panamera Turbo, and it goes for 500 horsepower at 6000 rpm and costs about $135K. The model range in order from base model to most powerful is in this order: Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera S, Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo. This Porsche can be either in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It's the most unusual Porsche this side of the Cayenne, THAT'S for sure!

Exterior.

Up front, the guise of a modern Porche can be seen. The headlights are designed beautifully. Without looking at the sides or the rear, you would immediately feel like this is just another sporty Porsche. The styling is clean and elegant up front. A sculpted bonnet/hood adds some extra elegance to its already elegant profile. Lovely LED lights below the headlights help add some extra charm to the Panamera' looks.

Your perceptions of this car begin to change when you see the sides of this car. Depending on how you feel, this car is either a beautifully-designed four-door car, or a waste of time and engineering. In my view, the Panamera is a very beautiful (if not unusual) car from the sides. Aft of the front wheels is a huge side duct kind of like on a Corvette C6. The sculpted lines help add some aggression to this car. The doors up front and in the second row are cleanly styled and are unobtrusive. This is at least a sporty high-end car that has a much cleaner appearance than the Nissan GT-R. I am actually amazed at how Porsche is able to maintain making such an interesting car while not sacrificing the classic Porsche image. May not be the prettiest attempt, but it still remains stylish and inviting. You'd probably think this is a car from some other make had I not told you it was a Porsche. The car comes with some lovely wheels, and I think a sunroof is optional for the Panamera.

Topping off the unusual guise of the Panamera is its rear, which comes complete with classic Porsche styling and a little extra luxury. The classic Porsche tail lights compliment the rear along with a trapezoidal pair of exhaust tips, one on each side. The Panamera Turbo has a pair of exhaust tips, one on each side. A chrome bar can be found on the rear to offer some luxury style to the rear of this car. A nicely-sloping, if not wholly unusual, rear windshield finishes off the looks of this luxury Porsche.

Interior.

The interior of the Porsche Panamera is delightful and beautiful. It has the right balance of sporty and luxurious in a well-done package. Its inviting character on the outside is exemplified inside. This car is somewhat very cluttered on the driver side, but not too cluttered to where it is a hot mess. The gauges in the instrument panel are all styled very nicely and are every bit worthy of "luxurious." I've seen pictures of two different steering wheels for the Panamera. The one I like is a dark brown one with some metallic accents. Both are lovely as you note the paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel. An analog Porsche clock is optional, but it looks so far back that you can't really notice it is there. You WILL notice the navigation system, though. It is complimented in the center console by a host of basic instruments to handle things like air conditioning, heating, and more. The shifter is also styled nicely and luxuriously. The whole dashboard is actually styled very nicely. As for the seats both front and rear, they are all styled in a sporty and elegant way. At least you know that wherever your destination is when driving, you'll know you can arrive there in style in this four-door Porsche.





In my view, I don't see why so many people hate on the Porsche Panamera's looks so much. It IS unusual to see a four-door luxury Porsche. Trying something different and unusual can yield surprising results. Look at the BMW X6. People complained that it was one of the ugliest things on the road. I'd rather go with an X6 style-wise than be caught in a Hummer H2, Hummer H3, a Honda Accord Crosstour, a Pontiac Aztek, or anything like that. People just think that Porsches should ONLY be two-door sports cars with amazing performance. Despite this, didn't people buy and love the Cayenne? If anything, be pleased (and pleasantly surprised) if a Porsche Panamera shows up near you. It is a most unusual Porsche for sure. If you so want a true four-door luxury sedan, maybe an Aston Martin Rapide would tickle your fancy. But if you want a four-door luxury car from an established make (not to say that Aston Martin isn't an established make), Porsche has the Panamera waiting for you to drive and enjoy. It is a surprise-worthy automobile in both looks and charm.

Thank you for reading!

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