Friday, October 31, 2008

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Admire the artful skills of mine and my assistant.


Thursday, October 30, 2008



BMW is exploring a plan to build "a breakthrough green supercar" by the end of 2012.

The new car would rival the Audi R8 and forthcoming Mercedes SLC, and has been described by company insiders as ‘a puristic two-seater that draws on all the very latest BMW technology, lightweight build processes and has been rumored to pay homage to the M1 model.



In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car, under the Motor sport division, in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the first and only mid-engined BMW to be mass produced. Only 456 production M1s were built, making it one of BMW's rarest models.

It seems the M1's design has remained in Bimmer's sub-conscious waiting for the right time to be unleashed... and boy are they about to unleash a real monster.



As the flagship of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics program, the as-yet-unnamed new model will be capable of combining super car performance and driving d
ynamics with fuel-saving technology such as direct injection, brake energy regeneration, and stop-start. But the car will still maintain CO2 emissions on a par with, or better than, a mid-range 5-series.



The car will be mid-engined, with power most likely to come from a re-tuned version of the company’s twin-turbocharged, 3.0-litre straight six petrol engine. BMW is also considering introducing it with a kinetic energy recovery system similar to the one that the company’s F1 team will be using next year.



To date BMW has not released the suggested retail price, but expect to pay a pretty penny to own this beauty. Simply put, you will be able to kick ass on the street but you'll do it efficiently, and economically, with a way small carbon footprint.!So, it's not only easier to be green, it's becoming really cool too!

Source: Autocar

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

From time to time, I like to check out the stuff at Chinavasion.com, who specialize in wholesale electronic gadgets and gear ranging from MP3 playing Watches to Secret Agent 2GB Camcorder Pens with Audio...WHOA! If you like that sort of stuff, I think you will love this...

My Gadget du Jour is the Radio Controlled sports car with video camera function. A unique toy that combines all the coolest features of a RC car with an added video transmitter for extra fun.



The bootleg version of this car can be seen at your neighborhood Swap Shop's gray market but this is the real deal - no duct tape video camera to the front bumper here. The car's remote control has an extra long range (up to 100 feet) and you can control the cars movement by eyesight or via the LCD monitor.


And when you get tired of racing around solo, then it's time to turn it a notch!! Because you can use this baby to play laser games with your friends. Yes you read correctly, this sports car has a laser function and can be used to play laser tag. Not to mention being able to spy on whoever you choose.

At a Glance...
* Deluxe RC sports car with video camera function.
* Has laser shooting feature; play games with your friends and neighbors.
* Remote controller has 2.4" color TFT LCD video monitor.
* Premium build - Action grip tires and front wheel torsion springs



Now all someone needs to do is add this same technology to an RC Plane or Helicopter... then it's really on!!



Monday, October 27, 2008



Cindy Crawford is known to the world as one of the original supermodels who defined that pivotal moment when fashion models became stars in their own right.


At the age of 17, she was discovered by a local photographer while a student at DeKalb High School in Illinois.



Since then her all-American face with the iconic beauty mark has graced over 1,000 magazine covers worldwide, including Vogue, Elle, W, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Allure.


Cindy's timeless beauty, earned her long-term, global contracts with the likes of Revlon, Omega and Pepsi.


"Even I don't look like Cindy Crawford in the morning."
I am sure there a many of us who would like a long weekend to find that out for ourselves.

Friday, October 24, 2008


I didn't plan on making another political post today... but this is absolutely ridiculous.

Associated Press Pittsburg, reports that:
A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in a politically inspired attack, police said Friday.

Todd, who is white, told police she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night. She now can't explain why she invented the story, Bryant said.

Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.
Simply stated, this girl is crazy. The first clue should be the fact that the B is backwards on her face (obviously done in the mirror). And then what does the "B" mean exactly? Black, Barrack... I choose BUFFOON, because that's what Miss Tood has made herself out to be.

There is no doubt that politics can cause people to react strongly, but this incident could have been enough to incite some serious backlash. Stunts like this do nothing for our country, and though we may not always agree... Miss Todd's actions are completely unacceptable regardless of the race, party, or politics.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

votingmap


Dvice.com has done some great research on the machines we will be using to vote with November 4, 2008.

After consulting with voting-machine experts, makers, election officials, and several studies on the subject, Dvice examined the types of machines to be used in each county; punch-card, lever, optical scan, paper, and electronic. The machines were then ranked based on their proneness to voter error and hack-ability. Thena color code/ranking system was formulated to determine, in a quantifiable way, which County's could pose possible problems with accurately recording votes.

Voter Error Prone

• Punch card: 5, red
• Lever: 4, orange
• Optical scan: 3, yellow
• Paper: 2, light green
• Electronic: 1, green

Hack-ability

• Electronic: 5, red
• Optical scan: 4, orange
• Lever: 3, yellow
• Punch card: 2, light green
• Paper: 1, green

Dvice does note, that to date, "There has never been a proven case of widespread technological voter fraud in any national U.S. election." But I am sure that 2000's presidential election and Florida's "Butterfly Ballots" debacle still sticks in the collective conscious of American citizens.

Already, various reports are surfacing from around the country about problems at the ballot:

The Washington Post reports:
"Report Warns of Potential Voting Problems in 10 States
Two weeks before the midterm elections, at least 10 states, including Maryland, remain ripe for voting problems, according to a study released yesterday by a nonpartisan clearinghouse that tracks electoral reforms across the United States..."

USNEWS.com reports:
New Voting Systems Could Cause Problems in Swing States Analysts Are Concerned About Some of the New Systems Being Implemented In key states.
After its election's razor-thin margin necessitated the first recount, Palm Beach County took two weeks to account for nearly 3,500 ballots thought missing. When they were found, on shelves with the other ballots, many could not be interpreted. Voters seemed to find the ballot's brand-new format, in which arrows had to be connected, completely unintelligible. Some had checked or circled their answers; others wrote jokes in the margins; one covered the paper with lipstick kisses

The 2000 mess? No. This Floridian fiasco occurred during the state's Aug. 26, 2008,..."

ABC NEWS reports:
"Voting Problems Persist as Election Nears Despite Snags, Record Numbers of Americans Are Turning Out to Vote Early
ACORN ad nauseam, troubling typos in registration rolls and voters potentially turned away for want of a checked box. The pressure for a punctilious combing of voting records continues, yet through it all, the voters persevere. From North Carolina to Illinois to Nevada, an astounding number of Americans have been breaking records by turning out early to vote..."
My advice is to spend a little time with your sample ballot learning the process for your county. Then check and recheck your ballot (or screen) twice and make sure your vote is counted for your candidate. Good Luck!

OBAMA
BIDEN
2008


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Since Orange is my color, you can expect yours truly to be rocking the newest collaboration between my favorite sneaker brand, Adidas and Los Angeles' own street wear retailer, Undefeated.

Undefeated’s trademark mix of performance and cutting edge design is at work on their ‘U’ interpretation of the ZX 8000. Taking the Torsion runner and giving it a clean, contemporary look, by starkly contrasting two key shades – bright orange and dazzling rave green on the footbed and Torsion bar itself, the mix of materials, - meshes and suede, completed with nylon stripes make winning strides towards authenticity and innovation.

ADIDAS x UNDEFEATED ZX 8000


ADIDAS x UNDEFEATED ZX 8000
Minimal branding, beyond the distinctive bars on the tongue indicates a retailer quietly confident of their winning form, and finished with a collection of laces for three very different looks, they remain "undefeated".

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I happened across this very informative website, EnergyFiend.com which list the amount of caffeine in most energy drinks, sodas, coffee, and caffeinated food, on the market.



To Mrs. P's constant objection my energy drink of choice is Monster Lo Carb and, when I can find it, Nos. Both drinks keep me sharp and able to make it through a long day of meetings, phone, calls, family time, this blog, and whatever else life throws at me. Interestingly, Energy Fiend also provides a Death by Caffeine Calculator - you enter your favorite drink, your weight and it calculates how many of your drink of choice it will take to kill you. For me:
  • Gulp down 106.64 cans of Monster and you're history.
  • 65.62 cans of Nos Energy Drink + You = Death.


Thankfully, I don't have to worry about ever drinking that much of anything. Half a can of either of these on the 9am drive in to the office suffices to carry me throughout the day. And to keep things in perspective, Mrs. Padrone, would need to,"Gulp down 85.71 cups of Brewed Coffee [her caffeinated drink of choice]" and she would be history.

It's not all bad news though,according to Health and Wellness Chanel it seems that drinking an energy drink after a workout will help your muscles recover faster by increasing glycogen levels. Glycogen is the fuel used by muscles to function, when you increase the levels, you shorten muscle recovery, thus increasing your performance at your next workout or competition.

As for me, I will still enjoy the occasional energy drink, especially after my weekend warrior pick-up basketball games... just keep in mind all things in moderation.

Monday, October 20, 2008


There is no better combination of sexy and funny, especially if you are talking about Max Payne co-star, Mila Kunis who plays Mona Sax.

Known best for her role as Jackie Burkhart, from That 70's Show, and currently as the voice of the Family Guy's Meg, Mila was born in Kyiv,Ukraine and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 7. She claims to have learned English by watching the Price is Right.






"Blondes definitely do not have more fun. Trust me."

We trust you... but wish you would prove it.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Brian Powell over at Awful Announcing, makes a great call on this video. Being a former college basketball player and current roundball fan, I rarely make comments as they pertain to other sports. But I have to admit, between this video (featuring Troy Polamalu and LaDanian Tomlinson) and my recent viewing of Invincible(what a great story, it's a shame I was so late to see this), it get me highly amped.


Monday, October 13, 2008

Rumm Rumm Good




My local libations expert, Bartender Rick, often lets me sample new and interesting drinks at my local hang out, Happy Ending. (Look for reviews of other real men drinks like Scotch, Whiskeys, and my personal favorite, Cognac) This weekend I tried an old recipe for a new rum that recently made its way to market, Sailor Jerry's Spiced Naval Rum.

Sailor Jerry is a Spiced Caribbean rum blended with 5 spices including ginger, cinnamon, clove, vanilla and an infusion of natural lime. It is based on an original recipe created by famous tattoo artist Sailor Jerry Collins. Known the world over, Sailor Jerry Collins (1911-1971) was famous for two things; his trademark solid, bright and neat tattooing and his own blend of spiced rum.





Searching through his personal papers and his vast collection of tattoos after his death in the seventies the original recipe for his blend of rum was found. According to Sailor Jerry's website, "other rums are panty-waisted, soul-less and ball-less in comparison." I wouldn't go that far but I do agree and it is definitely an upgrade to The Captain, and many other overly sweet rums. At 92 proof and with a touch of sweetness, Sailor Jerry is excellent on the rocks. I also tried it in a Cuba Libre and have to admit it definitely deserves high marks!

Il Padrone approves greatly.



I am going to take you back today... back to the psychedelic 70's!! This woman that needed no surgical enhancement of any kind and was a, "Baaaad motherfu... SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" I am sure we all remember Shaft's would-be counter part, "Foxy Brown", "Coffy" aka Pam Grier. Roger Ebert, in his review of Coffy, actually noted that Grier "was an actress of beautiful face and astonishing form and that she possessed a kind of "physical life" missing from other actresses." Damn, sounds to me as if Pam almost straightened Roger out...






As Blaxplotation actress in the 70's Pam was a stand out, later in here career she was a series regular on Miami Vice, appeared on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and her popularity resurgence began after landing the lead in Quentin Taratino's "Jackie Brown", which was actually a homage to her earlier work. Ms. Grier can now be seen regularly on Showtimes, The L Word, playing the sister of another long time actress and beauty, Jennifer Beals.
"...I know I've influenced people, and I'm proud of that. But as I see it, I really haven't done anything... Foxy Brown [the rap artist] actually approached me at the start of her career to ask if she could use the name. I told her, 'You didn't need to ask.' If you're an independent woman, every woman is Foxy Brown"
Sorry Pam, every woman isn't Foxy Brown... but we sure wish they were. Thanks for doin' your own "damn thang" back in the day!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

"The world has grown outrageously wealthy. It is estimated that the world will have 1,000 new billionaires by next year, with 50,000 new millionaires nipping at their heels. New wealth has spawned new dreams and new demands; the best in everything category is through the roof."

While there are publicist known for blowing their products/clients out of proportion, they usually don't let this habit creep in to economic predictions. Unfortunately, this over site will provide humor on both the ridiculousness of the statement as well as the product, through good times and bad.

Cellular Cream Platinum Rare

La Prairie Cellular Cream Platinum Rare, an antiaging cream made in part from... Platinum. Obviously marketed toward women and the Hollywood Jet Set, it's only $1000 per 1.7 ounces.

I guess at the end of the day, it's cheaper than Botox.

Simply Obsurd.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

In the interest of keeping you inspired to create and as a way to market your businesses more effectively, I quite often browse Tech Crunch's Elevator Pitches. "Elevator Pitches" is a way for startups to pitch and market their idea/products to the masses... in 60 seconds or less. My most recent find, Wrapmail, takes a tool that's used every day and fortifies it to assist in marketing yourself, your business, and your clients.

WrapMail helps companies “wrap” already existing email traffic, that leaves from your,and/or your employees, every day. These emails go to a captive audience (Vendors, Customers, Prospects and Friends/Family). WrapMail wraps the outgoing emails in up to 4 frames with pictures, graphics, text, links and/or audio and they do this on the server level so there’s no need to change any routines on the desktop (the sender does not see the wrap). The wrap is customizable, can be specifically targeted, and turned of at will.





There are two editions to suit your needs. The free Individual Edition is ideal for students, recent graduates, hobbyists or anyone that wants to customize their email to reflect their interests and personality. Users can create Wraps that contain content from their Facebook, MySpace, eBay or LinkedIn profiles, resumes, dating profiles, alma mater, or favorite sports teams. WrapMail is also perfect for creating and sending invitations, greeting cards, or surveys.

The Business Edition can be customized according to your financial and marketing needs, shares a server with Wrapmail (they become your outgoing mail server) and Click tracking (to see who is following what in your wraps). Also there is an Enterprise Edition that gives business their own server, extended customer support, and more detailed tracking options.

Check out some of the examples below:









This is a great idea and I should have thought of it first. Kudos Wrapmail!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Sorry about not getting this out sooner... but better late than never.



They say great things come in small packages and I couldn't agree more, especially when it comes to Cuban American cutie, Christina Milian. Standing at only 5'2", she packs a powerful voice and an equally powerful presence.


As an R&B artist, Christina has released 3 albums (with a 4th coming soon), written songs for Jennifer Lopez and Hilary Duff, and appeared in several films most notably; Love Don't Cost a Thing, Get Shorty, and the upcoming Bring it On Cinco and Ghost of Girlfriends Past.

"I'm not too hard on myself about dieting and exercise. Some stars are a little too bony for me. What happened to the booty?"
Well,... it looks like we know what happened now.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008





Converse has been dropping fresh limited editions, collaborations, and new models all year in celebration of their 100th Anniversary. The Jack Purcell Flight Jacket and Suede Chuck Taylor All Stars are here just in time for Fall.

The “Flight Jacket” is distinguished by a faux-fur inner lining and a reinforced stitched upper reminiscent of actual flight jackets you can still pick up at your local Army Surplus . The classic Chuck Taylor re-imagined in suede are perfect for the coming cooler weather. Be sure to check out Sole Collector for a preview of other upcoming Converse styles.

But keep in mind that unless you have the hook-up in Japan, it will be difficult to get your size 12's in these particular styles anytime soon. However there is another option to get your hands on some Fall inspired Converse. Try Zappos.com!


Converse Force 5

Converse Chuck Taylor® All Star® Luxe Herringbone Ox

Zappos is now carrying, The Converse Force 5 (also in green and grey ) and the All Star Luxe Herringbone Ox which are cool alternatives to the Japan-only releases. Zappos does sometimes stock special editions sneakers a few months after their initial release. And that's just one reason why Zappos is a personal favorite of mine.

As an early Zappos adapter (since 2000), another reason for my loyalty is because of the "Next Day Delivery", and open return policy - Zappos actually brings the shoe shopping experience to your home. Besides sport shoes, they also carry a wide selection of dress shoes, apparel, briefcases, travel bags and sun glasses for men, women, and kids. You won't find too many limited editions or "one of" sneakers per se, but you will find affordable, unique kicks that very few others are wearing. I actually purchased these Adidas 500 ZX Animals there and have never seen anyone else in Los Angeles with them... So either that says something about me or something about the rest of L.A.

Adidas ZX 500 Animal Edition 561288, Adidas ZX 500 Running, Adidas ZX 500Adidas ZX 500 Animal Edition 561288, Adidas ZX 500 Running, Adidas ZX 500

So if you ever see these kicks... you are probably seeing Il Padrone. Until then define your own style at Zappos.com



 

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