Where the Surf Meets the Turf, at Del Mar

Today was my first day ever at a horse track, and being the gambling enthusiast that I am... I think I'm hooked! It didn't grow on me right away however... but its a great way to lounge around, enjoy the sun, and make some money at the same time!
I still haven't worked out all the little details though, like researching the bets on the paper, getting familiar with jockeys, horse-trainers, etc, but I think it could be a lot of fun. For today, I was just focusing on the basics like odds, and basically, plain out guessing, but it was fun nevertheless, and a great way to socialize... as long as you get a winning ticket every now and then.
Now, I'm not planning on becoming a hard-core horse-race gambling enthusiast... but it was a good break from the typical casino scene. Sports betting simply just has a charm of its own.
I definately have to go back at least once next season!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays, With a Twist

As you know, every Wednesday I post a Crush of the Week on this blog. I do it because like all other men, I amire the beauty that women have to offer, I relish the spice they bring into our lives, and I keep fantasizing about different women every week since I simply can as I'm not in any serious relationship. But for this week, I thought I'd make it a little different and focus on women in another way... granted, this all may be slightly exaggerated.. but then again, the Crush of the Week posts are never just your 'typical' woman.

Helpin' you get over the hump...

Is it Always Better to Buy than to Rent? Think Again...

So, I'm at that tender age, when I must decide, do I want to continue renting an apartment... or invest some money in a house? The funny thing is that, I always thought that buying was the better option... always in any realistic scenario... but the more I research, the more I find out that is simply not always the case.

Check out this great article from the NY times. It does a very similar analysis to what my friend Mahim did... wtg Mahim! It takes into account the money you spend on a mortgage after accounting for things like tax-breaks and compares it to the money you would spend on renting, after accouting for the money you would save by renting, which is assumed to earn a decent interest... and in today's bloated-housing market, renting wins almost every time.

In fact, if you ever consider 'trading-up' by buying instead of renting, if nothing else, remember the rule of 20... If the price for a house is more than 20 times the rent you would pay to live in it for a year... then its probabaly not a good bet.

Of course, owning a house is a privelage with perks that are priceless, so it will always be better to buy if you want a family-home you plan to spend the rest of your life in. But if you plan to sell within 5 years, then buying is a very bad option in comparison to renting, especially in areas like NY and California.

Just read the article, even if you disagree... you may learn something.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

Claire Forlani
Helpin' you get over the hump...

She hasn't been on my mind for quite some time now... but all it took was a saturday afternoon showing of Meet Joe Black, and I was whipped... once again. I've been meaning to make her my crush for sometime now... alas, I am at peace. Enjoy... :-)

The Fine Line Between Security and Paranoia

There is no doubt that terrorism has gone hand-in-hand with airline travel for decades now. Recent news only strengthens this link as terrorists continue to exploit the gaps in airline security for the advancement of their cause. Therefore, this strong link should only convince us that an extremely tight level of airline security is of the utmost importance in protecting us against future terrorist attacks, where all precautions are taken and no stone is left un-turned.

But at the same time, one may also look at the events from this past week or so and say that maybe we are going a bit overboard... not in our security, but in our paranoia. Granted, many of these events truly could have been catastrophic had the proper precautions not been taken, but there's a fine line between tight-security and paranoia that we should be wary of.

For example, I commend our security services for taking the proper precautions when an Excel airlines flight was diverted for an emergency landing due to a bomb threat. I also agree with the numerous instances of temporary terminal closures across the nation's airports based on suspicious liquids, especially since this is a very new area for our security teams. In my mind, both of these examples just prove to me that airline travel is much safer now than it used to be and emphasize to me that all valid security concerns are definitely worth the added inconvenience they place on air-travelers.

But there are also other recent air-travel security issues that I feel cross the line between tight-security and paranoia, and thus portray our fears in a negative manner. For example, was the 59 year-old woman really such a threat to the safety of the plane that her claustrophobia required an emergency landing while being escorted by two armed F-15 fighter jets? Now I know that this was only a week or so after British Authorities foiled a terrorist plot on a flight traveling a similar route... but was such an extreme reaction to this woman's claustrophobia really necessary? I tend to think no...

But then again, how does one know whether the fine-line between tight-security and paranoia is actually ever crossed? After all, hind-sight is always 20/20.

Nevertheless, these events just stress the fact that we need to focus on tightening our security even further, while continually suppressing the ever-increasing paranoia associated with air-travel. Fear and paranoia related to air-travel must be abandoned, especially as we try to prove to the terrorists that they will never manage to impede the flow of our lives.

Aman Managing to Make Situations Awkward

I met her about two months ago as I joined my new job. She's a smart, beautiful and very attractive young woman in her late 20s. She has a great body, and a very trendy and fashionalbe dress-sense, that seems to be only more noticeable at my place of work. She's liked by everyone, and is a fun girl once you get to know her.... but I guess that's where I messed it all up.

Before you assume that I *like* her and want more than friendship with her... let me just correct you by saying that is simply not so. Yes she's attractive, dresses-well and has all the qualities that I'd want in a girl... but NO, I'm not into her that way. She's just a great girl, that it would be fun to hang out with at work whenever one had some down-time. And that's where it stops!

But the casual friendship that I want might seem too far-off a concept for now, as I've managed to fu*k things up pretty badly... by simply trying to play it cool. But now I'm realizing that I was anything but *cool*.

Its not cool when I notice her pass by my office, but never once say 'hi' or 'hello' becuase I'm trying to show her that I don't notice, though I clearly do. Its not cool that I avoid sitting next to her during meetings though I clearly want the opportunity to try and make small-talk with her. Its not cool that I pretend to play busy at work whenever I see her caught up in a hallway conversation and don't stop by and participate, though I'm yearning to take part in it. And, its definately not cool that I avoid conversing with her when I see her at the gym in the mornings, though I know I enjoy seeing her there as it seems to motivate me to train harder for some reason.

Why the heck am I trying to play so cool...? Why can't I just admit to myself that she's a great girl who I want to get to know better, and so that means taking an iniative. Why can I do this with all people except for girls that I find attractive, even though I may not be seeking anything more than friendship, as in this case. Why do I go and make simple things so complicated sometimes...?

It all hit me in the head yesterday evening as I walked by her in the hallway and wished her with a good-night greeting... only to be ignored by her as she simply didn't say a word. This girl that used to respond to my greetings, and even discussed her marathon-training with me the first time I saw her at the gym, has suddenly grown a bit colder towards me.

But I guess I simply can't blame her, as I've been playing *cool* for simply too long....

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

Vesper
Picture #2 Picture #3 (My Fav!)
Helpin' you get over the hump...

No, you don't recognize her. She's not an actress, she's not Ms. Universe and she's also not a Top-10 model... though she could be!
What she is, however, is just a normal blogger... but with the looks to kill! It's ironic that our paths crossed as she left a comment on one of my 'Crush of the Week' postings... and now, she herself has become Aman's crush for this week.
But unlike the others, this crush is a little deeper than the rest, as it goes beyond just skin-deep. So, why don't you join me and meet this Canadian blogger named Vesper... and learn to enjoy her and her blog as she writes about topics that bring us closer to her... and closer to ourselves at the same time. This actor, writer, single-mother (yes guys, she's single!), is definately worth taking the time to get to know... even if it is only through her blog.

By the way, here are the tallies for the voting behind the pic of the week selection for Vesper:
Pic1=3; Pic2=4, Pic3=6, Pic4=3, Pic5=2, Pic6=9, Pic7=0, Pic8=5, Pic9=3, Pic10=5
I have displayed Pics 6, 3 and 10. The rest are available for your viewing pleasure here!

Please note, there will be no 'Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies' this week, as there was no request...

Be Lazy... In Style

Segway just released it's two newest scooters... and they're wayyy cooler than the first version. I know I know... America is already lazy enough... and yes, we can all use some exercise... but I for one am not going to give Segway a hard time about it! They're just capitalizing on a lazy society... now that's smart! Plus, their new ski-like gyro-based movement system is super-cool... all one does is lean in the direction where he/she wants to go... and woa-lah (sp?) off they go... how cool is that! It's like an Ipod wheel, but in 3D, and it moves you! Ok ok, I know, time for the geeky-side of Aman to take a chill pill. But you must admit, it's damn cool!

Anyhow, even if you don't like Segways, you have to realize that these little gadgets could have some great potential... only if they were a bit cheaper! Think about it... this may be just what we're looking for when it come to making public transit more feasible in today's large metropolises, especially in the newer cities like Los Angeles and others which have only been designed for cars, and not pedestrians taking mass-transit. In such cities, no matter what route one takes, there's always a bottle-neck... a signficant distance one needs to travel on his/her own in order to get to their destination from the mass-transit drop-off point. And a Segway would fit the bill perfectly for that... you could just pop-off a bus/train and on to your Segway as you complete the journey travelling at a cool 12.5 mph without breaking a sweat! Sure, we could all walk, or bike or jog... but heck, we still would be able to... this is just another great option, and doesn't require you having to break a sweat when you don't want to. But then again, this would only work if the Segway was more affordable... as I don't see people selling their cars for a bus-pass and a Segway when they run about $5k a pop.

Now, I know my theory about mass-transit and Segway going hand-in-hand one day might seem a bit far-fetched... but I guess I was just trying to see past the obvious... that Segways just perpetuate the laziness of America, because I really don't think they do. Lazy Americans do that on their own.

Regardless what you think, you gotta admit its still a damn great tool... and I hope the company does extremely well.

It's Over, I'm Another Year Older... and Still Ticking... tick... tick

Another year gone by, another year to look forward to. Another year with loved ones, and realizing just how special family is and how lucky I am to have mine. Another year spent on my career, still striving to be all I can be. Another year being single, and still looking to find my angel. Another year of making new friends, but losing some close ties with some older ones. Another year added to long lasting friendships that seem to have become only more special one year later. Another year of finding out what's truly important in life, and letting go of things that simply are not. Another year... another year to work towards making it all right.

Does age bring wisdom... or does it bring maturity...? Does it bring about happiness... or a better ability to tolerate sadness ..? Does it bring one closer to their definition of bliss... or do one's comprimises bring bliss closer to reality...? I guess I simply can't say.

All I can say is that age brings one closer to a complete sense of self. If I know anything better now than I did a year ago, then it is myself. Afterall, I've been 'Catching up on Aman' longer than even the most loyal of my blog-readers.

So, every year I take a closer look at the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, and the strenghts and the weaknesses that have come to define my character. Every year I come to a better realization of how I'm not perfect, how I'm not always right, how I can be stubborn, naive, immature, etc. But every year I also realize how I'm also not a bad person, and every year, I can commit to becoming a little bit better for the next time I go up by one.

Some of us have a very specific scale of how to measure our age, besides just the number... We may focus on our finances, or our relationships, or our cars, or our toys, etc... I just feel that if I just measure my age by my being, by my thoughts, and by my sense of self, then that's all that truly matters... and the rest is bound to follow. Afterall, if I can't figure myself out... then my bliss will only be an artifact of chance, and not design.

Just my 2 cents on aging... Thanks to all my friends who helped me celebrate tonight... and to all those who I'll be celebrating with this weekend... birthdays would be a waste without family and friends.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

Stephanie Seymour
Helpin' you get over the hump...
On this day before my 27th B'day, I have to include her as this week's crush and thank her for helpin' me get over the hump many times during the days of my youth thanks to the monthly Victorias Secret catalogs.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

By Request: Gael García Bernal
Picture 2, Picture 3Does this help you girls get over the hump..?

Size of Mars = Size of Moon this August 27....? I don't think so!

Haven't gotten one of these forwards yet...? They have been floating around cyber-space recently claiming that the planet Mars and the Moon will both be the same distance away from the Earth this August 27th, and hence 'the Red Planet' will be visible to the naked human eye for the first time ever... all because of some mumbo-jumbo story about an interaction with Jupiter's gravity...
Now, when I got this, I thought, wow, cool... I'll be able to see it... maybe even take a pic or two... but then I realized... wait a minute, that can't be... cuz if that happened, everything would be f$#@'ed up!
Imagine that, why the heck would Mars be forced to leave its orbit to approach as close to the Earth as our own Moon is... and just imagine what else may be going on out there at the same time to have such a castastrophic event take place in our solar system. Heck, one thing is for sure... if Mars ever did get that close to the Earth... we would never be alive to see it because if we didn't all drown by the excessive tidal-waves caused by the affect of Mars' gravity on our oceans... then I'm sure something else would have probably made us extinct...
So, just be warned, that this is a hoax. Save yourself some embaressment and don't forward it to your friends and co-workers... I'm trying to stop you from making a fool of yourself...!
Granted, I got this forward from a friend... but I sure am glad I didn't send it off free-nilly nor post it on my blog without actually thinking about it...
Here are some good websites that explain this email prank/hoax in more detail:
- Beware of the Mars Hoax (Nasa)
- Close Encounter with Mars (Urban Legends)
Please do note that Mars will be unusually closer than it normally is, and yes, it may appear red through a nice telescope, but it will just be a big star to the naked-eye, and certainly not as large as the moon!

-Catch up on Aman, keeping you in the KNOW!

Great DJ... good song... awesome video!

Something to lighten-up your day! Cheers! :)

I FLY SWA

Definately my first choice when I fly domestic... the rates, the timeliness, the pleasant crew team... and oh, not to mention, first-come-first serve seating! Personally, I like my seat choice left up to me, especially for domestic flights... this way, if I don't get the seat I want... then there's no one else to blame but me.

Have any opionions on their unreserved-seating practice? It's one of the main reasons I fly SWA. Express your opionons by taking this short 5 question survey- here!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

Kelly Brook
Helpin' you get over the hump...

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

By Request: James Marsden
Pic 2, Pic 3 (My Fav)Does this help you girls get over the hump..?