Take Your Pick: Lucky or Good?

"It is better to be lucky than good." Or so the saying goes. Would you rather be lucky or good at something? Are you better off being lucky or good? Take your pick! I want to know what you think about being lucky or good. But of course, I have to provide a fancy introduction because while this is a casual blog post, I prefer professional-type commentary. So let's do this.

--- Lucky or Good? ---

Success at something involves skill and sometimes luck. Some people tend to be more fortunate than actually being talented. Those who can be more talented than lucky may not be so lucky at getting the job done. Those who are more lucky than good are obviously good enough to complete a task successfully. Why don't we look at the two elements?

Before I begin, I want to let you know I will use a lot of sports references here. I know a lot of my audience doesn't really watch or care about sports. I still will use these references to help prove my points. Let's get on with the show now.

Better Lucky Than Good.

As a Houston Rockets fan, I was pretty angry when Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers hit a flukey three-point shot to knock out my Rockets in the 1st Round of the 2013-2014 NBA playoffs in six games. I was pretty (pardon my choice of words) damned angry and heartbroken that million-to-one 3-point shot was hit by the Portland Trail Blazers. Even Lillard (whom I respect) said it was a lucky shot in a later interview.

Think of other sports upsets- like Chaminade University's upset of the University of Virginia in 1982. Or because of the "Always Hate Houston" rule people seem to have- North Carolina State beating the University of Houston for the 1983 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball tournament. You have to have the talent to pull certain feats off and be in a position to win. And in the case of luck, luck is more like insurance in hopes you complete a task.

Being more lucky than good means you may or may not have the talent to accomplish a task with mastery, but you somehow manage to achieve the best results in the end.

Better Good Than Lucky.

Now let's look at the other end of the spectrum. Imagine just being good enough to not have to rely on luck to assure yourself a victory. An example of being more good than lucky is that you are able to win a Spelling Bee or pass a test with high results. You rely more on skill rather than hoping you are fortunate enough to get the best results. In one mindset, that is total confidence. In another mindset, however, you can be immensely talented yet still lose. Let me use another sports example. Think of Super Bowl XLII in 2008 between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. New England seemed destined to be the only other team besides the 1972 Miami Dolphins to finish an NFL season unbeaten. They obviously had the skill to hammer the brains of all the other NFL teams to remain unbeaten. However, the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, AZ, USA. This is a case where being talented just isn't enough- you need a little luck in hoping you can still pull through even if you have all the talent in the world.

Being more good than lucky means you believe in your talents more than hoping you are fortunate enough to get the desired result you wish to obtain.


I think that explains things quite well.





So...

Would you rather be lucky or good if you could choose between the two? Does wanting to be either lucky or good depend on certain situations?

Take your pick! I hope you've enjoyed this blog post. Feel free to contact me online if you have any ideas for future posts and topics you wouldn't mind seeing in any of my blogs. "Like" me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter, circle me on Google+... GET SOCIAL WITH ME! Thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick: Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini?

Three legendary marques. Three companies that make incredible cars. Three companies that make dream cars for many people. Which of these three exotic car makers would you take over the others? For the first time ever, "Take Your Pick" features more than two items. If you had to choose between cars from any of these companies, which would you take: Ferrari? Porsche? Or Lamborghini?

Let's begin another post on John's Blog Space!

--- Take Your Pick: Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini? ---

^ Ferrari. Porsche. Lamborghini. Which is the best to you?

A car is designed to take people from one place to another safely and faster than back when mostly horses carried people around. I hate thinking of exotic cars as "luxury" cars; but in practice, cars from the three aforementioned car companies are considered luxury cars. You don't need to have cars with such exaggerated performance. But for many people, Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini represent the omegas of automobile transport.

Why would one even want to be around cars from these manufacturers? Well, the reasons vary among automotive enthusiasts and those highly conscious of status. The word "status" is perhaps the biggest factor. Owning something you rarely see on the road is always something to be proud of. In the case of these three car companies being mentioned here, you really say a lot when you get to own a car from Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini. It means you are either very rich and/or very appreciative of automobiles. Some [mostly middle-class] people would mostly feel confused as to why someone would buy or own a car that cost as much as their houses. At least two of the three companies unveiled super-expensive and super-powerful automobiles. Ferrari recently unveiled their "LaFerrari" machine with unreal performance. Lamborghini followed suit with a car that costs nearly three times as much as LaFerrari with the Lamborghini Veneno. Porsche's latest beast machine is the Porsche 918 Spyder.

Now a little more on each respective company. The links in each heading point you to their official sites.

Ferrari.

Ferrari is iconic for being fast cars with amazing performance and beautiful-sounding engine noise. They are synonymous with high performance and high speed. You know what kind of company you're talking about when you see a prancing horse on a yellow shield. Some of the most recent offerings from Ferrari include the F12 Berlinetta and the demonic "LaFerrari." When I first got into cars around 1998, one car I was excited about was the 360 Modena. I still think that is a beautiful car even today. It only lacked sufficient power to make them any more awesome.

Ferrari is one of the greatest marques in motorsport. Many people immediately think of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 regards to Ferrari racing. They also have a great history in the ranks of GT and sports car racing. There is no denying the appeal Ferrari has had both in road cars and in race cars. Outside of the high-end racing series involvement, Ferrari is well-known today for their Ferrari Challenge series. There are different Ferrari Challenge series worldwide.

Their success in both road-going and racing cars remain strong even to this day.

(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE FERRARIS:250 GTO, Dino 246 GTS, 288 GTO, Testarossa, 360 Modena, F430, 599 series, 612 Scaglietti, California, F12 Berlinetta, P4/5
(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE RACING FERRARIS:, 330 P4, 333SP (my all-time favorite race car), FXX series, 599XX, 360 Modena Ferrari Challenge Car, F430 Ferrari Challenge Car

Porsche.

Porsche has always been the peoples' sports car maker. Nothing is more iconic in car design than the usual side profile of a Porsche. The elegant swooping profile of a Porsche gives most traditional Porsches their unique personality and performance. While the company based in Stuttgart, Germany makes some of the finest sports cars in the world, their attainability and usefulness far outclass the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. For example, the cheapest newest Porsche you can buy is the base Porsche Boxster, which sells for just over $50K US Dollars. There have been a handful of relatively inexpensive Porsche models such as the Porsche 924 and the Porsche 928. They are also a very practical company with cars such as the Panamera and the Cayenne. So while they make some of the finest pure sports cars money can buy, you don't have to pay too much to enjoy the sheer essence and prestige of owning a Porsche.

To really appreciate Porsche, you must account for their racing heritage. Almost every traditional sportscar racing series has at least one Porsche being raced. The 917 and 962 are two of the all-time greatest Porsche racing cars. The 550A Spyder is one of the most beautiful racing Porsches ever created, and it will always be immortalized with the tragedy of James Dean. You also have the infamous 935/78- commonly nicknamed "Moby Dick" for its whale tail design at the rear. Porsche has even raced in Indy Car racing as well as competing in the Indy 500. They used a March Indy chassis to house their Porsche engine to compete in this level of racing.

There are various Porsche Cup series around the world for those who want to enjoy racing Porsches on some of the world's finest race tracks. They are the best way to enjoy racing Porsches. There used to be a fine event here in the United States called the Porsche Rennsport Reunion featuring Porsches past and present racing on one track in one special weekend. I am not sure if that's still being run or not. The last Porsche Rennsport Reunion was at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in October 2011.

(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE PORSCHES: 911 Carrera series, 956, Boxster, 911 GT2, 911 GT1, Carrera GT, Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera, 918
(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE RACING PORSCHES: 550A Spyder, 917, 962C, 956 Dakar, 911 GT3 RSR, RS Spyder

Lamborghini.

The prancing bull of Lamborghini represents some of the most demonic and lustful supercars in the world. While Lamborghini is known today for their ultra-powerful automobiles, their very first Lambo was the rather modest (by today's standards) 350 GT. The profile of Lamborghini was ramped up with the absolutely beautiful Miura later in the 1960s. Then along came machines like the Countach. Lamborghini is mostly synonymous with wide, low, and powerful supercars. It is almost as if you're selling your soul to the devil climbing into a Lamborghini. Despite their supercars, they did come up with one of the oddest machines ever- the Lamborghini LM002. The LM002 was a military-type SUV that rivaled the Hummer H1. Lamborghini is planning a new SUV called the Urus as of the date of this initial blog post.

What about Lamborghini's racing history? If anything, Lamborghini lacks a significant racing history compared to both Ferrari and Porsche. I only know their racing for GT racing and the Formula 1 cars that had Lamborghini V12s. When it comes to tuning and racing Lamborghinis, only one group is the finest of them all- Reiter Engineering.

(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE LAMBORGHINIS: Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murciélago, Reventón, Aventador, Estoque (never produced)
(SOME OF) MY PERSONAL FAVORITE RACING LAMBORGHINIS: Diablo GT-R, Murciélago GT-R


So now you know about the three car companies. Time to make the case for the each of the companies to make up this Take Your Pick.

--- Making the Case ---

It is time to make the case for each item of this "Take Your Pick."

Making the Case: Why Ferrari?

Ferrari makes some of the most lustful and most distinctive cars. You know a Ferrari when you drive and see one. You know what you're getting when you drive or own a Ferrari. Rarely does a Ferrari disappoint in offering driving experiences compared to other cars.

Making the Case: Why Porsche?

Even though they don't make the most ultra-powerful and ultra-exclusive cars, Porsche at least is a car company that offers capable and practical automobiles. Think about the portfolio Porsche offers- a handful of sports cars (including a four-door sports car- the Panamera), some sporty roadsters, and a high-performance SUV. So maybe Porsche isn't a car company that could care about making the world's fastest and most powerful supercars. But if you care about a distinctive car company making distinctive cars with distinctive character no matter which model in the range you drive or own, Porsche has you covered.

Making the Case: Why Lamborghini?

The wildest dreams of most automotive enthusiasts is to drive an absolutely demonic machine and feel as if the world is his/hers. You get that in a Lamborghini. Their cars absolutely personify demonic performance and style. Lamborghinis are truly lustful. Owning and driving a Lamborghini is totally character-inducing. If racing heritage means a lot to you, then prepare to be disappointed with Lamborghini on that front. Even still, there is no denying the appeal and charm of a Lamborghini.

Ferrari vs. Porsche vs. Lamborghini?

Personally, I am a HUGE Ferrari fan. I would likely take a Ferrari over a Porsche or a Lamborghini. I certainly will not be over a Murciélago or an Aventador any time soon. While I've never been too crazy over Porsche, you can't argue against what Porsche offers for all kinds of automotive enthusiasts. Even without some sort of halo car that trumps the fastest Ferrari or the fastest Lamborghini, there is just something about Porsche that makes me overly respectful and admirable of Porsche and what all they offer to many people with many different tastes and needs in what a high-performance car should be.

In other words- I'm a Ferrari fan that chooses Porsche over both Ferrari and Lamborghini. I love Ferrari, but there's something about Porsche that makes you appreciate it much more despite the offerings of Ferrari and Lamborghini. There is a certain character to Porsche that makes me more respectful of Porsche than Ferrari and Lamborghini. This has nothing to do with which has the most powerful and most capable cars. I just think the better overall portfolio and range favors Porsche than the other two companies. Being a Ferrari fan that chose Porsche over Ferrari and Lamborghini is something we like to call... flipping the script.





Which would you take in this edition of Take Your Pick- Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini? Let me know what you think and thanks for reading!

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Take Your Pick: Dance Dance Revolution or Pump it Up?

Two of the most popular dancing arcade game series make up this "Take Your Pick"- Konami's Dance Dance Revolution series and Andamiro's Pump it Up. It is Japan's Konami vs. Korea Republic's Andamiro in the dancing game realm. Which is better? I invite my loyal blog readers to offer their thoughts. Those of you who don't have two left feet are invited to choose between these two dancing game giants! :)

--- Take Your Pick: Dance Dance Revolution or Pump it Up? ---

Both Dance Dance Revolution and Pump it Up are two games with an exceptional list of songs to dance to. These are either high-energy songs or some dance-worthy remixes of real songs. The songs are divided by difficulty. Some songs are easier to dance to with not as many moves. The harder songs require more movements. If you are not a very good dancer or not very good playing, it is best you start with some of the easier songs before attempting to dance to some of the harder songs.

The goal of both games is to watch the screen and step on the pads as the arrows approach the top of the screen. Try to land each movement at the right time to score the most points. You may see a string of arrows. That means you need to tap on that pad and hold for the full duration. Chain together many Perfect or OK moves to rack up the points and get the highest rank!

There are two stages for both games with the same number of pads to step on. This allows either for one-on-one dance battles or even (and I've seen this happen before) one player using both stages for special challenges.

It is probably a good idea to play this game with some appropriate footwear. So if you wear something that comes off easily (like flip-flop/thong sandals, clogs, mules, etc), or if you're wearing something not suited for sudden dance movements; it is best to take off your shoes before playing either game.

Here is a look at both games at a glance. If you can't view Flash media, click on the link to each video to see the video on YouTube. Thanks to the channels that allowed these videos to be embedded.

Dance Dance Revolution Series.

The Dance Dance Revolution series made its debut to the world in November 1998. A standard DDR stage consists of four pressure pads with arrows pointing up, down, left, and right. A number of DDR games for both arcade and home would be released through the life of the franchise.

Here is a demonstration of DDR:

^ "DDR Arcade - Exotic Ethnic - Heavy" - YouTube

Here is another sample of DDR. This time, DDR Extreme. This is an example of what you see on screen. By the way, this song sounds awesome:

^ DDR Extreme - White Lovers [SP Heavy] - YouTube

Pump it Up Series.

The direct challenger to Dance Dance Revolution is Korea's Pump it Up series. The first PIU debuted in 1999 for PC and arcade. It was made by Nexcade and published by Korea's Andamiro. Pump it Up is played on a stage with diagonal directions. Pads point northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest. There is even a center stage pad to touch.

Here is a demonstration of PIU:

^ "Pump It Up Fiesta EX 2011 - TX Cabinet - BMIGaming - Andamiro - Remix 3 Final"

This video is an on-screen demonstration of Pump it Up:

^ "[Pump it Up Fiesta] Kara - Wanna"


Both games deliver some great music to dance to as well as unique challenges to keep the dancing interesting.

--- Dance Dance Revolution vs. Pump it Up: My Thoughts ---

So which arcade dancing game series is better?

Why the "Dance Dance Revolution" Series?

The Dance Dance Revolution series is a very fun dancing game series for the most part. Even if you are no kind of dancing star (like my lack of dancing talent), at least this is a series you can enjoy when at the arcades or playing home versions of the DDR franchise. I would say it's more of a dancing game everyone can enjoy without needing to feel like some sort of established dancing ace to play the game to begin with.

Why the "Pump it Up" Series?

Reading Wikipedia in preparing this post, I read that Pump it Up better suits more technical dancers. Mostly your breakdancing types would enjoy this game more than someone who just casually dances. So I probably would make that your primary reason to love this franchise over DDR. I have had only so limited experience playing "Pump it Up."


It's tough to choose one, but if going on experience alone, I favor Dance Dance Revolution on experience alone. That's not to that that Pump it Up is a bad game or a bad series, but I am just more familiar with (and a bit more comfortable with) DDR than PIU.





For more information on either or both series, have a look at these Wikipedia pages:
• Dance Dance Revolution - Wikipedia
• Pump it Up - Wikipedia

So which do you like better? Thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick: Sydney or Melbourne?

Two of my favorite Australian cities make up this "Take Your Pick." If you were to visit Australia, which city would you visit- Sydney or Melbourne? They are two of my favorite Australian cities. Which would you choose if you were to visit either of these two cities? I am especially proud of all the support I get from people worldwide. Both in blogging and on YouTube, I have gotten lots of support from people the world over. Especially Australia and New Zealand are two of my biggest international audiences. Since I'm talking about Australia, I especially salute and welcome all of my Australian readers and visitors to another post on "John's Blog Space."

--- Take Your Pick: Sydney or Melbourne? ---

I have online friends from both Sydney and Melbourne. I'm sure (and hopeful) I'm doing both cities proud in this blog post. I am fond of both Sydney and Melbourne. Most of the "Take Your Pick" posts I do primarily concern two different things that I think are great or interesting. So here, I chose two Australian cities that I think are among two of the loveliest in Australia. Sydney and Melbourne are the two cities I've selected for this edition of "Take Your Pick."

Before I give my pick, here is a look at why you should care about both cities:

Why Sydney?

I have always considered Sydney, New South Wales, Australia as one of the world's most beautiful cities. No lovelier view of Sydney than with the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. I have seen how Sydney celebrates New Year's Day with fireworks and such from the bridge. From a video I saw showcasing one New Year's celebration in Sydney, the woman in the video described Sydney as a "sexy city." I'll agree to that! In my view, Sydney is a very lovely city. Fancy the beach life? Look no further than Bondi Beach or Manly Beach.

On the sports front, I basically know Sydney as being home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Summer Games. I also know it in racing for Eastern Creek (nowadays called Sydney Motorsports Park) and for the Australian V8 Supercar Series racing on the streets of Homebush Park. Only sports club I know of most in Sydney is the Sydney Swans of Australian Rules Football.

Sydney is home to the amazingly cool YouTube heavyweight, Natalie Tran of communitychannel. It is also home to fellow blogging friends like Natalie of "Lucy and the Runaways" and Rachel of "the autumn castle" among others. It is also home to the amazingly handsome David Paris (whom you may remember when I discussed androgyny in fashion and art).


Here is a video showcasing more about Sydney (click on the link below if you can't view Flash video):


^ "Visiting Sydney, Australia in a Minute"

Why Melbourne?

Melbourne is a gorgeous city as well. It has been hailed as being very clean and safe. Melbourne has some very nice architecture downtown. There is a lovely blend of old and modern with some of the many buildings. A lot of Victorian-era buildings can be found in Melbourne. I also know Melbourne for where Monash University is located. I've only known of Monash University for its Formula SAE program. For you racing fans, the Melbourne area is home to both Holden and Ford Australia. Holden is headquartered in Port Melbourne, and Ford Australia is headquartered in Campbellfield. So you could say that Melbourne is kind of like Australia's Detroit- as far as the Australian automobile industry is concerned.

In sports, I know Melbourne mostly for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix around Albert Park. F1 has been racing around Albert Park since 1996. Before then, it was the streets of Adelaide that served as host to F1 racing in Australia prior to Melbourne. Besides this, you can get your racing action at Philip Island. The Philip Island racing circuit provides a unique view of the Pacific Ocean, as well as play host to the Philip Island 500 in Australian V8 Supercar Series, as well as big time racing action with World Superbike and MotoGP. And being in the Australian state of New South Wales, you are only 200 kilometers (124.28 miles) from the Mount Panorama Circuit and the madness of the Bathurst 1000.

I do admit that I wish I knew a lot more about Melbourne than what I know before making this post. I prepared this by mostly doing some light research and going off the top of my head trying to post facts to the general reading/visiting audience.


This video shows you more about Melbourne (click on the link below the video if you can not view Flash media):


^ "Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"

--- Which Would I Choose? ---

I love both cities and would love to visit both cities, but if I had to choose one over the other (which I HATE to do when you love or more things very much), I'd go with Sydney. Its beauty and character are both undeniable.

--- Which Would I Choose? ---

For more information on both cities, visit these websites:

For Sydney...

• Official Sydney Website
• City of Sydney Homepage

For Melbourne...

• Visit Melbourne
• City of Melbourne - Home


That's all.

--- Cross-Promotion ---

More reading from me if you enjoyed this post:

Oceania and the South Pacific (John's Blog Space)
^ my favorite locations in Oceania and the South Pacific.

Australian V8 Supercar Series (John's Blog Space)
^ My post about the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

My Salute to Australia (John's Blog Space)
^ A brief post I made on Australia Day 2012, saluting all of my Australian readers.

Bathurst (John's Blog Space)
^ A look at the Mount Panorama Circuit, which is 200km west of Sydney.

Philip Island (John's Blog Space)
^ The Philip Island Circuit is within distance of Melbourne. Learn more about it here.

My Favorite Australasian Cities (John's Blog Space)
^ Learn about all of my favorite cities in Australia and New Zealand here.


Enjoy your time on John's Blog Space!




Which location would YOU choose between Sydney and Melbourne? Take your pick, and thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick - iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player?

(UPDATED: May 26, 2012)

The iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy Player are the non-phone versions of (respectively) the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. Both are touch screen portable media players to enjoy music, videos, apps, WiFi Internet browsing, and more. I want to get an iPod Touch. However, when I did some YouTube research, I learned of the Samsung Galaxy Player. So rather than have what little youth I have left trying to choose between one or the other, I decided to launch another "Take Your Pick" blog post and let you do the deciding. It's the iPod Touch from America's Apple vs. the Galaxy Player from the Korea Republic's Samsung in this "Take Your Pick."

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

MAY 26 2012 - added specifications for both products featured in this blog post

BEFORE I BEGIN...

I'd like to thank people like you for giving this blog over 1.6 million blog hits recently! This is the work of over three years blogging and having enough people actually care about "John's Blog Space" to contribute so many views. Whatever "thank you" translates to in your native language, thanks for the support!

Now go read my blog post already! :)

--- Take Your Pick: iPod Touch or Samsung Galaxy Player? ---

^ from: www.instablogsimages.com - These are the two challengers to this "Take Your Pick." The Samsung Galaxy Player (4.0 model in picture) is on the left, and the iPod Touch is on the right.

Why don't I fill you in on both devices to set up this post?

Why I Chose These Two Devices.

The key to all of this relates to having a device that doesn't bind you to a phone contract. Neither of these two devices have any phone features or phone contracts for you to use them. I am not a phone person at all. My own cellular phone ("cell phone," of course) is from the mid-2000s. Why would I need both a phone and a portable media player in one device? I still want to have my phone apart from my portable media. I am not part of the all-in-one crowd when it comes to having a phone and other portable media.

I am currently still using my SanDisk Sanza Fuze as my portable media player. I am using my Sansa Fuze while wanting to get something better. My next portable media player I'm considering is something more top-of-the-line. Not only do I want to enjoy my own media, I also want to be a bit tech-savvy and do some WiFi browsing of the Internet when out and about. So all along, I've wanted the iPod Touch as its price as I have been making my own money from blogging. However, the Samsung Galaxy Player came to mind when I learned of its capabilities. The Galaxy Player seems to do a lot of what the iPod Touch is capable of- only much more adaptable and with more file formats for audio and video. Also, there is a microSD slot for more memory for the Samsung Galaxy Player.

What you are looking at are two of the finest dedicated portable media players on the market today. They both represent two amazing devices for music and video as well as for various applications. Dealing with this also involves two different operating systems. Apple's offering is iOS. The Samsung Galaxy series (let alone the Galaxy Player) offers Android. I've learned about Android as being an open-source operating system. This means I could almost basically make anything I want if I had the programming skills. Either that, or I may even take certain so-called homebrew applications and install them on an Android-equipped device. My knowledge of both Android and mobile devices is very poor. So if I screwed up here, I must apologize.

Brief Look at Both Devices.

The iPod Touch is often thought of as an iPhone... only without the phone. You don't have to worry about data charges or being bound to some phone contract. Some features on the iPhone (such as Siri and GPS) are not included on the iPhone. And then, you have the Samsung Galaxy Player. It is very important I mention this is the Galaxy PLAYER we're talking about, because there are multiple devices bearing the Galaxy namesake from the Korean electronics provider. Like the iPod Touch, the Galaxy Player is often thought of as the non-phone version of the Samsung Galaxy phones.

Initial Thoughts.

Most everyone remotely educated about Apple know of the iPod series. Apple Inc. has done everything possible to rule the realm of portable media as well as music. Unless you are using an iPod for reasons other than playing certain media, the iPod Touch does just about everything you want it to do. Also, don't forget about being able to connect with iTunes for shopping and for putting stuff on your iPod. Compared to my Sansa Fuze, the iPod Touch's screen is about the same size as my Sansa Fuze. So I can imagine that the iPod Touch would fit well in my hands as well as in my pocket.

The Samsung Galaxy Player would have the adaptability advantage. Because the Galaxy Player is an Android device, it is possible to almost basically add whatever you want to the Samsung Galaxy Player. So you probably would not fear doing something like jailbreaking as you would with an iPod Touch or an iPhone. What I would fear is that this device may not be so easy to put into your pocket. It would be a huge deterrent to have such a large device with you for the purpose of enjoying media you've stored on it.

I think the iPod Touch would feel better in my hands and in my pocket than the Samsung Galaxy Player. The Galaxy Player 3.6 is a bit wider and higher than the iPod Touch. The 4.0 and 5.0 versions of the Samsung Galaxy Player are larger in size than the iPod Touch. So maybe the Galaxy Player is good both as a portable media player and as a portable computer. I am unsure that since the iPod Touch doesn't have Flash, some features may not load up very well for certain websites.

Do you now know how confounded I am about these two devices?

What I Would Want.

These are models I would want to buy (and why):

• iPod Touch 4G (8GB model, black)
The biggest reason for me on the 8GB model is price. I also don't have a whole lot of songs that I constantly listen to where I need more space than I really need to. A loyal "John's Blog Space" reader commented that I should get the higher-capacity iPod Touch models. However, I am realistic. I will likely use the iPod Touch for music, seeing some videos online, podcasts, using WiFi Internet, and of course- apps. I may even mix in some gaming as well. But really, I am realistic in what I actually do. I am also a bit interested in using iMovie for the iPod Touch to make videos on the go. iMovie has always impressed me with its features. The one fear, however, is if I may have to do short videos if I try to shoot in 720p. Could I exhaust a lot of memory on an 8GB iPod Touch if I attempt to do 720p video constantly with the iPod Touch? Regardless- I am all about mostly music and other media along with WiFi Internet. The other iPod models just don't appeal to me and my needs. The 8GB iPod Touch is more than enough for my needs. Also, if I need to buy stuff to use with my iPod Touch, I know there will be stuff available at various other stores so that I don't have to go to the Apple Store to find dedicated Apple products.

• Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6
Again- price is a huge factor for me, so I would fancy the Galaxy Player 3.6 model. Based on what I read from CNET's review of other Galaxy Player models, I feel more like the Galaxy Player 3.6 is not only the lowest end of the Galaxy Player range, but the best model period. My initial impressions of this device is that it can do much more than all the other media-focused features. Something like this can really come in handy while also still being able to use it casually for media and WiFi Internet. I have read that the Samsung Galaxy Player offers a better Internet browsing experience than the iPod Touch. To me (and I mean no disrespect), the Galaxy Player seems more like a handheld PC than a "portable media player." It is not to say that it fails at its media purpose, though. I would fear that a list of accessories and other items would be far and between since there isn't much for the Galaxy Player. I consider myself old-fashioned to begin with, but even I become drawn to being fancy sometimes. :) Also, since I use Google more than any other search engine, it is nice to know I can browse cleanly using Google. It can come in nicely using various Google services, including Blogger/Blogspot and Google Play.


So I would prefer an 8GB iPod Touch and the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 model. Now, let's take a closer look at WHY you should care about these devices.

--- Stats on iPod Touch and Samsung Galaxy Player ---

Here are the stats on each...

iPod Touch: Specifications.

(all specs relate to the iPod Touch 4G)

• Price: $199 US Dollars (8GB model), $299 US Dollars (32GB model), $399 US Dollars (64GB model)
• Height × Width × Depth: 4.4 in. × 2.32 in. × 0.28 in.
• Operating System: iOS 5 (especially newer models)
• Max Capacity: depends on model- 8GB, 32GB, or 64GB

• Audio Formats: AAC, Protected AAC, HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• Video Formats: H.264 video up to 720p at 30 frames per second, MPEG-4, M-JPEG

• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

• 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display
• 960 × 640 resolution


--- Included in iPod Touch Package ---
• iPod Touch
• Apple earbud headphones with volume control and microphone
• Dock connector to USB Cable
• Quick Start Guide

More Specifications: iPod Touch 4G specifications

This is what you get when you pick up that shiny iPod Touch and open it up.

Samsung Galaxy Player (3.6): Specifications.

(all specs relate to the 3.6 Galaxy Player)

• Price: $149 US Dollars (3.6 model)
• Height × Width × Depth: 4.52 in. × 2.45 in. × 0.38 in.
• Operating System: 2.3 Gingerbread
• Max Capacity: 8GB (upgradeable with a 32GB microSD card)
• USB 2.0 connectivity; USB Connection (MTP/UMS)
• Bluetooth 3.0
• 802.11 b/g/n
• Multi-Touch

• Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, AAC, WAV
• Video Formats: AVI, MP4, 3GP, WMV, ASF, MKV, FLV
• Image Formats: BMP, GIF, JPG/JPEG, PNG
• Other Formats: DOC, DOCX, XML, TXT, RTF, DOT, DOTX; XLS, XLSX, CSV, XLT, XLTX; PPT, PPTX, POT, POTX, PPS, PPSX; PDF

• Other Features: Multi-Tasking, Alarm, FM Radio, GPS, Album Art, Clock, Embedded Microphone, Embedded Speaker

• Android Market enabled

• Included Applications: Alarm/Clock, AllShare, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Email,FM Radio, Gallery, Gmail, Google Search, Latitude, Maps, Market, Memo, Mini Diary, My Files, Navigator, Qik, Samsung Apps, Task Manager, ThinkFree Office, Voice Recorder, YouTube, etc.

More specifications: Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 Specifications


--- Included in Samsung Galaxy Player (3.6) Package ---
• Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6
• Earphones
• rechargable lithium-ion battery
• USB cable
• travel adapter
• owner's manual

And this is what you can expect to find when you open up your Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 model.

--- Why the Apple iPod Touch? ---

Apple has far and large redefined the portable music player and what a portable media player should provide for those who own one. It further set itself apart as being a gaming device aside from its music and video capabilities. Someone who wants a portable media player while also wanting a little more has plenty of reason to be convinced about the iPod Touch. Unless that "a little more" involves a phone, then you're probably better off with the iPhone.

The one thing I really fear is the ability of trying to get files on my PC. Yes- I am a PC user, so I'd have to get used to the Apple interface to try to find any sort of method to put my material on my PC from my iPod Touch. How much of a fussbudget things can be when using the iPod Touch and trying to use PC media along with it. I also fear trying to keep the iPod Touch as clean as possible. It is a smudge magnet from various videos I've seen with people using their iPod Touch models. The fear I have is that I would have to pay much more to keep the iPod Touch clean and safe more than I would in trying to customize it or get docks for it or something. I also want to think long and hard about what case would work best for me to protect the iPod Touch while also keeping in my pockets safely. I'll have to learn to effectively clean the iPod Touch without feeling like I have to buy a new one.

I still want to get an iPod Touch (preferably a brand-new 4G model with iOS 5 pre-installed). It doesn't matter if I get one from a store or someone VERY generous buys one for me as some sort of gift. I hope to get one as I hopefully can earn enough money to get one. If I earned enough to buy my $300 USD PS3, then I hope I can do so to get an almost $200 USD 8GB iPod Touch.

So I don't forget, I also would prefer maybe buying one at a store rather than online (though its price is a fraction cheaper online). I may have to consider insuring it from whatever place I buy it from.

--- Why the Samsung Galaxy Player? ---

Samsung offers one of the most attractive offerings since the iPod Touch's launch. Two important elements make the Galaxy Player more attractive than the iPod Touch- price and expandable memory. The base model Galaxy Player 3.6 starts out at about $149 US dollars- about $50 US dollars less than the base iPod Touch, which starts at about $199 US dollars.

In practice, the Samsung Galaxy Player is a product that can be vastly customizable and vastly adaptable. There is also better compatibility between Windows and this device. I've learned that the Galaxy Player 3.6 uses a program called Kies for file and app management for this device. Kies to the Samsung Galaxy Player is like the iTunes program to Apple products. I have lots of uncertainty with a device I've never used from a company I've never bought anything from.

I have also heard of how much of a great it is for browsing compared to the iPod Touch. Some people actually have likened the Samsung Galaxy Player to being a small tablet PC. The Galaxy Player series seems to be great if I wanted to spend more time browsing by WiFi than enjoy my media. Web sites that load aren't necessarily mobile versions of sites.

What else adds to the Galaxy Player's appeal is its ability to handle multiple file formats including having FM radio. For most people, why listen to FM radio when you could listen to Internet radio instead? What if you're not in a WiFi-enabled area? If this is your issue, you'll have to listen to your own stored media or listen to FM radio.

My only real knocks on it is that it's a bit too large for me, and it doesn't look as attractive as the iPod Touch. To its credit is the fact that it is mostly a plastic-encased product rather than something glossy or shiny. So I may not have to clean it as much often.

--- Which Would I Take? ---

Even some other reviewers (both casual and professional) are somewhat torn between these two. I look for things based on my own needs and what I would prefer. That's why (for example) I still love using my Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 as opposed to any other video camera in its price range. Choosing the iPod Touch or Galaxy Player (3.6) is no different in picking which is best for my needs. So what is my decision?

I am compelled by both devices, but I want to own an Apple product and perhaps get into the Apple culture. I have wanted an iPod Touch for the longest. If I want to get stuff for the iPod Touch or have it serviced, I know I won't have to be relegated to any really dedicated electronics retailers (like Best Buy, not to knock Best Buy- I love them). However, the Samsung Galaxy Player really appeals to me for its functionality outside of having to use some dedicated program to transfer files. The Galaxy Player 3.6 has rather disappointing dimensions for movies and videos. However, I still fancy the iPod Touch in videos. I would be more likely to find an iPod Touch in stock at a store than I would the Galaxy Player.

If you're talking apps, you'll have your share of competitors. You are talking about FaceTime vs. Qik as an example. As much as I wouldn't mind gaming on the go, I don't consider myself a mobile gamer. So any gaming I would do would be limited. I care more about music, podcasts, and WiFi Internet. Any games I WOULD play would probably be played in my house or somehow hooked up to some charging device.

You might as well say that I don't know what I want after reading the next sentence. I want and prefer the iPod Touch, but the Samsung Galaxy 3.6's features and specifications really makes me want to get and use both devices if I could. This blog post was not created without any real confidence in me wanting either or both devices. If so, this would have been a review of both devices rather than a post comparing both devices.


Some people have both an iPod Touch and a Samsung Galaxy Player, and some who have both have preferred the Samsung Galaxy Player over the iPod Touch. Some others who have both an iPod Touch and any Galaxy Player would fancy the iPod Touch more than the Galaxy Player. The two devices seem very evenly matched. Whichever one is best for you will mostly depend on your own needs and personal preferences. It is also pretty safe to say both devices are pretty evenly matched, give or take a few elements that one has over the other. Good for business and competition when you have two great products to choose from instead of one outright giant.

--- Other Reviews (IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED) ---

You think it's easy picking between these two? No way! Other reviewers have offered their own opinions. And really, these other reviews only befuddle me even more. Everyone has an opinion. I've certainly expressed mine. If you want more insight on these two products, feel free to check out these other reviews I've found for you. Please note I mentioned the Galaxy Player 3.6 model for the most part. These other reviews other models in the Galaxy Player series. They range from online reviews to video reviews. Find one (or more) that interest you and make the decision for yourself... IF you are interested:

• "Samsung Galaxy Player, Better Than iPod Touch?" - wired.com
• "Ipod Touch vs Samsung Galaxy 4.0 or other Wifi enabled mp3 plr?" - Amazon.com Customer Discussion
• "Ipod Touch vs Samsung Galaxy Player?" - Yahoo! Answers
• "Galaxy Player 3.6 vs. the iPod Touch - Which is the Best MP3 Player?" - YouTube
• "Battle Vid: Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 vs. iPod Touch" - YouTube
• "iPod Touch 4g vs. Samsung Galaxy Player 50" - YouTube


I may add some more based on traffic and interest to this post. To learn more about both products, please visit these links. Both are the American or North American sites (as if I know any others in any other languages):

• Apple iPod Touch
• Samsung Galaxy Player Series

BONUS MATERIAL!

As of the date of this initial post (May 21, 2012), there is a version of the Samsung Galaxy Player that is ONLY for the Korean market and may never reach the United States. It is called the Samsung Galaxy Player 70. It has a dual-core processor and an antenna. The antenna is seemingly to watch live TV on it and even record live TV. Unfortunately, I think it is only for Korean television programming. If you want a look at what may NEVER reach the United States in its current form, you are invited to check out these links:

• Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Dual Core hands-on (video) - Engadget
• Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Official Commercial - YouTube « only in Korean
• "Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Hands-On: PMP with TV and Radio" - YouTube

You know you want one of these outside of the Korea Republic. Huh, Samsung fans? ;)





This is a "Take Your Pick" post, so you are invited to post your own opinions. That's the point of these posts- making your own conclusion about things based on what you've read. So comment away. Thank you for reading, now go comment or get social with me!

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Take Your Pick - Singapore or Hong Kong?

Two lively Southeast Asian locales are featured- Singapore and Hong Kong. They were also two former British colonies. Both cities are surely two of the liveliest in Asia. If you had to choose between going to either one of these two places, which would you choose? This is another installment of my "Take Your Pick" series of blog posts, where I encourage my readers to share which is better. So let's do it!

--- Take Your Pick: Singapore or Hong Kong? ---

Which do you think is the cooler city? Visit the hypertext links in the headings to visit each city's official travel website. And, uh... TAKE YOUR PICK!

Take Your Pick: Singapore.

Here is a YouTube video (or two) showcasing Singapore:


^ "City by City - Singapore (HD)"

The city-state of Singapore is a lively and eccentric city, not to mention very beautiful. My racing fans know Singapore for the annual Formula 1 night race around the Marina Bay district of Singapore.

Take Your Pick: Hong Kong, S.A.R., China.

So you've seen Singapore. What about Hong Kong, though? Here's your Hong Kong love right here:


^ "City by City Hong Kong In HD"

Often seen as the New York City of the Far East, Hong Kong remains one of the world's liveliest cities. I have always seen Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China as an exciting city. I think it is one of the most futuristic-looking cities. I often get blog hits from Hong Kong from all kinds of districts of Hong Kong. The only tower I'm familiar with is the tall IFC (International Finance Center) building that dominates most of Hong Kong's skyline.

A thing I learned about Hong Kong is that its flag bears a flower called the Bauhinia blakeana. By the way, the full official name for Hong Kong is: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.


So you now know about these two unique locales. Which is better?

--- Singapore or Hong Kong? ---

Both cities are nothing short of spectacular. I would go to both if I were traveling around the world.

Why Singapore?

Singapore has its own unique character. I usually think of the merlion statues shooting water into bays and fountains. They are a spectacular sight. Speaking of spectacular, the city looks amazing at night.

On the blogging side, Singapore is home to two bloggers I follow- missingavenue and Xiaxue. missingavenue is a fashion blog of a young blogger named Melody expressing multiple styles of hers. Xiaxue is a veteran fashion blogger proudly representing Singapore. Her material includes fashion and beauty.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:
• missingavenue
• Xiaxue.blogspot.com - Everyone's reading it.

Why Hong Kong?

I tend to like Hong Kong as it is a very futuristic city. Just watch when Hong Kong has some of its laser light shows when it's nighttime. Hong Kong is very futuristic.

Hong Kong is the hometown of one of my favorite bloggers, Miss Kwong. This is a fashion blog

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:
• Miss Kwong

Which Would I Choose?

It is very close to call. If I HAD to choose one or the other, I'd probably go with Hong Kong; but I think both places are amazing.





So take YOUR pick of these two cities! Which do you like better? Thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick - Mykonos or Santorini?

Take your pick- Mykonos or Santorini? Many people instantly fall into the appeal of the Greek capital of Athens, but some may not know of the beauty of the South Aegean islands of Mykonos and Santorini. These are two beautiful Greek islands with immense charm. Semi-inspired by my blogging friend Jelena of "Glam and Fab Chameleon," I'd like to offer this "Take Your Pick" on two of Greece's most beautiful islands of the South Aegean region.

A Special Hello...

If any of you are from Greece or are Greek, I'd like to extend a special welcome to you to "John's Blog Space!" I do get a good deal of hits from Greece, so it's nice to welcome you Greeks and Greek-based folks over to my blog. Enjoy your stay. Hope this blog is to your liking.

--- Take Your Pick: Mykonos or Santorini? ---

They are two beautiful Greek islands- Mykonos and Santorini. They both have sapphire or turquoise seas. Angelic white buildings and structures. Both are eccentric party locations with great nightlife scenes. For all intents and purposes, these are islands with heavenly beauty.

--- Why Mykonos? ---

I have been more educated with Mykonos than I have been with Santorini. Mykonos just appealed to me more as I didn't know as much about Santorini than before I prepared this blog post.

Here is a video of Mykonos:


After looking at this video, my love of Mykonos has been verified. It seems like the kind of place an A-List celebrity can hang out at and enjoy life. Ancient and modern come together so nicely with an island like Mykonos.

--- Why Santorini? ---

How about a look at Santorini now? Santorini seems to be a lot less of glitz and glam of Mykonos, while still remaining a fantastic place. It has very gorgeous appeal that seems a lot less modernized than Mykonos. It also seems like you can do a bit more if you're the adventurous type compared to Mykonos.

Or if you want a video reason of "Why Santorini?", this is for you:


I'll tell you what- I now know more about Santorini after preparing this post than I have previously.

--- Which Would I Pick? ---

If I actually did travel, I'd want to visit both islands. Mykonos tends to appeal more to me than Santorini. Of course, that's not to say that Santorini doesn't have any appeal, because Santorini has PLENTY of appeal.

--- A Quick Salute ---

It was Jelena of "Glam and Fab Chameleon" who semi-inspired me to make this post. For you fans of fashion blogs, Jelena is a fashion blogger from Serbia based in Greece. She even designs her own jewelry with a line called Glam Chameleon Jewelry. For as much as she makes her own jewelry, Jelena is a beautiful gem herself, and so is her blog.

Here are various posts of Jelena in Santorini. The link is from a search result for "Santorini" when I visited this blog recently: "Santorini" pictures of Jelena


Jump into Jelena's Glam and Fab world by visiting "Glam and Fab Chameleon" today! You may also visit her blog and "like" her Facebook fan page. More information when you visit her blog. If Jelena herself is reading this, let me welcome you to John's Blog Space and thank you for your continued support of my work!





That concludes another "Take Your Pick" along with another blog post. I thank you for visiting. Which would you favor more- Mykonos or Santorini? Feel free to share your thoughts here. Thank you for reading!

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Take Your Pick - New York City or Los Angeles?

New York City. Los Angeles. You want to go to either city. You've never been to either city. Which one would you want to visit most? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a new concept for my blog that I've long wanted to introduce- "Take Your Pick!" This blog post in the Take Your Pick category is one about which city you'd want to go to if given this choice. I'll share my own ideas here in this post.

About the Label: Take Your Pick.

"Take Your Pick" is a blog label where I invite my readers to choose between one or more items featured. There are certain parameters put into play to keep things interesting. I hope to have this as a method of generating a little debate and getting some more involvement from my readers.


Now, let's begin!

--- Take Your Pick: New York City or Los Angeles? ---

Why care about either location? Both are major cities. Truly international cities. They've somewhat been must-visit cities for almost anyone in the United States including internationally. These are two major cities on two different coasts. But which is better- New York City or Los Angeles?

Important Details:

When making a choice on this topic, here are some parameters to keep things interesting:

• You must have not been to either location. If you have been to both cities, you are free to choose which is better.
• You must not be specifically from either location, including suburbs of the respective cities.


So let's do it!

--- Why New York City? ---

There's just something about a place like New York City that really draws people to it. For me, it's tough to argue against New York City- bright lights, tall buildings, unique character... quintessential American city.

Here is New York City in a video:



Here are some random talking points...

• You have a number of locales such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge, Rucker Park (for my basketball folks), and Madison Square Garden among many other locations. Don't forget about Times Square as well! If you're into fancy shopping, 5th Avenue is for you. Also- don't forget about that beautiful woman on Ellis Island: the Statue of Liberty.

• If you're a sports fan, you have plenty to be proud of- the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers and N.Y. Islanders, the New York Jets and Giants (even though they both play in New Jersey), New York Mets, and of course, the New York Yankees. Football (as in soccer) fans can enjoy the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer who play at the beautiful Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The New Jersey Nets will be moving to Brooklyn and will become the Brooklyn Nets starting with the 2012-2013 season of NBA basketball. There is also the New York Liberty of the WNBA. You may even be a fan of St. John's basketball as well for you college basketball fans.

• Your education options are vast in and around New York City- Columbia University, Fordham University, St. John's University, Manhattan College, New York University, City College of New York... all among MANY other institutions.

• Lot of media outlets are in New York City including many different shows that are aired in NYC. Some shows and businesses are mostly located within NYC. Shows like the Bill Cunningham Show and the Jeremy Kyle Show are filmed in New York City. Daytime talk shows like Maury and Jerry Springer have taped in recent years in a studio in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Stamford is also the world headquarters of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Popular nighttime shows like "The Late Show With David Letterman" and "Saturday Night Live" are shown in New York City. Let's not forget the COUNTLESS movies, TV shoes, video games, and things like that are either based in New York City or inspired by New York City. You gamers are probably playing two recent games that have NYC as its backdrop- "Crysis 2" and "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3."

• New York City is its own proper fashion hotbed. Therefore, you become accustomed to NYC fashion style including the allure of New York Fashion Week. I need only say Fifth Avenue for you fashionable types. Don't forget about New York Fashion Week as well if you are a fashion lover. Also, New York City is the home grounds for two of the most popular fashion blogs- Fashion by He and The Sartorialist.

• New York is great for eating out. The only one I know of, unfortunately, is Katz's Delicatessen. There was once a show called "24 Hour Restaurant Battle" (which I blogged about here on John's Blog Space) where people wanting to make their own restaurant had to prepare everything from food to furnishings to make their own restaurant. All of the action from this reality show was in New York City.


New York City just has so much to offer. And if you're from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, you won't feel too far away from Europe or Africa.

--- Why Los Angeles? ---

It seems like everybody is from California or living in California, especially Southern California; and almost especially the Los Angeles area. Come on now- Torrance, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, Riverside, Azusa, Studio City... you name it. Don't forget about the big "Hollywood" sign in case you forget where the heck you are. I would need an entire blog (not just a single post) to discuss the many movies, TV shows, and all that take place in Los Angeles. I mean- there are SO many movies and such based in Los Angeles, you almost wonder if everybody and everything is in Los Angeles.

This is a video showcasing Los Angeles:



• Why Los Angeles? Obvious reasons- lots of star power. Rodeo Drive. The USCal Trojans and UCLA Bruins rivalry. If you're into sports, you love you some Lakers basketball (and the Clippers) and some Dodgers baseball. You may even be fond of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Also, who doesn't love being among the stars and celebrities that call L.A. home? Who doesn't love being in the movie-making industry?

• Care to learn in Los Angeles? Many institutions are within reach- the University of Southern California, the University of California-Los Angeles (better known as UCLA, of course), Loyola Marymount University, California State University-Los Angeles... all among many others.

• One instantly feels star power in Los Angeles, especially knowing you are within distance of various studios and media outlets. Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers... I can go on.

• Los Angeles has a number of famous eateries and chains. Among others, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles and In-N-Out Burger come to mind immediately to me.


I talked about NYC and not being far from Europe and Africa. With Los Angeles, you feel closer to home, if home to you is Asia or Australia.

--- Which Would I Choose? ---

I've never been outside of Texas as of this post, but would I choose New York City or Los Angeles?

Through my childhood, I've always seemed to want to visit New York City more than I do Los Angeles. Both cities are surely worth visiting. I just seemed always more enamored with New York City than I do Los Angeles. The city is truly classic to me. I would absolutely enjoy seeing the New York City skyline from across the Hudson River at night.

This is going to sound funny- I would feel more lost in Los Angeles than I would in New York City. I honestly do wish I knew more about Los Angeles and surrounding areas than what I do know. I would probably most want to visit Rodeo Drive and all the various shops and such. I may even be interested in seeing Watts and the Watts Towers.

Most of all- I have one big fear about being on the West Coast (or even Japan)- fear of being in an earthquake. That kind of is a deterrent for me being around the Ring of Fire. It's also why I'm a bit fearful of going in another California city I love- San Francisco.


So I would most want to visit New York City if I had to choose between New York City and Los Angeles.





I would like to specially thank the YouTube channel, "vidatown" for allowing their videos to be embedded. So that's the concept of "Take Your Pick." Which would you choose- New York City or Los Angeles? Thank you for reading! Get social with me! Here's how:

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Eye Opener

(UPDATED: July 18, 2012)

News, weather, and traffic; all to get you going for the day. When the NewsFix was in for CW 39, it meant radical changes to compete for news supremacy in Houston. Another radical change was Eye Opener. Though Eye Opener has been on since May 9, 2011; my first time really seeing Eye Opener was not too long ago. It is therefore time to offer thoughts on CW 39's brand of morning news. I welcome you to John's Blog Space and another blog post on JBS!

Love John's Blog Space? If so (and if you haven't yet subscribed or followed), Subscribe and/or Follow!


NOTE: This is not any paid review or anything. The material you are about to see is all based on personal commentary and my own personal review of this program. I will make any needed changes or edits needed to better service my reading audience if need be. I would encourage my loyal readers to contact me any sort of way of any changes I need to make.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

JUL 18 2012 - made multiple edits

--- Eye Opener at a Glance ---

I usually start off with a picture, but I couldn't find a good enough one to feature here to set the mood for this blog post. So I'll be using this one:


^ from: (Eye Opener's Facebook fan page) - Wake up to a new style of morning news. Welcome to Eye Opener!

Eye Opener is a different kind of morning show meant to compete with the other morning newscasts. Remember Mia Gradney (featured among my favorite Houston news personalities)? Yeah. Well, Mia is one of the different personalities of Eye Opener. Each weekday morning, this crew delivers up news in a very casual way. It is television morning news that is as unpredictable and as unconventional as some morning radio shows.

The Previous Crew.

This is the Eye Opener crew (click on any hyperlinked names to read his/her bio):
• Sean Dowling, reporter
• Mia Gradney « now a reporter for KHOU as of JUL 2 2012
• Bohuš Blahut, Casual Expert (first name pronounced "BOH-hoosh")
• Kirby O'Connell
• Adam Lee Campbell (better known as ALC), "Acapella with ALC"
• "Wrench"

These are among some of the many personalities of Eye Opener. Only Mia Gradney is the one I've mentioned previously here on John's Blog Space, among some of my favorite Houston on-air news personalities.

The Current Crew:

Danielle Vollmar ()

What You Must Know...

A few notes on this initial blog post...

• I saw Eye Opener at around 7:39 AM Central [Daylight] Time on Friday, October 28, 2011. What I discuss here is based on the 20 minutes of Eye Opener I was able to see from today and from what more I saw on Eye Opener online.


So with this out the way, it's time I make my own review of "Eye Opener."

--- Eye Opener: Basic Thoughts ---

This is really a different sort of morning show. It is surely non-traditional, as most morning news have a traditional newscast designed to get you going for the morning easily. If a usual morning newscast is like starting a day with a cup of coffee, then watching Eye Opener is like starting your day... with a can of Red Bull (or any other energy drink). The same sort of irreverent material you'd probably see on NewsFix is what you'll find on Eye Opener. To my knowledge, Eye Opener isn't all Houston-based and all Houston-operated. In fact, I read the Eye Opener material is based in Chicago with Houston news breaks. It is mostly a national show as opposed to a Houston-exclusive program.

Speaking of the aforementioned NewsFix, when I first tuned in to actually see Eye Opener for myself, there was NewsFix-style news on Eye Opener when I tuned in. And I'm like... oh, I remember this from back in March when I compiled my lengthy review of NewsFix. I can't bring myself to watch NewsFix. So I basically muted out the NewsFix part. I later saw and heard Marci Izard (reporter and sometimes anchor for CW 39 News) make mention to news, weather, and traffic. Unlike NewsFix's "f___ anchors and f___ reporters" format, Marci's voice actually discussed the weather in a brief manner. Later the attention goes from the CW 39 team to the Eye Opener team as they came along with some... interesting topics. Newsworthy topics are discussed, just not really typical stories about typical topics (like politics, for example).

Online Dish With Maggie.

At around 7:45 AM, "Online Dish With Maggie" was on. This was the first time I've seen Maggie Flecknoe on my TV since the CW 39 News format gave way to NewsFix. The beautiful blonde from Colorado still dishes on some of the most interesting and gossip-worthy topics. I have seen some of the most recent Online Dish segments from Maggie (or "Blondie") in preparing this post. No shortage of interesting topics from Maggie including her unique commentary.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: I have noted Maggie Flecknoe as one of my favorite Houston on-air news personalities. Here are more links for you to check out to compliment this blog post:
• My Favorite Houston News Personalities (besides Maggie Flecknoe)
• "Online Dish With Maggie" on www.39online.com
• "Like" Online Dish With Maggie on Facebook

I also blogged about "Online Dish With Maggie" in this blog post. Check it out: "Online Dish With Maggie" - John's Blog Space.

Videos Gone Viral.

Trending videos are as much a part of CW 39 News as anything else. Your taste of the most interesting Internet videos get some face time on Eye Opener. These would be those videos that get all kinds of hits online or are worth watching.


Those are the segments I was able to see on TV. To learn about other segments featured on Eye Opener, such as Your Moment of Cuteness, visit Eye Opener's website.

--- Eye Opener: Final Thoughts ---

Touted as a different kind of morning show, Eye Opener is just that. It is a morning show that is more casual and in-your-face while not severely overdoing it. Eye Opener is not NewsFix (a good thing for NewsFix haters), but some of the sort of swagger of NewsFix is instilled in Eye Opener's news. It is surely a different sort of morning news experience. For someone who used to watch FOX 26 Morning News a lot and even ABC 13 Morning News, Eye Opener is radically different. CW 39 delivers mostly casual news in Eye Opener and NewsFix while having a deeper tie to the Houston-area and Houstonians than most of the major local networks do at trying to showcase things on a local level. Eye Opener is no different.

Would I watch Eye Opener again if I were up earlier or if I wanted to see it again? If on a scale of 1-5, where 1 means "least likely" and 5 means "most likely," I would put Eye Opener at 3.5. Or at the most, 3.75 or even 4. I have basically stopped caring about TV/radio news except for weather and sports. So I can't honestly say I'd watch Eye Opener again if I wanted to.

It was pretty cool seeing Eye Opener and actually seeing what it was mostly about. Too bad I didn't get to see the lovely Mia Gradney on TV in preparing this blog post.

Take Your Pick: "Eye Opener" or "NewsFix?"

My answer: Eye Opener.





You can learn more about Eye Opener by visiting . You may also as well as

• 39online.com/eyeopener
• "like" Eye Opener's Facebook Fan Page
• Eye Opener on YouTube
• Follow Eye Opener on Twitter (@EyeOpenerTV)!

Perhaps I should see more of the show more often so I can provide a better look at Eye Opener. This will do for now, though. Thank you for reading! That concludes this blog post. Hope you enjoyed it.

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Do You Prefer Warm or Cool Weather?

Warm weather or cool weather? Personally, I prefer cooler weather. There is just something enjoyable about cooler weather than warmer weather. Especially here in Houston, where Summer can be brutally hot, cooler weather is always welcome for us Houstonians. Many people either love cool weather or warm weather. It all depends on what you're used to and what you can really tolerate. There are a number of people from Frost Belt states who lovingly go south and west to get away from the snowy north and east during Fall/Autumn and Winter.

But which do you prefer- warm weather or cool weather? I've been wanting to debut this new label for my blog posts for the longest, and here you go:

About the Label: "Take Your Pick":

"Take Your Pick" is a blog label regarding my readers to pick one or more sides of something. I will mostly encourage my readers to choose between one or more featured items. The point is for my readers to choose between two or more different items featured in a post. My hope is to get some more involvement and commentary from readers.

--- Take Your Pick: Warm Weather or Cool Weather? ---

So where do YOU stand? Please note that "warm" can mean warm days and hot days, and "cool" means cool days and cold days.

Why Warm Weather?

For most people, not having to wear layers or heavy clothing are the main reasons why many love warm weather more than cool weather. There are also those who enjoy going to the beach. No better way to enjoy life on the beach or in coastal areas than on a warm/hot day. People also love wearing shorts for warm days, and many others also love wearing sandals to embrace the warm weather. And not one day will go by where you will see at least one pair of flip-flop/thong sandals being worn on these days.

Most females enjoy wearing capris, skirts, and certain dresses to take in the warm weather. That's why most love wearing their short shorts and mini skirts on such warm days. I refer to this as beating the heat by looking hot. :) These times of year are usually the times where you normally see beach-inspired fashions and surf-inspired fashions take over for wardrobe. Girls usually embrace the warm weather times with shorts and skirts from makes like Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, Volcom, and brands like those.

Sports fans enjoy and know warm weather times for sports like baseball. Various Spring and Summer sports are also popular and well-loved around these times of year.

Why Cool Weather?

Cooler weather allows you to dress comfortably and not have to worry about battling the heat. My idea of a beautiful day is a sunny day with temperatures between 65°F to 79°F. I also like sunny cool days that have only calm winds or even breezy days. Considering how hot it can be in Houston, anyone sick of the Texas heat reluctantly look forward to cooler weather times.

For many that love warmer weather, most people dislike cooler weather because of having to wear layers and bundling up. Many people feel like wearing shorts and sandals rather than longer jeans/pants and covered shoes. A number of females are reluctant to tuck jean legs and pant legs into a chic pair of boots. From my popular "Party Time!" blog post, there are lots of ladies who would love to head out on the town in cocktail dresses.

I know and love this time of year for gridiron football. Then later, basketball season rolls around. So it's a great time to be a sports fan this time of year.





So where do you stand- warmer weather or cooler weather? Take your pick! Thank you for reading!

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