I wrote a blog post previously on music. And I won't stop there. Who in the world does not like music? It is such a wonderful form of art. Whatever genre you prefer, set aside your biases and open up your mind and ears. You will hear wonderful sounds and interpret messages and meanings.
Last night I went to see Bon Jovi in concert at the HP Pavilion. Before going to the concert, when some folks heard I would be going, reactions were mixed. Mostly, the reactions were, "Wow, really? I am so jealous." Then there are the kids. "Who is Bon Jovi?" Or the biased individuals. "Rock 'N Roll, really? Why?"
Tonight at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, which is located just down the street from Egnyte, Lady Antebellum performed. I had a conversation with a co-worker about them and Country music. In the past, I would react with, "Country music, really? Why?" Not anymore. As I have matured, I've learned to appreciate music, in any form.
My favorite type to listen to is '80s. Back then, there were so many groups, such as Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Journey. Rap groups like the Sugar Hill Gang were gaining popularity and momentum. MTV was just developing, and music videos were so cool. This music triggers high school memories for me. I can even picture the fashion. Life back then was becoming less innocent.
Before the '80s, I listened to Funk, Soul and R&B. Groups like the Gap Band, the Stylistics, Heat Wave, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force, and LTD remind me of elementary and junior high school. My favorite is Earth Wind & Fire. Bands with a horn section are awesome! Tower of Power is a local band that still tours quite a bit these days.
What other types of music was I exposed to growing up here? I remember watching the Lawrence Welk Show every week. I also remember being an Elvis fan and watching all the Elvis movies. I remember that my parents played Elvis music on the 8-track they owned. He deserved to be crowned king.
That's as far as I can remember. I can't particularly remember the music I was exposed to in the Philippines. I was too young.
Going forward, there was the '90s music through today. I don't really listen to mainstream all that much. I just bought the Justin Timberlake album mainly because he is such a great entertainer. After going to the Bon Jovi concert last night, I am thinking about making a trip to Best Buy to check out some of their old albums and the most recent one released about 5 months ago. Jon Bon Jovi cracked me up at the concert when he was on stage doing these funky dance moves. While doing that, he said, "I'm not as pretty as Justin Bieber. I can't dance like Justin Timberlake. But I've been here longer than both of them combined!" He looks terrific at 51.
I have learned to appreciate Jazz, Country, Heavy Metal, Opera, Classical, Rap, etc. It's all beautiful. I think you have to listen with your heart and feel the passion that went into creating the music. The passion is really a message - whether it's a love song or a song that is anecdotal. The music sends out this message to listen to, to feel, and to understand. Even without lyrics, music can be understood. It truly is the universal language.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Top 10 Reasons Why I Will Remain Single
Hail to the V! I regularly read fellow blogger Heather Floyd's posts:
Oooops, I Said Vagina... Again..
http://hdfloyd73.wordpress.com/
It's amazing how childhood friends who lose touch because life gets in the way and takes us to different parts of the country can reconnect via Facebook decades later and share the love of blogging. We just have something to say!
Heather inspired me to come up with a Top 10 list. I tried and tried to think of a list for days. Alas, I can only muster the following. All are very true though. And they don't need explaining because that can all be left unsaid.
So drum roll please...
Top 10 Reasons Why I Will Remain Single
Ta da!
Oooops, I Said Vagina... Again..
http://hdfloyd73.wordpress.com/
It's amazing how childhood friends who lose touch because life gets in the way and takes us to different parts of the country can reconnect via Facebook decades later and share the love of blogging. We just have something to say!
Heather inspired me to come up with a Top 10 list. I tried and tried to think of a list for days. Alas, I can only muster the following. All are very true though. And they don't need explaining because that can all be left unsaid.
So drum roll please...
Top 10 Reasons Why I Will Remain Single
10. No perplexity with finances.
9. No inhibitions about being scantily clad.
8. No disappointment over forgotten significant events.
7. No anxiety about the toilet.
6. No dizziness from channel surfing.
5. No indecision on what and where to eat.
4. No chores undone.
3. No interference with keeping room temperature at 76 degrees farenheit.
2. No confusion on who wears the pants.
1. No sharing of the bean bag.
Ta da!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Time for Taxslayer
It's tax time. Returns are due on Monday. I have a few days. Since I have been procrastinating for so long, you would never guess that I actually like doing taxes. My dad did as well, and so he must have passed it on to me.
My taxes are slightly more complex than the average taxpayer's. I have write-offs and investments. I have interests and multiple income. What can be fun about that? Not much really. So to make it fun, I see it as an academic exercise. Of course, I like the aspect that doing my own taxes saves me money from having to pay a preparer. There are many tax software programs these days that allow you to do a fairly thorough job. Saving money is really the driver and my motivation to file my own taxes.
The first software program I used was TurboTax. I remember using this and then incurring a penalty from the California Franchise Tax Board because the software program had me do something that was not correct. I was penalized $2,000+, and so I vowed not to use TurboTax again. I went to the IRS website to find out what software programs the IRS endorsed. The name of the program caught my attention - Taxslayer. What a terrific name. I've been using Taxslayer for many years. It's a SaaS program. I really wish it could slay taxes, but it doesn't. The name is very cool though.
After I gather all the data and paperwork that I need, it takes me about 4 hours to set it all up and file. If there is a potentially new write-off, I dig for the information. My situation has been the same for awhile, and so it is the same write-offs. I've done my homework. Questions can be complicated. Are you a passive landlord? How much can be depreciated this year? Is there any 1099 income? How much was paid in property taxes? What is the 1098 total? Were there any contributions made to charity?
I think I like doing taxes because it's challenging, and I can do a better job than the average taxpayer. I don't like to be average or par or so-so or grade C. I've been filing my own taxes since I was a teenager because my dad put a lot of faith in me to do it. My filings have become more complicated since then, and I've formed strong opinions of the system.
I think it's a cop-out when people choose to leave this country so that they don't have to pay taxes. I think it's wrong when people try to cheat their way through. The taxing agencies are also wrong in some ways. I think they should make filing easier and cheaper. Why do we have to pay to file? Why do we have to go to a preparer, or if we do it ourselves, why do we need to find the best way possible in terms of write-offs? Why do I have to dig and dig for information on what I can write off? Why don't the law-abiding, tax paying citizens receive a reward? Why do the customer service phone lines need to be busy so much? Why does our state tax refund have to be included in the following year's federal refund as income?
I filed an amendment with the IRS a couple of years ago, and they lost it. I received the certified receipt that was proof they had received it, and when they had not taken any action for 8 weeks, I called them. They told me that they did not receive the amendment. So what good is it to file the form certified? I sent the IRS a copy of the amendment and the proof from the post office that I had filed it. They rejected it. This went back and forth for more than a year, and I finally gave up. The amendment would have given me back about $2,000 in taxes. But I became too exhausted. I think they do that intentionally to exhaust you. It's a good strategy for people like me who reach a point when $2,000 is no longer worth my time.
So it's that time of the year again for Taxslayer. It's a great name because it completely expresses how I feel about the process sometimes. I'm gathering my paperwork. See you in 4 hours!
My taxes are slightly more complex than the average taxpayer's. I have write-offs and investments. I have interests and multiple income. What can be fun about that? Not much really. So to make it fun, I see it as an academic exercise. Of course, I like the aspect that doing my own taxes saves me money from having to pay a preparer. There are many tax software programs these days that allow you to do a fairly thorough job. Saving money is really the driver and my motivation to file my own taxes.
The first software program I used was TurboTax. I remember using this and then incurring a penalty from the California Franchise Tax Board because the software program had me do something that was not correct. I was penalized $2,000+, and so I vowed not to use TurboTax again. I went to the IRS website to find out what software programs the IRS endorsed. The name of the program caught my attention - Taxslayer. What a terrific name. I've been using Taxslayer for many years. It's a SaaS program. I really wish it could slay taxes, but it doesn't. The name is very cool though.
After I gather all the data and paperwork that I need, it takes me about 4 hours to set it all up and file. If there is a potentially new write-off, I dig for the information. My situation has been the same for awhile, and so it is the same write-offs. I've done my homework. Questions can be complicated. Are you a passive landlord? How much can be depreciated this year? Is there any 1099 income? How much was paid in property taxes? What is the 1098 total? Were there any contributions made to charity?
I think I like doing taxes because it's challenging, and I can do a better job than the average taxpayer. I don't like to be average or par or so-so or grade C. I've been filing my own taxes since I was a teenager because my dad put a lot of faith in me to do it. My filings have become more complicated since then, and I've formed strong opinions of the system.
I think it's a cop-out when people choose to leave this country so that they don't have to pay taxes. I think it's wrong when people try to cheat their way through. The taxing agencies are also wrong in some ways. I think they should make filing easier and cheaper. Why do we have to pay to file? Why do we have to go to a preparer, or if we do it ourselves, why do we need to find the best way possible in terms of write-offs? Why do I have to dig and dig for information on what I can write off? Why don't the law-abiding, tax paying citizens receive a reward? Why do the customer service phone lines need to be busy so much? Why does our state tax refund have to be included in the following year's federal refund as income?
I filed an amendment with the IRS a couple of years ago, and they lost it. I received the certified receipt that was proof they had received it, and when they had not taken any action for 8 weeks, I called them. They told me that they did not receive the amendment. So what good is it to file the form certified? I sent the IRS a copy of the amendment and the proof from the post office that I had filed it. They rejected it. This went back and forth for more than a year, and I finally gave up. The amendment would have given me back about $2,000 in taxes. But I became too exhausted. I think they do that intentionally to exhaust you. It's a good strategy for people like me who reach a point when $2,000 is no longer worth my time.
So it's that time of the year again for Taxslayer. It's a great name because it completely expresses how I feel about the process sometimes. I'm gathering my paperwork. See you in 4 hours!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Big Brother
Today is my oldest brother's birthday. Domingo is his name, and what a great brother he was as we were growing up. The fondest times I recall were when he would give us siblings money for Christmas. That was a treat and something we looked forward to every Christmas.
I also remember the many times he took us to the movies, whether a drive-in or a walk-in. The first movie I ever saw at a theater was Star Wars. Back then, that was epic. Our parents didn't take the time to do that for us because they were busy with their own entertainment indulgences. That was fine though. Having big brother take us was better.
We saw Star Wars at the Old Mill, which was located at San Antonio and California in Mountain View. The Old Mill is now gone, and there is housing in its place (of course).
There used to be a drive-in movie theater on Shoreline by 101 in Mountain View. Big brother took us there many times, and it was so fun to watch a movie that way. It was replaced by an indoor theater complex long ago. I saw Les Miserables there a few weeks back with my sister-in-law Lien. It's also just down the street from where I work. There are lots of memories in that particular area of quality time with my siblings.
Big brother also taught me how to drive. He must have been a so-so teacher because I failed the first time I took the test. Kidding aside, I fondly remember this because he took the time to teach me. That was nice.
Growing up in an Asian family in the number 5 slot is not as burdensome as growing up in the number 1 slot. I was number 5. Big brother was number 1. Right after high school, big brother went to work and gave all his pay to my parents. We lived in poverty, and so this was an expectation as much as it was needed. Big brother was a good son, in addition to being a good big brother. He made sacrifices for the family. He always encouraged and incentivized me to go to college.
We all eventually grew up, got married, started raising our own family. I'm not as close to big brother as I used to be. He lives a lifestyle different from mine, but we believe in God and we believe in prayer. We both love karaoke. We're really not that much different, although I might be a bit better off than big brother in terms of stress. I will pray for him as I hope he is praying for me.
I am happy to see him posting on Facebook all about his fishing adventures and his karaoke and entertainment adventures. To you big brother Domingo, I wish you a happy happy birthday. May God bless you! Love always, your little sister Yolanda. :)
I also remember the many times he took us to the movies, whether a drive-in or a walk-in. The first movie I ever saw at a theater was Star Wars. Back then, that was epic. Our parents didn't take the time to do that for us because they were busy with their own entertainment indulgences. That was fine though. Having big brother take us was better.
We saw Star Wars at the Old Mill, which was located at San Antonio and California in Mountain View. The Old Mill is now gone, and there is housing in its place (of course).
There used to be a drive-in movie theater on Shoreline by 101 in Mountain View. Big brother took us there many times, and it was so fun to watch a movie that way. It was replaced by an indoor theater complex long ago. I saw Les Miserables there a few weeks back with my sister-in-law Lien. It's also just down the street from where I work. There are lots of memories in that particular area of quality time with my siblings.
Big brother also taught me how to drive. He must have been a so-so teacher because I failed the first time I took the test. Kidding aside, I fondly remember this because he took the time to teach me. That was nice.
Growing up in an Asian family in the number 5 slot is not as burdensome as growing up in the number 1 slot. I was number 5. Big brother was number 1. Right after high school, big brother went to work and gave all his pay to my parents. We lived in poverty, and so this was an expectation as much as it was needed. Big brother was a good son, in addition to being a good big brother. He made sacrifices for the family. He always encouraged and incentivized me to go to college.
We all eventually grew up, got married, started raising our own family. I'm not as close to big brother as I used to be. He lives a lifestyle different from mine, but we believe in God and we believe in prayer. We both love karaoke. We're really not that much different, although I might be a bit better off than big brother in terms of stress. I will pray for him as I hope he is praying for me.
I am happy to see him posting on Facebook all about his fishing adventures and his karaoke and entertainment adventures. To you big brother Domingo, I wish you a happy happy birthday. May God bless you! Love always, your little sister Yolanda. :)
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
What is Your EQ?
I don't know mine either but I probably would score fairly high if there were an official test to take. Of course there are every day life situations that are the official test to take.
The best write-up I found on EQ on the internet can be found at the following page:
http://disc-report.com/products/emotional-quotient/
The TTI Emotional Quotient report focuses on five areas within interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to understand oneself, while interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand others.
• Self-Regulation – The ability to control or re-direct disruptive impulses and moods and the propensity to suspend judgment and think before acting.
• Motivation – A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money and status and a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence.
• Empathy – The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people.
Of all the five areas, I believe the most important are Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation. Without these, I don't think you can succeed in the other areas.
Self-awareness and self-regulation might not be achievable immediately when you are young and foolish. It takes time and maturity to realize when you are behaving childishly. It takes time and maturity to admit to mistakes and to apologize. It takes time and maturity to realize that your behavior, moods, and emotions will affect others. It takes time and maturity to realize that your behavior, moods, and emotions will affect children the most. It takes time and maturity to control your behavior, moods, and emotions.
I've been through so many tests in life with respect to EQ and I at times failed miserably. These days, I'm armed with the knowledge of past failures and successes to know how to behave and/or know how to predict how others will behave or react to my behavior, moods and emotions. I will be subjected to more tests, and although I can't guarantee that I will not fail them, I will have the self-awareness to know how to pass them.
The saying "Hindsight is 20/20" is a fact. If I knew then what I know now, perhaps my life would be better. I look back and analyze what I learned and think about how I could have changed things or done things differently. I have regrets, but I don't dwell on them.
When I was younger, I had a fairly bad temper. Everyone was wrong, and I was right. Have you ever met anyone like that? If so, it was probably me. I would easily snap, and mostly it was with family. I loved the attention I would get when I was loud and ornery. I thought it was a good thing, and I behaved that way especially in front of my peers. Someone put me in my place quickly one day when that person said, "I don't like you." That was powerful. It was hurtful too, but I realized I deserved it. This was when I was starting high school. I was a good girl through junior high, but then in high school I gave into the peer pressure. I smoked, I drank, I cut school. My grades fooled my parents because I kept them up to hold onto sanity. But I was not a pleasant person to be with. That statement of "I don't like you" came from a total stranger, but it made me realize what an idiot I had been.
Having a child at a young age made me grow up fast. I still had fits at times, but I soon was able to control my mood swings. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was from a former co-worker, Marcia. I wrote a blog post previously about her and how she died of cancer. The lesson she taught me was how to view things in a more positive light and to be more sympathetic. One day at work, she hung up the phone and shook her head. She said that her husband had lost a roll of bills that amounted to $500. I said, "Wow, I would be so pissed at him." She looked at me in surprise and said, "Why would I want to make him feel worse than how he already feels?" That made me stop and think twice, three times, four times about the situation. It was such a wise and mature perspective that I refer to it every time I need a reminder on how to react to certain situations. I have to stop and put myself in the other person's shoes to discover that it's true. Nobody wants to be kicked down when you're already down. So you have to be sympathetic and empathetic.
I am much older and mature these days, and the keys to my high EQ are self-awareness and self-regulation. I usually stop myself from saying something hurtful or regrettable. In situations when things get heated, I will slow down, breathe, and listen to the other person. I will let them get the words and anger out. This has proven to be so helpful to me in situations that I know can become confrontational if I regress. I also force a smile on my face just to keep from hinting to others that I am in a bad mood. I have also learned to use "I" in sentences when communicating with others instead of "you" because using "you" can be interpreted as being accusatory.
I find it easier than before to apologize when I make mistakes. It just feels honest, others will see that you are a human being, and they will apologize for their mistakes too. I practiced this with my son as he grew up. He does the same thing and apologizes (to me at least) when he knows he is wrong or has made a mistake.
So think about it. You should wonder what your EQ is. Think about how your past actions and moods affected others. Ask yourself if you could have had a better result or reaction. Put yourself in other people's shoes. Think about having a different perspective. Empathize. Sympathize. Strive toward a higher EQ.
The best write-up I found on EQ on the internet can be found at the following page:
http://disc-report.com/products/emotional-quotient/
The TTI Emotional Quotient report focuses on five areas within interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to understand oneself, while interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand others.
Intrapersonal Emotional Quotient
• Self-Awareness – The ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others.• Self-Regulation – The ability to control or re-direct disruptive impulses and moods and the propensity to suspend judgment and think before acting.
• Motivation – A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money and status and a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence.
Interpersonal Emotional Quotient
• Social Skills – A proficiency in managing relationships and building networks.• Empathy – The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people.
Of all the five areas, I believe the most important are Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation. Without these, I don't think you can succeed in the other areas.
Self-awareness and self-regulation might not be achievable immediately when you are young and foolish. It takes time and maturity to realize when you are behaving childishly. It takes time and maturity to admit to mistakes and to apologize. It takes time and maturity to realize that your behavior, moods, and emotions will affect others. It takes time and maturity to realize that your behavior, moods, and emotions will affect children the most. It takes time and maturity to control your behavior, moods, and emotions.
I've been through so many tests in life with respect to EQ and I at times failed miserably. These days, I'm armed with the knowledge of past failures and successes to know how to behave and/or know how to predict how others will behave or react to my behavior, moods and emotions. I will be subjected to more tests, and although I can't guarantee that I will not fail them, I will have the self-awareness to know how to pass them.
The saying "Hindsight is 20/20" is a fact. If I knew then what I know now, perhaps my life would be better. I look back and analyze what I learned and think about how I could have changed things or done things differently. I have regrets, but I don't dwell on them.
When I was younger, I had a fairly bad temper. Everyone was wrong, and I was right. Have you ever met anyone like that? If so, it was probably me. I would easily snap, and mostly it was with family. I loved the attention I would get when I was loud and ornery. I thought it was a good thing, and I behaved that way especially in front of my peers. Someone put me in my place quickly one day when that person said, "I don't like you." That was powerful. It was hurtful too, but I realized I deserved it. This was when I was starting high school. I was a good girl through junior high, but then in high school I gave into the peer pressure. I smoked, I drank, I cut school. My grades fooled my parents because I kept them up to hold onto sanity. But I was not a pleasant person to be with. That statement of "I don't like you" came from a total stranger, but it made me realize what an idiot I had been.
Having a child at a young age made me grow up fast. I still had fits at times, but I soon was able to control my mood swings. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was from a former co-worker, Marcia. I wrote a blog post previously about her and how she died of cancer. The lesson she taught me was how to view things in a more positive light and to be more sympathetic. One day at work, she hung up the phone and shook her head. She said that her husband had lost a roll of bills that amounted to $500. I said, "Wow, I would be so pissed at him." She looked at me in surprise and said, "Why would I want to make him feel worse than how he already feels?" That made me stop and think twice, three times, four times about the situation. It was such a wise and mature perspective that I refer to it every time I need a reminder on how to react to certain situations. I have to stop and put myself in the other person's shoes to discover that it's true. Nobody wants to be kicked down when you're already down. So you have to be sympathetic and empathetic.
I am much older and mature these days, and the keys to my high EQ are self-awareness and self-regulation. I usually stop myself from saying something hurtful or regrettable. In situations when things get heated, I will slow down, breathe, and listen to the other person. I will let them get the words and anger out. This has proven to be so helpful to me in situations that I know can become confrontational if I regress. I also force a smile on my face just to keep from hinting to others that I am in a bad mood. I have also learned to use "I" in sentences when communicating with others instead of "you" because using "you" can be interpreted as being accusatory.
I find it easier than before to apologize when I make mistakes. It just feels honest, others will see that you are a human being, and they will apologize for their mistakes too. I practiced this with my son as he grew up. He does the same thing and apologizes (to me at least) when he knows he is wrong or has made a mistake.
So think about it. You should wonder what your EQ is. Think about how your past actions and moods affected others. Ask yourself if you could have had a better result or reaction. Put yourself in other people's shoes. Think about having a different perspective. Empathize. Sympathize. Strive toward a higher EQ.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Peculiar
I found it particularly peculiar yesterday when I walked into the diner at the bowling alley to order some coffee. I had lost a "coffee frame" last week, and so I had to buy the team coffee.
What was so peculiar about walking into a fairly cool diner that feels retro the moment you walk in? Some random customer sitting with a companion eating dinner picked up his phone and snapped a picture of me. I noticed he lit up when I walked in, but I thought it was peculiar that he would snap a photo of a complete stranger.
This happened to me once before that I can recall. Years ago when I worked for the City of Palo Alto, I was at a crosswalk getting ready to cross the street. I noticed a man smiling at me, and he picked up his camera and snapped a couple of pictures of me. He smiled and I smiled back. It was peculiar behavior back then too.
What possesses individuals to do this? I really don't know whether to feel flattered or feel creeped out. It's peculiar.
I thought I'd post this because nothing else peculiar happened today. It was just another busy, crazy work day - nothing new. Dull, dull, dull. So sometimes I need to hold on to something peculiar.
What was so peculiar about walking into a fairly cool diner that feels retro the moment you walk in? Some random customer sitting with a companion eating dinner picked up his phone and snapped a picture of me. I noticed he lit up when I walked in, but I thought it was peculiar that he would snap a photo of a complete stranger.
This happened to me once before that I can recall. Years ago when I worked for the City of Palo Alto, I was at a crosswalk getting ready to cross the street. I noticed a man smiling at me, and he picked up his camera and snapped a couple of pictures of me. He smiled and I smiled back. It was peculiar behavior back then too.
What possesses individuals to do this? I really don't know whether to feel flattered or feel creeped out. It's peculiar.
I thought I'd post this because nothing else peculiar happened today. It was just another busy, crazy work day - nothing new. Dull, dull, dull. So sometimes I need to hold on to something peculiar.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
I Thought Espionage was Dead
I thought that the end of the Cold War meant the end of espionage and the Jack Ryan series written by one of my favorite authors, Tom Clancy. As a matter of fact, the last book I read about Jack Jr. growing up was not as exciting without the backdrop of a little reality called the Cold War. Espionage and covert operations didn't seem real anymore. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall, although a happy occasion, soon meant bye bye Clancy to me. I had not picked up a spy book since then.
If I had time, I would do more recreational reading. These days, I would prefer to pick up books in the true crime genre. My favorite television shows and movies are mostly based on true crime or about true crime. I watch Dateline, 48 hours and 20/20 when the shows are about murder. I've read books about the most infamous serial killers.
One of the first movies I watched that was about a serial killer was called Citizen X. It was the first time I heard about criminal profiling. The killings took place in Russia. It was intriguing. What was fascinating was how the profilers described the criminal and what the police should be looking for. I started to watch true crime shows after that about murders and forensics and trials and justice.
The crimes and the shows are especially interesting when they happen in Silicon Valley. I remember right after I stopped working for the City of Palo Alto but still had the pulse on the city, I heard about a murder that happened in the neighborhood. It turned out that the husband killed the wife because she was about to disclose to their oldest son that he had a different father. Their dwindling finances were also a trigger. Imagine that kind of story coming out of affluent Palo Alto. There were a couple of true crime shows that narrated it, and I caught one of the shows late one night. I saw a videotape of the interrogation, and the husband behaved strangely. The lead detective on the case was a face I recognized because I saw him plenty of times at the police department at city hall.
There was a more recent one that happened in Vallejo, and Dateline featured that story about 2 months ago. The female victim was killed by a jealous and angry woman whose rage was misplaced. She thought her baby daddy was having an affair with the victim. The killing wasn't a snap decision because the perpetrator calculated her every move. However, she did not calculate the digital footprint, digital monitoring and technological advances in crime fighting today. She got caught because of her mistakes. These are the kinds of details that capture my attention and keep me engaged. I am so addicted.
My latest passion has been to watch Criminal Minds. This show is fictional, and so I didn't watch it for many seasons. I didn't watch it because I didn't really know what it was about either. The first time I watched an episode, which was earlier this year, I became hooked. Now I can't stop watching them. There is a channel that shows marathons of them a couple of times a week, and I become glued. I do work at the same time of course, but I just guzzle this stuff up. It's about the BAU of the FBI. The BAU or Behavioral Analysis Unit are not just criminal profilers or forensic psychologists. They run a criminal investigative analysis. If I were to change careers, I would go to Quantico, Virginia, and become a forensic psychologist.
Murders usually have to do with love, sex, and/or money. You might now know why I stay out of drama because drama usually involves one of these elements. When analyzing the crimes, I'm sure you have to pay attention to the details and apply your knowledge. You also have to be persistent.
This brings me to the title of my blog. I watched Zero Dark Thirty on DVD this past Sunday, and it was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The movie is about the almost 10-year pursuit of Usama Bin Laden and the persistence needed to accomplish such a difficult mission. My other career choice, in addition to forensic psychology, is that of a spy. Although Hollywood dramatized the movie, the parts I'm sure are true have to do with the analysis and the persistence.
This movie highlighted that for me. It also highlighted the fact that espionage is not dead. Although the type of espionage in the Tom Clancy books is not the same as the espionage and covert operations in ZD30, it's just as exciting. Once I have had more than enough of the true crime shows, books, and movies, perhaps I should start turning my attention to espionage.
If I had time, I would do more recreational reading. These days, I would prefer to pick up books in the true crime genre. My favorite television shows and movies are mostly based on true crime or about true crime. I watch Dateline, 48 hours and 20/20 when the shows are about murder. I've read books about the most infamous serial killers.
One of the first movies I watched that was about a serial killer was called Citizen X. It was the first time I heard about criminal profiling. The killings took place in Russia. It was intriguing. What was fascinating was how the profilers described the criminal and what the police should be looking for. I started to watch true crime shows after that about murders and forensics and trials and justice.
The crimes and the shows are especially interesting when they happen in Silicon Valley. I remember right after I stopped working for the City of Palo Alto but still had the pulse on the city, I heard about a murder that happened in the neighborhood. It turned out that the husband killed the wife because she was about to disclose to their oldest son that he had a different father. Their dwindling finances were also a trigger. Imagine that kind of story coming out of affluent Palo Alto. There were a couple of true crime shows that narrated it, and I caught one of the shows late one night. I saw a videotape of the interrogation, and the husband behaved strangely. The lead detective on the case was a face I recognized because I saw him plenty of times at the police department at city hall.
There was a more recent one that happened in Vallejo, and Dateline featured that story about 2 months ago. The female victim was killed by a jealous and angry woman whose rage was misplaced. She thought her baby daddy was having an affair with the victim. The killing wasn't a snap decision because the perpetrator calculated her every move. However, she did not calculate the digital footprint, digital monitoring and technological advances in crime fighting today. She got caught because of her mistakes. These are the kinds of details that capture my attention and keep me engaged. I am so addicted.
My latest passion has been to watch Criminal Minds. This show is fictional, and so I didn't watch it for many seasons. I didn't watch it because I didn't really know what it was about either. The first time I watched an episode, which was earlier this year, I became hooked. Now I can't stop watching them. There is a channel that shows marathons of them a couple of times a week, and I become glued. I do work at the same time of course, but I just guzzle this stuff up. It's about the BAU of the FBI. The BAU or Behavioral Analysis Unit are not just criminal profilers or forensic psychologists. They run a criminal investigative analysis. If I were to change careers, I would go to Quantico, Virginia, and become a forensic psychologist.
Murders usually have to do with love, sex, and/or money. You might now know why I stay out of drama because drama usually involves one of these elements. When analyzing the crimes, I'm sure you have to pay attention to the details and apply your knowledge. You also have to be persistent.
This brings me to the title of my blog. I watched Zero Dark Thirty on DVD this past Sunday, and it was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The movie is about the almost 10-year pursuit of Usama Bin Laden and the persistence needed to accomplish such a difficult mission. My other career choice, in addition to forensic psychology, is that of a spy. Although Hollywood dramatized the movie, the parts I'm sure are true have to do with the analysis and the persistence.
This movie highlighted that for me. It also highlighted the fact that espionage is not dead. Although the type of espionage in the Tom Clancy books is not the same as the espionage and covert operations in ZD30, it's just as exciting. Once I have had more than enough of the true crime shows, books, and movies, perhaps I should start turning my attention to espionage.
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