Mike D. Ly’s Blog, Mike Ly » Thoughts

A lot has happened since and I can’t wait to see Harry Potter 6 - Half Blood Prince!

From MSN.com

At the supermarket
Be picky about produce
Download the “Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce” at ewg.org. The wallet-size list sorts out the fruits and veggies that tend to be higher in pesticides (like apples and spinach) from produce with a lower count (like bananas and peas).

Choose “certified” coffee
Yuban coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified (that means it’s grown in a way that preserves the ecosystem). A Fair Trade Certified brand is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. (Both brands are available at many markets.) For more on these certification labels, see the chart.

Support local farms
At eatwellguide.org, you can plug in your zip code and find suppliers of organic and sustainably produced meat, poultry, eggs, and more. If you buy locally, you won’t have to rely on farms that ship food nationwide, which helps to decrease our dependence on oil and to cut back on gas emissions.

Tote your own grocery bag
Paper or plastic? Neither! If you’re shopping for a small load, bring along a cute sack like the polka-dot tote, above, from Cath Kidston (cathkidston.com). Another practical option: the ACME Workhorse Style 1500 (reusablebags.com), which crunches into a tiny pouch that fits in your purse.

Pay attention to packaging
Every American produces about four and a half pounds of garbage a day. So before you buy something, eyeball the amount of cardboard, plastic, and/or other materials used for the box or wrapping. Wal-Mart is one big retailer that is waking up to the problem: The chain is replacing petroleum-based plastic containers with corn-based packaging for precut fruit, herbs, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts.

Entertaining

Protect the earth while you picnic

At your next outdoor party, ask people to write their names on disposable cups so they’ll use only one (to make it easy, put out markers). If you use disposable dinnerware, buy the kind that won’t clog landfills or kill trees. To try: EarthShell plates and bowls (www.earthshell.com). They’re made from corn, potatoes, and limestone-and cost less than 6 cents per plate.

Remodeling

Take paint precautions

Most paint emits VOCs (volatile organic compounds), the same kind of chemicals found in gasoline and nail polish. But manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams have developed water-based products that perform well but give off virtually no VOCs. Krylon’s H20 paint is the first low-VOC latex spray paint that can be cleaned up with soap and water. Made from 99 percent food-grade ingredients, Anna Sova’s Healthy Wall Finish (annasova.com) leaves your rooms smelling vaguely like vanilla. To be at least minimally organic, use a water-based latex paint, not an oil-based alkyd paint-and remember, exterior paints should never be used indoors.

Raise the roof with recycled materials

If your old shingles need replacing, consider a Classic Metal Roofing System (classicroof.com). It’s made from recycled aluminum cans but resembles traditional shakes or tiles. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, installing this type of material can qualify you for a $500 tax credit.

Choose energy-efficient appliances

Look for the Energy Star label, awarded to fridges, washers, and other products that exceed government efficiency standards by using less water or electricity. For Energy Star appliances that have been tested by GHI, visit goodhousekeeping.com.

Personal style

Dress in eco-chic clothing

Lara Miller’s Melissa tunic is 100 percent bamboo, yet it’s as soft as silk. (For stores, go to laramiller.net.) Linda Loudermilk, an eco-couture designer, uses fabric made from sasawashi (a Japanese leaf), along with bamboo, soya, and other exotic self-sustaining plants(lindaloudermilk.com).

Opt for new undies

Wearing 100 percent organic-cotton panties reduces your exposure to chemical pesticides in a sensitive area. Try Blue Canoe brand (goodhumans.com).

Make up with Mother Nature

Aveda’s All-Sensitive Body Formula moisturizing body oil uses organic jojoba. What’s more, most of Aveda’s packaging is made from recycled material. A makeup line that’s entirely organic: Nvey Eco (econveybeauty.com). We particularly like their eyeshadows.

Get sporty, eco-style

Patagonia’s PCR fleece vest ($70) is made from recycled soda bottles.

Be clean (and green)

Pangea Organics soaps, which are made with organic and often Fair Trade Certified ingredients, are scented with oils like lavender and lemongrass. They come in a biodegradable carton that will start disintegrating within 48 hours if you plant it in your garden. Available at Whole Foods Markets.

Cooking and eating

Become a flexitarian

Swap out one meat dish a week for a veggie plate. Why? Because raising produce is “cheaper,” in terms of energy, than raising animals. Log on to vegweb.com to find tasty, meatless recipes (our favorite: the lentil burgers).

Grill corn in its husk

Instead of stripping off the green leaves, soak the ear whole, then place it right on the barbecue-no aluminum foil required.

Go for the gold- coffee filters, that is

Spare trees by replacing paper filters in your coffeemaker with reusables (usually gold colored).

Get the organic habit

Switch to organic for at least one product that you buy every week.

Put it in park

Avoid drive-through windows, especially if there are long lines.

Compost

Instead of trashing food scraps, toss them into Gardener’s Supply Company Kitchen Compost Crock, a ceramic countertop composter that’s perfect for first-timers (gardeners.com).

Break out the bamboo

This plant is a far more sustainable natural resource than wood because it grows very quickly. Try the stylish bamboo bowls and cutting boards from TimberGrass (lamsonsharp.com).

Home office

Buy a laptop

It uses considerably less power than a desktop computer.

Get off junk mail lists

Register with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service (dmaconsumers.org) and you’ll see a significant reduction in mail after three months.

Double up on printing

Configure your printer so that it prints on both sides of the page. You know those extra pages you get when printing out one simple e-mail? Turn them over and put them back in the printer for reuse.

Invest the green way

Environmentally conscious mutual funds are increasingly available through 401(k) plans, especially if employees express interest. To learn more, log on to socialinvest.org; then talk to your benefits administrator.

For kids

Buy organic for baby

Hanna Andersson makes her children’s clothing-including the romper at left-with 100 percent organic cotton grown without harmful chemicals (hannaandersson.com). This garment is also certified to meet the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 requirements, meaning every fabric, button, thread, and zipper is tested for over 100 potentially harmful substances. Another source for organic-cotton baby clothes is Wal-Mart’s new George Baby line for sizes up to nine months.

Teach kids to be green

Give your little ones responsibility for your family’s recycling and match whatever they make in deposits at the store. They’ll learn about money and recycling at the same time.

In your yard

Mow-ercise!

Today’s non-gasoline-powered reel lawn mowers are easier to push than the old models. Their eco-benefit: zero emissions (plus, you’re getting great exercise). If you prefer a power mower, consider a quiet, battery-operated model from Black & Decker.

Warm up to solar energy

You may not be ready for a totally sun-powered home, but you can get a taste of the technology by using solar-powered lighting in your yard or on your patio. We like Malibu’s Solar Floodlight (intermatic.com).

Go native

Plant flowers and shrubs that are well suited to your climate (the staff at your local nursery can help). The benefit: You’ll use less fertilizer and pesticides.

Five eco labels you can really trust

–USDA Organic

Seen on: Food products

What it means: Food is produced without antibiotics, genetic engineering, or most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

–Rainforest Alliance Certified

Seen on: Coffee, chocolate, bananas

What it means: Companies harvesting the food practice soil and water conservation; they also reduce the use of pesticides.

–Fair Trade Certified

Seen on: Coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, rice, sugar

What it means: Food is grown on small farms; farmers receive a fair price.

–Certified Humane

Seen on: Eggs, meat

What it means: Animals raised for dairy, meat, and poultry products are treated humanely. Growth hormones are prohibited, and animals are raised on a diet without antibiotics.

–Green Seal

Seen on: Napkins, toilet paper, paper towels

What it means: they must meet recycling and bleaching standards.

I found out today that you have to do the following:

Hold it up in the air and check for Holes. If there are any holes at all, then it has been used.

Look what I found online! Very Interesting Read. Note that I do not condone these acts, just throwing it out there…

Do not pay a Dime for renting DVDs from blockbuster or NetFlix online services Netflix and Blockbuster are the two biggest online rental companies in the US. It has come to my notice (lol) that both the service can be used without paying a dollar for ever.

For Netflix:

Exploit/ extend the free trial using the following steps:

(1) Your initial trial is only for 2 weeks, so when u use the cancel options online, they extend the trial to another 2 weeks. So, thats 1 month total free service without exploitation.

(2) Before 1 month, cancel the online trial. Now, create another e-mail account and slightly modify your name while subscribing to the free trial again.

(a) Modifications: e.g.: Your name is : James Isaac Newton
Try : Jamess Isacc Newton (and write it down somewhere so that you wont use the same modification again)

or Try : James Isaac-Newton

(3) This minor name change will not affect your DVDs delivered to you since you are keeping the address the same.

(4) Such minor misspelled names are enough to have Netflix in believing that you are infact a different person subscribing to the free trial.

(5) You DO NOT need to change the address nor do you have to change the credit card information. You can use the same address and credit card.

(6) Netflix keeps your record of name in their database for 6 months. After that you can recycle the same names over and over again for ever.

Exploiting Blockbuster

(1) Blockbuster gives you one month free trial to begin with using codes ‘friends’.

(2) Before the trial ends, cancel the subscription online.

(3) Try a new free trial using minor name modifications

(a) Modifications: e.g.: Your name is : James Isaac Newton
Try : Jamess Isacc Newton (and write it down somewhere so that you wont use the same modification again)

or Try : James Isaac-Newton

(4) Blockbuster also keeps the customer’s records for 6 months only. You can recycle names aevery 6 months.

(5) If Blockbuster still recognizes your information after minor modification to your name, try the checking account or a different credit card. You can also get virtual credit card numbers from citibank or other companies which are for one time use online. This will prevent blockbuster from retrieving online.

For Extrelmely greedy people:

If you are extremely greedy and want more than 3 DVDs at the same time, you can open multiple accounts at both netflix and blockbuster. I have subscribed to 18 DVDs at the same time at one point of time. This can be achieved as follows:

Netflix: (1) Follow the same directions, create 2 (or more) accounts with slightly different names and use the same credit card for all of them!

Blockbuster: (1) Follow the same directions, create 2( or more) accounts with slightly different names and MUST use DIFFERENT credit cards for blockbuster.

IMPORTANT: Always check the account settings immediately after subscribing, if its a free trial or not. If it does not show free trial or if they charged you, call and cancel immediately! (try again)

I ain’t got no mutha fuckin friends
Thats why I fucked your bitch
You fat mutha-fucka {Take Money} –> As in SHAQ
West Side –> Western Conference
Bad Boy Killers {Take Money} –> Detroit Pistons Killers
You know who the realist is
niggas we bring it to {Take Money}
(ha ha, that’s alright)

First off, fuck your bitch
And the click you claim –> Shaq and Miami
West side when we ride –> Western Conference fly to Eastern Conference
Come equipped with game –> Bring your A-Game
You claim to be a playa –> Best player
But, I fucked your wife
We bust on Bad Boys
niggas fuck for Life
Plus Puffy tryin’ to see me weak
Hearts I rip
Biggie Smalls and Junior Mafia –> Shaq and the other Lakers that hate Kobe.
Some mark ass bitches
We keep on coming
While we running for yah jewels
Steady gunning
Keep on busting at them fools
You know the rules
Little Ceasar go ask you homie
How i’ll leave yah
Cut your young ass up
See yah in pieces
Now be deceased
Little Kim,
Don’t fuck around with real G’s
Quick to snatch your ugly ass, off the streets
So fuck peace
I’ll let them niggas know
It’s on for Life
Don’t let the west side
Ride the night (ha ha)
Bad Boys murdered on Wax and kill
fuck with me
And get your caps peeled
You know, See

[Chorus]

Grab your glocks when you see 2pac
Call the cops when you see 2pac, Uhh –> Kobe’s Rape case
Who shot me, –> Critics and the Media
But, your punks didn’t finish –> Not in jail, still in the game playing
Now, you ’bout to feel the wrath of a menace –> Scoring 81 points!
nigga, I hit ‘em up –> Scoring 81 points!

Check this out
You mutha-fuckas know what time it is
I don’t know why I’m even on this track
Y’all niggas ain’t even on my level –> Scoring 81 points!
I’m going to let my little homies
Ride on yah
bitch made ass Bad Boys bitches
{ahh yo, yo, hold the fuck up}

Get out the way yo –> Scoring 81 points!
Get out the way yo –> Scoring 81 points!
Biggie Smalls just got dropped –> Beating Miami on 01/16/06.
Little move pa*s the mac
And let me hit ‘em in his back
Frank White needs to get spanked right
For setting up traps
Little accident murderers
And I ain’t never heard of yah
Poise less gats attack when I’m serving yah
Spank the shank
Your whole style when I gank
Guard your rank
Cause I’m a slam your ass in a pang
Puffy weaker than a fuckin’ block
I’m running through nigga
And I’m smoking Junior Mafia
In front of yah nigga
With the ready power
Tucked in my Guess
Under my Eddie Bower
Your clout petty sour
I push packages ever hour
I hit ‘em up

[Chorus]

Grab your glocks when you see 2pac –> bring your A game
Call the cops when you see 2pac, Uhh –> Got arrested for Rape charges
Who shot me,
But, your punks didn’t finish
Now, you ’bout to feel the wrath of a menace
nigga, We hit ‘em up

Peep how we do it
Keep it real
Its penitentiary steel
This ain’t no freestyle battle
All you niggas getting killed
With your mouths open
Tryin’ to come up off of me
You and the clouds hoping
Smoking dope
It’s like a Shermine
niggas think they learned to fly
But they burn mutha-fucka you deserve to die
Talking about you Getting Money
But its funny to me
All you niggas living bummy
While you fucking with me?
I’m a self made Millionaire
Thug livin’, out of prison
Pistols in the Air {Air} (Ha Ha)
Biggie remember when I use to let you sleep on the couch –> To Shaq, when he was in the Lakers
And beg the bitch to let you sleep in the house –> Kobe was in Lakers first, Shaq came right after Kobe came.
Now its all about versace
You copied my style
Five shots couldn’t drop me
I took it and smiled
Now I’m back to set the record straight
With my A-K
I’m still the thug that you love to hate
Mutha-fucka I’ll Hit ‘Em Up

I’m from N E W Jers.
Where plenty of murder occurs
No points to come
We bring drama to all you herds
Now go check the scenerio
Little Ceas’
I’ll bring you fake G’s to yah knees
Copin’ pleas with these
Little Kim is yah
Coked up or doped up
Get your little Junior Whopper click smoked up
What the fuck?
Is you stupid?
I take money,
crash and mash through Brooklyn
With my click looting, shooting, and polluting your block
With fifteen shot,
Cocked glock to your knot
Outlaw Mafia click moving up another notch
And your Pop stars popped and get dropped and mopped
And all your fake ass east coast props
Brainstormed and locked

You’se a beat biter
Pac style taker
I’ll tell you to face, you ain’t nothing shit but a faker
So fill the Alazhay with a chaser
’bout to get murdered for the paper
E.d.i I mean post the scene of the caper
Like a loc, with little Ceas’ in a choke (uhh)
Toting smoke, we ain’t no mutha-fuckin’ joke
Thug Life, niggas better be known
Be approaching
In the wide open, gun smoking
No need for hoping
It’s a battle lost
I gottem crossed as soon as the funk is bopping off
nigga, I hit ‘em up

Now you tell me who won –> Beat the media, still good (81pts) no matter if everyone hates him
I see them, they run (ha ha)
They don’t wanna see us
Whole Junior Mafia click
Dressing up to be us
How the fuck they gonna be the Mob?
When we always on out job
We millionaire’s
Killing ain’t fair
But somebody got to do it

Oh yah Mobb Deep (uhh)
You wanna fuck with us
You Little young ass mutha-fuckas
Don’t one of you niggas got sickle-cell or something
You fucking with me, nigga ?
You fuck around and catch a seizure or a heart-attack
You better back the fuck up
Before you get smacked the fuck up
This is how we do it on our side
Any of you niggas from New York that want to bring it,
Bring it.
But we ain’t singing,
We bringing drama
fuck you and your mother fucking mama.
We gonna kill all you mother fuckers.
Now when I came out, I told you it was just about biggie.
Then everybody had to open their mouth with a mother fuckin opinion
Well this is how we gon’ do this:
fuck Mobb Deep,
fuck Biggie,
fuck Bad Boy as a staff, record label, and as a mother fuckin crew.
And if you want to be down with Bad Boy,
Then fuck you too.
Chino XL, fuck you too.
All you mother fuckers,
fuck you too.
(take money, take money)
All of y’all mother fuckers,
fuck you, die slow mother fucker.
My fo’ fo’ (.44 magnum) make sure all yo’ kids don’t grow.
You mother fuckers can’t be us or see us.
We mother fuckin’ Thug Life riders.
West Side till’ we die.
Out here in California, nigga
We warned ya’
We’ll bomb on you mother fuckers.
We do our job.
You think you the mob, nigga, we the mother fuckin’ mob
Ain’t nuttin’ but killers
And the real niggas, all you mother fuckers feel us.
Our shit goes triple and four quadruple
You niggas laugh cuz our staff got guns under they mother fuckin’ belts
You know how it is and we drop records they felt
You niggas can’t feel it
We the realist
fuck ‘em.
We Bad Boy killas. –> Detroit Pistons

I went to the Wynn expecting to be a very grand and awesome hotel. What I saw when I walked in was opposite of what I imagined. It looked old and second tier to many of the hotels. I thought I was in another hotel it was so bad, I didn’t see any signs or logos of the Wynn anywhere. The carpet looked like left over carpet from other hotels. The casino area looked like Ballys. I almost went back outside to check if I was really in the Wynn, but when I went up to check in I was relieved to see that they were handing out Wynn room key cards.

Walking to find my room was terribly hard. The signs were not as good as hotels such as Bellagio or Paris. I got lost just once, making a circle. The person that handed me the keycard gave me the directions when he handed it to me. He probably knows its hard to find himself.

I finally found the elevators - they check your room keys everytime. Better remember your room number because its not on your key.

Finally found my room, expecting a subpar room. To my surprise the room was fantastic. I walk in with classic music in the background, very high class. Big Plasma TV in the middle of the room. A desk, a table with two chairs, a coach, a King size bed. One side of the wall is made up of windows looking out the Golf Course and Waterfall.

The bathroom had two sinks with a bath and a shower. The toilet is a room in it of itself. There is also a TV in the bathroom, which was really nice.

The closet comes with Wynn robes and slippers.

Room service was excellent.

I got a great deal for $139 a night, so check out the Wynn Las Vegas - Book Now

Good deals can be found.

Lakers just beat Dallas which ended their 5 game winning streak. Lakers are a team now, although Shaq left, I believe this is one of the most exciting Laker teams in history.

Laker future - Bynum, Kwame Brown, Cook, Sasha, and ofcourse Kobe. Thank you Phil Jackson - once again.

Just got back from the Kroq’s Almost Acoustic Christmas 2005 Night 1.

One word: Awesome

NIN and KORN in one venue - ONCE IN A LIFETIME

The BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. Nine Inch Nails (NIN) sang HURT! Believe that? It was almost religious listening to that song. (picture above is not the picture from concert, from old Hurt video - Trent now has a Crew Cut) They also sang Head Like a Hole, Hands that feed, Closer, and more!

Korn was crazy, I thought they were lip singing, but they were just Good - Freak on the leash, away from me, and more!

System of the down was only OK for me, because I never really liked them anyways, but NIN alone was worth it all.

I filmed some video from my cell phone of NIN and KORN, but I have no idea how to transfer the video to my computer, I do not have the cables for my Nokia phone. Hope someone can help me.

Yasmine (Miss DD 2006) - was VERY VERY dissappointing this year - She has a GUT!! What the hell, not hot. Hopefully next year would be better.

When I had Discover I bought a Laptop, that same day they called me asked if I really bought it, I confirmed and said yes I did. A few days later, my card didn’t work anymore. No idea what happened.

A few days later (after I tried the card a couple times 5x trying to get gas, etc) I called Discover and complained what is wrong with my card. They said possible fraud. Ok what is wrong? It was because of the Laptop.

They wanted proof I am really me, so I sent them proof that I AM ME. After a few days later, my account was shut down.

I called again screaming, but they didn’t care, they didn’t know what to do. They still charged the card for the laptop. The thing that really got to me is that they charged the card for the laptop and they know I paid for it, but they STILL CANCELLED ME CARD.

Lo and Behold a week later I got the letter my account has been cancelled.

A Big “F” U to DISCOVER CARD. Spread the word people F U DISCOVER.

Freeway Driving Tip #1 - Humanize your driving experience

When I say Humanize I mean show a hand, smile, make eye contact with other drivers.

When you want to change lanes or merge in traffic, roll down your window and stick your head and arm out and signal. The chances of you being able to merge in increasing 10 fold.

Just think.. If you see a guy signal and all he does is look forward, you don’t really care about him and won’t let him in. But if you see him smile and stick his arm up, you will most likely let him merge.

Happy driving.

Its now possible!

Transfer full DVD’s to your PSP to view on the move. You can fit an entire film on a 256-512 MB Pro Duo Card!

All you need is a DVD drive in your computer, a PSP USB cable, and a 256-512 MB Pro Duo Card. You will be able to transfer films or Movie Clips from your PC to your PSP! This includes the following formats: AVI, MPEG, RM, WMV, MOV, MP4, MPEG4, XVID, DIVX, AC3, OGG, 3G.

New! PSP X Studio now supports all firmware versions up to v2.00. All existing members receive free updates.

Get our all-inclusive software pack, and tutorial guides right now and within minutes you will be on your way to transfering any DVD video to your PSP. You’ve seen us in the news. You’ve heard so much about our product. Now available for instant download!

Get it for $39.95

I found this Broadband alternative today a great deal of first 6 months for $9.95 ib Dial-Up. Earthlink is very stable, used to use them when internet first came out, more reliable than netzero and aol.

Get Dial-Up access with Earthlink today, and receive your first six months for only $9.95 a month!

Great for moms and dads that do not need the broadband speeds.

Goodl luck

Is it weird of me to think Suzy from Biggest Loser is hot?

I know she is Fat, but I think shes cute. The show isn’t over yet, but maybe she gets a major makeover at the end that makes her look like a supermodel?

So what you people think, am I weird?

I was named one of the Fox Sports Bloggers (beta). Check my Lakers blog out at: Lakers Blog

Its about time one of the wnba girls is saying they are gay, now who’s next? Not everyone stand at once now.

Here are the installation instructions for AIC-100i on the Prius.

pdf file download: download

This system allows your prius to connect and control your ipod through your touch screen and wheel controls.

Apple seems to have checked out my iPod mini and sending it a new (refurbished) one back to me, yay! well I hope I get it back by thanksgiving. The status does say “Dispatch Sent”, which can mean its being sent at this moment?

well here is hoping for the best.

This is awesome!

Expand the potential of your iPod™ beyond just music! It used to be impossible to move all of your music from your iPod™ back to your PC. Now you can sync your music between home, office, desktop and laptop. Podmaxx™ empowers you to easily manage your iPod and more!

* 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
* COPY music from any iPod
* MANAGE your Podcasts
* BACKUP your vauable Data
* SYNC your email and contacts
* VIEW news, weather and movies

Get this Today:

My Bro’s bball skills, creativity, and camera timer skills hahaha! Awesome.