Welcome!

Music Clip #5/Theo Parrish #2

2009-07-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

More house music from artists I dig.

Music Clip #4/Moodymann #2

2009-07-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

Music Clip #3/Moodymann

2009-07-31T17:37:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know it's probably not the best idea to advertise this as a music clip of the week because the postings are back to back, but I'm sure that you'll forgive me once you listen......

Music Clip #2/Theo Parrish

2009-07-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

Theo Parrish. Moodymann (aka Kenny Dixon). Larry Heard. These are just a few names you'll be seeing in music clips posted on my blog.

Featured Dance Clip #6/House

2009-07-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

Something new. House dancers from New York showing us how it's done. I must admit, I didn't "get it" upon first seeing it. In fact, the "lofting" looked silly to me. And then I saw house dancing in its own context and was suddenly blown away. What once struck me as odd is now interesting. Go figure.

Featured Dance Clip #5/Hip Hop

2009-07-31T17:12:00.000-07:00

More new style for hip hop heads. The first dancer killed it. Just my humble opinion.

Why I decided on nursing

2009-07-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

After years of playing with the idea, I decided on nursing for the following reasons:

1) Nursing is a versatile profession. Unlike respiratory, radiation or physical therapy, there's much more room for professional growth. You can move to another unit, get more credentials, and seek out more challenging opportunities. You're not relegated to med-surg and the field keeps changing.

2) Established need. This job ain't going nowhere. Although its popularity as a major makes me fear there will be a surplus by the time I graduate. All the more reason to get OR experience before nursing school.

3) The chance to work for a hospital. I can think of no other industry that suits me better than healthcare. After being a waiter for the past seven years, not only am I burnt out, but what I currently do is so trivial. Granted, I've had the chance to interact with a variety of people from all over the country and the world. However, at the end of the day, I serve food and beverage. You could subtract my contributions and the world would be no worse off. I feel what I do is so ineffectual. I want to make a real contribution.

Next semester

2009-07-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

Summertime is here and I've already registered for classes next fall. I finally got the classes and instructors I wanted. Physiology, Intermediate Algebra and College Level English. I'm excited and a little nervous. I checked out everybody on ratemyprofessors.com and it's shaping up to be an awesome start.

Nursing school seems so far away. Eight more prerequisites including Microbiology. I wish I could take some more chemistry and then cell biology, but I'm on a deadline and my schedule won't allow it.

I still haven't decided whether or not to go to a surgical tech. program for a year prior to nursing school. The benefits include a straight ticket to the OR after nursing school. Experience scrubbing should place me at the front of the line considering every nurse has to complete an extensive training program for OR no matter how much experience they have in another unit. I checked out allnurses.com and the postings confirm this. The plan is to be a scrub/circulator nurse and toggle between PACU; meanwhile, I'll pick up a neurosurgical specialty and CCRN credential and then get into a neuroscience critical care unit at an academic hospital like UCSF. Long term plans include going back to school for a Master's/clinical nurse specialty. But what do I know? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself?

Tony Robbins

2009-07-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

You may have seen him on TV advertising some product. Maybe you've seen him give a seminar or speak at an event. Perhaps while visiting a bookstore, you've passed by one of his books and didn't even know it. Whether you love him or you're not too crazy about him, public speaker Tony Robbins has got a message he wants you to hear.

Quick to deflect the label "motivational speaker", he brands himself the "Why Guy" instead. Professional sports franchises, politicians, corporate giants and other individuals have sought this man's talent which is not to motivate, but to discover what motivates.

I came across this vid a while ago while searching for toastmasters. I'm not sure if he's ever been a toastmaster, but it's obvious after watching this video that his communication skills place him squarely among the best. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.

Affiliate Program Debate

2009-07-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm still debating whether I should keep my personal blog free of affiliate marketing, or if I should link this blog to vendors. My other blogs will continue to participate in various affiliate programs, however. It's a pleasure to "discuss" my passions such as music and other personal interests in this format. I just don't want to leave the impression that everything about Chris Wynton is for sale! LOL

Music Clip of the Week #1/Deep House

2009-07-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to long time DJ and house producer, Larry Heard. This man has been on the house music scene for years. This song is emblematic of deep house, my favorite genre next to hardhouse from the Underground Construction Label of the 90's. I can groove to this sh*t all night.

Featured Dance Clip #4/Jookin'

2009-07-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, I thought about giving you some more hip hop and even some house dancers from NYC, but I decided instead to give you..."jooking"! Now what the hell is jooking?!! I didn't know until last night when I was checking out some more vids on youtube. Sometimes called "bucking", "chopping" or "gangsta walking", jooking is an obscure dance form from Memphis that originated in the '80s. It bears a striking resemblance to popping, although it incorporates a flair that is uniquely southern and respectable in its own right. Emphasizing smooth and fluid motions, it makes use of the entire body to produce moves that are sharp and precise. Lot's of gliding and even some tutting. The first 6 or so dancers are RIDICULOUS! After that, it gets kinda booty. It is a pleasure to bring to you one of the smoothest dance forms I've seen. Enjoy!

still working on the visuals

2009-06-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

a satisfactory graphic layout is now at the top of my list.

1) pattern to be tiled in the background.
2) edit html/css to change background color...this rose is killing me.
3) maybe a nice top graphic or border for the self-portrait.
4) resolve that hideous gap adjacent to my photo!

Featured Dance Clip #3/Twirling

2009-06-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Something new for dance lovers. This style is called "twirling". It's a form of dance popularized by the black fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Gamma Rho. Separate from "stepping", this style incorporates basic moves from baton twirling. However, it's a style in and of itself and bears little resemblance to what you might see in band marches. I've seen many twirling vids online and this guy is the most impressive. He makes a few errors here and there but the complexity of wood work makes it difficult to not make an occasional mistake. If anyone knows this guy's name, feel free to leave a comment.

Reply to Chrysantha's Crush Challenge

2009-06-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

(1) Do you consider yourself CREATIVE and WHY?

Yes. I think imagination is the root of creativity. Imagination is the ability to visualize what may or may not be possible. Creativity is the ability to make it possible. I see it in objects, situations, people........

(2) What is your nationality? Teach me something about your culture (i.e. fond memories, food experiences, or a factoid you are proud of).

Oooh. That's tough. Each of my four grandparents is from a different country; Jamaica, England, Panama and the southside of Chicago. My dad migrated from Jamaica and my mom came from Panama. So, I tend to identify more closely with these nationalities. I feel very American, but I'm proud of my heritage and tend to get clannish when I'm around people who belong to these communities. In NYC, I'm a dime a dozen.

(3) What does FAMILY mean to you?

This should say it all........

(4) What kind of television shows do you like to watch?

Lately, I've been on a rerun kick. X-Files and Twin Peaks are my favorites.

(5) What movies move your soul and feel free to explain why?

I know I'm a guy, but....."Woman in the Dunes" (directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara) and "The Hole" (directed by Tsai Ming-Liang) managed to elicit something warm and fuzzy from me. For all intents and purposes, both are love stories.

(6) Other than FAMILY and FOOD, MUSIC is another very important aspect of my Life… what are your favorites (i.e. genres, artists, albums, or songs)?

My tastes run the gamut. Chopin, Erik Satie, Bach, flamenco, Isotope 217, bossa nova, Animal Collective, Caribou, Miles Davis, Timbaland projects from the late 90's like Playa's "Cheers 2 U", Basement Jaxxx, Jay Denes (Blue Six), Fred Neil, honky tonk, Stephen Stills, George Jones, it goes on and on.

(7) I believe everyone has talent… What is yours?

Imagination.

(8) What is your favorite part of a woman’s body and why?

Ooooh. Another tough question. Finger nails. They reveal volumes about a woman.

(9) Where have you travelled? What is a favorite memory you hold close on one of your voyages?

I'm more well traveled domestically than internationally. Although a trip to Jamaica yielded the fondest memory I can think of. I was 11 years old in Mandeville. I was standing out in the country on a clear summer day and sky went on forever. The feelings conjured up by the contrast of the endless green pastures against a blue horizon was something no photograph could capture. I felt at home.

(10) My life is an never ending path of unexpected turns! Do you take risks? How do you face change?

Yes, I would say I take risks. Unexpected changes come in two categories; those we want and those we don't want. The ones we don't want, we call "problems". Let's say I have more room to grow in my approach!

(11) How affectionate are you?

I would say I'm generous : )

(12) What are important lessons learned in your past relationships?

Be ready to grow. I've missed out on a couple opportunities with quality women because I wasn't ready to accept a less flattering image of myself - i.e., criticism.

(13) What makes you melt?

Actions more than words. But if it must be words, then let them be spoken softly no less than two inches from my ear.

(14) In your opinion, what do you consider are the top 3 most important elements in the most basic level of any relationship?

Communication. Passion. Honesty.

(15) If you could be anything (specially if it is not your current occupation) what/who would you be?

Without sounding like a motivational speaker, I've chosen to take what I call the PEFSI challenge. It's an acronym for areas in my life that deserve my full attention every day. Physical, Emotional, Financial, Social and Intellectual. If I can get to the point in my life where I'm making considerable progress in each area, then I'll be the person I want to be.

Featured Dance Clip #2/Krumping!!!

2009-06-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

This high energy dance form from LA was featured in the movie, "Rize". Although the origins are cloudy, there are some undeniable spiritual overtones.

what's with the picture?

2009-06-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

For three straight semesters , I've taken science classes only. I took the opportunity spring semester of 2009 to explore some personal interests like learning to play the piano and broadening my social circle. I also took some time to focus on getting in shape by taking P.E. classes. However, the most satisfying class I took was Filipino-American studies.

I expected to explore identity issues, social learning, and the cultural trends within the Fil-Am community. Instead, we examined the Fil-Am community within a historical context for most of the class. During one the group projects, I came across some interesting photos documenting the campaign to address police brutality and racial profiling by the San Jose Police Department. It was inspired by a recent incident involving the use of excessive force to subdue Marlo Custodio and his family while enjoying an evening outdoors in the Evergreen area of San Jose.

Learn more about it here........

Featured Dance Clip #1/Hip Hop

2009-06-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

There's some good dancing here. And then, some not so good. You be the judge.

I'm back!

2009-01-03T13:23:00.001-08:00

After a long hiatus, I'm finally back to whip a little. Your favorite Panamanian-Jamaican is back after a long hard semester of Anatomy and Medical Chemistry. Two A's later, I'm looking forward to the most important and difficult classes of my prerequisites...Microbiology and Physiology. Not next semester, but soon enough.

My preplist...

Physiology by Linda Costanzo, PhD.

Change of face coming soon!

2009-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Expect to see a new custom look coming soon. I've seen some awesome blogs. How can I be down?

Shout outs 2!

2009-01-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

Let's get on with the end of semester shout outs.

- Naty Duenas.....one cool lady. Can't say enough about my colleague from anatomy. I want to thank you once again for getting me into your study group. Yes, I did initially join because I was hitting on you, but it actually turned out to be a great group...and I got an A!

- Dr. Fong.....Med chem professor. Old school. Gets down to business. Funny as hell. Wants to see you succeed. All you gotta do is work. And that he will make you do.

- Once again, Dr. Fong and Dr. Lin......for the recommendation to be a student lab aide in the Chem Dept. at CCSF......got me thinking about tutoring math. The less I wait tables, the happier I am.

places I would live for a 3yr stretch

2008-07-24T01:26:00.000-07:00

1) LA
2) NY
3) Miami

Shameless Plug

2008-07-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

"Top of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers-and How You Can Too."

by Dr. Soo Kim Abboud and Jane Kim

Don't tell me you've never wondered..."What am I missing? Why am I not performing at the level I should, academically?"

shout outs

2008-07-08T00:04:00.001-07:00

- Dr. Doris Lin, former chemistry professor @ CCSF......"Have confidence and believe in yourself..."
- Gloria Lau, MSN, this lady is going to take me places professionally. She's got plenty of room underneath her wing.
- Vincent Lui, great friend and classmate @ CCSF
- (as I write this, I'm beginning to notice an odd similarity...believe me when I say the names were randomly written.)
- Jong Soo Lee, a great friend and mentor from my 20's
- Peter Kwok and Kim Yee....taught me how to wait tables "the right way". There's really only one way. they wrote the book on it. True perfectionists.
- Joe Sattler. Buckets and buckets of wisdom. An old professor from Hard Knox State University.

CCSF

2008-06-21T03:03:00.000-07:00

I've been taking classes part-time at city college of San Francisco for the past year now. Would you believe me if I told you that after taking courses in economics, programming, chemistry and biology, I have finally solidified my love for.....chemistry. econ is cool and I have a deep respect for those who have the patience for the more abstract science of computers and anyone who "gets" Donald Knuth. However, I am pleased to announce my intention to continue my studies in chem and bio in the hopes of knocking out prereqs for a nursing degree. what's on the plate for next semester? anatomy, medical chemistry and math. I'm looking forward to all of them.

Even after becoming an RN, I plan to beef up even more on chemistry. CCSF has a ridiculous breadth of classes that put most junior colleges to shame. Furthermore, virtually everyone in the chem dept. there has either a UC prefaced alma mater or MIT, Stanford next to their name. The profs are challenging but that only means that the level of instruction I'm receiving is superior and most likely comparable to what one may receive at a leading institution. Many thanks to Doris Lin, who "broke my cherry" in the Fundamentals of Chemistry.

The best thing about learning chem here is that they seem pretty focused on getting the student to master concepts. Regurgitation of the material is not enough. This means that if I apply myself, I'll know it as well as anyone and better than most. It will be difficult, but I think I'm up to the challenge. I can't wait to take calc! (If you can believe it.) What's a nurse gonna do with all this stuff? It's all preparation for CRNA training. You didn't really think it would end with an RN degree did you?

Mentors

2008-06-21T01:57:00.000-07:00

Mentors. We all need someone who is willing to guide us along a difficult hump to get to that professional or personal point where we unearth our potential. Sometimes, we need more than one at different periods in our lives. I was lucky. Meet Jong Soo Lee.

He was a Korean born and raised in a country that considers itself ethnically uniform for the most part, Japan. When he was in his early 20's, he set off for South Korea on a quest to connect w/his roots. Unfamiliar with the language and on his own, he managed to get involved with a local newspaper, writing politically oriented articles aimed at changing Korean society for the better. One of his articles was mistakenly interpreted by the Korean government as having Communist leanings and he was imprisoned for 8 years. He was initially scheduled to be imprisoned for longer, but was released when the country hosted the Olympics in 1988. As a condition for hosting, S.Korea had to release a certain number of prisoners who were arrested for trivial offenses. He was one of them.

Years later, he came to the US as a student at a small liberal arts college in Iowa where we became friends. It was an awkward period in my life, but let's just say that this man gave me much to be thankful for. Jong Soo, if you're reading this post, know that you have been a tremendous influence on my life. I smoked Mild Sevens, drank single malt scotch and even picked up the guitar as you did, but none of these "achievements" could possibly compare to the
gift of friendship and what all that entailed. Traits like honesty, respect to self and others, and loyalty eluded me before I met you and even while I knew you. I was an ingrate and the analogy of casting pearls to swine couldn't be truer. But I've grown and I'm now approaching the same age you were when you befriended me. Time flies.

Now, I'm ready for another step and I suppose it's fitting that I receive tutelage of a different sort from someone else. Someone older who has the same patience to guide me to another level. Thank you for everything.

What's with the beef with LA anyway?

2008-06-21T01:41:00.000-07:00

In a city that considers it heresy if you offer a word of praise toward the City of Angels, I'm one of a few who will openly admit that in a region as large as LA with so many people, surely there must be something redeeming about it!

I love Korean food. LA has got SF beat hands down in this category and many others; namely, Thai and from what I hear, Mexican as well (though I can't confirm that). Did you know that there is a Koreatown (the Wilshire strip) and a Thai-Town (Hollywood and Western and a few blocks surrounding)? There is an energy happening there that if your ear isn't to the ground, you just might miss it. During my first ever trip to LA, I went alone to check out a reputed food scene and came back satisfied, yet hungry for more! Literally and figuratively.

Yes, I know the city has a traffic problem and all the smog that comes with it. Yes, I'm also aware of the well-developed gang problem, but you can't deny that there's something happening in places like Koreatown and even suburban San Gabriel Valley. Pasadena, a yuppie stronghold is home to Cal Tech, an awesome art school, and Pasadena City College, one of the few in the state that offers an extremely wide breadth of majors. SGV reminds me of Silicon Valley with many options to offer "ethnic" food lovers like myself. Pockets of Taiwanese, Filipino and other Asian communities mean more authentic experiences and a highly educated populace. This is what I came to California for.

Fine dining in SF? How about wine country instead?

2008-06-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know that a third of the restaurants in the Bay Area that received a rating of 1 star or higher from the Michelin Guide were located in Napa and Sonoma Counties? Here's a list of places you may want to check out if you've got the cash:

THREE STARS
The French Laundry...yountville

TWO STARS
Cyrus...healdsburg
Meadowood (new)...st.helena

ONE STAR
Auberge du Soleil... Rutherford
redd...yountville
Farmhouse Inn...forestville
Bistro Jeanty...yountville
K & L Bistro.....sebastopol
La Toque.....Rutherford
Madrona Manor...healdsburg
Martini House...st.helena
Sushi-Ran...sausalito
Terra......st.helena

other restaurants from thomas keller
bouchon...yountville
ad hoc.....yountville

My mission is simple...try as many as possible without going broke!

On the eve of history

2008-06-21T01:10:00.000-07:00

It's summer 2008 and our great nation is now face to face with the potential to catapult a black nominee to the presidency. Now, voters on both sides of the fence are left wondering what will he do should ascend to the presidency? Personally, I've resolved my doubts by voting for him if it will mean bringing our brave men and women back from Iraq. What intellectuals bill as collective amnesia, I call socially and politically irresponsible. Has everyone forgotten the 3 main tenets of the argument in favor of invasion 5 years ago? 1) A link to Al-Queda that even the CIA debunked before the war began. 2) Weapons of mass destruction that we did not find. 3) To relieve a country of the same despotic leadership that's present in any given country on 3 continents. If it takes voting for a black president to end a military conflict with questionable justifications, then so be it.