Alive and Well in America - Xenophobia

source: @lionnessmom76 Twitter
Suraya Entezam

On May 21, Air Force veteran and Fremont, California resident James Ahn posted a video on his Facebook page showing a woman yelling at him, calling him ugly Chinese and go back to his country. Mr. Ahn is from Seoul, South Korea.

On May 17, New York attorney Aaron Schlossberg goes into a tirade to deli employees speaking Spanish to speak English. He later apologizes, says he's not racist.

Meet Suraya Entezam. Ms. Entezam herself is not U.S. born as can be detected in her accent yelling at Mr. Ahn.



I find disheartening that these incidents are taking place in areas of the United States where there is a significant foreign-born population.

Over Labor Day Weekend last year, my cousins (brother and sister) were in San Francisco to attend the funeral services for their aunt. Both encountered xenophobic incidents during their visit. One was at San Francisco International Airport, the other on BART. Irony on the BART incident - the female passenger told my cousin to go back to Korea.

Fear, anger and ignorance and alive and well in the United States. We give the rest of the Americas (Central, South and North) a bad name.

The Picture People - Out of Business

Picture People, Foster City, Californa
October 1, 2001 to September 20, 2007

On Thursday, May 18, my former employer, TPP Holdings DBA The Picture People closed doors permanently.

While it's sad, it did not come as a surprise to many of us who were once employed there. I was separated from Picture People in September 2007 when headquarters moved from Foster City, California to Plano, Texas.

Like my other former employer, The Sharper Image (see blog post November 18, 2017), shut down business operations in 2008. There have several relaunches beginning in 2010, the latest is through Camelot Venture Group in April 2018.

With the recent store closings for Macy's and Sears, traditional retail in malls as we once knew it has changed. It's looking more like a future destination to the mall won't just be for shopping or the movies.

Other than my two rounds of four-year employment with Sharper Image, my six years of continuous employment with Picture People is the longest I've worked anywhere. As it usually is in retail, turnover is frequent. So when one stays for at least three years, he/she would be considered an old-timer. Bonds form and cement into lifelong friendships.

Alumni from Sharper Image recently announced plans for a second reunion this fall. Picture People from the Foster City headquarters held a reunion in March 2014.

It's my hope that those who suddenly lost their jobs will receive some kind of employment assistance.

2011 May 19

Heard this song at the end of USA Network's In Plain Sight episode "I'm a Liver Not A Fighter". It aired on June 19, 2011, a month after my almost 2-year relationship ended with a longtime friend I had a crush on from the moment I met him in 1988. Bawled my eyes out. The relationship didn't last, but the friendship continues (now 30 years).

Maybe.

Music and Lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson

iPhone 8 Plus - 4th Apple phone

iPhone 8 plus

iPhone 4S, 5S, 6S

Happy Mother's Day!

My history with the iPhone began in 2012, starting with the 4S model (see blog entry September 27, 2015). As of yesterday, I retired the 6S and bought an 8 plus. The battery on the 6S was on its last legs almost a year ago, but I did not update at that time because my contract to pay off the phone wasn't until April 2018.

I chose the 8 plus over the 8 because I needed a bigger viewing screen for my middle aged eyes. I chose the 8 plus over the 10 because I wanted to keep Touch ID. Face ID replaces Touch ID on the iPhone 10.

As I never owned previous iPhones for more than 2 years, I didn't realize how quickly the battery power deteriorates until I got the 6S. Especially when I used the GPS. Power would drop 10% to 15% in less than 10 minutes.

Prior to Apple, the only other cell phone brand I've owned more than once is Nokia (see blog entry March 7, 2014).

As I did with the previous iPhones, I buy a new phone cover. I'll get that tomorrow or Tuesday. I also ordered a new 2-in-1 adapter (newest iPhones no longer have a earphone jack) yesterday. I'm seriously considering a magnetic holder to put on my car's dashboard.

Let's hope the latest and almost greatest iteration of this iPhone will have a more robust battery life than the S's.

PBA Tour Final and PWBA Challenge

source: PBA
Top L to R: E.J. Tackett, Tommy Jones, Marshall Kent, Jesper Svensson
Bottom: L to R: Anthony Simonsen, Dom Barrett, Jason Belmonte, Sean Rash

This weekend, at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan (Detroit area), eight of the top PBA earners the past two years compete in the PBA Tour Finals. All bowlers but Australian Jason Belmonte are former or current Weber Cup (Weber Cup is between Europe and United States) members.

Matches will be televised on CBS Sports Network over the next five Tuesdays beginning on May 22 at 10 pm Eastern Time, 7 pm Pacific Time.

source: PWBA

For the women, the PWBA Challenge will take place on Sunday, June 24 in Orlando, Florida at 4 pm, Eastern, 1 pm Pacific Time live on Xtra Frame.

This event will take the top four in the points standings compete in a special finals bracket.

Congrats to the eight men who made the finals. Best of luck to the women who will be competing for one of the four spots.