justportillo

Innovation Journal: Week Three

2011-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

Week Three of my Service Innovation Management Class is all about moving to the next step in the process: "Explore". How do we know when to move on? It may never really be clear, but deadlines tend to focus people around moving to the next phase. In our case, the partner at Gravity Tank that we have been working with, Shailesh Patel, was instrumental in getting us to focus, understand what we had already accomplished and progress to the next stage.

It is important to remember that including the end user in the both the Explore and Discover phases is paramount. The Explore phase is about getting a broad understanding and Discover is about starting to connect the dots. It's useful to talk to the customer during the Discover phase to make sure one stays on the right track, keep the team's thinking relevant and aslo to iterate your problem solving. Your understanding of the problem will likely evolve - so should your solution.

Our team's assigned problem is "Project Management for Facebook." More on what we are learning in a subsequent post.

[Photo via The Woods.]

Innovation Journal: Week One

2011-12-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

This is the first installment of my "Innovation Journal" for a class I am currently taking titled "Service Innovation Management". For those who may have wandered onto this site, I am in the second year of my MBA at the University of Michigan (Ross). (For those Michigan students wondering what class this is, check out BIT 678).

This class is about learning how to answer the question "What is Design Thinking?" and then learning how to answer the question "So, how do I apply it?" Having joined the board of the Ross Design+Business Club last year, I've had a head start on these tasks. Nonetheless, I've welcomed the opportunity to deepen my understanding and get additional opportunities to apply these techniques.

So what is design thinking? My own definition would be: it is about learning to think like a designer, which entails customer/user/human centric problem solving. Before you dive in to problem solve, take a step back and ask "What is the problem?" Sometimes the actual problem is actually very different than what it appears to be on the service...

We've partnered with Gravity Tank to get the professional scoop on how these techniques are implemented. The class consists of breaking into student teams and applying the tools to real business problems. Action-based learning at its finest.

So this class is called "Service Innovation Management". What are services? According to Wikipedia, services are intangible commodities. In other words, services are what you pay someone to do for you. (Think haircuts.) In this class, we are mainly studying e-services, or technology-enabled services, like Facebook. (You don't pay for Facebook with money, but advertisers pay for the right to serve you promotions, so you get the service for free.)

The EDCI framework gives structure to class activities. Professor Nigel Melville is the course instructor and designed the EDCI model. It stands for "Explore, Discover, Concept, Implement". I've learned that in the design-thinking space, you're not legit unless you have your own framework for how you approach the work, so kudos to the prof for having his own! I like it because it's simple and succinct. (Those who study the design thinking space will notice all very similar. Gravity Tank, IDEO, etc all have their own proprietary frameworks...)

The Explore phase is all about brainstorming. Getting out of the box, talking to people, observing, starting to understand the space. It can be uncomfortable because it is unknown. However, the worst thing that can happen is not talking to enough people and missing the key insight that changes everything.

[Photo caption: Design Thinking at the d-school, Stanford University]

In Memory of Peter Khan

2011-07-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

This is a slide show I put together with the help of some friends in memory of former member of the Universal House of Justice Dr. Peter J. Khan, who passed away ten days ago at the age of 74. His sense of humor brightened my days in Haifa. He will be missed.

Blog hibernation

2011-05-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

In the meantime, check me out on Twitter (posts to the right), Flickr (above) and LinkedIn.

STOP Religious Persecution in Iran

2009-03-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

The Bahai International Community has sent a letter to Iran's Chief Prosecutor defending the innocence of the Bahai prisoners (picture above). The Bahais were taken hostage on baseless and nonsensical charges, making it clear they have been imprisoned solely for their beliefs.

Read the story here.

If you live in the U.S., please support House Resolution 175 and Senate Resolution 71 by contacting your respective Representative / Senator. Information on how here.

Global Rich List

2009-01-15T21:22:00.001-08:00

The Global Rich List is an interesting site. Enter your annual income and see how you stack up against the rest of the world. Although most of the time I feel like I am barely scraping by, according to the web site I'm in the top 0.88%! (Wait a minute, that means 99.22% are poorer than me...)

I found the following quotes from the Bahai Writings helpful while reflecting on my place in the world:

O SON OF MAN!
Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more.

O SON OF MAN!
Bestow My wealth upon My poor, that in heaven thou mayest draw from stores of unfading splendor and treasures of imperishable glory. But by My life! To offer up thy soul is a more glorious thing couldst thou but see with Mine eye.

(Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, p. 16)

Tara Ellis Devotional Music

2008-12-06T23:22:00.001-08:00

Lately this has turned into a music blog, but I've been telling everyone about this and thought I could share it here too. Check out Tara Ellis Devotional music. The tracks featuring her were always my favorite on the Justice Leeg albums and now we get a two album set of her putting the Bahai writings to music. Send me to heaven.

<a href="http://dawnbreakercollective.bandcamp.mu/album/devotions-by-tara-ellis">Introduction by Dawnbreaker Collective</a>

"We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high..."

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38)

New P-Slim

2008-11-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Check out the new P-Slim, aka Trukadero. He chilled out Run-DMC's My Adidas, giving it a 21st century sound. I like it.

My Adidas Remix by Trukadero

Reckoner Lockdown

2008-10-29T15:39:00.002-07:00

I really like this mashup of Radiohead's Reckoner with Kanye West's Love Lockdown. This is one of those rare instances when the mashup is better than the original. The fact that the video mashup is so well done makes it even better. [Music mashup by DJ Earworm and video mashup by Instamatic.]

World Art Collective - Creating awareness of the persecution of the Bahais in Iran

2008-10-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

The World Art Collective is a project to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution of the Bahais in Iran. Watch the interview with the artist on New Zealand television . (Side note: if you watch closely, you'll see my face in one of the shots.)

Windsurf - Chillout music from SF

2008-10-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

Check out Windsurf, a local chillout band. (Featured on gorillavsbear.)

Denmark Offers a Model Mortgage Market

2008-10-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

How to solve the mortgage mess? Go Danish.

Recessions Are Good for America [?]

2008-10-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

An interesting take on our current economic predicament and recessions in general:

"My Dad always said that tough times build character, and I've taken note through my life that the most balanced and wise people I've known have gone through many rough patches. Why should business be any different?"

I'm really into moss [redeems the stone]

2008-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Check out Matthew Cornelius poetry, where moss redeems the stone.

"The sunrise is more enjoyable
without the dark things
people say, when it is the link
between you and friends that are far away. "

(June 16, 2008)

Rent or Buy a Home?

2008-10-02T17:49:00.001-07:00

An interesting article on the subject, especially given recent events...

(Thanks to Ry-guy for the link.)

Yearbook Yourself

2008-10-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Yearbook yourself!

(That's my 1952 yearbook pic.)

Calling all dandies

2008-09-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

[This is a public service announcement.]

I endorse the GQ Rules instructional video series and recommend it to all men. The cool thing about the series is that the GQ editors interview the actual designers and get tips on how they make their looks, which are usually way more creative than the more vanilla GQ rules you read in the mag.

Purpose

2008-09-01T22:55:00.000-07:00

"...The purpose for which mortal men have, from utter nothingness, stepped into the realm of being, is that they may work for the betterment of the world and live together in concord and harmony."

(Baha'u'llah, Trustworthiness, reproduced in The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 331)

Persepolis 2 (Trailer) - Safeguard the Innocent (The Baha'is in Iran)

2008-08-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

"Sequel to Persepolis exposes the reality of the suffering of the Baha'is in Iran since the Revolution and until today, and calls for action on their behalf. Note: The images for this clip were borrowed from Marjan Satrapi's (animated) film 'Persepolis'..."

[Added 8/22] Almost as remarkable as the clip is the identity of the producers: the Muslim Network for Bahai Rights. Unity, anyone?

"Religion must be the cause of unity."

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 440)

Coffee = Happiness

2008-08-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

A recent article on coffee in the NY Times debunks various coffee myths and highlights the beverage's health benefits. I'll give you a little summary:

Myths:
-Coffee is a diuretic.
-Coffee causes hypertension.
-Coffe causes cancer.
-Coffee causes bone loss.

Benefits:
-"An improved sense of well-being, happiness, energy, alertness and sociability".
-"For the active, caffeine enhances endurance in aerobic activities and performance in anaerobic ones."
-Lower risk of Parkinson's disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Yes! Yet another reason to enjoy a cup at Ritual!

Soundtrack for the Olympics: The Shanghai Restoration Project

2008-08-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

I read about the Shanghai Restoration Project on NPR.org.

From the website: SRP "draws its creative inspiration from the old 1930s Shanghai jazz bands, an early combination of East and West that's become an international legend. The Project revives this exotic blend by introducing Eastern instruments and rhythms to the Western sounds of hip-hop, jazz, and electronica. "

You can sample the music on Myspace. So far I like.

U.S. House passes bill in support of the Bahais in Iran

2008-08-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

Congressman Mark Steven Kirk (10th Congressional District of Illinois) speaks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of his resolution, H.Res. 1008, condemning Iran for its persecution of the Bahais. The resolution overwhelmingly passed the House.

Wedding slide shows

2008-07-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Some couples have slide shows at their weddings to show off childhood pictures and illustrate their time together. Other couples are surprised by performance-oriented relatives who want to tell the story through song and dance. (Make sure to watch all three parts. To watch in high quality, click the YouTube icon and when the new window opens, click "watch in high quality". This will take slightly longer to load.)

Check out Chihuly art

2008-07-20T22:47:00.000-07:00

I went to the deYoung Museum today and checked out the Chihuly exhibit. You should too, it's amazing. (If you have ever been to the Bellagio in Vegas, you've seen his art.) Although Chihuly is known for his glass work, I was really digging his drawings.

Ryan J. Portillo art

2008-07-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

Check out my brother Ryan's arte. The first one is a bit different than his normal focus. The second is more representative of his main work.

HotTrance.com

2008-07-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

I listened to trance more in college than I do now, but a friend of mine recently got me back into it. Check out HotTrance.com for lots of info on different trance artists to sample.

DJ James Williams

2008-07-14T16:58:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a non-Red Bull way to stay focused while doing work on the computer, you might try local trance DJ James Williams from San Francisco. If you don't like trance, you might have to stick to Red Bull. Or maybe jump rope.

On Evolution

2008-07-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

"...life on this earth is very ancient. It is not one hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand, or one million or two million years old; it is very ancient, and the ancient records and traces are entirely obliterated."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 160)

Six Bahá'í leaders arrested in Iran; pattern matches deadly sweeps of early 1980s

2008-07-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

15 May 2008
Six Bahá’í leaders in Iran were arrested and taken to the notorious Evin prison yesterday in a sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Bahá’í leaders were summarily rounded up and killed.

Read the full story here.

If you are a U.S. citizen, contact your Representative and ask him or her to cosponor House Resolution 1008. Below is a sample message you can use.

-----------
Dear Congress (man/woman) ________,

I urgently ask you to cosponsor H. Res. 1008.

The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Founded in Iran in 1844, it now has more than five million adherents in 236 countries and territories. Bahá'ís come from nearly every national, ethnic and religious background.

Recent reports indicate that seven members of the Bahá'í community are currently in prison. Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm were arrested in Tehran on 14 May 2008, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. They are members of the national coordinating group of Bahá'í in Iran, an informal body that was formed with the knowledge of the government to assist the 300,000-member Bahá'í community in the country. Another member of the same Committee, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, has been arrested in Mashhad in March 2008 and is reportedly still detained.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and for cosponsoring H. Res. 1008.

Sincerely,

(Your Name and contact information)

Music of the day - Flosstradamus

2008-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Flosstradamus. Sounds a little like Diplo.

Persian Backstreet Boys

2008-06-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

Seriously. (Thanks to P-Fob.)

Spanish artist: Jaime Hayon

2008-05-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Check out Spanish artist Jaime Hayon. He has some cool work reminiscent of Picasso. He is also known for his work for Camper shoes.

Rolling Stones Best Music Blogs

2008-05-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

Check it. Music blogs are excellent because they not only give you the heads up on new music, they share it too.

Election of the Universal House of Justice

2008-04-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today in Haifa, Israel the Universal House of Justice was elected. Check out the coverage.

Rain Wilson's talk at NEBY (North East Bahai Youth Conference)

2008-03-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Check out Rain Wilson's talk at NEBY (North East Bahai Youth Conference). Definitely worth watching.

NEBY 2008: The Stage is Set

KP's role in universal health care

2008-02-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

Kaiser Permanente is playing an important role in leading the drive for universal health care. Apparently California's (aborted) plan for universal health care was based on recommendations from KP CEO George Halverson. He wrote an op-ed on his position in the Sac Bee. Read it here.

Negeen Sobhani photography

2008-01-07T09:20:00.001-08:00

kiss
Originally uploaded by negeen.

Have yall checked out Ms. Negeen Sobhani's photos? If not, I suggest you do, she's got mad skillz... Check out this pic of the shadow kiss...

Teach kids they can get smarter and they will

2008-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

Another interesting article for parents - teach kids their intelligence can grow and it will.

Quinoa - protein wonder grain

2008-01-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this article on Quinoa - the protein wonder grain. I had some at dinner last night, good stuff.

Songza.com: Music Search Engine

2007-11-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

Check out Songza.com, self-billed as "the music search engine and internet jukebox". Really easy to use and also links to the videos of the songs you listen to. Thanks Mark.

Baha'u'llah.org

2007-11-16T01:21:00.000-08:00

Check out the new web site dedicated to Baha'u'llah, prophet-founder of the Bahai Faith.

Iran president on Baha'is at UN press conference

2007-11-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

Check out this clip of the President of Iran answering a question on the Baha'is at a UN press conference. Apparently Ahmadinejad is not well acquainted with the history of his country. For the enlightenment of all - Baha'is believe the Messenger or Manifestation of God for today is Baha'u'llah. He is the Prophet-Founder of the Bahai Faith.

Of course Baha'u'llah re-defines the concept of religion as a progressive revelation from a single source, God. Each of the different faiths (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai) is "a stage in the limitless unfolding of a single Reality". (Click on the quote for an eloquent explanation of the concept by the Universal House of Justice.)

Departure Lounge

2007-11-10T10:09:00.001-08:00

Mongolia 409
Originally uploaded by Departure Lounge.

I just wanted to encourage everyone to check out my friend Ryan's Flickr site, Departure Lounge. Travel the world vicariously through his photos. He takes us to the four corners of the planet and introduces us to the people who live there. Thanks Ryan.

Then They Came for the Baha'is

2007-11-09T22:23:00.000-08:00

Article from U.S. Congressman Mark Steven Kirk about the situation of the Bahais in Iran. The Bahai House of Worship for North America is located in his district in Illinois.

Grass Valley in the news

2007-11-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

California Town Relives Gold Rush

Hypem.com

2007-10-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

Great site to listen to cool remixes/covers of popular songs.

Here's one cool one - Ray LaMontagne - Crazy (Gnarls Barkely) cover.

Armani and Prada cell phones

2007-09-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Some designer competition (not really) for the iPhone from Armani and Prada.

For my 100th post, a gift (from Starbucks)

2007-09-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Starbucks' song giveaway to promote iTunes deal

Kaiser Permanente in "Sicko"

2007-06-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this for some time: So Michael Moore's film "Sicko" portray's Kaiser Permanente in a negative light. Although KP may not be a perfect health care provider, it is not an evil one. Here's an interesting review of the movie that picks apart the details and here is KP's official response to the movie.

Blog on the Bahai Faith in Egypt

2007-06-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog on the Bahai Faith in Egypt. Be sure to read the post on a newly-released documentary film examining the situation of the Bahais in Egypt, as well as the post on the letter sent to the Egyptian ambassador to the U.N. by the Graduate Student Assembly of U.C. Berkeley. (Thanks Nikoo for the lnk!)

Chris Jordan art

2007-05-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Check out this series of prints from Chris Jordan. He takes thousands of smaller images and blends them together to create a giant whole. Not only impressive for the visual effect they produce, they also draw attention to various social conditions in the U.S by using statistics (e.g. 3.6 million SUV sales in one year). Thanks to Mark for the link.

Poem by Dylan

2007-04-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

My 8-year-old brother Dylan wrote this poem:

What the wind told me March 31st, 2007- by Dylan Portillo

This day of March 31, 2007, I, Dylan went outside of my apartment to transfer what the wind had to say, and this is what I heard:

The wind of humanity is saying to me;

Trust in my heart of love.

Happiness will come to me and good luck is here.

The wind is saying now that something is going to happen today.

It says we will have to go on a river hike.

If we go on that hike, we will see sparkling wild flowers and trees.

The river is called the River of Joy, and the joy of our hearts will spread all over the beautiful world, and we will find hope in our hearts.

By Dylan Portillo
(Charm Wizard)

Netvibes.com

2007-04-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

For all of you who aren't using it yet, check out Netvibes.com. It's a slick Web start-page/news reader (really helps keep track of all those blogs/news sites). Sorry Google home page, Netvibes is way better. Thanks to K-Trot for the recommendation. Here's the official line: "Netvibes pioneered the personalized startpage, an alternative to traditional Web portals. With millions of users in more than 150 countries, Netvibes lets individuals assemble all in one place their favorite websites, blogs, email accounts, social networks, search engines, instant messengers, photos, videos, podcasts, widgets, and everything else they enjoy on the Web. Founded in 2005 by Tariq Krim, Netvibes has offices in Paris, London and San Francisco."

Canada: World Religion Day stamp

2007-04-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Apparently the stamp I had posted previously was a fake. Sorry for the mis-post.

Raising children of light

2007-04-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, published this article a few days ago in the Jerusalem Post, titled "Raising Children of Light". To quote from the article: "...we must consider that every child is potentially the light of the world - or its darkness."

Women as Peace Makers

2007-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Short article published on NPR.org about a women's group from a small town in the midwest supporting the formation of a U.S. Department of Peace. I thought it was interesting given the Bahai teaching that women will be a driving force for peace.

"Another fact of equal importance in bringing about international peace is woman's suffrage. That is to say, when perfect equality shall be established between men and women, peace may be realized for the simple reason that womankind in general will never favor warfare. Women will not be willing to allow those whom they have so tenderly cared for to go to the battlefield. When they shall have a vote, they will oppose any cause of warfare." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 167)

Free annual credit report

2007-03-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

You may not have known (like me) that under a new Federal law, you have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. To request your free annual report under that law, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com. If (like me) you need to dispute a negative item on the report, you can do so through the consumer reporting company's web site in just a few seconds.

Cast your vote for the Bahai House of Worship in Chicago!

2007-03-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

The State of Illinois is adopting seven natural or historic sites
which it will designate as the "seven wonders of Illinois".

The Baha'i House of Worship is among the current eight contenders for
the Chicago suburban region, "Chicagoland". However, it looks as if the House of Worship may be eliminated from the Chicagoland region if more people don't vote for it this week. It only takes a second to vote, go to the web site and click on the vote icon for the Bahai House of Worship. You can vote once a day.

Housingmaps.com

2007-03-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Check out Housingmaps.com. This web site takes all housing listed on Craigslist.org and charts them on a Google map. Espectacular. Thanks Payam.

Calhospitalcompare.org

2007-03-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

If you are wondering about the quality of the hospital close to your house, you can check this web site to see its rating. The one I go to close to work got a "Poor" rating. Does that mean my life is in danger?

Ayyam-i-Ha - Wikipedia

2007-03-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

I gave some gifts to my co-workers for Ayyam-i-Ha, which prompted one to look it up on Wikipedia. The listing is interesting: "Ayyám-i-Há, which means the "Days of Há", commemorates the transcendance of God over his attributes since its name "Ha" has been used a symbol of the essence of God in the Bahá'í holy writings.

During the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há Bahá'ís are encouraged to celebrate God and his oneness by showing love, fellowship and unity. In many instances Bahá'ís give and accept gifts to show forth the love, and it is sometimes seen in the west as a "Bahá'í Christmas" held two months late. It is also a time of charity and goodwill and Bahá'ís often participate in various projects of a humanitarian nature."

Here's an article from the Bahai World News Service for those who want the official story.

Viva El Salvador

2007-02-20T16:33:00.001-08:00

IMG_0633
Originally uploaded by cskevint.

My roomie Kev recently visited El Salvador. This pic he took reminds me why I am proud to be (half) Salvadoran! The pic is of the world's best snack: avocado, salvadorean tortilla, salt. No contest.

Peekvid

2007-02-20T00:38:00.000-08:00

Check out Peekvid.com. It's an index of all kinds of TV shows and movies on the Web. Think of an instant and free Blockbuster.

Cannoli Gram

2007-02-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

For a unique gift, send that special someone a Cannoli Gram. (Gotta love Gmail. This link randomly popped up in the sidebar ads alongside one of my emails...)

Sunrise/Sunset times

2007-02-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a great web site for sunrise / sunset times all over the world. Perfect for those preparing for the Bahai fast, from March 2nd through March 20th.

Scientists dispel global warming doubts

2007-02-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

The evidence for climate change caused by fossil fuel combustion was “unequivocal”, said the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body comprising 2,500 climate experts convened by the UN. The Financial Times editorial page makes an interesting point (especially in light of the Bahai principle of the unity of mankind): "This is a huge, long-term and global challenge that involves difficult questions of justice both within and across generations. Humanity’s ability to address it is a test of its capacity to manage the consequences of its own actions. So far it has failed. It can afford to do so no longer." Read the editorial here.

New Daylight Savings dates in the U.S.

2007-01-27T00:28:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Congress has changed the dates for the start and end of Daylight Saving Time (DST). This year DST will begin three weeks earlier than it traditionally has (March 11 rather than April 1) and will end one week later (November 2 rather than October 28).

Geni.com - Your family tree online

2007-01-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Check out Geni.com, you can post your family tree online and share it with your relatives.

Creatine Supplements: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2007-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking of taking creatine to bulk up (I just joined a gym), so I started reading up a little online about how it affects the body.

Apparently it also is useful in preventing injury and disease.

Short-term use is generally considered safe, but long-term effects are unknown. "Also, the FDA urges caution, since long-term effects of creatine supplements are still unknown. 'The FDA recommends that consumers consult their physicians before taking this or any product like this,' says FDA spokesman Lawrence Bachorik. 'Creatine has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity.'"

Belly Size Predicts Heart Disease Better Than Obesity

2007-01-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Check out this article from Medical News Today.

75 FREE MP3s with eMusic

2007-01-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.emusic.com/me

Baha'i Blog Portal

2007-01-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is from an email from a friend of mine named David:

"Some of the most popular websites these days, like digg.com and popurls.com, constantly update themselves with the newest stories, blog entries, and videos. We're trying to create a Baha'i version of this. The House appointed Baha'i Internet Agency has identified individual Baha'i generated content like blogs as a great, untapped teaching tool. Baha'is all over the world are producing great blogs, podcasts, videos, pictures and websites and we're trying to create a dynamic portal to make it all easily accessible and searchable...and we need your help.

Go over to bahainine.com to vote on your favorite look for the website, but more importantly if you have a blog take a minute to register it, and pass this [message] on to any Baha'i bloggers you know."

Ray LaMontagne in Concert

2007-01-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

Some friends had an extra ticket to go see Ray LaMontagne in concert recently at the Paramount in Oakland. I was glad I went, he has a pretty amazing voice. His style puts him into a similar group as jack Johnson and John Mayer, but his melancholy distinguishes him. Click on the link to listen to a live concert in D.C.

Try Last.fm

2007-01-05T00:16:00.000-08:00

If you like music and want to try something new, I recommend Last.fm. It's a social music/internet radio web site. Download the software, then enter your favorite artist. Last.fm creates your own music station that plays artists similar to the one you entered. You can also choose a tag, like opera or rap. Last.fm almost always chooses good music, unlike Pandora (a similar web site that I'm not linking to because I never like the music it chooses).

Check out my top artists:

Meet the Real Sacha Baron Cohen

2007-01-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

NPR (National Public Radio) dropped this gem today - an interview with Sasch Baron Cohen, aka Borat, Ali G & Bruno. In addition to the interview, NPR includes another gem - the Kazakh embassy's point-by-point response to Borat.

We're all Egyptian

2006-12-26T21:03:00.000-08:00

HAIFA, Israel, 26 December 2006 (BWNS) -- The Universal House of Justice, the highest governing body of the Baha'i Faith, has addressed a message to the Baha'is of Egypt in the wake of a 16 December Supreme Administrative Court decision in Cairo that upheld a discriminatory government policy regarding the Baha'is and their identification cards. The policy places the Baha'is in the untenable position of either having to make a false statement about their religious beliefs or give up their state identification cards. The cards are essential to accessing most rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and even medical care.

Courtroom account - Denial of IDs to Egyptian Bahais

2006-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Read this courtroom account of the denial of IDs to Egyptian Bahais. Complete with photos and video! Reading the comments of some of the court-goers, it makes you think you are reading Dawnbreakers 2.0... (for those that aren't familiar, Dawnbreakers is a first hand account of the early days of the Bahai Faith, days filled with intense persecution.)

If this is your first time hearing of the case of the Egyptian Bahais, the Egyptian government requires that your religion be displayed on your ID. This ID is like our driver's license here in California, you need it for everything. The Egyptian government only allows three choices for religion - Muslim, Christian & Jew. So the Bahais are marginalized as second-class citizens because they must either go without identification or deny their belief.

(I found the link while reading Bahai Blog.)

Kramer

2006-12-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Badi found this hilarious mix of Seinfeld clips commenting on the Michael Richards incident.

Thanks Badi!

New Rapper: Lupe Fiasco

2006-11-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

There's a new rapper out there who I would like to recommend to you: Lupe Fiasco. If you like the Roots, I think you'll like this guy too. Most well known for "Kick, Push" (a song about a skateboarding date), a lot of his songs are more socially conscious. Check "Hurt Me Soul" for instance. Apparently Jay-Z thought Lupe's skillz were equal to his five years ago. (Don't believe me? Read it on his web site.) You can also check him on Myspace.

Audio files of Bahai Talks

2006-11-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Cool site with audio files of Baha'i talks.

Don't see Babel

2006-11-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

Don't see Babel the movie. It's horrible. In fact, don't even rent it. OK fine, go ahead rent it, now that I've piqued your curiosity.

I should explain - the director, Inarritu, is known for telling a story from three points of view. (21 Grams, Amores Perros) Usually the movie is shot from three different points of view and he chops up the progression of time in the movie as well to make things interesting (the beginning in the middle, the end at the beginning, etc). In Babel, the director tells three stories that feel almost completely separate, each treating a different social ill. So the movie felt disjointed to me and neither of the three separate stories felt resolved. Plus the soundtrack was horrible. It was so bad I felt ill actually. Well, I'm pretty sure it was the music, not what I had for dinner...

Food

2006-11-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

If you are a food lover, check out Yahoo's new food web site.

Kite Runner

2006-11-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

If you haven't read Kite Runner yet, I highly recommend reading it. It's a tragic story about the life of a man who leaves Aghanistan at a young age due to political turmoil. It's a moving story of betrayal and redemption and I'll wager that no one has read it without at least getting a little misty eyed. I thought of this quote from the Bahai Writings while reading it: "He should forgive the sinful, and never despise his low estate, for none knoweth what his own end shall be. How often hath a sinner, at the hour of death, attained to the essence of faith, and, quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the celestial Concourse. And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul's ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire."

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 193)

It's Hammer Time

2006-11-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

The Azads ran into MC Hammer. Check it out.

Bahai calendar

2006-10-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Bahai community has a very nice Bahai calendar you can print out and put on your fridge. Click on the PDF. (Thanks Kev for the find.)

Aref: African. Persian. World Citizen.

2006-10-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Check out this video about Aref: African. Persian. World Citizen. It's well done, by Bahai filmmaker Ryan Haidarian. This short is about Aref, a black child in Botswana who was adopted by an Iranian Bahai couple. Incidentally he is the little brother of a friend of mine who I went to Cal with (Negar A.). Shout out to Roya for finding this!

Jajah.com - Free & Cheap international calls!

2006-10-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

This post is to recommend Jajah.com. Farshid recommended it to me, so I can't take the credit of finding it. It's very simple - go to Jajah.com, enter your own phone number, the number you want to call, and press send. The system then calls your phone and connects you to the destination number. The phone call quality was great - better (and 2.5 cents cheaper) than the 1019898 service you can use from a landline. (Depending on the country, 1019898 might be cheaper. Just add 1019898 before the international calling code, country code, then number.) With Jajah.com, calling El Salvador costs only 7.5 cents and to call Israel is just 2.5 cents. To call China it's free! And if you all register and call me, it's also free, regardless of where you are!

Here's the line from the Web site:

The JAJAH Free Global Calling Plan applies to land line and mobile calls to and within the United States; Canada; China; Hong Kong; Singapore and Taiwan and it applies to landline calls to and within Australia; UK; Germany; France; Italy and most other European nations. It applies when both call participants are registered JAJAH users. In countries where free phone calls are not available, or if someone is calling a non-JAJAH member, calls are simply subject to JAJAH’s ultra-low rates: http://www.jajah.com/info/rates/.

HCD Art

2006-10-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Check out Mr. Dunbar's paintings. Truly incredible. You can see some older paintings here.

Josh and Jessica in Honduras

2006-10-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

My brother Josh and cousin Jessica are volunteering for six months at a Bahai-inspired orphanage. Check them out here.

Kaiser Permanente

2006-09-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

So I work for Kaiser Permanente, America's first Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). My project is a new software application that is part of a larger effort to transform KP to be more competitive in relation to other health care providers. Read about it here.

Pimp your ride

2006-09-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of the "Pimp your Ride" show on MTV, you'll love these rims. You can project an image onto them or a message for the car driving next to you, all controlled by an on-screen computer.

Alia

2006-08-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hi!
Originally uploaded by Badnam.

How cute is Alia!

Salsa dancing @ Elham's wedding

2006-08-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

CIMG2469
Originally uploaded by Badnam.

Check me out salsa dancing at Elham's wedding with Fiana. Click on the photo for more pics.

ABS and Elham's wedding

2006-08-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here are pics provided by Sharaf - the first one is me and Mo at a mexican lunch break during last weekend's ABS conference in Burlingame.

The others are from Elham and Kiro's wedding at Bosch Bahai School in Santa Cruz:

Me and Badi

Me and Sharaf

Crazy boys wedding photos

Justino Bandito

2006-06-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

Justino Bandito
Originally uploaded by BlakeRead.

Check out pics of my recent trip to Mexico with our fearless leader Blake and friends. This is a pic Blake took of me sporting my hanky with the mariachis playing in the background. I also posted a few photos here.

Mazra'ih wall

2006-06-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Mazra'ih wall
Originally uploaded by .Leili.

Check out this amazing photo from Leili! Click on the pic to see mo!

Josh and the rents

2006-06-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

Josh and the rents
Originally uploaded by justportillo.

Click on the photo to check out pictures of Josh's high school graduation. Look out world, here comes the latest, and probably coolest, Portillo.

No the baby is not mine

2006-06-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

She was born to Shabnam and Badi

Baby Alia

2006-06-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

Baby Alia
Originally uploaded by justin a. portillo.

Baby Alia is here! Click on the photo to see more pics!

Introducing Miss Alia Azad!

2006-06-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

Miss Alia Azad -

Born - June 8, 2006 - 11:03 am - 7# 7oz -

Parents are ecstatic!