Camp Hollywood XIII (2010)

So lemme just tell you how awesome Camp Hollywood XIII was:
VERY MUCH SO.

 I’m not sure if this year was just an incredibly great year to be there, but Camp Hollywood just meant more to me this time. I think it has something to do with all the friends that I’ve been making while dancing; as I become more involved in the ‘swing scene’ / get to know more about the people who are so active in the community, the events  become more and more significant.

Special thanks go to Nathan, Susan, Alan & Heather for letting me crash at their hotel room in between dances / classes / competitions.

Speaking of which – on to the Competition videos!

Unfortunately, I don’t think I can accurately describe how many people “brought it” this year in words – I’m just not that good a writer.

ALSO unfortunately, there was some rule about not filming the competitions unless you had some kind of “video pass” (which I knew nothing about).

What’s even more discouraging was the fact that my camera decided to crap out on me after only a few pictures (same problem as last time, too!)

But FORTUNATELY, a lot of other people have already uploaded youtube videos from this weekend that I can use!

1st PLACE IN THE TEAM COMPETITION: The Fly-Rites

1st Place (?) for "Showcase" (couples performance):  Patrick & Natasha

SHOWCASE HONORABLE MENTION:  JOEL & VALERIE

Look at how amped the crowd was by their performance.

UNDERGROUND FINALS

If you’re noticing that people are tired in this video, it’s because this contest was held at 2:00AM with even more dancing afterwards. I didn’t got to bed until 4:00AM myself that night.

As for my competition (the amateur Jack & Jill contest), I did about as well as I expected. In other words, I didn’t make it to finals. That’s about as specific as the scoring can get when the judges have to keep score for over 100 people. Either you stand out, or you don’t. I had a lot of fun though, and that was the whole point. 

I got lemons

So yesterday I found out I didn’t get that job / new position I applied for.

H.R. (somehow) left me a message on my work phone w/out calling – I guess so they could personal, yet non-confrontationally, break the news to me.

Now I told myself I wasn’t gonna get too worked up over not getting it, but I’m a little bummed about the whole situation.

I’m planning on channeling all my negative “bummed” energy into working towards my new goals (which I do have, just so you know) as well as getting feedback on what I did wrong / could’ve done better.

After all - "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" right?

Dance Ever-y Day

So I dunno if I've been getting too annoying about this, but it feels like I’ve been blogging an awful lot about swing-dancing. Probably because it’s how I’ve been spending a lot of my free time. (cuz of the upcoming Camp Hollywood so expect to see at least one more after this weekend) 

But what's a couple more blog posts here & there, right?   

Speaking of which - did you know that, if you wanted to, you could go out dancing here in L.A. EVERY NIGHT?

Sundays: Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club (Downtown, LA)
$10 cover / free with a dinner reservation
Live bands / Formal Dress code (enforced!)

Mondays: Memories (Whittier, CA)
$3 cover
DJs / all ages

Tuesdays:  Dance @ Joes (Burbank, CA)
No Cover!
Live Band / also on Mondays / 21 & over only

Wednesdays: Strutters Ball (Orange County, CA)
$10 cover
DJ? / tons of workshops & classes

Thursdays: Lindygroove (Pasadena, CA) 
$7 cover
DJ / where I go to dance / all ages

Fridays: Atomic Ballroom (Irvine, CA)
$8.00 cover
DJ & live band (depending)

Saturdays: Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association (Pasadena)
$15.00 cover
Live band / free snacks / all ages


That’s A LOT of places to go to dance – and I don’t think I covered all of them…..! How many other cities (in the world) can even make this claim? 


ALSO – here’s a video I took this past Saturday of some friends who competed in a “Strictly Lindy” competition to prep for Camp Hollywood. (they’re the guy in the white shirt / girl in the blue polka-dot dress)

Also – the gray-haired guy standing in the middle with his arms folded (one of the judges) is our dance teacher.

But as good as they were, I don’t think they were able to compete with some of the pros who were also there. Below is a video from the semi-finals. (Take a look at some of the aerials they do)

I have yet to see a video of me dancing (and show it to me) but I hope one day to get caught on camera…..and look good.

Thanks again, EIT!

If the new "Karate Kid" movie were more like this,
I'd have gone to see it. 

This is what happens when kids learn martial arts -

THEY BEAT PEOPLE TO DEATH! 

Spinning Cat Illusion!

You may have seen the "Spinning Dancer" Optical Illusion, but have you see.....

.....THE SPINNING KITTY??? 

Taken from Mighty Optical Illusions:

This one's a little more difficult to make spin in the opposite direction.....for me, at least. 

Wait, is it even spinning? 

Ah !@$%^amp%&# - just go to the link.  (Might Optical Illusions) and see it there. 

It's really cool!  You gotta trust me on this....!   

In Person vs. On Paper

Here's a weird contradiction / paraodx I noticed one day while I was talking with someone about how to be persuasive when in a debate. 

This is based on what I learned in High school / college ("on paper") and what I picked up from just talking to people / keeping tabs on elections the past several years.  ("in person") 

HOW TO ARGUE ON PAPER

- USE STRONG LANGUAGE
Stating things as ‘fact’ rather than ‘opinion’ strengthens your argument.
Ex. “Murder IS wrong,” not “I think murder is wrong.”

- DON’T REPEAT YOURSELF
Using the same words / phrases over and over again disrupts the flow of your essay. Keep a thesaurus handy and find ways to say the same thing using different words / phrases.

- KEEP IT IMPERSONAL
Never say “I” or “you” in an essay – it implies bias which the reader may not be able to relate to. Your paper will come off as more subjective, than factual.

- BE AS IN-DEPTH AS POSSIBLE.
The strongest argument is the one with the most evidence supporting it. Use it to the fullest.

HOW TO ARGUE IN PERSON

- USE “I” STATEMENTS
Ex. “I believe, I think, I feel” because you don’t want to sound too judgmental.

- REPEAT YOURSELF
Repeating Key words & phrases in your speech will help your audience remember what your argument is. (Plus, it’s catchy!)

- MAKE IT RELATABLE
A personal story will help the audience relate to you (and sympathize with your argument) better.

- KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!
People have short-attention spans. They’re not going to remember everything you say unless it’s short (and catchy!) so make sure you don’t go on for too long.

What do you all think?  Am I right?  Wrong?  Did I miss any other similarities?? 

Outlook not so good?

So rather than tell you about my recent battle with the stomach flu (an exciting, yet graphically 'T.M.I.' story that I'm sure will haunt you for years), I thought I'd let you in on my recent attempts to move up the corporate ladder. 

See, last week I heard there was an opening in the department that works closely with mine (and pays better) so I applied for it, thinking I had a good shot at getting it. 

I'm assuming they were very interested in hiring me because they interviewed me right away (the very day I turned in my application).  

And at the time, I thought I did okay (I'm never really sure how well my interviews go) but now I'm not so sure. 

They initially told me I'd get an answer (good or bad) "by the end of next week."  (i.e. this week)  But they just called me and said they're still interviewing and will have an answer by the end of the week after this. 

That's not a good sign, is it? 

So I guess my interviewing skills need work.  Any tips??