New Job...

MIR will be updated onces again later this week. Just started a new job and just finished training. Stay tuned for good reads. My apologies for the inactivity lately.

Real Foot Protection

Sup guys, here we have the latest upgrade to the original Nike "Free" shoe...NOT!

Nike Japan and Tomy toy company have teamed up to bring you a sneaker in disguise. The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons wages on...

This is definite a collectors item. You can't actually wear these shoes, they're about half the size of a normal sneaker.

Check out the pictures below to see them in robot form...




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Are your Science Major friends defying death?

I was reading my latest issue of Wired magazine, when an article titled The Best Dangerous Science Jobs caught my attention. We all loved science in some way when we were kids, whether it was building a makeshift volcano out of dough and making it erupt with baking soda and vinegar, or dissecting a frog. But, for some, they become addicted to learning and find their passion in the field of science leading to the following jobs below that can uh, kill ya. Those of you still in school may want to reconsider your future line of work because while the money will rain if you work in these fields, it really can be a killer lifestyle.

Astronaut
*Since manned spaceflight began in 1961, 24 US astronauts have died in astro-action — 10 during launch, six during training flights, and seven on reentry. In 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts suffocated when a malfunction caused the oxygen to leak out of their ship. Then there's that whole riding-an- explosion-into-space thing. And we haven't even found aliens yet.

Biosafety Level 4 Lab Researcher
*BSL-4 labs handle the deadliest diseases on Earth. In 2004, a Russian scientist died after accidentally sticking herself with an Ebola-laced needle. The death occurred only months after a US scientist at the Army's BSL-4 lab at Fort Detrick in Maryland made the same mistake... and survived.

Hurricane Hunter
*The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crew members are the daredevils of meteorology. They fly WC-130s into a hurricane's eyewall, 10,000 feet up, to locate the storm's pressure center and measure its wind speed. Not surprisingly, some get a little turned around. Even on the ground, they're not safe — Hurricane Katrina destroyed the squad's home base.

Propulsion Engineer
*Turns out, the people who ground-test rocket engines don't actually worry about explosions. When you work with cryogenic oxygen and gases pressurized up to 300 psi, you're far too busy worrying about "cold burns" and other trauma to really give proper consideration to what might happen should one of the buggers completely ignite.

Volcanologist
*Active volcanoes blow enough ash to bury a city the size of, oh, Pompeii. No wonder many volcanologists don't come back from their helicopter visits to hell. In 1991, three were killed by Japan's Mount Unzen. In 2001, one died after falling off a 985-foot-high caldera rim, and in 2005, four Filipino researchers died in a chopper crash while inspecting landslide areas.

Biologist
*Animal research can lead to more than an allergic reaction. Being bitten, scratched, or exposed to "secretions" can be deadly. For example, at least 70 percent of captive adult macaque monkeys are infected with herpes B. In 1997, a 22-year-old researcher died after contracting the virus from some "biologic" monkey material that got in her eye.

* - Written by Erin Biba of WIRED Magazine.

Lambo Rambo - The Superleggera

Saw this new metallic toy in one of my latest magazines. They nickname it the "Lambo Light." What's it remind you of? If you guessed a Gallardo with some new rims and a wing slapped on it, you're pretty close.

The Gallardo has been the Lamborghini of choice by many music artists and athletes alike. I myself have mistaken the Gallardo to be Lambo's top of the line car, but to anyone's surprise it's not; the Murcielago is.

So what's different about this smokin gray metallic Gallardo, aside from it looking like it's about to fly? First off, Superleggara translated from Italian to English means "superlight." It comes in at about 185 pounds lighter, thanks to carbon fiber replacements of some parts. It also gets a 10hp boost bringing it to 530 ponies. So how much faster do these modifications make it? It shaves .2 seconds off it's 0-60mph time. That may seem like a little, but I'm guessing the quarter-mile tests later on in the year will reveal more about the car. After all, it's costing 27 grand more than the original Gallardo!

Ya want one? Well, like all good things in life, you must wait because the original 350 of this year's supply has been nabbed by the millionaires who got wind of it first.

Things to note:
Price: $215,000
5.0-liter, 530-hp V-10 engine producing 376-lb.ft. of torque
60 MPH in 3.8 seconds, Top speed of 195mph.

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Party like a what? Party like a COCKSTAR!

What is it?

The Cockstar Army is an events promo group as well as a clothing label. It specializes primarily in screen-printed T-shirts, some hoodies, womens shirts and numerous other accessories. It's logo features a rooster-like cock with a star as its tail giving it its flair.

A Cockstar is defined as:
1. A bad-ass who is a natural when it comes to rockstar attitude and behavior.
2. A male that is good at whatever he does.

Who's behind it?

Its founder goes by the name Dru, standing 5'7" tall. He is a native of Orange County, California. He practices Muay Thai (kickboxing). His musical interests are: Punk, Alternative, ROCK, Metal, Slow Jams, Reggae, Hip-hop. He can also be found in the music videos for Papa Roach and Simple Plan, but most of all he's open to almost all genres. And he's only 25 years old. What a mark of success...

Why the feature?

Cockstar Army has engulfed most of the pacific west-coast, primarily Southern California scene. It's founder Dru in the picture with the Lamborghini Gallardo he actually owns has made quite a small fortune to my understanding. The original caption on that photo found on his MySpace reads: "And to think I used to dream about this when I was a kid..."

Dru and his crew have it made, while the rest of us can only dream. The motto he lives by goes a little something like this: "Party like a rockstar, spend like a movie-star, fuck like a pornstar."

Surely enough he has come nothing short of that, as evidenced by the many photos on his MySpace. He has mingled with the likes of Travis Barker, Cassie, Fergie, Paul Wall, UFC fighters, and JESSICA ALBA!!! All of these movie-stars are in addition to the many go-go dancers and established import models he already knows.

Whether Cockstar Army moves into the mainstream, we have yet to know, but it's good to know the little guys come up big, too. We'll keep you posted on any significant events/products from them and hopefully we'll get a more in depth look at how it all began when Dru gets back to us for an interview out of his busy life as the ultimate Cockstar.

Interested in some of the apparel or the label and its founder? Check out the website located at www.CockstarArmy.com.

In the meantime don't sit on your dreams. Make them happen! Success comes to those who are prepared for it! Again, thanks for reading.

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Diddy Assistant Update

Okay, so Diddy isn't looking for anybody off the street. You've gotta have a college degree, or is in the process of receiving one.

The original video that started it all has received an astounding response of over 10,000 submissions to the group on YouTube.

I'm not sure whether Diddy's current assistants have gone through all 10,000+ of those submissions. Diddy's asking for more videos, I presume. So, for those of you who have a genuine interest to partake in an opportunity of a lifetime, please make a video and submit it.

The last time I was able to bring you some of the cream of the crop from the first batch of submissions. I'll be updating this post with more interesting and funny submissions.

One thing to note is that Diddy and his people aren't going to be the ones filtering the best from the worst, it is going to be the YouTube community. Anybody and everybody can be a winner here. Once a video gets enough good feedback then I guess Diddy and his personnel with begin the real interview process over YouTube for all to see. Anyone and everyone's got a shot. Make it a personal project or something, cuz it definitely beats doing a project for class, right?

Link: www.youtube.com/group/diddyassistant

Are you living in an incubator for success?

Many people have dreams of owning their own businesses, but the cold hard facts just don't allow them to. The cost of living in particular areas take too large a cut out of your paycheck. But for those who are true to the entrepreneurial spirit, a fraction of you won't mind packing the bags and building a life elsewhere.

I, myself am a San Francisco native. Homes in San Francisco exceed $700,000 in value. It is nearly impossible for me to buy a home without earning a 6-figure income. A 6-figure income is by no means easy to come by even for someone with a Master's degree in a prestigious field. While I try to carve out my own success by non-traditional means, those of you who have a big idea and can use a change of scenery, knowing you have a market for your product or service in another town, here are the cities that could float your boat. The findings here are directly from www.entrepreneur.com and their slideshow on "Best Cities for Small Business."

1. Phoenix, Arizona
Population: 3,250,000
Median Home Price: $268,300
Hot Industries: Service,construction, high tech and aerospace
Significant Startups: 12,388

Why Start Here?
• Numerous 20- to 39-year-olds moving from California to Phoenix
• Low commercial rents and plenty of available land
• The city of Phoenix helps guarantee SBA loans through its Expansion Assistance and Development (EXPAND) program
• Sunny, outdoorsy lifestyle
• “There’s a lot of opportunity for new businesses because of the population growth, especially in sectors [such as] real estate, food service, tourism and relocation businesses” – Lee McPheters, Arizona State University business school dean

2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Population: 1,560,000
Median Home Price: $317,900
Hot Industries: Hotel and resort, tourism, gaming, construction and retail
Significant Startups: 6,853

Why Start Here?
• 35 million tourists a year
• Has led the nation in job growth for 13 consecutive quarters
• No corporate income, franchise, inventory or unitary taxes for businesses
• No personal income tax
• Nevada's population is growing faster than any other state's.

3. Austin-San Marcos, Texas
Population: 1,250,000
Median Home Price: $167,200
Hot Industries: Technology and business services
Significant Startups: 5,469

Why Start Here?
• Diverse, highly trained and readily available employees
• No personal or corporate state income tax
• Minimal union activity
• Eight area colleges and universities with renowned academic programs and enrollment of more than 114,000 students

4. San Antonio, Texas
Population: 1,590,000
Median Home Price: $133,400
Hot Industries: Aerospace, biosciences, information technology, telecommunications, logistics and manufacturing
Significant Startups: 4,399

Why Start Here?
• Free Trade Alliance San Antonio assists firms in exploring, developing and expanding international business.
• San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative, a network of institutions, individuals and resources, is dedicated to growing technology and entrepreneurship in the region.
• Businesses can receive Empowerment Zone tax credits.
• San Antonio Business Assistance Focus Center provides comprehensive business development services.

Can YouTube hear me? Can Google hear me?

This isn't as technical as the title sounds. This is about a young man who is only 20 years of age, named Brandon Fletcher.

He inspired me, so I hope he will inspire you all as well.

Brandon is a producer. He utilizes the YouTube or free online video sharing medium to distribute his creation.

On April 1, 2007, Brandon woke up and made his first post, titled "The Mission" on his new blog, Can YouTube Hear Me? The first line of the post reads; "Today is the day that I get up and become the catalyst for my own dreams." How often do you hear someone say that, let alone a 20-year old?

Brandon documents his journey with this blog located at www.CanYouTubeHearMe.com. He makes a bold attempt at trying to get his idea heard by editors at YouTube and even makes the trip out from his hometown of New York all the way to Northern California. This was after all the email attempts he's made, only to find himself hitting dead ends.

To find out what Brandon has created/produced, visit www.CanYouTubeHearMe.com. Brandon's inspiration comes from Aaron Stanton, the creator of www.CanGoogleHearMe.com. Aaron documented his journey to get a big company, like Google to hear about a great idea, from a little-guy like himself. Aaron had no actual company, no employees, only an idea in his head. He made the trip from Idaho to Mountain View, California and sat in the Google lobby until someone heard him out. He also met a lot of interesting people in his journey and is currently working to get his project rolled out WITH Google.

Most of us, are little guys and we feel that our voices are never loud enough to be heard. Well, sometimes you get noticed when you travel the road less traveled. Sometimes you get heard when you move out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you get heard when you do something you've never done before. We're never too young, or too old to take charge of our own lives. This is why I have created this blog. Reign is defined as the exertion of control over something. Rain is defined to be precipitation, normally in the form of water, but applies to other things as well. So, with that in mind, I define RAIGN as having the power or control over your own precipitation, whether it be money, happiness, or anything else you may desire. Thanks for reading.

Golden State of Mind: Warrior Girl TRYOUTS

I don't care whether you're a Warriors fan or not, but the Warrior Girls are one of the hottest NBA cheerleading squadrons to grace the hardwood present day. It is as much hype as our new up and coming star, Bellineli.

Are you a female dancer? Do you enjoy choreographed dance routines with dance teams? Do you bring your own unique style when you dance on your own? So you think you can work them hips? I actually meant if you think you can work the crowd...haha, then sign up today! Tryouts begin tomorrow! Registration is open and located here.

Location for all dates:
ClubSport of San Ramon
350 Bollinger Canyon Lane
San Ramon, California 94582
(925) 735-8500


DATES:

Initial Tryout - July 21, 2007
*Registration begins @ 8:00 AM

Semi-Finals - July 22,2007
*Interviews and photo shoot will begin at 8:30 AM. All remaining finalists will perform the routine that was learned on July 21, 2007 when the interviews are completed at 1:30 PM.

Mandatory rehearsal dates for finalists:
DAY 1: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 from 8:00-10:30 PM

DAY 2: Thursday, July 26, 2007 from 8:00-10:30 PM

FINAL SELECTION WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON
WARRIORS.COM ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED

Auditions:
Please fill out the online application by clicking here. You will need to bring a head shot to the initial tryout on July 21, 2007. If you do not have a professional headshot, a personal photo will be sufficient. In addition, please bring a dance résumé to the initial tryout as well. A dance résumé should consist of previous and or present dance experience. Any workshops, classes, teams, conventions or skills pertaining to cheerleading or dance should be included on your dance résumé. Please list any professional team that you have been a member of or affiliated with, including the director’s name.

The Warrior Girls auditions are closed to the public. Also, score sheets will not be made available to those auditioning.

AUDITION REGISTRATION

Attire:
At auditions you are required to wear a half top and form fitting shorts. Please wear shoes that you will feel comfortable dancing in, such as dance sneakers, jazz shoes or athletic-type shoes. All shoes should have non-marking soles. Knee pads are strongly recommended, and full hair and make-up are encouraged. Additionally, tattoos and piercings are acceptable.

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BAPE - Behind A Popular Enterprise

What is it?

BAPE is the acronym for the largely popular urban apparel label, A Bathing Ape. World renown stars from Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, all the way to David Beckham have garnered BAPE on their frames. The ape and camouflage are it's most notable design.

What does it mean?

It is short for a Japanese saying "a bathing ape in lukewarm water." It is a reference to a generation that is young, spoiled, and complacent. (Lorraine Hahn, Talkasia)

Who's behind it?

Nigo, as the world knows him, keeps almost all personal aspects of his life well-guarded. His real name is Tomoaki Nagao. He founded A Bathing Ape in 1993, which began as a small store in trendy Harajuku, Japan.

Prior to opening up shop, Nigo was a student, magazine stylist, and a DJ. Creating and designing BAPE was totally a side job and hobby. When the time came, back in '93, he found a store owner who allowed him to borrow 4 million yen to start the business. Surprisingly, that same store owner leased the store to him as well. Little did Nigo know, would soon be repaid in a year's time.

When he first started producing shirts, he would make 50, give 30 away to friends and put 20 up for sale. It made zero business-savvy whatsoever. Therefore, the exclusivity of the brand was totally unintentional. The reason he didn't produce a large supply of each design was that he did not want everyone wearing the same clothes. Economics went into play to turn Nigo and his brand into a phenomenon. It wasn't long before magazines began calling him the boom of backstreet Harajuku fashion, and iconic (Lorraine Hahn, Talkasia).

What has his fame and fortune afforded him?

Nigo admits that he is quite materialistic, as the things he collects are an inspiration for new designs. He says that if all his collections were taken away from him, it'd be his end. He is known in Japanese as an "otaku" -- a collector. He collects guitars, cars, watches, action figures, art, and a host of other things which are worth millions.

In his home, he's got cars in their own rooms sitting on the hardwood floors. His car collection includes multiple Rolls Royce Phantoms, a Bugatti Veyron ($1.8 million car - fastest and most expensive street car built to date), Porsches, Ferraris, you name it. He collects things related to Star Wars and has a huge admiration for George Lucas' hands-on and 100% control approach to his franchise.

What is the current state of BAPE?

Nigo still owns 100% of the company and has full artistic control over each design. BAPE currently has 33 stores across Japan and numerous other stores across Asia, Europe, and the US, in cities like London and New York. He also operates a BAPE music label, cafes, and hair salons.

Pharrell Williams has collaborated with Nigo to produce his own ever so-popular and ultra-exclusive/ultra-expensive lines of Apparel Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.

He has collaborated with the likes of Kanye West and other American hip-hop artists to produce music for his BAPE music label.

So, what's next?

Nigo wants to open up a "lifestyle" hotel. A hotel, that embodies "cool," separating itself from all the rest. Nigo likes to do things his own way, and cares little for the criticism from others. To each his own, Nigo!

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