We’ve been having a great time here at CES so far, and cranking out the videos non-stop. I think tomorrow I might actually have a chance to browse the show floor a little bit and check out some things I may have missed. Honestly, I haven’t seen anything too mind blowing, but there were some interesting announcements from Panasonic and the really cool Alienware Curve monitor.

The Mahalo Daily’s at CES have been a blast too, and I was even on Buzz Out Loud today, which was great. It felt like we just picked up where we left off. The CNET booth this year looks absolutely amazing, so if you haven’t stopped by there make sure you work it into your agenda. I also met the lovely iJustine, albeit briefly, and Major Nelson of Xbox. Getting to meet the people I read and watch online at these events is my favorite part, for sure.

More from the floor tomorrow!

Image from Engadget

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This blog is technically called Music and Medicine (a line from one of my favorite bands, Neutral Milk Hotel) so once in a while I like to throw down a little music blogging for fun. There were a lot of tracks this year that I loved, but seeing as though it’s very fashionable this time of year to write a Top 10 list, I’ve compiled my favorite songs that came out in 2007. In no particular order, here they are!

1. Chromeo - “Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys)”: My best friend Nick turned me on to this band last summer, and it became my feel-good dancing around album for months. “Bonafied Lovin’” is good track to get you going in the morning.

2. MIKA - “Love Today”: I saw MIKA for the first time at South by Southwest in Austin, and I was blown away by his energy and upbeat songs. This is my favorite track off of the album Life in Cartoon Motion.

3. The Arcade Fire - “Intervention”: Yes, I know that it’s very typical to have The Arcade Fire on a list like this, but c’mon! Neon Bible is an amazing album. A lot of the tracks on this album had a very Bruce Springsteen feel to them, and “Intervention” just takes epic to a new level. See them live. Seriously, do it.

4. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - “When Your Mind’s Made Up”: This track from The Swell Season album (also found on the soundtrack to the amazing film Once) blew me away. Most of the accolades have gone to “Falling Slowly,” which was a huge track in the U.K., but this one really sinks in for me.

5. The Mother Hips - “Time We Had”: OK, I’ll admit it: I discovered this band on Rock Band. This group from Chico, CA, has a that great alt-country/folk rock vibe that’s so popular with the kids these days.

6. Kanye West - “Stronger”: I don’t listen to a lot of rap music (judging from this list, that’s painfully apparent) but I do love Graduation. Way to cross genre bridges and bring the people together! Also, Daft Punk sampling is always OK in my book. As Kanye says, “me likey.”

7. The Cinematics - “A Strange Education”: This is one of those songs that I listen to over and over and over until until I realize that Last.fm is recording all of my listens, and that people are going to think there’s something wrong with me (or that I left iTunes in repeat mode by accident).

8. Bat for Lashes - “What’s a Girl to Do?”: This album is dark and cute in all the right places, and this is perfect song to listen to after you dump someone:

We walked arm in arm
But I didn’t feel his touch
A desire I’d first tried to hide,
That tingling inside was gone
And when he asked me:
‘do you still love me?’
I had to look away
I didn’t want to tell him
That my heart grows colder with each day

Ouch!

9. Shout Out Louds - “Tonight I Have To Leave It”: Yes, they kind of sound like The Cure (and maybe even Stellastarr*) but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, right? I only recently discovered this band, and the album has stayed in pretty heavy rotation.

10. Jonathan Coulton - “Still Alive”: The final song from the fantastic video game Portal is the icing on the cake… sorry, it’s obligatory when writing about Portal to make a cake reference. The song perfectly exemplifies the quirkiness and fun of the game, and Coulton is a masterful lyricist.

There you have it! I now return you to your regularly scheduled top 10 list-free viewing. Let me know what you would have put on your list!

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OK, I promise after this post we can all move on from the resolutions discussion, but a few people mentioned last year’s post, and wondered how well I stuck with them! Here they are:

1. Get out of the house more, and that does not include online worlds.
I think I get out a little more… maybe not. It’s probably the same.
2. Pick a new MP3 player
Got the iPhone! That totally counts.
3. Actually go to the gym that I pay $40 a month for (plus $5 towel service I don’t use).
Nope. I went maybe three times. Ouch.
4. Get really good at Gears of War on Live.
HAH! Nope. I was distracted by other games. OK, game. Shut up!
5. Ride my bike places.
I regressed with this one. I sold my bike. But I have a new one now!!
6. Cook at home more instead of eating out.
Yeah, no.
7. Learn to cook.
That probably has a lot to do with the issue of number six.
8. Start working on at least some of the projects in my head.
Yes! I did that!
9. Read some books that aren’t in the fantasy genre.
Does science fiction count as not in the fantasy genre?
10. Go on a serious vacation.
Heck yeah! Japan!
11. Get a better camera and learn to take better photos.
I got a Canon G7 that I’m really enjoying. Not sure if my phototaking ability has improved too much though!
12. Make more friends.
Totally!
13. Have Buzz Out Loud become more popular than TWiT or Diggnation! Haha. Yeah right.
They’re always #1 in my book! Well, except for my show, but you know what I mean
14. Travel for work more.
Be careful what you wish for!
15. Get a decent haircut.
Meh.

Let’s hope I do a better job this year.

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We’re posting Mahalo Daily’s Top 7 Resolutions (and How to Keep Them) video today, and it got me thinking about what my resolutions are. I don’t usually make them, because I always get way too unrealistic about what I want to accomplish. This year, I’m going to keep them well within my grasp. Without further ado, here they are:

1. Blog more - I’m only averaging about one post per week these days, and yes, it’s definitely a symptom of being too busy. But if I have enough time to log into WoW to check my auctions, then surely I can write up my thoughts to my blog more frequently. It’s all about time management!

2. Get to 70 - Speaking of WoW, I need to hit 70 before Wrath of the Lich King comes out. As of today, I’m 63, but there’s a lot to do between now and then (when “then” will be, we’re not entirely certain). I don’t want to be left out when all my guildies are doing the new stuff.

3. Be more physically active - Notice how I’m not saying “go on a diet” or “develop a 6-pack” like most resolutions? I just need to get out more, like going climbing or riding bikes. I don’t want to lose weight, I just want to be healthier and feel better about my body.

4. Start a Sword and Laser podcast - Tom and I have been talking about it for a while, but I really want to get going on a Sword and Laser show of some kind. I’m not even sure if it would be a video show (probably too time consuming) or just an audio podcast, but I do know that it would be a great way to foster discussion on the books we’re reading! Plus, having a podcast with Tom is fun.

5. Do more volunteering - We had a blast this weekend with Geeks Doing Good over at the SF Food Bank, but I’d like to get involved on a more regular basis. I think we’ll be doing more events in the future, so that’s a good place to start.

6. Get a thicker skin - I’m not going to post any links (don’t feed the trolls!) but people on the Internet can be (and this probably goes without saying) mean as all get-out. I think this Penny Arcade comic says it best. Basically, you gotta remember a few things when dealing with the haters: they are always the vocal minority, you’re not doing anything worthwhile if people don’t give you crap about it once in a while, and if they don’t have the balls to say it to your face (or at least in an email or comment that isn’t written in all caps) then it’s probably better to just ignore it. Morgan Webb recently said in an interview that she doesn’t read her own emails or forums, just because she can’t stand the attitude that people have. I never want to get to a point like that, because my discourse with my audience and community is too vital to what I do. Therefore, I just have to be really good at withstanding the nut cases!

That’s all I can come up with today, what are you planning on changing for the new year?

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