move over icecream man...here comes the meatman....
i waited 15 years for guns n roses to come out with another album, but apparently i waited much longer to realize my dream come true! on the day chinese democracy came out, i hit the studio...
everyday, on my walk to and from the subway entrance, i pass by this storefront home. it looks like someone's attic of personal storage except it stores rubbish. it looks like a garage sale except the items are pyramid piled and not lined up for sale. it looks like an unkempt outdoor shed for broken landscaping equipment except the broken appliances are blenders and typewriters hidden behind the columns of rubbish. it really just looks like a store front garbage dump.
the man that owns the shop is apparently worth 200M NT (~$6M USD) and his job is to collect garbage. however, all he's ever seen doing is sitting @ his corroded wooden table, tucking his greasy long grey hair behind his ear, drinking gao liang and watching his 1989 13" tv. he's got a bunch of stray dogs outside, a black and white one, a few black ones, and a few more others that i felt sympathetic for until they almost attacked my toy poodle, niku. he's just recently added little black and white puppy to his stray dog collection, which i want to kidnap and take home.
there's money in garbage, but that doesn't mean you have to live in it?
the man that owns the shop is apparently worth 200M NT (~$6M USD) and his job is to collect garbage. however, all he's ever seen doing is sitting @ his corroded wooden table, tucking his greasy long grey hair behind his ear, drinking gao liang and watching his 1989 13" tv. he's got a bunch of stray dogs outside, a black and white one, a few black ones, and a few more others that i felt sympathetic for until they almost attacked my toy poodle, niku. he's just recently added little black and white puppy to his stray dog collection, which i want to kidnap and take home.
there's money in garbage, but that doesn't mean you have to live in it?
i helped someone write a centerfold blurb about themselves and this was the result....
i like: beer, bulldogs and bad boys
if my life had a soundtrack, the theme song would be "beastie boys: fight for your right to party"
my life motto: "if it ain't tight, short and barely there, then i ain't wearing it!"
guess that person!
i like: beer, bulldogs and bad boys
if my life had a soundtrack, the theme song would be "beastie boys: fight for your right to party"
my life motto: "if it ain't tight, short and barely there, then i ain't wearing it!"
guess that person!
i spent 4 hours and 4 bottles @ ktv last night. and this morning, i just kept humming this song.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfeQGYNp3-I&hl=en&fs=1]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfeQGYNp3-I&hl=en&fs=1]
guess who's coming back?
DEC. 2nd - HK
DEC. 5th - MACAU
DEC. 9th - NYC...............(tuesday night here we come!)
when i came out to asia in 2004, my aunt kept indirectly urging me to head back to the states. she was very skeptical of me being able to stay out in the east. after 2 years, she still claimed that it would be better suited for me to head back. when i moved to singapore during my 3rd year, there was still a bit of a "temporary stay in spore" undertone. so, as i inch closer to a full 4 years in asia, i called my aunt today. told her i'd be going back to nyc for dec. she said "don't stay too long. come back soon". it's amazing what financial armageddon does to people. unfortunately, i get no points for "i told you so"
DEC. 2nd - HK
DEC. 5th - MACAU
DEC. 9th - NYC...............(tuesday night here we come!)
when i came out to asia in 2004, my aunt kept indirectly urging me to head back to the states. she was very skeptical of me being able to stay out in the east. after 2 years, she still claimed that it would be better suited for me to head back. when i moved to singapore during my 3rd year, there was still a bit of a "temporary stay in spore" undertone. so, as i inch closer to a full 4 years in asia, i called my aunt today. told her i'd be going back to nyc for dec. she said "don't stay too long. come back soon". it's amazing what financial armageddon does to people. unfortunately, i get no points for "i told you so"
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1AmeB1bYYE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=zh_TW&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]
"who's more perverted? the japanese? or the italians?"
there's no hiding that every race in the world has some serious obsession with asian women and it's severely evident when foreigners come to asia for "business" travel. in these "business" scenario's, the noun "business" could easily be synonymous with the verb "drinking", and the verb "drinking" could easily be replaced with the word "womanizing". so after extensive research in this field of "business" the question arose..."who's more perverted? the japanese? or the italians?"
japanese society has developed their sex culture ingrained as a schizophrenic hormonal need, where i've witnessed their ability to have fun no matter what the scenario is. they, even when drinking with 40+ year old women, still find blissful joy in womanizing/drinking/yelling/singing. there is absolutely no stopping them in the pursuit of women. italians, on the other hand, carry a much smoother charisma with their hairy chests, greased back hair, and italian accents. however, when it comes to women pedestrians (specifically asian women), they too are relentless in their pursuit of passion. so who's more horny? you be the judge. (there were a bunch of honorable mentions, but that's for a later post).
the conversation of japanese perverts triggered some nostalgia for one of us, so she told the story...
"growing up, my dad always had japanese clients over. they would always be sleeping in the next room watching all sorts of loud porn, so me and my sister would always peek into their rooms to get a glimpse of what they were watching. one time, i saw a porn where the girl was peeing on the toilet and all of a sudden, ghost hands would come out the wall and rip her top off. as she shrieked in shock, a hand sudden reached up from out of the toilet and grabbed her panties..."
jeff, who was huddled behind helena's shoulder, immediately popped out with curiosity "so, u were watching SCARY PORN?"
HAHAHAHA...it was funny @ the time....
happy birthday jeff, we'll find you a scary porno for your birthday.
there's no hiding that every race in the world has some serious obsession with asian women and it's severely evident when foreigners come to asia for "business" travel. in these "business" scenario's, the noun "business" could easily be synonymous with the verb "drinking", and the verb "drinking" could easily be replaced with the word "womanizing". so after extensive research in this field of "business" the question arose..."who's more perverted? the japanese? or the italians?"
japanese society has developed their sex culture ingrained as a schizophrenic hormonal need, where i've witnessed their ability to have fun no matter what the scenario is. they, even when drinking with 40+ year old women, still find blissful joy in womanizing/drinking/yelling/singing. there is absolutely no stopping them in the pursuit of women. italians, on the other hand, carry a much smoother charisma with their hairy chests, greased back hair, and italian accents. however, when it comes to women pedestrians (specifically asian women), they too are relentless in their pursuit of passion. so who's more horny? you be the judge. (there were a bunch of honorable mentions, but that's for a later post).
the conversation of japanese perverts triggered some nostalgia for one of us, so she told the story...
"growing up, my dad always had japanese clients over. they would always be sleeping in the next room watching all sorts of loud porn, so me and my sister would always peek into their rooms to get a glimpse of what they were watching. one time, i saw a porn where the girl was peeing on the toilet and all of a sudden, ghost hands would come out the wall and rip her top off. as she shrieked in shock, a hand sudden reached up from out of the toilet and grabbed her panties..."
jeff, who was huddled behind helena's shoulder, immediately popped out with curiosity "so, u were watching SCARY PORN?"
HAHAHAHA...it was funny @ the time....
happy birthday jeff, we'll find you a scary porno for your birthday.
i just saw beerfest on mute. i've been wanting to see it and unfortunately when it came on cinemax tonight, my phone rang. so i watched most of the movie on mute and that made all that beer consumption even more poignant. I WANT A BEER! i'm going to be sure the next time i watch this movie im not alone and i have plenty of beer in the fridge...tomorrow? pictures to come.
apparently, johnny depp's drunken demeanor and panda eye shadow in "Pirates of the Caribbean" brought sexy back for much of the world. (2 movie sequels, theme park attractions, restaurant decor, and a RESURGENCE IN REAL PIRACY!). Time magazine did a feature on Pirates last year...and at that time, i was aboard 40k ton oil tankers thinking "how the heck is it possible to jack this thing"...of course as of this week, there have been 8 pirate attacks highlighted with the jacking of SIRIUS STAR holding 100 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CRUDE OIL (2M Barrels of Oil).
forget trading oil.
the real money is in STEALING OIL.
imagine movie previews "STEALING A CD...AND A VeryLargeCrudeCarrier...IS WRONG"
The Sirius Star tanker, shown here conducting a trial run off the coast of South Korea, was invaded by Somali pirates 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya.
forget trading oil.
the real money is in STEALING OIL.
imagine movie previews "STEALING A CD...AND A VeryLargeCrudeCarrier...IS WRONG"
The Sirius Star tanker, shown here conducting a trial run off the coast of South Korea, was invaded by Somali pirates 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya.
from time to time, i'll take advantage of xanga to get a bit political. since 2004, i've bashed a ton of people from greenspan to kofi anan. i remember a few kim jong il rants last year, then there was some thaksin dedications, and today, there's former president of taiwan chen shui bian. side-stepping partisan allegiance, i think chen shui bian is a few steps away from political genius. he's one of those savvy politicians that is able to drive the dagger of hate so far into the opposing side only as a by product from riling up the people for his massive support. i call him the taiwanese britney spears because he's this years media's most wanted! britney, through the k-fed years, divorce, 2 kids, jamie lynn pregnancy, weight gain, paris hilton club nights, no underwear fotos, was continually voted the number 1 papparazzi feature, the number 1 coveted gossip item. either inverse to her IQ or a brilliant marketing team, the media not only didn't shake her from the front pages, but only gained momentum and when she won her first MTV moonmen "piece of me" chronicling the downtimes of her gossip frenzy, it stamped her marketing ingenuity.
mr chen shui bian, no matter what the adversity, somehow finds a way to deflect all kinds of accusations into some kind of positive media epic for his supporters. his latest hunger strike (currently 7 days) to protest corruption charges, even had me grinning when i saw the news. i want to watch more of this on going saga! i want to see what his crippled wife will do next. i want to see his daughter unleash fury at reporters again (i have her as a ring tone on my phone). i want to see more chen shui bian in the news! starve bitch starve! (in that non life threatening way of course)
Former Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is transferred in an ambulance out of the Taipei County Hospital back to the Tucheng Detention Center in Taipei County Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2008. Chen was was released from hospital on Wednesday, after going on a hunger strike to protest his arrest on money-laundering and corruption allegations he claims are politically motivated, his lawyer said. (AP Photo)
mr chen shui bian, no matter what the adversity, somehow finds a way to deflect all kinds of accusations into some kind of positive media epic for his supporters. his latest hunger strike (currently 7 days) to protest corruption charges, even had me grinning when i saw the news. i want to watch more of this on going saga! i want to see what his crippled wife will do next. i want to see his daughter unleash fury at reporters again (i have her as a ring tone on my phone). i want to see more chen shui bian in the news! starve bitch starve! (in that non life threatening way of course)
Former Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is transferred in an ambulance out of the Taipei County Hospital back to the Tucheng Detention Center in Taipei County Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2008. Chen was was released from hospital on Wednesday, after going on a hunger strike to protest his arrest on money-laundering and corruption allegations he claims are politically motivated, his lawyer said. (AP Photo)
"You're a cross between a dolphin and a panda"
"it's not about frequency, it's all about intensity" - this is a phrase that my social group uses to reflect our drinking habits. the taipei traffic authority has apparently embedded this phrase as a constant in their traffic-light wait-time algorithm with pedestrian-crossing wait-times up to 100+ seconds DURING PEAK TIME! it's ironic, considering this is a country full of engineers infamous for cost cutting efficiency.
if you spend an inordinate amount of time with someone who is Obsessive and Compulsive about hygiene, then one of the worst places you can go to is an internet cafe. From the moment I mentioned the words internet and cafe in the same sentence her countenance flipped from pink to pasty, a sudden reflex that put her mood into a flux of stress which triggered a chain reaction that endured as follows...
1. omg, it's so dirty in the internet cafe. think of how many dirty and sweaty school kids go there and sit on the couches.
instinct 1: i need to change my jeans. im going to wear the same jeans from yesterday so i won't get the new jeans dirty
impulse 2: not leaning back on the seat when using the computer
2. omg, i dont want to go. think of all the kids that pee, dont wash their hands and touch the keyboard. that's penis on keyboard!
instinct 1: wet wipes.
impulse 2: can't touch face, bag, or anything that you're eventually going to take home with you afterwards
3. "hey OCD, there's 1 free drink with internet purchase"
instinct 1: omg, the cups are dirty! think of all the dirty kids that touch the cups with their dirty mouths, then the dirty staff washes it in a bucket in the dirty toilet with the dirty water.
reaction 2: im not drinking any liquids for the entire day until i get home. because i refuse to use the dirty bathroom at the dirty internet cafe.
internet cafe in this instance was a necessary evil for the OCD victim. she seemed to have dragged her work deadline long enough and finally gave into the last resort of internet cafe. ironically, what was supposed to be a 3 hour stint, turned into 8. and maybe another trip tomorrow. im coming prepared tomrorow. same jeans from 3 days ago, wet wipes, bottled water and a back brace!
***
how many times did i use the word 'dirty' in this entry?
[last lines]
Ray: There's a Christmas tree somewhere in London with a bunch of presents underneath it that'll never be opened. And I thought, if I survive all of this, I'd go to that house, apologize to the mother there, and accept whatever punishment she chose for me. Prison... death... didn't matter. Because at least in prison and at least in death, you know, I wouldn't be in fuckin' Bruges. But then, like a flash, it came to me. And I realized, fuck man, maybe that's what hell is: the entire rest of eternity spent in fuckin' Bruges. And I really really hoped I wouldn't die. I really really hoped I wouldn't die.
tonight, i thought about death. about life after death. about religion. about faith. about luck. about karma. about purgatory. about life before life. about blissful ignorance. about little kids in africa. about our galaxy. about jupiter. about mars. about earth. about human intelligence. about life on earth. about the big bang theory. about earths position in the solar system. about water. about evolution. about moisture and clouds. about sustenance. about life. about death.
this time, this death train was trigged by fuckin' bruges. what was the most recent "life/death" catalyst for u?
From WSJ: About 90% of banks' consumer-fee income comes from overdraft and insufficient-funds charges, which are expected to increase to $42 billion this year from $20.7 billion in 1999.
as much as i love surfing and reading the internet for continually up to date true and false information, i still find oodles more knowledge in the high gloss text of a magazine. i find that when u lick your fingers to turn the page of a shiny page of a magazine, the crumpling of the paper btwn ur index finger and thumb triggers a self-proclaimed chemical reaction that diffuses extra IQ molecules through ur fingers to your brain. that's my compromise to antiquated actual paper reading. (even though i've learned to love books, book reading has taken a semi-haitus for a bout 2 years now)...when i read a magazine, i always find the time to read it cover to cover, staring at each facet of the magazine that suits my persona at that point in time. i was once infatuated with font and studied the font of each section of a periodical, then there was the time i was into ad placement and spent a good portion of toilet-time counting the pages btwn ads, then there's the fashion trend study, and my own commentary of caption commentary...and then of course a sporadic urge to annotate the articles. most recently after this months jimmy kimmel cover article for GQ, i started reading up on the magazine correspondants.
***
No TV lineup in the world compares to US programming. and even with STAR WORLD syndicating US and UK shows for the English speaking population in Asia, i'm still limited to a tardy, locally filtered selection of overseas programming. Additionally, after some extensive TV shopping, I realized that the TV culture is undermined technologically. ironically, Taiwan, the number chip manufacturer in the world, doesn't cater to their own technological production capability. HD capable TV's almost make no sense to buy in Taiwan. I wouldn't say there's no consumer medium for home entertainment, there just isn't the options to utilize technology-forward gadgets that revolve around tv programming! digital cable is limited hence no 'on demand' (blockbuster seems to be doing well here, despite huge losses, -- someone bring in netflixxxXXxx!), i haven't heard one person use tivo or know what it is, and what's the point of buying and HDTV when there's only one HD capable channel? even if u wanted to grow ur blu-ray collection, ur blu-ray purchasing power is limited by the local selection.
ergo, im stuck with star world and recently i've been stuck with a lot of jimmy kimmel. i've been one of his loyal fraternity followers since his "man show" days. i find kimmel hilarious in that easy going, non pretentious, 'one-of-the-boys" kind of way. not to mention im a huge fan of the pontiac garage lineup. he seems like like a celebrity i'd want to get drunk with. i'd want to meet him. we'd eat pizza, watch football and get drunk. now why does gq magazine correspondant jeanne marie laskas, author of "growing girls" get the opportunity to do a piece on the "LIVE" kimmel? taking nothing away from her literary experience and her english prowess, she writes a great piece on kimmel. she writes a first person omniscient narrative on kimmels nature, office life and home decor. she transcribes kimmel's personal anecdotes but it's nothing anyone else couldn't write sans a professional editor? a guy like kimmel paired up with a martha stewart lookalike (check out her website) seems like such a wasted opportunity for an unyielding fraternal piece that ties "anecdote" kimmel with "creating a new anecdote" into a first person narrative with an edge (or falling off the edge!).
maybe it was a good piece to get to know the "real kimmel" and we'll let laskas have her moment in the sun until, HOPEFULLY A FOLLOWUP. she had "daytime interview" with kimmel and got a "food vaccuum sealer" as a gift, now lets unleash one of his buddies (afleck, damon, or whoever) to give a first hand account as to what REALLY GOES ON and maybe adriana lima will ring my doorbell after the interview! man i wish i was that "magazine correspondant"
***
“People who use ChapStick have to have ChapStick with them at all times,” he says. “They have to constantly reapply the fucking ChapStick.
Recycle Your RomancesThe joys (and savings) of sex with your ex.
4 Comments | Add Yours
By Em & Lo Published Nov 2, 2008
Illustration by Remie Geoffoi
Normal dates—with the requisite mani-pedis, barbershop shaves, drinks, and movie tickets—can easily add up to more than $200. But just because you’re single and can’t afford big nights out doesn’t mean you need to forgo sex altogether. Just sleep with your ex. Booty-calling an ex, at least one you’re on good terms with, is a low-risk, high-yield investment. You’re familiar with each other’s flaws already, so no need to mask them with pricey beautification or elaborate mating rituals. Just order in Chinese—or better yet, nuke some Ramen, then get busy. Bonus perk: Your ex knows his or her way around your body, and vice versa, which means a guaranteed good time for all.
Annual Savings: $2,400
(Compared with twelve $200 dates.)
4 Comments | Add Yours
By Em & Lo Published Nov 2, 2008
Illustration by Remie Geoffoi
Normal dates—with the requisite mani-pedis, barbershop shaves, drinks, and movie tickets—can easily add up to more than $200. But just because you’re single and can’t afford big nights out doesn’t mean you need to forgo sex altogether. Just sleep with your ex. Booty-calling an ex, at least one you’re on good terms with, is a low-risk, high-yield investment. You’re familiar with each other’s flaws already, so no need to mask them with pricey beautification or elaborate mating rituals. Just order in Chinese—or better yet, nuke some Ramen, then get busy. Bonus perk: Your ex knows his or her way around your body, and vice versa, which means a guaranteed good time for all.
Annual Savings: $2,400
(Compared with twelve $200 dates.)
the problem with being back in taiwan is that this island is a black hole for anorexic vanity. my last passport stamp of entry into this country is October 17th. and since that date, there's been too many trips to the gym, a healthier diet and only been 2 bouts of drinking...which without practice has turned me almost fatefully violent this past weekend.
maybe i need practice. afterall, will, victor and larry are only a quick flight away....
maybe i need practice. afterall, will, victor and larry are only a quick flight away....
e.KHYM...another for you.
I know, right? Save it for the coffeehouse poetry slam, César Chávez. This is a money column. Give me some advice on how to allocate my 401(k). All I’m trying to point out, though, is that there’s a growing class chasm everywhere you look these days, and it’s especially stark when you think about something as basic as food. And all those purple potatoes people like me buy at $10 a pound—in addition to putting a little money in a farmer’s pocket (which is an undeniably good thing), they also represent consumerism at its most rarefied. And while we buy this food for excellent reasons—because it tastes better than what we’d find in a supermarket; because the range of choices is infinitely greater than it is in the produce section at Safeway; because the experience of going to the Greenmarket and milling around with your neighbors and chatting up the misanthropic beef guy or the lesbian cheesemakers is a much more pleasant experience than being shuttled through a human maze where every turn leads to corn syrup—it also seems, at least for me, that one of the biggest reasons I’m willing to pay ludicrous prices for this food is that it confirms my sense of myself as a do-gooder.
So why do I feel like what I really am is less a do-gooder than a charter member of the virtue-buying class? I suppose part of it is because people tend to define themselves through their purchases, and in grim economic times, as flagrant consumption becomes morally suspect (seriously, when you see some guy in a massive SUV now it’s like looking into the eyes of a serial killer, is it not?), we invest certain purchases with exaggerated moral value. I’m not just some lucky duck who can afford to choose between all these delicious foods, I’m part of a movement! I’m a locavore! I’m helping farmers and I’m reducing carbon emissions and I’m ensuring that my kids will never be touched by pesticides! Except I’ve also grown elitist and judgmental, and/or occasionally ashamed, when it comes to regular supermarket food (I’ve actually apologized to someone for feeding his kid Dannon yogurt), and for my monthly tab at the Greenmarket, I could lease a BMW. I imagine there’s a better way to use my money.
....“Americans have a way of thinking that shopping can change the world,” he said, “as if when we feel guilty it’s all a matter of going to Whole Foods and buying the right labels.”
I know, right? Save it for the coffeehouse poetry slam, César Chávez. This is a money column. Give me some advice on how to allocate my 401(k). All I’m trying to point out, though, is that there’s a growing class chasm everywhere you look these days, and it’s especially stark when you think about something as basic as food. And all those purple potatoes people like me buy at $10 a pound—in addition to putting a little money in a farmer’s pocket (which is an undeniably good thing), they also represent consumerism at its most rarefied. And while we buy this food for excellent reasons—because it tastes better than what we’d find in a supermarket; because the range of choices is infinitely greater than it is in the produce section at Safeway; because the experience of going to the Greenmarket and milling around with your neighbors and chatting up the misanthropic beef guy or the lesbian cheesemakers is a much more pleasant experience than being shuttled through a human maze where every turn leads to corn syrup—it also seems, at least for me, that one of the biggest reasons I’m willing to pay ludicrous prices for this food is that it confirms my sense of myself as a do-gooder.
So why do I feel like what I really am is less a do-gooder than a charter member of the virtue-buying class? I suppose part of it is because people tend to define themselves through their purchases, and in grim economic times, as flagrant consumption becomes morally suspect (seriously, when you see some guy in a massive SUV now it’s like looking into the eyes of a serial killer, is it not?), we invest certain purchases with exaggerated moral value. I’m not just some lucky duck who can afford to choose between all these delicious foods, I’m part of a movement! I’m a locavore! I’m helping farmers and I’m reducing carbon emissions and I’m ensuring that my kids will never be touched by pesticides! Except I’ve also grown elitist and judgmental, and/or occasionally ashamed, when it comes to regular supermarket food (I’ve actually apologized to someone for feeding his kid Dannon yogurt), and for my monthly tab at the Greenmarket, I could lease a BMW. I imagine there’s a better way to use my money.
....“Americans have a way of thinking that shopping can change the world,” he said, “as if when we feel guilty it’s all a matter of going to Whole Foods and buying the right labels.”
For E. Khym. READ THIS ARTICLE. WHEN I READ IT. I THOUGHT OF YOU. Wired magazine "I'll be there 4 U". Scott Brown starts "thanks to facebook, i never lose touch with anyone. and that my friend, is a problem". He talks of this "infinite friendspace" as an unalloyed good b/c
1. it encourages hoarding. Friends are the currency of the socially netowrked world; therefore, it follows that more equals better. But the more friends you have, the less they're worth - and more to the point, the less human they are....
2. friending has subsumed the ol'rolodex. granted it's often convenient to have all of your contacts under one roof. but the great thing about the rolodex was that it never talked back, it didn't throw virtual octopi or make you take movie quizzes, and it never, ever poked you. the rolodex just sat there. it was all business
3. THIRD AND MOST GRAVE - WE"VE LOST OUR RIGHT TO LOSE TOUCH. "A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature," emerson wrote, not bothering to add, "and like most things natural, friendship is biodegradable" We scrawl "friends forever" in yearbooks, but we quietly realize, with relief, that some bonds are meant to be shed, like snakeskin or a showtime subscription. It's nature's way of allowing you to change, adapt, evolve, or devlolve as you wish - and freeing you from the exhaustion of multifront friend maintenance.
"Deletion is scary-and, we're told, unnecessary in the Petabyte Age. That's what made good old-fashioned losing touch so wonderful - friendships, like long-forgotten photos and mix-tapes, would distort and slowly whistle into oblivion, quite naturally, nothing personal. It was sweet and sad and, though you'd rarely admit it, necessary"
- SCOTT BROWN I'll BE THERE 4 U - WIRED MAGAZINE NOV 2008
everyone's always talking about the internet these days...after the initial tech bubble burst in the late 90's, cyberspace went through a 2.0 change that has arguably perfected a more mainstream cyber medium for social, economical and political information. with web 2.0, there's out with the old (blogging) and in with the new (twitter/facebook).
my xanga, originally intended to keep in touch with people back home, spawned into a whirling tornado of rant. narcissism fueled the fire along with the possibility of fame and eventual -paid-to-blog...but it seems that i now, as i edge closer to 30, am feeling certain effects of being outdated. my itunes playlist is still clogged up with seattle 90's alternative, i compare all athletes to JORDAN, nostalgic vh1 shows actually stir up nostalgia, and most recently, my most accelerated technological social stream (blogging) is now seemingly outdated.
"Writing a weblog today isn't the bright idea it was four years ago. the blogosphere once a freshwater oasis of folksy self expression and clever thought, has been flooded by a tsunami of paid bilge. Cut-rate journalists and underground marketing campaigns now drown out the authentic voices of amateur wordsmiths. It's almost impossible to get noticed, except by hecklers. And why bother? The time it takes to craft sharp, witty blog prose is better spent expressing yourself on Flickr, Facebook, or Twitter" - Paul Boutin, Wired Mag 'Kill your blog'
my xanga, originally intended to keep in touch with people back home, spawned into a whirling tornado of rant. narcissism fueled the fire along with the possibility of fame and eventual -paid-to-blog...but it seems that i now, as i edge closer to 30, am feeling certain effects of being outdated. my itunes playlist is still clogged up with seattle 90's alternative, i compare all athletes to JORDAN, nostalgic vh1 shows actually stir up nostalgia, and most recently, my most accelerated technological social stream (blogging) is now seemingly outdated.
"Writing a weblog today isn't the bright idea it was four years ago. the blogosphere once a freshwater oasis of folksy self expression and clever thought, has been flooded by a tsunami of paid bilge. Cut-rate journalists and underground marketing campaigns now drown out the authentic voices of amateur wordsmiths. It's almost impossible to get noticed, except by hecklers. And why bother? The time it takes to craft sharp, witty blog prose is better spent expressing yourself on Flickr, Facebook, or Twitter" - Paul Boutin, Wired Mag 'Kill your blog'
so change has come...obama has won and the bradley effect has had no effect.
how fast will change come? obama faces armageddon-type crises and americans have voted him best suited to lead a patriotic comeback. but that change won't be so immediate. but what is immediate is the impact the election has on foreign perspective towards the United States. It's easy for analysts to talk and write about the significance of obama's victory, but you can't feel it. i frequent countries where people ask me about american stereotypes "nyc is dangerous? are americans racist and belittle minorities? they seem arrogant? they sleep around? casual dating? sex and the city?". whether true or not, i can FEEL a definitive change in foreign perception towards america after the majority has elected a minority for president. kudos to change.
how fast will change come? obama faces armageddon-type crises and americans have voted him best suited to lead a patriotic comeback. but that change won't be so immediate. but what is immediate is the impact the election has on foreign perspective towards the United States. It's easy for analysts to talk and write about the significance of obama's victory, but you can't feel it. i frequent countries where people ask me about american stereotypes "nyc is dangerous? are americans racist and belittle minorities? they seem arrogant? they sleep around? casual dating? sex and the city?". whether true or not, i can FEEL a definitive change in foreign perception towards america after the majority has elected a minority for president. kudos to change.
i made him chicken and rice. he looked at it, sniffed it, then looked at me. so i gave him a paper towel. he looked at it and sniffed it. he went back to his chicken bowl and sniffed that again then looked at me. then went back to eat the paper towel.
wikipedia -
Boyzone are an Irish boy band who had popular mainstream success during the 1990s. They were most successful in the Republic of Ireland and the UK and they also had differing levels of success in parts of Europe and Asia. The band had six #1 UK hit singles when they were first together. They made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring but Ronan Keating confirmed in an interview that they wanted to "outdo Take That"[1] in terms of a successful reunion. They are due to release an album in 2008.
**
i caught 4 minutes of them @ 西門紅樓 and that was enough to be disgusted. boybands are formed when the members are teenage heartthrobs.
boyzone members are now the exact antithesis of their name, no longer boys and maybe in the twilight zone; stuck in a realm where they think scruffy meatheads, small balding perverts, a blonde front man still appeals to fans new and old. I have to say that it was a bit chilling watching the 4 on stage doing choreographed shoulder shrugs, synchronized spins, pointing into the office and making sweet love into the microphone...what made it ball gripping was when the meathead in the back stuck those falsetta notes looking homo-er than all homo's.
Boyzone are an Irish boy band who had popular mainstream success during the 1990s. They were most successful in the Republic of Ireland and the UK and they also had differing levels of success in parts of Europe and Asia. The band had six #1 UK hit singles when they were first together. They made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring but Ronan Keating confirmed in an interview that they wanted to "outdo Take That"[1] in terms of a successful reunion. They are due to release an album in 2008.
**
i caught 4 minutes of them @ 西門紅樓 and that was enough to be disgusted. boybands are formed when the members are teenage heartthrobs.
boyzone members are now the exact antithesis of their name, no longer boys and maybe in the twilight zone; stuck in a realm where they think scruffy meatheads, small balding perverts, a blonde front man still appeals to fans new and old. I have to say that it was a bit chilling watching the 4 on stage doing choreographed shoulder shrugs, synchronized spins, pointing into the office and making sweet love into the microphone...what made it ball gripping was when the meathead in the back stuck those falsetta notes looking homo-er than all homo's.
we got tickets to sit in the media section, so from the moment i sat down i was thinking...."being a critic seems like such a great job. if you're a food critic, you eat everything everywhere and write a bout it....or if you're a music critic, you get to see all different types of band and all you got to do is write about it. but what if your job entails eating bad food? and there's a ton of bad food out there....and what if u're forced to listen to crap music? and there's a ton of crappy bands out there...being forced to do anything sucks doesn't it?"
sitting through fan fan's, 范瑋琪, concert had all sorts of ADD thoughts whirling through my head. anything to stray away from watching intently, listening too carefully or gulping down my bottle of haterade. it's just too easy to bash on the frail, timid, awkwardly lanky fan fan. 小S couldn't control herself to bash on fan fan. ASOS came out for a song with fan fan, there was some corny dialogue then some bad vocals by the HSU sisters, then 小S said "what's wrong fan fan, the song is over...oh that's right, u're just dancing"
concerts are as much driven by the fans as by the artists...but in asia, u're not going to get the lollapalooza vibe nor even the tony bennett concert 'crazy woman woman in the first row who's had too much wine and is swaying even when there's no music' vibe. so watching western artists out here, especially with the language barrier, u'd have to just make due with what you got. asians may not have 'soul, but that doesn't mean they got no artist allegiance, the real amped up crowds are the local concerts. jay chou, lee hom, david tao, fan fan! teens scream, hold up banners and smell like dirty hs uniform body odor. that was fan fan's show.
it took her 10 years to have her own concert and it seemed like a success. a packed house, a live band cutsey background videos (a slue of 黑人 video clips 'love you this love you that'), guest cameo's and barring the shy and her skeletal awkwardness and crappy songs (which i don't think she wrote any of them) she's got a decent voice. other than ASOS, the kids from 模范棒棒堂 did some break dancing and singing with her and little girls started screaming. u might think nsync was up there at one point. fan fan sang her repertoire of ballads and it was a smidgen of sarah mclachlan in an oversized arena. i looked around and even the chaperones seemed to be singing along.
AMEI came out. that made the 200NT cab ride to NTU arena worth it. i haven't seen amei live since i was 15 @ foxwoods? or was it atlantic city. i think that was the badboy tour. (that was when i didn't even know who she was....djdoc was in my cd player) she was awesome then and she was awesome with fan fan. sporting shorter hair, amei's a bit older now, the older sister-ish and still sings with the vigor, confidence and the panache of a star. amei, a veteran from the CD era of music, gave nothing but supporting words for fan fan....and well...i think it made a difference.
sorry for the shitty camera phone pics....
skeletal fan fan
cereal box backdrop
packed house
taiwanese are obsessed with the chewy, rubbery, elastic texture of food they like to describe as "Q". Other than deep fried tasties, crunch and firmness take a backseat to gooey, corn starched doused, mushy recipes on the island formerly known as formosa. so in your best cutsy japanese anime voice..."WAHHH IT TASTES SOO Q!"
Grilled MOCHI with cheese sauce (which instead tasted like sweet milk)
it was as Q as mochi is defined. but the sauce was shit and the wait in line was shit. won't go back.
Grilled MOCHI with cheese sauce (which instead tasted like sweet milk)
it was as Q as mochi is defined. but the sauce was shit and the wait in line was shit. won't go back.
Last year...i completely wrote off the democrats cuz i flatly didn't think america was ready for 1. a female president and 2. a black president. this year, with the way the year has unfolded with the Palin choice and financial Armageddon, "change" looks a bit more promising. barring my personal political view and my tax infused voting style...i love the concept of Obama. the concept of a smart, coherent, forward thinking, black man that seemingly at this point represents an ability to adapt to modern times. and i quote "Barack Obama has prospered in this presidential campaign because of the steadiness of his temperament and the judicious quality of his decision making." - time magazine
however....let's not forget "the bradley effect"
the theory holds that voters have a tendency to lie to pollsters when they plan to vote for a white candidate instead of a black one. It was named after former Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, who was favored on the eve of the 1982 California governor's race but dropped a nail biter to his opponent, George Deukmejian. Some experts chalked up the skewed polling to a reticence to appear prejudiced - a notion bolstered by subsequent campaigns in which black candidates saw their leads evaporate in voting booths.....-TIME
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/obama.bradley.effect/
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said last week that he thinks the Bradley effect could cost Obama several battleground states -- and possibly the presidency.
Race "is still a problem in this country," Brown told CNN. "It goes away when there are other troubles that are more challenging, and right now, whether or not we survive in the economy is more challenging. But race could rear its ugly head. I just hope it doesn't before November 4."
however....let's not forget "the bradley effect"
the theory holds that voters have a tendency to lie to pollsters when they plan to vote for a white candidate instead of a black one. It was named after former Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, who was favored on the eve of the 1982 California governor's race but dropped a nail biter to his opponent, George Deukmejian. Some experts chalked up the skewed polling to a reticence to appear prejudiced - a notion bolstered by subsequent campaigns in which black candidates saw their leads evaporate in voting booths.....-TIME
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/obama.bradley.effect/
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said last week that he thinks the Bradley effect could cost Obama several battleground states -- and possibly the presidency.
Race "is still a problem in this country," Brown told CNN. "It goes away when there are other troubles that are more challenging, and right now, whether or not we survive in the economy is more challenging. But race could rear its ugly head. I just hope it doesn't before November 4."
