Weekend Meme: Gay Movies Meme

Today's Meme is brought to you by Greg at A Life in the Day. I'm changing the rules here a little bit like the other movie meme, you need to:

- Bold the movie if you’ve seen it.
- Put asterisks next to the movies you’ve seen and really liked.
- If you saw a film and hated it, cross it out.

The problem is that I've seen a lot of gay films a while ago and I'm not quite remembering whether I liked them or not and I don't think there are any gay films I dislike anyhow. Let's try it anyway.

1. Brokeback Mountain (2005)* - Not too strongly liking it but I do like handsome Heath Ledger.
2. Beautiful Thing (1996)* - All time favorite movie. It's just so sweet, I also went to watch the play. I just love it.
3. Shelter (2007)* - I also love this movie, another sweet gay story.
4. Latter Days (2003)* - I liked it. Not strongly due to its depressing religious content.
5. Maurice (1987) - Don't remember much of it.
6. Trick (1999)* - It's cute and sweet.
7. Get Real (1998) - I remember liking it, but I'm not too sure now.
8. Big Eden (2000) - I've seen it but I don't remember anything about it.
9. The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)* - Dreamy Dean Cain...
10. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)* - Fabulous and liberating
11. Longtime Companion (1990)
12. Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
13. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
14. Parting Glances (1986)
15. Just a Question of Love (2000)
16. Mysterious Skin (2004)* - Great film, loved it.
17. Summer Storm (2004)
18. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)* - Cult Classic
19. The Birdcage (1996)
20. Sordid Lives (2000) - Don't think I've seen this but it looks like it's something that I'd enjoy.
21. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)* - Love it.
22. Shortbus (2006) - This one I'd like to see.
23. All Over The Guy (2001)
24. Another Gay Movie (2006)
25. Boys in the Band (1970)
26. Philadelphia (1993)
27. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)* - Cute
28. Boy Culture (2006)
29. The Wedding Banquet (1993)* - Love... I think it's my first gay film ever.
30. C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
31. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
32. Jeffery (1995)
33. The Trip (2002)
34. Edge of Seventeen (1998)
35. Priest (1994)
36. In & Out (1997)
37. Eating Out (2004)
38. Velvet Goldmine (1998)
39. Angels in America (2003) - A bit too complicated for me to get.
40. Love! Valor! Compassion (1997)
41. The Sum of Us (1994)
42. Burnt Money (2000)
43. Transamerica (2005)
44. Victor Victoria (1982)
45. Bent (1997)
46. Yossi & Jagger (2002) - I've heard great things.
47. Bad Education (2004)
48. Gods & Monsters (1998)
49. Making Love (1992)
50. Rent (2005)

I think the list is based on AfterElton's 50 greatest gay movies, so there's really nothing to hate. But I think if I were to choose the films I'd find some ways to include Threesome, Billy's Hollywood Screenkiss, Grande Ecole and some others.

Anyway, have a great weekend!

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Domino's Bread Bowl Pasta

And this is why I don't think I'll ever order those bread bowl pastas from Domino's


Via This is Why You're Fat

I was originally fond of the idea to try one, it sounded good. But in reality, the minimum wage workers lack enthusiasm to put the food together and it looks like a bowl of slob. Maybe America doesn't really need her macaroni to be swimming in cheese goo and maybe it's a bad idea to have cheese goo transported all over the place to guarantee spillage. Smaller and daintier might actually look more appetizing.

Anyhow, this is a fine example how a picture is worth a thousand words and those words had persuaded me to stay off this food item for good and not even a free coupon would change it.

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Tops Vs. Bottoms

Yesterday, porn site The Sword (NSFW) came up with a chart comparing the tops and bottoms of the top 10 cities in the U.S.



From the chart, I guess the more north east you are the more chance that you'd encounter a top? I don't really know how representative this is to the truth, since it is based on Craigslist, a site where one individual can post multiple posts looking for sex a day, I don't think it is all that accurate. The article itself is really too simplistic and there was no concrete data to back it up, no age or cultural analysis. A closeted vs. out data will make it so much more interesting. If only I have a membership on some cruising site with a easier search engine like Manhunt or Gay.com, maybe I'd be able to compose a study of my own.

Personally, my life experience told me that 80% of the gay populations are bottoms and if the guy claims that he's a top, it might be due to his phobia of pain or his machismo hang-ups. I might be too judgmental, but some people later in life can get over the pain and become a full-fledged bottom. I don't know about the hang ups though.

A fellow Asian friend who's a self proclaimed flaming sissy fag insisted that he's a top and self-described as a social bottom. Just another term to add to the confusion and boggle your mind. I guess it'll make me a social top, in this sense. Maybe the key is to be truly versatile, then there won't be much of an issue anymore.

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Music Invasion: Frente!'s "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Well, Prop 8 didn't get overturned in California but it's not all tragic, people who got married before are still married and I think we got the sign we needed to commenced the marriage equality movement. People are getting on the street to protest it, celebrities are marching, people are occupying marriage bureaus demanding marriage licenses. Some friend even advocate to go to straight weddings and object. I believe it will be reaching its boiling point soon and maybe the white house will finally break through its silence and choose a side. An old friend traveled out of state to Connecticut to get gay married a few weeks ago even though their home state here in Pennsylvania doesn't recognize it, hopefully PA will get dominoed over soon. It's not like anyone will want to gay marry me anytime soon.

This cover was a big hit from Australian folk group Frente! in 1994. It seems like love is never easy, there are always things in the way. Seems like it'll be a rainy day.



Bizarre Love Triangle

Every time I think of you
I get a shock right through into a bolt of blue
It's no problem of mine but it's a problem I find
Living a life that I can't leave behind
There's no sense in telling me
The wisdom of a fool won't set you free
But that's the way that it goes
And it's what nobody knows
And every day my confusion grows

Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say

I feel fine and I feel good
I feel like I never should
Whenever I get this way, I just don't know what to say
Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday
I'm not sure what this could mean
I don't think you're what you seem
I do admit to myself
That if I hurt someone else
Then I'll never see just what we're meant to be

Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say

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Catching My Breath After The Long Weekend

Even though it's not as glamorous as Sue's trip to Francesco and Damien's wedding in Madrid, the boyfriend and I had a good time in NYC for the weekend. The weather was pretty good and time goes fast when we're looking at various stuff and even though we walked around for hours, we made up for it by eating Japanese food the whole way through. Hopefully all the good stuff I ate will hold me through my upcoming diet.

Other than walking through the few Japanese bookstores and the knick-knack stores in town, the highlight would have to be going out to the Japanese buffet where the boyfriend got interviewed by a Korean PBS-like station about the benefit of eating seafood. He'll probably show up on Korean TV program, my boyfriend is so smart and handsome.

After having fun at the great buffet, we went bar hopping through the comfortable low-key Nowhere bar to Section 8, The Hose, Pheonix, to Ramrod/Dugout, Hangar Bar, Pieces, Stonewall and finally The Web. Personally I like Nowhere the best, I feel very comfortable in that space, it feels like someone's basement/game room. I've heard a lot of good thing about the bear bar Dugout which is now Ramrod, but when we went in there were only half a dozen people, so we left shortly. We went to gawk at some go-go boys at the Hangar which also had a big vodka selection. Asian bar The Web was celebrating their 18th year anniversary and they had a lot of drag performance and a raffle drawing with tons of prizes, but we didn't win anything.

I found out no matter what size the bed we're sleeping in, the boyfriend will still snuggle close to me, which is really cute and dear. Here he is being hiding behind me:



Besides some pictures, we also acquired a lot of snacks which'd probably finished pretty soon and then it's back on the diet for me.

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Weekend Meme: Yet Another Spo-Meme

As I've told you, this weekend I'm going to NYC with the boyfriend and I'm really looking forward to it. It'd be our first trip together. Too bad the weekend weather could be a little rainy, for me though it's also my eating-before-the-diet trip. Also I need to pick up some long lost installments to my comic book collection, so again I'm looking forward to this trip.

Today's Meme is stolen from Ur-Spo at Spo-Reflections

1. What is your current obsession?
Plants vs. Zombies (Computer Game) and Fushigi Yugi (Anime Series)

2. What do you see outside your window?
The plastic climb and slide structures that my neighbor's kids would use while scream and yell at 7 am in the morning... Ugh.

3. If you could have any super power what would it be?
Flight, either with a pair of wings or levitation. I've always wanted to fly.

4. What is your favorite color?
Blue, I'm just drawn to it.

5. Who was the last person you hugged?
The boyfriend. Who else?

6. Which animal would you be?
Since I like to fly, maybe I'd be a bird, a swallow, a flying squirrel or a flying... monkey?

7. What’s for dinner?
Despite my affinity for cooking, tonight I'm hoping to go to either Todai the sushi buffet place or one of the izakayas on St. Mark's.

8. What’s the last thing you bought?
Groceries.

9. What are you listening to right now?
Real Time with Bill Maher's podcast

10. What are your current favorite films?
My favorite films remain to be Beautiful Thing and Shelter. They are both love story of young gay people.

11. What’s on your bedside table?
Hmm... An alarm clock, moisturizers, lube, a flash light and a... Rubic's cube.

12. If you could have a house totally paid for, and fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?
It would be in San Francisco, I just like the city and its people a lot.

13. What would you like to have in your hands right now?
My boyfriend. a big briefcase full of cash and jewelry comes in a close second.

14. What is your favorite children’s book?
It could be the Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen. I also just got The Complete Fables of La Fontaine, I'll read through it when I've finished the other two-three series of detective novels seating on my bookshelf.

15. What is your favorite tea flavor?
I like my English Breakfast and Darjeeling with milk and sugar. My friend DC's husband also have brought some expensive white tea back from Taiwan and they were good.

16. What is your favorite article of clothing?
My sandals. I love wearing them in summer.

17. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Somewhere with a beach, Miami Beach, Hawaii, Phuket or Greece.

18. What did you want to become as a child?
I always thought I wanted to be a cop, but after growing up knowing how corrupt the Hong Kong police force is (mostly through dramatization of movies) and how fat the U.S. cops are (through personal observation), i didn't feel like being a cop anymore.

19. What posters/pictures do you have on your bedroom wall?
An unfinished painting I did of Principe and a Cirque du Soleil Quidam poster from 1998.

20. What is your plan for tomorrow?
Going to Mitsuwa at Fort Lee, NJ to have another Japanese food feast.

21. What was your first job?
I was waitering at a Western-Chinese restaurant that serves Chinese interpreted western food. That remains to be one of my all-time favorite cuisines.

22. Say something to the person/s who tagged you:
Even Ur-Spo didn't officially tag me: "Good job, your blog is fun, insightful and helpful at the same time."

23. Post a favorite childhood photograph of yourself:
Hmm... How about this one?



Have a great weekend!

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The Japanese-Inspired Post

Firstly, the Japanese had done it! Turning people gay with their homoerotic video games once again, millions of people will be exposed to this and eroticize muscle men in thongs. Not to mention polar bears as well.

According to the clip, the game is about a bunch of muscle men chasing another muscle man and later on an alien who stole their protein powder. They run through walls with different shapes on the wall that they'd have to match like another Japanese-inspired game show Hole In The Wall.



Secondly, BL came out from his academics and rejoined society the other week and after hanging out one night, he lent me a Japanese cartoon series called Fushigi Yugi and sat me down to watch 6 episodes. Stupid show, really... It's like Sailor Moon but with dumber storylines, making things out of nothing, but since I've started it I've finished like near 30 20-minute episodes over the last 3 days. I haven't even had much time blogging, ugh... Well, only 4 more DVDs left.

Third, I have been hoping to go to NYC with the boyfriend like forever and the boyfriend finally agreed to go with me. Woohoo! I've been urging him to go with me because I want to experience the city with him and partly, I've been wanting to go back on my diet and I want to go to all those great Japanese eatery in the city before doing so. Oh the food court of Mitsuwa is calling and so is Todai buffet and the soft pork bone ramen at Ajisen. Given, I don't think I want to overwhelm my boyfriend with all these things, but at the very least I think we'd enjoy Mitsuwa and the giant Japanese supermarket compound. Since the boyfriend likes Japanese stuff, it should be enjoyable for us both. I just hope my walking habit would be ok for him. We're going to stay over at a hotel near Chelsea with a king bed, could be fun.

Lastly, the boyfriend told me that he's gonna be going to Japan for vacation for 10 days. I'd love to be able to experience Japan with him but it doesn't seem quite feasible for me right now. (Unless I win the lottery before that... lol.) So instead he's going with some other dude, I don't quite know what to think about that. I do believe I have a good boyfriend and he deserves to have a great time. I'm already missing him even the trip is still months away. Maybe a little separation will make the heart grows fonder?

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Meeting Sensei

A few weeks ago, I've met a Taiwanese guy online who's visiting his sister and family in Philly for the month. He was an architect and used to live in Philly but as he's growing older, he finds he's more attracted to Asian guy, so he moved back and became a church organ player and lead a choir. Go figure.

While we were talking about relationships, this guy brought up some incredible theories that I didn't necessarily know so from now on I'd refer him as my sensei. Sensei mentioned that Asians and westerners have different views on how a relationship commences. Asians, like lesbians, tend to see what they want and plan on moving in the next day while westerners date for a long period of time making sure the other one is not insane and compatible before becoming boyfriends. Can you believe that I didn't know there was a difference between dating, exclusive dating and boyfriends? Knowing that fact actually helped. Since I have boyfriend experience and not dating experience, I guess I've jumped the gun a bit much before. An average dating period would last around 6 months?

Sensei went on telling me that there are two different kinds of marriage. There's the love marriage who both parties go in full of feelings and the partnership kinds of marriage where it's more of an arranged marriage thing. While the love marriage burns bright, the feeling will fizzle out as does the relationship and that's why there are so many divorcées. The arranged marriage might not be based on a strong emotion but it's based on the benefit of both people and respect and that kind of relationship will hold out longer. I've known some people who blatantly admitted to me that their marriage is more of an intellectual arrangement so maybe there's some truth in there, but conventional media culture had taught me to go with me heart so I don't think I can believe in that wholeheartedly. Good thing since our first talk, CuteCub and I had become boyfriend and I don't have to ponder what the nature of our relationship is anymore.

Sensei is one of the bigger, taller, hairier (not that I've seen) Asian guy, kinda made me think about how I would look like when I get older and at the same time we can commiserate on how stereotypical rice queens would never go for us. But he told me that due to the Japanese G-men culture, boys like us are actually rather popular in the bear subculture scene in Asia. Come to think of it, Taiwan might just be a good enough place for me to live in. They have street vendor food that I love, my English and Mandarin skills will benefit me there and there are a respectable distance between me and my family in Hong Kong. Still, it's not reason enough to move there. Sensei also told me that there are lots of gay hot springs popping up in Taiwan and that it's a lot of fun there, it'd be nice to be able to just see Taiwan since I've never been.

It's nice to meet a new friend and have someone pop up to teach me some life lessons, too bad he's going back tomorrow and has no plan of coming back in the near future. Bon Voyage!

P.S. On another note, does this picture of Jackie Chan make him look like one of those rent boys?

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Music Invasion: Wham!'s "Careless Whisper"

Today I'm bringing you a classic. George Michael at his handsomest, back then he was still a scruffy, handsome young man. None of that getting caught soliciting in the bathroom stuff. Maybe Him and Tom Selleck are responsible for me liking the type of guys I like.



Careless Whisper

I feel so unsure
As I take your hand, and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes

[Chorus]
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better, than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance, that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you - ooh…

Time can never mend
The careless whispers, of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is the whole you find

[Chorus]
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better, than to cheat a friend (should have known better - yeah)
And waste a chance, that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, ooh…

Never without your love…

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe, it's better in this way
We'd hurt each other, with the things we want to say

We could have been so good together
We could have lived, this dance forever
But now, who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay

[Chorus]
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better, than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance, that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you - ooh…

(Now that you're gone…) now that you're gone
(Now that you're gone…) was what I did so wrong - so wrong?
That you had, to leave me alone

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Movie Review: Outrage

I believe the country now is at a point where gay equality might be becoming a reality in a short period of time. Different states are making gay marriage and for others, it had become a topic for consideration. It had been brought up as a question on Miss USA pageant and gay exposures is increasing with Ellen getting married and people like Adam Lambert. In the more serious end, kids are getting bullied, raped and killed because they are gay, soldiers and Iraqi translators are discharged for the very same reason. Tension is mounting, people are on the move on both sides, very soon the pressure will get to our seemingly reasonable president.

The movie Outrage explores one of the factors that is against us - self-hating closeted politicians; politicians who openly condemns homosexuality but secretly enjoys some gay sex on the down low. Some of these individuals vote against gay rights and funding for HIV/AIDS consistently to maintain an anti-gay front because of their own self-hatred and also to gain support from the religious right.

The root of homophobia grows deep in the U.S. and even though Washington D.C.'s political scene is full of gay people. Voters are not likely to vote for a gay person, so a culture had evolved in which being able to maintain a facade of heterosexuality to be strong while coming out of the closet is considered to be a failure. Because part of being a good politician is to be able to dodge questions and use communication maneuvers to distract others. Being able to portray a wholesome image can get more voters and support from other groups.

Investigation subject include the infamous Idaho Senator Larry Craig who had sex with a guy and threatened him not to tell anyone, Florida "bachelor Governor Charlie Crist who acquire a girlfriend every time an election comes around and even married one in hope to become a VP pick for John McCain, California Representative David Dreier, Ex New York City Mayor Ed Koch, Louisiana Congressman Jim McCrery who travels with his boyfriend/staff member around the world and Ex RNC chair Ken Mehlman. There are also interviews with Mike Rogers who made effort to expose these politicians, radio show host Michelangelo Signorile, congressman Barney Frank, activist Larry Kramer, blogger/columnist Andrew Sullivan, ex New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey and his wife.

The documentary is very well done even though it's a little one-sided. It exposes the hypocrisy of politics as a system with back up facts. People need to see this movie just to understand what harm demonizing homosexuality and guilt and shame could do to a person. There are all the incentives for gay politicians to remain in the closet and with a little rationalization, them and their wife can pretend that everything is normal. Personally I don't care for Jim McGreevey much, he didn't come out because it's the right thing to do but he did so because someone was blackmailing him and now he's playing a media victim.

All in all it's a good film, the problem is though that only people in the GLBT community would want to see this film. We went on a Friday night and there were only a dozen people there. I hope their box office will do better. B

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Weekend Meme: Honest Meme

Hey, this week Vic at Maybe It's Just Me... tagged me with this meme which saves me some work finding one on my own. Thanks, Vic!

So this week's meme is about honesty, I'll have to find 10 facts about myself that I find hard to admit and do that.

1. I'm not too sure where it originated but I've always had low self-esteem, maybe it came from the fact that I'm a semi-orphan or maybe the fact that I'm Chinese and it comes with the culture. But I'm on my way to liking myself more and more.

2. I'm defiant in nature, if you tell me there's something that I can't have and that's all I want. If you tell me there's something that I can't do and I don't see why, I'll do it just to bug you. You're not the boss of me even if you are my boss. I'm easily manipulated that way. lol

3. I'm both terrified and mesmerized by snakes. I don't think I'm terrified by boas since they seemed relatively harmless but I'm scared of pretty much all the other snakes. I believe that had something to do with being brought to the Thailand Snake Zoo when I was 6~7 and having pictures taken next to a king cobra. I do think their movement and color and shapes are mesmerizing but I'd jump if I spot any string shaped object on the ground near me.

4. I have poor working ethics, I tend to procrastinate and not do things until I have enough pressure built on my back.

5. I also seemed to lose interest in things rather easily. I have the energy pattern of a dynamite, very hot and very loud but also very short-term. I've yet to finish my painting, or my recipe project or my knitting project... Ugh.

6. I'm a well-known spender. I like to spend on my friends and I always have justifications to buy electronics, gadgets and clothes. My grandma would get on my case all the time about it and I wished I've listened to her. Three years ago I started to log my spendings and I started to manage my finance a lot better, I've also started to save a little.

7. Born on the day right on the Cancer-Leo cusp, I do consider myself a full-fledged Cancer. I'm highly domestic, I can stay at home and cook all day. Cleaning is another matter.

8. Like Vic, I'm obsessed with Polo. I didn't even know it but I have their socks, undies, a duffel coat, a corduroy vest, shirts, rugby shirts, bed sheets and blankets. Polo is a popular name brand amongst Asians. One of my bed sheet sets features a lot of bears wearing Polo designs and without consciously knowing it, I bought the exact clothing on one of the bears. lol.

9. And because I'm good at math, and was the math champ of my former college, I do think I'm smarter than some people. Also I mean to do good most of the time, so I do consider myself a good person. I guess on some level, most of us mean to be good.

10. It's not easy to get on my bad side, but once someone gets there it's even harder to get out of my bad side. I'm very vengeful and I hold grudges. It's hard for me to forget and forgive. It's easy for me to cut someone out of my life completely but with that said, it is very hard to get me mad and respect goes a long way.

And that's me... play along if you want. Have a good weekend everyone!

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Movie Month: May and June 2009

After seeing some magnificent previews and movie posters, I've swiftly made some decisions on which movies I will watch and which movies I won't watch in the remaining month of May and June, I thought I'd share some thoughts here:

'Yes' Movies:

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (May 19)



This clip had been passing around the Interweb lately, I thought it was a hoax at first because it's about the same time the horror that is My Little Pony got passed around and after watching the preview, I thought the cheese factor was so high that it is too good to be true. Alas, it turns out to be a real movie that is coming straight to DVD. I wonder how good it actually is, it looks bad enough that might turns out to be an instant cult classic. It might probably be disappointing though, but it should be worth a rental.


Up (May 29)



A cranky old man hooked his house in balloon in hope to flew away. I tend to shy away from pixar movies but I kinda like Ratatouille last time I saw it on Encore and this one looks like a cute story. The boyfriend likes 3D movies and this is one, so I'm sure we'll go see it sometimes. Is that boy scout supposed to be Asian?


Food Inc. (June 12)



I guess it could be insane for me to watch this movie since it could potentially make me swore off certain foods for a while but I am interested to find out how food is being produced. Since I'm completely ignorant on the subject, I do want to learn about consumerism and why we need 6 different brand of dried pasta and 120 different kinds of yogurt in the same fridge at the grocery store. Could be interesting.


'No' Movies:

Angels & Demons (Today)



I don't see Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon and the last movie feels rush and not very sound. And even though I don't mind seeing the movie, I much rather read the book before I see it.


Terminator Salvation (May 21)


What don't you fucking understand?

I'm sorry but that roid rage freak out episode had put me off Christian Bale and I lack the enthusiasm to see him. While I'd still be a Batman fan and watch it if there's another installment, I'm not really persuaded with Terminator. Also, I just watched Star Trek (good timing!) so I'm not really into another futuristic flick with a time travel theme. Unless... they are satirical enough to include Christian Bale's Bale Out (RevoLucian Remix) in their soundtrack and score, then maybe I'll rent the DVD.


Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonians (May 22)



This series is obviously a kid flick, I might see it if it's in 3-D but it's another brainless good fun type that I can wait for DVD.


Other than that Drag Me To Hell looks a bit too scary. The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock looks like another formulated trashy chick flick. Transformers 2 could be good, or not... And beyond June, there's Ice Age: Dawn of The Dinosaurs, Bruno and Harry Potter 6. QFest (formerly known as The Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival) is also on its way and I'm going to see Outrage tonight, so I'm expecting a lot of cinematic experiences in the coming months.

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Movie Review: Star Trek (2009)

Stolen from Damien at 2 Cents From Down Under

Just saw Star Trek yesterday with the boyfriend and we both enjoyed it a lot. Honestly, the original series was aired in the the late 60s and the movies are of early 80s. I can't claim to be a Trekkie but I do know William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and George Takei are held as cultural icons because of the series and the subsequent films. But just as The Onions had acclaimed, the film is watchable, easily understandable and fun at the same time.

This film is pretty much acts as a prequel to the whole series started with the birth of James T. Kirk and progress to how he met his crew and became the captain. I'm happy to find that pretty much the whole cast is composed by actors that are of lesser fame which allows viewers to focus more on the storyline. Chris Pine who played James T. Kirk was quite charismatic and did not overplayed his role. Zachary Quinto pulled off playing Spock with his own already unique looks, his story and his role gets to be the main part of the movie. I have to say I'm quite happy to see John Cho playing Zulu, great way to have a handsome guy representing the Asians even though I can do without the stereotype of kung fu sword fighting and driving. Zoe Saldana who played Uhura is quite stunningly beautiful, although I'm sure in the original series would have a lot less public displayed affections? I wouldn't know.

Other famous actor includes Simon Pegg who played Montgomery Scott, Simon is there to add some comic relief. Eric Bana played the main villain Nero in this movie and for shame the make up was so good that I've missed him completely during the movie and I've also missed Winona Ryder who played Spock's mother. I thought given her klepto history, she'd be banned for life but I'm glad she's acting again. Another for shame moment came when I didn't recognize Tyler Perry without his white wig and glasses. I'll have to watch it again. I've also read from Wikipedia that Randy Pausch has a cameo and a line in this movie before he passed, it'd be great to be able to find him in it. And of course, Leonard Nimoy has quite a few scene in this film to add some weight.

Since some time travel elements were add to the movie, they will have an excuse to restart the whole franchise again. Sequels are already at works, personally I'd like to see another TV series done by the same cast maybe dealing with the years of the academy with James Kirk's promiscuous ways and Spock's more serious academic research and struggle for acceptance; maybe like a futuristic Dawson's Creek. And since my last experience with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, maybe it'd be nice to see the film in a mode where the special effects are at their raw stage as a special on the DVD.

Generally, I loved the film and I think it'd be the best film of the year. I only want to know how did Nero get that ship given what has happened to him, I also get confused when Spock got the location of the captain and left while they didn't handle how that information get passed to Kirk. I understand that Roger Ebert had quite a bit of complaints on the technology end but that seems very silly. Can we set our phasers to electro music now? B+

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On Carrie Prejean

Keith Olbermann did a read on Miss Prejean and I hope this is the last thing that we'll ever heard form her. Honestly, what's the big deal? I've tried to just block her out for the past week but now it had become somewhat annoying to hear about her again. She's a beauty contestant from California running from Miss USA who's ungrateful to all the homos around her. Who does she think do her hair and makeup? Design her clothes and shoes? Coach and organize the pageant? So her father left her mom for another guy but you can at least be skillful answering to the question of a known fag Perez Hilton. "I'm glad I live in a country where you can choose between gay marriage and opposite marriage." No Carrie, we can't choose and that's why people are jumping on you from left and right like a pack of wolves.

I'm especially dismayed now that NOM and Family Research Council thinks that she's a martyr because Carrie had lost her crown seemingly because she spoke against gay marriage instead of poor judgment and that ass-backward answer. She's not a martyr until she's dead and maybe the right thing for us them to do is for the media whore Donald Trump to hire someone to kill her and blame it on the pageant official choreographer. No, I don't hate her that much, I just wish she'd just vanish already. Why are we making such a big deal out of a blonde? What about the other brunette or red heads that haven't received a gift of implants and haven't post nude before?

I'm especially outraged when Donald Trump says that the controversy is so big because of Carrie's beauty is so big. What nonsense is that? You can just utter bullshit like that in a press conference. Oh you could, this is USA and free speech means you can say whatever the fuck you want. By the way, can Donald Trump vanish too? He's practically bankrupt so why would people want to be his apprentice and why would Joan Rivers cry for joy when she won? Trump casinos suck! They are the worst of them all, gaudy and old and lack of repair. And her bringing up the epic battle between Jesus and Satan in her head IS a bit cuckoo.

Really, now that Ms. Prejean stays Miss California, can it be the end of that, please? Okay, I would allow her coming up with her own line of Jesus-loving handbags like Monica Lewinsky did but that's it.

Look Miss Panama thought Confucius invented confusion and he's from Japan... She's just as dumb.

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Z is For Zombies

Freemont Zombie Walk 2007

In the war of vampires vs. zombies, I'm taking the vampire's side. (True Blood is coming back with its second season and its writer Charlaine Harris just came out with her latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series Dead and Gone) But then I've noticed a lot of circulation in the zombie culture lately or maybe I should say that I've been introduced to a lot of zombie things since I've been with CuteCub.

The past weekend there were some wonderful street fairs going on in Philly. One of the smallest which happened one block from us featured a pretty good band playing on the street, one of the biggest one in town happened in Rittenhouse Square which was 5~6 blocks long with a lot of restaurants showcasing their food and music and freebies from banks. It was a nice day so tons of people came out and just to get away from this craziness we went into Barnes & Nobles to look at books and came across a showcase of zombie books. Other than your standard zombie horrors, there is a survival guide written just in case there's a zombie outbreak. There's a love story written about the forbidden love between a zombie and a human. There's a better living guide for zombies that all humans should take examples from, a haiku poetry book for zombies. They even rewrote Jane Auten's Pride and Prejudice to include zombies.

On 8Asians, Ernie introduced a game called Plants vs. Zombies and its catchy theme song sung in both Japanese and English by artist Laura Shigihara. Both the song and the game are amazingly cute. On the website, you could also make your own Zombatar. It's fun even though I don't know what color my skin will turn when I turn into a zombie and they don't quite have my hairstyle. lol.

Well enjoy the song.

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Happy Mother's Day

Today seems to be a wonderful day with the sun brightly shining and the wind blowing hard out. Good weather for sailing, flying a kite or just walking around town. Hope you folks are having a wonderful day. Due to sheer laziness I'm gonna repost some memories about my mom along with an old picture. Have a great mother's day.

The Bus and The Moon

I was 6. My mom and I were living in Paris. Our living expenses were pretty much covered by my father but my mom still worked in a sweatshop. She's a good sewer and whatever money she makes, she uses it to take French classes and travel around Europe. I long for those days, for what I remembered those days were the happiest times of my life. It was so carefree. I was in an elementary school then, since my father lived with his wife/mistress, I get dragged out of school a whole lot and traveled with my mom. Even my teachers get annoyed but who else would take care of me if she's gone?

We would go on these bus tours. They sold tickets in some Chinese travel agencies. We would wake up in the middle of the night and go to a gathering place and hop on these coach tour buses. I would always be the first one to jump on it and run to the end of the bus. My seat has always been the middle of the last row, because then I would be able to run back and forth in the aisle. We have been all around; Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Mont St. Michel, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxemberg, Munich, Monaco, Roma, London, we've done it all. My mom gave me the job of finding our way back to the bus when we were let out to sightsee. I always thought it all depended on me and somehow I've developed this great sense of direction since, but more often then not the things that I remember was what happened while we're in the bus.

We were always on the bus. There were always interesting people on the bus. I remember hippies; young French white boys that sings and play guitars, nerdy Asian tourists with their camera and zoom lenses, usually in grey suits and wearing glasses chitchatting with one another smiling and excited all the way. I remember having nose bleeds all the time during winter when it's cold and dry, one of the passengers told us that if you put some cold water behind the ears it'll stop, and it worked. I remember passing farm lands with cows as far as the eye can see. At times, a big round moon will be in the sky shining down during the night, they always had to drive overnight. I asked my mom "Why did the moon keep following us?" "It's not following us, it's just so big that you can see it no matter where you go."

Now whenever I'm on a coach, my mind keep going back to those days when I have my mom next to me. We didn't have a chance to spend much time together and my memory of her fades more and more, but I still misses her. Come August she would have passed away for 22 years now.

"No matter where I go, huh?"

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Weekend Meme: Meme-ology

Today's meme is again brought to you by Kapgar, it's nice to find another bank of memes that I can draw from for this weekly segment. It looks like an interesting enough meme to play with, so let's do this!

Grub-ology:

• What is your salad dressing of choice?
My favorite is Italian, but I also like Blue Cheese and Ranch. They are kinda low carb friendly. At a local French restaurant, they have a very good dressing but I cannot figure out what's in it. I wish I was better at making salad and salad dressing.

• What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Somehow I feel the need to look at the definition of fast food restaurant. In Hong Kong, I was a big fan of Cafe de Coral, Fairwood and Yoshinoya that serve Asian fast food. Over here, I like McDonalds and Church's Chicken. Even though I haven't had any fast food in a while. I guess my neighborhood pizza/hoagie/burger joints are always good and the food court at Mitsuwa is superb.

• What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
I'm thinking sushi at Sagami or Jones around my house. I always have a good time at Jones. Chain restaurant-wise, how about Maggiano's? It's like a much better Olive Garden.

• On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
Usually 15% to the nearest dollar. 18%-21% to the nearest dollar if the service is good.

• What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
I think I was asked this question not long ago. Any kind of noodles will make me happy, like pad thai or pho, or seafood linguine.

• Name three foods you detest above all others.
Dried oysters, sea urchins... maybe kombucha.

• What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?
Traditional Chinese restaurants, it would be crab meat on pea shoots. For American restaurants, it's shrimps in lobster sauce. They almost taste the same.

• What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Don't judge but I like pineapple, sausage and onions on mine. But normally a good mushroom pizza would do. In Philly, we have a gourmet pizza restaurant called Mama Palma that do an irresistible seafood pizza that's excellent as well.

• What do you like to put on your toast?
Butter primarily. Having lived in Hong Kong, we like to put condensed milk and butter on toast as well. And having lived in Paris, I've learned to use butter toast to dip in egg yolks.

• What is your favorite type of gum?
Does bubble gum counts? I'm a little allergic to sorbitol, so I try not to chew gum. Bubblicious used to have a strawberry banana flavor that is superb.


Techn-ology:

• Number of contacts in your cell phone?
Ever since I'm unemployed and I killed my cell phone, my number of contacts had dwindled down to 28. Ugh... I do remember some important numbers and I have a phone book. And I imagine if the person is important enough to me, I will get a call from them sometimes.

• Number of contacts in your e-mail address book?
229. I wonder how many of them I do write to...

• What is your wallpaper on your computer?
I use Webshots for my wallpaper. Right now it's a house between two giant rocks in Brittany, France but I think it's time to change it up a bit. How about a bunny rabbit? lol.

• What is your screensaver on your computer?
No screensavers at the moment. Haven't used one for a while, but I'm pretty good with turning it off when I'm not using it.

• Are there naked pictures saved on your computer?
Would you believe me if I say I don't have any? Of course I do. :)

• How many land line phones do you have in your house?
None. I only use my cell phone. Make no sense of paying a monthly fee for things I don't need.

• How many televisions are in your house?
One. It's on most of the time.

• What kitchen appliance do you use the least?
The broiler. I'm terrified of that thing.

• What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most?
I have no use of radios no more. I do listen to some podcasts, the funny talk show ones.

• How many sex toys do you own that require batteries?
Two. lol.

Bi-ology:

• What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
Hmm... I think it's my calves but one just caused my Achilles Tendinitis, so maybe I'm not so fond of them right now.

• Are you right handed or left handed?
Right-handed.

• Do you like your smile?
I think everyone looks better when they smile, so I do.

• Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Yes, I had a growth on my back. And one other part that most guys had removed either willingly or not.

• Would you like to?
Well, I'm always up for so liposuction. :)

• Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom?
No, I don't linger in the bathroom too long if I don't have to.

• Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
My hearing, I guess. Although I have a bad habit of anticipating what other people might say as words are coming out of their mouths and if it's different than what I expect, I'd get confused.

• When was the last time you had a cavity?
About 12 years ago. Whenever I go to a dentist, they always says I have good teeth, but I could be having a cavity now, I don't know.

• What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?
Regularly? I guess groceries.

• Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Nope. I don't think so.


Misc-ology:

• If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
I don't see why not.

• If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
I'll use my middle name Yves instead.

• How do you express your artistic side?
I sing, paint and write.

• What color do you think you look best in?
Hmmm... I like the color blue, but any color other than yellow and light green should work.

• How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?
How long I can last? Do they have computers? How's the food? I might just be able to last quite long.

• Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
Is gum a food item? I'm sure I had.

• If we weren’t bound by society’s conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?
Nah, sorry but I'm not quite interest in members of my own race.

• How often do you go to church?
Not often at all, not even once a year. But I like to go visit some churches as a tourist. SF's grace cathedral has some work of Keith Haring that I go look at every now and then.

• Have you ever saved someone’s life?
Nope, can't say I have.

• Has someone ever saved yours?
Nope, knock on wood there's no need for that yet.


Dare-ology: (For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.)

• Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?
Oh definitely, I'd even do that for $50K.

• Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
Well since this is done for straight people, I'll answer it in two ways. I'll kiss a guy or a girl for $50 or less. I have no qualms kissing a girl.

• Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000?
I'd have sex with a guy for $1,000, probably $5,000 for girls. Sorry.

• Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Sure, it's a good price.

• Would you never blog again for $50,000?
Well, there are other ways to do this other than blogging. But $50K might not be enough, maybe $100K for a lifetime commitment.

• Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
Yeah, but who'd want to see it? lol.

• Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
How big a bottle? I don't think I'd do that either way. Maybe for $10,000 for a small Tabisco bottle. Maybe.

• Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
Depends if the guy deserved it. If he does, I'll do it for $500K. If he doesn't, I don't think I'll do it for whatever price.

• Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000?
I've shaved my head before, so that's no big deal. I don't mind to shave my body, but waxing is different. I don't think I'd like it that much. How about $20K?

• Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
Oh, hell no. Unless I have a large amount of money to change my life completely and occupy myself with other hobbies. That and some incentive for me to not watch TV at all would require about $500K. Same amount for me to kill someone who deserves to die.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

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Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Yes, I was disappointed too.

I've heard weeks ago that X-Men Origins: Wolverine is available to download online and I had a moral dilemma. On one hand, I just started to get trigger happy with my torrent; on the other, I was sure that I will go to see it in theaters just because I love my X-men. It's not until 5 friends told me how much they hated the movie that one of the hands won out.

I'm not particularly proud of that actually, especially when it's kinda a hassle mixed with pop-up commercial advertising shadiness. But after half an hour of waiting, I've got my hands on a leaked version of the movie. This is an unfinished version where some special effects are not entirely done, it features computer generated landscape that is not colored and actors still with obvious wires attach to them. I figured it doesn't affect the storyline much and it's quite an education on the film making world.

James Logan aka Wolverine and Victor Creed aka Sabretooth were mutant half-brothers that inherited healing powers from their fathers that enable them to heal faster than normal humans. Their powers also allowed them to age much slower. Because of their powers, they've grown to be excellent soldiers participating in various wars that helped built America since Civil War. After Vietnam, they were recruited into a team of special ops by General Stryker and the group disbanded after a massacre in Nigeria occurred. After some group member got killed, Wolverine was brought back into action as the life of people around him got threatened.

To put it bluntly, this prequel to the X-Men Trilogy, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is trying to cash in on Hugh Jackman's fame and attempt to explain the origins of his character Wolverine. Maybe it's just me and my prejudice, I've never liked the Wolverine/ Weapon X series much; he's too grumpy and egotistical and it goes against the spirits of X-Men where you do anything by teaming up together.

Somehow the movie lack substance. It doesn't require 90 minutes of blowing up stuff to explain that few bits it's attempting to do. For a mutant movie, I much rather see different superpowers in action than car and houses being blown up. For us fans, we know that Wolverine is Canadian, so I'm a bit disturbed to see that he was participating in American wars. Although I was entertained to hear that Sabretooth and him were brothers, I can never figure out the relationship between them two and even though the movie made a clumsy attempt to explain it, it's still interesting.

Clumsy and rush is the theme with introducing other mutants, maybe because the mutants chosen in this round have no obvious superpowers other than their superb fighting abilities. Will.I.Am, who plays teleporting John Wraith, whose amazing star power is in fact a breath of fresh air. Taylor Kitsch's Gambit doesn't have a trace of Cajun accent and I was confused on the scene where he insists on fighting Wolverine when he should be taking revenge on his former captor instead. The fight between Wolverine and the Blob in the name of exercise seems to be ridiculously pointless and just for show. Even with traces of Watchmen (What purpose does it serve to have Bolt dead?) and Superman (Were the old couple there just to show Hugh Jackman's naked body a bit more?), the storyline is overly simplified and lack substance.

What infuriates me is that Emma Frost in this film turns out to be an innocent little girl that shows part of her powers for 5 seconds but in the trailers she was shown like she was a main character. Most rescued mutants just ran away without showing their powers. As a spoiler, Deadpool was killed at the end but now there are talks about him getting a spin off, while his character played by the good looking Ryan Reynolds had no chance of developing his character in this movie at all. In fact we didn't really get to know anyone much other than Wolverine, his girlfriend, Sabertooth and Colonel Stryker. Even though I dislike X-Men 3, at least that movie was flashier and with a better plotline.

I didn't think it was possible but I submit that this film is worst than X-3. I'm glad I didn't waste money seeing this film. D+

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Because Food Taste Better Free

Because everybody like free stuff, especially the Chinese and college students, I'm posting here the link to a KFC site that contains a printable coupon exchangeable for a free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal. Two pieces of grilled chicken with 2 sides and a biscuit. I guess America is leaning towards healthier eating. I don't know how they taste, I doubt that grilled chicken has a fan base as big as fried chicken. I also think Popeye's, Church's and Crown Fried Chicken is getting ahead of KFC now. KFC sometimes tastes a little gamey or rancid, maybe they don't clean the chicken properly. I guess anything mass produced loses its soul a little bit, maybe it's time for the Colonel to change his secret recipes.

The coupon is available for printing until tonight at midnight and redeemable until the end of next week. Although the site is experiencing "high traffic volume" or maybe it's code for "we might be losing too much money with this, so it's best to make it unavailable". But maybe with a few try, you could get a free meal. Did I mention it's free?

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May Is Chocolatey Sweet, Pt. 2

After another night of hanging out at the bear/leather dive with CuteCub, I hung out with the gaysians for Dim Sum on Sunday. The weather had been dreary all weekend but it was Equality Forum's Sunday Out event where a march, rally and street fair were to commence in the name of equality. SF mayor Gavin Newsom came out to accept an award for fighting for Gay Marriage in San Francisco. Even though I'm not fond of politicians, I went along with my friends to see him talk and got a kick of my friends clapping for him just because he's cute. He just looks a bit too slick, but I guess it's a good thing to have a politician on your side.

The rain is a major factor that kept people from coming out. The street fair was quiet and pretty much a bust. More than half of the vendors didn't show up and the rest of them were trying to get out of the rain as soon as possible. CuteCub sought me out in the rain, we walked around and got some freebie gay movies. After walking by the rally and listened for a bit, we got to an used bookstore where I accumulated tons of credits but can't find anything to spend on. This time, I found a series of Charlaine Harris books that must have been recently left there. CuteCub found a few books on quizzes and games. Since I've met CuteCub, my book collection had vastly increased in size. I guess it's unavoidable, he's a librarian after all.

Adele was in town to perform at the Electric Factory and I've gotten tickets a month back for us to go see her. So we went out to a bar relatively closer to the venue, National Mechanics, for an early dinner. While the food was not bad, the service was incredibly slow. We weren't served after 15 minutes of our arrival, one bartender in particular wasn't doing anything but chatting with his friends in the corner. I would have walked out if I were by myself. The place was designed to resemble a monastery which was quite neat, and I got some education on beers.

We arrived 45 minutes before the show was supposed to start but the place was already fully occupied by straight women, their boyfriends and gay guys, there were no seats to be found. A band called The Script opened the show with 7 songs, they are from Dublin and their sound is very "boy band", only their members do play instruments. I thought it sounded like something you can find on the soundtrack of Dawson's Creek or The Hills. It turned out I was right, one of their songs was featured on The Hills. I didn't care for them much, but apparently "Drunk Girl" in front of me did with her enthusiastic screams and grinding dance. I think if I were a straight guy, I'd be very excited by her pseudo-lapdance but I have to admit I was kinda bothered by it. Ugh.


I'm a bit disappointed with my camera phone, the old one who fell into the washing machine seems to be performing better than its newer model, maybe I'll get an iPhone next time.

Adele came out not much later and performed around 12 songs. The set was pretty much about the same as her previous concert in Philly. Her voice wasn't in tip top shape, probably from over utilization but we enjoyed ourselves a lot. We saw another gay Asian/White couples there and CuteCub commented that we are not the only interracial couples. Even though we have been seeing each other very frequently, I was reminded by various talks we had that he's not looking for love and I have been struggling a bit with that for a while and that comment spun me around a little bit more.

After the concert ended, we went back to my place and we talked about the possibilities of being boyfriends. He said he loves me. This incredibly cute, handsome, hunky, sexy and smart guy loves me. :)

So ladies and gentleman, I now officially have a boyfriend.

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May Is Chocolatey Sweet, Pt. 1

Sorry that I missed a few days of postings, a lot of things had happened in May so far and this is the first morning that I have some time to process and post the occurrences here. But let me assure you now that everything happened so far had been pretty sweet.

Friday night, CuteCub and I had planned to go to the local leather bar for their charity trivia night. A lot of local bars started to have trivia nights, maybe they're trying to revive their businesses in this economical tough times but I have to admit I do enjoy them. This particular trivia game is hosted by James and Toshio who both appeared on an episode of MTV's Can't Get a Date, I guess they're mini-celebrities in our own community. Friendly guys, CuteCub and I had become friends with them.


Toshio and James doing Everything But The Girl's Rollercoaster

For $5, you get to participate in 5 rounds of games and if your team of 4 or less get the most answers, you get a gift bag full of goodies and the gifts get better by each rounds. The questions ranged from favorite categories of "Dead or alive" and "Jew, Gentile or Scientologist" to "Name 3 famous (blank)" or completely irrelevant questions like how many bottles are behind the bar right now. Our team name is Pina Colada because I'm yellow with spiky hair and Cute Cub is white with brown hair all over. Not incredibly smart or funny but in some way still a bit appropriate. (?) I wasn't that proud of my performance Friday night, I completely missed the ball on things like 3 Janet Jackson's songs with the word "Love" in it, which I would know years ago and while I remember watching Kylie Minogue's sister's first music video in Hong Kong back in the days. I don't remember how to spell her name. (Dannii?!? who spell their name like that? I thought it was Dani.)

We were kinda disappointed after 4 rounds of getting 5 out of 10 questions each round and not winning anything even though CuteCub used his artistry to adorn each answer sheets with very cute drawings which I loved but they get crumpled up and thrown away by our host shortly after. But to my surprise we won the 5th round which had the biggest prize of the night. We got some candles, a chocolate bar, a bottle of tequila, a $25 gift certificate at a local AIDS thrift store and a ball stretcher. The chocolate bar got consumed and shared immediately at the bar with other friends and the hunky bartender with a British accent that we both have a crush on, it was very good chocolate, but since the bar was dim, we couldn't tell what brand it was. It's not until much later that I found out it's from a dollar store that I'd be raiding very soon. Since we both don't use candles much, they will be going to CuteCub's mom as a mother's day gift. We're lost on the tequila since we don't drink it, and about the same on the ball stretcher. (looks a bit painful... (Very NSFW)) But we're thankful for the AIDS thrift store certificate since it's one of our favorite store in town.

And that's what we did the next morning, we went to the AIDS Thrift Store (514 Bainbridge Street, Phila, Pa., 19147) to browse. Usually, we go to look for gym t-shirts, DVDs, music and books. The staff there are friendly, all the books are sold at 10% of the jacket price. Once CuteCub got a very old edition of a book in good condition for about a quarter. The money is going to a good cause and we donate our unused stuff too.



After getting some books and DVDs, we went to the Famous 4th Street Deli for lunch and saw some humongous cakes and pastries. Mini hoagie sized eclair and microwave sized cakes. I saw a much discussed Dr. Browns celery flavored soda called Cel-Ray and tried it. It tasted "healthy", not something I looked for in a soda. I don't think I'll have it again, but at least I can say that I've tried. Their regular sized sandwich is bigger than any burgers I've had. I can barely get my mouth around it. The taste was okay and even though it's visually impressive, the difficulty associated with eating it is a problem. There is a zaftig size too, I wonder who orders them and how big they actually are.

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Weekend Meme: Fear & Courage Meme

Traveling upstream, I got this Meme from Kapgar. I've just learned to secure some meme sources so I can keep this weekend meme thing going. Today's Meme has all to do with fears, challenges and courage. I remember my protestant primary school called Good Shepherd in HK separate their students in every grade in two classes. Love and courage; both hard to get. The principle end up killing his secretary and chopped her into pieces for some monetary arguments. I guess there wasn't much love and he wasn't such a good shepherd after all. But does killing qualify as courage? hmm...

1. What were you afraid of as a child?
Shadows and ghosts. Both Japanese vampire movies and Exorcist-induced.

2. When have you been most courageous?
As cliche as it is, I think it's to let go and love even though sometimes I end up all scrappy. Guess I wasn't very courageous otherwise.

3. What sound most disturbs you?
Voice of screaming ladies. Plenty of that on the street here in Philly.

4. What is the greatest amount of physical pain you’ve been in?
Burned my finger when I stuck it in boiling sugar; 3rd degree burn, very inadvisable.

5. What’s your biggest fear for your children? (or children in general if you don’t have some of your own.)
Being bullied or doing something irreversible, like killing a classmate with a gun. I don't plan on owning a gun.

6. What is the hardest physical challenge you’ve achieved?

I guess it's one of the fund raising walks I've attended, we walked for 4 hours that day but I don't remember the exact distance.

7. Which do you prefer: Mountains or oceans/big water?
Oceans/big water, always.

8. What is the one thing you do for yourself that helps you keep everything together?
By thinking a lot and making lists.

9. Ever had a close relative or friend with cancer?
My mom passed away from cervical cancer.

10. What are the things your friends count on you for?
Somehow I have established a reputation of being able to cook and bake, so some friends know that they can count on me to cook for parties and stuff.

11. What is the best part of being in a committed relationship?
Knowing that there's somebody you can count on for support.

12. What is the hardest part of being in a committed relationship?
To actually find someone and establish trust.

13. Summer or Winter? Why?
Winter. I can wear more clothes if I'm cold in winter but there's a limit to the number of clothes I can take off in Summer. Plus, I'm sweaty, sticky and uncomfortable and there are more germs in the heat.

14. Have you ever been in a school-yard fight? Why and what happened?
Of course, I was. I couldn't get along with a lot of folks first when I moved around. But later all on in life, my friends just chase people around for beat downs for fun.

15. Why blog?
Sometimes to record amusing things and observations, and other times I just need to rant and vent.

16. Did you learn about sex, and/or sex safety from your parents?
Oh no, are you kidding? Sex is so taboo is Chinese culture, my family doesn't talk about sex at all.

17. How do you plan to talk to your kids about sex and/or sex safety?
You mean if I'd ever have one? Well, the chance of me getting kids is lower and lower, so I doubt that I'd ever get the chance. But I'm sure TV and movies will presents tons of opportunities for the talk. It could be traumatizing to use puppets.

18. What are you most thankful for this year?
To have someone to obsess about is pretty sweet. :)

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