Asians in the Media (Sept 08 edition)

It's premiere week and I've got treated to a two-hour premiere of Heroes. After last season's writer strike kerfuffle, I'm happy to report that the show has been restored to its former glory. The story is gone from 18 century Japan and returned to the 21st century, where they are out to save the world again. More people with different special abilities, more schemes, secrets and mysteries. I love my superhero soaps!

Of course adorable Hiro (Masi Oka) is back with his sidekick Ando (James Kyson Lee) at his side. Can I also note how hot Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) looks? I wasn't expecting that body of muscles under that suit and tie professor outfit and his calm and collected persona.


Sorry, but I couldn't find that a better pic.

Another show that I'm getting into is The Mentalist on CBS, I seem to remember another show on USA networks called Psych with a similar subject matter but this is done with less comedy and with more of a Silence of the Lamb vibe. It is about a person with extraordinary observational and logical skills that allow him to find certain facts about a person or a crime. These people can pass themselves as psychic and that's where the fun kicks in. Patrick Jane ,played by Australian actor Simon Baker, is one such person that used to play a psychic on TV John Edward style until during an interview he disclosed that he was helping the polic to catach a serial killer and caused the detath of his wife and kid. Now he had become a full time detective to go after the killer. (Guessing spoiler: Could he have split personality and was the killer himself all along?)

Amongst the casts is the very handsome Tim Kang, who has been in The Sopranos, Third Watch, Chappelle's Show and even Rambo 4. Hopefully this show will be a success and he will get his big break to stardom.


Hunky, no?

Over at 8Asians, Jun wrote an article about a girl group that caught Perez Hilton's attention called Wonder Girls. They are a mixture of Spice Girls and Wonder Woman who took South Korea by storm. The song is called "Nobody". Not understanding Korean, I don't know what they are singing but the video is really funny and cute.



The song actually starts in the 2:00 mark. It could have been a Dream Girls tribute. They all look really pretty in their 60s get ups. I still can't judge whether they can sing or rap, but it's pop. Ernie tipped his reader about another Korean singer named BoA is entering the American market, and potentially becoming the first mainstream Asian singer in the States but other than a decent song for the girl's toys Bratz, I'm not feeling her that much. I remember another Asian singer named Coco Lee tried to get into the US market without much success before and yet I see so many white/black guys with Asian girlfriends, strange.

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How a Person Whom I've Never Met Before Managed to Break My Heart

A few laptops ago, a person from the San Francisco bay area befriended me on Gay.com. Let's call him Mr. Oakland. Mr. Oakland is a few years older than me, he's a bit shorter, a mix of French, Irish and Native American, handsome with a solid body (My favorite type, solid, built and "stout" which makes his chest looks giant, i think they call it rugby built now). He told me that he likes Asians and find me cute. He has lived in Korea for a while and learned how to speak Korean and even got a Korean name that means something along the line of pure as water. He works as a ESL teacher, I find his mannerism simply adorable. For the past few years, we have communicated a bit and I never got how he could be single, he told me that there aren't as much Asians in his area as I think, and he's adversed to gay bars. One time he called me out of the blue just to chat because he was stuck in traffic on the bay bridge and tells me that he'd like to date me (not sex) if I ever goes to San Francisco. I told him that I'll be going to Folsom in late September and he said he'll like to see me then. He truly seems to be a sweet person with a heart of gold.

As I was checking my MySpace page just now, I stumbled upon a notification about him updated his profile. So while being curious I went looking and he wrote that he's no longer single as of 10 days ago, my heart sunk. Not that I'm expecting to fall desperately in love with Mr. Oakland and move in the next day lesbian style, but I thought we'd have a good time together. I guess it's bad timing and it just reminded me how life doesn't wait, things happen around you in which you have no control over. With a little further digging, I discovered that Mr. Oakland has found himself quite a hunk; a hot, handsome, rugby built mate who's into sports just like himself. He's a good guy and he deserves to be immensely happy and I think he is happy now. Good for him, his boyfriend is a lucky man. I'm sure quite a few of his 200+ friends/buddies would be quite heartbroken as well. I can only blame myself for not living close enough.

This seriously casts a shadow over my SF Folsom trip, but it's too late to change my mind now. I fully intend to have as much fun as I could.

---

On another note, I'm starting to think maybe I only have crushes on people that I can't have - the unattainables. Is it the thrill of the chase or some deeper psychological hang-ups?

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DVD Review: Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Sorry for missing a few days, probably since now I don't have to go to work, my activity level has decreased and I've gotten lazy.

Well, I've spent a day with my now very good friend BL on Sunday. We went to have dim sum with another friend, you always need more people for dim sum, that way you can sample a bigger variety of food without getting too full. After dim sum we went for a light grocery shopping and we seperated to do our own shopping. I've had to exchange some undies I bought during Macy's shop for a cause event and I was ecstatic that they let me do the exchange with the same discount I've received without any hassle, especially when they costs twenty-some dollars a pair. At least now I know the kind of undies I like are called Trunks, which also happened to be a Dragonball Z character, I wonder if that's because the creator of the anime loves wearing them as well.

After the exchange and a light nap, I went to his place to print out my itinerary. I don't have a printer at home, I had one but then I don't use it and it was just sitting there collecting dust and I threw it away. While we were listening to Audra McDonald's new CD, reading an article teaching me how to cruise and watching part of a DVD called Broadway's Finest Leading Ladies, our buddy CL called and said he'll drop by and asked if I mind cooking dinner. So my eyes lit up and went for groceries.

It took about an hour of cooking and another half hour to eat. The baked stuffed sage chicken and my own brand of lemon garlic parmesan pasta came out alright. I'm thinking of posting the recipe on here but I need to remember to snap a picture before doing that. With some self made Pepperidge Farm/Haagen-Daaz ice cream sandwiches at hands, we sat down to Ang Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman (1994).

---

I always thought Ang Lee was gay, probably because he directed Wedding Banquet (1993) which is one of my favorite gay films of all time. Not many straight Asian guy will write and direct a gay movie, Brokeback Mountain in 2005 just added to my convictions. But then Ang is married to a woman with two kids, should I assume that just because he's married, it doesn't mean that he don't bat for our team?

The thing about Ang Lee that impresses me so much is that his ability to tackle modern topics with a heavy Chinese sentiments. The movie is about this retiring big time Chinese chef and his relationship with his 3 daughters which all have trouble building relationships. The first 5 minutes or so shows the high art that is Chinese cuisine with the father spending a whole day cooking a dozen of dishes for his 3 daughters and himself. BL owns the movie and he told us when he first watched it with a friend they were eating fast food or instant noodles and can't help but got discouraged by the disparity. "And the daughters are still complaining?" The movie showed how some Chinese dishes are made, I cracked up while the father blew air into a goose before roasting it. Of course, my confidence in cooking has significantly depleted from watching this movie and from eating at A&Y's.

The title "Eat Drink Man Woman" describes the basic needs of human, they are, as the movie described, the source of happiness. The oldest daughter is a stuck up high school teacher who is destined to be an old maid. The second daughter is a successful business woman who can't commit to her boyfriend and ended up breaking up with him while continuing their sexual relationship. The youngest daughter is a high schooler who ironically works at a fried chicken franchise, who looks innocent at first but not so while the movie progresses. The three girls lost their mom a few years back and their relationship with their father has deteriorated since, but things changed while their father unexpectedly falls in love.

It is a great movie with a perfect blend of comedy and drama. It is also culturally interesting even though it's predictable at times. If you don't have anything better to do, I strongly recommend you rent this one out to see it for yourself, it might make you hungry so get some popcorn or Chinese take out while you watch. A-

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Music Invasion: Sherry Vine's "4 Minutes to Make You Cum"

As the title would suggest, this is totally NSFW but pretty hilarious.

I think I've heard Sherry Vine's name at the drag queen challenge in Project Runway, but even after watching her video, I couldn't remember which one was her. So I checked and found this, she was the one in Keith's sad chicken outfit:



Here's the hilarious video:



My question to this is: How does saying "tick-tock-tick-tock" ease performance anxiety? lol.

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Weekend Meme: Google Images Meme

Found this week's Meme over at Erik's blog: Gambrinous With Griffonage. It's another get to know you Meme, but I love pictures and graphics so I hope you like it.

Here are the rules:

a) Answer the questions below;
b) For each answer, do a Google Image search with minimal words of explanation, and take a picture from the 1st page of results and post it with your answer;

1. The age you’ll be on your next birthday: 34



2. Place you want to travel to: Greece


I mean look at it, who wouldn't?

3. Your favorite place: Beach


Or a pool, better yet, a pool by the beach. lol.

4. Your favorite food: Shanghainese Food



5. Your favorite pet: Dogs


They're just too cute.

6. Favorite color combination: Brown and Blue


Soothing colors

7. Favorite piece of clothing: Sandals


I've got the tan lines to prove it.

8. Your all time favorite song: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Ella Fitzgerald


I've quite a few favorite songs, but this always takes the cake.

9. Favorite TV show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart


Am I the only one who finds Rob Riggle hot?

10. First name of your significant other: Don't have one right now



11. Which town do you live in: Philly



12. Your screen name/nickname: YvesPaul


All I've gotta say is, be careful where you leave your comments.

13. Your first job: Waiter



14. Your dream job: Music Producer



15. One bad habit that you have: Nose-Picking (Nasal Territorial Marking)



16. Worst fear: Being Thrown Into a Snake Pit


Snakes are my worst fear.

17: Things you’d like to do before you die: Hang Gliding


It would be the closest feeling to flying.

18. The first thing you’ll do if you get $1,000,000: Buy a Condo


I sincerely doubt that a million dollar would get this condo.

19. Your husband/wife: Don't know yet.



20. What present would you like for your next birthday? A Scholarship, maybe? lol.



Have a great weekend!

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Banksy in New Orleans

Banksy hit New Orleans back by the end of August and left some intriguing Katrina related and some Americana images:





You can practically feel the wind.


Gotta love this one.


TV, yes. Boombox, maybe not.


Is this Abe Lincoln?

New Orleans specific:





Americana:


I guess Simpsons are still cool. :)

---

I guess this following series can qualify as the dumbest news of the week. A man destroying a Banksy with red spray paint. I wonder if he owns he building, if not the owner should sue him for damages. Don't thy know how much a Banksy can yield?


Perfect masterpiece worth hundreds of thousands


Stupid idiot with spray paint


Value = $0

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Music Invasion Double Take: Rihanna's "Disturbia" and Ne-Yo's "Closer"

I forgot why, but I've missed the VMA when it first aired 2 weeks ago. I was probably playing Mahjong as I do every weekend and sometimes week days. Just got a glimpse of it this morning when it replayed for the nth time, with "celebrity" commentaries. I guess music had made me feel older, I don't get the Jonas Brothers, they are quite the handsome fellows but they remind me of Donny Osmond, the Hansons and so many others that come before them. What's with all the rappers anyway? Leona Lewis did a wonderful rendition of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood which got raped by Lil' Wayne and T-Pain. Those Lil' This, Lil' That don't really look that lil' anymore, even Lil' Bow Wow changed his name years ago. And I getting too old to appreciate MTV? I know I haven't been cool for a long while.

I hate it when a singer reissue their album with extra songs in it. Like Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad. I feel gypped for buying her album early, why can't they release a new album for her additional material? It is virtually encouraging people to abandon the CD format and just go right for the MP3s. I find it unethical. I've to admit that I don't care for Rihanna that much, but she must have an incredible production team on her back and she can sing. I do like a few of her songs.



Disturbia

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
What's wrong with me?
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Why do I feel like this?
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
I'm going crazy now
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

No more gas in the rig (Can't even get it started)
Nothing heard, nothing said (Can't even speak about it)
On my life on my head (Don't want to think about it)
Feels like I'm going insane, yeah

[Bridge]:
It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort (Oh)

[Chorus]:
Throw on your break lights
You're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia
Ain't used to what your like
Disturbia
Disturbia

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Faded pictures on the wall (It's like they talkin' to me)
Disconnectin' all your calls (The phone don't even ring)
I gotta get out
Or figure this shit out
It's too close for comfort (Ooh ooh)

[Bridge]

[Chorus]

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (Disturbia)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Release me from this curse I'm in
Trying to remain tame
But I'm struggling
You can't go, go, go
I think I'm going to oh, oh, oh

[Chorus]

---

Another song that get cuaght in my head and I find myself singing it even though I don't know the words is Ne-Yo's Closer. He's still singing songs about girls even though I thought he was gay. I'm sure he's just doing it because that sells, but it just seemed fake.




Closer

[Intro]
Closer [x4]

[Verse 1]
Turn the lights off in this place
And she shines just like a star
And I swear I know her face
I just don't know who you are
Turn the music up in here
I still hear her loud and clear
Like she's right there in my ear
Telling me that she wants to own me
To control me
Come closer [x3]

[Chorus]
And I just can't pull my self away
Under her spell I can't break
I just can't stop [x4]
And i just can't bring myself away
But I don't want to escape
I just can't stop [x4]

[Verse 2]
I can feel her on my skin
I can taste her on my tounge
She's the sweetest taste of sin
The more I get the more I want
She wants to own me
Come closer
She says come closer

[Chorus]

Come Closer [x7]
I just can't stop no [x4]

[Chorus]

And I just can't pull myself away
Under her spell I can't break
I just can't stop [x5]

Come Closer

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Fantastic Contraptions

While browsing online yesterday I found this free game site online called Fantastic Contraption. It lets you use some wheels and bars to create some gizmos or contraptions to achieve some goal. It's like playing with legos, it requires your knowledge of physics and a large amount of creativity. It's tons of fun.

I have never been good with physics, in fact it's my worst subject right next to history. It is the only subject during high school which I failed, well maybe not the only one, but it is the one that I failed spectacularly. Still, I'm real proud of some of the contraptions I've made.

After you've completed a mission, you can go back and check other solutions. It's amazing on how creative other people can be. I somehow find the last 5 missions out of the 21 quite difficult. If anyone can figure it out and post the solutions here, I'd be grateful.

Hope you have fun.

Oh, I also downloaded a Japanese gay hentai strip mahjong game, even though I can't read Japanese and I don't know what they are saying, I'm eternally grateful that someone would combine my two great love: gay porn and mahjong. Haha!

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The Joy of New Jeans

Miraculously, I've shrunk a size maybe even a few. It is hard to explain since I don't exercise much, but here it is some concrete proof:

When I was at the doctor's last week for my cough, I was waiting in one of the offices. Out of curiosity and boredom, I flipped through my chart and throughout the years I've lost at least 20 lbs.

Yesterday, Medic Guy called out of the blue and wanted to hang out before moving down to DC, so we went to do some shopping. I needed a pair of new jeans and some more clothes so I don't look like a homeless person around my friends. So we went to the Lucky Brand store, I find their Jeans nice and more affordable than your regular specialty stores. (I don't need a $300 pair of jeans.) I have been seeing some people cuffing their jeans and I thought I like the look, so I thought that's what I want to get. The store clerk took a look at me and said I should take 2 inches off my waist. I thought she was just bullshiting me and laughed and told her that's one of the nicest things anybody had said to me in a while. Usually when I go shopping I don't even try things on and go for my usually size clothes, why bother? But for jeans, I don't know what looks good and what doesn't, so I usually bring a friend along so someone else can tell me when I try them on.

After trying the things that the store clerk brought me which I thought it was a few inches too small, and some shirts that is one size smaller, I'm surprised that they all fits perfectly! I can sit down, stand up, even lift up my leg with no problems, there's even space left at the waist. It made me so happy that I bought two pairs of jeans, officially doubling my jeans ownership. It should serve as a proper motivation to keep my current size or even losing more.

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DVD Review: The Forbidden Kingdom

If the Chinese would ever produce the Lord of the Rings, the Forbidden Kingdom would be it. Well, no. If you can ever translate American Chinese food into a movie, the Forbidden Kingdom would be it. Yup, that's more accurate.

The story utilized quite a few Chinese Taoist fairy tales and folk stories; the infamous monkey king which is also utilized by the Japanese for Dragonball Z; the Jade Warrior who guards the gates to heaven; the 8 dieties who reminds the world that everyone could be a deity no matter rich or poor, young or old, man or woman; the cherry blossom utopia; and the white bride which has been another movie from Hong Kong cinema. Throwing in the two biggest Asian Kung Fu star in Hong Kong and Hollywood, you've got here a guaranteed blockbuster. I should be thrilled to see so many Chinese reference in one movie, but I've got a beef with it. There are tons of Taoist fairy tales out there that would be great translated to a movie all on it's own, these kinda chop suey style pulling a character from this story and another from somewhere else and make them fight is not only disrespectful but borderline sacreligious. It's almost the same as Disney rewriting our childhood fairy tales.

The wed between HK cinema and Hollywood is a bit ridiculous as well. How do you explain a boy traveling through time to ancient China and all the sudden everyone in it is speaking English? It's Back To The Future meets Lord of the Rings meets Karate Kid. Yes, it's exciting with all the fighting and chasing around, but at some point it gets to be too much and unbelievable.

The secret is that all Hong Kong movie stars like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Chow Yuen Fat, Stephen Chou and everyone else take pride on making it to Big Time Hollywood. But a lot of times they are used to producing lower budget films and don't quite know what to do with a bigger budget, so they make up these big ideas that they think will guarantee a box office sell but end up being mediocre. I remember a time Jackie Chan shined just with his moves and his personality and people overlooked the lower grade productions, now it seems to be the other way around, the productions have overshadowed his talents. But then both Jet and Jackie are aging, I wonder where are the newer generations of Kung Fu masters.

Other than Jet Li who played the monkey king and a monk, and Jackie Chan who played one of the immortal deities, the other younger cast members are actually quite charming. Michael Angarano of Sky High fame plays our protagonist, a young man who's in charge of returning a weapon to the monkey king. He's very likable and I think I spotted chest hairs. Yum! Liu Yifei is quite pretty and I think I mentioned her on this post, well maybe not but she's the girl on the poster. Her character kept refering to herself as a third person in the movie which was weird. Li BingBing was quite good playing the white bride, deliciously evil.

Like my view on American-Chinese food, I'm not saying that this movie is bad. I'm just saying that it's terribly unauthentic and 3 hours after watching it, I'm left with not much memory of it. There is no substance, no nutritional value. C

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Kid-napped

I remember I wanted kids before this weekend. I'm not saying that I don't want them anymore, but I guess during the weekend I've come to realized that there is a difference between reality and fantasy. There are a lot of details and logistics involved with kids and it will force me to be the adult permanently if I ever adopt or get a kid.

The weekend with ES and her family has been pleasant but exhausting, I've had a taste of life in the lands the heteros. Their schedule is wildly different from mine, they have responsibilities, they have chores and errands, they have kids. It is a big contrast of what I used to. School, day care, Japanese schools, a huge minivan, a four bedroom house with a two car garage and two car seats, troller, juice boxes, toys made of plastics, breast feeding, Dora the Explorer and Diego; It's like a whole other language. And the kids cry because they want to be picked up, and the kids cry because they want to walk on their own, and then they cry because they don't want to take a nap or because their mom is in the next room, or because they want that particular toy. I'm glad I'm just visiting, I can be the seemingly patient uncle Paul.

I was hoping to sleep in my own bed last night but dinner and dessert have made me missed my last bus home. I have mountains of laundry to do that I've been pushing it back. And my Mahjong buddies have just called to arrange a game later today, but I reckoned that everyone is busy during the week and I could use that time to do it, if I don't get too lazy.

By the way, it is also Mid-Autumn Festival today, so if you haven't had a chance to look out in the sky last night, do it tonight and stare at the full moon, it is said to be the clearest visible full moon in the year. Enjoy.

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Weekend Meme: The Last Meme

This week's Meme is found at Sue's pal, Large Tony's blog. Large Tony has recently discontinued his blog which is quite a shame and this meme is literally the last one he ever posted.

Last Kiss: I believe it's CuteCub, although being the slut that I am, I might be wrong.

Last Good Cry: I have no idea on this one. It could be 13 months ago, when Principe finally left for good.

Last Crush: I think that belongs to CuteCub too.

Last Alcoholic Drink: It might make me sound like quite the alcoholic, but I mixed my own Apple Martini at a party last weekend. It was huge and I got drunk through 2/3 of it.

Last Phone Call: Talked to BL, he asked me some questions about his new toy the 7" thick... mini laptop.

Last Text Message: To ES, telling her that I got to Washington, DC.

Last TV Show Watched: Almost finishing season 2 of Dexter which I've just bought. Well, actual TV program would be a rerun of Graham Norton on BBC America, the episode with Julian McMahon and Joan Rivers.

Last CD Played: CD I've played? Well... I don't remember playing any CDs lately. I've burned some on my iPod, the last one I burnt is probably some dance mixes.

Last Book Purchased: Illiterate here... I think I bought some Goodnight World series for ES' kids a few months ago.

Last Book Read: I can't tell you this one either, I think it might have been a Chinese Kung Fu novel.

Last Movie Seen In A Theater: From my last review that should be the House Bunny.

Last Movie Rented: Penelope

Last Download: A shitty software called Iofy.

Last Curse Word Used: Is "Shit" a curse word? If not, then it's gotta be "Fuck".

Last Beverage Consumed: Tea

Last Food Consumed: Banana tapioca pudding, not that great.

Last Item Purchased: Does food count? If not, it'll have to be a black sweater from Express.

Last Word Spoken: "Okay." That's always on my lips, I'm a yes-man.

Last Annoyance: I'm at ES' place for the weekend and somehow ES and her husband is fighting openly and loudly. I think I might have to shorten my stay.

Last Disappointment: It always have to do with some relations which I won't dwell too much into it. Well, unless you count this afternoon where I was trying to transfer Pimselur French into my iPod and that shitty software Iofy didn't work.

Anyway, have a great weekend!

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Music Invasion: Adele's "First Love"

Reporting straight from my bunker, I pulled this song out amongst quarreling couples and screaming kids. Feeling like Carrie Bradshaw, reminding myself why being single ain't so bad.



First Love

So little to say but so much time,
Despite my empty mouth the words are in my mind.
Please wear the face, the one where you smile,
Because you lighten up my heart when I start to cry.

Forgive me first love, but I'm tired.
I need to get away to feel again.
Try to understand why, don't get so close to change my mind.
Please wipe that look out of your eyes, it's bribing me to doubt myself;
Simply, it's tiring.

This love has dried up and stayed behind,
And if I stay I'll be alive,
Then choke on words I'd always hide.
Excuse me first love, but we're through.
I need to taste the kiss from someone knew.

Forgive me first love, but I'm too tired.
I'm bored to say the least and I, I lack desire.
Forgive me first love,
Forgive me first love,
Forgive me first love,
Forgive me first love,
Forgive me,
Forgive me first love,
Forgive me first love.

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Confidence Booster

Out of curiosity I posted my picture on a kid site called HotorNot.com, of course it's purely out of vanity purposes. It's hard to explain but I have had some confident issues ever since I've moved to the States, before that I was a happy go lucky loud mouth and I have no idea what changed in between.

Well believe it or not, little old me got a 9 out of 10, so I'm pretty thrilled. Of course, I know that one is one of my best pic with great lighting and good pictures of me comes far and few in between, and my score is dropping slightly but it still boosted my ego and morale a little bit.

Speaking of confidence boosters, it's a weird ritual of mine but whenever I'm planning to go out for a trip somewhere else, I want to go shop for clothes. I don't know why I feel the need to look my best in front of strangers, as if I need to convince others that this is how I usually look like. I could care less when I'm in town though, but no, since I've met more and more friends I've realized that as comfortable as I am in T-shirt, shorts and sandals, it's still not enough.

I'm not a person of style. I have three pairs of jeans and two pairs of shorts. I usually stick with my favorite and don't change until it needs to be replaced. The stores I go to are also quite standard, Macy's, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Express. Yesterday as I was doing my rounds looking for things to buy, I found nothing. Well, they are already selling fall/winter stuff and all I bought is a sweater that looks okay but too cheap to pass up.

I can't believe I can't find anything out there. I saw a red short sleeve shirt at Macy's but it costs $80. Banana Republic has a nice t-shirt, but they don't have my size and their website didn't even list it. Maybe I can find it somewhere else. Lucky Brand taught me to layer a long sleeve white t-shirt with a flannel shirt, but I'm not too sure it's the weather to get that or if I'd spend $40 for a plain white long sleeve t-shirt and I'd imagine that outfit would look more proper if I'm working at the docks of Seattle.

Went to the doctor and he told me I managed to lose 7 pounds just sitting on my ass last month. Maybe if I lose more pounds then, I can look better in clothes. I'm going to Washington, DC for the weekend to be with ES and her kids, hopefully I'll find some outfits down there.

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Taste of Homelessness

Yesterday, I was online as usual killing my time and suddenly all the lights and electrical equipments in my place were flickering. (Well, actually my ipod to speaker contraption was ok, which I still don't understand why.) The first thought that comes to my head was that something I'm using was short circuiting. Maybe a mousy was chewing on some cable and get electricuted during the process. I called my landlord and thankfully they're there, so they said they will investigate it. I was prosponing my trip to satisfy my "find things to buy" urge, but I thought, what the heck, I don't need this Exorcist style epilepsy inducing bullshit. So I shut off all the electronic devices and went out. Turns out the problem extends to the whole building and in fact the whole block.

Some electrical device in the pothole exploded and fumes were coming off it. A fire truck and some hunky firemen arrived along with and ambulance and like 6 patrol cars. After the fume rised, dark smoke followed and soon my building along with others in the one block radius were evacuated until further notice. I went and bought a wrench from the hardware store, getting ready for the heist. Somehow the sizes are not quite right, even after one exchange. Walked around aimlessly on South Street, I usually go out with a purpose and seldom go out just because, so it bugged me somewhat. I wouldn't know what to do all day if I have to live on the street.

Went to a dinner to have a very early dinner and by that time it's getting dark, so I walked up to a police officer who's standing guard around my block and asked for details and he said it will be hours before it's fixed and offer to walk me back to my building so I can pack up my laptop and go somewhere else to wait. He's pretty nice and perhaps I should have lead him back to my place and have my way with him or at least ask for his number. I got back to an empty pitch black apartment building. It looked like the scene for the next Resident Evil game. some people left their door open and I was thinking how easy it must be to take their stuff from them, but I didn't. I packed up my laptop and headed out to seat in a coffee shop with Wi-Fi. It's impossible for me to go without TV and the internet now. I'm too dependent even addicted.

BL got out of class and texted me to meet him to watch him eat and then we headed to his place to watch episodes of Golden Girls. After that, I headed back to a place with electricity but no cable or internet. I thought I'd just go to bed and pray for the best in the morning, but I pulled out my Hedwig and the Angry Inch DVD, watched the whole thing and noticed everything turned back to normal around 2am.

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The Asian Queens on TV

Well, you guys know I'm Asian, right? So maybe you'll understand my excitement of spotting some mainstream TV programs that feature Asian faces or in some case, the program itself is even Asian themed. (Can we not count Shot of Love with Tila Tequila?)



I thought I would get to watch The Cho Show (Thursdays 11pm) and write a proper review piece, but I've been quite busy on Thursdays playing Mahjong with my friends and missing out on some episodes, thankfully they do reruns and there's always the online clips. It's hard for me not to compare it with My Life on the D-List with Kathy Griffin. Unlike Kathy's show who dig up fun with Kathy's relatively normal day to day life, Margaret's show is more staged.

The first episode is about Margaret going to receive the Korean of the Year award which celebrities often do, but the whole dress picking process is unconvincing. The second episode deals with Margaret image problem, so they decide to stage a "mother-daughter" beauty pageant that everyone ends up winning. The third episode Margaret experiments with camping in the name of environmentalism and return to a time where people uses recyclable energy, so the whole casts were wearing settler's costumes. And it seems like there's always a life lesson somewhere. As much as I like Margaret, the show feels a bit made up. Although the real stars are Margaret's parents, they seems genuine, wise and hilarious. Still, I've decided to love the show and watch it religiously and I'm already booking tickets for my crew to see her live show coming up next month.



There was a 6 episodes mini-series called Samurai Girl aired two episodes per night over the past three-day weekend on ABC Family. I caught a glimpse of it on Sunday, so I've probably missed the first four episodes. It might have been aired that way because ABC wasn't sure that it would generate enough viewership and they are testing the territories, or maybe it's a special way to gain cult status and it might go big time, but it sure feels like a strange move.

The main character Heaven is played by a pretty girl named Jamie Chung, who is actually Korean and not Japanese. You can see that she doesn't have any martial art trainings by her moves - it's a bit clumsy. After a little digging, I found a surprising amount of sexy pictures online that reminds me of Tila Tequila, and after more digging, I found out that she used to be in Real World: San Diego, I think I've seen that season but I have absolutely no recollection of her. Anyway, the show is pleasant even she plays the only good Asian, everybody else seems to be in a gang or an evil ninja or something. I believe if I was an actor in Hollywood, my career would probably be like Kenneth Choi's or playing an extra in a Choi Yun Fat movie.

And then there's this guy, Mr. Wisit Parapong from this season's Top Design:

I should stop making fun of my fellow gay Asian brother, he does seem incredibly talented. Wisit is a fashion designer who wanted to be an Opera singer who's trying out to be an interior designer. But he did busted out singing Opera in the middle of his self-introduction, and his mannerism is just too funny. (Not because of the effeminacy but more like because he smiles but then he's too shy to even smile. lol) The guys from Project RunGay are calling him not your average queen but the Grand Empress, I laughed so hard. I really have to give it up for the producers at Bravo for finding these unique individuals.

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Modern Zodiac

It's amazing that even how generalizing Chinese Zodiac and Western Zodiac is, I still believe it in some levels. I wonder if the zodiacs fulfill their own prophecy, I'm a rabbit, so I must be nice. I'm a cancer, so I should stay home all the time. Honestly horoscope itself is like fortune cookies; best ignored. But then I guess there are other ways to predict and perhaps change the future, there are other weays to know yourself better and find out how you can relate to others better, perhaps even improve your life with the things you learn, and that mechanism, which I have already used and putting it aisde all this while without further exploring it is called the Jung/Meyers-Briggs Personality Test.

There are four dichotomies and each dichotomies are measured and signified by its polar opposite characteristics. Attitude: Extroverted (E) versus Introverted (I), Information Gathering Function: Sensing (S) versus Intuition (N), Decision-Making Function: Thinking (T) versus Feeling (F), and Lifestyle: Judging (J) versus Perceiving (P). Four dichotomies and each have 2 choices, it means that there are 16 different combinations which represents 16 personalities in general.

You can pretty much find the test in tons of different sites. I did mine here, but you can find it here and here as well.

I'm an INTJ, which makes me The Scientist/The Mastermind. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly, the INTJ profiles describes me to the tee. The problem is that only 2.1% of the population is INTJ, and only 1.8% of the population is ENTJ who serves as the perfect personality for my mate. and given only half of the population are men and 10% of that population is gay. It means that 1 out of 1000 I meet will be my ideal mate. Kinda a low chance, no?

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Rain Songs

It was pouring down pretty hard yesterday and I guess the same happened at Lexington where my friend Cubxotic is. We both like the rain, so we got to talking about songs that we like to sing when it rains.

Obviously:


I was singing this one yesterday. Cheesy, can't help it.

Before that, there was this gem:


One of my favorite movie, since my drama teacher showed me during high school.

And this is my all time favorite:


It's Madge and I'm gay after all and it's one of the rare spot where you can see Asians.

--- Addendum ---

Oh and I forgot this one too:

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Weekend Meme: 40 One-Word Meme

Post No. 541 is this week's meme, this one comes from cb at The Mangina Monologues, I've seen it at My 2 Cents as well but the questions are not quite the same.

The rules are quite simple, you can only type one word to answer each questions. There are no rules on whether you can repeat the same answer or not, but for the sake of making it more difficult and more fun, let's say you can't. As always, I'm not gonna tag anyone but feel free to play along. :)

1) Where is your cell phone? Reachable
2) Your significant other? Waiting
3) Your hair? Spiky
4) Your skin? Buttah!
5) Your father? Deadbeat
6) Your favourite thing? Music
7) Your dream last night? None
8) Your favourite drink? Juice
9) Your dream/goal? Homeowner
10) The room you’re in? Studio
11) Your ex? Stalker
12) Your fear? Catatonia
13) Where do you want to be in 6 years? Love
14) Where were you last night? Uncle's
15) What you’re not? Ambitious
16) Muffins? Chocolate
17) One of your wish list items? Condo
18) Where you grew up? Intercontinental
19) The last thing you did? Ate
20) What are you wearing? T-shirt
21) Your TV? Nanny
22) Your pets? Nonexistent
23) Your computer? Laptop
24) Your life? Flatline
25) Your mood? Hopeful
26) Missing someone? Fling
27) Your car? Nada
28) Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
29) Favourite store? Supermarket
30) Your summer? Miserable
31) Like someone? Always
32) Your favourite colour? Blue
33) When is the last time you laughed? Today
34) Last time you cried? Forgot
35) Who will/would re-post this? Willing
36) Whose answers are you anxious to see? Everyone's
37) Most disliked vegetable? Omnivore
38) A lovely Person? Sue
39) Country I want to visit? Greece
40) Lucky number? Secret

Have a great weekend!

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Don't Block The Box

Hanging out with Lucius again and we get to talking about his crush on a straight friend who they nicknamed The Box due to his shitty car - The Shitbox. Through the years they have maintained a pretty good friendship and 10 years later The Box had gone and married a great girl but at times Lucius would still think about his friend and perhaps reminisce and fantasize just a little. While coming across a street sign, Lucius thought The Box would be thrilled to receive that as a gift:



Me being the schemer, the rebel and the people pleaser, I'm excited to take the project to hand. We walked past several of these signs around the neighborhood and to see which one is at its best condition. Lucius had yanked a smaller street sign down before, and even these Don't Block The Box (DBTB) signs are a bit bigger and stbler, one or two pairs of pliers or an ordinary hex screwdrivers should do the job.

The only trick to this is to find the a time to do it without getting caught. These DBTB signs are usually around busy intersections, so if we need to do this it'd have to be during the wee hours of night when no cop car patrols. The whole ordeal cannot exceed more than 5 minutes or we might end up getting caught and arrested.

I went on Ebay but nobody's selling it or any replicas of it. So if I really want one we'd have to do it myself. It'd certainly add some excitement to life. I wonder if I can pay any kids to take down one for me though.

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Sick Day Rant

Woke up all tired and achy yesterday, I thought it was from a hangover I've got hanging out with BL the night before. He wanted me to see an Asian crime thriller called the Infernal Affairs. I have been really out of touch with Asian cinema, the last movie I've seen was Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle which was hilarious. But honestly other than films done by Wong Kar Wai or Zhang Yi Mou or some of the kung fu movies, I have not much interest in Asian movies and by the time we were talking about it, it was already 10:30pm, so we decided to go for a drink instead.

So we ventured out, as much as I hate to miss watch the Daily Show especially during the RNC, I am thrilled to have human contact and a social life. We went to a small neighborhood bar where I met a bartender who I've had a huge crush on 7 years ago - a very nice baldheaded guy with wearing glasses. It has been a long time now and he moved from one bar to another and he's not as slender as he was back then, but I adore the guy. I remember everytime I see him he'll come in to give me a kiss on the mouth, I'm not used to that kind of expressions and I can't help but brush a little everytime I see him.

After two drinks, I'm drunk. I can't decide whether it's because my bartender crush thought that he was being nice to me by giving me more alcohol in my glass or not. Alcohol is so not the reason why I go out to drink. BL have had 5 beers and two Malibu Pineapple and he's making fun of me for getting drunk so easily. We were talking about Chinese food that we love and he hasn't had any dinner so we decided to go to Chinatown to get a bowl of wonton soup. BL is kinda tall and husky like me, well, not as husky and he loves to eat so we click in different levels. One of the most famous late night hangouts closed for the month, so we ventured to another place and got some mediocre noodle soups. At the end I was so drunk and tired that I can't even be bothered to chew, BL laughed as he walked me home.

So I went back to Chinatown yesterday for lunch so I can find some real wonton noodle soups. And along the way I picked up some tonics that supposedly helps with maintaining physical balances. I have been having too much fried food and maybe my not feeling well have something to do with the Chinese Medicinal theories of my body being too heated. The banquet food, ordering pizza and fried chicken during the late night mahjong session, staying up too late, boozing more frequently and eating durian all contributed to me feeling unwell.

Right now I have a temperature of 102 and I have a lump in my throat. There's nothing a couple of tylenol can't fix, I just hope that it's not strep throat again. That or Lyme disease. God, I'm such a hypochondraic


Found this trendy shoestore in chinatown where they hang the shoes up right next to some fake roast ducks. I thought it was a pretty cool concept.

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On Sarah Palin as Our Potential Next Next President

Yes, I said President. John McCain is 72, and the life expectancy of U.S. males is 75. If John McCain somehow miraculously gets the presidency and crooks in the next 4 years, voila, Mrs. Palin there will be our next next president. Chew on that, well, don't, some heads might explode.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against a female veep and I totally expect McCain to nominate someone other than the stereotypical older white men. But doesn't he do a background check before nominating someone as his veep? Current scandals about Palin's pregnant teen daughter, or the fact that she fired her brother-in-law out of spite? There's her lack of experience and her views on gays and abortion and then there's her going on tape saying that she doesn't know what the vice president does. Aren't there other minorities around that would work or are there no other female Republicans with better experience? Or are all Republicans scandal-ridden that makes a former beauty queen like Palin seems like the best candidate?

As always Jon Stewart and his crew provide the most valid point in the funniest way:



Nominating Palin kinda guaranteed McCain's lost, unless the G.O.P. rejects that nomination or McCain changes his mind. Is that still possible?

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DVD Review: Spice World

Rewind back to Friday night, the night before A&Y's big day, BL came over with shooters, wine, beers and DVDs so that we can have a movie night in. BL is a young Vancouver born HongKongese who became part of the Asian group in Philadelphia. He's a lot of fun, because he knows how to party and he knows how to drink, I especially appreciate the way he dresses. (One of his T-shirt features Freddy from Nightmares on Elm Street, Jason from Friday the 13th and Michael from Halloween jumping ropes and counting "1, 2, we're gonna come get you.") Even though he's not natively born in Hong Kong, he knows all the cultural references and expressions and I adore him for that. Being the rare 6 feet Asian guys that we are, we have became fast friends in a short period of time. I secretly wished that I was as intelligent and young as he is.

So after going to see The House Bunny with me, he felt the need to prove to me that he's not an art film buff and that he watches trashy movie as well. So he brought over Matthew McConaughey's Failure to Launch and his trash movie favorite Spice World. I'm afraid to admit that when the Spice Girls first came out, I swooned. All 5 girls portraying 5 different personality, it's like an RPG game. There wasn't much girls band back then and they were quite good until they got overplayed to the max and became a trend not to like them. I loved their first album, I just thought that they didn't have the material to make a good second one.

Well, I think Spice World is created as a response to the mass Spice Girls fanatics. The movie itself have not much of a plot and the whole thing seems to be quite ad-libbed. It sorta reminds me of Help by the Beatles when the paparazzi chase the girls around the city of London. There are a lot of celebrity cameos (Elton John, Roger Moore, Alan Cummings, Elvis Costello...), there are a lot of landmarks scenes, there are a lot of song and dance, but everything seems disjointed and there are not much substance.

BL says it's so bad that it becomes fabulous and he thinks even the girls know it's bad so they are really not trying to be anything. But I think it's so bad that it's terrible and I'm wondering if it's a form of BL's revenge for me to have dragged him to see the House Bunny. Although the movie is kinda shitty, I still had a great time watch DVDs with BL, We watched the Joy Luck CLub before this one which is a masterpiece and we finished with watching episodes of Weeds, I don't think I can ever get tired of that show. Now that BL is starting to be the TA and working on his PhD program, I'm afraid that we might now get to hang out as much. D-

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The Cheese-Filled Day, Pt. 2

5:00pm - Picked up another set of buttoniers after Y plead and stuck a $100 dollar bill in my pocket before rushing off from the Art museum. Me and the 4 bridesmaids were the only people there in the restaurant. We thought there would be Mahjong at the restaurant as in every other banquet but apparently we were wrong. A's dad rented a separate place for it, but the girls deemed the place to be a little complicated and refused to go. We're not saying it's triad owned but it's not that far apart. They are all trembling under the air conditioning, one of them asked me if they can use my jacket and then started sniffing after I handed it to her which I thought it was rude.

6:00pm - Helped with setting up and carrying cases of Remy Martin to the banquet hall. I'm starting to get pooped. Thank god two familiar faces came up, my recently turned best buddy BL and a very nice and charming girl WJ whom I've met once before came over. I'm so relieved, I immediately switched seats.

7:00pm - We're starving and the fruit plate, the cookie plate and the candies are not helping much. More people got there but the hall is just half filled. Since the invitation said 7:00pm, I've decided that everybody else coming in from that point are late and we should start the banquet without them.

7:30pm - Still starving. I suggested that we might want to get a bowl of wonton noodle soup around the corner and then come back later. BL countered by saying it could start soon and we don't want to miss the first few courses.

8:00pm - I'm famished and started to wonder if I can find some prosciutto somewhere to wrap around the melons. it won't be much better but at least I'll be entertained and feel somewhat proud of myself.

8:20pm - Finally the MCs of the night started to get people to sit down and introduced the families of the bride and groom to some kinda house music. And the bride and groom came in. We clapped and cheered. Apparently the father of the groom is quite famous amongst the Chinese community and the mother of the bride works at the restaurant. So the owners and everybody else who's someone in Chinatown got introduced as VIP guests. The owner of the restaurant gave the groom a gold plaque and the bride a huge jade pendant and a huge pearl pendant. It's a bit My Big Fat Chinese Wedding-ish. I was waiting for the car and the deed of a house to come out, but no. I was wondering why they can't serve us food and talk at the same time.

8:40pm - Finally food. I was expecting loud cheesy traditional Chinese music and there it was. SV's family was supposed to come but they are running an hour late, BL and me cheered at the thought that we can have huge portions of the dishes before they arrived. We each got 3 huge deep fried stuffed crab claws. BL had 4 beers and hid our Remy Martin under his chair. Apparently he's a lush and we have no shame.

9:00pm - We're not the only people who have no shame. Apparently people think it's alright to sing to the married couple as a sign of their good will, even though they can't freaking sing and I have sensitive ears. One of the MC in a yellow dress works as an entertainer for weddings and all, and she sings so out of tune. And then all the relatives and friends went out one by one and sing -- badly.

9:30pm - I'm enjoying the shark fin soup and covering my ears between sips. I can still hear everything perfectly because the speakers are way loud. I feel like I was being slapped every time someone sing out of tune or mispronounce a Chinese character.

10:00pm - SV's family arrived, I stuck the last piece of squid down my face. The yellow dress MC is singing and doing the twist and she started another song by screaming Everyone Let's Cha-Cha, BL and I have decided that she's fierce and we must have her! The way she's smiling is just unnatural, no one can pull out that brainwashed grin, not even the little girl in the Olympics who lipsynched.

10:15pm - The yellow dress MC started playing games with the groomsmen and the bridesmaids by dancing the chicken dance and the macarena with her extra hyper happy face. The bride yelled for me and BL to go out. I pretend I didn't hear her, BL waved and smiled.

10:30pm - I'm stuffed. The wait staff are handing out boxes and bags and SV's family is wrapping every dish up. I barely got a taste of the rest but I figured I have had the ones that I really wanted. There should still be half a dozen of dishes coming out but they have started singing karaoke again and I don't think it's worth staying and get tortured by the sounds. BL reminds me of the delicious braised noodles at the end and I sighed.

10:45pm - How come there are no eye candies around? SV came by half drunk all shit-faced. He's usually very dark and tanned, but somehow he managed to turn a purplish color.

11:00pm - Finally it's over. I really wanted to take the fried rice home but SV's brother got it from underneath me. We took the bottle of Remy though. A line is forming to take pictures with the bride and groom. It felt like we've just been on one of those rides and we survived. Waited with WJ for her ride and walked BL home. Before we part, we decided it was a very unique experience and we'll be making fun of it for years to come.

11:30pm - As I'm walking back to my place I saw Lucius on his way to a bar, he said I looked good and asked me if I want to go have a drink with him. I was too tired and I'm not going to a leather bar in a suit but a compliment is all I needed after a long day.


I can't complaint about the food other than it being late, this is one of the best dishes of the night. Shrimp, Scallop, Squid, Sea Cucumber stir-fried with Chinese Broccoli in a taro bowl. Yum.

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