Happy Halloween!

(via CHF)

It's dark already, at 5:30pm! This Daylight Saving Time has not daunt on me just yet. Aight, gotta get ready for the trick-o-treaters. Put my home-made outfit on, chill on the couch, watch Saw with my housemate and enjoy this halloween recipe. Here comes the double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble! heheheheh (cough, cough)

Chocolate Covered Worms

12 oz. chocolate chips
12 oz. butterscotch chips
1 pkg. peanuts
1 pkg. chow mein noodles

Melt chips in double boiler and pour over noodles and nuts. Mix well and drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet. Chill until firm. Enjoy (via CHF)

Don't do anything I wouldn't do, not unless you let me in on the fun. Have a Happy, Spooky, Creepy, Scary Happoween!

Trinidad/Tobago Wedding with modern touches

Congratulations to my (former) partner-in-crime, LH, of ES G'burg Science Center on her wedding day! What an amazing occasion. Very well organized in such a tight working schedule. AO and I arrived at the church a few minutes late according to the invitation; however, we were there before the bride herself. It was so nice to see some Gettysburgians on the bride's side of seatings. This is my first friend wedding attendance. I must admit, during the whole ceremony (3-9pm) I had a lot of questions about myself. As always I dismiss or dodge a thoughtful answer and proceed to thinking about worse case scenerios. Maybe I'm shy or maybe I'm stubborn, but it's apparent that both characteristics are not appealing to guys.

At any rate, I just want to sum up the beautiful wedding ceremony. LH, the bride is from the beautiful island of Trinidad. The groom is from the brotherly love city of Philadelphia. Both are Gettysburg alumni. I'm not sure what is the tradition of Trinidad weddings, but the event had many western similarities that include the wedding reception, an elaborate cake, the newlyweds having the first dance, and cutting the cake. LH didn't throw her bouquet, but if she did I can think of a couple of hundreds worse case scenerios, such as me ending up answering to the authorities why I think it was necessary to elbow fellow guests. Oh, during dinnah the guests often clink their glasses and the newlyweds had to kiss. AO jokes about providing plastic cups and utencils at her wedding because the guests tend to get a kick out of making clinking noise. Speaking of noises (and off-beat voices), the G'burg gang sang Nat King Cole's "L-o-v-e" and Bob Marley's "Is This Love" as a tribute to the happy couple. I helped out with the interpreted dances, but others were way better. I especially enjoy the musical selection from the pastor's daughters with the repeated segments of the Ode To Joy, the fourth movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner. [Did you know because Richard Wagner was extremely Anti-Semitic, and as a result, the Bridal Chorus is often not used at Jewish weddings] For no good reasons, weddings seem to be a semi-depressing time for me. This Trinidad wedding was spectacular. I'm taking notes, just in case. Once again, congratulations to you fine folks. The long drive was well worth it (damn those friggin' portions tolls and the slow traffic). This won't be the last time I'll hear from you. Best wishes and long happy life together.

Of course, we ended the night at Chickies and Pete's with my crazy friends LG and Supah Shmee. Thanx for letting us crash for the night.

R.I.P Rosa Parks

This past Monday evening Rosa Parks passed away. Her small act of defiance had changed the course of history. Here's a WaPo obituary on Ms. Parks.

End of October festivities

This post is late cuz my compooter is just not working correctly. It has a mind of its own; thus, it is driving me crazy. At any rate, I took my niece and nephews to a pumpkin patch this past weekend. The farm life is the place to be. We had so much fun, bought tons of halloween stuff and picked a basket full of apples. If you haven't (and you are around the DC area), this year the place to visit is Cherry Hill Farm and Orchard in Clinton, Md. Cherry Hill has been an institution, with more than 500 scarecrows, huge slides, homemade ice cream and a nature trail. Visit while you can; cuz the farm will be closing after this season, as most of the land was sold for development. Gosh darn it!

On other fun stuff, though serious Clean the Air has created a little pre-Halloween fun with its online video "Climate Mash". Enjoy and take action. Or, you can Become a Republican, tsk, tsk.


This weekend, my friend, AO and I are heading to Philly for wedding at a church. Our friend, LH is getting married! So thrilled and jealous! We'll probably stay at another friend's place for a night and head back Sunday afternoon in time for a small Howloween shindig. Or I can easily pass out and miss everyhthing from the long drive.

Protesters and pirates, arrrgg!

So, I was dropping my books at the library on my way home to check on dad, and there were protesters outside of the New Carrolton Public Library, trying to persuade people to oppose Ron Howard's DaVinci Code movie, as it offended their Christian sensibilities. They were draped in red cloth and playing the bagpipe to an unusual tune. I shit you not. The harmonica was a bad mix cuz the intonation and the composition just didn't mix.

**update** Apparently, this charade is happening in PA too, right in front of G'burg Servo, who woulda thunk!?

In other random amusements, here a quiz on pirate names. I don't think it's true, but I have a pirate name. I wanna be on Sparrow's crew, hehe.

My pirate name is:

Mad Jenny Kidd

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Good news or No news

This awesome pic was taken by the crew on board the Columbia during its last mission, on a cloudless day. The picture is of Europe and Africa when the sun is setting. Half of the picture is in night. The bright dots are the cities' lights.

Note that the Sahara is huge and can be seen clearly both during day time and night time. To the left, on top, is Greenland, totally frozen.

Dad is home. There's no news of kidney stones. He's in pain though, sleeping it off after a dose of ibuprofen and cyclobenzaprine (APAP). I will have to stay overnight so that I can drive mom to work early in the AM. Then, off to the friggin' nail salon. The cell phone will be very close to me in case dad calls. You know what, he never calls me so I may have to drive home sporatically, just to check on my daddy-o.

Idle

My dad has a medical emergency. I'm not sure what it is, could be kidney stones. The procedures could take a few days. Ay yah! Why am I posting this? Cuz I need to be occupied while he's taking the CAT scan. I haven't talked to my dad for weeks. There are so many things I can't forgive him. Oy!

DC DUI

Fear no longer, that glass of wine with dinner won't land you in jail. I thought the arrest of the Alexandria, Va woman was absurd. Then again, it's tough to make a judgement. Only the driver can make that responsible decision. The D.C. Council has voted to amend the city's DUI law to establish .05 percent as the level below which drivers are presumed sober. Mayor Tony Williams criticized the law and wanted the Council to amend it.

In other news, Tammy and her partner opened a restaurant in Annapolis. I went to the opening day and was impressed by the presentation and set-up of the Paradise Restaurant. I was very critical with the food though. I stayed after closing to take a look around. The kitchen could've been much better in terms of move-ability and cleansiness. I won't say too much cuz I might not be welcome there anymore with good conscience. The bar area first caught my eye when I walked in. Amazing selection of wine and drinks. That bartending offer sounds so tempting to me. At any rate, Prince George's Co. is considering a smoking ban in restaurants. I have no objection cuz I don't like the smell of smoke while I'm eating.

I still haven't picked out the perfect pumpkin (or a perfect job!). I think I'll take my niece and nephews to the pumpkin patch if they behave (right!). Anyone know a fall attraction site (or a job for me)?

Brilliant stuff from London

Haha, this is such a silly ad. Evolution on Science and beer.


-via Dean's World-

Tai Shan

Panda cub finally named! Look at that little bugger at the National Zoo. This post is for you, Lynnie. His name in Chinese (Mandarin) means "peaceful mountain". There was a cool naming ceremony with dragon dances (no, there were no panda dances) and martial artists. Amongst the horrible things that are happening to me, this is the best news yet!

Yom Kippur (and job)

In case I run out of time I want to wish all a meaningful Yom Kippur. My wish for kol haolam is that we see more peace, more health and more happiness in the coming year.

I need a new job! I've been applying here and there and randomly everywhere, but still I haven't heard from anyone! I despise the HR committee for being too lazy and selfish. Honestly, tell me if I have the job or not instead of beating around the bush saying the hiring process is at a halt. I can handle rejections. I've had so many. No shame. I'm tired of the job I'm currently working. Not enough pay to match my expenses. For those of you who know me, I don't spend that much. Ay yah! Need job...

Anyway, a day of contemplation. Zom Kal (have an easy fast) for those of you who are fasting. I don't believe that fasting serves any purpose to God, which means that, in my debate with myself, I can only consider the purposes that fasting serves to me. I like food, thanks to my high metabolism. I'm gonna make myself Hu Tieu and enjoy it.

G'mar Chatimah Tovah and Shalom!

Hobbit-like species uncovered

Hear yee, hear yee. Hobbits once existed, ya'll. I knew this all along. Let's talk about human evolution.

Scientists have discovered more remains of the strange, small people that once lived on Flores island, Indonesia.

The announcement last year detailing a single, partial skeleton caused a sensation when it was claimed to be a human species new to science.

Homo floresiensis, as it was called, was little more than a metre tall and lived 18,000 years ago.

Now, the same team tells Nature journal it has skeletal remains from at least nine of the "Hobbit-like" individuals.

The new discoveries include missing parts of the old skeleton - designated LB1 after the caved dig site at Liang Bua - and a collection of other bones, such as jaw and cranial fragments, a vertebra, arm and leg bones, toes and fingers.
[...]
Daniel Lieberman, of Harvard University in Massachusetts, US, said further discoveries on the island would help settle the issue.
"If the island-dwarfing hypothesis is correct, then the island's earliest inhabitants should be larger than the Liang Bua fossils; and if dwarfing occurred gradually, then it might even be possible to find fossils intermediate in size and shape between H. floresiensis and its ancestor," he wrote in a commentary in Nature.

Vietnamese nightclubs galore

I just have to jot a few notes about this past weekend with NQ and TL. Bare with me as I will rant on about my cultural observation. Saturday night, we were at Diamond nightclub, despite the sometimes messy, unsavory, socialite aspects of youth and its aspirations, I saw Asians with bad rhythm, hootchy women and women in torn jeans and wire-rim glasses, dudes with cell phones, whatever. They were up on the stages and on platforms, hips grinding, flirting, full of rice, feeling fine. And there were blacks there, as well as whites, as well as Jewish and Latino boys and girls. And that seemed to be cool, too.

Like all club scenes, Diamond comes with its own hefty share of posers; Vietnamese go because the beat is better. But the girls at those clubs can be pretty wenchy. They can be mean. I’m very subtle, but if you grab my ass, you’re done for! Anyhow, the women wear black pants and baby-doll T's, like Bebe or DKNY. They're walking brand names. I find the whole thing pretty entertaining. Plus, that whole Asian-male thing with the cars. The souped-up high-status Asian ride is a Honda Civic or an Acura Integra, lowered, with fat rims, fog lights, clear corners—everything, even spoilers (ugh, how I hate spoilers; you only need them if you’re into racing, but that’s another discussion). I’m here with Cammy the Camry with a large crack on the front window that I can’t afford to replace and a baby case seat that I’m just too lazy to put in the house because the next day I’ll use it again to pick up my baby nephew. Also, I’m always the desi driver. WTH? I want to get drunk too. But really, it was my choice to be desi. Better safe than to be in deep shit. Nothing’s new, I can endure the tease and the ridicule about not letting loose. I can ignore so many things, but if you grab my ass or take my drink without my permission, I’d just have to let you know.

As for dating Asian men, I'll confess I've never been that attracted to Asian men for some of the stereotypical reasons. TL said the problem for her is the height (or lack thereof); NQ said it’s the teeth (not quite straight enough). Both ladies of whom are observant Vietnamese friends of mine. I had to be mean and downright bitchy and said it’s the personality. (Ouch! I’m gonna be single for the rest of my life because of what I say, sniff sniff). I questioned myself all the time. Why am I so critical? Asian men can be studs. They can also be, of course, arrogant. They certainly have issues. They think “they're the shit” as my brother would put it, when they're not.

Asian women somehow are more docile or domestic smacks of a certain taint that's been going on for Asian Americans since World War II, and even before that. At Eden Center (Diamond is located right behind the plaza), enclaves of Vietnamese, mostly FOB (Foreign Born or, less politely, Fresh Off the Boat), gather in the shopping center or for men in the bars, smoking, drinking, talking on cell phones. There's a remarkable amount of cultural crossover among the younger Asian set. There are karaoke bars that offer sing-along opportunities -- Café Tu Do (translated: Freedom Café) in particular also has sportTV channels that I’ve enjoyed. Fur nightclub, as NQ and the girl who took my drink had informed me is where many young Asians like to hang out. The dance floor attracts first-generation Asians from China, Philipines, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, or those of the "1.5" generation, who've been around for years but still get homesick. I haven’t yet visited Fur, but I intend to in order to finish this rant. But apparently this whole Asian scene, this hot new trend, boils down to sex. Again, what's new?

In Sixteen Candles, Long Duck Dong is your typical FOB, nerdy Chinese guy. I thought it was funny, but that was also really sad, funny sad in a way. Oh, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle by far is my favorite Asian flick. Harold being the first generation geek turned stud Asian is what makes me feel like there’s hope for nerdy Asian men. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan portrays women as the protagonists and heroines in times of immense difficulty. All men in that book/movie are looked down upon to be the worse case scenerios in woman’s social life. I’m sure Asian men hate Ms. Tan. She married a white man. Connie Chung married Maury, the host of the women-degrading talk show ever! What about Nicolas Cage and Alice Kim, you might ask? No need to ask, she’s 21 years younger than him, that’s just not right. Woody Allen marrying his adopted Asian daughter—that’s a head shake brought to a whole new level. Again, I don’t have a good ending to this post. I can tell you that you can expect Vietnamese men to be territorial. Inter-racial dating (with Asian women) will give you a band wagon of hollering and hurling from the Asian men spectators. Frankly, I think it’s silly and very immature. That’s why I’ve never been attracted to Asian men. Omigosh, I am an FOB feminist. Nahh!

Helpless

Tsunami, hurricanes and now this earthquake. The overwhelming force of nature is perhaps an indication to start working together for peace and harmony and keeping back personal animosities. It's time now for mutual cooperation. My sympathy are with the families of those that have lost their lives.

You're a Viet when...

I came across this list from blogthings, and it's kinda creepy how I fit into many of those criteria. Then again, if I take 50 people off the street at random, they would share just as many of these checklist.

You Know You're Vietnamese When....

- At least one of your parents are in a self owned business like a laundromat, nail salon, or apartment building. - You cuss out anyone in Vietnamese that gets you pissed off. - You listen to New-wave, Techno, Rap, Slowjams, and/or Euro dance. - There's Chinese in your family line somewhere. - You live in the valley (SFV), O.C., or somewhere in the East. - You get along with other Vietnamese even though they are total F.O.B.'s. - You don't own an American car. - You like to wear Nike, Adidas, Tommy, or Nautica. If you're an F.O.B., you wear Calvin Klein and Guess. - You highlight your hair. - You played the piano once in your life. - You take 2 or more showers a day. - Your parents always boast about you to all the other Vietnamese parents, or your parents totally dogg on how stupid you are to other Vietnamese parents. - Afer you come from the beach with a tan, your parents say that you look Cambodian. - No matter what you are, people think your Chinese or Korean. - If you get detention or demerits from school, your parents think that you are a rebel. - When you are feeling ill, your parents think you're on drugs. - In your house, there's always multiple pictures of your family and you when you were small, side by side in every room. - You have the last name or are related to someone who has the last name: Nguyen. - Your dad wears glasses and always has the good ol' hair combed to the side. - You only buy products made in Japan. - Your parents always remind you to greet every older person in Vietnamese if they're Vietnamese. - Your parents hate pets except for harmless, CHEAP goldfishes. - Your parents know how to make Pho. - You're taller than your parents. - You put Soy Sauce or nuoc mam on every food . - Your parents use the "Eagle" brand oil for every type of sickness. - You know where all of the Vietnamese restaurants in town are. - Your family own a copy of "Paris By Night". - Your father or brother goes to the casino every week or month.

Be happy

Yet another poem by moi. I've finally decided to post it. It was inspired by a hike at Catoctin Mountains National Park. Enjoy.

Vui Lên Đi

Hỡi anh em bạn củời to lên đi
Cá lội ào ào trong xuối biễn
Thác nủớc trò chuyện không nhấm long mi
Gió kêu tên, tên cũa ngủời đi diễn

Cây ngã xuống để cho núm mộc
Cá đi tìm thứt ăn để sống
Nếu em nhấm mắt, rồi mở mắt lên
Thế gian quai thủờng khi không có ta.

Em trèo thập nủớc tên Cung Cao
Thấy đấn trên ngôi yêu thích loại ngủời
Cha con nấm tai đi rừng nuối sao
Khể chuyện ngày xủa ngày xửa có mủời…

Ngủời ỏ, hãy yêu con cái ngủời
Dù đao thể nào Cha xẽ hiểu cho
Đừng quên nụ củời sinh đẹp tủỏi sáng
Vì thế gian nầy có một mà thôi.

-Trynn Diesel-

Curses, again

The magic of the Bosox is gone. This is a depressing weekend. Hey, wait 'til next year, huh?. So long as Bill Mueller remains the 3rd basement, I'll be ok, I guess. Kevin Youkilis is threatening the position for 2006. Oy! Having your team getting kicked out of the ALDS playoffs is not cool. I'd like to see the Aneheim Angels kick Yankees' well- rounded butts tonight in Game 5. That'll brighten my day a bit. I hate the way the Yanks look on the field, so well groomed and semi good looking. I loved their facial reactions last year when we won over them. The BoSox made history and conquered the ALCS. We are keeping the faith. Wait until next year, muhahaha.

In other news, Katy came for a visit from NYC this weekend in a $35 round trip Chinatown bus line! We had a blast at the Diamond nigthclub. Well, until the very end when disorderly misconducts ignited and threatened our safety, so we decided to call it a night. I would like to be in a bar brawl, where I'd like to punch the jerk that grabbed my ass right between the eye. I would follow by a KamehameHA to finish him off. Oh and the lewd woman that can't seem to understand "please leave my drinks alone" request. WTH? I paid for that. I hate people. Those 2-min meditations and deep breathing really go in handy when controlling my anger. Anyhow, despite the family drama and the wicked burn on the weather condition, Katy enjoyed her visit, I hope. (I told her that the weather will clear up by Saturday). I get mesmerized in the rain. I don't know, there is something theraputic when the raindrops fall on your head. Today is my day off, I'm sleeping in after laundry, dusting, blogging, cleaning after my niece and nephews and finally showering. Oh wait, I gotta pick my mom up from work and assist Luan with homework and bitch about Prince Georges County pubic school system, murder, armed robbery and carjacking records -- to whomever will be my listening victim, muhhahaha.

Oh and one more thing. Spammers beware. I don't like you! I would post something here and a few seconds latter there would be a comment telling me that my site really rocked or something else as equally stupid and that I should check out their jive ass commercial site. I know for a fact that my site does not rock. I was deleting most of comments as soon as it showed up. The spam that is. The problem is that I have things to do in my life that don't involve me sitting at the compooter. I cannot always be on the look out for useless spam masquerading as valid human interaction. You suck! If anyone knows any anti-spam tools, let me know. Respond only if you know me. No spammers cuz that'll just be not cool.

Huzzah for fortune cookies

Hôm thứ bảy vừa rồi, tình cờ được dự một buổi sinh nhật. Hết sức đơn giản nhưng có vẻ như tất cả những ai tham gia đều vui và thoải mái. Biết tớ được ăn mừng Sinh Nhật bằng cái gì ko? Xôi thịt gà :) bằng tiền của khổ chủ, đương nhiên. Ăn xong đi về mới biết là ăn sinh nhật mà.

Chuyện là tớ thường xuyên bỏ trốn vào ngày sinh nhật. Xưa đến nay vẫn thế. Cho dù nhiều lúc âm mưu ko thành. Thực ra những ngày đó, tự nhiên muốn ngồi một mình, nghĩ về những gì đã qua hay đang diễn ra, những người đã đi những gì đang đến. Từ hồi nhỏ xíu đã vậy. Không trách họ hàng gọi là bà cụ non. Thường thường thì đến tối và đêm chẳng bao giờ một mình cả. Nếu ở nhà thể nào mẹ cũng nấu nhiều đồ ăn. Biết thế nào các bạn cũng tới nên thế nào cũng phải chuẩn bị quà ăn vặt. Anh em họ hàng người quen lớn nhỏ sẽ tới. Nhà như có hội. Không cần như vậy cũng biết mình may mắn là người được yêu mến. Nhưng được confirm thì chuyển từ trạng thái sung sướng sang cực kỳ sung sướng, haha.
Cái sinh nhật hôm thứ bảy vừa rồi là sinh nhật cô bạn gái một thằng em. Hai khổ chủ đều rất giản dị, như ngày thường, rất tươi và trông tụi nó rất đẹp. Tụi nó làm tó ngạc nhiên vì với tớ, Sinh Nhật là cái gì, đấy, như đã nói ở trên.

So, I grabbed a fortune cookie after the Sinh Nhật party. That cookie contained the following wisdom: "Your dreams are never silly; depend on them to guide you." Apparently, this means that my youngest brother will be killed at school, my niece and nephews will be kidnapped by a martial arts instructor, everyone will catch the pandemic avian flu and I will never be able to drink again!! (Actually, that last part was not from my dream, but it’s a fear of mine, eek!). What a silly end to a well-intent gathering. I always seem to screw up a party, one way or the other.

In other news, Bosox is playing against the White Sox tonight. My gosh, please win!

Nepotism/Cronyism

For those who missed the news this morning on the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Court, here's classic example of cronyism. Without a doubt, she's part of Dubya's inner circle. A tibit of her history: She went to SMU for both undergrad and law school, that certainly breaks up the Yale & Harvard dominance of the Court at least a little bit. She has a degree in Math and was the first woman to head the Texas State Bar. She's single with no kids and apparently wears a size 6 shoe. My gosh, that's my size. She's in my inner circle now.

No seriously, when you first read the draft of advise and consent clause, there was significant worry about nepotism. Over the dim sum brunch yesterday, JA and GG talked about the novel "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli. How true that this clever Machiavellian move by Dubya. Ms. Miers has no judicial record , and that means no ammunition for Senate Democrats. You can't bash someone who doen't have a history. It would be nice to see a learned nominee with actual experience in the mould of John Roberts on the bench rather than some shadowy Bush crony. By the way, Ms. Miers have any environmental opinions? Oh, forget that I asked, no one knows. It's like Dubya picked her specifically because she wouldn't be confirmed.

On other news, my mom finally got her driver's liscense!!! I'm so proud of her. Guess who is her favorite now? haha. Those many hours of my near death heart attacks really paid off. Next test of patient: my younger brother getting his driving liscense. I dunno if I'm ready.