Such a double-edged sword, this technology. More often than not, yes, technology is great. But the little things, the heated debates over the names of the last five Secretaries of State*, Pam Anderson's cup size** (this actually came up at dinner last night), or just exactly how to spell and pronounce the name of that pesky Icelandic volcano***. Mysteries in life are solved with the flash of an iPhone. Debate is healthy, fun! This generation is going to lose the ability to reach back into the recesses of our brains where 9th grade social studies is tucked away, and recall actual facts shoved in there. We're going to have hearing problems from the earbuds constantly shoved into our heads, carpal tunnel from the excessive amount of texting, and lose all concept of social interaction. Jane Austen would be appalled.
Here's my other problem with technology and this overly connected world via cell phones and the Internet: Stalking. That nasty little habit of Googling his or her name as soon as you find out a detail, any detail about a person. You don't even need a last name anymore, Good Lord. Stop Googling, people! Savor those first few dates and relish in the get-to-know-you moments before friending him on Facebook reveals that Charlie belongs to a Twilight fan club. And I hate deciphering text messages and im's, and having to ask my girlfriends what he really means by this, and it's been 3 hours, why hasn't he responded--was my last message too clingy?? Ugh.
From this point forward, I will NOT preemptively stalk a person so that I can get to know them the old-fashioned way. I can't promise not to go crazy over misinterpreted texts and ims--I need a little fuel to fire my neuroses. But the stalking, I will really make an effort. No más, lo prometo.
*H. Clinton, C. Rice, C. Powell, M. Albright, W. Christopher. Yes, I had to look up Warren Christopher.
**We aren't sure whether this is pre or post latest boob job, but reports say DD.
***Eyjafjallajokull: "AY-yah-fyah-lah-YOH-kuul"
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sorry for the slacking
I've been mia, I'm sorry. Korea flew by in a swirl of bbq, tutoring sessions, and family visits. I loved it. I got to know family from both sides, met some great people, and ate enough to last me for the next two winters. I hope it won't take another ten years to get back.
Since I've been in the US, I've been roaming around the East Coast (SF-DC-Richmond-Chapel Hill-DC-NY-Philly-DC-SF) reuniting with people I haven't seen from months to years. One of the greatest and worst things about traveling is making friends all over the place--I have no idea when I'll see some people again in my life. But I was lucky enough to see a ton of my favorite people in a short amount of time. I still need to make a trip to LA, Chicago, and Boston. I could really use a job right now to help in the finance department.
In life news, I inhabit a couch in my sister's living room in Oakland. My belongings are scattered in SF, Chicago, 2 places in Boston, and 3 places in DC. I am applying to jobs all over the world. If you need a live-in maid/nanny/dog-walker/cook/personal shopper/fashion adviser/on-call designated driver/whatever else, call me.
On the last leg of this East Coast adventure, I went on a little road trip with Catherine D. Fellow hater/judger, co-blogger (we have multiple others, but we don't bother writing anything in them; we just reserve the url because we're selfish), eater of too much food in comparison to body size, and driver of one awesome Mini Cooper. Together, she and I talk about nonsensical tomfoolery. We were laughing so hard during the drive from DC-NY that I started writing things down.
Native-American = nutmeg
Hybrids are 99/100 times gorgeous. Every once in a blue moon you see a not-so-gorgeous hybrid and you think to yourself, "damn homie, you got shafted." Now, in the 99%, there are some who are especially gorgeous. Why? Native-American blood. Benjamin Bratt, Heather Locklear, Elvis, Jessica Biel. Johnny Depp. I rest my case.
What makes a Béchamel extra special? That little something in the background that you can't quite guess but you know something is there? Nutmeg.
Drunk + dancing ≠ classy
Wedding season is upon us. As bridesmaids, we are responsible for such events as bridal showers, coaxing bridezillas off ledges because the invitations were done in cream and not eggshell, bachelorette parties, etc. Now, when a bride says she wants a "classy" bachelorette party, and then turns around to say she wants to hold it at (insert ghetto club name--think "18 and over" which means 16-year old girls with 40-year old men watching on the sidelines), your duty is to intervene. Classy dancing means foxtrot, not shaking your goodies.
Advanced white girl = intermediate black kid
You remember Missy Elliot's Gossip Folks with the cute little white girl? Well, I'm sorry, white girl. Yes, you are pretty good. But black kids are still going to be better than you.
Merriam-Webster, listen up
If "truthiness" is a word, "conversate" is definitely a word.
D'Angelo
Ladies, you don't know how the song goes, do you? But you know you have that music video filed in your brain under D-D-D-A-M-N he FOINE. "How does it feel" is practically the only thing he says. But as Catherine pointed out, it doesn't matter. "Don't you want him to ask you??"
We were right around Philly at the time. And because we were both so distracted by replaying the music video in our heads while listening to the song, we missed the right exit, got stuck at the Philly airport and had to circle back a few times to get back on the road to NY. Oh, D'Angelo, we miss you. Come back.
Car-eoke
Catherine has some bomb playlists, including "Car-eoke." FYI, of all the Disney tunes, Under the Sea is HARD to SING.
Since I've been in the US, I've been roaming around the East Coast (SF-DC-Richmond-Chapel Hill-DC-NY-Philly-DC-SF) reuniting with people I haven't seen from months to years. One of the greatest and worst things about traveling is making friends all over the place--I have no idea when I'll see some people again in my life. But I was lucky enough to see a ton of my favorite people in a short amount of time. I still need to make a trip to LA, Chicago, and Boston. I could really use a job right now to help in the finance department.
In life news, I inhabit a couch in my sister's living room in Oakland. My belongings are scattered in SF, Chicago, 2 places in Boston, and 3 places in DC. I am applying to jobs all over the world. If you need a live-in maid/nanny/dog-walker/cook/personal shopper/fashion adviser/on-call designated driver/whatever else, call me.
On the last leg of this East Coast adventure, I went on a little road trip with Catherine D. Fellow hater/judger, co-blogger (we have multiple others, but we don't bother writing anything in them; we just reserve the url because we're selfish), eater of too much food in comparison to body size, and driver of one awesome Mini Cooper. Together, she and I talk about nonsensical tomfoolery. We were laughing so hard during the drive from DC-NY that I started writing things down.
Native-American = nutmeg
Hybrids are 99/100 times gorgeous. Every once in a blue moon you see a not-so-gorgeous hybrid and you think to yourself, "damn homie, you got shafted." Now, in the 99%, there are some who are especially gorgeous. Why? Native-American blood. Benjamin Bratt, Heather Locklear, Elvis, Jessica Biel. Johnny Depp. I rest my case.
What makes a Béchamel extra special? That little something in the background that you can't quite guess but you know something is there? Nutmeg.
Drunk + dancing ≠ classy
Wedding season is upon us. As bridesmaids, we are responsible for such events as bridal showers, coaxing bridezillas off ledges because the invitations were done in cream and not eggshell, bachelorette parties, etc. Now, when a bride says she wants a "classy" bachelorette party, and then turns around to say she wants to hold it at (insert ghetto club name--think "18 and over" which means 16-year old girls with 40-year old men watching on the sidelines), your duty is to intervene. Classy dancing means foxtrot, not shaking your goodies.
Advanced white girl = intermediate black kid
You remember Missy Elliot's Gossip Folks with the cute little white girl? Well, I'm sorry, white girl. Yes, you are pretty good. But black kids are still going to be better than you.
Merriam-Webster, listen up
If "truthiness" is a word, "conversate" is definitely a word.
D'Angelo
Ladies, you don't know how the song goes, do you? But you know you have that music video filed in your brain under D-D-D-A-M-N he FOINE. "How does it feel" is practically the only thing he says. But as Catherine pointed out, it doesn't matter. "Don't you want him to ask you??"
We were right around Philly at the time. And because we were both so distracted by replaying the music video in our heads while listening to the song, we missed the right exit, got stuck at the Philly airport and had to circle back a few times to get back on the road to NY. Oh, D'Angelo, we miss you. Come back.
Car-eoke
Catherine has some bomb playlists, including "Car-eoke." FYI, of all the Disney tunes, Under the Sea is HARD to SING.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Just in case
I tend to think about death a lot. Not in a fearful way, but moreso, "I hope I get to do all this before I go!"** As such, I have quite a few thoughts about death that are constantly swimming around inside my head. So, I thought I'd record them down and make a little room for something else.
1. There is a documentary called The Bridge, that captured the suicides of 23 people off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004. It's an obviously controversial film that shows haunting images, but I thought it was well-made and portrays the subject respectfully.
2. A friend and I were talking about the immortality of online accounts and what happens to Gchats, FB status updates, etc, post mortem. I loathe to think of what happens to (and who can look through) my online existence after I go. We came up with the idea for a "self-destruct" service that once you die, so do your online accounts. Don't steal the idea, we had it first.
3. FYI: No to life-support, I want all my organs to go, and I'd like to be cremated, svp. Ashes are to be distributed in waters all around the world; I'd like to be a world traveler always.
4. I would like a party in memoriam upon my death, to which attendees should be asked to wear two different shoes.
Why? Well, a couple years ago, my co-worker and friend, Samer, came up to me during the middle of the work day with a puzzled look on his face, pointing at my feet asking, "Dude, ok.. is this on purpose??"
I wore two completely different shoes and walked around all day without looking down, apparently.
** The Life List:
-1/2 marathon before 27
-full marathon before 30
-go to cooking school
-make a perfect tiramisu
-make my own noodles from scratch (Chinaman-style)
-be an extra on Law & Order (this one's been around for awhile..)
-go hang-gliding
-cross-country road trip
-learn more languages (Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch.. ayee)
-write/publish a book
1. There is a documentary called The Bridge, that captured the suicides of 23 people off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004. It's an obviously controversial film that shows haunting images, but I thought it was well-made and portrays the subject respectfully.
2. A friend and I were talking about the immortality of online accounts and what happens to Gchats, FB status updates, etc, post mortem. I loathe to think of what happens to (and who can look through) my online existence after I go. We came up with the idea for a "self-destruct" service that once you die, so do your online accounts. Don't steal the idea, we had it first.
3. FYI: No to life-support, I want all my organs to go, and I'd like to be cremated, svp. Ashes are to be distributed in waters all around the world; I'd like to be a world traveler always.
4. I would like a party in memoriam upon my death, to which attendees should be asked to wear two different shoes.Why? Well, a couple years ago, my co-worker and friend, Samer, came up to me during the middle of the work day with a puzzled look on his face, pointing at my feet asking, "Dude, ok.. is this on purpose??"
I wore two completely different shoes and walked around all day without looking down, apparently.
** The Life List:
-1/2 marathon before 27
-full marathon before 30
-go to cooking school
-make a perfect tiramisu
-make my own noodles from scratch (Chinaman-style)
-be an extra on Law & Order (this one's been around for awhile..)
-go hang-gliding
-cross-country road trip
-learn more languages (Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch.. ayee)
-write/publish a book
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Billy Kim
My parents love telling me my "where I came from" story. As one version goes, I was the troll they found under a bridge. (Seriously.. they told me that all the time). The other one is about how they were told I'd be a boy, but lo and behold, I entered the world sans 5th appendage.
In honor of my would-be name, I am channeling my inner Billy. If I were a man, I'd frame this and grab a pint with these guys. And then I'd aspire to be this man.
Speaking of men, I learned a little something about my paternal grandfather. I never met the man because he died when my dad was 3. My paternal grandmother died around the same time, so the only thing I've known about them was what they looked like from the painted portraits at my uncle's house. Well apparently, my great-grandfather was a wealthy man who educated his 4 children (Gramps was the eldest) in the nouveau Western tradition. Gramps was a ladies man who gambled away the family money, liked the drink a little too much, and had a few run-ins with gangsters. Grandma was arranged wife #2 who came from the country, so they didn't exactly get each other.
I really wish I could have met my grandparents. I've only ever met one, and that wasn't enough time.
In honor of my would-be name, I am channeling my inner Billy. If I were a man, I'd frame this and grab a pint with these guys. And then I'd aspire to be this man.
Speaking of men, I learned a little something about my paternal grandfather. I never met the man because he died when my dad was 3. My paternal grandmother died around the same time, so the only thing I've known about them was what they looked like from the painted portraits at my uncle's house. Well apparently, my great-grandfather was a wealthy man who educated his 4 children (Gramps was the eldest) in the nouveau Western tradition. Gramps was a ladies man who gambled away the family money, liked the drink a little too much, and had a few run-ins with gangsters. Grandma was arranged wife #2 who came from the country, so they didn't exactly get each other.
I really wish I could have met my grandparents. I've only ever met one, and that wasn't enough time.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
I am a public health nerd, yes.
The start of it all: Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I remembered glancing over the cover several times, but only after my sister recommended I read it, did I finally pick it up and flip through it. Within the first few pages I became engrossed in this non-fiction/historical/anthropological/sociological/east v. west cultural/medical/beautifully written novel, and did not put it down until I read from cover to cover. Yes, I blind-faith entered into the world of public health based on one book.
The last time I read a book from cover to cover was probably the first in the series of The Boxcar Children. I wanted so badly to be one of those four kids, make a home inside a boxcar, scavenge for food.. I digress.
Here we have a how-to public health site c/o the American Public Health Association. One of the first things my BU professors said was that I'd probably have to explain to my family over Thanksgiving dinner what "public health" is and why I just plunked down an obscene amount of money for a degree in it. Well, here's a little nibble of what I've been occupying myself with.
This health care bill has been hogging media attention over the last several months. I'm not here to weigh in on the pros and cons. Just know that I've been called a tree-hugging liberal who loves the world--make your assumptions as you will about whether you think I'd be in favor of, or against universal health care coverage.
What I will say is that compared to other developed nations, we’re spending way too much money, 16% of GDP, to be so far behind our competitor countries. As of 2006, the US ranked 28th in life expectancy. That figure is now 38th, between Cuba and Portugal (UN 2005-2010).
Purely from an economic investment perspective, where's the bang for the buck? There are obvious reasons for why the health care system is the way it is (hi, pharma, lobbyists, private insurance!), but it's about time we join the adults at the big table, don't you think?
Finally, this too, is public health. I've always been interested in law (shhh, don't tell my mom) but I'm still not convinced that law school is in my future. However, I find these cases fascinating. Who knows, if I ever manage to get my hands on a few more hundred thousand dollars, I might add some alphabet soup behind my name.
The last time I read a book from cover to cover was probably the first in the series of The Boxcar Children. I wanted so badly to be one of those four kids, make a home inside a boxcar, scavenge for food.. I digress.
Here we have a how-to public health site c/o the American Public Health Association. One of the first things my BU professors said was that I'd probably have to explain to my family over Thanksgiving dinner what "public health" is and why I just plunked down an obscene amount of money for a degree in it. Well, here's a little nibble of what I've been occupying myself with.
This health care bill has been hogging media attention over the last several months. I'm not here to weigh in on the pros and cons. Just know that I've been called a tree-hugging liberal who loves the world--make your assumptions as you will about whether you think I'd be in favor of, or against universal health care coverage.
What I will say is that compared to other developed nations, we’re spending way too much money, 16% of GDP, to be so far behind our competitor countries. As of 2006, the US ranked 28th in life expectancy. That figure is now 38th, between Cuba and Portugal (UN 2005-2010).
Purely from an economic investment perspective, where's the bang for the buck? There are obvious reasons for why the health care system is the way it is (hi, pharma, lobbyists, private insurance!), but it's about time we join the adults at the big table, don't you think?
Finally, this too, is public health. I've always been interested in law (shhh, don't tell my mom) but I'm still not convinced that law school is in my future. However, I find these cases fascinating. Who knows, if I ever manage to get my hands on a few more hundred thousand dollars, I might add some alphabet soup behind my name.
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