What the...

English as the Official European Language

2010-09-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of
the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for
improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as 'Euro-English' .

In the first year, 's' will replace the soft 'c'. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump
with joy.

The hard 'c' will be dropped in favour of 'k'. This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan
have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome 'ph' will be
replaced with 'f'. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter..

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more
komplikated changes are possible..

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate
speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent 'e' in the languag is disgrasful and it should
go away.

By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing 'th' with 'z' and 'w' with 'v'.

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary 'o' kan be dropd from vords kontaining 'ou' and after ziz fifz yer,
ve vil hav a real sensibl riten styl..

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi TU understand ech oza. Ze drem of
a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas..

If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl

- anonymous source

Facebook News

2009-08-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been sometime since I've written. I've written enough papers for me to think more about writing.

Before the semester begins, however, and before the papers yet to be written begin to pile up, let me vent yet again... this time about Facebook.

A friend has announced her pregnancy the day after taking a home test pregnancy, ON FACEBOOK.

I don't understand how people use these online networking sites to herald some of the biggest news of their lives. Never mind heralding such big news to strangers (let's face it, most of our closest friends either don't have a facebook, or never really use them, leaving most of those in our "friends list" more acquaintances than friends), at such a time that these types of news should not even be mentioned within the family circle until the danger period (the first trimester) ends. Big news as such should be given personally.

I'm not sure about my friend, but I do like to see the faces and the reactions of my loved ones when I tell them my story.

To be honest, I faked a surprise tone when this particular friend in question called to tell me the news. Her husband had actually betrayed the news the day before she did... and it wasn't that exciting. Don't get me wrong, the news is wonderful and I couldn't be happier. I just found out in a not so exciting way.

Also, last I checked, Facebook is NOT Twitter.

I don't really care what you're doing every minute of the day. I don't give a shit what you're eating or what you've eaten for dinner. Unless you're inviting or you are sharing, what is the point?

I truly hate it when people drown my homepage with their trivial profile posts. If you're bored, read the news, and share anything that which seems interesting. Do something more intellectually stimulating. I couldn't care less as to which Sex and the City character you are. I really don't give a damn about your IQ score because really, you've just demonstrated it.

At the end of the day, you've just trifled your status with your friends.

As much as I love Facebook, I hate that it's taken away true intimacy from relationships. I love that I can connect with old friends and new friends alike from all over the world, but I hate how it trivializes the friendship.

"Once" (the movie)...

2008-08-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

...has got me nostalgic for Dublin.

It then made me think whether we should go back...

...hmm, just a thought.

Asian Grump

2008-07-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

First of all, I am not Asian. But as we, Pacific Islanders, are deemed to be Asians anyway, out of ignorance, I will, for today, consider myself an Asian-American.

Now, as an Asian-American, thus holding the right to associate myself with the Asians, I have the right to criticize my own race. Much like how only blacks can criticize their own race otherwise anyone else, unless he/she is partly black and looks a slight resemblance of being black, would be called a racist, I can, without being called a racist, assess some of my Asian counterparts.

To be clear, when I say Asians, I mean those who very much associate themselves more to their home country's culture, or nationality, than to the American culture. In other words, I speak of the FOBs.

Dear Asians,

Why are you so grumpy when you come across another person but your fellow countrymen? Is it so expensive to give a nod, or is it too difficult just as to smile ever so slightly? Is it against your moral value or culture to acknowledge the presence of another person? Does it give you satisfaction to stare?

Granted, some of you might have had a bad day, and we are all entitled to a bad day, but no one has a bad day everyday.

Okay, so some of you might be shy or a bit intimadated. So look the other way or don't look at all?

Sincerely,

Your not so Asian neighbor.

What the gas...

2008-06-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was gone for two weeks and already the gas prices went up $.35?

What the hell?

How to Get a Lifeguard Out Into the Water

2008-05-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

1. Make sure there's a rip current.

2. Put on your wet suit.

3. Swim out to the deep.

4. Body surf without fins.

You don't even have to look like you're drowning.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened to me last Saturday. I was teaching a few students how to surf. I thought I'd take some waves myself, but thought better and allowed the students to play with the 3 surf boards our program have. I wasn't even in the deep. The water was just right to my chest, where the breakers were.

Me: "Are you here for me?"

Hot lifeguard: "Ah, yes, but you look okay. Are you?"

Me: "I'm fine."

Hot lifeguard: "Actually, can you just do me a favor. Since you don't have flippers, can you stay in the shallows?"

He walked away.

Yeah, sure Mr. hot lifeguard. What do you propose I do in the shallows? Jump with the waves like a stupid girl trying to look cute for her stupid boyfriend? No thanks. I'd rather drown.

So, there you go.

Japan

2008-04-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Whohooo!

A few more weeks...

...and I'm back home (one of my homes). SWEET!

Bachelor Night

2008-03-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today, I've come home from school/work before 22:00 hour for the first time in 9 weeks. Every Wednesday, I always feel guilty for not seeing my husband pretty much from Monday until Thursday. "(sighs)I'm glad I'm home on Thursday night." But as I found out today, my husband has been enjoying his three bachelor nights. While I labor and toil, the hubby has been playing games and lazing around. "I never get to have time on my own." he complained.

The truth is, I too, enjoy having some time to myself. It used to be that late night trips to the hot tub provided this free time, but now that I've gotten so busy in the evenings, I've had to find other ways. Luckily, I finish work early on Thursdays and Fridays. Recently, sitting in front of the telly watching mindless crappy tv shows has been relaxing enough. Far from my ideal alone time, it has surprisingly served as a escape, a time to let the mind wander, thinking about nothing of significance.

Funny how many single people idealize a time of "never having to be alone again." Though I understand the idea, I find it interesting that as a married person, I long for the "time of being alone." There is a happy mid point. I believe that it is healthy to keep one's own social life. Alan and I share the same friends, but there are times when I just want to hang with my friends, sans the husband, and he with his friends, sans moah. I am fine with this so long as the friend he is hanging out with is not another girl I don't know, and vice versa.

Se la vie, as the French would say. Yes, that's life.

Superbowl XLII

2008-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Giants...Yeah!

Defense team - You were tight!

Eli Manning - Sweet!

Patriots - Enjoy humble pie.

Meanness

2008-01-31T19:05:00.000-08:00

I don't understand why people have the drive to be mean to each other. Granted one might feel an immediate gratification in the action, it is no match to what one feels after the fact. No one wins.

Tears in Music

2008-01-27T13:58:00.001-08:00

This morning at church, I was brought to tears by Chopin’s Ballade in G minor. The man, whoever he was, played the music brilliantly. Now, I’m not a very emotional woman; in fact, I am more known for being rather emphatically callous. However, there is something about music that always moves me.

I mean, hello, I dated a guy in high school because I fell in love with his musical abilities. He played my heart with his music, so do speak. When that was over, I yet again, this time in college, gravitated towards a man who played his way into my heart. Though he went out of tune quickly, he led me to who I believe to be the main composer of my life, God. As a baby Christian, out of all the churches I could’ve walked into, I walked into Vineyard. Yeah. Let’s just say God serenaded his way and he never stopped. I mean, my mother-in-law is an opera singer for crying out loud.

Part of me wishes I never stopped playing, but this morning, I was happy to just listen and allowed the music to take me wherever it wanted to. There was something about the music that spoke security and peace in me. The crescendo nailed in a deep anchor in my heart that was so incredibly self assuring.

Is it coincidental that we happen to finally settle in a church where music has been a vital part of their worship? I mean, Dr. Hanan Yaqub, who once stood alongside the legendary John Rutter, is the musical director. I also work in a University where the Music department is one of the best in the nation. Hello! God knows what touches me. No, not sappy chick flick movies, but a well composed, well played music. (I once cried listening to David Gray)

I believe that god is composing my life in a perfect symphony. He is by any means nowhere close to finishing, but at least I know that the final product will be magnificent. Now, that’s worth the tears.

American Selfishness or Individualism

2008-01-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I agreed to stand in for a professor who had to miss his class, though refused to cancel, for personal reasons. The class is American Culture with 17 Chinese business people visiting for 3 months. The two hour class was mostly occupied by asking personal questions and photographing the visiting lecturer. After interrogating me of my whereabouts the last 30 years, they asked a rather confounding question which I found more profound to summarize within an hour.

Question: "After living in 5 different countries in 3 different continents, how would you describe what it is to be 'American'?"

Answer: "To be American is to be an individual, one who emphasizes oneself over a family, a company, or a group."

Yes, I gave a grossly simplistic answer to a loaded question.

A few weeks afterwards, I was sitting down over a cup of coffee with a very good friend at Coffee Bean. He is a very philosophical man, with very profound ideas. We talked about the differences between America and Europe, whilst figuring the difficulties my husband might have to hurdle in moving across the Atlantic. I realized then how I've let myself down in answering the question above the way I did, though not completely wrong, but was rather misleading. My friend and I defined the characteristics to be said as particularly American:

1. I don't care as long as it doesn't affect me.

2. Think what you wish so long as you don't shove it at my throat.

3. As long as it makes me/you happy, why not do it?

The above statements do not convey individualism, but selfishness. There's a big difference between being selfish and being an individualistic. Let's face it, we are definitely not an individualistic culture. Last I checked everyone is too busy trying to look like someone else (See previous post on Graffiti Art).

Yes, people, we are incredibly selfish culture. I mean who says those things but selfish people? The truth is, one's action is never an isolated thing. Cause and effect. What ever one does, it has an effect, not just on oneself, but on those surrounding the action.

Let's take a married man who decides to get involved with a lot younger and hotter woman. As long as he's happy, why not? Well, what about his wife? And his children? And the woman? All of them, the wife, the children, the woman, and probably the extended family and friends of the couple, are directly affected by this one, miniscule idiotic action. Cause and effect - law of nature.

A drank person decides to drive back home after a few drinks. Hey, he/she can do whatever he/she wants as long as it doesn't affect me, right? Wrong. The idiot will not only kill him/herself, but everyone else on the road, including me and you. Now that's incredibly selfish.

The question is, who is more selfish, the offender or the one who stood around and did nothing to stop the offense.

A Stalker?

2008-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, after coming back from our annual New Year's day hike, I received a rather curious phone call. The conversation went something like this.

Me - Hello?

Mr. X - Hello, is this (my name)?

Me - yes it is. Who is this?

Mr. X - this is Adrian (or was it Adam - he obviously did not impress me)

Me - Ah, yes. (At this point I thought he was a telemarketer)

Mr. X - I might have met you on myspace or friendster

Me - Okay, and...

Mr. X - 714 - Where is that anyway? Are you from LA?

...okay, at this point, my curious phone call just turned freaky. I answered his question and I absolutely have no idea why. I just remember being confused.

Me - Orange County.

Mr. X - Well, I just called to wish you a Happy New Year.

Me - Thanks, you too. Okay, goodbye.

Mr. X - Do you have a myspace?

Me - No, I've just closed that account.

...here's exactly why I closed that account. There are quite a few freaky people out there, and no matter how tight you set the privacy, they still get a hold of you. If this guy is one of the crazy e-mails I've gotten over the last 18 months (rather flattering e-mails mind but still freaky that they'd just write to a complete stranger) I've had that myspace account, then I'm now really freaked out because...HOW THE HELL DID HE GET MY NUMBER? Nowhere in there did I enter a phone number.

Mr. X - How old are you anyway?

Me - Ah, (long pause) 30.

Mr. X - Are you serious ? (based on his rather perplexed response, this guy must be about
24-27 years old). Wow, really?

Me - Yeah.

Mr. X - Well, I just wanted to wish you a Happy New year.

Me - Okay, you have a good one too. Bye.

I handled that phone call rather poorly. Beside me was my husband who was probably more curious than I was during the whole minute or two conversation. "Did he ask you how old you were?" Yeah, that was a mystery. My husband urged me next time should I get more strange phone calls of such, god forbid, to ask the questions and do the interrogating not them.

Here's the thing, WHERE THE HELL DID HE GET MY NUMBER? I never really gave it another thought, until this morning when I checked my e-mail. I wonder how much of this internet thing is safe and how much of it is just asking for trouble. I mean, bloody hell, how the hell did he get my name and my phone number?

Now come to think of it. I got another phone call on Christmas day from the same number- Unavailable - with a similar accent - Latino/Mexican accent - asking for someone else, claiming to have dialed the wrong number.

But why would anyone phone a person who doesn't know them? "Hello, this is Adam. You don't know me but I'd like to talk to you. Please talk to me." Whoever you are, Adam (or Adrian), and I don't mean to be a bitch here, but get a fucking life. Phone someone you know and lose my number forever.

BMW

2007-12-11T08:37:00.002-08:00

As we were backing out of the parking lot last night, I can't help but call the guy a wanker. Our car is already out of the parking space, fully backed out, simply in need of a change of gear. A 4-door BMW branded car who came from behind still decided to overtake giving us a look as though we were in the wrong. He then sped out of the apartment complex, and drove off as though everything was normal. We caught up with the same guy 10 minutes later who, to make a story short, behaved once again as a BMW driver would. Wanker.

Let me just say this, and let me make it clear,

"I HATE BMW DRIVERS!"

Apparently, I'm not alone:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/wolf56/bmw.html (very funny)

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=552347

http://www.epinions.com/content_960077956

...and there are million others where these sites came from (google)

So it turns out I have many friends who drive the suckers. They understand the sentiment (I love you guys); It's not like I ever tried to hide my opinion. I get the workmanship, the genius engineering, but I don't understand how the drivers could be as big of assholes as they are once on the road. Does the asshole come in the package, included in the price?

"I'm sorry sir, could I have one of those without the asshole?"

"I'm sorry miss, they come prepackaged."

Every BMW ends with Wanker.

Graffiti Art

2007-11-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

Are you more of a Coach kind of person or a Loius Vuitton one?

I was shopping last night at the mall for some home accessories. As one whose obsession with shoes never seem to get under control, I just had to walk through the shoe section to browse for the latest styles (and yes, I was a very good girl and resisted buying an Alfani comfort Mary Jane). I came across this pair of shoes:

For the love of fashion! Who in the right mind would buy such item which can only be described beyond tacky, a hideous sight? I mean, seriously, I will not be caught dead wearing one of these.

I know the latest fashion trend seem to summarize this generation fairly well; one that of name brands. The clothes, the bags, and as I just found out, the shoes one wears all represent one's identity. Personally, I don't believe in name brands. Yes, I own I a number of items with respectable brands: marc jacobs, hermes, coach, miu miu, reaction, etc. However, I can promise you that you will never see me advertising them around. Graffiti art is free advertising for manufacturing companies and an admission to one's lack of self identity and individuality. Come on. What the hell makes these graffiti art accessories look appealing? Nothing. Graffiti art is nonsensical. All it does is shout out loud to everyone that one has submitted to status quo and have become a victim of advertising. "Hey, look at me, I'm a Coach girl, much like everyone else. Oh yeah, by the way, they're real. No really, I'm real."

It doesn't really matter much if one's graffiti art is real. What matters is the reason why one would even think of buying one at all, and propagate it around as though one is better with one than without. The irony, eh?

A Hooker

2007-10-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

So what are you going to dress-up as this Halloween? Cat woman? Wonder Woman? Britney Spears? A witch? I've always wondered if there are connections between our mind and what we choose to dress up as for costume parties. A witch for example would symbolize our inner wickedness that has to be suppressed for social purposes. Our fascination of other people's lifestyle leads us to want to look like them. Or our subconscious desire to be famous would cause us to dress like one who is famous. A sexy cat just says, "I am sexy," and "I'm feisty...meow."

But a hooker?!

Okay, I understand men dressing up as hookers. They love women, and perhaps fantasize of one every 5 minutes. It doesn't matter really with whom, as long as she looks attractive to him. But what about women? What woman thinks about being a prostitute? I mean no offense to prostitutes, I just don't see anything attractive about their lifestyle. I can't imagine one who is happy with her situation.

So if you could be anyone you want to be for halloween, why be a prostitute? If you just want an excuse to be sexy, then dress as one who is more respectable in society. Dress as one who has a higher rank in the fantasy world. Be a bunny. I'm yet to see one dressed-up as a bunny who is not sexy. What about princess Jasmine? She shows her belly and legs. There are plenty other personas you can take on to represent your inner psyche.

Please do yourself a favour, just don't dress-up as a prostitute.

Scumbag...

2007-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

...is the one who bites the hand that feeds him.

...lies.

...he repays kindness with spite.

...lies because he's not man enough to admit anything of truth.

...pretends to be nice, but talks crap behind your back.

...lies.

...flatters in malice.

...lies because he is a lie himself.

...deceitful.

...lies.

...blames everyone else and everything else except for oneself.

...and did I say, lies?

Bloody scumbag.

Nobel Peace

2007-10-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

What are the qualms about Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize? An environmentalist doesn’t deserve recognition?

According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

When the US declined full participation in the Tokyo protocol, we broke fraternization with other nations that believed so passionately in it. Al Gore as an environmentalist, doesn't deserve a Nobel PEACE prize? Then who does?

Here is a man whose only desire is to live life worthy of his principles, of his passions, not soliciting any type of rewards nor acknowledgment. The only recognition he importunes upon us is towards the cause he is fighting for, not to himself.

Let’s talk about the video, An Inconvenient Truth. Some would say that it is an educational documentary, not a political one. Hmm. What makes a political issue? Does ammunition need be present to consider anything political? Hasn’t global warming been a big political issue for the last 30 or so years? Hasn’t it been a central debate in the Senate and in the UN? The inconvenient truth is, global warming has been long ignored by the government and is way overdue of acknowledgment.

I don’t at all discredit those who argue that perhaps another deserving person should be awarded the prize. My problem is with those who easily discredit a person simply because they don’t like him. One’s feelings toward another have nothing to do with the person whose feelings are felt towards. If I hate Al Gore, my feelings don’t discredit his pursuits and accomplishments. If anything, my hatred towards him is more telling of who I am than who Gore is (not that I hate him of course).

For all its worth Mr. Gore, congratulations.

Bejeweled

2007-10-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Jewelry on women? Beautiful
Jewelry on men? Ah, No

As I walked out of my car this morning, into the medical clinic which I seem to frequent these last few months, the handsomest man held the door open as I was approaching. What makes this man beautiful? The eyes. The eyes are everything. He had really long dark lashes, curled up framing his perfectly almond shaped eyes. They were hazel, carefully enhanced by his pinstriped chocolate and blue shirt. His deep tan complimented his brunette messy hair which in turn flattered his eyes. His flirtatious cologne made him even handsomer. We walked in the same elevator, he gave me a smile, I smiled back. He turned to me, and there it was. He was wearing a quarter inch gold chain. Agghhh, major turn off. As a rational woman as I am, of course I think he's gay. Why else did he wait with the door open for me? Why else would he smile at a stranger in the elevator? And most importantly, why else would he wear a chain? Aside from wedding rings and a watch, men should never wear any other form of jewelry, unless of course their aim is to attract other bejeweled men, or if they're Italians. Under no circumstances are they attractive.

Speaking of jewelries. I lost another earing this week. Yes, I lost a Tiffany tri-circular dangles. Only if I'd kept all my singled earings, I could probably create an art piece out of them. My family likes to lavish me with expensive jewelries inexplicably, given that I've lost almost every single one of them. I've lost a 24 karat gold earing in the Pacific Ocean, a diamond encrusted Bulova watch, a quarter karat diamond stud in Dublin Bay, and a white gold diamond encrusted ring at Corona Del Mar. There would be no recognition for the other jewelries not worth mentioning (if they were worth less than $100). Lesson of the story, DON'T GIVE ME EXPENSIVE JEWELRY.

Automatic Flushing Toilets

2007-10-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, they're brilliant!

Albeit, I often hate them more than love them. I mean, what's up with flushing before I even get up? I hate the way the water splatters all over my butt before I am even finished. And what if I did a messy one? Would the mess splatter all over?

I wish we had those Japanese toilets. You know, the ones that automatically washes you after doing it? One has an option from a shower wash to a squirting one. They should invent a toilet that is also capable of wiping.

Hmmm, just a thought.