xteethx

Resolutions

Patience

Punctuality

Discipline

Say What?

I had no idea what Obama just said. He talks more like a professor than a president still. His ideas and thoughts are sometimes so lofty that I get lost. Either he is verbose or I’m just tired now and losing my attention span.

He has such a calm nature but tonight he seems so overwhelmed or overburdened with emotion; it’s such a contrast to the mood of a jubilant, screaming crowd.  Perhaps it’s the loss of his grandmother just two days ago.  Or that his mother or his father are not here to witness this moment either.

It must feel overwhelming to be in Chicago this night when he had given so much of himself as a community organizer back in the 80s when it seemed like his work was so futile.

It wasn’t an easy decision to vote for Obama; I have my fears and concerns about him.  He is not a perfect man by any means and I personally felt when he first announced he was going to run that he had time and could run later.  But considering all the candidates and all the pros and cons which I won’t go into here, I felt he was the best candidate to be president.

Politics is always going to be a sensitive issue, even within my own family and friends but I am hopeful that Obama will help reverse America’s downward spiral, if it’s not too late already.

McCain’s Campaign a Hoax

I don’t think it’s just Ashley Todd who’s the hoax in this election. Todd claimed she was mugged, beaten and mutilated for being a McCain supporter and blamed it on some 6’4″ black man. For some reason, I’m finding a parallel here to McCain’s campaign, esp. as we’re coming closer to Election Day. The attacks are becoming more unfounded and just plain stupid and insulting.
I still find McCain’s veep pick is esp. insulting. She has been the most costly blunder to the campaign, esp. with that $160,000 wardrobe budget. Some hockey mom. I’m aghast she wants America to know how her family is scrimping by while her 7 year old totes around a LV bag. Whether it’s hers or her mom’s is beside the point. I’m angry that she’s trying to portray herself as regular Jane with this egregious allowance for clothes and makeup. get real.

What White People Like

I think I was in Korea when this website took off because I only discovered it today in the form of a book that I happened to see at the Barnes & Noble in Georgetown today.
It’s pretty hilarious and self-deprecating look at what white people like and the often-stupid and hypocritical reasons for it. (The author Christian Lander, who is white, said self-deprecating humor is what white people like #103)
Of course it is funny because I find most of it true and have experienced it at one point in my life. Let’s take what white people like #11: Asian girls.

I think most Asian girls must have experienced being a victim of yellow fever. I tried to have an intelligent discussion about the phenomena of Asian fetish with a couple of white male co-workers at a Christmas party once which ended with one of them caressing my face and saying, “Maybe it’s the skin?”

Lander does state as fact, that “Asian women well into their thirties or forties retain teen or college-girl looks without the help of Botox, yoga, or a trendy diet.” I must say I do look younger than I am and still get carded often.
But in my opinion, it is as much as a social commentary on class and culture and not just on race.  I do have white friends who are obsessed with The Wire, Oscar Parties, 80s night, yoga, Apple products, Whole Foods and diversity, (for the food.) I, too, love The Colbert Report, NPR, The NY Times, and bakeries, books, grammar, bottled water, coffee, and girls with bangs (which i was denied 3x by a cutter last week because he said it wouldn’t look good on me….he was Asian.)
It’s called living in liberal, mass-consumer societies on the west or east coasts of the U.S.

Protesting Ok’d by China. not.

I’m glad to hear China allotted space for protesters, but not so surprised that they make it virtually impossible for anyone to actually protest there.

there are plenty of articles that have covered this but I guess the latest NYT article about  two elderly women being sent to a re-education labor camp after they applied for a protest permit pisses me off somewhat…(not to say it was okay for other younger applicants to be jailed for it.)
It’s hard to refrain from criticizing China’s government when there’s such a stark contrast behind hosting the games and what’s really happening. The lip-sync and computer-generated fireworks at the opening ceremonies, China’s often ruthless system of producing athletes, the fake protest area, the visa restrictions that helped to lower the attendance of the games, the censoring of the internet, the whole controversy of the gymnasts’ ages, all add up to ruin the games. Not to mention how Olympic officials lost the pole for a Brazilian pole vaulter and told her to go find it.

Is it me or does china have an inferiority complex of trying to display its wealth, cleanliness and sophistication to the world by trying to put on an orderly, glamorous show? (I have to say Koreans and Japanese are guilty of this self-consciousness everyday) Sometimes its effort to impress produce funny results
Of course the grievances I have against the US are many too…the difference is I can protest about it.

Let the games begin?

China was never ready to host the Olympics.

Pollution, the censorship of the press, the sealed torch relays, forcibly removing people from their homes without compensation to build the stadiums, restricting visas and now barring an Joey Cheek, an Olympian medalist in speedskating, from the games. Not to mention all the rules that the citizens have to put up with while the games are held, such as restriction on times when they can go to certain districts and well, being paid hush money for their kids who died in the earthquake so negative attention doesn’t affect the games.

Yes there are real threats of attack but I think China is overdoing it just a little bit in measures that do more to harm than help the games. It’s a complete show of artificial  western modernity, wealth and cleanliness while the government is literally covering up shacks of the poor, prohibiting spitting in public and having dog on restaurant menus.
BUT if anything, at least the Olympics are highlighting human rights abuses and environmental concerns that will help them truly be a more open country with a more accountable government. Politics and money was never intended to be part of the games but it is always is as a result of hosting one of the biggest events in the world, and it will do China some good in examining itself if it really wants to be a true player in this ‘one world, one dream’ spirit.
peace.

*throws mic down and exits left.

Cougar Alert!

No i’m not talking about older prowling women…

There have been several reliable sightings of an animal fitting the
description of a cougar on the campus.  The description of the sighted
cat is: light tan and tawny brown, about 4 feet long with a 4 foot tail,
and weighing about 50 pounds.  Several sightings have been reported from
the area of Cole Field House, near the Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center, and continuing through the wooded areas to the area of the
Comcast Center and Arena Drive Garage.  There has been no report of
aggressive behavior on the part of the animal, but community members are
warned that cougars are a predatory species and that, if seen, the
animal should not be approached.

An actual cougar was spotted around the campus! It was a nicer email alert than the ones reporting armed robberies and car theft and such.

Read Express

now. do it.

Go to www.readexpress.com

I think I got an internship there for the fall. I’ll say think, because even though they verbally told me they’d have me on board in September, it’ll be official when I get the paperwork.

Express is a free daily paper owned by The Washington Post. I like it; I think it’s pretty decent in its hard news coverage as a free daily. It’s better than what I’ve seen in NY with the Metro. Plus it does a really good job in covering local events, shops, bars and restaurants. I’ll be working on that entertainment listing actually so it’s completely entry-level but it’ll give me an inside look to how a paper is operated and an opportunity to really learn more about D.C. Although it’s unpaid, it seems like there’s room to grow and opportunities to write later on. I just hope I can handle both the internship and classes at the same time. I’m really busy with just two and I have to take four next semester.

I have to say, I was a complete mess when I walked in. I was late by 20 minutes because I forgot to transfer and ended up further south in Virginia at the Pentagon. I got a cab and paid $10 to get to the office which is in Arlington and then I realized I had major blisters from my high heels….and I realized I spelled my school’s name incorrectly on the resume that I emailed her. lol. !#@($*!
But the assistant editor seemed pretty chill….I felt kind of dumb for being so flustered when she was so serene and calm in the middle of her office which was ….not serene and calm. It was clustered with a bunch of odd things…beauty products, crazy posters, toys, etc. It’ll definitely be a relaxed environment to work in.
Anyhow I guess the interview itself went well. Afterwards, I went to Good stuff and it was good; really good actually. I think it’s better than Five Guys and In N Out. I ordered a cheeseburger and it was either really exceptionally tasty or I was just starving…but I really think the quality of the meat was better than other places. I think it helped that my burger was done just right…just enough pink and just enough juice.

I ordered the village fries which I think has rosemary in it and it really went well with the Vietnamese hot sauce sitting on every table. I also ordered the dulce de leche milkshake but it was way too sweet for me. I think it’s better to just stick with the usual chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

And although the address is in SE part of DC, you’ll never feel safer there around 3 pm when twenty different cops are having their lunch there.

it was an exhausting day to say the least. I have an article to write by Friday and a law midterm tomorrow……………….

The Dark Knight, Oya, & Newseum

that pretty much sums up my weekend so far…and laundry.

In regards to the Dark Knight, it goes without saying that Heath was brilliant. He was mesmerizing to watch by playing the most sinister and terrifying joker yet. He was definitely more captivating than Batman but it’s easier to be when the nature of the character you play is on your side…plus subconsciously I think Heath’s tragic death adds to the hype and expectations.

I thought the action was over the top; the semi flipping over was pretty crazy and so was the little things such as batman’s motorcycle flipping off the wall. The action sequence in the finale was esp. fast and intense for my slow brain capacity but it was entertaining. I’m sure in the end, it all makes sense that batman’s quick thinking and sonar capabilities through cell phone signals got FBI agents all tied up and dangling from the building and saved everyone. somehow.
i think this dual-identity, two sides to the coin, bilateral, two theme issue was a little apparent and was explored before in the previous Batman movie. The theme resonates in who the hero is, esp. when the white knight can get tainted, even in the literal sense when he becomes two-faced. The line between the good guys and the bad guys, the convicts ship vs. the good citizens ship, the good in us, the evil in us, etc. is not so distinguishable, not so black & white, but maybe a 50/50 chance like a flip of a coin. You get the drift?
I don’t know the name of the actress although she looks familiar. I think her performance was as forgettable as her name and as katie holmes. I didn’t like either of them. Then again, I find the role of women in Batman tangential.

I’d have to say who I admired the most in the film was Commissioner Gordon for all his flaws. I think he best represented the hero who fights against crime with integrity and with no compromise.

Oya

After watching the movie w/ Sun, my cousin’s cousin, we had dinner here. It’s a pretty trendy, chic, fusion sushi joint. I have to say the decor was as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as the food; it’s definitely a nice place to go to just to have dinner and drinks with your buddies. We had some sushi rolls, including the soft-shell crab which was yummy, and I had chilean sea bass which was really nice. You can get a dinner set at $28…until some time in August.

On Saturday I went to the Newseum since the school was giving tickets away for $10 instead of $20. I was told it would take me 2 hours to get through the museum and I ended up staying there for SIX AND A HALF HOURS! I guess when I go to a museum, I tend to try to read everything and see as much as I could including all the videos and movies and what not.
There were some things at the newseum I was miffed at, such as parts of the Berlin Wall that were on display and a part of the antenna that was on top of the north tower of the WTC. All I could think was, how did those gargantuan items get flown or transported to DC or how did they fit through the door? No wonder ticket admissions are $20. They also had a whole section on the concourse level dedicated to g-men or the FBI and I didn’t quite understand their correlation to journalism either.
But it is interesting to look at the history of journalism and the story behind the story. I do think you can’t take the freedom of press or speech for granted, esp. when they are censored or not granted in other parts of the world. In one exhibit, they showcased every Pulitzer-winning photographs accompanied with videos with the photographers who took them. The newseum also had an impressive collection of old newspapers…even dating back to colonial America. I was impressed that they obtained old copies of newspapers around the world, including the Dong-a Ilbo.

The newseum also had a lot of artifacts including cameras, flak jackets and other items used by journalists, including an armored pick-up truck used during the Iraq War coverage and a news chopper.
There was also a memorial to slain journalists; it was a grim reminder of how dangerous the job can be.

When you get to the top floor, you can see a spectacular view of the Capitol building along with the front page of several newspapers around the world. Actually, visitors are encouraged to start at the top floor and work their way down, which I didnt do but now you know, if you go. Honestly I don’t know how successful this museum will be. The profession of journalism is changing a lot, hopefully for the better.

DC

It’s always more fun exploring DC with a friend. Mon came down to visit and it was completely the little r&r I needed before starting summer session II. We went to eat out at a lot of great restaurants, did some major shopping and I re-lived some of my childhood past by visiting some tourist sites like the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the White House. It’s always impressive to see the Capitol and the Washington Monument in day or night.
So some advice or pointers for anyone coming down to DC:

• Shopping - the shopping is great here. I haven’t seen the type of markdowns here in NY or NJ. The tax here is just over 4%.
• For instance, at Burberry’s in Dupont Circle, I saw bags that were more than 50% marked down which I haven’t seen for Burberry handbags in NY or NJ …and certainly not Seoul. I got myself a much needed day bag for the summer because I only had a black one and I’m loving it like McDonalds.
• I also like Fashion Centre at the Pentagon City stop. I found great bargains at chain stores like Banana Republic. I picked up a nice tote on sale there and it’s perfect for carrying all my books and my newspapers for class…and for just going to the pool or beach. (the pool at UMD is nice by the way; i just study there and it’s a nice way to cool off)
• Georgetown – tons of nice shops here and although many are outrageously expensive, you can still some great markdowns. I picked up a polo at polo for over half off as well as some cardigans at Zara’s for a third off, which can be found anywhere.
• Chevy Chase – There are some high-end boutiques here including Barneys or Gucci and LV but they also have a few shops like J. Crew. I still recommend Georgetown although CC is still a cute place to hang out in to eat or catch a movie.
• Dining - There are so many different and eclectic cuisines here from Ethiopian to Thai. Plenty of good restaurants can be found in Dupont Circle and Chinatown and by the Mall. Places I have enjoyed eating at so far:
• Zola – Restaurant in Penn Quarter (right in Chinatown area) that serves a new kind of American fanfare esp. from the southern side. I had a steak and loved it. The service was really good as well. Actually I think this is the only fancy restaurant I went to so far in DC so maybe that is why I liked it so much.
  
• Rice good thai restaurant on U street, I think in the Columbia Heights district. I think I had chicken with the Penang curry. Papaya salad was good and spicy and green dumplings are actually shumai. (still good) We ate outdoors on a nice night so that added to the ambiance.
  (gentrifcation going on around that area)
• Kramers – nice breakfast lunch and dinner place in Dupont Circle. I think I had catfish; it was good but heavy because it was served on top of hearty potatoes. I believe they also have some kind of bookstore not too far away.
• Booeymonger – I went to two of their locations; once in Chevy Chase with Doro and in Georgetown with Mon. It’s a good place for breakfast and lunch. I really liked their egg and cheese on a bagel…Doro really liked her chicken rico sandwich.
• Busboys N’ Poets – cute place in Columbia Heights with good food for breakfast and lunch and the coffee is really good too. They are really community-focused and also house a small bookstore inside. I think they are free wifi too.
• Also nearby is U Sushi on U Street. It’s okay, nothing extraordinary than other non-japanese owned sushi places. I got a couple rolls and I was still hungry during the night. I also went to their Thai restaurant next door called Sala Thai and it was okay as well. Again, it was nothing extraordinary except that they have live jazz.
  
• Corner Bakery Cafe – good place by the National Mall for breakfast and lunch. A bit pricey but it was good. I think I like Booeymonger’ better
• Cakelove – the name says it all. Doro got me cupcakes from there and they were tasty.
• Mr. Yogato – this place is a must. The yogurt is good; I tried the tangy sweet with the rice cakes, (they call it mochi) and some fruit. What makes it fun going here is that if you do certain things, they’ll give you a 10-20% discount. For example if you let them stamp your head, you get 20% off. Or on the day that I went, if you ordered like Sean Connery, then you got 10% off. Check out their website for more funny rules.
• 
  
• Franchised places around DC: Potbelly for good sandwiches or comfort food, Maggie Moo’s for icecream, Caribou Coffee for…take a guess.
• Outside of DC I really liked Joe’s Crab Shack that Doro treated me to for my birthday. Also go to Eggspectation in Silver Spring, MD if you want breakfast food at night; it’s like a nicer feel than a diner and you can have some wine with that omlette.
• Of course with the large Hispanic populations, you can find decent mom and pop shops around the DC metropolitan area that have great Hispanic food. Try a pupusa, an El Savadorean creation of a small piece of quesadilla. Or try Chicken Rico…i think it’s Peruvian style spices which make it a cheaper and tastier version of Boston Market rotisserie chicken.
• To do:
• If you never visited our nation’s capital, I mean ever, like Mon, go visit all the tourist traps: Lincoln Memorial and all the war memorials around the mall, the monument, the White House, the Capitol, and there are plenty of museums like Smithsonian. Mon and I went to the Holocaust museum for the first time. It was really mind-blowing and had really impressive exhibits of actual photographs, documents, even prison clothes or actual trolleys that were used to transport Holocaust victims to their final destination. It’s a reminder of one of the most evil and shameful acts humanity has been capable of committing. I thought it would take a couple hours to go through it but I think you need the whole day to see it. Mon and I are thinking of going back again to take everything in as we ended up rushing through it.
• Be prepared to do plenty of walking! Our feet got all banged out by wearing new flip-flops and shoes. Jefferson Memorial is quite a trek although it will give you a nice view of the river.
• go to Washington Harbor in Georgetown; it’s nice with plenty of restaurants.
• Nightlife -
• I can’t say much about night life as I haven’t hung out late-night that much in DC. But most youngins go to Adams Morgans for food, drinks and clubs and for the college-town atmosphere.
• I went to Black Cat for British pop night and it was pretty frikin hilarious. It was mostly comprised of white people who wouldn’t be able to make it at other dance clubs. But it was a lot of fun because no one cared if you were pulling dorky, awkward moves. As Monica said, ‘I feel like I’m playing hopscotch.’

I have to read for journalism class. Til laters……