The Quintessential Pham!

I have found the cure for AIDS!

2009-06-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

No, seriously, look.

If I ever get AIDS, find me a gay man from San Francisco with the CCR-5 Delta-32 gene and give me his bone marrow.

Fortunately, I won't be needing it any time soon... I'm not a heroin addict, nor do I get any action so I guess my chances of getting HIV or AIDS is pretty slim...

Oh God, when will it end...

2009-06-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

First Ed McMahon... Than Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson... and now Billy Mays?!

Death, you've been a dick for the past two weeks. I swear, if you take Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, or Robin Williams next I am going to have a personal vendetta with you. This I promise.

I'm a terrible blogger...

2009-06-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

with commitment problems. It's a wonder how I've been able to stay in marching band for all four years in high school. Shoot, it's a wonder how my last relationship lasted so long! Hell, people were making bets that it'd last a week or two (though, that was not because my commitment problems per se but rather because I was a boy with a notorious reputation whereas the girl I was dating was a conservative, Protestant).

Looking at my last post, I haven't written in here since the beginning of last quarter. I should've written more in my blog, but when life gets to you, its hard to keep up. If that makes any sense.

In other words, I haven't been writing lately because I found a life outside of blogging. Or so that's my excuse. That isn't to to say that bloggers don't have a life, I mean they need something to write about, right?

Just that I'm lazy. And have commitment problems.

But I'm blogging, so here I am!

I maybe a week or two late on this but...

Freshmen year of college. My take on it? It's been... interesting, to say the least. Not exactly what I expected from college at all, but then again. Well, let's take it back to a year ago.

A year ago. I just graduated from high school and was totally pumped for college. But first several months of it - well, I hated it. Had a hard time making friends because well... I really didn't let myself open up to it. I was haughty. Pretentious, even. "TFC" as others would put it. You know, I tried the usual antics I would pull off in high school - but it just didn't work. I was catering to a different crowd. I mean, not to say I didn't try - just that I was exposed to some individuals that I've attempted to avoid all throughout high school. Not specific individuals, but rather "cliques" - types of people, you know?

But I can say, UCI's definitely grown on me. I don't know how I ended up in VSA in the first place - well, actually, my friends Malessa and Lee dragged me along to it. I was very hesitant about the idea at first, to be honest. My reasons? I didn't want to be tied down to any club. But, ironically enough, between the three of us, I think I've probably been the more outgoing when it comes to VSA. Winter Retreat, Lead role in VSA UCI's culture night, Lion Dance, the Banquet... Best thing about VSA, though?

The people. I've met some pretty amazing people in there. Absolutely phenomenal - and I'm glad I'm good friends with several of them. In fact, I've made some pretty amazing friends out here. Some that I hope will never fall out of my life - cause you know how the whole "friend" thing can be - some stay, some go, some refuse to leave - and sometimes for the better. I hope they're more amongst the latter. Course any kind of relationship is a two-way relationship. So don't think I won't be making an effort.

I'm digressing. Freshmen year of college? Best put - it started off quite shitty, but ending up pretty awesome. The thing I hate about it most? The fact that many of the awesome people I've met - specifically most of the friends I've made in VSA - have graduated and are leaving me for the East Coast. You know who you are.

I can say I've definitely grown, though. I mean, I don't want to come off as pretentious, but if I were to compare myself then and now I've... well, definitely toned down. I no longer drop my pants at the drop of a hat, I can tell you that. I've found more joy in... talking. Either it be over coffee, or just walking to class, I've found myself looking more for intellectual and/or pensive conversation.

Hehe, great thing about college: you start all over from scratch and be what you've always wanted to be. Yes, I will admit, when I first came to college, I've had this romanticized ideological image of a campus filled with bright, young, hip, coffee-drinking, indie-loving, pop culture obsessing students. First sight, I really didn't see that. I mean, no offense, but there is a reason why UCI is also dubbed University of Chinese Immigrants... Hell, when I told my parents about my decision to go to UCI - or even their friends for that matter - their response was the same as mine.

"So. Many. Asians."

And its odd, you know, being a part of the majority. I tell many people this all the time and I'm going to tell you guys now - it's weird being part of the majority. I mean, I come from quite a diverse high school - and being a band geek, it was populated with quite a diverse group of people. I mean, when the Spaniard took me to Chapman University - a private school that is 15 minutes away from UCI - I felt more comfortable there because well... I was a minority again! And I think being a minority makes me feel special :3

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah.

College is a great opportunity to build yourself into the image you want yourself to be. Me? I've somehow earned the title "Hipster." I know, it's un-hip of me to say this - but come on, I know that some of you "hipsters" know that you're hipsters, and you get some kind of pretentious pleasure from knowing that you are above the philistines and their lowbrow culture. Admit it!

But then again, what counts as Lowbrow? I had to write a research paper on that - a very fulfilling assignment, by the way, from Hum Core. I'm going to miss Humanities Core - I've learned so much out of it. Favorite paper has to be the research paper - I did mine on the Lowbrow Art Movement, and working on it, I felt like such an art snob - and I didn't like it. Luckily, the feeling subsided.

Why am I writing so much? Probably to make up for several months worth of not. God, I should blog more often... What am I putting you guys through? I bet none of you have made it this point. And for those of you who have well... I owe you lunch or something, I don't know...

My thoughts are all over the place - it's like, chaotic in there, you know? Sometimes, I wonder if I have ADD. I mean, my mind keeps on jumping from topic to topic. I'm guessing from my writing, it shows. I can't help it.

Digression! You know, I've got a small story about the whole "digression" thing but I'll tell it another time, there was something I wanted to put out there...

Oh yeah. My summer plans.

Well, from the looks of it, I can't get class over at Mount San Antonio College aka Mt. Sac aka Mt. Scrotum aka the nearby community college to my house. What with the economy the way it is, people are deciding now is a best time to get an education. Yay! This is good news, because that means I have the summer to myself - to do all the things I want, and to work on all the projects I've been putting off because of college.

At the same time, this is a terrible thing for me. Because Mt. Sac's filled to the brim with students, people all around can't get any schooling either. So they resort to working. And I need a job. I had my heart set on working at Denny's - well, not really, I hate working in the restaurant industry, it was just a set plan for cash - but it turns out they don't need me. Because everybody at Denny's can't get any school, they're picking up hours. Yay.

So, I got duped into looking into a company called Vector. They're asking me to sell knives. It looks good, sure, at 16 bucks an hour. But they're asking me to look for my own hours. As in set an appointment with people to try to pitch a knife set that costs several hundred dollars.

In this economy? Nuh-uh. I'm better off applying at McDonalds. Which, according to the Sandman, I have a better chance getting laid by the end of this summer.

The joke there is that I'm not getting any.

My Dad's uncomfortable with me lying around the house, playing video games all day, and hanging out with friends (which is something I don't mind doing...) but I can understand why he doesn't want me to do that. But I keep on telling him I do have plans of my own, but being he always seems to forget... This calls for a -_-.

My plans for the summer? So far, I have several scripts in mind that I'm working on. Also, reading those books I've had lying around the dorm for awhile. Oh, and also hopefully I can lose some weight. I've got the Spaniard coaxing me into going to the gym - so I can only hope that I become committed to this. More about that in a future blog. Also applied to Blockbuster - probably a long shot, but hey, here's hoping! I should also look around more, too... I should commit tomorrow to that. HAH!

Alright, well, hopefully I can stay committed to one of those plans. And on that note, I'm off. I need to get up in the morning to head to... the gym...

Oh boy... This is... this is going to be fun...

And on that note, take it away, Keyboard Cat

Hiyo

2009-04-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, haven't written in here for awhile.

... So, how're you guys? Me? I just started first week of Spring Quarter of my Freshmen year at UCI. And I think I'm finally getting the hang of college.

Over Spring Break, I went up to Sequoia up in Northern California to go camping with the Lion Dance Troupe. I learned something up there: sleeping in the middle of a blizzard is no fun. Granted, yes, snow can be a beautiful thing. But I feel I can enjoy it better when my soaks aren't wet and my toes are frozen. I hate wet socks. But hey, it was fun.

After that, I spent most of my time in my room, finishing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time! Not too long after I defeated Ganondorf did I search around the house for the Ocarina I bought a couple years ago - the one that is a replica of the one from Ocarina of Time! Granted, it does not sounds as pretty, but it looks pretty awesome!

Next on the list: Majora's Mask.

In recent news, I just saw Avenue Q on Thursday! VSAUCI were making an event out of it, and I had to take the opportunity! I really enjoyed it - it's like my childhood (Sesame Street) meets my adulthood (Adult Swim). It's really well written, surprisingly enough - albeit, I feel certain parts a bit trite, but even so I think its great! Here something that isn't in the musical:

As of the moment, I'm playing the new Pokemon Platinum. I found myself smiling while playing it - there's so much new content just within the first hour, compared to Pearl and Diamond. I can't wait to see where the game takes me...

And well, there's that for an update.

Watchmen Opening Credits

2009-03-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking at this from Facebook, click on "Original Post" below.

Despite the movies flaws, you have to admit - the first five minutes are fun to watch through. Very visual, very Snyder.

Watchmen

2009-03-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

Alright, so I'm about to provide my amateur review of the Alan-Moore-adapted-Zack-Snyder-directed superhero movie Watchmen. Obviously, there's going to be a fanboy-bias to the movie - I mean, after all, I did dress up as Rorschach :D

... in fact, I was the only guy in the movie theater dressed up as Rorschach... I mean, I was considering dressing up as Doctor Manhattan but a) I don't have enough body paint and b) I don't have the time to shave all the hair off my body. And I guess the fact that I don't have his physique either probably has some factor in it...

Putting that aside, let's move onto the review. I've learned that easiest way for people to read through reviews are to list the pros and cons - and lists are usually fun to read.

Cons:
- More plot-driven than character-driven. The comic book is very character-driven and I really liked that about the comic book. However, Snyder opted for a more plot-driven move - which, sure, makes it a fun movie to watch, but there really isn't much to get out of the experience.

- Forced and trite dialogue. I felt that a lot of the dialogue written felt very forced. A lot of the lines seem to be written for the sole purpose of moving the story along, however they lack subtlety. Not to mention, there were some cheesy lines that made me want to punch somebody.

- Acting. I felt Patrick Wilson, the actor behind the Daniel Dreigberg - the second Nite Owl - was the only one I felt satisfied with. However, there were something about the other actors/actresses that rubbed me the wrong way...

- Characterization. Doctor Manhattan and Rorschach were just too human in the movie. What made these characters interesting in the first place was their inability to connect with the world around them. Rorschach does not have the cold demeanor that he's displayed throughout the graphic novel, nor the awkward tension that he brings to the room, and Manhattan is not alienated enough from the world around him... I do appreciate Laurie being not as whiny or bitchy as she is in the graphic novel, however there really isn't much to her character in the movie was well. I felt that Dan Dreiberg (the second Nite Owl) was the only character that was appropriately adapted in the movie.

Pros:
- The adaptation is very faithful to its source. There are shots, lines, and scenes lifted straight out of the novel. Zack Snyder said that he used the comic book as his story board, and it shows.

- Visually stunning. It's expected from Snyder. He's a very visual director, as evident by his work, 300, and uses this to his advantage. Beautiful shots and great visual direction.

- Awesome combat scenes. Seriously. So much fun to watch, so visceral and brutal - it's just so much fun.

- Easter eggs. Did you know that the US flag that is buried with the Comedian has 51 stars on it? The extra star belongs to Vietnam, which becomes a state of America after the Vietnam War in this reality. It's small details like that that Zack Snyder puts into the movie that I believe makes the movie worth watching over and over again - just to try to catch little things like that.

- Soundtrack. You know how in the graphic novel, there's always that last panel of black with quotes? Some of the songs from the soundtrack correlate with those panels. Within the same vein, the soundtrack also provides an idea of the epoch that Watchmen encompsses.

- More of the old Watchmen in action. We get to see more the old Watchmen in action in the beginning of the movie, which I feel is a lot of fun to watch: Mothman being thrown into an asylum, Dollar Bill being caught with his cape in a revolving door and shot, Silhouette and her murder. It's interesting to see the rise and fall of the Watchmen condensed into less than five minutes.

That's about all I can provide - I would rant more, but I have things that I need to do as of the moment. By all means, do go and watch the movie - its a lot of fun. Just don't expect it to have as much depth or meaning as the graphic novel - rather, see it because it's just too bloody awesome to pass up.

I feel smart :D

2009-03-03T23:36:00.000-08:00

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge:

No Gaps!

Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge:

Philosophy

Religion

Economics

Literature

History

Science

Art

Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

This is for Brian Yo

2009-03-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Click "original post" to see what I'm talking about...

Also, I never did get into my Facebook, for those of you who saw the status update - the Caucasian holds the password to my Facebook - which I won't know about until the end of finals - and he decided it'd be fun to mess around with my Facebook...

So most likely if there are changes to the Facebook - it's him not me. I don't even know my password D:

Just realized something...

2009-03-02T00:47:00.000-08:00

I have five followers on blogspot? Wow. Wonder if any of them read any of this...

Alright, so as of recent I have declared myself a Facebook ban. Tristan, the Caucasian, has changed my password and will not tell me until the end of finals. Granted, yes, there will be other things to distract me online, but I feel Facebook will take a load off my short attention span.

With this week being Week 9 of Winter Quarter, I feel I've really gotta buckle down and study. I'm so behind that I think I'm going to need to deprive myself of sleep - and I feel I'm ready for that. The 24 Hour Film Dash has really thrown off my sleeping schedule and in a way conditioned me to be able to withstand staying up with minimal sleep. Terrible for my health? Probably. But hey, it's college - and at least I'm not resorting to Adderall or Ritalin - or any drug for that matter - to aid me in my studying. Though, I have read that neurologists do encourage brain enhancing drugs...

... I'll look into that later. For now, I need to bloooooooooooooooooooooooog. Cause I miss you guys. And I miss writing. And I miss looking for an excuse to ignore Italian homework.

It's odd. Since the 24 Hour Film Dash, it has indeed awaken something inside of me. And lately, I've been in a real Jazz binge - been getting a hold of some Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, and the list goes on... I'm ingesting all of this music and all this knowledge of jazz, hungrily.

I can't help it. I miss it. I need to pick up an instrument. Thing is, I don't have the time for that so I've resorted to just... listening. And learning. I need to find somebody on campus I can talk jazz with. Sure, my knowledge merely scratches the surface, but jazz is like a drug to me - it's intoxicating and I'm on it constantly. You know what I've fallen asleep to for the past couple nights (aside from Radiohead and Kings of Convenience)? Stan Getz and Bill Evans. Dave Brubeck Quartet.

All this jazz... I admit, it makes me feel pretentious listening to it. (But as I've always said people who use the word pretentious are a bit pretentious themselves...) But hey, I also feel like it makes me... classy. If there's anything I can say that I've taken away from Philip Ruiz, the band/orchestra director/conductor of Diamond Ranch High School - it's class. Either in one form or the other, I feel like I need more class in my life. Come to think of it, I've always felt an amount of class playing Jazz during 0 Period. And considering the people life has forced me to interact with - I've come to the realization that class died a long time ago. When? I don't know. Nevertheless, I think I'm going to try to keep it alive. Through jazz. Ah, listening to it again...

And trust me, listening to jazz is one thing. But to play and make jazz? It's a high that I miss. A high that I need.

Maybe next quarter... Or this summer...

Maybe...

Oh, and this is most likely going to feed into my Facebook notes... so those of you reading this, no I have not been on Facebook. It's just that my blog feeds into my notes.

Alright, enough about ze jazz. More about my Italian.

Later!

Post!

2009-02-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

Friend of mine, Jessika Taylor-Nunez, were talking awhile back about the good old band days. She brought something to my attention - there's something about hanging out with someone into the late night and being there in the early morning... Maybe it's just me, but I feel there's something about that experience that kind of binds people - some bonding time, you know, being there when the sun rises and the birds chirps.

I found myself reliving that moment with my 24 Hour Film Dash film crew. It was exciting - staying up 24 hours, with friends - several new.

Yeah, I have to admit our movie is absolutely cheesy. But it was fun, and exciting making it. And I feel we have quite the film crew with us - several of us have good acting experience, a couple of us great editing/filming skills, and a pair of great writers. Only problem were the restrictions that the competition gave us - but I'm pretty sure once we get a couple scripts going and exercise our creative freedom, we can make some great works.

As for our movie - once it's up, I'll let you guys know. Despite the fact that I hate seeing/hearing myself on stage/screen.

I haven't written in here for awhile. What can I say? Been busy. But here I am again.

Odd thing happened to me today. I was walking with the Caucasian (Tristan) to grab a caffeinated cold drink when we came across a turtle. Grazing on the grass. Eating. In the middle of UCI. It was just chilling there, eating. I found it highly entertaining. I looked around for a manhole, and pondered upon the possibility of finding radioactive sludge... But then I remembered how John Cusack turned out in the end of Fat Man and Little Boy (absolutely terrible movie, by the way) and decided against it.

You know, I've realized how close I've gotten to the people in my hall. Figure it was bound to happen, after living with each other for this long. But I just realized how comfortable I was around these guys. Honestly, I initially wanted back home or wanted to live in Middle Earth (the other housing complex for freshmen at UCI, and yes, it is name after the Tolkien setting) because the former I feel less like a social retard and the latter I feel my nerdiness could get me further there. But then again, I would not be hanging out with some of the pretty rad people living in this hall, Viento.

I've been listening to Tally Hall again. And apparently, their online internet series have been posted on their website (Google it up, I'm too lazy). A friend of mine (here's looking at you, Perdomo) would call me gay for liking them, but hell, I can't help it. They've got amazing harmony, genius instrumentation, their upbeat songs put me in my happy place - and looking through their online video series, I declare them a favorite band of mine.

I mean, watch this:

I feel like I could mesh with these gentlemen quite well. In fact, they've kind of inspired me to find a ukelele and pick up a song or two of theirs. But unfortunately, I'm not so sure if I got the time for that...

I've found myself remarkably busy as of late. I think the 24 Hour Film Dash did something to me. I don't know what, but I feel like something good. And I think it correlates with my business all of a sudden.

I've been listening to a lot of jazz lately. More so than usual. I can't help it. I think jazz is classy, and I like to consider myself a man of class. I'd like to declare Charlie Parker my jass favortie saxophonist, Dave Brubeck my favorite jass pianist and Glen Miller my favorite when it comes to big band/swing. As for trumpets, I still need to explore that - as well as trombone. Don't know why, but I feel I need to venture back into jazz. It was one of the only things I would look forward to in high school after marching season was over...

I seem to keep on reverting back to my desire to relive high school, huh? I can't help it. High school I really enjoyed. But college isn't anything that I hoped for. I don't know, I guess I had this idea that soon as I came out here, I'd be able to find a hip, happening crowd that's well-verse and cultured in music, movies, theatre, and pop culture and stuff, and I'd be able to hang out with them in coffee shops and just find ourselves deep in discussion, and I'd be up to date with the latest alternative fashion/subculture. Like a beatnik of the early 21st century or something...

And look where I am now. Granted, I feel college is growing more and more on me. I'm just having a hard time finding people with the same things in common with me. Maybe I just need to put myself out more... And stop being so cooped up in my room.

I'm sorry if the post seems a bit scatter-brained - I've been meaning to write for a week, and I have yet to put anything up.

I figure anything would work. I wonder if any of you still read this...

Hey, do me a favor. I'm just wondering, but for those of you guys who actually read these posts - leave a comment? Just this one time. I want to know who actually reads my online ramblings.

... Oh God I just realized how emo this post sounds. Forgive me! I'll try not to sound like a whiny bitch in the future!

Crap. It's 4:14 AM. I got class in less than 5 hours. Well, least I got a post up.

Up. Up. And away!

Poking my head out of the hole...

2009-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to write something last weekend. I forgot to. Or rather, I got lazy.

I've really got to work on my laziness. It's seriously biting me back in the ass. I'm weeks behind on my reading - and anybody who's been around me for the last couple weeks knows I've been repeating that for awhile.

Last weekend would've been the two year mark. Those of you know what I'm talking if you were there in high school with me. For those of you who weren't - the ex-gf and I would've been going out for two years. On Valentine's Day.

And oddly enough, I carried myself quite well. I was worried that I was going to reduce myself to a bumbling fool, but nay! That day really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in retrospect. Granted, yes, it could be better, but hey, I'm fine with what's life thrown at me. Had my first Lion Dance gig that day, too. Stage fright got the best of me - in the sense that I didn't perform as well as I hope I would. But hey, least I got a performance underneath my belt.

Quite recently, I've found jazz again. And Monica, my harmonica - I left her back in Diamond Bar and I was feeling empty without her. Over the weekend, I got a hold of some Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Dave Brubeck albums. God, how I miss Jazz- I feel like jazz gives people a certain amount of respectable, mature class that's missing in my generation. I also cracked open the old trumpet I had in my closet. The buttons are a bit rusty, but I've got at trumpet... Hey, maybe I'll pick that up over the summer. That, and the piano. I need music back in my life.

My iPod's - Bruce Campbell Moan, or Bruce, or BCM, or just BC for short - has been doing a good job of that. I can understand why people carry around iPods. It adds a soundtrack to an already boring and uneventful life. And considering the rainy weather, its appropriate when my shuffle goes to The Postal Service songs.

I need to get back into acting. Music. The liberal arts - I need to use my left brain a bit more. Speaking of which, I have been, actually - with 24 Hour Film Dash coming up, my minds been reeling with ideas and shots and random snippets of scenes that I can put into films. I'm excited - and nervous. My eyes are getting too big for my stomach with the ideas that are in my head, so I'm pretty sure I'm setting myself up for disappointment. I usually do. I gotta bring myself down to Earth.

Still, it's nice to do a little scriptwriting again. I've read through a couple books of scriptwriting and understand the craft better than before. I'm trying to put it into practice, but it's kind of hard doing that with five minute scripts. Nevertheless, a creative epiphany hit me. I just need to put it down on paper.

I should really catch up on my reading.

But then again, I've been saying that for weeks.

Oh, and Levni Yilmaz from Tales of Mere Existence made a new video. Take a look:

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD

2009-02-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

... I... I just... _______

I need a cigarette.

Ragtime is my coffee

2009-02-11T02:31:00.001-08:00

Seriously. I'm trying to stay awake, procrastinating (which I NEED TO SERIOUSLY STOP DOING) and somehow I ended up listening to Youtube videos on ragtime.

Oh yeah, I remember how. I was looking through 24 Hour Film Dash videos, looking for the type of genres to expect, and I saw Silent Film was one of them. I thought to myself, "Hey, if we were to do a silent film, I'd like it to be very vaudevillian! You know, the silent films with the paid ragtime piano players!"

And thence, my search for ragtime music. Its really upbeat, and really energetic - which is probably why I'm still able to stay up. But I really got to get going on homework...

Here's some ragtime for you.

Radiohead + USC Marching Band =

2009-02-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

You wanna hear Bruce Campbell moan?

2009-02-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
Uploaded by IgnitionVM

I wish I had this kind of artistic creativity...

Putting that aside, I just recently got myself a Sixth Generation iPod Classic. 120 Gigabytes of pure, black beauty. I call it - "Bruce Campbell Moan." I know, weird name. But for a good reason. For instance, take the title of this post. And imagine the fun I can have with the name!

"What're you doing?"
"I'm just listening to Bruce Campbell Moan."

"What're you watching?"
"Bruce Campbell Moan."

(in the event I can't find him)
"Have you guys seen Bruce Campbell Moan?"

"I listen to Bruce Campbell Moan while I sleep."

As Bruce Campbell himself would say,

Groovy.

Dammit, fine I bite. 25 things you don't need to know about me.

2009-02-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I am a proud geek - clogged sinuses, nasally voice and all. Comic books, sci-fi, video games and everything that the internet has to offer.

2. I have just recently discovered contemporary pop culture in high school, and trying to catch up on it. Queen, John Hughes, the Godfather, Citizen Kane, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, The Kinks, Pulp Fiction, Hair, Hairspray, Johnny B. Goode, and everything that Billy Joel said in "We Didn't Start the Fire" and then some. Over 70 years of American pop culture I need to consume... God that's a mouthful.

That's what she said.

3. I can't seem to get away from music; for some reason why I'm magnetically attracted to musicians - either they still be practicing musicians or at least they were in high school. I seem to hit it off with them better than other folks.

4. I've played the trombone for seven years, and before that the trumpet for three. During that time, I also played the piano for five before I quit. I was never any good at any of them.

5. My best years were in high school. Those were my glory days, and I miss them.

6. I would like to be part of a Barbershop Quartet before I graduate from college.

3. I want to be in the entertainment business. Acting, directing, screenwriting, producing - I'll take any of those jobs. I just enjoy the movie making process.

4. I thrive off an audience and laughter.

5. Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs was a life-changing movie for me. It honestly changed my perspective on what a quality movie is. It also was a gateway to contemporary pop culture for me. Thanks Catie :D

6. Oh, and as a result of number 1, I'm not very athletic. OMG SHOCKER I KNOW.

7. I'm deaf. Not literally. However, I do find ironic the fact that I know some sign language. I think being in band and listening to terrible music at max volume with my headphones on throughout middle school is possibly the cause of my hearing problems. And my tinnitus.

8. My time in college has taught me something - the whole partying scene? So not for me.

9. I'm a sucker for a pretty face.

10. I like to consider myself a Jack of All Trades when it comes to my geekisms. I've dabbled in everything, but not exactly an expert at a specific subject.

11. Jazz = Love. Favorite subgenre = Bebop, Big Band, & Ragtime. Hated subgenres = Jazz fusion & Soft Jazz. Well, aside from the Jazz Odyssey.

12. I actually like musicals. I just don't go out and watch a lot of them because well... they cost quite a pretty penny. So I'm limited to college productions, amateur productions, and film musicals.

13. I was raised on cartoons; from Felix the Cat of the 1930s to the Simpsons of the 1990s. If its animated, I would watch it. Looking back at what I watched... I understand what people mean when they say "Kids'll watch anything."

14. I think Heroes is terribly written. It's cliche, ripped out of the pages of comic books (and not even the goods ones) and a lot of the characters are very two dimensional. And the writing - God, it's looser than Paris Hilton!

15. Heroes is a guilty pleasure for me. So are Michael Bay movies (minus Pearl Harbor) and Dan Brown books.

16. I have scarlet fever.

17. I like the Victorian, Vaudevillian lifestyle - which is why a top hat, cane, tuxedo jacket with coattails, and a monocle still remain on my wishlist. And it's also why I like steampunk.

18. I also fancy the Prohibition era of the 1920s - jazz, flappers, the Charleston, speakeasies synonymous with drunken debauchery. It was America at its most cultural - most likely due to its seclusion from the world after of World War I.

19. You know, I feel like I have a knack for teaching. I think I get it from my dad - he was a math teacher. I get a kick out of teaching random people the random stuff I know or things I learned from class; but I don't think I can ever have enough patience to teach.

20. I'm not outgrowing designer/vinyl toys, comic books, video games or cartoons anytime soon. In fact, I'm watching old episodes of Animaniacs as we speak.

21. People think I'm weird. I think I'd rather be weird than boring, uninteresting, and generic.

22. I plan on picking up the piano, a brass instrument, and doing some vocal training one of these days. At least before I turn 30. Oh God, but seeing how my plans never seem to turn out the way I want... I can only hope I get around to doing any of that.

23. I'm terribly lazy. And have a hard time being motivated. It's a wonder how I get anything done. Or how I am where I am today. Does not bode well for my plans on number 22.

24. I kind of enjoy street culture. Graffiti, alternative hip-hop (mostly from the Bay/San Francisco area), low-brow artistic movement, designer/vinyl toys, Banksy, Joe Ledbetter, Garey Baseman. I'm not exactly a part of it, but I do enjoy it.

25. I get a kick out of the vulgar, lewd, explicit, taboo, awkward, offensive and shocking. However, I won't laugh at dicks being drawn all over the place, or terrible jokes out of movies like Date Movie. There has to be some taste in the distaste. And for some reason, I find gratuitous full-frontal male nudity hilarious - like Borat and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Marxism a College Cliche?

2009-02-02T01:33:00.001-08:00

I've always got a kick out of the image of old geriatrics ranting about the "liberal, Marxist, hippie bullshit" that they're teaching us in college. I bring this up because guess what I'm learning about in Humanities Core out here?

Half of you are smart, I'll let you guys decide for yourself.

But by all means, it isn't bullshit - it's just a whole bunch of socialism that I actually enjoy learning. Mind you, enjoy learning. Not enjoy practicing. Because Communism only works in theory.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the Communist party. I swear.

Shut up, Carlos.

Guy told me that we were all going to other day.

2009-01-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

Walking away from class today, my attention was caught by a crowd; I walked towards them only to find one of those crazy Evangelist with signs. He mentioned something about Obama endorsing guys porking other guys (more or less his exact words) and had a banner that listed the type of people going to hell - aside from the typical Atheists and Non-believers, there were also Mouth Women and Girlie Men listed.

And he called us (the collective UCI students staring at this circus act) stupid and ignorant. Ironic, eh?

Least something's happening at UCI...

"You want to take your shirt off..."

2009-01-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

God if only that work... But at least Fanboys is finally getting a release! It's a limited release, with 10 screenings of it in LA next friday. And dammit, I NEED to see this! As a geek, I am not only ENTITLED to watch this - I must gaze upon Kristen Bell in the Princess Leia slave costume.

I have to stop. The thought of it is making the blood rush to my head.

The other one.

I need a cold shower.

Subliminal Message

2009-01-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

Look at this.

What does it look like?

I'll give you a minute.

... Yep. Whole new meaning to "forbidden fruit", huh?

Ah, how I miss Lion Dance...

2009-01-23T19:33:00.000-08:00

Just came back from practice. Got two videos to share with the world:

This is me just showing what I've been doing for the past two months... I swear, I can play better - more articulated, much clearer, and such.

And then there's this:

How The Day Sounds from Miky Wolf on Vimeo.

Greg Laswell
How The Day Sounds
Directed by Autumn de Wilde
DP: Byron Shah
Producer: Chris Rossi
Production Company: [b-negative]
Editor: Miky Wolf
©2008 Vanguard Records, a Wellk Music Group Company

I've watched this music video over and over again. It's quite... well, you'll have to see.

I have a new found respect for my boss

2009-01-22T22:31:00.001-08:00

Well, at least my supervisor, Carla. She's one of the peoplethat control my salary - or more like, controls the hours I can work. Anywho, we had an interesting conversation going on about comic books and science fictionl; she's read all the comic books I have read, and then some. Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Sandman, 30 Days of Night, Watchmen, Star Wars, Star Trek...

And then, I found out I'm working next weekend. Not jumping for joy over that, but at least I'm getting hours. Not to mention, there's a Super Bowl party that Sunday at work. Think I'll go to that - I'm feeling a bit more comfortable around my co-workers, so I think I'll let myself loosen up over there. Must find something to make to contribute to the potluck... (Note to self: Make sure there's still money for work study...)

Also, I NEED THESE:

THEY ARE TEH SECKS! (Link totally sfw, just linked to the blog I found these off of)

I am also submitting to an impulse buy of Ninja Tacks. They're thumbtacks, in Ninja Star form.
Okay, enough ignoring homework. I've really got to stop putting off homework pass midnight...

Let's go, radio-

2009-01-21T17:30:00.001-08:00

activity!

I knew that Amazon sells everything but honestly!

I love the customer review/comments left. My favorite?

When I finally finished and successfully tested my first plutonium powered Dolorean time machine, I was a bit miffed by the fact that I had to accelerate all the way up to 88 mph before the flux capacitor would be able to kick in and send me into the great beyond. This is quite a pain when you live in the city and have to drive all the way to places like closed shopping malls, drive-in theatres, abandoned highways, and rail road tracks to get up to that kind of speed. Once I heard that Amazon was finally selling U-238 legally, I quickly purchased some and used the instruction booklet (included at no extra charge) to enrich it and build myself a uranium powered reactor which I then installed in my time machine. On the first test run, the flux capacitor jumped into full gear at only 37 mph! Now I can go time travelling on my own street and not worry about the commute.

Thank you, Amazon for selling this fantastic and incredibly useful product! I'm sure that with careful marketing, in five years no American home will be without it.

Thank you, Amazon for providing us such great products and great entertainment.

Another distraction from homework....

2009-01-19T23:53:00.000-08:00

Well, this weekend has been very unproductive for me. And this week does not bode well for me... Nothing but work and attempts to study.

All I can really recall of my weekend is my time with some Gio Nam/Southern Wind/Lion Dance buddies - Hung Le and Nam Nguyen. Came as a bit of a surprise - Sunday they called me out for some Dim Sum and I came along. Afterwards, we went out to go fishing off the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

A familiar, bittersweet sight lies at the end of this pier: The Ruby's Diner that I took my ex-girlfriend to on her 17th Birthday... Those were good times. But times I didn't let cloud my mind as I stood at the pier, attempting to catch some fish. It wasn't until Hung gave me some sage advice on fishing that the fish really started biting. And I have to say, I really did enjoy myself. Just standing there, taking in the scene, letting the loudspeakers of Ruby's Diner play some old music reminiscent of the Prohibition, old American chauvanism, the Great Depression - and best of all, jazz. I enjoyed the bonding time genuinely.

And the verdict? Three mackerels and two scorpion fish.

We brought home more or less 20 mackerels in a bucket. I came back to the dorm with a zip lock bag of five mackerels - now freezing in my fridge - as well as a pair of jeans stained with fish guts.

I'm not looking forward to school, though. I think I got a lot of studying and working to do. I'm going to try to endure some minimal sleep. See how that works out for me.

Notes to self

2009-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Just ideas that I need to put out there. Lists, and such. And who doesn't like lists?

Ways to Kill Boredom:
- With a hatchet
- Epic Nerf Gun battle with fortresses made out of couches
- Golfing on the beach
- Ice blocking
- Drawing on windows with dry erase markers
- Golfing on rooftops
- Shopping cart jousting
- Street hockey
- Flash Mob

Costume Ideas:
- Oddjob from James Bond
- Kiss
- Zombies w/ survivors of Left 4 Dead & cast of Resident Evil
- Boo from Super Mario
- Yip Yip from Sesame Street
- Muppets
- Barbershop Quartet

This will be updated throughout the year. Now I just need the will to go through with it.

You remember that "weight" thing I posted a couple months ago?

2009-01-16T23:27:00.000-08:00

EPIC FAIL

Yeah, I've gotten lazy... And really let myself go during the holidays... BUT I plan on jumping back on the horse and riding it home!

Eventually...

Okay, tomorrow. I really need it.

... you know, it's partially your fault. I told you guys before that I needed motivation on your part, and I got zero feedback on it!

But then again, I doubt that I have that wide of a readership... There are a couple of you out there reading, this though. I'm sure of it. I just wish I knew who.

I shouldn't blame you guys for my laziness, I'm sorry.

And I think I may be getting my Scholastic Fingers back - you know, the ones I use to type papers and such. A Midsummer Night's Dream has plagued me recently; I'm supposed to analyze a passage out of it rhetorically via Ethos, Logos and Pathos - a quick flashback to my Junior Year in Mr. Jason Charles, for those of you who remember - and I had a terrible time coming up with a thesis.

But, voila! I've found a hunch, and I need to explore it!

On another random note, I need to work on my script-writing craft. I've got books on it I should really look into, and its the same text that the screenwriting class at UCI is using... How fortunate for me. :D

It's late, and I feel a bit tired. Note to self, however: window mural is blank. Must decorate with random pop culture. Over.

This made my night.

2009-01-15T00:53:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a good friend of mine that I keep on liking more and more with each and every encounter - Tony La. The both of us were just standing on the stairs in front of the Humanities Hall of UCI, wasting time and talking. Somewhere within our conversation I absentmindedly pulled out Monica, my harmonica, out and blew a couple notes in it.

The both of us heard a man approach, saying something that was not quite audible to our ears because we thought he was directing his speech towards someone else. I thought he was talking on his cellphone with a blue-tooth headset - but at a glance I saw he was not. There was nobody else around him, so I immediately tuned in to what he was saying after I came to the realization that he was talking to us.

He pulls a harmonica out - and old Hohner pocket harmonica in the key of C. I asks if I can play a couple notes in it and my gosh what a tone. After I gave it back to him, without a beat, he just starts playing riffs. Compelled, I played along - playing long notes underneath the rapid fire bullets he bursts into the holes of that mouth harp. I didn't want to try anything fancy, I just wanted to hear him. My accompaniment - least from what I can hear - blended well with his fanciful notes of eighths and sixteenths - I wanted to just listen, but at the same time I wanted to be a part of the music so I just kept on playing. The small audience watching us from the bridge up above were highly entertained, but not as much as I was, oh no.

I almost forgot how great it feels to make beautiful music...

It only lasted for a moment, this ad hoc jam session, but my God it was awesome. Finally, I was able to improve with somebody something that actually sounded like good music. And I was actually (kinda) able to keep up!

We exchanged names: he introduced himself as Richard Nester, the writing instructor over at UCI's LARC (Learning and Academic Resource Center) program. I introduced myself as Henry, a first year at UCI that he's bound to see around more often. I was compelled to give him my card, but decided against it - I found it wiser not to.

After that brief - but amazing - encounter, Tony and I were absolutely flabbergasted. It was badass - to say the least. Next time I see him - and hopefully I recognize his face - I hope we can have a repeat of our experience.

My God, I expected today to be pretty shitty with my busy schedule, but that moment absolutely made my night.

Haikus

2009-01-14T03:04:00.000-08:00

Expecting no sleep
Long nights procrastinating
Masochistic joy

Dave Brubeck Quartet
Helps me bear these long, long nights
Three to Get Ready

I find amazing
Blazing heat during the day
Bloody cold late nights

Must take my leave now
Have long day ahead of me
Absolute dreading

I leave you all now
With an amazing picture
Me with no pants on

I have found

2009-01-14T02:26:00.000-08:00

the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

Now to find the question...

"Actually, here take a card."

2009-01-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

I've been passing these out like candy. Everywhere I go, every person I meet.

"Hey, nice to meet you, I'm Henry. In fact, take a card."

I hand these out like candy and I keep on forgetting I'm leaving the URL to my blog on these. I'm already through half of my cards - and mind you, I call them "My Card" as opposed to "My Business Card" - and I'm guessing there's at least a handful who's visited this website out of curiosity. Or at least one person. To those of you who are visiting... well... welcome!

Now for a random thought:

I play the harmonica. I have a smoking pipe. A gray fedora. Blazers. And to top it all off, "business" cards.

Gimmicky or awesome?

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure this qualifies me as one of those "unique characters." This makes me sound pretentious, doesn't it? You know, I've always thought people who used the word "pretentious" are pretentious themselves - but what does that say about me?

Uh-oh. I'm on a random stream of consciousness again. This is fun, I wonder where my thoughts are going to take me.

You know, I found something great that you can do. Get a ping pong ball. Cut'em in half. Tape those halves to your eyes. Lie down on a couch. Turn on a radio to static. Then, you'll start hallucinating. You see, the brain is addicted to sensations that appeal to... well, the senses. Thence the ping pong ball and the static - they're "whitenoises" that tune out the senses. The brain then starts developing its own. To entertain itself, I suppose.

Entertain. I had a dream last night. I don't remember what it's about. I remember it was entertaining. I know there's somebody that I recognize in my dream. I seem to be having some pretty vivid dreams lately. Last one I remembered? Barack Obama.

I'd really like to meet the guy. He seems like a nice guy to talk to - and he collects Spider-man comic books! Marvel is actually making an issue where Spidey talks to Obama. Now THAT'S gimmicky.

Still, Spidey needs it. Don't know if a lot of you know, but Peter Parker and Mary Jane? NO MORE! Peter traded his marriage for Aunt May's life - she got shot in an assassination attempt against Parker and was about to die. Mephisto shows up, offers MJ and Parker a chance to trade in their marriage and all memories of it for Aunt May's life. And despite the fact that Aunt May's already reaching the age where death is expected...

The writers decided to end the Parker/Jane marriage.

I was pretty pissed off about this - it's like ending the Superman/Lois Lane marriage - it's blasphemy! I thought it was one of those unwritten rules of comic books, you know? Where everything's possible except for the resurrection of Ben Parker (in canon); Clark Kent & Lois Lane will always be together; Catwoman and Batman will still have many flirtations but will not really amount to much considering they're both on different sides of the law; The Flash will always be the fastest thing alive; and Spidey and Mary Jane will be together forever!

But nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Let's end it! Let's ruin the Spidey franchise, as if it hasn't been molested enough by the third Spiderman movie!

ARGH! As if it wasn't bad enough insinuating that Gwen Stacy and the Green Goblin were having an affair and had twin children (I wish I could, but I shit you not. Wiki it). NO! They have to do retarded stuff like this to - oh God, rape my childhood!

And this is why I turned to Batman! Not the "main" one, but the other "non-canon" stuff - at least those are written in quality!

Damn you, Marvel. I used to love you so much because you did stuff that DC would never do - kill, murder, cheat, and lie. And now I've turned to DC because Batman makes more sense to me than the retarded mess you've left my childhood.

Sigh.

I need a shower. I like seeing how I went from "business card" to "Fuck Spiderman, go Batman!" Weird thing where the mind can take you.

Dreamt about Barack Obama last night

2009-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

We were in Hawaii. In the ocean for some odd reason. It was tropical. There were sharks and giant reefs. We went back to his house, and had dinner there. He seems like a really chill guy. We just sat down, leaned against a glass window that looked into his backyard that was the Pacific Ocean and just talked while his house was busy. My ex-girlfriend was also there, for some odd reason - leaning between me and Barack. Wolverine was also somewhere in my dream, too.

This dream is probably in response to some thoughts weighing in my mind. Hawaii - well, I can't really explain why I thought of that. I'm guessing it's from Forgetting Sarah Marshall and that movie's kind of been on my mind lately. The sharks I don't remember so much - probably from the article I read about the man who inspired the character Quint in Jaws. The ex-girlfriend's appearance, well - it's a bit obvious. Wolverine? Hells-fucking-yeah that's been on my mind!

And then there's Barack.

'Course he's been on my mind for awhile. Not because he's the next President-elect but because I'm worried for him. And his career.

Yes, he's got charisma, and yes, he's our first ethnic president - but he's also being fucked over by our friend George Dubya. He's being handed eight years of an unpopular war, a spiraling recession, and a lot of high expectations.

He's already made several good calls. He's elected people who are actually qualified for their positions in the cabinet. He's got Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State - which is good for this divisive Democrats who are all hardcore for the Cliton. Arne Duncan as our Secretary of Education - and this guy is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools. But the thing that's really got to me? The nomination of Steven Chu as our Secretary of Energy - a real fucking Nobel Prize winning fucking scientist.

However...

Rumor has it, he's pulling a Gerald Ford and there's a possibility that he might pardon our good friend Dubya from all war crimes that he could be indicted for.

Now you can understand why I worry for the guy. Obviously there are going to be people out there, wanting to tear Bush piece by piece who feel that Bush should get a trial. And I can understand why Obama doesn't want to - "moving forward" and such... But this is going to be terrible for his approval ratings.

Not to mention, I feel like a Depression is inevitable. Sure, the economy is looking up for now - but once Obama's approval ratings drop, people are going to start criticizing him, faith is gonna be loss, stock market's going to drop rapidly, bada-bing! Maybe it's me being paranoid...

But it's articles like this that's got me all shits and scaries. The Great Depression II - seems imaginable, but then again so did another World War. And so did another Indiana Jones movie.

I'm hungry. I think I'm going to go eat now.

Usually late night like these...

2009-01-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

most especially in Diamond Bar, California - I look outside my window and start to worry as I can see the sun rise beyond the horizon and over the hills.

But then I check the time, and realize that it's just light pollution.

Reminds me of the camping trips I always take several times a year. It's weird, but one of the reasons I don't like camping is because it reminds me of my own mortality. I blame it on the night sky; being able to see all those stars, staring into the infinite. Subconsciously I feel how small I am against the vast measureless darkness that we call the universe, and how my existence doesn't really mean much in the indefinitely broad measure of things. And then I start to feel a need for the city life again; man-made walls surround me, protect me from this constant reminder of the nihilism rooted deep within my mind.

I take comfort in hearing the freeway outside of my bedroom window at home. It's not right outside of my window; it's at a distance - a mile or two - far away enough for it to be soft white noise but close enough for me to know that there are people riding man-made, 12 tons of raw power out there on the road. Even at night. I grew up with that sound, slept to it, lived with it. I guess I take comfort in the inventions and constructions of the human mind - although, not so much the creator of all these artificial creations.

But by all means, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy camping with friends. I just enjoy the city more. I'm a city boy, and I grew up that way. I like my concrete walls, and I like to decorate them with artistic, creative practices and cultures of all sorts - both inventions of the human mind. It keeps my mind busy and helps me forget that I am really just one person amongst the canvas of trillions of lifeforms on this planet - and quite possibly, one against the trillion trillion trillion in this universe - struggling for survival. I am one being against the billions of humans on this planet trying to find meaning. God, that's so fucking scary.

I write this after a late night spent at another midnight screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. My thoughts came to a nihilistic approach as I rode home from the theater in Claremont, looking outside towards the artificial night sky done by light pollution. My thoughts - they traveled to the many camping trips I've been too, and the many nights where I've just lied there in my sleeping bag or my air bed - and look up towards the fabric ceiling of my tint and think to myself, "There's a thin layer of fabric between me and the infinite that is the sky, space, the universe - staring right back at me."

And then I fall asleep letting that thought haunt me for the rest of the night. And hell, my life even. I've just never really communicated these thoughts to anybody because well... fuck, it's quite a buzzkill for a thrill-seeker like me. But it haunts me still, to this day...

Random observation

2009-01-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

I've been keeping tabs on several blogs of people close to me lately, and I've come to realize that people have different writing "voices" than their real voices. Not much of a realization come to think of it... Well, what I've noticed more is how different everybody writes compared to how they speak. I mean it's one thing writing for papers, but for blogs - the way they speak online differs greatly to my interaction with them outside of the 'net. And then I compare my writing online to my own speech and I find myself more verbose online. In real life, on the other hand, I'm more vulgar and blunt.

Wow, that was a worthless paragraph. On another note...

I've been listening to a lot of Ska lately. It's odd, the genre never really interested me but the hat I'm wearing kind of makes me feel impelled to listen to lots of Reel Big Fish and skank my way home. Luckily, I got a hold of several gigs of Ska from My White Friend - as he insists on being called - Tristan.

Reel Big Fish

Mmmm... 'scuse me as I listen to ska covers of 80s music...

I'm An Idiot

2009-01-05T20:56:00.000-08:00

I just learned how to add titles to this blog...

God, this would have helped a long time ago. Oh well, the more you know.

Putting my idiocy aside, I feel like I really needed that winter break. As I arrived in my dorm the other day, a lot of my dormmates were surprised to see me wearing a gray fedora and a suit jacket - well, I guess when you're not wearing a suit jacket with a full on suit, I guess it's a blazer - a blazer. Those paired with my Vans Limited Edition Era in antique gold and black:

Trust me, these look a lot better on my feet than in this picture.

I have to admit - damn, I look fresh.

I walked through UCI feeling like a new man. I've got a newer, chipper attitude, a new look and style, and I'm feeling more confident than I did last quarter. Granted, my studying habits still haven't changed and there's that possibility that in a couple weeks I'll fall back to my old ways...

But here's hoping I improve! Or stay the way I am right now...

I made small adjustments in my room that I must admit I quite like. Well, quite honestly the only adjustment I've done is put all the books I care about onto my desk shelf - which actually helps with the look of my room a lot.

And also, during lecture today, Professor Lupton was talking about "Making" as a core theme for our lecture - and all this talk about making had me in a mood to "make" a script. So, throughout the lecture, I made a start on a script. From the looks of it, it looks decent. The dialogue's kind of got that whimsical Seinfield/Tarantino element in a sense that the audience is caught in a random conversation shared between two acquaintances/friends. I'm going to try to develop it into a little crime/comedy type of short film from the looks of it...

... and from the looks of it, I've ignored my Italian homework for much too long. Alright, off I go.

... and you know, from the looks of how this year is starting - it's going to be a real good year.

Perfect Way to Start Off the New Year

2009-01-04T14:59:00.000-08:00

After a night of miscellaneous video games and Death Race down in San Diego, I had my bags packed and ready for Santa Barbara county! I've previously stated in one of my earlier posts my plans for New Years. New Year Eve was - sad to say - uneventful and as climatic as my sex life.

And I have no sex life.

By no means I didn't enjoy myself; it was nice being able to see and spend some time with several of the folks that were able to grace me with their presence. I just wish we could have spent our time somewhere other than where we were: in a mansion with drunk, older adults who finished the alcohol before we could get the chance. I mean, it's one thing talking about our debauchery with alcohol, but another thing when there is alcohol within the household that we cannot touch. I'm not insinuating that we needed alcohol to enjoy ourselves.

Just that it sure as hell would have helped.

Anywho, the first day of my New Year's Day was in an Recreational Vehicle - an RV. I was meandering around in it, playing my DS within the presence of Spencer Brown, Eric Coressel, Christopher Buckley, and Claire Cylkowski. I spent a lot of time with them throughout high school and I was excited about reliving those times again. Spencer's father was the man behind the wheel; he took good care of us throughout our trip; he was the one who made us our meals and drove us around to our destinations. Ah yes, Mike Brown, a great character who works over at Cal Poly Pomona - he would give his mini-lectures and anecdotes of his experiences that kept us entertained.

We spent Day One traveling and setting up for the days ahead of us. The drive to the Santa Barbara county went very smoothly; there was no traffic. I was as surprised as the others, and took this as a good sign for the rest of our trip. We arrived in Refugio Beach, a beautiful state park. We parked close to the beach and took advantage of that; that night we walked along the beach, bitching about how cold it was but at the same time trying to catch sight of shooting stars. Being out in that part of California, stars were actually visible in the sky and it was a beautiful sight.

Day Two was spent the way I envisioned: a fun trip through Solvang. Solvang is a quaint Danish city that is a popular tourist attraction. Whilst exploring the city, we made a stop through several thrift stores that we've frequented before; it was there that I found more to add to my wardrobe. We also collected a handful of golf balls and a club. We dined at Solvang Restaurant - famous for their delicious aeblskivers and one of the filming locations of Sideways. Of course, we found the restaurant before the producers of Sideways did. We made a visit to Jule Hus, Inc. - a store that sold Christmas ornaments and decorations year round. It was there the guys and I found a very cute girl at the counter; Claire rolled her eyes at us whilst we acted like little school boys, chanting "Please be legal." Legal or not, I was able to get a picture of and with her; unfortunately, it was on Chris's camera, so I doubt I'll be seeing it anytime soon.

After our day at Solvang, we spent the rest of our night on the beach; Spencer and Christ did their surf fishing while Claire, Eric, and I smoked cigars and sipped on our soft drinks. Eric had speakers attached to his Zune, so we had our share of Sublime and Doctor Horrible; an interesting combination. Afterwards, we played a round of golf on the beach whilst purposely hitting them into the large water hazard in front of us. We slept late that night; however, Claire couldn't get that much sleep on account of my sonorous snoring. Sorry, Claire.

Day Three we spent fishing over at Gaviota - our favorite camping and fishing spot. There's a train track that runs through the site, but its a ways from the campground. In addition, the pier also promises some sea life for us to catch. Initially, the fish weren't biting throughout the day, but come sunset, we were lucky to be at the right spot and the right time: we were catching perch off the pier for a good half hour before they went away. I'm proud to say that I caught the biggest one - unfortunately, we didn't get to eat our catch. Instead, we went to AJ Spurs, a steakhouse that provided quite a hefty meal yet at quite a hefty price. I attempted to order a Butch Cassidy; they were out of burgers. A steakhouse. Out of ground beef. I was a bit puzzled but I didn't let that get me - I ordered something else to appease my appetite. That night, Spencer, Eric, and I finished off what was left of the golf balls; we knocked a couple golf balls off the railroad tracks (not the safest thing on Earth...) towards the sea and finished the rest on the beach before heading off to bed.

Playing golf off of this is scary as fuck.

This morning we all woke up and got ready to leave for home. We had a meager breakfast of toast and tea and waited around inside whilst heading back home (It seems like I've had tea with every single meal during my time out there; in fact, I've drank more tea within these last four days than all last year.). My DS was already out of batteries from battling the Elite Four Pokemon League the other night so I finished up Clockwork Orange. I completed it an hour before we got home and I spent most of that time looking out the window. Our trip back home was as smooth as our trip away from it - no traffic, just constant pressing of the gas pedal.

And now here I am. I have clothes lying around right now that I should pack away for my return back to UCI. I shall be returning with a fistful of cash, a slightly new wardrobe that shall greatly change my appearance, and greatly refreshed from a long and highly enjoyable break.

And you know what?

I can quite honestly say that this has been the best Winter break for me ever.

Year of 2008 in Review (Abridged)

2008-12-31T01:03:00.000-08:00

It has been a year of momentum for me.

I graduate high school.
I'm in college now.
I'm legal.
OJ is finally convicted.
Guns N Roses finally releases Chinese Democracy, after ten years. Albeit, without Slash.
Watchmen is finally in film production, after over ten years. Fox can suck a chode.
Dark Knight had me jizzing my pants.
SNL is actually funny.
Barack Obama.

But then again...
Gas has teetered from $4.50 to $1.50
The economy is rapidly on its way to hell
Keanu Reeves still has a career
Large Hadron Collider
The Big Three have self-destruct
Britney career is actually going somewhere good. At least that's what I hear.
David Duchovny is in sex rehab
And my girlfriend of a year and nine months broke up with me.

... that last part sucked in particular, but hey, it's added to my year of momentum. A lot has happened (or at least I'm more aware of what's happening) in the year of 2008. So let's crack open the champagne and hope 2009 does some good for us!

Till then,

Happy New Years, and Welcome 2009!

Dreaming about Paul Rudd

2008-12-29T10:28:00.001-08:00

That's what I did last night. No, literally. Apparently, we were supposed to hang out and fly out to... God, I wish I remembered. I think it was London. Unfortunately, I had work - which is preposterous because I have the whole week off. Paul Rudd. Me. London. They say dreams are composites of your memories, remembered and forgotten; just recently I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall which starred Paul Rudd. My friends, Carlos Gonzalez and John "The Almighty" Vaughn are supposed to go to London... It all makes sense now. What does not make sense to me, however, is how we ended up in the middle of Mexico, eating in a restaurant. Then again, most dreams don't have to make sense.

I Am Going Broke...

2008-12-27T23:18:00.000-08:00

I took a trip to Frank and Sons today - it's a perfect place to get a gift for somebody who's well-oriented in comic books, Japanese culture, airsoft, sports, or pop culture overall. A great warehouse that sells collectibles - they've even got a place where you can get the BEST movie posters, and a booth not that far away where you can keep that poster in a poster protector :D Anywho, enough of my advertising...

I came in with the intent of spending my Christmas money (all $140) on something in Frank and Sons. However, as I thought about it, I also wanted to save my money for my trip to Solvang, California; I'm going camping with several friends from New Years Day to the fourth (the day I'm supposed to move back to Irvine - cutting it close, eh?) and we're camping out at Gaviota State Park. Solvang - a city made famous by Sideways, The Simpsons, and other television shows(American Dad, Pinky and the Brain, Kathy Griffin) - is not that far away from Gaviota, and we usually take a trip out there whenever we're around. Well, at least my friend, Spencer does.

Ah yes, Spencer Brown - he's usually the man who coordinates these trips out to Gaviota because he frequents out there often. I went with him once, and I had the time of my life. This was the summer of my freshmen year going into my sophomore year of high school - those were good memories. Since then, I've been desperate to go but unfortunately there's always bad timing. I was afraid that the same would happen, considering that my family is planning on heading down to San Diego for the New Years Countdown; my parents's friends are throwing a party and my parents planned on attending by dragging us along. Its a conglomeration of a whole bunch of families, really. That's a story for another time, however.

I'm digressing. Point is, I wanted to save money for this camping trip, so I walked into Frank and Sons determined to walk out with at least $100 in my pockets.

I walked out with $43 bucks left.

The reason for the sudden hole in my pocket?

The glory that is Watchmen. But I bought more than that.

I dropped $60 on this monolith of a beauty. I know the math doesn't add up, but I also bought other things as well. But this one was the biggest reason for the hole in my wallet. And it was completely by impulse, too. I walked out of Frank and Sons with this beauty in my hands, in shock for like an hour. Literally. Like, I knew I should be feeling guilt, but feeling it in my hands, the weight of it, the smell of it, the beauty of the page - I did not regret my buy.

Oversized hardcover collection. Digitally remastered line art. Brand New Coloring. 48 pages of extras, from samples of Alan Moore's original script to the promotional pieces.

I believe there's a song to the feeling I got while I held this beauty in my hand.

Then a thought came to mind as I embraced my treasure: I paid $60 on a comic book.

... I believe there's a six letter word for my kind: virgin*.

*I jest, of course. I just like poking at stereotypes. Ever since geek chic got popular, this stereotype seems to have died.

Apparently, I do have an audience!

2008-12-27T00:22:00.000-08:00

I woke up sometime around three in the afternoon today, much to my horror. I never sleep past 1:30 PM, but three?! I've practically slept my whole day away! Probably wouldn't have done much with it, anyways...

I woke up to an empty house. Sure, for awhile my uncle, aunt, and baby cousin were meandering about, but after I brushed my teeth and took a shower, I walked out to find the house quiet. After my supper of Pho (because I've slept through breakfast and lunch), I grew quickly bored of what was happening around my house: nothing. I tried to remedy the situation with the internet, but it seems like every time I have the opportunity to use the internet all I want - I find no entertainment in it. And during times when I shouldn't be distracted by it e.g. finals studying, paper writing, homework, and so on - the internet is more interesting to me than whatever my studies can provide.

So, instead, I call my friend Miki Fukusumi for a chat over at Starbucks. I haven't seen her in ages - several years, actually - and decided to have a pleasant chat to see how she's doing. I don my trademark hat, and my large coat, gave myeslf a quick shave, and rushed on over there. On my way, surprisingly enough, my trusty friend Cody Speidel from high school found me in the parking lot. He's always been a kind, warm, brotherly type of fellow to me - we grew apart during the past year and I regret it. However, I did try to spend some time with him over my Christmas break, but to no avail - the number he gave me was not a working number. His girlfriend was with him, and the car was pungent with Little Caeser's pizza.

After the random chance encounter, I saw somebody that I recognized from high school outside. She was one of those faces that I see around campus a lot during my time over at Diamond Ranch High School but I never knew her name. It wasn't until I went inside Starbucks that I learned her name after all these years - Marcy.

I learned her name from another random encounter - three girls who were in my class throughout middle school and high school were there, talking it up with Miki. Tina Stutzman, Sam Zeeman, and Marika Hoeckman - odd how I'm still able to remember how to spell their last name. Then again, I have known them since middle school - I've had six years to remember.

Miki couldn't stick around long - apparently, she had a prior engagement she forgot about. Luckily, I had Tina, Sam, and Marika to keep me company. Completely random, but it was nice to see them again - most especially after high school. We played the usual game of Catch Up that every former classmates play with each other and learned some new things about other people in our lives. It was from them that I learned of Marcy's name, and at the same time it was from them that I learned that I had an audience - apparently, Tina reads my blog/notes on Facebook. Don't blame her - honestly, what's there better to do in college? Study? *pretentious scoff done in a sarcastic manner that conveys that I'm just jesting but quite possibly not*

Afterward, I spent my evening with Jessika Taylor-Nunez, another old friend from high school that graduated before I did. It was nice catching up - and once again, I randomly encountered other people from my high school: Airi Ando and Alex He. Jessika and Airi were both in band with me, and I believe Alex was in my Physics class my sophomore year. Jessika and I left Airi and Alex to their conversation after we said our hellos. Apparently, Jessika's a victim of revertigo - a condition where you start acting and dressing like you did in the past when you start spending time with people you used to hang out with. College students suffer from this most especially when they come back home.

And now, here I am. I'm writing because well - I promised Tina, Sam, and Marika that I would blog about it. They probably don't quite remember that I mentioned it, but I'm pretty sure Tina will read through this and remember an inkling of it, won't you, Tina?

Alright, I must finish up The Day the Earth Stood Still - I've had my web browser open to it all day on Youtube and I've hardly touched it. Mind you, I'm watching the original version, not the one with crappy Keanu Reeves; I haven't seen it yet, but with Keanu Reeves playing Klaatu, it has to be crap.

Hmm... considering that it is the day after Christmas, I should probably write about the loot I received for Jesus's birthday... A fabulous tie that I received from my cousin (which is actually spot on - I like dressing up in business attire and such) as well as $140 of cold hard cash. Always nice to have cash in the pockets :D

Christmas Time is Here!

2008-12-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah everybody!

And a little Christmas to all the geeks out there: 8-Bit Jesus: Classic Christmas Songs in the Style of Classic NES Games! With titles such as:

We Three Konami
8 Days of Master Robots
Ryu, The Red Nosed Ninja
Super Jingle Bros.
Contraland
Kraid, Rest Ye Merry Mother Brain
Have Yourself a Final Little Fantasy

and even more! Doctor Octoroc has provided this album, free for download on his website! And with a $15 donation, you can receive a physical album!

Wow, I'm turning into a infomercial. I should probably stop.

For those movie junkies out there, here's an abridged version of Santa Clause Conquers the Martians brought to you by Mystery Science Theatre 3000:

And for everybody else, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Jingle All The Way, featuring Sinbad!

Can you believe I spelled Arnold's last name correctly on the first try?

And to all of those celebrating it tomorrow, have a Happy Kwanzaa!

Been meaning to write in here

2008-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

For a long while, actually - but everytime I have my browser open to the page where I write my blog, I always get distracted. I find it amusing how during a time when I have nothing better to do, I don't blog as much. Yet, whenever there's work to be done, I opt for writing in my blog instead. Well, anything to avoid work, right?

But I'm blogging now. For the sake of blogging and for the sake of keeping it habit. And now, for some entertainment:

A Group of Ninjas Protesting at a Pirate Festival

And for something more festive:

The Twisted Sisters do "O Come All Ye Faithful" to the tune of "We're Not Gonna Take It"

I'd Rather Fight Apollo Creed

2008-12-16T00:20:00.000-08:00

... then have to fight this cold! Thankfully, I'd filled up on my Vitamin C via fresh orange and pineapple so my sinuses aren't that stuffed right now. Additionally, I'm listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack and it gets me into a festive mood - most especially this time of year! I found it odd, though, that Wes Anderson always uses this album in his movies, no matter what the season... I don't blame him though, it's always a great thing to listen to. Kudos to the Vince Guaraldi Trio!

And hey even Arrested Development has used A Charlie Brown Christmas, too!

Oh, how I miss this show... Thank God they're making a movie for it, though!

There was a point to this post aside from connecting Charlie Brown to Wes Anderson and Arrested Development...

Oh yeah! A time for reflection, considering that finals are over - as well as my first quarter of college!

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that I am a college student. But since the break-up - and you guys know what break-up I'm talking about - I feel myself assimilating to college life. Since I've been at UCI, I find myself more politically active and more in tune with what's going on in the world; I find this undying thirst for more movies to watch, books to read, theater to enjoy insatiable. Then again, I think I've always had the latter. I find myself more and more on digg.com and reddit.com finding whatever I find interesting to catch my eye. I don't know why, but as of late, I find myself more and more comfortable in college - and then Winter Break comes by.

Quite honestly, I didn't want to leave the dorms quite yet - I mean, I was just getting used to college! There's something about waking up in the dorms with no obligation to do anything that feels absolutely great. I mean, I had this image that I'd be studying hardcore all the time, an hour to two for every hour in class.

Not the case at all.

Instead, I found myself back to my old habits, procrastinating. I was working on my paper for Jane Austen's Persuasion and I didn't really finish it until the day of. I was working on it with my new friend, Marie Pham - of no relation, the both of us happen to share the same last name - and the both of us decided to come into class late so we can work on our paper a bit longer and finish it. We didn't show up until the last five minutes of class. We turned our paper in, happy with the fact that we were able to finish our last paper of the quarter. From what they tell us, next quarter we're going to be doing research papers. I don't mind, I quite like doing research. Actually, I quite like doing papers. I don't know whether it's the writer or masochist in me that has a liking towards writing papers, but I am kind of looking forward to next quarter because of this.

Oh, and I've signed up for an Introduction to Criminology class. It should be fun - I've always taken an interest in law, and who knows - this class might be the push I need to decide upon a career. Not to mention, I hear there's a lot of writing in my class, and considering that writing is my forte, I'm down for whatever is thrown at me.

Hmmm... I seem to be losing my attention span on this post. I think I'm going meander around on the internet before I get some well-needed rest.

"Christmastime is here/Happiness and cheer"

It's Nice...

2008-12-10T15:51:00.000-08:00

... to finally be able to wake up without obligations. Most especially in your own dorm. There's something more liberating waking up in a dorm with no obligations than your own room at home. Maybe it's the fact that I don't have my parents looming over me? Yeah, that's it.

Woke up with an ear-infection, stuffy nose, and something going on with my throat. I had an inkling that I was going to wake up with this last night - my sinuses were more clogged than a run-down, out-of-order public toilet, and I thought to myself, "Maybe I should take that dosage of 500 mg of ampicillin I have lying around here somewhere... My throat is feeling a bit raw..."

But than again, my whole mouth was raw last night after eating some cold-and-spicy flour noodles that my dorm-buddy Elliot, made for this little feast I decided to make last night. I wanted to do a bit of a feast to get rid of the stuff in my fridge - because we're being kicked out of our dorms this Saturday and we need to clear our room of all valuables and food from our fridges. But instead, I threw out the meat, went over to Trader Joes and bought some ingredients to make some of my Red Fried Rice. Twas delicious :]

Ah... it's so nice to be able to live in a dorm without any obligations. I know I've already said this but with no classes, it feels so good! And now I can read literature I actually want to read! Alright, here's a list of books I want to read over break: Persepolis, The Yiddish Policeman's Union, and The Simpsons and Philosophy.

Persepolis, from the looks of it, is a comic about a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It's teaching me history in a format I fancy - and speaking of which, Tristan's also presented to me Action Philosophers - also a comic book, but it details the lives and details of philosophers - from Lao Tzu to Joseph Campbell. I shall look into that as well. Oh yeah, and Persepolis was also made into a movie. I plan on seeing it sometime.

The Simpsons and Philosophy I picked up because it was cheap on Amazon ($7) and not to mention, there was an excerpt on examining Homer Simpson in Aristotelian terms. Considering that Aristotle and Socrates were my strongest subjects for the past several weeks, I wanted to see there is to him. That and there's a comparison of Bart to Nietzsche, and I would like to learn more about Nietzsche. The Simpsons seem like a good place to start.

And then there's The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon - a UCI alumni. I initially picked this up because well... I judged the book by its cover and thought it look pretty awesome. I mean, look at the picture above - how can you NOT buy a book with something like that on its cover? That and the idea of Alaska being a Jewish State during post-WWII seemed like an interesting idea to me. They're making a movie out of this, too!

Crap, and then there's also a Clockwork Orange that I need to read through. I borrowed it from a girl I met a couple weeks ago, Stephanie, and promised to return it to her as soon as I'm done. Considering that I've had school for awhile, I never got around to it - well, here's my chance! I've already seen the movie which I must admit I did quite enjoy. Minus the rape scene.

Alright, so I gotta read Yiddish Policeman's Union, Clockwork Orange, Persepolis, and The Simpsons and Philosophy. Oh, and Action Philosphers. A lot of reading to do, but I like to look at it as a way of better culturing myself. I need it, anyways.

Now, movies to watch over break. The Spirit, Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler, and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button... And that's just in theaters. There's stuff that I need to watch over break so I can get into the loop of. Like Firefly - there are only thirteen episodes, right? Sorry, fourteen - I just checked. And all of them are on Hulu! Just my luck! Now, what else should I check out? Any movies? Shows? Any suggestions anybody?

... any?

2008-12-05T21:44:00.000-08:00

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINALS

Hope you all do well! For those of you who need it, good luck! And as to quite what a wise man has once sad to me: "Pray to your God, and if you don't have one, get one!"

I Hate Jane Austen

2008-12-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

Because of this abhorrence of a paper I have to write!

Maybe I'm over-thinking this. Maybe I'm just blowing this out of proportion. But goddammit, I don't know what to write! Either I've got a bad case of writer's block, or I'm just plain stupid...

Actually, this isn't a first time. I've always been terrible at writing papers on novels. Short stories, like Heart of Darkness, I can do. Papers on Aristotelian Courage or Platonic theory of forms and Love I can proudly say I've done with flying colors. But that's because the latter has forced me to apply something I've learned to situations and the former is a short story - there isn't as much to consider when it comes to literary analysis. But goddammit, I cannot do novels. There are too many themes, factors, and events to consider - and where the hell do I start?

I've brainstormed, I've slept on it, and I still haven't been able to come up with on outline about it. I mean, this paper that I'm supposed to write to so...

Alright, enough of me bitching. I just need to get into the gist of writing. Maybe I should have another practice in stream of consciousness.

Stream of consciousness. Interesting concept. Talking off the top of your head. Or in this case writing. Okay, not much of a concept. But interesting in the sense that you see a persons id - or ego? or super ego? How would Freud put it... Or was it Jung? Welcome to the Jungle! We got fun and games! Speaking of games, I wonder when my Guitar Hero should be coming in the mail... I snagged myself a copy on Amazon during the Black Friday rush. Well, it really much of a rush for me - I just bought it at home.

Ugh, I have that essay still pressing on my mind... Dammit, wireless internet access out here is pretty shitty. It's like - oh, what's a good analogy... Well, it's a hit and miss. Maybe I need to clear my mind. Blank sheet. John Locke - everybody is born with a blank slate for a mind - only the impressions of external influences can affect what is on this slate.

Descartes tried something to this affect - he tried to rationalize that human knowledge comes from the mind. He does this through denying everything - from his sense, to his own existence. He reduces himself to nothing but a thinking thought. It's the fact that he's thinking that he proves that he exists - thence, the term - "I think, therefore I am."

Then he tries to prove God's existence along this very same train of thought - pretty much, to paraphrase, I have the idea of an powerful, omniscient force. But where did this idea come from? Obviously, this omniscient force - it gave me this idea as an imprint of its existence and my being a product of its creation." Or something to that extent. A nagging feeling in the back of my mind says that I might be wrong, but after this quarter of thinking, I've kind of doubted the human mind. In fact, this quarter has taught me to hate philosophers. It's one ambiguous question after the other, and ends up in circular logic.

Hmm... Descargo, Escargo. Snails. Naked snails are slugs, right? Then what's a naked hermit crab - or a naked turtle. You know, it seems like all of these are edible in some way. Funny - Americans believe that bugs and reptiles should not be eaten, but mammals and sea life are alright for the consumption. I wonder where we got this idea. I mean, traveling to other countries, they've adopted reptiles and bugs into their diets - I've had escargot, crocodile, snake, and... well, that's about it. I mean, what's wrong with eating bugs and reptiles? They look disgusting to some, sure - but compare that to a pig. Pig's roll around in their own filth. After all, it is banned in some religions to eat pork.

Reminds me of Pulp Fiction, the diner scene where Jules Winnfield is talking to Vincent Vega about how he doesn't eat pork because he believes they're disgusting creatures. In the same vein, sewer rat can taste like the greatest thing on earth until you realize that you've eaten sewer rat. Isn't there a place in China where they serve Mountain Rats for food? They at fruits as opposed to... well, sewage, so I guess that makes'em healthy to eat... Not so sure I'd want to try it though. Not unless it's deep fried. I mean, the crocodile meat I had was deep fried, and it actually kind of tasted like chicken.

Fried chicken. Now that's something I haven't had in months. Huh. You know what, now I'm actually in the mood to write. I wonder if anybody really does read through these blogs... Well, obviously you are. You must be thinking this blog quite preposterous - or at least a bit interesting - in comparison to others. Don't exactly know where I'm going with this. I usually don't nowadays.

But it seems like Tristan - the Caucasian - is right - I should just write some shit down, just to get into the gist of writing. The Caucasian - maybe that should be his nickname... Kind of reminds me of the Big Lebowski; the Dude always orders a White Russian, or as he sometimes calls it, a Caucasian. So quite honeslty, not exactly naming him after his ethnicity, but rather a cocktail. That happens to be his ethnicity. I could call him the White Russian, but he really isn't Russian, he's German. And a lumberjack. Maybe I should start calling him Jack. Cause of his lumberjack backgrounds. I've seen that guy without his shirt off, it shows that he's done some work with lumber (No homo).

Alright... Maybe I can finally get to writing my paper. Hopefully I can get that shit done. I still don't know what I'm going to do, but hey, at least I got my typing fingers back.

Let's get to work.

2008-11-24T01:40:00.000-08:00

Wish List

I'm looking for an excuse to not to do homework right now. And what better way than making lists? Because everybody likes lists! Either it be a Top Ten list or a list of groceries! Black Friday is coming about. And that is the prime day for Christmas shopping. And with Christmas around the corner, I have a whole crapload of things in mind that I plan on getting myself one way or another. A lot of these items I've been wanting for a long time, and sometime in the future, I plan on obtaining them. One way or another. There really is no order to the way I list these items.

1) Smoking Robe

Because I need one. I love the grandiose, the laughably over-the-top nature of anybody wearing it. And I want it. Do I plan on smoking once I get myself one of these? Probably. Maybe a cigar. Or a pipe. Or better off - those toy pipes that you can blow bubbles in. I'm also going to need some slippers to add to my robe...

2) iPod

I wasn't going to want one of these. I told myself I wouldn't. But after many years I've seen so many of these around - I want to jump on the bandwagon. I know this goes against my loyalty towards PCs but since the crash of my last PC-run laptop aka HAL2000 (Rest in Peace, my beauty) I've been leaning more and more towards Macs. But alas, I wait for the next Microsoft OS, Microsoft 7, before I pass judgment. Not to mention, I just can't get used to Macs. Wait, what does this have to do with iPods? I want an iPod. I want to have music to carry around and listen to while I'm waiting around or working out. I don't care if it promotes anti-social behavior - I don't plan on talking to the women to the left of my while I'm on the treadmill. Now, I'm not looking for the latest iPods - hell, I'd do with an iPod Mini. But I don't want a shuffle. Sure, they're cheap, but I'd like to choose my music. And I'd like to watch video while I'm at it. I mean, who doesn't?

3) A Wii Game.

I've been long overdue a video game. I only game I own for the Wii is Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and as great of a game that is, it isn't enough to satisfy me. I need more! My gaming cravings have been empty lately, and even my DS is starting to lose its fun for me. So, I request one of the following:

-Wii Sports
-Wii Play
-Super Paper Mario
-Rock Band
-Call of Duty: World at War
-The Godfather: Blackhand Edition
-Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
-House of the Dead: Overkill
-Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
-Okami

That's about all I got... A lot of these games have captured my fancy, and I would absolutely love to add these to my library! I plan on getting them one way or another, but not until after Chinese New Year - after I get my fistful of dollars! Weee! And, for those of you looking to buy one of these for me, if none of those are affordable, some Wii Points would be awesome, as well!

4) An Analog Watch

I need one. I used to have one, but since the strap on it broke, I've been devoid of a watch. Sure, I can use my cellphone to tell time, but I sometimes just prefer to take a glance at my wrists. That, and I miss having a wristwatch. Made my wardrobe feel... more complete.

5) Running Shoes
I've been trying to exercise lately. Unfortunately, I don't have the right shoes to work out in. I've mostly been running around in my Vans - but I like those. Oh, speaking of which...

6) Sneakers
My Vans are wearing out. And I love my Vans D: I need a decent pair to walk around in!

7) Hoodie
I love hoodies. Don't know why, I just do :]

8) Jeans
I need a new pair. I have a crap, generic pair of jeans that I wear to work and to get messy in, and another pair to look good in. Or in my case, decent. But I need more D: I have enough shirts as it is, but jeans? I have terrible pants in my wardrobe - I. Need. Jeans. But most likely I'm going to have to get one of these myself.

9) Webcam
It'd be nice to communicate with friends that I can't see on a daily basis any more. It would be great to leave wall comments, or even potentially start Vlogging with.

10) A Digital Camera
It'd be nice not to have to borrow anybody's camera when I go out. 11) Zippo Lighter Because I can't find mine...

12) Vinyl Toys

I've been trying to get into these for awhile - unfortunately, they're an expensive hobby that I cannot afford to take up. Like cocaine. Anywho, I'd love to get my hands on some blindbox Dunny's or anything KidRobot. Or maybe a Kozik :]

13) Vintage Toy Robots

I've always loved these robots. There's something aesthetic about them, yet at the same time absolutely childish. Luckily, they're outdated so I doubt a child would love them.

14) Watchmen

'Nuff said.

15) 500 Things You Should Know
I want this book! Find it on Amazon! It's amazing! Look: http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/11/show_me_how_500.php

That's all I can come up with for now. If you still need help looking for anything, keep in mind - I love childish aesthetics, robots, zombies, and video games. Most especially zombies.

2008-11-24T00:11:00.000-08:00

Back to Therapy...

The title refers to the fact that I find blogging therapeutic - despite the fact that I also find blogging about my life narcissistic (and I despise narcissism. Speaking of which, thank God for spellcheck, because I cannot spell narcissism right for the life of me).

I've been feeling depressed at night for a couple weeks. For obvious reasons.

God, I don't want to do this. This is exposing too much of my life to the internet.

But who's gonna read it, right?

Maybe somebody within my social network... or my boss...

Oh, that'd be terrible.

Maybe I should stop typing like this. Stream of consciousness is annoying. It's like... God, I can't think of a witty analogy that's literary or of any merit. All I know it's as annoying as...

Dammit, failed again. What was I talking about before my digression?

Oh yeah, depression.

It sucks ass. Almost as much as studying Descartes. Or reading Jane Austen. *rimshot* (but not to be confused with rim job).

I've decided I'd do away with the damn thing sometime in Lorbeer Middle School. Middle School was an odd phase - I think for everybody. Hormones. The opposite sex. Boobs. No longer does the cootie shot exist, but instead all we want to do is touch each other. Or ourselves.

Anywho, I decided depression is not a part of my personality. Over five years later, I've met with my old friend again. And now I have an urge to wear all black, listen to Linkin Park, and quite possibly smoke nothing but black cigarettes and watch Donnie Darko over and over and over again.

Least I have been for the past several weeks. But after an alluring conversation with my friend, Aarika (as well as a bountiful dinner with some people in my dorm that I really enjoyed :]) I've decided to do away with Depression and be who I want to be.

Problem is, who do I want to be?

I've been having a problem with college, I'll admit it. It's nothing I ever hoped it to be.

When I initially thought of college, I guess I expected something... a bit more...

Okay, I don't know what I expected. All I know is that I wanted out of the drama and idiocracy of High School and into the intellectual fire of college.

And quite honestly, I haven't found much of a spark. Don't get me wrong - the classes are all stimulating for my cranium - it's just that socially... Well, I've turned out to become quite a social retard out here. I don't know what I'm doing any more. I feel like I've lost any value that I got in high school. I mean shit, I was top shit in high school - people fuckin' loved me!

But as soon as I got here and worked my charisma and my charm, it doesn't really get past anybody. Probably because I'm catering to a different crowd now.

But why does it feel like the people I want to get away from in high school have followed me here? I know several of you know what I mean... I don't want to go into detail in fear that those same people are reading this blog (I'm a pussy like that) but I -

I'm ignoring my homework. And I have class in less than nine hours. I must take my leave. Therapy session is over. Got to get to work!

Autobots, rollout!

2008-11-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

So Close to Learning the Secrets of Wrestling...

So close!

I had a weird dream last night. I was taking a nap, and for some reason, I was endowed with the ability to actually play well at Street Fighter. Odd thing is, I haven't played Street Fighter in months. And somehow, my dream segued into a parking lot, dim-lit with orange street lights. For some reason, several of my friends and I were walking towards some destination... and as soon as we walked past a brick wall, a couple G-men were waiting for us. The one of the Suits just asks me, "Do you want to know the secrets to wrestling?"

Wrestling? I don't know where this came from. Maybe it was from talking to Noah - an Asian kid (Go figure, welcome to UCI) from Diamond Bar High School (and NOT Diamond Ranch High School) who did varsity wrestling for a couple years...

"Sure."

I wanted to know. Maybe I become a luchador or something? It'd be great - I mean, I really see no practical use for the wrestling moves, but hey, if there's a secret to it, why not find out what it is?

So, the Suit tells me, "The secret to wrestling is-"

My phone rings. It's night time. I overslept my nap. Tristan calls me to ask me if I wanted to go to dinner.

And to think, I was so close to learning the secrets of wrestling...

2008-11-12T22:17:00.000-08:00

Let This Be Public...

I, Henry Pham, by the power of the internet, am announcing my intent to lose as much weight as I can and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Lord needs I've needed it since... forever. But now, it's gotten serious.

I decided to go to the ARC - the Anteater Recreation Center - and weighed myself.

"Good GOD." I said to myself

I've always told myself, "Henry. You gotta lose weight. We're gonna start next week!"

And then it becomes a vicious cycle from week to week of the same phrase. And now, I figure - the best way for me to commit to this is to make this public. Cause the best kind of motivation is public humiliation.

My name is Henry Pham. I am 5'5". I weigh 214 lbs. And boy, do I need to lose weight. I shall blog my attempt at losing weight - my goal is to become 150. I'm trying to lose 60 lbs.

... I'm trying to lose 60 lbs. That's a fucking a lot.

Oh, well. I've had no problems with commitments before. I might as well commit to this. It's a wonder why I haven't committed to this. I know somewhere along the road, there is going to be reluctance - I'm going to need some major push from people.

So, it is official. As of tonight, I have already started - I went to the ARC, ran for a mile, burned 100 calories on the elliptical machine. It's a start. Hopefully, I can amp it up a little next time around.

Here we go! 214 lbs - 60 lbs = GOAL! Here we go!

(I'm going to weigh myself once every two weeks to document my progress. If I do not, I need anybody who reads this to bug me. And call me fat. And mean names. Like I said, public humiliation can be one hell of a motivator.)

2008-11-12T02:11:00.000-08:00

Good Grief

Usually I'm against those personal blogs. You know, the kind where people talk about their day to day lives. They lament, they rejoice, they do what ever other person online does. I don't know, I feel that people who blog about their lives... I see no accomplishment in it. What exactly is there to achieve, blogging about your life? Is an audience expected, is there some hope that your blog will hit it big with a certain crowd and it'll make you famous?

I've tried different things with my blog. A couple sample formats, just messed around with what I can find. But using my blog as something to write about my life in - well, now I understand. It's therapeutic. God knows I need it. I'm going through immense turmoil myself right now.

My girlfriend of a year and nine months - we broke up Sunday. Funny how it turned out. Both of us were napping... Well, I was for the most part. I love napping with the girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend. I was nodding off, opening and closing my eyes... She was sitting there, looking at me, thinking. For a minute there, I thought she was just "admiring" me like I do with her sometimes while she's asleep.

"What're you doing?"
"Thinking..."

She thinks. For awhile. I'm sleeping. Dozing off. Each time my eyes flutter, and I glance up at her, she's "thinking."

"What're you thinking about? Breaking up with me?"

It was a joke. Well, least it was supposed to be - until she slowly nodded her head.

Talk about rude awakening, huh?

We got to talking. It was a mutual thing - I wanted what's best for her, and if she thinks that breaking up is the best thing well... I love her too much. I'm not going to stop her or hinder her. Unfortunately, she did think it was the best think for her. I conceded.

We were close to breaking up several times within my first month in college. Actually, even before. It's college. Distance. I was being a douchebag to my girlfriend as well, and I feel terrible about that... Three time, just within my first several weeks at UCI, the both of us felt that need to break up.

Then, for some reason or other, we were able to patch things up. I changed my douchebaggery ways and the both of us were actually doing really well. That usually happens. Whenever there's a change in lifestyle, the ex-girlfriend and I would go through a month of problems... It takes her that long to adjust to change, usually, and I'll tell you what that month is usually the hardest to get through. But once things get going, everything's all fine and dandy like sour candy.

I was kind of hoping for a repeat of that. I mean, the both of us were doing so well, too. Most especially on my birthday weekend. But let's just say my awesome birthday weekend went to shit real fast...

I guess it's good we ended it on a good note. I'm glad. Had we broken up before, it would have ended up terrible, and neither of us would have wanted to speak to each other again. But we ended it while the both of us were doing really well... while I had a really great weekend (well, not so much anymore)... And I've always told her "Do what you know is best - what you believe it's best. Even if its at my expense - I just want whats best for you."

I honestly cannot tell you why the both of us broke-up in the first place. It's hard for me to explain it, even to myself. The best way I can put it? We broke up because of college. Distance. Religion plays a factor somewhere in there...

I've grieved. Don't know how long this grieving process is going to take. I've spent every night so far looking for a nice, secluded place. And when I suceeded, I just kind of...

2008-11-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

In the News...

According to the New York Times, the working poor and young have received the most injury during this time of recession.

The Daily Mail reports that 1.9 billions year ago, "an amoeba-like organism engulfed a bacterium that had developed the power to use sunlight to break down water to make oxygen" - kind of like chloroplast. See where I'm going with this? This amoeba-like organism is the ancestor of all vegetation on Earth.

Genetically modified honey bees are being put to work to save the current bee disaster; colonies of bees are collapsing and nobody knows why.

6000 Muslim clerics in India are endorsing a fatwa against terrorism.

Tyson say that their chicken is anti-biotic free. However, the unborn aren't.

Italian football - or "soccer" - players are falling dead by the dozen.

Inequality in California.

Cloverfield via Google Maps.

Oh wait, here's something that isn't new: I have way too much time on my hands.

2008-11-09T02:26:00.000-08:00

The Right Way to Spend My Birthdays

My girlfriend's amazing. Have I ever told any of you guys that? We've been dating for close to a year and nine months - and I can honestly say we love each other deeply. Yes, I realize I'm still young and it's a bit too soon for me to say but goddammit, I love this girl. I've give more thoughts on love, but I'll save that for another day.

Now, I say this because of the things she's done for me. For my birthday, most especially. I finally turned legal on November 6th. I wasn't too thrilled about it - mostly because of the legal responsibility that entails an eighteen year old (just what everybody wants for their birthday). However, my friends did bring up the fact that I can now purchase cigars, cigarettes, pornography of all sorts, and participate in the Lotto. Oh, and who can forget the casino gambling on Indian reservations. So at least I have that going on for me.

Day of my birthday, the Yoh (aka Brian Yoshizaki) and the Sandman (aka Hamdan Chehabi) came by to visit me. We all went out, along with Tristan Schlotz (nickname pending), my dorm-mate - to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I quite liked it - leave it to Kevin Smith to make a cutesy romance movie centered around the making of hardcore pornography. With the occasionally shit jokes too. And when I say shit, I mean actual shit jokes - not shitty jokes - like poop. Feces. Eh, you guys get it.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, well the sixth of November was anti-climatic. But I was "meh" about it. Didn't really get the opportunity to go out, buy me some Djarums, a Lotto ticket, nor a skin mag. But I could honestly wait for those for another time - I mean, I've waited eighteen years, I can wait out for those a bit while longer.

It wasn't until I came home that I was really able to enjoy the fact that I just turned legal.

Now we get to the reason why my girlfriend is amazing. And why I spent my birthday the Henry Pham way.

Saturday morning, my girlfriend arrived at my house. It's always great to see her again. Surprising - the both of us had quite a rocky road to travel since college has started. Since that has passed, the both of us have been doing really well. Wait - I'm digressing again. Okay, so she arrives at my humble abode where the both of us kind of just hung out. We relocated back to her house to pretty much do the same - then headed down to our "spot," Boulevard Bagels - this little bagel shop that's just right down the street. We shared a garlic bagel with cream cheese - saving our appetite for when we go to Roscoe's Famous Deli (not to be confused with Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles). I had an inkling that my girlfriend had something planned over there, but I gave her the benefit of my doubt and feigned I knew nothing at all (knowing my girlfriend, she will argue against that claim).

Lo and behold, I had a little surprise from some of my close friends waiting for me here. It was nice - really nice - to get to see them again. Sam Heitz, Catie Albertson, "Babyface" Paul and Jarett "Jimbo" McElroy from high school, Carlos "The Spaniard" Gonzalez and his other half, Sarah Cevallos, the Yoh, and who can forget my wonderful girlfriend. She planned this all along. It's nice having somebody care about you enough to go through the trouble of contacting your friends and plan something.

Even better, after we all had our meal and parted ways, the Girlfriend and I went out to see Clint Eastwood's Changeling. Amazing movie - great job on the director's part, and absolutely phenomenal acting on Angelina Jolie's part. I had a problem with the script, however. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was great - I just wish the script was written better. It seemed too... uninventive. I mean, it's great - makes the story very easy to follow; however, I'd like my movies to have a bit of a twist in them. The screenwriter just happens to be J. Michael Straczynski who wrote it; he's worked on a lot of television shows like Babylon 5, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Murder, She Wrote, and Walker Texas Ranger. He's also a comic book writer; he's written for Spider-Man, Superman, the Fantastic Four, and Thor - which explains the several cliche lines here and there in Changeling. But the directing and acting makes up for the script. Least I believe that. Damn shame Christine Collins doesn't find her child. Though, that really isn't much of a spoiler, to be honest.

Also worth noting, that the movie does take place in California - from Los Angeles, to Mira Loma. Apparently, Mira Loma used to be called Wineville - they changed a name due to a certain... controversy. Well, go watch the movie and see.

Afterward, the Girlfriend and I moved from her house to mine. I love spending time with her. It's great - we never seem to get sick of each others company. Well, I guess after over a year in a relationship, it's kind of hard to.

That same night, I went to watch a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show over at Claremont presented by Creatures of the Night. I've always wanted to go to a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and opportunity happened to come by. I went and really enjoyed myself - most especially with the audience participation. It's an amazing and unique experience - but most definitely an acquired taste. It's great - soon as Catie, Sam, and I (oh yeah, I went with them) got outside, it was raining. Gosh, I love the rain - it doesn't come by enough. Oh, and I got a pair of shades from Meatloaf that night - I'm keeping it as a good memento.

Oh, that reminds me - the spoils of my birthday!

- Free Coca-Cola shirt from Harkins Movie Theater
- Free pair of shades from Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Cash from the parental units
- A birthday card from the Spaniard
- An AMC gift card from Catie, as well as (see below)
- Cupcakes
- A collage of my time in high school from the Girlfriend

Very meager, not very much, but there's on in particular that I love most especially. The collage - reminds me of the great fun I had in high school. It's true - but cliche - what they say: You don't realize how much you miss something till it's gone.

Overall, I felt like I've had a good birthday weekend. And to make it even better, I'm going to be heading off to Fry's around Sunday afternoon to get me a new laptop... since my other one crashed...

I'm quite enjoying my Birthday Weekend. Sure, nothing exciting or anything but I quite like it - it's... comforting. Oh Gawd. I think I may just be maturing. I'm starting to lose my childhood. I got to remedy this quick - I need to go out and find me some old Power Rangers paraphernalia.

2008-11-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

Rambling

I seem to have a bad habit of breaking promises. Its not like I mean to do it intentionally - it's just that everytime I try to make a promise, I always end up not going through with it. Even though I have good intentions (most of the time) and have the will to go through, there always seems to be circumstances that stops me from making any progress on the promises. For example, this blog.

I should get back into blogging. It's good practice for writing. It's trendy with the whole Web 2.0 culture. And I hear there's a scholarship floating around for bloggers. But I don't know - I don't like the idea of exposing my life to other people. Strangers. Random acquaintances who just happen to stumble across this page. Or a possible employer. There are stories of people being fired because they blogged about how much they hate their boss.

It's funny how blogs have turned into a public diary. Didn't diaries used to be private - meant to keep hidden our true thoughts and secrets from the world? And yet people treat these blogs as if they're their own diaries. Exposing themselves more than the pervert that visits the park during the daytime. Am I the only one who finds a problem in this? Both the pervert and people exposing themselves?

But then again, I guess that's the whole point of it. Tell everybody what's going on in your life, your opinions, and whoever listens, they just happen to. And -

Where am I going with this? I honestly don't know. Stream of consciousness. Just writing whatever comes off the top of my head. It's odd, because looking back at my previous entries I can't help but think "God, what an idiot... What was I hoping to accomplish with these?"

I'm rambling. Who honestly wants to hear people ramble? Well, obviously you do. You're still reading this right now. But I don't understand it - why listen to somebody ramble if they're not even as amusing as a Bruce Campbell movie?

Ramble. Funny word. You ever just say a word to yourself, look at its spelling, and somehow it looks and just seems alien to you. Happens to me. Happening to me right now with the word "ramble." Ram-bull. Rambo. Ramses. Chef Ramsey. Chef. South Park. Central Park. Central Perk. Friends.

Ah, I understand my problem. I'm tired. I usually organize my thoughts before working on a blog entry... But I haven't done it in so long, I don't think it matters anymore. Anybody will write anything, and if somebody finds it amusing, well I guess the entry has served its purpose. Purpose. I need one of those. Maybe as much as I need a "good time" if you catch my drift. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Disneyland.

I wonder if I should put a pic on this blog somewhere... Pictures are always something nice to look at. Great way of catching somebody's attention. But then again, that's too much work.

I got it. No wonder why I stopped working on blogs. I put too much work into them. I mean, hell, why did I do that? Was I desperately looking for an audience? Why am I talking about myself?

God I need some sleep. You know what? Sleep sounds good now. I'll try to post another entry... Blogging good practice... but sleeping is even better...

2007-05-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

Three Months

Well, three months as of yesterday. I'm usually against exposing any part of my life on blogs. It is the whole reason why I ditched Xanga in the first place. Too many thirteen year olds bitchin' about their life, whining, complaining, sitting around typing about their pains and sorrows online for the whole world to see and get involved with instead of actually dealing with the situation. It depresses me to think that I used to be one of those teenagers... Of course, I wasn't dedicated enough to go to my Xanga and write about it. But I digress.

February 14, 2007. I've been meaning to write about 2/14/07 for awhile. Unfortunately, never really got around it. Things came up, I got lazy, and distracted. You know how it is sometimes.

That morning, I didn't show up to jazz band at all. In fact, I was fortunate - there was no jazz band that morning. I was even late to 1st Period band. But with good reason, too. You see, the weekend before, I had to pull a couple of strings. Had to find a friend in Interact and have them reserve half a dozen roses. The night before, I had a friend of mine take me out shopping. And a certain somebody found something waiting for her every period.

Period
1. Rose. 4 Hershey Kisses. Note with "Meet."
2. Rose. Singing Gram from Choir; "Bless the Broken Road", with a heart shaped donut. Note with "Me."
3. Rose. A bag of Hershey Hugs and Kisses with a note telling her to turn the bag upside down above her head, she she could be showered with "Hugs and Kisses." Note with "On."
4. Rose. With lunch (riceballs) and a sweater that I owe her. Note with "The."
5. Rose. Tiger plushie that reacts everytime you press his paw. Note with "Left Blank Intentionally"
6. Rose. Note with "Roof."

I tried to avoid her the whole day. And the only time I saw her was during my lunch. I was running around, setting a couple of these gifts into plan - when I peeked my head outside of the mini-band hall and saw her coming. I immediately ran back inside, and dropped the gifts in there. I walked out of the band room, nonchalantly as possible and the both of us made eye contact. She was wearing this pink sweater, with pearls around her neck. She just looked at me, and gave a soft laugh. She knew it was me the whole time. Of course - I play no games, and I have been coming off pretty strong for awhile.

Fast forward to the roof. There I was. Dressed for occasion. Black button up shirt, despite the blazing heat, and jeans to match. I was waiting for fifteen minutes, nervous, wondering if maybe she copped out on me and went home, couldn't face me because of the whole magnitude of it. I mean, I've never really done anything like this to anybody before. True, I admit I've always been a romantic at heart. But never have I actually carried out these romantic desires. And here I was, standing on the roof, waiting for a girl that I just gave half a dozen roses, enough chocolate to kill a chocoholic of cocoa poisoning, a stuffed French tiger that comes onto you every chance it gets, a band sweater that she's expected from me for awhile, lunch that I worked hard to make the night before, and... well, hopefully she knows the intention behind all of it. She's a smart girl. No doubt she knows.

My cellphone goes off. My friend calls me, and tells me that she's looking for me. As soon as he said that - there I see her. Walking towards me, with everything in her arms. I tell him that I see her, and hang up on her. The both of dropped our stuff down, and well... I started. Gosh, I was so nervous. I remember telling her quite embarrassingly that this was easier to do in front of a mirror. I was fumbling all around with my words, shaking. Then, she held me. Calmed me down. Then, I just spit it out.

"Will you be my Valentine?"

Of course. We stayed up there for forty minutes. People called our cellphones. People were looking for us. Heck, even one of the administrators called us on the school intercom system.

"Will you please come out of your hiding place?"

But neither of us heard them. Neither of us cared. Much to my chagrin, half the band had sectionals that day, and half of them heard the administrators message to us. But I've never done anything like that. "Sounds like something that came out of a movie" - I've gotten that response more than once. And as of today, three months and one day later, I want to wish that certain special person:

:] Happy Three Months, Caitlin "CJ" Jaqlein Kemble. <3

2007-04-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

How to Save the World

Be nice. Don't be a jerk. Be charitable. Don't be selfish. Look past appearances. Don't be prejudice. Be forgiving. Don't hold onto grudges. Consider what others want to do. Don't be a push over.

And most of all, be at one with your insecurities, and work them out. Before you can set the world onto the path of reconstruction, you must save yourself from ending up on the path of destruction. Only then, can you begin your quest to save the world.

2007-02-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

Conversations I'd Like to Hear More Often

“…Dude, why’s your cock on my desk?”
“I think a better question would be ‘Why is it green?’”

“Skimming through Vogue whilst sipping a Cosmopolitan and listening to Yanni – how much more manlier can you get.”

“Happy Birthday! I was about to get you one of those, you know, ‘dancers’ in a cake, but I ate the cake… and the ‘dancer’ if you get my drift, eh, eh?”

“Mmm… last night I ate through ten pounds of meat. Afterwards, I ate out ten different women. All of different ethnicities, too.”
“Ah yes, the All American Buffet. Where the melting pot ends up in your mouth.”
“… that’s disgusting.”

“I will castrate you with a butter knife. No lie. A rusty one, even.”

“I’m telling you, that’s what Brown Eye Girl is about!”
“Oh, shut up!”
“No, no, here me out! It’s about this guy – who’s met this nymphomaniac who only likes to do it in the derriere–“
“Nah man, it’s about a dude – or chick - that’s totally sprung for some chick with brown eyes.”
“Yeah, well, I won’t take that for granted; everybody has a different interpretation of art and literature, I mean one guy can look at Alice in Wonderland and say that it is a tale of a girl struggling from childhood to adulthood, whereas some other dude can say that it’s Charles Dodgson’s wild acid dream done in a novel-”
“Carroll.”
“What?”
“It was Lewis Carroll who wrote the book. Not ‘Dodgson.’”
“…Lewis Carroll is a pseudonym; Dodgson started using it after ‘Solitude.’”
“Digression!”
“Alright, alright, going back to this… questionable content. This is my interpretation of ‘Brown Eye Girl’. ‘Brown Eye Girl’ is about this certain female… who likes… the anal sex. And, like my very well esteemed friend over here said, yes he is sprung for this chick. So much that he’s fuckin’ her all over the place.”
“Oh, God…”
“So, he’s pretty much doin’ her in the butt; ‘along the water fall,’ ‘in the green grass,’ ‘in the misty morning fog,’ ‘behind the stadium.’ It is behind these places that they are ‘laughing,’ with ‘their hearts a thumpin’, not to mention other things thumping… And who can forget the ‘slipping and sliding,’ thanks to all that lube needed to –“
“Alright, that’s enough.”
“I’m just giving my interpretation of Brown Eye Girl.”
“Great. Every time I hear that song, I’m going to thinking about anal sex.”

2007-01-23T23:05:00.000-08:00

I've Always Been Bad With Names

For my AP History class, we just took a test over the Western Frontier, running from President Harrison to Cleveland and all that good stuff. For my essay, I wrote about the Decline of the Plains Indians. More than once did I find myself writing in "Shitting Bull" instead of "Sitting Bull" and "Helen Cunt Jackson" instead of "Helen Hunt Jackson."

... I had a strong urge to leave the typos as is.

2007-01-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

Other Plans for the Future:
Film Festivals

Nothing big, just personal ones. You know, Movie Marathons. There are many movies that come with its own sequels or spin-offs that should be watched in its entirety. There are some shows that should earn its same respect. Here are several that I would like to plan sometime in the future, when I have enough time. And the equipment. And work space. And the freedom. And etc.

1) Star Wars Marathon: My idea would be to watch every single canon movie/episode in chronological order. From The Phantom Menace, onto Attack of the Clones, then the Clone Wars animated television series. Afterwards, we'd go back to the live version, with the horrendous portrayal of the baddest man in the Galaxy thanks to Hayden Christensen in Revenge of the Sith. And then, onto the originals: A New Hope,The Empire Strikes Back, and finally, Return of the Jedi. I imagine it would have to span from Noon until well into midnight, with some Star Wars video games while we set up. It'd be like a mini-convention. I just hope George Lucas doesn't subpoena me for it.

2)Venturing into the View Askewniverse: I am a Kevin Smith fag. I'm pretty sure a lot of you know about that. And what I'd like to pull off is showing every single movie taken place in the View Askewniverse, starting with cult hit Clerks, going onto the funny Mallrats, the controversial Dogma afterwards, the impressive Chasing Amy, the juvenile Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and finally, the epic Clerks II. Heh, know what? I'm pretty sure some Smith fans across the country would be up for something like this. Heck, I bet the big Kahuna himself would probably join in himself. I've got an account on the View Askew forum boards where a lot of his fans frequent, and I just hope Kevin Smith doesn't mind me holding a Marathonin his honor. He seems like the type of guy to let this kind of stuff happen.

3)Ride on the Bebop: w00t! I must say, I never thought I could come up with some great titles for such marathons! Well, this one would have to be off of the ever-so-awesome and the epic anime, Cowboy Bebop. Now, I know that there are some people out there who absolutely shun themselves from anime due to the fact that it's... well, anime. However, I know of people who aren't even casual anime watchers, but rather movie buffs who've totally fallen for the charm of the series. (Here's looking at you, Danny P. and Josh C.) So I ask of you, random reader who has not seen an anime other than Pokemon and even despised that, look into Cowboy Bebop. The show combines great storytelling, beautifully done action, and a bloody awesome soundtrack. That not enough for you? Think 1940s noir with Star Trek, with Bruce Lee as the Captain and Clint Eastwood as the High Commander with the Great Gatesby. No lie. It is that awesome.

Okay, maybe you're not understanding. You have to look past the fact that it's an anime, and have to really, truly enjoy this anime as... more as a work of aesthetic beauty. Something that Siskel and Ebert - errr, sorry - Ebert and Roeper would praise. It has a strong American influence, most especially around the jazz era, and the music is the driving force of the anime. I mean, just listen - don't watch, listen, to the theme song, "Tank!" by the Seatbelts. It's explosive, it's dynamic, it's hard to keep up, so much energy burning in it! And that's just the music! The Spaceship fighting reminds me so much of Star Wars, the hand-to-hand fighting reminscent of Bruce Lee, and the gunplay... My God, give me some time to breathe...

Errr, yes back to the event. Well, let's see... Most episodes span for 23 minutes, there are about 26 episodes, give or take 20 minutes if you cut off the end and beginning theme, so that's 520 minutes. Divide that by 60, you got yourself around 9 hours of Cowboy Bebop fun. Add to that the movie Cowboy Bebop: Knockin on Heaven's Door, and you got around 12 hours of fun. From what I see, the event will probably have to go from early morning into late night, including breaks with music by the Seatbelts and Yoko Kanno.

This I can look forward to.

4)The 24 Marathon: Is it insane? Yes. Will I do it? For the sake of saying I have, yes. How many seasons are there? Six? Six fucking seasons of 24?

... This one is going to take a lot of planning. Maybe a two day marathon based off of one season per week. Yeah, that'll work.

5)The Bruce Lee Brawl: Not enough people are watching his movies. It's all about Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donny Yen, or Chow Yun Fat. Nowadays. Don't get me wrong, the guys are all great. But come on, Bruce Lee? The man behind Jeet Kune Do! The man who could strike from three feet away in five hundredths of a second! Who could bike 10 miles in 45 minutes! The man who could do one hand push-ups with only two fingers! The movies? The Big Boss (Fist of Fury in America), Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection), Way of the Dragon (Return of the Dragon), Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death.

6)Week of the Living Dead: Zombie movies. From George Romero, to Shaun of the Dead, to Versus. Evil Dead series, Zombie Flesh Eaters, 28 Days Later... But not Resident Evil. Heh, most likely around breaks, we'll probably whip out the good ol' zombie games like House of the Dead and Dead Rising. This will most likely be dated around Halloween, and last well past the Day of the Dead.

7) Week of Kung POW!: Kung Fu movies. Drunken Master (1&2), One Armed Boxer,a couple of Shaw Brother movies like Five Deadly Venoms and One Armed Boxer, a whole bunch of Gordon Liu movies, some John Woo movies with Chow Yun Fat. Yeah, this one is goin' to have to last a week. Ooh, better off, I should have this marathon go on during the Lunar New Year!

8) Mystery Science Theatre 3000: A whole night filled with the crappiest of B-rated movies. Why go through the torture? Cause Crow T. Bot and Tom Server makes everything all the more better. The shows got cult status, and it'll teach you a thing or two about what not to do when making a movie. Not to mention, hilarity.

9) The Cult: A whole week filled with good ole' cult movies, and cult classics. The plan is to randomly choose a bunch of cult movies, and a bunch of cult television series, and show them over a span of the week. Speakin' of B movies and Cult followings...

10)The Classics: I'm talkin' about the movies that are well known throughout the decades. Often parodied, often talked about, often known about amongst movie buffs. Citizen Kane, Seven Samurai, Casablanca, Singin' in the Rain, Psycho, Roshomon, 8 1/2, Sholay, A Better Tomorrow, The Unknown Soldier, No Man's Land - and the list goes on and on. Most likely, this marathon is going to go on for awhile... But it's meant for people who're looking for aesthetic beauty within movies.

Well, that's about all I want to think of right now. Most likely, I'm probably going to do a couple of these marathons, not all. I just don't have the time. However, this is a list for ideas. If anybody want to use any of them, go on ahead, I highly encourage it. I hope it kind of stirs somethin' in you to try to hold a movie marathon as well. Just make sure that you invite the right people. And have enough munchies and liquids. And toilets. And Febreeze, just in case somebody decides to fart or if the room starts smelling bad.

2007-01-17T22:42:00.000-08:00

The Connotations of Annotations

Alright, the title has nothing to do with the post, but after listening to Gene Kelly and Donald O' Connor sing "Moses Supposes" in Singin' in the Rain, I've been on fire!

So, something interested happened in the unusually mundane life of Senor Pooty Chang's life. My English teacher, Mr. Charles, makes us annotate - or write notes in the margin - our copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I have to digress here for a second, both for the sake of getting something off my chest and thickening up this post.

I don't care what others say, I find Huck Finn an oddly refreshing change from what I'm usually forced to read. After all, Mark Twain is much easier to read than bloody Charles Dickens (all Charles wanted to do was fatten up his wallet since they paid by the word during the 1800s - thence, his ways of calling a girl a slut in so many words). I've enjoyed Huck Finn immensely, and I know others say that's it's a boring book to read, which in that case I point your way towards Catcher in the Rye (I admit, I didn't really like Catcher in the Rye. Nothing against J.D. Salinger, I just hate teenage angst. It was the main reason why I couldn't stand Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). However, Huck actually seems like a believable character, with the same notions and naivete of a 14 year old. Twain has a great sense of humour as a writer, and his characters are just as charismatic as one would imagine Twain himself to be. Unfortunately, people of this generation can't seem to enjoy Twain's wit - at least not without some intellect and wit themselves... Phuckin' philistines...

Back to the story. Well, my friend Elena writes "I love the cock" in one of the pages of my copy of Huck Finn. I didn't bother erasing it; I wrote "But I do love the cock, I do!" instead. Well, come English class, Mr. Charles was going around checking books for annotations while everybody was off working. I was kind of hoping that he would just skim through mine, not really read any of my notes, and just slap me with a full grade. Which would've been great; I was writing random notes that weren't even pertaining to the book, anyways. I didn't read the night before, so I did all of my anotations and highlighting the period before.

Unfortunately, Mr. Charles took the time to read my notes. While I was conversing with one of my peers, I was looking out of the corner of my eye for his reponse. During the middle of my conversation, Mr. Charles calls for my attention.

"Henry..."

He flashes to me the page with "I Love the Cock" on it.

"Ok, I didn't write that in, that's not even my writing."

He turns to the next page where, distinctly in my writing, it says "But I do love the cock! I do!" on it.

"... Ok, that I did write."

Sure, I got 1.5 points out of 4, but it was damn well worth the moment. Thing is, that night - I finished the book.

Tom Sawyer is a silly cooze.

2007-01-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

Things I to Do Before I Become
Twenty Five

I never believed in New Years resolution. Sure, it lasts for a couple weeks, but come Valentines Day, we stuff that lists underneath the cluttered mess of last year. A bunch of empty promises - no, a bunch of empty expectations - that you hope to accomplish. So, I begin this year with not a "New Year's Resolution" but rather a set of accomplished goals. Will I complete all of these? I hope so. I know there will be things over the years that'll change my situation. Change in tastes, change in availibilty, and etc. But hell, I know I'm going to find these goals too cool to pass up. And I'm going to need a lot of people, and a lot of friends to pull it off. You'll see why. Enough tête-à-tête - here's the list.

1) Become a movie buff: I'm working on it right now. Not a lot of movies I've seen so far, but I'm working on it. Black and white, noir, science fiction, Gong Fu, Clint Eastwood, Fritz Lang, Stanley Kubrick, Vincent Price, Ed Wood, Bruce Campbell, weird west, class B movies, class C movies, class Z movies, Fellini, cult movies, animes, and the list goes on! Now if only I had more time to watch 'em...

2) Read more books: I've been deprived of quality works; I need to read more. I've got so many books just sitting around in my room, waiting for me to pick them up. But dammit, I haven't had as much time as I'd like to read them! This is a bad habit. So I basicly refuse to buy any books until I finish these. I want to be a bookworm. It'll add to my geekyness. And you guys know I love being a Geek.

3) Read more comic books: I don't care what people say; comic books are just as entertaining as books. Just with more eye-candy. They're like movie stills, or like movie storyboards. It's become a hobby of mine recently, and I hope to pick it up later on. These books are of big cultural impact, I mean after all just look at Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and the X-men. Now, I want to delve deeper into that. Read comic books that people don't know about, stuff that people are missing out but only an esoteric handful can actually fully enjoy. Such as Alan Moore comic books; the man behind Hellblazer, Watchman, and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It was his V for Vendetta that really got me into comic books; actually, the movie trailer did. But I only had to see it once to be totally obsessed with it. I staked out for the comic book, and read it, from front to back. But a comic book that I've really gotten into is 100 Bullets, a totally noir comic book sent in today's gangster life. A person is offered an attache case, with 100 bullets and a gun that is untraceable. Kill the person who has wronged you in your life - take revenge, and kill anybody that gets in your way, and get away with it. Sure, the plot sounded a bit sketchy at first, but after reading a couple issues, I found myself wanting more. I can't find anything like this on TV.

And now, I've got a stackful of comic books in my room. I just hope it doesn't grow out of control... Though, I hear they've revived The Spirit series... Holy crap, Frank Miller is going to be directing The Spirit movie! *splooge*

4)Get more activity going on in these blogs: It's not for my sake; it's for your sake. Admit it, you found my stuff on Anthropology of Geeks interesting. Okay, maybe not, maybe I'm just telling myself that to sleep better at night. Still, with the billions of people logging onto the internet, I know a handful of them has come across either one of my blogs once or twice. If I were to update more often, and show more interesting stuff on these blogs, I'm pretty sure more people would tune in. Who knows? I might be able to get a cult following. Like Ze Frank.

5) Conducting a Flash mob: A whole bunch of people gathering to do one stupid thing, simultaneously, all for the purpose of amusing the public. You see, I already have an idea of what my flash mob will be like. Though, I'm not telling, for somebody may steal my idea! Only problem is, finding the people who have the balls to do it. And not to mention, the people who won't flake out on me. To find at least 50 crazy people who're willing to take part of a flash mob with me - well, that'll just be too awesome to bear.

[Random Fact: The first recorded flash mob was actually quite recent. In June 3, 2003, more than 100 people converged onto the ninth floor rug department of Macy's department store. They were gathering around one particular very expensive rug. Anyone approached by a sales assistant was advised to say that the gatherers lived together in a warehouse on the outskirts of New York, that they were shopping for a Love Rug, and that they made all their purchase decisions as a group.]

6)Take part in a Zombie Walk: I love zombies. Ever since I picked up Resident Evil for the GameCube, I've had this subconcious love for them that I haven't acknowledged until now. I saw the remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" and I liked it. Hell with it, I loved it. And then came the Evil Dead series, which introduced me to Bruce Campbell, oozing with machismo. I'd go gay for him. And then, the rom-com-zom Shaun of the Dead, my God, I love it. Thanks to Shaun of the Dead, it has introduced me to the genius that is Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Jessica Stevenson. Not to mention, it had me pick up one of the greatest shows I've seen in ages, Spaced. And 28 Days Later - one of the best horror films I have ever enjoyed. The cinematopgraphy is beautiful, and all done on digital camera. And the plot, I found it rapturing. And to add to my zombie love, my family got me the Zombie Survival Guide, a great book. Were it not for the "$13.95/Humor" label on the back, I would've actually believed the book. Not to mention, Diamond Bar is mentioned in it, too!

I think it's this sick fantasy to take part in a zombie invasion. Survival, and such. It has always appealed me, survival stories. But survival against zombies? It'll give me a reason to lob off a couple heads. Not to mention, it's a good way of purging the Earth of many idiots...

However, a zombie walk sounds just as fun. Sure, I can't knock a couple of heads off, but come on, it's zombies! A Zombie Walk is pretty much a whole bunch of people gathering usually around some urban area, shopping mall, city streets, or any public place; acting in character as... well, zombies and limping towards a local cemetary. Or a party. It's a great way to creep out a bunch of people, and take part with other people! And I can imagine talking to others afterwards.

"I totally loved you out there! And your brother, not to mention, he does a convincing job crawling around on the ground, moaning and groaning."
"Yeah... an accident caused my brother to become a paraplegic and talk in moans and grunts. So, he doesn't have much of a choice but to crawl and moan."
"..."

7) To be part of a Late Night Subway Party: A celebration that takes part in a mass transit. There's no bus driver to stop us, and everybody is partying. People wearing costumes, champagne breaking open, snackin' on free eats, jamming to random music, random portable bars - imagine walkin' into the subway with all of this happening at 2 in the morning! Now, if only the Circle Line Party can bring that kind of stuff over here to the Americas!

8) To host a Christmas Lingerie Party: This is pretty simple. Invite a whole bunch of people to party. In festive, holiday undergarments. of course, it would have to be selected invitation - I don't want just any pig coming in a coping a feel. Or a person notorious for not looking good for wearing a thong. Constantly. Still, it'd give the ladies a chance to show off some of the cute things they've got hidden under their clothes - errr... hidden in their closet. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure the guys won't mind the company. It's just like a pool party - without the pool. Or the summer. Of course, it's going to be dress coded - and I know a couple of people who wouldn't mind playing bouncer for a night so they can keep thins cool. Imagine - it'd be a great way to spend the holidays, eh?

9)To live on my own: Or at least with a couple of roomates. I know once I get out of high school, I'm either going to be dorming or commuting from home to school. But once I become 25, I'd like to live on my own. Try to earn a living somehow, while going to school. Not to mention, I think it'd be pretty fun owning an apartment or a condo with a couple of friends. Come on, to live with your best friends 24-7? How awesome is that? Sure, we're bound to drive each other crazy. But we'll be growing together, and that's gotta count for something. It'll be like having a family at home, waitin' for me after class. We're all probably going to all go out, go drinking, do something crazy. Not to mention, we won't have to worry about being bored. We've got each other to keep company. And the only adults around will be us. All I have to worry about is that none of my roomates... well... cornhole me in my sleep. Or at least dry hump me when I'm in bed. Trust me, I've had this experience many times.

10) Become Adept at Cooking: I'm already working on this. My cookings alright, it's bearable. However, I'm pretty sure it'll do good for guests. Probably be cheaper than going out for food, and it's a good way to impress people that you are capable of living by yourself. And if number 9 works out, I've got some guinea pigs I can use for my cooking! And it's a good reason to get a girl over to my place...

"Where do you want to go for dinner?"
"How about my place? I make a pretty good poached and sautéed breast of chicken with a morel velouté, pomme purée and caramelizsed turnips."
"... somebody's gettin' some tonight."

Ah, if only it takes that much...

11)Become an amateur bartender: Sure, it's one thing to serve your friends a couple bottles of Samuel Adams, but a complete different thing if you can offer a Salty Dog, Green Dragon, Royal Arrival, Satan's Whiskers, Lime Rickey, or, if you've got the material and feeling really dangerous, a Mickey Slim. And if you want, slip a roofie in a glass to have some more fun with your guests.

12) Be able to write, produce, and direct a movie or two:

[WARNING: Long read, if you don't have the patience, skip to number 13]

Sure, it's one thing to make directing, screenwriting, acting, or producing a profession. But come on, finding an agent, looking for somebody who's willing to let you look at a script, and auditioning for it? It's a lot of work. And half the time you don't know if you're the right person for the part or not. Thence, I've concluded that if you want to be an actor, write and direct your own stuff. That's what Kevin Smith did with Clerks, and Sylvester Stallone did with Rocky. They've created a style that works for them, and looks where it's gotten them. Rocky is now a world renowned movie with many sequels (too many, actually) and Clerks is a great cult classic that has created many other franchises out from the View-Askewniverse. I'd go gay for them... Well, maybe Smithy but not Stallone. He seems like the type to play rough.

Still, I have several ideas planned. My first movie is going to be Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out*, obviously - it'll be a good teaching experience for me. Only problem I'm going to have is funding, and finding the right camera. I'll probably have to pull a couple strings, do a couple favors, do a couple things I won't be proud of, but hell, I know it'll be worth it. I'm proud of the script. It's good. Damn good. I mean, it's not, you know... Martin Scorsese good. Not anything that'll garner me as much success as Clerks would for Kevin Smith. (If anything, its a homage to Kevin Smith movies. But knowing some bastards, it's probably a blatant rip off to them) But hell, I've gotten laughs out of it. I've gotten some pretty good support from friends and peers. And I see no reason why not to go through with it. Well, I can actually think of many, but ignorance is a bliss.

Now, I know comedy is my forte, so most likely I'm going to be following the path of a comedy director. So I'm probably going to be following such directors such as Mike Nichols, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Jay Roach (I have to keep a better eye on him) and Kevin Smith (most especially him). However, I'm probably going to do a Kubrick and expand my talent to as many genres as I can. I've already got a movie idea or two for an action movie, but what's really bothering me - what's really bothering me, is this one movie that I know, I absolutely know, that if I can do it right, it'll put me on the spot. Probably do for me what Garden State did for Zach Braff. (I'd go gay for that Jew.)

However, its probably going to take a couple of years to produce. I admit it, this one is going to be more... urban. Ghetto if you will. But not, you know, mainstream ghetto. I'm guilty of having hip-hop in my iTunes. But to defend myself, it's mostly underground stuff. Mind you, it's nothing like Jedi Mind Tricks - no, they're too hardcore for me. It's leans more towards Nujabes, Deltron3030, Gorillaz, People Under the Stairs - alternative, indie hip-hop artists that has uses jazz samples from artists such as Miles Davis or Yusef Lateef. This Untitled Project will probably have tracks from this kind of genre. I imagine it to be more, artistic, more avant garde if you will. Think Collateral, but with lowbrow art, alternative, indie hip-hop, stencil graffiti, and urban vinyls and without the action. Sure, it's going to be boring for the average joe, but I'm pretty sure I can churn some aesthetic beauty out of it. Most likely it's going to be an amalgam of urban culture from Hong Kong, Japan, England, and Canada (You'd be surprised what Canada has to offer). I'll most likely be looking towards the Kowloon Emperor or Banksy for influences... What can I say? I'm fascinated with alternative urban culture.

But I need a plot. I'm just hoping life'll throw me a bone and slap a plot into my face.

13) Take a road trip across America and find something worth taking home in all 50 states: Grab a bunch of friends. Pool in a couple thousand dollars of money. Live in a couple of crap shack motels, get lost several times, find a random place, go off-roading, get drunk. Of course, it's going to have to be impromptu. Or unplanned. Or else, it'd be just a "vacation." Sure, there are going to be many dangers to doing this (thence I'm going to befriend somebody who owns a couple of firearms... or weapons. Or knows different kinds of kung fu). Sure, the money's going to have to be hefty (probably going to have to sell our body several times). But hell, it's all in the fun. It's an adventure waiting to happen. I'm just waiting for the ripe time and age to do it. Now, if only there was a way to find a road that leads to Hawaii...

14) Backpack through Europe: There's something about living the life of a vagabond that I've always found appealing. The adventure, the ability to learn something new, the stories to share. But I can tell Europe is going to be an exciting experience for me. I want to travel through all 27 member states in the European Union and much like #13, take home something from every single one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to learn a lot from every culture. But I know that I'm going to be visiting Slovenia and staying at Ana's place for awhile. (Here's looking at you, Ana!) Now this is going to be a bit more... costly. So most likely, I'm going to have to find a rich uncle I didn't know about that and work up the food chain... Crap, most of mine is in Vietnam. Damn. Guess I'll just have to be lucky and hope I can find a $100,000 within the couch cushions...

Fourteen Goals.
May not seem like much, but mind you, these are 14 very big goals. Well. For the most part. I've got like, less than 10 years to accomplish these. A lot of them are going to take a lot of time. I just hope I can find enough of it to finish them all. Why 25? So I could go into my mid-life crises earlier, and buy myself something expensive. Then, 5 years later, wonder why the hell I bought it. That, and it'd be a great thing to impress the ladies with once I start lookin' to settle sometime afterwards. But life's pretty unpredictable. So, here's hoping. Now, I think I'll get started with #2 and see how far I can get in Huck Finn...

*E-mail me at pootiechang@gmail.com if you want a copy of the script, or AIM me @ Seven Asian Army. Or if you want to help me with one of these goals. Just don't make me sell my body. It's not the greatest on Earth, but I don't want to be cornholed by a stranger. Or anybody for that matter... At least not sober.

2006-12-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

My Audition for a Date with Kevin Smith

[Edited: Deleted video. Got annoying. Just click the damn link below]

Alright, here's what happened: while I was in L.A to see Kevin Smith in his Clerks II: Back to the Well for my birthday. My friend Spencer Brown and I were in the Secret Stash, you know, the one right next to the UCLA campus, when a group of what I assumed to be college students asked me if I would like to audition for a date with Kevin Smith. Two words popped into my mind: Fuck. Yeah. So, this was the product of it. Now, I am to ask you, the reader, a tremendous favor for me.

1) Click on this link.
2) Watch the video
3) Register into IMEEM
4) Rate the video a 5.
5)Share with other friends. And ask them to go through steps 1-5.

Now, if you want something in return, I can offer you this:
1) A part in my Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out movie
2) A partical copy of the script (I assure you, the copy I'm working on is excellent and many times better than what has been previously posted online)
3) For every person you get to vote my video a 5, the bigger the chunk you're going to get in the "partial" copy of Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out. I will know by the votes.
4) My love <3>

2006-10-26T23:38:00.000-07:00

Smurf Check!

I feel I should explain. You see, Diamond Ranch has this tradition every year for Homecoming. We hold a Blackout Rally, which is pretty much a... well, a rally. Except, the rally is done outside of school hours, at night when everything is completely dark, all natural sunlight is cut from outside the gym, and there is to illuminate it is a laser show, flashing blacklights, glow-in-the-dark assortments totted by the performance groups, and the shine of the band's instrument. I am typically with the Band. There are usually skits that somewhere incorporate the Homecoming theme, along with performance groups adding to the skit.

This year, our theme was Indiana Jones, and the Indian Club contributed, along with the Dance Team, Cheerleaders, and Pageantry. Band usually just plays before and after the Rally, just as some kind of background music. However, the band people enjoy it more than the audience it plays to (obviously). In the previous posts, you can see my Tromboners doing the Trombone Suicide at this rally which a friend of mine recorded - awesome, isn't it? Added it to our repertoire of dances a couple of weeks ago, which we "borrowed" off of Youtube. Been wowing people ever since. Should've seen the looks when we did this in front of the elementary school kids: "Oh my God, they're moving!" Anywho, at the end of this rally, I randomly screamed out "Smurf Check!"

Now, somethings happens when you scream "Smurf Check!" towards a large group of DRHS Bandg33ks. A long-haired Trumpet player named Damian will reply back, "Papa Smurf can I lick your ass?", in which a large group of males within the Band scream back "Yeah, lick my ass, bitch!" Thence forth, it breaks off into a cadence of clamping and stomping feat rthymically, and it goes on until it dies off. However, after the rally, I yelled "Smurf Check!" Typically, Damian yells back with his usual reply, and so do the men, but the Drumline provided the cadence. Elated, I gathered up a handful of Bandg33ks and the Drumline, and made this video.

2006-10-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Trombone Suicide

Yep. Those're my boys. And girl.
Diamond Ranch Trombone's '06-'07!

2006-10-23T17:20:00.001-07:00

A Little Fall... Cleaning....?

Just to keep my blog going alive, I would like to inform my small audience that I have done some organizing. As of now, this blog shall be used for my own personal use. Events in my life, random musings incoherent, stuff that shouldn't interest random passerbys. So yes, that means that you will no longer be seeing those intellectual posted articles that I post up a couple months ago (wouldn't matter anyways, I haven't posted any since). However, I do plan on making more. Just when I have more time. But do not despair! For I have transfered them all to this new blog, the True Anthropology of Geeks! This website will feature all of my freestyling articles, intellectual ramblings, and the kind of material that should have poeple pondering. So if you want to feel smart, check it out. I've even moved all of the old articles in there if you ever want to read them again!

Thank you Lemon-Eyed for the image.

Also, I got rid of my Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out sample script. I just felt that it took up too much space on my blog. But if you want to look at it, or at least what I'm willing to offer to let you look at, contact me. I check my e-mail occasionally, so don't be afraid to send me a message!

Signing off with way too much homework to deal with,
Henry "Pootie Chang" Pham

P.S. pootiechang@gmail.com

2006-10-18T21:39:00.001-07:00

... What?

jossungood: So how'd you weekend faire thus far, mon amie?
mccxricekrispy: It sucketh be
mccxricekrispy: Too much studying on the weekends for me
mccxricekrispy: bout you my good man?
jossungood: What a shameth it be to hear such troubling news so as to befalleth upn thee, and I in somber retriubutino offer thee my most sincerest of apologies.
jossungood: Mine, it be one of a few pleasures paired with the insatiable inevitability of mundane bordom.
mccxricekrispy: Ah, poor soul, I believe the Lord has shown some disdain in us
jossungood: Ah, this be true fellow wanderer of misfortune.
mccxricekrispy: indeed
jossungood: Let us not count thine troubles too hastily, fellow! Let us instead look resolutely toward an inner goal: doth thou wish to accompany me to a film later on in the course of my days.
mccxricekrispy: You speak of later days or of the day ahead of us?
jossungood: This one we are interlocked within.
mccxricekrispy: Ah, unfortunately, I must decline - my day is filled with too many burdensom scholarly task that I can't ignore or else it might be the demise of me
mccxricekrispy: I expect that if I were to attend, we would be viewing Science of Sleep, nay?
jossungood: Most definitely, your astute prediction doth not fail thee.
mccxricekrispy: Damnation upon my studies!

2006-09-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

New Level of Geek

I have achieved a new level in Geekhood. I saw this shirt over at Diesel Sweeties, and I actually LOLed. I felt great pity for myself afterwards... But that still won't stop me from buying this shirt.

2006-09-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out
Update

Yes indeedy, ladies and gents, the vulgar and amature works of Henry "Pootie Chang" which first started off a fun idea, has involved into something more. This is going to be turned into my own film, and yes, it will be a full-length film. So far, I've just finished the script, and it looks to be around 70 pages - which is pretty decent. However, after I finish with it, I can tell that I'm probably going to up it around 100 pages. So far, the future for this project looks promising. I already have a bunch of people up for casting (Only problem now is having them actually act) and I have a great executive producer who's already almost as passionate about this project as me (I'm looking at you, Jonathan Hoey). The script is looking good, and the future for this movie is looking better.

Oh, and sorry I haven't been updating lately. Classes have been taking up most of my life, so I probably won't be posting as much. However, this will by my primary blog from now on.

2006-09-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

My Two Loves Combined!

It's a combination of my two loves: Marching Band and Games.

And "Raiders of the Lost Arcade!"

"Increase speed, drop down, and reverse di-rection!"

2006-08-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

That Poor Bastard...

Poor bastard... And he could've gotten into Guiness, too.

2006-08-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Something to Tide You Over

Well, as of the current moment, I'm working on the next article. Unfortunately, school is about to begin for me in less than two weeks, so if I don't post that often, I'm sorry. However, I'm sure I'll be able to post a couple articles every now and then. If not, I'll instead be posting some websites to check out and to satisfy our Geeky needs, a couple know-hows, and some extra content as well - something like the previous post, except not as sloppy. Something like this:

Time Magazine has listed video blogger Ze Frank as one of the 50 Best Websites on Earth. He combines current events with witty, sarcastic, satire. His randomness and immaturity seems to part of his charm. If you haven't already clicked the links already offered, do it already. It'll only take a minute or two out of your day.

Also, for Gaming nerds and Kingdom Hearts fans, you might want to check out Kingdom Hearts: Inverted Hearts. It's a fan-made game that pretty much offers its non-canon* story to Kingdom Hearts. It's graphic are much like the Game Boy Advances, so you don't have to worry about having a great graphics card and most of the requirements are nothing big, too. What I'm really excited about is the Chrono Trigger cross over. I just hope that the creators finish it in time so no... mishaps will cause them to have to shut it down.

For you Indie folks, I've come across a Questionable Content, webcomic that is quite witty in its own way. Marten Reed, a typically attractive indie boy who's too passive for his own good, is at a bar trying to pick up chicks - however, he ends up meeting Faye, a sarcastic, dysfunctional indie girl, and who insteads becomes very good friends with him. Since the two have met, they've both been through experiences that can be quite... questionable. It's a lot of fun to read (even though it does have its melodramatic moments) and has a lot of pop culture and counterculture references in there that'll keep many entertained for hours. Even with the incomprehensible Indie-band talks, I still find the Anthropod Pint-size to be so much fun.

Brainstorming and trying to find the gist of writing,
Henry "Pootie Chang" Pham

*Non-canon: A plot/storyline that is not part of the main story line widely known. It is more of a side story, or what-if tale. The Comic Book Industry has a lot of Non-Canon stories, such as X-men: Fairy Tales.

2006-08-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be out in Lake Tahoe with the family, so I won't be able to post the second park of the New Generation of Geek for awhile. I'll probably be able to get on the internet several times, though I doubt that I'll have enough time to finish the article. I'll have my cellphone if you need me. Later all.

2006-07-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Spontaneous Things in Life

I enjoy them way too much. Right after my SAT Academy today (Err, or shold I say yesterday?), damn good friend of mine, Ryan English, picks me up from my place. Apparently we had a movie thing going on with the some other people at the Chino Spectrum, but a) We both weren't informed of it and b) We were too busy to arrive in time (SAT Academy for me, Work for him). We both decided to go to Chino to mess around in Toys 'R' Us while we waited for them to finish with their movie. However, while trying to park behind the building for some random reason, we instead decided to drive to Los Angeles for dinner. We went to LA, and looked for half an hour for a free parking spot (English is the man to take with you if you want to find one) in Little Tokyo.

There, we found this bitchin' Chinese restaurant in Little Tokyo (I know, the place to find Chinese food - even though Chinatown is just several blocks away). This place is called Chop Suey that, according to English, has been around since the 1920s (His grandfather went there as a child - as a bloody child!). I was amazed - we were eating in a part of Los Angeles/California history. It had these wooden stalls which people would sit in and eat, something like private booths. We went in, and I find this really attractive Asian girl serving water. I kept on guzzling my water down to keep her coming. :D Unfortunately, I'm not quite up to game when it comes to flirting...

Still, the Chow Mein was pretty damn good! And it was pretty cheap for Asian Cuisine food - I mean, for a Chinese Restaurant, it was expensive ($1 per bowl of rice! In Chinese Restaurants, rice comes for free! And you can get them by the pounds!). But from what I've tasted and seen, it was all cuisine food. You know, the fancy food you'd expect out of a restaurant in Beverly Hills or something. The rice wasn't just any rice - it was Jasmine Rice. And the Egg Rolls - it wasn't like anything I've ever seen or tasted! The Sweet and Sour sauce and a bit of wasabi in it, which just added to its taste. But enough of a critics review of the restaurant... After that, and after much browsing, we drove back home (Well, we stopped by Eric and Scott's Coressel place). So, that's pretty much how I spent my Friday night. Going to Los Angeles for Chinese Food in Little Tokyo. Spontaneous. Random. Awesome.

I love the spontaneous things about my life. Who knows - Dinner, Chinese Food in LA; Breakfast, Crappy food in Vegas.

2006-07-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Clerks II
"You ever see a chick give a mule a blowjob? "

Yes! I'm finally seeing Clerks II! I'm more excited than Michael Jackson gets when he sees a Chuck E. Cheese!

[Edit] Well, I've finally got to see Clerks II. I can see why Joel Siegel walked out of it. And that can only make a Kevin Smith movie so much more better if a critic were to walk out of it within 40 minutes of it. What's there to say without ruining the movie? It's better than the first. It's dirty, disgusting, wrong and I love it. It's filled with enough the stuffGeeks would love. It has Lord of the Rings, Transformers, Star Wars and blasphemy. Would I suggest watching this movie? Sure. Only if you're not easily offended. And don't mind seeing a donkey get sodomised.

And tip: To sneak into an R Rated movie for those of us incapable, go with a group of friends willing to buy a ticket for you earlier before the movie (several hours before the movie - or at least an hour). Have them give you the ticket to get in, then have your friend buy another ticket. If anybody asks, your friend "lost" it.

2006-07-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

Huh... Well, never thought I'd do this. You know, start a blog. I had a Xanga, but I thought it was too... just too aZn. Not to mention, all it had on it were people either talking about their day or complaining about the most stupidest, and trivial things. Either that, or start an internet flame wars, and those are annoying enough as it is. That, and Xanga wouldn't stop stuff my inbox with "new subscriptions" - I still don't know how to turn it off, and I refuse to - because for one, I haven't touched my xanga since early freshmen year, and I hardly update anyways. However, I'm hoping at least with this blog, I can actually commit to this. I don't know why, but this blog hosts seems to appeal more to me - much more of a minimilist approach, I guess. That, and not that many people use this (w00t to useless-and-frivolous-trying-acts-of-individualism-that-doesn't-even-matter). That, and I know there'll be at least somebody out there willing to read this... So, why not give hmm? Alright, well here goes my first entry which'll hopefully lead to many more (dubious 'bout it, but eh, no hurt in hopin').