Emma's Rants & Raves

European Magic Contiki Tour

2009-05-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Pammy & I just returned from a whirlwind tour of Europe, courtesy of Contiki! 8 countries in 10 days! It was our first time visiting Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. Pammy was able to get a postcard from each country and mail it to her god-child Hailey. Our Contiki group was about fifty 18-35 year olds, made up of mostly Canadians, Aussies, Americans, a couple Indian couples, a few Eastern Europeans, and a very entertaining Japanese fella :) Greeted by "Decent Days And Nights" at the start of each day, here are the highlights of our trip:

England (London):
- Billy Elliot the musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre
- Tiny hotel room with an even tinier bathroom
- Cliffs of Dover on the way to ferry into Europe (Port Calais, France)
- Ferry was huge - parking below and three levels of retail shops + cafes! (Pammy nearly got run over trying to catch the coach during deboarding)

Belgium:
- Pitstop, first taste of Belgian chocolate

The Netherlands (Amsterdam):
- Canal cruise
- Red Light District and "Coffee Shops" (I wanted to get an "I love Coffee Shops" shirt, but there was none left in my size)
- Bicycles: Lots and LOTS of bicycles!
- Anne Frank House

Germany (St. Goar, Munich):
- Rhine River
- Birkenstock
- Beer steins
- World's Largest Cuckoo Clock
- Hofbrau Haus (Pork knuckle and enormous pretzels!)
- German beer YEAH!!!
- Bike tour
- Glockenspiel (11 minutes of your life that you cannot take back *HEHEHE*)
- Canal surfers
- Rory's storytime about Hitler
- Rory's lederhosen
- Toilet seats that rotate during self-cleaning

Austria (Innsbruck):
- Swarovski crystals
- Golden roof

Italy (Venice):
- Gelato, gelato, and more gelato!
- Three words you need to know: Ciao, Grazie, Prego
- Three signs to look out for while getting lost in Venice: Al Rialto, Per San Marco, Per Academie
- Gondola ride
- Murano glass-blowing and Burano lace-making
- Little frogs that look like poop
- Must emphasize "cafe" with latte, else you get just milk *HEHEHEHE*
- An Italian cappucino = an American cafe latte, with regards to taste.

Switzerland (Lucerne, Stanserhorn):
- Swiss alps
- The lovely smell of cow manure, cows with cowbells
- Mt. Stanserhorn and marmuts
- Very brief glimpse of Lake Como
- 15 minutes of a terrential downpour + hail
- Lovely cruise on Lake Lucerne
- Chocolates of all kinds

France (Paris):
- Musee de Louvre et jardin
- Tour Eiffel
- Champs Elysees
- Latin Quarters
- Arc de Triomphe
- All the croissants and crepes you can eat :)
- Moulin Rouge
- Rory's storytime about Napoleon
- Sean's squeezing in our ginormous coach into a narrow entry way at the Louvre
- Sean catapulting coach into the famous roundabout!
- It is worth paying Euro 1.50 for a clean toilet.

Parting words from Pammy: "My gelatos were worth every Euro!"
Parting words from Emma: "Avoid sitting next to a coughing old couple on a plane"

American Idol Season 8 (Week 10)

2009-05-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

And then there were three. And in the end it should be Adam and Kris.

1) Adam Lambert - Terrific on both songs. He knows how to pick apart a song, highlight the hooks, and makes smart calls on where he puts his signature changes.
2) Danny Gokey - Didn't care for the first performance (Paula picked a bad song, sorry). Vocals good on the second song, but performance lacked sincerity. He likes to hear himself talk, and it is rather irritating...
3) Kris Allen - I would've loved to see some creativity on the first song... it was very blah to me. But he absolutely delivered on the second song - he actually made me like a song that I detest hearing on the radio... now THAT takes an artist! :)

American Idol Season 8 (Week 9)

2009-05-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Am catching up with my DVR once more - a week late! Generally I was a bit bored with the Rock Week performances... it was the Adam & Allison duet that was the highlight for me.

1) Adam Lambert - Not extraordinary, but consistently good -- he can do no wrong.
2) Danny Gokey - awful on the screeching - sounded like a dying animal!
3) Allison Iraheta - boring solo performance, but lots of energy on the duet :)
4) Kris Allen - love the song, but nothing really creative.

American Idol Season 8 (Week 8)

2009-04-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

I always look forward to how contestants would perform on Big Band week. Some of the very best musical scores and jazz-infused tunes are from this genre... lots of brass & percussion, and clever harmonies. If you can't appreciate the fantastic melodies that came out of the 40s/50s, then you simply cannot be a complete musician. This is that one genre where you need to appreciate the voice behind the words, and the artistry within the lyrics themselves.

1) Adam Lambert - I can't help but chuckle everytime he opens his mouth, because it continues to confirm that he is simply too good for this competition.
2) Danny Gokey - actually for the first time, I liked his arrangement more than the other four performances (yes, even more than Adam's - whoa, did I just admit that?!?)
3) Allison Iraheta - a little Gershwin with an edge. Nice. What's sad is that she can't get enough votes. Maybe it's coz she looks like that lucky troll with the red hair that the grannies bring along to Bingo night?
4) Kris Allen - didn't dazzle me, but his talent on interpreting simple songs and peppering it with a unique style, now clearly shows. And it is very refreshing to see a different kind of brilliance.
5) Matt Giraud - he totally missed the mark. Some stuff in there I actually cringed at. One who cannot hold a solid note for five stinkin' seconds, riffs. A purist will not riff on a powerful note.

American Idol Season 8 (Week 7)

2009-04-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Although the theme this week was disco, I found it to be a week where we got to see the personality of every contestant actually come through their performances, regardless of whether the performance itself was terrific, mediocre, or awful. Out of the seven performances, there were only two I didn't really care for...

1) Adam Lambert - a song the Bee Gees wrote for Yvonne Elliman. I love the Bee Gees' songwriting and melodic ingenuity. To me the Bee Gees INVENTED the good part of "disco". I have always wanted to hear a melancholy rendition of this tune, because it is in fact lyrically a melancholy song! BRAVO!
2) Danny Gokey - didn't hate it, and strangely, it was distinctly Danny. I do like his voice.
3) Allison Iraheta - again, not bad. Right pick. Pammy and I looked at each other, and said "hot sauce"? HEHEHEHEHE... please enunciate Allison :)
4) Anoop Desai - this is ONE tune that should not have been slowed down. No.
5) Kris Allen - fantastic arrangement. If the voting gods say no to Adam in the end, it is because they are reconsidering Kris.
6) Lil Rounds - I have seen enough.
7) Matt Giraud - unfortunately this is the kind of song and arrangement that suits him best. This is the best he can do for himself.

American Idol Season 8 (Week 6)

2009-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

Quentin makes great films, and his movie soundtracks are terrific -- but his opinions have no place in a "singing competition". Actually looking at Quentin sometimes makes my stomach curl...

1) Adam Lambert - who can even sing like this?!? He is unbelievably good.
2) Danny Gokey - one of my favorite tunes, and there were spots where his voice was distinct and made a hair or two stand on my neck.
3) Allison Iraheta - not bad... but never compare her to Adam.
4) Anoop Desai - this pleaseths me.
5) Kris Allen - when I first heard this tune on the radio, I didn't love it instantly.. it sounded different and odd. The second listen I found it to be outstanding. Kind of how my opinion of this boy has changed. Kris is like love at second sight, not first.
6) Lil Rounds - "Just because you can sing, doesn't make you an artist!" - Pam snapped at the TV after watching Lil. Yes, please no more extra Rounds.
7) Matt Giraud - too many runs and riffs can RUIN a song, Mr. Sourface. Learn this now.

American Idol Season 8 (Week 5)

2009-04-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

Will have to cut this short, so I can watch the results show saved on the DVR:

1) Adam Lambert - standing O well deserved! Very haunting rendition of a beautiful song.
2) Danny Gokey - HUH?!?
3) Allison Iraheta - I remember that Constantine sang the same song, which became his one memorable performance. Allison did an even better one, though I won't tag it as THE memorable performance for her.
4) Anoop Desai - ok.
5) Kris Allen - didn't hate it actually... but didn't love it. Still, should keep this dude around a little longer.
6) Lil Rounds - must go.
7) Matt Giraud - this is pretty much the kind of stuff he ought to be singing.
8) Scott MacIntyre - continuing stomach pains...

American Idol Season 8 (Week 4)

2009-04-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

So far I am pleased that contestants who never passed muster with me have been voted off. I must rant about this new Get Out Of Jail Free card that the judges get to hold this season. So let me try to understand the logic here: probably wrong song and/or performed badly, judges most likely hated it, and the rest of America sent a message that they hated it. Then the judges get to hear the same miserable performance all over again, and maybe have a change of heart? I sez let every contestant pick a song they think can shamwow the judges with (something hopefully never before seen), perfect it on the side, then put it in their back pocket. Then when it's their turn on the cutting block, pull it out! At least it's a real second chance to redeem yourself.

1) Adam Lambert - enjoyed watching this white boy play that funky music right!

2) Danny Gokey - well well well... actually showcased his distinct voice and range... proved he can be still and just sing. Very nice.

3) Allison Iraheta - delivered her usual style, though a little boring and distracting this week.

4) Anoop Desai - Usher? Are you kidding me??? Of all the R&B songs in the universe, he picks something bleahhh.

5) Kris Allen - first performance of his that I really dug. I saw a glimpse of a creative artist. Now that I've seen the potential in this boy, I am curious to see more... so keep him in.

6) Lil Rounds - no originality, nothing in her that makes me take notice.

7) Matt Giraud - he irks me a lot now. Such a sour face. Unlikeable.

8) Megan Joy - she's proven she has nothing to give. Annoys me. Needs to go.

9) Scott MacIntyre - please no more, hurts my feelings.

American Idol Season 8 (Week 3)

2009-03-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Just caught up with my DVR, been avoiding any Idol news & clips of this week's performances. In my opinion, you need to BRING it when you try to sing a Motown classic -- my favorite tunes were produced during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Oldies but goodies, and a huge part of my love for simple, well-written, and original tunes. They just don't make 'em like this anymore...

1) Adam Lambert - unplugged with a touch of class. This season is Adam's concert. All the other contestants are just "guests".

2) Danny Gokey - I got what I expected from him. He'll put a little extra riff here and there, scream out the song, dance around. It's all the same.

3) Allison Iraheta - Excellent choice, works with her edgey style.

4) Anoop Desai - very nice vocal, but boring.

5) Kris Allen - nothing special, guitar was just a prop.

6) Lil Rounds - everything she does is too copy-cat, no originality.

7) Matt Giraud - not bad...

8) Megan Joy - after singing a few lines, I wanted to puke. I thought she was gonna pick something that would showcase her jazzy voice. There may not be a next time...

9) Michael Sarver - he has to go. I would have preferred Alexis to him for the Top 10 tour.

10) Scott MacIntyre - Please stop talking about being true to yourself, because YOU are boring. Who is voting for this guy that he's still in? Vote for an artist who doesn't sound monotonous!

America Idol - Season 8 (Week 2)

2009-03-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

So just need to rant a bit: why do the contestants, especially this season, feel compelled to talk back to the judges when the judges are giving their opinions?!? Who cares what the reason was behind why you picked a certain song, performed it a certain way, etc. If you didn't quite deliver, learn from it. Just smile, say thank you, and let the music roll. I hate it when they respond like "if I get another chance, next week will be different". EVERY WEEK should be treated like there is no next week, and that you will be judged by America on this performance alone! Feh!

1) Adam Lambert - brilliant range. "Ring of Fire" arrangement may have sounded weird to some ears, but not to mine -- it is pure artistry, talent, and singing ability. This boy deserves to win.

2) Danny Gokey - sounding just like last week, and the week before, etc. I still like the fellow though. Do something different please.

3) Allison Iraheta - ok, I know what to expect from her in the following weeks.

4) Alexis Grace - she's starting to annoy me.

5) Anoop Desai - VERY VERY nice. Finally realized this is a singing competition. I was reminded how this is the only country song I actually know and like. Willie Nelson wrote a very simple but timeless song.

6) Kris Allen - he'll live.

7) Lil Rounds - still doesn't do anything for me.

8) Matt Giraud - okay, but nothing special.

9) Megan Joy - actually her best performance. Lose the quirky, needs to focus on the unique singing style.

10) Michael Sarver - he has to go. Lose the chip on your shoulder, boy.

11) Scott MacIntyre - he may have the sympathy vote, but he bores me to death.

American Idol - Season 8 (Week 1)

2009-03-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

I think this "Top 13" ploy was just a stunt to boost TV ratings. Oh well, it's a recession, FOX needs to pay their bills, so fine.

So as you can guess, I don't agree with the final group of contestants, in fact with several of the "Top 36", but I think the judges did a decent job whittling down the remaining contestants to make for an entertaining season at least. I would have sworn off Idol altogether if Tatiana, Nick, and Nathaniel made it through to the final cut. They all annoyed me to no end.

I would have liked to hear more Ricky -- in fact, if he made an album I would probably buy it. He's got a certain sweetness to his voice that none of the other contestants possess. I would have liked to see if there is a song out there perfectly suited for Von once he learns to better control his upper register. I would have been interested to see Ju'Not put his spin on other songs.

Ok, enough rambling. Here's how I stack the Top 13:

1) Adam Lambert - my pick to win this competition from the very beginning, since his audition. For a singing competition, he is the first contestant on Idol (with David Cook being a very close second) who is truly in a different stratosphere from the other contestants. Amazing chops.
2) Danny Gokey - I really like this guy. There is nothing extraordinary about his tone, but he puts a package together very well.
3) Allison Iraheta - very Kelly Clarkson. I just wish she wouldn't speak. Just stick to singing.
4) Alexis Grace - she's good to have around, like Allison. She will be outsung by everyone else, but she may pull off a memorable moment. Who knows.

I will reserve my complete opinion on everyone else for now, since they haven't really captured my attention. Just a few words maybe...

Anoop Desai - he actually has a nice voice. He'll probably rock the Bollywood vote.
Jasmine Murray - I wish she would phrase better. She has that annoying pop in her voice that I hear all the time from the new crop of young singers.
Jorge Nunez - he can win. In Puerto Rico.
Kris Allen - I'm baffled why he's around.
Lil Rounds - Nothing unique. Seems I've heard this kind of singer a hundred times over.
Matt Giraud - he's just filler.
Megan Joy - she's not versatile.
Michael Sarver - he has a nice tone that can come out depending on the song... he might have a moment.
Scott MacIntyre - I don't enjoy watching him sing. Sorry.

American Idol - Top Four

2008-05-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

and then there were four. Then there will be two. David Archuleta and David Cook. Then there will be one. Archuleta. Then I will buy my first American Idol contestant album -- Cook's.

American Idol - bye Ramiele

2008-04-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

As much as I am a fan of her voice, she never brought it. So she deserves to go. But I'm sure she will have a career in the Philippines if she wanted... hehehe

American Idol - Season 7 (Year You Were Born)

2008-03-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

David Cook SHOULD win this whole competition. It is crystal clear that he deserves to win.

American Idol Season 7 - Week 5

2008-03-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

Greatest band in the history of rock -- Beatles. And sooooo many forgettables.. geez. Kids.

Memorable:
David Archuleta - bravo!
David Cook - I thought it was pretty cool (didn't need the "other" mic though)
Carly Smithson - she sang one of my personal faves, and it was decent :)

Meh:
Amanda Overmyer - not bad... but sadly that's about the only song that could suit her...
Jason Castro - I actually thought Blackbird would have suited him better...
Ramiele Malubay - when is she gonna connect with me, c'mon Pinoy!!!
Brook White - flower child did it the best way she knew how.
Syesha Mercado - it was ok I suppose...

Forgettable:
Michael Johns - yikes, he couldn't hear himself.
Kristy Lee Cook - oh lordy, she needs to go.
Chikezie - stop stop stop... did not work for me!

American Idol Season 7 - Week 4 Elimination

2008-03-12T23:55:00.000-07:00

See ya to the less appealing David... seems suspiciously convenient to have him out in lieu of his, um, interesting background... Should have been Kristy, but maybe she's getting the "country fans" vote??? She needs to go, people!

Not to sound un-PC here, but here's the reality:

Chikezie - split black vote
Syesha - split black vote
Amanda - who bikers and nostalgic Southern rock lovers vote for
Carly - who voice purists vote for
David C. - who musicians & bands vote for
David A. - who the tweens & grannies vote for
Jason - who the teen girls vote for
Michael - who the ladies vote for
Ramiele - the Asian vote (so that's 100% of the Filipino-American population + the karaoke crowd -- wait, that's redundant! *hehehe*)
Kristy - who teenage boys with mullets vote for
Brook - who everyone wants to vote for :)

American Idol Season 7 - Week 4

2008-03-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

So the Top Twelve perform Lennon & McCartney songs.

Just from first Week on the big stage, it is clear that most of the finalists can actually become successful solo artists in their chosen musical style...

Memorable:
Chikezie - for the first time, I liked what he did.
Jason Castro - something so likeable about his singing style...
Carly Smithson - and she CAME TOGETHER, unbelievable vocalist!
Brook White - simple and beautiful, what's not to like about her???
David Cook - terrific job from the resident EMO boy!
Amanda Overmyer - bluesy chick did her thang!!!

Meh:
Syesha Mercado - boring.
Michael Johns - blttt.
David Archuleta - for the first time, didn't gel with me.

Forgettable:
David Hernandez - WTF. Did NOT suit him at all.
Ramiele Malubay - what's sad is that this would've done superbly well in the Philippines.
Kristy Lee Cook - Ick. She needed to go a long time ago. Big mistake: she said she hoped Simon would like it, but who's voting airhead???

One Broadway

2008-03-08T00:47:00.001-08:00

Earlier this evening, I accompanied Erik, Randel, and Vince to a bar in Los Gatos located in downtown Los Gatos on the corner of Broadway & Santa Cruz -- 1 Broadway to be exact. The boys wanted to scout the venue and listen to a live band, since they're scheming to get da band back togedder.

Fortunately for us the band happened to be a REALLY GOOD live band who called themselves Joint Chiefs. They played some Motown, funk, and R&B. Guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and two saxophonists. The crowd was an older crowd, Los Gatans mostly in their 40's & 50's just kicking back. Not too many 30-somethingers like us, so I think we kinda stuck out a bit as "yer not from around here".

Very snappy music, and we actually got up to dance a couple times to songs that we could bop to. Los Gatans seem to be more congenial than Santa Clara County townies on the dance floor... tipsy Stepford wives falling over themselves, and Daddy Warbuckses trying to strut their stuff with their Blackberrys hooked to their belts. But all having a genuine good time :) Very amusing to watch, and I was surprised that we actually really enjoyed ourselves!

Looking forward to when the band starts gigging, 'coz I definitely like their setlist. Plus inspires me to explore more of the local music & bar scene, and put my dancing shoes on once in a while :) May not last for hours on end like I did when I was 25, but at least can still get my groove on with a few more rest periods along with sips of refreshing beer *hehe*

American Idol Season 7 - My Top Twelve

2008-03-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

So I pegged 10/12 :)

Too bad about Asia'h, she was cute -- much more personable than Kristy! Vocally, the two girls were pretty much on par, though... nothing special... so I'm ok with America's Vote.

Danny, I wanted to keep around purely for his spunkiness, and give him a second chance to redeem himself since he actually does have a good voice. He seemed to be a likeable guy, too. He certainly wasn't BORING like Chikezie. TMTH.

American Idol Season 7 - Week 3 (Gals)

2008-03-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

where's the big hair???

Memorable:
Amanda Overmyer - suited her, rocker chick!
Carly Smithson - hmm, not familiar with the song. But I think she sang it well anyway :)
Brook White - smart performer. We are young. Heartache to heartache, we stand.

Meh:
Asia'h Epperson - it was ok... can't touch (pre-crack) Whitney though.
Ramiele Malubay - nice. Has this big ol' voice, I'm just waiting for that BIG note...
Syesha Mercado - they need to have a no-Whitney rule.

Forgettable:
Kady Malloy - pffftt pfft.
Kristy Lee Cook - yawn.

American Idol Season 7 - Week 3 (Guys)

2008-03-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, the 80's...

Memorable:
David Archuleta - this boy will win anyway.
David Cook - ok, I liked this. A lot. Eat your heart out, Lionel!
Jason Castro - sweetness, a Lord of Dogtown -- hallelujah :)

Meh:
Danny Noriega - for some reason, I actually thought this was a good song choice for him.. he is managing to crack me up.. I'm not a hater anymore :)
David Hernandez - he actually is like a male version of Celine Dion. Not bad.
Michael Johns - good, but I'm not jumping up and down.

Forgettable:
Luke Menard - He murdered one of my favorite Wham songs... can't touch George Michael.
Chikezie - brings nothing to the table.

Results of American Idol Week2

2008-02-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

So all my "Memorable" folks are safe. Once again, all is right with the world. Though I thought it was too early an exit for Alexandrea, she had that TLC vibe...

American Idol Season 7 - Week 2 (Gals)

2008-02-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Struggled like the guys did on 70's songs, but did better I think...

Memorable:
Carly Smithson - Heart is hard to sing to... but she actually pulled it off!
Ramiele Malubay - Hated the song, but she still has that incredible voice :)
Brook White - Right on, sista.

Meh:
Syesha Mercado - her vibrato made me shudder, no more softies for her.
Alexandrea Lushington - didn't dig it. But she's spunky and hip. She's cool to have around.
Asia'h Epperson - made me remember how AWESOME Latoya London really was!
Kristy Lee Cook - MUCH better than last week, but no wow-factor.

Forgettable:
Amanda Overmyer - Eep, she sounded horrible... cringe.
Alaina Whitaker - shouted an Olivia Newton-John song that I love. Feh.
Kady Malloy - Needs to get voted off asap -- she's just filler, with an evil eye.

American Idol Season 7 - Week 2 (Guys)

2008-02-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe most everyone sucked this week. Thank goodness for the Davids...

Memorable:
David Hernandez - Dude's a belter. He gives me good shivers :)
David Archuleta - VERY nice. The run he did towards the end was amazing to my ear. Tremendous interpretive skills. This boy has the greatest potential of winning this competition right now. I would be happy if he won actually, much like I was for Jordin Sparks who just blossomed throughout the season last year...

Meh:
Michael Johns - Wrong song for him I think. Too high for his range. Better luck next week.
Jason Castro - I like the song actually, could've done something different with it.
Chikezie - Better than last week anyway. Still obnoxious.
Danny Noriega - Gives me the shivers (and not the good kind), but he can sing...

Forgettable:
Luke Menard - Interesting high voice, too Glee Club for me though.
Robbie Carrico - Does this guy think he's hot stuff??? You're not going to win. Deal with it.
Jason Yeager - Poor guy. He tries though.
David Cook - Too much 'tude. Thinks he's hot stuff, too. But better than Robbie.

You know you're no longer a spring chicken...

2008-02-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

... when you get glued to a late night infomercial hosted by the Bionic Woman, go to a Select Comfort store, welcome a demo by a knowledgeable & enthusiastic saleslady named Heatherly, then actually end up purchasing a Sleep Number bed from her. Oh, and learn that your "sleep number" is 50 :)

Results of American Idol Week1

2008-02-21T21:25:00.001-08:00

So all my "Memorable" folks are safe. All is right in the world. Thank goodness Vote For The Worst didn't impact the Amy vote-off :)

American Idol Season 7 - Week1 (Gals)

2008-02-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

Here's how I rate the Top 12 Gals, based on their Week1 (60's genre) performance:

Memorable:
Amanda Overmyer - I liked her from the very start. Very unique. Not sure how she'll handle other genres though...
Asia'h Epperson - Won't win, but has an "it" factor.
Ramiele Malubay - VERY nice range. I put her in my Top Three from the very start. Go Pinoy!
Syesha Mercado - A belter, she has major lungs.
Carly Smithson - Big voice. Pure. My pick to win American Idol.

Meh:
Alaina Whitaker - Ordinary, she'll survive.
Brook White - A plain Jane, but different... actually has a nice tone in her voice.
Joanne Borgella - Need to hear if she can belt out something first...
Alexandrea Lushington - Cool. She has an interesting "falsetto", not sure if I dig it, maybe better suited for hip-hop... need to hear more.

Forgettable:
Kristy Lee Cook - Bored me to tears.
Kady Malloy - Can impersonate Britney, but can't impersonate a singing sensation.
Amy Davis - Who?

American Idol Season 7 - Week1 (Guys)

2008-02-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

Looks like American Idol is off to a good start this season! Here's how I rate the Top 12 Guys, based on their Week1 (60's genre) performance:

My rating scale:
Memorable - wowwed me, a keeper.
Meh - didn't make me cringe, but didn't make me jump out of my seat either.
Forgettable - buh-bye!

Memorable:
Jason Castro - If I had to pick an early "dark horse", he'd be it.
David Archuleta - Cute little boy, likeable. Won't win the big prize, but will get enough votes.
David Hernandez - Has a powerful voice, quality upper range. Give him a George Michael song.
Michael Johns - From the auditions, I placed him in the Top Three. Just needs to avoid the Doors from now on.... would actually be interesting if he tried singing an INXS song, just for grins....

Meh:
Robbie Carrico - He'll survive.
David Cook - Sort of bores me right now, but has that Smashmouth potential...
Garrett Haley - I think he needs to be given a nice high song before I pass harsh judgment...
Jason Yeager - Old-fashioned voice, need to hear more first before I wave him off.

Forgettable:
Chikezie - A watered-down Ruben Studdard, a little too smart-ass for my taste.
Luke Menard - No star quality. Boring.
Danny Noriega - Annoyed me from Day One. The new Sanjaya. I had to fast-forward.
Colton Berry - No appeal. Pure filler. I prefer the guy with the glasses & tie, too.

Dwain

2008-01-11T21:53:00.000-08:00

Just had dinner with my best friend from Motorola, Dwain Dixson! He was in town on business, for training actually, and each time he visits he reminds me of how much he and I have grown through all of these years :) I have known Dwain for 11 years now, and he is still with Motorola, but is now working with cell phones.

Dwain and I were part of a fortunate group of college grads who got hired by Uncle Mot (that's our endearing term for Motorola) right when a new program at AIEG was starting up. Usually a new hire with little or no experience gets placed into a mature program to learn the ropes -- perhaps do some sustaining work, documentation, CCARs, etc. Stuff deemed not much fun. And the more experienced engineers are assigned to the new stuff. But we were surrounded by folks who believed in us, and a manager who had great confidence in his team's abilities, that we were given the rarest of opportunities. Baptized by fire from the get-go!

Dwain, Seble, Jim, and I were pups who acquired a lot of important career skills early on, from the amazing experience we had on the Natural Gas design team. We all joined within a month of each other I think, and we were all in our early 20's (I was 21 when I joined). We of course had older and wiser team leads to keep us in line (Steve, Zach, Carl) -- even Uncle Mot wasn't THAT crazy to have a bunch of newbies run around without guidance *HEHEHE*. Overall, we got our feet wet in every phase of the program. From understanding a spec and generating design schematics, to reviewing layouts, to breadboarding, troubleshooting, to circuit analysis/simulations, developing benchtesters, writing test software, flying to Seguin for builds, DV/PV testing, FMEAs, writing reports, making presentations, etc. You name it, we saw our engine control modules to the end, every step of the way! Dwain worked with Zach on the 701, I worked with Steve on the 558, and Seble & Jim worked with Carl on the 700. Our three modules then tied together to run a big Cummins Engine! They were also stand-alone modules which could serve other applications, too, like running power grids!

We depended a lot on each other, and we were a very close knit team. And we quickly learned to be resourceful, and knock on the doors of more experienced engineers whenever we had questions. And everyone was more than happy to help us along the way. Folks like our manager Mark, who was a super duper EE turned program manager. Him, Betty, Ron, Stinkie, John B, Tim E, Zoran, Jim F, and many others who worked on the legacy Cummins products. I even knocked on the doors of gold badgers like Sam and Ralph, who were longtime Motorolans with patents galore. These were the experts who the technical specialists went to for advice :) And the Cummins group had two of the best technicians ever -- Joey and Dave.

We also shared a very sad moment, when our technician Joey passed away :( We all went together as a team to his grave to pay our respects. I remember it was just after Thanksgiving. And when we were given the news, I was speechless. Because just before the holiday break, Joey had even baked for each of us a delicious English muffin to take home. Joey was really cool, and I still think about him from time to time...

Dwain and I were lunch buddies who liked to hit the Boston Market, Chi-Chi's, Crawdaddy's, Burger King, etc, if he didn't bring his lunch. Most of the time we would eat in the cafeteria with the rest of the Cummins gang. At 11:30, folks would make noise that it's time for lunch, and around 3pm folks would make noise that it's time for a coffee break :) Then Dwain accepted a position at Seguin as a test engineer as our programs neared completion, and then he later moved back to Central Illinois.

We had such a good time at Motorola -- I have such fond memories of everyone and all the relationships I made, especially the one that has lasted the longest, with Dwain :)

Letter from Mather "Breakfast Club"

2007-12-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Mather High School,

We accept the fact that we are now young 30-something'ers with diverse lives, diverse occupations, diverse talents. We think it would be crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions.

But what we found out is that each one of us is

... an electrical engineer...

... and a software engineer...

... a web designer...

... a mechanical engineer...

... and a tax analyst...

... a chemical engineer...

... and an environmental engineer...

... a registered nurse...

... in finance...

... a real estate agent...

... an owner of a car dealership...

... an aspiring musician...

... a part-time athlete...

... an IT network professional...

... a QA engineer...

... and a data miner...

... a doctor...

... a journalist...

... a pharmacist...

... an MBA...

... a venture capitalist...

Does that answer your question?

Sincerely yours,

Mather's Finest (Class of '92 & '93)

Christmas Tree

2007-12-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I accompanied my dear friend Shilo Christmas Tree shopping :) The Home Depot nearest her home had in a new lot of trees from the farms (they have been getting new ones weekly during the holiday season). They fenced off part of the parking lot for the trees. A lot of folks were there browsing.

Having always had an artificial tree since childhood, this was a new experience for me. You walk in and realize that there are different types of trees. I noticed "Douglas Fir" and "Noble Fir". So Shilo peeked at a few trees, and saw one which looked good. So she unraveled the string that was wrapped around the tree so that the branches would hang out a bit and she could check for holes (chunks of branches missing, etc.) Looked good! Then she dragged it near the trimming & bundling tent. I stayed with the tree while she went to the cashier with the tag to pay for it. Then she had a clever idea: so unlike other customers who would drag their tree around with them in order to pay for it and get in line for the trimming, one of us could hang out with the tree next to the tent, and one could stand in line. I happily stood in line :)

When it was our turn, the Home Depot guy slung the tree onto a table and then trimmed it per Shilo's directions. I think she had him saw off a few branches on the bottom, based on her knowledge of the tree base it was going in. Then some minor trimming at the sides. Perfect! Then the tree was shoved into a netting to keep the branches bundled up tightly. Then we carried it out to her car. Having it bundled is very useful in transport :)

We unloaded the tree into Shilo's living room, and she tweaked the stabilizers of the base so that the tree would stand up straight. I thought she could immediately start putting on the ornaments, but she said it's best to let the fir settle for 2-3 days. Then once it has taken shape, can add them on.

So although Shilo didn't have to trek over to a farm and cut the tree down herself, she knew quite a bit about tree selection. Like she even knew how fresh it was based on the feel of the needles. Key criteria:

1) Type: Shilo prefers noble firs because if the needles fall on the floor, and you step on them, they won't stab your feet like, say, Douglas firs. Plus noble firs have a nice smell.

2) Height: 5' - 6' worked well for her.

3) Price: Shilo, being one of the most practical people I know, already had an idea how much she was willing to shell out for a tree, based on its size, how long she would have it up, and the enjoyment she would get out of having it in her house. Mostly, she was looking forward to having the smell of a fresh tree pervade the air :)

Now you have to take care of it, since it's a real tree. Like watering it and stuff. Now I prefer a real tree over a fake tree, although wreathes are more my speed *hehehe*

Compass

2007-12-09T00:57:00.000-08:00

Erik & I watched the Golden Compass at the Merc this evening. It doesn't feel as epic as Lord of the Rings, or as engaging as Harry Potter. Probably because we're not really familiar with the books that it is based on. To me, it's like a cross between Neverending Story & Narnia.

There's this hoopla about the Golden Compass having an atheist agenda. C'monnn, the "message" was as thickly veiled as, say, CS Lewis' message is in his novels. A Christian will of course catch the religious overtones. A non-Christian would simply see it as the struggle of the oppressed against tyrannical rule. I can put on my analytical hat and go to town with a paper discussing all the symbolism. But this ain't AP English folks -- it's simply enjoying a well-produced film.

I like that there is going to be another trilogy of a fantastical sort :) Plus I have a thing for talking Polar Bears *hehe*

The Bee

2007-12-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

This morning Akeelah & the Bee was on TV. I actually netflixed this before, and caught it showing a couple of times on cable afterwards, but like good movies, you can't help but get drawn in again.

This movie floods me with memories of the Spelling Bee. I want to share what it's like, from first-hand experience. I represented my elementary school, Clinton. First I won the Class competition, then won the School competition, then went on to I think the City competition. Then now one word haunts me till this day -- "BARBELLATE". If there is one word that would send shivers down your spine if you ever heard it again, for me it's THAT word...

Spelling somehow always came easy to me. I never got a not perfect score on a spelling test. To me, what's so hard about remembering how things are spelled, or memorizing thousands of words? I-before-E-except-after-C, right? *hehe* It's very funny actually, how one of my biggest pet peeves remains to be misspellings. Really makes me cringe, especially when I'm not at liberty to bring it to someone's attention. I can't even bear it when I make a typographical error -- when your finger hits the wrong key by accident and your eye doesn't catch it! Exasperating.

I almost didn't make it past the School competition, by the way. The judges wanted me to spell "premiere", but I spelled it "premier". And they said it was incorrect. So I stood there with a look that a dog gives when it's bewildered about something. You see, at the International School where I spent my early childhood, that is the spelling that I was familiar with. So I begged to differ, rushed to a dictionary, showed it to my 8th grade teacher, then the decision was reversed.

So for the next level of competition, I was given this thick booklet full of words that I was supposed to study. My mom just drilled me a few pages at a time over the next few weeks, and at the end I ended up memorizing them all. INCLUDING that goddamn word we dare not speak of. I didn't go so far as learning word origins and alternate pronunciations, though -- that's for Nationals, which I didn't get to.

So in City, I came in third. So end of the road for me. Because I misspelled that infamous word. You see, you cannot go back when you have already uttered a letter. It was plain over-confidence that caused my stupid error. As soon as the judges gave me the word to spell, it immediately shone up in big bold letters in my head. All I had to do was SAY THE LETTERS. I was like, no way, this is too easy! So I spell it quickly -- "B-A-R-B-A...shit". Of course I didn't say the last part aloud up at the mic. I stopped right there and started walking off, before the judges could say "I'm sorry, but that is incorrect"... in fact you could tell how upset I was with myself when footage of the competition was aired on the evening news (don't know if my folks still have that tape, me storming off the stage *hehehe*). I think the judges knew when I knew that I messed up. And do you know what the winning word was??? RHEUMATISM. Unbelievable.

So even now as an engineering professional, when design documents and communications are filled with TLAs & FLAs (three-letter and four-letter acronyms) and abbreviations, I can pride myself on still being able to spell without the aid of a spell-checker :)

Scorpios

2007-11-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

My teammate Eigenmann made an interesting observation while we were socializing after a tennis meet, that there were an awful lot of us players who had birthdays in November. Her, Yvonne, Kathrin, Suzanne, me, plus other folks we knew (btw Suzanne's b-day rolled into Sagittarius , but close enough -- an honorary Scorpio*hehe*)

It just dawned on me, as I was enjoying my coffee ice-cream topped with Cadbury Flakes on my birthday, that the reason why there are a LOT of November babies, is 'coz we were conceived on the most "romantic" month of them all -- February! Hmmm... bit of math: Valentine's Day + 9 months = November +/- a few days. Yup...

Gyro Ball

2007-11-10T23:38:00.000-08:00

Major accomplishment today: finally got my Dyna-Flex gyro ball going and going and going!!! I was so happy, it's like that scene out of "Castaway" when Tom Hanks cries out with pride "I have made FIRE!"

Getting the wheel spinning isn't the toughest part (especially if you use the string to jump start it), but keeping it from stopping is a major battle, having to figure out how to up the revs on the gyro takes a lot of patience & practice! I'd say I've been fighting this thing for a total of an hour, spanning the past few evenings after work, and tossing the dumb ball into my Fuf chair out of frustration!

So now the challenging part is learning how to start it WITHOUT the string...

Shilo

2007-11-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

One of the best treats out here in the Valley is to be invited to Heather Shilo Ryan's place for a home-cooked meal! Heather, a Floridian who is part Cuban/Filipino/Irish/Scottish, can whip up all sorts of dishes of different cuisines -- if she ever wanted to start up a restaurant, she already has a big fan base made up of friends with happy bellies from her kitchen magic :)

This evening I was stuffed with her ropa vieja, rice, salad, and garlic bread. A spread that probably took her half an hour to prepare: a little dash of this, a little dash of that, a dollop of this, a splash of that. Then voila! everything comes out perfect :) Me, it would probably take me half a day just to decipher the recipe *hehehe*

If she weren't there to walk & talk me through a koulouria recipe during one of our movie nights, my favorite Greek cookie would have probably have changed nationalities and been inedible *HAHAHAHAHA* Btw, Heather is excellent company for enjoying a good horror flick!

Heather has prepared outstanding Thanksgiving and 4th of July dinners. So we are more than happy to supply the easy stuff like dessert and beverages (we make sure to throw in some Guinness especially for her & Matt). Oh, and extra chairs.

And during ski season, she still manages to rastle up something in the cabin for the gang to eat, even after a tiring snowboarding session...

Shilo ROCKS!!!

Pantech duo

2007-11-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Yippee, I have a new cell phone -- a Pantech duo!

Just came out last week, and it is SWEET -- suits my needs and my personality :) I like that you slide the face up to reveal the keypad, and you slide the face to the side to reveal the keyboard. Nice, multi-functional, and compact.

Notable features are:
- Microsoft Windows Mobile 6
- Dual slider with QWERTY keyboard
- UMTS/HSDPA, GPRS/EDGE, 3G
- 1.3 Megapixel integrated camera
- Bluetooth
- AT&T Mobile Music and CV

Quote on Starbuck's cup

2007-10-20T23:01:00.000-07:00

I was happily sipping a latte, and when I put down my cup, I noticed a quote on the side of it. I guess I never noticed there were quotes on Starbucks cups before. Anyway I found the quote on mine to be interesting:

“My cousin in Tibet is an illiterate subsistence farmer. By accident of birth, I was raised in the west and have a Ph.D. The task of our generation is to cut through the illusion that we inhabit separate worlds. Only then will we find the heart to rise to the daunting but urgent challenges of global disparity.” -Losang Rabgey, “The Way I See It…”

In my visits to the Philippines as an adult, it's disappointing to see how a country with so much potential cannot get out of "Third World" status. The problem is the widening gap between the rich and the poor. "Middle class" is a college grad with a four-year degree, who graduated at the top of their class, working a graveyard shift at a call center, making next to nothing. A daily struggle to make ends meet, just to provide for their family. Just a block down the street from a 5-star hotel is a slum area, where families live off someone else's garbage.

Having been born in the Philippines, but raised in the United States, I have enormous pride as an American and what it means to be an American. I appreciate what generations of immigrants have sacrificed to make this country the great nation that it is. I cherish my Filipino heritage, and recognize the good and bad traits of the Filipino way, and absorb the positive parts.

My parents came to the United States to give my sister and me a chance for a better life. A kind of life that is not offered in the Philippines or any other country... freedom to take control of your destiny. Self-sacrifice, hard work, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and hope. That defines the American dream. Not "For English Press 1, Para Espanol...", bilingual signs, single teen mothers on welfare continuing to have babies.

I applaud those who try to rise above adversity. These are the ones you help. Give a hungry man a fish and he will be satisfied, but teach a man to fish and he will never go hungry again. Or you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. So create opportunities for those less fortunate, not encourage complacency.

Snowboarding & skateboarding

2007-10-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

As it's been raining sporadically in Sunnyvale lately, the bright side is that when there's rain there's snow -- in Tahoe (I hear Kirkwood received 2 feet of snow -- yippee!) What's great about living in the Bay Area is that you can drive to the season of your choice... and you don't even feel the 4-5 hour drive when you have good company :)

There's nothing quite like the feeling of carving down a mountain of fresh powder... it's quite serene up there... quiet... away from the everyday stresses... and the air is nice and crisp.

I have an Arbor Push '06 snowboard. It's a thing of beauty, worthy to be put on display above the mantle... a gorgeous design on the bamboo topsheet.

And on pavement, I have my longboard. Also an Arbor. And when you're gliding, and feel the wind through your hair, there's a certain je-ne-sais-quoi feeling about it too.

I have yet to take my freebord out for a spin.. and see how close to snowboarding on pavement feels... the hard part is finding that perfect downgrade in town...

Zombies

2007-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

So I'm a big fan of modern zombie movies. 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Dawn of the Dead, Resident Evil. The requirements of a perfect zombie movie: human immune to virus, secretly bitten human who becomes a self-sacrificial zombie to save others, a small group of survivors (children necessary), and lots of shooting, slicing, and flame-throwing on the undead!

Saw the latest installment of Resident Evil. "Extinction". First time I actually jumped out of my seat in the movie theater and yelled out at the screen. Damn freakin' zombie came out of nowhere, man!

Let's just say if there were 1000 Milla Jovoviches, the world would be a MUCH better place :)

Kirby

2007-10-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

This was the name of my first car: a silver Honda CR-V. I bought Kirby from Carr's Honda in Chicago, in February 1997. Car salesman said they just got 'em in that month. So it was first generation. My dad had read and heard good reviews about it, so figured it was worth a look. They had a blue one in the showroom, and when I sat in it, it felt... right. A safe and affordable car, where I can sit up a bit in traffic. A co-worker, after congratulating me on my buy, even xeroxed an article out of his car magazine (I think it was Car & Driver) about the Honda CR-V -- the article was titled "America's Sweetheart".

Now you KNOW you are one of the earliest owners of a CR-V, when you're driving down a street, pass another CR-V, and you & the other driver make eye contact and give each other the "nod". Hehehe. Plus the CR-V looked a whole lot cooler compared to the Toyota RAV4, in my opinion. Both Japanese cars, but MINE was made IN Japan. I know this because I had to wait a month for mine to roll off the line from Japan, and ship to me. Which is probably why I never had any problems with Kirby, knowing the tradition of Japanese quality.

Now CR-Vs are everywhere. In fact my sister and my cousin Mia each own later generation CR-Vs. And they're waaaayyyyy different from mine. The Honda CR-V had gone through a couple makeovers since 1997....

After 10 years of superior service, Kirby's battery finally gave out while it was parked out on the street waiting to be shipped to Mom back in Chicago. When AAA came to replace the battery so that we could drive it to the Honda Service Center for final maintenance prior to shipping, he marvelled at how long the original battery lasted!

So Kirby is now in (semi)retirement, with my mom. Zipping around at no more than 30 mph with mom at the wheel *hehehe*, which is definitely a change of pace for Kirby's legs. Kirby's successor is Coco, a 2007 Acura MDX. Now Coco has a bit more pep than Kirby and has, er, a few more amenities. Which is all well and good, especially for the longer road trips. Because Coco is still a Honda. Acura = Honda-With-A-Budget :)

Mather High School

2007-09-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Mather is a public high school in the northside of Chicago. It was a natural feed-in for the elementary schools in the district. After completing Prep to Year 5 at Hagen International Primary School in Papua New Guinea (the equivalent of kindergarten to 5th grade in the States), I finished off the rest of grammar school at Clinton Elementary School. It was a no-brainer decision for me -- Mather was a 7 minute walk from home (yes I timed it), most of my friends from Clinton were going to Mather, and it was actually a decent school (at the time). Some classmates went to Lane, Von Steuben, Lincoln Park, IMSA. Or even parochial schools.

The rude awakening that we weren't in elementary school anymore, for me, was in Biology class. There were four long tables in the class. So first day, we naturally sat at the table with kids from the same elementary school -- so Table #1: Clinton, Table #2: Boone, Table #3: Jamieson, and Table #4: Rogers. I think there were also a couple kids from Solomon. Then in walks Ms. Duncan, demanded quiet, and who then immediately changed the seating arrangements into ALPHABETICAL order! So we all glanced at each other, scared to death of her, and moved to our assigned seats. I was one of the lucky ones, I still got to sit next to one of my dearest friends, Sofia Doulas :)

So we made new friends, lost touch with some, and then in a blink of an eye, we were seniors!!! Lots of changes in four years! I think high school was a breeze for most of us, until we got to the AP classes. Becker in AP Calculus, Miller in AP US History, Coltman in AP Chemistry, Weiss in AP English. Those were the only AP classes offered during our time. And then there was Weissberg for Trig/College Algebra. I can count the # of students who got an A from her in one hand. And I wasn't one of them. So the top three ranked students (based on GPA) throughout high school were Thom Chaiket, myself, and George Diversiev. I think we would flip-flop during grading periods, if I remember right, we were all just separated by a few tenths of a point! Thom and George were incredibly intelligent guys -- Thom was definitely superior in math & chemistry, and George was superior in history & current events.

I actually became Ms. Duncan's student assistant during free period for the next three years. And I saw this same change-to-the-natural-order-of-things happen to each freshman class she got -- it was quite amusing to watch actually, seeing the same nervous look on each of their faces :)

PayPal Mafia

2007-09-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

Don't know who coined this label, but when Erik and I heard it used in a podcast that was interviewing Max, we chuckled :) It conjured up images of Max shuffling around in a Tony Soprano bath robe, smoking a cigar, and paranoid of being attacked by dairy products (Max is lactose-intolerant) *HAHAHAHAHA* I remember when Max was highlighted on a Details issue of I think "the most influential people under 30" many moons ago, and we would rib him about it -- he was ranked in between Ben Affleck and P. Diddy, so J.Lo jumped right over him *teeheehee*

The PayPal family is indeed a vast network of friends who have come to rely on each other. They represent the best of my generation (Generation X, as some media folks refer to), and not only carry with them the spirit of innovation, but also a sense of friendship that is rooted in knowing where you came from. Max and his merry band of college and high school friends came to Silicon Valley at the right time, before the "dot com" bubble burst...

PayPalians have infiltrated some of the most innovative start-ups. Below is a picture I drew up of what I know of the PayPal universe (there are some outfits which are in "stealth mode" and therefore not shown *hehe*)

Wood Tiger

2007-09-29T10:12:00.001-07:00

According to the Chinese Zodiac, I am a Wood Tiger. Here is the description:

The Wood Tiger is more adaptable to working with others and therefore does not demonstrate the typical "take charge" attitude of other Tigers. The Wood element adds stability, giving him warmth of character that draws people in and makes the Tiger a popular person. They are not selfish creatures and will give their time, attention or possessions to anyone in need. These Tigers bring a solid practicality to any problem. They can control their urges to completely take over, letting others do the work. They must be aware of their slightly volatile tempers and short attention spans, and not let those characteristics get the best of them or cause them or their loved ones undue pain.

The Tiger as a Child:
Tiger babies and children are cheerful children with a zest and passion for life that ignites their curious nature. Boys will and girls alike will enjoy the competitiveness and athleticism sports require. From an early age, Tiger children can't pass on a dare or a challenge. Intelligent and friendly, Tiger children carry a curiosity about life and their environment. In class, they are apt to enjoy and do better at subjects that give them the ability and creative freedom to express themselves.

Records and tapes

2007-09-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

... "what are those???" a kid born on this day, may wonder in the future. Then I'll be officially old. And depressed. I told my folks to not throw away my turntable and old records. Last record bought was from Coconuts on the corner of Lincoln & Peterson in Chicago, just a few blocks from my high school (Mather). Erasure's Two-Ring Circus. But there were annoying skips on the record! (on one of them anyway -- it was a two-record set). So I vowed never to blow my allowance on a defective record again. So out of protest I decided to peruse this new section of the store filled with these things called "Compact Discs". I eventually bought one, just to see what it was like. Then the rest is history. CDs.. what are those? That's what our grandkids would say, armed with an iPod the size of a quarter, a cell phone the size of a credit card, and a Nintendo XS (for eXtra Small)...

Blood Diamond

2007-09-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

So this movie had a pretty good plot and was graphically powerful.

So one line from the movie resonated for me... when Solomon (Hounsou) is chatting with Archer (DiCaprio) and remembers something his grandfather had told him:

“Things were so much better when the white man was in control.”

And then I thought about Papua New Guinea, where "white man" was everyone else but the natives. When all the expatriates left, and left everything behind to the Papua New Guineans, things just fell apart. Nice little towns were we frolicked as kids, slowly became hubs of crime and corruption. Then Papua New Guinea suddenly became an unsafe place to live in. When I was a kid living in the Highlands, Papua New Guineans were simple and generally harmless people. Aside from occasional "hold ups" on less-trodden roads and news of "rascals" robbing some place, it was rather peaceful and uneventful. The natives would pretty much chew on their beetlenut and leave us alone. I remember the childlike innocence they had. When they emerged from their huts, saw the first white man come down from the sky (an Aussie explorer in a plane), they thought he was a god. They thought his poop was special. Seriously. This was captured on film, and we watched the footage in primary school. Seems the natives weren't quite ready to be left to their own devices, after being introduced to the trappings of the modern world by the expatriates. Sometimes I wonder if it were better that some places not be reached by the civilized world...

Victoria's Secret

2007-09-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would EVER hear myself say this... but Victoria's Secret actually has comfortable underwear! I was lured in by this limited deal (sizeable discount + free gift) and was embarrassed to be walking around the mall carrying this hideous pink bag... then a few weeks later went right back in and did it all over again... SO not cool...

Hagen International Primary School

2007-09-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

I miss the idea of school "houses", as captured in Harry Potter (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin) and Kid Nation (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green).

I attended Hagen International Primary School (HIPS) in Papua New Guinea, from 1980 - 1985. So from Prep to Year 5. All contract workers sent their kids to the International School. After Year 6, kids would then go to nearby Bamboo Heights, which was the international high school. So I went to school with kids who were from different parts of the world: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Africa, India, United States, Canada, China, Burma, etc. and of course there were also native Papua New Guinean kids. Basically our parents were hired by the Papua New Guinean government as teachers, bankers, engineers, construction workers, etc. to help build up the main towns like Port Moresby (which is the capital), Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, etc.

So in HIPS, we had three "houses" named after native birds of Papua New Guinea: the Eagle (Blue), the Hornbill (Red), and the Cassowary (Green). I was a Cassowary. My friends were scattered Eagles, Hornbills, and Cassowaries. So Houses didn't "pick" friends. But when we had to divide into our Houses for inter-school and intra-school events, friendships are on pause *hehehe*. How we were assigned to the colors were actually quite random, when you enrolled as a new student, you were just placed in the color that was next in line after the last enrollee. I don't recall being given a choice, otherwise I would have asked to be an "Eagle". That's because during my time there, the Eagles were the most balanced in scholastics & athletics :)

Every week during Assembly, the House Captains would go around each classroom together and tally up the points. Then in Assembly, the Head Master would update the bar graph and we would see which House was ahead. Points were earned in different ways. You did something commendable in the classroom, the teacher would award points. You had the cleanest section during School Clean-Up Day, then your House would get points. You win points for your House during Sports competitions. Etc. Bad behavior could also earn negative points.

So there was plenty of motivation to excel in school activities. And plenty of motivation NOT to screw up. Houses can encourage, but also open up opportunities for bullying. I unfortunately went through a phase of being a hotheaded bully who could bring scrawnier scaredy-cat kids to tears. How sad. Thank goodness it was short-lived :)

Kid Nation

2007-09-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

I find the premise of this show very interesting. It makes me remember how the schoolyard is truly a microcosm of adult society: the have and have-nots, the powerful and the powerless, the leaders and the followers. And everyone in between. But it also reveals how when we were children, we were naturally compassionate, encouraging, compromising, sympathetic, and emphatetic. And before we were made aware of our "differences" from learned attitudes and behaviors from adults, we are unafraid to be brutally honest with one another, unafraid to reveal what our fears are with one another, and unfraid to declare what makes us happy. And children are naturally fair. Children recognize the stronger and weaker members of a group, and are naturally protective over the smallest and weakest. And children have the natural diplomacy to resolve conflicts more quickly, and are more willing to cooperate. Plus children also have that extra motivation: they will go out of their way to prove to adults that they can succeed without the help of adults!

Not to say this show is void of the adult view of the world. The kids are divided into four teams. The teams compete for status. The team that comes in first place becomes the "upper class", second place becomes "merchants", third place becomes "cooks", and the last place team becomes "laborers". Upper class does the least amount of work and make the most money, laborers do the work no one wants to do and make little money.

So the initial cards are dealt, and the wheels are set in motion. But then the Gold Star is introduced.. which can further complicate things. And a chosen few (Town Council) decide who to give the Gold Star to. When there is a reward, politics come into play, alliances form, relationships change, and at least for adults, bad things typically happen. So let's see if the children reflect the more redeeming qualities we had on the playground, before we became adults :)

My American Idol Picks

2007-09-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Season 1: Kelly Clarkson

Season 2: Clay Aiken (so America got it wrong when they voted for Ruben Studdard)

Season 3: Fantasia Barrino

Season 4: Carrie Underwood

Season 5: Katharine McPhee (but Taylor Hicks won this one... which is ok w/ me)
Season 6: Jordin Sparks

L Word (Season 3 Finale)

2007-09-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I’ll be officially bummed out for a while.. my favorite program, the award-winning critically-acclaimed Showtime lesbian drama series “the L Word” just wrapped up Season Three. Shane left Carmen at the altar. The theme of you are who you are, can’t change who you are. The demons you wrestle with. What defines you. What makes you do the things you do. Fear. Loss. Love. The search for it. Friendships. It’s a very smart drama, bringing a lot of different personalities into view. The Shane and Carmen dynamic was the most interesting to me, given Shane’s life.

I find Kate Moennig, who plays Shane, to be an incredibly talented actor. The other cast members I find very talented also are Leisha Hailey (who plays Alice -- she cracks me up!) and Jennifer Beals (Bette).

I hope they get rid of Max/Moira in Season Four. Waste of scene time. Dana was a cool character, but she was sacrificed for the message of breast cancer. Very sad. But alas, I strongly believe that there is method to the madness of Ilene Chaiken :)

www.lwordonline.com

Justice

2007-09-23T21:09:00.001-07:00

I'm all for caning. I'm all for having rapists castrated. Criminals should be required to perform free labor for the community as penance, as opposed to working out in the prison gym. Build schools and neighborhoods, instead of build muscles. Many correctional facilities now have all the comforts of home: entertainment centers, libraries, medical facilities, cafeterias, roomy cells -- our tax dollars accommodating criminals instead of helping kids from low-income families go to college. I prefer downsizing prison cells instead of downsizing companies. I say you give criminals just the bare essentials to live, nothing to give them the idea that life behind bars is better than life outside it. So don't hand them the death sentence, just make them more productive members of society under the watchful eye of the law.

Money & Success

2007-09-23T21:08:00.003-07:00

When you die, you can't take it with you. The Haves and Have-Nots all have the same fate, so might as well step around the trappings of greed and envy.. and have a little fun while it lasts.

Same-Sex Marriage

2007-09-23T21:08:00.001-07:00

I am all for it. Folks will cite passages from their religious texts to denounce or support it. But putting aside all religious beliefs, who are we really to prevent a loving, committed couple from wanting to marry and raise a family of their own? Contrary to how most religious leaders view homosexuality, my opinion is that there is nothing "unnatural" about it. It is a fact of nature. People are born however way they are. Furthermore they will fall in love when they do, and have the right to be happy and pursue happiness with whomever they choose. The gift of procreation is granted to both sexes.. and certainly it uniquely takes a man's sperm and a woman's egg to create life. Not everyone is cut out to father or mother a child, but there are many individuals willing to nurture children regardless of whether the children are biologically theirs or not. A child is blessed with the genes of his parents, but his character is not necessarily credited to them. And sexual orientation has nothing to do with content of character.

Love & Friendship

2007-09-23T21:07:00.001-07:00

Commitment and concern for one another. Some call it love. Some people don't do relationships, some people need the comfort of waking up next to the same person every morning. Deep inside, the qualities we look for in a partner is something that cannot be defined... has nothing to do with gender, has nothing to do with physical or intellectual attraction.. it's just something that your soul recognizes. My view is that Love, when stripped of all its various associations, in its rawest unadulterated form, is simply an Understanding. Everyone wants to be understood.. love promotes the basic human instinct of survival.

"Sexuality is fluid, whether you're gay or you're straight or you're bisexual...you just go with the flow" - Shane from L-Word.

Theory of Evolution

2007-09-23T21:06:00.003-07:00

Many religious folks denounce the Theory of Evolution because they associate it with promoting the non-belief in the existence of a god. Darwin did not use evolution to promote atheism. I feel the dude just really wanted to say that nature finds a way.. and that even the weak, if their environment allows, will find a way to survive. I find that Darwin's theory is actually quite harmonious with the idea of a Creator, and that Book of Genesis is a symbolic representation of the evolution of mankind. I think the human species is incredibly unique and so advanced compared to other species.. there is something special about us, and we can't put our finger on it... yet it boggles my mind how anyone can even try to relate us to other species on Earth. Apes are "relatives" the scientist says. Talk to me when King Kong can keep my computer from crashing.

Religion

2007-09-23T21:06:00.001-07:00

If there is an omniscient, omnipotent Being out there, who created all life.. do you really think that this deity is that insecure that it needs to be worshipped and glorified by its creations? Your relationship with your deity ought to be a private matter. Your soul knows its source, your heart beats without you telling it to, you breathe without reminding yourself to do it... so there's actually very little that you consciously do to “control” your life. Clasped hands do not put food in your belly. Fear of a god's wrath does not promote happiness. Rather, a peaceful and tolerant coexistence maximizes the human experience.

Spirituality

2007-09-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with religion. We all have this sense that there is something "out there", something we can't see, can't touch.. but is just there.. in us, around us. Unless it can be demonstrated otherwise, nothing comes from nothing... and it is in our innate curious nature to seek enlightenment.. to know more about yourself, to understand the invisible threads that bind us all, and ultimately, the source of all life.