Made in Japan, Outsourced Globally

Dainty women dissect their vegetables to million pieces, careful not to smudge their lipstick when their forks carry the food into their pretty mouths. The men hold open the doors, gracefully ushering in the ladies. Children wait for the nod of approval before reaching for that shortbread cookie.

“Don’t…” she says. The simple string of words is all it takes to shut down the voltage of consciousness. Doubt seeps in. Then, a shifty silence.

Cuffs of civilization suffocate the wild and unsophisticated emotions. Tip toe-ing on eggshells. Leave no trails behind. Wash behind your ears. Don’t chew with your mouth open. Say ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me.’

Years of carefully studied conventions pave a solid path. A safe one, at that. Don’t fall off, or you’ll break your back. Throw in some rolled eyes and disgruntled sighs to complete the symptoms. How chained we have become to the Do’s and Don’ts and Don’ts and Don’ts of life.

The wisdom is mostly beyond me, as I choose sincerity and candidness over trying to be what I’m not. Just trying to have a good time while I last here on Earth.

There's a first time for everyone. I happened to go to my very first Rennaisance Faire this past weekend.

It wasn't quite what I expected... but that might have had to do with the fact that this year's theme was pirates and that this weekend was the Scottish Highland weekend (meaning, lots & lots of kilts, oh my!)


Good ol' sword-fighting comedic banter between the two Spaniards.



Human Chess Game - a tournament between England's Sir Francis Drake and the Irish (female) pirate Grace O'Malley clan over the booty of Spanish silver. It's a life-size match of chess that breaks out into battle when the pieces collide. Awesome.

Queen Elizabeth I presided as the judge of the game. God Save the Queen! - haha.


Now, I don't quite understand the connection between Medival times and rednecks, but there was a redneck mud wrestling show at the fair. They don't have a family tree - they have a family wreath.

'I'm in looooove with you. But you gotta fight my uncle/brother/cousin Melvin first to be with me!'


Hanson (the blondie) jumps on top of one of the guys in a sitting position.

These knife jugglig, fire juggling, body-bending acrobats were truly amazing. Probably the best show there.

The funny thing happened at the fair... in one of their shows, an audience went up to the stage with a girl, and he proposed to her (in song) while the trio juggled fire torches around them. Um... romantic...sort of...?

So, Naaz has this thing about global postcarding, and I say, "that's a great idea!"

If anybody would like to have a postcard from Pennsylvania, USA please leave the following in the comment section:

- Name
- Mailing Address
- Your favorite line from Zoolander

As an added bonus, I promise some sort of my original illustration on the card and an animal fact of the day. It will be special, oh yes it will...

Head Orgasmatron

I don't think that's what it's really called, but hey, it works. I just remember when Vishen and Courtney were getting a kick out of this contraption they bought at Haight/Ashbury. And then Vishen put it in the freezer for the 'extra chilling effect' - silly Malaysian...

Tunak Tunak.

I was looking through an old friend's website, and found this.

The Last Dining Commons Meal

Thanks to Jim for rendering the background. From left to right, the participants are: Alex, Arianne, Garrett, Saki, Danny, Carla, Joyce, Mike, Lorrie, Jim, Andrew, Danielle, and Amy. The Big C is visible through the windows in the back. (see this page for larger images)

... and the original.


I just think it's funny how Joyce got to be Jesus.

Music: Chick Habit (oh yes, Peter, I stole it from you, oh yes)
Stomach: Gluttoned with mediocre sushi
Thinking in: French (although never ever learned the language). It’s the music.
Marital status: Dreaming of becoming an 80-year-old spinster with 102 cats
Hand check: On the keyboard

I’m here but not here. A gauze veils over the cornea, creating a curtain between the outside world and the mind. Hibernation. Shut-down. You many now turn off your computer. A slow, painless death.

I could care less of the physical world – the soul has its own pathos, making a rift between the mind and body: like day-old grease with lard sinking at the bottom and a pool of oil drifting at top.

I need to feel alive. I’m happy but not exhilarated. Placid contentment is killing me – yes, Lester Burnham. I’m waiting for that breath of fresh air after holding my breath underwater till the last wind.

Oh well. Que sera sera...

Well, the title has nothing to do with what I'm about to unravel. (But seriously, how many @ers did I have thinking, or even humming, that song now? Be honest.)

Last night I watched Xiu Xiu, the Sent Down Girl. I don't think I've been this depressed since watching Bjork's Dancer in the Dark. Well, the Bjork movie was tragic for two things: the acting (or the lack thereof) and the premise that this poor immigrant woman is becoming blind, taken advantage of sexually and financially by her neighbor, and her life is basically falling apart. Half way through the movie, I wanted to gouge my eyes out and repress suicidal tendencies (well, not really - BeeLee and I were rochambaux-ing to see who should put her out of misery).

In any case, the Chinese Cultural Revolution screwed Wen Xiu very badly (literally and figuratively). Loss of innocense and dramatic irony makes me very queasy, but I couldn't take my eyes away. As the reeducation movements spread to the outskirts of China and there were fewer order and watchful eyes, the more chaotic and lawless the movement became. Kids bossing adults around (some children denouncing and blacklisting their own parents). Prominent cadres swindling riches from the middle-class in the name of Chairman Mao. Soldiers and bureaucrats raping the youth force who couldn't get back to the cities - the theme of Xiu Xiu. It boggles my mind and shocks me to the core.

I think the modern Chinese Revolution stands out more than other historical violence in my mind, because it was a movement so ideologically pure and psychological - yet, it metamorphosed into a beast that even the creator couldn't comprehend nor control. Poor is good, rich is bad. Good blood, bad blood. Be Red and expert. Blooming of 1,000 thoughts (and then the culling of the intellectuals). Blank is better.

On a much lighter note, I packed my hair in mayonaise last night. I scared my roommate (who wouldn't be to see a crazy Asian in the kitchen with mayo gelled into her hair and an Erica Ba-don't saran wrap around the head?). But the result is quite amazing. Thanks a million to the gay hair stylist - why buy a $40 hair treatment set when you can get a $4 mayo jar and have your sandwich too?

This is number one, the story's just begun...

Couldn't help it - it was such a pleasant surprise to see Scott and Kate's face on Sheila's rotating photos from Beijing. Nice little (berkeley/bay area) reunion guys - wish I was there.

are everywhere. Apparently, a dangerous conflict zone even becomes a tourism destination spot for the Japanese.

Doctors say two bodies found in southern Afghanistan on Thursday are those of missing Japanese tourists.

They had apparently entered the country from Pakistan to go sightseeing, Japanese diplomatic sources said.

Is it indiscriminate bravery or naive ignorance??? I'm just shaking my head.

I filled up my gas yesterday afternoon - $3.18/gallon
Ari told me that he filled at 7:30am - $2.89/gallon

What is going on???