once again, the US State Department finds itself in the awkward position of head-up-ass..
web sites targeted as terror groups..
so, this is a democracy?
who voted for that shit?
i certainly didn't... did u?
why do i seem slightly pissed off?
let me tell ya why..
cuz it says US State Department and i'm a US citizen..
sure, i may not condone every little bit that those dipshits on capital hill do,
but i've always been one to stand in their defence cuz some of them are only doing the best they can...
but when they find themselves stuck in the sphincters of their asses,
i find myself lacking the desire to show my face anywhere overseas,
cuz they've managed to paint this huge bulls-eye on my person..
(i wouldn't be surprised if larry flynt decided to spearhead the movement for free speech for internet..)
but, don't be dumb..
i'm not advocating any sort of rage fueled movements...
but i do believe in the right to free speech,
as well as the idea that if we condemn and target one aspect of speech, then it contradicts the whole concept of free speech...
October 13, 2003
September 29, 2003
my birthday recently flew by,
i say it flew cuz i would have forgotten it had it not been for my mother reminding me the day before..
although, that didn't help much, considering i just cruised through the day just like any other day...
and then it bitch-slapped me today...
from sheer boredom, i participated in an online survey…
towards the end they asked me to select the age group i belonged to..
i’ve always been in the habit of clicking on the button next to: 18-24
but i stopped myself today and realized that i can no longer do that…
i must now pick the age group: 25-30…
this bites.
i say it flew cuz i would have forgotten it had it not been for my mother reminding me the day before..
although, that didn't help much, considering i just cruised through the day just like any other day...
and then it bitch-slapped me today...
from sheer boredom, i participated in an online survey…
towards the end they asked me to select the age group i belonged to..
i’ve always been in the habit of clicking on the button next to: 18-24
but i stopped myself today and realized that i can no longer do that…
i must now pick the age group: 25-30…
this bites.
September 26, 2003
so far,
jam master jay, gregory hines, john ritter, mr rogers, bob hope,
and now robert palmer... (just to name a few..)
what is this world coming to?
great, now we're just going to be left with britney spears, justin timberlake and p.diddy..
and the riaa wonders why people keep pirating music..*bleh*
jam master jay, gregory hines, john ritter, mr rogers, bob hope,
and now robert palmer... (just to name a few..)
what is this world coming to?
great, now we're just going to be left with britney spears, justin timberlake and p.diddy..
and the riaa wonders why people keep pirating music..*bleh*
September 21, 2003
once again, another fun filled year of school will begin on monday..
and whatya know?
i gotta take more math..
not just ur stroll thru the park on a crisp autumn morning math,
but the breed that will suck ur brain cells dry and leave ur paralyzed body twitching..
yes, that's right folks: calculus...
and not just this quarter, but next quarter as well...
i guess i'm just lucky *shrug*
and whatya know?
i gotta take more math..
not just ur stroll thru the park on a crisp autumn morning math,
but the breed that will suck ur brain cells dry and leave ur paralyzed body twitching..
yes, that's right folks: calculus...
and not just this quarter, but next quarter as well...
i guess i'm just lucky *shrug*
September 16, 2003
August 27, 2003
watching the news with my dad..
a new krispy kreme has recently opened up in hillsboro...
and there were so many cars in line for the donuts,
that they had to close a major road (cornell)
dad: crazy people.. out of all the places i've been to, i think portland has the most fat people..
me: i think it's the state of the whole country...
thing is, my dad's not racist or highly judgmental.. he's just very honest..
and of course he'd never be so rude as to tell it to someone's face..
but he's got a point... where is this country headed to??
not that i support the stick-anemic-boulimic-glamour-hollywood look..
but i don't support the 400-pound-can't-walk-to-the-bathroom-much-less-sit-on-the-toilet figure...
i'm all about loving and accepting urself..
but why not be a little health conscious??
here... have some fruit
a new krispy kreme has recently opened up in hillsboro...
and there were so many cars in line for the donuts,
that they had to close a major road (cornell)
dad: crazy people.. out of all the places i've been to, i think portland has the most fat people..
me: i think it's the state of the whole country...
thing is, my dad's not racist or highly judgmental.. he's just very honest..
and of course he'd never be so rude as to tell it to someone's face..
but he's got a point... where is this country headed to??
not that i support the stick-anemic-boulimic-glamour-hollywood look..
but i don't support the 400-pound-can't-walk-to-the-bathroom-much-less-sit-on-the-toilet figure...
i'm all about loving and accepting urself..
but why not be a little health conscious??
here... have some fruit
warning: don't get twisted if u don't get it... it's meant to be an asian thing..
3 soldiers and 1 general...stranded on an island...
a german soldier, an american one, & a korean guy
the general says to the german soldier, "You! Go build a raft, so we can get off this island!"
to the american soldier, "Go scrounge up some food!"
and to the korean soldier, "Go find some supplies!!"
so they branch out to do their tasks..
after a short period of time the general starts searching for them to check on their progress...
he gets to the german as he's skillfully tying planks of wood together and he compliments, "good job! we'll get off this island in no time!"
the general and the german go searching for the american. they find him with his arms full of wild fruit. he too is complimented for a job well done.
then the three of them go searching for the korean soldier, but he cannot be found. finally, after an exhausting search the general exclaims, "where the hell is this guy?" and all of a sudden, the korean soldier jumps out of the bushes proclaiming:
"SURPRISE!!"
3 soldiers and 1 general...stranded on an island...
a german soldier, an american one, & a korean guy
the general says to the german soldier, "You! Go build a raft, so we can get off this island!"
to the american soldier, "Go scrounge up some food!"
and to the korean soldier, "Go find some supplies!!"
so they branch out to do their tasks..
after a short period of time the general starts searching for them to check on their progress...
he gets to the german as he's skillfully tying planks of wood together and he compliments, "good job! we'll get off this island in no time!"
the general and the german go searching for the american. they find him with his arms full of wild fruit. he too is complimented for a job well done.
then the three of them go searching for the korean soldier, but he cannot be found. finally, after an exhausting search the general exclaims, "where the hell is this guy?" and all of a sudden, the korean soldier jumps out of the bushes proclaiming:
"SURPRISE!!"
August 13, 2003
August 10, 2003
my two cents
pam celebrated her 110th anniversary by hosting the korean art & culture day (considering it’s also been about 100 years since koreans have immigrated to the good ‘ol usa)
while the gallery exhibition was small, it was well organized with pieces from the early dynasties to a number of contemporary pieces...
they also showed a movie call chi-hwa-seon (취화선), directed by Im Kwon-Taek (임권택), a very well known Korean director..
it was a highly artistic film based on the life of a korean painter (i wouldn’t have expected less from a cannes festival winner)...
if i could say one thing about it, they could have put a little notice somewhere before entering the theatre, cuz the movie had a couple of rather risqué scenes.. (i have to say, it was interesting watching it from my seat between my mother and my father. i swear, nowadays i have to conduct screenings before watching anything with them...)
nevertheless, we came away feeling artistically satisfied and justified~
although, i was slightly disappointed in the lack of korean people...
other than the performers and members of the korean consulate,
there was an elderly couple, a few small children with a chaperone,
a couple of korean women who were accompanied by their american friends or mate,
and then there were the american parents who brought their adopted korean children along with their good intentions of exposing them to the culture of “the land of the morning calm”...
while the majority of the korean-american population is out there working, making money...
alright. that’s a judgemental stereotypical observation, but as a 2nd generation ko-am i’ve got a few issues..
for one: our parents
they came over here and worked to the bone to make their restaurant/dry-cleaner/mini-mart successful so they could give their children the kind of opportunities that were unavailable to them as a child..
it’s not so that they could live and eat well.. it’s all for the 2nd gen (insert major guilt power here)
at the same time, they tried to bring their culture with them in a form comparable to spicy cabbage (everything they suggest in a hot tempered fashion is “good for u”)
we became their link. their translators.
at 12 yrs old: read the manual, fix the fax machine
at 15 yrs old: translate the epa documentation,
now, at 24, i balance their accounts, make sure their business licenses are renewed, and translate the news about the bank robber on channel 8.. i’m their live-in personal assistant..
which is fine! but the more we expose ourselves to the american way of life the more the contrasting aspects seem increasingly attractive (except for wearing ur shoes around the house)..
at the same time we must come home to our traditional customs..
for those of u living it, u know.. but for those who don’t, it’s difficult to explain in words..
it’s not like the boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl or our beautiful traditional dress..
asians don’t like to air their dirty laundry.. they strive to make things look perfect on the outside, while the interior decorating needs some serious feng shui harmony..
they’ll easily admit that every family has problems, but their rice-on-paper stubbornness won’t allow them to acknowledge that they are no exception..
but i’m getting off track.. again..
what i’m trying to say is that u can’t expect us to live in this country without adopting some, if not a lot, of its beliefs and dreams of freedom, honesty, and independence..
we don’t live in korea and many 2nd gen-ers don’t even know what korea is like except for what we experience at home, which usually isn’t the whole story..
don't try to wipe out everything that happened before u immigrated here..
it’s not about the good and the bad.. it’s about the history that u owe us..
there’s so much more to korea that’s beautiful, historical, and full of fire and inspiration..
for two: 2nd generation korean-americans
don’t think i was just going to let u off that easy..
we, the 2nd gen have a significant role in all of this.. we are the changing of the guards..
we will be the transforming link between our parents and the next generation..
the “when in rome, do as romans do” mentality is only about the “do” not the “know”..
we have a responsibility to actively know and share the rich culture we come from with our children, our friends, anyone willing to listen..
i’ve ceased to count the number of times a 2nd gen has told me they regret not paying attention in korean language class..
regret not being able to read or write..
recognizing a few lines of conversation is no longer enough..
“i don’t know” just doesn’t feel like the appropriate response to “what is korea like?”
in extreme cases, we end up feeling like half a person..
we live the american life but look in the mirror and see something that doesn’t look so american..
we need to dig past our parents’ “i had to walk 10 miles in rain, sleep, & snow” and get to the nitty gritty of our roots..
i admit.. i speak korean at the level of a 7th grader, my writing capabilities are even less, and don’t even start on reading..
but, i’ve tried and i’m going to keep plowing ahead..
c’mon.. we’ve got to give our kids something to look back on besides our neurotic lives..
pam celebrated her 110th anniversary by hosting the korean art & culture day (considering it’s also been about 100 years since koreans have immigrated to the good ‘ol usa)
while the gallery exhibition was small, it was well organized with pieces from the early dynasties to a number of contemporary pieces...
they also showed a movie call chi-hwa-seon (취화선), directed by Im Kwon-Taek (임권택), a very well known Korean director..
it was a highly artistic film based on the life of a korean painter (i wouldn’t have expected less from a cannes festival winner)...
if i could say one thing about it, they could have put a little notice somewhere before entering the theatre, cuz the movie had a couple of rather risqué scenes.. (i have to say, it was interesting watching it from my seat between my mother and my father. i swear, nowadays i have to conduct screenings before watching anything with them...)
nevertheless, we came away feeling artistically satisfied and justified~
although, i was slightly disappointed in the lack of korean people...
other than the performers and members of the korean consulate,
there was an elderly couple, a few small children with a chaperone,
a couple of korean women who were accompanied by their american friends or mate,
and then there were the american parents who brought their adopted korean children along with their good intentions of exposing them to the culture of “the land of the morning calm”...
while the majority of the korean-american population is out there working, making money...
alright. that’s a judgemental stereotypical observation, but as a 2nd generation ko-am i’ve got a few issues..
for one: our parents
they came over here and worked to the bone to make their restaurant/dry-cleaner/mini-mart successful so they could give their children the kind of opportunities that were unavailable to them as a child..
it’s not so that they could live and eat well.. it’s all for the 2nd gen (insert major guilt power here)
at the same time, they tried to bring their culture with them in a form comparable to spicy cabbage (everything they suggest in a hot tempered fashion is “good for u”)
we became their link. their translators.
at 12 yrs old: read the manual, fix the fax machine
at 15 yrs old: translate the epa documentation,
now, at 24, i balance their accounts, make sure their business licenses are renewed, and translate the news about the bank robber on channel 8.. i’m their live-in personal assistant..
which is fine! but the more we expose ourselves to the american way of life the more the contrasting aspects seem increasingly attractive (except for wearing ur shoes around the house)..
at the same time we must come home to our traditional customs..
for those of u living it, u know.. but for those who don’t, it’s difficult to explain in words..
it’s not like the boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl or our beautiful traditional dress..
asians don’t like to air their dirty laundry.. they strive to make things look perfect on the outside, while the interior decorating needs some serious feng shui harmony..
they’ll easily admit that every family has problems, but their rice-on-paper stubbornness won’t allow them to acknowledge that they are no exception..
but i’m getting off track.. again..
what i’m trying to say is that u can’t expect us to live in this country without adopting some, if not a lot, of its beliefs and dreams of freedom, honesty, and independence..
we don’t live in korea and many 2nd gen-ers don’t even know what korea is like except for what we experience at home, which usually isn’t the whole story..
don't try to wipe out everything that happened before u immigrated here..
it’s not about the good and the bad.. it’s about the history that u owe us..
there’s so much more to korea that’s beautiful, historical, and full of fire and inspiration..
for two: 2nd generation korean-americans
don’t think i was just going to let u off that easy..
we, the 2nd gen have a significant role in all of this.. we are the changing of the guards..
we will be the transforming link between our parents and the next generation..
the “when in rome, do as romans do” mentality is only about the “do” not the “know”..
we have a responsibility to actively know and share the rich culture we come from with our children, our friends, anyone willing to listen..
i’ve ceased to count the number of times a 2nd gen has told me they regret not paying attention in korean language class..
regret not being able to read or write..
recognizing a few lines of conversation is no longer enough..
“i don’t know” just doesn’t feel like the appropriate response to “what is korea like?”
in extreme cases, we end up feeling like half a person..
we live the american life but look in the mirror and see something that doesn’t look so american..
we need to dig past our parents’ “i had to walk 10 miles in rain, sleep, & snow” and get to the nitty gritty of our roots..
i admit.. i speak korean at the level of a 7th grader, my writing capabilities are even less, and don’t even start on reading..
but, i’ve tried and i’m going to keep plowing ahead..
c’mon.. we’ve got to give our kids something to look back on besides our neurotic lives..
August 08, 2003
finally! it rains! rain, glorious rain!
this isn’t ur ordinary 5 minute trickle…
this is the full blown
i-come-in-the-middle-of-the-night,
indian rain dance (feathers, not dots),
can’t see shit while i’m driving,
singing in the rain,
musical pitter patter,
stay inside with a warm cup of tea or soup & curl up with a good book,
slip on them galoshes and jump into the biggest puddle u can find,
open wide and tilt ur head back
rain.
now, say that in one breath.
this isn’t ur ordinary 5 minute trickle…
this is the full blown
i-come-in-the-middle-of-the-night,
indian rain dance (feathers, not dots),
can’t see shit while i’m driving,
singing in the rain,
musical pitter patter,
stay inside with a warm cup of tea or soup & curl up with a good book,
slip on them galoshes and jump into the biggest puddle u can find,
open wide and tilt ur head back
rain.
now, say that in one breath.
July 23, 2003
i enjoy a good trek to my local public library..
and just like the bus,
u meet all sorts of interesting, annoying, and frightning characters there...
one may also encounter odors that stimulate the olfactory organs in ways inconceivable..
the geek computer books are neatly situated in the last row of the non-fiction section..
in the space after this last row sits 2 rows of computers,
which visually makes this area seem a bit crowded..
about 6 feet from the end of the row of 'puters are a couple of chairs... i sat down to browse a few books...
when suddenly, i *sniff sniff* noticed a pungently sickly sweet aroma..
i looked up and along comes a man who throws down his backpack and sits down in front of one of the empty terminals..
(notice, i could smell him before he came into plain view)
to describe this man, i ask u to visualize pigpen from charlie brown..
only he's probably older than 40 (i couldn't really tell from the thick layer of soot and dirt)...
as i'm regaining consciousness..
(i'll put it this way: standing next to a full dumpster smells better than this guy...)
two ladies approach the empty terminal next to mr. pigpen..
and i was hoping that in blocking my view of him, they'd somehow deter the odor from knocking me out again...
but the current from the a.c. blew the stench through them straight to me...
somehow i forced myself to stand up and leave...
and now that i think about mr. pigpen, i wonder if he was homeless...
u just don't see too many homeless guys browsing the net...
but if i were to see him again, i'd want to be equipped with a gas mask...odor-rific!
and just like the bus,
u meet all sorts of interesting, annoying, and frightning characters there...
one may also encounter odors that stimulate the olfactory organs in ways inconceivable..
the geek computer books are neatly situated in the last row of the non-fiction section..
in the space after this last row sits 2 rows of computers,
which visually makes this area seem a bit crowded..
about 6 feet from the end of the row of 'puters are a couple of chairs... i sat down to browse a few books...
when suddenly, i *sniff sniff* noticed a pungently sickly sweet aroma..
i looked up and along comes a man who throws down his backpack and sits down in front of one of the empty terminals..
(notice, i could smell him before he came into plain view)
to describe this man, i ask u to visualize pigpen from charlie brown..
only he's probably older than 40 (i couldn't really tell from the thick layer of soot and dirt)...
as i'm regaining consciousness..
(i'll put it this way: standing next to a full dumpster smells better than this guy...)
two ladies approach the empty terminal next to mr. pigpen..
and i was hoping that in blocking my view of him, they'd somehow deter the odor from knocking me out again...
but the current from the a.c. blew the stench through them straight to me...
somehow i forced myself to stand up and leave...
and now that i think about mr. pigpen, i wonder if he was homeless...
u just don't see too many homeless guys browsing the net...
but if i were to see him again, i'd want to be equipped with a gas mask...odor-rific!
July 21, 2003
i was at this little thrift store today, like goodwill..
(apparantly sponsored by the salvation army)
anywho...
i was looking for something my mom wanted me to look for...
and ended up browsing books next to a mom and her little boy of about 7 maybe 8 years?
he was an animated, curious, expressive, happy little boy,
(not at all ur bouncing-off-the-wall ritalin kid)...
he was saying things like
"hmmm, wut books can i look at.."
"where are the kids' books?"
"oh, here they are!"
" *gasp* mom, i've never read this berenstain book before! i don't think we have this at home!"
"do you think we can buy this? how much does it cost?"
when kids start going into question mode, i find myself annoyed and impatient...
but surprisingly enough, his tone of curiosity mixed in with pure childlike honesty was comforting and could make me forget about the 90 degree weather and saddam hussein...
meanwhile, a young 30-something dad comes from the clothes rack with a terry cloth multi-colored robe...
dad: here, try this on..
son: wut is it? where's the dressing room?
dad: u don't need a dressing room..
son: (starts to remove his clothing)
dad: u don't need to take ur clothes off, u can try it on over ur clothes...
son: oh, well, wut is this?
dad: it's a robe..
son: a robe? oh!! i can wear this in the rain!! i can wear this in the rain, right?
dad: u wear it after u get out of the shower, so u don't run around naked all the time, dude...
son: (puts the hood over his head) i can use this to dry my hair! cool! i won't need a towel!.....
i felt like an anthropologist observing homo functional-familia at their best...
and i wanted to walk over to them, give them hugs, and tell them wut a great job they were doing...
but i decided not to...
as an anthropologist one should observe without seeking to change or disturb the environment...
so instead, i just smiled and walked away knowing the world isn't so bad.....
(apparantly sponsored by the salvation army)
anywho...
i was looking for something my mom wanted me to look for...
and ended up browsing books next to a mom and her little boy of about 7 maybe 8 years?
he was an animated, curious, expressive, happy little boy,
(not at all ur bouncing-off-the-wall ritalin kid)...
he was saying things like
"hmmm, wut books can i look at.."
"where are the kids' books?"
"oh, here they are!"
" *gasp* mom, i've never read this berenstain book before! i don't think we have this at home!"
"do you think we can buy this? how much does it cost?"
when kids start going into question mode, i find myself annoyed and impatient...
but surprisingly enough, his tone of curiosity mixed in with pure childlike honesty was comforting and could make me forget about the 90 degree weather and saddam hussein...
meanwhile, a young 30-something dad comes from the clothes rack with a terry cloth multi-colored robe...
dad: here, try this on..
son: wut is it? where's the dressing room?
dad: u don't need a dressing room..
son: (starts to remove his clothing)
dad: u don't need to take ur clothes off, u can try it on over ur clothes...
son: oh, well, wut is this?
dad: it's a robe..
son: a robe? oh!! i can wear this in the rain!! i can wear this in the rain, right?
dad: u wear it after u get out of the shower, so u don't run around naked all the time, dude...
son: (puts the hood over his head) i can use this to dry my hair! cool! i won't need a towel!.....
i felt like an anthropologist observing homo functional-familia at their best...
and i wanted to walk over to them, give them hugs, and tell them wut a great job they were doing...
but i decided not to...
as an anthropologist one should observe without seeking to change or disturb the environment...
so instead, i just smiled and walked away knowing the world isn't so bad.....
July 19, 2003
i saw finding nemo tonight...
no, i won't write some rave review telling u to go and see it...
but i'll just say this: i love pixar.
and this... think dirty thoughts...
no, i won't write some rave review telling u to go and see it...
but i'll just say this: i love pixar.
and this... think dirty thoughts...
July 17, 2003
"how are you?" has become such an inane question..
now we say it just to be moderately polite...
it has merged with "hello" and morphed into "hellohowru"..
it's not even a question anymore..
for several years now, whenever people asked me that question,
i would reply, "well, i'm alive.."
i refused to return the "fineandu?"..
cuz: 1. i'd be lying... and 2. i didn't really give a rat's behind how the other person was...
today when i was asked .. "how are u?",
for the first time in decades, i responded with, "i'm happy"...
not like instant ramen...which one could eat faster than it was made...
but all-day-feel-good-do-good-joy... even if my day has gone awry..
the kind that lasts until the next day and drools over to the following week...
and now that i've had a taste of what true happiness could be like..
i don't want to settle for anything less...
i don't want to go back to just breathing...
i want to inhale life...
now we say it just to be moderately polite...
it has merged with "hello" and morphed into "hellohowru"..
it's not even a question anymore..
for several years now, whenever people asked me that question,
i would reply, "well, i'm alive.."
i refused to return the "fineandu?"..
cuz: 1. i'd be lying... and 2. i didn't really give a rat's behind how the other person was...
today when i was asked .. "how are u?",
for the first time in decades, i responded with, "i'm happy"...
not like instant ramen...which one could eat faster than it was made...
but all-day-feel-good-do-good-joy... even if my day has gone awry..
the kind that lasts until the next day and drools over to the following week...
and now that i've had a taste of what true happiness could be like..
i don't want to settle for anything less...
i don't want to go back to just breathing...
i want to inhale life...
July 12, 2003
today i made a contribution to the community & to my life..
i went downtown, viewed the neato sand sculptures,
made a monetary donation to kids on the block, and had a spicy dog..
and what's more, i did all this with my mother...
all i can say is that i'm still alive & sanity intact..
it's all still very surreal...
... the waking dream....
on a funny note, here's a tidbit of what transpired today:
me: so, where's dad?
mom: (sic) to hit the ball... (that means golf)
me: (no response)
mom: (sing-song voice, getting louder) to hit the ball~~~
random guys sitting on the wall surrounding pioneer square: to hit the bong???
me: (thinking to myself, just keep walking)
luckily she thought they were repeating her,
so i didn't have to lie and say i didn't know what a bong is...
i went downtown, viewed the neato sand sculptures,
made a monetary donation to kids on the block, and had a spicy dog..
and what's more, i did all this with my mother...
all i can say is that i'm still alive & sanity intact..
it's all still very surreal...
... the waking dream....
on a funny note, here's a tidbit of what transpired today:
me: so, where's dad?
mom: (sic) to hit the ball... (that means golf)
me: (no response)
mom: (sing-song voice, getting louder) to hit the ball~~~
random guys sitting on the wall surrounding pioneer square: to hit the bong???
me: (thinking to myself, just keep walking)
luckily she thought they were repeating her,
so i didn't have to lie and say i didn't know what a bong is...
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