Drink Recommendations

I've been drinking Ketel One screwdrivers for years now. Can anybody suggest a new drink?

The Chinese Zodiac: Dragón

Growing up, my relatives and family friends were always asking me in which year I was born. I would tell them and inevitably they would say, "Ahhh, tiger...hmm." It was a very ambiguous reaction. On the other hand, from the little I knew, I sensed that that being born in the year of the dragon was definitely a positive thing. In poking around for this entry, I found out that, yes, being a dragon is desirable.

1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
In many parts of Asia people actually try to have children in the year of the dragon. In China, the dragon is considered a powerful but benevolent creature. It is not the fire-breathing menace to society as in Western society. In the East, the dragon is almost like a God, hence the incorporation of the dragon in the Lunar New Year's celebrations. In fact, I caught a part of "Quest for Dragons" on the History Channel and learned that the Chinese and Native Americans have surprisingly similar views on dragons-- both cultures respect the dragon and see it as a god of rain and the bringer of prosperity. The dragon occupies a very important postion in Chinese (and Asian) mythology. It shows up in history, architecture, art, literature, religion and music. In fact, according to Vietnamese mythology, the Vietnamese are descendants of the dragon.

The earliest traditions of the Vietnamese people...are associated with the Hung kings who ruled the kingdom of Van-lang. The Hung kings claimed descent from Lac Long Quan, "Lac Dragon Lord," a hero who came to the Hong River plain in what is now northern Vietnam from his home in the sea; he subdued all evil demons in the land and civilized the people, teaching them to cultivate rice and to wear clothes. Lac Long Quan returned to the sea after instructing the people to call on him if they were ever in distress. Eventually, a monarch from the north, China, entered the land and, finding it without a king, claimed it for himself. When the people cried out to Lac Long Quan for deliverance from this alien ruler, he heard them and came back from the sea; he kidnapped Au Co, the wife of the intruder, and took her to the top of Mount Tan-vien, which overlooks the Hong River as it enters the plains. Failing to retrieve his wife, the northern king departed in despair. Au Co eventually gave birth to the first of the Hung kings, and Lac Long Quan returned to his home in the sea after again promising to return if needed. Lac Long Quan, a prince of the sea, and Au Co, a princess of the mountains, are regarded by the Vietnamese as the progenitors of their race."

From Keith Weller Taylor's The Birth of Vietnam.
If that ain't enough, how's this personal characteristics:

The Dragon is one of the most powerful and lucky Signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Its warm heart makes the Dragon's brash, fiery energy far more palatable. This is a giving, intelligent and tenacious Sign that knows exactly what it wants and is determined to get it. Dragons possess a certain natural, charming charisma that ensures they can always influence their peers and often find themselves the center of attention in social situations. This Sign is truly blessed, too; Dragons are considered to be very lucky in love! The Dragon's friends are always keen to hear what this firebrand has to say and when it comes to dispensing advice, the Dragon has the floor.

Its ego can get in the Dragon's way, but even so, this larger-than-life creature has a knack for initiating projects and keeping the troops motivated. According to Dragons, it's their natural born right to lead the way -- because who else could do it so surely and so well? As lucky as they are, Dragons have a good chance of achieving considerable material wealth during their lifetimes, although it isn't mere money that's this Sign's main motivation. Power is what the Dragon wants and truly believes it deserves. Dragons are quite the opportunists, forever searching for ways in which to consolidate their considerable power. Contrary to all this strength and fire, a weakened Dragon is a sad sack, a creature that refuses to take defeat with even a modicum of grace.

The role of leader is the only one the Dragon wants, the better from which to give orders and be king of the hill. They make solid leaders, too, knowing instinctively what needs to be done to stay on top. Crossing the Dragon is never a good idea -- this beast can singe! A valuable life lesson for this clever creature would be to absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons from living their lives to the fullest. If Dragons can learn to balance their quest for success with an appreciation for the little things, their life will be more than worthwhile.

From here.

Supposedly, dragons are compatible with rats and monkeys, but should avoid oxen, rabbits, dogs and other dragons. You dragons out there are in very good company (surprise surprise). Famous dragons include Joan of Arc, Julius Caesar, Abe Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Charles Darwin, Pelé, Ronaldo, Bruce Lee, Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Reese Witherspoon and a gaggle of Lord of the Rings folks (Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis).

The Chinese Zodiac: The Goat (or Sheep)

1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991

People born in the Year of the Sheep supposedly are elegant and highly accomplished in the arts. They seem to be, at first glance, better off than those born in the zodiac's other years. But Sheep year people are often shy, pessimistic, and puzzled about life. They are usually deeply religious, yet timid by nature. Sometimes clumsy in speech, they are always passionate about what they do and what they believe in. Sheep people never have to worry about having the best in life for their abilities make money for them, and they are able to enjoy the creature comforts that they like.

Sheep people are wise, gentle, and compassionate. They are considered compatible with Rabbits, Pigs, and Horses. A Sheep will prefer to forget grievances rather than brood over them and will keep any resentment tightly under control in order maintain peace and prosperity among the group. Sheep live in the present, which they attempt to enjoy to the best of their abilities. Thanks to their sensitive natures, Sheep are the most creative and expressive of all the Signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

From Wiki.

Famous sheep include Michelangelo, Mel Gibson, Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun Fat, Kurt Cobain, John Kerry, Joni Mitchell, Marcel Proust, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

More Lost Off-Screen

It's not just Michelle Rodriguez whose off-screen life is making news. Apparently, Naveen Andrews (the guy who plays Sayid on Lost) fathered a child while on a brief breakup from longtime girlfriend Barbara Hershey. He and Hershey have since reconciled and have managed to get through this.

I'm not going to make this a gossip column about Lost (other than the occasional anti-Michelle Rodriguez posts), so I will not mention this again. Suffice to say that if Naveen were dating Michelle, Michelle would've shot his ass.

The hump day treat this week is that ABC will be showing two new episodes of Lost back-to-back. Yow!

The Chinese Zodiac: Le Tigre

The internet has all sorts of sites devoted to the animals in the Chinese zodiac, some sillier than others. I've looked at a few of them and there is a commonality in their descriptions of the tiger. Generally, tigers are intelligent, passionate, impetuous. They are often magnetic, daring and stubborn-- characterics that make them likely to be leaders. At the same time, they like their solitude and are short-tempered and suspicious.

1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
Here is a more detailed description:

Tigers may not be the king of the jungle, but these striped cats are no softies! Magnetic and self-possessed, Tigers are born leaders. They have an air of authority that prompts others to fall in line, which is exactly how they like it. Although they are magnetically charming and fun to be around, Tigers like to go it alone sometimes too. A Tiger's main interest is in following its ambitions -- and maintaining control.

Tigers are courageous beyond compare and generally come out ahead in battle, be it in the boardroom or the bedroom. Seduction is one area where the Tiger is definitely king! Noble and warm-hearted, Tigers have a natural, raw appeal that's extremely attractive to other Signs. They're not just about attraction, though; ever on the side of right, Tigers will fight the good fight to the bitter end if the cause is worthy. Opponents are wise to fear this feline.

A bit of caution is a good thing around Tigers, since they can pounce without warning. They experience mood swings and often feel things more intensely than others, the latter quality being both good and bad. They can react poorly under stress and are prone to emotional outbursts. This Sign's bristling sensitivity can send friend and foe running for cover.

A lesson that Tigers would be well-served to learn is "moderation in all things." Once these cats can find their center and direct their considerable energies toward worthwhile endeavors (as opposed to racing through life), they will accomplish much.

From this astrology site.

Tigers are most compatible with dogs and horses and least compatible with oxen and sheep. A tiger/tiger pairing is difficult and generally not recommended.

Famous tigers include Stevie Wonder, Leonardo DiCaprio, Steve Irwin (the crocodile guy), Stephen Chow (the Kung Fu Hustle guy), Marilyn Monroe, Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, Mel Brooks and crazy Tom Cruise.

The Chinese Zodiac

Although it's only January 6th, it's almost time for the new year-- Chinese New Year, that is. Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year) begins on January 29th this year. It is the most important holiday in China, indeed in much of Asia. Vietnamese, Koreans, Mongolians and other cultures influenced by the Chinese celebrate this day. The Lunar New Year, or Tết as it is called in Vietnam, is hands down the biggest holiday in Vietnam. Vietnamese typically take an entire month off to spend time with family and prepare for the celebrations. I'll devote another entry to Tết later in the month, but I want to look into a most interesting aspect of the New Year's phenomenon: the Chinese Zodiac.

There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, each animal representing a year in a 12-year cycle. The 12 animal signs are, in order: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (cat in Vietnam), dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster, dog and pig (wild boar in Japan). But the animal stuff doesn't end there. Each month has an animal attributed to it (e.g., January being the rat, December being the pig), as well as each hour of the day (e.g., 11pm-1am being the rat, 9pm to 11pm being the pig (Beijing local time)). If that weren't complicated enough, Chinese astrology draws on the position/interaction of natural phemonena. Natural phenomena are grouped into five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Metal (Gold) and Earth. Taken together, these factors make for 8,640 combinations (5 elements, 12 animals, 12 months, 12 times of day). According to Chinese astrology, it is the position of these five elements and the zodiac sign at the time of your birth that determines your destiny.

All this explains why when you go to a Chinese fortune teller, all you need to him is your date and time of birth. I, for one, can tell you that Chinese fortune tellers can be uncanny. My dad gave my date and time of birth to a very good fortune teller a few years back and, so far, his reading has been spot on. My dad, a real skeptic, had a reading back in the early 70s, which has proved to be too true to be believed.

We are now nearing the end of the year of the rooster. January 29th will mark the beginning of the year of the dog. I'd like to profile each of the 12 animals before the Lunar New Year, but that's pretty ambitious and I may lose interest after a couple animals. Instead, I'll start with the tiger, which happens to be my birth year. To find out your year, click here.

Pee-Yew!!!

Not a week goes by that I don't smell a skunk around our house. Who woulda thunk there'd be so many skunks in LA? Mr. Octopus even saw one running along our driveway. The horror! What is a skunk anyway? Some sort of rodent? Let's consult Wiki.

Skunks are mammals. There are 11 species of skunks, two of which live in Indonesia and the Philippines and remaining nine in the Americas. Although most commonly black and white, skunks also come in brown, gray or cream. They all have stipes though.

Skunks are omnivorous, although they mostly eat meat. They eat everything from plants and insects to rodents, lizards, snakes and eggs. In urban areas, they eat a lot of garbage. Skunks are nocturnal and have very good senses of smell and hearing. However, they have very bad eyesight, which is part of the reason why they often end up as roadkill.

And oh the smell. Skunkies have two glands, on either side of the anus, and can spray with high accuracy up to 10 feet away. Most predators in the U.S. (wolves, badgers, foxes) are afraid of getting sprayed, except for the Great Horned Owl (how scary would it be to see an owl carry away a skunk). Skunks can run out of their stink, so they spray very sparingly. From Wiki:

Because skunks have only enough scent for 5 or 6 "reloads" —about 1 tablespoon (15 grams)—and take a couple of days to refill their scent glands, they are reluctant to expend their "ammunition". This is presumably why skunks have such bold black and white colouring: to ensure they are as visible and as memorable as possible. Where practical, it is to a skunk's advantage to simply warn a threatening creature off without expending scent: the black and white warning colour aside, threatened skunks will go through an elaborate routine of hisses and foot stamping and tail-high threat postures before expelling a shower of scent.

What a fascinating creature!

Where Did You Go, Madge? Part 3

Because I can't stop myself. Here's my Top 5 Madonna videos. In going over them in my head, I realized just how derivative her videos are, but I guess that's part of the fun. I promise this is the last of her for the foreseeable future.

5. Like a Prayer (1989)

4. Ray of Light (1998)

3. Material Girl (1984)

2. Papa Don't Preach (1986)

1. Vogue (1990)

Where Did You Go, Madge? Part 2

Because my previous Top 10 list doesn't do Madge justice, here is my top 20. I think this covers almost all the gems, although I'm sure it's not without controversy.

20. Ray of Light
19. Rain
18. Rescue Me
17. Take a Bow
16. Music
15. Material Girl
14. Into the Groove
13. Vogue
12. Express Yourself
11. Crazy for You

10. Like a Prayer
9. Dear Jessie
8. Dress You Up
7. Burning Up
6. Like a Virgin
5. La Isla Bonita
4. Causing a Commotion
3. Borderline
2. Everybody
1. Holiday

Where Did You Go, Madge?

It used to be that I would buy the new Madonna album the week it came out. I have all of her albums (except for compilations), even the recent one with the awful James Bond song. But her new album hasn't even hit the radar screen. I don't know what it's called and I'm not planning on getting it. I'm sure most of you outgrew Lady Madge in the 90s, or even the 80s, or perhaps never liked her. But she was huge for me. I finally got to see her at Madison Square Garden in 2003 on her Reinvention Tour and what a thrill it was (floor seats and champagne!!!). It was the most awesome show I'd ever seen in my life. (That is, until I saw Prince the following month, but I'll save him for another day.)

Despite her recent subpar albums, I was reminded of how great she was when I heard "Everybody" on the radio the other day. So here are my top 10 Madonna songs. It's hard to do a Top 10 for her, but here it is, just for kicks. These all happen to be pre-Immaculate Collection.

10. Like a Prayer
9. Dear Jessie
8. Dress You Up
7. Burning Up
6. Like a Virgin
5. La Isla Bonita
4. Causing a Commotion
3. Borderline
2. Everybody
1. Holiday

Lost for 2006

It seems appropriate that my first entry of the new year be about Lost. Those bastards over at ABC have been feeding us reruns for the last four weeks. But just as the frustrated viewers, like myself, were beginning to mobilize, good old ABC tells us that a new episode will be airing in a couple weeks. Entitled "Revelations," the episode is supposed to answer all our questions. We'll see about that. Here are some questions I have.

~ What happened to Desmond?
~ What happened to Jack's dad's coffin?
~ What happened to Jack's marriage?
~ Who's the creepy Asian guy on the film?
~ What's the "island security?"
~ Where did the polar bear come from?
~ What's the "sickness" that plagued Rousseau's team?
~ Why do the Others take children?
~ Are the Others supernatural?

Bizarre Car Flip

This afternoon I had lunch at Jake's Diner on Colorado Street in Old Town Pasadena. It was a sunny day, with a lot of pedestrians shopping along Colorado. I had just ordered a cheeseburger when there was the sound of a car accident right outside. The waitresses, cooks and patrons turned towards the street just as a black Nissan Sentra was flipping in front of the restaurant. Gasps and disbelief. As the car settled upside down in the middle of the street, people gathered on the sidewalk to stare. The driver of the car was an old, balding man and he was hanging upside down on his head. He must've been wearing his seat because he was still sitting in the driver's seat.

A few people rushed to the side of the car to see if he was okay, but most folks stood on the sidewalk, staring in curiosity and shock or taking pictures with their cell phones and calling 911. The fire trucks and police cars came within a few minutes. I was one of those who had rushed outside.

When my food arrived, I went back to my stool, dipped my fries in mustard, took a bite of my burger and sat there stunned. I listened to the chatter in the restaurant. Everyone was wondering how a car could flip like that on Colorado, where the traffic doesn't move fast. The car looked like it had flipped forward (over the hood), as opposed to rolling over its side, which made it more baffling. I overheard some people saying that the car had hit a pickup truck (or maybe the truck had hit the car). Still, that doesn't make sense. How does a car going less than 35 mph manage to flip? It was a strange meal indeed.

Anyways, I know that's a weird way to end the year. Car accidents happen all the time here. Just turn on the radio and there are regular reports of freeways being jammed up because of collisions, overturned trucks, stalled cars. But to see something for yourself is bizarre...

I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year's Eve. Stay warm and see you in the new year!

Another Good TV Show

As much as I'm tempted to blog about Lost, I think it's time to shine a light on another show: Everybody Hates Chris. I've only seen four episodes so far, but each one has been good. Set in 1982, it's loosely based on Chris Rock's life growing up in Bed Stuy. It's funny and cute, but not in a goody goody Cosby Show way. Check it out if you're home on Thursday nights.

Motorized Skateboards

I saw some dude cruising down Los Feliz Boulevard on one of these things today. He wasn't going fast enough to create a blur, but it was interesting nonetheless. I can't imagine that these things are more fun than normal skateboards. How are you supposed to jump and flip your board over? Is there a button for the sliding-down-railings move?

For the Hip Parent: Violet Magazine

I picked up Violet at the magazine shop in my office building. Started my Charles Mingus' daughter and based in LA, its tagline is "Modern Family Living - You've Grown Up But You Haven't Grown Old." It's an ok magazine, nice to look at and with that non-glossy appeal. I suppose it fills the niche of well-to-do women and young moms who want an indie alternative to the current family and wifely magazines. A little fashion, a little celebrity, a little child-rearing advice. Hip parents profiled so far include Kirsty Hume and Donovan Leitch (left), Juliette Binoche, Laird Hamilton and Debi Mazar. Who says you can't have kids and still be cool? I just saw it in Barnes & Noble, so I guess it's catching on.

A UC Controversy

The University of California has offended some folks again. This time it's college applicants from religious high schools-- namely schools that don't teach evolution. Students from the Calvary Chapel Christian School near LA are not getting credit for their biology class in part because their text book, "Biology for Christian Schools" (published by Bob Jones University Press), says this:

"The people who have prepared this book have tried consistently to put the Word of God first and science second. To the best of the author's knowledge, the conclusions drawn from observable facts that are presented in this book agree with the Scriptures. If a mistake has been made (which is probable since this book was prepared by humans) and at any point God's Word is not put first, the author apologises."

UC argues that schools using this textbook as the primary teaching tool do not meet the admission standards to receive biology credit. The textbook does not "reflect knowledge generally accepted in the scientific and educational communities and with which a student at the university level should be conversant." As a result, the Association of Christian Schools Internation (ACSI), the Calvary Chapel Schools and six Calvary Chapel students are suing UC for "viewpoint discrimination." UC denies discrimination and says that if the textbooks were supplementary, rather than primary, then the classes would likely meet admission standards. UC argues that it has a right to set its own academic requirements. For more, see the recent article in The Economist.

It's not just Christian schools that don't teach evolution. Shockingly, there was a biology teacher at my public high school in Orange County who refused to teach evolution. Coincidentally, that teacher was also the advisor for the Bible Study club. He still teaches biology class and, yes, he still skips the evolution chapter. A friend whose brother just graduated from my high school says that the teacher's explanation for not teaching evolution is that he doesn't want to offend those who don't believe in it.

The recent intelligent design case in Pennsylvania has overshadowed the UC case, but I have a feeling that this case will get press soon enough. Religious issues aside, shouldn't universities (public, not just private) be able to determine what it believes are the appropriate academic standards for admission?

Loco for Gocco

I took a Gocco class at Paper Source and enjoyed it so much that I ran out and bought a Gocco. I say "ran" (or more like "drove fast") because Riso, the manufacturer, is discontinuing the Gocco. I went to one of the few places in LA to carry them, the Blue Rooster at Vermont and Hollywood.

For those of you who don't know Gocco (I didn't until the other day), it's a small, portable silk screening contraption from Japan (left) that allows you to print words and designs on paper. Riso describes it as a "Professional Quality Home Printing Kit." Think of it as letterpress in that you bring a lever down to impress your design onto paper, only instead of making an indentation (as you do in letterpress), you are just pressing ink flat onto the paper.

In Gocco, you can print anything that is photocopied-- so that means type, pictures from books, even your own handwriting, as long as you've run it through a xerox machine (carbon-based copy). You can buy different color inks and print on those unusual sized papers that your inkjet won't accept (e.g., circle cards, dinky business cards). A fun hobby for those who like paper.

It's Christmastime... and There's No Need to Be Afraid

I don't really celebrate Christmas, but I do love Christmas songs. My all-time favorite is 1984's "Do They Know It's Christmas" from Band-Aid. I remember taping it off the radio. I tried over and over, waited hours and hours, until I was able to record it right from the beginning. It was a matter of timing. Pressing Play/Record/Pause in advance, then releasing Pause at the precise moment when I heard the drums.

Bob Geldof remade the song last year with a different crew of pop stars (mostly). I haven't heard the new version, but I figure I couldn't like it better than the original. Paul Young to Boy George to George Michael to Simon LeBon-- what could be better?

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Soccer Phenom Goes Dutch

A good friend of mine and avid soccer fan, Mr. Ivanomartin, alerted me to Lee Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American soccer phenom who is going pro. Born in 1986, Lee is a freshman at Indiana University and a forward/midfielder on their soccer team. He had offers from MLS coming out of high school, but decided to go to college. Now it looks likely that he'll join the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

Lee's dad is a soccer fanatic and began teaching Lee how to play when he was a wee tot. As Lee got older, his mom wanted him to concentrate more on his studies, but she eventually gave in to her husband's (and her son's) passion. For more about Lee, click here.

I don't know much about soccer, but the one thing I like about it is that people of most shapes and sizes can play and be good at it. That's probably why it's one of the few (only?) truly international sports. Yay for Lee! He now joins Dat Nguyen (Dallas Cowboys' linebacker) in that very select group of Vietnamese-American professional athletes.

Get Lost, Part II

A follow up to the Michelle Rodriguez DUI post from last week. AP has reported that the Lost star was "very argumentative" and down right lame during her arrest. From the story:

"Rodriguez had a blood alcohol level of 0.145, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to documents obtained by KITV-TV. 'I don't (expletive) belong here! Why don't you just put a gun to my head and shoot me! You've already taken my freedom! You might as well take my life too! ... Just take my car and I'll walk all the way to the North Shore but don't leave me in the back of this car poppie.'"

Is it just me, or could Rodriguez's character Ana Lucia have said the same thing? As Chanchow mentioned last week, Rodriguez is a repeat offender. She pleaded no contest to DUI, driving with a suspended license and a hit-and-run back in LA. Man, I can't stand her. She needs to be off the show and off our roads! Take some (expletive) responsibility and get over yourself!!!

This Year's Good Movie

The best movie I saw in theaters this year was Grizzly Man. Granted, that's not saying a whole lot since I didn't see that many movies, but despite the lack of competition, Grizzly Man is really good. It beat out other critically acclaimed movies like Good Night and Good Luck (good), March of the Penguins (good), The Squid and the Whale (bad) and King Kong (very good).

Grizzly Man is the latest from German filmmaker Werner Herzog. It's a documentary about Timothy Treadwell (above), who was a struggling actor (supposedly he was the runner up to Woody Harrelson for the role on Cheers) turned outspoken supporter of the wild grizzly bear population in Alaska. "Documentary" is a strange way of describing the film because the movie isn't so much Herzog's footage of Treadwell, but Treadwell's footage of himself.

In the 1990s, Treadwell began filming himself and the grizzlies during his summers in the Alaskan wilderness. Treadwell was his own one-man filming machine-- cameraman, narrator, star. He named the grizzlies, talked to them, touched their feces. He befriended them, and some would say, became somewhat of a grizzly himself. He was a combination of sweet naivete, self-promoting actor, angry animal activist and madman. In his footage, he presented himself as a lone man in the wilderness, when actually he was accompanied by his girlfriend for several summers.

There is a sad ending to this story, which is disclosed at the beginning of Herzog's film. In 2003, Treadwell and his girlfriend were attacked in their tent at night by an old and hungry grizzly. Audio tape of the fatal attack exists (Treadwell managed to turn on his video camera during the attack, but didn't remove the lens cap), but Herzog chooses not to include it in the film. We can only imagine the horror of what happened.

This is a fascinating movie about a fascinating person. It presents interesting themes (e.g., man vs nature, man as performer) without being preachy or judgmental. Chanchow highly recommends it, especially if it is re-released in theaters this holiday season.

Postscript: I just remembered that I saw Kung Fu Hustle this year, which I may have like as much as, if not more than, Grizzly Man. A must see!

Corn Goes Blue

This may be my last entry about Not a Cornfield, as the field has now entered its "blue phase" (i.e., the corn is being dried and will soon be harvested). For those wanting some background on Not a Cornfield, I refer you to a previous post. It won't be long until the corn will be gone and the land empty. I'll be sorry to see it end because it is such an awesome public art concept. From what I've read, the Annenberg Foundation funded the project for just one season, so it's unclear what will happen to the space next year. In the meantime, there'll be a blue light show every night until December 21st for locals to enjoy.


From their website:

"During the Blue Phase the harvested corn will be recycled and, in January 2006, the field will be tilled and sown with a mixed ground cover crop to further re-mediate the soil. The hosted open-air gallery activities will continue every Sunday afternoon through to the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2005 and, after a brief period of hush, the Friday Night@Not A Cornfield series of salons and open mic/open screen evenings will start up again in January 2006. [T]hese evenings will engage such topics as the future of this specific site and the generation of a broader healthful balance between we humans and our social, cultural and natural environments."

This Gives Me the Giggles

I can't get over this picture. You'd think that with all the money and consultants that Mariah Carey has at her fingertips, she would have better fashion sense. Is this what pop stars wear these days? I haven't watched MTV in a while, so it could just be me.

But query, who wears leotards? Is this one of those leotards where you're supposed to wear pants with them? Did Mariah forget her pants? Then there is the matter of the shoes and socks. This is a very bad combination. Who thinks that a leotard + soccer socks + pumps = suitable outfit for television? On the other hand, this getup might make sense if she were wearing roller skates and knee pads.

On a positive note, Mariah looks good for 35. Yes, Mariah Carey is 35! She is still making hit albums and getting nominated for Grammys. Britney and Christina have come and gone (for now), but Mariah is still boppin along and looking as tawny as ever. I wonder if she is the Cher for our generation.

The Getty

One of the biggest attractions in LA these days is The Getty Center. Built over the course of 15 years and at a cost of $1 billion, the gleaming, Richard Meier-designed Getty museum opened in 1997 to much fanfare. I've been to the Getty twice, and each time I've been much more interested in the buildings and the view, than the art collection inside. The Getty made headlines again this year when its (now former) senior curator of antiquities, Marion True, was indicted in Italy on charges of conspiring to buy stolen artifacts.

Get Lost!

First of all, tonight's episode of Lost is a rerun and that's a total bummer. Second, as you may have heard, two actresses from Lost were recently charged with DUI. They must've been partying together because they were spotted weaving on the highway just minutes apart. From the look of them, Michelle Rodriguez seems to hold her liquor much better than Cynthia Watros. Rodriguez is her scowling, punk ass Ana Lucia self, while Watros, who plays Libby, looks totally sloshed and down on her luck. As a punitive measure, both characters should mysteriously disappear from the show and never be heard from again.

Who's That Girl?

One of the most drastic decisions a girl can do with her hair is whether to get bangs. Sure, it's not the same as cutting your hair short or dyeing it some unnatural color, but it's a serious decision. One wrong snip and you have to wait years for those strands to catch up with the rest of your locks. This blogger got bangs last night, after almost a year of on and off deliberation.

My hairdresser understood the gravity of this move. Before she snipped away, she said, as if giving me one last chance to change my mind, "Oh, you're going to look different after this..." Unmoved, I took a deep breath and stood by my decision. Snipped she did. I think it looks fine, but it will take some getting used to.

The Lucy Stoners

I've been grappling with the idea of taking Mr. Octopus' last name ever since we got married this past summer. On the one hand, I think Mr. Octopus' name would sound pretty good with my first name. On the other hand, forsaking my last name means that there won't be anything definitively Vietnamese left about my name (unless I make it into my middle name). Then, there's the whole issue of leaving my family behind to become part of his (figuratively and literally). (Note to self: It is not a Vietnamese tradition for a wife to take her husband's name.)

Frankly, I think this last one is the hardest to resolve. It's about leaving my identity behind because, let's face it, your name is a big part of who you are. Men don't have to deal with it. Moreover, they aren't expected to deal with it. Imagine the confusion when you ask a guy if he plans to take his wife's name (what a stupid question!). Their name is their name, and that's who they are and who they'll stay. It's expected that his children will take his name, too. Women, on the other hand, get their father's name at birth and take their husband's name upon marriage. Our names flow from the two most important men in our lives, period. (Note: I prefer not to use the antiquated term "maiden name," which implies that women before marriage are/should be virgins.)

Then there was Lucy Stone (1818-1893) who took issue with this tradition. She was a leading suffragette and was married to an abolitionist named Henry Brown Blackwell. In addition to her views on the women's vote, she caused controversy by refusing to be known by her married name. She viewed keeping her name as an assertion of her own rights, her own (pre-marriage) identity. She had many followers, who became known as "Lucy Stoners." She continues to inspire women today, and there is even a Lucy Stone League that is dedicated to (among other things): "equal rights for women and men to retain, modify and create their names, because a person's name is fundamental to her/his existence" and "equal actual frequency of name retention, modification and creation between men and women at marriage and throughout life."

Most of my married girlfriends haven't changed their names. I suspect it might be because they (1) don't like their husband's name, (2) can't be bothered to endure the logistical pain necessary to legally change their name, (3) don't have kids yet so they don't have to decide and/or (4) simply aren't willing to give up their names and their identity. I'd be interested in hearing what you all think about this. Don't be shy!

K-Town in da House

Unless you were peeking behind the restroom doors in Koreatown (or are Korean), chances are you didn't know about the Asian Hip Hop Summit last month here in LA. But have no fear, the event couldn't have been better than the poster (this one spotted in a bubble tea joint at the corner of Vermont and Sixth). Presented by Asiatic Empire, the Summit featured artists with some of the best names I've heard in a long time. Hats off to Hep da Tightest (straight outta Seattle YO) and Hungry Hooligans!

The Apprentice Comes to LA

Do we really need this? Does anyone watch The Apprentice anymore?

In case you haven't heard, The Donald is filming season six of the show in LA (they're currently airing season four). No doubt an opportunity for him to showcase his California business interests (yawn). It won't be long until I see the Trump helicopter circling around downtown LA.

LA's First Burb

Founded in 1880s, Angelino Heights was LA's first suburb. About a mile from downtown, it was originally connected to downtown by trolley. The trolley line ran from Main Street in downtown, along Temple Street and up the steep hills into the neighborhood. Angelino Heights was an upper middle class community. About 50 Victorian homes and carriage houses from that era exist today, many of which have been restored. The best of the bunch are on the 1300 block of Carroll Avenue, and have been featured in movies, TV and commercials. You might recognize the one at the bottom from the Thriller video. To check out some more houses, click here.

Chanchow Shops: Trader Joe's

People in LA sure do love Trader Joe's. It's unlike any other grocery shopping experience. Imagine Whole Foods, but smaller, cheaper, less bourgeois. Trader Joe's carries a variety of organic and low processed foods, often under its own label. Noticeably absent are brands like Coca-Cola, Tropicana, Kraft.

Trader Joe's began as a convenience store in Pasadena called Pronto Market in 1958. It was a real mom and pop operation, run by Joe and Alice Coulombe. Joe had been a corporate cog until, he says, he realized that the "corporate world was poison to me." After a few years, Pronto was put out of business by the local 7-11. Undeterred, Joe and Alice revamped their store by giving it an island trading post flair and naming it "Trader Joe's." (Alice had suggested "Trader Mom's," but she lost.)

Trader Joe's has since grown to over 200 stores, most of them in California. Their target clientele is the "overeducated and underpaid." That description is spot on, as evidenced by the extraordinary concentration of hipsters I encountered at my local TJ's last week. The ratio of hipsters to normal people must've been 10:1, possibly even 25:1.

Shopping at Trader Joe's is great, as long as it isn't too crowded. The clerks are friendly (they are among the highest paid in retail) and the store is always well-stocked and clean. The beer and wine aisle is especially noteworthy, in part because Trader Joe's began as a wine and cheese store. Joe has since retired, but maintains his own wine blog called Wine Joe.

Fight in the 48th

California's 48th Congressional district is comprised of two of Orange County's richest beach communities, Newport and Laguna, and is a GOP stronghold. Republican Congressman Chris Cox represented the 48th in the House of Representatives for 16 years, before vacating the seat to become Chairman of the SEC this summer.

A special election to fill Cox's vacancy was held in October, but leading Republican John Campbell failed to get the majority he needed to win (he got 45.5%). As a result, there will be a runoff election this Tuesday, December 6th, in which Campbell will face the leading vote getters from four other parties. None of these four is expected to win; however, some believe that Democrat Steve Young has a chance of winning and Independent Jim Gilchrist has a slimmer chance.

Jim Gilchrist has made illegal immigration the issue of his campaign, which is not surprising since he is the founder of the Minuteman Project, an initiative in which U.S. citizens physically patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Gilchrist is also conservative in his views on the environment ("I view global warming as an act of God, not as an act of man") and heartily supports President Bush on the war in Iraq. Some are speculating that Gilchrist could split the Republican vote, a la Ross Perot, causing Democrat Steve Young to win the seat. Such a result would be quite a feat in this very Republican of Congressional districts.

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Post-Election Update: Republican John Campbell won the seat, taking 45% of the vote. Democrat Steve Young came in second with 28% and Independent Jim Gilchrist had a strong showing with 25% of the vote. Despite his loss, Gilchrist was very pleased and said, "This is just a start ... We've got a huge victory tonight because we've issued a wake-up call to America ... Our cause is not over, nor is my aspiration for my political career." Sounds like we'll be hearing more about this Minuteman in the future.

Locke Rocks

Lost is back in my good graces again. The last two episodes I've seen have been Quality. Locke (below) has pulled away as the best character by far-- the most interesting and well acted. I think I'll start calling him The Master.


Unfortunately, as Locke has gotten better, several characters have gotten lamer (e.g., Jack, Kate). Worst of all is Ana Lucia (right). I'm hoping that the producers will kill her off or relegate her to a minor, non-speaking role. How juicy would it be if there were a Locke/Ana Lucia showdown? Part of me would fear for The Master, but I have confidence that he would pull through.

Oaxaca

Shots I snapped during our trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. Iglesia de Santo Domingo (top) and young and old on the streets.

Happy December

Cannot believe it is already December. The months, nay years, are flying by now. A sure sign that I am feeling old(er). Remember when you were little and time would just drag? Like when you were still in school and June couldn't come fast enough.

Today also happens to be World Aids Day.

LA Basics

I need to brush up on my LA fundamentals. Friends and relatives ask me basic questions that I can't answer, so here are some interesting factoids.

According to a 2005 survey, there were 3,957,875 people living within LA city limits, and a whopping 17,545,623 living in greater LA (Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties), making it the second most populated metropolitan area after New York City. Although incorporated in 1850, LA took off as a city just as cars started being mass-produced. Hence, the sprawling, somewhat decentralized and less dense nature of the city. LA is geographically larger than NYC and Chicago, but is 1/3 and 1/2 as dense in population as NYC and Chicago, respectively. Greater LA is home to 13 area codes and five major airports.

There is no ethnic majority in LA proper. The 2000 census recorded 46.93% white, 11.24% black, 0.80% Native American, 9.99% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 25.70% other (e.g., Mexican, South African, Hispanic) and 5.18% multiracial. LA has the largest populations of Armenians, Cambodians, Filipinos, Guatemalans, Israelis, Koreans, Salvadorans, Thais, Mexicans and Hungarians outside of their native countries.

The LA flag has three colors, representing olive trees (green), orange groves (gold) and vineyards (red), with the city seal in the center. Antonio Villaraigosa is the current mayor. Elected in a run-off election in May, Villaraigosa is, incredibly, the first Latino mayor of LA since 1872.