wow, what a weekend... NY is a great city. i'm recently enjoying all the cities that I go to, so maybe it's that I like traveling? Not sure, but there's so much to do there. My only complaint is the cost of living and the fact that you can't go to costco and possibly take all the stuff home without a car. ah well I guess you can't have everything.
a really interesting event was the protests for the republican national party. jen and i got off of the wrong station, penn station, which was where the protest route began. no wonder there were so many police around. we were going shopping (I know, so patriotic) and had a hard time getting around b/c the police had closed off so many streets. penn station was also the station where the bomb threat was less than 24 hours before we passed through it, where they arrested two guys as suspects. eek. anyways, in the name of shopping, we were trying to cross the road where the protest was, so jen and i joined the protest for about 30 seconds in order to cross the street. :D It was an experience, we were ducking and running through people who were holding hands in long lines or shouting in unison. haha. we sorta stuck out.
i'm not very poliical so these pictures aren't really what I believe in, but I think it's interesting and inspiring people to stand up for what they believe in, b/c they believe so strongly about these issues that affect them so personally. God bless america.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
ny is forecast to have isolated thunderstorms this saturday. crap. maybe they'll be isolated - like one five minute shower every 12 hours.
ah well. things were pretty hectic the past few days - the six classes for school and my roommate moving in - pretty overwhelming. but things have pulled together nicely, it turned out well. i'm really looking forward to going to NY and seeing my sister this weekend. hopefully it'll be a nice trip.
yay! nice to get away sometimes. anyone want to go swimming tomorrow? b? r? i think a few of us are going. we can tan by the lake and give ourselves solar lentigines to appear when we're 70. i wonder if we'd remember our sunspots and think, "oh yeah, that water park day! oh yeah, that day we tanned by the lake and the pool!"
:)
ah well. things were pretty hectic the past few days - the six classes for school and my roommate moving in - pretty overwhelming. but things have pulled together nicely, it turned out well. i'm really looking forward to going to NY and seeing my sister this weekend. hopefully it'll be a nice trip.
yay! nice to get away sometimes. anyone want to go swimming tomorrow? b? r? i think a few of us are going. we can tan by the lake and give ourselves solar lentigines to appear when we're 70. i wonder if we'd remember our sunspots and think, "oh yeah, that water park day! oh yeah, that day we tanned by the lake and the pool!"
:)
Sunday, August 22, 2004
studying is never a priority, unless it's finals. i just can't do it for some reason.
one reason: i'm on the internet a lot. :P also i watch a lot of tv, as a lot of my friends will attest to. thank God most of gymnastics is over now, so life can resume to its semi-normalcy (where are all the reality tv shows??)
i found a whole bunch of old stanford acquaintances online, specifically their blogs... an old hallmate my junior year, a friend of a friend's girlfriend, and other familiar names. very interesting to see what they're up to since most of them are updated frequently, and some of them with pictures, to see what they look like now. familiarity, along with change, makes for a warm and curious experience. i envy some of my classmates who are already rotating in their third and fourth years. meanwhile, while i have (hopefully) six (and not seven) more years to go...
it was a great weekend, albeit too much fun. :P waterslides were fun - i even went on a drop one this time! it was equivalent to a five story drop, eek, but very fun. we had a lot of laughs - that was the best part. i ate a lot this weekend too - my aunt stuffed me today, with cheese ravioli and tri tip roast. that's a lot of fat and carbs and protein.
also getting ready for a roommate, and going to NY next weekend...
it was a very good weekend.
one reason: i'm on the internet a lot. :P also i watch a lot of tv, as a lot of my friends will attest to. thank God most of gymnastics is over now, so life can resume to its semi-normalcy (where are all the reality tv shows??)
i found a whole bunch of old stanford acquaintances online, specifically their blogs... an old hallmate my junior year, a friend of a friend's girlfriend, and other familiar names. very interesting to see what they're up to since most of them are updated frequently, and some of them with pictures, to see what they look like now. familiarity, along with change, makes for a warm and curious experience. i envy some of my classmates who are already rotating in their third and fourth years. meanwhile, while i have (hopefully) six (and not seven) more years to go...
it was a great weekend, albeit too much fun. :P waterslides were fun - i even went on a drop one this time! it was equivalent to a five story drop, eek, but very fun. we had a lot of laughs - that was the best part. i ate a lot this weekend too - my aunt stuffed me today, with cheese ravioli and tri tip roast. that's a lot of fat and carbs and protein.
also getting ready for a roommate, and going to NY next weekend...
it was a very good weekend.
Friday, August 20, 2004
what a week it's been, very long with less sleep. maybe that's why i'm eating more and gaining some weight... sleep helps keep your metabolism up, and since i've been doing less of that... nursing was awful yesterday, with my assigned nurse trying to lose me and asking me when I was going to leave, repeatedly. oh, and she also told me she hates nursing and if she could do it over again, she'd be a teacher. on the bright side, i got to leave early. :D hopefully that won't get reported back to school.
i'm celebrating the end of this week with a fun trip with friends. :D (our side of the class will be empty today, haha) i can't forget sunscreen...
also in my thoughts: NY, here I come!
on a more serious note: reflections.
"God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't... fail to breathe holiness in me.
...
Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice"
-Psalm 51, the message
perfection is not required... i love that.
i'm celebrating the end of this week with a fun trip with friends. :D (our side of the class will be empty today, haha) i can't forget sunscreen...
also in my thoughts: NY, here I come!
on a more serious note: reflections.
"God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't... fail to breathe holiness in me.
...
Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice"
-Psalm 51, the message
perfection is not required... i love that.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
celebrating midterms - it was a nice time to hang out with friends and have fun, apart from talking about tests, bacteria that might be contaminating our food, or classes. we ended up playing karaoke revolution on ps2 (awesome!) and watched the korean movie, my sassy girl at my place. this weekend tho, is the first free weekend since school has started, so looking forward to being a homebunny for two days - cleaning house, studying, and rearranging my priorities. cheesecake factory was last night - tiramisu cheesecake and a caipirina, yum!
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
it's fun getting an inside look at hollywood through my sister, sarah. sarah received an email from a director (chris tashima) she worked with (who also won an academy award for his work :). it's regarding the controversial casting of the new movie, memoirs of a geisha, that sarah also auditioned for.
Subject: Geisha movie homogenizing Asian cultures
In a message dated 8/11/04 9:34:16 AM, GGstarr231 writes:
<< Although
I am Chinese, I detest the idea that Hollywood filmmakers still feel that
any Asian person can represent any Asian culture. As we all know, that is
simply not true. >>
Hello Howard,
This is Chris Tashima. I was forwarded the above email from Gina, so I do
not know the email address of the original source. Please forward my reply back
to "Nanacy:"
To those outraged about "GEISHA" casting:
I agree that the casting of three Chinese to play leads in the upcoming
"MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" is unfortunate. However, we must not condemn any and all
cross-cultural casting. Casting should be, in general, defined by gender and
race. Beyond that, it is dangerous for us to limit any actor to being able to
play only their culture or nationality (or age, for that matter). I am Japanese
American, but I have played Chinese and Chinese American (many times). It
was up to me, as an artist, to uphold the integrity of that culture in my
performance. White actors are not limited to playing only characters of their true
culture, or nationality. Can, would, or did anyone criticize Liam Neeson, an
Irish actor, for his portrayal of German Oskar Schindler? One example of
thousands. We as Asian Americans, must realize that this is not only acceptable,
but preferred. Opportunities are too limited, as it is, for us to place
boundaries on actors in terms of nationality. Besides being inappropriate, this
attitude stifles the artist, and our growth as a community of artists. Most of
us in the industry do NOT support placing boundaries, with respect to
nationality, in casting.
Examine the issue, and argue the proper point. If any of these women, as we
can assume from what we know of them, were not so strongly tied in our minds
to Chinese culture, especially in their language, we may not have an argument.
If they were unknowns, what would there be to criticize? As I said, I
believe it is up to the artist to portray their character's culture truthfully.
Because of what we know of these actresses, we may assume some things and have
our doubts as to their abilities to bring this "truth" to the screen. As I also
said, it is unfortunate -- I do not agree with Rob Marshall's casting
choices. However, it is because this is a very specific culture, and these actresses
have, in our minds, specific limitations. It is not because a Chinese
actress cannot and should never be allowed to play a Japanese.
I believe any talented and diligent Asian actor should be given the
opportunity to be considered for any Asian role (actually, any role - period). Of
course, it is also important for the director, or whoever is making the casting
choices, to know, or at least have some sensitivity to the culture they are
depicting, and to cast accordingly.
Apparently, the outrage should have been expressed when Rob Marshall was
selected to direct this film.
Then again, it's a White man's book, a White man's fantasy, and a White man's
studio... A White man's world.
Subject: Geisha movie homogenizing Asian cultures
In a message dated 8/11/04 9:34:16 AM, GGstarr231 writes:
<< Although
I am Chinese, I detest the idea that Hollywood filmmakers still feel that
any Asian person can represent any Asian culture. As we all know, that is
simply not true. >>
Hello Howard,
This is Chris Tashima. I was forwarded the above email from Gina, so I do
not know the email address of the original source. Please forward my reply back
to "Nanacy:"
To those outraged about "GEISHA" casting:
I agree that the casting of three Chinese to play leads in the upcoming
"MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" is unfortunate. However, we must not condemn any and all
cross-cultural casting. Casting should be, in general, defined by gender and
race. Beyond that, it is dangerous for us to limit any actor to being able to
play only their culture or nationality (or age, for that matter). I am Japanese
American, but I have played Chinese and Chinese American (many times). It
was up to me, as an artist, to uphold the integrity of that culture in my
performance. White actors are not limited to playing only characters of their true
culture, or nationality. Can, would, or did anyone criticize Liam Neeson, an
Irish actor, for his portrayal of German Oskar Schindler? One example of
thousands. We as Asian Americans, must realize that this is not only acceptable,
but preferred. Opportunities are too limited, as it is, for us to place
boundaries on actors in terms of nationality. Besides being inappropriate, this
attitude stifles the artist, and our growth as a community of artists. Most of
us in the industry do NOT support placing boundaries, with respect to
nationality, in casting.
Examine the issue, and argue the proper point. If any of these women, as we
can assume from what we know of them, were not so strongly tied in our minds
to Chinese culture, especially in their language, we may not have an argument.
If they were unknowns, what would there be to criticize? As I said, I
believe it is up to the artist to portray their character's culture truthfully.
Because of what we know of these actresses, we may assume some things and have
our doubts as to their abilities to bring this "truth" to the screen. As I also
said, it is unfortunate -- I do not agree with Rob Marshall's casting
choices. However, it is because this is a very specific culture, and these actresses
have, in our minds, specific limitations. It is not because a Chinese
actress cannot and should never be allowed to play a Japanese.
I believe any talented and diligent Asian actor should be given the
opportunity to be considered for any Asian role (actually, any role - period). Of
course, it is also important for the director, or whoever is making the casting
choices, to know, or at least have some sensitivity to the culture they are
depicting, and to cast accordingly.
Apparently, the outrage should have been expressed when Rob Marshall was
selected to direct this film.
Then again, it's a White man's book, a White man's fantasy, and a White man's
studio... A White man's world.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
"Ugly. Is irrelevant. It is an immeasurable insult to a woman, and then supposedly the worst crime you can commit as a woman. But ugly, as beautiful, is an illusion."
-Margaret Cho, weblog, 01-27-04"
there are so many issues of interest to me that refer to beauty and femininity, but let's save it for another time... i wanted to address beauty as a higher art form. i went to see the SF Ballet today - so beautiful, in the beautiful outdoor ampitheatre Stern Grove. I was explaining to my non-ballet going audience that these dancers don't make a lot of money, but they do it b/c they love to dance. is it to appeal to a higher goal than the rest of us, in the material world, the ethereal goal of perfect beauty? is that a goal that is so above the rest of our heads that it doesn't seem real to us, yet it is a real goal? or does is it too high that it actually doesn't exist?
i think they do it tho b/c of the pure love of dance. if i could give up my life to be anything, i would be a ballet dancer, dancing my heart out every night.
it was a beautiful performance today tho. balanchine, my favorite... one of the pieces performed was the four temperaments. i loved the musicality - the way that balanchine really personifies music. a picture is worth a thousand words, but how many dance-movements is a moment in music worth? that is the question that george balanchine tries to answer - beautifully. it was great.
i tried to go see amanda schull, the lead character in the movie, center stage, but the backstage was set up strangely since it was outdoors. there was no "stage entrance" as there is in normal theatres, so i couldn't get through. ah well. out of the three leads in the movie, Center Stage, I have one autograph (Sascha's) and I met Ethan but didn't have the DVD with me... so two more signatures to go. it's nicer b/c they're ballet dancers and not as famous as movie stars, per se... next time! (i know, i'm such a groupie :)
it was a fun weekend away from microbiology.
-Margaret Cho, weblog, 01-27-04"
there are so many issues of interest to me that refer to beauty and femininity, but let's save it for another time... i wanted to address beauty as a higher art form. i went to see the SF Ballet today - so beautiful, in the beautiful outdoor ampitheatre Stern Grove. I was explaining to my non-ballet going audience that these dancers don't make a lot of money, but they do it b/c they love to dance. is it to appeal to a higher goal than the rest of us, in the material world, the ethereal goal of perfect beauty? is that a goal that is so above the rest of our heads that it doesn't seem real to us, yet it is a real goal? or does is it too high that it actually doesn't exist?
i think they do it tho b/c of the pure love of dance. if i could give up my life to be anything, i would be a ballet dancer, dancing my heart out every night.
it was a beautiful performance today tho. balanchine, my favorite... one of the pieces performed was the four temperaments. i loved the musicality - the way that balanchine really personifies music. a picture is worth a thousand words, but how many dance-movements is a moment in music worth? that is the question that george balanchine tries to answer - beautifully. it was great.
i tried to go see amanda schull, the lead character in the movie, center stage, but the backstage was set up strangely since it was outdoors. there was no "stage entrance" as there is in normal theatres, so i couldn't get through. ah well. out of the three leads in the movie, Center Stage, I have one autograph (Sascha's) and I met Ethan but didn't have the DVD with me... so two more signatures to go. it's nicer b/c they're ballet dancers and not as famous as movie stars, per se... next time! (i know, i'm such a groupie :)
it was a fun weekend away from microbiology.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
when did glendale become the "entertainment capital of the world"?
on last comic standing, they say this at every episode b/c the episodes are shot at alex theatre, which is in glendale, my home for approximately 6 yrs, not hollywood. i used to pass by it every time i went to the galleria, which was fairly often. ah, last comic standing is my latest reality tv pastime. i really love the footage where they shoot at famous hollywood spots, like hollywood/vine, and then teleport about 40 miles east to Glendale (from the 405 to the 101 to the 134 freeways ;) in a split second to an opening shot of the Alex Theatre.
what a busy week... three eight am classes in a row, only one of which i woke up for. :D
so many birthdays this week! unfortunately, every single one of the four birthdays are of people younger than me. so many comments of "oh my gosh, 23 is SO OLD" and "24 is ancient" made me feel like a dinosaur. it's been fun tho but busy. no wonder i never study. :D it's great.
on last comic standing, they say this at every episode b/c the episodes are shot at alex theatre, which is in glendale, my home for approximately 6 yrs, not hollywood. i used to pass by it every time i went to the galleria, which was fairly often. ah, last comic standing is my latest reality tv pastime. i really love the footage where they shoot at famous hollywood spots, like hollywood/vine, and then teleport about 40 miles east to Glendale (from the 405 to the 101 to the 134 freeways ;) in a split second to an opening shot of the Alex Theatre.
what a busy week... three eight am classes in a row, only one of which i woke up for. :D
so many birthdays this week! unfortunately, every single one of the four birthdays are of people younger than me. so many comments of "oh my gosh, 23 is SO OLD" and "24 is ancient" made me feel like a dinosaur. it's been fun tho but busy. no wonder i never study. :D it's great.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
"We do not remember days; we remember moments." ~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand
"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today. I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great. If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time." -Art Buchwald
this weekend was a weekend of memories. my aunt and my sister came up to visit me, and brought with them some of my old stuff, which included my high school yearbook. wow, what a trip! so funny, so sweet and bittersweet (esp when I see my high school picture!!). it seemed like yesterday, but when I read my yearbook, I realized how long ago it really was. high school was, in a sense, an ideal time, with so many hopes for the future.
i watched the beijing video footage with sarah this morning (i told her, she made me watch her movie, so I'm making her watch my movie :). what a fun trip that was, and surprisingly, sarah seemed interested too. a nice trip down memory land, albeit a more recent one.
what a crazy weekend it was. a trip down memory lane is exhausting. here's to the following week~ *clink*
"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today. I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great. If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time." -Art Buchwald
this weekend was a weekend of memories. my aunt and my sister came up to visit me, and brought with them some of my old stuff, which included my high school yearbook. wow, what a trip! so funny, so sweet and bittersweet (esp when I see my high school picture!!). it seemed like yesterday, but when I read my yearbook, I realized how long ago it really was. high school was, in a sense, an ideal time, with so many hopes for the future.
i watched the beijing video footage with sarah this morning (i told her, she made me watch her movie, so I'm making her watch my movie :). what a fun trip that was, and surprisingly, sarah seemed interested too. a nice trip down memory land, albeit a more recent one.
what a crazy weekend it was. a trip down memory lane is exhausting. here's to the following week~ *clink*
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