Archives For 2011

I might start with a trend.

I’ve always liked Japan… if you know me, you know I grew up singing Sukiyaki and my father had a Karaoke bar. I’ve always been more connected to Japanese culture than Chinese — I know/get/understand more Japanese than I do Mandarin.

I really respect them for their quiet nature, and the respect they have for everyone and everything around them.

I think over the past five days, a lot of people have been able to see a part of what is amazing about Japan and its people. As we watched the footage of the earthquake and the tsunami in action, they acted calmly when a majority of us would lose it. They didn’t scream, they didn’t fainted, it wasn’t chaos.

As the day went by, a lot of the people who didn’t know thought that the Japanese would break, that they would turn against one another for food, gas, and other things needed for survival.

Instead, things like this happened.

This experience taught us a renewed recognition of what we had and regained its real spirits. I didn’t see any crimes but those who helped each other. All were willing to do their duty gentlemanly. I had been felt that Japanese got cold attitude in a way but today I knew that they regain their bond. It made me cry…I was moved.

Despite the terrible weekend, you’ve showed many around the world how amazing you really are. Despite all that’s wrong with many governments around the world, you’ve showed us that we, as developing societies, should strive to be more like you.

日本を誇りに思っている!

Yu-chan is safe.

March 14, 2011 — 8 Comments

Hey, guys~

Just wanted to update for the people that have been leaving messages or sending me emails~ Yu-chan has just updated her website with a message as well as – what seems – cancelled or re-scheduled shows of Minami he.

Check the News section on her site for that info.

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First, a few things.

People I know from Japan are fine. Call came through at 3am here, waking us up, but at least we knew. Many out there are at a loss, not knowing is the worse… many others have lost loved ones and my condolences go to those.

My hope is that Japan rises, as it’s done under other terrible circumstances. Though, there are obviously things with which we don’t agree, Japan as a culture, they are lovely. So I can’t believe what some people say online… but I guess it’s the internet, and we can’t stop ignorant comments.

I’ve read some horrible HORRIBLE things, and it was just a couple and I couldn’t take them anymore. I hope these people lose their internet connection so they can’t spread such ignorance and hate.

Now that we got all of that out of the way…

Please, take a moment to donate some money through the Japan Society, which is an Japanese-American organization that deals with cultural events.

100% of funds raised will go directly to the efforts.

Even if you’re broke, one or two dollars will suffice.

Triple threat post!

Kate Winslet + Kate Winslet’s hair + Mario Testino x)

I gotta say I love that haircut, and my shortsightedness has never been able to imagine Kate Winslet would rock such a haircut. But wow, plus~ Mario Testino.

Always said I like his portraits more than his fashion photography, but then again I’m not into fashion. Unless it’s totally fierce, they look fake to me. I usually hate them.

But these? *swoon*

Pure fierce~

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Heh, heh.

You know I love hair. And I love The Sounds (not as much as I used to, but still like them). Plus, she looks very rocking, even if it’s the same coloring… I just like the emphasis on the hair xD

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I don’t recognize you.

I swear that if I ran into this video without knowing what your name is in characters, I wouldn’t know it’s you. I also have stated that when you released Time, and many people complained that it was boring, I said that it was a well-produced album expanding your vocal range.

I like your two last albums, but your performance of the songs is not up to par with what you’ve previously performed, and it’s because you’re letting the production overpower your talent. And I don’t mean it so you stick to R&B – I actually really REALLY love your duet with Priscilla Chan. One of the most quality presentations vocally you’ve ever done.

FYI, I’m aware this is a fan-shot video.

But even if production and video quality are better than the other between the examples, you have to admit that the big dress and big hair is overpowering her presence on that stage, and the song is too mellow to be presented like that.

I’ve said her album Time would be better suited for an acoustic.

I grew up with a song by Vico C called Me Acuerdo, which was on constant rotation those days when we still listened to the radio. I listen to that song, and I immediately think of those days.

So when clicking on the video for Ken the 390 titled 壊れやすいもの (Koware Yasui Mono) – Breakable, it brought me back to that song. Must be the male vocal, the slow hip hop thing, and the female backing vocals.
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I have another confession to make.

As you may have already figured out, I grew up in a time when there was barely any stability. When things settled down, we had about 4 or 5 networks, usually broadcasting local productions.

But there was also syndication.

American television loves syndication, they ensure making a living with it. What’s a better example of syndication than… Baywatch. Yup, that’s my confession. I grew up with Baywatch. Especially the first season and the second… maybe the third. They re-ran those seasons a lot those years, so I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them more than once.

So when I was like 5 or 6, we would all watch the show — most likely for different reasons LOL — since we kids liked going to the beach, we would always joke that our local lifeguards looked like they had floatability devices inside them. We would laugh, and move on.

Then there was Shauni. Before there was Stephanie Holden… Shauni was the only girl in the cast — pretty sure, I could be wrong. I was Team Shauni! As a kid, I don’t know why I thought she was awesome. She seemed nice, no problems — I’m seeing a pattern here — and she had Eddie xD

I just realized I’m a crazy shipper… almost since I was born. LOL

Anyway, time passed. Country got better, we got cable. Sony had just launched their signal, and were re-running Baywatch. Browsing channels, there was this episode – or was it a movie? – of Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood. Ha! I didn’t know what a bordello was at the time. I didn’t speak any English, all I remember saying was “Hey! That’s Shauni!” And I watched it. The memory of it — me watching that — is hilarious.

So yeah, I like Erika Eleniak.

Very much like on the other tales, I was browsing channels and ended up on Sony. What a surprise it was to see Erika Eleniak on the latest season of Desperate Housewives. Color me surprise. Even if I have stopped watching the show, I… for a split second or more, considered watching the show again. Then I didn’t when I found out it was a one-ep gig.

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MissTer 101

March 8, 2011 — 8 Comments

There’s a pretty personality-insightful making-of article in regards of Taiwan’s first and brand-new Boi-band, who in their second single Super Lover are urging a pretty lady to not give up on love.

I think I’ve finally figured out who is who. Ha!

First, there’s leader Jin Tai (the one with the glasses). Then there’s Qiu Qiu the former dance instructor (top third on the left), Milk is the one with the blueish tones on her hair, Chris (? Zi Lun?) (the one with the humping face), and finally Chiao (Qiao) the one with the blond hair.

And I’ve already picked my favorite. LOL

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Today, while watching Chinese news — yes, I know… hardly unbiased opinion — I saw that China had deployed military airplanes, cargo ferries, and commercial flights in order to mobilize over 35k people out of Libya.

While violence and unrest is rampant, and expats from everywhere in the world are trying to get out, and people outside are “celebrating” freedom of speech, people are left without jobs, and families are left without income. Chinese expats have been uncommunicated with their families since the unrest began, waiting in the airports that have no running water.

Now, they’re back home.

When trying to look for the news to post, googling “China” to check the latest news from there, I only ended up seeing negative items. I ended up with Xinhuanet.com and by looking for “China Libya” I found some tiny articles from the West barely mentioning this.

I thought it’s an important news item to highlight.