I've been behind the Great Firewall for a while. Having just returned from a trip to Boracay, I probably ought to post some pictures. Right now, I'm in Hong Kong, where I still have access to unfiltered internet. That means, I can watch youtube for the first time in a while, and here's what I found:
I am dreaming of a trip to Portugal and Spain next summer. I wonder who would go with me.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Alexi Murdoch: All of My Days and another Joe Burton song
All my days
Well I have been searching all of my days
All of my days
Many a road, you know
I've been walking on
All of my days
And I've been trying to find
What's been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well I have been quietly standing in the shade
All of my days
Watch the sky breaking on the promise that we made
All of this rain
And I've been trying to find
What's been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well many a night I found myself with no friends standing near
All of my days
I cried aloud
I shook my hands
What am I doing here
All of these days
For I look around me
And my eyes confound me
And it's just too bright
As the days keep turning into night
Now I see clearly
It's you I'm looking for
All of my days
Soon I'll smile
I know I'll feel this loneliness no more
All of my days
For I look around me
And it seems He found me
And it's coming into sight
As the days keep turning into night
As the days keep turning into night
And even breathing feels all right
Yes, even breathing feels all right
Now even breathing feels all right
It's even breathing
Feels all right
Hazy Jane I (Nick Drake cover)
Do you curse where you come from,
Do you swear in the night
Will it mean much to you
If I treat you right.
Do you like what you're doing,
Would you do it some more
Or will you stop once and wonder
What you're doing it for.
Hey slow Jane, make sense
Slow, slow, Jane, cross the fence.
Do you feel like a remnant
Of something that's past
Do you find things are moving
Just a little too fast.
Do you hope to find new ways
Of quenching your thirst,
Do you hope to find new ways
Of doing better than your worst.
Hey slow Jane, let me prove
Slow, slow Jane, we're on the move.
Do it for you,
Sure that you would do the same for me one day.
So try to be true,
Even if it's only in your hazey way.
Can you tell if you're moving
With no mirror to see,
If you're just riding a new man
Looks a little like me.
Is it all so confusing,
Is it hard to believe
When the winter is coming
Can you sign up and leave.
Hey slow Jane, live your lie
Slow, slow jane, fly on by.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Having L'Chaim of my Life. Or, at least, Day.
Because I love jokes with long setups,
Because my brother loves Jewish humor,
Because I found the link on Volokh,
Because my gf doesn't eat pork,
Because I am a fervent anti-dentite (well, not really),
And because my Grandpa belongs on a site like this:
Actually, this one's better:
Because my brother loves Jewish humor,
Because I found the link on Volokh,
Because my gf doesn't eat pork,
Because I am a fervent anti-dentite (well, not really),
And because my Grandpa belongs on a site like this:
Actually, this one's better:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Phoenix Airport -- What to do?
Well, I'm only in the airport -- but the obvious answer is to pick up the signal of the US Airways Lounge, which offers free internet. Well, free internet brought to me by a Verizon ad. Yes, I'm laying over here for a few hours and reflecting on the half-weekend in Austin.
The food at South Congress Cafe is still great. I just wish they were better on the service-end. Last time I was in Austin, the waiter dumped all of our food on the ground as he was setting up the serving stand. This morning, we had a 45 minute wait (no problem, cuz we just strolled around the neighborhood), that turned into a lot longer wait. That, of itself, isn't so much of a problem. I don't expect the greeter's estimate to be exact. But, when we came back and were assured that "you're up next" -- and 15 minutes later (after a few parties were seated) we were told that there were only 2 parties in front of us (later, when I looked at the list "2" actually meant "3"!) -- I was a bit frustrated. You see, we were already on a tight timeframe: I had to catch a flight. Saying "Up next" in this case really was the difference between staying and going. So, I bullied them about this little fact -- and they seated us immediately (i.e. "up next" -- sorry, other people) and had an awesome meal. The funny thing was, right before we were seated, and after her boss told us he'd fix the problem and seat us next -- the same greeter assured another party that they were "up next" -- then proceeded to seat not just us, but two other parties ahead of them. Maybe I need to learn to speak Texas if I want to move to Austin. Or maybe it's just a South Austin thing -- and I need to be more laid-back.
Other things I learned:
I would like to have attended the University of Texas.
The peach cobbler at Kerbey Lane is a good substitute for birthday cake. The Hole in the Wall is a cool place (as is probably any place with that name). The Red House has pretty good pizza. Veggie Chorizo can be pretty good.
One day I will go to Allen's and indulge in some cowboy boot super-consumerism. They had boots with a $1299.00 price tag -- and probably others that were more expensive if I had looked harder. But, boy oh boy, did I ever want to have some of those boots.
And Austin is a place I would love to live. I wonder how I could make that happen?
Also, and I didn't learn this first-hand, but it's still on my mind: if you must ride a motorcycle, do not ride it around well past midnight on graduation night in a college town in the area of a bunch of bars. Just not a good idea.
The food at South Congress Cafe is still great. I just wish they were better on the service-end. Last time I was in Austin, the waiter dumped all of our food on the ground as he was setting up the serving stand. This morning, we had a 45 minute wait (no problem, cuz we just strolled around the neighborhood), that turned into a lot longer wait. That, of itself, isn't so much of a problem. I don't expect the greeter's estimate to be exact. But, when we came back and were assured that "you're up next" -- and 15 minutes later (after a few parties were seated) we were told that there were only 2 parties in front of us (later, when I looked at the list "2" actually meant "3"!) -- I was a bit frustrated. You see, we were already on a tight timeframe: I had to catch a flight. Saying "Up next" in this case really was the difference between staying and going. So, I bullied them about this little fact -- and they seated us immediately (i.e. "up next" -- sorry, other people) and had an awesome meal. The funny thing was, right before we were seated, and after her boss told us he'd fix the problem and seat us next -- the same greeter assured another party that they were "up next" -- then proceeded to seat not just us, but two other parties ahead of them. Maybe I need to learn to speak Texas if I want to move to Austin. Or maybe it's just a South Austin thing -- and I need to be more laid-back.
Other things I learned:
I would like to have attended the University of Texas.
The peach cobbler at Kerbey Lane is a good substitute for birthday cake. The Hole in the Wall is a cool place (as is probably any place with that name). The Red House has pretty good pizza. Veggie Chorizo can be pretty good.
One day I will go to Allen's and indulge in some cowboy boot super-consumerism. They had boots with a $1299.00 price tag -- and probably others that were more expensive if I had looked harder. But, boy oh boy, did I ever want to have some of those boots.
And Austin is a place I would love to live. I wonder how I could make that happen?
Also, and I didn't learn this first-hand, but it's still on my mind: if you must ride a motorcycle, do not ride it around well past midnight on graduation night in a college town in the area of a bunch of bars. Just not a good idea.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The rest are boys??
I realize that "guy" can be used as a unisex pronoun, which is most often how I use it. Nevertheless, I loved reading this today in the Salt Lake Tribune:
"We've got a lot of construction jobs," Adams said, "and most of those guys are men."
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
In Honor of My Visit to Shanghai: A Part-time Model
A Flight of the Conchords (season 1, episode 1) video that J & J really like:
. . . and then, another hot one from Flight of the Conchords (beware: "it's not really intended for humans") . . .
But . . . Issues (Think About It) has got to be my current favorite. Yes, Technically, Yes.
Seriously, cannot stop laughing. Leave these poor sick monkeys alone, they're sick, they've got problems enough as it is.
. . . and then, another hot one from Flight of the Conchords (beware: "it's not really intended for humans") . . .
But . . . Issues (Think About It) has got to be my current favorite. Yes, Technically, Yes.
Seriously, cannot stop laughing. Leave these poor sick monkeys alone, they're sick, they've got problems enough as it is.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
How to top Canadian Burgers and Thai Hainan Chicken in Hong Kong
*Sadly all the pictures in this post are not actual pictures that I took. My camera battery is dead, and I didn't plan ahead for HK outlets.
It's been three years or more since I had Triple O's -- but I tracked down the BC-based burger store here through some very foggy memory. Every bit as tasty as I remembered.
I've been staying with friends at Shiu Fai Terrace -- just down the street from where I stayed the first time I came to Hong Kong. The view looking out over Happy Valley toward Causeway Bay is amazing.
In the picture Shiu Fai Terrace is part of the small cluster of buildings on the bend in the road along the left side.
For dinner, I really lucked out: I just stumbled down the hill from J & D's place at Shiu Fai Terrace and found a great restaurant called Thai Hainan Chicken Rice -- or something like that. (Actually first I went up the hill as far as I could go on foot (before the sidewalke ended, then I turned around and walked back down toward Wanchai the way I have been walking to Central every day.) Now, searching for a picture for the restaurant, I see that it has received good reviews. But basically, I just went by the menu, the cool chairs and the fact that the place was mostly full. The restaurants namesake dish (Hainan Chicken Thai-style) notwithstanding, I got green curry (with those tasty little Thai eggplants), which was great.
Then, I followed it up with perhaps my favorite food of all time:
Well, mine had black AND white glutinous rice and the mango was cut differently. But you get the idea. Yum. And that's probably the only way to top Triple O's and good Green Curry.
It's been three years or more since I had Triple O's -- but I tracked down the BC-based burger store here through some very foggy memory. Every bit as tasty as I remembered.
I've been staying with friends at Shiu Fai Terrace -- just down the street from where I stayed the first time I came to Hong Kong. The view looking out over Happy Valley toward Causeway Bay is amazing.
In the picture Shiu Fai Terrace is part of the small cluster of buildings on the bend in the road along the left side.
For dinner, I really lucked out: I just stumbled down the hill from J & D's place at Shiu Fai Terrace and found a great restaurant called Thai Hainan Chicken Rice -- or something like that. (Actually first I went up the hill as far as I could go on foot (before the sidewalke ended, then I turned around and walked back down toward Wanchai the way I have been walking to Central every day.) Now, searching for a picture for the restaurant, I see that it has received good reviews. But basically, I just went by the menu, the cool chairs and the fact that the place was mostly full. The restaurants namesake dish (Hainan Chicken Thai-style) notwithstanding, I got green curry (with those tasty little Thai eggplants), which was great.
Then, I followed it up with perhaps my favorite food of all time:
Well, mine had black AND white glutinous rice and the mango was cut differently. But you get the idea. Yum. And that's probably the only way to top Triple O's and good Green Curry.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
George Will: Conservative Crusader Against . . . Jeans?!
This guy is off his rocker: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/04/16/forever_in_blue_jeans_96002.html
And he wouldn't know a modern-day Fred Astaire or Grace Kelly if one was standing right in front of his coke-bottle-bottom glasses. Sheesh.
And he wouldn't know a modern-day Fred Astaire or Grace Kelly if one was standing right in front of his coke-bottle-bottom glasses. Sheesh.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Step Aside, Paul Potts: Scotland's Got Talent
No electric boots or mohair suit here. Quite the opposite. But, just in case, after Paul Potts, you still doubt that Britain's Got Talent is more . . . entertaining? inspirational? -- well, let me put it this way, a better talent search show -- than American Idol, do take a look at Susan Boyle.
(Embedding is disabled on all of the youtube.com clips that I have seen, so you'll need to follow the link)
(Embedding is disabled on all of the youtube.com clips that I have seen, so you'll need to follow the link)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
She's Got Electric Boots, a Mohair Suit?
So, this week I've been in New Orleans and Houston. When I told Jill that I was in the dirty South, she asked whether Houston counted. But after I told her I was in NOLA too, she agreed that New Orleans was both dirty and South enough.
In New Orleans I took out time for jazz, blues, po' boys (and several other shrimp dishes), gumbo, jumbalaya and lots of bread pudding. The chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish was almost too much to handle.
Now, in Houston, I've taken time for an Astros game, some good BBQ, pizza, a panini on Rice University's campus, the fine arts museum, the contemporary arts museum, another random art gallery, the hermann park, the theater district -- basically, I've seen a lot of downtown. And a lot of HBO, randomly. Yesterday, I watched What Happens in Vegas and then today I saw 27 Dresses, both of which I'm embarrassed to admit. Watching the second, I was reminded something that I learned last week: I'll explain. (It gets worses by the way, right now I'm watching some intolerable high school girl drama movie. Maybe I can watch the latest LOST instead.)
Last week, I was listening to the random 80s radio station that GF programmed into my car radio. Space Oddity came on. And, after listening to that song a thousand times -- knowing the tune for as long as I could remember -- I realized that I had never, ever listened to the lyrics. In fact, for that matter, I'd never even thought about the title.
Btw, the original video is really, really cool. Also, do compare DJ's teeth in that video to his present teeth:
Of course, the song on the radio was a later recording. But the lyrics remain the same:
In 27 Dresses, there is a scene involving Bennie and the Jets -- it's cheesy, but I realized this was another song that I really love yet hardly know the words to at all. Do I just not listen? Or I do I not have an ear for lyrics at all?
Bennie and the Jets lyrics:
Lastly, was this song really written in German and I never realized it??? Seems like I must have known this before. It sounds so familiar -- but I was shocked to hear it in German again.
In New Orleans I took out time for jazz, blues, po' boys (and several other shrimp dishes), gumbo, jumbalaya and lots of bread pudding. The chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish was almost too much to handle.
Now, in Houston, I've taken time for an Astros game, some good BBQ, pizza, a panini on Rice University's campus, the fine arts museum, the contemporary arts museum, another random art gallery, the hermann park, the theater district -- basically, I've seen a lot of downtown. And a lot of HBO, randomly. Yesterday, I watched What Happens in Vegas and then today I saw 27 Dresses, both of which I'm embarrassed to admit. Watching the second, I was reminded something that I learned last week: I'll explain. (It gets worses by the way, right now I'm watching some intolerable high school girl drama movie. Maybe I can watch the latest LOST instead.)
Last week, I was listening to the random 80s radio station that GF programmed into my car radio. Space Oddity came on. And, after listening to that song a thousand times -- knowing the tune for as long as I could remember -- I realized that I had never, ever listened to the lyrics. In fact, for that matter, I'd never even thought about the title.
Btw, the original video is really, really cool. Also, do compare DJ's teeth in that video to his present teeth:
Of course, the song on the radio was a later recording. But the lyrics remain the same:
Ground control to major tom
Ground control to major tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground control to major tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may gods love be with you
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five,
Four, three, two, one, liftoff
This is ground control to major tom
Youve really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now its time to leave the capsule if you dare
This is major tom to ground control
Im stepping through the door
And Im floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet earth is blue
And theres nothing I can do
Though Im past one hundred thousand miles
Im feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell me wife I love her very much she knows
Ground control to major tom
Your circuits dead, theres something wrong
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you....
Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet earth is blue
And theres nothing I can do.
In 27 Dresses, there is a scene involving Bennie and the Jets -- it's cheesy, but I realized this was another song that I really love yet hardly know the words to at all. Do I just not listen? Or I do I not have an ear for lyrics at all?
Bennie and the Jets lyrics:
Hey kids, shake it loose together
The spotlights hitting something
Thats been known to change the weather
Well kill the fatted calf tonight
So stick around
Youre gonna hear electric music
Solid walls of sound
Say, candy and ronnie, have you seen them yet
But theyre so spaced out, bennie and the jets
Oh but theyre weird and theyre wonderful
Oh bennie shes really keen
Shes got electric boots a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
Bennie and the jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless
Maybe theyre blinded
But bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive, let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
To find whos right and whos wrong
Lastly, was this song really written in German and I never realized it??? Seems like I must have known this before. It sounds so familiar -- but I was shocked to hear it in German again.
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht g'rad an mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Und dass so was von so was kommt
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn es so wär
Dabei war'n da am Horizont
Nur 99 Luftballons
99 Düsenjäger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf 99 Luftballons
99 Kriegsminister -
Streichholz und Benzinkanister -
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballons
99 Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'nen Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Lately
I really wish I could sing better . . .
This song always reminds me of a college friend, who sang it very well.
This song always reminds me of a college friend, who sang it very well.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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