For a laugh, check out Cracked.com’s What Campaign Ads Would Look Like If the Voting Age Was 6.
My favorites:
I just saw on CNN that McCain’s still not sure about holding the debate today. Hmm…
Update: the debate is on! Will you be staying home tonight to watch it?
Today was a great day.
I started the day by buying tickets to the Knicks opening game against Miami (considering the numbers from Miami last season, my boys better start this season 1-0!). I plan on attending more Knicks game this season…heck I work practically on top of the Garden – I might as well take advantage of it, right? Also, the #1 item on my list below was announced today…
Mid-afternoon, I was delighted to find that the mental_floss had spotlighted me! Last week, mental_floss had put out a call to all bloggers to help promote their $50,000 tuition giveaway. In return, they would do a round-up of everyone who blogged about the giveaway and every week, they would feature one site. I was the first featured site!
After dinner I set aside some time to do some sewing. Not making anything, but repairing tears and re-attaching buttons. There was a small pile that had accumulated over the past couple of months, and I got through them all. It’s dorky, but sewing really relaxes me!
Finally, The Office season premiere was tonight! It wasn’t a great episode, but funny nonetheless. And Jim finally proposed to Pam!!! It was totally unexpected and undoubtedly romantic. Man I missed the guys of Dunder-Mifflin Scranton!
On to the links!
We received the digital proofs from our wedding photographer, Danny Weiss, a few weeks ago. Since then I’ve been honing my Photoshop techniques on these gorgeous photos. A bit of desaturation here, some level adjustments there, and voila! Good post-processing can really help add emotion to a photo, or change the look and feel altogether.
J doesn’t understand why I do this. “I like ’em au naturelle, baby!” he says.
What do you think? Do you like these photos before or after Photoshop?
Photo A, Before:
J looks exactly like his mother!
Photo A, After:
Photo B, Before:
Me sneaking up on J before he sees me for the first time
Photo B, After:
Photo C, Before:
When J saw this picture, he asked why I never look this happy with him. “Well, here’s photographic proof I do,” I replied.
Photo C, After:
I don’t think Photoshop is a necessary tool, because so many photos are already beautiful without it. In addition, I certainly wouldn’t be retouching all the pictures (Photoshop 1,400 pictures? Sha, and monkeys might fly out of my butt!)…however, I must admit that it’s fun and can be a bit addicting.
If you are a new reader, welcome! Just in case you feel like stalking me, you can see more pictures from the wedding here.
I’ve been cooking a lot more in the past few months in order to save money.
Many women say that they do not have the time or energy to cook dinner after a hard day at the office, so I guess I’m lucky in the sense that I work for a non-profit and get to leave work at 5pm every day. I usually get home, have a bit of “me” time to relax, then start dinner. By the time the food is ready to be served, J comes home from work and we dig in.
갈비 (galbi, or Korean marinated ribs)
My famous linguini in in white clam sauce
된장찌게 (dwenjangjjigeh, or soy bean stew)
I have the best source for recipes: my mother. I know that everyone says their own mother is the best cook, but my mom really is a great cook. So good that her friends are always asking for recipes. So good that every Thanksgiving, she gets “orders” from various people for her famous turkey.
Beef 오무라이스 (rice omelette). The heart and smiley face are all messed up because J bought such a large bottle of ketchup that I had trouble controlling it. The smiley face looks a bit like Joker (why so serious?)
Digging into the Beef 오무라이스
I have posted pictures of some of my dishes on Facebook, and friends have been asking for recipes.
시금치국 (sigeumchigook, or spinach stew with clams and tofu)
감자탕 (gamjatang, or potato & pork stew)
게살전 (gehsaljun, or Korean style crab meat pancakes)
삼겹살 (samgyupsal, or sliced pork belly)
순두부찌개 (soondoobu jjigae, or silken tofu stew with seafood)
육개장 (yookgaejang, or spicy beef and vegetables soup)
Beef & vegetable curry over rice
돌솥비빔밥 (dolsot bibimbap, or rice cooked over a stone pot, mixed with veggies and beef, a fried egg, all mixed in a spicy pepper sauce)
So the question is: should I start posting some recipes on this blog? Is anyone interested? Perhaps I’ll create a “Recipes” section?
Whatever I decide, I know that I’ll never post the full recipe for my best dish, my famous 갈비찜 (galbijjim, or braised short ribs) – J has forbidden it. He says that only he has the privilege of being able to eat it whenever he pleases. So I guess if you want some, you’ll have to come over for dinner. 😉
Dear NJ Transit,
The faltering economy and high gas prices have driven a record number of commuters to the public transportation system. Each week I see the evidence of this as your buses become more and more crowded.
In the past weeks, however, I have become increasingly frustrated as bus ridership has skyrocketed. Buses zoom by my stop filled to capacity. Those of us waiting at the stops are forced to watch and feel powerless.
Take this morning, for instance. I walked back and forth between three stops over a period of 40 minutes. Over 20 buses passed at this time, each full and thus refusing to stop. The crowds reached 20-30 people per stop, growing increasingly agitated and some even shouting curses at the passing buses. In the end, I was forced to cough up an additional $2.50 (rendering my monthly pass useless) for a gypsy bus, which aren’t always licensed or safe…sometimes even illegal.
I realize that the price of diesel fuel has increased in the past year. However, the increased number of riders and the increased budget must offset that cost.
So please, PLEASE add more buses to the northern NJ/Hudson county lines.
Thank you,
A Disgruntled NJ Transit Rider
As soon as I switched over to the Mac years back, I bought a big-ass book on Mac OS X and trained myself on the ways of the force…err, Apple.
This book taught me many tricks that continue to amaze my friends, even to this day. However, I had never known about this Mac screen trick!
Do as the video tells you and try this on some Macs at the Apple store!
Via haha.nu.
I am deathly afraid of most fish (and birds…shudder) but have always had a fascination with sharks. Swimming with sharks, or at least being shoved into a shark cage, is on my list of things to do before I die.
Here is a video of the Japanese goblin shark, once thought to be prehistoric and extinct, that was discovered last year. Check out the scary alien-esque jaw action!
Via haha.nu.
Perk #2437 of having a male roommate (err, husband): free access to men’s magazines.
I really do think that the majority of men’s magazines are better written, more informative, and heck of a lot more entertaining than women’s magazines.
It also doesn’t hurt when they feature eye candy such as this:
Megan Fox, my girl crush.
The featured article has garnered much media attention not only for the racy photos, but for the comments she makes (e.g. “Fuck Disney”) as well as her admittance to a lesbian affair with a stripper named Nikita.
Read the scandalous article here.
All photos courtesy of GQ.
One of my favorite sites, mental_floss, is hosting a $50,000 tuition giveaway!
In conjunction with Borders and Merriam-Webster, mental_floss will be giving away five $10,000 scholarships to the winners of the contest. The rules are as follows:
No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited by law.
The Contest: In 750 words or less, explain why you (as the most deserving person on the planet) should win a $10,000 prize for tuition/books in the fall of 2009. The contest is open to full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S. or Canada in the fall of 2009. Essays must be original work and should reflect the tone of mental_flossmagazine. Winning essays must be truly memorable. They should be easy-to-read, funny, quirky and creative without being pretentious. Just (we hope) like mental_floss magazine. The prizes will be awarded on the overall quality of your essay.
Eligibility: You must be 18 years of age or older (by August 15, 2009) and a legal resident of the United States (except Puerto Rico), the District of Columbia or Canada (except Quebec) in order to enter.
Grand Prizes: Five $10,000 (U.S.) scholarships will be awarded for full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S. or Canada in the fall of 2009. The prizes will be paid directly to the schools. Winners will also receive a Merriam-Webster Collegiate® Dictionary and a two-year subscription to mental_floss magazine.
Runner-Up Prizes: The First Grand Consolation Prize is a dinner at your college or university during fall semester 2009 with a co-founder of Mental Floss LLC, namely Will Pearson or Mangesh Hattikudur, and five (5) of your closest friends or a cash award of $250. Four other Runners-up will receive a one-year subscription to mental_floss magazine, a mental_floss T shirt and a Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Here is the official entry form.
Here are all the official rules.
Here are the FAQs.
College tuition remains sky-high, even in this dismal economy. Pass it along to all your undergrad friends and family! Who knows, someone you know may win!
I have a good reason for not posting yesterday – I felt like utter crappola! I stayed home from work and slept and slept and slept…
P.S. – Martha was awesome! I’ll post pictures as soon as I get a chance.
I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the "About" page.
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