Bird Vs. Window

Pulled into my driveway after dropping my zen wisdom daughter at school. I noticed a smudge on the living room window. Unlike the two dozen hand prints left by my toddler's pudgy food covered fingers, this blur was on the OUTSIDE of the window. I was filled with a sense of dread that this will be a holy miracle. What if I see Jesus' face? The Virgin? Will tears of blood appear tomorrow? Will I have to convert? Will crowds line-up down our quiet little street? Will my yard be filled with flowers and candles?

After procrastinating all afternoon, I finally examined the smudge with much hesitation.

A bird flew into the window head on.

No dead bird found on the lawn. Wow. Click on the picture for a better view.

Census Worker Possibily Murdred For Being a Government Worker

Holy Shit! We still tar and feather people in the country? A census worker was found hanged in rural Kentucky. With "Fed" marked on his chest. Damn. I can't believe I'm reading this. What kind of crazy sicko did this? And you know this kind of thing involves more than one perpetrator.

No Impact Man

On a recent grocery trip to my not so local Whole Foods, I saw a poster advertising a book signing. Whole Foods is kinda far from my house, because my “high diversity” neighborhood is not gentrified enough to support a high end store like Whole Foods. Or Whole Paycheck Foods, as my aunt and uncle likes to call them, since that’s what you’ll have to spend to shop there.

Anyway, the visiting author is Colin Beavan the No Impact Man, who along with his wife and toddler daughter, took a year long journey to live green and leave as little environmental impact as possible. It is reduce, reuse, recycle on steroids. No electricity, toilet paper, and creature comforts most of us depend on. Beavan started out as a blogger and is now touring the country with his newly published book, the holy grail of all bloggers.

I have not read his book, the documentary, or his blog. I’m sure the book is printed on post-consumer recycled paper and with soy-based ink. I have no problem with his green venture and social statement. Okay, maybe a little problem with his views. But it still tickles me that he’s selling his how-to guide via book. With paper. Made from trees. Wishing you success and great selling, Colin!

Boston to Space in $150

MIT students Oliver Yeh and Justin Lee launched a $150 weather balloon and camera over 17 miles above the earth’s surface. Yeh's a local boy, so I'm sure he'll do some publicity stuff around Seattle soon. Was it the penny pinching old Asian grandma influence or the lifestyle of poor-student-ramen-based diet that got these two to create a cheap space exploration tool? Maybe both.

You guys rock! Can’t wait for you to post the video and your how-to guide on your website. Way to open up space for the common folks.

Maybe Ichiro Had a Giant Zit That Day.

Is it just me or does this look like a bad Photoshop job? I got this from The Seattle Times after Ichiro's 200th hit. I don't know....looks kinda like they cut his face from another picture and pasted it on. Reminds me of the Microsoft black guy-white face switch Polish ad.

Oh yeah, and good job Ichiro. Go Mariners!

Secret Asian Man

This past year, I started a love affair with graphic novels and comic strips. There’s been a rising number of Asian American themed graphic novels. We belong together. They get me. And I get them. Here’s a strip that I love: Secret Asian Man. The main website is here. And the 8/30 one is for all your padawans out there!

BTW, up until a couple years ago I did think the song Secret Agent Man was really Secret Asian Man. A common mistake, I've been told. I used to feel deeply ashamed that I loved a song that poke fun of Asians. Turns out my problem was not internalized racism. It was not being savvy enough to Google song lyrics. I was so young and naive.

Buh bye, Hello Kitty

My sister-in-law went back to Hong Kong for summer vacation in July. The one request from my sweet zen daughter was a pair of Hello Kitty sandals. Okay, easy enough to buy at the shopping cheap knock-off capital of the world.

Not so. Unable to locate such footwear after a month, my SIL asked her teenie-bopper cousins where to buy ‘em meow-meow paraphernalia. “Nobody buys Hello Kitty stuff anymore. We’re moved on to new characters.”

Oh Snap! Bitch got replaced! Well, US is usually two years behind on the Asian hip scene. My little ones still has time for more Hello Kitty craze here. Honestly, HK and friends' been strong for decades. You haven't seen the last of her and her pack. Maybe it'll be just less.