J is overjoyed at the prospect as he is a football nut and joins multiple fantasy football leagues every year. He was genuinely happy, helping me with my draft and coaching me on the finer prospects of the online game.

He also has ulterior motives: he knows that due to my nature, I will research the subject like crazy, making multiple charts, graphs, and spreadsheets as I organize the information I have absorbed. “And you know that, as your husband, [albeit not legally] I am privy to this data,” he said with a smirk.

We’ll see, mister.

1. Eraser with 28 Corners, TokyoMango. I used to be one of those wasteful children who would discard erasers as soon as they lost their corners. This design is ingenius. I wish I can research product design forever.
   
   
2. Want Video Games To Appeal To Women? Make ‘Em Pink & More Child-Like, Jezebel. Am I the only one who finds this insulting? I enjoy complex video games, and yes, many of them are violent. I like it when men shout at the screen, because heck I do it too. What I dislike are pink, jewel-encrusted gaming hardware or men who expect me to watch them play and  “help spot snipers.” This panel is a disgrace to women gamers everywhere.
   
   
3. Study: Musical improvisation shuts down your brain’s “overthinking”, Collision Detection. While I have been known to improvise once in a while, I do not particularly like it. I could never put my finger on the cause, but now I think I’ve figured it out. Many have told me over the years that I think too much…and I like to think. Is this the problem? Because the “overthinking” parts of my brain get shut down, leaving me feeling powerless and unproductive? Hmm…
   
   
4. HOWTO dispose of murdered bodies, Boing Boing. I love Ask Metafilter. It’s one of my favorite time-wasters, filled with humor as well as practical advice and random information. Well, this featured question takes the cake. Too bad I knew most of the answers from watching too much CSI.
   
   
5. A Profile of a Profile of Charlie Kaufman, Mental Floss Blog. My favorite magazine plus my favorite screenwriter. Need I say more?
   
   
6. Daewoo Takes Room Divider into 21st Century: Digital Screens in the Screen, Gizmodo. As a person of Asian descent, I am very familiar with these screens/room dividers. In fact, my parents used to make them - my father the painting and assembly, my mother the embroidery. Although this is a pretty dope concept and looks nice, to boot, I like the originals better.
   
   
7. 40 Creative Design Layouts: Getting Out Of The Box, Smashing Magazine. The thing about web design is that there are probably less than 5 original web layouts…and all the rest are variations of the original. These aren’t groundbraking, but still some great, “thinking out of the box” designs.
   
   
8. Dr. Frankenstein’s Browser: The Strangely Obvious Ancestry of Google Chrome, Gizmodo. My Google reader was abuzz with article after article about Chrome, the new web browser from Google. I had trouble trying to decide which one to feature…then Gizmodo went and did it again by presenting an over-talked topic in a different way. (As a side note, I was quite angry that I found out about Chrome with the rest of the population. J defended his silence by asking, “Do you want me to get fired?” Hmmph. Fine, keep secrets from your pseudo-wife!)
   
   
9. EARN: Helping Low-Wage Workers Learn to Save, Get Rich Slowly. There are many non-profit, financial education/assistance programs out there…but this was the first in years that really got me excited. While I have no use for the program, I can’t help but be hopeful for those who are eligible.
   
   
10. Japanese wives wanting a divorce hire professional seducers, Boing Boing. In a nation where “irreconcilable differences” just don’t cut it, more “thinking out of the box” companies swoop in to cash in. Morally correct? No. Amusing read? Yes.
    
    
11. Is Cuil Killing Websites? TechCrunch. Another step back for the company that marketed itself as the “Google Killer.” I’m starting to feel somewhat sorry for the guys.
    
    
12. Knicks acquire F Patrick Ewing Jr., Yahoo Sports. Holy pressure Batman! Will the boy be able to live up to his father, or is he doomed to forever linger in his dad’s shadow? (And that’s quite a large shadow, indeed.)

Korea has huge, thick comic “magazines” that feature some of the more popular series of comics. These monthly compilations would almost always include cliffhangers would keep me whining and salivating for the next month’s issue. My favorite while growing up was 보물섬 (bomoolsum), which means “Treasure Island.” I’m pretty sure that 보물섬 is no longer printed, as I could only find pictures of old issues.

(image source)

Koreans (and the Japanese) are known for for creating specialized bangs, or rooms/spaces, that can be rented for popular hobbies. Some of the most popular Korean ones are:

• 노래방 (noraebang) - karaoke rooms
• 비디오방 (video-bang) or DVD방 (DVD-bang) - movie rooms. Please note that these are usually very seedy and are places where couples go to get it on.
• PC방 (PC-bang) - computer rooms, always always with high-speed internet where masses of adolescent boys go to play MMORPGs.
• 보드게임방 (boardgame-bang) - boardgame rooms!

So it’s only natural that 만화방 (manhwabang), or comic book rooms, should be included on this list.

It used to be that I would rent comic books by the bulk when my parents went to rent their Korean video tapes. However, this habbit slowly died down as the availability of rent-able comic books dwindled. Soon, I had grown quite distant from my beloved Korean comic books of the past.

In 2001, I started dating a Korean FOB (fresh off the boat). He lived in Northern Virginia, which has one of the largest Korean populations on the east coast. As our relationship developed, so did my further immersion into popular Korean culture.

One of my favorite activities to do with him as a couple was to go to one of Virginia’s many manhwabangs.

Romantic? No. Cheesy and geeky? Yes. Exactly my cup of tea.

The manhwabangs of yore used to be small, cramped spaces with poor heating/cooling, carried mostly old and stained books mostly tailored for kids.

(image source)

Modern manhwabangs are pretty nice, with spacious, comfortable couches, a vast selection of books, and a clientele that mostly consists of an older crowd.

(image source)

Some even offer food, like ramen…

(image source)

오징어 (dried squid)…

(image source)

쥐포 (dried filefish)…

(image source)

Many other yummy snacks…

(image source)

And a wide assortment of beverages.

(image source)

Whew! I’m getting hungry writing about this! Back to the point!

I haven’t been to any good manhwabangs since I’ve moved back up to NY. There were numerous ones in Virginia - my favorite one was a manhwabang and a PC-bang combined - and I’m starting to miss them a lot.

I know that J would enjoy them too, because the larger ones (at least the ones in VA) have Japanese comic books which he is able to read. Not to mention, he too is a comics-lover with a huge collection at home. When I described some of my favorites from my childhood, he knew them as well, having read the Chinese translations when he was a kid.

The only manhwabang that I’ve been to in recent years is a small one in Palisades Park, NJ. It was dark and cramped, and none too impressive.

I’ve heard of some in Flushing but living in NJ, Queens is quite a trek for us. And if there are any in Manahattan, I’m sure it’s just as overpriced as the rest of the city.

I shall continue my quest for a good manhwabang in the northern NJ/Manhattan area. I really miss immersing myself in a good comic book series, munching on snacks while popping a cold one.

Here are the rules of this tag game:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted

Six Random Things About Me:

1. Whenever I’m in a bad mood I clean, scrub, sew, and iron. Ironing particularly relaxes me because while I may not be able to remove all the wrinkles in my life, I can do so with my clothes. However, you better watch out when I’m donning my yellow rubber gloves and on my knees the bathroom! Step one toe over the line and you may get a Tilex spray right into the eyes. (image source)
   
   
2. When I was a kid I would buy tons of paper dolls. I would then spend hours painstakingly cutting out every last piece perfectly, then throw everything away. I guess I liked the scissor work better than the dolls themselves. (image source)
   
   
3. I was a total nerd in my teenage years. Big glasses. Bad hair with bad bangs. Braces. I even wore orthodontic headgear! I was ashamed of my chest and hid behind loose, oversized men’s shirts. I was painfully shy and would tremble when talking to boys. At the age of 17, when I had still yet to kiss anyone, let alone score a boyfriend, my mother asked me, “You like boys, right? I mean, you’re not a…lesbian…are you?” (image source)
   
   
4. I found out today that 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,320 (image source)
   
   
5. As my family was preparing to immigrate to the US 20 years ago, I thought that American streets would be filled with horse-drawn carriages, the men would be dressed in 3-piece suits with tophats, and the women would wear long poofy gowns à la the 19th century. Boy was I disappointed to see cars and people wearing the same clothes as they did back in Korea! (image source)
   
   
6. I have a thing about strangers touching me - namely, that they shouldn’t. For this reason I never get manicures, pedicures, facials…even massages! I guess this is a good thing in the long run, because I save tons of money by never seeking these services that so many women desire. (image source)

I tag:

1. sadelion23 - Sandy is smart as a whip, creative, hilarious, and all too adorable. She may be small in stature but her larger-than-life personality will rock your socks off and keep you laughing throughout the night.
   
   
2. Onigiriman - The O-Man has always been, and always will be, one of my favorite blogs. His writing and fanbase speaks for itself.
   
   
3. spiritedsherry - Sherry is one of those people you want to hate because everything about her seems so perfect…but you end up falling in love with her because she’s so irresistible!
   
   
4. inspire & be inspired - Wai Sze is currently on her way to Costa Rica in celebration of her first year wedding anniversary…but I’m sure this sweet, DIY diva will join in when she returns!
   
   
5. Pink Thumb - I always considered myself a city girl, but this lovable, hard-working domestic goddess has single-handedly made me consider moving to the suburbs just to start a garden.
   
   
6. jigg - Ray is living proof that a man can write passionate, articulate, and personal blogs. I have been reading his blog for years and I always find myself looking forward to his updates and musings.

Martha on the cover of my favorite magazine, Wired.

On September 17th, the Martha Stewart Show will be taping a special about blogging and have invited bloggers to join the studio audience.

And I’m going!!!

When I got the email I was so happy I wanted to do the dance of joy!

You don’t understand how excited I am. Sigh. I love you Martha! You my girl!

“Isn’t there a blog for this?” I asked myself. The closest I found was Curator’s Choice, which (in my humble opion) was difficult to navigate and poorly designed.

Should I create my own? It’ll certainly give me an excuse to visit more museums. However, I’m not sure if my schedule could handle it, or if there will be an interest at all.

Just something to think about during my 4-day weekend. Yes, FOUR. My company decided to give us all an extra vacation day tomorrow, in anticipation of Monday’s Labor Day. Yay!

On to the links!

1. Quick 10: 10 Words That Will Help You Win at Scrabble, Mental Floss Blog. As a Scrabble lover, I’m proud to say that there was only one word I didn’t know on the list: cwm, which is a valley created by glacial movement. How many do you know?
   
   
2. Android to Get Its Own App Market, TechCrunch. This was one of the biggest tech announcements of the day, and people have been clamoring to call Android an iPhone copycat. The fact of the matter is, mobile app markets have been around for some time - the iPhone App Store is nothing new. However, I’m just a bit concerned at the malware that may be uploaded onto the all-apps-approved market. What do you think?
   
   
3. BlackBerry Bold Review, Gizmodo. I’m more excited about the BB Bold than I was for the iPhone 3G. As expected, it received a great review and I would be preparing to order the phone come September…if it weren’t exclusive to AT&T. Why, mobile overlords, why?!?
   
   
4. My Restaurant Update, Dilbert.com Blog. I have been a long-time reader of Scott Adams’ blog, and I especially loved today’s post on the creative ways he is drawing customers to his restaurant. A Digg-like menu format? Game nights? Networking lunches? All great examples of thinking outside the box. Great job, Mr. Adams!
   
   
5. 6 inspiring colour tools web designers should bookmark, Web Distortion. Self-explanatory, and great links! I *heart* color!
   
   
6. Tiramolla Loft Bedrooms, Apartment Therapy. Turn a loft bed into a loft bedroom and you get…beauty. Spectacular! I love these designs!
   
   
7. Thank God: Guitar Praise Offers Guitar Hero for Christians, Wired Gadget Lab. As soon as I saw this I asked J if we can get it. His response: “Only if they have Faith+1 songs.” Hehehe. My husband’s awesome.
   
   
8. Science of Star Wars, Boing Boing. The world of Star Wars explained in physics! If they had taught this at school maybe I wouldn’t have gotten a miserable C in physics.
   
   
9. North Korea claims to have invented anti-hunger noodles, Boing Boing. I’m not sure if I can believe that N. Korea invented “magic” noodles. After all, Kim Jong Il claims to have invented outer space and DVDs.
   
   
10. Geek License Plates Show Just How Geeky the Road Can Get (Very), Gizmodo. I think I like the FFFFFF one the best.  ;-)
    
    
11. Making The Call: The Greatest Year In Sports, Gothamist. I must admit that this year, so far, has been pretty dope for sports. The big upset in the Superbowl. The crazy comebacks during the NBA Finals. Records broken left and right at the Olympics. Do you agree?
    
    
12. Lego Scenes Celebrate 2008 Olympic Summer Games with Star Wars Stormtroopers, Gizmodo. I think I got it. Get ahold of some Lego figures and recreate famous photographs, movies, or events. Generate tons of traffic to my site. Voila!

Needless to say, I love museums. I love the hushed atmosphere, the beautiful architecture that usually accompanies them, and immersing myself in the works of geniuses (including nature) of the past, present, and future.

I’m fine perusing the hallways of museums alone; however it’s always more fun with friends. Unfortunately, J could give a crap about museums, and not too many of my friends are into the arts.

I need a museum buddy.

Anyone interested in the following exhibits?

Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
through September 1

The symbolic and metaphorical associations between fashion and the superhero are explored in this compelling exhibition. Featuring movie costumes, avant-garde haute couture, and high-performance sportswear, it reveals how the superhero serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion and its ability to empower and transform the human body. Objects are organized thematically around particular superheroes, whose movie costumes and superpowers are catalysts for the discussion of key concepts of superheroism and their expression in fashion.

(I will probably stop by the Met this Saturday the 30th since this exhibit is closing so soon.)

Vasily Kandinsky: Beginnings
Guggenheim Museum
ongoing

Perhaps more than any other 20th-century painter, Vasily Kandinsky has been closely linked to the history of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Hilla Rebay—artist, art advisor, and the museum’s first director—encouraged Solomon R. Guggenheim to begin collecting Kandinsky’s work in 1929 and to then meet the artist for the first time at the Dessau Bauhaus in July 1930. This was the start of a period of continuous acquisition of paintings and watercolors by Kandinsky. The current installation of the Kandinsky Gallery explores the artist’s early mastery of the graphic arts, as well as his translation of printmaking techniques to painting.

(I love Kandinsky! He’s one of my favorite painters…I’ve love to see some of this earlier work up close and personal.)

Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities
Museum of Modern Art
through November 10

Wunderkammern, or cabinets of curiosities, arose in mid-sixteenth-century Europe as repositories for all manner of wondrous and exotic objects. In essence these collections—combining specimens, diagrams, and illustrations from many disciplines; marking the intersection of science and superstition; and drawing on natural, manmade, and artificial worlds—can be seen as the precursors to museums. This exhibition presents a contemporary interpretation of the traditional cabinet of curiosities, bringing together a diverse selection of works by twentieth- and twenty-first-century artists who have likewise felt the pull of unusual and extraordinary objects and phenomena. The works on display include prints, books, multiples, drawings, and photographs, with subjects ranging from architectural marvels and blueprints for impossible machines to oddities from the animal, vegetable, and mineral worlds. Featured artists include Hans Bellmer, Peter Blake, Louise Bourgeois, Max Ernst, and Damien Hirst, among others.

(Combining science and superstition? I’m there! Plus I’m sure it’ll be very geeky.)

Japonisme in American Graphic Art, 1880–1920
Brooklyn Museum of Art
through October 12

Japonisme in American Graphic Art, 1880–1920 explores the myriad manifestations of Japonisme in a selection of rarely seen American works on paper from the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection. Concurrent with the so-called “Japan craze” in America was a renewed interest in graphic arts: as watercolor, pastel, etching, and other graphic media came to be appreciated for their artistry and expressivity, they also reflected the impact of Japanese art. Color woodcuts by late-eighteenth- and nineteenth-century masters such Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Kuniyoshi were avidly collected in the West and served as particularly influential models of stylistic and technical innovation for American artists.

(The last time I visited the Brooklyn Museum of Art was for its famous Murakami exhibition…and I loved not only the exhibit, but the entire museum itself. Definitely worth venturing out to Brooklyn.)

Progress
Whitney Museum of American Art
through November 30

Progress brings together works from the Whitney’s permanent collection, highlighting connections between art and visions of utopia. In the early part of the twentieth century, artists and architects like Joseph Albers, Naum Gabo, and Frederick Kiesler carried the revolutionary aims of the European avant-garde to America. The utopian impulse of these artists found its parallel in America’s optimism in developing new technology and the rise of consumer culture–advancements registered in the emergence of Minimalism and Pop Art in the 1950s and ’60s.

This presentation includes works in a variety of media at once representing and critiquing the social and aesthetic goals of Modernism. Artists such as Dan Flavin, Ad Reinhardt, and Sherrie Levine recorded the myriad responses, both hopeful and critical, to the transformation in American culture brought on by the influx of utopian ideals. Other artists address the linear advancement of modernity from a distance, neither celebrating nor critiquing the changes it has brought, but tracking its effects over the passage of time. “Progress” also presents more recent works by artists including Paul Sietsema and Joel Sternfeld, who mine Modernism’s utopian moments in order to gauge how the familiar narratives of progress in the United States continue to haunt and inspire contemporary experience.

(Visions of utopia through various media. This one looks very interesting but it may need to be saved for a time when I’m feeling particularly contemplative.)

The Full Figure and Portraiture 1926-1941
The Noguchi Museum
through February 15, 2009

The Noguchi Museum exhibits a full figure bronze sculpture, entitled Undine (Nadja), in its first public exhibition since the 1920s. Isamu Noguchi’s unique vision emerged in response to the Western figurative traditions and techniques he experienced firsthand in the workshop of the sculptor Gutzon Borglum and through his mentor, Onorio Ruotolo. Organized around Undine, this exhibit also highlights a selection of portrait busts from the permanent collection which illustrate Noguchi’s growing confidence owing to his formative academic training and a natural gift for incisive portraiture.

(I love Noguchi! Again, it’ll be interesting to see some of his earlier works as influenced by Western training.)

It can be a PITA to look up all the new exhibitions at the various museums. Maybe I should start a NYC museum blog? Hmm…

The specs, according to BGR:

• 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz (we’d guess there is a 850/1900MHz UMTS/HSDPA version in the works, supports HSDPA 3.6Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps)
• 2.4″ QVGA screen
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz
• 256MB flash ROM, 256MB RAM
• microSD slot
• 140g
• 1000mAh battery
• Wi-Fi b,g
• aGPS
• Bluetooth 2.0
• FM radio

Pretty sweet, if I do say so myself. The only downside is that it runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 which isn’t my favorite mobile OS. However, the design and specs more than make up for it.

The HTC S740 is slated to be released in Europe next month. Damn you, North America, for having some of the worst selection of cell phones in the modern world!

I like the current design - it’s cute and minimalistic, which is my style. However, the Geek in Heels girl was bugging me a bit.

I was pretty lazy when creating this blog and so bought this vector image from iStockPhoto:

I hardly ever wear my hair up so I changed the hair, got rid of the glasses (I wear contact lenses), and changed some colors here and there. I changed the laptop into an Apple MacBook Pro, which is the computer I use at home. I also made minor changes to her face to make her look a bit less perky, as I am as boring and monotone as you can get. And most importantly, I made her shoes into high heels.

The main reason the Geek in Heels girl has been bothering me is because lately, I have been seeing more and more sites using the same original image. I wanted to be different.

Although my Illustrator skills are a bit rusty, I decided to create a new Geek in Heels girl from scratch, using my own face as inspiration. I decided to use this photo of myself:

I then turned it into a very simple sketch:

I then scanned the sketch and started the creating the vector graphics by “tracing” over the original sketch:

I did all this using the trackpad on my laptop. When I do graphics work I really wish I had a separate mouse or even a tablet.

The final face:

I’ll probably end up making some additional tweaks since I have yet to start the body. I’m still trying to decide whether to have her sitting or lying on her stomach (posed with a laptop, of course).

Any suggestions? Thoughts?

(ETA: I just showed this to J and he remarked, “But that doesn’t look like you. Where are your freckles?” I guess you can’t please everyone.)

6 Terrifying Things They Don’t Tell You About Childbirth

Do not click on over to see the actual picture of a placenta. Do not.

I am never having kids.

I once knew a lady named Jenny
Whose smile was a bright as a penny
Her marriage was bunk
(Due to legalese junk)
Still, it was better than many.

No one’s ever written a poem for/about me before so I literally did a little hop and a skip as I read it. Thank you!

On to the links…

1. Mozilla Crowns Best Firefox 3 Extensions, Lifehacker. J has a gazillion and one extensions installed on his Firefox. Me? Only a few. But the some of the extensions on this list really look interesting, like Read It Later (self-explanatory) and Callout (porn, anyone?).
   
   
2. Gaming Lookalikes, haha.nu. Cloud Strife & Andy Warhol. Mario & Borat. The best one, however, has to be Master Chief & the Samsung Silencio SC9540 vaccumn cleaner.
   
   
3. Culture Shapes How People See Faces, Wired Science. Westerners look to the eyes first, then the mouth. Asians focus on the center of the face. And according to scientists, the western approach is more intimate, while the Asian way is more formal and holistic. Prett interesting stuff, to say the least.
   
   
4. Scorned Women, Jazebel. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I think that the worst I ever did after finding out an ex had been cheating on me (then he dumped me, to boot) was lock myself in my apartment for a week, cry myself to oblivion and lose 5 lbs by not being able to eat. Some of the stuff in this gallery is serious. There are some vengeful and pure crazy women out there. Wowza.
   
   
5. LG’s Prada II? Boy Genius Report. The original LG Prada phone is actually a favorite cell phone design of mine. Sleek and minimalistic…if only the price tag weren’t so exhorbitant. I like the LG Prada II design even better for its slide-out QWERTY keyboard. If this photo turns out to be real, I’d be very interested to research all its specs in detail.
   
   
6. 19 Terrifying Incidents Involving Fish, Neatorama. It’s no secret that I have a great fear of fish and birds. “Fish?!?” people ask me. “But they’re in tanks. Or at least contained in water. Why are you scared of them?” HA! Now you see why!
   
   
7. Best NY Closets: Anna Sui & More, Apartment Therapy. Remember that scene in Sex and the City movie where Big proposes to Carrie with a fabulous walk-in closet? Sigh. I’m not too into clothes, shoes, or accessories (designer bags excluded) but I am a nut for organization and these closets are a dream.
   
   
8. Private Browsing Coming to IE? Mashable. I’m happy to say that I wasn’t the only dirty-minded person reading this announcement.
   
   
9. Push pulled from latest iPhone firmware beta, TUAW. I think this was a smart move on Apple’s part. A better idea would’ve been to not call it “push” in the first place, because it technically wasn’t.
   
   
10. NBA Will Try To Go Where No Major Has Gone Before: Live Streaming In Local Markets, paidContent. I’ve never been one for live streaming feeds (unless I have no access to a television) but this sounds interesting, because it’s never been successfully done before. Will it work?
    
    
11. A first look at the Google Android SDK, VentureBeat. The web was abuzz this week with the official announcement from T-Mobile about the availability of the HTC Dream, as well as the release of the latest Google Android SDK v0.9. Despite some of the negative press that Android has been receiving, I’m hopeful.
    
    
12. The Force Unleashed video dump may ‘blow your mind’, Joystiq. The Force Unleashed has to be one of the most anticipated video games of the year. These videos only adds to the hype, because frankly, the game looks sick. Especially the first video. Wow.