Today, Yahoo killed its once-ubiquitous free hosting service, Geocities.
Let us have a moment of silence for the thousands of ugly, not-updated-since-the-90s websites that have met their demise today.
My favorite web comic xkcd was quick to pay their respect as well:
Distracting background, scrolling marquee, garish colors, animated GIFs, broken links…it has it all!
My very first webpage was built via Homestead back in 1999. And I am DAMN PROUD to say that it, along with its successor, had all the elements of horrible web design listed above. I only wish I had saved a copy of it, or at least taken a screenshot.
Did your first website(s) suffer from bad design as well? How will/have you paid tribute to Geocities?
Yesterday J surprised me with tickets to Video Games Live at Beacon Theater!
According to their website, Video Games Live is:
An immersive event created by the game industry featuring the best game music performed by top orchestras and choirs combined with synchronized lighting, video, live action and audience interactivity. The first and and most successful video game concert tour in the world.
This will be a long entry full of photos and links. So before I go on any further, let me cut to the chase:
Video Games Live was the best concert I’ve ever attended.
Would it be sad to admit that VGL was the most fun I’ve had in months? Well I’m not afraid to admit that SO THERE.
I had checked the Beacon Theater website in addition to the VGL site to see if photography was allowed at the event. I was delighted to find that not only does VGL allow photography and videography, they encourage it and urges fans to post pictures and videos online.
Sounds like my kind of concert!
I enthusiastically brought along my new T1i, eager to try taking some low-light action shots as well as try out its HD video recording.
However, upon entrance, we were informed by security that the use of SLR/DSLRs were NOT permitted. Something to do with the press who were present and the conflict of interest, yadi yada yada.
Those bastards!
Luckily, we had brought along my sub-compact point-and-shoot (so please excuse the crappy photos accompanying this post).
We entered the newly-remodeled theater to find that the event was already fully underway. What we hadn’t known is that VGL features a pre-concert event featuring meet-and-greets, costume contests, competitions, and giveaways. D’oh! Let that be an important lesson to my future self and those of you who are still reading along:
If you are attending VGL, make sure to get there a few hours early!
J and I sadly looked on as the costume contest continued up on stage. These costumes were not as impressive as the ones you’d see at venues such as Comic-Con, but excellent nonetheless.
Pretty soon, the lights dimmed and the main attraction began…
Here is a short, 18-second clip of the first set. As you can see, this is not your typical symphony concert. The lights and accompanying video created a beautifully choreographed visual background to support the auditory experience.
Some other highlights from the night included…
An arrangement of music from the Final Fantasy series, played by the one and only Martin Leung! If you recall, he gained worldwide recognition via YouTube for playing the theme to Super Mario Brothers on the piano…BLINDFOLDED.
We even held a Skype chat with the great Raph Baer, who invented the video game home console!
Koji Kondo, celebrated video game composer (best known for his work on the Mario and Zelda series):
The second act was a bit more rambunctious (and as a result, more FUN) than the first. There was a lot more audience participation — including a performance from an audience member who had won the Guitar Hero challenge during the pre-concert festivities — and a setlist that derived from more current, popular games. Martin Leung reappeared onstage to prove that he can, in fact, play the theme from Super Mario Brothers blindfolded. After this amazing performance, he even took requests from the audience!
Laura Intravia, aka “Link Flute,” also made multiple appearances during the night.
The concert ended with a bang: a Blizzard-themed montage that included exclusive footage and music from the upcoming Diablo III. But it didn’t end there. The three encores were some of the best performances of the night: music from the Castlevania series, Final Fantasy VII (with cosplay pictures running in the background), and Chrono Trigger!
All in all, Video Games Live was an amazing experience and I definitely want to do it again next year! I highly recommend that you check out the tour dates and catch a performance for yourself!
J took this picture last night while playing around with the new camera. I’m not sure why (as the dog is completely out of focus), but I instantly fell in love with it.
The image, straight out of the camera:
After some post-processing on Photoshop:
Since purchasing the Canon EOS Rebel T1i, I have been completely overwhelmed by the plethora of photography resources available on the web. There always seems to be more to read, more to experiment with, and more to be learned.
Not to mention, photography is one expensive hobby!
What are your favorite photography resources on the web?
It is pouring in New York today. The all-day, unrelenting, cats-and-dogs-replaced-by-rhinos-and-hippos kind of rain. I had made plans to go out, but exhaustion from working all day at my mother’s store combined with the thought of myself stumbling around drunk in this weather has led to flake out and keep myself warm, dry, and sober at home.
Warm, dry, and sober with my Google Reader, that is.
So if you’re also home this Saturday night and looking for a distraction, this post is for you!
Livebrush is a FREE, easy-to-use Adobe Air app that lets you create your own designs, styles, and decorations without the need to purchase expensive vector-based illustration software.
Personally, the best feature seems to be the brush tool which responds to the speed of your mouse movements. I can’t wait to start trying this out!
I know that the majority of my blogger friends use Blogger. Here are some eye-popping themes that are coated by the best flavor there is — FREE — brought to you by a great and trusty resource!
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that South Korea, one of the most outwardly sexually-conservative countries in the world (I guess the key word here is outwardly) has a sex-themed park.
Let’s let that sink in for a moment before clicking through to the gallery. Here’s a sample for your viewing pleasure.
The best part has to be all the ajummas (a term used to describe an adult Korean female of married age) included in these snapshots.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at the very last picture in the gallery. It’ll make your day (especially if you’re Korean).
One of my new favorite spiritual blogs, Devotional Christian, is giving away 22 Christian books!
Go check out the promotion page for the full list of books.
To enter for a chance to win, write a blog post, tweet, or post a note to your church’s website about Devotional Christian. Then fill out this form, and that’s it! A winner will be chosen via random.org on November 8th.
Earlier this week I decided that things just could not get worse. Yes, there are a lot of horrible things happening in my life in addition to the drama that has been shadowing me for the past few months. And no, I am not exaggerating.
But as they say, the only way to go from here is up. I won’t go into details other than that things are finally starting to get better.
After getting our mortgage, hospital bills, and other financial responsibilities situated, I pulled in some extra work and decided to treat myself to some retail therapy.
I had wanted a DSLR for quite some time now and had my sights set on the Nikon D90 since it was first announced last year. However, when Canon released the latest addition to its popular EOS Rebel line, I decided to reconsider.
Each camera has its pros and cons (you can read extensive reviews on both at Digital Photography Review) and neither seemed to be glaringly better than the other. In the end, it came down to personal preference…and once I tested each camera in person, I found myself leaning towards the Canon.
I haven’t been able to play with it yet because the battery is still charging! (Isn’t that the most annoying part of every battery-operated technology purchase?) But I’m undoubtedly über-excited, and can’t wait to get started!
I have some photography experience from a class I took eons ago. Fortunately, J grew up with advanced SLRs (courtesy of his father) and has volunteered to answer any questions I may have.
We decided not to purchase any accessories yet (save for a memory card) so that we can do additional research and look up the best prices online first. At the moment, these two accessories look like great starting-off companions to the camera:
Graphic designer and illustrator Erin Jang created this wonderful poster for her nephew’s third birthday.
How adorably fun!
I have to say that I’m very impressed with the boy’s extensive list of meaningful subway stops. My custom map would be about the same size, and would include the following stops (from north to south):
175th St – George Washington Bridge (for when I need to meet my parents in Fort Lee)
96th St – Central Park West (who doesn’t love Central Park?)
86th St (The Metropolitan Museum of Art & The Guggenheim Museum)
Columbus Circle (there are always things to do in Columbus Circle)
Fifth Ave – 53rd St (The MoMA)
42nd St – Times Square (Port Authority & Times Square)
34th St – Penn Station (my old company & the home of my beloved Knicks: Madison Square Garden)
34th St – Herald Square (K-Town)
14th St (J’s old company & my favorite places in Chelsea)
14th St – Union Square (Union Square)
Astor Pl (St. Marks Place)
Canal St (Chinatown)
Bay Ridge Ave (my babysitting charge lives here)
How about you? Which stops would your custom map include?
Last week, I was helping my mother go through some business documents at her store when her friend dropped by to visit.
“And what is your daughter doing here?”
“She’s helping me sort through these documents, make phone calls, write letters, and fill out forms.”
“What a great daughter!”
“Oh it’s nothing. She’s been doing this for us ever since she was in 2nd grade!”
What my mother said is true. When we first immigrated to the U.S., my parents painstakingly studied books, listened to cassette tapes, and even took night classes to learn English. But how could they properly learn while working 80 hours a week in an attempt to set up a new life in a new country (to which they had arrived with literally no money in their possession)…all while raising two young children?
My sister and I picked up our second language without much difficulty, and I, as the older daughter, quickly assumed the role of the translator.
I resented this while growing up, and I am ashamed to say that I still resent it at times. Not only was I required to decipher every letter that arrived at our address, I had to make phone calls, write letters, and intercede on my parents’ behalf. I have done this since elementary school.
Can you imagine being the only kid whose parents never attended parent-teacher conferences, and having to explain to your teachers that your parents can not visit because they do not speak English? (And no, I was not allowed to attend and translate on behalf of my parents.)
How about getting in heated debates with government agencies at the age of 8?
Even something as trivial as going out for dinner had the potential to become an embarrassing experience, because you just knew that your father (who always insisted on placing the order) will screw it up somehow…
The story is typical of many immigrant families. I know that I am not alone, and I am sure I had it a lot better than others.
However, I can’t deny that these circumstances force a child grow up a lot faster.
There were so many times during the course of my childhood where I could not let go and just have fun. Be a CHILD. How could I, when I had to write that letter to the New York State Department of Labor, call the phone company to ask why we had been charged an extra $30 this month, and translate for my parents a permission slip that the school had sent home with me earlier that day?
Even now, I hate the fact that my parents continue to call on me when I have my own “adult” problems to deal with.
Listening to my mother have the above conversation with her friend, my mind flashed back to bitter memories. To being forced to solve problems that should’ve rested on my parents’ shoulders. To losing time, to becoming so careworn at such a young age.
To being called in to do even more work just days after the most painful loss of my life.
“Oh it’s nothing. She’s been doing this for us ever since she was in 2nd grade!” my mother proudly exclaimed.
Nothing? NOTHING? How can you say that it’s NOTHING when —
It was then that I heard the underlying tone of my mother’s voice.
This hurts her more than it has hurt, or will ever hurt me.
*
Are you the children of immigrants? If so, did you have similar experiences?
My eyes started tearing up as soon as I read the line “I consider myself a mother, whose babies are no longer alive,” because this is exactly how I feel.
J and I returned to the OB’s office today to have my post-D&C follow-up.
After a brief examination, the doctor happily informed me that everything looks perfect. She said that we can try for another baby as soon as we feel ready.
“Is there anything we can do to prevent another miscarriage?”
“Unfortunately, not much at this point. I have found over the years that a surprisingly large number of women miscarry…they just don’t talk about it. The good news is that the majority of these women go on to have babies — many, HEALTHY babies. Since this is your first miscarriage, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. You’re both young and healthy, and you obviously have no trouble conceiving.”
She went on to add that if I planned on trying for another baby soon, I should continue taking my pre-natal vitamins to ensure that my body will have all the nutrients it needs for another pregnancy.
“That’s it! I hope to see you guys again in a few months! (If you’re ready, that is.)”
So that was that. The pregnancy was officially labeled “a fluke,” and as much as I hate the use of such an ugly term to describe our lost child, I am beginning to accept that it just wasn’t meant to be.
I had mentioned in the private post describing the D&C (request access here) just how much I love this OB practice and the hospital to which they’re affiliated. Since I had such a hard time looking for a good OB in my area (we live in Hudson County, NJ), I’ve decided to share their information with my readers:
Women’s Health Partners Obstetrics & Gynecology
222 Cedar Lane, Suite 204 Teaneck, NJ 07666-4312 201-836-4025
434 Palisade Avenue Cliffside Park, NJ 07010-2839 210-943-4884
Devorah Catherine Daley, M.D. Lev D. Kandinov, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Myriam Langer, M.D.
Although both offices are located in Bergen County (not Hudson), the Cliffside Park location is a surprisingly-short 15 minute drive from my house. I have met with and been treated with doctors Daley and Langer and would recommend them to anyone. The staff is attentive and friendly, and this truly was the first OB-GYN office — even before the pregnancy — that made me feel comfortable, relaxed, and informed.
The hospital that they’re affiliated with is Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ. They are a short, 10-15 minute drive from our house too and I couldn’t be happier with their services. Everyone I saw was so friendly, sympathetic, and attentive that both J and I agreed that this is the hospital we want to return to when we get pregnant again. (It also doesn’t hurt that all the rooms their new maternity ward are private suites.)
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.
175th St – George Washington Bridge (for when I need to meet my parents in Fort Lee) 
96th St – Central Park West (who doesn’t love Central Park?)
86th St (The Metropolitan Museum of Art & The Guggenheim Museum)
Columbus Circle (there are always things to do in Columbus Circle)
Fifth Ave – 53rd St (The MoMA)
42nd St – Times Square (Port Authority & Times Square)
14th St (J’s old company & my favorite places in Chelsea)
Canal St (Chinatown)
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 
