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December 29, 2005
Someone out there has learned the rain dance.....
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas!
December 20, 2005
I <3 NY. Really =)
December 6, 2005
NYU today was pisspoor. They're quite swamped these days.. and they're bad at establishing schedules for their students. I've been going to NYU since 1988. It was such a different place then. There were far fewer patients and it had a homey feel. 9th floor was were all the kids went, they had a nice area for distracting them. They said I broke the record for oldest patient there, and most number of students graduating on me. Perhaps the director of dentistry should try booking an appointment himself so he can experience and streamline the system. I hope so because NYU really is a great place.
December 1, 2005
Wow, it's December! I can't believe how this year flew by. Yesterday I saw someone driving and smoking, and the hand that was holding the cigarette had a LiveStong wristband on it... oh geez.
November 25, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving everyone =) It's that certain time of the year~ where it should be most of the time of the year. There wasn't any bbq this year, so we had turkey slices on pizza. Haha surprisingly good... and another memorable Thanksgiving where people was all that mattered. Elephant shoe all =)
November 19, 2005
We saw an Irish Setter and Black Labrador mix with the crossing guard the other day. It was so beautiful! When it had puppies, all the boy puppies were black. His name was Prince, and he was 15 years old. There was white hair mixed in with its reddish-brown fur, and he had a distinguished look. *sigh* I like the way a dog's nose is. Its got that curve and moist tip you just gotta love =)
November 18, 2005
Lately its been less journals and more journeys, but I think we can do both =)
November 15, 2005
This is a bit late, but the other day while waiting at the stoplight we saw a police cruiser drive on the wrong side of the street, passing everyone waiting at the red light, and going through the intersection. Then they parked facing the wrong way on the opposite side of the street. We had no idea why this cop just broke like three traffic laws until we drove over and saw the Dunkin' Donuts. I had never believed that cops and doughnuts thing before until that day. But I suppose they do need a place that opens 24 hours and has good coffee and stuff =)
November 7, 2005
Everyone should be tired! =)
October 30, 2005
Today was the end of daylight-saving time. I wish I'd posted this up sooner because it feels like I'm biting off someone elses' page =) But yea; lotsa walking, a street fair, a dog and his bottle, sea lions!, and getting smacked in the nose... to sum up today --> *ZINGY*
October 22, 2005
Saturday with The Journey today was awesome! I think the chilly rain may have even helped in spreading the Good News... and it seems like you can't meet two people at The Journey w/o bumping into an actor/actress or a musician =)
October 16, 2005
I want to be Indiana Jones this halloween. 'get candy get candy get candy...' It's a childhood fantasy. I used to play on the monkey bars in Kissena Park humming the theme. Those were real monkey bars.. the wood posts and metal bars variety. As Ken says, they instill real fear into you. How else are you going to learn if you don't fall a few times I suppose. *sigh* I've heard so many sappy stories these past few days... but it's more happy than sappy, you know?
October 13, 2005
"You can tell whether someone is clever by their answers. You can tell whether someone is wise because of their questions."
October 10, 2005
Top 11 Movies list in no particular order:
A Beautiful Mind
Gattaca
The Hunt For Red October
Back To The Future 1
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Terminator 2
Lilo and Stitch
Courage Under Fire
The Lion King
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Shawshank Redemption
September 29, 2005
After Katrina, a think-tank within the GOP called the Republican Study Committee, came out with this report on how to pay for the hurricane damages w/o raising taxes, in accordance w/Bush's statements. Basically, their plan is to cut spending on other areas of the budget. Surprise surprise, where do most of the cuts come from? Services to lower-income households and the elderly. It seems like we still haven't learned the lessons of Katrina. Here is the report, dubbed "Operation Offset" .
September 28, 2005
This Michael Brown guy doesn't know when to quit.
September 26, 2005
This was on wikipedia.org. It's captioned: "Dog interested in groundhog" =)
September 18, 2005
I got baptised today! Heh, for some reason I'm slightly more excited after being baptised than before it. Hmmm..
I think I learned something more about myself, and my relationships w/my friends, family, and God today. Sometimes when things are going well for us, it's harder to acknowledge all the support we get. And when we're in trouble, we're quick to seek the help of all which we take for granted. Standing with the other baptism candidates on the stage today, and looking down my parents and friends, I felt humble. With all their support and prayers and God's grace, there I was... and I remember thinking, "Wow, I am really standing here." If you had asked me five years ago if I could picture myself now, I probably would've said, "Hell no." That's the truth, and it just goes to show us that God can do anything, change anyone, and use everything. Perhaps not as extreme as Paul, but it's very real, very now, and very common =)
Interestingly, my parents don't know (yet) about how they unexpectedly played a role in my decision to become a Christian. I suppose I will tell them about it soon. Besides witnessing my baptism, I hope that Pastor Nelson and Pastor Kerrick's straightforward explainations of baptism, and his simple analogy with the wedding ring, helps my parents understand the meaning of being a follower of Christ.
Thank you everyone, for your prayers and support all these years. And when someone proclaims how great it is that I have you guys in my life, I will surely answer that I am blessed.
September 12, 2005
Rebuilding is always a challenge. But hopefully New Orleans will bounce back quickly. Four years after 9/11 and NYC still has basically a vacant lot.
September 3, 2005
Worst key to go 'sticky' on your keyboard: Enter
August 29, 2005
Finally, gas is more expensive than water.
August 15, 2005
Speed is good, but accuracy is final.
-Wyatt Earp
July 30, 2005
This is dedicated to my grandpa, Chang Chiang-Yan. Unfortunately, there's no strong tradition for eulogies in Chinese funerals, and I'm only the son of the youngest son:
Chang Chiang-Yan, my grandpa, was the closest and favorite relative from our extended family for me. We were blessed with the time he spent living with us at home in NY. He was a good person, who lived a long and eventful life. You wouldn't think that the person sitting there enjoying a banana had fought through a civil war, left his native land, helped in the establishment of a country, journeyed around the world, married and had five kids, and wrote amazing poetry. He led a rich and varied life most people now probably would never live. Chang Chiang-Yan did all this through a happy demeanor, with not a bad bone in his body. He cared for other people, took pleasures in the simple joys of life, and lived frugally.
My grandpa taught me many things.. my favorite things.. things you cannot learn in school. Things about how to be a person. He taught me family in telling me to not sign my letters too formally, and that no matter the age, a person can change for the better. My grandpa loved bananas and sweets like chocolate; small wants to satisfy his inner-child. And Chang Chiang-Yan was a giver to family and friends, not a receiver... he characteristically underestimates himself when he writes in his book that he regrets only leaving behind his poetry and no estate. He also taught me humility as he hummed happily while preparing food I could probably only eat with something to drink.
I also knew that for a time, he attended church, though stopped after a son passed away. My knowledge of this is limited, but I pray he did not stop believing and experiencing God's sweetness. With grandpa, the Bible tells us a few things. First is that we should take comfort in knowing that all things happen for a reason, which we sometimes cannot comprehend. When these things are bad, they teach us perseverance, compassion, and faith, and encourage us to look to the positive. God won't give us things we can't handle. The other thing the Bible tells us, is that the happiest people are givers. Chang Chiang-Yan thought more of others than himself, and always remembered other peoples' special days.
One last thing about my grandpa Chang Chiang-Yan was that I felt he always believed in me. It's a feeling you don't get from everyone. It's too late to tell him about it now, but it's not too late for me to do something about it... things he never doubted. We'll miss him, but I'll always remember.. so we thank you grandpa, and we'll see you.
July 27, 2005
It's 3AM... and 78º outside.
July 11, 2005
Yesterday was a blessed day. It was Sunday, and always great outside. Went back for The Journey, lunch, stroll in Kissena Park, radiator replacement, and dinner. It was a long day I suppose, but morning service, non-Italian food, and spending time with Ken and Jackie was beyond price, yummy, and cherished =)
Learned an interesting tidbit from Pastor Nelson too, who revealed that he was a young successful computer programmer.. but wasn't truly satisfied until he decided to dedicate his life to Christ. He continued to explain through the service how we're always on missions, no matter who and where we are. Sometimes we are the only ones who can reach some people.
July 10, 2005
Michelle Weeeee!
July 9, 2005
What's with the newbie wraith strat?!
July 7, 2005
"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender..." - W. Churchill
We live in a time of sophisticated and far-reaching terrorism. Aircraft used as guided missiles, concealed high explosives in public places, kidnappings, and murders.. terror has evolved into something that is sadly part of life. But it's also important to think about the good people are capable of. Just after the London bombings, PM Blair looked like a mixture of agony, resolve, and exasperation as he talked about it... and said how it's sad that "in a time when world leaders are getting together to help better the environment and improve lives, terrorists are out to only destroy and kill innocents". One writer to Newsweek stated blunty: "It seems that terrorists are holding nothing back in trying to achieve their objectives. What if we did the same, how would they like to see the West detonate a few nuclear weapons?" Thankfully, we aren't playing by the terrorists' rules. Call me idealistic, but I believe good will prevail and in time we will eliminate most of the causes of terrorism while preserving our ways of life.
July 4, 2005
Happy Birthday USA! I didn't see this relaxing day coming at all, but I joined JYM at Jones Beach for some swimming and fireworks. The Fireworks were spectacular.. we carved out nice 'hospital beds' in the sand about one-fifth of a mile from the fireworks barge offshore. We could feel the shockwaves from the fireworks, and lay there mesmerized by the dazzling array of colors. Fireworks get their colors from different metals; barium for green, copper for blue, sodium for yellow, strontium for red, etc. It was surely an unforgettable experience.
July 2, 2005
Yay for long weekends! Had a long week. Hung out with Mike/Jen and thier friend Yee from 'Oregen'. Watched the sunset at the beach... skipped some stones.. fun playground.. chatted with the locals.. met their nice doggie too =) Still didn't buy a binder for my journal, and for some reason, Parrot Bay is easier to find than stationery. Saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", also a great movie. I suppose I went in with low expectations. And while it's basically a typical Hollywood movie, the acting and chemistry was seductive. Oh, and the dialogue is totally the opposite of Star Wars =P
July 1, 2005
So tonight the stars lined up and I finally saw "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". It's a really good movie, where people can selectively erase memories. Haha, one of the little things I liked about the movie was that it was filmed partly on the LIRR. The characters also sort of remind me of some people I know. You start feeling for the characters, cheering them on as they grapple with love and the truth. But the premise of the movie is both scary and fascinating at the same time. Fascinating because think of the applications.. victims of crime, security-clearance employees, bad memories, etc. Frightening because... well isn't it just scary how memories can be taken away from you?! Precious memories!!
June 26, 2005
70,000+ people showed up this past Saturday when we went to see Billy Graham. (!) Billy Graham kept it simple and direct, and modern. (references to Star Wars Ep.3, Madonna, recent rock music surveys, etc...) I guess he was trying to cover the younger ones in the crowd. His service was very focused, and I didn't know that he normally ended it by an altar call where people can go up towards the front to commit to Christ and/or seek help... It was also a nice surprise to see Bill and Hillary on stage. Apparently Billy and Bill are pretty close buds... which I thought ironic because of the things Slick Willie has gotten himself into. But I suppose Clinton is simultaneously lovable and needy, and I'm sure Billy Graham has been a great friend.
June 23, 2005
Billy Graham is coming to Queens for perhaps his last crusade. There's been a series of articles in the NYTs from which I have learned a great deal about this amazing evangelist. Details on his site, www.billygraham.org/NYCrusade_Cover.asp. I'm both excited and anxious for this coming weekend. An audience of One! =)
June 22, 2005
OK, enough of that silly song. Haha, when I was growing up, I wanted to be Indiana Jones.. who wouldn't?! It's also an extremely catchy theme song to hum while playing on the Kissena Park jungle gym.
June 16, 2005
Music is just amazing. There's practically no end to the combination of melodies and depth of music. I'm still thinking about the time when my friend said a few years ago that she'd rather be blind than deaf because she just wouldn't be able to bear a world without music or peoples' voices. It was really thought-provoking, because up to that point, everyone choose sight. I tried going through a part of the day w/o one of my senses. With no vision, activities like like searching for things in the cabinet or on the floor was frustrating. I also couldn't play my sports or go on the computer. I used earplugs to simulate the lack of hearing, and I was surprised of how lonely it felt. No music, no voices.. nothing to grab my attention if I could not see it. I suppose it's still a matter of personal preference, mostly based on personality and lifestyle. I'd still choose sight over sound, but the distinction is murkier now.
PS: The silly song is playing for music appreciation.
June 10, 2005
The search goes on: There was a nice Raleigh road bike for 'local pickup only' in Flushing on eBay... and 3 other bidders! GRRR
June 6, 2005
Wal-Mart came out with a $150 road bike. I am really, really tempted to buy it. But it seems to be barebones, no-frill, and made from the cheapest components possible. The Shimano RD seems to be the best part, though it's probably just barely enough to use the Shimano name. I guess Wal-Mart deserves some recognition in offering a road bike at this price.. it's a good introduction to the road bike world, albeit a poor investment for heavy users.
A lot of people have asked me about buying a bike recently. This particular road bike from Wal-Mart is made by Kent, a well-known generic brand. Other generic manufacturers are Huffy, Pacific, etc... Brand name bikes include Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, etc. The bike market is actually pretty simple in my opinion: above a certain price, say $250, you will be buying a tool rather than a toy. Brand name bikes usually start around this price, and they're the basic models. Bike stores are a decent place to find a brand name bike. Bikes at places like Toys-R-Us or Sears are mostly toy bikes for casual use, so expect them to last a few years, which is ok for most people, but not 15+ years like true brand name quality bikes. What you are paying for with a higher-priced branded bike is the manufacturing tolerances, design, and race testing to guarantee that the bike is a reliable machine. So figure $250 for a basic hardtail model. You can spend more, but then the marginal returns don't justify the costs beyond a point, say $600. There are actually many bikes out there worth more than used cars, but they're for pros, rich people, or people who otherwise demand the high end.
My friend and I are still using our $100 Toys-R-Us bikes, since sophomore year HS. I use mine regularly, and we've ridden hundreds of miles and they still work pretty much fine. I suppose eventually we'll be getting a pair of nice road bikes, but currently, our needs are satisfied =)
June 2, 2005
How to justify eating half a bag of pretzels: "I'm only eating the broken ones!!" *bang bang bang*
June 1, 2005
Still on the roller coaster.....
And I doubt anyone checks anymore, but I'm going to backup FFJ7 and delete it soon. So it'll just be this blog and maybe some portfolio stuff I'm working on =)
May 17, 2005
We often pray in times of trouble. And often in these prayers, the focus is more on ourselves. But this doesn't necessarily mean that we're selfish and approach God with only requests and self-interest... I think this is something that took me a a while to figure out.
For a long time in my prayers, I hated asking for things.. I had no problems asking for things for other people, but I had a real reluctance to ask God for things for myself. I felt that it wasn't right of me to ask things because of all He has done for me, and all that I have not (or negatively did). Whenever I did ask God for help, I felt ashamed and helpless. I really didn't like those feelings. Perhaps I should've seeked help, but I didn't even notice.
Come finals week: Papers and multiple cumulative finals piled up on each other. A nice recipe for trouble eh? So, I prayed. But this time, something was different.. I suddenly felt OK to be ashamed, helpless, and dependent. And I realized that it was because I had totally surrendered to God this time. Issues at the moment started making more sense; the need to study, missing home, etc...
God really does use events in our lives to bring us closer to Him. Here, through current troubles, I rediscovered prayer in a way. (Some of you may know how prayer played a major factor in leading me to God.) I hope that I never return to the distanced sort of prayer I had before, and that we will all pray with bared, open-hearts to God's plans.
PS: Interestingly, we had just gone over Chapter 25 in The Purpose Driven Life, 'Transformed by Trouble' =) It mentions my favorite verse: "...troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope." -Romans 5:3-4
May 15, 2005
Oh joyous events that do not make it to this page... and somber ones too. *sigh*
May 3, 2005
I need a road bike. A road bike has thinner, smoother tires, and typically triple the psi. So a road bike is so much faster than a mountain bike, though they're not as durable, and are less stable turning at low speeds. O wells, I just wanna go faster =)
Today's evening class was fairly interesting. During his administration, Nixon stated that, "You can't legislate morality", in opposition to the arguments for race equality. It was claimed that there were no laws possible to make anyone change their minds on racism, so why bother. And here we are thirty years later... with all the talk about banning gay marraige and abortion, Republicans would go nuts if anyone said to them, "You can't legislate morals".
May 1, 2005
All the scallion pancakes in the world cannot satisfy the hunger in your heart.
April 29, 2005
Does anyone know if there's an extension for Firefox to play midi files?
April 12, 2005
The night sky is so clear these days -err nights =)
April 11, 2005
New Dream Machine. It has a really loud buzzer and green LEDs. This is good, because it's going to be a long week... can't wait til the weekend. Come help paint park benches at Flushing Meadows Park this Saturday with NY Cares! We can grab some scallion pancakes afterwards =)
April 6, 2005
Pear slices dipped in strawberry yogurt is soo good!
April 5, 2005
This book is so awesome. It seems like every time something comes up, it's addressed or touched upon in the very next chapter. Read The Purpose Driven Life, and strive to be that flourishing tree =)
April 4, 2005
I love college basketball. The games are almost always close and entertaining.
April 2, 2005
Thanks for a great weekend everyone! =)
March 29, 2005
What does going to college mean? Is it the pursuit of knowledge? A piece of paper? Pressure from family? Fulfilling expectations? Preparing for the future? It could be easily any of these things. But today sitting in class, I realized more than ever that college is to open our minds.. to teach us critical thinking and new perspectives.
I think it's ironic how it's the classes that aren't the core of my majors that influence me most. For business and economics, although there are many facets, at the core of both are math and the theory of supply and demand. These classes are obviously necessary and required, but often it's the electives that we make a living from. Things like accounting, finance, HR, marketing, etc... Haha, too bad there's no major for the "diversified curriculum" classes =D
March 28, 2005
Great break. Yay! I got something rhymed =)
March 18, 2005
Break. Really need it.
March 12, 2005
It's snowing again... but I really wanna play rball today after seeing this animation. That's lefty, Cliff Swain, 5-time World Champ from Team Wilson, showing us why he has six professional season-ending rankings titles.
March 8, 2005
Just finished a box of Sour Power. It was pricey, but I did it for nostalgia. Haha, I think everyone has tried Sour Power before. (Some places call them sour strawberry straws.) I was a sour power junkie in elementary school... when those things were a nickel. Later they came out with sour belts and also grape, blueberry, and green apple flavors. They jacked up the price too. Sour power was really good, so good that I wanted to prolong its flavor. Stupidly, I figured the sour power powder/grains were salt. I bought home a bucks worth and had a few strips. After the grains dissolved in my mouth, I took them out and rolled them around in a little mound of salt I had prepared. I thought I was the smartest kid in the world! That was the moment right before I realized that salt was NOT what that powder was.
There are just some things they don't teach you in school =P
March 7, 2005
Had a really great weekend =)
In other news: after 7 great years, the days may be numbered for Nude & GeoCities. Took a generous offer for a subdomain. Perhaps I will post and develop there. But for the time being, I have no single archive for all the stuff on this account... so it'll take some time to catalog and xfer. (GeoCities is also using increasingly sophisticated code to show its ads.)
March 6, 2005
*Grrr* OK, it's complicated. "Oh the things we'd like to say..."
March 2, 2005
Got to be more normal. It's not very complicated.
February 20, 2005
Came across this Gallup Poll, where Americans ranked public service professions highest in honesty and ethics:
1. Nurses
2. Grade school teachers
3. Druggists, pharmacists
4. Military officers
5. Medical doctors
6. Policemen
7. Clergy
8. Judges
9. Day care providers
10. Bankers
11. Auto mechanics
12. Local officeholders
13. Nursing home operators
14. State officeholders
15. TV Reporters
16. Newspaper reporters
17. Business executives
18. Congressmen
19. Lawyers
20. Advertising practitioners
21. Car salesmen
February 10, 2005
Three years of denial... and now "nukes" are official.
February 9, 2005
Happy Chinese New Year. It's also Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The next several weeks will be a challenge...
January 30, 2005
I'm anxiously excited about Iraq =)
January 27, 2005
I'm oddly excited about this P&G acquisition.
January 15, 2005
Long day at SVP today, or rather, yesterday. It was cold, windy, and wet. Walking the streets these days, I imagine feeling like a lowly private on the front lines of an ad war, with the brass back in the rear, absent in experiencing the grit of our campaign. Haha, I felt a strange sympathetic connection with the delivery people biking out in the sleet. (I didn't know Carmine's delivered. Must be pretty hard with those heavy family portions...)
Fellowship at CCBC was good today.. even though I was pretty tired. I think the engaging nature of fellowship helped a lot. And it was great to see so many people from retreat again. We had an activity where we essentially played "SimChurch", discussing what spiritual gifts we might want in our church. Gifts such as teaching, pastoring, and evangelism. In the light of experiences working at SVP, the gift of evangelism stuck out to me.
Generally, there's nothing 'free' in this world. And of course it shows when we encounter lotsa people who are skeptical of the concept of a non-profit organization and/or reluctant to join our advertising cooperative. With immigrants from some cultures, it's a difficult concept to grasp. Mostly because it's almost non-existent in their native countries. One vendor actually thought that I worked for the police commander, and that he would get harrassed if he gave me his name. So today I thought about the gift of evangelism, and how difficult a function it must be. It is hard enough convincing people about a non-prof, but the conveyance of grace leading to the understanding and acceptance of it is truly a gift.
January 11, 2005
Work is a four letter word.
January 1, 2005
Retreat w/CCBC was so good!!! I'm still feeling high and full of spirit and emotion. It was truly an experience and awakening. I have never been in the presence of a group of people like this; who care and understand so much about one another. And I never would've thought I would discover so many things about myself and grow this much. Thanks you guys, for the opportunity and a great four days..... *contented sigh* Happy New Years =)
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