tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13732789641415807612024-03-19T01:45:41.594-07:00krys simon saysautobiographical ceaseless self strengthenersuperlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-5338758214076495212011-11-17T22:07:00.000-08:002011-11-28T12:51:53.707-08:00occupy your heart<div><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6278443040_0cd3e16e47.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><div>life isn't fair. i've learned very quickly. and that's just a fact, inequality is inevitable. we can only evolve because some things are stronger, faster, and smarter than others. for the most part, everyone finds this disparity as perfectly acceptable. we were taught the rules earlier on and then we play our parts accordingly. capitalism could not exist otherwise. but recently, it's become clear that many people are very unhappy in their position, particularly with the money game.</div><br /><div>bad news: american society seems to be developing the wrong kind of inequality. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s">since the 70s</a>, the kind of inequality experienced by most americans has undermined the perceptions of fairness and trust, which in turn leads to a very unsatisfying pursuit to unified happiness.</div><br /><div>a little bit about myself: i grew up in a very large, very filipino family. imagine five families living in a two story house in san francisco. you'd think things would be a complicated mess really quickly. but it was actually quite simple. family is of the highest importance in filipino culture, and how important your placement is in that family is the driving force in the system. if you're kicked out of the family system for some grave disobedience (like violence), you're as good as dead.</div><br /><div>but this rarely happens. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_psychology">kapwa</a> (family togetherness) means that we share everything, including our own personal issues. if one person has a problem, it's everyone's problem. likewise with gain, we are equally pleased when another member succeeds. to see another succeed is like our own personal gain as well. what drives this charitable response? psychologists state that most southeast asian cultures have a natural dislike of inequality. it's not that personal gain doesn't make us feel good, it's that sharing with others can make us feel even better.</div><br /><div>in reality, of course, american culture is not nearly as egalitarian. after all, the top 1 percent of earners aren't exactly lobbying for higher taxes or donating large sums to those on welfare (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett">warren buffet</a> is the exception). so what explains this discrepancy? when we work hard, we believe we deserve our riches. when we ask for a salary raise, we believe it's just compensation for talent and hard work. the higher the entitlement, the lesser the guilt in having more than others. manifest destiny!</div><br /><div>so here we are, playing the game of capitalism. the rules seem straightforward, and we all seem to understand the inequality of wealth and not having a problem with it. but the real problem is when the wealthy use their wealth to buy over-representation in the government and then use that over-representation to shore up their position of wealth at the expense of the rest of the population.</div><br /><div>or maybe it's the legislators. our elected representatives are the ones responsible for designing an honest system, right? if washington creates tax loopholes, can you blame smart people for using them? either way, some folks decided to get mischievous… the injustice has recently become apparent and now a lot of folks are angry. and i mean angry.</div><br /><div>there is fair inequality and there is unfair inequality. right now there is too much unfair inequality.</div><br /><div>the whole occupy wall street movement illuminates our innate sense of fairness. it's not that we demand equality, some prefer to work harder than others. It's that we can't stand it when inequality is a result of injustice. when the rich do something to deserve their riches, nobody complains; that's just how you play the game. but when the unequal distribution of wealth isn't fairly explained, when it seems as if the winners are getting rewarded for no reason, those at the bottom are gonna get furious. they doubt the integrity of the system and become more sensitive to perceived inequalities.<br /></div><br /><div>america has become such a huge spectacle. we've got the young and the poor acting out because they're not adequately being served by our republic. and now they're being repressed with force and violence like it's some fucking communist revolution (angry teacher speaking). and then there's the mix of middle aged affluent folks who are trying to take this opportunity to move society another step closer to peace and prosperity for all. if people are dissatisfied, do we alienate them and ship them off to mexico? or do we want to acknowledge their grievances and welcome them into the fold of people who are trying to make the world a better place.<br /></div><br /><div>i don't know why the world is the way it is. but if one thing is constant, it's that things change. i was once completely immersed in that rat race towards "success", glorifying the exultation of the chase. but like all things, i've changed my mind. rather than simply existing in the world, i've decided to give my life more meaning by being of service to it. against my self-sufficiency, i'm relying more on other people, having faith in the community i identify with and contribute to. i'm striving to represent the sensible and practical human being we're supposed to be.<br /></div><br /><div>an economist says, "more for you is less for me" while the lover knows, "more for you is more for me too". living a life according to what you give, rather than what you get, that's the real pursuit to happiness.<br /></div><br /><iframe width="400" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BRtc-k6dhgs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-38122922952366556712011-10-01T22:06:00.000-07:002011-10-07T09:05:01.469-07:00berlin, je t'aime<div>(short story for <a href="http://vivantph.com/">Vivant Magazine</a>, "Postcards from Afar", October Issue)</div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Once upon a yesterday, there traveled a small Filipina girl from San Francisco. She'd wandered far and wide, sipping coffee at every cafe she stubbled upon and staring fiercely into the scenery behind a single pair of Ray Bans. She was always ready to try whatever the world was willing to offer her. One day, the San Franciscan we shall call Krys, was invited by an old lover to wander out with the Germans, in the raucous city where electronic music was born. Krys had never been to such a place as Berlin and was curious to know what all the fuss is about behind all of the rumors that made this city so unique. So right away she went. Even in the early stages of her Berlin adventure, there was already promise for yet another trip to remember, to remind herself what a lucky son-of-a-bitch she truly is.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6125918501_ee589a412b.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Winding down at Caffe Del Moro along the artsy Linientstr<span class="s1">ße</span>.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Speeding from the airport to downtown Mitte, where she will be staying with this old flame, she was already taking pictures with no prisoners through the lenses of her camera imbedded in her mind. Like a true tourist, she must have looked like a well choreographed exhibition of excitement. Immediately, she could tell the art scene was massive. Just look around, the best art is found in the streets of Berlin. There was so much great street art, so much a single being could contain. Starting in the middle of the city, there are many galleries along the parallel streets of Linienstr and Auguststr (the US equivalent to Shattuck and Telegraph in the Bay Area, with a touch of New York's Chelsea district). The big ones there were KW, C/O and Tacheles, squatted department stores that contained several galleries, artist studios, hip bars and even a retro cinema that housed only the best Charlie Chaplin flicks.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6218812819_16e3df5174.jpg" width="400" /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6125919085_90603b5812.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(<span class="s1">Painted murals by the famous Brazilian street artist </span>Os Gêmios and Italian street artist Blu, both located in Freidrichstain.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Giddy with anticipation, she weaved through the herd of tall blue-eyed blondes, ready to embrace her long awaited prince. But alas, she realized immediately that he was no longer the prince she'd once loved and kept close in her dreams. Poof, he'd become a pumpkin! A kind and generous pumpkin, but a pumpkin nonetheless. A pity, she'd hoped to reunite with a true loves kiss and come to realize her true heart's desire. Rather than cultivating romance from nothing, she rolled with the nonexistent chemistry and continued on her journey alone.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6126466264_c42a679013.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Baiz Cafe gives forewarning to all their customers.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">At dusk, the sound of house music began to spew from every entrance of every bar within the vicinity. The nightclub sounds mixed poorly into the streets, creating more of a white noise than anything worth grooving to. Krys was surprised to find only one pub that played rock music from her motherland. This pub, named Baiz, also had a sign over the door that translated "no budweiser, no lattes, no bullshit." Finally, she found her home away from home! In she went, as if her fairy godmother was waiting impatiently inside. Dosing in and out of the cigarette cloud, Krys couldn't help admiring a German hipster boy hanging by the corner of the bar, reading through his novel in peace over the blaring lo-fi. When he looked over and smiled at the small Filipina, she felt as if he was tugging on her heart strings. "When will she receive her true loves kiss?", she wondered.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6218811103_e6961be2b7.jpg" width="400" /><br /><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/6218811571_fa3a24234a.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(The Holocaust Memorial)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">The following day, Krys was off to enjoy all modern art at the Hamburger Bahnhoff Museum, which is not far away in the shadow of the TV tower. "It's like the Space Needle!", cried the traveling foreigners. Climbing up the top of the tower, she'd hoped to stand before a beautiful damsel in distress. Instead, she stood before a revolving restaurant - expensive but with a very amazing view of the whole city. Museum Insel has a ton of museums crammed into a small space. Krys spent the entire day on this magnificent island, then walked down Unter Den Linden to the Brandenberg Gate and into the park. Just before the Gate, she immediately noticed the infamous Hotel Adlon, where MJ held his handkerchief baby out the window! Next to the gate, across from the park was the amazing Holocaust Memorial, where Krys found herself lost in a sea of concrete slabs. She could already feel the magnitude of Jewish victims during the Holocaust as she walked through the grid. A block or two from Checkpoint Charlie was the Martin-Gropius-Bau, a cool mini-museum Krys stumbled upon along with some remaining sections of the wall.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6218810503_9c05bb1dc8.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Brandenberg Gate)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Speaking of the wall, what made her trip worthwhile was the East Side Gallery. This is a long walk along part of the remaining Berlin Wall which is covered with murals. This is what people expect to see in Berlin and, as expected, Krys was blown away at the international memorial of freedom. She felt quite privileged. Behind the wall along the river, Krys strolled right into a nice little reggae beach bar called Yaam, and showed all the Europeans how to shake their booty Bay Area style. Across the water were some other ones like Kiki Blowfeld, Badeschiff and Klub de Visionaire. (Unfortunately, her phone was out of batteries at that point, and she missed a lot of beautiful photo opportunities for you all to see.)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/6219336916_7fb995724a.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(East Side Gallery)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">One innate quality of a Filipino is the art of haggling, when two parry back and forth managing to arrive at a price which neither party to the transaction would consider it "robbery". When Krys needs to truly enjoy one of these special moments, she'll either go to Chinatown or a flea market. And Flohmarket am Mauerpark is an exceptional place to go watch the wonderfully frustrating dance between customer and salesperson. With speed and accuracy, Krys found exquisite handmade clothing, possibly stolen bikes, and even managed to haggle a vintage accordion for 3 euros! She also found to chatting with robots, stuffed her tiny belly with delicious donners, and managed to find other Filipino-like activities such as... KARAOKE!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6218816971_586cd28ee6.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Flohmarket am Mauerpark)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Damn, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is beautiful. The streets are paved with cobblestone, the graffiti leaned more towards fine art, and you can faintly hear accordion music in the distance. And having a cupcakery in the area really is the cherry on top to this beautiful neighborhood.As suggested by a veteran Berlin DJ, Krys went out one night for some late night dancing at Panorama Bar and Watergate, which are best when both floors are open. They are only open on the weekends, and it was suggested that she go to these places between 4 to 6 in the morning. "And don't even think about leaving before noon!," the DJ exclaimed, as he flipped through the pages of Zitty Magazine. By the stroke of dawn, off she went with all of the most beautiful, hot mess hipsters, gathering once again to free themselves under the electronic disco ball. Krys along with the hot messes witnessed yet another spectacular sunrise as they continued to run out and play. "This is some serious partying…," Krys whispered wearily to herself.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6218815061_b062aaed03.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Another much needed coffee break at Sankt Oberholz.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Berlin is full of charm, more charm than even Paris could hold. Getting off the train at random stops, Krys would stop to discover typical streets with more charm than she could have ever imagined. Even the benches she'd sit on is charming. It's so charming here, people openly display their affection for one another without shame or pause. Throughout this lovely city, she would find love in pairs. In transit, a mother and daughter share a warm baguette together. A man gives his son a ride on his fatherly shoulders. A romantic embrace between two lovers on a bridge, completely oblivious to the crowd of stares they've attracted. She knew at that moment, between the pair of loves, time stands still. And in that moment, she felt completely alone.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6219332788_54eb526f3a.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(Two lovers get lost in transit.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Krys has placed herself in many situations, traveling the same way she strolls through the easy streets of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. She is famous for laughing out loud among her invisible company, with no concern for how odd she must have looked hanging out, be it on a train, at a bar, or in a crowded club. The glory of feeling completely alone is that it has instilled confidence in her, knowing that she's becoming the woman that she always hoped to be. Patient, kind, and loving to herself… and then having the ability to love others. Krys continues on, with the quiet hope that someone will find her missing slipper and will be moved by the gestures of her toes. They'll serve their purpose together and live happily ever after. Until then, she'll love this city and everything it stands for and seeks to instill.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6101/6219333990_5dd9726c30_z.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-size: x-small; ">(The U2 line towards Pankow, a photo reminder of which train to take back home.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">On her last night in Berlin, Krys sits on a quiet bridge somewhere in Mühlenstraße, admiring the stillness of the river. Just beyond the trees by the riverbed was the brightest, fullest moon. Krys decided then that nobody could ever tell her it was the same moon that she had admired before. The truth is she has always enjoyed her solitude, and this moment was no exception. Upon realization, her fairy godmother magically appears out of thin air, ready to take her back to the land they called home.</p></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-12119036829574327342011-05-04T22:46:00.000-07:002011-09-07T22:58:07.453-07:00wanderlustingrepost from erick's blog <a href="http://diphthongs.blogspot.com/2011/05/wanderlust-wednesday-4.html">"Here I go."</a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; position: relative; font: normal normal normal 30px/normal Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; ">Wanderlust Wednesday [4]</h3><div class="post-header" style="line-height: 1.6; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 10px; "><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3024101572260896926" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; ">For this Wanderlust Wednesday, I am very excited to introduce Krys Simon, one of the most beautiful people you will ever meet. Beauty that doesn't just run skin deep but one that emanates from the depths of her soul, manifesting itself in everything she touches with her talented hands. I cannot praise her enough for all of the amazing things she has done and continue to do. I hope you enjoy her stories as much as I do!<div><br /><b>Name</b> - Krys Simon<p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Site </b>- <a href="http://www.kryssimon.com/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(7, 77, 143); ">www.kryssimon.com</a>, <a href="http://www.superlaughter.yelp.com/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(7, 77, 143); ">www.superlaughter.yelp.com</a>, <a href="http://www.kryssimonsays.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(7, 77, 143); ">www.kryssimonsays.blogspot.com</a></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Occupation</b> - Professor Associate at California State University (East Bay), while selectively freelancing in web design and iPhone/iPad app development.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Birthplace</b> - Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. 100% Filipina, 100% Sucka Free.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Current Location</b> - California girl, still in love with the bay…</p><p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvlS8jekYDAZwNUJbYlYs-OBFNrlcif0BP2PScuyo8OMiiKqeM59H8hsUaX8sF5F01F06-hojMieN-Mp2YxV_ubkBoGEjNTmX7hOAuBxwa-mWpwKMwU4lRfJ6kq6__7WeyoF98IyaMq-H/s400/4553849614_a952a99c23_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600576251472951634" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; ">(Golden Gate Bridge, California)</span></span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Trips Made</b> - US (Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, DC, Virginia, Florida, Hawaii), Canada (Montreal and Quebec City), Mexico (Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Guadalajara), Philippines Islands (Pampanga, Baguio, San Fernando, Luzon, Angeles, Quezon City, Manila, Boracay), Brazil (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and some area in the Amazon), Peru (LIma and Callao), Australia (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne), Italy (Florence and San Gimignano), China (Hong Kong and Macau)</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyw8ejCRIO3Ww2RzuI0QRnZqrlPx7n0yq3vHkOQATMBGhrJAcRiE1nOWFwIkxvbTq0TcTATb2iTP9b1j0n0vLGOjNs1LLdv0s42IFZNpeB7mcpaj0t6oUfK_5ahF21cYDd5b8KW-GzeEy/s400/5610966775_7e7fd897fb_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600576832620832850" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 150px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span>(Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)</span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Trips on the List</b> - Heading out to Berlin soon and will probably venture out around Europe during my stay. Shortly afterwards, I plan on visiting a good friend in Beijing and will probably venture out as well (hopefully I'll get to rendezvous with my long lost cousin along the way). I'm also currently applying to several humanities grants for our research thesis project on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which will fund our backpacking trip around India.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; ">I'd like to visit the family in Australia sometime next year and hit up New Zealand along the way. I hear the surf and the wildlife there are phenomenal! I've also been wanting to visit Alaska too and then continue island hopping around the Philippines. Next stop, Cebu!</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbwTAwa_GuxO6Rze9QeLTmzus9S4aqAqxZ-TwfPwsrSVjyYqPsaKcUcm4Hy1Js4kh0SV8nsEopQfrVST7kouj2PsGU_yzsiHJ-zEOV7C6b91egAlUWXLy4jHErSyPSZYPFFVqodCy-gDs/s400/5611004633_e2de780ff2_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600577366923900962" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span>(Freshly "enhanced" Brazilian national monument, Sao Paulo)</span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Featured trip</b> - This was in 2007 during our stay in Brazil, my then-boyfriend and I had just spent a day traipsing around the favelas, sippin' on Guarana. After hitting up a dope ass Chemical Brothers show in Sao Paulo, on the drive back home, we were stopped by what looked like guerrilla terrorists with their rifles and all. Forced out of the car, they raided the shit out of us. I totally thought I was gonna get raped and was ready to die in attempts to judo kick their ass. But Dolfo seduced them in portuguese somehow, mentioning that we were coming back from a Chemical Brothers concert. Apparently, they were also CB fans and started choppin' it up like we were all homies. Pat on the back and an escort back home, we made it back to Dolfo's place safe and sound. The following morning, we take a plane ride to the Amazons to spend a few days at their private resort (his parents were head physicists at GE Brazil so they had hookups). That trip was pretty intense.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEyYSIpLu7rl0SRoSff7Js2ZwNMpSxt7sWomnDS6B8ToVGzq0iHD-ETPYluga6JDHG9B4IyIEb3Kqw9rmoZYk8hG5yVOdOl_ROVcKZLnG9n_sbYrXdfVoUufEgkyA4-jFawmP4POU3oLj/s400/5611548054_efe393e31a_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600577701660311330" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span>(Masantol Elementary School, Pampanga)</span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Teach, learn, share</b> - "My culture gives me fire. My people give me strength. My words are a declaration of will. My work and my actions are a shout out to the world that no one is going to tell me what to do." Growing up female, first generation Filipino, and American, I've always understood how truly privileged I am of all this opportunity my family has worked so hard for, so that I don't have to live in a state of revolution they went through for me. Traveling alone is a simple reminder of that.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; ">Despite the poverty I've encountered during my travels, I've found the most kindness and generosity from the very people living in it, and I try to carry that with me back in the States. When I feel that I've lost touch with that humility and gratitude, drowning in my hipster pretentiousness and self-entitlement, it means that it's time to take another trip back home. I'll island hop and get those highs again, where everything shines with boundless potential, and i'll remember again never to take my life for granted.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; ">So I guess my tip to you all is… just fucking travel! I can only hope that it will broaden your mind and open the doors to self-awareness. As it should.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><i><span><span style="font-style: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3YaCKdrp9JrcGY0hMq7FEVTdJ8JABbiCkRSUKkVidknWQPXjPVTrLVp-zZoS0PBPbYiLzVS8F7JmXGmtb1AdnLAKFc4LnzlFpgnk7djaPBN5gsheKoVptysxoc8I95rjuPy7zGYj3bbI/s400/5610967233_b64fab401e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600578256149676338" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></span></i></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><i><span><span style="font-style: normal; ">(Fishball vendor, San Fernando)</span></span></i></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Worst food</b> - I'm always down with street food. ALWAYS. Even if it means sitting on a toilet for a day. Don't be surprised to find me in some random street stall, hovering over a vat of hot oil, poking at all that fried deliciousness. But there was this one dish I had in Hong Kong that every local recommended, chou doufu or deep-fried stinky tofu. This fermented tofu dish was served with some kind of thick hoisin sauce that smelled like heaven. But after one bite, I thought something died in my mouth. It tasted so putrid!</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; ">Pig blood? No problem. Under-developed duck eggs? Delicious. But stinky tofu? Hells no.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOryoYAQ616Q9sKf4m5Ks7YhwionCz3fWRtbBQIfJjFq2EBvblLM1kKyxKuemKjt11tsuc1ynxNdDCB6-S_KN86RyKJKuIcyYcrjqdGX4SpDr1s0owbGNqqzZYwRv_99poQR0Lnmeslbn/s400/5611552366_dd4bce47a4_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600578797354613730" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span>(Financial District, Hong Kong)</span></p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b>Do you have any tattoos?</b> - My mother and father's first name are written above my wrist and their last names below my triceps (mother on right side and father on left side, respectively). "Hope" in hebrew is located on my right forearm, "Fear" in hebrew on my left forearm, and a large phonograph below it. Rodolfo's name is on my left wrist. "What nurtures you destroys you" in Latin is written along my left rib cage. An octopus (my sister/power animal) hovers along the bottom right side of my back and thigh. A couple of her tentacles are wrapped around a branch of cherry blossoms, which covers the left side of my back and shoulder. I have a yin yang behind my neck, 510 inside my lip, my birthdate behind my left thigh and a crying minotaur from Radiohead's Amnesiac album above it.</p><p style="border-collapse: collapse; ">Yeah, I've got a lot of tattoos but I've already made the decision to have my body covered eventually. There's no rush though, I've got my whole life to do so and I would love to tattoo and get tattooed during my travels soon.</p></div></div></span></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-23803343005084374662009-09-15T02:03:00.000-07:002009-09-15T08:55:25.514-07:00please: derelicte is soooo 2001<div>With the recession in tow, it has become much more difficult to follow today's trends, forcing us to become more creative with our resources, or lack there of. Getting grown these days has led many of us to do some grand reflection: Do we hipsters simply comprise a genuine cultural movement based on mere spending power and are we now becoming a passing trend? Can the recession bring us back to the state of "authenticity" like our hipster forefathers?</div><br /><div>Let’s take a look back.</div><br /><div>The Hipsters Then: Smoking, drugs, nonconformity, transracial interconnectivity, sexual open-mindedness, and rebellious as hell. They were the skinny-tied jive-speakers, exercising their right to do the Boogie Woogie; The Beatniks clad in all black, exploring various facets of self-expression; The political activists in their Che-inspired berets, religiously questioning authority. They were the outsiders in search for a new meaning of life. Essentially, hipsters were the freaks and geeks of society.</div><br /><div>Needless to say, the transition of hip has changed.</div><br /><div>The Hipsters Now: Still smoking, brew drinking, still anti-establishment, emotionally destitute, eclectic in absolutely everything, but definitely tech savvy. The usual uniform consists of fucked up stovepipe or skinny jeans, tight plaid shirts and Buddy Holly glasses. They wear expensive cheap-looking clothes. The dark cafes are long gone… now kickin it at the coolest bars and jammin to the coolest bands. They are the information society that scratches the surface on all things science and philosophy while appropriating culture through art and music.</div><br /><div>Retailers call us “walking dollar bills” because we love to spend. According to an article in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/01/hipster-buying-power-forbeslife-cx_ls_1001style.html">Forbes</a>, "Unlike similar groups of the past, the current generation of hipsters is a bit more generic in its self-labeling … because this scene is less focused on one idea, one purpose or one type of music. Instead, today’s hipster is defined by consumption… Urban Outfitters stocks just keep rising… because of their eclectic mix of taken down Williamsburg style in a can. [Hipsters are] great in numbers and have money they want to spend.”</div><br /><div>How could hip swan dive deep into something as soul-depleting as corporate America?</div><br /><div>Since the rise of the internet, we have become an information hungry society that feeds our own expansionist economy, giving birth to the radical consumers and a market in constant need to recreate itself. New York Times reporter <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=oxzubo1GS7oC&source=gbs_navlinks_s">John Leland</a> relishes in a recent article, “Hip made things old before they even wore out. The market wasn’t selling material goods: it was selling the thrill of buying them and discarding them… Commodity fetishism valued the acquisition of things while devaluing the things themselves.”</div><br /><div>The truth of the matter is that we can no longer flex our spending power we once had. But like a true hipster, why are we shopping at Urban Outfitters in the first place? One positive trait about the hipster demographic is that we are all well-educated and often have liberal arts or advanced degrees. Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, consequently, we are the leaders of the music, art, and fashion industries. In comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, we are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals.</div><br /><div>So instead of spending a shitload to look <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/fashion/12DIARY.html?_r=1">shitty</a>, let’s stop trying. Instead of throwing down bucks to sport that “edgy” androgynous shag cut, take your razor at home and cut away. The "effortless cool" urban look, as inspired by those NYLON spreads, can and should be done effortlessly. Instead of trying to keep up with commercial trends, let’s just keep doing what we’re supposed to be good at and love doing. </div><br /><div>Real talk, I hate fakers and scenesters. They're shallow. They're silly. They reek of entitlement. They haven't had to work for anything and therefore aren't interested in anything that takes work. And their homeless-inspired 'chic mental illness and substance abuse' getup is getting old.</div><br /><div>Let’s mark the distinction between the people producing the work and those consuming it. Be the hipster you truly are, not those posers trying to look and be like you.</div><br /><div><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3065315954_5ab20d6dbc.jpg" width="400" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(result for "hipster trash" on the flickr search engine, that was too easy..)</span></span>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-18644939174497625492009-07-25T11:33:00.001-07:002009-07-25T11:40:39.390-07:00trust me, i KNOW my roleLike most graphic designers, I am a complete snob when it comes to UI on the web. Coming from a generation where the web and technology has evolved momentously, do you really blame me? Since I can remember, the computer has always been an active instrument in my life. I was that geeky girl who understood search engine algorithms and needed her daily dose of Oregon Trail. Today, web users like me have become more sophisticated, more discerning , and the novelty of simply having an online presence has worn off . We are moving towards personalization of the internet.<br /><br />My laptop and I share a very special intimacy - I’ve customized every inch of the computer from its design to its system. A dual-core CPU, my laptop features the latest AMD and Intel CPU, high performance RAM , and over -clocked video cards. Yes, it’s the size of my torso, five years old , and heavy as hell. Despite having dropped it a few times and never turning it off to rest, it surprisingly has never suffered a motherboard meltdown (god bless its soul).<br /><br />I am the absolute ruler over this three-dimensional subterranean labyrinth. I’ve compiled my own complex database, organizing it with an ingenious filing system and it would take an architect of labyrinths to navigate through every one of its intertwined passages. The depth of commitment to this machine that I’ve displayed rivals that of even the most devoted of marriages. Without my laptop, my world is meaningless.<br /><br />I have high expectations when I step into the cyber world ; websites today must have an engaging experience that delivers a feeling of community and offers dynamic challenges during the “user experience.” In the morning, when I read the news and find something interesting I’d like to share, I’ll look for the <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php">share link</a> at the bottom of the article and post it on my Myspace and Facebook. Or as I’m listening to my iTunes and my <a href="http://www.last.fm/user/kryslistens/">Last.fm</a> window suggests other artists that I might like, I’ll listen to a few new tracks. If I like what I hear, I’ll search for a free download then update my <a href="http://www.myspace.com/superlaughter">Myspace</a> player with my favorite song.<br /><br />All websites must also have an intuitive interface. Interactivity and quick connectivity have become assumed features of a websites experience. I am constantly logged on to my personalized iGoogle which sends live feeds to my email, my calendar and every other niche I’m connected to. At work, when I’m building an eblast and I’m having programming issues, I’ll “instant message” a <a href="http://solutions.liveperson.com/live-chat/?utm_source=goog&utm_term=chat%20support&_kk=chat%20support&_kt=77e94e39-2c9d-4742-b9f1-95da12128caf&gclid=CLXT2oCT5ZoCFRo-awodQVZXCA">support</a> agent. As I’m waiting for a response on the chat window, I’ll Google search the problem in hopes to find a quick solution on a blog floating around somewhere. The evolution of the web has lead to this demand of higher productivity and connectivity that is creating a new breed of web designers.<br /><br />When I go shopping online, it’s not just about finding the best deals. They must also have the most captivating delivery method. I’ve signed up to several websites that send me email reminders and keep me updated on the latest designs and sample sales. I expect these retailers and service providers to fight for my attention with captivating <a href="http://www.omelle.com/">images</a>, high definition <a href="http://www.chanel.com/fashion/8#8">videos</a> and Flash <a href="http://www.hufsf.com/">animations</a>. Otherwise, not only will these retailers lose out on my business, they probably will not gain the attention of other web users.<br /><br />The role of the web designer is no longer to be an artist merely doing graphic designs. As a web designer I’ve had to evolve to become more of a full-service, one-stop shop, to my clients. Firstly, I consult on their current website and take an extensive identity audit; the information from which I build a proposal to use in collaborating on a design. Secondly, I manage the whole project from design development, collecting content, editing copy, programming and bug testing before the final design is hosted. Afterwards, there is the commitment to managing the website and analyzing the statistics for marketing purposes. Not only do web designers today have to be creative, they also need to be business savvy, multidisciplinary and technologically proficient experts in graphic arts, animation, programming languages, systems administration and psychology. Web design is no longer a skill: it’s a science.<br /><br />I consider myself creative technically and artistically. Although I’ve learned a great deal about online marketing by working at a brand consulting and advertisement agency, my technical skills haven’t developed very much since I graduated. Honestly, I still use Adobe’s first release of Creative Suite and Dreamweaver MX to make graphics and build websites. Obviously, I’m out of date and I have no clue to where to begin to learn on my own.<br /><br />As an internet user with such high expectations, I need to bring my skills up to that level for myself as well as my audience. Going into the Art Multimedia program, I want the program to teach me and challenge me on how to create a more immersive online environment by bringing sound and interactivity to my sites and focusing on human-computer interaction. I want to learn the latest technology and participate in a dialogue on the evolution of art multimedia design in an academic atmosphere.<br /><br />Being in the program will also drive me to do my own personal projects outside of my clientele work. I can explore my creativity once again in the realms of multimedia. I want to take the time to film myself complete a painting, mixing audio and then editing it until it is “artistically worthy” to show to the world. Inspired by <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/multimedia/interactive_features/80#">Kentridge</a> films, I want to create my own body of work that involves drawing, film, music and most importantly, convey a significant and personal message.<br /><br />I want to be the best multimedia designer I can be.superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-32766220623738453072009-05-16T12:21:00.000-07:002009-05-22T23:00:26.223-07:00when i eat fresh lumpia, my heart churns<div>(from my PI trip in early january, entry 3 of 3)</div><div><br /></div>we have arrived... at the beach!<br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3535823038_e6f2d5a4ba.jpg?v=0" width="400" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">this is my very first trip to the islands. the philippines is like no other place i've ever been to but home, brought up from my childhood. it’s like i haven't been here in a long time. like true tourists, we relished in everything the beaches here have to offer: cheap drinks, crafty souvenirs and water activities gallore. tito viktor insisted we enroll in the 2-day J.E.S.T. program (jungle environment survival training). thanks to him and all of the ex-soldiers that trained us, i now have a brief understanding of the native forestry, fisheries, wildlife management and habitat conservation. with a bolo, a butterfly knife and a shit ton of bamboo, i can build a brand new colony. let's get lost in the jungle :)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3259220966_15ef541407.jpg?v=1234157272" width="400" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">you can't deny the fact that the philippines is a third world. most of the houses are run down, the buildings are aged and weathered, the dogs running around the streets are just as skinny and sickly looking as their owners. but despite the poverty, the people here are kind and generous. with a bottle in hand, it seems that almost nothing can bring down their spirits. the come-what-may vibe here is definitely infectious and i intend on bringing it back with me to the states (minus the bottle).<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/3535821752_43334a470a.jpg?v=0" width="400" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">as expected, the food is beautiful and the men are just as delicious. god, i still can't get enough of this magnificent country. and as i'd grown native to my motherland, it was already time to go home. i wish we could've stayed and skated through rice patties a while longer. i made a promise to return, the same way i promised to go in the first place. i dream of seeing more next time and we always seem to manage…<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3534998327_5a3506c4db.jpg?v=1242499124" width="400" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">being back home, there is already much less awe and culture shock and more getting back into the groove of things. i've always understood how truly priviliged i am to be here with what i have and what my parent's parents have given me. seeing everything in its physical state makes me feel guilty for my way of living. but it would be too extreme to throw it all away for the sake of being "humble". and to squander all of this opportunity would be sacrilegious to what they went through. so from here on out, under this warm filipino sun, i will always be grateful for what i have. i will never take my life forgranted.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">i'm back at work now, been traveling coast to coast these past few months ending one season and starting another. as i stand here enjoying the pretentiousness of fashion week, when i close my eyes all i can envision are the sounds and smells of the islands, like being so close to the confused and congested jungle amazingness. haha.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">thanks for the good times ny, but i left my heart in pampanga.</p><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEalstSaOzU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEalstSaOzU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-20689810398677374872009-04-17T00:38:00.000-07:002009-04-20T13:14:48.442-07:00there are two types of people in the world<div>it's been a couple weeks since and i'm still recuperating from my 25th birthday a la first quarter century mark. during this new independence there have been a lot of awesome moments, those highs where everything shines with boundless potential. they're little life-affirming things, but when i stack them up they're all the more seductive because they fool me into thinking my life might always be this good.</div><div><br /></div><div>i have to constantly remind myself that this infatuation can be unmasked as emotional trompe l'oeil at any moment. after having faced with the painful process of reexamining my priorities and assessing where, in its fresh 25 years, my life had gone so astray, i remembered one thing: i hella don't give a fuck.</div><div><br /></div><div>i've been all over the emotional map for most of 2008 (a shitty year for everyone apparently). and it sucks when some of the most painful details of my personal life are being cycled through so many different people. at times, i'm pissed because it feels like nothing good could come out of all of this. but after going through all of that bullshit, i found out who my true friends are. i won't let anyone's negative perception of me or their lack of understanding sabatoge my road trip to the rings. i'm a true believer that things happen for a reason and that you should always follow your instincts. and from where i'm standing, my instincts haven't failed me yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>but to be fair, i've made my mistakes. A LOT of mistakes at that. and i've spent a lot of time regretting some of my decisions. we are always given a choice and by making a decision we turn our backs on other possibilities. but that sense of regret has become that nagging feeling that guides me in the right direction everytime i'm having one of those "moments". i've learned from my mistakes and have taken the right amount of time to forgive myself. i'm living my life now with integrity and without expectations.</div><div><br /></div><div>so what does it take to follow your dreams? shit, i have no clue. but figuring it out kind of sucks, lots of hard work and too much stress. getting ahead only means that a) i'm back at the beginning with a whole new mountain to tackle and b) there's an expectation now, and if i do anything short of out-performing myself, i'm a lazy loser.</div><div><br /></div><div>but i do like winning. a lot, actually. and i've built relationships with likeminded, passionate and creative ass people whom share the same outlook on life. we all support each other, learn from each other, call each other out when their skills aren't up to par. but most importantly, we all work together as a collective to reconnect this new generation of creative voices to the general public.</div><div><br /></div><div>i'm not saying our exultation of the chase is the only, or even healthy way of living. but personally, i'd hate to get caught out there, kickin it at the backseat all lonely like, while the stars perform. so the choice is yours - watch from the sidelines, or show what you got.</div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tJuGxQHxBZs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tJuGxQHxBZs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-74362664882813167172009-03-02T10:50:00.000-08:002009-03-23T00:42:42.792-07:00i think the translation for filipino is frogger<div>(from my PI trip in early january, entry 1 of 3)</div><div><br /></div>we have arrived... in the city!<div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">i can't tell if i can't see outside because of my dried contacts or because of the clouds or if it's pollution. at the airport, we arrived to a massive filipino welcome party. by the time we reached the suite in metro manilla, my shirt was drenched from the wet flower leis. being in the largest archipelago in the world, i can already feel the tropics, especially with the tradition of the aromatic leis, daily fiestas, banyan trees and, of course, the humid climate.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3257746395_43327abffd.jpg?v=1234160503" width="400" /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">the drive to masantol from manila showed us various styles of living here, from large private palaces to aluminum shacks, dilapidated buildings and houses on stilts. they all share a city block with large billboards and high voltage towers. on every building an advertisement, even in the poorest of places, seeming to improve the quality of life if you only used this toothpaste, listened to that radio station, wore this brand of whatever, and so on as long as you were branded.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">chillin in the lounge area at the hotel, i've noticed already that they don't follow the book and play more than just the singles over here. instead, they play whatever they like from the whole album and more. i appreciate their love for music and appreciate even greater sharing heritage to this beautiful region.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/167005223_a9a2657523.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">close our hotel is one of the major bus stations, the philippines' equivalent to the gare saint-lazare, with the city signs in a row spanning about two or three blocks. the most popular photograph for all to see is the "jeepney", they're the equivalent of city buses though they have a psychedelic low-rider school bus quality about them. each one is handmade and decorated with air-brush artwork, words of religious wisdom and welcome aboard features, perfect for those easy climbs into the rear for an almost free ride to the other side of town.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3257730581_c7ea44ee01.jpg?v=1234231840" /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">there are malls in every direction, each climbing 5 or 6 story high. apparently, the thing to do here is "malling". as i'd predicted, we all spent a good amount of time at the local malls and markets. now we're all blingin with the best in season, sporting the new rolexes, louis bags and knock-off dvds. consumerism is contagious.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">manilla is just like any other typical asian metropolis: honking is another language that requires considerable deciphering, the blocks are filled with bodega boutiques and pansit-erias, and the streets are paved with pedestrians who refuse the right of way at all intersections. seriously, crossing a street is like playing a game of frogger. despite being filipino, we are still constantly being stared at up and down. the fams say it's because we're beautiful. i think it's because we have a big fat, imaginary name tag that says AMERICAN.</p></div></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-43609820517177183732009-02-15T13:37:00.000-08:002009-02-20T15:20:30.890-08:00there are some things i just don't understand...<div>the thai buddhist temple in berkeley on russell street has been an institution to the community for over 27 years. it is home to leaders of a minority cultural community; thais represent only 1% of the asian population in the u.s. they have provided religion, education, food, shelter and guidance on life to whomever needed their help.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>i went to the berkeley zoning board hearing a few nights ago to check out the case on oregon street against the thai buddhist temple. what started off as a simple request to examine and update land permits has become an obvious form of discrimination masked by environmental concerns. their complaints were in regards to the congregation's sunday brunches which usually hold celebrations and rememberances. oregon street has complained about noise pollution, commercialism in the neighborhood, disturbing odors and traffic congestion despite berkeley's reputation of having high-density neighborhoods surrounded by commericial property. while i understand oregon street's position in non-expansion as well as the support of the law, they don't have the voracity or the validity to end this religious practice.</div><div><br /></div><div>many of my friends grew up at this temple and i've gone to the prayers and brunches with them on and off since high school. on top of it being a place of religious worship, i know that the temple gives so much to the community by providing afterschool programs, giving shelter and guidance for the homeless, hold weddings and funerals... the list goes on. and from the practice of buddhism, the temple can only gain money through donations. they cannot survive without the practice of these sunday events. </div><div><br /></div><div>and i've seen the temple put in a considerable amount of compromise and concession to the neighbors' complaints. over the years, they've rennovated their land and have built beautiful gardens in order to create "noise" and "scent" buffers. there are several parking signs scattered throughout the streets to prevent visitors from parking into private areas. they make sure people come in at 10AM and leave exactly at 1PM and they clean up so well after every event that it doesn't even seem like these super fun times even occurred. with the temple's history and credibility in the bay as well as their long list of good merits, i wouldn't mind having a 3 hour party every week. especially when i know it's for a good cause. and did i mention the food is bombass?</div><div><br /></div><div>in the end, more than 1,ooo berkeley folks signed a petition for the temple and the board did pass the project. yay, they won the battle. but i still can't help feeling concerned about the situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>diversity and multiculture is my norm, any other way of living would be considered out of the ordinary for me. and after traveling to so many different places over the past few years, it was abundantly clear to me that the bay area was the only place in the world that has truly engrained inclusivity in their mentality. so how did we let this happen? did this really have to go all the way to the city's zoning board to delegate the issue? bay area people are supposed to stick together and compromise. we're supposed to help minorities flourish and nurture their growth of identity...</div><div><br /></div><div>let's look at a different scene with similar conditions: farmer's markets. they're held every sunday and close several streets to sell locally grown, green and organic produce. the parking is terrible, there's always that one booth cooking up something "different", they last several hours, and they leave a big mess in the end. but we let this happen all the time. why? because it's for a good cause.</div><div><br /></div><div>what makes the temple any different?</div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-9777729135635360562009-02-04T11:51:00.000-08:002009-03-11T14:23:41.683-07:00i'm having an amy tan moment right nowon sunday, my homegirl leigh invited me to the asian pacific american women celebration at ucb. it resurrected my soul after it had briefly died from watching the superbowl. here is my epiphany for the day:<br /><br />i work hard and people love me. as a result, i've always been able to excel in my career with ease. but growing up, i've watched my mom play it out much more differently. as a single, apa woman, i saw her experience, endure, combat and complicate racism and sexism in the workplace. she had to play her role and place in society. and she knew she was limited by the systems of patriarchy and racism. but that never stopped her from trying, she always wanted to know exactly how far she could reach.<br /><br />in the beginning, she kept herself mobilized for her company and she'd bring work home in order to stay ahead of the game and build alliances with others. she took me to every office party, company outings, "take your kid to work" days, she even made play dates with her boss' kids and me. i remember every friday morning, she'd fry lumpia for the office pot lucks because she wanted to "give them a little taste of home".<br /><br />once she gained recognition, she was able to engage in dialogues. yeah, it took them a while to get past her thick accent. and sometimes with the alcohol, the things she said were downright absurb. i'd overhear her coworkers and supposed friends trying to be clever with their underlying racial remarks. my mom would laugh it off. but i always caught that flicker in her eyes every time it happens. and despite all of that, at least they knew she existed. and over time, they grew more comfortable. she followed the "model minority myth" so effectively.<br /><br />when they finally saw her as a true player, she got her promotions. she worked harder and became even more vocal. only this time, her comments and opinions were more relevant. she'd demand a raise when she felt like she'd rightfully earned it. and how can you say no to someone you rely on so heavily at work? no one wanted to miss out on ligaya's lumpia fridays either!<br /><br />the woman had done her homework.<br /><br />today, because of her, i am able to move beyond the boundaries and contraints of societal formation. i am not your typical APA chick, i am loud and obnoxious and when i drink, i can talk worse than sailors do. yet at 24, i'm already living my dreams. who can say that?<br /><br />because of her, people can see past my sex and ethnicity. she had already fought that battle for me. what a cookie.<div><br /></div><div><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3508/3259200310_bb7a2c417b.jpg?v=0" width="400"/><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(clearly she's impressed)</span></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-75232011422543007662009-01-19T18:18:00.000-08:002009-03-11T14:21:35.130-07:00don't put mlk's life work down to a simple awe-inspiring sound bitetoday is martin luther king day and the eve of obama's inauguration. i got an invite this morning from my obama campaign team to go to a multicultural peace celebration rally. we listened to a few speakers today, one that stood out for me was rev. williams (supposedly, he's a big deal columnist and pastor that's getting a lot censorship from conservatives and republicans). at the rally, he talked about how america is based on movements; the american revolution, women's rights, labor rights (woot ceasar chavez) and civil rights which mlkj is most recognized for. he reminded us about how passionate and dedicated martin was for the civil rights movement. that he put his whole life towards equal rights for all of us. he lived, breathed and died for it. william then concluded that it is our duty as a collaborative to do more because these movements are still happening. and with current world events, the least we can do is to remind ourselves that non-violent political action is just as powerful and that living a life on loving service to others is paramount.<div><div><br /></div><div>coming back from the motherland, i have a completely new view for myself as well as how others perceive me. my eyes are finally <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">seeing</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">feeling</span> what still exists here in america: racial and gender profiling. as a young, first generation, asian american woman, it is my duty to my heritage and to all of the leaders who dedicated their lives to continue the movement towards equality. with obama in office, the symbolism alone has already strengthen racial identity and changes how we plan about moving forward on race relations.</div><div><br /></div><div>let's not watch history, let's be a part of it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N4tNCCeiHoM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N4tNCCeiHoM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></div></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373278964141580761.post-66351068544362291232009-01-14T03:04:00.000-08:002009-04-18T22:05:48.682-07:00does anyone else think this is weird or just downright amazing?after much discussion with my bud, i've decided (and am glad) to <a href="http://www.xanga.com/starbuckskrys">re-use</a> this outlet called "blogging" to share my thoughts and experiences at the comfort of my sea of pillows and security blankets.<div><br /></div><div>i'm posting not only as an outlet to release my supposed struggles but also in hopes to provide inspiration to whomever lucky or misfortunate person that falls upon this treasure trove of heartbreak.</div><div><br /></div><div>i know now that i am not alone. and speaking about it can make a world of difference. even if it means touching one person, that's damn good enough for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>from here on out, let's celebrate the flora, fauna and all the fertilities of life.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; "><div style="width:300px;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/8ZqPg1mQF_/aus=false/"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/8ZqPg1mQF_/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="110" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /></div>superlaughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00712415971647448339noreply@blogger.com0