<center>2006.11.06</center>
<a name="icerair2k6"><h3><a href="http://www.icerair.com/2006" target="new">icer air 2k6</a></h3></a>
<p>월요일 아침: the big event this past wknd, here in the sf bay area, was <a href="http://www.icerair.com/2006" target="new">icer air 2k6</a>. &nbsp; was it officially abbreviated as "2k6," or was that just sumpthin' my cousin walter came up w/? *shrug* in either case, yah, that was prob'ly the biggest thing this past wknd. &nbsp; <i>this</i> wk, 1'f the biggest things'll be the "midterm" or "mid.term" elektion(s) n' the <a href="http://www.bayareasnowshow.com/" target="new">bay area snow show</a>. &nbsp; i got to hang w/ eric (johnson) n' clarence on sat, n' i expekt to c'em 'gain (along w/ my cousin walter n' maybe kaz?) this coming wknd @ the snow expo / trade show.
<p>[a li'l later] yesterday, b4 going to church (2nd service [1100a] @ <font color="#ff9900"><a href="http://www.grx.org" target="new">grx</a></font>), i went to the sunnyvale skate park 4 like a 2.5 hr skate session. &nbsp; that was very fun. &nbsp; 1 thing i started doing now is olleing onto low ledges, 50.50 grinding, n' then droppin' off the end'f the ledge isntead'f poppin' off early. &nbsp; that's fun. &nbsp; 2day, this morn, i returned to the sunnyvale skate park. &nbsp; 1 thing i started trying to do 2day's ollieng into backside grinds or 'least lame 50.50 axle stalls on curbs. &nbsp; up until now, i'm only ollien into <i>frontside</i> grinds. &nbsp; i'm tryin' not to be so 1sided. *sigh* &nbsp; neway, i'm very happy that i made it to the sunnyvale skate park this morn, even tho' 'twas an abbreviated skate session b4 werk. &nbsp; i also skateboarded w/ sooni b4 that. &nbsp; i've been doing that 'lot these days. &nbsp; she gets more exercise, n' i have more fun.
<p>[later] 오후: what's up, neawy? &nbsp; how r u doin'? &nbsp; plz lemme know. &nbsp; as i sed in a recent entry; i've changed my  <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~beno/gbook.html" target="new"g.book></a> questions; so i'd like u to sign the <i>new</i> version! &nbsp; well, i sed that <i>i'd</i> answer the questions; both the new n' old 1s. &nbsp; i've just been a li'l bizzy as u know; mostly bizzy w/ boardsport aktivities. &nbsp; extra.curricular aktivities that r important to me: taekwondo, djing, n' boardsports (mainly snowboarding n' skateboarding)... &nbsp; 'f course church stuff's also important to me; but i dunno how to classify it as an extra.curricular aktivity cos, in a way, church is just part'f life or... *shrug*
well, this wknd's the <a href="http://www.bayareasnowshow.com/" target="new">bay area snow show</a>, as i keep sayin'. &nbsp; my cowerker friend lydia left a brochure 4 it on my chair while i was home 4 lunch. &nbsp; she had no idea that i'd already been planning 4 months to attend. &nbsp; i was interested tho' in lookin' @ the brochure to read what vendor's'll be there:<br>
any mountain<br>
alaska backcountry adventures<br>
alpine meadows ski resort<br>
atomic ski usa<br>
atomic snowboards<br>
bay area outdoor club<br>
bay area ski bus<br>
bay area snow sports council<br>
bear valley cross country<br>
bear valley mountain resort<br>
best western truckee tahoe inn<br>
boreal mountain resort<br>
burton<br>
certified folder<br>
dalbello<br>
daman nelson travel<br>
diamond peak<br>
dodge ridge<br>
eagle's nest at tahoe<br>
el dorado ranch<br>
flow<br>
freeboard manufacturing<br>
giro<br>
heavenly<br>
homewood mountain<br>
hughes ski hut<br>
island lake resorts<br>
jackson hole mountain resort<br>
jeep<br>
k2 skis<br>
k2 snowboards<br>
kirkwood mountain resort<br>
kootenay rockies<br> 
mammoth sporting goods<br>
marriot's timber lodge<br>
mel cotton's<br>
mike wiegle helicopter skiing<br>
mt. rose<br>
ski tahoe<br>
nisei ski club<br>
nordica<br>
northstar-at-tahoe<br>
pacific crest snow cats<br>
palmer<br>
pennysaver<br>
reno-tahoe<br>
rossignol<br>
ride snowboards<br>
salomon north america<br>
sierra-at-tahoe<br>
sierra summit mountain resort<br>
skier news<br>
smith<br>
snowbunny<br>
sport chalet<br>
sun valley resort<br>
swayback adventure services<br>
tahoe quarterly magazine<br>
tamarack resort<br>
tecnica<br>
the wave magazine<br>
volkl<br>
walk-ez international<br>
<ul>vendors i'm particularly interested in talkin' to:
<li>any mountain</li>
<li>bay area snow sports council</li>
<li>best western truckee tahoe inn</li>
<li>boreal mountain resort</li>
<li><a href="http://www.freebord.com" target="new">freeboard manufacturing</a> - they make longboard skateboards that r s'pposed to ride like snwoboards. &nbsp; 'f course, i'm more into <i.real</i> skateboardin'; but i wanna c what they've got.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.giro.com" target="new">giro</a> - they make some kewl helmets; but i already have a helmet that i'm fine w/.</li>
<li>kirkwood mountain resort</li>
<li>marriot's timber lodge - is this not <i>marriot<u>t</u>'s</i> timber lodge?</li>
<li>mel cotton's</li>
<li>nisei ski club</li>
<li>northstar-at-tahoe</li>
<li>sierra-at-tahoe</li>
<li>smith - i need new goggles but can't afford ne. <tt>:-(</tt> i'm frickin' poor nowadays. &nbsp; nah, i shouldn't whine.</li>
<li>snowbunny - cute name... i think they make women's snowboarding equipment</li></ul>
i guess i wanna enter lots'f contests to <i>try</i> to win free tix n' lodgin' n' stuff. &nbsp; i don't feel particularly wealthy these days. &nbsp; the beautiful <a href="http://www.friendster.com/203953" target="new">kaela hwang</a> were <i>tryin'</i> to go to whistler sometime this winter; but it looks like we can't afford to go during the holiday season, n' she has skool during other times. &nbsp; it's a li'l depressin' 4 us to look @ our finan&cent;es. &nbsp; sure, we're blessed... but i guess we're 2 ppl tryin' to live off'f just <i>my</i> income. &nbsp; i dunno how much $$$ kaela's made from her li'l job @ skool, reading x.ray prints n' thru her property management, but i assume it's not much, n' i pay 4 everything. &nbsp; mortgage, taxes, n' insurance eat up a big chunk'f our $$$. &nbsp; inflation has hurt us 'lot, n' i haven't gotten ne <i>real</i> raise in a long time. &nbsp; what li'l raises i get don't even keep up w/ inflation, it cms. *sigh* <tt>:-(</tt> neway, i dunno when i'll <i>ever</i> get to take a "real" vakation 'gain. &nbsp; last yr, we had hawai.i. &nbsp; this yr? well, we went to dc n' vegas; but those were both really short trips. &nbsp; is there a way to go to whistler 4 <i>&cent;heap</i>??? &nbsp; u know how the surfer's life n' the skateboarder's life r s'pposed to be low maintenance? &nbsp; well, shoot; the snowboarder's life shold be as well. &nbsp; however, why's it <i>sooo</i> expen$ive to go to whistler? &nbsp; *sigh* i really like snowboarding, n' i really like tahoe; but i'd like to be able to say i've boarded outside'f cali/nevada. &nbsp; isn't that we always thought that "when we grew up," we'd be able to afford to do things like snowboardin' in whistler? &nbsp; my friends've done it; but i don't cm to be able to afford it... but... but that's ok; i need to be content w/ what i've got; i really do.
<p><b>sideways</b>: diff breeds'f doggies naturally wanna do different, specific things. &nbsp; ppl say that it's their instinkt. &nbsp; sooni, being a jindo, wants to hunt. &nbsp; retrievers wanna fetch things. &nbsp; shepherds wanna herd things. &nbsp; sooni likes to fetch her ball. &nbsp; however, i can't get her to fetch useful things 4 me. &nbsp; in our neighbourhood, there's a hose w/ multiple retrievers, n' 'least 1'f the retrievers fetches the newspaper 4 their owners. &nbsp; i've cn it. &nbsp; it came out to fetch the newspaper n' then saw sooni, so they stared each other down 4 a long time. &nbsp; i figured that the owner must've been wondering, "where's that dog w/ my paper?!" &nbsp; well, if sooni's instinkt's to hunt li'l fuzzies; i really feel like my instinkt's to ride boards. &nbsp; i really like snowboarding n' really like skateboarding. &nbsp; i haven't surfed much, but i think i'd like it. &nbsp; what is it 'bout boardsports?! &nbsp; is it that i just like travelling sideways?! &nbsp; furthermore, i do taekwondo. &nbsp; a typi<font face="script" color="blue" size="+3">cal</font> taekwondo stance's relatively sideways... 'least more so than like a wrestling stance or maybe even a boxing stance. &nbsp; so what's up w/ me? &nbsp; why do i enjoy being sideways? &nbsp; as much as i like commuting on bicycle 4 the enivironmental n' heath.related benefits; i just don't enjoy bicycling as much as board sports. &nbsp; why?! &nbsp; to me, boardsports r almost addikting or sumpthin'. &nbsp; i don't care 'bout basketball, don't care 'bout golf. &nbsp; many guys r <i>sooo</i> into ballsports: they like basketball, baseball, futbol, golf... &nbsp; not me. &nbsp; i'm <i>sooo</i> not into basketball.
<p>ok, now to answer them <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~beno/gbook.html" target="new"g.book></a> questions. &nbsp; here's the 1st set:
<font face="times new roman" color="black">name:</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">황명록</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">hwang myungrok - beno hwang</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">e.mail:</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">비노 앳 비노믹스 닷 콤</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">homepage url (don't 4get to use http colon slash slash!):</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600"><a href="http://www.benomix.com" target="new">http://www.benomix.com</a></font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">can u read benospelling?:</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">yes, invented it.</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">new yr's resolutions?</font><br><font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">
1) write the beno journal 4 1 month (jan) in plain english (i.e. no benospelling) - <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">성공</font> suhnggong (success)<br>
2) take better care'f my career - *sigh*<br>
3) buy some mutual funds - <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">성공</font> suhnggong (success)<br>
4) make some friends that i can hang out w/, w/ or w/o kaela -  i can think'f 'least a few guys that i can hang w/, w/ or w/o kaela.<br>
5) buy a skateboard - <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">성공</font> suhnggong (success)<br>
6) fix my desktop 'puter's soundcard or else find <i>some</i> way to record dj mixes - <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">성공</font> suhnggong (success)<br>
7) eliminate detrimental confucian sentiments - <tt>:-/</tt> well, i honestly feel that my life's better rooted in the bible now - more so this yr than last; so <i>in a way</i> i feel i can say 4 sure that i've been cleanin' 'way detrimental confucian sentiments; but i dunno.<br>
8) write kess txt per journal entry - <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">실패</font> shilpae (failure)</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">new yr's prediktions?</font><font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">it'd be very silly to answer this question now.</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">will u do sumpthin' 4 valentine's day?</font> 4 <font color="#ff99cc">vd</font><font color="#990000">2k6</font>, i brought kaela to <a href="http://www.cheztj.com/" target="new">chez tj</a>.
<font face="times new roman" color="black">what's sumpthin' u eat/drink that other ppl don't like to?</font><font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">순대</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">soondae n' on rare occassions,</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">번데기</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">buhndeigi (silkworm cocoons)</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">what du u say when u can't remember some1's name?</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">"heeey, how's it goin'?"</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">additional comments:</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">aw man, i already filled out these quesitons 'bout on 2006년03월08일!!!</font>
<p>now 4 the new <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~beno/gbook.html" target="new"g.book></a> questions:<br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">name:</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">황명록</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">hwang myungrok - beno hwang</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">e.mail:</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">비노 앳 비노믹스 닷 콤</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">homepage url (don't 4get to use http colon slash slash!):</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600"><a href="http://www.benomix.com" target="new">http://www.benomix.com</a></font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">birthday/birthdate:</font> <font face="궁서,gungsuh" color="#336600">1975년08월21일</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">what do u want 4 <font color="#550000">christ</font><font color="#005500">mas</font>?</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">honestly? &nbsp; i'd like skateboard stuff - like a 2nd board; but ppl wouldn't know what to get me. &nbsp; <font color="blue">bluetooth</font> stereo headfons...</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">what is wrong w/ youth 2day?</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">these days, kids r 2 polarised - it cms like their either super studious or total dropouts. &nbsp; it's ok to be in the middle n/or well.rounded. &nbsp; i think kids 2day either try really hard n' come out as superstars or else they get discouraged n' totally tune out n' end up as misfit troublemakers. &nbsp; i s'ppose this ma've resulted from "all or nuthin'" attitudes found in adults. &nbsp; ppl say that everyting's black or white, that they're r no greys. &nbsp; well, shoot! if u say so, then kids'll be happy to prove u rt. &nbsp; if they can't be the superstar nerds, then they'll be happy to fail out n' become gangbangers. &nbsp; the adults that represent morality don't exhibit grace, compssion, or understanding. &nbsp; they just show plenty'f discouragement.</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">plz tell me 'bout a  &nbsp; good memory u have from 2006?</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600"><i>1</i> good memory was djing that wedding recently 4 my friends jane n' darien. &nbsp; i dunno... 'twas simply 1'f my hi.pts in my wedding dj career. &nbsp; mixes just fell into place, n' i liked djing 4 a crowd w/ lots'f friends in it, n' even the ppl i <i>didn't</i> know were kewl.</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">name a magazine u like:</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600"><i>thrasher</i>... n' if i can name more, <i>transworld skateboarding</i>, <i>transworld snowboarding</i>, <i>men's health</i>, <i>giant robot</i></font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">plans 4 next wknd?</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">i'm goin' to the <a href="http://www.bayareasnowshow.com/" target="new">bay area snow show</a>! &nbsp; well, on fri nite, i'll be @ our <font color="#ff9900"><a href="http://www.grx.org" target="new">grx</a></font> t3 light couples small group. &nbsp; sat's the snow show n' maybe a friend's b.day party, if i have time. &nbsp; sun'll be church @ <font color="#ff9900"><a href="http://www.grx.org" target="new">grx</a></font> in the morn. &nbsp; i also hope to hit up the sunnyvale skate park plenty this wknd.</font><br>
<font face="times new roman" color="black">additional comments:</font> <font face="comic sans ms" color="#336600">now, i've given <i>my</i> answers. &nbsp; how 'boutchu?</font>
<p>[later] here's a quote: <font color="#996600">"today is kaela's "last (week)day of freedom!" &nbsp; it's a little bit sad for both of us. &nbsp; over the past few months, she has repeatedly pounded home the point that throughout this next academic year, she will be very busy with schoolwork and will not see me, her husband, much. &nbsp; yeah, she has repeatedly pounded and pounded in this point. &nbsp; it has basically been a chant for her. &nbsp; ok, that's a bit of a hyperbole; i admit" - 2006년01월06일 in beno's journal entry <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~beno/journal/2006/archive/journal.html#616" target="new">"616"</a></font> &nbsp; well, we're <i>finally</i> approaching the end'f the yr that kaela was talkin' 'bout, i think. &nbsp; well; aktually, i'm confused. &nbsp; she sed "<i>akademic</i> yr," but her akademic yr starts in sept or okt, not jan; so what's up?! &nbsp; which was the worst 0.25? i.e. in which 0.25 did i $pend <i>the least</i> time w/ kaela? &nbsp; i imagine 'twas either spring or summer. &nbsp; spring 0.25's when she really went overboard. &nbsp; she cmed to've gotten really burnt out @ the end'f the spring 0.25; but then 'gain she went on to book herself 4 a bizy, bizzy 0.25 during the summer. &nbsp;t his fall 0.25 started out nicely; but now we've hit the pt in the 0.25 where i stop cing her. &nbsp; well, u know what? &nbsp; it <i>really</i> isn't skool but all these freakin' seminars she signs up 4. &nbsp; she signs up 4 all these seminars on wknds n' then complains that she has no time to study 4 her tests. &nbsp; then, i c her classmates, n' they say that they're always shcoked @ how many seminars she signs up 4. &nbsp; *sigh* oh well... what can i do, huh?
<p>[later] 저녁 이지만 아직도 직장에서: <b>elektion 2006</b>: well, it's well 'bout time that i discuss my opinions n' "endorsements" 4 the 2006 elektions. &nbsp; the elektions r 2morrow, so yah... this is quite overdue! &nbsp; i just had an e.mail conversatino w/ a santa clara unified skool distrikt candidate named <a href="http://www.noelani.sallings.org" target="new">noelani sallings</a>. &nbsp; i e.mailed her cos i'd cn the pic'f her family in <i>the santa clara weekly</i> n' then 'gain on her webiste, n' i recognised them as a family i c @ the sunnyvale skate park on wknds. &nbsp; she confirmed it, so i told her that she's "got my vote." &nbsp; well, i'm pretty much gonna vote along the demokratic party line. &nbsp; since i'd prefer the nation not to be so politi<font face="script" color="blue" size="+3">cal</font>ly polarised, i'm almost embarassed to say that. &nbsp; 1 exception to that party line: i've considered voting 4 <font color="#006600">green party</font> candidate mehul thakker 4 treasurer instead'f <font color="blue">demokratic party</font> candidate bill lockyer cos it'd be nice to get a desi / south asian into office... or to 'least show support 4 this dude. &nbsp; however, 1) i know it's kind'f bad to vote 4 ne1 based on <i>race</i>, n' 2) heaven knows i've got issues w/ the <font color="#006600">green party</font> in how they divide the votes'f progressives (like me) n' liberals n' thus open the door 4 conservatives to squeeze in undeservingly. &nbsp; i dunno; we'll c. &nbsp; neway, plz allow me to discuss the ballot props n' measures...
<ul>
<li>1a~e rebuild cali plan: i guess every1 sez to vote yes, so i think i'll vote <b>yes</b>.</li>
<li>83 monitoring s3x offenders w/ gps etc.: well, as a christian, i think 'lot 'bout grace n' 4giveness. &nbsp; i think 'bout how jesus would 4give a s3x offender if the s3x offender asked n' surrendered his life to christ. &nbsp; really. &nbsp; don't underestimate the power'f jesus's 4giveness! &nbsp; however, i know most so.called "conservative" christians'd vote along party lines n' say that u hafta en4ce morality in this world, so u've gotta prosecute n' persecute criminals. &nbsp; *shrug* well, hey... if the s'pposedly more "liberal" party agrees w/ the more "conservative" ppl in that thse criminals need to be monitored like this; then i think maybe more than a time to think 'bout 4giveness... maybe this <i>is</i> a time to think 'bout the safety'f women n' children. &nbsp; well, i don't really know what the republikan stance is on this prop; but i'll vote along demokratic party lines, n' vote <b>yes</b>.</li>
<li>84 h<sub>2</sub>o quality, safety; flood control; protektion'f natural resources; park improvements: i used to werk 4 the h<sub>2</sub>o co, i.e. ebmud. &nbsp; thus, 4 ol' times sake, i'll vote along my party line(s) n' vote <b>yes</b></li>
<li>85 waiting period n' parental notification b4 abortion 4 minors: <tt>>:-/</tt> hrm... now u're talkin' 'bout the ubiquitous, so.called "faith.based legislation" stuff. &nbsp; freakin' a! <i>every</i> piece'f legislation 4 a christian <i>ought</i> to be based on faith in jesus; not just matters'f abortion n' g@y rts! &nbsp; freakin' a! &nbsp; u know what my faith in jesus tells me? &nbsp; it tells me that 4cing laws upon women who get pregnant unintentionally (like out'f wedlock etc. or thru r@p3) shows lack'f compassion n' 4giveness that jesus taught us. &nbsp; thus, even tho' i'm not <i>4</i> abortions by ne means; i think legislation that prohibits it or werks <i>2wards</i> prohibitting it is unchristian. &nbsp; instead, we ought to improve society n' the world such that abortions won't be necessary! &nbsp; as much as i'll get flack 4 this from ppl who just don't understand how i'm aktually doing this out'f my faith, i'm gonna go 'long w/ my party n' vote <b>no</b>.</li>
<li>86 tax on cigarettes: shoot, u needn't say nething more! tax on cigarettes? &nbsp; yah, i'm 4 it. &nbsp; i hate 2nd hand smoke.</li>
<li>87 alt energy tax on cali oil companies: alt energy rocks, n' this props got president clinton's n' vice.president al gore's endorsements, so i'm 4 it. &nbsp; i'm votin' <b>yes</b>.</li>
<li>88 $50 increase in property tax 4 edukation: huh? this is odd. &nbsp; like, i'm all 4 edukation, but well... havin' just paid 4 property tax bill early; i know 4 sure i don't wanna pay <i>more</i> property tax. &nbsp; why do we always gotta add more to property tax? &nbsp; well... 1 could say that landowners must be wealthy etc. &nbsp; i dunno, man... this $50 tax tho' sounds fishy to me cos $50 is 'lot to me but is a small, small drop in the bucket 4 the billionaire who wons a $5 million estate in the saratoga hills. &nbsp; i almost think that this prop was written by ri&cent;h ppl in order to make it so that all the homeowners that r barely gettin' by hafta foot the bill, n' then the gov't won't go after <i>their</i> $$$. <tt>>:-/</tt> well, i'm gonna go 'long w/ my party n' vote <b>no</b>.</li>
<li>90 gov't acquisition/regulation'f private property: no clue, so i'll vote w/ <b>no</b> w/ my party.</li>
<li>a protekt farmland n' hillsides: i'm sick'f overexpansion that leads to more traffik!!! furthermore, if i were to be greedy, i'd say that developin' more housin'd bring down <i>my</i> property value. &nbsp; neway, i'm votin' <b>yes</b> w/ my party.</li>
<li>b fair mediation 4 police n' fire: phrases like "binding arbitration" confuse me, so i'll vote w/ <b>yes</b> w/ my party.</li>
<li>i modernise evergreen skools: ok; edukation's good. &nbsp; i'll vote <b>yes</b> w/ my party</li>
</ul>
i saw that noelani got the demkratic party endorsement, so yah... i'm definitely votin' 4 her.
<p>here's 'nother quote: <font color="#996600">"as much as i like alternative medicine, you must understand how much i hate things like how second generation asian-americans poo poo "eastern" medicine as b.s. until some "white man" proclaims that there's something legitimate about it and charges a fortune for it.   at that point those second generation asian-americans will pay that crazy high price to buy the commercialized version instead of the cheap, authentic version.   well, shoot; i admit i'm guilty of that as i have purchased ginseng capsules before from some online drugstore, while i could have just bought some from ranch 99 or any other asian market.   well, asian pharmacists might give you some form of ginseng other than a capsule.   i don't know if i would like the taste.   i guess that's why i prefer to drink ginseng in my jamba juice rather than eat big, ol' hunks of ginseng root.   so what's going on here?   why should i embrace contemporary asian pop culture yet reject traditional asian medicine in its purest form?   well, hey! ain't that the paradox with us second generation asian-americans?   we're a lousy generation; ha ha. " - 2006년01월09일 in beno's journal entry <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~beno/journal/2006/archive/journal.html#relativehealth" target="new">"relative health"</a></font> &nbsp; last nite, i met up w/ my dad, grace, steve, mason, n' nolan @ the grand century mall in east central san jo. &nbsp; grand century mall's this totally vietnamese mall in the middle'f downtown. &nbsp; i bet this is exaktly what it feels like to be in vietnam! &nbsp; whereas 2 many vietnamese biznesses in san jo r in "not.so.nice" neighbourhoods, this mall is all clean n' new. &nbsp; i bet this is what a mall'd look like <i>in</i> vietnam. &nbsp; we ate @ some restaurant called tay ho. &nbsp; i told my family that i'm not eatin' meat n' "sweets" rt now. &nbsp; i'm glad they didn't totally freak out. &nbsp; i had this dish w/ rice fluour sheet rolls n' this sliced up mung bean doughnut. &nbsp; i gave 'way the skewered meat balls. &nbsp; wow, 'twas really tasty n' &cent;heap.
<p>[later] 밤 1044p: <b>some great reward</b>: yeah, that's the name a depeche mode album, a good depeche mode album. &nbsp; it features the hit single "people are people." &nbsp; also, 1 rather underrated ballad on that album's "it doesn't matter." &nbsp; it's a bit melancholy, but it's a beautiful song. &nbsp; aktually, here's the track listing from the wikipedia link (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Great_Reward" target="new">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Great_Reward</a>):<br>
1. "something to do" - 3:47<br>
2. "lie to me" - 5:03<br>
3. "people are people" - 3:52<br>
4. "it doesn't matter" - 4:44<br>
5. "stories of old" - 3:13<br>
6. "somebody" - 4:27<br>
7. "master and servant" - 4:12<br>
8. "if you want" - 4:41<br>
9. "blasphemous rumours" - 6:22<br>
wow, that's rt! &nbsp; this album also features the ever.popular, all.time favourite piano ballad "somebody," sung by martin l. gore. &nbsp; that's rt! &nbsp; yah, this album sure <i>is</i> a classik! &nbsp; it's also got the hit single "blasphemous rumours." &nbsp; has a more depressing song ever reach such hit status?! &nbsp; really! do u know? *shrug* neway... u must've realised that i've serious issues w/ the lyrics'f "blasphemous rumours." &nbsp; it's a great song, but yah... the song talks 'bout all these un4tunate things that happen in this world n' then sums it up in the chorus as "i think that god's got a sick sense of humour; and when i die, i expect to find him laughing." &nbsp; heck, it's great 'least to acknowledge his existence... but as much as i think god <i>does</i> have a sense'f humour; i'd hardly call it sick. &nbsp; in ne case... it <i>is</i> a catchy, altho' somber song, eh? &nbsp; neway!!! the reason i titled this paragraph or subentry or whate'er "some great reward" was originally <i>not</i> to discuss the depeche mode album. &nbsp; rather, i wanted to talk 'bout how we ('least <i>i</i>) cm to keep tryin' to get sumpthin' in life that i might never have but... well, like... *sigh* like... wow... u know, there's this serious futility in life... when u live 4 urself... <tt>:-/</tt> uh, <i>what</i>'m i <i>tryin'</i> to say?! &nbsp; well, shoot... it's <i>this</i>: 2nite, i went to the usual mon nite tubo kick box (tkb) class @ the east arques sunnyvale 24 hour fitness, the class taught by sach. &nbsp; there's this 1 clique'f asian yuppie students that hangs out after class. &nbsp; they cm to know each other well. &nbsp; i was thinkin' 2day: wow, they're such preppy, asian yuppies... i've definitely cn that type b4. &nbsp; oh! i bet they're <font color="red">stanf<i>u</i>rd</font> alums! &nbsp; i know <i>that</i> type! &nbsp; n' i <i>really</i> do... but that's also <i>not</i> the pt'f this passage! &nbsp; i'm leading to the <i>real</i> pt'f the passage; never fear. &nbsp; u c... @ that pt, honestly... in all honesty... i was putting a value judgement on them... i mean, heck... i'm sure they'll never read this; so well, yah... i'll tell u the flat out truth cos i'm just an open n' honest guy. &nbsp; i was puttin' a serious <i>value</i> judgement on them! &nbsp; i was sayin', "u know what? we're all a bunch'f asian yuppies doin' the asian yuppie thing, but me? i'm this 'bad@$$,' rugged dude that teaches taekwondo 2ice a wk, skateboards every frickin' morn, n' hits tahoe 4 snowboarding ever saturday. &nbsp; i'm not the typi<font face="script" color="blue" size="+3">cal</font> asian yuppie!" &nbsp; then it hit me! &nbsp; wow, i've gone thru this b4! &nbsp; i'm havin' serious d&eacute;j&agrave; vu! &nbsp; this the attitude i had @ the end'f hi skool n' into my early yrs'f college @ <font face="script" color="blue" size="+3">cal</font>! &nbsp; sure, i was a studious asian student; but i slowly started to pick up the aktivities that i thought made me "cool." &nbsp; after a while, these aktivities frickin' <i>consumed</i> me! &nbsp; @ 1st, the pt was to be kewl while still being successful. &nbsp; after a while, the need to be "cool" took over, n' i crossed that line... such that i no longer was succeeded. &nbsp; in my early days'f college, i majorly flopped! &nbsp; i let the need to be "cool" just totally dominate, n' like... wow! yah, i paid the pri&cent;e. &nbsp; u c, it's <i>kind'f</i> like those kids in that excellent film <i>better luck tomorrow</i>: they were successful in skool, got good grades... but that got boring, n' they soon got caught up in the pursuit'f "cool." &nbsp; they felt invincible. &nbsp; well... *sigh* like, i realised 2nite, that, me? i need to be careful. &nbsp; i really do. &nbsp; i'm @ that pt, where i'm been riding on the edge... the way i ride my skateboard trucks on the metal covered curb @ the skate park in a 50.50 grind. &nbsp; i'm just sliding, metal.to.metal w/o ne way to control my steering. &nbsp; it's like boardsliding my snowboard on a rail or box. &nbsp; what's kewl 'bout grindin', boardslidin', n' railslidin' (grinding, boardsliding, n' railsliding)'s that u'r movin' but u've given up control... <i>temporarily</i>. &nbsp; when u <i>totally</i> lose control, u bail. &nbsp; i realised 2nite that i've gotta be careful <i>not</i> to bail. &nbsp; i really do. &nbsp; in the past, in my early yrs'f college, i <i>bailed</i>. &nbsp; i need to keep my balance. &nbsp; there's an ol' depeche mode song - "get the balance right." &nbsp; that's what i've gotta do. &nbsp; i've gotta get the balance rt. &nbsp; it's ok that i cm to be progressing well in all these extra.curricular aktivities; but i've gotta balance that out w/ my... well, career. &nbsp; it's a frickin' "dog eat dog" industry, whether i like it or not; so i've gotta "kick it up a notch." &nbsp; i really do. &nbsp; (yah, i realise that i've sed b4 that i hate it when ppl say stuff like "it's a dog eat dog" world; thus i put it in quotes.) &nbsp; *sigh* so... well, as much as it's bad to focus so much on ur career that it runs ur life instead'f god; also, it's bad to let the pursuit'f being kewl run ur life. &nbsp; i realise that i have a calling... that god has given me a purose on this planet. &nbsp; thus, i've gotta well... stick to my guns or whate'er. &nbsp; i guess the catch phrase these days is "stay the course," rt? &nbsp; is that rt? &nbsp; *shrug* neway... "some great reward..." i use that term facetiously. &nbsp; "some great reward..." &nbsp; we try so hard in life to be successful, to be popular, to be kewl... but in the end, "some great reward..." *roll eyes*
<center><img src="journal/2006/pictures/20061104lulu_web.jpg" alt="the guys @ lulu restaurant"><br>
the guys (clarence, beno, eric, n' walter) @ lulu restaurant: i have a temporary tatoo on my neck.</center><br><br><br>