My Dad Is Cute

I called my dad yesterday at work 'cos i had missed his call on Sunday. Never thought I'd say this, but my dad is "cute." Now, my dad is the super hard-working, frugal, no-indulgence, no frills type-a-guy. So for me to call him "cute" is a first. We were chatting about my brother (his eldest son)'s upcoming wedding this weekend and he excitedly told me about how he went and bought a new suit, shirt, and tie just yesterday!! (I later found out from my mum that it was a navy suit, light blue shirt, and light blue + red tie.) He also mentioned that he still needs to go buy some shoes. I thought it was only me who was thinking about buying a new suit for the occasion -- who knew it ran in the family?? Unfortunately, my brother decided that the groomsmen (i think there are like 6, because his fiance has 6 bridesmaids -- she said she didn't know how to turn people down!) are all going to wear tuxes...so we are all renting for the big day. I also told him about my new fashion revelation that fitted shirts/suits make a big difference...but he said that he has a pretty standard body. (I'm sure Mr. Ascot Chang (Thank You!) might have something to say about that!) He was audibly excited about the occasion and I'm so happy for him. In all my years, I've never heard him talk about shopping for clothes - and we've definitely never had a conversation about it.

After that I called my mum and asked what she was wearing. She said that she hadn't decided yet and still needed to go shopping...and asked me what she should wear? My poor mother! Taking fashion advice from her fashion-less son.... She really should have broken with Asian values and had herself a daughter. Not only for fashion advice, but she also has been asking me about what finishing and appliances to put in the house that they're building. I hope it won't turn out like Frankenstein because I've only been telling her about what I see in 600 square feet NYC condos...that probably won't look so hot in surburban San Jose.

I think it's about time one of their prodigal sons came through -- that is why they had 3 isn't it? Sunday will be a special day and I'm looking forward to it.

i took a brief look at my blog today, and i'm embarassed....it's really boring... no wonder no one reads it!! but i'm going to try and write better. but i'm an engineer who took all his humanities class in college on pass/fail, never read the books, and now works in finance -- it's no wonder i have zero writing skillz!

just looking around at work...this is what i see on columbus day morning:

-- one of the bosses is out. he's gone for 2 weeks! (how many does he get a year? and who's keeping track???) i've heard that he has been thinking about going to africa to see some christian woman who can raise the dead... if it's true, then i'll go, and if i see it with my own pupils then i'll convert. sorry god, i'm not really one for blind faith. i need some evidence......just a little...

-- another coworker is napping, we call her sleeping beauty. she probably had a rough night... and she says that she's narcoleptic. i wonder if she's narcoleptic on the weekends at brunch with her friends?

-- on the other side is our new bulgarian (or is it hungarian?) recruit. he's a machine and comes from the hallowed halls of mckinsey. i like him, he's nice. but he works too much, and it's making me and sleeping beauty look bad... doesn't he know to not stir the pot? how do you say that in polish?

happy columbus day everyone. an elementary school teacher just told me that she doesn't think chris should be honoured anymore... is it 'cos he's a fraud and copied the pizza and spaghetti from china and then called it his own?

and today, being the 2nd monday in october, is thanksgiving in canada! enjoy your day off! i'll watch your stocks...

this pretty darn accurate i think..... Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||||||| 80% Stability |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Orderliness |||||| 30% Accommodation |||||| 30% Interdependence |||||||||||||| 56% Intellectual |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Mystical |||||| 30% Artistic |||| 16% Religious || 10% Hedonism |||||||||||||||| 63% Materialism |||||||||||||||| 70% Narcissism |||||||||||||||||| 76% Adventurousness |||||||||||||| 56% Work ethic |||||||||| 36% Self absorbed |||||||||||| 50% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||||||| 76% Need to dominate |||||||||||||||| 70% Romantic |||||||||||||||| 70% Avoidant || 10% Anti-authority |||||||||||||||| 70% Wealth |||||||||||||||| 70% Dependency |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Change averse |||||| 30% Cautiousness |||||||||||| 43% Individuality |||||||||||| 50% Sexuality |||||||||||||||||| 76% Peter pan complex |||||||||||||||| 63% Physical security |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Physical Fitness |||||||||||| 50% Histrionic |||||||||||||||| 70% Paranoia |||| 16% Vanity |||||||||||||||||| 76% Hypersensitivity |||||| 30% Female cliche || 10%

Stability results were high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic..

Orderliness results were low which suggests you are overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense too often of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment.

Extraversion results were high which suggests you are overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense too often of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

trait snapshot:
messy, disorganized, social, tough, outgoing, rarely worries, self revealing, open, risk taker, likes the unknown, likes large parties, makes friends easily, likes to stand out, likes to make fun of people, reckless, optimistic, positive, strong, does not like to be alone, ambivalent about chaos, abstract, impractical, not good at saving money, fearless, trusting, thrill seeker, not rule conscious, enjoys leadership, strange, loves food, abstract, rarely irritated, anti-authority, attracted to the counter culture

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

CHILDREN IN MEETING by Tang Zhigang

there's been a lot of hype surrounding chinese modern art lately....and i went to a gallery to check it out. yeah, even though i know nothing about art, but when it comes to modern art, the beauty is even more in the eye of the beholder right? the above was my favourite. i think a lot of chinese people would probably find it quite hilarious. unfortunately, my brother pointed out that it's not too pleasing to the eye, so i will likely refrain from bidding for it next wednesday. ha!

many people say that part of the allure and magic of new york is that there's so much art and culture...but, honestly, i really don't know how to appreciate or take advantage of it. many of the museums or galleries are free, but even then, i don't go. THAT'S how little i get out of it.... sad huh? well, if anyone has advice on how or why to appreciate art, please let me know. i'd be very grateful.

Al Gore wrote me an email!!! ........NOT!

Dear dazhi,

On March 21st, I will testify before Congress on the immediate action that needs to be taken to end the climate crisis. At the hearing, I will deliver the 294,374 messages you signed, demonstrating that hundreds of thousands of people share my sense of urgency.

If an additional 55,626 people sign our message, it will be as though 350,000 of us are there at the hearing expressing our determination to convince Congress to act. Having served in the House and Senate, I can tell you that members of these committees would find this to be a meaningful and impressive show of support.

There are only 5 days left before the hearings begin, so please do not pass up this opportunity to join in showing the broad public support we need in order to solve the climate crisis. I know you have friends or family who care deeply about this issue but have yet to sign our message to Congress.

Ask them to help fill that committee room with 350,000 messages by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

The reason Congress has so far failed to act is not because there are no solutions to the problem. Nor is it because the majority doesn't believe that the climate crisis is real. They have failed to act, because they have not yet faced a sufficient expression of political will on the part of the American people demanding they confront our climate crisis head on. You and I know that political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. We just have to communicate that forcefully to the political leaders of our country.

In the last two weeks alone 101,673 people visited AlGore.com and signed our message to Congress. This is an incredible demonstration of the energy behind this issue.

In my testimony, of course, I will speak about the scientific evidence for global warming - just reiterated six weeks ago by the world's scientists in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But frankly, the debate on the science has long been over - except for a diminishing number of skeptics and deniers.

At this point, it is far more important to deliver your message about the urgency with which this crisis must be faced. Political leaders need to know that you intend to reward those who do the right thing and that you will work to replace those who do not.

That's why it's vital we fill up the hearing room with 350,000 messages.

Please ask your friends to sign our message to Congress today by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

Together we are building a movement that has the potential to translate your strong feelings into effective change for our country. And we all know that when the United States changes - and offers leadership - the entire world will follow.

Thank you,

Al Gore

Injustice...


I've never emailed a legislator or senator or prez bush on anything before, largely because I never thought it would make any difference...or didn't feel emotionally compelled to do it. But this was just outrageous, and I've emailed every relevant govt official in Georgia to complain.

Please check out: WilsonAppeal.com. And read the article in: ESPN.

And here's the scary part. Given this type of things happen in the US, what happens in China and Russia must be a thousand times worse...


Lastly, I learned about this issue from my least favourite NBA team owner, Mark Cuban. =)

ZZZZZZZ

I don't know what it is, but since moving to NYC, I've had trouble sleeping... At the first place I lived, which was an older, walk-up building, I suspected it was because it was too noisy... But since I moved to a newer, quiter building, things haven't really improved.

I have no trouble falling asleep, in fact that happens within minutes. But my issue is that I wake up too early, at around 6 or 5:30... and then I try and force myself to sleep until 8...(or 7:20 on days I have early meetings). (It feels almost like I'm taking a red-eye every night!) As we all know, anything forced is not that great... So if anyone out there is an expert on sleeping, and especially skilled at staying asleep, holler at me!

Ok, end of whining, off to dinner!

What $1.2 Trillion Can Buy

The human mind isn’t very well equipped to make sense of a figure like $1.2 trillion. We don’t deal with a trillion of anything in our daily lives, and so when we come across such a big number, it is hard to distinguish it from any other big number. Millions, billions, a trillion — they all start to sound the same.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/business/17leonhardt.html?ex=1169874000&en=1a9b70f2eac2b0aa&ei=5070

ok, christmas day.
i'm moving my blog over from msn spaces. it's a major pain in the ass to move blogs around, and you have to be really compelled to do so. well, i'm moving because 1) I only have 4 posts anyway! 2) because you have to have a windows live ID in order to comment on blogs, what a crock o' shite! i like microsoft more than google (now that I'm no longer working at microsoft i feel much more allegiance to it.... seriously!), but i can't deal with their commenting restrictions. i'll still use their Office and Windows tho. Actually, I'm still trying to get a hacked version of Vista to work, does anyone know how?