Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Earthquakes

It's been raining non-stop today. Driving vision was impaired. While getting coffee earlier this evening, our little 4-door Saturn was practically washed away -- flooded literally -- by the humongous Texas trucks on the road. And, as my friend T. and I were regaling each other of stories about Xmas presents and new year's celebrations, she told me that Austin has been under tornado warning all evening. If I had been watching DFW news instead of watching Pirates of the Caribbean, I would know that most of TX is usually under tornado warning. Which is why driving anywhere in a dinky little Saturn would be considered things to do by the criminally insane. So, as the year 2006 ends, it suddenly occurred to me that within the past five years, I've been experiencing quite a little bit of Mother Nature's gentle reminders. Tornadoes in TX. Hurricanes in NC. Earthquakes in CA.

They are, however, only close calls, so are not truly life threatening in any way. The tornado warnings have always hovered over us while living in DFW, but the one that came closest to me touched down 3-4 blocks from our house -- which by all accounts is practically leagues away. In fact, it landed on top of the U.S. Post Office. The Hurricane in Wilmington was not that traumatic except for a bit of wind and slashing rain. But, they did officially "evacuate" did the campus, did they not? As for the earthquakes in Berkeley, I haven't felt anything over a 4.1, so it's not that bad. Thankfully, the Big One won't be hitting for another 10-20 years. I have high hopes that I would have made enough money by that time that it wouldn't matter if one or two of my houses fall off the cliffs into the Pacific Ocean.

Given that I've experienced three of the major forces of mother nature's repertoire within a short span of 5 years, I've re-affirmed my new year's resolution to build me a better emergency kit backpack. Well, inquiring minds want to know what is currently in my ready-made backpack which is lodged inside my closet -- I dunno if it's retrievable since it's packed in among the other whatnot. But, the items currently inside my bag are:

1. Batteries for a flashlight that is missing. I know, it'll be found, I assure you. I just got misplaced. Or I broke it the last time I went rummaging. But, I DO have batteries.
2. 1 box of band-aids. For all the cuts and bruises that I might receive while performing my duties as the neighborhood hero, such as saving little old ladies. Or, to be used for the faking of terrible injuries while I relieve said little old ladies of their flashlights.
3. 1 set of garden gloves. I don't know how they got in there. I don't know why they are in there. But I will have gloves should I ever need to do some serious gardening after the earthquake hits. You never know how much the garden will come in handy b/c we might have to grow our own vegetables after the Big One destroys all.

While this is not a very long list, I assure you that it is a very large bag. No, I doubt it will hold my t.v. or my radio. But it will hold many other things, and as soon as I figure out what else I'll need, it's going in the bag.

Seriously, though, I can be gleeful about "surviving" such things only b/c I haven't endured tsunamis and hurricanes on Katrina scales. Knowing this gives me some rather large perspectives. Suddenly, friendships become more valuable and relationships a lot more tenuous. Suddenly, life seems rather small -- or, grander, for some of us. The things I would like to do for 2007 seem more attainable and other visions about writing and producing seem more meaningful. Working in a seminary loses some of its weightier dimensions -- in good ways-- and, surprisingly, the anticipation of things to come -- that anticipation is exciting instead of being scary or mundane. Almost similar to the feeling of starting a newer draft of an old poem. Before, everything was chaotic, the words, the black and white spaces, the lines, all whirled together into some incoherent rhythm. And then the clean sweep across the landscape, making a new geography. Right there, on the page. Each time a brand new line. Each a fresh new space.

0.7%: What HAT can do

I've looked at the list of "What You Can Do" to support the Millennium Project. Beyond the 0.7%, beyond the letter to my congresswoman, I think I have something better... and it involves you.

Option 1: Urge our government leaders to remain steadfast in this commitment. Hahaha. Sure, I'll write to The Governataur and see what happens. Or, let's write to W. instead.

Option 2: Organize a fundraiser. Not quite ready yet, but I'm thinking on it since I have friends in high places.

Option 3: Be informed and inform others: ok, this I can handle. You'll notice that I've put a virtual "wristband" on my blog (left corner) for the One Campaign of the Episcopal church. There's also a banner for the 2015 promise. Please put one on yours. Especially those of you who are extremely popular and are close to world domination (ahem, ahem, no names mentioned but you know who you are). If you've got passersby reading your blogs, please, it's the least we can do to inform everyone. Check out the other projects that are happening in the Campaign.

Oh, you can also buy an environmentally safe and recyclable wristband. It doesn't look very fashionable, I know. But it makes a statement. A very appropriate one.

Episcopalians for 0.7%

At its General Convention in June, 2006, when it elected its very first female Presiding Bishop (hooray!), the US Episcopal Church also passed resolution to support the UN MDGs through its ONE Campaign.

As a staffer at an Episcopal seminary, it is my privilege to say that I am a part of that campaign. Even though I am not a member of ECUSA, it is still exciting to know that I can contribute in significant ways that will eventually make an impact on this earth. Each diocese, congregation, and parishioner in the Episcopal Church nationwide is encouraged to participate by giving 0.7% by 07/07/07. It may be difficult for some of us, but it is not impossible. Not for me. If I calculated this correctly, 0.7% of a $10,000 annual income is only $70 (did I calculate that right?). And for every $10,000, it's another $70. My salary's not like Bill Gates' because as we all know, theological seminaries don't have much funding. Lilly and Kresge will only give so much. Nevertheless, I'm paid. Which means I am able to help in whatever way I can. Yay!

Find out how much you can contribute! (And I don't just mean in dollars!)

VN: Bargaining Woes - 1 hat too many

I've always known that haggling is a weakness on my part. I'm terrible at it. I can't keep a straight face. I don't know how to be jovial and witty but sharp and unrelenting. I don't know half of what's on the market and I can't even guess the selling price of half the things I buy. I can't soothe people's feelings after I've insulted them by offering too low a price. I don't know the proper techniques or the keywords to prove that I'm a frequent shopper (b/c I really am not, but appearance is everything) and so they shouldn't bother raising prices on me.

For those folks who say don't haggle, or who say that there isn't inflated price-gauging, I say differently. I scoff. I scoff b/c I have seen it happen and have had it happen to me many times. Compared to the Euro-American/caucasian tourist, I'm a "closer match" in physical appearance which by all accounts should give me some leverage. Yes, I'm short, I have dark hair, and I speak, read and write Vietnamese. And although being fluent in Vietnamese doesn't help with haggling, it sure helps when I hear the local merchants talk about prices. The locals can tell just by the way I walk that I'm not from around there, but when I'm in "tay ba lo" mode, they don't know that I know what they're talking about.

Even by the 9th month of my stay in VN, I had to work extra hard in order to "blend" in with the locals. So naturally, when I go shopping, it makes it even harder for me to haggle. When in Saigon, I usually frequented "Cho Vuon Chuoi" (banana grove market) on Nguyen Dinh Chieu, so I knew that when the merchant in Hanoi (her photo is in the Picasa Hanoi Gallery) told me that her chom chom (ramputans) are 31,000 vnd per kg, I knew she was charging me twice as much as the going price for that season. And even 15,000vnd per kilo is rather expensive. I mean, they better be really, really juicy and sweet ramputans.

Once, I was wandering about and entered a Saigon Kitsch shop (near downtown, 3 shops down from Fanny Ice Cream), I bought a cute little fan for $2.00 usd (approx 30,000vnd). That's not a lot compared to our standards. It's traditional in design and fabric and very portable and perfect for the hot summer months. I happily carried it around, feeling so smug I managed to snag suchh a great deal. In the US, it would have been around $5 - $10 (even more if I bought it in non-Viet American shops). My bubble was burst when I found out from chi Linh that those little fans are about 8,000 vnd and my aunt has about 10 of them and always carries one in her purse. Bummer. Chi Linh even knew the stall of a merchant in Cho Vuon Chuoi where you can haggle for an even lower price.

But, even better than that story is the one about the hats I purchased while cavorting through the streets of Saigon. I was burning to a crisp even with the masks and gloves and sunscreen applied in triple layers. I went to Non Son to buy a hat. The sales associates fitted me with some of the most fashionable styles at that time and I was so happy to be able to get a word in edgewise. Essentially, I got the "buy 1 get 1 free" deal. Khuyen mai, khuyen mai!! I was on cloud nine. I took home two hats. About two weeks later, I found a shop on Hai Ba Trung street that sold a similar hat for half the price (60,000vnd). A few months later, before I was to leave VN, chi Phuong and I found a stall near Cho Ben Thanh (Ben Thanh Market is the largest market in Saigon). The merchant offered me 600,000vnd for the exact same hat that I bought at Non Son. Are you kidding me? 60,000 vs. 600,000? Get this, I asked him in English and he replied in English. Then I said in Vietnamese that I bought one for only 60,000vnd. He just ignored me and turned to another customer.

Some folks may think I deserve paying that much since I hail from a better economy and if I'm that gullible to pay for those hats, then so be it. I disagree. It really is the principle of things, isn't it? Many foreign tourists pay different prices and they don't mind b/c it's only a couple of cents difference in the price. But, it's about the principle. With one look, the merchants assess who I am (or who I appear to be) and then determine how much I should contribute to their livelihood. They see through me as if I am deserving of being exploited and deserve paying extra. I balk at the fact that in their estimation (correct as it may be!) I am gullible enough. Just enough.

When my cousins took me to the Cu Chi Tunnels, they paid for my ticket. Locals pay 8,000vnd but foreigners pay 80,000vnd. Ten times as much. Depending on the situation and location, "foreigner" is defined differently and I usually fall under Viet Kieu which indicates that I'm not a foreigner in the sense of the white/euro-american tourists that they see coming from the US. But, when we came to historical sites, I usually have to pay through the nose like any other foreigner. Oh I know, 80,000 is a little over $5.00 which isn't that much. But, when you think about the difference, it's astronomical. Isn't it?

Given that, I say haggle all you want b/c that's the way life is lived. You have to particiate in it, but be absolutely aware of what's going on. Be an informed participant. Don't haggle when it's a posted price b/c you won't win. Otherwise, be cautious and be discerning. Roll up your sleeves and get to it!

Project Letters: ink and paper

In addition to the photos that I purchased (most were purchased on a street behind the bus station near Ben Thanh Market), I also purchased loads of old letters. Many were written by soldiers in the Vietnam/American War. Some were responses to the soldier's letters. Some were written during the fight against the French colonial forces. Many were received, read, then discarded. Many were sent but never received.

Unlike the photos, the letters revealed different aspects about the correspondants' lives. Their voices came across with so much nuance and feeling, and yet they were mysterious. I did not, I could not, see their faces. I could only guess at the layers that were exposed on the thin pages of the letters. They revealed something utterly internal about each writer and yet my understanding of them was so external. And that may be the way it is supposed to remain.

There was an especially interesting thread between a wife and her husband who was stationed somewhere in central Vietnam during the early years of the war. I'll write more about it later, but suffice it to say, each letter was a missive that had to be explored with depth and persistance. And time, which was something I did not have while in VN. It was rather disappointing that I could not spend more time and money to devote to this project. It continues to be an interesting venture...

VN: HAT Packs

Chao mi! It has been approximately a year and half since I was last in Vietnam for my Fulbright research. In that time, I've cultivated little tidbits that I've found useful now as I prepare for my Immersion trip to SE Asia. So, I want to take the time to post some thoughts about my trip in 2004-2005 and my upcoming trip, and hopefully these things might be helpful for other travelers to VN.

While I've already written a few posts on VN, this will be the official first in a series of HATposts about traveling in VN. Since I've already begun the process of packing for this January, I'll start there... one of the most angst-ridden part of the preparation and yet the most fun.

Throughout my trip in 04-05, I kept 2 valises and 1 backpack (keep in mind, ya'all, that this was for 10 months, and for me, that's keeping it light). I was based in one city, but whenever I traveled throughout VN, I kept a backpack and 1 carry-on. For those of you who have traveled with me, you'll know this is an extremely difficult challenge. How am I supposed to keep everything (including gifts!) inside these two little bags?! I dunno how it happened, but it did.

As you know, list-making is an essential task in all travels. I've got lists for everything from what I wore to what I bought to how much I paid for things to how much was spent on taxi rides and xe om rides. I'll dispense with the list of stuff in my luggage, since we're all seasoned travelers here, but I think I'll start with itemizing stuff I found absolutely useful while there:

• Baby wipes/facial wipes
• Pepto Bismol
• Pepcid AC
• Clinique travel size face wash
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Shiseido facial sunblock
• Clinique's tinted CityBlock
• Burt's Bees tinted lip moisturizer
• Johnson & Johnson travel size baby powder
• pen flashlight
• Digicam/videocam
• Moleskin notebook

Everything was travel size, or were those little free-give-aways which made them ideal for light packing. Other items like the baby/wet wipes were useful to wipe down dirty tabletops or chairs, hands and face, etc. In some areas in SE Asia, I was asked to pay for toilet paper that felt like sandpaper, so the baby wipes were very useful. Because of the humidity and heat in SE Asia, baby powder was a great substitute for lotions and lightly tinted sunblocks such as the CityBlock were ideal.

Something to note, though: You can buy anything at a "sieu thi" like Maximark or Citimart or Co-opmart. I frequented the one in Saigon Center on Le Loi b/c it's small so I don't have the frenzied CostCo shopping experience. However, you can go to any of the other locatoins near Nam Ky Khoi Nghia (?) or on 3/2 street and you'll be smack in the middle of Walmart SuperCenter. I even signed up for a membership card to rack up the rewards points to get the "khuyen mai" deals. Great stuff! You will also be able to visit places like Saigon's Diamond Plaza where everything is priced in European or American price ranges. You'll be able to purchase Clinique, Shiseido, Estee, and other similar brands at regular prices.

Be careful that you don't purchase items over the price that you would pay while in the U.S. While in VN, I decided to splurge and purchase a refill for one of my make-up "must-haves" and ended up paying a little bit more than an arm and a leg. Hee hee hee. (Have I already said that I bought the Harry Potter book from Nha Sach Nguyen Hue when it came out? All the bookstores were out in the first distribution in Saigon and they had to take orders months in advance. I had to come back 3 weeks later to get my copy. Naturally, the hardback I purchased was much more expensive. After I converted how much I'd paid in VND, the USD was about $5 more -- and in Dong, that's an awful big difference. C'est la vie.) All, of course, b/c I didn't want to go through the hassle of haggling at one of the market stalls. It's because they import directly from the countries of origin, and importing into VN "somehow" raises the price considerably. Oh the things we do for the things we don't need...

0.7%: What ONE can do

Even though the Millennium Development Goals were not set until 2001, the international community has persistently committed to the 0.7%. What is it? It takes only 0.7% of each of the budgets of the more developed nations to eradicate extreme poverty. Imagine what we could achieve if the U.S. and other nations gave 0.7% of the GNP.

There are 22 donor countries -- the richest nations -- that have agreed to meet the 0.7% target head-on. Have they done it? Well, they keep agreeing and affirming their commitments, so we have at least that much. In 2003, the total, official amount of aid given towards the development goals was $69 billion (a large number, right?). But, the nations had actually committed to $200 billion per year towards development aid. It doesn't mean that we're going to cut off an arm and a leg to do it, either. It's only 0.7%!!

16 countries have agreed that they will meet the 0.7% target by the 2015 the deadline. Wanna guess whether the U.S. has set a timetable for achieving the 0.7% target? We haven't yet, folks. Shame on us. The US is one of 5 countries that have not set a date for meeting our target. Is it because we're afraid we will fail? Is it because we are uncertain whether we want to commit to this worthwhile project? Are we only talking nonsense but not really interested in doing it?

As of 2005, there are five countries (yay, you honorable five) that have already met their 0.7% targets:

• Denmark, 0.81%
• Luxembourg, 0.87%
• Netherlands, 0.82%
• Norway, 0.93%
• Sweden, 0.92%

Guess where the US stands. As of 2005, the US has committed 0.22% of our gross national income in aid. The US and Portugal are the two countries offering the least amount of aid (that we are capable of offering percentage-wise) compared to the other donor countries. (Even though it's not a competition) We beat Portugal by 0.01%.

US = 0.22%
Portugal = 0.21%

It is pathetic, folks. The Spaniards are reaching the goal. The British are halfway there. The Norwegians have left everyone else eating the dust (and if we don't eradicate poverty, that's what literally will happen--we'll eat dust. Yuck). The Swedes, the Italians. New Zealand, for goodness sakes! We can do better than this!

Christmas tai nha

This year, M. and I flew back to Arlington to celebrate Giang Sinh with the family. We arrived on Christmas Eve, va mac du MomDad kg co the ra don tai airport, nhung TAT da dien len 100% de ra gap 2 ba chi at the airport. That la hon hanh. Day la hinh chup tu trong airplane window, while waiting to de-plane, looking out into the rainy DFW airport runways. It is after all a place of departures and arrivals.

[photo]

Christmas nam nay that la vui... luc nao co gd doan tu cung la vui het. Con hon nua, mua GS nam nay la co hoi de gia dinh ghi nho lai nhung on phuoc Chua da ban cho trong nam qua. Ke ra thi that la nhieu. Nam moi thi se dem den nhieu su thay doi, cung nhu la nhieu viec moi la. Mong rang tat ca se nhan lanh tung bai hoc quy bau duoc dat rieng cho minh.

Nam nao cung duoc ve nha eat lots of good food, vi do an cua Bo Me nau o nha la xuat sac. Nha bep cua Le Mai la co mot khong hai!

[photo]

Da duoc an nhung mon nhu la goi du du va kho bo (papaya salad with fresh roasted peanuts and basil leaves and beef jerky). Day la mot mon tuyet hao, an chung voi nuoc cham peanut sauce, co mot it gung va mot it lime. Nguyen mot khay goi du du la da dat tai tiem mua ve. Ho lam rat tien, nen minh kg phai ton thi gio de bao du du hoac xe kho bo. Mon nay thi ngon, nhung co le khong ngon bang mon Mami lam tai nha.

[photo]

Ngon tuyet hao nua la tom hum rang muoi! Day la lam tai trong nha bep cua Le Mai, khong co cho nao xuat sac hon. Lua ra tung con lobster that nhieu thit, rang len chung voi nhung "bi quyet" lam ra sauce set set... tron voi com la ngon nguyen mot bung! An khong ngung... nghe thay chay nuoc mieng khong?

[photo]

Nam nay thi da dat mot mon dac biet hon la nam ngoai: la bush de Noelle. Maman va ChaCha nam xua nam xua da tung phai bake mot bush de noelle nhung den gio thi minh co the ra ngoai La Madeleine bakery de dat ho lam. Du banh an khong ngot lam, nhung rat nhieu creme, cho nen an that la beo beo beo... Rat dat biet vi duoc an banh nay de goi nho lai nhung Christmas Past.

By 2015, we pledge to:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

"We will have time to reach the Millennium Development Goals – worldwide and in most, or even all, individual countries – but only if we break with business as usual. We cannot win overnight. Success will require sustained action across the entire decade between now and the deadline. It takes time to train the teachers, nurses and engineers; to build the roads, schools and hospitals; to grow the small and large businesses able to create the jobs and income needed. So we must start now. And we must more than double global development assistance over the next few years. Nothing less will help to achieve the Goals." -UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annam

UN Millennium Development Goals


Do your part. Join the Millennium Campaign. Keep the promise. Stay committed.

3rd quake rocks East Bay!!

This morning's 3.5 earthquake (around 9:20 a.m.) was the third within 4 days. It is, if nothing else, a clear sign that the Big One is sure to come--soon. It is estimated that the Big One will probably be about a 6 or a 7.0. Knowing this, I am surprised ever more that it has received so very little attention in the news. Perhaps it is because the Hayward Fault is not as well known as the Andreas fault. Perhaps it is insignificant because the East Bay garners little attention compared to the City. Whatever the reason, I hope that all other folks will bear in mind that when the time comes, we will need all the resources we can garner to overcome the natural disaster, especially because such little attention is being paid to prepare for the earthquake -- and it will surely be terrific.

I am reminded of the earthquakes that I experienced in the fall of 2005 while still living in Saigon. They were minor shocks as a result of quakes that happened further away from the city center. Nevertheless, they gave me something to think about, given the architecture of many of the building structures in the poorer districts of Saigon. The flimsy nature of these facilities lends itself to much damage and destruction.

Hayward going wayward...AGAIN... before Xmas!

Not only is the Hayward faultline (not, mind you, the Andreas faultline) going wayward by means of shaking me out of my little Christmas boots, but it is trying to, I believe, remove me physically from the geography of the California coastline. Which means, essentially, that you my friends on the East coast, in Canada, in Vietnam, in Japan (Eri!!!), in Egypt, in Germany, in Norway, and in Chile (and Spain! Spain!), you will very, very soon be able to visit me on an island instead of on the U.S. mainland! Because, verily I say unto you, there will be a day of reckoning, when the earth will shake (and not as a result of me doing various sorts of aerobic exercise), the houses will tumble and California (or a portion of her) will float out into the Pacific Ocean. Yes. That's it. Floating away... there we go, floating merrily along. Then, it'll be just like the Island of Dr. Moreau. Mwaaahahahaha....

You might ask why I'm still able to laugh about the fact that this is the second earthquake (3.6 tonight) in two days (3.7 on Wednesday, no casualties, no damage reported). It is because my sister, my aunt, and I have just returned from a very proper and fitting Candlelight Service at our church in Oakland, during which we celebrated the nativity story, the passing of the Light, and observed suitable periods of meditation and reflection. I have therefore prayed for my soul -- I do so regularly -- and have also prayed for you my friends (yes, even for you, Ivan, and especially for you C.) So there's no need to worry if the Big One comes along in my sleep.

Lest you be afraid that I force my religion on you (only the most deserving ones), I have chosen moments of silence in observance of your own faith traditions (or lack thereof) so that you will have very merry holiday seasons in this world. On earth. Joyeux Noelle a tout le monde!

But in all seriousness, immediately after the quake, I turned on the news to see what they would report. The two anchors briefly mentioned that there was a quake, that it was only 3.6 compared to Wednesday's 3.7, and then they turned to the Sports anchor, asking about the update on the basketball game between some team or rather that beat the 2nd best team in the Eastern conference.

I was surprised. Not because of the station's blatant disregard for what I considered important (a harbinger of the things to come, perhaps?). In the scheme of things, what I consider fearful is not what is considered news-worthy. However, how is it possible that they could react so nonchalantly about something like this, a clearer indicator that we are much closer to experiencing a major earthquake in the Bay Area. It's probably not their job to upset the news-watchers, but isn't necessary to say something more?

The dismissal was very quick: no casualties, no damages reported. The end. On to something more interesting, on to something that really excites the American citizens: sports. Really? Could that be? Are we only interested in numbers reported hurt or dead, or the estimate of damage done to buildings and streets? No one was hurt, no buildings collapsed so we have no news this evening, ladies and gentlemen. Let us move toward more pleasant topics of conversation like basketball competitions. Why do we not acknowledge the good that comes out of something like this? Are we so de-sensitized that minor things of positive proportions don't seem to entice us anymore? Thankfully, no one was hurt. Thankfully, no one lost a business or a home. Thankfully.

Is it not equally important to forewarn others? Perhaps I am too paranoid. However, I do have my red Red Cross backpack and some emergency supplies. If something should happen, I might be prepared for the first 5 minutes and then... chaos. But imagine that. I'm in a home, sheltered, with money, food and water, and have means to take care if a natural disaster strikes. But there are so many others who are not. So many. Will they be interested in watching basketball scores, I wonder...?

Laundry woes

I've been doing loads of laundry before packing for Texas, and it seems endless. The situation increasingly worsens as the hours tick away towards tonight's Candlelight Service (at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Oakland). The problem is: we no longer have our own washer and dryer. The W&D were sold when my sister and I moved out of the old apartment into this 2 bedroom unit. It's a beautiful bit of architecture with high ceilings and arches and more nooks and crannies than I can fill. It's great, really, with a dining room, living room, kitchen, and breakfast nook. The two bedrooms are upstairs with the bathroom sitting in-between on the landing. The only problem is, this is seminary housing for faculty, so we have to share the public launderette with other folks. We like our neighbors (and I hope they're not reading this) but they are terrible at laundry. I'm rather lazy when it comes to doing laundry, but I do my very best to follow the three rules when using public space:

1. Always remove lint/dust after drying.
2. Never do laundry after 10:00 p.m.
3. Always promptly remove clothes after washing/drying.

The thing about our neighbors is that they often forget. There are days when clothes remain in the machines forever. I've had to many times remove dust. Ughh. And I can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep to the "whooing" sound of the dryer.

I'd like to think I'm a patient person, but there's only so much one can take. I really, really, really miss my own W & D and wish we had not agreed to move into a place w/o our own machines.

So I am now waiting to do my laundry. Hopefully we'll have it done before we leave for TX!

Mot chut que huong

Toi hom qua, duoc Co Ben va Duong Tu moi qua ben Hayward an Giang Sinh. Troi mua lam ram, duong pho thi dong xe co, co le vi moi nguoi cung co cho de di, co viec de lam, co nguoi de gap. Khong biet co phai vi troi mua cho nen lam khong khi hoi buon buon. Minh nho den nhung ngay dem tai Saigon va Hanoi, khi bau troi may sam lai up xuong, mua tam ta. Ngoi tren xe hon da thi bi uot ca nguoi. Trong nhung luc do, mac du cam thay buc boi, kho chiu, vi troi do mua lam hong cac tinh toan cua minh, nhung trong ky uc thi nho lai nhung thoi xua khi minh con be, chay tung tang trong mua. Nhung ngay ay that vui vi tat ca moi viec don dan hon, khong su gi kho khan hoac dau kho, nen cai viec hon nhien nhay mua trong mua that la sung suong.

Sau khi den noi thi tinh than cam thay phan khoi hon nhieu. Sau con mua, troi lai sang. Dung that la khi xum hop voi nhieu nguoi thi minh cam thay vui ve hon, tinh than thay nhe nhom hon. It khi ma gap mot nguoi cuoi voi minh ma minh co the mat nghiem lang thinh.

Co Ben da moi mot vai gia dinh o trong HT den, va cung co Thoai Lan nua, cho nen cung vui vui. It khi ma co co hoi den tu hop chung voi mot nhom nguoi dong huong. O Berkeley thi minh kg quen biet voi nhieu nguoi Viet My, nen khi gap duoc thi thay tu nhien va thoai mai. Va lai, co Ben cho an mam chung va canh chua ca, nen nhung mon an Viet da giup lam hoa tan cai ngai ngung, mat co, cua nhung buoi gap go dau tien. Duong nhien, tivi o trong phong khach cua Co Chu dang chieu DVD ca nhac cua Asia "Nhung Tinh Ca Sau Cuoc Chien", lam cho moi nguoi co mot noi de tap trung, chu y, nen kg can phai lo noi chuyen voi nhau. Su hien dien cua Viet Dzung, Trinh Hoi, va cac ca si o trong show phat ra lam cho moi nguoi de dang ma noi chuyen voi nhau, uyen chuyen su doai thoai giua hai the he o trong can nha nho be tai Hayward. Vui nhat la khi co Ben da hat len nhung loi cua bai hat "Xe Dap Oi" (cua Phuong Thao va Ngoc Le).

Khong lau sau thi minh da phai kieu di ve. Du kg o lau, nhung cung khong ke la mot su cuc hinh. Trong mot dem ma lai co tieng mua roi, do an Viet, am nhac tinh ca, va mot chut que huong...

Project Photos: black and white

Over the 10 months spent in Vietnam, chi P. and I spent much of our time collecting old photos and letters. She began a huge project that involved purchasing and posting family album photos of families who have immigrated from Vietnam or who have died back in the 1800s. One entire wall of her apartment was covered with black and white photos of bizarre family photos. (There were quite a few of bodybuilders!)

Unlike P., I was much more interested in seeing photos and images of women -- in all aspects of their lives. It's a bit voyeuristic, but it's not unlike watching a movie. Granted, it was rather ghostly of me to have purchased someone else's family portraits but it was rather interesting to see what kinds of photos appeared in the market places. Most of them were photos left over after the family left for Europe back in the early 1900s. Sometimes, we would come across photos of the same family over and over, as if someone had entered their abandoned homes and had sold the stolen photos which I now purchased for my own personal project. Stealing photos. And of course, one of the men that sold the photos to me, he said that Americans are the most interested in collecting other people's histories. Who else would bother to invade and investigate into other people's private lives. Then again, those who stole the photos are quite familiar with their markets and know there would be a profit in these old black and whites.

Anyway, I now have a collection of women's photos -- studio portraits, school photos, vacation photos, photos that were gifted to someone else but which ended up in the pile I was sorting through. There was one with an exceptional flourish in the name.(It made me think of those younger days when my childhood friends and I freely exchanged photos with one another, willingly giving over printed impressions of ourselves inscribed with childish handwriting. Where would they end up? Would they be tossed into someone's trash and then end up in some stranger's photo collection?)

Then I thought about what I was doing. Why am I interested in this stuff? What could these Vietnamese women -- most of them rich and educated and stylish -- have anything to do with me? What part of their lives intersect with mine? Why am I fascinated with the faces and lives of these strangers? What right do I have, buying their photos and then storing them away, and now writing about them, talking about them? Where do I draw the line between creative inspiration and poetry and invading someone's privacy? And how are these women different from or similar to the Vietnamese women I know now, the ones living in VN and abroad? Decades separate the lives of these photographed women from the ones I see being lived daily. How could it possibly matter to me.

But it does. Seeing these photos -- it makes a difference. In some strange, un-named way I can understand a part of these women and can see a part of what they leave behind when they left these photos. Because that's what they are, they are visual impressions. Either they do not care that these photos are left behind -- photo albums are not so significant, I suppose, when you feel your country being torn apart, your family being separated. They might not have thought much about the fact that they leave small parts of themselves behind inside these photos. Or, it could be that it doesn't matter because these photos could never possibly capture the essence of their spirit.

But what if the photos were stolen? What if these were unknowingly ripped from their possessions? What if these were the only symbols of a past they no longer remember? (And if so, does it matter to them?) Would they want them back? Would they feel emptied? Would they feel bereft? Would they feel liberated, emancipated, from the burden of history and memory?

Whatever the photos reveal, they do not offer answers to any of these questions.

(Photo inscription on the back, written by Nga, the one half-standing on the left: Washing cups after finished eating. So happy. Who knows when days like these will be found again, my friends? Based on another photo in which Nga appears with her classmates, this photo was taken c. Spring 1956.)

Renga Writing Blog

A group of us have gathered together in virtual space to contribute to a renga blog, a blog of very humble origins and even more modest poetry. We've only finished one kasen (which in my mind ended rather abruptly and left me feeling, well, bereft) but would truly hope to continue with others. I offer it up here as a meager but ambitious offering to the larger writing community. The contributors include 3 poets and 1 novelist, all of whom dabble a little bit in other genres. In 2007, we begin anew with what promises to be thoroughly stimulating poetry reading -- even for the non-poetically minded.

Tourist sites: religious sites

Professor Kuan and professor Tran have encouraged the SEAT (SE Asia Trip) participants to identify certain research interests related to this trip we'll be taking in January. Given that we only have about 17 more days until we actually embark on this journey, I wonder how thorough the research will be. Many of the folks have identified very interesting topics (i.e. interreligious dialogue, Islamic symbolisms, indigenous cultural rituals, missionary movements, etc.) which will undoubtedly require much more attention than we are able to give.

For this trip, I'll be inviting SEAT participants to reflect on the various sites that we'll visit to examine their attractiveness (or lack thereof) as tourist attractions. We will observe, participate, and surely be factors of change at these locations. If we consider our roles as tourists from a foreign country (a country wielding certain political and economic and cultural gravitas for that matter) there is much to observe and discuss.

• What theological and religious suppositions do we bring with us when we enter these places of religious significance?
• How do we interpret the images/icons/symbols that we see?
• What lenses of analysis do we use when we observe these objects?
• What informs our understanding of these contexts when we are invited to participate in the rituals?
• What are the cultural and social foundations (norms/mores/values) that we use as a basis for interpreting and understanding the creation/establishment of these places of worship and religious observance?
• How are our own c/s foundations different from or similar to those of our visitation sites?
• How might those similarities and/or differences impede or advance our understanding of, interaction with, and participation in the people, culture, and communities that we visit?

Hayward going wayward

About an hour or so earlier this evening, a 3.7 earthquake shook Berkeley out of its Wednesday night doldrums. We were having dinner with the Liews when there was loud rumble and the house seemed to shake a bit. My immediate thought was did I do that by bumping the table with my big fat thighs? Was I that loud? Then I realized it was only the Hayward faultline reminding me -- us -- that it sits less than a mile from where I sat eating dinner.

I've felt several quakes since the one on Ash Wednesday last year. They seem to come more often. Or rather, they happen all the time, but when they register high enough for me to notice, I'm not too thrilled.

This makes me wonder, what about the parking structure for UCB's new $120 million sports stadium -- the one that they want to (stupidly?) put right on top of the faultline. But what do I know, I'm not the architects who are paid millions to retrofit a new structure -- it takes great skill to design the facility exactly on top of the earthquake fault. I'm not that kind of genius.

Green Thumbs Needed Immediately

Come Christmas Even, my sister and I will be heading to DFW, and since we'll be staying for a week, my plants are in dire need of a plant-sitter. I'm not much of a plant keeper, and my thumbs are no more green than alabaster, but I've become rather attached to my plants. Selfish as I am, I really need someone to watch over my plants while I head home for some good cooking and some good-ol-rotten spoiling by the dear parents. Some of you might remember that when in grad school, I killed three lychee plants when I abandoned them when I flew home in a mad rush over some holiday vacation. It might have been an un-planned last-minute Thanksgiving rush, or maybe it was Christmas. But it was cold and dry. So they died. Poor things.

This time, I've got to find a caretaker because I don't just have three lychee plants. In fact, I have:

• 1 cyclamen
• 2 potted mums
• 1 azalea plant
• 2 phalaenopsis orchids
• 1 black jewel orchid
• 1 amaryllis
• 8 red tomato plants (separately potted -- for the time being)
• 1 pot of wintergreen mints
• 1 pot of basil

That's a whole lot of dying if they all go. I don't know if I can handle finding all of them wilted and dead -- not that they'll all die within one week. But it's cold and getting colder. And there isn't that much humidity or moisture in the air. Additionally, we just had some friends over for dinner and they came bearing gifts -- three evergreens. I dunno what they are yet, but they're so cute, and now can be added to the list of other plants in danger of dying. Sigh.

Any takers on plant-sitting? You can raid the fridge for anything and everything, which is plenty since I foolishly went shopping Monday and stocked up for three weeks worth of fruits and vegetables. Don't ask why. You can also use the free wi-fi that we get from the surrounding seminaries. We pick up PSR's free wi-fi service, I think. There's no cable, but you can pick up quite a few channels with our magnificent aluminum foil wrapped around cheap store-bought antennae (CBS, ABC, NBC half-time, PBS, and some of the Chinese channels).

With such an alluring invitation, how can you resist?

Self portrait

C'est mois, mes amis. Dans la rue de Saigon. Il est une photo de moi quand j'ai visite Vietnam au 2004-2005. Le pollution dans ce pays-la est tres mauvais (?) parce qu'il y a beaucoup de voitures and il y a plus de motos. Donc on doit porte un chapeau toujours et le masque et les gants (?)... C'est magnifique, non? Oh la la!

Christmas Past

This year, in observance of Charlie Brown's Christmas, the only semblance of Christmas atmospher in my humble abode (aside from a bunch of candles) is my loveable Xmas tree. Therefore, I am offering a virtual memento of Christmas Past.

Packing for the trip

I have 18 days to pack for the trip to SEAsia. 2 weeks on the roads (dirt, concrete, and waterways), and everything has to go into 1 easy valise and 1 backpack. So far, I have the most essential items:

1. Wet wipes
2. Moisturizer
3. Sunblock

Still debating:

1. T-Paper? Nah, it's not like I haven't been in VN for 10 months. Besides we're staying at the Y, in hotels, and in seminary dorms. Not exactly Sofitel but not the marshes.Although, the t-paper here is much softer.
2. Mouthwash? It seems silly to want to carry Listerine around in a backpack, but it's way useful especially when there's a chance you'll be breathing on (and be breathed on by) other folks. But to carry around enough Listerine for 2 weeks?
3. Glasses in addition to contacts or just extra contacts? What if a freak accident happens and I lose all my contacts? But what if I have to carry my glasses around w/o ever using it once?

I tell myself not to panic when preparing for this trip, but packing for two weeks in SE Asia is very different than packing for 10 months. I'd rather take a lengthy journey as opposed to a short visit b/c you can never tell what you need and what you won't.

Oh yes, I also forgot that I'll need to find 3 make-up items that will make my skin flawless, reduce oil, and will pack light. Something on the go. Any suggestions?

A candle for Senator Johnson

Senator Johnson, no matter how terribly the Democrats have handled the political situation in recent years, I'm still rooting for you. For us. For all of us.

Sinking, sinking, sinking...

It's only 18 more days... until I'll be heading to Southeast Asia with a group of seminarians from PSR as part of an Immersion course during InterSession. The group will be traveling for 2 weeks (from 06Jan to 21Jan) visiting Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This trip will allow us to explore theology, religion, culture, and history in context - hence the term contextual learning. A ha. We'll be visiting various sites of religious significance and theological colleges. We'll engage in cross-cultural and multi-relgious dialogue. We'll meet with seminarians, pastors, theologians, etc. It will be interesting to see for ourselves the socio-historical contexts of each of these places - Malaysia and Vietnam are countries with complex histories of colonialism and religious pluralism. How will be engage in dialogue? How will we react? What will be the frameworks -- the lenses of analysis -- that will enable us to engage in meaningful conversation with our counterparts? We'll be defining and re-defining boundaries. We'll be stretched beyond our comfort zones. We'll be asked to speak about our private and public experiences. We'll need to redefine the boundaries of private and public.

And we have 18 days to prepare.

Caught in the fast lane

I just learned yesterday that GK was recently ticketed while coasting on one of CA's highways. In fact, she was clocked at speeds over 100 at 4:00 a.m. on a weekend. For this, you could lose your license. Revoked. No driving. Nadda. Two patrol cars pulled her over and when she stepped out dressed in her heels and weekend party fineries (coming from an elegant "soiree" at a guy's house), GK pulled out all the stops. I doubt those guys had anything in their handbooks on how to deal with a femme fatale at four a.m. But this time she didn't go for the f.f. routine.

Oh officer, I was so scared. It's so late and I'm driving by myself. I just wanted to get home as soon as possible.

Yada yada yada.

She was ticketed at a lower speed of 99 mph. Defense driving lessons. A few other things. No license revoked. Something too minor for driving at speed-demon limits.

I know I should tsk-tsk-tsk, but I'd like to know: where do I learn those FF moves? I never went to Charm School. I missed the class. Pray tell, if I ever gathered enough courage to drive 100+ in the early a.m., what are the most basic steps that I should follow in the manual to scandalously talk my way out of the ticket? Is there a manual?

Places to eat in VN

Pho 2000
Near Ben Thanh Market (Cho Ben Thanh)
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84.8) 822 2788
Fax: (84.8) 822 4327
Email: pho2000@hcm.vnn.vn
http://www.pho2000.com.vn
Bill Clinton has eaten here. The prices are reasonable. The flavoring favors the non-Vietnamese palate. No msg in the products. I like to eat the pho with “gio chau quay”.

Hoang Ty Restaurant (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
(banh trang phoi suong)
459 - 461 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street
District 10, HCMC
Also served at: Quan Co Tam - Banh Canh Trang Bang
188 Nguyen Van Thu Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, HCMC
One of my favorite dishes – banh trang phoi suong – is served at the various Hoang Ty locations. The one on CMT8 street isn’t the location I visited (I went to a location way on the outskirts of Saigon) but it serves the same. The dish is very simple: it’s a bunch of things, most of which are cooked pork, rolled in special rice paper that has been laid out to dry in the dew, to absorb moisture. “Hai suong” (2 dews) means it was done twice. “Mot suong” means it was done only once.

Quan Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
59B Cao Thang
District 3
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 8-323312
Definitely a finger foods place – that is, eat with your fingers. I can’t even describe them. They’re little round pancakes topped with a variety of things like shrimp, pork, beans, etc. Each serving of 8 little cakes wrapped in lettuce and other leaves and dipped in fish sauce. I usually want to eat 16 of them, but often have to wrap the second serving to go.

Quan An Ngon (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
158 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia
District 1, HCMC
Lots of tourists and Euro-caucasians love this place b/c of the set-up and the food. Locals will eat at QAN, but mostly b/c they bring guests here.

Nam Giao (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
26/B13 + 14 Su Van Hanh nd
District 10, HCMC
136/15 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1, HCM
Tel: 8250261
One of my favorite places to get Hue food. Very good selections, but is hard to find b/c it’s a hole in the wall.

Ngoc Suong Seafood Restaurant (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
19C Le Quy Don Street
District 3
HCM City
Tel: 08.9304209
www.ngocsuongvn.com
A great place to eat seafood, but is a bit pricy b/c is a bit more elegant. Live music and live bands available. The food is great, especially the “goi ca Ngoc Suong” (Ngoc Suong fish salad). The hot pots are also very good, too.

Temple Club – Saigon (*Hoang-Anh’s pick for tea)
29-31 Ton That Thiep St.
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84-8) 8 299 244
Fax: (84.8) 9144271
templeclub@hcm.vnn.vn
Very elegant, tranquil, and the tea varieties are astounding. Served with style and exquisite panash.

Au Parc
Eat-in, take-away, deliveries
23 Han Thuyen
District 1
HCM City
auparc@hcm.vnn.vn

Nam An Vietnamese Restaurant
60 Suong Nguyet Anh Street
(cross street: Cach Mang Thang 8 Street)
District 1
HCM City
Tel: 9255046
Fax: 9255046

Nghi Xuan Restaurant
Hue Traditional cuisine (Nha hang Nghi Xuan, phong cach Hue, mon an Hue)
5/9 Nguyen Sieu Street
(Cross street: Hai Ba Trung Street)
District 1
HCM City
Tel/Fax: 823 0699
Email: nghixuan@hcm.vnn.vn

Bun Ta: Everything is Bun (Noodles)
136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street
Ben Nghe Ward
District 1, HCMC
Tel: (84.8) 8229913
www.tamsonco.com

Café L’Opera (Illy coffee)
11-13 Cong Truong Lam Son Street (connected to Le Loi Street)
Near Caravelle Hotel, on Le Loi Street
Ben Nghe Ward
District 1
HCM City
Tel: 8275946

Quan Nuong – Vietnamese Barbeque (*Hoang-Anh’s pick)
On the terrace (san thuong) of the same building as Temple Club
29-31 Ton That Thiep Street
(Cross street: Pasteur)
District 1
Tel: 8211633
Hours: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Get ready to dig in deep and eat with your fingers. It’s also grill-on-your-own. It is packed for dinnertime, and there are so many delicious things on the menu to choose from. My favorites are grilled okra, goat’s breast, and wild boar. Yum! Definitely not for the vegetarians.

La Fenetre Soleil
2nd floor, 135 Le Thanh Ton Street
District 1
HCMC
(entrance is located at 125 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street)
Tel: (84.8) 8225209
Email: lafenetre@hcm.vnn.vn

Bao Hien Rong Vang (Bakery)
167 Ly Tu Trong Street
District 1
HCMC
Tel: 8222499
Cakes, cookies, candies, O-mai, special preserves, dried goods, teas

Ciao Café
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
District 1
HCMC
Somerset Chancellor Court Bldg
Tel: 8229796
26 Tran Cao Van Street, District 3, HCMC
Tel: 8227695
40 Ngo Duc Ke Street, District 1, HCMC
Tel: 8291491

Hung Ky Restaurant
“finest Chinese Gourmet”
91 Nguyen Hue
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
HCMC
Tel: 8215511

Café Terrace
Located at Saigon Center Building
65 Le Loi Street
District 1, HCMC
Tel: 8214958

The Sushi Bar (Quan An Thien Que)
7th Floor, Zen Plaza
54-56 Nguyen Trai Street
District 1
HCMC
Tel: 9250377

Moca Café
“Best Cheap Eat Award”, The Guide Awards, Hanoi 2000-2003
14-16 Nha Tho Street
Hanoi
Tel: (84.4) 82256334
Email: moca@netnam.vn

Ladybird Restaurant
57 Hang Buom Street
(Cross street: Ta Hien Street)
Hanoi
Tel: (84.4) 9261863, (84.4) 8284619
http://www.handintravel.com

Coco Café & Hotel
49 Hang Be Street
Hanoi
Tel: (84.4) 824 2229

**Must eat here (but I don’t know the addressed. I just got onto a xe om and told them I wanted to go here. Or, I had a friend take me.):

1. Banh trang phoi suong (Thanh Da)


2. Banh xeo Dinh Cong Trang

Memory...

"There's a deeper truth in fiction, because memory is faulty." -Christopher Priest, "The Affirmation"

"For if a creature of words wants to escape the inessential determinants of his life, all he need do is storytell his way out of them." -J.M. Coetzee, Stranger Shores

"If people are made out of memory, then people are made out of loss." -Bill Roorbach

These are the walls

In the past couple of days,I've been paying attention to a certain commercial for the lottery. A family of three lives inside what appears to be an apartment complex, the view of which is blocked by the huge building beside them -- which is bigger, grayer, and bleaker. Mom, Dad, and Junior stare out of square windows to face a wall of bricks. Their humdrum lives are mired in monotony until they win the lottery. With the large sum of money, they could feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, donate to the local youth center, staff the city's food kitches, etc. But they don't. They want a nice view. They want to see the open sea and smell the fresh air. How do they do it? They tear down the adjacent building. They don't buy into the modern-day consumerism by purchasing a house -- I'll give them that. But, they tear down the building. They destroyed what stood in their way. They took it down. Instead of doing something productive, instead of adopting a different lifestyle, instead of creating change, they just got rid of the building. It's not necessarily the easiest thing to do, but it's the most satisfying thing. The situation is about revenge, about taking vengeance in order to satisfy their urges. Seeing the ocean was especially thrilling because at the same time that they could see the ocean waters, they were able to crush something else someone has already made. Being able to do this made them feel good. The building was an eyesore. It aggravated them. Its presence denied them what they wanted. And they just destroyed it.

It's not just about being able to get what they wanted -- a bigger house, a pretty view, a parking space. It's not just about having the money to purchase the American dream. It was about destroying something in order to get what they wanted. The satisfaction lies in the process of destruction as well as acquisition.

It is one of the sadder things that I've seen on the commercials recently. Almost similar to the commercial of screaming kids receiving their Xmas presents.

But, beyond this commercial, there are other things to consider regarding Walls. Taking down the wall blocking their view is akin to taking down a lot of other walls -- certain walls built of concrete, of brick, of plastic, and of many other materials. There's the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The Berlin Wall. The Great China Wall. Then there are other walls made of more intangible but equally destructive (if not more so) materials.

If you get a chance, check-out Walls by Jeannie Barroga.

If only HAT could...

1. Attend the Sound of Music sing-along (in character? maybe, maybe not)


2. Join Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion (failing that, singing in the audience, with gusto)


3. Climb the Great Wall of China


4. Play with the Boston Philharmonic (harp? timpanis? some sort of reed instrument?)


5. Go on tour with Cirque du Soleil

Jumpside.com

If you're wondering where this foto came from, please check out M's work at Jumpside.com. A freelance photographer working in the Bay Area, M. has posted many of the great pieces which you will undoubtedly covet and want to download. I'm sure M. will love to be contacted. An email address is available on the website.

An rom suot doi

Ba con co bac oi, day la hai cau noi ra nhung gi rat hay ve hanh phuc gia dinh! Haha.

Dan ong dieu thich an qua
An qua roi moi ve nha an com
Nhay com nhu the nhay rom
Cho nen van phai vua com vua qua

Dap:

Chong em kg thich an qua
Di dau cung muon ve nha an com
Con bo tron kiep nhay rom
Chong em tron kiep nhay com o nha

Lock and Load: marshmallow ammo not included

There are certain things that come to us in mysterious ways. We don't always understand what they mean, and we don't always know how to deal with them. We may not even know how they work. But this, my friends, this fantastic marshmallowy weapon does not need any explanation or introduction. It is marsh-mahhhvelous in itself. And you MUST GET ONE. Please read for yourself:

Most offices have many levels, both in social structure and in geometric space. This can present difficulties when planning office raids and attack strategies. For many missions a rapid fire, sugar-spewing shooter is what is needed (see the Marshmallow Shooter below). But sometimes that's just not enough. For the times when you need heavy fire, you need the Marshmallow Blaster.

Firing one regular sized marshmallow (not included) at a time, the Marshmallow Blaster has the power to hit targets up to 40 feet away. Easy to load and reload. Just pump the handle to build up air pressure, then lock and load a marshmallow. The handle of the pump conveniently doubles as a stock for added stabilization. You can even load up a shotgun blast of mini marshmallows, for a good scatter shot. This is the Sultan of Sugary Shoot-outs, the Colossus of Confectionary Combat, the Bazooka of Bite-Sized Bonbons - you get the idea. Add a Marshmallow Blaster to your arsenal and office domination is almost guaranteed. And, dare we say, victory will indeed be sweet.

The Marshmallow Blaster can fire any brand of regular sized marshmallows, sold separately. Try our Gourmet Marshmallows - each bag is 4.4 oz of the tastiest rounds available. Remember, marshmallows are a fat free projectile.

I learned of this wonderful contraption at this morning's Executive Staff meeting. The Director of Communications was regaling us with stories of her kids' Christmases, explaining that this year's celebrations will involve, undoubtedly, very violent marshmallow battles.

Marshmallow battles?

Apparently, she and her husband, a beloved priest in a local Episcopal church, purchased for each of their kids a Marshmallow Blaster which they hope will be the primary weapons of their very sticky yuletide warfare.

The VP of Advancement suggested that it be purchased for the next General Staff meeting. I agreed. Since I'll be convening those meetings in the spring semester, I dutifully noted the suggestion under the list of "possible bribery options." However, the Academic Dean topped it off by saying, very calmly, that it would be most useful, ahem, in the Faculty Meetings. That beats all, folks. Arm the faculty with weapons like these? I don't think so. Never. They've already taken the faculty lounge, overrun the kitchenette, and usurped the 2nd floor bathrooms. The classrooms are already dangerous battlegrounds. If we give them the marshmallow blasters, the halls will become No Man's Land.

Never, never give a faculty member a Marshmallow Blaster.

(Text taken from Think Geek website.)

Loveable Xmas Tree...

Friends, here it is. I'm rather proud of it. I've decided that the look for today will be a little bit pathetic as opposed to super pathetic. Maybe next week, when we get closer to Christmas, when the spirit of the season is nigh upon us, the tree may droop just a little bit more.

As you can see, this tree needs me. It is the one tree for me to love. Tee hee. And I love it because it is super easy to assemble.

Step One
Take your new loveable tree and its additional components out of the box.

Step Two
Lay the board with the footed bottom on top of the flat board so that they make an X. Make sure that the holes in the center of each board are overlapping.

Step Three
Screw the treetrunk into the overlapping holes until all three pieces are tightly bound together. It is important that you screw all three pieces together at the same time.

Step Four
Add the red ornament to the longest branch using the ornament hook that is included. This will cause the tree limb to sag, which is okay, because the branch is just heavy from the weight of your love.

My very own Charlie Brown Xmas tree...

Today, B. showed me the "must have" bag from Anthropologie which she desperately wanted. This thus stimulated my "covet" glands so terribly that I had to go out and scrounge for a new shoulderbag. It was pathetic. I make no excuses for my American grown consumerism. So, at lunch, B. and I walked over to Urban Outfitters in hopes of snatching a present for the holidays. I didn't find a bag, but I did get my very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree (of which Pen had penned).

As my sister and I have not (and will not) set up a real Xmas tree, and since our church (through the brilliant -- haha -- idea of our EMC Chairperson) is embracing a "Charlie Brown Christmas" celebration, it was most apropos that I buy it post haste and set it up in our cozy little living room. Of course, it was beckoning me from across the store... the box says "This tree needs YOU." Yes, it needs me. And I need it. So I took it home.

And, if my sister had not absconded with my digital camera, I would be able to photograph my tree for your viewing pleasure. Alas, it will have to wait another day.

Simon Sez Santa

I've never been a great fan of the game Simon Says. I'm almost always the one who bores players out of their minds because I'm so uncreative that I can't give any directions other than "Simon says touch your nose." Everybody knows their nose. Everyone can find their nose. No one, I repeat, no one ever fails to touch their nose. And it's not that difficult to follow instructions, folks. This is not a very funny game. Either i bore folks, or I'm one of the ones who fail to pay attention and end up touching my nose when Simon did NOT in fact say "touch your nose." Sigh. But, today, I have sound something utterly ridiculous: Simon Sez Santa.

You must visit this site. If you want to waste time during work and if you want to put off house cleaning or babysitting or grading papers. This is the site for you. Not only will it very effectively help you waste time, it will help you feel utterly foolish. I spent about 10 minutes figuring out stupid, silly commands to give to Santa and of course couldn't come up with anything. I bet some of my more creative friends will spend only 30 seconds and will automatically come up with something creative. I've tried all the bodily functions, sounds, gaseous emittances, etc. Can't seem to stump him yet.

You must try!

Euro-English: the new speak!

"The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.

The hard "c" will be dropp ed in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou"

And after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas."

(I have a few German friends who may or many not appreciate this humor. I hope you do! I think this is not so much a hit against German -- the language of my favorite Rilke! - but more like a ridicule of some of our "human" efforts to find that lingua franca... I hope you got a few laughs out of this!)

Next stop: South Pole Colony, Moon

On NPR this morning, they talked briefly about the colony that will be set up near the south pole of Earth's moon, where there seems to be most sun, which will allow the settlement to use solar power. By 2024, the south pole colony will function like a "pit stop" for space travelers, where they can fill up on hydrogen, oxygen, and the like.

By 2024, I will be close to 50 and my kids, who hopefully will be in their early teens by then, will be thinking about settling on the moon for retirement. This isn't implausible, when you think about it. When 1984 was written, who woulda thunk we'd be where we are now? We're walking in space, watching Mars on the screen, dived into the ocean depths, we've microscoped into the womb (yesterday I saw on the news station show little dolphins in the womb!), so many other things... what amazing wonders.

So, I've decided I should begin looking at interior designs of my house on the moon colony... it's never too early my friends.

Gray matter...

Pig brains. I thought I'd post a pic of this particular delicacy which I completely forgot about when listing the things I'd eaten. I even forgot to mention it in the supplementary hatpost! So, after that momentary brain lapse, I am able to recall that it tasted actually very good. Yep, folks. I was sort of ambushed into eating it, but in the end, I enjoyed it. Not kidding.

In this pic, chi Ngu is rolling toothpicks to catch all the veins before adding the PB to the "lau pot". Yum. You'll notice that there are also tofu and mushrooms and loads of other veggies that went into the pot. It wasn't just "brain soup" ya'all.

A word of thanks...

Someone from my church sent me a link this morning, and it piqued my interest enough to do hatpost on it. I'm still conflicted, however, about the whole campaign, but it's enough to make me think a little bit harder...

For now, I put this link here for anyone who is interested in sending a word of thanks to the troops in Iraq. It's a simple three step process: choose a greeting card design, write a word or two and sign your name, then the company will send the card -- gratuis -- to a soldier involved in this war.

I think it is a good idea to provide a forum/opportunity for folks to say show support and encouragement for the men and women who are abroad b/c of this conflict. It is especially difficult for them to be over there while family and friends are celebrating the holiday season over here.

However, I find it objectionable that this becomes an opportunity to promulgate the idea that this is a war fought for our safety, fought to secure our freedom. It is not sufficient to reduce the war to such "patriotic" motivations. If anything, we can say for certain that there are multiple motivations/reasons for US involvment in the war (I'm drawing a blank -- what are they again?). There are plenty of "agendas" out there, and it is wrong to reinforce such simplistic reductions of such terrible, unrelenting violence in that region of the world.

Even more devastating is that the cards were (supposedly) designed by young children 9, 10 year old (an age that I thought is still fairly innocent). Either they were told what to draw -- in very suggestive terms, no doubt. Or they've been influenced (to put it lightly) towards very, ahem, patriotic and nationalistic sentiments. Every single card exhibits some gratuitous display of thoroughly American patriotism... flag waving, stars and stripes, etc. etc. And the terminology on the greeting cards! Ay yay yay! It saddens me to think that children are being taught this way. What happened to multiple perspectives? What happened to constructive ideology?

It is also unbelievable that they are using these cards to mislead (appropriate term?) people into thinking that they are displaying patriotism by engaging in such bloodshed, that they are protecting the American soil, that they are upholding freedom and liberty and justice. Whose soil are they being led to trample on? Whose citizens are being killed? Whose livelihoods are being threatened? Plus, the troops are risking their lives for a cause which has been dressed up and renamed it all sorts of pretenses and badly directed.

Granted, it is easy to say that U.S. presence is important - necesary - in those regions. But, I'll have to think long and hard about this. I mean, I can understand that there may be some who feel that it is important to have American troops supporting, encouraging, and protecting the Iraqis government, citizens, troops, etc. I also understand that some see US involvement as similar to the Vietnam/American War situation -- when troops came in, the situation escalated, then the troops were abruptly withdrawn leaving a devastated country and a people unprotected by the newly arisen system...

But, nothing is easily summed up with a bunch of silly emotions and fiery language. I can rant and sigh and fight over this, but I won't have much effect or create much change with ignorant speech. In the end, it is only good to show the troops that they are cared for and wanted -- at home. Home.

Each in a bowl...

Whoever heard of being allergic to fish? Rilke was in his little bowl, swimming happily, and then I go and develop a fish allergy. Nothing could stop it -- I think I went through 2 tubes of hydrocortisone before realizing I needed to see a doctor b/c the rash wouldn't go away and it would be aggravated each time I came near Rilke's bowl. I think, too, that Rilke was sort of lonely after Wallace died. A whole bowl of water with only him and his reflection, and a few wisps of fake grass...

Sau con mua, troi lai sang...

Hom T2, da co mot tran bao bien that du ton da dap vao vung Ba Ria - Vung Tau. 4 nguoi da chet va hon 200+ nguoi da bi ton thuong. Hang ngan nguoi da bi nha cua pha sap, phai song o duoi anh mat troi. Dieu ma lam toi buon nhat la mac du co mot "natural disaster" du ton nhu la cuoc bao nay, minh chang co thay su giup do cuu the nao tu chinh phu.

TD co noi rang o VN, nhung hoi tu thien nhu la Red Cross hoac la nhung HT cung kg co co hoi de giup do nhung nan nhan cua bao. Khi muon tro giup bang tien, thi ho phai xuyen qua 4 ban nghanh, va ho cung kg co the quyet dinh tro giup nhung nguoi nao hoac noi nao. Ho kg co the tu quyet dinh nhung phai cho doi su quyet dinh cua cac ban nghanh. Con nua, chua chac la khi ho nhan duoc tien quyen gop thi ho se dua tron het so tien cho nhung nan nhan.

Nhung, neu noi cho cung, thi chi co 4 nguoi chet ma thoi. Nha cua bi sap. Cua tiem thi bi lat lup nha. Tai san bi mat het. Co hai me con o Ben Tre chi con lai 1 bo do quan ao de ban qua ngay thoi. Khong con gi nua...

On Monday, southern Vietnam was hit by tropical storm Durian, destroying thousands of homes and killing almost 50 people in the southern provinces, Bia Ria - Vung Tau. The sad thing about this situation is that I read on Vietnamese news website that the U.S. have contributed $100,000 USD in the cleanup efforts. I cannot imagine that we are only able to contribute that little. God forbid that we are only "willing" to contribute this much. Flashes of Katrina. Flashes of the tsunami. Flashes, flashes, flashes...

Off the menu...

As I was compiling my list of "Things I've Eaten", it occurred to me that my sister may be right when she said I'm most likely going to scare away all my friends and co-workers if they see what I've been digesting all these years. So, in deference to my vegetarian friends (any vegans out there that I don't know about?), I've been thinking hard about ways to offer up a list of vegetarian-tame dishes for the milder palates . In doing so, I may possibly redeem myself and regain a modicum of respect -- however little that is!

Then again, isn't it much more interesting to live on the wild side, to venture into unknown culinary territories? I've eaten shark fin and fish eyes and deer (doesn't sound as fancy as "veal" does it?), and yet, that's not considered weird or strange b/c eating shark meat and veal isn't uncommon in western-style cuisines.

However, just b/c I named a couple of items on a blog doesn't make them exotic or strange. Plenty of folks eat those things -- I just happen to be living in a society whose dominant cultures don't often delve into such "delicacies." Or, they do, but I'm completely ignorant of it happening.

On the menu...

7) Snails. Not the garden variety.
8) Blood. Pork blood.
9) Balut. "Balut is a half-boiled, ready to hatch duck egg... The inside of the egg resembles a coiled lizard." -from Balut in the Philippines
10) Beehives and bee larvae and honey (ok, my sister makes me say pieces of beehives)

That should be it my friends. Soon I'll compile a list of veggies/herbs/fruits of "exotic" (once again, problematic term) nature for you folks to contemplate...

3 for 1: No Sale!

The Board of Regents of UC Berkeley just voted unanimously to approve the plans to build a brand new structure near the Stadium. It will cost $120 million and will include, among other things, a 4-story underground parking facility -- which will be located very near the Hayward faultline. In order to build this new structure, they will have to tear down a grove of oak trees -- about 3 dozen of them. They propose planting 3 baby oaks (saplings?) elsewhere to replace each grown oak. The city of Berkeley and a neighborhood group plans to file a lawsuit against the university.

I wholeheartedly agree. There are so many issues at stake here: the danger of sitting right on top of a faultline; the parking and traffic congestion that will increase 100% after such a monstrosity is built; the killing of an entire ecosystem, to be replaced by a bunch of little saplings; the money spent to build a sports stadium (!)...

Does this makes any sense to anyone? There are a few things I don't understand:
1) who in their right mind would choose to uproot a bunch of grown oak trees, thinking that a bunch of little ones planted in 2006 will do the same work achieved by an ecosystem
2) who in their right mind would choose a faultline as the ideal place to build an underground (geez, peoples!) facility to park cars -- I don't know which is scarier, the fact that the UG thing can crush you from bottom up or from top down. Ughh.
3) who in their right mind would want to allocate that much more money to enhance sports facilities when so much can be done to create better arts and literature programs

I, for one, would have loved to join the treesitters. At least they were able to speak out and stand up (climb up!) in solidarity with the Green effort. No, I do not want the 3 for 1 deal. Not this time.

James Kim: in memoriam

You may have already heard/read the news that authorities discovered the body of James Kim earlier today. James Kim, an editor at CNET, and his family were in Oregon for Thanksgiving and were returning to the Bay Area when their station wagon got stuck in the snow (what happened, I wonder?). On Saturday, December 2nd, JK left his wife, Katy, and two daughters (Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months) to search for help. He never returned. His wife and daughters were found by rescue workers on Monday, and there were plans to increase the efforts to find Kim. It's been 11 days since the family was stranded.

His family are in good condition, but they are probably devastated. I cannot imagine what it must have felt like for him to leave his family, knowing that chances are he would never see them again. That moment when he decides to step out of the car and into the snow -- dressed in nothing but street gear -- to search in unfamiliar terrain for a way out for this family. I cannot imagine how his wife must have felt as she nursed her two daughters for all those days and nights in the freezing weather.

His body was found in a place in the canyon not far from the family car; they were separated by a schism. Authorities think perhaps he might have been returning to his family or perhaps he was disoriented. The irony, too, that they were returning from a Thanksgiving gathering with their family in Oregon. The incredible sadness the entire Kim family must be feeling at this moment. News articles have added that the family does not want to be contacted yet. Deep mourning for such a loss.

Readers have commented that what Kim did was what a father would do, what a husband would do, what a hero would do. I don't know whether I would want my father to make that kind of sacrifice. The sheer implausibility of finding help in that kind of space is enough for me to want him to stay. No, I would not want my father or my husband or my brother to be that hero...

I am touched by the efforts of the people who search for the Kim family. They found the family after such a long time, but the girls are ok -- thank God. I am touched by the friends and co-workers who have gathered in support of the family. It is true community in action.

Though I do not know the Kim family, I wish them enough friends and love and support to endure the grief. B/c it shall come to pass...

Please send them a note of encouragement.

Now serving: frog legs, goat's breast, blood soup...

If you read the hatpost on the Immersion course, you'll agree with me it's rather bland and a touch too heady. So let's spice it up, really, by adding another truly interesting bit of "research" that I'm willing to do while on this trek through SE Asia: Taste tests! I'd like to try some exotic (problematic terminology!) dishes on the S.E.A. menus, and I don't mean chicken feet or frog legs (those I've already tried and still love).

Things I've eaten (and which I'll consider "interesting" or "different"):
1) Frog legs steamed in lotus leaves
2) silkworm (or a relative thereof) fed w/ coconuts and veggies and coconut milk
3) wild boar (both roasted and smoked)
4) grilled porcupine (not the quills, silly)
5) grilled goat's breast (yah, I know what you're thinking, but it's delicious!)
6) pig's tongue

Things I've not eaten and which I might try, if I were heavily bribed, intoxicated, and force-fed (maybe):
1) Tiec Canh -- a kind of "blood soup" with herbal leaves (a delicacy at many drinking parties, I'm told)
2) Snake's heart -- I've been regaled w/ many stories involving snake hearts, most of which involve what some would consider inhumane treatments of animals. This is not for the faint of heart, my friends. One story heard while I was in Hanoi, involves slicing the heart out of a live snake and dropping it into a shot glass of your choice of stiff alcoholic drink and downing the whole thing in one gulp. This may be a popular drink in many areas of the world, maybe in the States, even, but it isn't common on my daily cuisine, that's for sure.
3) Grilled bat -- I've seen this dish prepared on a DVD about the different delicacies around SE Asia. Again, we'll have to be mindful that our definitions of inhumane treatment of animals does not apply here. It isn't so much that Euro-American cultures are "above" cruelty to animals (there are plenty of examples to show us otherwise). It's complicated, and I'm at a loss as to how to explain it. These are the moments when I have to reconsider becoming a vegetarian.
4) Field mice -- They are supposed to be very succulent and healthful for you, especially since they only eat grains and are not "farm raised" animals
5) Dog meat -- prepared in a variety of ways. In Vietnamese, this is called "thit cay". While doggies are not my favorite kinds of pets, I do think they are cute, and so I am not a strong advocate for this particular dish. But, I think each culture -- regardless of its location -- has its own specialities. This is not mine.

As the lists stand, I bet a couple (if not all?) of these could fall under my list of top 10 weirdnesses, which unwillingadult has urged me to name. There must be more, but I'll have to add to the lists later...

All I want for Christmas is...

...to pledge myself to being a more conscientious consumer of this earth's valuable resources, and to be a more patient giver of my time and healthful spirit of living.

All I want for Christmas...

A few words about the commercial for the new BMW Sedan: Since we've officially stepped into the holiday season, recent commercials for products have more dramatically increased their showcasing of children as primary subjects. The BMW sedan commercial begins with a "home video" of two kids -- boy and girl about 6-10 years old -- opening their Xmas presents under the tree on what must be Christmas morning. The PJ-clad duo are ecstatic to an astounding degree -- non-stop, high-pitched screams issuing from open mouths and shocked expressions reveal a different kind of appreciation. Maybe just a higher degree.

What do you want the most this Christmas? Our consumer-driven society stops at nothing. Companies will advertise to children, knowing that whatever kids can get their hands on, they will want. What the kids want, the parents cannot deny. They will only relent in resignation.

How can we become more conscientious consumers of the earth's valuable resources? How many ways could we change the world if only we would re-define our "needs" and re-assess our "wants"? What if we were to consider our time and energy as valuable resources and dispense them as readily as we would our money?

Sculptures of Ruth Asawa: Contours in the Air

"This exhibition of approximately 54 sculptures and 45 works on paper, with additional documentary source materials including notebooks and vintage photographs by Imogen Cunningham, constitutes the first complete retrospective of Ruth Asawa’s enduring and richly varied career. Drawing from works in Asawa’s extensive archive as well as important loan contributions, the exhibition begins with her earliest works, drawing and paintings created in the 1940s at Black Mountain College, the famous experimental art school in North Carolina. It goes on to highlight her signature wire sculptures that formed the visual vocabulary of looped and tied open forms with which she continued to experiment throughout her career beginning in 1949. Chosen as a United States representative for the 1955 Sao Paulo Biennial, Asawa received national renown for these daring sculptures in the 1950s and 1960s." -excerpt taken from De Young website

I visited the de Young a few months ago, and the museum had already begun displaying some of Asawa's sculptures, though not as part of the main collections or exhibits. They really were magnificent to look at, what with the play of lights and shadows. The lines, contours, shapes are really mind-bending in some ways, and you can't help but want to touch them.... something about the connection between the visual and the tactile... all those synapses firing at the sight of those contours in the air...