"Young at Heart"

I've been wanting to watch this documentary for some time now, and finally got the chance to this weekend. It is an amazingly inspirational movie. It tells the story of a chorus made up of senior citizens; however, don't expect to hear standards and show tunes, these ageless chanteurs and chanteuses belt out R&B, hip-hop, pop and rock tunes. There are moments when you'll laugh and moments when you'll cry. There is a great scene in the documentary where the chorus director plays Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia," and there's a montage of cutaways showing the reactions of the seniors. Perhaps one of the most touching scenes in the film for me, is when two ailing veterans of the group practice Coldplay's "Fix You." Beautiful. Please watch "Young at Heart" if you get a chance.

Ground Control to Major Zhai

China's young space program has reached a milestone...on Saturday morning, Chinese astronaut took the firs-ever spacewalk for the nation.

Mission commander Zhai Zhigang floated out of the orbiter module's hatch in the spacewalk, shown live on state broadcaster CCTV. Tethered to handles attached to the Shenzhou 7 ship's orbital module's exterior, Zhai remained outside for about 13 minutes before climbing back inside and closing the hatch behind him.

Fellow astronaut Liu Boming also emerged briefly from the capsule to hand Zhai a Chinese flag that he waved for an exterior camera filming the event.

China's next goal: to put a man on the moon in the next decade.

The New Yorker: Shouts & Murmurs

It's a great one this week. With the Feds promising a $700 billion bailout to rescue the nation's failing financial instituions, writer Andy Borowitz pleas his case for a personal government bailout in The New Yorker. If you're having a bad day, I promise this will put a big smile on your face and you'll laugh out loud.

(On a side: Caught the Emmys on Sunday, not overly impressed by the hosts or the show. But was glad several of the winners took time to push the election issue. And kudos to Laura Linney -- one of my favorites -- who gave a nod to "community organizers" who help run and shape our country. Take that Sarah Palin.)

The End.

I took this photo last month at my last game at Yankee Stadium. Tonight the Bronx Bombers played their last game, and I'm sure fans will walk away with more than just a baseball game tonight.

Final Weekend

Photo: Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

The final series at historic Yankee Stadium gets underway tonight, when the Bronx Bombers hold the first of three consecutive games against the Orioles. After 85 years, New York City's Yankee Stadium will host its last game Sunday. Wish I were there...

S.O.S.

I feel like I'm in college again. Sleepless nights for the past month -- not good. My body is in desperate need of a good night's (heck, even day's) sleep. I feel like I need to completely shut down my body, let it rest and reboot and turn it back on. Work has been busy, personal life has been busy...or perhaps stressful? Good news is, I'm beginning to run a lot better lately. My time and pace seem to be improving every week. Now if I can only work on sleeping better every week. I feel like I should be sleeping now, but I look at the clock at it's nearing 1a.m. and I can't fall asleep. What is holding me back? Oh right, the millions of neurons that are shooting off inside my head. I have too many thoughts circulating in my head.

Are You Ready for the Large Hadron Collider?

Could this spell doomsday? Don't know if you folks have been reading about the Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, for short. Apparently this is all going down on Wednesday.

One Year

(Hell's Half Acre in Wyoming)

It's been a year since I left Wyoming after working/living there for 2-plus years. I remember driving back to California with my brother. The drive was long and, at times, stressful. (I was afraid my Honda was going to die on me along a barren stretch of I-80...but Honda's are trustworthy.)

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Wow. It really does seem like it was just yesterday that I headed west and said good-bye to Wyoming. It was time I left and, though, I bid farewell to many friends and memories, I still hold Wyoming in a special place in my heart. Who would have thought that a big-city girl could acclimate into a beef-cooking, Chinese Cowgirl.

Hello Again

Hi, hi...apologies for dilatory post. The conventions and hurricanes have kept me on a short leash. I have much to write about. In the meantime, recently saw two movies that I hope you'll find time to see. "Waitress" and "The Counterfeiter." Both are fantastic movies with amazing writing and acting. "Waitress" is a quirky look at how one small-town diner waitress escapes reality through pie baking; "The Counterfeiters" is based on the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. The counterfeiting takes place in a concentration camp and made of Jewish men. It won this year's Oscar for best foreign film. An amazingly poignant movie. Please watch.

Sen. Kennedy Speaks at DNC

Pretty amazing and inspiring how Sen. Kennedy addressed the Democratic National Convention less than 3 months after brain surgery. It was a very emotional entrance and speech. You have to give props to this man.

Walk This Way

Another warm day in the city yesterday. Temps not in the 90s or triple digits, but the humidity was there. I walked a lot too. Took the N/R into Manhattan. Went to the UWS to see some old friends and visit my old neighborhood, then went to the Fashion District to visit Mood...yes, it's as fabulous as Project Runway depicts it to be. You take an elevator to get there; an old elevator that has two doors and old, black buttons that stick out.

I forget how much you walk in New York City. One block becomes two, three, four... My only complaint: I can't seem to dodge the water drops from the air conditioners. It always drops on my head and slowly trickles down my face.

Manhattan, Momofuku & Me

I'm recovering from getting about 8 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours...a little disconcerting to think that I haven't slept for 40 hours. Good news is, I made my flight to NYC last night. Was afraid I was going to miss my early morning flight from California.

Made it. Caught a cab, and had a very interesting chat with the driver. His name was Asogai and he was from Ghana. He came to the U.S. four years ago and has been a taxi driver for the past two years. That's what I love about the city, everyone has a story, a good story to tell.

The growling in my stomach had become progressively louder somewhere around 57th and Central Park West. A pitstop in Brooklyn, and it was off to Momofuku in the East Village.

Momfuku is an Asian-themed restaurant. The menu is simple, a cross between Chinese, Japanese and Korean food. It's owned by Chef David Chang, one of the rising young chefs in Manhattan. He is known for his hot-temper, an insane amount of swearing and his high expectations of chefs and cooks.

I open the door to a young crowd sipping ramen and nibbling on Momofuku's famous buns. (The buns, by the way, are basically the chinese steamed buns you eat with Peking Duck, very similar to the wrapping of pork buns or "char siu bau.") The food was good. I was very impressed with the appetizers, especially a cold smoked duck breast dish with marinated cherries and wax beans. I also ordered the shiitake and chicken steamed buns and two different bowls of ramen. Again, the flavors were good, the mushrooms could have been seasoned more, and the ramen broth tasted a bit off.

I do have a very critical palate, but I was born with it. Add to that, growing up in a Chinese restaurant and having parents who stressed fresh ingredients, simple ingredients and precise seasoning. Overall, I was pleased with my experience there. Toward the end of our dinner, David Chang emerged from the kitchen to the line, with a few expletives in tow.

Go China!

(Courtesy: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

(Courtesy: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

I'm so proud of China. I hope everyone had a chance to catch the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. The opening ceremonies rocked, simply phenomenal. A bit emotional for me, as my parents got teary-eyed hearing and watching the flag-raising ceremony while the Chinese national anthem played. I'm proud to be Chinese, a Chinese American.

Beijing

It is pronounced "bay-JING" not "bay-zhing" (with a zhuh). I don't know how or when people started mispronouncing Beijing. But, I feel since today is the start of the the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, I should mention that's it's "bay-JING." Jing, not zhuhjing. Xie, Xie.

The Incredible, Edible Egg Goes to Korea

Have to share this link with you. I found out about this from my friend Bill. Enjoy, listen to the lyrics, pay attention to the animation.

http://www.iloveegg.com/egg_english.htm

Jury Duty

Nuff said.

Some New Movie Recommendations

I've been telling friends and co-workers about three movies I recently watched. No...they don't involve sex-crazed Manhattanites who drink Cosmos and wear Manolos or a man in a suit. These weren't blockbusters at cineplexes, but they were hits with critics.

"Persepolis": An amazing animated film from Iran. The Academy Award-Nominated film tells the story of a Iranian girl who grew up after the Shah in Iran, and follows her through teenage years and adulthood. There were times during the movie I felt I wasn't watching an animated piece, because there was so much drama and, amazingly, great acting by the characters. (Of course this is because of a great script). It's in French with subtitles. A must see.

"The Savages": Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are sister and brother in this comeday-drama about siblings having to face the reality of adulthood while they take care of their ailing father. Both acting and screenplay are superb. There are moments of amazing wit and humor, and pain and pathos. Linney and Hoffman are consumate actors. I laughed, I cried...

"The Diving Bell and The Butterfly"/"Le Scaphandre et le papillon": Artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel directs this memoir-inspired drama about Jean-Dominique Bauby. Bauby, the
France editor for Elle Magazine, suffered a najor stroke when he was 43 years old, which paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Bauby uses that eye to blink out his memoir. The movie is in French with subtitles. The first 10 minutes of the film are a bit dizzying, so don't watch it if you have a headache. What drew me to this movie was the fact that it was based on real-life events. The system Bauby and his nurse creates with communicating with his link eye is pretty amazing. You'll leave this movie reciting the French alphabet.

Cuuuuute

Love the concept of guys wearing shorts to the office. But...it can be scary if things don't fit right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/fashion/31shorts.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

White Bordeaux: Oft-Forgotten Bliss

Yes, yes, yes...I've been telling people about white bordeaux and how delicious it is. I'm happy the Times wrote about it. Come have a glass with me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/dining/30pour.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

"All the news that's fit to print"

It 's going to cost you more to pick up The New York Times.

The price for the Monday to Saturday newsstand will increase 25 cents, brinking the cost to $1.50. The new price will take effect on August 18. This comes a week after the Wall Street Journal said it will raise its newsstand price by 50 cents to $2 starting July 28.

A State That Never Was in Wyoming

Another story about Wyoming in the New York Times. The article talks about how in 1939, a group of rebellious Wyoming residents wanted to form a new state called Absaroka, pronounced "ab-SOR-ka," with chunks of South Dakota and Montana. It's a great read. So to all my friends who poo-poo'ed me for working and living in Wyoming, I told you so. Wyoming is the one place where you can find the best stories that papers like the New York Times want to cover. Go Wyo! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/us/24wpa.html?em&ex=1217044800&en=d1f4b3a5d3037d9a&ei=5087%0A

(***This is the fourth MOST e-mailed story on the New York Times Web site.***)

A Healing Touch

Please take a moment to read and watch my friend's New York Times video piece about a chiropractic service for New York City's homeless. It's a great story.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/a-chiropractic-touch-for-aching-homeless-backs/

Daddy of 'em All

I went to the "California Rodeo Salinas" last night since I'm a rodeo expert now...hardly. But after having experienced two Cheyenne Frontier Days, I wanted to see how other rodeos were. First, the rodeo in "California Rodeo Salinas" is pronounced the Spanish way, roh-DAY-oh...as in Rodeo Drive. So I went to the roh-DAY-oh to catch rodeo events. They had all the events, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, and you have Professional Bull Riders. (Wow, I do sound like a rodeo expert.) But it's nothing compared to CFD, and now I know why it's the "Daddy of 'em all." I did enjoy my time last night, in fact I had a great time with friends, and it did bring back fond memories of Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. I'm so lucky that I got the chance to experience that rodeo and the concerts and those humongous turkey legs. Cowboy up!

Nelson Mandela Turns 90

An and amazing and inspiring story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/world/africa/19mandela.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

You Get What You Pay For

Not too long ago, I slightly hinted that I liked Ikea. Their stuff's cheap and cute. But let's be honest, the quality is not the best. My coffee table is wobbly and one of my bookshelves is about to collapse. But for those on a tight budget, it's not a bad option. So these aforementioned attributes made Ikea somewhat attractive to me...that is until I experienced their Returns/Exchanges line.

First, you just don't wait in line, you need to get a number like how you need one at a bakery or a butcher shop. (By the way, do they still do that?) My first attempt at returning a bookshelf was futile. I pulled number 90, and they were serving number 70. I guess, the line could have moved fast, BUT, the employees were extremely slow. After each customer return, they would slowly print out these barcode stickers, place them on the items, and then disappear behind these plastic curtains like the ones in walk-in meat freezers. After about 20 minutes of waiting, I left. I returned to Ikea today, and the wait was much slower, but again, but still draining.

Ikea is like a combination of Costco, Wal-Mart and Target. You push around truck carts, walk down big aisles, get items at wholesale prices but then there's a bit of panache and "artistic flair," if you will. Ikea just opened their 35th store in New York City. My gosh, I can just see mad New Yorkers flock to the Ikea in Brooklyn's Red Hook section just south of the BQE. I guess, as you wait for your number to be called to return a tablecloth, you can enjoy the views of Lady Liberty and Manhattan. Again, Ikea's cheap...but the parking lot, the feeling that you're lost, not finding items listed in their catalog, and the dreaded Returns/Exchanges line. Yep, you get what you pay for.