Namadic's Xanga

Once is a shame. Twice? Absolutely hilarious.

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:44:04 GMT

(Thanks to Kelvin Wang for the link).

That poor girl. From what I understand, it's really difficult to walk in high heels. And to do it with style, grace, and attitude simultaneously while hundreds of eyes are locked onto your every move increases the pressure tremendously.

Still, I couldn't stop laughing either.

Actually, I think the two grown men cracking up is more entertaining. Laughter really is contagious.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:19:15 GMT

13 years ago this day...

Wondering how I would have turned out with your guidance. Hope you're proud of the man I've grown to become.

Miss you, Ba.

In honor of your memory, I grew out my 'stache:

It took me 3 weeks!

____________

As an aside, a disturbing number of my good friends (all males, strangely) have lost a father in the past few years, through sickness or accident. I think of it as joining The Dead Father's Club; all of us have changed irrevocably, have become stronger men, but at a terrible cost. Here's hoping membership in this particular group remains low for as long as possible.

The BEST Daily Show episode. Ever.

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:10:15 GMT

One of the finest 20 minutes of fake-news you are likely ever to see.

It's got humor (skip to the 3-minute mark if you're short on time):

AND substance:

Watch the full episode for more laughter and GOP hypocrisy.

Why can't the Democrats come up with rebuttals like this? Succinct, clear, entertaining. I wonder if these segments are more effective at changing public opinion than the run-of-the-mill campaign ads we see on television. These political parties should seriously consider hiring the producers and researchers of these segments.

"The sexism...is so DEEP!"

Venezia

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:21:49 GMT

Ah, Venice. It's every bit as amazing to see in person as you would expect a city built on the water to be. Absolutely stunning. This time, especially in this city, I'll let the pictures do (most of) the talking:

As usual, more pics here.

Some random thoughts:

Imagine the city you're in without any cars. Imagine the serenity, the clean air. The only noises you hear are of people chatting on the corner, the click-clack of shoes on the stone paths, water gently lapping against the canal sides. It was very soothing to be in Venice, and rather nice to wake up not to the noise of engines and horns, but instead to the sounds of people simply living.
However, traffic jams still happen here too. Just imagine boats and gondolas bunched up together, angry Italian phrases being exchanged, haha. Also, the ambulances are high-speed motorboats. Of course.
While sitting on the edge of the Grand Canal, legs dipped into the water to mid-calf, I had a thought: Dad would have loved this place. I always had the feeling he felt most at home behind the wheel of a boat. A city built in the middle of a lagoon, with canals for roads and boats instead of cars? I imagine he'd easily develop a liking to that lifestyle.
St. Mark's Square at night is so alive. In the evening, the outdoor cafes each have their own orchestras, and so they have dueling performances! It's a game of one-upmanship for the hearts of the crowd, but the real winners are the observers simply enjoying the free show.
Fort Lauderdale, FL calls itself the "Venice of America." Now that I've been to both, I think it's fair for me to say, "Umm...no."

*****

Next up is my final destination, as I head to the Cinque Terre for some hiking and scenic views...

Naples/Pompeii

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:32:20 GMT

After four days, I was actually getting tired of Rome (gasp!). Though I made sure to take my time sightseeing, one can only go from attraction to attraction for so long in the same city before feeling burned out. Sure, there were plenty of "must-see" things listed in the guidebooks that I still had not seen, but I found myself planning to go not because I truly wanted to, but rather because of some vague obligatory feeling that I should see this or that, or so I could say that I did.

It sounds so simple, right? "Do what you want." But this is actually something I've struggled with mightily: doing things not entirely for the right motivations, whether it to be to please my family, people whose opinions mattered to me, or society in general. Living up to what others thought I should be, overly concerned with what others think, trying to fit a certain ideal, was detrimental to my growth. Nowadays I'm better at recognizing it, but too often still catch myself relapsing.

And so upon seeing this behavior manifest again, I knew it was time to stop and revaluate. Four days in Rome was plenty for me; time for a change of scenery. It was Sunday night, my last night at the hostel. I made my way to Termini station and booked a train Monday morning to Naples to enjoy the original home of pizza, and to see the famous city of Pompeii.

Monday morning, I woke up early and packed my things, trying not to disturb my hostelmates. Grabbed some free breakfast, checked my email using the hostel's PC, and departed. Thirty minutes later I was on the train to Naples. Reinvigorated by the lush Italian countryside seen through the oversized windows on either side of the train, I relished the freedom I had at that moment, able to hop a train on short notice to yet another place I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to see. I reached into my backpack to pull out my moleskine journal to record this emotional high...

Nothing. Strange.

Reached into my backpocket...

Nothing.

(Panic quickly escalating...)

I rummaged through every pocket of my backpack, my jeans, the seat around me...

"F*ck."

*****

Yeah, I know. It wasn't like it was my passport. Or my cash/ATM card. But those things can be replaced. This was arguably more valuable: my thoughts and feelings on my inaugural trip overseas, something I'd been looking forward to for years. To me, there was no argument.

My heart sank as my body crumpled into the seat. The other passengers in the cabin looked at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity: they could see it on my face. I had just lost something very important to me.

Or had I? My mind raced as I thought back to the last place I saw it. At the train station? While I was packing? When I grabbed breakfast and checked my...?

The hostel's computer! I remembered the optical mouse was on a surface that didn't work very well, so I pulled out my moleskine to use as a mousepad. I must have left it there this morning!!...ARGH!!

(Despair changed to Hope which changed to Frustration, haha)

Once I got off the train in Naples two hours later, I immediately called the hostel and asked them to keep my moleskine safe until I could return to pick it up, which was only a minor problem. Originally, I had planned on taking an overnight train straight from Naples to my next tentative destination, Venice. Now I just needed to make a quick stop in Rome on my way, no problem.

I breathed a great big sigh of relief: crisis averted.

*****

Highlights from Naples and Pompeii:

More pics here (WARNING: Some content unsuitable for children and prudish people).

*****

Exhausted after being in the sun the whole day exploring Pompeii (which was much larger than I expected), I hopped the train back to Rome, picked up my moleskine, and booked an overnight sleeper berth on a train to Venice. It was about 11pm Monday night. In about seven hours, I would be arriving in Venice, the beautiful city of canals...

When in Rome...

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:09:23 GMT

Sometime in the past few months (not exactly sure when, but probably while sitting lifelessly at work), I was daydreaming about traveling to distant lands, lamenting that in 26 years, I have never left the borders of the United States. Not once.

But then I realized, "Hey, I have a job. That means I have an income. And vacation days. No wife, kids, or dog. The only thing that's stopping me is....me."

There's never a perfect time to travel. You just have to do it. That was my problem: for the past few years I kept putting other things ahead of it, telling myself I would take that first trip as soon as _______. Somehow, I always managed to find something to fill in that blank. The turning point for me was making traveling a priority, a subtle but critical change. And with that simple attitude shift, at approximately midnight on July 1st, I booked a flight to Rome.

*****

The weeks leading up to my departure date were ridiculously hectic, filled with friends visiting from out of town, increased responsibilities at work, and preparations for the move from Manassas, VA to Albuquerque, NM upon my return. I was completely unprepared for this trip; while sitting on the tarmac awaiting departure, I only knew 3 things for certain: I would be arriving in Rome on July 24th, leaving from Rome Aug. 3rd, and staying at a hostel for the first 4 days. Everything else during this 11-day trip was completely up in the air. The freedom was exhilarating, the unpredictability unnerving.

For someone who's prided himself on being dependable, responsible, and organized, I definitely felt uncomfortable. But that's exactly what I needed, to push myself out of my comfort zone, to disrupt my little bubble, force growth. On the surface I was concerned, but deep down was looking forward to seeing how I would fare in a completely foreign environment. Now granted, it's not like I was plopped down in the middle of a jungle in Africa; this was Italy, one of the safest, most popular tourist destinations in the world, with locals accustomed to dealing with English-speaking travelers. Which was part of the reason I chose it. My travel desires tend more towards atypical tourist destinations rich in non-Western culture, such as Africa or the Middle-East, but I reasoned that my initial trip should be to somewhere "easy," to learn the ropes of overseas travel.

Rome, the Eternal City that hosts millions of visitors a year, was the ideal choice, with its modern infrastructure seamlessly integrated with centuries of art and architecture. Being a closet history geek (who is terrible with dates), I was naturally drawn to the birthplace of the legendary Roman Empire, precursor to modern Western civilization. Everywhere I walked, I was surrounded by the 2,000 years of history, echoes of the past permeating the air. And if that wasn't enough sensory overload, Rome also surrounds Vatican City, the headquarters of the Catholic church and host to priceless works of art and monumental architecture.

In retrospect, it was the perfect place to begin my long-overdue international travels:

(More photos here.)

A few of my favorite memories from my days in Rome:

Learning to speak Italian - I tried my best to learn and speak Italian, hoping that the locals would appreciate my efforts. It's such a fun language; the rhythm and changing tones makes it always entertaining to both speak and hear. And I absolutely love it when Italians say "Prego" (pronounced with a drawn-out "praaaaay-goh"). It can mean several things (You're welcome/How can I help you), but it's spoken with such warmth. It's sounds very sweet coming from an Italian woman, and also softens up the roughness of gruff Italian men. I initially had a lot of difficulty speaking Italian, stemming from my shyness and a fear of butchering it. But with each successful exchange, my confidence grew and my pronunciation became stronger, less timid. My first entirely Italian exchange involved ordering gelato, asking for her recommendation, and explaining that I liked fruits.
Kids playing futbol in a park - As I came up from the Metro, I cut across a park with kids fooling around with a soccer ball in an enclosed grassy area. As I walked by, right on cue, one of them accidentally kicked it over the barrier, headed towards me. Of course I caught it and tossed it back to them. They all responded with a hearty, "Grazie, signore!" For some reason, this made me smile for awhile. Looking back, I wish I had the presence of mind to respond with "Prego!"
Being mistaken for a local (!) - The 4th day in Rome, I decided not to do any sightseeing, and instead simply enjoyed the city. So I grabbed some lunch at a local place, picked up a nice Italian shirt (which I promptly donned after purchasing), and rode the bus around town. At one point, as I got off, a German family stopped me, pointed to their map, and started speaking their own version of broken Italian. To me. Haha, I was very amused, but fortunately understood what they were saying and where they wanted to go (the Piazza Navona, a place I had just visited 2 days before). So I directed them, and off they went on their merry way. By that time I was pretty comfortable with getting around Rome, and so I guess it showed in the way I confidently carried myself. Or maybe it was just the shirt. Haha, regardless, I passed the Mistaken-For-A-Local test!

*****

Next up, my first "oh sh*t!" moment overseas, and a spontaneous trip to Pompeii...

Monday, March 31, 2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:26:16 GMT

my last pair of glasses, 2006-2008.

Back in January, I decided to splurge a little, and enjoy my hard-earned money. Whereas for most people, that would probably mean buying some new gadgets or clothes, I elected to have my corneas sliced, and my eyeballs reshaped with a laser. That's right, I got Lasik!

The actual surgery itself was very quick; I was awake for the duration, which was about 15 minutes. It didn't hurt at all, with the numbing drops the surgeon used, though I have to admit it was unnerving feeling the microkeratome (a tiny blade) cut a flap in my cornea. However, it was pretty neat seeing my vision dramatically improve in real-time as the laser did its precise, calculated work. I would say the hardest part was trying to focus constantly on a red light during the surgery, since I could see things happening in my peripheral vision that I was curious to see. After surgery, I noticed an immediate difference; though not yet at 20/20, I could at least see the clock on the wall. The surgery was at 4pm, and after a night of rest, I was able to see well enough to return to work the next day.

Although it was pricey, Lasik was absolutely worth it. I haven't been able to see like this since before 6th grade. Back then, my vison deteriorated so gradually that I didn't even realize it, until one day in Algebra I was moved to the front of the classroom because of my inability to read the problems on the chalkboard. I distinctly remember the ride back home from the optometrist with my first pair of glasses, amazed that I could see the blades of grass on the side of the road. I remember thinking, "I didn't even know that I was supposed to be able to see that!" That feeling of awe is similar to what I felt the day after Lasik, when I woke up the next morning and saw not a blurry red blob on the dresser, but the crystal clear digital clock readout: "8:30" (Yeah, I was late to work. But who cares, I could see!)

Anyway, after a couple more months of healing (I want to play it safe) involving lots of eyedrops, I'm looking forward to playing basketball and football, swimming, hiking, etc. without having to worry about my glasses slipping off my nose, or contacts drying out/falling out. And when I start traveling the world, it'll be one less thing for me to worry about in the jungles of Africa, or the deserts of the Middle East.

If you can afford the steep price (anywhere from $2,000 - $4,000), I highly recommend it. Do your research, understand the risks, and decide for yourself. Sure, there is always the possibility of complications, but if you aren't taking risks in life, then you just aren't doing it right.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:49:20 GMT

Hi.

Yes, I'm still here. Life has had its inevitable ups and down in the past few months, and I've done my best to endure the lows, and relish the highs. Which is to say, I have to keep reminding myself that there is always a future: the bad times will soon fade, and the good times can just as easily disappear. What's that old cliche? "In life, change is the only constant." A phrase both comforting and cautionary at the same time. For me, it makes dealing with the rough trials easier, and fosters a greater appreciation for those elusive moments of pure happiness.

In any event, my lack of updates can be attributed to a number of reasons/excuses:

my begrudging return to Austin - I took this job in large part because of the traveling aspect. Returning to the same place where I spent 5.5 years in college (Don't judge me...I was working on two undergrad degrees!) in addition to 4 months back when I first started work definitely felt like a step backwards. The same culture, same city, same environment; I was squarely back within my comfort zone, and how can personal growth (and travel blog material) ever come from that?
ridiculous work schedule - From December thru February, we worked 6-7 days a week, at least 12 hours a day. For Christmas and New Year's, we had one day off for each. Now I understand why most of my investment banker friends hate their jobs (but not their salaries/bonuses).
propensity for obsessive gaming behavior - After a long day at work, one just wants to go home and zone out. Gaming provides that escape from the real world. Much like watching a movie or television show, except even more immersive. And certain games nowadays boast amazing storytelling (Bioshock) that can rival, if not best, the stuff that's in theaters.
I can be lazy.

All of this has resulted in a barren, sad-excuse-for-a travel blog.

But sure enough, like I said, things are changing. For one, I'm going cold turkey with the Xbox 360, indefinitely. I've gamed for twenty-some-odd years already. It's time I try something new. I've always wanted to read more books, and maybe pickup some Japanese?

As for my work schedule, the worst is over, and things will be easing all the way up until my departure from Austin in late April. My next destination? Looks like it's back to that extended suburb of Washington, DC : Manassas, VA. Yeah, I've already spent 4 months there, but being in the Northeast again puts me much closer to other interesting places I've never seen. Canada, maybe? Flights to Europe/Africa tend to be cheaper from the East coast too...

In the meantime, I'll be back-updating on a few notable events from the past few months. To start off, you can see pics from South By South West(SXSW) last week in the photoblog section. What a great experience! Even for someone like me, who tends to have more of a mainstream taste in music. I happened upon a couple new bands I immediately liked (some of which you'll be hearing in future entries), and now have a much greater appreciation for live performances.

Guess being in Austin isn't so bad.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:40:32 GMT

Man Finally Put In Charge Of Struggling Feminist Movement

December 3, 2007

WASHINGTON—After decades spent battling gender discrimination and inequality in the workplace, the feminist movement underwent a high-level shake-up last month, when 53-year-old management consultant Peter "Buck" McGowan took over as new chief of the worldwide initiative for women's rights.

Head feminist "Buck" McGowan leads a march on Washington for women's rights.

McGowan, who now oversees the group's day-to-day operations, said he "couldn't be happier" to bring his ambition, experience, and no-nonsense attitude to his new role as the nation's top feminist.

"All the feminist movement needed to do was bring on someone who had the balls to do something about this glass ceiling business," said McGowan, who quickly closed the 23.5 percent gender wage gap by "making a few calls to the big boys upstairs." "In the world of gender identity and empowered female sexuality, it's all about who you know."

McGowan, who was selected from a pool of roughly 150 million candidates, made eliminating sexual harassment his first priority before working on securing reproductive rights for women in all 50 states, and promoting healthy body images through an influx of strong, independent female characters in TV, magazines, and film.

"It's about time," McGowan said upon returning from a golf game with several "network honchos" in which he brokered a deal to bring a variety of women's sports to prime-time television. "These ladies should have brought me on years ago."

McGowan claimed that one of the main reasons the movement enjoyed so little success in the past was that the previous management was often too timid and passive and should have been much more results-focused.

"You can't waste time pussyfooting around with protests and getting all emotional about a bunch of irrelevant details," McGowan said. "If you want to enjoy equal rights, you have to have a real man-to-man chat with the people in charge until you can hammer out some more equitable custody laws."

"And don't get me started on how disorganized and scatterbrained their old fundraising methods were," McGowan added. "Let's just say the movement never really had a head for numbers."

After McGowan successfully appointed three of his best men to lead Smith College's women's studies department and called in some favors to a number of powerful board chairmen to triple the number of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies, analysts predicted that the feminist movement could achieve all of McGowan's goals by as early as 2009.

"With a charismatic, self-assured guy like Pete pulling the strings, we might even see a female elected president one of these days," said Nathan Roth, an analyst at the Cato Institute. "Finally, the feminist movement has a face that commands respect."

McGowan, however, said he didn't get into the business of women's rights for the praise.

"What these women were able to accomplish with the little manpower they had is very impressive," McGowan said. "I just bring a certain something to the table—I'm not sure what—that gave us that extra little push into complete female independence. I guess it just comes naturally."

But despite his modesty, McGowan continues to garner praise from those closest to the cause.

"The whole movement just seems more legitimate with Buck in charge," leading feminist Gloria Steinem said at a gala dinner Friday. "His drive, focus, and determination are truly remarkable. Mr. McGowan is a man with a plan."

Although he has not hinted at any future projects after all forms of gender discrimination are a thing of the past, McGowan has vehemently denied rumors that he will leave the feminist movement to head up the struggle for gay rights.

"The wife would kill me if I took on any more hours," McGowan said. "I'm sure those fellows know how that goes."

Hahaha...so clever. I love TheOnion.

Quick poll:

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:12:46 GMT

Everyone has faced this situation at least once:

You are driving on a two lane highway. A sign comes into view, indicating that the two lanes are merging into one. You merge soon after seeing this. Seconds later, another driver zooms by you, waits until the last possible second, and manages to merge by forcing his (or her) way in.

Should this person be criticized for this behavior? Or should you instead admire the fact that he is now 10-15 cars ahead of the rest of the pack, and likely to reach his destination sooner than you?