11/23/09

well-read

I have an hour commute to work back and forth everyday. Most people would complain about the fact, but I'm fortunate enough to have 45 minutes of that commute on public transit, leaving me with time to put on my headphones, daydream, have a real dream (by falling asleep), or what I have been doing lately, by reading a book.

Book reviews are nothing original as anyone's blog topic, but as my life has fallen back into a stable routine (oh the humanity!) and as you could probably tell from my blog in the past few weeks, I've been lacking subjects worth writing about.

That all said, consider this my version of everything you'd expect from Reading Rainbow: short book summaries, even shorter book critiques, some pictures...
...but no Lavar Burton. Sorry.


The 5 People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom
Straight to the point summary: Eddie, an aged maintenance worker, has had his whole life revolve around Ruby Pier, a beach boardwalk-esque amusement park. So it only makes sense that it's where he loses his life, right? But that's not the focus of the book. In heaven, Eddie meets 5 people (who would've thought) who have had some sort of impact on his life, whether he knew it or not. And I think there's supposed to be some sort of touching lesson you're supposed to get from this.
Favorite Line: "But all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time."


"Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk
Straight to the point summary: The story revolves around Victor Mancini, a guy with serious abandonment issues thanks to his mother...yet here in his mid 20s, he's dropped out of med school so he could take care of her as she is ailing. Trouble is that he works at a colonial re-enactment amusement park, not nearly enough to pay the bills. So how does he manage? He goes to fancy restaurants and fakes a choking fit in order to get in the good graces of good samaritans, who would send charity his way in the future. This book is written by the same guy who wrote Fight Club, so you can imagine what kind of writing and story to expect...or do you?
Favorite Line: "Just keep asking yourself: 'What would Jesus NOT do?'"


1984 by George Orwell
Straight to the point summary: Oh come on, who doesn't know the story of 1984? Raise your hands if you don't. Oh..wait, that's alot more than I thought. Okay. So in a nutshell, 1984 is the story of a dystopian future in which society is ruled by a collectivist government where life consists of perpetual war, public mind control, pervasive government surveillance, and the loss of human rights. The story centers around Winston Smith, a man who is one of the few left who remember what life was like before the "Party" had taken over society and changed it to what it was today (or, back in 1984, at least). In his disallusioned dissidence, he seeks to rebel against "Big Brother" and its iron fist, a venture that puts his life, his well being, and even his very own existence at risk.
Favorite Line: "The command of the old despotisms was Thou shalt not. The command of the totalitarians was Thou shalt. Our command is Thou art."


Animal Farm by George Orwell
Straight to the point summary: In my honest opinion, consider this to be "1984 Lite." Meaning that if the book was about 200 pages shorter and instead of humans the main characters were animals. And if the book was more centered on the way the government. Consider it a direct satire of the historical outcomes of the Russian Revolution, where Lenin and Trotsky were pigs and not humans!
Favorite Line: "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey"


Seinlanguage by Jerry Seinfeld
Straight to the point summary: Jerry Seinfeld talks for 2 pages about what inspired him to get into comedy, then the rest of the book is transcripts from his own stand-ups, many of which appeared on his show
Favorite Line: "Have you ever been there watching TV and you’re drinking the same exact product that they’re advertising right there on TV? And they’re spiking volleyballs, jet skiing, girls in bikinis. And you’re sitting there, “Maybe I’m putting too much ice in mine. I’m not getting that effect."


Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Straight to the point summary: Pi Patel is the son of a zookeeper, who suddenly decides to sell the family business and move the family from India to Canada. Unfortunately, their ship gets wrecked along the way, and Pi is the lone survivor on the only lifeboat that made it off the sinking ship. That is, him and a 500 pound Bengalian tiger. The tale centers around the hope and power of survival, especially when you're sharing a small, cramped raft with a large carnivorous cat. The book claims it will get you to believe in God, but I've read it through and I haven't been convinced.
Favorite Line: "Scientists are a friendly, atheistic, hard-working, beer-drinking lot whose minds are preoccupied with sex, chess and baseball when they are not preoccupied with science."

And currently reading:


The Simpsons and Philosophy
Straight to the point summary: This book consists of a collection of essays by members of the philosophical elite as they attempt to answer such questions as whether Homer really exhibits Aristotelian virtues or if Bart is the kind if individual Nietzsche was trying to warn us about. The essays go further into detail and look at the show from a critical light, going into depth about irony and the meaning of life according to the show's characters, the elusiveness of happiness of Mr. Burns, and the politics of the nuclear family on an animated prime time sitcom.

However, this book was written in the early part of this decade, well before the Simpsons not only jumped the shark, but also killed the shark, ate the shark, shit the shark in the ocean, and then jumped the shit. And as such, the mediocre and controversial turn the show has made is unfortunately, not addressed or criticized.
Favorite Line (thus far): "I would like to comment on this show, but it is scheduled at the same time as The Simpsons and I have never seen it"

"we gotta send it to a neutral party like, scarlett johanson. gave her my virginity and she kept it well"
-DLC

11/16/09

you're the birthday, you're the birthday, you're the birthday boy or girl

i didnt get a chance to go on facebook and wish u a happy birthday yesterday! im sorry!!! i wish u a very happy birthday!! and tizia tells me u guys had a great time at vegas! but 'tells', i mean she mouthed the words to me cus she still cant talk! hehehehe its so funny when she laughs hehehehehe shit i forgot to say happy birthday HAPPYBIRTHDAY hahaha.. birthdays are good. i hope ur not already at the age where you are avoiding them!! we are still young bro and yeah twitter is pretty cool except i tend to update my fb status instaed of my twitter.. i am ze lame have fun on le black friday! don't die x) i will be wandering around spending too much munnys on useless crap =0] happy birth for the zillionth time! thank you for making my dream of weird hayward kinda come true. let's go back to that ray's sushi, it was good! but not wait until your next birthday happy bday mang! Happy Birthday Fellow PREP Buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you're back in CA, I'll buy you some Randy's Donuts! haha! Have a good one man! bon anniversaire, Mark!!!! have a tres bon bon one happy birthday Mark! Hope you're enjoying/enjoyed Las Vegas Happy birthday Mark! I hope you had a great birthday! happy birthday mark, you old man. hope u enjoy ur birthday! can't find a translation into hebrew, but i hope your weekend was awesome, and have a happy birthday, brother.Happy Birthday Mark Q!Happy birthdayy!happy birthday markkk! i was in the bay last week and it was colddddd :(but i hope your bday was super awesome! take care!p.s. i got free ice cream today! now you go get some ice cream and it'll be like we finally had our ice cream together!happy birthday markie pants! 2 TO DA 3 fasho my negro! hope you had a good one. i'll be emailing you my personal statement soon... hopefully.. Hi Mark!! Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a great one! :) happy birthday Mark!Happy Birthday! Maligayang Kaarawan! Feliz cumpleanos! happy birthday, cousin of mine. hope it was a good one :) Happy Birthday Mark! Hope you have a good one :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!happy bday =]MAAAAARRRKKKK! Happy Happy Birthday! :D happy birthday, mark!!!Happy Birthday!Happy birthday!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! you stole my bday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!! how are you? i hope you're doing well! what're you up to these days?! Happy Birthday MARK!!!Happy Birthday! :)Happy birthday!happy bday mark!!! =) nice seein ya at the concert! hope the drive back wasn't too rough. anyway, have fun today! happy HAPPY birthday!! 'sings happy birthday.. 'smiles.bday mark!!!Have a most excelletn Day of Origination, Mark!!!! Haha, have fun celebrating!! wishing you that trite phrase you never like to post on walls, but I'm not going to say it. Enjoy yourself! Happy 23rd? Already? Seriously, it takes me awhile to figure out how old we all are now. After all this time looks like we're both back in the bay, huh? I finally understand after that first quarter of grad school that moving on with your life REALLY is overrated. I'm back in town for the next two weeks, we'll see what's going on.helllooo, happy birthday!Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!HAAAAAPPPPPPYYYYY BIIIIIRRRRRTTTTTHHHHDDDDAAAAAYYYYYyou're less young by one more year, but i hope you still get some nice stuff. there, i avoided saying the dreaded phrase. happy Birthday!!!!Hello Mark! Good tidings on your day of birth =P! lol. Hope you have an awesome day of celebration on your day of origination. that rhymes. Don't get too intoxicated. joke lang. take care! Happy birthday Marq! Happy Birthday Mark!!!! Happy Birthday Mark Solomon and former floormate! Hope you have a great bday...reminds me of when we used Mana as an excuse for your and Vicki's bday sophomore year. ahhhh miss all the good times from ucla! Happy Birthday!!! :) Happy B-day!!!!! =)happy birthday!Happy Birthday!Happy birthday man Happy Birthday, Mark!HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK! Yay for November birthdays :D Hope all is well! Have an amazing day♥ happy birthday mark!happy birthday :)Hey Mark! Happy Birthday!Mark!! Happy birthday!!!Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!! holy shxt you were in vegas this weekend too? lol damnit if only i knew. hahaha oh yes!! happy birthday to you too!!! =] i love how the last comments on our wall-to-wall are the happy birthdays from last year hahaha happy birthday mark! Happy birthday, Markheezy! Happy birthday, good sir. I hope you have a wonderful Monday. happy birthday mark. i haven't yet had a chance to enjoy your chicago-style pizza gift, but i definitely owe ya. happpppy birthday! Happy Birthday walter! happy birthday =D diana misses you! happy early bday Little early, but I know I'll forget tomorrow. Happy Birthday Mark! How's Cali? If you're still in vegas-happy birthday! if you're back in ca- read this again in 55 minutes! :-D Happy birthday yo! Morning boo. Happy bday!! Again... Happy birthday mark! Any plans tonight? Happy, Happy Birthday - let's do lunch sometime this week. just tell me what day - Enjoy your 23rd year! XOX Happy birthday old fart! have good one. we need to hangout soon Twinn!!!!! I hope yr half of our bday is awesomee. Holla if you wanna do anything Happy bday! We meeting up tonight? Shit! Happy belated fool! Since good tidings on the day of origination is such a trite phrase, I wud like to wish you a HAPPY BIRTIDAY!



Sorry folks, couldn't think of a new original birthday post concept this year, so we'll have to stick to last year's model

Thanks for the wishes, everyone!

"i don't even have anything clever to say. so i'm not gonna try. good day."
-MT

11/12/09

the list continues

Surely, you all remember my previous bucket list, so I probably don't need to explain myself when I say I didn't finish the list yet. Besides, I figure I'll be adding more and more things to do on here as time goes on anyway, so get used to seeing a new edition of this list popping up every now and then.

So, in no particular order, again...

-Participate in a paintball match (I heard you can get some pretty bad bruises)

-Finish a Sudoku (yeah I'm lame and haven't figured one completely out yet)
-Drive a Toyota Mark X (cause who wouldn't want to drive a car that's named after them?)


-Make a sky writer message for someone (or myself. that would be cool too.)
-Cook a frozen chimichanga in the dryer (I first heard of someone doing this in the dorms freshman year...)
-Stay on one of the hotels on the Dubai World Islands


-Conduct my high school band on at least one song (and do something to the effect of this):
Sports Videos, News, Blogs

-Participate in a flash mob

-Visit all the capital cities of the world (big endeavor, but can be done, nonetheless)

-Travel far and wide to be able to see aurora borealis at least once
-Ride to every end of BART (and just ride back, too)


-Play a part in a cheesy local commercial (or a cheesy infomerical, either will do)

-Drink a shot of Johnny Walker Blue Label King George V Edition (a $1500 bottle of scotch whiskey, mind you)

-Drive around a racetrack (in my Toyota Mark X, no less)

"theres a live feed? how about just feeding me instead... :) c'mon fbook...that would be the best app..."
-ST

11/9/09

FAQ Pt. 3

5 days a week, 4 hour shifts, at least 3 times a day, 2 separate work places, 1 set of frequently asked questions...

as was the case back then and even back then

Here’s the down-low: After my real job decided to only give me work to do for only part of the week, I decided to pick up a seasonal temp job in the retail industry, since, hey, I’m willing to lay down some dignity to pay the bills (and for the losses I may accrue in Vegas next week).

I’ve got one foot in the real world, the other still in that limbo that can be attributed to that last summer you have at home before you leave for college. I’m being trained to be a professional in the morning, and trained by a high schooler in the afternoon. In one job, I sit behind a computer all day. In the other, I sell computers to people who want to be sitting behind a computer all day. I’m forced to stay in a cubicle and mind my own work here, I’m forced to walk around the whole building and help customers there.

I’ve got the best of both worlds. Too bad neither of them pay me enough to enjoy it.



So, do you go to school or something?

No, I actually finished last year.

Really? Where did you go?

UCLA

(Best Buy question only): I knew someone who went to UCLA, his/her name was [insert generic American name with Asian surname, such as “Anna Chan” or “Steven Lau”]

That could really be anybody...

Hahaha true true. So, wow, nice… What did you study?

Uh, geography and urban planning

(Best Buy question only) Geography? What do you plan to do with that?

Well I already have another job on the side [a real job, I think to myself]

(Best Buy question only) Really? Then why don’t you work there full time? Why are you even here?
(511 question only) Then why don’t you just work here full time?


Eh, it’s not in their budget...I hope that they’ll give me more hours soon...But hey, it's a sign of the times

So is this like an internship? [you'd be surprised at how often this comes up]

No, it’s a real job, real pay, real benefits, not so real hours

But not full time?

Nope

That sucks

Yeah...thanks...

Hm...so what sort of work do you do?

I’m a transit data analyst. I update maps and maintain the accuracy of schedules and routes on 511.org [yeah, yeah, I realize I’m kinda exaggerating, so what? I'm tooting my own horn whether you like it or not]

(Best Buy reaction only): oh...[they clearly don’t understand]*awkward silence*
(511 reaction only):isn’t that Andrew’s job?

(to Best Buy) Yeah, it’s nothing too exciting, I just work at a computer all day
(to 511) Um..technically, yeah. I'm just here to help him out...


Ah okay, so do you have a tech background?

I guess you could say that

So you must be good with computers


Ehh…I guess you could say that too

Yeah…that’s good…*awkward silence some more*

*(At Best Buy: the worker just stands there, in awkward silence, not sure what else to say or do. Their eyes dart around the store to find a customer, another coworker, anybody to find an excuse to leave)*

*(At 511: the conversation, probably taking place as we’re leaving the building or waiting to use the microwave ends abruptly. We both just stand there, words no longer being said, staring off in the distance, and are instantly relieved when the ding on the microwave goes off)*

"no money no honey these days...time to get a job!"
-TV

11/4/09

feeling delightfully nerdy

Lately I've been in hermit mode, since all this talk of retro-hard drives and embarassing middle school interests has piqued my curiosity in an old game I spent way too much time on back in the day.



You ever hear of this game? It's one of the world's most popular turn-based strategy games. You start off as a simple settler unit, where you have the chance to build cities and military units. With your cities and military units, you can exert your power and technology over other players' civilizations' cities and units, all in the name of growing your own global superpower. And apparently I played it alot from 1996 to 1999.

It's kinda like chess, but more complex. And somehow even more geeky.

And my favorite part of the game is that if you really know how the mechanics work, you can create your own world maps, put cities where you want, and create hypothetical scenarios...like I did, envisioning what it would look like if the Bay Area was at war with itself:

East Bay, bitches!


This is actually kinda dangerous. My old middle school time-suck has become my new quarter life time-suck.

"you'll be my rich ex-coworker in no time!"
-JG