Dallas Morning News Editorial:
There is only one serious candidate on the presidential ballot in November. We recommend Hillary Clinton.
We don’t come to this decision easily. This newspaper has not recommended a Democrat for the nation’s highest office since before World War II — if you’re counting, that’s more than 75 years and nearly 20 elections.
This is a powerful endorsement.
Couple weeks ago, we flew out of Reagan National Airport and needed to park our car for a week. I kept circling the airport trying to find its long term economy parking because I didn’t know that it doesn’t one. I had to park in its general parking and pay the maximum of $25 a day. In other airports such as BWI, its long term parking only cost $8 a day.
Needless to say I was not too happy with RNA’s parking fee. Then it occurred to me how would it know if I parked there in a few hours or few weeks? So I decided to test out the system, which was naive of me. When it came time to leave the parking, I told the cashier that I lost my ticket. He asked me when did I parked? I told him a couple of hours but I was willing to pay the maximum fee. He took down my license plate info and made a phone call. I could hear he laughed over the phone and rung up $200.
With a bit of an embarrassment, I pulled out my credit card to pay. He said, “You told me that you were in here for only a few hours.” I replied, “I know. I thought I could get away with the system too since Donald Trump gets away with it everyday.” We both laughed it off.
At the Voice, Tate became known for the slangy erudition he brought to bear on a range of topics, not just hip-hop and jazz but also science fiction, literary theory, movies, city politics, and police brutality. His best paragraphs throbbed like a party and chattered like a salon; they were stylishly jam-packed with names and reference points that shouldn’t have got along but did, a trans-everything collision of pop stars, filmmakers, subterranean graffiti artists, Ivory Tower theorists, and Tate’s personal buddies, who often came across as the wisest of the bunch.
I read Flyboy in the Buttermilk several times. Can’t wait to get my hands on Flyboy 2.
Vài tháng qua tôi bị quấy rầy bởi những chuyện phiền phức nhỏ nhặt. Tuy biết ngoài sự kiềm chế của mình nhưng tôi vẫn ôm những vấn đề đó vào lòng. Tôi đâm ra chán nản và bực bội làm ảnh hướng đến giấc ngủ và tin thần.
Hai tuần nay tôi suy nghỉ lại và tự sửa chữa bản thân. Tôi không để ý đến việc làm của người khác cho dù là những người thân trong gia đình. Không muốn nghe và cũng không muốn nói gì về người khác mặt dù là người trong gia đình. Ai lợi dụng ai hay ai đối sữ không công bằng với ai tự họ giải quyết. Ai tốt hay xấu tự họ biết tấm lòng của họ.
Khi không còn suy nghỉ hoặc lo lắng đến những điều tôi không thể thay đổi được tôi cảm thấy nhẹ nhàng và bình yên hơn. Không cần thiết tôi sẽ không nói. Không tham gia vào những cuộc trò chuyện chỉ trích người khác. Không xét đoán hoặc chê bai ai. Không lợi dụng hoặc ganh ghét ai.
Sống thoải mái nhẹ nhàng bên cạnh những người thân yêu là quá đủ rồi. Không đòi hỏi hoặc tranh đua ai.
When the 10K Apart contest first announced, I was excited, but I was not planning on participate. I didn’t have time and I had no idea what I would do.
When I was on vacation, however, I redesigned this blog. I ended up creating The 10K WordPress Theme. After I submitted that project, I felt it was not inspiring at all. I asked to withdraw, but it was too late.
Around the same time, another concept came to me and I felt motivated. Jay Z On Designs is the result of it. Because 10K Apart allows participants to enter up to three entries, I just submitted another one. You can read more about the project on my portfolio or just go straight to it. Wish me luck.
This morning I got upset at my wife for leaving the minivan running for sixteen hours. I meant to remind her, but I vent at her instead. I drove to work feeling terrible. Why did I let such a stupid little thing got to me? I immediately apologized when I arrived at work.
In the past few months, I noticed a change in me. I get irritated easily about every little thing and it is fucking up my head. How have I become this way? Stress? Anxiety? Lack of sleep? I am not making any excuse for myself and my behavior. I need to change. I need to refocus my priorities. Letting go of all the things that are out of my control.
Two weeks ago while on vacation, I came across the book that could help me fight my demon. I picked up Richard Carlson’s Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and it’s all small stuff out of a bargain bin. The book has 100 advices and each one makes a good blog post, which is perfect for quick reads. The advices that speak to me include: “Ask yourself the Question, ‘Will This Matter a Year From Now?’,” “Surrender to the Fact that Life Isn’t Fair,” “Resist the Urge to Criticize,” “Think of What You Have Instead of What You Want,” “Practice Ignoring Your Negative Thoughts,” and “Be Happy Where You Are.”
Like what I had done this morning, I am applying these advices into my life. I am working out my flaws, emotions, and irritations. I can do it if I can let go off the little things that do nothing good for me except driving me crazy.
Hai tuần trước đi vacation bà xã mua một hộp Café Du Monde và một lon sữa Ông Thọ. (Không nhớ rõ chữ “lon” viết ra sao nên Google thử thì toàn ra “cái lồn.”) Thôi thì đi vacation nên cứ xả láng. Sáng làm một ly nóng trước khi cùng cả nhà ra tắm biển. Trưa làm một ly đá sau khi ăn trưa. Nghỉ ngơi đến ba hoặc bốn giờ khi trời dịu nắng làm thêm một ly nóng trước khi đưa hai thằng lớn ra hồ bơi. Bơi về ăn tối làm thêm một ly đá. Thỉnh thoảng sau khi cả nhà đi ngủ tôi thức xem phim bộ Narcos lại chơi thêm một ly nóng. Có lẻ vì bơi và trông tụi nhỏ nên mệt. Tối ngủ cũng tạm được.
Hết vacation, tôi bỏ cà phê không được. Ỡ chổ làm có cái máy cà phê mới rất ngon nên sáng một ly latte, trưa một ly cappuccino, và trước khi láy xe về làm thêm hai ly latte hoặc cappuccino. Hai tuần nay không ngủ được nên lúc nào cũng bực bội khó chịu. Cuối tuần vừa rồi bỏ không uống nữa nên ngủ lại được. Hôm thứ Hai đi ăn phở gà Thanh Thanh ở Phila. Trước khi láy xe về tôi lại gọi một ly cà phê sữa đá. Cà phê đậm quá nên tối hôm đó cũng không ngũ được.
Hôm qua làm một giấc thật ngon. Nên hôm nay tỉnh táo hơn. Bà xã nói tôi dễ bị nghiện. Cũng may tôi chưa đụng đến thuốc lá và bạch phiến. Rượu thì phải bỏ vì uống vào chân đau chịu không nổi.
My entry for the 10K Apart is now in the gallery. I entered the contest to solve a technical problem for myself rather than to win the contest. After I made my submission and changed my website, I changed my mind. Without a custom for this site, it does not feel inspiring. I wanted to withdraw my entry, but they have already spun up the server for it. According to the rule, I can submit up to three entries; therefore, I am in the process of working on another project that is more inspiring. So stay tuned. I’ll release it in the next couple of days or so.
As a fan of Jay Z, how in the world did I not read this book six years ago when it was published? Part memoir, part lyrical analysis, Decoded is much better than what I had expected. In particular, the way he writes about the art of hip-hop and his appreciation for different kinds music and artists are compelling. I also glad that he doesn’t focus much on the business side. Unlike what I have read from some critics, the book lives up to his high standard. It is not a disappoitment at all. Now I understand why he rapped, “Fuck critics. You can kiss my whole asshole.” I still have mad respect for this guy.
Steve Jobs might not have predicted it, but his power over kids is undeniable. Đán woke up this morning and asked if he is going to school today. When I said yes, he got upset, “I don’t want to go to stupid school.” When I took him into the bathroom, he asked me, “Can I play on your iPhone?” I replied, “If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you play on the way to school.” His face lid up and responded, “Yes daddy, I will do everything you ask me to.”
He brushed his teeth, put on his clothes, kissed his brothers, mother, and grandma goodbye. We went to Dunkin’ Donuts for his favorite bacon, egg, and cheese Wake-Up Wrap. He played on the iPhone while I drive him to school. It was such a painless, pleasant morning. No fighting, no arguing, no dragging, no carrying, no delaying. If this is how he behaves every morning, I am fine with letting playing on the iPhone. If he smartens up and doesn’t throw a tantrum when I asked him to turn it off, I can let him have it.