They look quite creepy.

Expressive nude paintings by Nguyen Kim Dinh

Asia’s latest DVD, Nhat Truong, Tran Thien Thanh 2, depresses the living hell out of me. I can’t get my mind off the image of Bang Tam with her forehead busted open lying in the hospital bed dying while bombs exploding in the background. The entire scene was so disturbing that I wish I didn’t get to it. In fact, I wish I didn’t watch the entire video at all. Now I can’t help feeling deeply sorry for our Vietnamese music.

She is like a cow being trapped in the box allowing Asia and other productions to milk every last drop out of her and preventing her from growing. When was the last time a new, original Vietnamese song was introduced in these videos? Tran Thien Thanh had quite a number of popular tunes and most of them were written in Borolo. Asia didn’t even bother to give them a new arrangement. Sitting through an entire Borolo rhythm with occasional upbeat is quite torturing.

Then again, we can’t really point the figure at these productions. As long as they could sell out their concerts and videos, why not repeating the concept? We need to step up our game before the productions could do their part. It’s all about supplies and demands. Save our music and give her a chance to grow.

What a gorgeous design for Washtenaw Community College.

Eminem and Dr. Dre are back for some “Old Time’s Sake.”

Photographic of Vietnam by Tom Abraham.

The rain gave me an excuse to stay cozy with the Duke. Grandma went out with aunt and uncle. Mommy, Duke and I shared the new couch. We listened to John Coltrane for a bit and then took a little nap. We watched some of Asia’s Tran Thien Thanh 2, but turned it off because the content is way too dramatic for us. I just laid next to him and watched him sleep while the rain was pouring outside. Each day passes by and I am more attached to this little guy.

Enimen’s new, wicked video.

Manny Paquiao puts a blow to Ricky Hatton at the end of second round. Check out the full fight.

I can’t believe a week has gone by already. I’ll be heading back to work this Monday. Just the thought of not seeing Duke for eight hours already makes me miss him. I won’t be the one who changes his diapers during the day. I won’t be the one who burps him after he’s fed. I won’t the one who wraps him up tightly. I won’t be the one who kisses those sweet cheeks.

But then again, he is the one who gives me the strengths to get up in the morning. He is the one who calms me down. He is the one who makes me feel responsible. He is the one who lifts me up when I am down. Just watching him and his mom curled up in bed put a quiet smile on my face. They are the loveliest and I can’t even imagine my life without them.

I apologize for the soppiness. I just can’t help expressing the joy. I am sure you all already feel me based on the responses you have been given me for the past week. You could have read any blog on the world wide web, but you choose to be here and share the happiness with me. By reading my thoughts, you allow me to pour my heart out, something I can’t really do in the real life. I sure appreciate that.