Coming up with our own kid’s name isn’t as easy as I thought. Obviously we want a cool name for him. We don’t have much restriction except that we would like to give him a Vietnamese name to remind him of his root. Our first shot was Trương Công Đức, but Đức is too popular.

After many attempts, Dana and I didn’t come to an agreement, so we consulted my father-in-law for advice and he nailed it. Trương Công Đạo is just perfect. I am sure Đạo is not an uncommon name, but it is not often heard of, at least for me. I love the sound of Công Đạo and I hope that he will hold truth to his name—benevolent, honorable, and respectable—throughout his life.

I also would like to nickname him Duke after one of my favorite jazz geniuses Duke Ellington. But then again, nothing is set in stone. We still have a few more months until he comes out to lock in.

Biggie’s “Microphone Murderer” (he got an ill flow)
Eminem’s “Crack a Bottle” with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
50 Cent’s “Get It In“

Benoit Denizet-Lewis confesses his sexual addiction.

Jennifer 8. Lee breaks down the mysteries of Chinese food that only exist in America such as beef with broccoli, egg rolls, General Tso chicken, fortune cookies and chop suey. Very interesting presentation.

Mingus’ orchestration on this six-piece suite is psychologically amazing. Through his rich textures, vibrant tonal colors and expressive rhythms, one could feel the suffering, struggling and mourning in his conceptual compositions. “Group Dancers” is my personal favorite. I can’t get the exquisite eastern melody, the breathtaking flamenco guitar and the dizzying horn lines out of my head.

Singing while in labor

A heart-wrecking clip of sexual trafficking in Cambodia. (Via Viet Vista)

Tu Quyen is a pop singer who doesn’t follow the latest trend. She is just way behind the trend. Her newest album, Em Van Yeu, sounds as if it has been shelved a decade or so ago and only get released recently by Thuy Nga production. Seriously, when was the last time you heard the Chinese tune with the chorus that goes something like, “Wo ai ni, I love you / Wo ai ni, I need you?” How does she do it? How the hell is she not sick of singing the song when I am already sick of listening to it?

Listening to Em Van Yeu gives me a second thought about Nhu Loan’s Trai Tim Da Duoc Yeu. Between the two albums, I am not sure who is the worse. Vocal wise, Tu Quyen is no better Nhu Loan. Her voice is weak and she has no range either. She sings the title track as if she is merely reading through the lyrics with no emotional expression and no attempt to get beyond her comfort zone.

Musically, Tu Quyen demonstrates no originality. She not only covers old tunes, but she does so with no creative or inventive effort. The arrangements are typical of Thuy Nga’s quality: cheap and manufactured. Em Van Yeu was put together just for the sake of making an album and an opportunity to sell the album booklet. Maybe the album’s glamorous photo shot is worth more than the album itself.

Holy shit, Vanilla Ice is Back and he covers hip-hop classics. Though I am not ashamed to admit that “Ice Ice Baby” grooved me and I could still recite some of the tune’s rhymes. So when come across a “comeback” album for the Iceman, I couldn’t resist. I have to give the fake-ass wigger a spin.

“Ice Ice Baby” kicks off the album and the memories are all back. The catchy riff sampled from Queen’s “Under Pressure” is still contagious as hell. Although he has remixed that joint to death, the original version is still the illest. No one can take that shit from the Iceman. As soon as Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” comes on, I just can’t imagine what Chuck D would do when he listens to the record. The real jokes, however, are both the rock cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and the jungle-fever rendition of Sir-Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”

Although the Ice age has melted a long long time ago, Rob Van Winkle has yet to leave rap alone. And he knows damn well that the game doesn’t need him.

I have been wearing my wedding ring on my middle finger instead of the appropriate finger. A guy at work once asked me why did I wear it on my middle finger as if it was my culture or something. I told him the stories that I almost lost it two times.

The first time was in Jamaica during our honeymoon. The other time was when I washed lettuces at home. The ring slipped off my finger and into the vegetable spinner. I didn’t notice it until I took a shower. Luckily I found the ring and to be safe, I put it on my middle finger temporarily until I get fatter. I have been eating much more these days to gain some weight on my finger, but it has yet to happen. Only my gut gets bigger.

I am going to need to go back to the shop and get it tightened up. It feels weird wearing it on my middle finger anyway. Until then, don’t be surprised to see my wedding ring on my middle finger.

Update: Dana reminded me to tightened up the ring yesterday while we were in Eden. It’s all good now.