A beautiful blog from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology chronicles a major redesign of the Lab’s website.

This Hong Kong film looks wicked, so is the web site.

Ludacris’s new song “Politics” doesn’t help Obama at all, especially with lyrics like: “Paint the White House black and I’m sure that’s got ’em terrified / McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.” Ouch!

I have been wondering about what makes people cheap. I am referring to their spending or rather not spending habit. I am not talking about trying to save money, but more to the extreme. Let’s say that you have a friend who hardly puts out his share when you guys hang out. We all have a friend or two like that I am sure.

Is cheap something people are born with or they growing into it? Some say they are born with it. No matter how rich they are, if they were born cheap, they will be cheap for life. I know people who make six figures, yet they nickel and dime even their own relatives.

I argue that cheap is something you adapt to, especially if you come from a hardship background. When I was growing up, I witnessed what my mother had gone through to make money, and that makes me think twice about spending money. She worked in a sweatshop making 50 cents a pop, and often time, she had to skip lunch to compete with her coworkers. That image creeps up on my every time I make a purchase I am not sure if I should get it or not.

So I admit that I do think hard when throwing out money, but not to the point of extreme. As long as you don’t take advantage of me, I don’t take advantage of you. If we go out and you cover me this time, I’ll cover you the next. I don’t know if I am cheap or not, but I know that I am not a big spender. And that brings me to the next point.

Do people know that they are cheap? It doesn’t take much to see if people are cheap or not, but do they know that they are cheap? Or they just simply don’t care as long as they don’t have to touch their pocket. Is there any psychological study that explains the characteristic of cheap?

With just $2500, the children of Phi Loc received new sandals and bicycles to walk and ride to school. As our friend Theresa Le had witnessed:

The children ran off, some with their new sandals, sweet treats in hands, some rode off on their new bicycles. The church yard was filled with giggles and children’s laughter. Oh the joy of owning a brand new pair of sandals and bicycle!

If you would like to help putting a smile on these innocent children, write to [email protected] or [email protected] for more info or mail to:

Sr. Cecilia Nguyen, CCSS
St. Ambrose Catholic Church
3901 Woodburn Road
Annandale, VA 22003

NPR profiles Jackie McLean:

When McLean was 15, his mother bought him an alto saxophone, but it didn’t sound like Lester Young. It wasn’t until he heard Charlie Parker playing the alto that he fell in love with its sound. McLean recalled the first time he heard “Bird” play. “For the first time in the history of my life, I heard the alto saxophone and loved it,” McLean said. “I loved the way it sounded, the quality. I liked the ideas.”

Download the program here.

ShaunInman.com V8

“Put on” the remixed.

With Hat De Doi Cho, Y Lan’s second album of the year, she brought in Quang Tuan for collaboration. Clever choice. Quang Tuan’s slightly raspy baritone is a perfect complement to Y Lan’s sweet vocals. On the album opener, Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Mua Thu Cho Em,” their voices blend together like champagne and orange juice. The tangy duet is accompanied by Dong Son’s light, sensual arrangement.

The album as a whole is consistent track for track. Quang Tuan delivered his solo pieces, such as Trinh Cong Son’s “Goi Ten Bon Mua” and Doan Chuan and Tinh Linh’s “La Do Muon Chieu,” the way the writers had written. Similarly, Y Lan presents the tunes like Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Mat Thu” and Le Uyen Phuong’s “Tinh Khuc Cho Em” exactly as the composers intended. No crime in that. They both have done the timeless ballads the justice. Yet, for me covering old tunes without given them a fresh new vibe isn’t good enough. I prefer musicians to be more creative and more imaginative when they do covers. I favor musicians who aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone and to take the tunes onto a new path, something of their own.

Production wise, Hat De Doi Cho is not Dong Son’s most inspiring work. His orchestrations sound retread and laid back. Either the arrangements didn’t jump start the vocals or the vocals didn’t push the arrangements. The album is a quality work, but it just doesn’t sound like a new record.

My sister-in-law’s wedding turned out beautiful. The reception at Flanders Valley was wonderful. The food at the cocktail was way better than the main course. They also had an open bar, but only served wine and beer. I was hoping for some nice mix drinks. The Mimosa (champagne and orange juice) didn’t do me any good even though it was refreshing.

Thu Hoai and the Magic Night brought a magical experience once again. Both families and friends seemed to have a good time. I had a blast. After six, seven or eight glasses of wine, I was drunk enough to do a little song (“Sau Dong”) that I didn’t even remember the lyrics. Thanks to Dong, one of the band’s male vocalists, for helping me out. I can’t recall what the hell I was doing.

What made the whole atmosphere so lively was that it was just a whole a family. After spending a weekend with the folks on my wife’s side, I have to say, she has such a great loving and very supporting family. They are so friendly and down to earth. I feel so much integrated into the entire clan both young and old. It’s just a great feeling being part of a big joy. I am so looking forward to the next family gathering.

Now that both of the sisters are married, everyone is waiting for the oldest brother to make his move. He is quite a charmer and he is still single. Any single ladies want to join the clan? I can hook you up. What is my commission? Just a roasted pig head.