The beta version of Textpattern is available for download. Word up!

Back to work

Snow is out, back to work. After many hours of playing around with different layouts for nfsahc.org yesterday, it’s finally coming together. It’s time to send it off to the client. Also waiting for the contents to arrived. Hopefully it’ll launched some time next week.

Cooked Rice

Mom bought me a rice cooker and a bag of rice when I first moved to Poughkeepsie. Being stuck in the snow yesterday, I finally started to cook my first rice. Added a little bit too much water but it was eatable. Ain’t nuttin’ better than sticky rice and burnt hot dogs. Ghetto style, baby!

Wishing you a prosperous new year filled with love, cash, and kids. According to Wikipedia, “To bear children in the year of the pig is considered very fortunate, for they will be happy and honest.” So break out the champagne glasses, toss away the condoms, and start making babies. Of course, a little bluesy vibe from “Mua Xuan va Tinh Yeu” (music and lyrics by Nguyen Tuan, vocals by Bao Yen) will help tremendously.

Happy Vietnamese New Year!

In “Bai Khong Ten So 28 (Anh Cam On Em),” Vu Thanh An has written and Tuan Ngoc has articulated what I wanted to say: “Anh yeu em nhu yeu dong sua ngot ngao.” That’s right my sweet Valentine, I love you like I love my milkshake or a chubby kid loves cheesecake.

Thanks to the inclement, Vassar is closed today. Didn’t have to drag my lazy behind to work; therefore, I spend my snowy morning with Anita O’Day. Of course, her music could be played at any occasions, but for the lovers’ day in particular, “My Funny Valentine” is perfect. “What is This Thing Called Love,” however, is also necessary to lift your spirit out of the stormy blue. In addition, “Four Brothers,” which has nothing to do with V-day, is included just because I love way she scats. You can listen to these three tracks at my Dope Jam station courtesy of Multiply.com.

Even though Google had intentionally left the “L” out of its Valentine’s logo, Gawker had put it back in for them. Nice job!

Bebe Pham‘s profile reads, “This beautiful and mysterious Vietnamese [model] is not just about good looks and fashion – for the head on her shoulders is not only beautiful, but most importantly, intelligent.” Isn’t it what all the models claim? If you’re intelligent, you don’t really need to say it. Action speaks louder than words, baby. But I do like this portrait shot.

Somehow listening to Nguyen Chuong’s “Nhung Gi Con Lai” performed by Nguyen Khang reminds me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, especially with the idiosyncratic lyrics: “Bay gio nguoi ta noi chuyen doi thay trai tim / va muoi nam sau nguoi ta se noi chuyen thay tri nho… / Bay gio nguoi ta noi chuyen doi thay mat moi / va muoi nam sau nguoi ta se noi chuyen thay qua khu.” That’s the mind game of love. Romantic relationship is indulging to get in, but excruciating to get out, and takes some memory hacking to move on. Therefore, one should approach a relationship with both heart and head, not one without the other. The problem is that most fellows started out with their little head then work their way to the heart and up the big head.

Julia Thuy sings Pham Anh Dung’s “Mua Xuan Anh Yeu Em.” The lyrics and the arrangement aren’t exciting, but Jblues’s raspy voice is quite attractive.

Jay-Z’s new video “Minority Report” from his Kingdom Come.

Wouldn’t you loot, if you didn’t have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn’t scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The Commander in Chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just rude jet blue he’s not
Jet blue by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
That would’ve been something to watch

In his response to 50’s “Funeral Music,” Cam keeps saying, “Cur…tis…,” in such a soft, sweet tone that comes off as if he’s seducing 50. It sounds like battle of love to me.

Richard Eyre’s dark, lustful Notes on a Scandal is a film about teachers that parents wouldn’t approve but kids would love. Imagine being fifteen and being blown by a teacher who is hot as Cate Blanchett. But that’s only one juicy part of the story. The main one is the fatal lesbian attraction between the young and sweet Sheba Hart who screws her student under the train track and the creepy, old Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) who is a conservative homosexual and a well-respected teacher.

What drives the film is the superb interaction between Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Dench is like the female version of Jack Nicholson whose facial expression tells it. Whether she’s angry, disturbed, or betrayed, Dench remains unsympathetic and unapologetic, even when she blows the secret. Blanchett, on the other hand, is vulnerable, eye-catcher, and forgivable. Even her husband (a great role by Bill Nighy) who was cheated on admits that she’s a good mother, but a lousy wife.

While Cate’s milkshake brings all the boys and girls to the yard, Dench wants it all to herself. Narrated by Babara’s insensitive, heartless tone, she feeds us the inner thoughts of a dark, secretive woman. It’s fascinating to see how she brings the one she loves to her by taking her away from the boy and her own family.

My mini web page at Vassar College gets a face-lifted. Check it out!

Enchiladas Verdes

Craving for some Mexican food? Check out Keisha’s Enchiladas Verdes dish. Nice little recipe with fun photos. Looks delicious, Keish! Can’t wait to try them.

Wicked Animation

Although Tokyoplastic is not usable but the animation is mad wicked. Don’t forget to check out the bloody graphics. They are pretty wicked too.