A fisherman in Nebraska caught a double-mouthed rainbow trout (yum!), and it's going off to Harvard ...
"Two-mouthed trout heads to Harvard"
Note (added 2/16/06):
Hmm, appears original article is no longer available. I found another page online with the same story and replaced the link above.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Apostrophes gone wild
On Christmas Eve, I saw a sign on Ocean Avenue that read "Christmas Tree's" were for sale.
This year I've also seen many family holiday photo cards that read, for example, "Happy Holidays, The Doe's."
Since when does pluralization require an apostrophe?
Apostrophes indicate possessiveness or omitted letters, such as in the case of contractions. (Relative pronouns don't get apostrophes, of course: his, hers, ours, yours, theirs, etc.) Although, "it's" and "its" seem to cause people many problems. To clarify, "it's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has," while "its" is the possessive form of "it" with no apostrophe.
When in doubt, add an apostrophe? NO! A while ago I saw someone had written "its' " as the possessive form for "it." I have to admit, that is the first time I had seen that and made a mental note to write a blog post about its incorrectness. It's never correct to write "its'."
Other apostrophe pet peeves include words such as "CD's" and "DVD's." I can see how pluralizing these words may be confusing, but they don't need the apostrophe. Single letters require an apostrophe to avoid confusion: His report card was full of A's and B's. (You wouldn't want to say he got As.) But multiple letter combinations do not need an apostrophe: He learned his ABCs.
So the lesson of today's blog post? An apostrophe is not to be used indiscriminately ...
Trees
CDs
DVDs
A's
ABCs
it's
its
The possessive form of words ending in "S" and other more complicated apostrophe rules will have to wait for another lesson when the Hyphenator is less stuffed with Christmas ham and holiday treats.
BTW, after a thorough check of the greeting cards I received this year, I was happy to see that my relatives avoided using an apostrophe with their family names, either by pluralizing correctly (The Hyphenators) or avoiding the issue altogether (The Hyphenator Family).
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Holidays, and Season's Greetings from the Hyphenator!
This year I've also seen many family holiday photo cards that read, for example, "Happy Holidays, The Doe's."
Since when does pluralization require an apostrophe?
Apostrophes indicate possessiveness or omitted letters, such as in the case of contractions. (Relative pronouns don't get apostrophes, of course: his, hers, ours, yours, theirs, etc.) Although, "it's" and "its" seem to cause people many problems. To clarify, "it's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has," while "its" is the possessive form of "it" with no apostrophe.
When in doubt, add an apostrophe? NO! A while ago I saw someone had written "its' " as the possessive form for "it." I have to admit, that is the first time I had seen that and made a mental note to write a blog post about its incorrectness. It's never correct to write "its'."
Other apostrophe pet peeves include words such as "CD's" and "DVD's." I can see how pluralizing these words may be confusing, but they don't need the apostrophe. Single letters require an apostrophe to avoid confusion: His report card was full of A's and B's. (You wouldn't want to say he got As.) But multiple letter combinations do not need an apostrophe: He learned his ABCs.
So the lesson of today's blog post? An apostrophe is not to be used indiscriminately ...
Trees
CDs
DVDs
A's
ABCs
it's
its
The possessive form of words ending in "S" and other more complicated apostrophe rules will have to wait for another lesson when the Hyphenator is less stuffed with Christmas ham and holiday treats.
BTW, after a thorough check of the greeting cards I received this year, I was happy to see that my relatives avoided using an apostrophe with their family names, either by pluralizing correctly (The Hyphenators) or avoiding the issue altogether (The Hyphenator Family).
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Holidays, and Season's Greetings from the Hyphenator!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
To hyphenate or not to hyphenate
Sorry, this is not a punctuation lesson. The Hyphenator is in a sort of hyphenation quandary.
I've yet to make a final decision on what to change my name to after I say "I do" -- if I decide to change it at all. Should I truly become the Hyphenator and use a hyphenated married last name?
Not only do I have to decide what my last name will be, but I now have the opportunity to change my middle name as well. (I don't really have a middle name as my parents thought I could choose one myself when I was older, thinking perhaps I might want to use part of my Korean name.)
My last name options:
The combinations go on and on when it comes to using my Korean name as part of my middle name:
Then there's the question of whether or not to hyphenate my Korean first name (the two characters or syllables), or combine them into one name. According to AP style, Korean family names always come first followed by the first name. But South Korean first names are hyphenated, as in Yoon-jin Kim, while North Korean first names are not, as in Kim Jong Il. I know other Koreans who have joined both characters/syllables/names of the first name together: Yoonjin.
To add to the confusion is the spelling of my Korean name. I've always known (and spelled) my Korean name based on McCune-Reischauer romanization. But the revised system would make Kim Jong Il, for example, into Gim Jeong Il. I'm not too fond of the revised romanization as I'm set in my ways. To me it's kalbi -- no, I don't mean galbi. I suppose kimchi or kimchee would be gimchi.
In the Midwest, Swedish names are fairly common: Johnson, Anderson, Swanson, etc. Asians with Swedish names are not so common. Personally, I like the fact that my name does not reflect that I am Asian. Not because I don't want to be associated with being Asian or because I am trying to be white. I like the surprise factor in meeting someone who only knows me by my name -- for example, in job interviews. Looking at my résumé, potential employers would have no clue that I am Asian. So upon meeting me, they can be caught a bit off guard -- advantage the Hyphenator!
After I am married, I suppose people might see my wedding band and assume my Swedish name is my married name, not my maiden name. That's where a hyphenated last name would make things interesting -- "Wait, is that her maiden name and her married name or what?!"
I actually like my name. I never had a problem with my name in school. Kids had a hard time trying to come up with rhyming names to tease me with.
And I'm fond of my last name. I'd like to keep it as it reminds me of my paternal grandfather -- to this day, whenever I think about him, I get teary-eyed. He never treated me any differently from his other grandkids -- I was never his "adopted granddaughter." If anything, I was his "favorite granddaughter."
At the same time, I feel like now is the perfect chance to include my Korean name to reflect who I am. Ever since I learned what my Korean name is, I've identified with that on a certain level as if it had never been taken away from me. In Korea when I met my family, it felt so natural to respond to them when they called me by my Korean name.
Perhaps in the end I will not change my name at all as procrastination is one trait I've perfected over the past 30-plus years (BTW, I started this post in July). The legal papers will probably be in front of me ready to be signed as the beat of "My name is ..." repeats through my head, still undecided.
One thing's for certain, although tempting, I won't be changing my name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. (I swear, there's a "Friends" reference for everything, even adoption.)
I've yet to make a final decision on what to change my name to after I say "I do" -- if I decide to change it at all. Should I truly become the Hyphenator and use a hyphenated married last name?
Not only do I have to decide what my last name will be, but I now have the opportunity to change my middle name as well. (I don't really have a middle name as my parents thought I could choose one myself when I was older, thinking perhaps I might want to use part of my Korean name.)
My last name options:
- Do I leave my name as is: Mrs. Hyphenator? (Women in Korea keep their family name when they marry. For more information about Korean names, check out Wikipedia.)
- Do I take my future hubby's last name: Mrs. Grammarman? (This is least favorite option.)
- Do I hyphenate: Mrs. Hyphenator-Grammarman?
- Do I make my last name my middle name and tack on hubby's last name: Mrs. Hyphenator Grammarman? (Unless I hyphenate my name and my future children's names, this may be helpful in identifying me as their mother.)
The combinations go on and on when it comes to using my Korean name as part of my middle name:
- Use Korean family name?
- Use Korean first name?
- Use whole Korean name?
- Use Korean family name, then first name?
- Use Korean first name, then family name?
Then there's the question of whether or not to hyphenate my Korean first name (the two characters or syllables), or combine them into one name. According to AP style, Korean family names always come first followed by the first name. But South Korean first names are hyphenated, as in Yoon-jin Kim, while North Korean first names are not, as in Kim Jong Il. I know other Koreans who have joined both characters/syllables/names of the first name together: Yoonjin.
To add to the confusion is the spelling of my Korean name. I've always known (and spelled) my Korean name based on McCune-Reischauer romanization. But the revised system would make Kim Jong Il, for example, into Gim Jeong Il. I'm not too fond of the revised romanization as I'm set in my ways. To me it's kalbi -- no, I don't mean galbi. I suppose kimchi or kimchee would be gimchi.
In the Midwest, Swedish names are fairly common: Johnson, Anderson, Swanson, etc. Asians with Swedish names are not so common. Personally, I like the fact that my name does not reflect that I am Asian. Not because I don't want to be associated with being Asian or because I am trying to be white. I like the surprise factor in meeting someone who only knows me by my name -- for example, in job interviews. Looking at my résumé, potential employers would have no clue that I am Asian. So upon meeting me, they can be caught a bit off guard -- advantage the Hyphenator!
After I am married, I suppose people might see my wedding band and assume my Swedish name is my married name, not my maiden name. That's where a hyphenated last name would make things interesting -- "Wait, is that her maiden name and her married name or what?!"
I actually like my name. I never had a problem with my name in school. Kids had a hard time trying to come up with rhyming names to tease me with.
And I'm fond of my last name. I'd like to keep it as it reminds me of my paternal grandfather -- to this day, whenever I think about him, I get teary-eyed. He never treated me any differently from his other grandkids -- I was never his "adopted granddaughter." If anything, I was his "favorite granddaughter."
At the same time, I feel like now is the perfect chance to include my Korean name to reflect who I am. Ever since I learned what my Korean name is, I've identified with that on a certain level as if it had never been taken away from me. In Korea when I met my family, it felt so natural to respond to them when they called me by my Korean name.
Perhaps in the end I will not change my name at all as procrastination is one trait I've perfected over the past 30-plus years (BTW, I started this post in July). The legal papers will probably be in front of me ready to be signed as the beat of "My name is ..." repeats through my head, still undecided.
One thing's for certain, although tempting, I won't be changing my name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. (I swear, there's a "Friends" reference for everything, even adoption.)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Spell check, please!
According to an SF Gate article, "World Wide Web creator" Tim Berners-Lee has started up his own blog.
For his first blog post, he describes the beginning of the Web and how it "was soon full of lots of interesting stuff, but not a space for communal design, for discource through communal authorship."
Perhaps you shouldn't use such a big word as "discourse" if you don't know how to spell it correctly, or else use a spell check program.
For his first blog post, he describes the beginning of the Web and how it "was soon full of lots of interesting stuff, but not a space for communal design, for discource through communal authorship."
Perhaps you shouldn't use such a big word as "discourse" if you don't know how to spell it correctly, or else use a spell check program.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Why fly when you can fly?
"Stranded loon gets a lift from Northwest Airlines"
"A male loon that lingered on Mayhew Lake when other loons migrated this fall has finally flown south -- with the help of Northwest Airlines."
Maybe it didn't want to fly south. Maybe it didn't want to just be one of the flock anymore. Maybe it enjoys the beauty of Minnesota winters, with the 10 inches of snow falling and snow emergency parking bans (even? odd?) in effect.
Sometimes I wonder why I moved to San Francisco. The thought of shoveling out my car from almost a foot of snow helps remind me.
"A male loon that lingered on Mayhew Lake when other loons migrated this fall has finally flown south -- with the help of Northwest Airlines."
Maybe it didn't want to fly south. Maybe it didn't want to just be one of the flock anymore. Maybe it enjoys the beauty of Minnesota winters, with the 10 inches of snow falling and snow emergency parking bans (even? odd?) in effect.
Sometimes I wonder why I moved to San Francisco. The thought of shoveling out my car from almost a foot of snow helps remind me.
Free Willy!
"Daring rescue of whale off Farallones: Humpback nuzzled her saviors in thanks after they untangled her from crab lines, diver says"
A humpback whale freed by divers from a tangle of crab trap lines near the Farallon Islands nudged its rescuers and flapped around in what marine experts said was a rare and remarkable encounter.
"It felt to me like it was thanking us, knowing that it was free and that we had helped it," James Moskito, one of the rescue divers, said Tuesday. "It stopped about a foot away from me, pushed me around a little bit and had some fun."
When the whale realized it was free, it began swimming around in circles, according to the rescuers. Moskito said it swam to each diver, nuzzled him and then swam to the next one.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Weird human story
"Pregnant Skydiver Survives Plunge"
Shayna Richardson was making her first solo skydiving jump when she had trouble with her parachutes and, while falling at about 50 mph, hit face first in a parking lot.
Although badly hurt, she survived — and doctors treating her injuries discovered she was pregnant. Four surgeries and two months later, Richardson said she and the fetus are doing fine.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Why am I here?
Finally, an answer to my burning question of "What is the purpose of my existence?"
Answer: To provide customer support help.
A customer/user/client had e-mailed in search of assistance, I replied and received the following message in turn:
"Thanks for being there. Glad you're on the planet."
Question answered. All is now right in the world of the Hyphenator.
Answer: To provide customer support help.
A customer/user/client had e-mailed in search of assistance, I replied and received the following message in turn:
"Thanks for being there. Glad you're on the planet."
Question answered. All is now right in the world of the Hyphenator.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Ready, set, TiVo!
Tune in to PBS's Independent Lens series on Tuesday, December 13, at 11 p.m. Pacific time (with encore presentations throughout the week) for "Seoul Train," a documentary on the "Underground Railroad" of North Korean refugees.
From the Wall Street Journal article, "Desperate Journey," by Nancy DeWolfe Smith on Friday, December 9 ...
"Getting out of North Korea, which this documentary accurately describes as the 'world's largest prison camp,' may be the easy part. Once they make it over the border into China, the refugees are hunted like rabbits by zealous Chinese cops and soldiers. Forcibly repatriated to North Korea, the refugees face torture and imprisonment for the treasonous act of leaving the country. It's a crime punishable by death. Some of the North Koreans interviewed for this film probably are dead already."
"It's estimated that up to three million souls have perished from hunger in recent years."
From the Wall Street Journal article, "Desperate Journey," by Nancy DeWolfe Smith on Friday, December 9 ...
"Getting out of North Korea, which this documentary accurately describes as the 'world's largest prison camp,' may be the easy part. Once they make it over the border into China, the refugees are hunted like rabbits by zealous Chinese cops and soldiers. Forcibly repatriated to North Korea, the refugees face torture and imprisonment for the treasonous act of leaving the country. It's a crime punishable by death. Some of the North Koreans interviewed for this film probably are dead already."
"It's estimated that up to three million souls have perished from hunger in recent years."
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Why?!
Why do bad things always happen to good people?
Damn, damn, damn.
I found out today that a friend of mine was killed in a car accident this past weekend. She was killed instantly. In a situation like that, is it OK to be thankful that it was quick?
This week has been crazy busy with work, already putting in three 12-hour days and it's only Tuesday. So here I sit at my computer, bawling every few minutes. It's hard to be productive when you can't see cleary because the tears keep flowing. With the work stress alone, I was ready for a nervous breakdown.
She was looking forward to coming to my wedding in Hawaii, and I was looking forward to catching up with her and what was going on in her life and with her family. Living in separate states, I hadn't seen her in a good year and a half -- since I moved to San Francisco.
She had the kindest soul. The string of e-mails that have brought the news just shows how many people's lives she touched.
Even though she died in a freak accident, some may say it was her time to go. Well, I say, Screw that! I'm too damn selfish and feel selfish for her family who need her and will miss her terribly.
I miss her already.
My heart goes out to her family.
Damn, damn, damn.
I found out today that a friend of mine was killed in a car accident this past weekend. She was killed instantly. In a situation like that, is it OK to be thankful that it was quick?
This week has been crazy busy with work, already putting in three 12-hour days and it's only Tuesday. So here I sit at my computer, bawling every few minutes. It's hard to be productive when you can't see cleary because the tears keep flowing. With the work stress alone, I was ready for a nervous breakdown.
She was looking forward to coming to my wedding in Hawaii, and I was looking forward to catching up with her and what was going on in her life and with her family. Living in separate states, I hadn't seen her in a good year and a half -- since I moved to San Francisco.
She had the kindest soul. The string of e-mails that have brought the news just shows how many people's lives she touched.
Even though she died in a freak accident, some may say it was her time to go. Well, I say, Screw that! I'm too damn selfish and feel selfish for her family who need her and will miss her terribly.
I miss her already.
My heart goes out to her family.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Feeding time
My friend Ji-In sent me a link to this video to add to my collection of weird animal stories ...
"Octopus Eats Shark" (viewable in Internet Explorer browser)
Keepers at the Seattle Aquarium kept finding shark carcasses at the bottom of the tank. For weeks the 3- to 4-foot sharks kept vanishing. Turns out the culprit was an octopus they had moved into the large tank.
Heartbreaking
The following is an AP story about two 3-month-old cheetah cubs in an Ethiopian village ...
"U.S. Troops Find Abused Cheetah Cubs"
He knows "what animals need." I'd like to see the owner dragged around by a rope around his neck.
"Octopus Eats Shark" (viewable in Internet Explorer browser)
Keepers at the Seattle Aquarium kept finding shark carcasses at the bottom of the tank. For weeks the 3- to 4-foot sharks kept vanishing. Turns out the culprit was an octopus they had moved into the large tank.
Heartbreaking
The following is an AP story about two 3-month-old cheetah cubs in an Ethiopian village ...
"U.S. Troops Find Abused Cheetah Cubs"
"I don't see why I should hand them over," Hudle told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 'When I was younger I looked after goats and camels, so I know what animals need.
His sons, 4 and 2, pulled the cubs' tails and dragged them around by ropes tied tightly to their necks. Other children followed, poking and teasing the frightened animals.
He knows "what animals need." I'd like to see the owner dragged around by a rope around his neck.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
What's cookin'?
In San Francisco? Not much, I'm afraid.
I've come to the conclusion that many residents of San Francisco do not cook. This is based on some of my experiences since I've moved to the city.
For example, this evening I was shopping in the bakery aisle of my local grocery store, looking for baking cups -- you know, for muffins and cupcakes.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and corn bread muffins have been in my head for weeks now. Since I won't be traveling home to the Midwest and my mom's Thanksgiving dinner this year (to save some money for the wedding), I thought I'd make some because Thanksgiving to me is just not Thanksgiving without corn bread muffins. Now, I realize I do not need baking cups for muffins, but my mom always makes them with the paper cups and they just look so darn cute with the pastel wrappers.
So there I am in the grocery aisle, picking out baking cups. At first I was a bit disappointed when I thought only white ones were available, but to my relief the pastel ones were just hidden below.
As I turn to put the cups in my cart, a young woman in the aisle sees me with my cups and approaches me. She's about mid-20s, I'd say, professionally dressed. She asks if I'm making cupcakes. A bit surprised, I blurt out that I'm making muffins.
She then asks me if there are special mixes for making cupcakes. A second passed as her question repeated in my head and I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me??"
Noticing that she has a disposable cupcake tin in her hands, I take pity on her and explain that she just needs a cake mix to make cupcakes.
Curious to see what the woman would pick out for her cupcakes, I pretend to browse the section of cake mixes myself -- ready to offer any other valuable cooking advice if needed.
I see her eying the higher shelves of brownies and think to myself, "No, no, no! Cake mixes! Cake mixes!" After a little while, she finally selects a moist chocolate cake mix, and I sigh.
Talk about a case for "Food 911" or "How to Boil Water." Tyler Florence, you're needed in San Francisco!
I've come to the conclusion that many residents of San Francisco do not cook. This is based on some of my experiences since I've moved to the city.
For example, this evening I was shopping in the bakery aisle of my local grocery store, looking for baking cups -- you know, for muffins and cupcakes.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and corn bread muffins have been in my head for weeks now. Since I won't be traveling home to the Midwest and my mom's Thanksgiving dinner this year (to save some money for the wedding), I thought I'd make some because Thanksgiving to me is just not Thanksgiving without corn bread muffins. Now, I realize I do not need baking cups for muffins, but my mom always makes them with the paper cups and they just look so darn cute with the pastel wrappers.
So there I am in the grocery aisle, picking out baking cups. At first I was a bit disappointed when I thought only white ones were available, but to my relief the pastel ones were just hidden below.
As I turn to put the cups in my cart, a young woman in the aisle sees me with my cups and approaches me. She's about mid-20s, I'd say, professionally dressed. She asks if I'm making cupcakes. A bit surprised, I blurt out that I'm making muffins.
She then asks me if there are special mixes for making cupcakes. A second passed as her question repeated in my head and I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me??"
Noticing that she has a disposable cupcake tin in her hands, I take pity on her and explain that she just needs a cake mix to make cupcakes.
Curious to see what the woman would pick out for her cupcakes, I pretend to browse the section of cake mixes myself -- ready to offer any other valuable cooking advice if needed.
I see her eying the higher shelves of brownies and think to myself, "No, no, no! Cake mixes! Cake mixes!" After a little while, she finally selects a moist chocolate cake mix, and I sigh.
Talk about a case for "Food 911" or "How to Boil Water." Tyler Florence, you're needed in San Francisco!
Friday, November 04, 2005
Are you talkin' to me?!
My god, this could have been addressed to me ...
"Why Do You Have So Much Junk?"
Maybe there's hope for me yet. I have almost four months to clean out my hoard of clutter before my new married life begins. Besides, gotta make room for all my, err I mean our, lovely wedding gifts.
Let's see, where can I fit this gravy boat ... hmmm.
"Why Do You Have So Much Junk?"
Maybe there's hope for me yet. I have almost four months to clean out my hoard of clutter before my new married life begins. Besides, gotta make room for all my, err I mean our, lovely wedding gifts.
Let's see, where can I fit this gravy boat ... hmmm.
Royal mistake
The other day on a news Web site, I saw a link for a story from a local TV station:
"Prince, Dutchess visit Washington"
Come on, people! I guess with TV reporting it doesn't matter if it's "duchess" or "dutchess."
Note for all you royal watchers ...
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be in my 'hood on Monday evening for a dinner hosted by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the British consul general at the newly opened M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park.
Oh, and in other nonroyalty, but celebrity news ...
Yesterday, Warren Beatty left me -- yes, ME -- a message on my answering machine. Granted, it was a recorded message, and it was about voting "no" on upcoming California propositions in the election, but it surprised the heck out of me. I have yet to delete it. My mom would probably get a kick out of hearing it.
Now, where is Governor "It's NOT a toooma" Ahhhhnold?
"Prince, Dutchess visit Washington"
Come on, people! I guess with TV reporting it doesn't matter if it's "duchess" or "dutchess."
Note for all you royal watchers ...
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be in my 'hood on Monday evening for a dinner hosted by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the British consul general at the newly opened M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park.
Oh, and in other nonroyalty, but celebrity news ...
Yesterday, Warren Beatty left me -- yes, ME -- a message on my answering machine. Granted, it was a recorded message, and it was about voting "no" on upcoming California propositions in the election, but it surprised the heck out of me. I have yet to delete it. My mom would probably get a kick out of hearing it.
Now, where is Governor "It's NOT a toooma" Ahhhhnold?
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Where does the time go?
112 days to go.
I haven't had much time lately to post to this blog. An interesting, weird, kimchi-related or just plain stupid news story will remind me to post, but I do it more for my own reference library, I guess. "Where is that bizarre animal story again?"
This time of year marks the beginning of the insanely busy period at work, so between copyediting useless information to the average person and wedding planning, I've been slacking off on the blogging. (Actually, I've been procrastinating on the wedding planning, but I've given myself a kick in the rear.)
OK, to be honest, the new TV season has sucked me back into my couch potato ways. Just when I think I'll have more free time since some of my favorite shows have ended, I stupidly watch the pilots of new shows, thinking I may miss the next big hit show (advertisers must love viewers like me).
This year's returning shows that still have me tuning in religiously every week are "Lost" (even if the writing goes to pot, I'll still watch for the Korean couple), "Medium," "Desperate Housewives" and "Joey" (out of "Friends" loyalty, I'm hoping it gets better this season). I also try to catch "Monk," "CSI," "Cold Case" and "Law & Order: SVU" when I can.
New shows that have consumed more of my time include HBO's "Rome," "Commander in Chief" (it's about damn time we had a female president, even if it's only on television -- 2008, ladies? oh, and just saw Russell Wong on tonight's episode), "Grey's Anatomy" (which is more interesting these days than the desperate housewives, and I'll tune in for Sandra Oh anytime), "How I Met Your Mother," "Surface," "Invasion" and -- now don't judge me -- "America's Next Top Model." Sigh, yes, it's true.
I really need a TiVo, preferably the 300-hour one at the low, low price of $550. Can I register for that?
I haven't had much time lately to post to this blog. An interesting, weird, kimchi-related or just plain stupid news story will remind me to post, but I do it more for my own reference library, I guess. "Where is that bizarre animal story again?"
This time of year marks the beginning of the insanely busy period at work, so between copyediting useless information to the average person and wedding planning, I've been slacking off on the blogging. (Actually, I've been procrastinating on the wedding planning, but I've given myself a kick in the rear.)
OK, to be honest, the new TV season has sucked me back into my couch potato ways. Just when I think I'll have more free time since some of my favorite shows have ended, I stupidly watch the pilots of new shows, thinking I may miss the next big hit show (advertisers must love viewers like me).
This year's returning shows that still have me tuning in religiously every week are "Lost" (even if the writing goes to pot, I'll still watch for the Korean couple), "Medium," "Desperate Housewives" and "Joey" (out of "Friends" loyalty, I'm hoping it gets better this season). I also try to catch "Monk," "CSI," "Cold Case" and "Law & Order: SVU" when I can.
New shows that have consumed more of my time include HBO's "Rome," "Commander in Chief" (it's about damn time we had a female president, even if it's only on television -- 2008, ladies? oh, and just saw Russell Wong on tonight's episode), "Grey's Anatomy" (which is more interesting these days than the desperate housewives, and I'll tune in for Sandra Oh anytime), "How I Met Your Mother," "Surface," "Invasion" and -- now don't judge me -- "America's Next Top Model." Sigh, yes, it's true.
I really need a TiVo, preferably the 300-hour one at the low, low price of $550. Can I register for that?
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Koreans taking over the world ... one nose at a time
"Korea's Makeover From Dull to Hip Changes Face of Asia"
"Across Asia, South Korea is cool. From fashion to music to film, the country of 48 million people is redefining style. And as notions of Korean beauty become popularized by the country's exploding cultural exports, women from around the region -- and some men, too -- are flocking to Seoul to have their faces remodeled."
South Korea's new tourism campaign: Visit Korea -- You, too, can look like a Korean soap star.
Scary.
Note (10/26/06): Sorry, just noticed the link now requires a WSJ login. Can probably find the article online doing a search on title.
"Across Asia, South Korea is cool. From fashion to music to film, the country of 48 million people is redefining style. And as notions of Korean beauty become popularized by the country's exploding cultural exports, women from around the region -- and some men, too -- are flocking to Seoul to have their faces remodeled."
South Korea's new tourism campaign: Visit Korea -- You, too, can look like a Korean soap star.
Scary.
Note (10/26/06): Sorry, just noticed the link now requires a WSJ login. Can probably find the article online doing a search on title.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
'Honey, you make me sick!'
"Japanese women suffering from retired husband syndrome:
Some wives become sick under the stress of demanding spouses"
The treatment? Therapy and spending "as much time as possible away from your husband."
Some wives become sick under the stress of demanding spouses"
The treatment? Therapy and spending "as much time as possible away from your husband."
Thursday, October 13, 2005
4,000-year-old noodles found in China
"Ancient noodles discovered in China"
"The Chinese say the Italians got it from them, via Marco Polo; Arabs claim its creation as an easily stored foodstuff suitable for long treks on the desert. The Japanese, Koreans, French and even the Germans also have claimed the noodle as their own.
Chinese researchers may have finally settled the contentious question by unearthing a 4,000-year-old container of noodles in northwestern China."
"The Chinese say the Italians got it from them, via Marco Polo; Arabs claim its creation as an easily stored foodstuff suitable for long treks on the desert. The Japanese, Koreans, French and even the Germans also have claimed the noodle as their own.
Chinese researchers may have finally settled the contentious question by unearthing a 4,000-year-old container of noodles in northwestern China."
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
More weird animal stories
"Python Explodes After Eating Alligator""
(Be sure to check out the photo with the article.)
"Alligators have clashed with nonnative pythons before in Everglades National Park. But when a 6-foot gator tangled with a 13-foot python recently, the result wasn't pretty.
The snake apparently tried to swallow the gator whole — and then exploded."
More python news, this time with a kitty! :(
"This Time, Python Eats Siamese Cat"
(Be sure to check out the photo with the article.)
"Alligators have clashed with nonnative pythons before in Everglades National Park. But when a 6-foot gator tangled with a 13-foot python recently, the result wasn't pretty.
The snake apparently tried to swallow the gator whole — and then exploded."
More python news, this time with a kitty! :(
"This Time, Python Eats Siamese Cat"
Monday, October 03, 2005
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