iPhone Update

Well, I haven't gotten in line to buy the new iPhone 3G yet. I did, however, download the software update and have been playing around with it for a few days. The best part is, of course, the app store. I've downloaded several of the free apps and they're great. There's this useless, but cool program that turns the iPhone into a Star Wars light saber. Its pretty damn cool. I also downloaded the Facebook and New York Times applications (for free). Now I can waste even more time--yay!

Rogaine Song

We were driving home from our favorite place when Kelly pointed out the Rogaine song that came on the radio. Now, I almost always have NPR on the radio when I drive, so it was only because Kelly was in the car with me that we were listening to music instead. For the first time, I heard almost the entire length of the song (I've heard short snippets before), and I immediately found the lyrics quirky and captivating.

I probably spent the next few hours at home surfing the web finding out all about the singer, Ingrid Michaelson. Her rise from obscurity is really amazing and epitomizes the way that the internet is changing all aspects of our life. She starts out with a myspace site and ends up with her music on Grey's Anatomy and one of the top downloads on iTunes.

Happy 4th!

Lazy day here at home. I suppose this is entirely appropriate since part of our birthright as Americans is to be lazy and pay someone else (or buy something else) to do the work for us. (Just kidding.)

Anyway, I was lying on the couch, exercising my right to be slothful and browsing the web, when I found this interesting post by Matthew Yglesias. I have myself wondered what America would be like had the Revolution never taken place. Would we be more like Canada, except with better weather? Would the Monarchy have relocated from London to New York City back in the 1800s, as the economic center of the British Empire shifted to the New World? With the entry of America into World War 2 in 1939 (as part of the Commonwealth), Hitler would have lost much earlier, possibly preventing the rise of the Soviet Union and much of the Cold War. The possibilities for counterfactual history are boundless and require too much thinking for me on this holiday.

Happy Feet

Kelly bought a DVD of the penguin movie Happy Feet recent. Julia just loves the movie and calls all the penguins "duckies."

Kelly and I have come to appreciate the movie too, and I especially like the Hispanic adelie penguins. I'm pretty impressed by the degree of realism that the movie, as it is fairly true to the life cycle of Emperor penguins as depicted in that other great penguin movie, March of the Penguins (well except for the speaking and tap dancing.)

The Mortgage Crisis Explained (in Cartoon)

Here is the simplest explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis I've seen so far, depicted in cartoon format. (Warning: some profanities involved.)

Going Postal

We got a notice from the postman a few days ago that Kelly received a package which was being held at the downtown post office. Since it was on the way to work for me, I offered to pick it up, as well as drop off a few letters and a package.

So on the way to the train station I stop in, drop off the outgoing mail, and stand in line. Of course the line moves like molasses, so after a few minutes I give up since I don't want to miss my train.

My second attempt, the next morning is more promising. There's no line so I successfully ship the package (overseas baby gift) and then realize I've left the package notice at home. Whoops.

The next day I return with the notice and there's only a short line. Problem. The notice only has Kelly's name, not mine. The package is also addressed to KW, not KWC, so there's no common last name on my driver's license. Finally, my license has our old apartment address listed, not our current house, so I can't even prove we live together!

On my fourth trip back, I've gotten Kelly to sign the notice to authorize me to pick up the package for her. Kelly suggests I bring a copy of our marriage license, but I don't (not leaving it at home probably would have helped). After a little bit of discussion the postal employee agrees to give me the package.

White Stuff

While on the subject of ethnic parodies, I stumbled across this website. Its freakin' hilarious. I know people who pretty much fit these criteria perfectly. I find myself liking 25 of the current 86 items listed. That makes me 29% white. I suspect I may be more white than Kelly.

Chinese Food

So, I ordered Chinese take-out for the first time in years tonight. Don't know why, but I just had the hankering for it. Anyway, after placing my order, I started thinking about a video clip I saw a few years ago. I know its in poor taste, but I can't help but think its funny. (Since I'm Asian, I think its okay to post this.)



-Brian

Cubs Lose, Cubs Lose, Holy Cow!!!

Oh, well. Maybe our baseball karma only works in the American League.

Red Sox, White Sox,...Cubs?

I've noticed a curious trend over the past few years.

In 2004, we were in our last full year of living in Boston. The most notable sports event of the year was the World Series victory by the Red Sox. The last World Series they won was in 1918. In 1919 the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees who went on to win 26 of the next 84 World Series. By winning, the Red Sox supposedly lifted the "Curse of the Bambino".

When we moved to Chicago in 2005, the White Sox had not won the World Series since 1917. They were supposedly cursed as a result of the Black Sox scandal of 1919. Well, within 5 months of our move, the White Sox win the World Series and lift their own curse.

Following the White Sox victory, I said that 2006 must be the year for the Cubs to finally win. The Cubs have had even a longer drought than the Red Sox or White Sox. They last won in 1908. Yet another curse is purported to be the cause, in this case the curse of the billy goat.

Well, as it turns out, in 2006 the St. Louis Cardinals won. I don't know if the Cardinals are cursed, but probably not since they've had a fair bit of success, winning the World Series ten times (second only to the Yankees). However, now in 2007, the Cubs are in the playoffs. If they win, I'm taking credit for the victory. I'll also entertain bids from other major league teams if they desire to have us move to their city for a season. I see that San Diego hasn't won a World Series yet.

I Hate Yardwork

When we bought our house I vowed I would never lift a finger to work on the yard. Back when we were house hunting, I actually wanted to get a condo, partly to avoid having to deal with a yard. Even as a kid, I managed to avoid mowing the lawn. I think I used the lawn mower about two time in all my years living with my parents. We've currently got a lawn service that comes by most weeks and mows our lawn in about 5 minutes.

Well, recently I did something I thought I would never do. We had gotten quite a bit of rain recently, and for some reason the lawn service hadn't been by in about two weeks. Looking out the front window I see all these dandelions poking through the grass. Maybe I'll go out a yank just a few of them up, I said. Can't take more than a few minutes. Well, those few minutes turned into about half a hour of weeding. And more than that, now every time I walk to the garage I look to see if there are any stray dandelions that I missed. I think I've turned into my dad.

Cutest Video Ever! Sea Otters holding hands from Vancouver's Aquarium

-Kelly