Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Foreigner in My Own Country: At the Courthouse
I've decided to start a new regular post named "Foreigner in My Own Country" to keep track of the stupid things people say to me related to my race/ heritage. I'm not going to bother going back in time and recount all the stupid stuff, you can ask Joe if you are interested. I'm going to start with today and see how this goes.
This morning, Joe and I went to the courthouse to apply for passports. At 8 am, there's a large influx of people coming in: early birders trying to get shit done and employees coming in for the daily grind. At the front door, one security guard was taping a sign on the door. Something about the naturalization ceremony being moved/ changed/ canceled/ whatever. Of course, of the crowd of people at the door he stops me and asks whether I was there for the naturalization ceremony.
Now, I know what I look like. But do you honestly think any person that isn't white is there for the naturalization ceremony? Why did he ask me of all people?
This morning, Joe and I went to the courthouse to apply for passports. At 8 am, there's a large influx of people coming in: early birders trying to get shit done and employees coming in for the daily grind. At the front door, one security guard was taping a sign on the door. Something about the naturalization ceremony being moved/ changed/ canceled/ whatever. Of course, of the crowd of people at the door he stops me and asks whether I was there for the naturalization ceremony.
Now, I know what I look like. But do you honestly think any person that isn't white is there for the naturalization ceremony? Why did he ask me of all people?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Halloween Hall of Fame
I love Halloween. It's so much fun dressing up and partying. Over the past few years, we've been a fixture at Aaron and Alisha's Halloween parties and we are usually front runners for prizes, whatever the categories are.
I can't tell you what we're dressing up as this year. We always keep it a secret until the day of the party. But I'd like to flip back to previous years and recall some great costume ideas. Plus, this gives me a chance to inventory my stuff. Feel free to call me if you need a costume.
French maid- this was back in college when me, Joanne, and Dan were all into Rocky Horror. I have the standard issue dress with apron and hair band. I bought a feather duster well afterwards to complete the outfit.
Catwoman- I bought a shiny black catsuit a few years ago for Catwoman the Julie Newmar years. I've actually worn it twice now. And it's best worn backwards, because the zipper in the back is just corny. Plus I have a cool retro belt, cat ear headband, and cat eye mask.
Oompa Loompa- A really fun and easy costume. I bought a red turtleneck shirt and white painters overalls. Paired with an old pair of mary janes and striped soccer socks. I had to do some creative sewing to really complete the look, big fun buttons and hemming the pant legs up. Green hair spray and orange makeup made this costume hilarious.
Willy Wonka- Joe of course, was Willy Wonka that year too. We made a purple jacket and vest one piece from a pattern. The purple coat is corduroy and the sea green vest attached is satin. We also made a brown top hat from a pattern too. We bought a brown bow tie and a cane to complete the costume. I reckon the jacket/vest piece could double for a Joker costume too.
Witch- I went as the Wicked Witch of the West once, but this costume can so easily be any generic witch. I have a long tiered black skirt and a black turtlneck. Topped with a cape, a hat, a broom, and green makeup and that's it!
Flying Monkey- We made this costume from a pattern to match my witch costume. This is a black/grey fur costume with brown trim. Joe also made black nylon wings to complete the look. This is a super hilarious costume and is sure to win awards.
Napoleon and Pedro- This is super easy to do and it was topical, so people loved it. If you don't already own a Vote for Pedro t-shirt, there's an iron-on decal available on the internet. Get some cheapo reading glasses from a pharmacy in the right shape, some old moon boots from Salvation Army and we had a simple costume. Finding cheap cowboy boots was difficult. So was finding a bolo tie. But I fashioned a bolo tie out of some shoestring and a brooch and found a cheap cowboy shirt and boots at Wal-Mart. A simple short shag wig and a drawn on moustache and that's all it took to become Pedro.
I have some random props: a magic lamp, a pair of handcuffs, an eyepatch, various gold medals, lab coats, a racing suit, a one piece sitting robe that looks a little outer space, various pieces of a school uniform.
Edward Scissorhands- This was a difficult costume to execute and I've seen it done so well on the internet. But we decided to go with the Edward-at-home look. A black turtle neck, a white oxford shirt overtop and some suspenders. Joe fashioned some scissorhands out of foam board attached to cheap black gloves. Don't forget to figure in a way to unzip pants so you can pee. A bunch of punk rock wristbands and belts and there you have it. You really need to concentrate on the makeup too, it can easily get botched up. I recommend watching the movie and printing pictures for reference.
I can't tell you what we're dressing up as this year. We always keep it a secret until the day of the party. But I'd like to flip back to previous years and recall some great costume ideas. Plus, this gives me a chance to inventory my stuff. Feel free to call me if you need a costume.
French maid- this was back in college when me, Joanne, and Dan were all into Rocky Horror. I have the standard issue dress with apron and hair band. I bought a feather duster well afterwards to complete the outfit.
Catwoman- I bought a shiny black catsuit a few years ago for Catwoman the Julie Newmar years. I've actually worn it twice now. And it's best worn backwards, because the zipper in the back is just corny. Plus I have a cool retro belt, cat ear headband, and cat eye mask.
Oompa Loompa- A really fun and easy costume. I bought a red turtleneck shirt and white painters overalls. Paired with an old pair of mary janes and striped soccer socks. I had to do some creative sewing to really complete the look, big fun buttons and hemming the pant legs up. Green hair spray and orange makeup made this costume hilarious.
Willy Wonka- Joe of course, was Willy Wonka that year too. We made a purple jacket and vest one piece from a pattern. The purple coat is corduroy and the sea green vest attached is satin. We also made a brown top hat from a pattern too. We bought a brown bow tie and a cane to complete the costume. I reckon the jacket/vest piece could double for a Joker costume too.
Witch- I went as the Wicked Witch of the West once, but this costume can so easily be any generic witch. I have a long tiered black skirt and a black turtlneck. Topped with a cape, a hat, a broom, and green makeup and that's it!
Flying Monkey- We made this costume from a pattern to match my witch costume. This is a black/grey fur costume with brown trim. Joe also made black nylon wings to complete the look. This is a super hilarious costume and is sure to win awards.
Napoleon and Pedro- This is super easy to do and it was topical, so people loved it. If you don't already own a Vote for Pedro t-shirt, there's an iron-on decal available on the internet. Get some cheapo reading glasses from a pharmacy in the right shape, some old moon boots from Salvation Army and we had a simple costume. Finding cheap cowboy boots was difficult. So was finding a bolo tie. But I fashioned a bolo tie out of some shoestring and a brooch and found a cheap cowboy shirt and boots at Wal-Mart. A simple short shag wig and a drawn on moustache and that's all it took to become Pedro.
I have some random props: a magic lamp, a pair of handcuffs, an eyepatch, various gold medals, lab coats, a racing suit, a one piece sitting robe that looks a little outer space, various pieces of a school uniform.
Edward Scissorhands- This was a difficult costume to execute and I've seen it done so well on the internet. But we decided to go with the Edward-at-home look. A black turtle neck, a white oxford shirt overtop and some suspenders. Joe fashioned some scissorhands out of foam board attached to cheap black gloves. Don't forget to figure in a way to unzip pants so you can pee. A bunch of punk rock wristbands and belts and there you have it. You really need to concentrate on the makeup too, it can easily get botched up. I recommend watching the movie and printing pictures for reference.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Movie Review: Knocked Up
This movie is like watching a class reunion of Freaks and Geeks. I think almost all the cast members of that show was in the movie. Instead of Katherine Heigl, it could have been Linda Cardellini and it would have been complete.
Anyway, the movie was funny. Not as funny as 40-Year-Old Virgin, but still funny. It had some serious moments and stuff since it's about babies and whatever but I think it's still worth a rent. Like, what do you expect when you get pregnant after a one night stand?
If you get the unrated version, you don't really see any naked boobies. Sorry.
3 eggrolls out of 5.
Anyway, the movie was funny. Not as funny as 40-Year-Old Virgin, but still funny. It had some serious moments and stuff since it's about babies and whatever but I think it's still worth a rent. Like, what do you expect when you get pregnant after a one night stand?
If you get the unrated version, you don't really see any naked boobies. Sorry.
3 eggrolls out of 5.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Random Shite #12
FA Premier League- I started my fantasy team a little late but so far it's going okay. I'm ranked 803,287th so far overall. It's still in the bottom half and I slacked during the last week, but I'm making some good points with Van Persie and Fabregas. We're off this week but I figured I'd give you guys an update.
Okay. Crazy science fiction shit has been happening. My previous post was about crazy amoeba boring holes up to the brains of young boys in the Southwest. Now I saw a video of some dude who had an ear grafted to his arm. No kidding. Look at this...
Talk to the hand
Remember back in March when I told you about Creature Feature? Well, I saw them live in Baltimore this week and they killed it. You really need to listen to them.
Joe and I recently decided on our Halloween costumes. I can't tell you what they are now. But I promise it'll be super cool. I bought a pattern and fabric this week so I've got a sewing project underway in full force. Hint: old-skool TV show characters.
I may be taking a trip to Vietnam in January. Other than the serious mental and psychological issues I'll have going there, I think it'll be an interesting time. Joe said he'd go with me, so at least I'll have a someone to share the experience with. I'll keep you updated on the plans.
Okay. Crazy science fiction shit has been happening. My previous post was about crazy amoeba boring holes up to the brains of young boys in the Southwest. Now I saw a video of some dude who had an ear grafted to his arm. No kidding. Look at this...
Talk to the hand
Remember back in March when I told you about Creature Feature? Well, I saw them live in Baltimore this week and they killed it. You really need to listen to them.
Joe and I recently decided on our Halloween costumes. I can't tell you what they are now. But I promise it'll be super cool. I bought a pattern and fabric this week so I've got a sewing project underway in full force. Hint: old-skool TV show characters.
I may be taking a trip to Vietnam in January. Other than the serious mental and psychological issues I'll have going there, I think it'll be an interesting time. Joe said he'd go with me, so at least I'll have a someone to share the experience with. I'll keep you updated on the plans.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Possible Zombie Cover-Up?
Brain-eating Lake Amoeba Kills 6 Boys in US
A killer amoeba that thrives in warm-water lakes, enters the body through the nose, then feeds on a victim's brain until they die has caused the deaths of six boys and young men in America this year.
And even though encounters with the microscopic death-dealer are extraordinarily rare,the dramatic increase in cases has health officials predicting more cases in the future because of global warming.
"This is definitely something we need to track," said Michael Beach, a specialist in recreational waterborne illnesses for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This is a heat-loving amoeba. As water temperatures go up, it does better. In future decades, as temperatures rise, we'd expect to see more cases."
The amoeba called Naegleria fowleri (nuh-GLEER-ee-uh FOWL’-erh-eye) killed 23 people in the United States, from 1995 to 2004, according to the CDC. This year health officials noticed a spike with six cases — three in Florida, two in Texas and one in Arizona. The CDC knows of only several hundred cases worldwide since its discovery in Australia in the 1960s.
Though infections tend to be found in southern states, Naegleria lives almost everywhere in lakes, hot springs, even dirty swimming pools, grazing off algae and bacteria in the sediment.
Beach said people become infected when they wade through shallow water and stir up the bottom. If someone allows water to shoot up the nose — say, by doing a somersault in chest-deep water — the amoeba can latch onto the olfactory nerve.
The amoeba destroys tissue as it makes its way up into the brain, where it continues the damage, "basically feeding on the brain cells," Beach said.
People who are infected tend to complain of a stiff neck, headaches and fevers. In the later stages, they'll show signs of brain damage such as hallucinations and behavioral changes, he said. Once infected, most people have little chance of survival.
A killer amoeba that thrives in warm-water lakes, enters the body through the nose, then feeds on a victim's brain until they die has caused the deaths of six boys and young men in America this year.
And even though encounters with the microscopic death-dealer are extraordinarily rare,the dramatic increase in cases has health officials predicting more cases in the future because of global warming.
"This is definitely something we need to track," said Michael Beach, a specialist in recreational waterborne illnesses for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This is a heat-loving amoeba. As water temperatures go up, it does better. In future decades, as temperatures rise, we'd expect to see more cases."
The amoeba called Naegleria fowleri (nuh-GLEER-ee-uh FOWL’-erh-eye) killed 23 people in the United States, from 1995 to 2004, according to the CDC. This year health officials noticed a spike with six cases — three in Florida, two in Texas and one in Arizona. The CDC knows of only several hundred cases worldwide since its discovery in Australia in the 1960s.
Though infections tend to be found in southern states, Naegleria lives almost everywhere in lakes, hot springs, even dirty swimming pools, grazing off algae and bacteria in the sediment.
Beach said people become infected when they wade through shallow water and stir up the bottom. If someone allows water to shoot up the nose — say, by doing a somersault in chest-deep water — the amoeba can latch onto the olfactory nerve.
The amoeba destroys tissue as it makes its way up into the brain, where it continues the damage, "basically feeding on the brain cells," Beach said.
People who are infected tend to complain of a stiff neck, headaches and fevers. In the later stages, they'll show signs of brain damage such as hallucinations and behavioral changes, he said. Once infected, most people have little chance of survival.
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