Simple Pages On My Mind
I'm starting to realize that as I get older and more "mature" (?), things get more complicated and I lose track of the simpler things in life. That's quite unfortunate, because simplicity rules. I already wrote a blog on why bumming around is nice, but in general, we should appreciate the value of all that is simple and good.
For example, I recently watched the movie "Minority Report." I thought it was a good movie, definitely intense and thought provoking. But nowadays, it seems like every movie tries its best to be as complex or elaborate as possible. Everything is loaded with special effects, a twisted plot, or big-name stars, in an attempt to "impress" the audience into liking the movie. To a large extent, this is the gap that separates the original Star Wars trilogy from from Episodes I and II, or the difference between "Good Will Hunting" and any Ben Affleck or Matt Damon movie since then.
If you ask me, one of my all-time favorite movies was, and still is, Home Alone (and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, but not as much). Not only because it was set in Chicago, and I love Chicago, but because it is such a beautifully simple movie. I mean, comedy just doesn't get much more primitive than bad guys stepping on nails and getting shot in the balls with a BB gun, but when I was a kid, I could watch it over and over, thinking it was hilarious every time. To this day, I probably still have most of the movie's lines memorized, which makes me quite a loser but I don't care. I already got a girl that loves me in spite of that.
Another example I can think of is food. I do enjoy the finer things like sushi or steak, but there's a certain undeniable charm to something like a peanut butter & jelly sandwich that can't be easily replaced. I'm telling you, it's possible to spend a hundred dollars on a meal at a fancy restaurant and not be as satisfied as you would be with something an 8 year old kid could make on the kitchen counter. And while everyone loves watching the Iron Chef make the dishes look all pretty and colorful, I like to watch the hot-dog eating contests just as much, if not more. By the way, that Japanese guy is a beast. You wouldn't think some skinny Asian kid could lay the smack down on a big 300 pound black man in anything, especially not in eating hot dogs, but wonders never cease. That's another story though.
Or, what about video games. Everyone knows that I love Starcraft, but there's something to be said for good old Minesweeper and Solitaire. Or, even simpler, Snake on my cell phone. I could just as easily spend hours on those games as the latest PS2 game. Still, as the world moves along, video game systems get fancier and more powerful while the games get crappier and less inspired. People my age remember the time when Super Mario Brothers was awesome, the cutting edge of gaming. Now, it looks crude and unimpressive to today's kids, even though I would argue that it's still a better game than 90% of what's out there today.
I sense I'm in danger of being called a "Luddite" again, so I better qualify all I just said by reiterating that I do appreciate the finer things in life as well as the simple. It's just that modern day folk tend more to overlook the simple in favor of the shiny, new, or elaborate stuff. I'm just trying to point out that fact.
Kick it on back, kick it on back, kick it on back to what you know
Gimme some love, gimme some love, sugar on the hard rock radio
When they play tunes, when they play tunes, when they play riffs of the hard rock beat,
Gimme some love, gimme some love, sugar from the drop with the old school beat
- Weezer, "Simple Pages"
Monday, July 15, 2002
Friday, July 12, 2002
The Gap
Is it me, or does something about the Gap just seem irritating? I don't know what it is, but I freakin hate that store. Hopefully people reading this who like the Gap or even worked there before don't feel insulted. The clothes appear to be fine. The store looks clean enough. They don't have T-Shirts that insult Chinese people, either.
But everytime I go there, it just feels uncomfortable or something. Maybe the store is simply too normal or bland/cookie-cutter. Maybe it's those annoying commercials. Maybe it's the canned rock music they play in the stores while you shop. Or the fact that they have like 3 people hired just to greet you when you walk in and when you walk out. I know other stores do that but doesn't it seem like the greeters at Gap are significantly weirder?
It's a strange thing, though, Banana Republic is owned by the same company and I don't really have any problem with that place. Except that more than half the clothes there are made in the ugliest earth-tone or pastel color. And there's too much stretch-fabric shirts for men, seems a little too gay for me. I guess I'm just not trendy like that, or fashion savvy. Wait a tick, I'm hip, I'm with it... Don't look at me like I'm frickin Frankenstein. (Austin Powers. 7/26/02).
Or, you'd think that someone like me who wears a lot of JCrew, Abercrombie, and old Structure clothes would like the Gap too. Nope. Ok, I know people are gonna start ripping on me for still wearing Abercrombie after all that racism commotion (see http://www.umich.edu/~uaao/boycottaf/) of a few months back. Well, for one thing, I haven't gotten anything from there in a long time, since way before that stuff happened. Honestly, though, it's not like I love the store, I just like the pants mostly, and I have maybe a few shirts, none of which say "Buddha Bash." But I think everyone needs to chill, it's just a dumb clothing store. Nobody over the age of 25 shops there and no one takes it seriously either. Not trying to hate on the people organizing the boycott because they are supporting the Asian cause in their own way. I grew up in a school surrounded by idiot white kids who thought it was hilarious to say "I Chink I know you, but I may be Wong" and if anything, there are far more blatant acts of racism in this world today to worry about.
Anyways, think about all the people you're hurting with a boycott. All those poor Abercrombie employees! You know they all have families, and they're gonna starve to death if we stop shopping there. Please, think of the children! If there's anything we shouldv'e learned from this whole fiasco, it's that "Two Wongs don't make it white" and it's certainly Wong to be starving the innocent folk who work our local Abercrombie stores. Ok, I'm just kidding. I doubt anyone who works at A&F has a family to support. Actually, I don't think nobody important really works there. Except Liz, of course. I wonder if she reads this. If so, I bet she is throwing a fit. Sorry Lizzie...
Oh yeah, one more thing. When did all the Walgreen'ses get to look so pimp? Those used to all be so ghetto and run-down, or at least plain outside, as if it were just a regular drugstore or something. Now they all got these shiny glass windows and fancy lighting like Vegas casinos. Pretty soon they will have girls walking around in there with trays to serve you drinks while you get your prescription filled. And you will start getting comp-ed if you shop there frequently for all your Tylenol or contact lens solution needs. Wouldn't that be cool? Dang, now I wish my house was like a Walgreens. We'd be the hotshots on our block if we replaced our front aluminum siding with some glass panels and a big lighted sign that said "Chen Residence - Don't Hate, Congratulate." Um, right...
Is it me, or does something about the Gap just seem irritating? I don't know what it is, but I freakin hate that store. Hopefully people reading this who like the Gap or even worked there before don't feel insulted. The clothes appear to be fine. The store looks clean enough. They don't have T-Shirts that insult Chinese people, either.
But everytime I go there, it just feels uncomfortable or something. Maybe the store is simply too normal or bland/cookie-cutter. Maybe it's those annoying commercials. Maybe it's the canned rock music they play in the stores while you shop. Or the fact that they have like 3 people hired just to greet you when you walk in and when you walk out. I know other stores do that but doesn't it seem like the greeters at Gap are significantly weirder?
It's a strange thing, though, Banana Republic is owned by the same company and I don't really have any problem with that place. Except that more than half the clothes there are made in the ugliest earth-tone or pastel color. And there's too much stretch-fabric shirts for men, seems a little too gay for me. I guess I'm just not trendy like that, or fashion savvy. Wait a tick, I'm hip, I'm with it... Don't look at me like I'm frickin Frankenstein. (Austin Powers. 7/26/02).
Or, you'd think that someone like me who wears a lot of JCrew, Abercrombie, and old Structure clothes would like the Gap too. Nope. Ok, I know people are gonna start ripping on me for still wearing Abercrombie after all that racism commotion (see http://www.umich.edu/~uaao/boycottaf/) of a few months back. Well, for one thing, I haven't gotten anything from there in a long time, since way before that stuff happened. Honestly, though, it's not like I love the store, I just like the pants mostly, and I have maybe a few shirts, none of which say "Buddha Bash." But I think everyone needs to chill, it's just a dumb clothing store. Nobody over the age of 25 shops there and no one takes it seriously either. Not trying to hate on the people organizing the boycott because they are supporting the Asian cause in their own way. I grew up in a school surrounded by idiot white kids who thought it was hilarious to say "I Chink I know you, but I may be Wong" and if anything, there are far more blatant acts of racism in this world today to worry about.
Anyways, think about all the people you're hurting with a boycott. All those poor Abercrombie employees! You know they all have families, and they're gonna starve to death if we stop shopping there. Please, think of the children! If there's anything we shouldv'e learned from this whole fiasco, it's that "Two Wongs don't make it white" and it's certainly Wong to be starving the innocent folk who work our local Abercrombie stores. Ok, I'm just kidding. I doubt anyone who works at A&F has a family to support. Actually, I don't think nobody important really works there. Except Liz, of course. I wonder if she reads this. If so, I bet she is throwing a fit. Sorry Lizzie...
Oh yeah, one more thing. When did all the Walgreen'ses get to look so pimp? Those used to all be so ghetto and run-down, or at least plain outside, as if it were just a regular drugstore or something. Now they all got these shiny glass windows and fancy lighting like Vegas casinos. Pretty soon they will have girls walking around in there with trays to serve you drinks while you get your prescription filled. And you will start getting comp-ed if you shop there frequently for all your Tylenol or contact lens solution needs. Wouldn't that be cool? Dang, now I wish my house was like a Walgreens. We'd be the hotshots on our block if we replaced our front aluminum siding with some glass panels and a big lighted sign that said "Chen Residence - Don't Hate, Congratulate." Um, right...
Updating Your Blog Is For Winners
I don't have time to write a long thing right now. While all of you are sighing in relief, I just wanted to take a little time to say that I am impressed with how many people started a new blog lately. I would especially like to say that whoever updates their blog regularly is cool. I personally spend too much time writing stuff because there is lots of downtime when I am working and also because I have a lot of random thoughts with little discretion on what is worth writing about. But normal people who write a few times a week is good. Plus, you all have much more interesting things to say than me.
Wow, shortest post ever. Only cause it's getting busy here. Or should I say it's gettin busy in herre. Whatever. Whateverre. Alright yo, I gotta rage!! (hahaha I was told that phrase would catch on... we'll have to see about that).
I don't have time to write a long thing right now. While all of you are sighing in relief, I just wanted to take a little time to say that I am impressed with how many people started a new blog lately. I would especially like to say that whoever updates their blog regularly is cool. I personally spend too much time writing stuff because there is lots of downtime when I am working and also because I have a lot of random thoughts with little discretion on what is worth writing about. But normal people who write a few times a week is good. Plus, you all have much more interesting things to say than me.
Wow, shortest post ever. Only cause it's getting busy here. Or should I say it's gettin busy in herre. Whatever. Whateverre. Alright yo, I gotta rage!! (hahaha I was told that phrase would catch on... we'll have to see about that).
Thursday, July 11, 2002
The Joys of Bumming Around
I was just thinking about how my everyday life has evolved throughout the years, and it struck me that as I've gotten older, I fill up so much more of my time "doing stuff" instead of "bumming around." Nowadays, it seems like I'm always doing something, every moment of every day. I get up in the morning, work for my dad till afternoon, take a nap if I'm lucky, then either I have dinner at home and then go out, or go out for dinner and don't get back till 11 or 12, when I brush my teeth, check baseball scores, and go to sleep. If I don't go out, I'm usually tired as a sack, mowing the lawn, or doing some extra work for my dad. On the weekends, it's even busier because that's the only time a lot of the people who work can hang out or that I can see Olivia for more than a couple hours (she's taking a class every day at UIC). Point is, I don't seem to have time to just sit around and bum.
It wasn't always like that. I remember back in high school, when I didn't really have to study to get good grades. I also didn't have any real friends, or at least any that liked to hang out a lot. So basically all I ended up doing every day was going to school, coming home, watching Simpsons (twice), eating dinner, maybe do some homework and/or listen to Q101, then watch more TV, then listen to more Q101 (I used to listen to Loveline every day, cause I thought it was hilarious... not so much anymore), then go to sleep. Some days, I would stay at school later for Math Team practice or go to a Math Team competition on certain nights (haha math team, I could probably write a whole long thing on that too, that would be amusing). So as you can see, I was pretty much a downright loser, whereas now I've managed to climb up to quasi-loser status.
But the thing is, I get the feeling that life was a lot more fun back then. Even though I never really "did anything," I enjoyed doing nothing so it was all good. These days, I see a lot more movies, do the bowling thing or shoot pool now and then, play softball once in a while, or whatever, but what's the point of it all? Now I wonder if I go out and do stuff just for the sake of going out. I don't think I'm the only one who does, either.
Whatever happened to the fine art of "bumming around"? Why do I feel like I gotta be doing something all the time? OK, so it's not good to be wasting all my time doing nothing, but I would like to contend that doing nothing is actually doing something (this is starting to sound Seinfeld-ish). Just because there's no name for what you're doing, doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile. I believe everyone needs some time to themselves, some time off to sit around, watch TV, lie in bed, and not worry about anything. It might not seem like you're really doing anything useful or interesting, but that's the whole point. The best part about bumming around is that you can just chill and not worry about anything. Clear your thoughts and relax.
Of course, like I said, you can't bum around all day, every day, or else you will turn into a slug. Be sure to practice a healthy mix of bumming and actually doing stuff. Not everyone will require quite the same "Nothing:Something" ratio, but everyone needs at least a little of both. Figure out what you need in your life to achieve that balance and live a happier life with minimal stress.
I was just thinking about how my everyday life has evolved throughout the years, and it struck me that as I've gotten older, I fill up so much more of my time "doing stuff" instead of "bumming around." Nowadays, it seems like I'm always doing something, every moment of every day. I get up in the morning, work for my dad till afternoon, take a nap if I'm lucky, then either I have dinner at home and then go out, or go out for dinner and don't get back till 11 or 12, when I brush my teeth, check baseball scores, and go to sleep. If I don't go out, I'm usually tired as a sack, mowing the lawn, or doing some extra work for my dad. On the weekends, it's even busier because that's the only time a lot of the people who work can hang out or that I can see Olivia for more than a couple hours (she's taking a class every day at UIC). Point is, I don't seem to have time to just sit around and bum.
It wasn't always like that. I remember back in high school, when I didn't really have to study to get good grades. I also didn't have any real friends, or at least any that liked to hang out a lot. So basically all I ended up doing every day was going to school, coming home, watching Simpsons (twice), eating dinner, maybe do some homework and/or listen to Q101, then watch more TV, then listen to more Q101 (I used to listen to Loveline every day, cause I thought it was hilarious... not so much anymore), then go to sleep. Some days, I would stay at school later for Math Team practice or go to a Math Team competition on certain nights (haha math team, I could probably write a whole long thing on that too, that would be amusing). So as you can see, I was pretty much a downright loser, whereas now I've managed to climb up to quasi-loser status.
But the thing is, I get the feeling that life was a lot more fun back then. Even though I never really "did anything," I enjoyed doing nothing so it was all good. These days, I see a lot more movies, do the bowling thing or shoot pool now and then, play softball once in a while, or whatever, but what's the point of it all? Now I wonder if I go out and do stuff just for the sake of going out. I don't think I'm the only one who does, either.
Whatever happened to the fine art of "bumming around"? Why do I feel like I gotta be doing something all the time? OK, so it's not good to be wasting all my time doing nothing, but I would like to contend that doing nothing is actually doing something (this is starting to sound Seinfeld-ish). Just because there's no name for what you're doing, doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile. I believe everyone needs some time to themselves, some time off to sit around, watch TV, lie in bed, and not worry about anything. It might not seem like you're really doing anything useful or interesting, but that's the whole point. The best part about bumming around is that you can just chill and not worry about anything. Clear your thoughts and relax.
Of course, like I said, you can't bum around all day, every day, or else you will turn into a slug. Be sure to practice a healthy mix of bumming and actually doing stuff. Not everyone will require quite the same "Nothing:Something" ratio, but everyone needs at least a little of both. Figure out what you need in your life to achieve that balance and live a happier life with minimal stress.
Links Toolbar on Explorer
People who surf around webpages as much as I do use the Favorites feature of Internet Explorer. When you observe a list of someone's favorites, it's a lot like going through their CD collection, photo album, or even their fridge; you can learn a lot about the person. And not only can you see what kind of pages that person is interested in, but you can see how organized he/she is in arranging them.
Especially interesting to me is the Links toolbar that some people, such as myself, use in addition to the Favorites menu. The links toolbar provides an easy-to-access line of buttons that will take you to your desired site with a single click, thus representing the "elite" members of your Favorites list.
It's similar to the Links feature on the Windows taskbar, which I also use a lot. I don't know why, but I've just been thinking about the significance of my own links bars and felt like sharing it in my blog.
For starters, my Windows links changed when I moved from school to back home. A couple of them have been there forever, such as Show Desktop, Internet Explorer, and Instant Messenger. In addition, a link to my Mp3zz folder (yes, that is what it is called and how I spelled it don't ask me why), telnet to students.uiuc.edu, and Winamp have survived the cut since I got back. The links that failed to make it were Kazaa Media Desktop, and yes, I'm sad to say, Starcraft. Replacing them were two programs I use a lot in working with my dad. When my uiuc email is deactivated, the telnet link will probably be removed and either Starcraft will return to take its place or something else, who knows.
Similarly, my links on IE are highly susceptible to the winds of change. I once had 4 links devoted to my class webpages, but those are all gone. 2 new links are for work, and Yahoo! Mail has also merited a spot with my students email ending soon. Most of the rest are sports/fantasy sports related, as you might expect. The latest change was kind of amusing, yet bittersweet, as Yahoo Euchre replaced Monster.com. I'm guessing eventually I will be replacing some of my current links with links to people's blogs. Yes, you too can have a blog and be linked on my IE toolbar! Just update frequently with interesting things to say and you will be there in no time.
So as you can see, links kind of act as a mini-barometer for my life. I can step back and evaluate my life by seeing what I'm linking to on my desktop and in my web browser. Try it yourself, think about what you consider important enough to merit "1-click status" and what it all means. Either you will be fascinated like me and say "man, you are so insightful," or you will be so pissed that I wasted your time and kick me in the nuts next time you get the chance.
People who surf around webpages as much as I do use the Favorites feature of Internet Explorer. When you observe a list of someone's favorites, it's a lot like going through their CD collection, photo album, or even their fridge; you can learn a lot about the person. And not only can you see what kind of pages that person is interested in, but you can see how organized he/she is in arranging them.
Especially interesting to me is the Links toolbar that some people, such as myself, use in addition to the Favorites menu. The links toolbar provides an easy-to-access line of buttons that will take you to your desired site with a single click, thus representing the "elite" members of your Favorites list.
It's similar to the Links feature on the Windows taskbar, which I also use a lot. I don't know why, but I've just been thinking about the significance of my own links bars and felt like sharing it in my blog.
For starters, my Windows links changed when I moved from school to back home. A couple of them have been there forever, such as Show Desktop, Internet Explorer, and Instant Messenger. In addition, a link to my Mp3zz folder (yes, that is what it is called and how I spelled it don't ask me why), telnet to students.uiuc.edu, and Winamp have survived the cut since I got back. The links that failed to make it were Kazaa Media Desktop, and yes, I'm sad to say, Starcraft. Replacing them were two programs I use a lot in working with my dad. When my uiuc email is deactivated, the telnet link will probably be removed and either Starcraft will return to take its place or something else, who knows.
Similarly, my links on IE are highly susceptible to the winds of change. I once had 4 links devoted to my class webpages, but those are all gone. 2 new links are for work, and Yahoo! Mail has also merited a spot with my students email ending soon. Most of the rest are sports/fantasy sports related, as you might expect. The latest change was kind of amusing, yet bittersweet, as Yahoo Euchre replaced Monster.com. I'm guessing eventually I will be replacing some of my current links with links to people's blogs. Yes, you too can have a blog and be linked on my IE toolbar! Just update frequently with interesting things to say and you will be there in no time.
So as you can see, links kind of act as a mini-barometer for my life. I can step back and evaluate my life by seeing what I'm linking to on my desktop and in my web browser. Try it yourself, think about what you consider important enough to merit "1-click status" and what it all means. Either you will be fascinated like me and say "man, you are so insightful," or you will be so pissed that I wasted your time and kick me in the nuts next time you get the chance.
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