04.30.2003|WEDNESDAY
Correction: In my blog entry of 04.11.2003, I said that my hometown is 99.9% Caucasian. It is, in fact, 94.7% Caucasian (2000). But, seriously, is there even a difference at that point?

Ahhh! I miss my hair! Every day my hair is not even spikable makes me think that getting my head shaved was prolly one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. Yes, it was for a good cause, but... I liked my hair!

I always found it interesting that people's homes often have a distinct smell. What made me think of this today was the yummy aroma of fresh toast I encountered in the hallway of my dorm. If they haven't already, Glade should consider a toast-scented plug-in. Serious!

Quotable:
Ray: Junyuan, are you spreading little Juny contaminants at Stanford?
Chris: I'm not at Stanford, you idiot.
Ray: Are there little viruses walking around campus with a British accent singing songs from The Carpenters?

Tunage: "My Heart Goes Boom" by French Affair

04.29.2003|TUESDAY
Today I realized that I love Benson... like a brother! Seesh, c'mon, people! But seriously, I realized that, though I've never had a big brother (I'm the oldest of my siblings), everything he and we do makes me feel more and more like that's the nature of our relationship. He's two years older than I am, he challenges me, he picks on me, he's teaching me how to use the equipment at the gym... It all just feels like the kind of caring a good big brother would show. I like to think that, like a big brother, he would even let me cry in his arms if I had a good reason to. As the other brother, Benson, I'll be there to hold you if you ever need a shoulder on which to cry.

Quotable:
Tonyanna: I'm having massive thesis panic.
Me: ::tosses her a pill marked "chill"::
Tonyanna: I hate when people do that.
Me: I was trying to be cute.
Tonyanna: ::tosses "ugly" hat::
Me: LOL! ::dons "I'm chatting with stupid." t-shirt::
Tonyanna: Ha ha! That was cute and moronic.
Me: LOL!

Tunage: "Ignorance Is Bliss" by Jellyfish

04.28.2003|MONDAY
Sooner or later, I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and catch up. I feel unbearably buried in work these days. Finally crawling out of the hole I created would allow me to truly enjoy myself; there always seems to be some looming responsibility that prevents my smiles, though genuine and large, from reaching their full potential.

Quotable:
Chris: I know what you did last summer.
Me: Yeah, and I'll prolly end up doing it again this summer.
Chris: Maybe you should do something else, like go to Europe with Hon!!
Me: Nah, while I'm looking for a job, I shouldn't be spending money.
Chris: You could look for a job in Europe!
Me: Ha ha ha!
Chris: You think I'm kidding? There are lots of people with jobs in Europe!
Me: LOL! Oh yeah? Like who?!?
Chris: Like those gondolier guys in Venice.
Me: Oh yeah? Name one.
Chris: Uh... Rowy McRowerson!
Me: LOL!

Tunage: "Work It" by Missy Elliott

04.27.2003|SUNDAY
I normally don't like the rain. In fact, I usually hate it. Tonight, however, I intentionally walked home under a leaky sky. And when I reached my destination, before going inside, I stood out for a while. Lifting my face to a barrage of tiny, wet kisses, I realized that, when it feels like the stars are sending their love in amounts relative to their visible size, the rain doesn't seem so bad.

I saw "Catch Me If You Can" at Flicks tonight, and it made me realize that I would love nothing more than to get paid to watch movies. Do I have to become a critic, though?

Quotable:
Chris: I was just thinking: Have you ever seen a really overweight squirrel?
Me: Ha ha!
Chris: You'd think you'd see one occasionally. Nuts are pretty fatty.
Me: LOL!

Tunage: "Furious Angels" by Rob Dougan

04.26.2003|SATURDAY
I had no idea so many movie-music syncs exist! It's such a fun concept and experience, which I highly recommend you try at least once.

Wow, it is SO easy to interview for a job one has already had.

Quotable: They don't pay you enough... to stop! - Chris in response to one of my bad jokes. LOL!

Tunage: "Digital Love (DJ Nando Held Mix)" by Daft Punk (remixed by DJ Nando 1 or 2?)

04.25.2003|FRIDAY
A rare occasion: Today I was grumpy and impatient from being tired, disappointed, and frustrated.

I'm a little too good at moving on, I think. Despite my cool exterior, I am feeling.

Quotable:
Jack: How's it going, my homie G of the double D?
Me: It's so excellent that I feel almost spent. Running it down to the cent.... Word.
Jack: Word up.
Me: Word multidirectional... multidimensional... multimarsupial.
Jack: That's too many words for the brotha.
Me: Ha ha ha!

Tunage: "Jam" by Michael Jackson

04.24.2003|THURSDAY
Only cynics believe that pessimism and realism are the same thing. - Unknown

It hurts when people smile at you for reasons you just can't reciprocate.

Quotable: Piranhas are a very tricky species. - Chris completely randomly.

Tunage: "Only Got One" by Frou Frou

04.23.2003|WEDNESDAY
The Stanford Film Society held an advance screening of "The Italian Job" tonight, and it was a fun and funny flick! I recommend it to anyone looking for a good time.

I'm not sure why, but I was more comfortable on stage tonight than I have ever been before. I was quite at ease, and while I spoke a bit quickly in an attempt to get to the movie swiftly for everyone, the little bit of anxiety I did experience before I started to MC the screening became imperceptible the moment I began. Hopefully I'm just getting more comfortable each time I do this stuff. Practice makes better, as they say.

I need grownup clothes! I feel my clothes are so immature that I can barely respect myself when I wear them. OK, I guess I'm being overly dramatic, but I do really need to find the time, money, and fashion sense to create a collection of casual dress shirts for everyday wear. My dream is to go all button-down all the time. Anyone wanna go shopping?

Quotable: I'm not gonna let any nasty little facts ruin my interpretation! - "Body in American Genre Film" professor (he's wicked funny)

Tunage: "Breath In" by Frou Frou

04.22.2003|TUESDAY
Q: When does chicken parmesan include pork?
A: When the dining hall cooks too many hams the day before.

I received three separate compliments for things I was wearing today: "Nice jacket..." "I like your sunglasses..." "Cool shoes!" I really hope you people don't think that I designed these items! How did I respond, you ask? I said what most everyone would say: "Thanks."

Quotable:
Me: I thought that's how you read it too.
Tonyanna: OK. I don't know. I forget how to read sometimes.

Tunage: "When I Grow Up" by Garbage

04.21.2003|MONDAY
I know what you're gonna say , but I'll announce it anyway: I am SO freakin' psychic! The latest, greatest psychic feat of mine occurred today, when I was in White Plaza handing out tickets to a Stanford Film Society advance screening of "The Italian Job." It was going a little slow, so I joked to Chris that we should start calling out random names with the hope that one "would stick" and bring people over to our table to get tickets. Chris smiled at this as I looked far across White Plaza at two girls biking away from us and yelled, "Julia!" They stopped and turned to look back at me! Realizing I had their attention, I yelled that they should come get some free passes to the screening. They biked over, and I told them about the movie and asked them if they'd like tickets, at which point one replied, "Yeah, but how did you know my name?" Case closed: I'm SO freakin' psychic.

In addition to proving my psychic abilities yet again, today also witnessed my attaining the new high-score in Zoo Keeper:

Quotable:
Me: What are you doing?
Chris: Trying not to collide with your ass.
Me: Ha ha!

Tunage: "You Rock My World (Remixmaniac's Dark Dance Mix)" by Michael Jackson (remixed by Remixmaniac)

04.20.2003|SUNDAY
Wow, this is my last quarter in college. That nebulous, looming "real world" lacks SO many of the things I've grown to love. College really is a unique experience. Whatever you do, don't take it for granted. Don't let it slip by. Take full advantage.

Something else I recommend: Dance. Be it solo or with friends, a spontaneous dance party is a lot of fun. And that... is a good thing.

I HATE forgetting!

Quotable: C'mon, man, don't make me choose between two pieces of crap! - Me in response to Huy's request that I select one of two new WB cartoons.

Tunage: "Butterflies (Outland Club Mix)" by Michael Jackson (remixed by Outland)

04.19.2003|SATURDAY
Honmun brashly got my hopes up, dashed them to pieces, and then claimed that the pieces were clogged with cholesterol and perished on their own! We don't get Monday off! ::grabs for vacation day that's not really there:: Seeing as I didn't get anything done today, I sure coulda used an extended weekend. Oh, one last thing: Debauchery.

Quotable:
Steven: Ah! You made me spit out food!
Me: Mission accomplished.
Chris: Ewww.

Tunage: "Don't Lose My Number" by Phil Collins

04.18.2003|FRIDAY
As predicted, yesterday made for a tired today.

Quotable:
Mom: What a surprise package this was [I sent you]... You've won the jackpot here!
Me: I won the jackpot when I was born to you.

Tunage: "If You Don't Love Me" by Michael Jackson

04.17.2003|THURSDAY
Today was exhausting. I got up early to work my 8 to 10AM Thursday morning shift. In the early evening, I spent some time seriously contracting muscles in the gym. To polish off this draining day, I went to bed later than I should have. I'll feel worse about it all tomorrow.

This is too wonderful. I weep for reality.

Quotable: Their art sucks. - "Introduction to Sociology" professor on kids.

Tunage: "Feel" by Robbie Williams

04.16.2003|WEDNESDAY
...

Quotable: Go out and happen to people. - a collaborative effort

Tunage: "Taxi Ride" by Tori Amos

04.15.2003|TUESDAY
It is amazing to pause and realize that no other person is experiencing exactly what you are experiencing and that you, too, will never experience exactly the same thing again. Sunshine + Distant Police Siren + On A Bike + A Butterfly = 1:09PM on Tuesday, April 15th, 2003 at 37°N, 122°W. I encourage you to take a moment to pause and recognize your existence.

Saturday Night Live cast member Darrell Hammond performed comedically on campus tonight. He was very funny, and a great study break. I hadn't been studying, but who's counting?

Quotable: So, now, when I'm interacting with you with my semiautomatic weapon... - "Introduction to Sociology" professor

Tunage: "Untitled 1" by Sigur Rós

04.14.2003|MONDAY
Michael Jackson's child abuse allegations came up at dinner tonight. I'm not convinced that his settling out of court is indicative of any wrong doing on his part. In fact, I'd dislike the allegedly abused boy's parents even more if they actually had proof enough to put a pedophile behind bars, but instead took the money offered them. "GQ Magazine" was one of the few (only?) magazines to investigate the prosecution while the rest of the media world extrapolated from Michael's eccentricities that he was guilty. Since you were bombarded with "he did it" messages, I highly recommend you read the article, especially if you want to develop an informed opinion.

Wow, I really underestimated the power of my emotions, and it made me look like a hypocrite. I'm sorry about that email. My inexperience inspired an insecurity that got the best of me. Please disregard the email; I believe you.

Well, I'm available again! Any takers? Who'm I kidding? Nobody like that reads this thing.

Quotable: People keep checking out Forrest Gump from the library and I hate it more every time... Like, how amazingly stupid is that movie? "Life is like a box of chocolates..." I want to know what the fuck is in my box of chocolates. That's why it comes with a fucking chart! You know what's in my box of chocolates? Chocolate! If you need to know more than that, you aren't enjoying it right! - Tony

Tunage: "Untitled 1" by Sigur Rós

04.13.2003|SUNDAY
Ants! Grrr! Why are they in my room!?!? I have no food! Oh, I see why: the ant trap. Good grief!

Today was a lazy Sunday. I'm still catching up with my blog entries, which is going to be a weird thing for you to read when even this entry is published late. I created that image of bald me with Moby. I call it "Hanging With Moby." (BTW, pausing your mouse cursor over my images for a moment should cause their titles (or other info) to pop up.) Back to the Moby image: Should I wear that shirt more often? Should I order these pants from the company that made the shirt, Illig?

Quotable:
Benson: Hey, want a riddle?
Me: Is that a trick question? LOL - I kill me!

Tunage: "Beautiful Day" by U2

04.12.2003|SATURDAY
To what degree are we supposed to care what others perceive of us? Once something about ourselves is known publicly, are we to actively maintain and defend it? Are we to live solely according to our personal specifications, or are expectations to be given some consideration?

Quotable:
Dylan: Well, I could eat a lot.
Group: Dylan.
Dylan: It wasn't that stupid.

Tunage: "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson

04.11.2003|FRIDAY
My hair grows 6mm/week.

I surprised myself with how much I participated in "The Body In American Genre Film" section today. That's right, I was kickin' ass in Art Room 4! I love Scott Bukatman's classes. He is so freakin' cool.

Some friends and I went out to Korea House for dinner tonight, where a waitress proclaimed me handsome as she overflowed our table with little dishes of yummy food. Flattery will get you everywhere. Sudden backtrack: I have no idea what inspired it, but I had SO much energy during the car ride to the restaurant. Why won't anyone dance with me?

Back in the restaurant, two stragglers to our table were ushered to the correct one when they told the waitress that the party they were to join included a white guy. Realizing that I was the only white guy in the place, I found that to be very funny. It also reminded me that I don't even think that way. I know this could be throwing myself upon a double-edged sword here, and I do not intend to trivialize the hardships of any people, but I'm gonna say that I consider myself to be colorblind. My point is that I am amazingly grateful that I, from 99.9% white Sticksville, am not only tolerant, but considerate and embracing of other ethnicities and cultures to the extent that I never question that that is how we should be: accepting, understanding, and embracing. Again, I'm not claiming that "everything's fine" in our nation or our world. In fact, I readily admit that I only know what it feels like to be me and that there is SO much more to do than I am even aware. I'm just saying what I said.

Quotable: You keep hearing "porn!" - Chris after I misheard the radio DJ.

Tunage: "Shout" by Michael Jackson

04.10.2003|THURSDAY
Isn't it strange how a gaggle of giggling girls can inflate your ego even when they are so irrelevant? Sure boggles me. o_0

Today marks the first day I have ever entered a gym. I've wanted to work out since I learned about Static Contraction over Winter Break, and Benson's invitation to join him finally inspired me to go. The reason I hadn't yet was that I had no idea how to use the equipment, and I was afraid of looking like a fool and getting hurt. Benson's gonna help me avoid injury, but I think he'd prefer I stay the fool.

Quotable: I could hold more in my mouth! - Chris Lee criticizing the amount of ink in our new printer cartridges.

Tunage: "All Night Long (House Remix)" by Lionel Richie (remixer unknown)

04.09.2003|WEDNESDAY

As one of my birthday gifts to Chris, I have recently abstained from shaving to allow my facial hair to meet or exceed the length of that growing on my head. Upon spotting myself in the mirror, I realized that my actual voice was just not appropriate, so I came up with a "bad-ass" voice to complement my "bad-ass" appearance. It made me wish that our voices and speech were more dramatic... like that movie trailer voice guy! "In a world..."

Quotable: If you survive a suicide mission, do you feel like you failed? - my "Introduction To Sociology" section leader

Tunage: "This Love" by Maroon 5

04.08.2003|TUESDAY

I saw a lizard on campus for the first time today! It was a big one, too! I'll bring my digicam with me the next time I'm to be in that area.

Why/how are improvisation principles valuable in everyday life? Tonight, some of you witnessed what can happen when one acts in discordance with such guidelines. I failed to accept the offer that Jen's hotdog would be "spat on" if prepared at a fast-food establishment that shall remain unidentified. I worked against her offer instead of with it, and doing so resulted in my falling flat on my face (figuratively). The resulting awkwardness disrupted the flow of the conversation and was, I imagine, nearly as painful to watch as it was to cause and experience. ::reads aloud the affirmations near the top of the page again::

Note to you: I was grinning because of you, silly. It was just one of those moments.

Quotable: I kind of like the idea of paper clips. - Chris

Tunage: "This Love" by Maroon 5

04.07.2003|MONDAY
It is Monday of the second week of the quarter, and I'm still shopping classes. It's amazing; three of the four classes I attended today were new to my schedule! Anyway, I can now make my final class selection. I select none. Ha! Just kidding!

Quotable:
Me: If it could, yeah, but if not, of course it couldn't.
Benson: That was the most noninformative answer I've ever gotten.
Me: Ha ha ha!

Tunage: "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5

04.06.2003|SUNDAY

Tunage: "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5

04.05.2003|SATURDAY
Had quite an adventure today. Made me feel a bit like Indy J. Chris and I went to San Francisco to see Guster in concert at The Warfield. It was an amazing night. Very cool to get off campus. Very cool. Aside from the night being amazing overall, and the newly expanded communication between Chris and I, for me, the best part of the trip, ironically, was the opening band. Maroon 5 earned two fans tonight. I dare say I enjoyed them more than the band for which we made the trip! Very cool. And it would not have been as cool without the assistance of Benson and Huy. Thanks, guys. You are... very cool.

Quotable: Two more, [little] amigo. - Bus driver

Tunage: "All The Things She Said" by Tatu

04.04.2003|FRIDAY
The first email I received today: "[SPAM:###] The Real Baldness Cure For $39.95"

How are you supposed to respond to friends who ask if the person you're seeing is cute? You tell them the truth: Very! Moments in which you have this revelation for the umpteenth time: Magic.

The Stanford Film Society held a free screening of "Ringu" tonight. I hadn't seen "The Ring" yet, and I was particularly excited to be scared, but, to my disappointment, I was hardly frightened at all! The only thing of which I'm now afraid is that I'm too good at telling myself, "It's just a movie."

Quotable: It would have been TEN times cooler had you left a monk's strip. - Tonyanna on my newly bald head.

Tunage: "You Rock My World (Tag Team Remix)" by Michael Jackson (remixed by Tag Team)

04.03.2003|THURSDAY
For some reason, I keep having the thought that people aren't likely to recognize me. I have recently spotted some faces from early in my Stanford career, but I consistently believe that I'm not as recognizable to them. I don't know why. Might it be a testament to how different a person I now feel? I think it might. I definitely am. To all who have helped me evolve: Thank you.

Ironically, after having had that "few people would recognize me now" feeling today, I did not consider how much less recognizable I would be if I had no hair. Tonight, $200 was donated to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation when a barber took clippers to my head at a St. Baldrick's event. I did it[, mom]. I got my head shaved for charity.

Quotable: If you push it hard enough, it will go in. - Honmun

Tunage: "All The Way Up To Heaven" by Guster

04.02.2003|WEDNESDAY
I observed something this second day of Spring Quarter: Instructors are increasingly stressing valuable participation. Apparently, these days, what one says actually has to help move the discussion along! I had never heard such ridiculous nonsense before today, when every professor I had said something to that very effect! I'm beginning to suspect that there is too much communication going on among these academic-types.

Note to you: That song idea you read -- it was inspired by you... In the words of the musical genius, Kylie Minogue, "I just can't get you out of my head." So true today.

Quotable: Is it lying if it's all I know? - Chris

Tunage: "Feel" by Robbie Williams

04.01.2003|TUESDAY
Don't you hate it when you come up with something good to say 10 hours too late? I do. Not as much as after only 10 minutes, mind you... So... I guess I just dislike it.

Quotable: First you're born, and then you live. - Huy

Tunage: "Did You Think About Me" by K-rim