Photographer Nana Trongratanawong shot an amazing video of the Jellyfish Lake in Palau.
Swimming in this lake was definitely the most memorable experience I had during my diving trip in Palau back in 2003. The jellies were firmer than what I expected: plumper than a jello shot, but not as firm as a rubber ball. The feeling of them bouncing off my body underwater registered a new somatosensory sensation in the parietal lobe of my brain. So strange yet addictive.
One warning about visiting the Jellyfish lake: wash off the sunscreen in the ocean before hiking up to the lake. The lake is completely isolated, and the jellies and other organisms in the lake are sensitive to sunscreens and other chemicals. The amount of chemicals off one person may not be much, but it can accumulate as hundreds of people visit the lake each year. This is one of the most unique places on the planet, and we need to be responsible tourists in order to enjoy these wonderful places for decades and centuries.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Made in the USA: Fiesta
When a server brought the lettuce wrap to our table at a Thai restaurant in Phoenix area, I noticed a familiar bowl containing the minced chicken mixture: a little green Fiesta bowl. These bowls are in my kitchen all the time. The bowls, officially called Fruit Bowls, are perfect size for feeding dry cat food for individual cats. The depth of the bowl is just right for them. My cats did not like any ordinary cat bowls from pet shops as cat bowls tend to be steep and deep. Going back to the restaurant episode, it felt a little odd eating out of what my brain recognizes as a cat bowl.
Since the introduction in 1930s by The Homer Laughlin China Company, Fiesta dinnerware has been loved by generations of Americans. The company continues to manufacture durable but appealing dinnerware in the Ohio Valley.
My kitchen cabinets can use some colors. It is probably time to get some colorful Fiesta plates for the humans as well.
Since the introduction in 1930s by The Homer Laughlin China Company, Fiesta dinnerware has been loved by generations of Americans. The company continues to manufacture durable but appealing dinnerware in the Ohio Valley.
My kitchen cabinets can use some colors. It is probably time to get some colorful Fiesta plates for the humans as well.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Platypus Videos
English is my second language, and I am still learning something new about the language everyday. One of the significant differences between Japanese and English is that Japanese does not have plural form of words; Japanese speakers use exact numbers of objects or use adjectives (such as words for several, many, a few, and some) to express the approximate quantity. Basically, in Japanese, people mention 'how many' only when it matters. English has a lot more rules for plural nouns. It would have been quite simple if all we had to was to affix 's' or 'es' to the end of the word. Some words do not have distinction between singular and plural while other words have odd plural forms.
Some, but not all, words with 'us' on the end gets 'i' for plural. Plural for platypus was amongst such strange and confusing plural forms. Is it platypuses or platypi? Dictionary.com shows both of them as plural for platypus but lists 'platypuses' first. Same for octopus. A version with 'i' is more widely accepted for cactus, fungus, and radius. Plural for goose is geese, but plural for mongoose is mongooses. This is nerve-racking.
For platypuses, or platypi (by the way, spell check on blogger does not like platypi), this odd rule suite well to the strange creatures. They are egg-laying mammals with venom. They are like the biggest rule breakers in animal kingdom. The rebels.
The word platypus comes from Greek word meaning "flat-footed." This is actually the most puzzling part; out of all the strange features this mammal has, why did anyone focus on their feet? How about their duck bills? The scientific name Ornithorhynchus anatinus comes from "bird-spout" and "duck-like."
Act Wild for Platypus
Platypus Parts
Some, but not all, words with 'us' on the end gets 'i' for plural. Plural for platypus was amongst such strange and confusing plural forms. Is it platypuses or platypi? Dictionary.com shows both of them as plural for platypus but lists 'platypuses' first. Same for octopus. A version with 'i' is more widely accepted for cactus, fungus, and radius. Plural for goose is geese, but plural for mongoose is mongooses. This is nerve-racking.
For platypuses, or platypi (by the way, spell check on blogger does not like platypi), this odd rule suite well to the strange creatures. They are egg-laying mammals with venom. They are like the biggest rule breakers in animal kingdom. The rebels.
The word platypus comes from Greek word meaning "flat-footed." This is actually the most puzzling part; out of all the strange features this mammal has, why did anyone focus on their feet? How about their duck bills? The scientific name Ornithorhynchus anatinus comes from "bird-spout" and "duck-like."
Act Wild for Platypus
Platypus Parts
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Kangaroo Video: How to Catch a Baby Kangaroo
The first time I saw the following video, I laughed harder than I should have. I wonder if this technique would work on other marsupials.
How to catch a kangaroo
I will be carrying a pillow case when I travel across Australia. Just in case.
How to catch a kangaroo
I will be carrying a pillow case when I travel across Australia. Just in case.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Made in the USA: The Frye Company
It is hard to determine exactly how long, but I have had a pretty strong obsession on boots for a long time. I love boots of all types: varying heights, with heels, without heels, combat boots, western style, or whatever, as long as the boots are tastefully designed.
The first time I saw a pair of Frye boots in a department store, I knew I had to own them. I waited for the end of the season sale in case my favorite pair is on sale. It never happened. Turned out that it is one of the most popular styles which has a small chance of discontinuation as long as the brand thrives. It will never be on sale. Darn.
The following winter, I purchased a pair of Frye Harness 12R boots in brown.
The boots are made of thick leather and are very heavy; these are not recommended for people who love lightweight boots. These boots complement many different types of outfits for years to come. I would consider getting another pair in black.
The brand is now owned by a company based in Hong Kong, and some boots and accessories are made outside the US. Harness 12R is still made in the USA. I hope it stays that way.
The first time I saw a pair of Frye boots in a department store, I knew I had to own them. I waited for the end of the season sale in case my favorite pair is on sale. It never happened. Turned out that it is one of the most popular styles which has a small chance of discontinuation as long as the brand thrives. It will never be on sale. Darn.
The following winter, I purchased a pair of Frye Harness 12R boots in brown.
The boots are made of thick leather and are very heavy; these are not recommended for people who love lightweight boots. These boots complement many different types of outfits for years to come. I would consider getting another pair in black.
The brand is now owned by a company based in Hong Kong, and some boots and accessories are made outside the US. Harness 12R is still made in the USA. I hope it stays that way.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Made in the USA & Go Local: Handmade Soaps from Food4YourSkinOnline, ironwood Ranch, and South Austin People
Arizona has art and craft fairs in spring, fall,and winter. The summer here is so hot that people don't even have yard sales during the summer heat. Finding arts and crafts made by local residents is fascinating; the artists are usually present at the booth, and they are generally very excited to talk about their work. The nosy curious person like me truly enjoy talking to whoever creates interesting things.
Although trying something new and creating things are activities that fuel my life, there are certain things I would rather buy from someone else. Soap is one of those things. Soap making sounds fun especially after reading the novel Fight Club (just kidding), but I would not know what to do with lots of soaps unless I can sell them. I also like switching scent of soap, so making a batch with one scent and using that for a long time would probably bore me. Luckily, there are many soap makers in Arizona who I can by soaps from whenever I need them.
In Southern Arizona, my favorite local soaps come from Food4YourSkinOnline. The soap maker sells soap and other skin care products at art fairs as well as at her online store. The soaps have fantastic scents and lather nicely.
Ironwood Ranch makes superb goat milk soaps. They are easy to find as they are st St. Philips market in Tucson on most Saturdays. Because of the combination of goat milk and essential oils, the soaps have distinctive fragrance. Their soaps are great for body wash.
When I was living in Texas, I only used soaps from South Austin People. I miss their lemongrass and ginger soap and Texas pecan eucalyptus soap! As much as I miss them, I insist on buying soap locally.
I definitely recommend buying soaps in person since some scents are really unpredictable from the names. There are more local soap makes than people think. Go local!
Although trying something new and creating things are activities that fuel my life, there are certain things I would rather buy from someone else. Soap is one of those things. Soap making sounds fun especially after reading the novel Fight Club (just kidding), but I would not know what to do with lots of soaps unless I can sell them. I also like switching scent of soap, so making a batch with one scent and using that for a long time would probably bore me. Luckily, there are many soap makers in Arizona who I can by soaps from whenever I need them.
In Southern Arizona, my favorite local soaps come from Food4YourSkinOnline. The soap maker sells soap and other skin care products at art fairs as well as at her online store. The soaps have fantastic scents and lather nicely.
Ironwood Ranch makes superb goat milk soaps. They are easy to find as they are st St. Philips market in Tucson on most Saturdays. Because of the combination of goat milk and essential oils, the soaps have distinctive fragrance. Their soaps are great for body wash.
When I was living in Texas, I only used soaps from South Austin People. I miss their lemongrass and ginger soap and Texas pecan eucalyptus soap! As much as I miss them, I insist on buying soap locally.
I definitely recommend buying soaps in person since some scents are really unpredictable from the names. There are more local soap makes than people think. Go local!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Made in the USA: Lodge
Lodge has been manufacturing cast iron cookware for over 100 years. Their products are not just for kitchen use; every camping gear store I have visited have at least one Lodge cookware in the store.
Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven
About a year ago, I tasted a great pistachio cherry bread and got a recipe for the bread. The recipe requires a heavy-duty cast iron Dutch Oven, so I purchased a Lodge Dutch oven. I don't know why, but I have not been motivated enough to bake the bread since the recipes not requiring a heavy Dutch oven are easier to make. How can I stop being lazy and bake that tasty pistachio cherry bread?
Lodge Cactus Baking Pan
This cactus baking pan is on my wish list. Living in Arizona, this pan should have plenty of chances to show off what it is designed to do: make cute cactus corn bread, scones, or whatever. The only reason it is not yet in my kitchen is I have to get rid of things I don't need to make some room for new kitchen toys. Time to donate unused items to a thrift store.
Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven
About a year ago, I tasted a great pistachio cherry bread and got a recipe for the bread. The recipe requires a heavy-duty cast iron Dutch Oven, so I purchased a Lodge Dutch oven. I don't know why, but I have not been motivated enough to bake the bread since the recipes not requiring a heavy Dutch oven are easier to make. How can I stop being lazy and bake that tasty pistachio cherry bread?
Lodge Cactus Baking Pan
This cactus baking pan is on my wish list. Living in Arizona, this pan should have plenty of chances to show off what it is designed to do: make cute cactus corn bread, scones, or whatever. The only reason it is not yet in my kitchen is I have to get rid of things I don't need to make some room for new kitchen toys. Time to donate unused items to a thrift store.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Bucket List: Stay at Machiya Inns in Kyoto, Japan
When I was still living in Japan as a student, I visited Kyoto twice. The first time was as a part of school trip with my high school classmates. The second trip to Kyoto was with a friend of mine, and it was a frugal but fun trip. We stayed at a hostel for about $20 per night per person which is incredibly cheap in Kyoto, and we were the only Japanese guests there. Other guests were all foreigners from America, Canada, Italy, China, to name a few. Kyoto's history and beauty attracts backpackers from all over the world.
Until about five years ago, I did not know about Machiyas, traditional wooden townhouses in Kyoto, have been renovated and used as inns. These guest houses offer cheaper nightly rates than many hotels in the area. According to websites, these places seem to operate kind of like hostels. I am not familiar to hostels in other countries, but the hostels I have stayed in Japan all had dorm rooms (men and women are separate) and individual rooms.
Kyoto has numerous traditional upscale ryokans and high-end hotels. Those types of places are gorgeous but often lack uniqueness. Machiya inns will be the focal point of my next trip to kyoto, whenever that is.
For a list of Machiya and other guest houses in Kyoto area, check out this website. Most tourism-related sites have English pages.
Until about five years ago, I did not know about Machiyas, traditional wooden townhouses in Kyoto, have been renovated and used as inns. These guest houses offer cheaper nightly rates than many hotels in the area. According to websites, these places seem to operate kind of like hostels. I am not familiar to hostels in other countries, but the hostels I have stayed in Japan all had dorm rooms (men and women are separate) and individual rooms.
Photos from Guest House Waraku-An
Kyoto has numerous traditional upscale ryokans and high-end hotels. Those types of places are gorgeous but often lack uniqueness. Machiya inns will be the focal point of my next trip to kyoto, whenever that is.
For a list of Machiya and other guest houses in Kyoto area, check out this website. Most tourism-related sites have English pages.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Made in the USA: Paige Denim
My short height and curvy bottom make shopping for jeans ridiculously challenging. If the legs feel right, it is too big around the waist. For a long time, I had been jealous of tall skinny people with flat butts who can buy jeans off a store shelf and wear them without alteration. Thanks to many clothing companies producing jeans for curvy figure made with stretchy materials, people in all sorts of shapes can find a perfect pair.
Finding my first Paige Denim jeans changed the way I dress. Their jeans are incredibly comfy, and now I am wearing jeans all the time. Even their skinny jeans are comfortable. Actually, I could not fit in any other skinny jeans and never owned skinny jeans before. What makes buying Paige Denim products better is they are manufactured in the USA.
Photo from zappos.com
Like many denim manufacturers' products nowadays, Paige Denim jeans are not cheap. I check Nordstrom Rack and other discount stores whenever I am nearby so that I can snag a pair for about half the MSRP.
For the list of other denim jeans made in America, check out Made in USA Challenge.
Finding my first Paige Denim jeans changed the way I dress. Their jeans are incredibly comfy, and now I am wearing jeans all the time. Even their skinny jeans are comfortable. Actually, I could not fit in any other skinny jeans and never owned skinny jeans before. What makes buying Paige Denim products better is they are manufactured in the USA.
Photo from zappos.comLike many denim manufacturers' products nowadays, Paige Denim jeans are not cheap. I check Nordstrom Rack and other discount stores whenever I am nearby so that I can snag a pair for about half the MSRP.
For the list of other denim jeans made in America, check out Made in USA Challenge.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
DIY: Industrial Pipe Rods
There are numerous DIY knock offs I found via Pinterest and other sites. I am not sure if I will ever try any of those, but it is fun just looking at the projects. A blog post 'That Looks Familiar: DIY West Elm Industrial Pipe Rods' is one of them. I have shutters on all the windows, so I must find other ways to use these great industrial looking rods.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Tree Kangaroo Videos
Lately, most of the animal videos I have been watching are from Australia. Here are tree kangaroo videos:
Tree Kangaroo Joeys
Tree Kangaroo Rescue
Tree Kangaroo Joeys
Tree Kangaroo Rescue
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Wes Anderson
For a person who get tired of things quickly, being a fan of anything or anyone for 13 years is pretty insane. It all started when I saw Royal Tenenbaums in 2001. 13 years, eight full-lengh movies (including two films prior to 2001), and several short films later, I am addicted to Wes Anderson's films more than ever. He is the only director in the US who has established his own style and reflects it in every movie. If I could, I want to merge into his movie, like walking through a magical mirror, and be a dysfunctional character (that should not be difficult for me). I'll be a crazy bunny or a grumpy sloth in Fantastic Mr. Fox or an unpaid intern in Life Aquatic.
Living in Southwest has some fun factors, but it is unbearable when a movie I want to see first hits the theaters. On average, I have to wait three weeks before the movie gets here after people in LA and NYC have seen and bragged about it all over the internet. Spoilers.
The same thing happened again. I finally saw The Grand Budapest Hotel last weekend. One thing I started doing when I go see a movie is to keep my expectations low except when the movie is created by Wes Anderson. No matter how enormous my expectations are, Wes Anderson always go far beyond it. Out of hatred I have toward anyone who spoil movies by giving away too many details, I will not talk about the movie. Besides, it doesn't matter what I, critics, or any other people think of a movie; all it matters is if each person like the movie or not. I don't care what people say, I was not fond of Titanic and English Patient. And I have been a Juliette Binoche fan since the late 1980s. I will just say one thing, it was delightful to see Ralph Fiennes in a comedy. Here is a trailer of The Grand Budapest Hotel. You can decide if this is your cup of tea:
Now I need to see this movie ten more times when it's available on Amazon.
Watch a short film by Wes Anderson: Castello Cavalcanti
Living in Southwest has some fun factors, but it is unbearable when a movie I want to see first hits the theaters. On average, I have to wait three weeks before the movie gets here after people in LA and NYC have seen and bragged about it all over the internet. Spoilers.
The same thing happened again. I finally saw The Grand Budapest Hotel last weekend. One thing I started doing when I go see a movie is to keep my expectations low except when the movie is created by Wes Anderson. No matter how enormous my expectations are, Wes Anderson always go far beyond it. Out of hatred I have toward anyone who spoil movies by giving away too many details, I will not talk about the movie. Besides, it doesn't matter what I, critics, or any other people think of a movie; all it matters is if each person like the movie or not. I don't care what people say, I was not fond of Titanic and English Patient. And I have been a Juliette Binoche fan since the late 1980s. I will just say one thing, it was delightful to see Ralph Fiennes in a comedy. Here is a trailer of The Grand Budapest Hotel. You can decide if this is your cup of tea:
Now I need to see this movie ten more times when it's available on Amazon.
Watch a short film by Wes Anderson: Castello Cavalcanti
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Recycled Paper and Tree Free Paper
The digitization of books, magazines, forms, and other materials that used to be printed on paper has definitely reduced the need for printing paper. The amount of paper used in offices in 1990s and prior had to be terrifying. Although documents viewable on electronic devices are replacing paper copies, we still occasionally have to print on paper. Now we have many choices for what to print on.
Recycled paper has been around for a long time, but the quality and manufacturing process of recycled paper have been significantly improved over the years. Some manufacturers are using more sustainable ingredients instead of tree fiber. Here are some online stores with post-consumer recycled paper and/or tree free paper:
The Green Office
Eco Paper
Green Field Paper
Treecycle
Green Line Paper Company
EcoGreenOffice
New Leaf Paper (for printing order)
There are many other companies dedicated to manufacture or retail more sustainable paper products. Next time you need to buy printer paper, notepad, or sticky notes, look for tree free or post-consumer recycled products. Even switching a single item a year could make a difference if enough people consciously picked a sustainable product.
Reading list:
Paper Alternatives
Conservatree
Recycled paper has been around for a long time, but the quality and manufacturing process of recycled paper have been significantly improved over the years. Some manufacturers are using more sustainable ingredients instead of tree fiber. Here are some online stores with post-consumer recycled paper and/or tree free paper:
The Green Office
Eco Paper
Green Field Paper
Treecycle
Green Line Paper Company
EcoGreenOffice
New Leaf Paper (for printing order)
There are many other companies dedicated to manufacture or retail more sustainable paper products. Next time you need to buy printer paper, notepad, or sticky notes, look for tree free or post-consumer recycled products. Even switching a single item a year could make a difference if enough people consciously picked a sustainable product.
Reading list:
Paper Alternatives
Conservatree
Friday, April 4, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
My Dog: The Paradox by Matthew Inman
Finding humorous things has become my daily ritual. All the dog lovers must check out a comic My Dog: The Paradox by Matthew Inman. Click the picture below to view the comic.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Made in the USA: Calphalon, All-Clad
One of the things I look for when I am choosing a frying pan is that it is free of plastic parts. My frying pans make frequent trips between the stove top and the oven, so the strong metal construction is essential.
I've been using Calphalon hard anodized aluminum pans for years. So far, I have nothing to complain about these pans. Calphalon makes anodized aluminum cookware with or without nonstick coating. The non-coated version does stick in the beginning, but the pan gradually get seasoned over time and requires less cooking oil later on. This is what I like about hard-anodized aluminum pans over stainless-steel pans. The latter requires a lot more oil to prevent sticking for the length of its life. Calphalon's stainless-steel sauce has been working great as long as the food being cooked is not something easily burnt.
Calphalon Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pans
Calphalon Hard Anodized Aluminum Frying Pan (not nonstick)
Calphalon has other cookware product lines but I am not familiar with them. Check out their website.
All-Clad is probably more famous for a stainless-steel line and their products are also manufactured in the USA. I do not have any All-Clad products mainly because of the higher price tag and also because I prefer hard anodized pans. They do have nonstick pans but are double the price of Calphalon pans. The All-Clad owners say they love their pans, so users have to justify the price and benefit.
All-Clad Pots and Pans
A comment on Calphalon. They make variety of products other than cookware, but many cooking utensils, bakeware, and low-end cookware I saw in stores were not made in the USA. As always, we need to check the label.
I've been using Calphalon hard anodized aluminum pans for years. So far, I have nothing to complain about these pans. Calphalon makes anodized aluminum cookware with or without nonstick coating. The non-coated version does stick in the beginning, but the pan gradually get seasoned over time and requires less cooking oil later on. This is what I like about hard-anodized aluminum pans over stainless-steel pans. The latter requires a lot more oil to prevent sticking for the length of its life. Calphalon's stainless-steel sauce has been working great as long as the food being cooked is not something easily burnt.
Calphalon Hard Anodized Aluminum Frying Pan (not nonstick)
Calphalon has other cookware product lines but I am not familiar with them. Check out their website.
All-Clad is probably more famous for a stainless-steel line and their products are also manufactured in the USA. I do not have any All-Clad products mainly because of the higher price tag and also because I prefer hard anodized pans. They do have nonstick pans but are double the price of Calphalon pans. The All-Clad owners say they love their pans, so users have to justify the price and benefit.
A comment on Calphalon. They make variety of products other than cookware, but many cooking utensils, bakeware, and low-end cookware I saw in stores were not made in the USA. As always, we need to check the label.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Etsy Wishlist: Sloth Stuff
There are various animals I adore and are on my animal bucket list. I have different categories in my bucket list: things to do, places to visit, things to eat, things to see, and yes, animals to meet before I die. Sloths are part of the last list.
Here are some of the sloth items on Etsy:
Three Toe Sloth Plush by MillieFern
Sloth Ring by Curious Burrow
Happy Sloth Necklace by marymaryhandmade
Sloth Baby amigurumi pattern by chiwaluv
Little Sloth Necklace by marmar
Sloth Canvas Tote by squarepaisleydesigh
I guess the sloths have become extremely popular in recent years. Etsy used to have very small number of sloth related merchandise. Now there are 64 pages of sloth stuff on Etsy. There are, however, some items like T-shirts I have seen on other not-so-handmade websites listed along with really handmade items on Etsy. People have been posting increasing number of articles on how mass-produced items are showing up all over Etsy. The items above could be one of them; maybe I simply haven't noticed the same products on other retail websites. I hope not.
The following blogs are interesting to read if you are interested in what is going on with the online marketplace supposedly for handmade and vintage items:
RUSEtsy
EtsyTricksy
Here are some of the sloth items on Etsy:
Three Toe Sloth Plush by MillieFern
Sloth Ring by Curious Burrow
Happy Sloth Necklace by marymaryhandmade
Sloth Baby amigurumi pattern by chiwaluv
Little Sloth Necklace by marmar
I guess the sloths have become extremely popular in recent years. Etsy used to have very small number of sloth related merchandise. Now there are 64 pages of sloth stuff on Etsy. There are, however, some items like T-shirts I have seen on other not-so-handmade websites listed along with really handmade items on Etsy. People have been posting increasing number of articles on how mass-produced items are showing up all over Etsy. The items above could be one of them; maybe I simply haven't noticed the same products on other retail websites. I hope not.
The following blogs are interesting to read if you are interested in what is going on with the online marketplace supposedly for handmade and vintage items:
RUSEtsy
EtsyTricksy
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Ip Man and Ip Chun
Netflix offers many foreign films some viewers may never watch unless included in monthly fees. The best thing about the Netflix's system is that we can stop watching any boring movie without losing money. Back in the day, returning a movie was never an exciting part of watching a movie, but returning a movie I HATED used to ruin my day. With Netflix or Amazon Prime, all I have to lose is ten or fifteen minutes of my time I could have used for something else, like watching sloth videos.
Sloths are lovely, but I can only watch so many sloth videos. After a while I crave for some action movies. Since an action sloth movie is unavailable, I often look for martial arts movies. Ip Man and Ip Man 2 (the reason why the American movie title is not "Yip Man," I'm not sure) were surprisingly entertaining. Prior to watching these movies, I had seen Donnie Yen's action cop movie Flash Point (which is also on Netflix) and I enjoyed his fight moves. Two exciting Ip Man movies lead me to look for more Ip Man movies including The Legend is Born: Ip Man. There is an old man in this movie by the name Leung Bik who meets young Ip Man and becomes his mentor. This old man is played by Ip Chun, Ip Man's son.
Sloths are lovely, but I can only watch so many sloth videos. After a while I crave for some action movies. Since an action sloth movie is unavailable, I often look for martial arts movies. Ip Man and Ip Man 2 (the reason why the American movie title is not "Yip Man," I'm not sure) were surprisingly entertaining. Prior to watching these movies, I had seen Donnie Yen's action cop movie Flash Point (which is also on Netflix) and I enjoyed his fight moves. Two exciting Ip Man movies lead me to look for more Ip Man movies including The Legend is Born: Ip Man. There is an old man in this movie by the name Leung Bik who meets young Ip Man and becomes his mentor. This old man is played by Ip Chun, Ip Man's son.
(photo from Ip Chung Wing Chun Martial Arts Association website)
Ip Man: The Final Fight is the newest Ip Man movie created in 2013. According to IMDB, there is "Ip Man 3" in development, but no details are disclosed at this point. IMDB got me excited so many times with movies in development and then left me in valley of sorrow when the movie deal fell through. What happened to the movie version of Silence based on a novel by Shusaku Endo rumored on IMDB five years ago? Of course, I would rather see the deal gone if the casting and script is not aligned with the novel. We'll see.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Magic for Dogs
The way dogs react to magic, disappearing treats, in the following video reminded me of my little niece when my husband tricked her to pull his finger for the first time.
Magic for Dogs
Magic for Dogs
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Three years Later: Living Inside the Evacuation Zone
Three years has passed since the horrific earthquake and tunami destroyed the coastal line of northern Japan. My parents who love the Tohoku area took me to many ports in devastated areas when I was a child. It was, and still is, painful to see the videos and photos from the familiar places. Japan being one of the most technologically and technically advanced countries, the recovery process seems disappointingly slow especially in more rural areas.
Following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many people were forced to leave their hometowns. Relocation was not easy for many former residents from Fukushima as people in other areas refused to take them in out of the fear of radiation exposure. Despite discouraging resistance and discrimination, people of Fukushima moved to other prefectures. Naoto Matsumura was not one of them. He chose to live within the 20 kilometer evacuation zone taking care of domestic animals other people had to leave behind.
March 2013
Following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many people were forced to leave their hometowns. Relocation was not easy for many former residents from Fukushima as people in other areas refused to take them in out of the fear of radiation exposure. Despite discouraging resistance and discrimination, people of Fukushima moved to other prefectures. Naoto Matsumura was not one of them. He chose to live within the 20 kilometer evacuation zone taking care of domestic animals other people had to leave behind.
(Photo from Naoto Matsushima's blog)
Watch the following video to see life inside the evacuation zone. The top video is the most recent one. Watch videos on YouTube site to use "cc" option.
March 2014
March 2013
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Prefab Sheds: Studio Shed, Kanga Room, Modern Shed
My neighborhood has an interesting mixture of old and new homes. Most homes on my street are 1970s homes and many residents are the original owners. Down the street, there are more modern stucco homes popular in Arizona. Probably because of the large lots and overgrown vegetation compared to the newer housing areas, seeing different styles of homes do not appear disorderly.
There is an empty space in my yard big enough for a small structure. This space has a huge potential, but I am not really sure what I want to do with it. Building a covered outdoor living area would be nice. Having a separate workshop/guest house sounds even better. Either way, my biggest question is the style of the structure. Do I want modern style (like many buildings I adore in Dwell magazine) or an old-fashioned style to complement the house?
Honestly, the look of modern prefab sheds is incredibly appealing.
Here is one from Studio Shed
Kanga Room's studio
Modern Shed
With lots of other things on the priority list, it would not be happening anytime soon. It might take ten years. Who knows. Nevertheless, it is amusing to think about the possibility of currently unused space. First, we have to renovate bathrooms and 1970s style kitchen with avocado green oven and hood. I'm not kidding. I have avocado green appliances in my kitchen. So retro. It matches saguaros outside.
Link:
Backyard Offices: 8 Modern Prefab Sheds
There is an empty space in my yard big enough for a small structure. This space has a huge potential, but I am not really sure what I want to do with it. Building a covered outdoor living area would be nice. Having a separate workshop/guest house sounds even better. Either way, my biggest question is the style of the structure. Do I want modern style (like many buildings I adore in Dwell magazine) or an old-fashioned style to complement the house?
Honestly, the look of modern prefab sheds is incredibly appealing.
Here is one from Studio Shed
With lots of other things on the priority list, it would not be happening anytime soon. It might take ten years. Who knows. Nevertheless, it is amusing to think about the possibility of currently unused space. First, we have to renovate bathrooms and 1970s style kitchen with avocado green oven and hood. I'm not kidding. I have avocado green appliances in my kitchen. So retro. It matches saguaros outside.
Link:
Backyard Offices: 8 Modern Prefab Sheds
Friday, March 21, 2014
Wake Owl
Take a break, and enjoy music video over a cup of coffee. Wake Owl's music is so soothing any time of the day.
Gold
Wild Country
Gold
Wild Country
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Etsy Wishlist: Zed's Zombie Ranch
Zed's Zombie Ranch is in Bisbee, AZ. On my next day or weekend trip to Bisbee, I need to pick up one of the metal skeletons. The big question is where to put it. Right next to a Dalek pepper shaker might work. I wish the skeletons came in life size scale.
Steampunk Zombie Skeleton Steel Sculpture
UFO Crossing Sign
Zombie Target Practice T-shirt
Always remember Rule #2 Double tap.
Steampunk Zombie Skeleton Steel Sculpture
UFO Crossing Sign
Zombie Target Practice T-shirt
Always remember Rule #2 Double tap.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wine Folly
Wine Folly is a good site to obtain basic knowledge and latest news on wine. Like everything else, there is a trend in wine market and production. This site informs readers anything wine-related with infographics that basically act as eye candy to visually oriented wine lovers. The site also offers useful downloadable resources such as wine tasting placemats.
Making customized wine tasting mats or beer tasting mats might be fun. Actually, we could pretty much have any kind of tasting party. How about chocolate, hot sauce, or olive oil? With wine, of course!
Making customized wine tasting mats or beer tasting mats might be fun. Actually, we could pretty much have any kind of tasting party. How about chocolate, hot sauce, or olive oil? With wine, of course!
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Made in the USA: William Bounds
It's been probably five years since I purchased William Bounds' HM Twist Chrome Pepper Mill and Salt Mill, and I have been very satisfied with the mills. I noticed some negative comments on Williams-Sonoma page how some users experienced their mills falling a part and corroded, but my mills are still working well. I guess I was one of the luckier purchasers.
One down side of these mills is what applies to all manual mills: it cannot beat the speed and volume capacity of electric mills. The electric mills also have a problem: they are usually made overseas (I cannot find a single model made in the US). I took the preferred product origin and nice design.
There is one more America-made William Bounds product in my kitchen, and that is the nutmeg grinder.
Nutmeg is one of many spices I cannot tolerate buying pre-ground. Why? What is the point? All the nice flavor is gone so quick! I was using hand held grinder for nutmeg, but clumsy people like me could end up grinding own finger someday. The first time I saw this grinder on a website, my reaction was the same as when I glanced at an avocado slicer. Why buy a tool that does another tool in my kitchen already does? Then, I saw the nutmeg grinder at a store and tested it, and I was standing in the checkout line in the next few minutes. I have been pretty happy with the grinder. If I must rate this item, I would give four out of five stars for the lid being tricky to close sometimes.
Looking at William Bounds' website, the company seems to sell products made in the USA and overseas. Having multiple manufacturing location is common nowadays. Never buy an item without reading product description.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sebastien Millon
A friend of mine texted me a drawing of a bunny a few years ago. For some reason, this bunny made her think of me.
It might be because I was born in the year of the rabbit, I love bunnies. Especially the violent bunnies disguised in cute little faces like the one in a Monty Python movie are hard to resist. I had to find out whoever drew this bunny who tries to threaten the Santa Clause, and that was how I discovered Sebastien Millon and his other cute (and deadly) creatures.
Links to Sebastien Millon sites:
Website
FB
Etsy
Blog
It might be because I was born in the year of the rabbit, I love bunnies. Especially the violent bunnies disguised in cute little faces like the one in a Monty Python movie are hard to resist. I had to find out whoever drew this bunny who tries to threaten the Santa Clause, and that was how I discovered Sebastien Millon and his other cute (and deadly) creatures.
Links to Sebastien Millon sites:
Website
FB
Etsy
Blog
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Gardening Videos
People who can grow anything get my absolute admiration, especially those who garden in the Arizonan desert. It was a lot easier to grow things in Texas where humidity was occasionally unbearable. Also, with wild bunnies running around everywhere, any gardening structure has to be fenced, and building such structure will take time and planning. Having a large vegetable bed sounds great, but I will stick to container gardening for now.
The following videos are great for someone interested in growing an indoor plant or starting a plant indoors and then planting it outside.
How to Grow Avocado Plant
How to Grow a Mango Tree
The following videos are great for someone interested in growing an indoor plant or starting a plant indoors and then planting it outside.
How to Grow Avocado Plant
How to Grow a Mango Tree
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Wombat Videos
Sometimes I feel like I made a mistake moving to the United States and not to Australia. That thought is almost always triggered by watching cute Australian animals such as wombats.
Baby Wombat Running
Wild Animal Encounters - Ben Britton - Wombat
Playing with Baby Wombats
Man Cuddles with a Cute Wombat
Baby Wombat Running
Wild Animal Encounters - Ben Britton - Wombat
Playing with Baby Wombats
Man Cuddles with a Cute Wombat
Friday, March 14, 2014
Made in the USA: Nordic Ware
Nordic Ware was founded in 1946 as a small family business in the basement of Dave and Dorothy Dalquist's home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1950, the company introduced a bundt pan which is still their best seller item.
I purchased my first Nordic Ware product seven or eight years ago. It was a tartlette pan sold at a Williams-Sonoma store. Now I also own a bundtlette pan, four bundt brownie pans, and two bundt mini bites pans.
Two of my bundt brownie pans and a bundlette pan are cast aluminum construction while other two bundt brownie pans and bundt mini bites pans are coated aluminum.
Cast aluminum bundt brownie pan
Coated aluminum bundt brownie pan
The cast aluminum version (top) is easier to work with, but these pans are a little more expensive. It tends to result in more moist bundt cakes and cakes don't stick as easily. Coated aluminum version (bottom) requires more greasing and flouring.
One little warning: I have seen Nordic Ware kitchen products made outside the United States. On their website, they seem to distinguish the product origin by showing "Made in the USA" icon if it is made in USA. All bundt pans I have seen have been exclusively made in the USA.
There is a reason the company has been in business for over 50 years: their products work. I know I will add more pans to my collection.
Nordic Ware Website
Other places to shop for Nordic Ware:
Amazon.com
Crate & Barrel
Williams-Sonoma
Cost Plus World Market
Discount shops (if you are lucky) such as Home Goods, TJMaxx, Marshals, Tuesday Morning
...and many other stores including department stores.
I purchased my first Nordic Ware product seven or eight years ago. It was a tartlette pan sold at a Williams-Sonoma store. Now I also own a bundtlette pan, four bundt brownie pans, and two bundt mini bites pans.
Two of my bundt brownie pans and a bundlette pan are cast aluminum construction while other two bundt brownie pans and bundt mini bites pans are coated aluminum.
Cast aluminum bundt brownie pan
Coated aluminum bundt brownie pan
The cast aluminum version (top) is easier to work with, but these pans are a little more expensive. It tends to result in more moist bundt cakes and cakes don't stick as easily. Coated aluminum version (bottom) requires more greasing and flouring.
One little warning: I have seen Nordic Ware kitchen products made outside the United States. On their website, they seem to distinguish the product origin by showing "Made in the USA" icon if it is made in USA. All bundt pans I have seen have been exclusively made in the USA.
There is a reason the company has been in business for over 50 years: their products work. I know I will add more pans to my collection.
Nordic Ware Website
Other places to shop for Nordic Ware:
Amazon.com
Crate & Barrel
Williams-Sonoma
Cost Plus World Market
Discount shops (if you are lucky) such as Home Goods, TJMaxx, Marshals, Tuesday Morning
...and many other stores including department stores.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Buy "Made in the USA"
Look in your closet, kitchen, and living room. How many items can you find that are made in the USA? Most of us will find more products manufactured in other countries. I have been consciously choosing America-made products for the last several years when it is available. A bitter truth is that some items are not made in the United States at all. Some of us has taken economics classes and are familiar to the specialization of production and trading based on absolute advantage and comparative advantage a country has over other countries. But is the efficiency everything?
The main reason I purchase American products is the environmental concerns. The regulations we have in this country is not perfect but are still more effective than in many other countries. If the price we pay for a cheap foreign product does not include the true cost of production, such as polluted soil and water or compromised product safety, is a cheap product really worth saving a few dollars?
Fortunately, with the rising costs of manufacturing overseas and safety issues, some manufacturers are bringing back jobs and producing goods made by American workers. Other companies maintain their production in the US despite severe competition. In order to avoid the extinction of the American products, consumer awareness and support are inevitable. It is a good news, in a way. Each of us could direct where our money goes.
Links
Made in USA Challenge
This site explains why we American consumers should purchase products made in America.
10 items you didn't know were made in America
This article introduces a short list of products made in the US.
The main reason I purchase American products is the environmental concerns. The regulations we have in this country is not perfect but are still more effective than in many other countries. If the price we pay for a cheap foreign product does not include the true cost of production, such as polluted soil and water or compromised product safety, is a cheap product really worth saving a few dollars?
Fortunately, with the rising costs of manufacturing overseas and safety issues, some manufacturers are bringing back jobs and producing goods made by American workers. Other companies maintain their production in the US despite severe competition. In order to avoid the extinction of the American products, consumer awareness and support are inevitable. It is a good news, in a way. Each of us could direct where our money goes.
Links
Made in USA Challenge
This site explains why we American consumers should purchase products made in America.
10 items you didn't know were made in America
This article introduces a short list of products made in the US.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Rachel Fannan
It had to be at least two years ago when Beautiful Dreamer featured in a Canon TV commercial caught my attention. It turns out that I was not the only one who dropped everything what I was doing and searched who sang the song; Rachel Fannan's name came up in less than a second. She is also the lead vocalist of the LA-bases band Only You.
Beautiful Dreamer
Rachel Fannan feat. Michael Harris
Birds Fled From Me - The Resisted
Let Me Sing You Love Songs
There are other music videos of Rachel Fannan on YouTube.
Rachel Fannan links
Website
Music on Myspace
Only You FB
Beautiful Dreamer
Rachel Fannan feat. Michael Harris
Birds Fled From Me - The Resisted
Let Me Sing You Love Songs
There are other music videos of Rachel Fannan on YouTube.
Rachel Fannan links
Website
Music on Myspace
Only You FB
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Sloth Videos
How would it feel to eat only 6 grams of food a day and poop once a week? Sloths are programmed to naturally sustain slow life style which I sometimes envy. It is simply incredible that these creatures are not extinct following the path of ground sloths, their distant cousins. Being smaller and living in trees did the trick.
Videos de Perezosos
)
Sloth and Cat
)
Videos de Perezosos
)
Sloth and Cat
)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Edward Gorey
When I lived near San Antonio, Texas, McNay Art Museum was one of my favorite places to visit. Amazingly, the museum's collection started as a private collection of Marion Koogler who left 700 pieces of artwork and a Spanish colonial-style mansion on a 23 acre lot to be the foundation of the first modern art museum in the region after her death. In addition to the permanent collection which grew close to 20,000, the museum hosts numerous exhibitions year-round.
Personally, the most memorable exhibition was the work of Edward Gorey.
(photo from Harvard Magazine)
To be honest, I did not even know the artist when I went to the exhibition. However, being a fan of pen and ink illustrations, it took me no time to be drawn into Gorey's beautifully detailed surreal art. The exhibition shared Gorey's works from his famous books as well as more personal items such as illustrated envelopes he sent to his family members.
The following is a small list of the links to Edward Gorey websites:
The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, MA
The Last Days of Edward Gorey (A documentary by Christopher Seufert)
PBS Mystery!
Personally, the most memorable exhibition was the work of Edward Gorey.
To be honest, I did not even know the artist when I went to the exhibition. However, being a fan of pen and ink illustrations, it took me no time to be drawn into Gorey's beautifully detailed surreal art. The exhibition shared Gorey's works from his famous books as well as more personal items such as illustrated envelopes he sent to his family members.
The following is a small list of the links to Edward Gorey websites:
The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, MA
The Last Days of Edward Gorey (A documentary by Christopher Seufert)
PBS Mystery!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Logo 101
Read this article if you need a logo for your start-up.
Logo 101: What you need to know before giving a face to your project
Logo 101: What you need to know before giving a face to your project
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Dear Photograph
"Take a picture of a picture, from the past, in the present." This is on my to do list.
Dear Photograph website
Dear Photograph website
Friday, March 7, 2014
Lizzie Velasquez
This is the most uplifting video I have watched in a while.
Lizzie Velasquez's website: http://www.aboutlizzie.com/
Lizzie Velasquez's website: http://www.aboutlizzie.com/
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