Day of the Dead imagery @ MOLAA

Photography, sculpture, and community art abound at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA.  These days they're celebrating Day of the Dead.  They also feature a colorful, outdoor sculpture garden with vividly painted walls. Someday I'll throw a party there.

Log Lady Costume for 2

I want to throw a Twin Peaks Halloween party.  Problem #1: I have only four friends (having recently moved).  Problem #2:  Only one of them is familiar with the 90s TV series.  If I dressed as a Twin Peaks character, it'd be the Log Lady.  Check out the Log Lady costume from Chinotto is my Nemesis, above.  How genius to get her kid involved!  The real Log Lady from Twin Peaks is below.

 

And here's my chihuahua, Cooper.  He's named after the diminutive car and the Twin Peaks FBI agent, Dale Cooper.

California, why U so boring?

California hails oceans, mountains, valleys, palm trees, cacti, a colorful Hispanic culture (among others), and movie stars.  So why the heck is our license plate so BORING?  It's been boring all through history.  Part of me thinks the government makes license plates plain so police can easily read them when pursuing vehicles, which they do frequently.  Other states have car chases but boast interesting and attractive plates.  They prove aesthetics don't have to fly out the window.  My favorites are:

 

Utah: Bold, bright. Utah has cool rocks and they know it.

 

Hawaii: When I see this plate I feel like smiling.

Mississippi: Do it, Mississippi.  This state doesn't scrimp on colors.  It looks like they commissioned Thomas Kinkaid to design their plate.  Now I want to go to Mississippi, sit on the shore and gaze at this lighthouse at sunset.

Georgia: I have a strange obsession with images of fruit.  I appreciate the graphic simplicity of Georgia's purty peach, combined with how its image immediately brings to mind their state.

Oregon: Oregon's not trying to fool anyone.  They're not known for sun or fruit.  They strut their stuff with three solid colors offset by white, showing threes and mountains. 

You can see license plates from all 50 states (some which are a few years old) at The US 50.

Images via The US50, Tenkara USA, The Plate Shack

Girl Scout Cupcakes

By Crumbs Bake Shop

Their hearts bleed white and Dodger blue

 

Folks in L.A. have serious love for the Dodgers.  This funky shirt is from my favorite shop in Uptown Whittier, La Casita Del Pueblo.

Steven Yeun without eyebrows

Pic via Stars Without Eyebrows

Delightful, devilish pumpkins

I love Halloween.  I love that kids get to make believe and dress up. I love that they get to go to neighbors and ask for candy. I love that they get to gather a stash of sweets. I love giving candy to kids--even teens if they're polite and don't show up wearing their regular clothes.  I love that Halloween involves ghosts, goblins, and the dark side.  Speaking of the dark side, Martha Stewart and her staff have come up with a load of creative, spooky decorations for All Hallow's Eve.

James Franco's art in This Is the End

Do you recall the paintings hanging in James Franco's house in the movie, This is the End?  It turns out he created them himself.  See his work at Business Outsider.

Almost any photo of James Franco is a good photo.

Even Better Haircut of 2013: Shaun White

Praaaaaaaaaaaise beeee!  Shaun White looks sharp in his new do.  Somewhere in Southern California Shaun's mom and grandma are clapping their hands. 

Previous:
Haircut of 2013 (Sorry to bump you, Tim Lincecum.)
Haircut of 2011

Favorite jam out songs for the road

Few pleasures can beat a sunny day, my favorite songs, and a traffic-free highway.  As I speed down the road, I'm listening to:

Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
Dancing on My Own by Robyn
Hang With Me by Robyn
Applause by Lady Gaga
Forever by Chris Brown
Somebody Loves You by Betty Who (Mark J. Remix)
Who's That Girl? by Rihanna (feat. David Guetta)
Renegades of Funk by Rage Against the Machine
Phone Number by Jinusean
Bad Girls by M.I.A.

Blowing your desk job out of the water

 

via Nixon

 

October 3, 2013: Nathan Fletcher, Pipeline by Zak Noyle

Even Superman can't stand your driving

 

Like writer Laura Barcella, I am attempting to rid myself of road rage.  I realize it's unhealthy, impractical, and dangerous.  I mainly experience it on the highway when traffic is heavy.  My biggest pet peeves are 1) slow cars who refuse to get out of the fast lane and 2) people who let everybody and their brother in front of them during stop-and-go commutes.  When drivers grievously offend me, one strategy I've found effective is to imagine though they suck on the road, they're extremely kind to their pets at home.  Pics via Funny Junk, Dallas Observer, Very Funny Pics

♥ The beach is my happy place ♥

L i n s a n i t y (2013) directed by Evan Leong

Usually when people start talking about God my brain turns off. However, the more I've been around Asians and Asian Americans, the more I have become accustomed to God playing a part in people's everyday lives. Believing in a god isn't a bad thing as long as it doesn't close you off from accepting others or leave you thinking you've got a free pass to do whatever you please. Trusting there's a creator or higher power out there might keep people humble and grateful for what they have.

Having watched the 2013 documentary Linsanity about NBA player Jeremy Lin, a friend felt unsettled by Lin's comment that he played basketball for God.  I told her he probably means he's not playing for money, fame, or to please others.  I think it's nice he's not hiding the fact he's Christian, unlike how celebrities hide the fact they support animal rights because it's not glamorous.

Linsanity runs about 15 minutes too long. Perhaps some footage of Lin practicing on his own, eating meals, and wheeling his laundry could be edited. Also, the music while generally inspirational sometimes seems contrived.

All in all Linsanity presents a multi-dimensional Jeremy Lin-- talented, hard working, smart, thoughtful, and funny.  My favorite parts include Lin talking about when times got tough (you could feel his disappointment and fear seeping through the screen), a perfect ending and what it means to him, Yao Ming's advice to Lin, and Jeremy's response to Kobe Bryant's dismissive attitude.  The footage of Asian American fans going bonkers with Linsanity is a treat, too.  I found myself holding my breath when Lin shared how he's been called chink by NBA fans.  Watching the film in a theater full of Asian Americans, it's a slur all of us had likely experienced.

Finally, whoever decided to include footage of Jeremy Lin training with his shirt off in Linsanity, THANK YOU.

Linsanity, an official section of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, is playing in Chicago, New York, Houston, Honolulu, the Bay Area, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Taiwan.

Update: You can also stream Linsanity on Amazon.  It's currently the #1 documentary on the site.  My husband watched it last night, and from the comfort of home the film doesn't seem as long or the music as overly dramatic.  I still recommend the editing changes, though.  And I still enjoyed seeing Jeremy Lin without a shirt.

The craziest thing about this photo

There's mucho craziness going on in this photo.  The nuttiest thing is the guinea pig placed atop the Capybara.  Pic via Capybara Madness

The Physics of Friendship: A Tribute to The Big Bang Theory

In the Beginning There was Nothing, Which Exploded by Richard Oliver

Nucleus Gallery is hosting The Physics of Friendship: A Tribute to The Big Bang Theory, October 19 to November 10.  Nucleus features both a gift shop of interesting and quirky items and a large gallery space.  Their hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 12pm-8pm, Friday-Saturday, 12pm-10pm, and Sunday, 12pm-8pm.  They're located at  210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801.  Parking is available on Main and in lots behind the gallery.

I started watching BBT a year ago in syndication.  It took me a while to get used to Johnny Galecki's nerd voice.  I 'm down with Kaley Cuoco's portrayal of Midwestern, struggling actress Penny and everyone else on the series, however.  Though I wonder how a struggling actress working at The Cheesecake Factory could afford such a nice apartment in Pasadena all by herself.  Tips must be good.  Sheldon is the alpha male on BBT.  All hail Sheldon.  When reading Anne Lewis Hamilton's L.A. dating story, I can't help but think Sheldon has come to life.

Team Jiga

I experienced a two week point between getting a job offer and starting my new position where I had oodles of free time.  Since I was not making an income I stayed home and spent A LOT of time online.  I now have seen most kevjumba and nigahiga YouTube videos. 

From a fan's perspective, these days it seems Kevin Wu has reached a point where he's making personal and professional changes.  This is natural for someone his age.  His videos, however, have hit an awkward phase.  (His video blog, "I'm Not Cool" from 2011 is one of my favorites.)  Ryan Higa, on the other hand, has hit his stride.  His videos are still extremely funny, yet also surprising and even touching.  Whereas Kevin is taking on roles outside of his well-known web persona, Ryan and his friends plug away as themselves, which is how their millions of fans (aka lamps) like it.

There was a hey day when Kevin and Ryan made videos together.  They reminded me of a pop culture superhero team.  Other times they seemed like they could be my two little brothers. 

Kevin: witty, ambitious, mischievous

Ryan: loud, creative, sweaty

Let's hope these two collaborate again in the future.

So much STRESS

I saw a new doctor, this week, to discuss my blood pressure medication I've been on for six years.  He asked me if I was an anxious, stressed person.  I almost laughed out loud.  I wanted to say, "Well, yes!  I'm Korean," but I didn't because he was Korean, too.  I didn't know if he'd think that was funny.

#KoreanRage  #DrKimtheMostLaidBackKoreanEver