Ajumma's Pad

Folks dressed up as Rock Lee

2012-01-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

Naruto ninja, Rock Lee

Pics courtesy of Naruto Uzumaki Gallery, Deviant Art, Cosplay, Adorable bbs, Beware of Ninja, Rock Lee pic by Radouane20

Mike Patton turns 44

2012-01-28T06:45:00.000-06:00

The last time I saw Mike Patton, he was standing over me, growling into a microphone while wearing a gorilla mask. It was the mid-90s, and my friend had convinced me to see him perform with his side band, Mr. Bungle. She was in love with him from his Faith No More frontman days. Mike didn't remove the gorilla mask once that night but my friend was still satisfied.

Mike turned 44 yesterday. This man is involved in so many projects and bands, I can't keep them straight. Long story-short, he also speaks Italian, does voiceovers, is friends with Lou Reed, enjoys musical standards, and ladies still love him...at least the ladies on Tumblr. Photo via The Quietus

Happy Year of the Dragon

2012-01-22T19:17:00.001-06:00

Enter the Dragon by Chimpansy

Dragon Dance card by Fushan159

Dragon dog collar by Daydogdesigns

Things I wish I could tell my 19 year-old self

2012-01-19T07:12:00.002-06:00

I will soon turn 36. I'm no old sage, but as an ajumma I've come to realize a few things in life. If I could go back in time to chat with my college freshman self, here's the wisdom I'd drop:

Study hard in Math. Take real math classes. Get a tutor. Drink it in until it comes naturally, otherwise you'll be having nightmares about math finals 20 years later and will fear retaking the GRE.

Date A LOT. Date different guys, not just long-term boyfriends. Date across the spectrum. Men are like countries with unique histories, customs, and points of interest. Get out there and experience the world!

Think about where your food comes from. The food industry is a thinly veiled world of animal abuse and you're a direct consumer. Open your eyes.

Work out and be active. You might be skinny now, but you can't eat cake at midnight for ever. If you get active in college it won't seem like such a chore in your 30s. Also, stop wearing boy clothes.

Be sensitive to what your first generation college friends are going through. Your friends are shouldering more than they often let on. Be a good listener.

Learn to speak Korean. Sure, there's no one you can speak with now, but someday it will come in very handy. You'll be able to have actual conversations with people in your birth country instead of sounding like a cavewoman. Japanese is fun and all, but it's not where you came from or where you're going to.

Try snowboarding. He asked you to and you said no, because it's his thing. Maybe it's yours, too. First snowboarding, then surfing. Then motorcycling. Then the accordion!

Surfer Mag on Nathan Fletcher-Antihero

2012-01-14T20:37:00.000-06:00

Joel Patterson at Surfer Mag has written a feature on surfer Nathan Fletcher. It doesn't say a whole lot of new things, but it's alway nice to see Fletcher get recognition. One amusing tidbit from the article is that Fletcher and his girlfriend have two dogs named Mr. Buzz and Boopers. Love that.

Room & Board 2012 catalog

2012-01-14T20:16:00.001-06:00

Kudos to those who prepped, designed and photographed the Room and Board 2012 annual collection. The catalog landed in my mailbox this week and it's a surprisingly refreshing presentation. Initially I wasn't excited about it because Room and Board's inventory has gotten stale over the past couple of years. The new catalog is a whopping 380 pages. The photos superbly highlight Room & Board's furnishings with crisp lighting, cool accessories, and clutter-free spaces. (IKEA drives me nuts with all the crap they cram into photos in their catalogs.)

I'm particularly impressed by the variety of plants and flowers, and fun accessories Room and Board's designers located for the shoots. Many storyboards were undoubtably laid out on what pieces should be shot together so that everything was included, and items not overused. (I guess if I wanted to get picky I could create a drinking game based on how many times the Gehry, Jackie Kennedy, and Calatrava books appear, but whatever.)

If you like modern furniture you'll enjoy paging through the new Room and Board catalog. It's good inspiration for decorating ones own space and will likely bring wayward shoppers like me back to their stores.

Clones 24: Ezra Miller and Daniel Henney

2012-01-14T18:17:00.000-06:00

Ezra Miller, the 19 year-old film star of We Need to Talk About Kevin, looks like Daniel Henney. He's pretty damn lucky in that regard. According to Miller's chat with Kate Bosworth last year in Interview magazine, the up and comer is the son of a modern dancer, would love to portray writer Edward Allan Poe, and his biggest fear is being invalidated by people in his life.

Daniel Henney (above), age 32, is an actor and model. The American set Korea on fire with his cheekbones and charm in the 2005 K-drama My Name is Kim Sam Soon. Since then he's starred in the U.S. drama series Three Rivers and as the assassin Agent Zero in the film Wolverine. Henney's mom is a Korean adoptee and his dad is white. Miller, meanwhile, doesn't have Asian lineage. He describes himself as Jewish. It's amazing how you can throw a bunch of unrelated genes into the mix and end up with people who resemble one another.

Miller doing Daniel Henney's patented squint-smile, pucker

Fact: Daniel Henney's been cited as a Clone on Ajumma's Pad twice. See more Clones!

Pics: Hearts4Kpop, StarsBuz, The Hairstyler, The Cinema Source

The Van Halens' Tiger Mom

2012-01-14T15:45:00.003-06:00

Do you know that rockers Alex and Eddie Van Halen are part Asian? I recently learned that 1) the brothers were born in the Netherlands and 2) their mom is Indonesian. It seems Eugenia Van Halen had a Tiger Mom edge to her, too. Eddie recalls, "The whole time I was growing up, my mom used to calling me a 'nothing nut- just like your father.' When you grow up that way, it's not conducive to self-esteem." Eddie also notes with music, "My mom was the one pushing us. You know the father in the movie Shine. That's what my mom was like." (Dodds, Kevin. Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography. iUniverse Publishing. 2011.)

All this time I thought Linkin Park were the first Asian American guys rocking the masses but it turns it was actually Van Halen! All photos are courtesy of Halen.com. You can see more cool old photos on their site.

May the gingerbread be with you

2011-12-29T14:57:00.003-06:00

I snapped these Star Wars gingerbread creations outside of Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination at the Discovery Center in Santa Ana, California. The Star Wars exhibit is pure awesomeness, but I warn against doing the Millennium Falcon jump to light speed. Don't pay five extra dollars for that letdown. It is lame with a capital L unless you are three years-old. I've been more impressed driving into oncoming snow.

Imperial AT-AT on the move

Princess Leia looks pretty and delicious

This one is my favorite because who doesn't imagine the Millennium Falcon when they think of the manger scene?

My grandpa: a style icon?

2011-12-29T14:25:00.003-06:00

My grandfather retired from Munsingwear clothing company (est. 1887) in the 1980s. He'd wear Munsingwear shirts with the little penguin on them all the time. In the 1990s, Perry Ellis purchased Munsingwear and revived the penguin brand, which was all but dead. They've since created Penguin cologne and eyewear collections. The crazy thing is not only is the model, below, wearing grandpa's Munsingwear shirt but he's wearing his style of glasses, too.

Photos via Selamat Datang and C&E Vision

Korean foot massage: HELL ON EARTH

2011-12-28T10:36:00.001-06:00

While seated under a painting of The Last Supper in L.A.'s Koreatown, I spent an hour of hell as an ajosshi relentlessly kneaded my arches and pounded my calves into submission. My girlfriend, husband (who we talked into getting a massage for the first time), and I wanted to try the popular Chinatown foot massage from Spaahbulous, but they were closed. Hubs suggested we try someplace in K-town rather than driving to Pasadena to Heart and Sole. A foot massage shop was having a grand opening upstairs, so we decided on them. A tanned and scrawny man directed us to three recliners (under The Last Supper) where we soaked our feet. At this point I was looking for the female masseuses. Instead two additional men popped out and began vigorously kneading our shoulders. I got the scrawny ajosshi who had long fingernails and callouses that he'd rub along my calves. His thinness disguised a disturbing strength which he used on my arches with gusto. The picture of comic Jason Sudeikis, above, is like me undergoing the foot massage.

In broken Korean and Mandarin Chinese, he and I tried to communicate about where we were from. He was Korean from China. I was from Taiwan, he assumed. He didn't recognize the Korean term for "adopted" and I suspect my ineptitude in both Korean and Chinese made him work my feet even harder. When I told him the pressure was too painful he informed, "This is medium," and continued as before. I was tempted to get up and leave, but I didn't want to insult him or embarrass my husband or friend. We were the clueless ones since we hadn't researched Korean foot massages before seating ourselves in those recliners. Now I see when talking about Korean foot massages online people say PAINFUL, DON'T DO IT, and WANTED TO SCREAM. Somehow the three of us got through the hour; my husband by seeing the humor in the situation and my friend by pretending to be dead. As we left, an elderly Korean couple and a middle-aged white lady waited for our chairs. How could an old lady undergo the same massage without having her foot bones pummeled into powder and her leg veins burst? My husband reminded me that older Koreans are hard core. Of course. Their motto, as supported by my foot massage, is pain equals gain. Photos NY Magazine and Sandro Castelli

Cheese of 2011: Smoked gouda

2011-12-23T10:32:00.001-06:00

If you haven't tried Gouda Cheese then you haven't been living. My husband's company sent us blocks of cheese and summer sausage for Christmas. (It's an interesting situation for a couple who are vegetarian and lactose intolerant, no?) I can get by on small amounts of cheese and am head over heels for the block of smoked gouda.

Video of 2011: Call Your Girlfriend

2011-12-23T10:11:00.001-06:00

Hands down this is my favorite video of 2011. I've got Robyn's backwards somersault down but can't quite pair it with a floor hump. I end up doing a pushup instead. My neighbors who can see in through our sliding glass door must think I'm nuts.

Oprah and Jason are making a fresh start

2011-12-23T09:55:00.000-06:00

I keep seeing the cover of O Magazine at the airport and I keep thinking it's Oprah and Jason Bateman. Photo The Daily Stab

Jim Henson tribute at Nucleus

2011-12-22T16:52:00.000-06:00

If you enjoy The Muppets and are in L.A. County, be sure to stop by Nucleus Art Gallery and Store to see The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me-A Jim Henson Tribute Exhibition. It shows through January 2, 2012.

Best Buds by Mike Mitchell

I love-hate Los Angeles

2011-12-21T07:05:00.000-06:00

Los Angeles is like an ex-boyfriend I just can't shake. He's really hot, but stinky because he smokes like a chimney. He drives recklessly and has a ton of speeding tickets. He shouldn't be allowed near animals since he doesn't take care of them. L.A. tends to attract shallow people, especially those seeking the spotlight. Some say he chews up people and spits them out. Just when I am convinced L.A. is a certified idiot, he reminds me he has numerous degrees in the sciences and arts, and speaks a variety of languages. He has acquaintances from all walks of life. He thrives on ethnic food. He loves surfing, gardening and culture. He doesn't front. L.A. says I can take him as he is.

City Love print by delovely arts. L.A. wood sign by William Dohman.

Cary Grant's Palm Springs home still for sale

2011-12-14T12:26:00.007-06:00

Cary Grant's former Palm Springs home is as handsome and charming as the screen legend. L.A. Times notes the estate entered the home market for $2995,000 in February 2011 and is still open to offers. (Interestingly, Bish's Beat blogged about Grant's home in 2008 when it was for sale for a whopping $4,995,000.)

I love the hacienda and ranch style of the home. I also like the blue trim which used to be much lighter. To see interior photos of the property (as impressive on the interior as the outside), I recommend visiting Hooked on Houses.

Photos: Hooked on Houses, Luxury Property, Bish's Beat

The haircut of 2011

2011-12-13T20:43:00.001-06:00

I've obviously been living under a rock because I just learned that Nyjah Huston cut his hair! The 17 year-old professional skateboarder says he needed a change this summer so he hacked off his dreadlocks that he's been growing since he was a kid.

When asked if it feels different skating without them he replied, "Yeah, it doesn't help or hurt the way I skate at all, but it's a little more comfortable without having them fly in your face and shit." CSS

The Flowers of War (2011)

2011-12-10T16:37:00.001-06:00

Twitch now features Zhang Yimou's American trailer for the movie The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale. It's a more concise version of the trailer above. The film opens December 2012. Watch Twitch's trailer here.

Daniel Dae Kim sculpture

2011-12-09T04:24:00.002-06:00

By Johnny Cheung of Costa Rica. See more of his work on Deviant Art.

Young Guns II: The good, the bad and the promiscuous

2011-12-04T14:08:00.005-06:00

I had forgotten how obsessed I was with Young Guns and Billy the Kid's legend until my husband discovered Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" video this weekend. The six lead actors of Young Guns II (1990) are still present, prolific and pretty darn handsome. Here's a rundown of what they're up to:

Emilio Estevez-William H. Bonney, aka Billy the Kid

Yoo hoo, he'll make you famous! Emilio, now 49 years-old, has been touring to promote The Way (2010), a film he wrote and directed, starring his father Martin Sheen. The movie, which has garnered positive reviews from critics, follows Sheen's character as he makes a pilgrimage through Spain in honor of his deceased son. Estevez has two adult children and enjoys growing grapes on his Malibu property with his fiance, journalist Sonja Magdevski.

Kiefer Sutherland-Josiah "Doc" Scurlock

Kiefer, the bad boy of the bunch, keeps on ticking. This past spring Sutherland starred in The Confession, a 10-part web series about a hitman who turns to a priest on Christmas Eve. The action-filled series aired on Hulu but is supposedly coming to Netflix streaming. Kiefer, who is 45, also appeared in the 2011 film Melancholia. He's got a 21 year-old daughter who despite her age still appears on celebrity baby sites with her dad.

Lou Diamond Phillips-Jose Chavez y Chavez

Our favorite knife thrower is set to guest star on the season 4 premiere of Southland as a beat cop. The TNT series airs January 17. Lou also won I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2009, is a board advisor for The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, and is a contender on Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off which premieres on the Food Network on January 1. He's on Rachael Ray's team, by the way. Lou has a wife and four daughters, three of whom are teenagers.

Christian Slater-Dave Rudabaugh

Christian was the darling of the 1990s film scene, then things went south with drugs and alcohol additions. The 42 year-old has been sober for five years, however. Since going straight he says, "I've been trying to take time for myself and to be with my kids. I went to African and ended up building schools there. I went on a USO tour to Bahrain and Djibouti. I went to Walter Reed hospital. These aren't things I ever considered doing."(Fanshare) Slater, who will headline FOX's second season of Breaking In, gives his time to numerous charity events like the Chris Evert-Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic. He has two children and is dating former Jimmy Choo co-founder, Tamara Mellon.

Balthazar Getty-Tom O'Folliard

Folks didn't hear much from Balthazar after Young Guns II. The married actor popped back onto the radar in 2008 when paparazzi photographed him vacationing with a topless Sienna Miller in Italy. (The pair met through Sienna's boyfriend at the time, who co-starred with Getty on the television series Brothers and Sisters.) These days the 36 year-old father of four says his wife has forgiven him and they're better than they've ever been. Ah, marital affairs are so rejuvenating!

Alan Ruck-Hendry William French

When it comes to Alan one should ask what show he hasn't been on. Psych, Cougar Town, Fringe, Numbers, Greek and Justified? Yessiree. The 55 year-old is most famous for playing Ferris Bueller's sniffly and depressed best friend Cameron in 1986. That didn't stop Ruck from saddling up to portray a farmer turned hired gun in Young Guns II. These days the actor is married to Big Love star Mireille Enos and has three kids. Over the summer Alan, a native of Cleveland, recorded a short video talking about artwork at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Photos via livgrn, fanpop, zimbio, e!online, celebritywonder

This makes me p*ssed

2011-12-04T07:43:00.011-06:00

On Pissed Consumer people submit complaints about poor customer service at businesses. They tend to range from overcharged credit cards to incompetent managers. A disturbing trend I've noticed on Pissed Consumer is the racist tone of commenters. When people posted saying they received poor customer service or hostility from employees due to their skin color, people responded like this:

>Written by Whatever on January 13, 2010
Race card = cannot take you seriously.

>Written by WTF?! on October 19, 2009
Seriously? Are you really playing the race card? Seems to me that you have bigger issues than custom paint.

>Written by random1344 on August 25, 2011

Really you pulled the race card? There are a hundred reasons why you might not have been greeted in a timely manner, but you pick race discrimination. Grow up, get thicker skin, or both.

Then there was the commenter who called someone the N-word but was thoughtful enough to * out the Gs. How nice. So people of color are welcome to complain about service unless it involves their race? Bad service due to racism does exist and we have every right to call it when we see it. Whites to Blacks, Asian to Blacks, Blacks to Hispanics, Asians to other Asians, etc. it happens. We shouldn't have to shuffle it under the rug because it makes other people uncomfortable.

Allison Brie in BUST

2011-11-30T20:00:00.004-06:00

Long story short, I was searching for photos of bearded men in free magazines. One of the magazines was named Bust (Dec/Jan). Just like you'd guess, Bust is the last place to find men, especially ones with beards. What I did find was a nice little interview with actress Allison Brie who stars in one of my favorite shows, Community (NBC).

Ninja and luchadores ♥ the Honda Civic

2011-11-30T19:39:00.003-06:00

Read about Honda's new ad campaign and see their print ads for their five Civic models.

Still out in the cold when it comes to boots

2011-11-27T08:50:00.001-06:00

Damn you, Sorel, for putting last year's boots on sale (which are better looking than this year's models in my opinion) but only stocking sizes 5 and 6! I want these boots but would have to wrap my feet like an 18th century Chinese woman to fit into them.

Top 4 places I want to visit

2011-11-25T10:55:00.000-06:00

Bora Bora

Kyoto

Prague

Austria

Photos via Beautiful Places to Visit, Best Tourism, Wonderful Tourism Blog

Is Tate Langdon the new Edward?

2011-11-23T22:23:00.010-06:00

Tate Langdon: Ghost

Edward Cullen: Vampire

You recognize him from
Tate: American Horror Story series on FX
Edward: The Twilight books

Object of his desire
Tate: Violet Harmon, the ballsy yet depressed teenage daughter of his new psychiatrist
Edward: Bella Swan, his accident-prone and love-obssessed classmate

Appearance
Tate: Frumpy and pale, like someone at a 1992 Nirvana concert
Edward: Well-dressed and pale, like a Banana Republic model

How he became supernatural
Tate: Shot by SWAT police in his home after gunning down his high school classmates in 1994. American Horror Story fans wonder does he really know he's dead?
Edward: Turned from human into vampire at 17 by his adopted father to keep him from dying from Spanish Influenza in 1918

He may be weird, but he's a lifesaver
Tate: Helped Violet scare her school bully and escape from home invaders. Frantically revived her when she overdosed on sleeping pills.
Edward: Rescued Bella from alley attackers, fellow vampires, and from being crushed by a car, among other things

Big bummer about dating him
Tate: Cannot leave Murder House property unless it’s Halloween (when souls can roam Earth). Plus there’s his history of killing people.
Edward: Gets weak and moody when he doesn’t feed on deer blood. He’s cold to the touch and has to constantly fight the urge to suck the life out of Bella.

How he woos his lady
Tate: "Because I care about your feelings more than mine. I love you. There I said it, not just on some chalkboard. I would never let anybody or anything hurt you. I've never felt that way about anyone."
Edward: "If I could dream at all, it would be about you and I'm not ashamed of it. I thought I'd explained it clearly before. Bella, I can't live in a world where you don't exist."

If there's one thing this ajumma hates, it's being manipulated with lovey storylines and contrived romantic dialogue from male characters. I have grown to like Tate up to this point, but if he pulls an Edward and asks Violet to narrate her life's story because he's interested in every detail, I will walk way from American Horror Story forever. I suspect Tate has a few psychotic cards up his sleeve that will come out eventually, probably when Violet finds a regular living boyfriend. It will be heartbreaking and tragic for sure, and a horror story for everyone involved.

Update: The American Horror Story episode "Rubber Man" aired last night, and for good or for bad Tate is SO not the new Edward. Yowza.

Photos Screencrave, International Business Times, fanpop, and Polyvore

The hardest freaking Tangram

2011-11-22T21:23:00.002-06:00

Created by ancient Chinese, Tangrams are 7 geometric shapes put together to form a larger shape. I've been working through my Tangram book, but got mega-stumped last night trying to make the shape below. It even perplexed my husband who usually solves Tangrams in 2/3 the time it takes me. It took him 20 minutes to lay the pieces in the correct places.

John Frusciante

2011-11-22T21:11:00.000-06:00

Red Hot Chili Pepper's guitarist John Frusciante's appearance has dramatically changed over the years.

I had forgotten how beautiful the 41 year-old musician looked back in the 1990's.

Photos via guitar.com, listal.com, and The Lebanese Blues Brother

Mug junkie

2011-11-20T10:07:00.002-06:00

I can't cook myself out of a paper bag, but I can sure boil water. This means I consume large amounts of tea. When it comes to tea, I take pride in my mugs. Some women are into handbags or shoes. I like ceramics. The cherry blossom-festooned Emi mug sits next to me filled with Pu-Erh at this very moment. Come payday I'm sending away for the delightful Naomi mug, below. Both mugs can be found at ShopHotPots.

Clones Vol. 23: Alex Skarsgard & Teddy Sears

2011-11-19T18:59:00.005-06:00

The big news when American Horror Story aired its Halloween episodes was that Zachary Quinto guest starred as the house's previous doomed tenant, Chad. What about his tall, blonde and philandering lover played by actor Alexander Skarsgard? Yes, no? That wasn't Skarsgard, but another tall blonde with equally nice bone structure named Teddy Sears.

For those not familiar, Skarsgard (True Blood and Straw Dogs) is shown above and Sears (One Life to Live) is below with the popped collar.

I think Sears resembles Skarsgard with a hint of Grant Show from Melrose Place. And Skarsgard looks like Sears with a dash of Toby Maguire. I love their hair. There can never be enough blonde men in the world.

I leave you with a photo of Teddy Sears in his American Horror Story Halloween outfit. I tried to find a photo of Alexander Skargard also wearing a cowboy hat, but apparently that's not his style. All I know is if I were Sears I'd wear a Stetson from this day onward wherever I went.

Photos via American Horror Story Mommies, Paperblog, FX

See more Clones on Ajumma's Pad.

Two movies that will make you shiver

2011-11-19T14:58:00.002-06:00

It's snowing! It's gray outside and this has me thinking of my favorite winter movies. Let the Right One In and Transsiberian are two flicks where the frigid cold and barren landscapes are as much a leading character as the humans who occupy them. Just thinking about their endless icy landscapes makes me want to escape to a tanning booth for a spell.

Let the Right One In (2008) follows two children, one of whom harbors a secret, as they forge a delicate relationship in 1980s Sweden. This movie is a thriller for thinkers. Let the Right One In spawned a Hollywood remake in 2010. Transsiberian (2008), starring Emily Mortimer and Woody Harrelson, keeps pace with an unassuming American couple who encounter drug runners and worse upon the Transsiberian railroad. It may be the best movie aboard a train that you've never heard of.

Photos via goregirl's dungeon and ugo

Reporter loses her mind over South Korea's CSAT day

2011-11-18T04:34:00.004-06:00

I feel like this editorial producer is doing a dramatic reading of a story put together by an aspiring intern who knows the producer likes to bring the crazy on air. CNN host TJ Holmes does his best to conciliate her with a chuckle here and a nod there. He overlooks her creation of new words "Yonsai" and "Confucism." In the end Holmes says CSAT day may be stressful, but 80 percent of Korean students attend college so booyah. The producer retorts that the Korean students may attend college, but they're all mindless droids. That's not actually what she said but that's what I think she means.

Apolo works out

2011-11-16T06:52:00.001-06:00

Sweet lord, Apolo Ohno gives exercise balls a run for their money during his workouts. Holy core muscles, Batman! I'm surprised by the Olympian's agility and impressed by his trainer's creativity. Throw some yoga and a massage in there and Ohno's good to go.

Bring your coasters, everybody

2011-11-14T23:08:00.000-06:00

My girlfriend bought this coffee table from Minnesota-based furniture design company, Eastvold, today. I'm so happy for her! It's a gorgeous hand-crafted table. I told her if she didn't buy it, I would.

The F.O.B. and ME

2011-11-14T22:39:00.001-06:00

My husband has a dream woman. She's not Angelina Jolie, Scarlet Johannson or that skinny actress from Rush Hour 2. She's a woman who can really scramble, multi-task, accurately work a register, balance four steaming bowls of soup on a tray, and clean tables 12 hours a day without complaining. Did I mention she's fresh off the boat? F.O.B.s are faster, work harder and longer, and they're better with their money that Americans, he tells me. He's not sure how he ended up with such a bougie wife who likes staying at luxury hotels and who doesn't even know how to cook a fish without burning it.

If Matthew Stafford has a younger brother he probably was scared for his life during most of their childhood

2011-11-14T21:51:00.045-06:00

I've developed a strange fondness for men slapping each other around on the athletic field as of late. Case in point, quarterback Matthew Stafford hammer-throwing defensive back D.J. Moore to the ground after an intercepted pass during last night's Bears-Lions game. Then as if Moore were a Twisted Sister, he tells Stafford he ain't gonna take it and pummels the beefy Texan with lightening speed. In the end the only player to be penalized was plucky Moore. Watch the squabble here.

I don't know if I've seen too much Spartacus or what. The last time I enjoyed myself this much was watching the Dutch soccer team man-handle Diego Lugano after his cleates-first dive into Robert Van Persie's ankle during the 2011 Copa America.

Update: The NFL has fined Stafford $7500 and Moore $15000 for the brawl. Moore says he "did the crime and will do the time." Stafford, meanwhile, says he doesn't care about the fine. Photo by Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune

It's a good thang

2011-11-10T07:18:00.000-06:00

Good thang #1: Bumping into Hello Kitty at The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

Good thang #2: Morris Chestnut as the home security guard on FX's series, American Horror Story. I don't think his character has a name, but it should be Daaamn!

Good thang #3: Cosmos, my favorite brand of Kimchi. I spotted it at the Chinese grocery in Seattle last week. I'm scheming on how to get bottles back to Minnesota.

Good thang #4: Give to the Max Day is November 16. This is your opportunity to donate to your favorite charities and have local businesses match your donation. If you give to charities, November 16 if your big day to make TWICE the difference.

Wonder niece

2011-11-09T20:57:00.000-06:00

I have new baby niece. When she was born she looked like this cartoon. As a "visual person" I was somewhat distraught by this, but then I met her and she was the most rocking baby ever. She sits on people's laps contently, sucks on her pacifier, and even smiles at people she doesn't know. She instantly became the cutest baby in existence.

Paying respects to Bruce and Brandon Lee

2011-11-06T21:36:00.000-06:00

At 8:45 on misty Seattle morning we wound our way up Capital Hill and came to stop in front of Lakeview Cemetary. A security guard was opening the gates of the grassy property which sits in a neighborhood of historic homes overlooking Union Bay. "Are you here to visit Bruce and Brandon?" he asked us. In a welcoming way he told us how to locate their graves and mentioned people had left momentos on their stones the previous day.

We managed to jumble the guard's directions, but I spotted Brandon's black stone from the road. Sure enough there were flowers, pennies and pumpkins left by fans. Stones from other families sat right up next to Bruce's burial site. It was a rather humble place to find a cultural legend. We lay a photo of our beloved guinea pig Bruce on Bruce Lee's gravestone, and paid our respects to the martial artist and his son. I wished I had a decent bouquet of flowers and incense to leave for them.

We hope in a future trip to Seattle we will be able to visit a Bruce Lee museum.

Beautiful Snoqualmie Falls

2011-11-06T20:56:00.001-06:00

with the Salish Lodge peeking through the sunlight

made famous in the television series, Twin Peaks

Nearby North Bend, Washington

Where's the Starbucks?

2011-11-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

People of Seattle think we're a little cuckoo for visiting their fair city in November. They tell us we must return in the summer. It's rained all day today, but yesterday was clear and sunny. As long as it's not snowing we Minnesotans are good to go.

This morning my husband asked me, "Where's the Starbucks?" Which Starbucks was he talking about because there is seriously one on EVERY STREET CORNER of downtown Seattle.

Breezing through Seattle Weekly I came across an ad for local eyewear store Eyes on Fremont. At first I thought it was Suchin Pak, but it's not.

Giant popsicle statue at 4th Ave. and Blanchard, I love you. Every time I see you I feel instant happiness. Photo nodsmile

Out of the office

2011-11-01T12:28:00.002-05:00

I'm off to Seattle, a place I know will be half decent since there's a BCD Tofu House within 30 minutes of our hotel.

Update: There's many delicious places to eat in Seattle, but the BCD in Edmonds, Washington didn't rank high on our list. I think we should have eaten at Hosoonyi, across the street, instead.

3 dogs and a baby dressed up as Mr. T

2011-10-28T08:57:00.004-05:00

This Mr. T is part B.A. Baracus, part Jennifer Beals. By goldenpeacock

This Mr. T pities the fool who doesn't use Snickers bar ammunition.

"Yo, you with the teeth. Quit yo jibber jabber." cute overload

This right here is a perfect example of precisely why people have babies. Buzzfeed

Zoinks! Zombies!

2011-10-26T22:36:00.005-05:00

How can one tell the difference between a ghost and a zombie? They often share traits like grey skin, hallowed out eyes and streaked blood, but there are some key differences.

1) Ghosts are spirits who may or may be out to possess your soul. Unlike zombies, you cannot bonk a ghost over a head with a shovel.

2) Zombies are humans who have died, but disease resulted in them coming back to consume brains not souls).

3) Zombies almost always have wounds and decay on their bodies. There might be blood, but you'll always see rot.

4) Zombies don't float or walk through walls. They teeter and tremble on decayed limbs. The really scary ones dash and lunge.

Zombies don't smile or look cute. This girl needs some brain matter smashed into her hair, a grey face and black circles drawn under her eyes. She also needs a lurch in her step. Photo by damien

Glenn, pizza delivery boy turned zombie hunter, from The Walking Dead. Aja aja, Glenn.

The Muppets are totally wired

2011-10-26T21:21:00.000-05:00

Everybody's favorite scientific duo are on the cover of Wired magazine's November 2011 cover. Bunson Honeydew ponders and plots while his assistant Beaker frets about getting zapped, fried or sliced in two. Read their Wired article courtesy of Tough Pigs. Photo from Tough Pigs, too, since I was too tired to scans my dad's issue.

New Honda Civic SI

2011-10-23T18:29:00.001-05:00

At first I couldn't tell to whom Honda is marketing their new Civic SI. Asian girls in their twenties? Can they afford a model that starts at $22,205? Then I saw the driver in the commercial pop a Twizzler in her mouth and jump her six-speed over a bridge. I realized, hey, they're marketing to me.

Yoo Ah In: Still cute, just different

2011-10-20T09:01:00.002-05:00

Who was the handsome bow-tied lad on the red carpet at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival? It's none other than actor Yoo Ah In, though it's hard to tell because his face is slowly transforming. Gone are his youthful cheeks and distinctive nose.

Yoo used to remind me of Nonstop star Kim Young Joon, these days he's more like suave Rick Yune. Thank goodness the twenty-six year old Yoo has kept his original eyeslids, big ears and lips. He's a good looking guy and still looks Korean, but I prefer Yoo's old face. As I've said this a million times, big noses give people character.

Photos via f*ck yeah! Yoo Ah In

Bobby Lee's invite got lost in the mail

2011-10-19T12:35:00.031-05:00

Bobby Stein was invited to dine with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the White House, but Bobby Lee was nowhere to be seen. Maybe you're wondering if the South Korean president should be exposed to such a goofy comedian who regularly embarrasses prideful Korean Americans with his shirtless antics. Keep in mind that John Cho and Dr. Ken Jeong were both invited to the White House events. Cho is known for his gross-out, drug-centered movies (including the insanely awesome Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) and Dr. Ken, who went fully nude in The Hangover, acts equally obnoxious in most of his roles. Not exactly classy.

One degree of Bobby Lee

Bobby starred alongside John Cho in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and on an episode of MadTV.
Bobby also acted with Dr. Ken on a skit on MadTV.

I personally would have loved to see some Bobby at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. See the state dinner guest list here, and the White House luncheon list here. Photo via Laugh Stub

The Wonder Years on Netflix

2011-10-19T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Wonder Years television series is now streaming on Netflix! If you've waited for decades for the acclaimed series to come out on VHS or DVD your wait it over because all six seasons (1988 to 1993) are yours at a click of a button. I'm catching up on episodes I missed, like most of Kevin's junior and senior year in high school. Photo via Movie Store

One white wig to rule them all

2011-10-15T21:06:00.000-05:00

Who looks hotter in a white wig; Jay Chou as the Lord of Wushu in True Legend or Orlando Bloom as the elf Legolas in Lord of the Rings? I'm going with Orlando because it's hard to get past Jay's forehead wings.

Jay Chou pic via China Org and Orlando Bloom from Pop Tower

I'm aging and I can't get up

2011-10-14T12:59:00.004-05:00

My girlfriend told me about this cartoon while we devoured breakfast together this morning. We had just come from a strength training session and were talking about the aging process. Suddenly in our 30s it seemed that our bodies are changing without our consent.

My 72 year-old mother in-law exists somewhere in between the last two stages. She will readily tell you that she used to be beautiful and more than one man asked her to marry him. I've seen photos of her from Vietnam and it's true! She was pretty and youthful even after her fifth child was born. All I know is this ajumma will hold onto stage 2 as long as possible.

Geico guinea pigs row!

2011-10-09T14:49:00.001-05:00

Flaunt them if you've got 'em

2011-10-08T01:07:00.003-05:00

Am I the only person who misses Yoo Ah In's awesome baby face cheeks?

Photos via korea.com

Japan and Corea circa 1851

2011-10-07T23:55:00.000-05:00

AncientShades on Etsy

Who's that dude?

2011-10-07T23:22:00.000-05:00

I ran across Part Asian 100% Hapa in a L.A. bookstore in 2006. I snatched up a copy for my friend whose half Filipino-half white son had just turned a year old. All these years I was never sure who graced the cover of Kip Fulbeck's book. Sean Lennon wrote the foreward, so could it be him? If it was, it was the best damn photo Sean Lennon had ever taken.

A 2008 interview with Fulbeck explains that the cover model is not Lennon (seen above), but actually Fulbeck's surfing buddy named Shane. Mystery solved.

Because who needs pants when they're dead?

2011-10-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

If you haven't committed yourself to dressing up as a slutty nurse or angel for Halloween, Urban Outfitters suggests you go as a pants-less Asian ghost (specifically a murder victim). Sigh. This idea is so 10 years ago.

Ronald Clark: Snow White's new favorite boyfriend

2011-10-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

Hi ho! I spy actor and Pit Bull Rescuer Ronald Clark as one of the seven dwarves in the new Snow White film. Ronald, who starred in the reality cable series Pit Boss, was adopted from Korea as a child. He's also a little person. He looks like he's having a fun time filming this adaptation of the fairy tale. The movie, which also stars Julia Roberts and Lily Collins, opens in March 2012.

See more Snow White photos at Yahoo!

A bad way to do business

2011-09-29T06:36:00.001-05:00

What not to do if you own a restaurant: Do not make patrons seated in your restaurant wait almost 2 hours to be served while you continually shuffle containers of take-out out the door. You're going to end up with an earful of complaints and, if you're a good restaurant owner, a bunch of comped meals. Photo: suzycantcook.wordpress.com

A good thang: color in the kitchen

2011-09-24T18:31:00.001-05:00

Whisk and cups: Sur la table, Hello Kitty mug: momiji

Cuteness overload for Friday

2011-09-23T06:55:00.000-05:00

J. Crew gets it right with this spunky young model. Photos from my life as a cat and j. crew.

Kettlecorn makes it all worthwhile

2011-09-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

raygunsite.com

Tommy Ryman brings the chuckles

2011-09-19T12:00:00.001-05:00

Tommy Ryman is my new favorite stand-up comedian.

2011-09-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

friendsoftype.com

Super Bass by Nicki Minaj

2011-09-14T06:50:00.002-05:00

Is a good song, except for the parts with Nicki Minaj.

Photo by Pop Wife

Favorite Korean dishes

2011-09-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

Foodie art by panda penguin

Ode to the best looking member of Coldplay

2011-09-13T22:59:00.002-05:00

Despite the fact Chris Martin is the face of Coldplay, there must be a great satisfaction in being bassist Guy Berryman. Not only is he in a world renowned band making music with close friends, but everyone knows he's the hottest member of the group. His wife or girlfriend must be pretty pleased with her situation. Gywneth Paltrow may be married to Coldplay's lead singer, but Berryman and his main squeeze can come and go as they please without paparazzi leaping from the bushes. Plus everyone knows she's with the hottest member of the band.

Blow out the cheesecake: Olivia turns two

2011-09-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Our little friend Olivia turned two years-old this month. She celebrated along with her buddies Matthias and Ethan (who both turned three) with cheesecakes made by Matthias' dad.

Previously: Go baby, get that money! Olivia turns one.

Andy Whitfield passes away

2011-09-12T07:29:00.001-05:00

Depressing news: This morning I jumped on dlisted and discovered actor Andy Whitfield passed away yesterday. Whitfield, the 39 year-old star of the series Spartacus, had been battling non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for the past year. Whitfield had a true gift for acting, with his feelings pouring from his intense blue eyes. With Spartacus he made what could have been a campy ride, classy and believable. Whitfield is survived by his wife and two children. Read more.

Tiki and his glamazon

2011-09-11T22:45:00.002-05:00

Former NFL Running Back Tiki Barber is engaged to the young woman (10 years his junior) he left his 8 months pregnant wife for in 2009. The fact his mistress interned at Tiki's workplace of NBC, was 23, and that his wife was lugging around his twin girls in utero, transformed Tiki from stud to schmuck in the minds of many. I'll give him this, it's not often a man is willing to to be outshone in the height department by their girlfriends. Most men seem to prefer it more like Tiki and his diminutive wife Ginny Cha (they're not divorced yet). For those who predicted karma would someday bite Tiki in the rear, you'll be happy to hear he staged a comeback recently, but NFL teams told the 36 year-old no thank you. Photo via IFN Daily

How to play iPod Playlists on the 2011 VW GTI

2011-09-11T18:26:00.002-05:00

I drive a 2011 Volkswagen GTI and have had a hard time figuring out how to access my playlists on my radio's iPod interface. My owner's manual doesn't discuss how to do this, and none of the descriptions I found online match my radio system. After some frustration and lots of button pushing, here's how to find your iPod playlists on a newer GTI:

1) Once a song is playing, hit the Menu button

2) Select Browse

3) Select Top

4) When Playlists appears, select Open

5) Your iPod's name will appear

6) Hit the Folder > button to access your first playlist

7) Hit the Category < button to find your other playlists

Enjoy the ride!

Remembering September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T11:37:00.001-05:00

On the night of September 11, 2001, I received a phone call from my boyfriend stationed at a U.S. Army post in the northeast section of Korea. "The Pentagon's been hit by an airplane and is on fire. Another plane just struck one of the World Trade Towers in New York. My base is going on lock-down," he said. I immediately turned on Armed Forced Network, the only English television channel I received in Korea. CBS was broadcasting live footage of panic on the streets of Manhattan. The subways were closed, roads were blocked, and people were running down the street.

I called my parents back in the states. They had no idea about the plane crashes. My mom phoned my brother who was asleep in his Brooklyn apartment. He didn't know about the chaos occurring one borough away either. Dan Rather assured viewers although it looked like pandemonium, things were actually not that bad. With his words in mind, I switched the TV off and went to bed. When I awoke the next morning to teach my 6 am English class, the mood had changed. A second plane had hit the other World Trade Tower. People were jumping from the buildings to their death. Firemen and police were crushed by falling debris. Smoke and soot filled the air.

When class began, one of my adult students informed me that the United States basically deserved these attacks since we caused civilian deaths in Cuba and other places across the globe. "That's not what I need to hear right now," I told him. My manager said she was sorry this happened to my country. I think she was being earnest considering she's the same person who told me she wanted Japan to fall into the ocean.

The USO canceled my scheduled trip to Panmunjeom right after the terrorist attacks. Other than that and the continual 9/11 footage played on AFN, life went on as normal in Korea. What's eery to me is about a week before 9/11 I glanced at a headline in an Armed Forces newspaper about probable attacks to overseas American targets. Who would have thought terrorists would hit the states and kill thousands of civilians? Photo from L.A. Times

Keep calm

2011-09-08T22:17:00.001-05:00

Out of the entire Keep Calm Arsenal on Etsy, this poster is my favorite.

Nathan Fletcher for Nixon (circa 1999)

2011-09-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

Nixon sells watches, belts, and wallets among other stuff in case you couldn't tell. I'd swear they sell skate shoes or hair clippers going by this ad.

Gaga is Macchio-ish

2011-09-08T21:32:00.002-05:00

Watching Lady Gaga's gender-bending 2011 VMA performance for the first time, I realized the singer isn't channeling actor Adam Goldberg, but rather Ralph Macchio! Bloggers say she looked like The Outsiders star, but for me her high pitched New York accent and mannerisms are what remind me of Macchio. Watch Lady Gaga's alter-ego Joe Calderone, and judge for yourself. Photo from mtv.com

2011-09-08T19:46:00.001-05:00

How to make Domo kun cupcakes

2011-09-07T22:24:00.000-05:00

Big-ass stir fry alert!

2011-09-07T21:51:00.001-05:00

University of Massachusetts served up the world's largest stir fry to students during this year's "Welcome to UMass Week." According to The Daily Collegian, the colossus meal weighed in at 4010 pounds, earning the university the new Guinness Book record. UMass chefs once again brought the academic institution honor after creating the world's largest california roll in 2011. Photo from The Daily Collegian

The Gap hits Tokyo

2011-08-28T18:44:00.002-05:00

The Gap has launched a new campaign for their 1969 denim line. Their photo spreads feature real-life folks from around the globe wearing Gap denim, like this fellow in Nakameguro. Read more about The Gap's marketing campaign here.

Spartacus: two swords up

2011-08-28T18:32:00.002-05:00

If you like blood, lust, passion, vengeance, swords, elaborate costumes, sex, British, Scottish, Aussie and Kiwi accents, dry humor, nudity, whips, togas, CGI, John Hannah and Lucy Lawless, then you will love Starz's original cable series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. It contains all of these things in spades. My husband and I don't always agree on what is entertaining, but Spartacus: Blood and Sand had us both hooked. The second season of the series, called Spartacus: Vengeance, begins on Starz in January 2012.

Don't let the 3-inch platforms fool you. John Hannah, as Quintus Batiatus (center), is one bad-ass Roman and Spartacus' biggest headache.

Young stars speak in Russian

2011-08-25T12:04:00.000-05:00

Not for movie roles, but because THEY CAN while promoting their films in Russia. Impressive!

Beep, beep! Bling, bling!

2011-08-25T11:56:00.002-05:00

If I were a Japanese Lolita girl I'd totally slap this Hello Kitty license plate cover on my Nissan Versa. Made by fashionblings on Etsy.

If I could vote one shoe off the island...

2011-08-24T12:11:00.004-05:00

This is the fugly shoe that J. Crew keeps peddling as the hip sneaker for men who like to wear primary colors and no socks. No, this is the shoe your sinewy, gray-haired uncle wears when he runs on weekends. It's the sneaker the kid in khaki pants (hiked up to his armpits) wears as he taps out the beat during his Oboe solo. I think J. Crew shoppers who want to be sockless and casual should opt for leather boat shoes instead.

Wishes bloom in Little Tokyo

2011-08-23T15:42:00.002-05:00

Naoko Ikeda, the owner of Blooming Art, has placed bamboo cuttings around her store in the shopping village of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. She invited passersby to write their wishes on slips and hang them on the bamboo branches. It appears that one Dwight Schrute has been shopping in Little Tokyo!

Read more about Blooming Art's trees and what people are wishing for in the L.A. Times.

Beastie Boys tee @ Urban Outfitters

2011-08-23T07:10:00.000-05:00

Everything old is new again. Shesh, shesh y'all.

Topics I've thought about, but never put on Ajumma's Pad

2011-08-22T11:55:00.006-05:00

1) How dictators throughout history tend to have awesomely full heads of hair

2) What it's like to be an Asian woman with big boobs. It freaks people out. And I thought this photo was hilarious.

3) How I cannot tell actors Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Rush Hour 2) and Jon Favreau (Swingers, director of Iron Man and Elf) apart

Play that funky Vivaldi white boy

2011-08-17T16:27:00.000-05:00

There are a thousand things I'd like to do in this lifetime, most of which I possess neither the talent or patience for. Learning accordion is near the top of that list.

Capybara says "Whassup California?"

2011-08-16T09:09:00.003-05:00

As a guinea pig slave, I have mad love for their rodent-cousin the Capybara. LAist reports that a wild Capybara has been spotted in central California. Read the story. Pic by Roberto Verza on Flickr

Update: It's true! It's true! Here are some photos of the Capybara in question via LA Times.

Dad + rice = ♥

2011-08-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

Pic from Shaun in Korea

What's the deal with Jason Momoa?

2011-08-12T14:51:00.001-05:00

I've been hearing the name Jason Momoa for a while. I assumed he was a Pacific Islander college football player turned pro wrestler, turned hair model, turned actor. I know he's taking over the role of Conan the Barbarian in an upcoming movie release.

Mention of Momoa passed without thought until I read his sage advice on how a man can release his inner barbarian. He says, "I'd tell him to go on a trip solo. Get on a motorcycle, ride to the desert, drink beers, howl at the moon, and come back and ravage his woman and hold her like she should be held."

I'm not even sure where to go with that. (You can read more of Momoa's philosophies at I Need My Fix.)

According to the blogisphere, Momoa is 32 years-old. His father is Native Hawaiian and his mother is white with some Native American lineage. Momoa was born on the island of Oahu, but raised by his mom in Iowa. (I hope for his sake the part about Iowa is just a mistake on Wikipedia.) Jason is 6'3". He has fathered two children with his woman, Cosby Show actress and former wife of Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Bonet. Before becoming Conan, Jason starred in Baywatch, Stargate Atlantis, and Game of Thrones. The mention of hair modeling, football and pro wrestling fail to appear on his resume. Momoa is thrusting and slashing his way onto the silver screen as Conan the Big B on August 19, 2011.

Via Just Jared

via The Berry

Via Cute Faces

A do-it-yourself renovation in the high desert

2011-08-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

My eyeballs fell out of my head when I saw the home Edmund and Lizet renovated in Joshua Tree National Park, California. The L.A. weekend warrriors purchased a run-down 1950s home in the desert and transformed it into an inviting retreat and rental for creative types.

Visit High Desert Homestead's rental site, here.

I believe in The Beatles

2011-08-11T22:23:00.007-05:00

I sent this essay by 12 year-old Macklin Levine to two different friends this week, and both said they cried. I did too. If you love your dog, your dad or The Beatles, you'll be touched by Macklin's story featured on NPR's "This I Believe."

NPH ought to do H&K for free the way they resurrected his career

2011-08-11T17:06:00.002-05:00

Though I loathed Harold and Kumar Go to Guantanamo Bay, I know I'll be seeing the 3rd installment of the franchise, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas. Photo via First Showing

"Dream House" is a nightmare for Daniel Craig

2011-08-08T11:59:00.000-05:00

Dream House starring Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz looks very promising. The thriller opens on September 30, 2011.

Better late than never...

2011-08-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

I've been saying for a while that Johnny Cupcakes ought to have an Asian man model their clothing. They finally did it. Y'okay. What am I going to complain about now?

Getting from Point A to B just got more fun

2011-08-07T23:05:00.001-05:00

My new ride is a 2011 Tornado Red Volkswagen GTI.

Lady Gaga, Leo, Adam, You and I

2011-08-07T22:44:00.001-05:00

Lady Gaga posed as a man for the cover for her latest single, "You and I." I am pleasantly surprised how convincing Gaga looks as a male. I get a Leo Romero mixed with Adam Goldberg vibe from her male persona.

Pro skateboarder Leo Romero +

Actor Adam Goldberg =

Lady Gaga posing as a guy

Adam via Red Army Skeleton News. Leo via Emerica.

Z is for Zombie

2011-08-04T17:07:00.006-05:00

I'm more into ghosts than zombies. In fact, the first season of the cable series The Walking Dead left me feeling like a corpse. But I figured The Walking Dead may be one of those shows that gets it rear in gear in its second season. How charming is Steven Yeun in this promo for season two from last month's Comic Con?

My top zombie films:

28 Days Later (2002) Ironically humans are the most frightening part of this unsettling zombie piece by Danny Boyle.

REC (2002) Technically the zombies aren't dead in this Spanish film, but are infected with a virus that makes them act like violent flesh-eaters. Now I am creeped out by Barcelona apartments the same way The Grudge made me scared of Japanese houses. Photo via Blood and Beer

Dead Snow (2009) Norwegians know zombies. And Nazis. And snow! Photo from Dread Central

Raise your hand if you look like Rain

2011-08-01T22:58:00.001-05:00

Most mornings when I leave the house I feel like this.

Or this. (Whenever I put on glasses I instantly see Rain peering back at me.)

Frankly, I'd rather look like this.

Though my real dream is to look more like this.

Pics courtesy of Fat People of Color and No Good for Me

David kicks Volatile Organic Compounds to the curb

2011-08-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

Ajumma's been without cable television for the entire summer. David Bromstad has likely been pimping his Mythic color collections on HGTV for months. I just learned about his low-odor, non-toxic paint line from a friend, and I think it's fabulous (and pretty).

See David's fab four collections at Mythic Paint.