Here, there, and everywhere: Japan style

Flashy pachinko machines at Masu Sushi and Robata in Northeast Minneapolis.  I don't know squat about pachinko except that some are addicted to the game, and people say Koreans own most of the parlors in Japan.

Hello Kitty duct tape at Target.  Now your broken car mirror can be secured with style.

Jun Ji-Hyun in Vogue

Korean mega star Jun Ji-Hyun stars in a new Wayne Wang film opening this Friday.  Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, based on the novel written by Lisa See, follows female friends in 19th century China who maintain a relationship over decades by writing to each other using nu shu.  Vogue recently interviewed Jun and co-star Li Bing Bing about their roles in Secret Fan.  Read their interview here. 

Winston Reid starts a new season with West Ham

I'm posting this photo to prove Winston Reid is alive, that's all. Reid (yucking it up on the far left) started his second season with West Ham United this week in Switzerland. The footballers spent some time in the pool playing water polo during training camp. Pic from whucf.com

Bojagi, bojaki, pojagi, pojaki

The Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco tips their hat to Korean bojagi.  In their exhibit running from June 17 through October 22, 2011, MOCF examines the traditional Korean wrapping cloths and modern day reinterpretations of the folk art.  Be Tinged by Ji-Young Lee combines a patchwork bojagi with embroidery.

Speaking of, here's a lovely bojagi-inspired scarf by glowdecor on Esty.

Hey J.R. Celski, see you in PyeongChang

The first thing I did when I heard PyeongChang, South Korea won the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics was consult a map.  Where exactly is PyeongChang?  The city is located in lush, mountainous Kangwon province east of Seoul. I'd estimate it to be a 2 hour bus ride into the capital.  

Yu-na Kim wasn't the only Olympic medalist throwing it down for PyeongChang.  Winter bronze medalist Toby Dawson also rallied for his birth country.

One question I have for PyeongChang's delegation is who is the genius who decided to put a capital C without a space in the name?

If you think Koreans were passionate about competing in Torino and Vancouver, wait until you see them on home turf. They will be ON FIRE.

That boy gets himself killed a lot!

Transformers 2 (2009)

New York, I Love You (2009)

Eagle Eye (2008)

Dear Sister skit, Saturday Night Live (2007)

Constantine (2005)

Before and after: Ajumma's kitchen

Ajumma's rambler is currently on the market.  Potential buyers have viewed our 1979 home and have left their feedback.  It's basically all been a variation of "your kitchen is old as f*ck." The previous owners stained the cabinets a reddish-brown, which absorbs all light.  Even on the sunniest day standing in our kitchen is like being submerged in a dark hole of sorrow.  Thus, over Independence Day weekend my husband and I painted our kitchen cabinets and installed new hardware.

Our kitchen now has a clean, cottage-like feeling! Even the brownish-yellow laminate countertops seem cheery.  I pretend we've moved to the beach and the ocean is steps from our door.

The brothers Lawrence

Not that there's anything wrong with this, but it looks like Andrew Lawrence is standing alongside a wax figure of his brother Joey at the movie premiere of Horrible Bosses. Last time I saw anyone so, ahem, statuesque was when Shia and his bronzed co-star promoted Transformers 2 last summer.

Andrew has been my favorite Lawrence brother (I think there are three of them.  Sorry Joey and the other guy!) ever since he starred as the older, but not wiser brother Ted on the short-lived television show Oliver Beene. Photo by Bauer Griffin

All I am saying is give Dr. Ken a chance

We saw Transformers 3 last night. My husband found it inspiring. That is the actual word he used to describe it. [Question: When Optimus Prime was preaching at the end, was he referring to Pakistan?] For me the storyline felt slow to me right up until the end. My husband and I did agree that instead of Dr. Ken Jeong playing his usual, zany, gibberish-talking self from The Hangover or Community, it would have been better for him to play his character straight and serious. He's a medical doctor for goodness sake. He can do serious. 

Dala, dala horse y'all

I've been meaning to buy a festive Dala horse for my home.