Monday, October 30, 2006

Mummied-Up

When was the last time there has been a decorated Google logo?? Regardless, it is good to see these clever works of art come back to the searching world. =)





HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!!!

Check back soon for my update of my visit to Berkeley this past weekend.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

"Where a Kid Can Be A...Adult?"




I just had the best lunch break of my current tenure at the City of LA. =)
Rita, one of our co-workers, is transferring to another division and like anyone who is leaving, our division was thinking of the usual lunch at a fancy restaurant filled with farewell speeches and other sappy and repetitive talk. However, she decided to break the norm and send us back to our roots of good times: CHUCK E' CHEESE!!!! Pizza, soda, and about $5 worth of tokens pretty much gave everyone the time of their lives. It was a sight to see: senior engineers making the highest basketball scores, technicians rolling ski balls, and other engineers shootin' it up w/ arcade guns like they were cowboys (or had a bone to pick with office life...). Everyone came back to the office in the happiest mood I have seen.

Place to go when I transfer: Dave & Busters

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Trippin', Man!

So for the past week, I have been getting this knack of tripping over things here and there. I am usually not one to fall a lot, mind you. In fact, when it comes to nature hikes and traveling through the wildlife, I'm the nice guy who helps others get through tricky terrain.


But last Saturday, I was going to Costco to pick up pizzas for our church's Mission's International dinner and I tripped over a parking curb while leaving my truck. A similar thing happened the next morning after choir singing while heading up some stairs to service. And finally, a couple nights ago, I woke myself up when making a midnight stop to the bathroom and stumbling over my cat.

If this keeps up, I might end up like this guy [in the pic]. Then there will be a big mess to clean up.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Berkeley Redux (?)

You know you have just been through a Berkeley-like exam when you skip the first four questions and there are four questions on the exam.

[Sigh] Just gotta live and learn. Like everything else.

Speaking of which, only 4 more days until I head up to Cal to chillax...without the exams, of course. =)

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Chris Tomlin - "See the Morning"



I attended my first Christian concert tonight and I really had a good time. I carpooled with Jesse and Tammy and we made some pretty good catch-up whilst going through the crowded Sunday LA traffic to Gibson Amphitheater in Universal Citywalk (yeah...I didn't know they had one there), meeting with several others from our church. An up-and-coming Christian rock band called Trading Yesterday opened the evening with songs of personal reflection that had an Evanescence-edge to it (not surprising, since a former band member started the aforementioned group). Soon afterwards, Chris Tomlin came onto stage and led the thousands of people into worship with some of his songs. I was a bit apprehensive at first due to the possibility of the fine line between worshiping and performing becoming blurred. However, Tomlin and his band really made it clear through the introduction and explanation of his songs through Scripture that this time was all for the One and Only above us. Kudos to CT for turning the place and its audience to be "made to worship".

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Song of the Moment: "I Believe" by Building 429

Currently Listening
Rise
By Building 429
I Believe
see related

This song is so simple yet it proclaims the powerful (and necessary) message of love. What really caught me of this song was the choice of tones and intensity between the verses and chorus. For example, there is a calm, almost somber piano that flows well with the second verse topic, and then there was an uprise of electric instruments for the chorus, pushing love beyond everything. Very reminiscent of Lifehouse song "Everything". Read and listen, and you should know what I mean. I honestly wished the final bridge/fadeout was more prominent in the song, but maybe it doesn't need to be. Love is something universal among all people, and if we can learn to see others with that agape love and pass it on, we can begin to see God's own love for us identify ourselves with His Son. Overall, it is a really enjoyable song.

Walk blindly to the light and reach out for His hand
Don’t ask any questions and don’t try to understand
Open up your mind and then open up your heart
You will see that you and me aren't very far apart

‘Cause I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way
I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way

Violence has spread worldwide and there’s families on the streets
We sell drugs to children now, well why can’t we just see
That all we do is eliminate our future with the things we do today
Money is our incentive now so that makes it ok

But I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way
I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way

Walk blindly to the light and reach out for His hand
Don’t ask any questions and don’t try to understand

I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way
I believe that love is the answer
I believe love will find a way

Jesus is the Answer for the World Today
Above Him theres no other
Jesus is the Way
Jesus is the Answer for the World Today
Above Him theres no other
Jesus is the Way

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Times Have Changed

You know times have changed when people (i.e. your friends) stopped reading magazines and started checking e-mail while sitting on the can.

Sick.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Opened Doors

God is so good, all the time.

Over a year or so ago when I was in my post-college transition, I prayed that God will provide me opportunities to be more involved in church ministry. And now, I almost lost count of the doors He has opened for me. In addition to joining Acts of Worship, discipling a junior high schooler (and myself being discipled by AOW's director), and being a core member of Koinonia, our head usher Tim asked me last weekend if I may lend a hand for ushering for this quarter. If that wasn't enough, my good friend Daryl e-mailed me today about an opportunity to help co-lead worship (once a month) for the adult fellowship. Talk about an overflow of blessings!! I think I still need a little more time and prayer to prioritize and take stock of everything, but it's so gracious when God answers prayers, especially if you are patient and wait on Him (one of my year's trait goals).

All the time, God is good.

Saturday, October 7, 2006

A Phone Call / E-mail Away

Something I realized this past week is that despite the long distance and difference of schedules my friends have apart from me, community is very possible through phone calls and e-mail. On Wednesday, I was IMed by a friend from New York City who was my floormate during summer school three years ago, and we ended up talking over the phone for an hour about our lives between then and now. I was so happy to find that he accepted Christ this past year! The next day, I chatted a bit with a fellow IVer in SoCal during a class break and really looking forward to some dim-sum for a common friend's birthday next week. I got home that evening and had a good conversation with another IV friend up north who is pursuing a job with Google as well as finding God and community in the midst of post-college life. We shared prayer requests and our hopes for her acceptance into her new career path.

While I do agree that local community is important and should take priority, it is also good to keep an open mind for the people God put in our earlier lives to make us who we are today. All it takes is initiative and a patient, selfless attitude to friends together. The lines of communication is definitely something to be thankful for thes days.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

No Comment (?)

I know people read my blog, but how come no one leaves any comments? [sigh]

If I may indulge in a friend's analogy: "it's like going into an asian person's house and not taking off your shoes." Come into my house...leave a comment. It'll take less than 18.2 seconds of your time....and make me feel a bit more encouraged in writing my thoughts.

Or you can be disrespectful and not take off your shoes...foo.

Sunday, October 1, 2006

A Nerd, Geek, or Dork?

I took a test that adequately reflects my previous post in July regarding the differences and distinctions between a nerd, geek, and dork. Thanks to Julie for sharing it!


Modern, Cool Nerd
65 % Nerd, 52% Geek, 21% Dork


For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.


You scored better than half in Nerd and Geek, earning you the title of: Modern, Cool Nerd.


Nerds didn't use to be cool, but in the 90's that all changed. It used to be that, if you were a computer expert, you had to wear plaid or a pocket protector or suspenders or something that announced to the world that you couldn't quite fit in. Not anymore. Now, the intelligent and geeky have eked out for themselves a modicum of respect at the very least, and "geek is chic." The Modern, Cool Nerd is intelligent, knowledgable and always the person to call in a crisis (needing computer advice/an arcane bit of trivia knowledge). They are the one you want as your lifeline in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (or the one up there, winning the million bucks)!

Congratulations!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on nerdiness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on geekosity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on dork point
Wow...what a self-esteem booster! =)