"California dreamin' on such a winter day"

Public: I do not believe in capital punishment. Although I would have to say it is a bit tough, especially ifsomebody has committed a very heinous crime, very brutal murders, etc. I think it should be case specific. It is a tough call but I am generally for the most part against it. I will elaborate more on this later. But here,

In case you are interested, and I think all should be, the chinese goverment has sentenced at least two of the people in the company to death sentence penalties, which I think is wholly UNncecessary despite how cruel and heineous the crime is. It is entirely neglible and reckless, as well as cruel to have disregard the content in the milk, which that is of melamine (sp). I think these people responsible for these hundreds and thousands sick and maybe more should have all their earnings, and money taken away, sentence to lifetime or many many years in jail only for them to reflect on their wrongdoings, suffer in every breathe they take and have the fucking chinese government regulate and pay a closer eye to the policies and health standards in these so call "milk" and "dairy" companies. See "rehabilitation". The sentence I believe in useless as we just learn to kill and not have learned nor gained anything from this crazy of a mess.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/world/asia/23milk.html?_r=1

Public: Courtesy of the wonderful new york times- (P.S- Lovesit, great speech) (P.P.S- bold text=good ones, imo)

PRESIDENT BARACK Thank you. Thank you.

CROWD: Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.

I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...

(APPLAUSE)

... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.

The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.

(APPLAUSE)

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

(APPLAUSE)

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.

It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.

Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

(APPLAUSE)

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.

We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.

We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...

(APPLAUSE)

... and lower its costs.

We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.

All this we can do. All this we will do.
 

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.

MR. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.

And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.

But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.

The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

(APPLAUSE)

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

(APPLAUSE)

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.

They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan.

With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.

We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.

And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

(APPLAUSE)

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.

To those...

(APPLAUSE)

 

 

Public: I actually feel proud to be an American. Actually proud. We have a new president! I will actually wake up and not feel ashamed to be american. He has a lot of work to do, and he is not god. We cannot expect him to do everything all at once. His heart is in the right place. One step at a time. 

Great speech, the swearing in was good too even though he messed up a little. but that was cute and very human of him. I bet he was hella nervous.

One pet peeve. I was so sick of all those peeps on live feed mentioning GOD GOD GOD.  May God help me, God bless America, blah I want to puke. God, it's not about GOD. What is it up with this country and their fervent desire to cling onto GOD like they can't depend on themselves?  Isn't this a fucking secular nation? So stupid. I get very peeved when people mention God all the time like they have nothing else.....also it is offensive to me. Many people have different beliefs and culture. This nation is very puritanical. And saying this country is secular obviously reeks of hypocrisy.  I just think religion should be private, and a personal thing. But saying God Bless you could be just a way of wishing good luck...and the rick warren speech....ugh don't get me even started. I might just throw up. Sorry I don't sound coherent cause I am hecka sleepy. 

Now, I am going to go to bed soon. I am so sleepy. 

Go Obama!  Loves! And may the force be with you. Mwahahah

Who will go??? i wonder....my bet is going to be on Dale. But who effin' knows.

several things about this video:
+these pugs are absolutely beautiful. Nice breed.
+these dogs have such a personality! :D

i want to see sunshine. It's playing at the Neptunes! who's with me?

http://foxsearchlight.com/sunshine/

oh. and yay, i finally got advance tickets for the simpsons! yeah i am ready.
let's hope the hype is as good as the movie. spider pigggggg

i don't mean to toot my own horn but this is very accurate teehee.

.S • C • O • R • P • I • O: The lover

Can be mean somtimes, and will Probably knock your ass out, if crossed the wrong way!! EXTREMELY sexy. Intelligent. Energetic. Predict future. Most erotic. (Freak in bed.) (GREAT kisser.) Always get what they want. Sexy. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. The sexiest ever....Romantic. Caring.

Ratatouille C+ or B-

Sicko A-

more to come.

i got jury duty. FACK!

yelp.com is awesome; everything you need to know is there, for example if you want to know where to go, bars, shops, museums...go here. lots of reviews, handie advices, info. easy to use. they have different cities too.

sometimes it takes the weirdest of all events, to make you realize what great friends you have.

Great weekend as always.
Update:

+did nothing

+played lots of tennis

+ate lots of good food (hot cheetos, lindt's wafer milk chocolate, ramen + gyozas, home cooked lemon chicken with wild rice at beau's house)

+ i am glad i didn't decide against going to purple's, this hip happening wine bar in downtown seattle near pike's. It was so classy and sophiscated in there i felt out of place, as a broke hobbo uw college student. but i didn't have to pay to drink a mere 30 bottle of wine (crazy!). i cant believe how expensive it is to have to pay 58 dollars for a saint emilion's red wine. i only had to pay 5 euros when i was in france!! it was a fun night with a personable group of friends. I met lots of new people. I drank so much wine, and prior to going, i warmed my stomach with a nice toasty glass of rose, a light fruit red wine at gavin's house. some cheese and bread as well. Yummy! I had so much fun at purple's. just slightly buzzed in a grandiose room of light candleligths and filled with laughters.

+again, on my slightly drunken fested night, i managed to wake up at the crack of dawn while everybody is passed out or nursing their hangovers. how do i ever manage to pull this off i don't know!!!

+oh, gavin, me and some of his friends also went to purple dots after purple's (note the reoccuring theme). I only had a milk ice tea and i had a feeling that was about to do me in, as i felt my stomach merely gurgling, twisting in all kinds of ways and i knew it was about time to stop my liquid consumption for the evening or morning for that matter. i couldn't believe how many people were there at 2 in the morning! its like an asian IHOP.

+SO, i am trying to figure out my graduation presents as my parents and relatives are so gentily letting me choose. I have no idea. they thought of jewerlry, expensive handbags, but none of them striked a cord with me. i played with the idea of getting a blackberry but thats stupid. but i think i know what i finally want for the grandiose present that i so well deserved after 18 years of schooling. A 15 inch 2.33 ghz MACPRO! holla! Its so shchazzzbamming. And a NYC trip this summer. My best friend michelle got accepted to ROchester institute of technology for grad school and i believe she is flying into nyc before heading to seattle, so we might take a trip together and i will shop it out, and also visit the great apple the way it is meant to be seen!!!! this is my second time to NYC but i didn't really do much on my first trip...so nyc here i come!!!

there is nothing i want to do more right now than listen to jolie holland.
did i mention she is exquisite? her "old fashioned morphine" and "amen", "faded coat of blue" and poor girls blues" are my favorites. her album is great! i love her lyrics, her voice...
she is a blues, acoustic, guitar, neo folk singer who hails from texas. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:avfwxq90ldke~T00
one of her albums include escondia. she is also part of the music group be The Be Good Tanyas.

Mad tom of bedlam:

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam,
Ten thousand miles I've travelled.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes,
For to save her shoes from gravel

Chorus

Still I sing bonney boys, Bonney mad boys,
Bedlam boys are bonney,
For they all go bare, and they live by the air,
And they want no drink nor money.

I went down to Satan's Kitchen
For to get me food one morning
And there I got souls piping hot
All on the spit a-turning

There I took up a cauldron
Where boiled ten thousand harlots
Though full of flame I drank the same
To the health of all such varlets

My staff has murdered giants
My bag a long knife carries
To cut mince pies from children's thighs,
And feed them to the faeries

The spirits white as lightening
Will on my travels guide me
The stars would shake and the moon would quake
Whenever they espied me

And when that I'll be murdering
The man in the moon to a powder
His staff I'll break and his dog I'll shake
And there'll howl no demon louder

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam,
Ten thousand miles I've travelled.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes,
For to save her shoes from gravel

and what do i decide to do? stay inside! well it's not by choice. I had to go home and not strip naked on the quad as much as i love to. if its 78 degrees now, can you imagine how hot it will be in the summer! kawabunga! anyways i am not that jealous to all those who get to be baked on the beach, by poolside or in the infamous quad, because i get to listen to good music at home, and write my resume for applying jobs late july. I am looking forward to things, such as new office episode that i promise i won't miss this time (unable to download from itunes because of lack of hardrive space), shear genius tmr. although for some reason i am affected by my friends departure, i have many things to look foward to. its just, they won't be here, part of my life here in the states. its a part of life where people move on and do their own thing. part of it makes me sad. part of it comforts me. of course i am happy for them too. i am just dealing with my own distresses, among many other distresses that's overcoming me now. today the sun is out, and hotter than ever. i've hit my own milestone where i realized i am changing my agendas and my attitude on life. for better or for worst :)

i revert back to my hommage to pugs. i think i want one when i move out. no, i am getting one when i move out. (!!)

i woke up early this morning in attempts to "study" for my midterm. and i am avoiding studying for my midterm and praying that the test will go okay. but really how do you study films? teehee. my last midterm of my academic life! ah! my method has always been to wing it. i mean if you pay attention in class, take notes and do all the readings then naturally you should be fine...so i tend to not stress. ironic how i am stressing now. but i did spend all morning painting my toenails and my nails and grooming myself...

tonight is ram night and it will be the last ram for this year for my awesome compadre who will soon be partaking on a journey in one of the asiatic islands. so nerve wrecking and sad. for now it is. i am happy for them of course.

it was an excellent weekend indeed.

+watch hot fuzz. it was such such such a funny movie. hahaha. it is by the same director who directed shaun of the dead. i am glad i skipped spider man 3 to watch hot fuzz instead.
+i bought a t-shirt from uwaijimaya. on it is a character from spirited away, the little black fuzzy thing and some japanese character on it. such a cute shirt.
+i tried a new ramen place in china town (not the fui-ji chinese ramen). owned by japanese and up to par. it was excellent. the only down side is that they don't have gyoza!!! i love my gyozas!!!
+i bought a beautiful tea cup. and finally found mint tea that i'd like.
+and of course hanging with my bf.

i don't like to talk politics on my journal, but i would like to advise a certain someone to watch the vulgar language when speaking of the opposing candidate in france. even though she is not up to par, there is no reason to call someone a retarded bitch. true, i did call george w. bush a dumbass...but that's because he IS. he can't even speak proper english. the other word is derogatory not only in general but to all women and i am appalled that someone would go to such lengths to use such degrading words. you can disagree with me, but it is still out of line. it is harsh and unnecessary. with that said, i wish france and monsieur sarkozy with ALL the luck.

ok, i guess i really need to go study now.

trailer of hot fuzz:

"oui, je lift des weights des fois." me
franglais at its best. LOL.

"laissez les bons temps rouler." monika
can this even be translated in french from the american phrase "let the good times roll"? it does sound hella funny though.

ah, l'inspiration!!

also i am imprisoning myself tonight to study for my french cinema midterm. unfortunately the busiest weekend appears to be also the weekend where most friends have asked me to hang out with them. O o

so there is too much going on, excitement, newness in my life right now that i hardly find the time to breathe, and to write, quel vie!!!

**edit: i will write a revised version on the offer from the nintendo of america for french customer representative relations later.