I'm excited after getting a first look at the new Google Wave, which is supposed to revolutionize how we email. To me it seems like email will become more of an IM sort of format (also in real time if you wish) with easy attachments (similar to iMail) and conversation history playback. It is especially conducive to group conversations. The video of the Google conference is about an hour and 20 minutes, so scroll to 8:00 to check out the main goodies. Or read a breakdown at Computer World.
The Toy Story 3 teaser was recently released. Who knew they were making a third one? Comes out a year from now. N~ tipped me off on Crowd Spring, a forum-like place to pitch ideas. If you have a job (e.g. logo) that you want created, submit your proposal and how much you're willing to pay. Your project will then appear on the site and it's a free for all. Anyone can submit a design. In the end, you get to pick through the ideas and choose your favorite one. Almost like an agency with a direct channel from client to creative. It seems a bit cutthroat for those on the creative end though but certainly an interesting open platform.
Currently listening to: In Your Atmosphere - John Mayer (as much as I have an aversion towards John Mayer, this song's lyrics are quite beautiful) and Good Enough - Lifehouse
Nice use of a bokeh-like effect by photographer Irene L. [Source: Fubiz] Here are some of my favorites from her work. Looks like she's been to Hong Kong! Fun summer-themed fruit Kleenex boxes. These photorealistic limited editions are sold exclusively at Target and were designed by Japanese illustrator Hiroko Sanders. Don't they look like photographs? Amazing! [Source: The Dieline] I couldn't post her other work (due to copyright) but I recommend checking it out. Her watercolor skill in drawing fruit is incredible. I wish I had that kind of control!
Who knew that the Fail Whale has its own twitter? Read more about the recent uprise in popularity of Twitter's familiar icon at CNN. C~ clued me in that Up! opens today in the US. I'm excited that Pixar is featuring another Asian kid (the first being Boo in Monster's Inc.). Here is the actor Jordan Nagai with Russell, the character he voices. C~ also passed along this great Time mag article on the movie. Yay for the start of great summer flicks! [Photo source: Angry Asian Man] Thanks to M~'s blog I got to revisit Perpetual Kid and found this great Father's Day gift - Zorro BBQ sword, complete with a mask. S~ found this fantastic online Karaoke site - Karaoke Party. Why isn't this more popular?! Too bad they don't also have the cheesy 80's background videos. How people take advantage and try to get you to work for free/little to no money (put into real world scenarios). If it seems ridiculous to you, it's because it is. Exploitation. [Source: Frank Lieu]
FFFF of the week: "Elephant tusk" mango (象牙芒)
I mentioned earlier that this is my favorite kind of mango. While the Philippine mango I featured in a previous FFFF turns a bright mandarin yellow color when ripe, the elephant tusk mango will barely show a tinge of pale yellow. The fruit usually stays mostly green, even when it is relatively ripe. I think this is one of the reasons I like it - that it deceptively looks unripe but in reality I can eat it!
The skin is much thicker than the Philippine mango and the flesh is pale. The taste is less syrupy and relies much more on sweet undertones. I like that it's not in your face, a kind of understated deliciousness. Plus, it really does look like an elephant tusk!
Currently listening to: Lose You (Pete Yorn cover) - estherfreak and Africa (Toto cover) - Straight No Chaser (Indiana University men's cappella)
In preparation, I learned how to make/wrap djong (糭子 - rice dumplings). Even with all the hours of prep that went in before I arrived on the scene (check out the process at Open Rice), these babies took forever! I am just not skilled at wrapping. You have to hold the bamboo leaves just right so they won't tear or the contents don't spill out. There are numerous ways to wrap them and everyone was trying to teach me each one all at the same time. Ack! It's hard to get something aesthetically pleasing.
Here's what they are supposed to look like. Nice and triangular.
Here's mine.
Sad, I know.
I actually do not like to eat rice dumplings. Something about the texture and the taste. They are different from the lotus-wrapped sticky rice you may have had. Because rice dumplings use bamboo leaves, this gives the rice a different flavor. These have pork instead of chicken and are made up mostly of beans (the yellow stuff) rather than rice. You can also have a sweet rice dumpling - filled with red bean paste and eaten by dipping in sugar or syrup - but for some reason I don't like that kind either. Rice dumplings are boiled for 2-3 hours, whereas lotus sticky rice is steamed.
Another part of today was the dragon boat racing. Super intense. The guy in the front drums to navigate the team. Check out people in action from last year.
(About to cross the finish line.)
There were all kinds of Nikon shooters floating around today. Bleh.
Similar to Marvel Kid's builder, superhero-ify yourself with CP+B's Hero Factory. Same old, same old, but I like that they put your character on a comic book cover. Apparently I'm a shredding samurai at heart. M~, I can't remember if you've blogged about this before. [Source: J~] Minneapolis shop Carmichael Lynch GCD Brock Davis' cool non-ad art. [Source: NotCot > Cyana Trendland > Brock Davis] Davis is also the AD behind these famous killer Harley prints.
In my a cappella post from two weeks ago I forgot to include the UNC Clefhangers. This group has been getting a lot of attention recently (besides the fact that they are stellar) because one of the members, Anoop Desai (who I mentioned a couple of months ago), was recently competing in American Idol.
I don't know if I'm biased because I listened to Anoop's pieces before he shot to fame, but I much prefer his singing while with the Clefhangers. The rich blends of the a cappella group help to enhance Anoop's voice much better than his solo work on AI. Or perhaps I didn't much care for the Idol arrangements.
In any case, Anoop's voice is amazing and it's a shame he didn't go further. With or without his fame, the Clefhangers hold their own with some beautiful covers, but I am glad their videos are getting many more well-deserved hits as an aftermath of AI.
Lullaby (Josh Groban cover) with soloist Ryan White
Angel of Mine (Eternal/Monica cover) with soloist Anoop Desai
(You can compare it with his American Idol solo cover of the same song. IMO, not as good as the above.)
Boston (Augustana cover) with soloist Steve McQuaid
The Only One for Me (Brian McKnight cover) with soloist Anoop Desai
And Anoop's cover of Phil Collin's True Colors on American Idol
We of course don't have Memorial Day here, but I'm still remembering the brave men and women who have served/fought so bravely. Your strength is amazing.
Good thing there is also no grilling going on here. It is just not the right time of the year for BBQing. Either be soaked by sweat while baking in the sun or soaked by the torrential rainstorms.
Who knew Craigslist has a Best-of List? Read at your own discretion, but some of them are pretty crazy. Brace yourselves, everyone. I'm back on Chinese typing! Fighting the learning curve. Before, I assumed that eventually I would level out with my English words per minute, but apparently the average skilled typer is much slower in Chinese - 20 characters per minute (versus the 60 WPM in English). Makes me feel like a bit better. Like I'm not trying to climb an impossible mountain.
