Several of my friends have switched to more energy-efficient lighting, as electricity costs climb to about 18 cents per kWh. Boooo. Well, I've been reluctant to make the switch, as my impression of fluorescent lighting is that of nasty cold light that takes forever to reach its nasty brightest point.

Well, call me converted, cuz I tried some today, and damn I love these things! They're surprisingly brighter than their regular counterparts and the lighting feels pretty nice. And they're instant on!! That's it! I'm replacing everything in the apartment with these things!

In a previous post, I marvelled at what retouching could do for a photo. So I tried it out for myself.

I couldn't find a decent bikini pic of myself, so I ganked a recently-posted one of sillyvibe. Hope you don't mind, girl! So I went at it, trying to use the cloning tool and healing brush and color adjustments and all that. I was going for fuller lips, glossier hair and skin, an extra ounce or two in the boobs and butt, an ounce or two less in the abs ...

But then I gave up, and realized that the art of retouching is a very personal one, that each should seek their own style, and that I should stop emulating others.

And so, I ended up with a masterpiece that improves upon the pic subtly, yet dramatically. Yes, sillyvibe should be cringing in fear. :) Drum roll please! (Caution: not exactly work safe)

Just got a phone call from the brother. Apparently he got his left shoulder on national TV. (I can't say I'm all that excited about it, but he was pumped enough about it to call me and tell me, so here I am.)

If you have ESPN, and if you see coverage of Detroit vs. Cleveland's 7th game (basketball) and see an interview of a player named Lindsey Hunter (yes, that is a man's name), my brother's left shoulder is apparently taking up 25% of the screen, for 10-15 secs. He says he was wearing a blue suit? Can't remember.

Anyway! If anyone sees this tonight or tomorrow, do me a favor and take a pic / video clip of the screen as you're watching, eh? (I don't have cable so there's no way I would be able to see it for myself.) Bonus if you get a pic of yourself making funny faces beside the TV!

I suppose if your left shoulder gets on national TV, you're a few inches away from having your face on national TV. :)

Update: The bro just called again, saying that his friend saw him on ABC (as in, his face was actually discernible) post-game from some camera angle or other. "I'm probably the only Asian on the floor with a camera!" he exclaimed excitedly. Hahaha. Well, one day when he's famous and has his mug on national TV on a regular basis, I'm gonna look back on this post and smile. :)

I'm totally just taking this straight from sillyvibe cuz I thought it was SO cool (warning: no nudity, but lots of scantily clad, strategically-covered bodies, so isn't entirely work-safe):

Pics (and a video clip) here from the Vienna Teng show May 9th here in Houston at The Mucky Duck (again). This time we had the biggest table in the house, hee hee (yay for Evite!). There was some organizational ability needed just because 1) by the time I found out about the show there were only 4 days left, 2) I ended up with 20 people coming (WAY above my expectations!), 3) the ticket pre-purchase could only be done in person, and 4) I'd gotten mixed up about when the show was going to start. But in the end, thanks to Will going and grabbing tickets for me, everything went without a hitch. Otherwise, I would've gone mad. :)

Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did, and to those who didn't go, these pics will just have to tide you over until she next comes to town. Her new CD is available for pre-order. Her first two albums, Waking Hour and Warm Strangers, are both available on Amazon.com, complete with sound samples. Will has already picked up both albums; anyone else? :)

Small world this is. Turns out Dakao knows Vienna's best friend's brother. Ah yes, knowing everyone within 6 degrees ... And, turns out Vienna remembered me from meeting her a couple years ago through Eric (I really didn't expect her to, after a gazillion meals with tons of "warm strangers", I'm sure) and we ended up exchanging some friendly banter after the show.

While I'm plugging away - hey NY and L.A. peoples - she will be performing at a venue near you in June! Go see go see!

Has anyone seen ear stapling in the news lately? I'm wondering why so many people have asked me if I do ear stapling recently.

Well, here's my take on it, if you haven't already guessed from my subject title - it's stupid. No, I don't do it.

1) Claims that it will stimulate the point forever are false. First of all, nothing is forever (duh). Secondly, the body adapts to what it perceives to be permanent damage and shifts energy meridians to go around the puncture site. The body is not a static, unchanging object; it's a dynamic entity that is always adapting / reacting to external / internal stimuli.

2) The risk of ear infection by stapling the ear is higher than non-invasive techniques such as the ear seeds we use. Blood flow to the ear is not as great, and thus fewer white blood cells (the little guys in the blood that combat infection) so any infections in the ear just don't get enough help fast enough.

3) Anyone performing this procedure is most likely NOT a licensed acupuncturist, so you are definitely getting this done at your own risk.

Same thing goes for piercings: any claims that they will stimulate any acupoint forever are false.

Here's an article for your further perusal, which is pretty consistent with how I field questions on the matter.

I love doing auriculotherapy / ear reflexology though. It's the coolest thing! What I tell everyone:

What: Massage your ears daily. And thoroughly, inside and out. Ideally, do it until your ears are hot and throbbing, then you can stop. You'll notice that some parts are more sensitive than others. Those are the parts of your body that could use some work, or have sustained injury from the past.

Why: By doing so, you increase energy flow and circulation to your entire body (as the ear has the entire body mapped out on it), including your internal organs. It's a natural boost to your immune system, and it's easy to do.

It's the same theory as foot / hand reflexology, just easier to reach and massage yourself. (Please don't anyone tell me they are taking their shoes off at work and rubbing away at their feet!)

Hmm. I could probably use this in a FAQ for my acuforlife.com website.

In this batch -

- Ivonne's bday with pigging out on spicy food at Thai Pepper
- Soon-to-be baby-mama Annie wreaking havoc at Babies 'R Us (with our help, of course)
- People spiking our food with various undesirables at Jeff's bday dinner at Canyon Cafe; surprising Jeff at the wine-tasting place (where was it again? heh)
- Sam and Eddie come to town to compete in a pong tourney
- FIVE pounds of crawfish ingested at Big Woodrow's
- the bro visits Houston and eats Chinese food nonstop all week
- Esther visits Houston, and I get a small piece of her
- your usual assortment of bums, orgasmic faces, engrish, and cutie-pie doggies!

Last chance for VT ticket reservations with me would be Tuesday, May 9th, 10am. I'm lovin' the last-minute eVite responses. Hope I can get the tickets that morning! You won't regret going!

I am pooped.

That hot shower was MUCH needed.

Goodnight!

Testing the Read More thingy.5

This is the 2nd time one of my lesser-used e-mail accounts has been hacked into by a MySpace member for use to sign up for a MySpace ... space. So, I decided to log in to "my" account to see what the bastard is like. This is one of the thread e-mails he has exchanged with his "homies". (Warning: Colorful language. Parental guidance suggested.)

I have the sudden urge to have very unhealthy ramen. Going to the store... NOW.

Update: Actually, I totally lamed out and remembered that I had some Korean ramen-like soup condiments in the pantry. That, plus some regular noodles, plus some fresh shiitake and napa cabbage, made for some darned good almost-insta-noodle.