Saturday, July 31, 2010

Spam comments.

I keep on getting these spam comments from China or Taiwan. I know it is spam because the comment will always include a "link" to some website they are promoting. And I know it is from a Chinese person because their blogger names are in Chinese. Often the comments are in Chinese and if it is in English, it is always some copied proverbs or saying that do not even relate to the content of the blog entry. How annoying!!! Is there a way to block these people once so I won't keep on getting comments from them??? I wish all these spammers will roll over and die!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Nice but Overrated

Here is a list of things or places that do indeed amuses me but on the other hand are just overrated.

- Sunny weekend on the beach or by the Lake in Chicago. Yes it is indeed nice to frolic by the lake on a nice day. The cool breeze and the magnificent skyline of downtown are all therapeutic to the senses. But on the other hand, the crowd can be trying to ones constitution. Specially those that decide to walk or bike side by side slowly on the bike path. Not to mention the traffic to and from the lake are just insufferable.

- Wicked the Musical. All my friends raved about this and when I saw it, it was a let down. It was a nice musical but not just that great. The music score were not that melodic and unforgettable.

- NYC/Manhattan. Indeed Manhattan has the best theater scene, great source of culture and an excellent night life but just too expensive. Not to mention the crowd, garbage and crime.

- Smart Phones / I-Phones. These are wondrous devices with loads of useful applications but having them also means more distractions from people. Distractions from pedestrians and drivers alike are not only annoying but can be very dangerous too!

- Lady Gaga. She does have popular danceable songs great for the club scenes. I do enjoy some of her songs but she has to withstand the test of longevity to be aligned to the likes of Madonna. And she is not that pretty.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Make threats all you want.

Unreasonable client/costumer, with an unreasonable sense of entitlement, who makes unreasonable threats and these threats are not met with an apology or concern usually gets more riled up.

This was the case tonight with a patient. This patient has no respect and regard for our time cause she has canceled 2 appointments and did not show up for 2 more appointments. Our policy, that they sign to, clearly says if a client misses 3 appointments, he/she will be discharged. When I told her firmly but calmly that we have already given her extra leeway for her poor attendance, she got annoyed by this. She came to see me tonight 15 minutes late with an excuse that she was at the nail salon but I still treated her and double booked her with the client that follows her. She still received her full 30 minutes of exercises plus the IFC treatment at the end. When she asked for hot pack to her knees, I told her that we run out of time for that already. I added that had she came on time, we would have been able to do it. This got her angry and she began making threats that she will change her appointments to see other therapist instead of me. At this point, I had my fill of her behavior and antics that I simply said to go ahead. I added that I would welcome the change. This got her angrier and she began making threats that she will bring her business elsewhere. I responded that we are in fact loosing more money on her because she has not been showing up for her appointments. This got her even more riled up and threatened to contact my superior. I gave her my supervisor's name and told her that my supervisor is well aware for her situation and how this does not scare me. This made her burst out of the clinic all fumed up. No matter what the business model say about clients are always right, I do not believe it. This client was obviously not in the right and she just got really angry that her threats were not met with an apology or concern from me. Serves her right!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Anti Chamo Organization

American high school kids can be very mean and evil. At least that is what I see in some movies and television shows. I do not know if that is a true representation of most American high school and the dynamics of kids. Anyhow, I do not recall my high school back in the Philippines being that way. I do not recall anybody bullying or humiliating somebody else. The meanest thing I recall that I was involved in was joining the "ACO". ACO was this informal group that we boys formed as a sign of solidarity to show our annoyance to this one female classmate. ACO stands for "anti-chamo organization". Of course her name was not really "Chamo". Chamo was just a term we coined for her cause she looks like a maid servant. Chamo was actually a short version for "chabokan been" which is a Chinese phrase to mean face of a maid servant. We did not really do anything to harm or hurt her. I do not even remember what exactly we did. Perhaps just bond to complain with each other about Chamo. It was just that any boys who was annoyed with this classmate was a member of ACO. I do not recall Chamo ever finding out about ACO. As far as most of the girls in our class knew, ACO stands for "Alliance Cooperative Organization" which is actually an oxy-moron. I am sure the girls did not buy it but there was no way any of us boys revealed the true meaning of ACO to them back then. I am not sure if Chamo knows about it now. Well if she reads this, she might. But then again I have not revealed who Chamo really is, have I?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Sports Illustrated called her the greatest

"Irreverent as it sounds, if you matched tennis's female legends head-to-head — all at their best, with identical equipment — Williams wouldn't just beat the others; she would crush them. Graf's scythelike slice backhand? Williams would bend her knees and tee off on it. Evert's consistency? Serena would simply overpower Chrissie. Navratilova's attacking game? Williams would whistle returns by the peerless serve-and-volleyer before she got to net. Plus, there has never been a player of Williams's mental toughness, a refusal to lose that kicks in even in emotional matches against Venus, her sister and best friend."
An article from Yahoo sports Tennis section caught my attention. The article / blog dissected the argument of L.J. Wertheim why he proclaimed Serena Williams as the greatest player of all times. Insightful as the article was, the comments from loads of people were more amusing and interesting to read. One can definitely see the camp who are Pro Serena and the ones against her. Many have valid arguments but some are just plain mean spirited and biased against Serena. Many does not even care to explain why they do not agree with the Sports Illustrated proclamation that Serena is the greatest. I for one think highly of Serena and that I think she is a great tennis player but I am not even going to begin comparing her with the other greats out there in Women's Tennis. It is just a moot point cause there are so many "what if" and variables to consider before beginning to compare objectively. I am just hoping for Serena to improve her stats so she can be proclaimed as the greatest with more validity.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Opinion improved about Eclipse.

I first saw Twilight Saga: Eclipse in MN over the 4th of July weekend with Sam and Richard. I was so tired then but rallied my spirit to watch Eclipse since I was looking forward to the 3rd installment of the Twilight Saga. My first impression of the movie was that it was so slow and lackluster. The part where Bella and Edward exchanged declaration of their love bored me to the point that I even dozed off for a few seconds. The movie seemed like a set up for the next movie. But the movie was not without its exciting moments. The fight scenes were very visually stimulating indeed with the appropriate slow motions. Jacob looked very yummy as ever while Edward somehow lost a little of his good looks appeal.

The second time I saw the movie was with Tom and Jeff here in Chicago. This time I was well rested and was able to watch the movie with clearer head. And I must say my opinion of it improved after seeing it the second time. Even the "boring" moments of Edward and Bella were not as drab and presented itself as necessary for the story. The movie this time appeared to be a good adaptation of the book where all necessary details were given enough screen time. Jacob looked hotter and Edward's hairdo appeared stylish and cool. I was able to appreciate more the witty lines delivered by the characters. And I got out of the movie with the impression that it was a 4 out of 5 star movie.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Shirtless boy dancing

This young man Pavel is cute with a fine body. I know this post is just an excuse to showcase gratuitous male semi nudity but he entertained me with his silly dance and titillating body gyrations. Hope he does the same to you!



Thursday, July 08, 2010

My fishing hobby

Fishing is my new found hobby. I do not know how long this will last but for now I am most diverted by it. It all began when I saw these videos of snakehead, Large mouth bass and Northern Pike in Youtube. These fish would eat anything that fit in their mouth. One video of a Northern Pike in particular ate a bass about 1/3 its size! I was amazed and riveted. I want one of those fish in my aquarium! But unfortunately pet stores and fish stores do not sell them. I have to catch one myself to bring home. Well at least I knew I can catch a Bass and Pike here in America. Snakeheads are just found in Asia. So I started researching about the possibility of fishing for one. What started as a fleeting idea became a reality when I made a trip to Bass Pro shop and purchased my very first fishing rod and accessories. I know nothing about it but I solicited the assistance of the good folks at the shop. I read more about fishing and I discussed more about it to people. I gained knowledge and the more I gained, the more I got hook.

So I made trips to Montrose Harbor in an attempt to catch my very first fish. On my 3rd trip, I finally caught 4 of what I thought were catfish. But later research revealed that what I caught were Round Goby which are invasive species to Lake Michigan. Regardless of what I caught, my very first catch was very exciting and rewarding! I felt that I have accomplished something from my perseverance. I conquered the wild! That is being overly dramatic I know. Later trips to Montrose Harbor yielded more Round Goby prize. It was not as exciting as the first time. Soon I yearned to catch any other fish besides a Goby. I aimed to catch a Bass or a Pike which was what started this hobby.

The opportunity presented itself when I was invited by my friend Sam and Richard to spend the 4th of July long weekend in Lindstrom, MN. I have been there before and I know there are lakes in the area that I could fish. So I packed my fishing gear and traveled to MN with Sam that Friday. Got myself a 3 day 25 dollars MN fishing license and began my attempt to catch the elusive Bass or Pike. First try was in a canoe with Richard. It was an adventure that included the canoe tipping over due to strong waves. Got really wet and caught no fish. Second attempt was at the local beach of Lake Lindstrom along the public pier. Caught none again. I persevered and on my second trip to Lake Lindstrom on the 3rd day, I was rewarded by a catch. At first I was getting no bite from the fish while the couple next to me keeps on getting bites. I followed their method and that yielded a Sun fish! Yay! I finally caught my second fish species. Stimulating as it was but still no Bass or Pike. I believe I am slowly learning how to catch one. Perhaps my third fish species catch will be a Bass or a Pike. Perhaps not but the adventure will go on.

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Brilliant solution to my crappy birth date

My friend Sam mentioned once that his mother will be celebrating her birthday. When we asked when her birthday is, he said it varies every year since she celebrate it on the day she was born based on the Lunar calendar (aka Chinese calendar). So on our Gregorian calendar, the date varies every year.

Since I am ethnically Chinese and I abhor my birthday on the Gregorian Calendar, I have decided to celebrate my birthday on the day I was born based on the Lunar Calendar. It would not be too outrageous since I am just simply following my ancestral ways. And I was born on the 13th day of the 11th month of the Lunar calendar that year (January 1 in the Gregorian calendar). The 13th day of the 11th month of the Lunar calendar this year falls on December 18, 2010. So I celebrate my birthday December 18 this year. Next year December 7. December 25 the following year (crap!). And December 15 after that. Well it is a lot better than having to celebrate it January 1 every year.

I am quite content with this resolution!

Thursday, July 01, 2010

stir fried chicken and veggies on oyster sauce

I hate chicken breast. I prefer red meat in the chicken and whenever I buy a whole chicken rotisserie, I really do not know what to do with the breast part. My coworker gave me a tip on what to do with it. Here is the end result dish.

Chop the left over breast into sugar cubes size pieces.
Chop one whole onion into small pieces as desired.
Chop 2-3 tomatoes into thumbs size pieces.
Peel and chop ginger root into pencil size pices.
Cut asparagus 2 inches from the tip and discard the bottom part.
Wash and prepare broccoli and peas snaps. (amount arbitrary as desired)
Peel carrot and chop into small pieces. (amount arbitrary as desired)
Prepare one tablespoon of minced garlic.

Saute garlic, ginger, onion and tomato for 2-3 minutes. Add chicken and saute for another 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, a pinch turmeric, a pinch of dill weed, a pinch of ground cumin and a pinch of Mrs. Dash into the sauteed dish. Pour one cup of Oyster sauce into the sauteed dish. Continue to stir and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Add all the vegetable. Stir and simmer for 5-7 minutes.