Chu on this

It seems to me that I’ve been in the cooking mood lately. I don’t know what it is exactly. More and more I think I just really enjoy cooking. I do admit, I become a very peculiar person when I begin to cook. Some people have labeled me a nazi in the kitchen with the way I bark and shout commands at people when they want to help me in the kitchen. More often than not, I think I just end up scaring others and they would rather watch me from a distance than join me in the heat of the battle. To be honest, I kind of prefer that most times as well.

If I could re-do my college major, I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind doing hospitality or something similar. A culinary school would be great but I’m too much a home cooking kind of guy to be able to churn out fancy foods. I imagine myself opening up a shack somewhere and making simple foods that people enjoy. It’s all about taste for me, everything else comes second. Though I have been told that my food is bland at times, but I really believe that has to do with the American style where most flavors have to be strong (like being very sweet or very salty or very _____). I think it’s good to be able to enjoy the subtleties of flavors in foods. We would definitely come to appreciate different foods more rather than having an overpower taste infiltrate your mouth and tongue and leave its mark for several hours afterwards.  But that’s just what I think.

What is it about cooking that I enjoy? I could name several reasons. On one level I think it has to do with the necessity of food. That’s one commonality that all people share with each other. Everyone has their own experiences with food and eating throughout their lives. Everyone needs it to live (for the most part). So when you are able to create something that will “help someone to live,” that’s pretty wonderful.  With that said, I pretty much seem like a big time sinner.

Another reason is because I feel like there is lacking in the ability of many people (especially here on campus), to be able to cook good or even decent food. Again, this relates to my sinful self. Because there aren’t as many people who are able, having this ability definitely sets you apart a little. Hence why many people like those who cook, they do something they can’t. Being a like-me, this definitely is a way to get your heart fed. (As I write this I’m beginning to get more disgusted at myself, but I shall continue, I’ve gone too far already).

Food makes people happy. Good food makes people more happy. Good food can open people up and create memories and stronger relationships. I guess that would explain why most prayer partner meetings are over a meal or something food related. So in the same way, I enjoy cooking because it brings people together and builds friendships. It will hardly ever be the case when someone will say no to someone who cooks for them. What a great opportunity that is to have a great time in conversations or just enjoying each other company.

I enjoy cooking for myself. It’s definitely a stress reliever for me. It’s a great escape from the hectic-ness of life. When I’m cooking, the only thing I have to worry about is making sure the food tastes as good as it possibly can. There’s no need to worry about how I did on the exam I just took or how to resolve any other problems I may be having. Yes, I know this can get unhealthy but I think one helpful thing for me to do is to listen to a sermon or WBGL during this time. It definitely takes my mind off of myself and helps me to think about something better.

I think there’s some sort of freedom to cooking. I feel as if I have free reign to do whatever I want during this time and most people won’t have anything to say about it. It is such a good cover for sinful motives because others won’t try to correct or rebuke you for cooking. But I guess that could apply for many things as well. What’s the point of this entry? I wanted to talk about cooking but I ended up revealing a little more of my sin and how messed up I am. This is in no way what I intended when I began but I guess it helps me and others to understand me a little more. I definitely need to try to redeem myself more when I cook.

One favor to ask: if I cook, please don’t judge me, I’m working on this stupid heart of mine. Just smile and enjoy the food.

No no no, this post isn’t about me nor is it about my family heritage. Rather this post is more of a vent of frustration relating to products that are made in China. I remember growing up to see that almost everything we bought, especially toys, were usually made in China. There was a certain idea concerning the quality associated with it as well. It normally wasn’t terrible but it definitely wasn’t the worst. However, this idea of mediocre products being made in China is no longer true. Sometime during the last 5 years or so, things have progressively gotten worse.

Over the past few years, reading consumer blogs, I noticed more and more how products from China were in the news for causing health concerns or other dangers to human life. I remember being kind of offended by it at first. “How can this be? Not the Chinese!” But as time has gone by, I have slowly begun to accept this fact: Chinese products are absolute crap. So much so that one blog I occasionally read, has a category for it all titled “Chinese poison train.” This includes all news and posts concerning Chinese made products.

There is really no such thing as a quality Chinese product any more. It seems as if everything that is manufactured is either bootlegged, copied, of poor quality, or just plain crappy. It isn’t just contained to toys with lead paint. It extends to just about every single area imaginable. There are stories about antifreeze being used in toothpaste and other illegal and dangerous chemicals being put into everyday products that people use all around the world. I’ve even read articles about some crazy things they do to food. One article caught one company making soy sauce from human hair! Another caught a food vendor using old cardboard and newspapers to create the filling for certain breads sold on the streets. Reading things like that really made my stomach turn.

So if all this has been happening for such a long time, why talk about it now? Mainly because I feel as if I was a recent victim of a crappy Chinese product. I never really thought it could happen to me. I really didn’t. That was until I recently purchased a new power adapter for my Dell laptop. I got it off ebay because I didn’t to pay the outrageous price from the actual Dell website. I got a battery off of ebay last year for half the price and I was pretty satisfied with it. So why not do the same with a power adapter. Boy, was I wrong.

I didn’t expect the adapter I ordered to be fake at all but it was quite obvious when it arrived through the Hong Kong shipping postal service. The adapter was bigger than normal, the plug was 3 pronged instead of 2, and it looked and felt cheap to touch. I initially didn’t worry about it too much. In my mind, as long as it did the job, what difference would it make. As I type right now, I am beginning to have second thoughts. Not only is my laptop constantly changing from charging to battery mode WITH the adapter plugged in, but the adapter itself is making an unsettling whirring sound. It gives me an uneasy feeling because the worst case scenario is that it blows up as I leave it to charge my laptop over night and the house is set on fire when I wake up in the morning.

I actually ordered another adapter last week because I was worried that I would be worried in the future, as I am now. I also ordered this one on ebay and it was listed as “original dell adapter.” My only hope is that it really is an original dell adapter, otherwise, it looks like I might have to order another one from dell themselves. I hope that won’t be the case, otherwise I would have basically wasted 70 bucks (the price of an adapter straight from dell).

We’ll see in a few days. Until then, this laptop will be shutting down at night and the adapter put away near some flame retardant material.

I recently got to watch a couple of movies during the Spring Break. In an attempt to redeem these moments, here’s my “quick” review of one: “Horton hears a Who!”

Horton Hears a Who!

I saw this movie in the theater this past Monday with my little sister and little cousin/niece. I really wanted to watch this movie after seeing the trailer a few months back. With an all star voice cast of Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell, how could this movie NOT be funny? Well, no one else seemed to have wanted to watch this movie so going with little kids gave me a good excuse not to watch it on my own and end up looking like a loser on a Monday afternoon. The animations seemed really good and the story line seemed simple enough, another movie based on the Dr. Seuss books. [Sidenote: I'm pretty sure I read the book when I was younger but I definitely did not remember what it was about. It was not until I read the synopsis online did I vaguely remember what it was about. ] This movie definitely seemed better than the other Dr. Seuss movies that came out recently (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Cat in the Hat). Those were my initial impressions before seeing the movie.

In case you don’t know, the story is about an elephant (Horton voiced by Jim Carrey), who comes across this little speck and believes he hears it asking for help. Apparently he is the only person who is able to hear the speck calling for help. Because of this, everyone else in the jungle pretty much thinks he’s crazy and the thought of him talking to a speck will ultimately threaten the minds of the children in the jungle. Thus, a conflict arises between him and the Kangaroo of the jungle who pretty much has the final say in everything. While Horton tries to find a safe place for the speck, he is also running away from those trying to take it away from him.

The other part of the movie takes place on the speck itself, Whoville. We are introduced to another storyline involving the Whos and the Whoville mayor voiced by Steve Carrell. The conflict here is between the mayor and the rest of the town, mainly the Whoville council, who will not let the mayor ruin the upcoming Whoville celebration festival. The mayor wants to postpone the celebration because of whats taking place outside of the speck in Horton’s world. So the mayor and Horton have to work together to bring peace to both of their worlds all the while, battling everyone who thinks they’re trying to ruin the norm.

I enjoyed this movie for several reasons. The fact that it was only 98 minutes long was definitely a plus. The main reason was because of the good lessons it teaches the audience (whom will probably be kids 14 and younger but that doesn’t mean adults won’t enjoy it). There were two lessons that I particularly liked. One taught about integrity. Here the quote from the movie between Horton and his friend Morton:

Horton: I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.
Morton: [sighs] An elephant remembers one hundred percent.
Horton: That’s my code, my motto.

This relates to Horton remembering his commitment to the Whoville mayor regardless of the cost. Not only does he say it with his words, but he shows his commitment in one scene near the end of the movie. The other lesson concerned relates to the importance of people regardless of how big or small they are. I don’t remember the exact quote, but that’s the jist of it.

Overall, the movie was satisfying. Good lessons learned and definitely a movie I didn’t regret bringing the kids to see. It was totally worth it, so go see it yourself and bring along some kids as well.

It’s been a while since I blogged. I stopped a few months ago on my xanga when the whole thing kinda died down. I think the last real significant post was the one where I declared xanga dead due to the facebook craze. Despite the comments to that post, I think I was right. Not only did I stop because of that, but I think it was more so because novelty of it died down for me. I think I used to blog with the intent to get eprops and other types of recognition (yes very stupid and immature, but thats me). Much of what I wrote didn’t have a real purpose or meant anything. That doesn’t mean this new blog will be drastically different (but hopefully it will be a little better).

So here’s my first post. I created a WordPress long ago thinking it might come in handy one day. Well, here’s that “one day” and here’s to hoping blogging will be a little better the second time around than it was the first. I’ll try to keep this blog mainly about things that I’m most interested in: mainly everything. Just kidding, kinda. I think it’ll be my own commentary on things ranging from God, news, the internet, culture and some sports here and there.

I hope you enjoy reading but I don’t think going to be an issue, I don’t expect anyone to read this anyways.