Slutty Ever After

The Hollowed Paloma's Marrakesh Enamel Ring

2010-12-14T05:58:00.004-05:00

It is not a news anymore that I want a nicely designed gold ring. Call me vanity but I just happen to like the designer stuff, though the difference between me and the richies is that I learn so much about a piece before I place an order. So here it comes, the ring I've been wanted for a long long time, the Paloma Picasso's Marrakesh Ring with blue enamel.

I'm not so concerned about the price although it is a good three grand. However, what strikes me the most is that under its deluding bulky shape, this beautifully rendered ring is actually hollow!! I mean, i know it's hard to enamel all the way around with such complicated pattern and it is a very successful design (to me), why can't they make it solid since it's already so expensive? The Frank Gehry Torque ring in sterling silver that I have from Tiffany is only 17 grams, and that is a lot more than this Paloma Picasso's Marrakesh Ring. In comparison, the other hollowed marrakesh ring not even half of the price and they weight about the same!! So let me get this clear and straight. The Paloma Picasso hollowed ring is 1400, but with the Enamel it becomes 3200? Discard the extra weight from the internal wall, the technique of enameling is going to cost me around 1200?

When you are in love with something so badly, you just want it and want to love it all. Call me crazy but I've been thinking how to fill the hollowness with gold polder and laser weld the hole, or break one tiny piece of enameling in the center and fill the ring with gold polder then seal with blue resin. Trust me I've been thinking for all kinds of possibilities and none of them is satisfying.

As much as I wanted it to be solid and be able to feel the weight, I remembered one of the rings that Rob in the thesis year made. He casted one ring and pressure fitted into another ring. Although it looks like it's just one solid ring, he did explained that the reason he didn't cast the whole thing but fabricated most of them is because then people will know it's not a cheap commercial made production kinda jewelry but wel

l crafted art. Well, the ring is also well made and of course this particular feature enhances it even better. So i've been thinking, regardless of the total amount of material used, since there's no way to cast a hollowed ring, maybe I should be appreciated that this ring is well put together and enamel finished. Discard the feeling of weightless while being so bulky.

There are certainly other issues like enamel are naturally delicate and easy to chip, a hollowed ring might get dented or deformed easily from day to day wearing since I'm a guy, etc. Most of all, I don't want this ring to be sitting in my jewelry box soon after the purchase because I move on to something else, which is greatly possible since it is not perfectly how I imagined. I know weight is something that other people wouldn't even know from just look at it, but this is a ring for myself and it does matter to me the most than how other people sees it. On one hand I really love the design, the color, the pattern and it demonstrate that everything is well put

together. But on the other hand, the weight issue is really bugging me and I feel that I am not 100% convinced and even if I try to think that way, i start to be unsure if I am actually falling in love with this ring or I am just try to learn how to adore it.

I am mostly confused now.

I hope I can upload an image of me wearing it one day.

Anger Management

2010-10-23T23:07:00.000-04:00

Today I would like to talk about something else (or not).

There are shooo many things going on recently and I just feel like I'm breaking down. So the incidents happens when they usually won't, and I am more at rage than ever. One distinct example: After feeling my right is violated by being "ordered" to be quiet in the hall way by a professor (that I never liked) who has a habit of keeping his office door open and have everybody work their way around him, I decide to raise up my voice to my peers just enough for him to hear it clearly and said he is more than welcome to shut the door if it gets too loud. Ohhh snap!

My Taekwondo instructor always tell me not to initiate the fight because it's always an unfair battle if I were to beat up someone who is not trained to fight. Self defense excluded of course. To me, it also applies when it comes to sarcasm. I was born with harsh words and bluntness, so it becomes even more important for me to know how to control my words and hold an argument. But most recent incidents made me feel that I don't care anymore. I think what I'm really lacking of is courteous at heart. It might be in my mind after so many years of living in this world, but it was never with me.

As much as I think what happened ought not to be keep going, this is not a confession of what I have done. Call me inconsiderate or just low at morality, I consider and only consider what's good for me and the little circle of people that are around and close to me. I think it's not fair to be so considerate to a point that I need to suck up other stranger's bullshit. I will never attack and bring out my harsh words initiatively, however, please excuse my strong defense when I was sabotaged at first. In other words, don't try to expect me maintain my high manner when I wasn't treated w/ manner.

There are still exceptions such as, if someone really have something extraordinary to offer and I have to face the the situation then fine. But the Golden rule is the golden rule, and I like it reversed even better.

Winter Again

2010-09-06T02:03:00.003-04:00

School is starting in 2 days.

I was walking on Eglinton West w/ Marie & Jamie. "OMG Zac, aren't you cold or something? it's almost winter already!!" Marie was screaming at my mini shorts when we meet up earlier. Although everybody else call them booty shorts, I just refuse that title because I always feel that there is another level between regular shorts and booty shorts and more importantly, I'm not (that) slutty.

As much as I don't want to admit, I've got that annoying pre-winter feeling already. And then it will remind me of early nights, sale everywhere, vacation advertisements overflow the subway, I need to buy christmas presents for everyone and most importantly, bad weather and freezing snow.

Then it reminds me of 5 years earlier, when I first come to Canada, everything is so new and refreshing to me. All the surroundings are crispy clear and exciting. But after seeing 4 years of the Swarovski Chrystal Tree in Eaton Center and having enough mall store experiences, I am a little disgust about how every year is the same. It's just that number of years of me in Canada is starting to blur, and can be easily replaced with the word "many".

It is just sad.

I need some change.

About Love

2010-07-22T22:56:00.008-04:00

I couldn't let go of Andre for a long time.

But I finally did. Let go of someone wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I once thought Andre is my one and only, I was wrong. We say happiness is to have someone you love. I had him and I was happy and I'm content. He loved me and pursued me for a long time. But the love from him didn't last very long when I finally arrived. Was I sad? Yes. Should I be sad? No, because even though he is not the one I love anymore, my passion for love remains and that will go on someone else who deserves it.

Although it's hard to decide who is the love of your life right now, the person can easily slip away if we do not cherish people around us. If the person you are madly in love with doesn't feel the same, then just don't focus on him too much. You will realize that you are too focused to recognize the lovely people who are around you.

Let go the past, they belong to the memory.

Love or not love, it was just a second ago.

Amazing Ads and Bad Shoes

2010-07-19T11:38:00.002-04:00

So... I really love this campaign. It's from last season by Aldo. But their shoes always hurt and the quality is really bad.

Thoughts?

How Much I Want To Hear From You

2010-07-17T23:13:00.001-04:00

Don't get confused by the title. This is not about a person, but a brand I really love.

It all start from a cloudy afternoon. My roommate and me - her retail therapist, went out for a new wallet because she lost the one her retail therapist gave her as a house warming present. After spending half an hour arguing about which wallet is better and having had enough attitude from an old nasty salesman at 111 Bloor St. West, we finally decide to move on and go to Holts instead. Upon our arrival, Shauna, the leather goods manager instantly recognized me from a little misunderstanding we had earlier in the month, and after a wonderful shopping experience we've had, here starts the story.

After we've known a little bit from each other and I am interested in being as part of the team, she invited me to come in so that we can have a little chat. It was proven that she was serious and it happened after a month. The talk was very good and successful, so she invited me to come back later next week so that we can get to know each other better.

I was very excited, thinking that I'm half way through and a "gonna be" already. However, this is only the second round and this second opinion from another manager is very important. My casual attitude and big ego resulting my constant misplacement of words leading a misinterpretation.

It feels like the whole world just collapsed right in front of me when she said "well, we don't have an opening right now." She has no idea how much I regret and how much I wanted a second chance although there is no such thing called time traveller. The opportunity will always and ONLY favor the ones that are prepared. I know I want it so much, but clearly I don't and I didn't show enough. I wouldn't say that I don't meet the requirement in a terms of technical or skill level. I am a good salesman, everybody knows that. But it was those most stupid mistakes, those word that I should never said in the first place resulting my failure.

Now, the only thing I can do is to get up, get back on track and learn from this very harsh lesson. It's just only I know I rarely want something so much in my life.

Disappeared For A Weekend, Came Back W/ An Epic Tan!

2010-07-06T03:22:00.005-04:00

Pride was FABULOUS!!!

That is the only thing came across my mind. 5 stages, 2 million people, no political incidents. I have to say that we did an AWESOME job!!!

It's only been one year and I feel that I've grown so much with pride already. A year ago I was a marshal directing floats, and now, I'm incredibly honored to be part of the organizing team of one of the world's largest pride! I know I've worked extremely long hours during pride of a total of 50 hours in two and a half days, but I felt for it and I love it. When I was standing at the intersection of Yonge and College, looking at the laugh from the marchers, spectators and everyone else, I felt that I couldn't be happier and my hard work has already been paid off. Those blisters on my feet, the epic tan on my face, non of those matters anymore.

It was fun and definitely a remarkable experience working with everybody during the weekend. It was fun to have all the gays partying together in the village, but more over, it makes me feel so proud to see our community grow and become more and more main stream. half a century ago, it was all about gay rights and stop the hate. But i was truly impressed of how much progress we've got when I saw a friendly police officer on the side got blasted all over with a big water hose and enjoying it, telling everybody it feels amazing to be part of it.

I already can't wait for the next year.

A Sex Date

2010-07-02T04:06:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since me and Andre broke up and everybody around me kept saying that I should go on some sort of dates. Ok, it is not fair. Even Vivian got her first boyfriend but I am still end up being alone. Andre kept talking to me like there's nothing happened. One thing that I didn't understand is, despite we two have a long history, it's been already 2 month since we broke up. I know I had a deep feeling for him and I couldn't quite just get over it. But now when I think over, there are so many better guys around and the only thing that was blocking me from meeting them was my attitude. It would make everything easier if I could see it more positively. But it's not too late to just realize it now. So here it is, it's not a date, it's a hook up. But either way it worked out for me and i really enjoyed it.

Even though I have had Grindr (a gay-meter application on iphone) for a while. I've never actually met many guys on it. I have come up with a couple reasons. First of all, I'm not a very attractive gay person. I'm not talking about physical appearance or body type or anything. I'm talking about the personality. I have a lot of straight friends and they are all lovin' my personality. But when you think about it, a gay gay among a group of straight people is considered different and "exotic" (sometimes, lol). However, those qualities or highlights will not shown among a group of gay people. Personally, I am not a kind of person who has a huge personality or attitude towards things compare to other gay guys. And that already becomes a disadvantage.

And also, I don't like to hang out with some kind of white people. I have no discrimination against them but more like an alienation of myself. I am non-white and I wasn't born here. There are too much that I don't understand culturally. So when it come to some jokes said by other people, I have not idea what they are talking about but too embarrassed to not laugh. The Pride Toronto Volunteer committee is one of the perfect example. I am the only non-white committee member in the group and I feel totally disconnected with them. I have no common interest what so ever with them and it's really hard to engage when you are so lost. I mean, they are very nice and kind people, but it's the jokes and sayings and the slangs that I don't get made myself further away.

After talked (complained) so much about how I'm not the center of attention among the gay crowd, I feel like I'm a bit off the topic now. What I was trying to say is, I had a great night hooking up. We call it hook up but I don't feel like I'm going to stranger's house like the sex machine, shoot a load and then leave that kind of things. I'm very glad it's more of an emotional connection. Although it wasn't the original plan (my friend suppose going to drive from uptown to go drinking w/ me tonight), was surprisingly good and I am so content and have nothing to complain now.

He is really tall and lean, has a great smile and love to laugh. He is definitely not the hottest guy in the world and far from it, but he has a great out going personality and in a non-superficial way. I almost feel like, the whole world is sparkling when he talks, relax and joyful. We've talked so much and time went by really fast. When it finally comes to the sex part, I was surprisingly relaxed w/ and do no have a problem at all. I have to say that I am a person that gets nervous very easily. But he just can and i am so relaxed around him. Oh and of course, everything went so smooth and it feels great.

I have to say that I'm usually not a type of person that writes about my hook up experiences, but this time it was like a sexy dream and I feel like I am obligated to remember such a great sex date and share it with everyone.

It's already dawn and tomorrow (today) is a big day for me. Pride is here!! So I really need to go have some sleep now

xoxo.

The Annoying kids...

2010-06-17T22:16:00.002-04:00

So, I replied to one of the photos that my friend posted online with veil wrapping around himself saying if that's his religious(islamic) look. Just to make it clear that he is Korean and even he is religious, he wouldn't be muslim. The next thing happened is like there are 10 people following my comment and saying that they are offended by that comment. The last one says, "you know what Zac, no one would take your words to heart and you should know why."

I found this extremely amusing just because the fact that so many people from an art school are offended by a innocuous remark. The comment wasn't sabotaging in anyway and I start to think that people from this program is to rigid and close minded. I've always have this feeling that people from "here" are too anal. And now I am even more convinced that my instinct from a year ago was right. No wonder we can't enjoy each other's humor. People say "Smart minds think alike", I say the word "Smart" can be replaced to any other adjective words. When we are on different pages, there's no way that we can come to one same conclusion.

The Oldie Good Times

2010-06-15T20:56:00.004-04:00

I hardly go for Kareoke, but this is from over 2 years ago and I miss the good time we've had.

By the way, you will never see me doing that asian victory sign ever again. xoxo :P

Guess How Much I Love You

2010-03-14T17:46:00.003-04:00

This is my all time favorite Story by Sam McBratney

Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening.

"Guess how much I love you," he said.

"Oh, I don't think I could guess that,"said Big Nutbrown Hare.

"This much,"said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.

Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love YOU this much,"he said.

Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. "I love you as high a I can reach,"said Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you as high as I can reach,"said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that. Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet. "I love you all the way up to my toes!"he said.

"And I love you all the way up to your toes," said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head.

"I love you as high as I can HOP!" laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down.

"But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled Big Nutbrown Hare - and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above.

That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that. "I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you across the river and over the hills," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think any more. Then he looked beyond the thorn bushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky. "I love you right up to the MOON," he said, and closed his eyes.

"Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "That is very, very far." Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon - AND BACK."

The Break Up

2010-03-14T17:10:00.002-04:00

What if your boyfriend doesn't wanna cuddle when lying on the side of you.

What if your boyfriend doesn't pay attention to you but his iPhone instead when you two hangout.

What if your boyfriend doesn't call you when you want him to and tell you he doesn't feel like calling.

What if your boyfriend doesn't wanna take you to Montreal but rather go on his own.

What if your boyfriend doesn't wanna go spend time with you but rather go clubbing himself.

What if your boyfriend doesn't reply your messages.

How about this, what if your boyfriend doesn't wanna be with you anymore?

Sometimes we just refuse to wake up and accept the ugly truth.

The Horoscopes

2010-03-10T07:36:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in horoscopes? Probably not right? Well neither do I. But one of my guilty pleasures is reading the horoscopes on my iTouch everyday. I'm always curious about what they say of what I should do. And of course, I more or less believe in the match of certain signs. Oh btw, I'm Aries.

So I don't really know what's going on for all the Taurus guys around me. They seems to be mysterious and interested in me, but in the end, only I will be certain that it's definitely not going to work out. I'm not going to elaborate on the conflict behind the two signs, but long story short, I cannot handle their free spirit.

I think it takes courage to be with someone that you are attracted to, I think it takes even more courage to separate from a relationship that you are so used to but at the same time makes you feel chagrined, miserable and alienated.

I've made up my mind after so many things I've been through with him, and I think I am going to make it happen.

Dispute In Reality

2010-01-18T00:15:00.006-05:00

One of my friend recently went back to Boston from visiting me in Toronto. I have to admit that I have always fancied him. Although the feeling wasn't quite strong, it is somehow always there. But it didn't work out as I thought it would. Arguments over little things, like were to eat or what to do. The little stuff.

I feel like I wasn't even treating him well. I was really harsh on him. No matter what it is between us, the bottom line is he came over to see me, and got my attitudes as a special treat, which he doesn't deserve.

When you like someone, you will be uptight in front of him. Although it is (and would be) all about him like he is the spotlight of the whole show, our love is still always selfish. I always wish that I could truly laugh out loud in front of him, talk about dirty jokes like I do to other of my good friends, or even just share the joy of life. But I can do none of above.

Neither could him, though i wish he could really enjoy here, go wild like him in those party pictures, all the feedback i got from him is:"I wanna play Tetris on your iTouch" or "Let's watch another episode of Degrassi"

You are too nervous Zac.

You are not fun Zac.

Allette was telling me how she failed trying to get him talk a bit more. Somehow I am a little frustrated inside. The confidence of "Zac can do anything" is not there anymore. Instead, it is failure all over the place. There are pictures of him laughing so hard on facebook. I went thru every single one, smiled, admitted that we don't click, and finally decide to let go.

The Western and Asian Way of Approching life

2009-10-08T12:03:00.004-04:00

Here's something forwarded by one of my friend. It is very stereotypical but I still decide to post it here.

Blue --> Westerner
Red --> Asians

(1) Opinion

Westerners: Talk to the point
Asians: Talk around the circle, especially if opinions are different

(2) Way of Life

Westerners: individualism, think of himself or herself.
Asians: enjoy gathering with family and friends, solving their problems, and know each other's business.

(3) Punctuality

Westerners: on time.
Asians: in time.

(4) Contacts

Westerners: Contact to related person only.
Asians: Contact everyone everywhere, business very successful.

(5) Anger

Westerners: Show that I am angry.
Asians: I am angry, but still smiling... (Beware!)

(6) Queue when Waiting

Westerners: Queuing in an orderly manner.
Asians: Queuing?! What's that?

(7) Sundays on the Road

Westerners: Enjoy weekend relaxing peacefully.
Asians: Enjoy weekend in crowded places, like going to the mall.

(8) Party

Westerners: Only gather with their own group.
Asians: All focus on the one activity that is hosted by the CEO.

(9) In the restaurant

Westerners: Talk softly and gently in the restaurant.
Asians: Talk and laugh loudly like they own the restaurant.

(10) Travelling

Westerners: Love sightseeing and enjoy the scenery.
Asians: Taking picture is the most important; scenery is just for the background.

(11) Handling of Problems

Westerners: Take any steps to solve the problems.
Asians: Try to avoid conflicts, and if can, don't leave any trail.

(12) Three meals a day

Westerners: Good meal for once a day is sufficed.
Asians: At least 3 good meals a day.

(13) Transportation

Westerners: Before drove cars, now cycling for environmental protection.
Asians: Before no money and rode a bike, now got money and drive a car

(14) Elderly in day-to-day life

Westerners: When old, there is snoopy for companionship.
Asians: When old, guarantee will not be lonely, as long as willing to babysit grandkids.

(15) Moods and Weather

Westerners: The logic is: rain is pain.
Asians: More rain, more prosperity

(16) The Boss

Westerners: The boss is part of the team.
Asians: The boss is a fierce god.

(17) What's Trendy

Westerners: Eat healthy Asian cuisine.
Asians: Eat expensive Western cuisine.

(18) The Child

Westerners: The kid is going to be independent and make his/her own living.
Asians: Slog whole life for the kids, the centre of your life.

Dark Knight And His Boy Wonder

2009-10-01T13:03:00.003-04:00

Batman & Robin gay fantasy
Uploaded by twinkle. - See the latest featured music videos.

Have you ever wondered what the Gotham City would be like if our favorite Dark Knight's secret mistress is the boy wonder Robin? I have and I'm sure that there are many others like me. So here it is, a Batman and Robin Gay Fantasy (from a 2002 Broadway Bares AIDS benefit performance). I've also always loved this song by 10 cc, I'm Not In Love. Oldies are always of profound significance.

The “Wasn’t” So Scientific Effective Body Training

2009-09-30T00:24:00.004-04:00

So I just found out that one of the new shop monitors is actually a personal trainer. Sometimes I feel like that I’m so desperately seeking for a cure for a perfectly defined body. But you know I never get to that level… yet. So after a lovely and intense (I was keep asking questions until he can’t take it anymore, lol) conversation of how to lose all the belly fat, I realize that I’ve been doing wrong stuff for the longest time.

I always run for 15 to 20 minutes with a speed of roughly 6.5 – 7 km/h, followed up by around 10 minutes of crunches and abdominal work out, and then machineries for building up muscles, and some more abdominal work out at the end to wrap up the whole session. According to Jason, I’m missing the most important consideration of fat losing (other than nutrition and dietary planning, and in fact, junk food forms up my dietary, daily.) So the tricky part is, in order to maximize weight loss, the target heart rate must take into account through out the whole session.

So let me, the amateur (and will never be professional) of body training and weight loss talk a bit of what I learned today. Everybody has a HRmax (maximum heart rate), which is roughly 220 subtract your age.

HRmax = 220 – age

And in order to maximize fat loss, a 65% of your HRmax is not to be exceeded. This is what we called THR (Target Heart Rate).

THR = 65% x HRmax

The ideal range of weight loss workout is to stay in 40% to 65% of the HRmax. When THR is exceeded, we are still burning fat, but our body switched to a cardio workout mode. This will strengthen your Cardiac muscle and other organs as well as increasing lung volumes, but weight loss is not as significant as while heart rate within the THR.

Aha, I was running too fast that I didn’t really spending 100 percent energy losing weight but strengthen cardio. Humm so in the near future I will have a very very tough heart.

My goal is always getting the 8 pack!!!

Good earnings, better spendings

2009-09-21T03:40:00.000-04:00

I think working at retail is usually horrible. Not only it is minimum wage, it also is the central of endless drama. I think it is pretty pathetic to work in retail full time, even the managers. Think about it, you are getting paid for not too much and you have so much responsibility for the inventory, lost and prevention, sales target and so much more. I think it is just not worth it. But for me, this is a good earning already. I usually don't work during the semesters, maybe a couple shifts at school as a student workshop supervisor but that's it. Working 25 hours per week outside of school really gives me decent income. But I'm still questioning if it actually worth it. People who are working in retail like this are generally almost the poorest, but we still have to buy expensive clothing and try to look good all the time. To get to that point I almost spend all of my first pay check to get all the must haves of the season. So the question is: am I working for a part-time job or I am actually spending my labour for free and just receiving clothing for free in return. It is probably the latter one but I still like to convey myself that, I need to renew my cloest anyhow, so instead of spending more money, I am just reaching a balance.

So I am actually working for free and still asking mommy money monthly, and instead of getting money, I actually a lot of free "pretty" clothing.

Fashion report

2009-09-17T23:20:00.003-04:00

This is one of the songs from Armani Exchange store player. I think it's pretty good hits until I watched their music video I was like WTF. But that doesn't stop me from liking the song. Anyways, here is the video. enjoy n be prepared!!

The Cherry Cerise Life

2009-09-09T00:24:00.000-04:00

So here is a deal, another Louis Vuitton bag, Cherry Cerise keepall 45. What a lovely bag for everything and everyday use!! I am so getting it.

La Armageddon Exchange

2009-09-08T02:58:00.005-04:00

This is actually quite funny, that I've never thought I will actually be experiencing the battlefield of sales floor. Retail has so much drama, and everybody is drained completely in it. Once you're in, you will almost never get out.

I think you can totally tell how much pressure it could be to the sales person, there is no commission or what so ever, or let's say there is, but you will almost never gonna get it. But people are still fighting crazy over even a T shirt sale. I mean cummon, it is just 50 bucks, but everybody including me was so frenzy about it.

Being almost the newest employee of the store, I feel completely stressed out especially after seeing another new employee got warning of not being productive enough. I totally understand if the elder staffs don't like me, after being so aggressive about all the sales, they totally have a reason to stare at me in anger. I am confused too because I really don't know what is right and what I really want anymore. For a minute I was fighting crazily about a really minor sale, but then for the next half an hour I just feel like a complete idiot. I mean cummon, I don't get commission or bonus of that, even though there is a potential, it is just far too vague.

But either way, I just wanna stay at the store. I would like to just work for the minimum for now and think of nothing else, and it is so funny that, maybe the best place in here is to do the stock.

And I am completely having no problem of doing that. Hopefully they would let me.

Why do we go to missed connections on Craigslist?

2009-08-29T17:28:00.003-04:00

I saw this online and I'd like to share with all of you.

Why do we read the Missed Connection section?

Because somehow, sometime, we thought we "connected" with someone but were too shy/busy/caught off guard to say something.

And let's face it, unlike some other large cities, people in Toronto are not the easiest to start random conversations with. I don't know why we find it so hard to say hello -- we just don't.

But what if we did?

What if, when we made eye contact with someone -- anyone -- we actually smiled? Or better yet, we actually SPOKE?

Maybe we would have fewer missed connections. But why stop there? Maybe we would make it easier for other people to smile, to say hello, to have fewer missed connections of their own?

Maybe we might actually have FUN.

So, I propose the following experiment/challenge: every day for the next week, make a point of speaking to a stranger. It could be to say hello, it could be a comment about the weather, it could be anything. Anything to actually get us to open our mouths and TALK to one another. And who knows? We might inspire others to do the same. We might find talking to strangers isn't that scary. We might even want to keep doing it, after the one-week experiment/challenge is over.

Don't u wish that u spoke to someone that u didn't? So next time, do so and you will not regret, at least you tried.

Fierté Montréal 2009

2009-08-17T17:27:00.011-04:00

Montreal Pride was awesome!!! The boys are extremely beautiful with hot french accent, and food were great!!! And I finally get to show off my slutty shorts! We stayed at the Gouveneur Place Dupuis hotel and the view was awesome. Although it was short, it was my first time visiting Montreal. I totally feel that I am abroad in Europe or something, speaking American English is just sooooo ghetto.

So my friends went to the shopping mall while me and Tim roaming down the street on the festival site. It wasn't as packed as the pride Toronto, but Tim said that was because they just had one Diver/Citi fest two weeks ago and, well, I'm sure people are still recovering. But anyhow, it was good enough though!

Since we were in Quebec, there are lots of things are different, and people are totally party animals compare to Toronto. rue St. Catherine was so much more party oriented compare to church street. Besides that, we can actually drink alcohol down the street, which is so wicked! Because on Sunday we were drinking champagne while marching down the parade. For a Torontoian like me, this is totally awesome!!

Me, Jp and Anthony went to a bar on Saturday night after dinner at a local small restaurant. Oh wait, did I mention the dinner was great and their burgers are so tasty? The goat cheese just melted in my mouth and the taste lasted so long before it went away. As for the fries, OMG they are a must try. It wasn't like the fries we see in Toronto, those factory cut ridiculously golden and shiny color strips with salt in a plate. It was like, a petite size of it, totally bad looking cause it is not even a bright golden color. But it just taste so amazing. And there is a kind of sause that I forgot to ask for the name that is so creamy, with little vinegar taste in it and it just embrace the entire meal. I tried a little bit of Jp's pasta, that was very very tasty too.

The club scene afterwards is pretty awesome too, we went to the club called Parking, guys are hot, well, a little bit on the older side for me but still decent. The only thing I would wish that they can have it better is the music. It wasn't so wicked but still decent. But I mean when you are in the mood and on the dance floor and having a great environment, that doesn't matter as much anymore does it?

I know there are so much more in Montreal to see, to enjoy, to participate, like, I didn't get to see Chinatown there, or visit a mall, I wish I could hang out with the other crowd from Pride Toronto too, or just walk around the downtown Montreal, go to Mount Royal etc. But these are enough memories for me and I'm sure there will be another round!!

The aftermath of it, humm, three things, First of all, I am totally going to learn french, and I really need to work out even more just for the sake of having a killer body type, as of the last one, the boys there are so beautiful that makes think that I probably need a face lift.

So, shell we all shout: Bonne Fierté Montréal!!! Happy Pride Montreal!!!

DiManno: Ambulance fiasco stole dying man's last hope

2009-08-02T01:36:00.001-04:00

It's not a delay. It's a death.

Let's get the language right, at least.

A delay is when the train arrives late – not the ambulance.

Death is what occurs when that ambulance, while pulling up to the scene – actually, down the street from the scene – within nine minutes of a 911 call, just sits there, parked at a distance as attendants size up the situation, not liking how it looks, and then spend a further half-hour idling, waiting for police backup.

Meanwhile, a man suffering from an apparent heart attack is turning blue, despite the best efforts of strangers, including a medical student, to assist, while others scramble in search of the summoned emergency crew.

Fifty-nine-year-old Jim Hearst died that night, this past June 25, on the ground floor of his Alexander St. apartment building. It's possible nothing could have averted that sad fate. But it's also well known that immediate medical intervention – a defibrillator, most especially – can save a life, and Hearst wasn't given that chance.

Nowhere in the investigation report finally released Thursday – but apparently completed two weeks ago and in the spin-hands of bureaucrats since – is an explanation offered for why the paramedics believed they needed police backup to enter a middle-class building in a middle-class downtown neighbourhood, a part of the city not exactly known for public menace. "Health and safety concerns'' was the generic justification offered when the news first broke.

And that means what, exactly? That Toronto has become such a threatening urban jungle that even emergency personnel fear to tread alone, without police there to hold their hands? Is that not a definition of the job in a big cosmopolitan city, where paramedics routinely attend at far more dangerous locations, to deal with the handiwork of shootings and gang violence? It's a tough job, no doubt, and not for the faint-hearted. But what was there to fear here, with unthreatening residents milling about a nice lobby on a nice street?

So, tacitly, the city takes the rap, even though this report blames Toronto EMS staff for the tragic outcome: five individuals – two dispatchers, two paramedics and a supervisor facing disciplinary action ranging from suspension without pay to remedial education and subsequent monitoring – fingered for blame.

On June 25, Toronto was up to its eyeballs already in what was then three days' worth of muck and chaos caused by a city workers' strike. There would be, later on, concerns raised about ambulance response times for high-priority urgent calls, service running at 75 per cent staffing as per prior agreement.

At the time, without referring to Hearst's death specifically, city spokesperson Kevin Sack told the Star: "Every indication is that the city has had no strike-related EMS response on calls like this.''

In the midst of the strike – a strike we're supposed to accept had no impact on events that night – EMS chief Bruce Farr said ambulance response times for life-threatening calls were still in the same range as before the outside workers hit the bricks and emergency staffing was reduced. "We're still in the 8 1/2-minute to 9-minute range,'' Farr said on June 29.

Right on that time-range button in the Hearst case, as shown in a minute-by-minute response log included in the report. Present, but non-responsive, just as the patient would shortly become.

And all that time, those front-line paramedics were down the street, "staging'' at Alexander and Yonge, when they called police for assistance and were told, too bad, no cops available to attend. Five minutes later, a dispatcher informs that a security guard – apparently not so jittery about the scene – has just called to say the patient is conscious and breathing. Sixteen minutes later, police are assigned to the call. A minute after that, the security guard is back on the phone, this time advising the patient is not breathing and CPR has commenced. Toronto Fire is notified. The "staging'' paramedics are also informed but firefighters get there – the real there, inside the building – first, even before an advanced care paramedic unit, a minute and a half before those first-arrival emergency responders.

At 12:01, the advanced care paramedics report the patient has no vital signs and isn't responding to treatment.

You want to talk lag? Two and a half months after Hearst died, ministry investigators still hadn't got around to interviewing key eyewitnesses, as the Star reported.

On Thursday, everybody was so very, very sorry. Farr announced that policies and procedures were not followed that night, so the "cumulative effect led to this delay."

Not delay. Death. And sorry doesn't cut it.

Quoted from Thestar.com, I do not use it for any commercial purpose, original link here ---> http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/707873--dimanno-ambulance-fiasco-stole-dying-man-s-last-hope

Shame On All The City Workers On Strike

2009-07-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

I found western society is one that all fascinated about individual rights. Such as, workers need union to protect themselves because in default the government and the capitalist is “the authority with power” therefore the workers need to be protected. Frankly that is in the past. Look at city of Toronto, the city workers put the right of the entire city on threat and pursuing their own right. Regarding of what their right is, threaten the majority's right to gain one's own deal isn't something we should be in praised of. Plus, the conditions we're talking about here to the city workers is more like a coerce, not a fair trade. In fact, without the city garbage collections, Toronto is still not bad at all! So, the bottom line is, we are not talking about the terms on the contract papers anymore but the morality. If they are so desperately want a higher paid job, they are very welcome to quit for another better job. If they are not able to find a better one then that just means this job is how much they worth. No one's value is absolute but relative to others. If one is not satisfied, please prove that they worth more instead of whining in front of the city hall, if that's the best they can do, they are just a bunch of thugs not only proven not even worth their current pay but also absolutely have no moral at all. Instead of fighting for a higher rage or have their 18 days saved at the end of every year? Everyday that garbage workers are on strike means that this city falls into disarray, thousands of businesses are affected in times that are already difficult. It is incredibly selfish and for what? Grow up children. They should be grateful they get 18 days sick leave in the first place. I have never seen at a business that provided that many sick days. My dad work his ASS OFF to earn the same salary, no overtime pay at all, and only EIGHT DAYS of sick leave without being credited every year!! Consider himself in a good corporate firm.

David Miller should never back off on this.

The Greatest Memories from Pride Weekend

2009-06-30T01:59:00.000-04:00

For the first time, I become a glory volunteer. lol glory, how ironic, i never loved being volunteer nor charity, but for the first time I enjoyed that moment so much.

It is the 3rd year of me being in Canada now, I landed on Pride weekend 3 years ago. I know there isn't any direct relationship between me and pride other than me being gay, but I just love to look back every year around Jun and see how much I grow. 3 years ago I couldn't even speak english without stop and think really hard, but now I am totally fluent, controlling the float for Pride parade, sending messages on walkie talkies and running back and forth on church street.

it's very sad that non of my friend actually captured me with the security t shirt on, so here it is, me and the pride volunteer t shirt (I was doing float control instead of security at the moment)

It is some picture I pulled of internet that actually has me in it. how surprise.

And there's another one from friend Andy, who is now in France enjoy his life while learning french very hard. lol. Despite all that , I worked 38 hrs out of 2 days, I guess I just really loved to do something for my own community. I hope those who attend really had fun. Though this year is over, still hope everybody happy pride!!

I was so worn out that I forgot my volunteer t shirt at the Pride office, and of course I'll never be able to get it back anymore. So the only thing that I still have is the security badge. It is never easy to be a team lead since we are more needed, there is always extra work to do. And seriously, you don't need to see my photo, it is super distorted and ugly.

The All Tanned Paw

2009-06-24T22:08:00.000-04:00

Well, what should I say. Pride is coming!! so first to everybody, happy pride!!

This year I joined the volunteer program for Pride Toronto. And I am the security Team lead for the whole weekend!! lol it is my first time volunteer and I actually gained a team lead, it's kinda exciting and unbelievable.

So I will be volunteering for the day time, I know I will be exhausted at the end of the shifts but cummon, it's Pride and the biggest party time of the year, how can I just miss out like that. And it is also because it's pride, everybody is gonna be somewhat shirtless, I should never miss that part out either! I know, I know, I am not the typical slim skinny Asian twink, but that is just becuase I practiced martial arts too much!! But eitherway, there's a great chance of me being topless so i really need to get ready.

So I bought this tanning bronzing oil... trust me, asian people NEVER use bronzing oil to get themselves dark. They are desparate of making their skin light brighter and whiter, never ever going the opposite. Plus, think of the gladiators in the medival time. The honey tan is so delicious and tempting!! So I'm gonna do that too!! Since I only have 2 days left and I still have tones of things to do, I don't think I will be able to go for any of the tanning session. So bronzing oil it is.

Sometimes I really think that I'm stupid, like I was so excited so much so that i didn't read the description carefully. It is a spary bottle, and it states instant dry. So I just spraied all over my body and just rubbing into my skin with my bare hands... WITHOUT WASHING IT OFF LATER!! It states that I need to wait at least 3 hours to see the result so I did, and when I was checking, i found that my skin didn't turn darker at all. I's kinda pissed since I know It should work, so I was like"I am so gonna return this stupid thing tmr." oh btw, it was like 40 bucks for a not too big portion. But then I realize that, my whole paw turned into a darkish ocher color. I almost screamed my guts out. It was not only terrifiying, but also, kinda gross. No, totally gross!! So I was like watching my hands for like one hour non stop trying to get off the color, but i couldn't. It was a really strong product, that would last for 3 days!! Sigh... now I have to live with brown paws for 3 whole days. That really Sucks. Now I totally understand now painful inside when caucasian women trying so hard to get their skin tanned. Like, it is so easy to screw you over and u can't even complain, well wht can you say, beauty really come with a big price.

Stephen Sprouse

2009-05-16T02:05:00.004-04:00

After everything I've looked at, I finally decided to buy the Stephen Sprouse Zippy coin purse. lol maybe still not a final decision since my "final" is keep changing, but we'll see and decision will be made tomorrow.

Happiness can be so simple

2009-04-18T19:36:00.002-04:00

I was having a Skins marathon from last night. And i finally finished it. At point I can even believe myself that the Saturday before final can be so boring and lack of initiation to study.

I'm glad that I finally switched out ED. I will be processing the documents on Monday, but this is a sure deal. I hated ED. I don't like anything about it. I thought if people could be nicer to me then I would've stay. Since they are not apparently then what's the point of staying at the program that I don't have passion?!

I suddenly become a second year student... again. I think it is ok for that, because I am actually giving myself some more time. Although I don't like the status as a sophomore and the fact that I am taking it again.

I really don't understand why I look so shitty after getting into Environmental Design. It should be happy, great and glamorous isn't it? I guess since I don't think it is a good program and have to deal with whole bunch of arrogant suckers (most of them r asian) then what's the point?

And I'm finally happy that I can start my new life and perusing something I really love.

Bye Environmental Design!! I don't even care look back and be sentimental. Frankly I have good friends there and school will divide us, but the others, oh they don't even worth a look.

Therefore, I dressed up myself, went out with friend, had a really good so called leisure time.

TTC Encoding

2009-04-07T04:24:00.002-04:00

It is 4:30 in the morning and I actually got over excited/not in the sleeping mode. So as I's reading Wikipedia(I can stay there for hours) I found sth really interesting about the TTC.

If you've spent any kind of time on Toronto's subway system, especially if you're a daily commuter like me, you've likely heard numbered codes being broadcast over the system's public address system. The most common of these that I've noticed is "Two-ninty-nine Bloor, call control" or some kind of variation. If you're like me, you like to know what these things mean. Or, maybe you're like me and you are easily bored, or fascinated by numbers, or something.

So as I did found out that TTC has it's own coding system for all the position you can think of in every station. so here is the list:

101-120 - Supervisors
122 - Subway Line Supervisor
199 - Subway Line Mechanic Supervisor
135A = Power Control
142 = Subway Route Supervisor
143 - Cheif Supervisor
147 - Fare Supervisor
148 - Transit Patrol Security
201-220 - TTC Armoured Trucks
299 - Subway Line Mechanic
301-310 - Streetcar Track/Overhead Maintenence
506 - Station Janitor
630 - 649 - Electricians and Signal Maintenence
828 - Streetcar Switch maintenence

The most that I heard is 299 bloor, I just thought it's kinda suck to be the mechanic at bloor/yonge station, lol.

So when they broadcast information over the PA to customers, it's generally in the form of:

"Attention all passengers on the Yonge University Spadina Subway line, we are currently holding northbound at our St. Clair Subway Station with a medical emergency onboard a train. Emergency crews have been dispatched and we hope to resume normal operation shortly"

Or, for a jumper:

"Attention all passengers on the Bloor Danforth Subway line, we are currently holding service both ways at our Broadview Subway Station with a personal injury at track level. Emergency crews have been dispatched, we expect service to resume shortly"

That's what they use for the PA system. They also broadcast more detailed information on the Wayside, which is what the operators use to talk to Transit Control. It would sound like:

"Attention all operators on the YUS, we're holding northbound St. Clair with a PAA onboard a train, the troups are on the way, stand by for updates"

And a jumper"

"Attention all operators on the BDS, we're holding both ways at Broadview with a Priority One, stand by for updates"

There's also the supervisors radio system that supervisors, Transit Police, etc... listen to. They would sound like:

Transit Control: "143 North, this is transit control"
143 North: "143 North, Yonge and Bloor, go ahead control"
Transit Control: "Would you please attend St. Clair Station northbound,
we have a PAA onboard 15 run, car 5721"
143 North: "Roger, St. Clair northbound, PAA on 15 run, car 5721"
Transit Control: "Roger, thank you. 148 North, this is Transit Control"
148 North: "148 North, go ahead"
Transit Control: "Could you please attend St. Clair station northbound,
we have a PAA onboard 15 run, car number 5721, 143 North
is en-route from Yonge and Bloor"
148 North: "Roger control, St. Clair northbound for a PAA"
Transit Control: "Thank you"

But, the only numerical codes you'll hear are actual unit ID's. They don't have some kind of code, like "We have a 219 at Yonge and Bloor" or something like that. They have Priority 1, then they also have Plan A, B, C and D. I've hardlyt heard these used before...they refer to a fire. I believe Plan A is a fire in the station, Plan B is a fire at track level, Plan C is a fire on a train in a station and Plan D is a fire on a train in a tunnel - but I'm not totally sure on that.

Today I'm 20

2009-04-07T01:50:00.002-04:00

Entering the third decade of my life starting weird. First of all I got no time to celebrate but to work my ass off om my projects. Should I say that I's born at the wrong time?! Well, if anything, I should say that at least I wasn't born one day earlier.

So it was really good:) i mean yummy!!! Annie bought me a lovely birthday mango mousse!! And then everybody just sang the birthday song to me <3!! even though I know it suppose to be a surprise but I kinda bumped into the preparation scene, but I'm still very happy and touched. It feels really good that we ED people are like a big family and we do everything together!!

Talking about Annie, I think we started rough until now, the things starting to get a bit smoother. I think of course we need time to gear up, and because we are so different from each other(that's also why I chose her as my symposium partner), I think it takes us longer than we thought it would to get used to each other:) But I felt a bit of softness from her and I thought I should return the favor too. I think sometimes once we get into the vicious circle it's just so hard to get out. Maybe the best way to do it is just start as smooth as we can. I wish all the best to our symposium, and I am really looking forward to our final critique.

Allie really surprised me today with her super sweet and lovely perfume set!!! It was so cute that I don't even wanna use it!!! It is the CK Euphoria travel set. I love the slim design, and that really reminds me of pepper spray. LMAO I will never forget that I accidentally sprayed a bit of Pepper Spray in her house and we all got choked into that... (alright, enough for the funny moments...)

For my 20th birthday I didn't do anything fun, but instead I worked really hard on my Symposium project. Even though I get back home at 1, but I'm still very happy about myself. It is my birthday, and it is really cold snowy and windy outside, I took a cab home.

The Watchmen

2009-03-22T02:31:00.003-04:00

Watchmen is definitely really hot!! Although I didn't finish the entire graphic novel, I'm still attracted to everything in the movie. ha the characters are so unique, and I like the way they define superheros. There isn't good ones and bad ones any more because superheros are like us too. They make mistakes and do bad things. However I don't think Patrick Wilson is that hot in the movie. It's a bit kinky for his role however, he looks much better off the screen.

I always have this tend to adore the #1 bad guy thing going on everytime I watch a movie. Maybe it is just my dark fantasy of being with devil. Think of it, that would be really hot wouldn't it? A month ago my favorite character was Jensen Ankles in My Bloody Valentine, and now, Matthew Goode in Watchmen of course!!! Maybe it's just me, maybe it's all of us. Because we always have an evil side but we can never let it happen in the real world, maybe that's why we can let if flow in our mind from one dream to another. lol that is the hottest part!!

And for those who does't like the movie, I really wish you at least enjoyed the action. I think this is a well done movie from any aspect... ohh except the fact that patrick wilson's sex scene with Malin Akerman in his odd appearance. It is a turn off... a bit...

It hurts, and it sucks.

2009-03-11T22:21:00.002-04:00

I had a long discussion with someone I recently know. Well, not really a discussion cuz i'm listening at most time. And it is our first and last real conversation. It is not about anything personal, it is all political. And it really sucks.

I hope the idea of me believing in One China shouldn't be interfere with my daily life. People likes each other or people would be friends with each other shouldn't based on what kinda political view they holds. This is kinda like a thing, religion. Say that we believe in Buddhism, Islamic, Jesus, Catholic, these shouldn't be the things that define who we choose to be friend with. People hate each other because they are bias, fulfilled with anger, hate and disgraceful.

I hope I am not forced to agreed for some stupid ideas.

I hope I can find someone that loves me the way I am, too.

The Confliction will Never Stop

2009-03-07T20:40:00.002-05:00

At some point i almost wish to get over this rough week as soon as possible.

I hurt someone that I really shouldn't, and then there's someone else I try to talk to and apparently since we live under two different ideology, things never worked out.

One may have many regrets in his life, I am a perfect example. I almost wish I didn't choose, both him and her. One for life, one for school. There are so many things that just don't want to go smooth now. By saying smooth, I don't mean doing it my way. I'm not like someone, always gives out the attitude that "my way or die" kinda thing. I can't say certain things in a objective way, but form my point of view, I tried my best to make it work.

People just piss you off by not doing their work. I don't mind if someone do it badly, what I just really hate is someone doesn't care. Don't give me the crap by telling me "I care" or "Trust me", prove it. Prove that you are worth trusted, prove that you have the ability. So, that's all. No video today, I don't feel like it.

And another thing I figured out is, by caring or not caring, people are been separated this way. There are always excellent people, and there are always mediocres around. No one is defining you, it's only you are defining yourself. And by saying that, how much you do is how much you are gonna get. It is always a balanced world.

Wood shop Project and relationship...

2009-03-06T02:19:00.003-05:00

Did i say Environmental design is Industrial Design and Interior Design combined? WRONG!! it's Architecture and Interior Design Combined.

Symphony of Colors

2009-03-05T11:10:00.004-05:00

Ok guys this is the project I did for my Color & Form class. The propose of this Symphony of Colors experiment is to explore the color variation and the mixture of color. By adopting that idea to this video rendering, I record the process of the color being dropped into a big tank, and the mixture of it. At the end the water in tank becomes really dark. As I played the video backwards, all the color been pulling out from the tank just as all the decorations been taken from us, The water becomes clear again.

The concept behind this is to recur who we are by using water and color as metaphor. In ancient Chinese philosophy, people believe that we are born as a piece of paper with nothing written on. As we grew up, we start to see this world, learn from it as well as do various things. The things we do just as colorful as the world itself. For example, we did a good job in the process of learning, it could be as vivid as red; we had a wonderful day, it could be as shiny as yellow; we went through a personal trauma, that could be as dark as black. In the end, our wonderful life that with full of experience is created by the mixture of these different colors. That’s how I adopt the idea that our life is a symphony of colors. However, in the process of growing, people might start to hate each other because of things they do and the different perspectives they have. This little video is a reminder for all of us, that no matter what we do, the essence of a person is always as good and clean as the time he/she was born. We should not determine someone is good or bad just based one or certain things they did just the same as we cannot determine a piece of painting by one or two of its color on it. Once we take off all the decorations and extras of a person, everybody should be the same.

However, this is just one way of interpreting this video, I believe that the video itself can be interpreted very differently based on viewer’s different experience. That is also another propose of my video project, I hope everybody can somewhat relate themselves to this video and can feel connections in between, be inspired, and somewhat touched.

The Start of March

2009-03-02T22:36:00.002-05:00

No Video today.

It is surprisingly a smooth day. Awesome. I gotta see all these amazing wood works done by lath, and I did one too. not yet complete finished yet but it is already in its final stage. A whittled another canoe for my whittling project. I'll post them up here when I finished everything.

Another project went well too. Surprisingly me and Annie don't "fight" anymore. She is very smart, I'm sure she figured something out. On my side, I shouldn't be too stubborn either, the whole project is about cooperation, collaboration and compromise. Now it is already at the semi final stage, aka planning, we have no choice but to work together and have our best result obtained.

Another thing, I heard another gossip about people broke up w/ each other because the lost of interest. I am very sorry for what I did, well, said something I shouldn't have. Don't get me wrong, the whole break up thing has nothing to do with me. While walking back home, I was thinking maybe I'm still a free soul, just like her, i can just easily lost interest too. Relationship sucks, usually. the whole idea of being together nearly impossible at our stage of life. There are so many uncertainties and mostly, life goes on, it is just so hard to put in too much effort of some bubbles. Sorry but it is the cold bloody truth.

Sometimes I wish I'm single. Sometimes.

ED/ID Party Ditched

2009-02-27T23:19:00.000-05:00

My First Video Blog!!!

2009-02-25T22:05:00.001-05:00