New Technology...what is left to come up with!?

Oh my goodness...I have an indian friend at school who showed me this video...this guy is an MIT graduate student who created this technology called Sixth Sense. He's explaining what it does here. so cool!!

part one


part two


I think...I might want one. lol

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

I know many may have already thought this through but I just wanted to write it down for the books...the very first animated movie in the history of man definitely has undertones of the time when it was made.

I'm just gonna say it. Snow White is a movie which has racist tendencies and portrays male and female in it's "fairest" form, which is an unobtainable and ridiculous portrayal that neither men or women can live up to. First of all, who is the fairest of them all? Snow White, right? Fairest can be used in two meanings here! Not only is she supposedly the most beautiful but she is the whitest! The most beautiful woman in the world is the whitest woman in the world. This is the portrayal of the fairest woman in the world. She should:
be the whitest woman (oh my gosh, racist!)
have the highest voice
have unrealistically red lips
love all animals and have the power to draw them to you
be willing to break into houses in order to sleep on a bed instead of the ground (I feel like this is probably the one that is most telling of our heroine and is also the one that I have the most problem with children seeing)
love singing
want to and actually do clean others' houses if you find their home too dirty for your taste (which actually seems quite rude...people live differently. did you notice how when the dwarfs came home, they did not seem to really appreciate that someone had moved things from where they had been placed? I wouldn't like it either!)
ignorantly assume that everyone is trustworthy, even if they look SUPER shifty (which is just stupid. I understand that in some situations, naivete is attractive, but come on...have some common sense)
be relatively healthy in build (I've no problem with that one lol)
assume the authority position over anyone shorter than you (if they're obviously older than you, as the dwarfs are, I can't see how that is considered respectful. Shouldn't Snow White be grateful for even letting them allow her to stay instead of bossing them around?)
be happy pretty much all the time (no one can be happy all the time.)

there are similar unrealistic undertones of what a "handsome prince" should be:
he should be able to sing
also be white
also have unrealistically red lips
be taller than the woman he loves (the dwarfs in the story all seem to love Snow White just as much, if not more than the prince)
and, as is common in many Disney movies, he should be willing to kiss a complete stranger if she is pretty and expect her to be happy about it and come with him off to a different land far away from anything she is familiar with.


**It has been brought to my attention that I might come off as having something against the heroines of movies I talk about. I do not have anything against the characters, but against the writers who write the characters as the kind which children should want to be like and then giving them characteristics which would cause people in society to become more malicious and selfish than they already are. I have a problem with people who feed children immoral, unethical ideas and lifestyles through entertainment.

this great song that's stuck in my head

Before the Throne

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea.
The great High Priest who's name is Love
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands.
My name is written on his heart.
I know that while in heaven he stands,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of my guilt within,
upward i look and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free
for God the Just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen lamb.
Thy perfect spotless righteousness.
The great unchangeable I AM.
The King of Glory and of Grace.
One with Himself i cannot die.
My soul is purchased by his blood!
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God.

My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God.

Christmas Spirit

I think I'm gonna do a couple entries today just to catch things up...it's been forever since I've written anything on here. Anyway...this particular entry is about Christmas since that IS what just happened only 2 days ago.

I have a particularly difficult time getting into the Christmas spirit. I feel like there's gotta be some kind of formula or something. Let me give an example of what I'm talking about. Last year, the radio stations actually listened to their listeners and did not play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving...how I feel it should be...I was good about getting presents for people early and on Black Friday and began to listen to Christmas music right after Thanksgiving only to get burnt out on Christmas spirit about a week before Christmas Eve. FAIL. Other years, I have tried to wait until later in the month to begin my Christmas playlists and purchases only to find that the climax of my Christmas spirit came only after the event had already occurred. FAIL. I don't know what I used to do as a child to be so excited about this holiday at just the right time. And this seems to be the case for most holidays for me...I can't seem to find a balance and be most excited at the right time. Either I'm too early and am tired of it before it begins or I wait too long and cannot force myself to be excited about the holiday until after it's happened. What is the formula?! Perhaps I have become one who analyzes things so much I just muddle them up. Maybe...

I'm unsure. Is there a formula? Even years I've just let it happen how it will (like this year, though I did think about what I've done in past years) I still seem to be unable to distinguish the holiday from the other days in a meaningful way.

I've actually thought that might be what is the problem...maybe somewhere in the knot of noodles that is my brain, I've decided that holidays really aren't much different than other days really. At least not the big ones (Easter and Christmas mainly). Shouldn't we be thinking of Christ's sacrifice every day? Why celebrate on two specific days? Why aren't we celebrating every day? I mean...Christmas is a holiday where Christians somewhere along the line decided to merge the celebration of Christ's birth with a pretty famous non-religious holiday. Easter is similar...though I'm not sure which is which. I do know that Easter is also a time that has been celebrated as a non-religious holiday. I mean...Jesus died, but there certainly were no rabbits leaving eggs around the cross. Non-religious traditions surrounding religious celebrations surrounding non-religious traditions. I get the tree...I get the baskets...I get the colored eggs...I get dressing up like a soldier or Spiderman...those seem like one day things. Celebrating Christ's birth, when GOD lowered himself low enough to insert himself into a filthy human body...to become something so imperfect and make it perfect...to live a life we could never live...to love humankind like no one else can...to save the world as no superhero could...to allow Himself to be killed and descend into hell in order to plead for my imperfect soul...to conquer the one thing humans cannot (death)...that is something we should celebrate hourly...moment by moment. How could we who have been saved be comfortable with limiting our loudest praise of Jesus Christ to two days a year?! I cannot understand that. Perhaps that is why I cannot get into the holidays the way churchgoers say we should...the holiday, the holy day! It's every day I'm alive that is a holy day. God gave it to me to spread His word to the world. One more day...one more chance to make a difference for Christ.

more fun things ive gotten to do

So im trying not to forget all the cool things ive gotten to do...so I'm gonna list some more cool stuff.

I went to see Evil Dead 2 for free in the park, went to a museum that's under construction, saw Conor Oberst in concert, saw Jenny Lewis in concert, tried to go to a Belafleck concert, used a stranger's phone to call someone, went to the cool huge Apple store, hung out in Central Park, was offered a free ride by a pedicab, rode in a taxi, missed a meeting, offended an important Chinese guy, said goodbye to a new friend, met a nice pastor man, had lunch with Pang, made ice cream with Pang's youth group, met Abe, met Humbert, met a bunch of other kids, told my testimony, met pastor Bayer Lee, got new headphones, had lunch with Humbert, got expensive haagen daaz ice cream, had Langa noodles(or something like that), might have come up with a thesis, got my hair cut, met Tyler, who cut my hair, said goodbye to another really good new friend, planned a reunion, met Chris, heard the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in Central Park, got rained out, had dinner with Caroline, ate delicious Korean food, saw Harry Potter, watched Elf with the group, rode a bus from Flushing to Chinatown, had Red Mango frozen yogurt, had 16 handles frozen yogurt, met Jalin, ate at the Amish Market, had pinkberry, got an interview with an important guy, saw a guy throw up on the subway, rode the Liberty Island ferry, saw Ellis Island, ate Golden Crisp, experienced a ziplock bag shower, watched Spongebob Squarepants, got letters, got a necklace in the mail, had barbecue with Sarah, went to Union Square, bought books at Strand, was cold this morning, made Leah breakfast, played with Jamy's hair, had Bible Study in Central Park, saw 3 raccoons in Central Park after dark, imagined what kind of dog I wanted, took pictures, had a spiritual conversation with David, went to the Gallery Church, ate starburst, took the Lord's Supper, ate fruit gushers, chilled on a rock, was offered another free ride from a pedicab driver, and another (lol), was asked for my number by Adrian, went to Trader Joe's, decided I like processed, non-organic foods, ate Poptarts, shaved with no water, wore shorts, danced at an Arabian Festival, almost bought a hijab, made friends with the gyro stand guy, taught ESL all by myself, was told I'm not behind anymore, made smores on the roof, roasted hot dogs on the roof, saw fireworks, bought a $12 watermelon, got more letters, sent a birthday present, met Jennifer, talked about photography, saw the sunset, went to New Jersey, rode an actual train(not just the subway), called for a taxi, called for another taxi, decided I don't really like New Jersey, went to a Belarusian Festival, saw a lot of empty beer cans, took pictures, ate junk food, prayed with the group, prayed for the group, went to Washington D.C., went to the Smithsonian Art Museum, saw the Washington Monument, saw the Lincoln Memorial, checked a guy out, saw the Vietnam Memorial, saw the Capitol, talked to a security guard, saw a guy with a big gun, saw Segway tours, sang Chimpanzee Riding on a Segway, saw the video that goes along with that, ate at a bar and grill that is frequented by the Capitol's security guards, saw the Whitehouse, learned you cannot sleep on the lawn in D.C. but you can sit and stay up all night, ate at California Tortilla, got henna, rode a bus really late at night, and got to work on time.

I'm gonna try to remember everything I get to do and see that's cool...but I sure wish everyone could just be here to experience it with me!!

My immediate thoughts on the Wizard of Oz

I was just watching the Wizard of Oz on television while working and I've come to a decision similar to that of Mary Poppins.

Dorothy's a bloodthirsty killer. she covers it up with her innocent face and her constant excuse "i didn't mean to kill her! it was an accident!" psh. she really seeks to murder all adults who have plans of success. does any other human in the movie have ambitions?! no. a scarecrow, a tinman, and a lion are ambitious...and the wicked witch of the west and the wicked witch of the east. the wicked witch of the west wanted those shoes. she just wanted what was rightfully hers to begin with. she was obviously the closest family member to the wicked witch of the east and had first dibs on all her stuff. the witch of the north stole em and dorothy was her accomplice. and as for the wicked witch of the east, she just wanted to become more powerful. to rule a land, possibly peacefully, possibly not so peacefully, but what ambitious person doesn't want power over others? and dorothy killed the only two ambitious humans in the story. in fact, its people like Glenda who try to create that unambitious world of peace without real happiness. like in Brave New World. the munchkins should be freed!!! let them live where they want! let them wear what they want! don't make them sing ridiculous songs and rhyme so much if they don't want to!! and dorothy who wants nothing more than to "innocently" kill all who get in her way from getting back home to Kansas. the tinman, the scarecrow, and the lion are lucky they aren't humans...she'd kill them too i bet

manipulative female too...convincing them that she loved them so theyd protect her. another "heroin" proven a villian. will it never stop?!!?

don't you agree?

Fun things I've done so far

So, if you didn't know, I'm in New York City for the summer. I've been really lax on posting anything here, though I've really wanted to...anyway, since I still kinda should be working, I figured I'd at least write out a list for those who are interested...of all the touristy fun things I've gotten to do here in the past month...besides work.

PS don't tell my supervisor...he said we're not allowed to have any fun. lol (he's just kidding!)

by the way, these things aren't necessarily in order...im just trying to remember everything...

designed pages for a book, went to a jazz concert, was in a picture which was in all 4 major Chinese newspapers, saw an art show, went to an antique shop and bought a 50's style metal fan, took funny pictures, went to an international festival where we learned a community dance, went to a Korean art exhibit, rode the Staten Island Ferry, played in a park, rode a carousel on a panda, drank starbucks coffee, went to a trade show, met new friends, went to a Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir concert, was in their recording with thousands of other people, went to a Korean Chinese church service, tried rice cakes, tried kimchi, tried bibimbap, laughed with my teammates, played the bowl game, played mafia, heard great stories about Indonesia, got to see my C3 family on skype, got to talk to my granny on skype, went to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), saw the Jonas Brothers in concert, saw Away We Go, walked around Brooklyn at night, went to Washington Square Park, got a library card, ate lunch with Chris and a Hong Kongese guy who was really cool, met Caroline, visited real Korean and Chinese market places, ate REAL Korean Chinese food, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, got free Pink Berry frozen Yogurt, almost got to play chess in Bryant Park, ate at Big Nick's, had Crumbs cupcakes, sat in Times Square, went to the Central Park Zoo, tried on a $58,000 ring, went into the huge Apple store in the glass box, did tai chi in Queens Botanical Garden, was in photos of Queens Botanical Garden, met Lindsay, watched people boating around the Central Park reservoir, went to Redeemer Presbyterian, went to the Journey church, ate at the Good Stuff Diner, bought shirts at Uniqlo, live in a basement, saw a full-body stenciled graffiti of Darth Vadar, tried lychees, tried green tea ice cream, tried almond cookie ice cream, tried a gyro, tried sushi, met Brandon, swapped music with Whitney, ate watermelon, watched Chinese men play Chinese chess, found a church I'd been looking for, went to said church (Korean Chinese), met Hong and Leo, was complimented on my chopstick skills, finished the Korean Chinese and Korean people groups...finally, ate dinner with Leah, Sarah, and Tiffany, met Tonya, tried Mool Niang Mien, had my first cream puff, saw a Jewish parade, rode the subway, finished two books, sat in the NY Public Library and did some research, had a breakthrough, had Bangladeshi Fruits Custard, helped women learn English, talked with kids, heard Ashley's story, had tea at a British tea room, figured out how to tell a tourist from a New Yorker, went to the biggest Barnes and Noble I've ever seen, talked to Christina, was offered a business opportunity, took a shower(you wouldn't think that was cool, but it is!), learned of Trader Joe's, and...had one piece of free Godiva chocolate.

That's the biggest stuff! looking at all that, my time here seems like it's been tons more fun than it sometimes seems!! I've also done a lot of work though...which is really what I should be doing now...so, I shall leave it at that for now. Hopefully I can write an email update to everyone soon. <3

Alone Tonight

You know, I find it interesting how I do things...as some of you may know, I like to analyze myself...and tonight, I take the time to remember one part of me that I find sad and interesting. Tonight, I am single, my roommate is not home, and I decided not to call her to see where she is...and I am guilty of being afraid of being alone. I always want something to do and someone to be with. That way, I don't have to worry about the problems in my head coming to front view. I can make myself forget my problems and focus on the other person or the task I'm doing. Ha! I've already cleaned the kitchen since I got home and realized the apartment was empty. I really want to face my fear of loneliness...but I also really don't. I've been doing this thing for so long, I really don't know how much will come out if I leave my mind to think about all the things I never wanted to think about.

I'm really being such a whiney baby...you'd think I could just get over myself and read a book or paint or do something constructive or go to bed. It is plenty late enough. I will I suppose.

So in the last few weeks, I've done a lot and experienced more. First of all, Colin and I broke up...which was a pretty big deal. I realize the whole thing was my fault...I realize that i hurt him and in return, I was hurt. It wasn't fun but I've learned a lot from the experience. I've realized that I rely much too heavily upon others opinions and desires and I am struggling to combat that. I want to be sure of myself and of my own opinions. I also went to Beach Reach, my first mission trip. It was pretty amazing. Since the break up was pretty fresh on my mind, I honestly was pretty mad at God at ruining all my plans for my life. Its very strange and sad that learning lessons and living for God can hurt so much...I thought we were here to be happy. I've always seen life as being something that should be lived happily because there isn't enough time to be sad...and I still think that, but why is it that God causes things to happen that make us not happy? I suppose its really all in our own decision whether to be happy or not. I'm trying. I've tried something new recently which is helping me to decide to be happy more often. I guess I still have a long way to go. Anyway, on a more positive note, I'm apparently a visionary painter! I'm currently figuring out what to paint for my class and its becoming much more organized and absolute than I've been the rest of the semester. I saw Benny and Joon the other day. New fav for sure. Oh, and of course, my birthday was saturday...i am now the big 2-0. No more teenage years for me. Its actually kinda sad...I liked being a kid. I feel like i have to think about adult things now. Anyway, so back to Benny and Joon, if you haven't ever seen it, theres a scene where Sam(Played by Johnny Depp) sticks forks in two breadsticks and dances with them...this is a reference to an old Charlie Chaplain skit. His whole character is all about movies, especially older silent films. Anyway, see below.



and the charlie chaplain original



Johnny Depp even got the crossing the forks right! it was so cool to see this and know what it came from...thanks Josh Smith!!