Monday, September 6, 2010
The Suitcase
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: last night's episode of Mad Men was amazing. I think it's the best this season.
(I'm going to be talking about some spoilers, in case you haven't seen the episode yet or if you have just started watching Mad Men and don't want to know what's happening [!])
Peggy and Don have been supportive of each other in professional and personal settings in the most dynamic of ways.
During the episode, Don was making himself work more in order to delay a dreaded phone call to California where bad news was waiting. The only person who could work with him after work was Peggy, who he demands stay late to work on a project. Through the night, they bond, and something clicks in Peggy's mind that Don's more than just her boss--he needs her for more than just pitching ideas.
Last night, they realized how important they are to each other. Don may have found his new Anna.
Inside Mad Men really does a nice job giving background on the episode:
(I'm going to be talking about some spoilers, in case you haven't seen the episode yet or if you have just started watching Mad Men and don't want to know what's happening [!])
Peggy and Don have been supportive of each other in professional and personal settings in the most dynamic of ways.
During the episode, Don was making himself work more in order to delay a dreaded phone call to California where bad news was waiting. The only person who could work with him after work was Peggy, who he demands stay late to work on a project. Through the night, they bond, and something clicks in Peggy's mind that Don's more than just her boss--he needs her for more than just pitching ideas.
Last night, they realized how important they are to each other. Don may have found his new Anna.
Inside Mad Men really does a nice job giving background on the episode:
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Toilets
This morning, as my mom and I were driving on the 101, she said to me, "Jessica, hemorrhoids basically affect 9 out of 10 people. You cannot be one of them."
We were talking about toilets (like, for instance, how one toilet in the house is broken) and the fact that mama wants to buy a fancy Japanese one that will pretty much give you an enema with the press of a button. We continued to discuss toilets and she wonders why the European bidets haven't advanced to the level of Japanese toilets.
Later during my lunch break, I read an article on Slate about the way our modern-day toilets are actually bad for your health. When many of us hear an accusation about a clean, white, feces-flusher being actually bad for us, we get a little defensive. During my stay in China, I dreaded having to squat in a hole in the ground and that's because I've grown up with toilets and think they're awfully clean and convenient.
However, my boyfriend begs to differ. In China, he loved to go to his sisters because she lives in an older Chinese neighborhood and has a squatting toilet. He claimed that everything came out much easier and prefers it over my standard toilet. Ever since he told me about his real feelings, he's been finding information online about toilets and health.
While toilets are great for making sure our feces aren't on the streets, stinking up the house, or in our backyard; there's some people saying that it leads you to be more prone to infections and hemorrhoids. Interesting how we're trying to revamp, re-imagine, and reassess our modern toilets to improve our health (btw, you know 1/2 of Americans suffer from hemorrhoids?).
More thoughtful links:
1. Vangaurd's World Toilet Crisis : In some places, people don't have access to toilets and must defecate in public areas causing drinking water to be contaminated. Watch it!
2. Waterless Urinals : Not a bad idea.
I'm sorry this post was about toilets.
We were talking about toilets (like, for instance, how one toilet in the house is broken) and the fact that mama wants to buy a fancy Japanese one that will pretty much give you an enema with the press of a button. We continued to discuss toilets and she wonders why the European bidets haven't advanced to the level of Japanese toilets.
Later during my lunch break, I read an article on Slate about the way our modern-day toilets are actually bad for your health. When many of us hear an accusation about a clean, white, feces-flusher being actually bad for us, we get a little defensive. During my stay in China, I dreaded having to squat in a hole in the ground and that's because I've grown up with toilets and think they're awfully clean and convenient.
However, my boyfriend begs to differ. In China, he loved to go to his sisters because she lives in an older Chinese neighborhood and has a squatting toilet. He claimed that everything came out much easier and prefers it over my standard toilet. Ever since he told me about his real feelings, he's been finding information online about toilets and health.
While toilets are great for making sure our feces aren't on the streets, stinking up the house, or in our backyard; there's some people saying that it leads you to be more prone to infections and hemorrhoids. Interesting how we're trying to revamp, re-imagine, and reassess our modern toilets to improve our health (btw, you know 1/2 of Americans suffer from hemorrhoids?).
More thoughtful links:
1. Vangaurd's World Toilet Crisis : In some places, people don't have access to toilets and must defecate in public areas causing drinking water to be contaminated. Watch it!
2. Waterless Urinals : Not a bad idea.
I'm sorry this post was about toilets.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
I love bookstores
An article about one of my favorite bookstores in NYC.
I love bookstores. I love the smell inside of a used bookstore, finding crevices between shelves to hide and read a little and, most importantly, the ability to walk around aimlessly and browse the shelves, finding something new to read.
Certainly with e-books, you can maybe be presented with hundreds of titles for you to choose from, but can you feel the same affinity for a book title the way you do with the way a book has presented itself in the bookstore? Think: the texture of the cover, the artwork, flipping to a random page and reading it. This kind of random book search is also so awesome when you're in a used book store where it's almost like a grab-bag of books to choose from.
I've heard the news that ever since the e-reader there are more people willing to read than ever before. That's great. But, what's so appealing about reading a book on an e-reader that people who distance themselves from print books would rather read on a screen?
Do yourself a favor, and read a book!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Ni Hao Kai Lan
Let's talk about one of my favorite TV show for kids: Ni Hao Kai Lan.
One of the most obvious reasons I love it is because it teaches kids Mandarin! Kai Lan is just a little girl who is living the average Chinese-American lifestyle. She speaks in English and speaks Chinese, teaching all of her friends new words, too.
I had the fortune of catching the show yesterday and was taken aback when I heard all the Chinese being used. There was an entire exchange done completely in Chinese -- no subtitles, no re-iterating in English what was said.
I'm assuming that if the children have followed Kai Lan through her two season's worth of episodes they can also understand the exchange. I know some people my age who are Chinese-American and wouldn't even understand what was said!
With shows like Ni Hao Kai Lan and her predecessor Dora the Explorer, Nickelodeon is really working to expand a child's mind with two very important languages to Americans, I'd say. Having exposure to these new languages allows kids to be open to very rich cultures. Hopefully it's a stepping stone to open-mindedness and a future of global awareness.
Nice!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
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