Bought an iMac yesterday. It’s hot. Hooray for widescreen HD monitors! Of course, now there’s a ton of empty space on my desk (which was kinda small to begin with). Hopefully designing stuff would be a lot more efficient now. I still love my HP desktop, but every time I loaded Photoshop it would lag like crazy. My brother was complaining about always getting my second-hand computers. Kid, don’t be complaining. You have your own laptop and when you had your first second-hand computer, I was still traveling back and forth to the library at that age. Besides, you didn’t have to pay a cent. :p Anyway, there’s a lot of design work to do. Logotypes, fliers, pamphlets. Fun fun. Gotta abuse the font book later. Unfortunately, I forgot to save all my bookmarks from the other computer so…if you guys have any good design/inspirational sites to recommend, post the links below!

Here are some recent fliers I recently made:

So I am definitely going to be flying to Shanghai in a little less than three weeks. My first time traveling alone (study abroad did not count). I hope I can take care of myself. And that the person who’s supposed to pick me up at the airport doesn’t bail out last minute or cannot find me. Hey, one has to think about the worst case scenarios. What will I do there? I don’t even know anymore. Received some news about a sudden change in plans, so I may be disoriented for five days or so. Better just go with the flow and do stuff spontaneously (not reckless things, mind you). This has been a pretty strange semester so far. I don’t even know what to think anymore. Last week I somehow signed myself up for training so I gotta make a Powerpoint presentation in two weeks. And then it’s midterm season. But at least the weather’s getting warmer. Isn’t next Sunday daylight savings time?

Went to a friend’s birthday party the other day. Nice Italian restaurant, but we were charged for wine that many of us did not order and the bill came out to be $50 a person. That costs more than dinner with my family yesterday… And then we went to karaoke in Chinatown. The place is called K-One and I gotta be honest, it reminds me of Milo (in Nanjing) and is probably the closest thing resembling Chinese karaokes in New York City. They just have to replace those text-full “music videos” with at least a generic video in the background. Seriously, that looks so cheap. But neon lights, plush seats, a dance floor, and a private restroom? Hollaaa. And they actually have a bouncer downstairs, which I found quite amusing since those of us who were underage (by a few months lol) got alcohol anyway.

By the way, Wheesung recently said that he was disappointed in KPOP because it’s not real music. I concur! Yeah, it’s catchy and nice to dance to. But if you want to listen to real music, listen to Wheesung. lol The guy’s voice will blow your mind away.

All right, back to work.

Related posts:

1. Somebody to love
2. A month and a half…
3. Back to America…unfortunately

Title: 盛世仁傑 // The Greatness of a Hero
Episodes: 20
Year Released: February 2009

Review:

As far as TVB dramas go, I must say I really liked this one. I didn’t feel it was draggy at all. Okay, maybe a bit during the unnecessary side stories with Ting Yuk (Sunny Chan)’s friend and between the two wives of the prince. But overall, it was done really well. It was amazing how with all the evil schemes Ngai Wong (Wayne Lai) came up with, there was no loophole until the very end when his plots were unraveled. Dik Yun Geet (Kent Cheng) really valued the importance of evidence. True, without it, there will only be more trouble. But as long as you can sway the Empress’s heart…

Anyway, I was really saddened by all the deaths near the end. And they were deaths of some really courageous characters! Bernice and Sunny were so, so adorable together, too. I don’t know much about Leila Tong and Stephen Wong. They looked kind of awkward together (although a very good-looking couple). I really liked the relationship between Yuen Yee (Leila Tong) and the Empress, though. It was like a mother-daughter love. Even Dik Yun Geet and Cho Yuet (Sonjia Kwok) had surprisingly good chemistry.

I thought Ngai Wong would’ve killed his brother/partner-in-crime way in the beginning since it seemed like the latter was a competitor for the Empress’s position. Karma definitely did not work out perfectly in this series. A lot of innocent people were killed or simply screwed over. In a way, it resonates better than a happily-ever-after ending. But…Bernice and Sunny!

For those who like crime and detective series, this is great. It’s also scandalous and it’s an ancient drama, so that’s more points in my book. Fortunatel, the people who speak the most in this series are pretty good actors so there aren’t too many cringeworthy moments. I must say, though, one of my favorite parts in this series is actually very, very corny, when Ting Yuk becomes the sworn brother of an emperor from another kingdom. Anyway, I highly recommend this drama (but the climax at the end of the series might sound confusing to those of you not too familiar with old Chinese).

Related posts:

1. “Gokusen” Drama Review
2. “Boys Before Flowers” Drama Review
3. “Liar Game” Drama Review

Despite my best efforts to ignore all the controversy between JYPE, Jay, and Hottests, it feels like it’s finally time to vent after their recent press conference with the fans. For those of you who do not know, it has been announced that Jay will not be returning to 2PM. Ever. No chance. Zilch. Of course, fans who have been led on these past couple of months, anticipating his comeback, are furious, and understandably so. Supposedly Jay personally did something so serious that it does not warrant forgiveness from his company, and the other 6 members have agreed to release him permanently. Details as to what he did back in the summer of the Again&Again promotions have not been disclosed, but many are already spreading rumors about all the possibilities from substance abuse to impregnating some girl.

Well, here is my take on this issue. I’m still curious about what Jay did. It must be worse than a DUI or drug abuse, because celebrities who have done that were eventually forgiven or at the very least tolerated. We can’t blame the other members for feeling betrayed. I think they were just as stressed out about this as all the fans were. And when you think about it, if Jay really did do something so seriously offensive, wouldn’t the members who knew him personally be even more hurt by this?

I was anticipating his return, too, but I think this might be the best course of action if what transpired could really tarnish Jay’s reputation. In a very sad way, it’s kind of like remembering someone after their death (in this case, 2pm’s death). Wouldn’t you rather keep the good memories instead of holding a grudge against them? I’m sure many fans will be forgiving, but think about the damage the truth can do to him when released to the public. First we thought of Jay as some kind of martyr of wronged celebrities in the kpop world. What will we think of him now? Even if the fans are willing to embrace him with open arms, what about others in the industry Jay would have to see on a regular basis? Can he bear the shame of seeing these people if they know what he did?

Instead of demanding the truth to be revealed, maybe it’s best to just remember the joy 2pm (as a septet) brought to their fans instead of having it run the risk of defamation, in which case Jay may never have the chance to return to the industry.

Related posts:

1. A look at KPOP trends
2. Nothin’ but love for Park Jaebum
3. Occupied and yearning for an escape

The sea’s a blanket of virgin dreams
          Seducing me
          With false beliefs.

From afar,
          Billowing crests,
          Ascending chords
                    And I’m filled with dread.

Unruly tides
On unknowing shores
          – Vile, perverse -
          But it asks for more.

Denial is but a brim of tears,
          A wayward sailor,
          A ship’s remains,
          Pining hearts and thinning lungs
                    Deluged
                    In a watery grave.

Related posts:

1. The Vagary of Heartbreak

Here is another translation of a popular thread on Tianya, this time concerning a more serious issue on domestic violence. China has a very different take on domestic abuse compared to America. Many times, men would publicly beat women (even if they are pregnant), especially in cases of infidelity. While it is not extremely common in the way that you see it all the time, often it does go unpunished. Even when bystanders witness domestic abuse (doesn’t have to be restricted to the home), they don’t usually intervene. That’s someone else’s business.

I don’t know if you can argue that America has a stronger sense of altruism than the Chinese. Each country has its own perspectives of human rights. In fact, in the case below, passersby actually do somewhat “step in,” but you’ll notice that it’s rather a passive form of intervention (mainly spectating). The comments here show a strong disapproval of the man’s actions. But I wonder, what would they have done if they were to witness it in person? When does it stop being a private matter and start becoming a moral hazard to society? Who will report this abuse if the girl cannot bring herself to do it?

I’m not saying that everyone here is a hypocrite for not reporting the guy. Understandably, a lot of people would not do anything about it since they haven’t seen the whole picture. It does show that although most people will not try to stop the guy from hitting the girl, this is not to say that domestic violence is accepted. But from what I perceive, at least in the eyes of the police, it is not considered as serious a crime as, say, attacking or even insulting a public official.

遭暴打的兔兔 (louzhu // topic starter)

一年多的感情，走到今天，真不知道何去何从……
这个年，简直成了灾难。
大年初一，西方的情人节，竟然38年难得相遇在一天，一个我期待已久的日子，居然成了我的受难日！！
我跟男友从小认识，我们小学一年级就是同学，算起来认识二十年了。由于我们都在广州工作，而我有两年都没回家，所以一直没见过他的家人。这次一起回家，原本打算双方父母见见面，然后希望能定在今年结婚的。
年初一，他原本跟我说，晚上见见他的父母。我爷爷奶奶很想多见见我，可是想到这天很特殊，又是情人节的。就答应了他的要求。我们下午三点半在洛阳的王府井见面。原本一起逛街买衣服的，我心里还盘算着该买什么礼物见他父母。
大约四点左右，他突然告诉我，还有四十分钟买礼物的时间，因为他们全家晚上六点聚会。当时我就愣住了，问他：“不是只见你父母吗？怎么变成全家了？”
他回答：“我没错，是你理解有问题。”
我当时很气愤，感觉他在我身上用技巧。其实平心而论，见父母是很重要的事情，我很在意，不想给他们家留下什么不好印象。于是就一直在争执。
走到新都汇，他突然拿出手机，当着我的面给他妈妈打电话，告诉他妈我不去了。我一下子恼火了，跟他说：“你既然跟你父母说我不去了，那好吧，我就不去 了。”他回答：“是说你不去我爷爷家了，改去我家。”我愤怒：“难道你跟你妈妈是用暗号吗？让谁听听，你那句话可以表达你说的意思吗？”（其实他根本没打 电话给他母亲，然而在我问的时候，他却没有解释。这让我很愤怒，觉得被欺骗了。）结果男友就打电话给我妈妈，向我妈倾诉，说我多么的不懂礼数，当众吵闹 的。
我扭头走了，看他没有跟上来。我怕他找不到我，就站在最显眼的地方，打电话给他母亲，想把整个事情解释清楚。这时候，他走过来，夺过电话跟他妈妈说，我就是一个很蠢笨的女人，根本不看时间。当时我更气愤了，说，你这样说的话，我就真的不去了。
两个人就在这样争执的过程中，他揪着我胳膊吼我。
这时候，我妈妈电话打过来，劝我跟他去，不要任性。我刚说了一句：“他还在吼呢……”电话都没来及挂，他就一把拉着我，一个耳光猛抽下来。为了不让我妈担 心，我赶紧挂了电话。连逃的机会都没有，被他一手紧紧抓牢，然后劈头盖脸的打我，一下、两下、三下……打在脸上，头上，路人都看不下去，上前劝他。他扭头 吼到：“用你管！”然后回头给我一个更重的耳光。然后当街破口大骂，说没见过我这么要价的女人，没见过我这么蛇蝎心肠的。在最繁华的商业街口，大声骂我不 要脸！然后摇晃我，大声吼道：“你居然把我们全家踩在脚底下！我爷爷只想见你一面，你这个不要脸的女人……”等等，我已经无法回忆，因为太心痛。当时我很 冷静，看他情绪这么失控，我安抚道：“你爷爷想见我，那咱们就去！如果你提前告诉我，情况这么严重，我不会不讲道理的。”
于是我拉着他，去打车。没想到，上车他对司机说的第一句话是“司机，你见过这种蛇蝎女人吗？这么不要脸，全家人等她！”我什么都没说，让司机赶紧开车到他爷爷家的地方。
下车我就到超市买东西，想着无论我们两人如何，毕竟老人没有错，不能让老人跟着伤心。当时我买了两百多块钱东西，连收银员都看不下去。问我眼睛怎么了，因 为我的眼影，全部掉落，被他打的，两眼的妆都是花的。眼睛下面都是黑色的。这时候，他气势汹汹的走进超市，对收银员说：“推掉！”收银员看看我，我说不用 了吧。他再次狠毒的说：“没听到吗？推掉！！”收银员是个小姑娘，直接被吓到了。赶紧推掉。
然后他把我揪出超市，就站在超市门口吼道：“你这个蛇蝎女人，你走吧！！”
我很怕他再次发疯打我，没说话，看着他。走了两步。他又再次揪着我，吼道：“是我瞎眼了，才看上你这种女人！！你不会对我家人好的！！你走吧！”
那条街很偏僻，大年初一，路人很少。我很怕他再次发疯，没有反抗。可是连打车也找不到车啊。他在离我五米左右的地方哭，然后又过了拉着我，把我拉进超市， 买东西。我想算了，事情弄成这样，如果我再次挨打，那太不值得了。索性顺着他，我又买了将近三百元的东西，然后跟着他往他爷爷家走。
路上，他都哭哭啼啼的，好像受委屈的人是他，好像是我打了他一样。我对他说，你要是想让你爷爷开心，就不要这个样子。男人，敢作敢当的！我会让老人开心的！
到了他们家，其实我们去的最早，他的什么叔叔婶婶都没去，见了他爷爷奶奶，我也很温和的态度。一家人吃饭，我什么都没说，陪他们说笑。他爷爷给了我两千元的红包。我推脱不掉，当时先拿着。
晚饭后，他爸爸妈妈跟他一起回家，出门，我就把钱给了他妈妈，说，阿姨，这钱我不能要。留着给爷爷买补品吧。他们非要收下，我不要。并且告诉他们，他儿子 打了我。而且是当众暴打，破口大骂。没想到这个时候，我男友依然不冷静，说我美化事实，在出租车上，还跟他父母说我是多么的无理取闹。
他们全家非要我去他家，说是要等情绪平复了再让我回家。我说什么不肯，当时他们硬要拉我。我说：阿姨，我跟您跪下行不？求您了，我要回家！”他们家无奈之下，把我送回家。
到家之后，正巧遇到我妈妈下楼接我。看到妈妈，我抱住她，泪流满面。我不想把事情搞大的，但是我当时，心里只想着终于见到亲人了。于是他们全家到我家去说这件事。
直到此刻，男友还在数落我的不对。一个女孩子，我有千般不好，也不至于在情人节被当街暴打吧？？
这件事，搞的我们全家没法过年。
我男友，十二月曾经动手打过我。当时，很多人劝我不要原谅。但我想一份感情，一定要认真经营，要给彼此机会。没想到，这个机会，换来的是更大的伤害！
今天，我很伤心的写下上面的话。希望各位看到的，都能回个贴，告诉我，该不该放手，该不该给他机会了？？
平时，我们很相爱的。他也会做饭，会接我送我，会买小礼物给我，会陪我逛街……他没什么钱，没车没房，我没计较过。想着努力就好！
而今，让我怎么再次原谅他呢？？

其实上一次他打我，我就想到天涯发帖的，看看大家什么反应。但我还是放弃了，我希望给爱一个机会！于是我原谅了他。
这一次，我真的不知道该怎么做了！我不知道还能不能原谅！！

各位，你们有什么观点呢？？

To sum it up, this girl (around 25 years old I’m guessing) has been dating a guy she knew since grade school and plans to marry him. He normally treats her well, cooking for her, buying her little gifts, picking her up and sending her off. He’s not rich and has no car or house, but she was determined to work hard and make it work. However, there have been two incidents in which he hit her. The first time she mentioned only briefly. She ended up forgiving him, feeling that it wasn’t worth breaking up over. The second time was during Chinese New Year / Valentine’s Day. They bickered over whether or not she would go over for his family dinner (she had originally thought that she was only meeting his parents, not all his relatives, too). He got defensive and accused her of being disrespectful and not wanting to see his family. What’s interesting is that the girl’s mother actually told her not to be so stubborn and just listen to the boy. While arguing, he lost his temper and hit the girl really hard across the face multiple times in a public, commercial area. Passersby couldn’t look on any longer and tried to persuade him not to hit the girl anymore, but he just retorted, “Mind your own business!” Then he continued screaming, “I have never seen such a cold-hearted woman before!” and later started crying as if she was the one who hit him. Eventually, the girl tells both her family and his about what happened and everything is awkward and no one’s enjoying new year. At first, the boy’s family tells her to go to his house so they can cool down and maybe talk it over. But she insisted on going back to her own home, which she finally did, and cried in her mother’s arms. Now she wants to know if she should forgive him or not.

(She also posted up a picture of a very swollen finger from his abuse)

五华散人

一个男的打女的。二次。就怕他会有这个习惯。我也打过我女朋友。在我很生气的时候。但都是不重的一巴掌。第二下。我是下不了手

A guy who hits a girl twice. I’m afraid he might develop a habit. I have hit my girlfriend before when I was really mad, but it wasn’t a hard slap. The second time around, I couldn’t bring myself to hit her again.

风_2_0_1_0

给他一点惩罚，然后原谅他。

Give him a little punishment. And then forgive him.

1观察员1

LZ如果原谅他，那你还有自尊吗，他这样侮辱你。这完全是人品问题，不知道这种没钱，没素质的垃圾有什么值得留恋。对你好？那满大街的男人，哪个不会对自己女朋友好。趁早放弃吧，这种人豪无理智，只会乱发火，跟着他以后有你的苦日子。

Louzhu if you forgive him, then do you still have any self-respect? How he humiliated you, this is an issue of character. Don’t know how this moneyless, lowly trash is worth keeping. Treat you well? There’s a whole street of men; which one wouldn’t treat their girlfriends well? Let go of him early. This type of person is senseless and will lose his temper for no reason. If you stay with him, there are only painful days to come.

Dedicated_to_you

拿块板砖劈死他，往死里打

Use a brick to beat him to death.

遭暴打的兔兔 (reply from topic starter)

我妈妈，几天眼睛都是红的，她从来没舍得打我一下！心疼死了

发生这样的事情，怎么解决？？我不想在分手的时候，还是爱着他！！

所有人，都跟我说，只要你幸福！！

My mother’s eyes have been red from crying for days. She had never been willing to hit me! My heart aches so much.

How do I fix this? I don’t want to still love him after breaking up!

Everyone has been telling me, as long as you’re happy!

weibuzudao2008

我觉得你的男友，不是不爱你，但是他确实应该是有精神，至少该是性格方面的缺陷。他一烦躁起来，会控制不住自己，有暴力倾向。而且象他这种当街就打人的，控制力更差，很多打人的LG，至少会知道把老婆拉回家再打。
打完你后，或许他会哭，或许他会后悔，但是下次他还是会控制不了自己，很多女人就是因为过往的感情，因为相信爱就是包容，或其他原因，一次次的原谅了他们，最后却被打得遍体鳞伤，甚至打伤打残的都有。
你确定要拿自己去当这个试验品么？

I think it’s not that your boyfriend doesn’t love you, but I think it’s a mental disorder. At the very least, it’s a personality problem. Once he becomes irritated, he can’t control himself and will become prone to violence. In fact, if this type of person even hits someone in public, he’d probably hit his wife at home, too. After he hits you, maybe he would cry, maybe he would regret it, but the never time he won’t be able to control himself again. A lot of women think of the feelings they had in the past and believe in patience or some other reason and will probably forgive them time and time again. But they’ll end up beaten senseless and probably even injured or crippled.

Do you really want to be his test subject?

Link to original post

Related posts:

1. Translation: 谈恋爱就一定要上床吗？
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