Downtown goodies: tofu

It's that time of year where wholesale is ok, or, I have an excuse to go wholesale-ing...so I hit up Downtown LA's toy district with Emily. Although most people are willing to sell to you only one piece instead of wholesale for cheaper than retail, some people only sale wholesale, and some people require a license. I think the store that stocked these need a license, but I managed to obtain these goodies anyway. I WISH I owned a retail store that sold lovelythings like this... a dream come true (maybe after I won the lottery.

Anyway, I made a fabulous find with this "new hot item", TOFU doll! I am not sure of its name yet (like Kogepan, Hello Kitty, Pucca, Mashi-maro, and all those names of all that cutesy crap) BUT I LOVE IT!! It's a block of tofu, slap on a face with some legs and arms, make it softer than baby skin, AND IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL THING EVER! (and in wholesale quantaties!). They didn't have that many big ones and the little ones come in white, yellow, & brown but they were out of everything but white. I love those Japanese for their design (see the little red stamp that says tofu in hiragana!? so adorable).

I love life sometimes. Here is Bobby to help demonstrate the size and scale of these things:

HOTL

I have been listening to Bill Handel since the eight grade (kind of like Loveline, although I listen to Handel more consistently). He has a morning show M-F 5am - 9am and I understand and appreciate it now more than ever as he is a very informative moderate.

However for entertainment, I highly recommend Handel on the Law podcasts available at the KFI AM 640 website- ON DEMAND or here is a direct link to Saturday podcasts and you just click on the ones where the man is in a wig.

If you're up Saturday morning, you should listen in live. SO entertaining and informative as he gives out free legal advice to a variety of callers who call in, basically telling everyone how screwed they are!

(AM 640 is available in SoCal. HOTL is syndicated nationwide and Handel on the News, the morning show, is only available in SoCal I believe).

Winning...

Don't you just love staring at http://www.calottery.com sometimes and wondering what would happen if you won!?

I am going to go write a list down right now. Maybe it is because I've been raised materialistic, but goodness, the power and freedom is exciting to think about!

Something just as good as winning the lottery, but on a smaller scale, & on certain days... getting mail that you realize the post office forgot to void the stamps!!!

LOOK at this JACKPOT package we received at work:

I am sure the feelings are about the same.

My brother is such a nerd...

Because he sends me awesome youtube science videos!

How to make fire w/o matches or a lightert:

How to make "hot ice"

Ooo, I remember this from chem class, instant freeze a drink "party trick"

You put a carbonated drink, like beer or soda, into the freezer for about 3 hrs or so like the instructions in the details for this video say. It is a solution of a carbonated liquid with a lower freezing temperature so that it won't freeze even after being in the freezer for a while. However as soon as you take it out, it is unstable and if you knock the carbon out, it becomes a solution with a higher freezing temperature so it reacts to the cold it has been exposed to and freezes instantly. Right...? Something like that? Goodness chem was fun.

and this is just cool:

Body image or not...

Despite the controversy of arguing about body image critiquing and its impression on women... this is Jennifer Love Hewitt!?!? She looks like... me! She is suppose to be a fit movie/tv star! She shouldn't wear that bikini right now... it's called modesty.

And if she is pregnant, haha, any of you remember Absolutely Fabulous where Eddy tells Saffy, "Oh, well if you're pregnant you better tell people about it right away, or they're just going to think you're fat!"

Source TMZ

弘明寺

I don't know why all the videos of Kamiooka & Gumyoji are of trains on YouTube (apparently there are these "train nerds" and they even have Japanese words for these type of ppl- like a train otaku, diff for both boy and girl.) Anyway, I found this lovely video of the great town of Gumyoji during their April/Sakura season. This man has a lovely family, such cute daughters!!!! GAH! To live this nice life and have a family! Ok, just my biological clock ticking... such cute kids. Enjoy what "Gumyoji life" might look like, well edit video.

Minato Mirai みなとみらい is also gorgeous at night. The Yokohama skyline is one of the best in the world!

YouTube celebrities

Smosh's "The Haunting"


SMOSH
I never knew there were such talented entertaining people on youtube! These guys are soo funny and such cute shaggy haired boys (kinda reminds me of duc's type, only cuter) that it's no wonder they are the #1 subscribed video maker

http://www.youtube.com/smosh

This guy is funny & famous too :D although verrrry long videos...
http://www.youtube.com/thewinekone

I want to cry

The Saddest Song in the World

I wake up, and you're gone
The TV's still on
And I sit, and I watch, another rerun
She is left, all alone, her lover's gone to sea
And I can't, help but feel, that she is just like me

And I gave, all I could, but it wasn't good enough
And you said that you would be here before I woke up
Now you're gone

I don't, know why, my heart still beats
When I, can't feel, anything

'Cause I gave, all I could, but it wasn't good enough
And you said that you would be here before I woke up
Now you're gone

Away
Now you're gone
Away

Why don't you take me, with you
Come take, me, with you
Come and take, me, with, you
Come and take, me, with you

'Cause I gave, all I could, but it wasn't good enough
And you say that you would be here before I woke up
Now you're gone

Oh Oh Ohhwoah, (repeat)

Wow, young adulthood

HAHA, omg, this young adult Filipino girl is hilarious too : http://www.youtube.com/user/HappySlip

Who needs my teenage years! I love her mac preference too, it's my LOVEhuh relationship too!

Oh how I miss youth

Butthash Heroes


This guy is hilarious. Especially for being a teenage high school Asian boy, he's quite insightful, funny, eloquent, confident, laid-back, cool- and just stupid- but knows it and so he rocks it. At least he edits it that way :P He has hundreds of thousands of viewers, and I see why!

Hope there is more to come when he hits college. Reminds me a lot of my brother, only more outspoken. There are a lot of good videos but I just decided to post his latest one (and if that really is his dad, friggin' hilarious. Asian parents are hilarious). And for those Asian kids out there who went through school hell like me (stupid brother doesn't have to... stupid real estate market should have skyrocketed during my yrs in HS so stupid tests and grades and getting into college shouldn't have mattered so much...) you will feel all nostalgic watching him "rebel" with these awesome videos.

Check out all his videos at : http://youtube.com/user/kevjumba

Happy X-Mas, from Meiko

I don't know how to embed the song, but it is SO worth listening to. Meiko's Holiday song, and she's been a baaaad girl.

Here is a link to PerezHilton for easier access but I was playing this song on a loop when she first posted it up on her myspace.

http://perezhilton.com/?p=9476

Japanese Gossip

Hahahaha, inside there are spreads on how to dress like Serena and Blair for JJ 's January 2008 issue (This one I actually got there and paid cover price, SWEET, ~$5 vs. $11)

aweeesome. But I agree with Alex, I am not feeling this new fashion trend of colored tights with everything that is really hot in Japan now.

Best Japan pictures post soon!

Waste your time, build your skills...

As a big fan of Cake Mania/Tamagotchi for DS, this game is just friggin' AWESOME.

You remember to make the sushi, refill ingredients, serve the right things to the right people, and manage the monies.

I spent an hour playing... it is pretty challenging and awesome. Thank you Jocelyn L., the power of Law School is amazing!!! if they help you find such wondrous treasures. Oh, and er, helping you build a fabulous career too ($145,000/yr starting salary Jaws in NYC , an OBSCENE number!)

Force Rhythm

I wish I could boogie down like this. Danny Choo, this Chinese-Malaysian computer programmer who now runs his own company, made his mark on YouTube with his delightful tokyostormtrooper. I found that top video a while ago but since then, he's really worked on his site and made 2 more videos (see below). Just look at him move!

Also enjoy his dance in Shibuya and him and Darth Vader doing a little number near Harajuku.

Internet language

ねえ、みんな、私を書くことを学ぶ日本の流暢！それは非常に簡単です。とても面白い、私は私のための準備を旅行！

Haha, I remember we'd use Babel fish to do French hmwrk in high school...

Now it's all about Google Translator : http://www.google.com/language_tools

Aaaamazing, esp since it can do Asian languages (although it is beta, and I am sure everything is translated in awkward broken phrases but it works!!! It helped me translate a form to make reservations!) have fun with the power of Google Translator!

사랑 해요 한국어 바베큐, 우리가 먹는 것이 이동 매일 밤!

انتقل الى الشرق الاوسط قريبا واستخدام القدرات العربية بلدي رائع

我可以寫中國傳統太，我是那麼好。我這樣一個聰明的女孩...打破互聯網翻譯中文...

Every day is a neeeuuuu ssschance!

My friend Duc sent me the most amazing music from this European group, Tough Alliance.

dance, dance, dance! Here is the video, not very impressive but incredibly cute. you just gotta sample the song!

Tough Alliance - New Chance


gay dancing, *jumps in the air!* I also like their other song, Something Special, but actually... all their songs are fun lingering happy techno-ish beats of joy! despite whatever their titles are

Dietberry

Emily spotted it on Melrose, and we actually worked on the plans, but Dietberry is amazing.

Not only does the place offer that korean yogurt taste, it can offer it at Zero sugar- no splenda taste at all! And not just that- THEY SPRINKLE GOLD ON YOUR YOGURT!


That's right, EDIBLE GOLD LEAF, free... we were reading the sign and thought, is that some kinda of membership level, gold? And the lady at the counter is like, "Oh you want to try the gold?? it's free!" and sprinkles 24k gold onto our yogurt with amazing healing abilities when ingested in small amounts according to the sign.

OH NO, here is a drifted gold leaf, better lick every last piece, it expensive!

sooo pretty

My new favorite Jay Chou song, and it's off his new album, it is so pretty

青花瓷 Blue and White (Qing Hua Ci)



The title Blue and White refers to Chinese antique porcelain. The literal translation for track 3 is Blue Flower Pot. (Source)

Flossy Pork~

This snack has a crazy name BUT IT IS DELICIOUS. The "flossy pork" is that dried up shredded pork but this tastes so good with its cookie/fortune/egg butter roll shell and a touch of a spicy XO sauce... only available in Hong Kong from Aiji Ichiban stores. We got it as a gift from our agent Ann. The only think keeping me and Peter from devouring all of it at once is the idea we cannot get anymore w/o going to HK... it almost makes you contemplate marrying a Hong Kong businessman so he can go fetch it for you on one of his trips...

(Source)

Where to shop??

Robertson Blvd and Melrose Ave are amazing places to find the best clothes! It can get pricey, and it can be very reasonable. In any case, you'll look fabulous.

Here is a great french brand I found, Diab'less: http://www.diabless.co.uk/collection.htm

Their UK website is more easy to navigate. 

I bought the above dress from Madison's on Robertson. I fill it out more than this model, some places not as well as others- but that is why they invented Spandex! To smoooth the fat out. I got so lucky on this shopping spree, thanks to friend Emily, but although she was a blessing, it was also a curse she found so many nice things that fit me because I ended up spending sooo much money...

But whatever, I did find a $70 pair of boots I could fit from Nordstroms that stretch enough for my enormous calves and all my new stuff centers around these boots. I tried this weekend for the designer booths. The Saks salesman helped me try on those $1600 Christian Louboutin boots but... well, you should've just seen his hand shaking as he tried to pull the zipper up. LOL, it was a funny moment and I'm glad to get it out of my system- because not only did they not fit, they were not that great to begin with in person. So shopping spree reasoned out, I actually SAVED $1600 by trying on those boots and realizing they're not worth it. I still should try the actual Louboutin store on Burton Way for shoes... I hate/love being a girl.

This 2007/2008 fall/winter season is great, head out to the Beverly Center now! Eat your heart out Japan!

new face of TV

TV on Demand from the big networks is changing my life! Watching the last 4 full episodes of your shows anytime at all, online. Catch up, get into it, whatever!

You might just have to watch the same Target or Victoria's secret bra ad over and over... but those commercials are pretty cool. Here are the highlights of my life... don't judge me just because TV is so important....

-----------------------

How I Met Your Mother:  http://www.cbs.com/

(click Full Episodes- HIMYM)

This show is amazing. Just watch "I'm Not That Guy" for John Cho and what a "Kobe lobster"is... And if you're still not convinced to start watching this show, here is an official hilarious clip from youtube of one great episode:

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30 Rock: http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/episodes.shtml

HILARIOUS, full of insane great scenes you'll remember for the rest of your life. Oh KbKim, "Boys turn into men, men turn into wolves" How could I have missed it?? There's a reason why it won an emmy.

-----------------------

Gossip Girl: http://www.cwtv.com/cw-video/gossip-girl

This is just a fun show, guilty pleasure, Kristen Bell's voice!

-----------------------

The Office: http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/episodes.shtml

Not that great this season IMO, but fun to catch up on.

-----------------------

Las Vegas: http://www.nbc.com/Las_Vegas/video/episodes.shtml

How could I have not gotten into this series?? Honestly, w/Tom Selleck on, it is more fun probably than before. It is just a fun dramedy you should get into, another guilty pleasure

My husband Youtube + secret lover Japan!

Here are some of the best youtube clips ever, and they all happen to be from Japan. I always try to show these to everyone so why not consolidate them here??

Japanese pranks: imagine suddenly a huge group of 100 people suddenly showing up around you as you walk in an empty area!

A compilation of pranks but the best ones involve the boulder/giant snowball

We've all fallen in love with Human Tetris :P Here is Human Tetris II (see side links for original Human Tetris and Human Tetris 3)

Japanese hooker english training, with our favorite "soooo good" saying :D As the comments say, "This Toshi sounds epic!" Terence brought back our interest for this :D This video is kinda dirty, duuuurtay funny!

Japanese learning English, while exercising!! One of the most amazing things you'll see in life that make you go, "HUH??"

The more famous Silent Library (check out the others!) Absurd game show Aegean showed me, I LOVE IT!

This isn't funny, it is just AMAZING! Makoto Nagano winning SASUKE, the 2nd person ever, after trying for like 8yrs. His winning run! The current course is now almost impossible (jumping spider in first stage?? wtf?!) Watch NINJA WARRIOR on G4 for the American edit of the show.

---------------------------

NON - japan related, please watch SHOES and LET ME BORROW THAT TOP!

http://youtube.com/user/liamkylesullivan

JMayer is funny

2 guys, 1 cup

what video are they making fun of??

John Mayer's hilarious take on Pinkberry

http://perezhilton.com/?p=8449

UPDATE: EWWWWWW

THE VIDEO THEY'RE MAKING FUN OF IS SICK!
it's called 2 girls 1 cup and 2 girls sh*t into a cup and then lick it and then puke it out....
OH GOOGLE, why you bring such hilarity and horrors...

Now a hat to hide the ugly

The new Jay Chou album is out, apparently his 8th, and it is pretty good! How do these Asian artists crank out sooo many songs consistently every year? I don't really like the Chinese title, it basically translates to me as "I'm very busy" but they translate it to "On the Run" ... huh?

It came in this nifty case w/a DVD and a notebook but at $18 at a Chinese bookstore and with only 10 songs... it better have came with all the extras! Sorry for the bad lighting, but cover is actually pretty slick looking.

He is quite talented and this twangy cowboy single "Cowboy on the Run (Cowboy is very busy...)" is a must see! To me, it is the stand out song. The video is too cute and weird and fun with great synchronized dancing, and that one line that basically translates to "I'm at a bar drinking milk, why not beer? because beer hurts your body!" is so adorable! The other songs are like his simple pretty ballads with one rap song here or there. All lyrics sung in his trademark melodic slurs (and here I thought that my Chinese was just bad...)

And how creative, the "Jay Chou effect*" is now a cowboy hat!

* jay chou effect consists of making yourself look absolutely gorgeous/handsome by hiding your real unattractive face with some well placed bangs or- an accessory.


UPDATE: Here is his other video from this album. Jay on Jay's relationships, ridiculously brilliant and as Duc said, hilarious w/"SARs masks":

Epic

http://www.whatwouldnphdo.com/

*insert awesome Barney quote*

Meiko

I can never praise or promote Meiko enough! 

LOVE HER too!! Please?

http://www.meikomusic.com/

(her song "Reason's to Love You" was on Grey's Anatomy, a fanmix: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xdty_AKccaE)

Screaming cat

I am hauntingly mesmerized by this screaming cat. I chuckle, it is so amusing, but in a fearful way. 

Watch with your volume turned down.

Here is another screaming cat that just looks funny when he/she opens his/her mouth. Looks and sounds like a crazy relative: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_HSylqgVYQI

Wii Fit Parody

This is not only hilarious, it is true... 

Oh the love hate relationship with my Wii! It's so good, yet so shameless and simple. Here is another nice critique that's Apple-esque but with a dash of offensive guy-ness from G4:

Singing @ the Epidaurus

This is a video of my dad singing at the ancient Greek amphitheater the Epidaurus built with amazing "natural" acoustics. Based on audience response, we told him if he ever wanted to, he could raise us with his voice.

Nummy

This kaisersmarren is delicious. It is some kind of Austrian/German pancake that is whipped to air and melts in your mouth like a warm, light, pancake heaven. I first had it at Victoria's Birthday, with Vivian C.

Spago Beverly Hills Stay and meet Wolfgang! 

UPDATE: That plate is totally like the plates I got from Target. Resourceful Wolfgang, resourceful.

Best Headlines, ever!

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/

This is like, one of the best news sites, ever.

Why? Because it's the most sensational news that they'll let come across in Japan, in English.

It's just so... Asian. Overly exaggerated...

Shaped so perfectly so that the headlines GRAB you but if you look at the facts, they all seem like very isolated incidents. The actual article is even written very objectively.

From what I hear, Japan is one of the safest places to live but you have one stabbing here and one rape/murder there (literally, just one versus the hundreds in say, NYC- but then again I totally am saying that based on reasoning after watching one season of SVU...) and the media wants everyone on edge!

The eye catching headlines are what make this site! You know what happens or you want to know what happens after 3 seconds of reading because:

"Yakuza eye-stabbing killer gets 22 years in prison"

"Man falsely imprisoned for rape meets real culprit for first time"

"Suspect held for kicking homeless man to death at Tokyo park"

"Old man acquitted for fatal shooting of paint thinner-addicted son"

O_o yummy

Zero-G flight!?

After seeing this picture of Buzz Aldrin and Mario in a "zero-gravity chamber in Las Vegas" I thought... ZERO-GRAVITY CHAMBER IN LAS VEGAS???

HUH? Does that not sound AWESOME!!?? I would totally pay up to $500 to float and drink a bubble of water in mid-air. Oh Las Vegas, always ahead in entertainment- space, our final frontier! WE ALL MUST DO IT!

http://nogravitylasvegas.com/

EDIT: uh oh... it's actually $3500... let's wait till it's $500, eh?

(source)