May 7, 2007

  • Google Reader

    I've started using Google Reader, and I highly recommend it. It aggregates all your favorite blogs onto
    a single page. It feels like an email inbox: instead of
    visiting all the different sites, they come to you (when they are updated).

    One caveat: RSS feeds do not include protected or private posts.

    Most blogs (blogspot, livejournal, myspace) support RSS, the underlying code which powers Google Reader. On Xanga, whether a blog supports RSS is at the user's option. If you're reading this, please turn on your RSS! Just click here and then select Yes under "RSS Feed," then "Save Changes" at the bottom. If you leave a comment, I'll know to add you.

September 30, 2006

April 15, 2006

March 30, 2006

March 9, 2006

  • Comedy = Tragedy + Time

    It's been months since I've posted anything original here. So, here's a sure
    crowd-pleaser: my bad blind dates of the past! I had been saving these
    for a future writing project, but I may as well publish them now. Unless otherwise indicated, these stories
    indicate the actual moment that I knew the evening was sunk.

    These actually happened, with a minor embellishment in one of the stories.


    It's
    not intentional. I don't even know how I do it. But somehow I always manage
    to step on my date's toes. This unfortunate, sweet girl confessed to me,
    later in the evening, that she was insecure about her intelligence.

    Me: So what did you do this weekend?
    Date: My friends and I saw the Pride and Prejudice video series.
    Me: That sounds like fun. I haven't seen it myself, but I read the book in high school, and I have to admit that I really liked it!
    Date: (legitimately impressed) That's a pretty big book.

    Me:
    (taken aback for a moment, not knowing what to say. Then, leaning forward with a cocky, joking smile) Well, I'm a pretty smart guy!

    Date:
    (looks at me silently)


    I
    knew it was pretty much over right there. But, just in case there was
    any doubt, here's an exchange that took place one painful hour later.

    Date: So, Mark, do you have any brothers or sisters?
    Me: (a little surprised, but politely) Yes, I have a younger brother who's studying at Duke.
    Date: Oh yeah, I think I already asked you that.


    Another
    time, I was set up with an MBA student from Columbia. I walked in the
    restaurant to meet her, and she had the classic MBA look: slim, well
    dressed, attractive. I was impressed. Then:

    Me: Hi, I'm Mark. It's nice to meet you.
    Date: It's nice to meet you too.
    She shakes my hand firmly.
    Me: Ow.

  • She a crazy chick

    The video is bound to be less popular than "Lazy Sunday." But I just can't stop watching Natalie Portman rap angrily here and (alternate site) here.

    I never thought she was special before. But now I am in love. I think I long to be abused.

    The vid was written and directed by The Lonely Island, who graduated last year from Channel 101 to Saturday Night Live.

February 26, 2006

January 31, 2006

  • Claim to fame of the day

    At this moment, I have the leading entry in a Slate contest to find the
    most banal passage written by the New York Times' newest columnist: Ted Koppel. In the quote I selected, Mr.
    Koppel compares himself to a busy juggler.

    I am reminded of ImaTwinkie's recent observation that many people want to write professionally, but few can.

    To see the entries, click this link and scroll to the bottom, just below "******".

December 31, 2005

  • Checkmate

    I think I'm pretty good at rational discussion and persuasion. But I've
    never been able to put one over on my mom, even when my opinion is
    perfectly reasonable. Especially when my opinion is perfectly reasonable.

    Here, in her eternal quest to make me a more-eligible bachelor, she is
    telling me that I need to have eyelid surgery to make my eyes rounder.
    In Korea, the procedure is called sankapul.

    Me: Mom, sankapul
    is fine for girls, but I'm a guy. I'm proud to be Korean, and this is how Koreans look. In
    fact, I heard of a guy who had it done, and his friends all laughed at him.
    Mom: Well, that's good. You can bring some merriment into your friends' lives.
    Me: Mom, if I wanted my friends to be merry, I would take the money for sankapul and throw them a party instead.
    Mom: (enthusiastically) Yes, great idea! Gather your friends and you all can have a sankapul party!

    People say that God doesn't violate logic -- He transcends it. My mom has a little of that in her, too.

October 25, 2005

  • Quote of the day

    The author is unknown to me.

    It was a dark and stormy night. The rain fell into my shot glass, dampening my spirits.