Start of the Summer Reading List

Finals are coming to an end, and summer is almost here. Time to start a reading list again, even though I’ll have summer classes.

These are books…and not so much books, more like grammar texts and whatnot.

1. Anthony Bourdain – A Cook’s Tour
2. Bill Bryson – Neither Here Nor There
3. Understanding Basic Japanese Grammar (reviewing for study abroad)
4. Complete Master Series – JLPT 3-kyuu Grammar Exercises

This is just the start of it, I’ll add more when it seems necessary.

So…What’s New?

Last time I posted, a long time ago. So what’s happened since then?

- Hanging out a lot

- Lots of records spinning on my turntable

- Going to Japan for 5 months pretty soon, August-December

- Spring Semester is coming to an end, a little sad that it’s coming to an end, since there’s quite a few people I love to hang out with who won’t be in town for the summer.

- Can’t really think of much more. Taking day by day as always.

Peace.

Embrace the Martian that is Cudi

So, if anyone’s been listening to this up and coming rapper, with two mixtapes already out, you know how he is. Good beats, and a pretty good flow is what’s coming from this one.

Gotta love the beats though. I’m a real bass-head though, can’t get enough of the bass rumbling through my headphones, lol.

But yeah, anyone reading this, if you like hip-hop, check this guy out. He’ll be up there in no time.

Decline of Society?

I don’t know if anyone has seen these short HBO documentaries (it seems like once a week or s0) about kids and their discrimination of others based on what others wear, what social class you are, or how much money you have.

I don’t understand why people need to have expensive things to make people like you, or to be accepted. “Oh, I need this $$$ (insert article of clothing) to be accepted into this clique.” WHO CARES ABOUT THAT. Friends are friends – people who only accept you to be someone after they judge what you wear or how much money you have…NOT YOUR FRIENDS.

For some of these kids, they even disregard how their parents work.

There are some kids that are shown that do have hard times with money, but it still shows they still live, have a life, and don’t care about materialism. Sucks these spoiled children won’t realize that if they ever run out of money, those “friends” may just leave them in the dust.

What’s happening to society? Why are people so judgemental against social class? I remember last week, one girl said that she thinks its better that people are being discriminatory based on social status, rather than color. Lol…too bad they’re blind to see racism is there, plus they’re just adding to the discriminatory pool by discriminating by what you own or what you wear.

At this point, just by watching this…I just don’t want to live on this world anymore. I just want to move into a countryside town or village (preferably outside of the US), and just live a simple life. I just want to live with my art, my music, and some nice books. I’d rather cut myself off from society than deal with this.

Fuck money.

To consider him a role model…

I love to cook. I love to cook dinner and learn new recipes. Don’t take it that I’m some 5-star chef making stuff conosseiurs are raving and lining up at my apartment for…but nonetheless I like to cook. Not the simple mac and cheese stuff (although, take a twist to any simple dish, and you can create a masterpiece), but I like to make those dishes that take that little bit of love and effort to make it good.

But…why am I writing this? I worry that my taste buds could be dull. How do I know that what I think is good to my taste buds, would be good to someone who really knows their food? To someone who can be picky about how a certain thing tastes? I guess I can always take that answer that “If you like your food, and it tastes good to you, it has to taste good nonetheless.” I don’t want that though – there’s a difference in being “good”, and then there’s being “amazing GOOD.”

It’s like when I watch Anthony Bourdain – how he describes the food. Sure he’ll eat anything, but there’s always “after it happens,” where he’ll say how good, or how bad, or how weird/interesting/etc etc it was. I wonder how it would be if he tried my food. My panko crusted chicken with curry. My kimchi fried rice. I mean, my girlfriend loves it, but I always think that she has to say that it tastes good, no matter what. I dunno, but whatever.

I would love to travel with that guy. All the food he eats, the places he goes, just his demeanor, the things he says, how he says it. I would travel anywhere with Bourdain, since he’s just that critical, that sarcastic, that humorous. I guess right now, I’m ready to jump onto a plane outbound to anywhere outside the US, and just jump into the culture. The people, the food, the things they do. I wanna go somewhere.

Bartending and Color Change!

Just a note to myself – don’t forget to buy a book for cocktail mixes. I really wanted to bartend, even before I was legal. I wouldn’t mind being a mixologist in my own apartment. It’s a good excuse to have lots of parties and show off your mixing skills and whatnot.

Oh, and a little review on Crystal Kay’s “Color Change” Album. I’ve liked it so far, especially the first few tracks , my personal favorite being “One.” I like the beats, and everything sounds good. I’d recommend it for anyone who may like j-pop, or anyone just looking for some good beats to listen to, if you can’t understand the lyrics.

Walks, pt. 2

Just another addition to taking walks, especially in the morning.

I came to campus early, to get ready for an online conference/class. I took a walk around campus, while no one was around at all – no noise, just the sounds of wind and my footsteps. Stopping on the bridge to look at the water, to find a couple of turtles, and about a dozen fish looking at me for some food. I felt bad I didn’t have any though – but next time, I’ll try to have something for them. Looking up at the trees and watching leaves falling and twirling down. It’s just a nice way to spend your time, thinking, observing, just appreciating what’s around you. All in all, it’s nice.

Should’ve taken pictures though, but camera’s battery is dead after last night’s shuttle launch.

Morning Walks

I just discovered how nice walks around sunrise are. Even if it’s just to throw out the trash, the nice weather, the sun just rising and the sky ablaze with oranges, pinks, and blues – it’s really nice. I think I’ll start walking every morning before classes.

“Flipping” Artwork

This was a message I sent to a member on a message board I frequent. We usually talk about random stuff, and rant at each other if necessary. I usually message people, rather than post, because the board is littered with uncultured people who think they’re all-knowing, and what they say goes.

“After looking at ebay, and seeing why I missed out on the Audrey Kawasaki and Amy Sol prints, I ask this – does the world (or at least society) these days even have culture, or is society just filled with scum that just cares about money, themselves, and nothing else? Just tangibles, materialism, and taking advantage of others?”

If anyone does read this, answer this if you want. It’s nice to know that people purchase artwork to take away an opportunity from someone who actually APPRECIATES the artwork, and then takes advantage of them by selling for more, taking money from someone who could’ve just had for for retail. Are we really stooping to this level to get money? I mean, it’s better than selling drugs or selling yourself for sex, but still…let the real collectors get their hands on it first. Artists should start banning people who buy just for profit.

Oh, and for reference:
Selling a piece right away for profit = FLIPPING
Selling a piece after a long time of ownership, or after a long time after production = APPRECIATION IN VALUE.

GET THE DIFFERENCE?

Music and Books

Eric Hutchinson – Sounds Like This

Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Why I chose these:
I’m tired of songs that deal with nothing I care about, or stuff we (as a normal, regular population) won’t have or encounter. I like songs that deal with issues we always face (none of that sex, drugs, money crap), such as identity, current events, etc. I also like mellow songs (sometimes I like some bass booming), so I can just lay back and relax, perhaps to read a good book, while having some music in the background. Can’t ask for a better time than that, to let the day pass by, chilling out to some music and a good book.

Currently reading:
Bill Bryson – Neither Here nor There (Travels in Europe)

I remember reading his “In a Sunburned Country” in 10th grade, and it was my favorite book throughout my whole high school life. Now a senior in college, I’m back to reading his books, and enjoying his comedic comments and thoughts as he goes on his travels. Reminds me of Anthony Bourdain, which I also like as an author and travel show host.

Funny how I used to read all fiction before, but now I’m just switching to nonfiction books about peoples experiences, and how we can all have a good laugh about those experiences, written down.