Hotel California

Ben came over today to check on my brother. He had written something on his blog that had some cause for concern--I had been busy the last couple of days and did not check anyone's blog.

As it turns out, both my brother and Ben had been feeling down for a while, and today Ben said to me that he finally understood why some people drank to try and forget their problems. I knew there were people who drank because they're depressed, and I know that it's very unhealthy, but I can't deny that I do not personally understand what they've been through and what kind of relief they get. I just hope that I'll never have to drink for such a purpose.

The situation does remind me of part of the lyrics from "Hotel California," though...

Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget

It's may not be exactly what they were talking about when The Eagles wrote this song, but probably something similar, metaphorically. A more direct song on the subject would be Billy Joel's "Piano Man."

Pure genius

Last year, Trey Parker and Matt Stone made an episode of South Park that poked fun at Scientology called "Trapped in the Closet."

Then, last week, Isaac Hayes, who provided the voice for Chef supposedly issued a statement to the effect of Parker and Stone having crossed a line by making fun of people's religious beliefs. This seemed highly hypocritical to many, as South Park regularly made fun of various religions, and Hayes never seemed to have problems until Scientology became the target.

Chef was an important and memorable character on South Park, the kids would often go to him for advice. So, in response to the supposed statement and resignation from Hayes, the latest episode of South Park, "The Return of Chef," dealt with the issue, and quite brilliantly, I might add.

It should be noted, however, that two days before the new episode aired, an article was published by Roger Friedman, stating the unlikelihood of Hayes having actually issued a statement against South Park, as he had defended it after the airing of the Scientology episode, and at the time the statement was issued, Hayes was in the hospital.

...since YouTube has added a movie length limit to their uploads, the video had to be split up.

Edit: The person who originally uploaded these videos seems to have removed them, so I uploaded my own after splitting them.

Part I - "Recap" - Chef leaves town to join the "Super Adventure Club"

Part II - The boys attempt to "un-brainwash" Chef, and turn him back to normal.

Part III - The boys try to save Chef.

Alchy

My brother bought some vodka and Kahlúa last night (which he keeps on pronouncing as "Kalhua"), and offered to make me a Black Russian after we got back from Esther's wedding. Then we got to talking about more mixed drinks, and decided to go to BevMo for other stuff, including some of the basic tools needed to make mixed drinks. $170 later, this is what we got.

The Brokeback Redemption

There's really nothing more to say.

"Choose Your Own Adventure" books

I read them when I was a kid, too. But not these, which "never quite made it."

A few select covers:

You know you want to...

I'm not sure why I found this one funny, but I did.

Here at Brokeback Ocean.

Why, indeed.

None of the kids will get this one.

Once again... Tom Cruise

As you can clearly see from the logo on the screen, this was originally shown on the TV show, Best Week Ever, a recap show of sorts on the cable channel, VH1. It's a cleverly edited clip of Oprah reprimanding book author James Frey, and the shenanigans as displayed by Tom Cruise when he was on her show last year, made to look like Oprah is reprimanding Tom Cruise.

Just in time for the Oscars

Well... sort of. I picked up The Ice Harvest, Pride & Prejudice, and Walk the Line on DVD last Tuesday, and watched them over the course of the week, finally finishing up with Walk the Line tonight. By the time I was done, the awards show had also finished.

To be honest, I wasn't really interested in seeing Walk the Line originally, hence it was the last of the three movies I watched. The reason I did get the DVD was mainly because of Reese Witherspoon and the Oscar nominations--even though similar reasoning did not make me purchase The Constant Gardener with Rachel Weisz. At any rate, I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would... I might actually like it more than Ray.


As I look at the list of DVDs to be released this week, I see more that I want to pick up: Just Friends, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Howl's Moving Castle.

The Simpsons

...in live-action.

Don't know who made this, but they did a damn good job of it. Of course, long-time Simpsons fans will notice several details missing or misplaced, but it's still very impressive.

They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard!

What... The... F***?!

"Stupid fat hobbit."

First Time

Another music video from Michael Wong. This is an older song called "First Time" (第一次). It's pretty funny. He tells the girl he likes her, which causes her to spit out her drink, laugh nervously, and reply, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. You should try to forget about this soon."

第一次

當你看著我
我沒有開口　已被你猜透
還是沒把握
還是沒有符合你的要求
是我自己想得太多
還是你也在閃躲
如果真的選擇是我
我鼓起勇氣去接受
不知不覺讓視線開始閃爍


喔　第一次我　說愛你的時候
呼吸難過　心不停地顫抖
喔　第一次我　牽起你的雙手
失去方向　不知該往哪走
那是一起相愛的理由
那是一起廝守
喔　第一次吻　你深深的酒窩
想要清醒卻沖昏了頭
喔　第一次你　躺在我的胸口
二十四小時沒有分開過
那是第一次知道天長地久

是我自己想得太多
還是你也在閃躲
如果真的選擇是我
我鼓起勇氣去接受
不知不覺讓視線開始閃爍


喔　第一次我　說愛你的時候
呼吸難過　心不停地顫抖
喔　第一次我　牽起你的雙手
失去方向　不知該往哪走
那是一起相愛的理由　對我


今天你已屬於我
感覺你的眼眸
第一次就決定　決不會錯

喔　第一次我　說愛你的時候
呼吸難過　心不停地顫抖
喔　第一次我　牽起你的雙手
失去方向　不知該往哪走
那是一起相愛的理由
那是一起廝守
喔　第一次吻　你深深的酒窩
想要清醒卻沖昏了頭
喔　第一次你　躺在我的胸口
二十四小時沒有分開過
那是第一次知道天長地久

First Time

As you're looking at me
I said nothing, but you've got me figured out
Still uncertain
Still do not fit your requirements
Am I just thinking too much
Or are you also dodging
If I have truly been chosen
I'll work up the courage to accept
Unknowingly, let the sightline begin glittering

Oh, the first time that I said that I love you
Was hard to breathe, heart wouldn't stop trembling
Oh, the first time that I held your hands in mine
Lost sense of direction, don't know which way to go
That's the reason to fall in love together
That's staying together
Oh, the first time that I kissed your deep dimples
Tried to stay clear-headed but got intoxicated
Oh, the first time that you laid upon my chest
Did not separate for twenty-four hours
That was the first time I understood eternity

Am I just thinking too much
Or are you also dodging
If I have truly been chosen
I'll work up the courage to accept
Unknowingly, let the sightline begin glittering

Oh, the first time that I said that I love you
Was hard to breathe, heart wouldn't stop trembling
Oh, the first time that I held your hands in mine
Lost sense of direction, don't know which way to go
That's the reason to fall in love together, for me

Today you already belong to me
I can sense your eyes
Make a decision on the first time, never be wrong

Oh, the first time that I said that I love you
Was hard to breathe, heart wouldn't stop trembling
Oh, the first time that I held your hands in mine
Lost sense of direction, don't know which way to go
That's the reason to fall in love together
That's staying together
Oh, the first time that I kissed your deep dimples
Tried to stay clear-headed but got intoxicated
Oh, the first time that you laid upon my chest
Did not separate for twenty-four hours
That was the first time I understood eternity

Promise

This is Michael Wong's new music video for the song "Promise" (約定), made by the same director as his previous video for Fairy Tale (童話).

The two videos are very similar, especially in the beginning.

約定
作詞：光良　作曲：光良

說好的　三年不見面
用我們的愛把時間留住
你笑著說　這是我們的考驗
我們的約定
就這樣　三年又過了
我還是回到這個地方
閉上眼　等你的出現
空氣中吻你的臉

我還記得我們的約定
一輩子幸福的約定
為你寫的那首歌
它也偷偷的掉淚了
我還記得我們的約定
我比以前還更愛你了
連那風都笑我了
我想它會告訴你的
我更愛你了

就這樣　三年又過了
我還是回到這個地方
閉上眼　等你的出現
空氣中吻你的臉

我還記得我們的約定
一輩子幸福的約定
為你寫的那首歌
它也偷偷的掉淚了
我還記得我們的約定
我比以前還更愛你了
連那風都笑我了
我想它會告訴你的

你會記得我們的約定
一輩子幸福的約定
為你寫的那首歌
它也偷偷的掉淚了
你會記得我們的約定
我比以前還更愛你了
迎著風我也笑了
它一定會告訴你的
我更愛你了

Promise

Music/Lyrics: Michael Wong

We agreed, not to meet for three years
Use our love to make time stand still
You said with a smile, this is our trial
Our promise
Just like that, three years have passed
I still came back to this place
Close my eyes, waiting for you to appear
I kiss your cheeks in the air

I still remember our promise
The promise of a lifetime of happiness
The song that I wrote for you
Is shedding a tear in secret
I still remember our promise
I love you even more than I did before
Even the wind is laughing at me
I think it will attest to that
I love you even more

Just like that, three years have passed
I still came back to this place
Close my eyes, waiting for you to appear
I kiss your cheeks in the air

I still remember our promise
The promise of a lifetime of happiness
The song that I wrote for you
Is shedding a tear in secret
I still remember our promise
I love you even more than I did before
Even the wind is laughing at me
I think it will attest to that

You will remember our promise
The promise of a lifetime of happiness
The song that I wrote for your
Is shedding a tear in secret
You will remember our promise
Facing the wind, I also laugh
It will definitely let you know
I love you even more