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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 *I just recently found Bart Kwan's vlog adventures. It's interesting how he claims that the main purpose of the trip was to visit the Blue Pool falls area, yet most of the excitement comes from eating all the delicious foods haha. How many scenes of pancakes, snacks, etc. Countless. Wasn't Bart Kwan supposed to help pack instead of recording haha. I guess that's why Geo gave that stare and "Chaos is coming" look. Or Geo might have been just pissed that she had to shave again. I'm glad to hear Tomo Nakayama is collaborating / playing with his colleague again - they made a nice duo. When he returns, he has that anniversary concert for his first album at the locale where he produced and recorded it in its entirety. The acoustics at some places rivals that of concert halls or even better. Other than Lang Lang's recording / performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations at the church / chapel or whatever that place was (Bach's resting place), there isn't any better acoustics nor greater achievement than that. I'm just beginning to find articles on Justin H. Min's involvement in his new film, "The Greatest Hits". There are some interviews with them. Music evokes emotions, but evoking memories. That's a new one. For me, it's only about emotions. Because my life is devoid of memories - only leftover / generic or vague emotions of being treated invisible or used (of course - some of us Asian Guys were too plain, ugly and never stood out at that time. Even now - understandable, so Have A Nice Life, Have A Nice Death. Let the world end. Hahaha). Music is just a medium for expression or as an outlet. There is nothing else. Back to "The Greatest Hits" - I hate love triangles, but I can relate to themes involving music. It's fortunate I guess that I'm mildly autistic - I cannot feel that emotion nor sympathize any longer. My focus for the rest of my life, is to just improve as a parent and find more energy to devote myself to my family. It's just going to get more tiring and overwhelming otherwise. Saturday, April 13, 2024 "Local Adventurer" are fun Youtubers who are of course, adventurous and vlog their travels / experiences to interesting places. They also review travel gear and other equipment. I'm also enjoying the new "Mac-ventures". Speaking of Youtubers or content creators, I'm glad that Jimmy Zhang is switching gears and doing something different. He's quitting what's been trending (there's too much out there, and it's all the same shit. They have been stale and dull for awhile, but loyalists and followers are going to always watch). He has been doing it for quite some time, and sometimes - you gotta do what you gotta do to get established or make profit. Now that he is established, he can create stuff that actually makes him happy. And of course - settling down. Another "I Want More Sauce" situation. Please - is there any sane reason to throw a tantrum about "Getting Only 1 Packet Of Sauce" at Popeyes of all places haha. You can politely or quietly go about it, and if they still don't give more - quit going there, or take your business elsewhere. Friday, April 12, 2024 *Tim Chantarangu's son is already 1 years old. Babys and toddlers throw tantrums. He seems "well-behaved", at least on camera haha. Who can resist them chubby cheeks and curious, roving eyeballs - the definition of adorably cute. I think his vlogs are genuine. The "Dudes Behind The Foods" guys were talkin' about how parents were using their children for clout or views. Shame on you, "Cry For the Camera" lady haha. Which D-So character is your favorite - Ball Handles, Mr. Wuhan Steve (or ask Careful Boyz Steve about that), or Jose Kim haha. For 20+ / hr, I'd work at McDonald's in a heartbeat haha. I don't see any Asians working in the fast food or service industry however (except in our own businesses). It's just as well, considering the increase in karens. Instead of pretending to be a werewolf, goddamn - just tell the driver to pull over cause you gotta take a shit. Hahaha. Thursday, April 11, 2024 I didn't find Andrew Huang until he become known for creating / composing songs with unique requirements to them, or creating songs out of ordinary sounds. This kind of unique talent does not exist these days. I wouldn't say Andrew Huang is One Of A Kind, but he's up there. It was refreshing to watch Andrew go back and roast or reflect on his old songs when he first started out. This was back in the day when the internet was in its infancy. Where knowing traditional HTML and other dynamic coding was required. I still maintain the traditional style - it allows to have a layout to my intention (and no crappy, pre-existing layouts such as today). Congratulations to Maestro Lang Lang on his Walk Of Fame. His success story has been inspiring, and play style has inspired a lot of young pianists to learn more pieces. Also - congratulations to Billy Joel's 100th show at MSG. Has it been that many - all sold out from what I hear. The longevity has been astounding, and still going strong. Unfortunately, it comes to an end in the summer. Who is Eric Wei - Venture Capitalist and Financial Advisor / Planner for social media gurus or celebrities. Another articulate, highly intelligent youngster - makes most everyday folks look too ordinary. Even myself. Finances and numbers are just too much for me haha. Entrepreneurship or startups are some of the most difficult endeavors in life. But it might be the only way to bypass / dismantle the "gatekeepers". Who is Stephen Oyoung - need to find out more. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Daniel Dae Kim has been made an honorary citizen of Seoul (definitely noteworthy) - https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240320050738 He is also in Korea as his new show "Butterfly" is in production / currently filming. For sure, he ain't there to sight-see Cherry Blossoms haha. In honor of the show "Butterfly", here is Chopin's Butterfly Etude awhile back: Monday, April 08, 2024 I'm certainly interested in trying Ming Tsai's "Ming Bings". But they are limited in availability - would have to place an order. They look delicious - most likely are. 'Simply' because "Simply Ming" is Simply Most Delicious. It's been quiet in terms of any new projects for Asian-American actors or creators. I'm sure there are - it's only a matter of time before there are updates on them. The beauty of music are the possibilities of interpretation. Whatever or however it affects you. I'll say it again. There is no motivation or no point if there is no passion. I have no idea who Dan Schneider was or is. But he sure does look like a creep haha. Certainly a bag of jello or blob back in the day. Sunday, April 07, 2024 Lazy Sunday tidbits: How did not I find out about Arnold Chun earlier. He definitely emits that real talent aura. I hope his new project becomes a reality. There are more out there waiting to be found. Jimmy Zhang can be entertaining, but his thumbnails are certainly misleading haha. They give the impression that he's hookin' up with all these ladies, when the actual video is about traveling and interviewing random folks. Still, they are entertaining (depending on the topic - gaming, anime, etc.). What they call UFO's, Unidentified or Unexplained, there is usually always an explanation. It is just not evident nor provided for the sake of ratings and drama. I believe in extraterrestrials as much as I believe in pigs flying. At a microbial or amoeba level, it is possible there is life out there in that sense. World of Warcraft or WoW is pretty much a dead game to me. If queue times for the Battleground Blitz continue to exceed 15+ minutes, it's a no-brainer to quit the game permanently (no more expansions). However - it is possible that all the Horde PvP'ers have temporarily quit until the next season or the next expansion. I've considered other fantasy games such as League Of Legends (free to play), but it is not really a single-player or solo player content. The only saving grace for WoW is that it has that somewhat. Saturday, April 06, 2024 There is no other father who can 'father' two kids than Tim Chantarangsu, in terms of giving life advice very casually (as if his son completely understood what he was saying, or just drooling about that next snack). And of course - they do have the same big-ass head haha. What do you get when you combine the dormitory residents from "The Ringer" with "The Bad News Bears"? The cast of "Sweet Dreams" haha. The ragtag crew of lazy underachievers (and mostly fat) haha. Well - it was a surprise to see Bobby Lee in it, but when you consider what it's about. I guess it's no surprise. It'll be fun watching Bobby Lee get hit in the nuts haha. And that's the 'Action Point' haha. Modest Moussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a monumental piece. Artistic in one sense, nationalistic on the other. It emphasizes the landscape of the composer's homeland at that time through a musical journey of "paintings". Some very atonal or dissonant pieces. But if you are going to describe life, then sometimes that's what it's about. I'm not sure if I'm going to tackle this (perhaps a few). Briefly read through this, or tried to. It requires attention, getting in the mood, and clear expression. The new "Quantum Leap" sequel was a great show. I'm sure the cast and crew are going to move on to other projects / endeavors. They told a lot of exciting stories within 2 seasons. I'm looking forward to any new projects from Raymond Lee. He clearly has a bright future. But like with other Asian-American actors, only if opportunities are there (which they are not unfortunately). We have to create for ourselves. As Choe aptly points out, it's all about "creative destruction" now when it comes to the status quo. Friday, April 05, 2024 To view Choe's portfolio, you can visit his Pinterest with a lot of his artwork. And I'm sure there is much more. Why did I not find this guy earlier in my life. The arts (as well as music) is a form of escapism, therapy and pure peace. I always believed - the point of art and music is to become one with it and immerse yourself in enjoyment and inspiration. There is no motivation or point if there is no passion. If you can make money off of it, even better. For some of us at this point doing them as a hobby, it should suffice. It is part of who we are. My prayers and thoughts for Taiwan. Hopefully, the numbers don't go up. On a more humorous / light-hearted note, let's turn some negatives into positives with these tidbits.
Thursday, April 04, 2024 I figured Shohei Ohtani is just warming up. He'll get in the groove. I'm just waiting for all this bullshit / clickbait sensationalism to die down before putting up / updating my Shohei Ohtani fan page. Speaking of marathons, I think the Video Game Pianist might be training for a few more. When livestreams are conspicuously absent for months, he's busy with something else. The creative process and music production thoughts / gear thoughts is always interesting. There is only one Andrew Huang. Is Mike Tyson too old to fight. He's like "Rocky", always coming out of retirement / never knowing when to quit. The fact the fight is labeled "exhibition", is telling. He ain't going to "eat nobody's children" this time haha. This is going to pull in a lot of viewers or audiences. They should actually advertise or market this in Wrestlemania instead. Don't they do these kinds of promos or circus performances now and then. Wednesday, April 03, 2024 An update from Ke Huy Quan - apparently, he's begun filming. And of course - I'm looking forward for further updates on his new film. The question of the year regarding fast food chicken sandwiches - Popeyes or Jollibee. In terms of spicy chicken, Jollibee all the way. I've enjoyed their chicken sandwiches however. This is just as important as which burgers are go-to: Five Guys or In N' Out. Five Guys, since portion and taste wise they are up there. Also - Five Guys is available across the country. In N Out is limited to only 1 or 2 states. Shame. I wouldn't be surprised at this certainty - Popeyes > Sungwon Cho's wife's cooking haha. I'd prefer to take my chances with Popeyes. Tuesday, April 02, 2024 Mac Eats, Mac Travels and Mac Observes / Commentates - Raymond Yu is livin' the life. You gotta give credit where credit is due - he is fearless (it appears). And informative, entertaining. And how about that sidekick he has haha. With that said, "The Adventures In India" - already hilarious haha. Street food over there might be a bit sketchy (but no doubt delicious). You might want to call Dr. Vim from "Harold & Kumar" to give a proper checkup after eating that haha. The food needs to pass "nothing short of proper health standards spectacularly" haha. Monday, April 01, 2024 The music video for 88Rising's "Avocado Shake" is quite 'tasty', but I'm not so sure about the actual shake or beverage itself if any haha. Well - I'm sure they'd put sweeteners in it. Rich Brian apparently can be found on 88Rising Youtube. I'm not sure what happened to his personal Youtube - stopped uploading there. More Choe videos woohoo - between Choe Clips and his own Youtube, there are plenty to catch up on. Just found a documentary to actually watch (explicit one at that haha). I was inspired to learn Mendelssohn's "Scherzo" by listening to a Horowitz recording. This is a piece driven by the rhythmn, dynamics and staccatos. Essentially, the atmosphere of the piece was my state of mind at that time. Chaotic and frenetic. The dynamic markings, "con fuoco" or even "agitato" usually refers to a more aggressive or high energy approach. Not necessarily speed (that would be allegro or presto). There's a fine line to how much to invest in the dynamics or others. It is definitely open to interpretation. It's actually the tempo and unending chords / phrasing that made this difficult. But all the worthwhile. Sunday, March 31, 2024 Ryan's Guide In Running A Marathon: 1. Don't train haha 2. Just experiment and see what happens a la one of them Youtubers do (result: cramps, sore feet, wobbly / jello legs after mile 8 - but kudos, he did finish). Haha 3. Come back home only capable of crawling There ya go. But to his credit, he did finish it. Only after 8 Hours. I'm not a runner myself - I get winded right away. We are all out-of-shape. Marathons are about both physical and mental training. You have to have the mental fortitude (as well as being in-shape or fit) to finish it. After all, 20+ miles sounds overwhelming without a car haha. Saturday, March 30, 2024 Congratulations on Tomo Nakayama's 10th anniversary vinyl edition of his first album, "Fog On The Lens". I was introduced to Tomo via Goh Nakamura a few years back. They have the type of music that is down-to-earth, relatable, and just simply - music. No whining or complaining. Other than classic rock, these types of local / indie artists are the way to go. I'll have to check out more songs from that album. But "The Darkest Of Seasons" is a good one. Growing up, the only 'mainstream' bands I listened to was Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins (I believe there was real angst / disillusionment or pain embedded in songs - which makes for better creativity). That's it. Of course - without an identity or knowing who I truly was or enjoyed, I just followed the crowd. It sure sucked. Haha. Other than classical music and indie / Youtube artists, classic rock such as Billy Joel or Elton John. They are still icons with iconic songs. And of course, who could forget Weird Al. That's been like, a consistent / permanent haha. These days, the quality of music has gone way down. Now it's all a competition of who is the most famous, popular and makes the most money. Go for it. Hahaha. Friday, March 29, 2024 What a treat. Even for one movement only, it was mesmerizing. Livestreams of classical performances are rare. Either attend in person, or if it is available to stream - you'll have to register (which is going to cost you eventually. In the end, it's to their benefit). I never register, it's as sketchy as pre-ordering. To get the whole picture, you'll have to listen to the entire concert or Concerto. The essence of the entire work is in all movements. Sometimes, there are a lot of pieces with individual movements that can be standalone pieces in their own right. I think Sonatas are like that. Interesting tidbits about various renowned conductors. What else is new. Pac Arts Movement has a new film festival. Some of the film clips definitely looks interesting. That is all. Thursday, March 28, 2024 Happy World Piano Day! One of the most important days / events of the year (Lunar New Years, Asian-American Heritage Month). Play to your heart's content on this occasion. Watcher Entertainment also has a new podcast. Might subscribe. Andrew Huang is not only knowledgeable, but eloquent in words and syntax. His words flow like music, logically sound and making sense at every sentence. Agree to disagree as well, but for the most - I agree. Check out this excerpt from this link ( https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/youtube-sensation-making-big-staying-authentic-bookbite/48359/). Some notable passages:
"Pictionary nation, vocabs amazing, difficulty Asian, shining bright, any night, I'm a man with a plan and I spit it tight" - line from "Rappin' Without The Letter E" (My Favorite Andrew Huang's composition). Page 2 |