Who's Splashing?

The people who owned this house kept finding water all over their pool deck and furniture. They thought the neighborhood kids were sneaking into their pool when they left so they set up a camera to catch them.

So cute.

Chinese Immigrants' Kids - Culture Clash

On yesterday's segment of NPR's All Things Considered, they had a story titled Chinese Immigrants' Kids Play Balancing Role. The story discussed the tension that arises from American children and their traditional Chinese parents.

The parents come to the U.S. in hopes their children will get a better education and a better chance of success. With it though, their fears of losing them to the American cultural norms are high since those norms are very different than what they feel is proper or even what they feel is common. The parents even lose the ability to speak with their children in many cases.

"Because of the loss of the language and also because of the more authoritarian parenting, there isn't as much of a close parent-child relationship in the way that we think about it in the United States," says Professor Vivian Louie of Harvard University.

The professor also says these problems with their parents can cause the kid to have high rates of depression, suicide, and mental health issues. On a positive note though, the immigrants' children have really good work ethic and set high standards for themselves.

I loved this story because I could relate so well. I know my parents sacrificed a lot to give my siblings and I a far better life than what they could have provided had they stayed in China and as I have gotten older, I have learned to really appreciate that. However, I am definitely one for fighting with my parents on a regular basis. I always say I feel like I am lost in translation when trying to explain an event, my feelings, or anything of importance. Then I get very frustrated with them, which causes us to clash.

I think my parents have transitioned really well with giving my brother, sister, and I a well balanced Chinese and American life. I can speak the language, I eat all the strange foods, and I know when to be that respectful, dutiful daughter. I also always brought home great grades and was an outstanding student because they instilled that responsibility in me. But they still let us go out with our friends and I got to party a lot in high school.

I am sad for them that none of us became the doctor or lawyer they probably wanted, but none of us are bad kids and we all have a decent relationship with them. I think my brother calls them at least once a week from California and I'm sure my sister talks to my mom a lot. I love my parents and I'm thankful that they worked so hard their whole lives so that I could be blessed. That doesn't mean I'll stop fighting with them though. :)

I didn't mean to make this such a long post. At any rate, to hear the story or read the transcript, click here.

Bayside Class of 1993 Reunites!

This upcoming cover of People magazine nearly made my heart skip a beat. I am on the same boat as Jimmy Fallon in wishing hard for a Saved by the Bell reunion. This might be as close as we get, but I'll take it! This issue will be available tomorrow, July 31. Pick up a copy to see what the gang has been up to.

The only person missing from the group was Dustin Diamond, better known as Screech Powers. But after he put out his own porn, I'm really not a fan of his. And he's not even cute.

[image via extratv.com]

Teachings: Dr. MLK

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Teachings: Have Faith

"You cannot miss an opportunity, because the Universe will keep presenting them to you. If you think you have missed an opportunity you will not feel good, and you definitely won't be on the frequency to receive the right opportunity. Have faith. The Universe has unlimited opportunities to present to you, and unlimited ways to get your attention.

You will seize on the right opportunity."

The Secret, Daily Teachings, Day 188 (I bought the Daily Teachings about a month late so the numbers do not match actual date).

Cute Wedding Entrance

T sent this to me today. I thought it was really cute and definitely memorable if you were a wedding guest.

Almost as good as TLC's show, "Rock the Reception," where they do a surprised first dance. If I ever get to have a wedding, I want to do something like this, but more choreographed.

My Fingers Hurt

I was changing the water bottle for our office's water cooler when as I was turning it over, I did not move my finger fast enough, so I smashed my hand between the cooler and the bottle. It hurt so bad!

Now there is a bruised on my left ring finger and four hours later, it still hurts! I'm probably being a baby, but I also have a very low pain threshold!

Cute Dog Saved from Freak Show

The dog above, a chihuahua terrier mix, was born with five legs to an an unemployed electrician who said he needed the money so he was going to sell her to a Brooklyn freak show called "Freaks of Nature" for $3000.

Luckily for Precious, who has now been renamed to Lily, a woman from Charlotte outbid the freak show operator for $4000. She will also spend an additional $2000 to have the extra leg removed.

The owner of the freak show told NBC he was disappointed, but "Sometimes, you just gotta say, 'OK, I still have nine live, two-headed animals' and move on.''

What a freak. That dog is cute!

[image via NBC New York/AP]

Total Solar Eclipse in Asia

There is suppose to be a total solar eclipse that will for 6 minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point tomorrow. That is the longest lasting solar eclipse in this century.

The eclipse will first start in the Gulf of Khambhat just north of Mumba. It will travel across India, China, the Pacific, and then some southern Japanese islands. Elsewhere, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Asia.

I wish I was in China now. I've always wanted to see one! My dad is so I'm going to see if I can call him to take pictures. I also wish it was like Heroes where we can get special powers when it happens.

[image via BBC News]

Starbucks Serves Booze?!

According to the NY Post, one of the Seattle stores next week will offer bottled beer and glasses of wine. Starbucks says they hope to expand their stores to a version of European-style coffeehouses, with live music, poetry readings, manual machines, and beer and wine.

No word whether Starbucks will come out with their own line of alcohol, but they will be testing the new stuff in three different Seattle stores and decide to expand based on how well they do.

It's not like I ever hang out at a Starbucks except when I was in college and tried to study there. I usually do the drive-thru if the line is not too long or I grab and go. But if there is beer and wine, maybe it'll be nice to have some place nice and quiet to hang out and enjoy a glass of wine without having to go into a bar.

Update:
Speaking of Starbucks, N just sent me this link for a free Starbucks pastry tomorrow with a purchase of a beverage: http://www.starbucks.com/retail/free_pastry.html

Sprite Ad Banned

This Sprite ad was banned in Germany. I'm not surprised. Even I'm a little shocked.

Mature content:


Update: The creator of the ad, Max Isaacson, has confirmed it has never been aired and it was only a spec.

Rap Battle: Harry Potter vs. Lord Voldemort

So funny!
Ps. I did see the movie at midnight and I loved it! Of course, not as good as the book, but a great movie adaption nonetheless.

Tanning Tips

I laid out this weekend in 113 degree weather and got quite toasty from that Phoenix sun. I did not take any of this girl's advice.
It's actually not that funny, but thought it was fitting for what I did this weekend (which is basically nothing--oh except a trip to a lesbian bar for a sorority sister's 21st birthday).

Top Chef: Las Vegas

Get your TiVo ready, the sixth season of Top Chef, Top Chef: Las Vegas is set to start August 26.

Celebrities set to make guest appearances are Natalie Portman, Wolfgang Puck, Todd English, Danile Boulud, Tyler Florence (yay! my favorite FN person), Laurent Tourondel, and Nigella Lawson (who I heard talking about her book on NPR and don't really like).

There are no really cute contestants this year so I just hope they're all really great cooks. I like Top Chef Masters, but I'm very excited for the new season!

[image via bravotv.com]

Why You Can't See Harry Potter in Imax This Week

N was telling me today that she could not find any showings of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on IMAX and so I had to tell her the reason for the delay. And then decided to share it here since I'm sure some of you, like me, are big HP fans!

Harry Potter has to wait until Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is done showing at the IMAX before they can have their premiere there. For this weeks release of the movie, there will only be two IMAX locations (New York City and Los Angeles) that Harry Potter will be shown.

So if you want to catch it on the IMAX, wait two weeks. I'll probably just see a regular showing- hopefully Tuesday at midnight if I can find someone to go with me!

[image via screenrant.com]

Death by Chocolate

A New Jersey man died Wednesday morning after falling into a a vat of melted chocolate in a processing plant. The 29 year old temp worker at Cocoa Services, Inc. was loading chocolate into the vat where it's melted and mixed before being shipped to make candy. He fell in after a blade used to mix raw chocolate hit him.

County Prosecutor says a co-worker tried to shut off the machine and two others tried to pull the man out of the 8-foot-deep vat.

How sad. It wasn't even his real job and he had to die Death by Chocolate. I always wanted to swim in a vat of chocolate, but in something safer, like a kiddie pool. Or a pool of spaghetti (like in the movie Patch Adams).

[image via cbs13.com]