Things I Learned in Paris

Thanksgiving in Paris. Paris in Thanksgiving. No matter the order of that sentence, it still sounds chic and classy. Being that it was my first time in Paris - let alone Europe, I kept an open mind and tried to sponge in as much culture I could in the 4 days I spent there. Well, maybe not culture, but here are a few things that I noticed or just couldn't avoid because they were everywhere. Enjoy my list of Parisian motifs. Bon apetit!

1. Black Peacoat
Walking down the streets of Paris, all I could see were black peacoats - OK, maybe navy blue, and the occasional grey, but a long black peacoat seems to be the only outerwear acceptable to be worn. There is no other kind available in France.

2. Shoes that are not sneakers
According to our tour book, it warned us not to wear sneakers in order to avoid being pegged as a tourist. Not like my fellow traveler and I could avoid it because neither of us could speak French anyway. Everyone (girls) wears heels or knee-high boots - all in a dark color, of course to match the black peacoat. Men wear loafers or any other dark colored shoe.

3. Petit chien
Small dogs - everywhere. Even their little poops.

4. Obama
When you tell them you're from the States, they will ask you about Obama. Then they will ask you if you voted for him. I said "yes" because I did vote for him, and I didn't want them to spit in my food. My Republican companion hated that question and avoided answering.

5. Croissants
There are bakeries everywhere and people eat those delicious things everyday. My personal favorite was pain au chocolat - ate it twice a day.

6. Overweight people
There are none. Despite the croissants, Parisians stay fit because they walk everywhere. Rarely do they use cabs.

7. Coffee
In tiny portions. I'm talking small, espresso shot portions. Usually served with sugar on the side - or just shoot them back black.

8. Homeless Drunks
The homeless in the States drink 40s of crappy beer, the homeless in Paris drink bottles of champagne. Empty bottles were plenty in the streets. Even the bums keep it classy.

9. Everything is small
The cars, tables, chairs, even the toilet seats - are comparatively smaller. That again is because no one in Paris is overweight.

10. Beauty is everywhere
Perhaps the most beautiful and exciting city I have ever been in (but my heart is always in NYC). Everything is beautiful, the buildings, clothes, people, even the petit chien. Can't wait to go back there.

What the hell is up Baltimore?

Granted, I work in Emergency Services so I love cops, but looks like Baltimore police took offense to the peaceful riot rejoicing the election of new President Obama:

At least 16 arrested after election celebration in Charles Village

By Gus G. Sentementes

A group of at least 16 people, including a Johns Hopkins University professor, say they were wrongfully arrested during a spontaneous post-election celebration early this morning in Charles Village, while Baltimore police say officers acted to disperse a large, loud crowd after receiving complaints from neighbors.

None of those arrested, who gathered outside Baltimore's Central Booking and Intake Center after their release about 9 a.m. today, said any was charged with a crime. Some said they had been threatened with charges of inciting a riot and disorderly conduct, though they said the gathering of about 200 people was peaceful but loud.

"It was nonsense," said Aaron Goodfellow, 41, a professor in Hopkins' anthropology department. Goodfellow said he and a graduate student left an election night party after news broke that Sen. Barack Obama was elected president. They saw the gathering and stopped to participate, and both were later arrested, he said.

"It was just pure enthusiasm. There was no destruction of property," Goodfellow said. About the arrests, Goodfellow said: "It was out of control, excessive and, yeah, I'm really angry."
To read more, click here

The New Generation Has Begun

You can hear it in the streets. The mumble overheard in conversations, in conference rooms, cafeterias, the local deli. "I can't believe it... this is really happening... we are living in history... the first African American president... it is a new world." And right we are. November 4th, 2008 is the date to remember, and never has it been a better time to be in Washington, DC.

It was the happiest riot that the streets of America have ever seen. The march to the White House was of joy, liberation, and not to be cheesy, but it's true - love. Couples were kissing, friends were hugging, strangers were dancing and holding hands with each other. Thousands of students, professionals, residents, and other citizens joined together to chant those memorable three words, "YES WE DID!" The emotions spread throughout the air like electricity, conducted by the rain that continued to pour down on us.

Despite this great accomplishment over the race factor, a new battlefront has been brought upon us. Proposition 8 has been passed - gay marriage has been banned. Although it is a happy day for many Americans, the taste is still bittersweet.

I'm giving you fair warning - this is an exciting time, and I have never been more ecstatic in my entire life. But I can't help to think that our high expectations of this one man is doomed. He can't do it by himself. The true change doesn't come from one man. But he inspires us all, and I hope to God that it will be enough for us to ACT. We need to work together, fight ignorance, see people as humans, to truly be united as we were that one night in front of the White House.

Welcome to the new generation - it's going to be a fun ride.

No Longer #1

I am sharing this article which announces that GW is no longer the most expensive school in the country... now we're number 2.

Who took our glorious, obnoxious spot at the top?

Sarah Lawrence College.

Seriously? How did a small liberal arts college of 2,000 students beat GW?! Maybe the 80% of women that make up the student body had something to do with it? Or the hipster/artsy student demands for organic foods in the dining halls or free trade coffee had something to do with it?

Oh well, at least GW used to be #1 at something at some point.

Adele: One Really Lucky Artist... But Talented Nonetheless

Adele, is perhaps the luckiest artist to have performed on SPalin's SNL episode.

As of right now, her album, 19, is listed at number 2 in iTunes' Top Albums. What?! SNL did something for music sales?! I'm sure her agents didn't think that her career in the US from the UK would've skyrocketed at the rate that it is. Quite the shock. Who knew that this would be the perfect platform for her to take off?

Hm, I don't give NBC producers enough credit. I'm sure they had an idea. Adele was wayy too perfect a role for the musical number.

I'm glad SNL didn't toss in some lame shitty local band to fill up the music space. Adele was absolutely spectacular in her performance. No one sounds that good on the live stage in the atrocity (for acoustics) that is NBC Studios. She expressed so much feeling, and her voice, oh god, she makes Amy Winehouse sound like a dying dog.

A truly amazing artist is getting recognition in this country for her talent. Already her popularity is breaking the size 0 mold expected of all US entertainers - I just hope that we don't break her.

Law and Order SVU Amps Up the Graphics

Now in its 10th season, Law and Order SVU goes on strong, featuring some new cast members like Adam Beach and Michaela McManus. This show has been on forever, with the addicting familiarity of the Dick Wolf formula that surprises us every time.

But something is different... it might be just me, but has SVU gotten more graphic? I remember watching the show in high school (years ago) and enjoying it because of the limit on graphic content which other shows like CSI had way too much of. Now, they're full on showing the faces of the dead for extended periods of time, with more blood and gore. I actually got freaked out after 3 episodes and turned off the TV, contrasting to the times when I watched marathons on USA.

SVU: 2 new hot cast members, and more gore. Its sibling Law and Order CI is more about intelligence and mind-games. Despite the mediocre attractiveness, Vincent D'onofrio is an absolute genius in his role and makes that show feel legitimate. Amazing.

And the Circus Continues! The Spawn of SPalin

Sarah Palin arrived this morning to NBC Studios in New York to start rehearsing and prepping for her highly anticipated debut on SNL. Tina Fey has been playing SPalin for a few episodes, marking some of the highest ratings on SNL in years! Aside from affecting the ratings, it can easily be said that it is affecting the polls as well. The hysterical yet eerie perfection of Tina Fey's portrayal of the Republican VP candidate has helped with getting young citizens invested in this election year than in the past.

There are only 12 days until Election Day. Republicans and Democrats are head-to-head in the polls and the debates are over. Is SPalin using SNL to reve undecided young voters to the Republican dark side? Uh, yeah!

Despite the political undertones, I will actually stay at home on a Saturday night to watch this debacle. One skit I hope to see - SPalin playing Tina Fey, and Tina Fey playing SPalin.

For now, all we can hope for is a performance better than Michael Phelps.

Frightening, Yet True

So, Tell Me Everything I Know About You
This is an article from the Modern Love section of this Sunday's New York Times. Written by med student Joanna Pearson, she talks about her dating experience in Washington, DC and the downsides of Google-ing your date. Entertaining to read especially if you're familiar with DC bars and dating scene.

Hot Trend

So I see Sarah Palin on the cover of Time Magazine, and what I did I think of?

No, not her pregnant teenage daughter, nor her support to drill Alaskan nature landmarks for oil, nor that she was simply the "vagina card" played by McCain.

It's those rimless glasses that she wears all the time. It gives the librarian illusion but the lack of rim makes the appearance subtle enough to hide some of her acclaimed "hotness."

Rimless glasses - the trend for hot women who want to be taken seriously in the professional world.

The "Capitol" Hills

It's confirmed. According to the DC Examiner, Lifetime is filming their own version of "The Hills," DC style. To be aired after Project Runway, the show titled "Blonde Charity Mafia" present 3 "local" DC hotties, Katherine Kennedy, Krista Johnson, and Sophie Pyle.

Krista Johnson reassures that although it draws parallels to the MTV show, this version is more realistic:

“It’s all going to be about our real lives,” said Krista Johnson, who is a
partner at the Georgetown boutique We One You Two. “It’s going to be in the same
vein of MTV’s ‘The Hills’ but ours is going to be more realistic."

In my opinion, BCM is more like the charity/non-profit version of another MTV show "Power Girls." You can thank PG for the surge of interest in public relations, hopefully BCM will do that too for non-profit orgs? But in vein of "The Hills," the theme will probably surround the drama in their personal lives, and the non-profit will play as a backdrop... because there has to be some reason to throw a party.

I can't help but imagine in their very recent past, they probably rejoiced at their first mention on Pamela's Punch or waited for their invite to Late Night Shots. Now they have their own TV show. All the power to them.

I just hope that they don't become as popular as Lauren, Audrina, Heidi, and co., because there are so many people in DC who do exactly the same thing as they do (plus more) but these girls just happened to be in the right field, at the right time, at the right bar where they were holding auditions.

All in all, I'll probably watch the season premiere.

A press release from Lifetime announcing the show.

Olympics Rules All

Picking up from where I left off in my previous entry on the Olympics, the 2008 Summer Olympics have been an outstanding success in terms of viewership. According to the NY Times, Nielsen ratings reports that as of Tuesday, an average of 30.4 million people have been tuning into NBC on primetime to get their Olympic fix. On top of that, over 40 million people stayed glued to the TV over the weekend to watch Michael Phelps win his 7th and 8th Olympic gold medals. According to reports, that was the highest ratings NBC has received on a Saturday night since 1990!

Guess that means no one was at the movies - "unfortunately," Tropic Blunder opened this weekend with very weak numbers. Some say that it will fare better next weekend due to the end of the swimming events, but I doubt the few thousand people who saw it are going to help spread positive word of mouth. Poor Ben Stiller. Who would've thought that the Olympics would've stolen your thunder? I'm sure no one saw it coming.

It's really all thanks to Michael Phelps. Now that he is propelled to celebrity status, how soon do you think they're going to pry into his private life?

Natural Frozen Yogurt Places in DC

When I was walking around Georgetown last night, I was baffled to find that the space formerly occupied by CD Warehouse was turning into yet another "natural" frozen yogurt shop. Very originally named Iceberry, is froyo store number 4 to open in downtown DC. Three of those stores (including the pending Iceberry) opened just this summer alone. This booming concept of the "healthy" sweet treat is the answer to the prayers of thousands of organic-loving yuppies in this city. With the arrival of froyo shop #4, yuppies are increasingly pressured to pledge allegiance to one particular stand and defend them via posts on Yelp.com. Looking at this from the outside, I want to give my opinion on each of these froyo stands - just for the hell of it.

Sweet Green
The first froyo store (to my knowledge) to open in DC, this store is all the way at the end of M Street in Georgetown, started by a couple of Georgetown grads in a small space that looked like a sushi bar in its prior life. Their main appeal was their fresh make-it-yourself salads with endless toppings. In my opinion, the froyo here is the best - with a good selection of toppings, it's the only place that has lady finger cookies which is way better than the other "goodies" the stores below offer. Oh, and the workers are young, fun, and at least look like they enjoy their job.

Tangy Sweet

I was surprised to see how long the line was for this place. Conveniently located at Dupont Circle across from Cafe Japone, the only reason I stood on line was because a man (who happened to be the owner) offered my friends and I free froyo. Let me comment about the appearance. The inside looks like a public restroom with chairs and funky lights. The tables that come out of the walls look like glowing, color-changing urinal posts. The atmosphere is complete with peach-colored walls and stench of wet rag and paint.
Back to the froyo: unlike Sweet Green, they offer 3 flavors: original, pomegranate, and green tea. Being unadventurous, I had the original with coconut, strawberry, and blackberry. The froyo was OK - the only issue I have is that they skimp out on the toppings. For the 3 times I've been there, my cup averaged 2 blackberries, about 3 slices of strawberry, and a few flakes of coconut.
Farce.

Mr. Yogato
I haven't been there yet - and I don't think I will even bother to try. My coworkers told me about their experience - mostly the long lines and weird decor (better than smelly). Yogato amps it up with additional flavors such as peach and mojito. That's not all - they offer an even bigger selection of toppings, including ingredients that they probably pulled out of the shelves of a fraternity pantry. They include: olive oil, wheat germ, and honey - just to name a few. I have no idea what kind of deranged person would put this in their dessert. It really is just plain gross. Oh, and each additional topping is 75 cents - a bit overpriced for a couple raspberries, in my opinion.

It looks like DC has a new obsession. May the power of froyo prevail, and I look forward to trying Iceberry. The popularity of this "healthy" alternative is probably to counter the booming cupcake business. Something to be discussed in a future post.

Tropic Blunder

I was fortunate to see a free pre-screening of this movie with a few of my friends - fortunate, because it was for free. I would not pay $10.50 to see this movie.

To be fair, I thought the same thing when I first saw Wedding Crashers. But it was until I bought the movie I realized that I could watch it over and over again while quoting it in almost any social setting, winning the respect of friends and colleagues. I'm not sure if I can say the same about Tropic Thunder. The concept is great, but they didn't quite deliver the potential for social domination. The jokes were OK, but they tried too hard to make them funny. It felt as though they took a plot and installed punch lines in random places which produced a choppy flow of dialogue.

It's obvious that this movie is meant to be "ground-breaking," an effort to pave a road for a new kind of comedy (i.e. Superbad, Napoleon Dynamite, American Pie). The foremost one is having Robert Downey Jr. play a black guy - well, a caucasian Australian actor who plays a black guy in a movie that isn't actually being filmed. Reminiscent of the black face minstrels from the 19th and early 20th century, it's tucked far enough into the past that it's hard say it's "too early for that." But if you do, and say that it's racist - you have just fallen into the Hollywood trap of word-of-mouth advertising.

Next is the current obsession of infertile couples in the world - Asian babies. Enough said.

The final element they put in was a dancing, hairy, fat guy. I couldn't decide whether I hated it it wasn't funny, or because he was played by Tom Cruise. Maverick dressed in a fat suit with some extra hair on his arms dancing to Flo Rida... I personally don't see the humor in that. Sorry Tom. I'm sure the Xenu was really proud of the 5 minute dancing scene you did at the ending credits. What a waste of film.

Otherwise, the movie was good in featuring an all-star cast including Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, and Mickey Rooney, with cameos by Tobey McGuire and more.

Oh, and how could I forget about the amount of product placement in this! TiVO and Diet Coke are mentioned consistently throughout the film. Booty Sweat (a soft drink) is made up by the movie, but is similar to the Korean drink, Pocari Sweat. Apparently the fake ads that are featured in the beginning of the movie has gained popularity where they have decided to put the actual product on real shelves. And people out there really think that advertising doesn't affect behavior...

Where did stuffwhitepeoplelike go?

Their link doesn't work anymore. Glitch? Or sudden death?

It is alarming how attached I am to the weblog, because I'm not white. On the other hand, maybe it has to do with the fact that I was #11 on the list (Asian Girls) of stuff white men like. Despite that, my scarf-wearing, expensive sandwich eating, sarcastic, children's-game-playing adult friends say that it's OK.

If the blog really has been erased, it has to be one of the greatest underground yuppie things to hit the internet.

Oh well. Time to go grab more coffee.

UPDATE: It's back up.

Nightlife in: Shanghai

Places to go in Shanghai - threw in a couple restaurants as well, just in case you start getting sick of local Chinese cuisine.

Prego
After about a week and a half of Chinese food, my classmates and I craved Western food - more specifically, Italian. That's when we found Prego, an Italian restaurant located on the second floor of The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai. We were skeptical at the idea of Italian food in China, but they lived up to their outstanding review as the best Italian food in the city. We were served fresh bread with marinara sauce and the best pizza and pasta dishes I have tasted in a long time. The setting is chic yet laid back, the service was great, and the wine list was diverse. The price is a bit on the expensive side, but it is worth every yuan. Definitely hit the spot.

Location: 88 Henan Middle Rd, by Guangdong Rd

M on the Bund
I didn't get a chance to eat here, but someone else should (and tell me about it). Spectacular views of the Pudong skyline, this restaurant claims to be famous and the best in Shanghai. Indoor and outdoor sitting areas, modern European cuisine, the never-ending wine list, a.k.a. - expensive. The restaurant was full of foreign expats and other visiting business men and women, taking in the view while taking in their steak tartare. Reservations are highly encouraged.

There's a bar in the basement (same owner as the M) of the same building, the antithesis of the upscale restaurant on the 7th floor. I don't remember the name of it, except for the salsa music playing in a Irish pub style atmosphere while drinking a glass of sangria. Drinks are a bit expensive (relative to China) but the place is complete with open dance floor, full bar, and a pool table. It's a good venue to hang out with some friends but not necessarily to meet other people - despite that it was a Saturday night, the place was rather empty.
BYOC - Bring Your Own Company.

Location: No. 5 The Bund (at Guangdong Lu), 7th Floor

Attica
A club based in Singapore, possibly named after the prison located in New York, it's the typical discoteque experience - flashing lights, fog machine, tacky "modern" furniture, and sleazy boys. It's located on the top floor of a building (somewhere near the Bund) so there is access to the roof patio which again, reveals a spectacular view of the city. There are bars all over the place so it's not difficult to get service, but the drinks are expensive. From what I remember, a shot cost about 15 USD each, and the patron that a few expats bought my friends and myself were more than 25 USD.

One major con: there is no place to sit down. If you want to sit, you have to get bottle service, otherwise, you pretty much have to stay up on your feet. It was a good thing that the DJ played decent songs which kept us dancing for a while. The music played was the same as with any other expat bar we went to - but that doesn't get old, especially when in a foreign country; it gives you a warm feeling inside - or maybe that was the alcohol?

Location: 15, Zhong Dong Er Lu, Shang hai

Nightlife in: Beijing

Going to China this summer? Don't know where to go? Below is a list of the places I went out to in Beijing. Enjoy.

Shooters
The first bar I went to in Beijing. Impressive due to inexpensive alcohol and the abundance of young expats or children of expats and other foreigners. The layout of the bar is pretty typical, rather small and without air conditioning = very hot and sweaty. Be careful not to get cigarette burns from the people who smoke inside, it's hard to avoid when there are so many people rubbing against each other. All the music played is American pop, so it's a good place to go when you're looking for the familiar home bar-scene. Also good if you're looking to scope out 18-year-olds with no regard for bar etiquette.

Location: Off of one of the side streets in Sanlitun

The Den
Frequented by British expats and Rugby players, The Den has a reputation for being the best place to go when craving Western food. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try the food so I can't tell you from first-hand experience. Drinks are decently priced and the waiters can speak English so ordering drinks is as breezy as a Malibu Bay Breeze. There are places to sit inside and outside, but the scene is rather calm overall. I didn't get the hype, but later on I was told that it was an "off-night." It's worth going to, if you're looking for a hot Brit or Rugby buff.

Location: Intersection of Gongti Dong Lu 4A

Kai Club
Another bar in the Sanlitun strip, but unique because it was the only place I saw that served Hoegaarden beer. I didn't get a chance to stay for long because it was so crowded already by 11pm. Aside from the abundance of white people, a wall covered in foreign currency with writings hailing the Kai Club makes its popularity among visitors evident. Personally I didn't appreciate the note that said, "South Korea sucks, Kai Club rocks." :-P

Location: Another back road off Sanlitun

Nanjie
This is were I spent most of my Friday night. They offer table service upstairs including a great outdoor balcony. According to some "locals" I met, its prior location was closer to the main Sanlitun strip, but moved when it became inconceivably filthy. Its new location, across from a salsa club is doing a good job so far in terms of tidiness. Drinks are rather cheap, they give you dice and cups for drinking games, and the music is good. I can't remember quite what they were playing, but considering that it's a favorite expat bar, American pop and electronica is not a far-fetched guess.

Location: 4 Gongti Beil (near Sanlitun), across Salsa Caribe

"Amazing Awaits"

I officially leave for China tomorrow!

Of course, I thought it would be nice to leave a post before I exit the States.

*The US Olympic Committee had decided a little under a year ago on their slogan in collaboration with advertising agency, mcgarrybowen. "Amazing awaits," Gordon Bowen said, "speaks to the possibility, not the probability, that amazing things await us all.” In addition to the slogan, they're going all out with full-page ads and new music composed to induce inspiration and iconic Americanism - think Aaron Copland meets Samuel Barber - in simpler terms, epic.

What does this mean? The approach to the Olympics has changed. The Committee decided to reframe attitudes from "winning the gold" to "embracing the journey." It's a pretty good idea considering the disappointing performance of Bode Miller in Winter Olympics 2006 when he decided that socializing and getting wasted was better than trying to win and pull through for his country and corporate sponsors. In turn, Nike went on overdrive with their advertising campaign to "Join Bode" and the media hype that was created around him way before the Games was doomed to fail.

Learning from their mistake, it seems like the Committee is doing the opposite from what they did in 2006. It's seems (as of now) instead of focusing on a single athlete to bring home the gold, they're looking into the narrative of their journeys. Envoking emotion - will "amazing awaits" succeed? It's only mid-May so it is hard to say - the campaign hasn't been launched yet, just a few things such as their website: http://www.amazingawaits.org/ and a press release here and there. Honestly, the whole "inspirational" thing is old news - the audience understands how hard it is to get into the Olympics and that it takes great skills to get in, and the decreasing viewership is showing that it hasn't been enough - so what is missing?

The element in sports that people love to see is competition. The audience likes to see struggle, aggression, and passion, therefore the success in other sports broadcastings (ex: Superbowl, College Sports). "Amazing awaits" doesn't carry the competitive spirit of sports. Yes, the journey is important and meaningful, but the principal is too distant from the raw, human, anticipation of rivalry.

I expect that they're going to emphasize the campaign not only the human spirit but also the fact that it's in CHINA - there is so much history and culture that can be used to make this a unique Olympic project. There is much potential to introduce China to the world in a positive light, in the midst of all the recent negative publicity (ex: lead toys, disease, Tibet).

Despite that, I think the slogan applies to the emotion that I feel right now. My expectations are limitless, and my journey begins. Amazing awaits!

B

*Source from USOC.org, by USOC Staff, published 7 Aug 2007

Prologue

Hello all,

Wow, my first post! This is rather exciting!

I'm currently in my room right now, which is rather empty and depressing due to the winding conclusion of finals and my junior year of college.

Anyway, that's not what I'm here to write about.

The idea to start a blog came a couple weeks ago when plans for my 2-week trip to China started to finally come together. As I am only 11 days away from boarding the plane with my fellow classmates, I thought it would be a good idea to start a prologue before I enter the East. During my stay at China, I will be posting my reviews on pretty much anything I see related to marketing and communication - whether it be a billboard, commercial, print ad, whatever. There will be the occasional post on restaurants and tourist attractions, but anything that is interesting and curious, I will post!

This is an exciting time to go to China. Not only are they hosting the Olympics in August, but they are going through an economic revolution which of course impacts the social culture as well. I anticipate many interesting experiences with my classmates, new outlooks, and the occasional course of indigestion (just kidding. I hear the food is fabulous).

What is to come after China? Hopefully I will travel more this upcoming summer, but being that my summer plans are still undecided as of now, we shall see as we go along. For now, look forward to some great pictures and comments on Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Xi'an.

So keep reading! This is going to be a great journey.

B