here it is!  november 4th, 2008.  super tuesday.

if you have voted already, props to you!  if you are currently standing in line, props to you!  if you are casting your vote as i post this right now, props to you!  if you are going to your local polling place during your lunch time, this afternoon, this evening, after work, props to you!  please be sure to check what time your polling place closes, and please remember that if you are standing in line when the polls close, you can still cast your vote.

please also remember this.

this election not only affects you for the next 4 years (or in some cases, semi-permanently as propositions and measures will change your life that way) but also your neighbors.  not just your american neighbors, but your neighbors around the world.

whether we like it or not, america is super power when it comes to international politics, affecting A LOT OF people around the world, and it affects when whether it is about the war, food shortage and starvation, employment, national security, economy, imports/exports, genocide, forests dying, animals dying, global warming, nature, resources, list goes on and on.

please also remember that all things are inter-related, and no small issues are too small to ignore.  decisions regarding corn farmers in midwest and what to do about the corn might seem like a domestic issue, but it can also affect 1) global warming, 2) natural resources, 3) taxation on our soil and nature, 4) where our meat comes from and what it contains, and even 5) whether that family in egypt can afford tonight’s dinner today.  it really does affect that much.

so please think through and cast your vote for someone who will be good for the United States of America and be good for this planet Earth and all things on this earth.

and be proud that you have the right to vote and be a part of decision making which will mean so much to all of us around the world.

america, today is truly one remarkable day, and today is inexplicably one of the most important days in our lives that we will remember for so long.  today IS one historic day.

i am so happy to see this day.

so here are some things i learned (or re-learned) during my trip to japan.
1. gari (pickled ginger that gets served with sushi or sashimi) and the reason why it’s served with sushi is because it cleanses the palate.  more info here. ginger also contains anti-microbial and anti-fungi properties so it helps you in not [...]

lots to post!! it’s been a busy few days. this post will be a long one, but bear with me.
== wild sheep chase ==
have you read haruki murakami’s wild sheep chase? it’s supposed to be either prequel or sequel to his another novel, “dance dance dance”. the book takes place in [...]

the sky dumped A LOT of rain yesterday and it almost seemed to have lasted forever, though it only rained for about 9 hours.
i think i’m totally jet lagged unfortunately. i somehow kept waking up and finally gave up on sleeping at 5am.
my mom and i decided to venture out of the house in [...]

man, what a rough flight.
my JAL 001 flight was delayed a little (about 20 minutes).  we added additional 30 minutes or so while in air due to turbulent air.  here’s what sucked - i was literally surrounded by little kids aged between 0-2 years old.  and you know what kids do in 11-hour flight?  they [...]

my friends trevor and camille introduced me and marc to their friend josko a while ago. he doesn’t live in san francisco, but he visits often, and everytime i see him, he has some interesting stories to tell.
one of such is his visit to seattle to attend conference about space elevator. he and [...]

:::work im conversation::
(information within brackets is work-sensitive and has been edited)
12:07 PM me: i’m seeing some timing issues
12:07 PM me: on (technology) when you’re (tool)-eligible
12:07 PM dev: oh?
12:08 PM me: not 100% reproducible but on slower connection, when you go to (url)
12:08 PM me: first it loads a page w/out (tool) offer
12:08 PM me: then [...]

two things.
i can’t find youtube (or google) video of the commercial, but have you seen the animated version of fry’s electronics commercial? the one with pyramid and this…yellow rectangular character.
so, i’ve always wondered what that character was. its shape is a little odd for french fries and why would they use yellow sponge [...]

japanese comedians test out regular objects that get really hot in the sun (and warn children to be aware and be careful with them):

this *was* something i learned last week, when SF enjoyed really really nice warm weather days after days, and although today’s temperature is at mid-60s, this recipe was so great that i’d like to share just in case we get to enjoy a few more days of warmth this fall.
before getting into this recipe business, [...]