Archive for January, 2006

What happened to…

by Kris   ⋅   January 31, 2006   ⋅   Comments [4]

… China’s supposed efforts to environmentally reform Beijing in time for the Olympics? Also, their halted plan (or, rather, the US pressuring them) to raise the value of the yuan may make Target enthusiasts (not to mention Chinese farmers) weep. And does democracy really matter when you’re dead? According to Nostradamus’ Fatima, [...]

“Down Under” says Down with Denim!

by Kris   ⋅   January 30, 2006   ⋅   Comments [4]

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian state plans to ban students from wearing denim because it is linked with having a good time.
“It is associated with weekend wear, with recreational time. It’s just unacceptable at schools and we are trying to lift the standards,” a spokesman for Western Australia state Education Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said.
The ban [...]

More on Search Engine Politics

by Chris   ⋅   January 30, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

I just got a couple links from Steve and al.
First, Steve pointed out this flash comic by Mark Fiore of SFGate.com. The cartoon addresses some of the latest news developments with American Search Engines forays into China. You can watch the cartoon here.
Secondly, aL has pointed out an article on Digg regarding a simple [...]

DVD REVIEW . Samurai Rebellion [Criterion Collection]

by Chris   ⋅   January 28, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

Over the next few weeks we will be reviewing the films comprising the Criterion’s Rebel Samurai DVD box set, a collection of “Sixties Swordplay Classics” honoring directors who sought to enact political and social change by expressing conscientious objections to the status quo through period dramas. While each film is available on its own, outside [...]

MUNCHIES . Grill-A-Corn

by Kris   ⋅   January 28, 2006   ⋅   Comments [4]

Grill-A-Corn is Japan’s answer to crunchy Cheetos except it’s not cheesy. Well, maybe the name is a bit cheesy. Even though they won’t leave a greasy residue on your fingers, they are actually more lard-o than the popular American cheese puffs, due to that wonderful ingredient: palm kernel oil. And although they [...]

Google Succumbs to the Dark Side

by Chris   ⋅   January 26, 2006   ⋅   Comments [3]

The China myth has lured many an American business in the past, with its promise of billions of consumers with wallets waiting to be tapped, Google being the latest to take the bait. Though many have tried to make headway into the market, on the whole most have had nothing to show for it. [...]

MUNCHIES . Restaurants [CA] . Heidi’s Pies

by Kris   ⋅   January 24, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

I passed by this place on El Camino while attempting to avoid the 101S semi-traffic sludge between SFO and San Mateo and mistook it for that other pie place out of Berkeley I believe (sorry, can’t remember atm) that makes killer spinach calzone-type “pies” which are large and in charge. But anyways, this place [...]

New World Contest Winners

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   January 24, 2006   ⋅   Comment now

The New World Contest has officially closed. We received over 1000 entries for this one.
Congratulations to our winners, James McCall of Solano Beach, CA and Craig Post of Long Island, NY. Your packages should be in the mail this week.
For the rest of you, don’t worry, we have a few contests coming up [...]

Falun Gong practitioners barred from performing in San Francisco Chinese New Years Parade

by Chris   ⋅   January 21, 2006   ⋅   Comments [18]

Falun Gong, a group promoting wellfullness of the Mind, Body, and Spirit through a series of meditations and exercises based on Taichi and Quigong practices, has been barred from performing in San Francisco’s Chinese New Years festivities by the organization in charge of the event. Falun Gong members have performed, and won multiple awards, in [...]

MUNCHIES . Restaurants [HI] . Liliha Bakery

by Kris   ⋅   January 21, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

It seems like forever since my last Liliha Bakery breakfast, where the pancakes are bigger than your head. The fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth Japanese-style (according to my friend) pancakes soak up syrup like a sponge and beckons for more, glistening wtih desirable air pockets. The gigantic, perfectly golden brown bad boys are prepared right in [...]

We’re Back!

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   January 19, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

We just got back from a two week trip to Hawai’i (Big Island and O’ahu) . We’ll be posting a trip account, reviews, and pictures hopefully later this weekend :)
 

MUNCHIES . Japanese Kiwi Fanta

by Kris   ⋅   January 6, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

100 ml = 3.4 fluid oz. or a little over 1/3 cup. That’s how much Kiwi Fanta you get in the cutest tiniest soda can known to man. The clear liquid has just a tinge of chartreuse but a lot of flavor. It’s kind of like apple candy; not as tart as [...]

MUNCHIES . Restaurants [CA] . Palo Alto Creamery

by Kris   ⋅   January 5, 2006   ⋅   Comment [1]

The charming tin ceiling tiles, the padded diner-style booths in odd teal and purple stripes, the menus that list items such as “breakfust[sic] quesadillas” and “asian burritos” (egg rolls).. but the best thing about the Palo Alto Creamery are its pies. Seasonal switches daily, they have chocolate chip pecan, mile-high apple, chocolate ganache tortes [...]

MOVIES . Crazy Running Scared Clips

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   January 5, 2006   ⋅   Comment [1]

Now, I’m not particularly a fan of Paul Walker but the Running Scared trailer I saw a while back had caught me off guard. Brutal, dark, the film looks particularly grim.
Mike just sent me a link to a few clips from the film, and I must say these have piqued my interest a bit more. [...]

Channel 104.9 is Gone

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   January 5, 2006   ⋅   Comments [15]

I noticed we’ve been getting quite a few searches for radio station 104.9 these past few days, 104.9 being a Clear Channel operated “alternative” rock station in San Jose, which I ragged on in a musings article a while back. So, on my way to work I decided to take a listen and see [...]

MOVIES . Best films of 2005

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   January 5, 2006   ⋅   Comments [2]

I don’t know what it was, but 2005 was a pathetic year at the boxoffice. So much crap was shoveled into the cineplexes we couldn’t even come up with a top 10 best of the year. Even most critically acclaimed films were still derivative of such tried and true formulas that nothing truly new was [...]

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