The Mainlander Strikes Again!

A friend living in mainland China emailed me a picture of someone whom she said looked freakishly like me.  I emailed friends to see if they agreed.  The Mainlander was among them.  Here is his reply.

On Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 3:09 PM, The Mainlander <***@*******.ca> wrote:

It is just like you! I said, a bunch of people went to the peninsula from the mainland and they call themselves "Korean". Someone went farther to the island and they called themselves "Japanese".

The Humourous Education of Miss K

A friend's daughter thought it would be funny to put her poor Mommy into a state of hysteria by "joking" that she broke her wrist.  She then ignored her Mommy's attempts to get in contact with her.  Miss K, the daughter of my friend, needs a good spanking, but perhaps she really didn't know this type of "joke" isn't funny at all.  So, with this in mind, I sent my friend an email.  Here it is:

"I was thinking...perhaps Miss K is trying out her comic abilities and testing her talents in humour.

It's agreed that her 'joke' was not funny in the least.  I think maybe she needs to be educated in what is funny and what isn't.

Humour is a very difficult thing to grasp.  I believe, however, that I have a firm grasp on it.

So, here's my lesson to Miss K should you want to share it with her.

Lesson 1:  Jokes that are NOT funny

a) Boyfriend, I'm pregnant; and the baby's yours.  Just kidding!

b) Mother, I have [insert ailment of choice here].  Just kidding!


Lesson 2:  Jokes that are funny

a) Mother, why is there a naked man in your bedroom?  He has no hair on his groin, do you think he's OK?  Just kidding!

b) Boyfriend, I think we are at the stage in our relationship where we are strong enough to invite another woman to join our bed.  Just kidding!


Hope you smiled,  have a good day."

Those Wacky Koreans - A Tribute to Superman and Curry by Norazo

I was introduced to these videos last night at a dinner.  A tribute song and dance to Superman and Curry - how ingenious!  I loved it!  I especially loved the blonde hair dude's dance (he's supposed to be Superman's Father) - its so funky~weird~cool.  I wanted to share this with everyone, so here it is.  Enjoy it in HD.

Video 1:  Superman




Video 2:  Curry

Notes from nbarocks13:

* Korean Proverb for saying "It tastes so good" because one would not be able to realize if the other is dead, meaning will be enchanted by the flavor and will forget his or her surroundings.

*"Joa" means "I like/love it!" in Korean.

*"Namaste" is a common spoken greeting or salutation used in India and Nepal. (From Wikipedia)

*"Yoga Fire" refers to a fire attack move used by Dhalsim (Ethnicity is Indian) of the classic arcade 'Street Fighters'.
 

*"Shanti" means peace but in Korean, it sounds similar to the korean word "ssanti" meaning 'cheap'

This video doesn't really make sense in the beginning but hang in there, the whole court scene is just a setup to the actual video.  If you can't wait skip ahead to 1:54 to watch the music video with English subs.

This is dedicated to the one, the only, Miss Petite

Miss Petite:

Please do enjoy your stay out in the greater Vancouver area.  

When going for sushi with your friend, urge her/him to take you to one of these highly respected sushi joints!

I did the research for you, madame.

Source:  http://www.vanmag.com/Restaurants/Best_Sushi_in_Vancouver

I've copied and pasted the article below so you can read it here.

Allow me to add, although I've never been to Vancouver, the reviews I've read for Ajisai Sushi Bar seem outstanding...this place might be worth your while.

Vancouver's Best Sushi

In a city with more sushi joints than Starbucks, the sheer volume can be overwhelming. For fresh, authentic, accessibly priced Japanese food, wrap your mind around these worthy spots

By Joie Alvaro Kent published Oct 1, 2009

Sashimi at Lime Japanese Cuisine 

Ajisai Sushi Bar

This pocket-sized restaurant is home to some of the city’s finest sushi. Absence of a hot kitchen forces a precise, creative focus on meticulously prepared sashimi and sushi incorporating trad ingredients and techniques. The ume shiso roll balances the tartness of preserved plum with shiso’s unique spiciness. Try the kani battera, sweet crab meat sushi prepared pressed Osaka-style. Closed Mondays and holidays.
2081 West 42nd Ave., 604-266-1428

Dan Japanese Restaurant

Chef-owner Ken Oda’s menu exemplifies simplicity and creativity. The sushi and sashimi list is succinct and painstakingly chosen, changing regularly. Oda’s calamari roll accents perfectly crisped squid tempura with the salty sourness of umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum). Assorted sashimi is expertly trimmed and artfully plated. Closed Tuesdays.
2611 West Broadway, 604-677-6930. Danrestaurant.com

Lime Japanese Cuisine

Executive chef Masa Kudo, formerly of Tojo’s and Blue Water Café’s Raw Bar, heads up the sushi bar together with chef Atsu Inomata, once head chef at Sakai. Specialty maki include a lobster roll with mango, avocado, and tobiko in a pristine cucumber wrap. Kudo’s toro stack sees sliced tuna belly, lightly dressed and topped with a quail egg, fanned out over a pile of sliced green onion.
1130 Commercial Dr., 604-215-1130. Limerestaurant.ca

Octopus’ Garden Restaurant

At this Kits stalwart, chef Sada’s sushi list features playful flavour combinations executed with subtlety and finesse. The popular Yellow Submarine incorporates yellowtail tuna, mango, tobiko, oba leaf, green beans, and crunchy tempura; the Business Class combines both barbecued and smoked wild sockeye salmon with avocado and asparagus. Price tags, from $12 to $25, notch the upper end of the scale. Closed Wednesdays.
1995 Cornwall Ave., Kitsilano, 604-734-8971. Octopusgarden.ca

Zen Japanese Restaurant

The opportunity to sample Chef Nobu Ochi’s exquisitely crafted, beautifully plated selection of sashimi, sushi, and innovative maki is well worth a trek across the bridge. Ochi’s Special Scallop Roll is a rich purple shiso and soy wrap brimming with sweet chopped scallops, masago caviar, and Japanese mayo. Tickle your taste buds with the Hamachi Peak, a delectable combination of yellowtail, shiso, and green onions in a tempura-crisped tofu-crêpe blanket.
101–2332 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-0667. Zensushi.ca

Zest

 At serene, elegant Zest, chef Yoshi Maniwa’s expert hand is readily apparent in dishes such as Four of a Kind: slices of yellowtail, white fish, red tuna, and octopus paired with four unique house-made soy sauces. At Shuraku, Zest’s hip baby sister, executive chef Masahiro Omori presents achingly fresh sashimi over crushed ice while rolling out inventive maki like his Red Torch Roll:  barbecued salmon skin and cucumber topped with kimchi, kaiware sprouts, and golden tobiko roe, drizzled with teriyaki and karashi mustard cream. Zest is closed Mondays.
2775 W. 16th Ave., Kitsilano, 604-731-9378. Zestjapanese.com Shuraku 833 Granville St., Downtown, 604-687-6622

A funny thing happened to me at the 1st Toronto Nuit Blanche...

It's here again:  Nuit Blanche - the Toronto chapter.  This time it's 2010.
When I participated in its first year at Toronto, an amusing thing happened to me.

I was looking for a specific Nuit Blanche site/event - on the map it clearly showed its location at Queen and McCaul.  I can't remember the assigned number for this site/event so let's just refer to it as exhibit A.  I walked up and down Queen as well as McCaul three times and each time I couldn't find anything that looked remotely like art.  I am not an art expert by any means, but I do know an art exhibit when I see one; and I tell you: there was nothing!

Finally, I noticed there was someone who looked like a volunteer for Nuit Blanche standing on the corner and I thought, "Wonderful! I can finally find this thing."  I waited for my turn to speak to her as there were two others already engaged in discussion with her.  I noticed, while waiting, that she was dressed very MEC (outdoorsy).  She was just over middle age and seemed pleasant.  The shell jacket she wore made me think she was going hiking in the woods, except she wore Birkenstock sandals (I believe)...these should have been a clear warning sign for what was to come, actually.

After the two people left, I approached her and asked:
"Excuse me, where is exhibit A?"
"I am exhibit A".
"...." (just stared at her for any hint that she was joking;  nothing, she was dead serious).
"Ok...so where is the art work?"
"Well, first I tell you a story..."
"Yes."
"Then, you tell me a story."
"Yes."
"And in this exchange, we share an experience.  This is art."
"..." (mind was racing on how I could get out of this one)

Thank goodness someone came and interrupted and I used my Ninja skills to disappear like lightening.
What a strange experience - she had me baffled for a bit, but perhaps there was something there...after all, this was a long time ago, but I still clearly remember it.

Just thought I'd share.

The Mainlander's cry for help - Does this make sense to you?

I often notice product branding from Asia;  not because it's amazing or anything like that.  I take notice because the English branding on items doesn''t make sense and this gives me a good chuckle.  Here in my office, my good friend, The Mainlander, put up a sign which communicates his intent, but something remains lost in translation.

Look for yourself.:

If you find the following funny, we'll get along

Dialogue 1
Rumack: What was it we had for dinner tonight?
Elaine Dickinson: Well, we had a choice of steak or fish.
Rumack: Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna. 


Dialogue 2
Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.

Dialogue 3
Rumack: Captain, how soon can you land?
Captain Oveur: I can't tell.
Rumack: You can tell me. I'm a doctor.
Captain Oveur: No. I mean I'm just not sure.
Rumack: Well, can't you take a guess?
Captain Oveur: Well, not for another two hours.
Rumack: You can't take a guess for another two hours?