Tomimito

My last post sparked an interesting conversation over the definition of fake in regards to people. An argument was that rather than being called fake, the behavior should be considered an attempt at being “politically correct”. While I tried hard to stand firm in my belief, I couldn’t help but accept the fact that it is indeed a valid argument. In the previous post, I had mentioned those who say one thing and do another are not expressing their true feelings, thus being none other than fake, however I’ve come to a conclusion that people may encounter situations in which they are inevitably forced to play politics- just look at those working in the White House representing our country. There really is no way for us to learn their true motives, intentions, or values other than the image portrayed by the media. There is a legitimate reason why they are called “Politicians” afterall. They say what the majority wants to hear. That’s how they get chosen and make a living. So who is the king of “political correctness” you ask? The President. haha

In that sense, it’s a sad reality but they make money off of being not themselves “politically correct”. Your values drive your actions. I believe that while the words (which is greatly affected by emotions, btw) can be filtered through a thought process, your behavior reflects your true motive and values. Just think about those times when you apologized with an apathetic facial expression. We do it all the time!

So does this mean that the terms “fake” and “politically correct” can be used interchangeably? I say “political correctness” is only an euphemism for “fake”, hence my standing by the initial belief that people are fake if what they say and do differ. I don’t like being fake (or politically correct, whatever you want to call it), which explains why I suck at playing politics. What a tough world that we live in. Well, the good news is that I’m actually a politician in training. Yes, you can actually train to be a professional faker, excuse me, a politically correct person. *eh hem*

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Fakes.

Do you like fake people? I sure don’t. Jennifer Lopez once sang, “I’m real, what you get is what you see.” I just don’t get along with people who are fake. You know, those whom you can’t read, those who say one thing and do another. The type that stabs you in the back. The ones that spread rumors and blame others.

How about fake stuff? I’m not referring to plastic surgery- well that’s another topic I would like to dig into one day but I want to write about the Relex, Chenel, and Prado today.

Have you seen these? These were once very popular in Korea. I still find them hilarious. Why they would make fake versions of this rather non-luxury brand is a mystery, however.

Did you know that there is a town that specializes in fake luxury products in Korea? When I was there many years ago, I bought myself a fake Prada bag for $100. hahaha I know, what was I thinking? I don’t know, but I just wanted to see what the “A-class” fake Prada looked like. No, I kid. I wanted one but didn’t have the money to buy the authentic one (I was very young!!). The experience was actually kind of funny though, I actually had to whisper in the store owner’s ear to ask for it. Then he brought a few different kinds, ranging from “A” to “C”, “A” being closest to the authentic. I had never had a Prada before but with the lining with repeated Prada logo and quality fabric, I thought it looked and felt pretty real. I remember being really insecure with it though. Every time I would carry it, I was afraid that someone would question its authenticity.

So what is it about these fakes? Why do people buy them?

At least from my experience, it was the obsession with luxury brand names. I wanted more than what I could afford. I wanted to be more than who I was. I can blame it on the materialistic society or people around me, but more than anything, it was the lack of confidence. Why couldn’t I be satisfied with a no name brand? With that $100, I could have bought a quality “real” thing and not be ashamed of it.

I understand some buy fakes without realizing that they are fake. What I mean is that they buy the replica Balenciaga Motorcycle bag for $20 not knowing that it’s actually a replica of a $2,000 bag. Can we chastise these people then? If they genuinely had no idea, can we blame them? Probably not. But it does make me think, ‘If the bag’s original design was created by a designer working for a low-end, no brand name company, would it still have been a hit? If it was never made with real lamb skin with Italian craftsmanship, would Lindsay Lohan have carried it? If it was $20, would the fashionistas from all over the world drool over it?’ The point is, we desire these high end products because of the quality and the name itself. Whether the quality and name are worth $2,000 is up to you to determine. Anyone can design bags. Anyone can come up with a red sole and sky-high heels. It can’t be that difficult to create a logo with two overlapping C’s for a trained graphic designer. What makes the difference is the history, quality, craftsmanship, and that special “it factor”. What I didn’t know when I bought a replica was that when you purchase a designer product, you are paying for all of the above, which helps build confidence. For me, I don’t know when it all started but I’ve always been a fan of high quality, unique products which explains my love for the finer things in life (not that I get to have everything I want, though most of the time it is my choice to be financially conservative). Having been enligtened, I would like to make a few suggestions for those interested in replicas:

Before you consider purchasing a replica, I suggest that you shop around for vintages. Drop by Ebay and search the brands you love- Rolex, Cartier, Gucci; options are endless. They may be used but in the fashion world, vintage is KING! Just be cautious of replicas (haha ok that’s actually ironic that I came back to this). But in all seriousness, do check out vintages. Sometimes you will find fantastic gems at a great price.

If you are the type who don’t go for used items, do consider non-luxury brands that manufacturer high quality products. There are Italian shoemakers and bag makers that are not as popular but the product quality is just as good as that of Gucci and friends. If you are on the East Coast (if you haven’t been yet; didn’t realize how popular this place is now) check out Century 21 and sample sales. If you are on the West Coast, check out Loehmann’s, Nordtroms Rack, etc. I’ve found some great deals at these discount stores, including Jimmy Choo booties for $300 and Christian Louboutins for $300.

As for me, my extensive shopping experience has taught me that nothing beats After Christmas Sales. Seriously, it is the BEST time of the year for us shopping junkies. It’s been even better lately thanks to the not-so-great-economy . But yeah, there goes my secret.

It’s just not attractive nor cool to carry or wear replicas. Whether you agree or not, it not only looks bad, but also reflects your personality. You don’t want to be shown as a “fake”, shady, or pretentious person. You want your inner beauty to shine through. Be confident in yourself. That’s something I lacked for many years and I’d hate others to make the same mistake. You are beautiful just the way you are, and you don’t need “stuff” to make you feel beautiful. Be true to yourself. That’s when you are most stylish.

Photo Credit: Google Images

I would like to celebrate the birth of an upgraded iMac with my very own iMac story and a tip that may be helpful in an emergency for my fellow Apple aficionados.

Before we get into the details, please refer to the following:

1. I would like to think that I am not the only one who has gone through this terrifying experience.
2. Yes, I do act mindlessly at times and do stupid things. Ok, fine. I’m one of the clumsiest people on earth.
3. MacGyver was my hero when I was growing up, except that mine spoke Korean (dubbed; I was seriously traumatized when he started speaking English).

So with these in mind, let me start the story.

It was a peaceful Saturday morning. I had just gotten out of bed and was ready to start the day. A watch I had purchased was just delivered and with great excitement, I took a few pictures, so I can post them on Twitter. Then, as usual, I removed the SD card from the camera and inserted into the SD card slot on my iMac… or so I thought I was… until I felt it falling deep into a black hole (aka DVD Drive). @.@

In my head, Britney was singing, “Oops, I did it again” because mind you, this was NOT my first time. I thought, crap, my husband’s going to kill me. I tried hard to calm myself down. Breathe.. Breathe.!! Thank God he was asleep so I had some time to clean up the mess and act like nothing happened. The question was, ‘How the heck am I going to get it out?!?’ Darn, the last time it happened, hubby had to take it to the hospital (aka Apple Store)… It was covered by warranty and nothing was scratched but just the hassle of having to unplug everything, take it to the store only to return to pick it up is just a pain. So I had no choice but to think fast and strategically.

I thought of MacGyver, the genius who always had a solution to everything. I asked God for wisdom.

Then my light bulb went on. I grabbed an earring from the drawer. I needed a metal wire but thin enough to access the card slot. I thought of metal hangers or chopsticks but they were too thick and hard to manage once inside. So the earring hook came along. It was straightened then curved at the end to fit the card. I unplugged the computer, placed a towel on the floor and tilted it vertically (not completely vertical but I’d say about 45 degrees) and gently shook it back and forth (As you know, the slot is covered with rubber-like protectors so you really can’t see anything. Just focus on trying to get the card move to the bottom of the slot so you can pull it out). Then when I felt like it was where I wanted it to be, I inserted the earring hook at the bottom of the slot, set it at a right angle, and gently started dragging it out. Voila! Magically, the card was now on my palm. I felt so smart! hahaha anyways… yeah. that’s the end of the story.

So if you have any questions regarding this tip, please let me know. I will try my best to help. Remember that you are NOT ALONE. I’m not sure how many of you will, or have encountered this issue but I hope one day Apple will realize that this is indeed a result of a design defect. Seriously, who places a CD/DVD drive right below a SD card slot (world’s most innovative company does), especially when you can’t see neither from where you are sitting?! Come on.

Some may argue that you should always be cautious of what you are doing, but how many of you would get out of your seat and watch the “insertion process”?! I don’t know about you, but I’m lazy when it comes to things like that. I’m an economical person and prefer not to waste my time and energy on things that don’t (or shouldn’t) require much attention. My temporary fix was to place a scotch tape over the CD slot though I admit its ghetto-ness. oh well, until Apple introduces a countermeasure, a scotch tape should do…

But in all seriousness, while I am a diehard Apple fan, I need them to do something about this before it happens again. Mr. Jobs, are you listening!?

Photo Credit: Bing Images

Found a very intersting article in the Wall Street Journal regarding language as a cultural influencer:

Does Language Influence Culture?

As a bilingual with a background in Psychology, I found Dr. Boroditsky’s research particularly intriguing. It’s rare that I finish an entire article of this length but I figure it’s because I’m the ideal study subject.

So what came first, you ask: language or culture?

I say while the language may be deemed part of a culture, it’s also vice versa, making culture a part of the language. The truth is that it really isn’t as simple as we think. I’ve struggled for years because of the confusion this created in my head. See, when I landed in America years ago, my ultimate goal was to become a fluent English speaker. I was that traumatized “fob” girl who couldn’t wait to get out of the ESL program. I prayed every night asking for wisdom to master the English language in three years- Yes, I gave myself three years (and let me just tell you that it took lots of sweat and tears). I thought being able to speak the language would instantly turn me into a “Twinkie” (a term used for Asian Americans born and raised in US; Yellow on the outside, White inside LOL). But the reality was that I had a hard time behaving like them, obviously because my behavioral thought process was different. Despite the compliments I received for learning the language in a short period, what I didn’t realize was that sadly, I would NEVER be able to become a Twinkie that I always dreamed of. It took me a while to accept this truth and to accept myself for who I am. At one point in my life, I looked down on “Fobs” who would only listen to Korean music and watch Korean shows. I thought to myself, ‘If they are in America, they should be into American culture, not Korean stuff.’ I know, how ignorant of me- but hey, I was young.

A few years later, I found myself frantically searching for the “Korean Stuff” that the “fobs” were into when I was the one to have separated myself from them. No matter how hard I tried, I would always come back to my roots. Interestingly enough, Korean pop culture started to become popular not only in Asia but among Korean Americans in the states and suddenly being Korean was hip, especially if you spoke Korean. I no longer had to try hard to become cool. I was cool. People appreciated me for my cultural background. My Twinkie friends wanted to learn the Korean ways of doing things. I no longer had to try so hard to fit in. Now they were in my world.

See, learning a new language only opened a door for me to communicate with those in the new culture. It did not help me understand their culture any better. That was another enormous task that was given to me which will take much longer to master, if that’s possible at all. but do i see those two as two separate elements? no. They are deeply interrelated and coexist, resulting in various interactions and outcomes to influence the way we lead our lives.

As for language shaping culture, I am no linguistic expert but I figure I can do a quick test. In this experiment, I am going to replace “culture” with thought process resulting in behavior.

I am going to start writing in Korean and see where this goes then return to writing in English to see if the language has affected my thought process in any way.

솔직히 말하자면 한국말로 쓰는 것이 훨씬 쉽긴 하지만 뇌라는 것이 정해진 용량이 있는 것이라 하나를 배우면 다른 하나는 잊게 되는 것이 아닌가 싶다. 지금 금방도 어떤 단어를 쓰고 싶었는데 영어로만 생각이난다. 흑… 그렇다.. 그렇게 따지면 2개국어를 하는 것이 아니라 하나를 배우게 되면서 다른 하나를 조금씩 잊어가는 것이다. 처음에 미국에 와서 영어만 하는 언니에게 물어본적이 있다. “언니는 생각도 영어로 해?” 언니가 맞다며 끄덕였다. “그럼 꿈도 영어로 꿔?” 다시 한번 끄덕인다. 그것이 세상에서 제일 부러웠다. 그리고 생각하길, ‘아, 나도 영어를 저렇게 하게되면 생각도, 꿈도 영어로 할수 있겠구나.”

몇년이지나 영어를 편하게 하게된 지금, 내가 과연 영어로 생각을 하고 꿈을 꿀까? 흠… 참 어려운 질문같다. 그렇다면 나의 행동을 좌우하는 생각을 영어로 하지 않고 한국어로 한다면 나의 행동이나 말은 한국인처럼 보여질까? 아마도 그렇지 않을까 싶다. 아무래도 미국사람들과 일을 하기에 그사람들에게서 배운 행동들을 따라할수는 있지만 그것들이 특별히 나의 생각에 따라 하는 행동이라고는 보기 어렵다.

Well, my quick experiment suggests a few findings. First of all, it took me much less to write than when I do in English. Secondly, I found myself digging deeper into thoughts. Thirdly, I became more expressive of my true feelings and thoughts, a side-effect (not necessarily a negative thing)of using a first language.

In conclusion, I would have to agree with Dr. Boroditsky’s hypothesis- language in fact affects the thought process, ultimately leading to shape behavior and furthermore, a culture.

—

Lera Boroditsky is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and editor in chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Son Dambi returns in incredibly cute outfits:

I think I know where the inspiration came from.

Autumn/Winter 2010 Collection by late Alexander McQueen

Often seen as “unconventional”, he was a true artist who wasn’t afraid to express his creativity through fashion.

–

See the resemblance?

Is it only a coincidence that Dambi’s title song is called “Queen”, or were they trying to convey a subliminal message, i.e. paying tribute to the designer? Well, whatever the case, I love the use of delicate ornaments and embroidery. A lovely, youthful look with a hint of goth.

Some of the most popular (& my personal favorite) Korean artists are returning to the Kpop scene. It’s amazing to see how far Kpop has come.

Lucifer by Shinee

Their stylist deserves an award. Diggin’ the red eyeliner, creative hair styles, and outfits.

Better Together by Seven
I thought he was hot 8 years ago. I remember getting excited to a point where I couldn’t breathe when I found out that my friend was friends with his sisters. LOL

Anyways, just when I thought the guy couldn’t get any hotter, he proves otherwise. Love the Black & White styling. I think they suit him the best.

I know, I know… I’m behind schedule. I was finally able to drag my lazy butt (and broken foot) to the computer to write this overdue post on my Vegas trip. Sorry! I’m actually having some issues with my broken foot for which the doctor has ordered bed rest for a month. It’s hard for me to stay seated because the foot gets swollen so let’s see if I can keep this short and quick.

Brunch at Wynn Buffet. While the selections may seem limited compared to others, quality is definitely superior. They’ve got everything from Gorgonzola Pear Salad (my fav) to Quiche. It was interesting because by the time we were finished with our first plate, lunch hour was approaching and a completely new menu started to show up. My tip would be to get there around 10:30AM so that you have access to both breakfast AND lunch.

After a wonderful brunch, we hit the pool where we were pleasantly greeted by half naked women. LOL yeah you heard it, NAKED! I had heard that there were European pools in Vegas but weren’t planning on actually hitting one! Since I never got around to visiting one when I was in Europe, this was my first experience and I gotta say while it’s a pretty cool idea since it gives women that much more “freedom” and less tan lines, I couldn’t help but wonder where my eyes should rest. Also the fact that there were many more men (older) than women concerned me. Ehh, I’ll pass on that. But if you are ever in the area, do check out Encore’s Beach Club. It opens during the day until 7PM and got DJs bumping hot tracks. I really wanted to check it out but my foot refused. As for clubs, Encore’s XS seemed to be the place to be- I saw way too many super-modelisque women at the door, beauty overload, indeed. Sadly not sure about men, however.

Encore Beach Club (Photo Credit: Bing Images)

Before my cast started developing fungus due to the scorching heat, we decided to find a shelter and chilled Vegas style in the lobby at the Spa. Not only was the air conditioning working magic, it was so beautiful I just did not want to leave. Mr. Wynn sure knows luxury.

That evening, we were treated to awesome American cuisine at Venetian’s Timpano Tavern (steak was excellent but the shrimps were so salty they had to be returned) and a Cirque du Soleil show called “Love” at The Mirage. I honestly wasn’t expecting much as I hadn’t heard much about the show but to my surprise, it was just pure awesomeness. The show is based on hits by Beatles and I thought the production was flawlessly coordinated along with plenty of artistic touches and enough dancing to satiate my entertainment appetite. If you are into shows, definitely do check out LOVE! I recommended it to a friend who arrived the next day and she absolutely loved it.

The next morning, we had brunch at a famous French Bakery in Aria called Jean Philippe. They have another location at Bellagio but we decided on this one as we had yet to explore Aria and the shops at Crystals. Definitely try their Crepes and Paninis- they are absolutely heavenly! Compared to their pastries and cakes, they are relatively affordable as well at $10-12. Its being a bakery, you order at the counter and pick up the food yourself. I figure if they were to have wait service the food cost would probably double.

Don’t forget to try their homemade gelato as it’s their specialty.

We headed to Crystals for some shopping where we were awestruck by this beautiful “tree house”:

It turns out that it’s actually a restaurant: Mastro’s Ocean Club designed by a renowned architect, David Rockwell.

Spent a good hour at Tom Ford’s one of the few stores in the US. He sure knows exquisite suits. The hubs instantly fell in love.

Very unlikely of us, but we went off strip for dinner for some amazing authentic Japanese food.

Not your typical uni- fresh uni with salmon roe and udon: yeah, you heard me, udon in uni soup! omg. if you like uni, you’ve just met your soulmate.

Homemade Cheesecake- it’s definitely not your average cheesecake as it has an extremely silky/velvety texture with a minimal use of sugar. Apparently this is where the top-class chefs from the strip grab their late night snacks and dinner. It’s a tiny restaurant so be sure to make a reservation days in advance: Aburiya Raku

The day ended with another show, this time at the Wynn. Perhaps my expectation was too high, or I just liked Love too much, but I must say that I was quite disappointed. I felt like it was a bit of a waste of money (about $120/ticket)… While I was blown away by the stage set-up, the performance itself was nothing new… or is it that my eyes have been spoiled with Cirque du Soleil‘s awesomeness?! Well whatever the case, if you are going to spend $100 on a show, I recommend Cirque du Soleil over Le Reve.

After two entertaining nights at the Encore, we moved to Trump for relaxation. Although it’s only a block away from Encore, this five-star hotel gives off a very different aura as it’s actually off the strip (although only steps away) with no casinos nor clubs. The pool is small and conservative compared to those on the strip but you might actually like it better if you are annoyed by those drunken partygoers at typical Vegas pools. I like the rooms at the Encore better but it’s definitely nice to have free wifi and an option to cook in your room (for which you actually pay for as part of the resort fee yet the total’s still cheaper than Encore). Service is probably what sets Trump apart from others as they surprised us with these beautiful flowers in the room:

If I could say a few things however, they’ve got to improve their valet service. One time we had to wait 15 minutes just to get the car and was actually late for dinner, not to mention the heat (!!!) we had to endure. ugh. please, please do something about it! Also, the bathroom flooded every time I’d take a shower because the dam in the shower stall was too low, letting water flow into the rest of the bathroom. It’s a design problem that needs to be fixed! but they do have the BEST Shower Robes ever. I was extremely tempted to take them home.

The trip ended with delicious Thai cuisine at a place known for offering the “Best Thai Food in US” called Lotus of Siam, which is also off the strip. It was recommended by a number of my food aficionado friends so we had to check it out. Their Tom Yam Kung is best I’ve had. Be sure to order the drunken noodles. It was highly recommended by the waiter which turned out to be a favorite. Lotus of Siam