Return with Noodles

I know I've been a little sparse on the blogging lately, but I haven't had much to write about. There are many travels to come and you can accompany me via the net.

This is restaurant week in New York and you can eat a prix-fixe lunch at some great places for $24 which is actually not too bad considering you're eating lobeter and filet minon.

I, however, opted for an even hotter deal. There is a certain cart on a certain street corner in Chinatown that serves some outstanding noodle dishes for not-so-outstanding prices. You can get a quart of lo mein for $1 and 5 egg rolls to go with for $1. That $2 for twice as many noodles as you can stand an four egg rolls more than you should eat.

I'm not disclosing the location of this cart 1: because most of you are no where near Chinatown 2: I'm selfish 3: You don't care about noodles.

Crash

Upon Scooter Pie's recommendation, I Netflixed (new verb pending with Webster) a movie called Crash. I was amazed by this film and that no one is talking about it. There were multiple scenes so tense that I was squeezing the downesque silicon filling out of my couch pillow. I was also intrigued by the touchy premise of the movie. The focus is on social predjudism and how different races interact - er, fail to interact with each other. I thought the dialouges were edgy and very truthful of how people think and feel. At the end, I truly felt like this movie had impacted me and made me reflect on my feelings toward other races. A movie with a meaning, what a concept! This is a must-see movie for... anyone who watches movies.

Wood Completes Sale

AP - At noon today, Alex Wood, Account Executive for (censored) Inc. completed transaction with (censored) Capital, the second largest bank in the UK. The contract was signed and faxed at noon o'clock. Celebration and sarcastic remarks ensued in the office. Not surprisingly, the bastard at the bank who has prolonged this deal for six lousy months cut off half of the contract in the faxing process and will have to send over a new copy when he gets back from lunch.

Mr. Wood's manager was amazed, but kept her normal composure offering irrelevant instruction on how to do a better job. Her advice is never appreciated.

Mr. Wood has been with (censored) Inc. since June 2005. In that time, he has been amazed at the lack of organization it takes to run a business.

Chalupa Queen

Last night Moni and I threw our first of many dinner parties. Ms. Love referred to her cultural roots and made some excellent chalupas along with the best margaritas ever. The blender can vouch for it. The crowd consisted of many A-List celebs such as Scooter Pie, Johnny Hot Sauce, and the terrapin Banks family. The party was interrupted at 8 o'clock by back-to-back Scrubs episodes, which only livened the atmosphere. I have never laughed that hard watching TV with friends. "King Me."

Stories were told, many a chalupa were eaten and fun was had by all. The next party is at Moni's at the end of this month and all are invited.

Green Mountain State

Fueled by our unquenchable thirst for serenity, Scooter Pie, Moni and I decided at the last minute to head to Vermont for the long New Year's weekend. Not knowing anything about the state, we took the train until it stopped in Rutland and just stayed there. The guy who owned our lodge picked us up at the train station. We diliberately went with no plans but RELAX. We ate well, slept, talked and laughed, listened to music, took pictures, read and did some hiking. It was a wonderful getaway from the city. Alas, we had to come back to our droning lives at work.

Sixteen months after moving to New York, I'm begining to feel like a change. I enjoy the excitement of New York and the city is always fun, but I think I also associate my life here with stress, bad jobs, being poor and just the evil world in general. I want to live somewhere that has green trees outside of the park, maybe some mountains rather than a thirteen-mile skyline. Outdoor activities other than sprinting across the street. A city that sleeps.

For now, I'm in New York and still thankful. Although the thankfullness is accompanied by a stress only relieved by multiple state separation. My friends and church are in the City and that's why I'm staying, for now.

"Jesus, Jew, Mohammed—all true" ?

Over the past decades and especially the past few years, Bono has become an image of peace and a very influential person in the world. Nominated recently for president of the World Bank and this year for the Nobel Peace Prize. You can also see his mug on Time Magazine with the Gateses as the Person of the Year.

Many people are fast to point out Bono's Christian background. He no doubt stands for good and I praise him as a celebrity who actually puts his words to action. However, I have always been a little skeptical as far as his Christian faith is concerned. I'm not denying that he is a Christian, but I'm not calling him a legit icon of Christianity either.


Recently, this article was published by Relevant Magazine describing one of his new campaigns on this concert tour. Apparently, Bono is wearing a headband that says 'Coexist' and urging different religions to get along peacefully in the world. Not a bad idea. However, he is also leading the audience in a chant of "Jesus, Jew, Mohammed - —all true." This is completely contrary to Christianity and instead supports a Universalist ideal.

Is Bono getting his religion confused? Is he turning from Christian to Universalist? I urge you to take his image as a Christian leader cautiously and not believe everything he says. Bono is a great man and does much good for the world, but we should not idolize him.

*note: If you listen to the Relevant podcast, many listeners say that the chant is "Jesus. Jew. Mohammed. All sons of Abraham--it's true." This is indeed true and means the writer chopped off a crucial part and Bono is not turning into a Universalist nutjob.

Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky is a band from Austin whom I recently saw play at the Bowery Ballroom, which they sold out three nights in a row. I guess you could say they are somewhat similar to Sigur Ros, except no vocals. They have three guitars and drums and experiment with some electronics. Regardless, I had never heard them until the gig and it was very entertaining. You can view their myspace site and download a few songs. They have some Texas gigs around the corner.

TRAITOR!

As if I didn't expect it to happen, my jaw dropped to the table when I saw the news flash on ESPN last night. "Damon signs with Yankees."

Johnny Damon was one of the most beloved members of the '04 Champion Red Sox team. Next year however, he will be dressing in pinstripes and playing for the other team. He isn't the first former Sox to switch sides on us. Clemens, Boggs, Gordon, and many more have spat on the Red Sox nation to make more money in New York. I hope he receives the same greeting at Fenway as all of these other selfish bastards have.

One sweet nugget of redemption coming our way lies in the hands of The Boss. He runs a tight ship in the Bronx and if history repeats itself, Damon will have to visit the barber before next April. Hopefully the curse of Samson will fall on you.

Strike!

The MTA finally decided last night at 3am to go on strike. Now Manhattan is in utter pandelerium as 7 million people are walking to work today. Fortunately, I am flying home for the holidays this afternoon so I made the game-time decisions to not go in for work today. It was a tough decision because I really wanted to walk six miles to work. Hopefully this mayhem will end by the time I get back. Gothamist has good coverage and pictures of the chaos.

Lost?

I saw a blind person in the bookstore today and I'm pretty sure there isn't a Braille section. How peculiar.