MY BUILDING

Hey you guys can check out my building on my blog:
http://vkwok.wordpress.com

You can ciick on the images to make them bigger.

Studio FInals are OVER

My building is awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Hey chickens

Happy pre-Thanksgiving. Whatever you plan on doing, I hope there is really good food being served. Wish I could see all your grubby faces. Have a good one.

Pictures from Vivian's birthday

are up on Facebook, in my "family" album.

TO Debbie

Thanks for the tank top! and your cards are pretty!

Birthday Cards from classes

Glitter Cards

Cupcakes

Polka Dots

holiday cards

I promised Serina I would post some of the cards I have been making.

Here are some from a Halloween class I took recently.

The rock opera you've all been waiting for

Click here to have your mind blown.

for more on white gold, milk musician.

If you’ve never heard of White Gold, he’s the marketing creation of California Milk Processor Board and ad agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners San Francisco - who together brought us the infamous “Got Milk” campaign. He’s a bit over the top, sports white spandex and simply loves milk.

This isn’t all for naught, the Got Milk people have a goal in producing a milk themed rock opera. This is part of $50,000 scholarship for the arts for the California Public Highschool art programs. Nothing is being given away for free however. There is going to be a contest in which entrants (students) will enter by creating their own video spoof of the White Gold Rock Opera and uploading it. More details on the exact rules and where to upload are coming next week, so stay tuned to GeekDad for that.

The prizes will be a $20K scholarship for first place, one $10K winner for second place and 8 honorable mentions at $2.5K each!

from wired's geek dad

hey peeps

hey all, how's everyone doing? it seems like people have been pretty busy.

em, what do you plan to do in Seattle?

i've been working like a little factory trying to make xmas cards. :D i will post pics soon.

hope all is well

Free.edu: good reference site

and if you're bored. go here.

Babysitter's Club: The College Years

Funny: Dawn Gets Into a Heated Discussion On Post-structuralism

Mallory and the Trouble With Unaccepted Transfer Credits

Claudia and the RIAA Subpoena

Okay

So, Mommy read her ticket wrong and was almost late to the airport so she rushed out and so the tea and coffee that we bought for you wasn't included in her luggage. We will mail it to you. Sorry, Deb.

Monoprints

Deb are these 3 the ones that you wanted? They were in a pile with some other but not sure which were your top.

Hey all

Owen needs a graphing calculator for his Calculus class. Do you know where all our old ones are?

I got a tatto...

John Hughes

John Hughes passed away today. I'm more upset about this than Michael Jackson.

Deb, remember we used to watch Weird Science on repeat?

Allo

Been in school. Made a map for my second project. A survival map. At first it was going to be printed on Fedex envelopes and sewed into a poncho but I scrapped that idea. I borrowed a sweater from Vivian on the day I presented. I was allergic to that sweater. I sneezed through 6 hours of critique. One girl just wrote "Bless you" on a paper and held it up after a while. That was fun.

Starting Project 3 today. Mommy painted the upstairs living room a beautiful light blue (but she will call it green). Vivian got a job. Owen went down to Magic Mountain with Arturo this weekend. That's all the news for today.

Card Stuff

1st Cardmaking Series (Foamies)

I had seen some foamies at the craft store and thought they were neat. The cards are extra homemade as I had randomly cut the size I wanted and then had to make envelopes so they could fit.

2nd Cardmaking Series (template cards)

This time I got smarter about saving time cutting out paper and making envelopes. I just bought templates instead and "decorated" the cards.

3rd Cardmaking Series (Trip to Seattle / Visit to card expert)
Part A: Inspiring Style (Cute, quaint, clean. Thanks to Debs)

Debs made these while showing me one of her techniques.

Part B: Stamping Around



I'm messing around with Deb's stamp collection and experimenting with techniques based on looking at the various cards she has. I love the cupcake designs. I felt I was venturing with the green card with background stamping and ribbon; also, the pink & silver one with cutouts.

Part C: Back to Southern CA / Beginning Stamp Collection

From my first stamp collection of frogs.


Slim Cards/ Keeping it simple. I picked up some cheapy clear stamps in the dollar section and started messing around having dug through my random collection of cute papers, stickers etc. The fuzzy teddy bear is a sticker and I couldn't resist giving him a little shiny ribbon/bow decal on his neck. These cards are missing greetings/words and possibly ribbon.


Random summer one from clear stamps.


Decorating templates: These are unfinished, however, I liked the background design. These will be fancy wedding themed ones when I figure what to add...


My black/white series. Papyrus had a sale* on blank cards/envelopes. I thought they were neat.


My most expensive stamp to date (regular price, har har). I copied this entire card from the manufacturer's website (hero arts). I did it in blue though and added a bit of glitter. It's pretty but still looks a little plain. I may add some decor... or not, we'll see.

Last ones to date.

I thought the martini one was fun. I liked my choice of ribbon there. You can see I really like the teddy bears. Let's get a close up of one.


I know I said it already, but the teddy bears are FUZZY! I only have about 10 stickers of those though. I added buttons along the frame 'cuz I thought they were cute. They look a little bumpy since I opted to glue it on and the buttons didn't really make it flat. I might add a flower to the top right. It looks like something should go there but I also don't want to make it too busy looking.

*While I mentioned once it seemed my ideas/collections are quite random & chaotic with no particular theme, Em pointed out that wasn't true. I do have a common theme: "sale", hahaha! While it's hard to curb a habit, I did try to incorporate Debs style of "cute, quaint, & clean". :D

crickets chirping...

looks like this blog has gone dormant.. I'm therefore going to bombard it with some card stuff.. until I hear any protests...

Viv, want to go to the Academy of Sciences on the weekend of Aug 1st? You free then? Do you know if it's still super crowded?

hi

hey people, how was 'arry potter??

not much going on with me. i'm a bit under the weather - congested nasal passages.

slow day @ work. ttyl

JULY

Dude,

June was either very uneventful or it was super eventful. what happened to all the people...

Come on I know you're all on the internet right now!

Graduation pics and more

The tart Viv made (I helped with the reading of the recipe)

Hey

Do you guys watch tennis? I'm going to beat you like Soderling beat Nadal.

Not really, but I just wanted to use that line on someone and you're the only people I can say that to and not get arrested.

Muahahah. I can't wait to see UP. I don't care if you call me grumpy. I am.

I might get Owen a card. I have to really think about it. Unless I see something super cool. Maybe something to do with photography. He seems to love taking pictures.

It's been wonderful weather here in New York and I am sort of sad to be leaving. My last monoprinting class is this week, as is my last acrobatics class. I quit my job and my last day is June 19th. My goal for the summer is to ace my classes and to cook more. I've given up on having a rock hard body.

CCA 2008 Fashion show

Hey so here was last year's fashion show from my school.

CLICK



My guess is that emily is the grumpy old man, but I guess you still could have figured it out even though if I didn't say it. The golden rule is that emily is the grumpy anything..hehe..just kidding. Your gonna beat me up when you get back aren't you?

Thank you for my gifts for graduation!!! You probably can't get Owen a badminton racket because he already got a new one from china. I don't think he would be that interested in the Roth Ira acct. even though its good for him. CD's sound good or Old Navy giftcard is ok. Ipod touch would be nice, although what do you really do with an Ipod touch? you need internet access. I think a trip to Japan would be ideal, but whose willing to do that? Sorry guys I have no idea. I was thinking about getting him a pretty leis for graduation, but thats as far as I got.

Back next week!

Let's go see UP!

Haha

Um em, u were at my high school graduation and we got gifts. We got a camera and i got a phone. By the way, i only lent viv my ipod. I didnt give it to her. Is she saying i gave to her? O-o

Edit: VIv got a camera, not "we".

Uh-uh.

Excuse me. Ahem, yes, you. I don't think you saw me in the iPod Touch line. You skipped right over me and went on to the next fellow but you see, I'm here. Right here. On deck. Up next for bat. Whatever other terminology sports people use for the people that are next up with no one else in front of them and everyone else behind them.

Regarding a graduation gift, I think we should stick with family tradition, i.e. no gifts for graduating high school. We are flying out there to see him and that is a gift unto itself. The gift of our presence (sorry Serina and Viv that I couldn't make it out there for your graduations. I will buy you gifts in my stead. Viv, you get a laptop. What's that you say? You already have one? Well, then my work here is done. Serins, you get an iPod. What's that you say? You gave my gift to Viv? Well then, we're all winners here.)

Oh wait a second, I'm in the wrong line. I'm actually next in the iPhone line. Which is in front of the iPod Touch line.

I'm ready.

Hi

Hi,

Debs, what else have you been using your ipod touch for? I've only played games, browsed the internet, and used the notes application. I feel like I could use it more but not sure how. Any ideas (or gamewould be great. Also, any game recommendations too.

As far as purchasing an ipod touch, let me know so I can see if I can get it discounted through my work (pretty sure I can).

Other ideas for Owen:
- a $50-100 bond or Roth IRA account (something he can't touch it for a while and instead will grow bit by bit with interest)
- laptop fan (altho Viv says he doesn't want one anymore)
- Asian Kung Fu Generation (AKFG) or the Pillows CD (last I heard he liked their music, not sure which CDs he already has) AKFG is expensive at about $50/CD
- Manga or anime
- Does he still like Old Navy? maybe a gift card
- Does he need/want a new badminton racket?

Viv, any idea what he's been into lately?

CA Academy of Science

Hi!  Sorry for not being around in the last year, but as you all know, I've been busy.  

Anyways,  I bought Viv a membership to the CA Academy of Sciences.  It includes one guest admission every time.  That means whenever one of us visits, we can get in for free.  Viv, this will be your upcoming X-mas present and birthday present.  

I thought about buying this for Owen's grad present, but I think we (us sisters) would never get the chance to see the interior; he would have no time for us and just bring his friends.  

Speaking of which, anybody thought about a grad present for O yet?  I am contemplating an I-pod touch but will only do it if someone goes in on it with me.  I do love mine.  But I am open to ideas.  

Viv, it says to print out all pages of the PDF file that will come attached to an email.  You have to bring it to the office to collect your membership stuff or wait 4-6wk by mail--something like that.  Please fwd that email to me too, thanks.  

B2B

Hay,

Did you guys run Bay to Breakers this year? I totally missed it. I would've run it if I remembered.

Cute things i've been into lately...

check them out! cute baked jewelry! www.pincstuff.com


cake pops!



and finally... bento art!

RED BEAN BUNS

Yay! So I attempted to make Red BEAN Buns today. Here are my pics:


The verdict....YUMMY...just like the ones we get in Chinatown!
Here's my link to the recipe, if you guys want to try. It's relatively easy!
Say BUNS!

I could probably make the lotus ones now!

Hm

Is this blog dead? Can I just post random cat videos and make stupid jokes about you guys on it? Yeah! Like....hm....will get back to you on that.

New music

Hey Viv,

If you have some time, check out Amy Serrata. She's performing near you.

Deb,

I uploaded 2 Killers albums for you. Did they work?

School work

I like your project, Viv. It looks like mushrooms I saw at the Farmer's market this weekend.

The Bored...

should really post more often.

THE BLOG

oh it's pretty! oh what the bored will do...

Southwest Airlines to start flying to LGA (in New York)

In June! According to the NY Times.

Rock me sexy Jesus

You guys need to watch Hamlet 2.

Low Tech Fixes for High Tech Problems

via The NY Times.

Low-Tech Fixes for High-Tech Problems

By PAUL BOUTIN
Published: February 18, 2009

BEHIND the cash register at Smoke Shop No. 2 in downtown San Francisco, Sam Azar swipes a customer’s credit card to ring up Turkish cigarettes. The store’s card reader fails to scan the card’s magnetic strip. Azar swipes again, and again. No luck.

As customers begin to queue, he reaches beneath the counter for a black plastic bag. He wraps one layer of the plastic around the card and swipes it again. Success. The sale is rung up.

“I don’t know how it works, it just does,” says Mr. Azar, who learned the trick years ago from another clerk. Verifone, the company that makes the store’s card reader, would not confirm or deny that the plastic bag trick works. But it’s one of many low-tech fixes for high-tech failures that people without engineering degrees have discovered, often out of desperation, and shared.

Today’s shaky economy is likely to produce many more such tricks. “In postwar Japan, the economy wasn’t doing so great, so you couldn’t get everyday-use items like household cleaners,” says Lisa Katayama, author of “Urawaza,” a book named after the Japanese term for clever lifestyle tips and tricks. “So people looked for ways to do with what they had.”

Popular urawaza include picking up broken glass from the kitchen floor with a slice of bread, or placing houseplants on a water-soaked diaper to keep them watered during a vacation trip.

Today, Americans are finding their own tips and tricks for fixing misbehaving gadgets with supplies as simple as paper and adhesive tape. Some, like Mr. Azar’s plastic bag, are open to argument as to how they work, or whether they really work at all. But many tech home remedies can be explained by a little science.

Cellphone Losing Charge

If your cellphone loses its battery charge too quickly while idle in your pocket, part of the problem may be that your pocket is too warm.

“Cellphone batteries do indeed last a bit longer if kept cool,” says Isidor Buchanan, editor of the Battery University Web site. The 98.6-degree body heat of a human, transmitted through a cloth pocket to a cellphone inside, is enough to speed up chemical processes inside the phone’s battery. That makes it run down faster. To keep the phone cooler, carry it in your purse or on your belt.

This same method can be used to preserve your battery should you find yourself away from home without your charger. Turn off the phone and put it in the hotel refrigerator overnight to slow the battery’s natural tendency to lose its charge.

Remote Car Key

Suppose your remote car door opener does not have the range to reach your car across the parking lot. Hold the metal key part of your key fob against your chin, then push the unlock button. The trick turns your head into an antenna, says Tim Pozar, a Silicon Valley radio engineer.

Mr. Pozar explains, “You are capacitively coupling the fob to your head. With all the fluids in your head it ends up being a nice conductor. Not a great one, but it works.” Using your head can extend the key’s wireless range by a few car lengths.

Dry Ink Cartridge

If your printer’s ink cartridge runs dry near the end of an important print job, remove the cartridge and run a hair dryer on it for two to three minutes. Then place the cartridge back into the printer and try again while it is still warm.

“The heat from the hair dryer heats the thick ink, and helps it to flow through the tiny nozzles in the cartridge,” says Alex Cox, a software engineer in Seattle. “When the cartridge is almost dead, those nozzles are often nearly clogged with dried ink, so helping the ink to flow will let more ink out of the nozzles.” The hair dryer trick can squeeze a few more pages out of a cartridge after the printer declares it is empty.

Cellphone in the Toilet

It could happen to anyone: you dropped your cellphone in the toilet. Take the battery out immediately, to prevent electrical short circuits from frying your phone’s fragile internals. Then, wipe the phone gently with a towel, and shove it into a jar full of uncooked rice.

It works for the same reason you may keep few grains of rice in your salt shaker to keep the salt dry. Rice has a high chemical affinity for water — that means the molecules in the rice have a nearly magnetic attraction for water molecules, which will be soaked up into the rice rather than beading up inside the phone.

It is a low-tech version of the “Do Not Eat” desiccant packets that may have been packed in the box the phone came in, to keep moisture away from the circuitry during shipping and storage.

Longer Wi-Fi Reach

If your home Wi-Fi router doesn’t reach the other end of the house, don’t rush out to buy more wireless gear to stretch your network. Instead, build a six-inch-high passive radio wave reflector from kitchen items, like an aluminum cookie sheet.

Follow the instructions at freeantennas.com/projects/template. Place the completed reflector — a small, curved piece of metal that reflects radio waves just like a satellite TV dish — behind your Wi-Fi router. It focuses the router’s energy in one direction — toward the other end of the house — rather than letting it dissipate its strength in a full circle. No cables, no batteries, no technical knowledge required. Yet it can easily double the range of your network.

Dirty Discs

You need to clean a skipping DVD or CD, but as a bachelor you don’t have any sissy cleaning fluids? Soak a washcloth with vodka or mouthwash.

Alcohol is a powerful solvent, perfectly capable of dissolving fingerprints and grime on the surface of a disc. A $5 bottle of Listerine in your medicine cabinet may do the job as effectively as a $75 bottle of DVD cleaning fluid. Also, swabbing your copy of “Lost Weekend” with Stoli instead of fussing with a Discwasher kit is a lot more manly.

Too Much Flash

If your cellphone’s built-in camera flash is much too bright, washing out photos, tape a small piece of paper over the flash. Experiment with different colors and thicknesses of paper to tone down the flash from superbright white to a more pleasing glow for evening photos.

Crashed Hard Drive

If — no, make that when — your PC’s hard drive crashes and can’t be read, don’t be too quick to throw it out. Stick it in the freezer overnight.

“The trick is a real and proven, albeit last resort, recovery technique for some kinds of otherwise-fatal hard-drive problems,” writes Fred Langa on his Windows Secrets Web site. Many hard drive failures are caused by worn parts that no longer align properly, making it impossible to read data from the drive. Lowering the drive’s temperature causes its metal and plastic internals to contract ever so slightly. Taking the drive out of the freezer, and returning it to room temperature can cause those parts to expand again.

That may help free up binding parts, Mr. Langa explains, or at least let a failing electrical component remain within specs long enough for you to recover your essential data.

That’s the spirit of folk remedies: They may or may not work, but what have you got to lose?

Hee.

this is so pretty

and seems really easy to make. Instructions here.

OMG, there is such a thing as Kwok's Disease.

We are famous! And contrary to what one might assume, Kwok's disease isn't the tendency of afflicted people to fall in love with the awesomeness of Kwokness - it is a freakin allergy to MSG:

In 1968, Robert Ho Man Kwok, M.D., described a collection of symptoms he allegedly experienced after eating Chinese food. He coined the phrase "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" (CRS) to describe these symptoms, which included numbness at the back of the neck and a feeling of pressure in the face and upper chest muscles.

According to here.

Huh.

Ha!