They Call Us Ronny Chieng
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Year of the Spears
It's been an interesting year for the Spears family.
Britney's been in a number of rehab and treatment facilities, shaved her head, lost custody of her children and had her, ahem, female region shown all over the tabloids.
And that was just the first half of the year.
Now it's baby sister's turn to shine. Trying to outdo her older sibling's exploits, Jamie Lynn, the 16-year-old star of “Zoey 101,” recently announced that she was pregnant.
Jamie and Lynne must be so proud of their children.
Coincidentally, Lynne's book about parenting has been delayed indefinitely.
Really? I'm surprised that she hasn't been nominated for mother of the year.
Who would've thought that Kevin Federline is the normal one in this entire situation.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Film fest leaves summer void
Say it ain’t so.
I know it’s been rumored for months, but don’t tell me that there’s not going to be a 2008 Aurora Asian Film Festival.
Alas, it’s true. It’s been confirmed by us and the Aurora Sentinel that the annual event has been suspended due to a variety of factors, which include a number of major sponsors leaving and the core group of volunteers simply burning out.
While I understand the reasons why it happened, I’m still bummed out about it.
The festival has been an annual staple of both Aurora and the Asian-American community. While there are other larger As-Am events that showcase Asian culture, such as the Boulder Asian Festival and the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the AAFF has always been my favorite.
Since I began attending in 2002, it’s been my way of kicking off the summer. It was three and a half days of doing nothing but sitting back and watching some movies. Some were good, some were bad and some I couldn’t decide, but it was fun taking it all in. And I loved debating the merits of the films after each showing with other patrons in front of the Aurora Fox Arts Center.
Other film festivals don’t have the same feel. There are too many films in each showing at the Boulder Asian Film Festival to remember them all. And the Starz Denver Film Festival is massive – once one movie lets out, another one begins. It’s hard to find time in between to chat. The AAFF was just right.
It’s going to be weird when May ends and there are no Asian movies showing at the Fox Arts Center.
Maybe I’ll just pick up a bunch of DVDs and spend that weekend on my couch. Who wants to join me?
I know it’s been rumored for months, but don’t tell me that there’s not going to be a 2008 Aurora Asian Film Festival.
Alas, it’s true. It’s been confirmed by us and the Aurora Sentinel that the annual event has been suspended due to a variety of factors, which include a number of major sponsors leaving and the core group of volunteers simply burning out.
While I understand the reasons why it happened, I’m still bummed out about it.
The festival has been an annual staple of both Aurora and the Asian-American community. While there are other larger As-Am events that showcase Asian culture, such as the Boulder Asian Festival and the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the AAFF has always been my favorite.
Since I began attending in 2002, it’s been my way of kicking off the summer. It was three and a half days of doing nothing but sitting back and watching some movies. Some were good, some were bad and some I couldn’t decide, but it was fun taking it all in. And I loved debating the merits of the films after each showing with other patrons in front of the Aurora Fox Arts Center.
Other film festivals don’t have the same feel. There are too many films in each showing at the Boulder Asian Film Festival to remember them all. And the Starz Denver Film Festival is massive – once one movie lets out, another one begins. It’s hard to find time in between to chat. The AAFF was just right.
It’s going to be weird when May ends and there are no Asian movies showing at the Fox Arts Center.
Maybe I’ll just pick up a bunch of DVDs and spend that weekend on my couch. Who wants to join me?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Intestinal fortitude
The mark of a true competitor resides in the ability to continue through adversity. If it's fighting through an injury and willing your team to a victory, there are few who show this kind of intestinal fortitude.
And thankfully, I have a couple of these players on my team.
God, I love fantasy football.
I advanced to the championship game in my keeper league after taking down the defending champions yesterday. It was in the same fashion that I've enjoyed for most of the season: my opponent has an off week and my team takes full advantage. I won with Minnesota's defense and Adrian Peterson still to play.
Next week won't be so easy. I'm playing the one team who has rolled through its competition all year long with Tom Brady and Brian Westbrook leading the way. He averaged 181.42 points per game as compared to my 157.76.
I'm hoping my recent pick-ups in the past few weeks will help. I grabbed wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery of the waivers after it was speculated that his season was over. But he played through the pain and has been fairly consistant these past few weeks. He's a nice improvement over Amani Toomer as my third receiver, and a good complement player to Larry Fitzgerald and Greg Jennings.
My running back situation is my strength. With Steven Jackson, Adrian Peterson and Brandon Jacobs coming on strong, I seem to have three potential No. 1 backs starting. Quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Vince Young have good matchups next week, playing Cleveland and the Jets, respectively. Mason Crosby is averaging double digits as a kicker and TE Chris Cooley has been a nice grab from free agency.
I'm projected to score 189.45 points next week, but we'll see. I'm thinking I need at least 200-plus points to even compete. Let's see who's on the waivers this week.
And thankfully, I have a couple of these players on my team.
God, I love fantasy football.
I advanced to the championship game in my keeper league after taking down the defending champions yesterday. It was in the same fashion that I've enjoyed for most of the season: my opponent has an off week and my team takes full advantage. I won with Minnesota's defense and Adrian Peterson still to play.
Next week won't be so easy. I'm playing the one team who has rolled through its competition all year long with Tom Brady and Brian Westbrook leading the way. He averaged 181.42 points per game as compared to my 157.76.
I'm hoping my recent pick-ups in the past few weeks will help. I grabbed wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery of the waivers after it was speculated that his season was over. But he played through the pain and has been fairly consistant these past few weeks. He's a nice improvement over Amani Toomer as my third receiver, and a good complement player to Larry Fitzgerald and Greg Jennings.
My running back situation is my strength. With Steven Jackson, Adrian Peterson and Brandon Jacobs coming on strong, I seem to have three potential No. 1 backs starting. Quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Vince Young have good matchups next week, playing Cleveland and the Jets, respectively. Mason Crosby is averaging double digits as a kicker and TE Chris Cooley has been a nice grab from free agency.
I'm projected to score 189.45 points next week, but we'll see. I'm thinking I need at least 200-plus points to even compete. Let's see who's on the waivers this week.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fighting fat: Week 15
Starting weight: 176 lbs. (BMI: 26.4 – overweight)
Dec. 11 weigh-in: 162 lbs. (BMI: 24.3 – overweight)
Days worked out in week 14: five
After gaining a pound last week, I dropped it this week. I've come to the conclusion that 162 is another wall, so I'm going to have to crank up my workouts in order to hit my goal of 160.
I'm hoping to do this by next Tuesday because many of my friends are coming into town and that's a recipe for disaster.
The nice thing is that my body fat percentage is down to 15.2 percent. A drop from 16.3 percent four weeks ago.
My dilemma right now is that focus is becoming harder as the weather gets colder. There are days when it seems easier to go home and sleep after my warmouts than continuing to lift. I need to find a goal to work toward, but I don't have one right now aside from dropping weight.
Maybe I can think of something next week.
Who wants another sham marriage?
I didn't think reality shows could sink any lower.
Now I've never been much of a fan of reality TV – although I admit “Kitchen Nightmares” and “The Biggest Loser” are guilty pleasures of mine – but there's a new one coming out from a Los Angeles-based company that makes me shake my head from the title alone: “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?”
From the teaser on its website, the show appears to be similar to “The Dating Game,” where a single U.S. citizen asks three available immigrants with temporary visas a variety of questions. At the end of the show, one is chosen for marriage. The show's creators say that it does not guarantee marriage or legal status, but it will pay for a wedding and honeymoon should it happens.
Oh, and this is the tagline: “One will win and get to stay in the country. Two will probably be deported.”
Why does this seem like it's a bomb waiting to explode?
In an interview with ABC News, Shawn Saucier, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, said that a legal immigrant meeting someone through a game show that focuses on marrying a U.S. citizen would raise flags on the legitimacy of the marriage.
Well, duh.
I suppose proponents of the show would argue that if two people love each other, who's to say where they meet makes a difference – especially with the rampant success of reality show hook-ups. Just look at Ryan and Trista Sutter from “The Bacholorette,” and, um ...
Aren't reality shows known more for ruining marriages than creating them? I mean, Nick and Jessica seemed like a nice couple before their show. Hulk Hogan was married for 20-plus years before “Hogan Knows Best” started airing.
Dating shows have always played on the basic human need of finding a soul mate. “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?” takes that and adds the hope of gaining legal status. If this show were to find its way onto a network, there will be plenty of broken hearts and broken dreams. I'm not saying that all of the marriages would end in shambles, but given reality TV's track record, the outlook's not a bright one.
For more information about “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?” visit its website at http://www.HookACitizen.com.
Now I've never been much of a fan of reality TV – although I admit “Kitchen Nightmares” and “The Biggest Loser” are guilty pleasures of mine – but there's a new one coming out from a Los Angeles-based company that makes me shake my head from the title alone: “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?”
From the teaser on its website, the show appears to be similar to “The Dating Game,” where a single U.S. citizen asks three available immigrants with temporary visas a variety of questions. At the end of the show, one is chosen for marriage. The show's creators say that it does not guarantee marriage or legal status, but it will pay for a wedding and honeymoon should it happens.
Oh, and this is the tagline: “One will win and get to stay in the country. Two will probably be deported.”
Why does this seem like it's a bomb waiting to explode?
In an interview with ABC News, Shawn Saucier, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, said that a legal immigrant meeting someone through a game show that focuses on marrying a U.S. citizen would raise flags on the legitimacy of the marriage.
Well, duh.
I suppose proponents of the show would argue that if two people love each other, who's to say where they meet makes a difference – especially with the rampant success of reality show hook-ups. Just look at Ryan and Trista Sutter from “The Bacholorette,” and, um ...
Aren't reality shows known more for ruining marriages than creating them? I mean, Nick and Jessica seemed like a nice couple before their show. Hulk Hogan was married for 20-plus years before “Hogan Knows Best” started airing.
Dating shows have always played on the basic human need of finding a soul mate. “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?” takes that and adds the hope of gaining legal status. If this show were to find its way onto a network, there will be plenty of broken hearts and broken dreams. I'm not saying that all of the marriages would end in shambles, but given reality TV's track record, the outlook's not a bright one.
For more information about “Who wants to marry a U.S. citizen?” visit its website at http://www.HookACitizen.com.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Mess in the BCS
Isn't it about time college football adopts a playoff system?
For years, critics of the BCS system have argued that the system is imperfect and that more often than not, the best teams don't end up in the championship game.
Back in 2002 Miami played Nebraska, despite Oregon being ranked No. 2 in both human polls and Colorado stomped them in the regular season finale.
In 2004 Oklahoma, LSU and USC all had one loss at the end of the regular season. But LSU and Oklahoma played for the national title, while USC was left out despite being ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.
This year, Ohio State (11-1) and LSU (11-2) will play for the national title, despite Kansas only having one loss and Hawaii going undefeated. There are another six teams in the BCS top 10 that have two losses.
Granted Hawaii vs. Ohio State would likely be a washout and there would be countless critics condemning the game, but that's where a playoff system would clean the mess up.
Since the bowl games make generate so much money, eliminating them would not be an option. Here is my solution:
Have a 16-team playoff. Take the top two from the BCS poll (Ohio State and LSU), the conference champions from the BCS conferences (Oklahoma, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and USC), any mid-major champions who finished in the top 10 of the BCS polls (Hawaii), and fill in the rest with at-large bids (Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona St., Florida, Boston College, Clemson and Tennessee.) There would be 15 games to be decided in four weeks.
The BCS National Championship game would remain for the final game, but there would be six bowls for the quarter- and semifinals leading up to the final game. The Fiesta, Rose, Sugar and Orange would remain, but the Cotton and the Gator would be added. The six bowls will rotate rounds every year.
More games equals more money, plus this would be a far more comprehensive way to decide the national champion.
Plus, viewers will flock to see a Selection Sunday like March Madness.
For years, critics of the BCS system have argued that the system is imperfect and that more often than not, the best teams don't end up in the championship game.
Back in 2002 Miami played Nebraska, despite Oregon being ranked No. 2 in both human polls and Colorado stomped them in the regular season finale.
In 2004 Oklahoma, LSU and USC all had one loss at the end of the regular season. But LSU and Oklahoma played for the national title, while USC was left out despite being ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.
This year, Ohio State (11-1) and LSU (11-2) will play for the national title, despite Kansas only having one loss and Hawaii going undefeated. There are another six teams in the BCS top 10 that have two losses.
Granted Hawaii vs. Ohio State would likely be a washout and there would be countless critics condemning the game, but that's where a playoff system would clean the mess up.
Since the bowl games make generate so much money, eliminating them would not be an option. Here is my solution:
Have a 16-team playoff. Take the top two from the BCS poll (Ohio State and LSU), the conference champions from the BCS conferences (Oklahoma, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and USC), any mid-major champions who finished in the top 10 of the BCS polls (Hawaii), and fill in the rest with at-large bids (Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona St., Florida, Boston College, Clemson and Tennessee.) There would be 15 games to be decided in four weeks.
The BCS National Championship game would remain for the final game, but there would be six bowls for the quarter- and semifinals leading up to the final game. The Fiesta, Rose, Sugar and Orange would remain, but the Cotton and the Gator would be added. The six bowls will rotate rounds every year.
More games equals more money, plus this would be a far more comprehensive way to decide the national champion.
Plus, viewers will flock to see a Selection Sunday like March Madness.
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