Back for a Quick Recap

All 2.5 of my fans out there must have figured it out by now that the radio silence on my blog meant that I was transitioning back into the school year. Starting my senior year at Berkeley has been more hectic than I expected. It usually takes me about a month to adjust to a new schedule, but I've already begun work on three major assignments due all in one week, and this has definitely disrupted my otherwise calm start to the school year.

Anyway, I'd like to share a few great links that have amused me during my study breaks.

You've heard of food yoga, naked yoga, hot yoga, and now there's stoned yoga.

Although I can barely keep up with the Sunday New York Times throughout the week, here's a great list of what books to read this fall (hopefully I can catch up during Thanksgiving break).

I'm really looking forward to going to see Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps next weekend. I love that the trailer uses the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil" to show Gordon Gekko's return.

That's all for now.

Summer's Coming to a Close

With just a few weeks left until school starts, I'm trying to squeeze in a few more adventures in the Bay Area before I visit my family in Los Angeles. Between working, interning, and getting tutored for a math placement test I have to pass in order to graduate on time, this summer has turned out to be much more hectic than I expected.

Still, I'm glad to make time to go to the fabulous San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The theme this year is Tough Guys: Images of Jewish Gangsters in Film, but I choose to go to two very different screenings. On Monday night I got to see contemporary Israeli short films, and tonight I'm planning on watching a documentary. A Small Act is about a Jewish woman who donated a few dollars per month to an impoverished young boy from Kenya who later went to Harvard and became a renowned human rights lawyer. He later established a scholarship fund in her name to thank her for helping him. I'm eager to see how the cycle of mitzvahs (good deeds) unfolds.

A Few Links from the New York Times.

When I recently moved into my new apartment, I was incredibly lucky to receive an amazing housewarming gift from my parents: a subscription to the Sunday edition of the New York Times. I try to read as much as possible and soak it all in on Sunday, but it does tend to pile up on the coffee table and I end up reading various sections later on in the week.

So here's a few recent links from the New York Times:

This piece from the book review offers an excellent analysis on how multimedia and multitasking are affecting our way of life.

Here's a fashion feature on people who challenge themselves to wear only six items of clothing for a month.

If I could pick a place to travel, I'd certainly want to spend more than 36 Hours in Florence. Still, this whirlwind trip looks like a fabulous vacation.

I took this picture on a trip to Florence!

A Few Links to Summon The Weekend.

After being sick for a week and a half, I'm finally back to posting a few links to get the weekend started.

I'm looking forward to checking out awesome art thanks to free admission at tons of San Francisco museums this weekend...

Here's the trailer for the highly anticipated film Howl, which covers Allen Ginsberg's obscenity trial over one of the best poems of the 20th century.

Finally, for all you bacon lovers out there, here is a creation to whet your appetite: a burger made of ground bacon. I'm torn between loving it and hating it, but you have to admit that it's creative.

A Few Links for a Sunday Afternoon.

I've watched it since the beginning and am excited for the season premiere tonight, but I have to agree that Entourage has jumped the shark.

Given that the new iPhone was released this week, it's pretty terrifying to realize that phone companies are trying to cover up the connection between cell phone use and brain tumors.

Here's the trailer for The Social Network, the movie about the founders of Facebook.

The boys are back tonight.

College Cooking Class: Shrimp Fried Rice

For one of those nights when you need to use up a bunch of leftovers but still want something filling and satisfying, there's fried rice. The trick is to use rice that's been sitting in the fridge to get the right consistency. Throw in whatever veggies and protein source you have, and eggs if you have some, you've got a quickly whipped up yet delicious dinner.

Ingredients:

- 3 cups cooked rice

- 1 cup cooked but frozen shrimp

- 2 eggs

- 1/2 cup frozen peas

- 1/3 cup chopped baby carrots

- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

1) In a slightly oiled pan, lightly scramble the two eggs until soft and not completely done. Put aside on a plate.

2) Place frozen peas and chopped baby carrots into dish with water and microwave until heated through.

3) Let frozen shrimp thaw in a bowl of cold water.

4) Add some oil into a large saucepan and add the cooked rice. Stir around.

4) Add cooked veggies and eggs, then 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

7) When it is uniformly mixed and starting to get crispy, drain and add the shrimp. Stir in the other 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.

8) Mix well and serve. Chopsticks optional.

A Few Links for a Summer Day.

Holy Rollers opens this week! I highly recommend this fascinating movie based on the true story of Hasidic Jews smuggling ecstasy in the late 90s.

Is buying overpriced hipster duds worth compromising your conscience? We should boycott American Apparel for its disgusting appearance discrimination.

I just came back from a pricy Trader Joe's run, so maybe I should follow this man's guide to eating well on $1 a day...