<![CDATA[Christopher Ming Lee]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm Freewebs <![CDATA[The Impossible Art of Li Wei]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3416787

"I'm coming for you, Zhang Ziyi!"                                               
"Dammit Billy, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon isn't real!"
"How the hell did we get into this wheeled front loader?         


"I do not get emotional when I'm menstruating!"


"Nice boobs. Harlot."                                                
"Nice shorts. Tool box."                                  

Li Wei asserts he uses no digital editing, relying on instead the time-tested tools of wires, mirrors, and acrobatics. He used to paint, but gave it up to become a performance artist - he executes many of his shoots in front of live audiences.

Find out more (and see more pictures) of Li Wei's Impossible Art.
 


]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3416787#topBox http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3416787 Mon, 12 May 2008 14:36:00 -0100 <![CDATA[Cirque Du Soleil]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3377081

For my birthday, Jess got ickets to Cirque Du Soleil: Kooza, in Philadelphia.

According to the website, "KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement."





I love these kind of gifts - gifts that involve dong rather than having. It's a rare occasion when I want something, and when those occasions come up, I'd rather buy it myself.

When I work on long-term projects (which is how I see writing a book or starting a freelancing business) I lose sight of why I work so hard. It's easy to forget when you don't complete everyday with tangible results. It's not so I have more money to buy more things. More money is wonderful, but it's second to freeing more time to do more things, to see more of what the world offers.

So a gift like tickets to Kooza reminds me of that. After working straight through the day, I look forward to being with friends, and reading more about Cirque Du Soleil. Heck, I've only stopped in Philly once, so even that's an adventure.

Thanks, Jess. One of the best birthday presents ever.

]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3377081#topBox http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3377081 Sat, 03 May 2008 15:51:00 -0100 <![CDATA[Dolla Dolla Bills Ya'll]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3303692

I do my best to adhere to the "pay-yourself-first-mentality," touted by financial gurus everywhere (you can read more about in Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Millionaire Next Door.)*

The concept is simple: unless you learn to save first, then pay bills and spend, you'll never accumulate wealth. It makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider the psychological effects of risk and spending - but you can read about that elsewhere.

I adhere to the principle, and generally try to put any money I won't need for the month into a money market or a savings account through ING Direct. This month I cut the math real close, and overdrafted for the first time (by $17.) I paid for my trip to Florida this month, got my bike repaired, and my check from work wasn't half it's normal amount - basically, I didn't leave myself enough cushion.

It was still midweek when this happened, which meant there were still plenty of miscellaneous expenses until my next paycheck - and I had no cash, and nothing (zero, zilch, nada) in my bank account. I also got fined $22 - not a lot of money, but that's 14 Yuenglings and 16 slices of pizza (seriously) - or two dinners and a light breakfast.

Fortunately, the check for the Florida trip didn't bounce (which it easily could have.) If it did, I'd have to clean up that mess, write another check, and probably pay another fine.

As soon as I discovered the overdraft, I went to my bank - Wachovia - and deposited a check from my money market account with TD Ameritrade. Then I withdrew enough cash to get me through the week. Afterwards, I signed up for overdraft protection (check to see if your bank has a similar program) and called Wachovia and asked them to take off the $22 fee (which they did.)

Moral of the story: leave enough cushion in case things come 'a pushin. The 3% APY on my ING Direct savings account on the extra $100 - $200 I put away isn't worth the headache and time costs of cleaning up the mess. I'd rather leave the extra $100 and call it a month.

Also, make sure you have ways to move money around quickly. Moving cash electronically is convenient, but in a tight time table, it might not be fast enough. It was a good thing I signed up for checking with TD Ameritrade - otherwise I'd be borrowing money from Gino, the sleazy bookie who lives under the bridge.

Finally, make sure you're working with a bank that's good to you. My experiences with Wachovia have all been extremely positive, and would recommend them to anyone.

*These titles (especially The Millionaire Next Door) tout principles like living below your means, and not taking lavish vacations. I'd suggest also reading The 4-Hour Work Week for a different perspective on those principles.
]]> http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3303692#topBox http://chrisminglee.webs.com/blog.htm?blogentryid=3303692 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:09:00 -0100