like a stranded islander
missing home sweet home.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Screwed by a Damaged Screw
Stubborn screw refuses to give
head, damaged beyond recognition, stripped
naked fury and angst it invokes in me
screwdriver no longer fits tightly,
slipping in and out with ease
Sexual inuendo? Where?
Today's inspiration: The hard drive on my Powerbook G4 died a sudden death recently. In the hope of saving a hundred bucks, I attempted to replace the internal hard drive myself. Little did I know that small thin screws would be such a pain to remove. With one of the Phillip screws, the head was so stripped that I need to file another slot into the screw head just to be able to remove it.
head, damaged beyond recognition, stripped
naked fury and angst it invokes in me
screwdriver no longer fits tightly,
slipping in and out with ease
Today's Poem: Free-Verse
Sexual inuendo? Where?
Today's inspiration: The hard drive on my Powerbook G4 died a sudden death recently. In the hope of saving a hundred bucks, I attempted to replace the internal hard drive myself. Little did I know that small thin screws would be such a pain to remove. With one of the Phillip screws, the head was so stripped that I need to file another slot into the screw head just to be able to remove it.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Full Metal Alchemist Summarized
Two bros, trapped in bodies that were crummy,
travel the world with their alchemy.
Seven homunculi they pown
to obtain the Philosopher's Stone.
The moral? Transmute human life and you're a dummy.
Today's inspiration: 51 episodes of Full Metal Alchemist, compliments to YouTube, completed in 3 days, with the movie completed on the 4th day. I strongly recommend the series.
travel the world with their alchemy.
Seven homunculi they pown
to obtain the Philosopher's Stone.
The moral? Transmute human life and you're a dummy.
Today's Poem: A Limerick
Today's inspiration: 51 episodes of Full Metal Alchemist, compliments to YouTube, completed in 3 days, with the movie completed on the 4th day. I strongly recommend the series.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Throwing Frisbee in the Park
The disc streams smoothly,
riding currents of warm air
across the bright grass.
Today's inspiration: My sister and I tossed a frisbee around with some random guys in Washington Square. One of the guys claimed to be a cousin of Carlos Santana.
riding currents of warm air
across the bright grass.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: My sister and I tossed a frisbee around with some random guys in Washington Square. One of the guys claimed to be a cousin of Carlos Santana.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Have Heart
Heart, the tell-tale organ buried under the floor boards of the old man,
beats with the ferocity of an unrelenting conscience,
warning us against evil acts.
The heart to do good, to put meaning in our lives,
drives us from our slothfulness
to do what is right and not just what is most expedient.
Heart, the goal sought by the Tin Man on the yellow brick road,
thought to be bestowable by the Wizard,
turns out to be right inside the tin all along.
The heart to love deeply, to share in the joys and pains of someone close,
warms us like a cuddly yellow blanket at night,
snuggled with since childhood.
Heart, the wimpy pink power of the little amazon planeteer,
stands powerless over the elements
yet plays a vital part in calling forth the hero that saves all.
The heart to endure, to brave the unknown darkness,
empowers us against our critics,
providing solidarity with our loved ones during times of loneliness.
Follow your heart and in so doing you will find happiness.
Today's inspiration: This poem is dedicated to Chen. Happy Birthday!
beats with the ferocity of an unrelenting conscience,
warning us against evil acts.
The heart to do good, to put meaning in our lives,
drives us from our slothfulness
to do what is right and not just what is most expedient.
Heart, the goal sought by the Tin Man on the yellow brick road,
thought to be bestowable by the Wizard,
turns out to be right inside the tin all along.
The heart to love deeply, to share in the joys and pains of someone close,
warms us like a cuddly yellow blanket at night,
snuggled with since childhood.
Heart, the wimpy pink power of the little amazon planeteer,
stands powerless over the elements
yet plays a vital part in calling forth the hero that saves all.
The heart to endure, to brave the unknown darkness,
empowers us against our critics,
providing solidarity with our loved ones during times of loneliness.
Follow your heart and in so doing you will find happiness.
Today's Poem: Free-Verse
Today's inspiration: This poem is dedicated to Chen. Happy Birthday!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
An Oddly Connected Graph
Surprise links, hidden
in the social network of
ivy league mixers.
Today's inspiration: I went to an Ivy League young alumni mixer with my high school friend Beverly, and apparently Cynthia Der, Kevin Der's sister, is studying law with her at USF.
in the social network of
ivy league mixers.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I went to an Ivy League young alumni mixer with my high school friend Beverly, and apparently Cynthia Der, Kevin Der's sister, is studying law with her at USF.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Sunk Costs
when the outlook's bleak,
cut your losses short and fast.
don't try to look back.
cut your losses short and fast.
don't try to look back.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
C'est la vie
Un-called for losses,
all avoidable, incur
sharp pangs of regret.
Today's inspiration: Apparently, I could have saved hundreds of dollars in shipping costs if I had used my dad's company's shipping rates instead of shipping them myself.
all avoidable, incur
sharp pangs of regret.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: Apparently, I could have saved hundreds of dollars in shipping costs if I had used my dad's company's shipping rates instead of shipping them myself.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
California Dreaming
warm sunshine greets me,
a welcomed first morning on
the west coast begins.
Today's inspiration: I'm back in California. =)
a welcomed first morning on
the west coast begins.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I'm back in California. =)
Monday, June 12, 2006
Goodbye MIT
Farewell 'tute - Ta-ta!
Five sweet years of the firehose
trickle to a close.
Today's inspiration: I've unfortunately been too busy the past two weeks with packing, graduation, a paper, and hanging out with my friends in the Cambridge area to keep up with my poetry.
Five sweet years of the firehose
trickle to a close.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I've unfortunately been too busy the past two weeks with packing, graduation, a paper, and hanging out with my friends in the Cambridge area to keep up with my poetry.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Paroxysm of Laughter
All was quiet 'til
a well-placed joke brought about
the sudden outburst.
a well-placed joke brought about
the sudden outburst.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
About Chen
Chen Xiao
is the hottest gal,
but she pouts all day
until she has her way.
Today's Inspiration: Chen and I jointly came up with the poem. She came up with first two lines and I with the last two lines.
is the hottest gal,
but she pouts all day
until she has her way.
Today's Poem: A Clerihew
Today's Inspiration: Chen and I jointly came up with the poem. She came up with first two lines and I with the last two lines.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
About Me
Edmond Lau -
"Sup," he would sometimes avow.
But he talks too fast for most to comprehend,
so fast that he would need to repeat himself again and again.
Today's inspiration: Apparently I talk too fast, most likely remnants of the time-constrained and fast-paced Lincoln-Douglas debate competitions I used to participate in back during by high school days.
"Sup," he would sometimes avow.
But he talks too fast for most to comprehend,
so fast that he would need to repeat himself again and again.
Today's Poem: A Clerihew
Today's inspiration: Apparently I talk too fast, most likely remnants of the time-constrained and fast-paced Lincoln-Douglas debate competitions I used to participate in back during by high school days.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Faith
take a leap of faith
believe and you will be saved
reject and be damned
Today's inspiration: I just finished Letters from a Skeptic, a conversation between a seventy-year-old father and his theologian son regarding the father's questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Unlike many of the religion teachers in my thirteen years of Catholic schooling, Edward Boyd (the son) offers many intellectual arguments and insights about God, Jesus, and the Bible, and he delivers his thoughts with hope and passion. The book has answered many of my questions, and after reading it, I find myself more open and more excited about the Christianity.
believe and you will be saved
reject and be damned
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I just finished Letters from a Skeptic, a conversation between a seventy-year-old father and his theologian son regarding the father's questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Unlike many of the religion teachers in my thirteen years of Catholic schooling, Edward Boyd (the son) offers many intellectual arguments and insights about God, Jesus, and the Bible, and he delivers his thoughts with hope and passion. The book has answered many of my questions, and after reading it, I find myself more open and more excited about the Christianity.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's Christian or skeptical about Christianity; it's perhaps the best religious/theological book that I've read. I would bet that if all my religious teachers had been as capable as Boyd, I would already be a Christian.
Faith
take a leap of faith
believe and you will be saved
reject and be damned
Today's inspiration: I just finished Letters from a Skeptic, a conversation between a seventy-year-old father and his theologian son regarding the father's questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Unlike many of the religion teachers in my thirteen years of Catholic schooling, Edward Boyd (the son) offers many intellectual arguments and insights about God, Jesus, and the Bible, and he delivers his thoughts with hope and passion. The book has answered many of my questions, and after reading it, I find myself more open and more excited about the Christianity.
believe and you will be saved
reject and be damned
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I just finished Letters from a Skeptic, a conversation between a seventy-year-old father and his theologian son regarding the father's questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Unlike many of the religion teachers in my thirteen years of Catholic schooling, Edward Boyd (the son) offers many intellectual arguments and insights about God, Jesus, and the Bible, and he delivers his thoughts with hope and passion. The book has answered many of my questions, and after reading it, I find myself more open and more excited about the Christianity.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's Christian or skeptical about Christianity; it's perhaps the best religious/theological book that I've read. I would bet that if all my religious teachers had been as capable as Boyd, I would already be a Christian.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Frenzy
sands of time trickling
panic! flustered, focus lost
deadline comes and goes
Today's inspiration: I was 1 of 10,000 finalists to Google and Sony's Da Vinci Code quest. Alas, I do not think I am the winner of today's final challenge. At least I get to keep a sweet cryptex:
panic! flustered, focus lost
deadline comes and goes
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: I was 1 of 10,000 finalists to Google and Sony's Da Vinci Code quest. Alas, I do not think I am the winner of today's final challenge. At least I get to keep a sweet cryptex:
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Numbness
unable to feel
the pain gone, my senses dulled
yet something's missing
Today's inspiration: Two wisdom teeth from my left side have been extracted today.
the pain gone, my senses dulled
yet something's missing
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: Two wisdom teeth from my left side have been extracted today.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Pluralistic Ignorance
woman stabbed three times
everyone waits, looks around
no one helps - she dies.
Today's inspiration: In his book Influence: Science and Practice, Robert Cialdini documents an intriguing social phenomenon in which people, in the face of uncertainty, look around for social evidence and confirmation on how to behave correctly. Finding none, they act in ways that appear irrational.
In one story dating back to March 1964, 38 citizens in Queens, NY watched, for more than half an hour, a killer stab a woman during three separate attacks. No one called the police during that time. The 38 witnesses cannot explain why they had failed to act. Psychologists speculate that everyone had felt uncertain about the woman's emergency, and seeing that no other observers were taking action, reasoned that perhaps the woman's situation was not an emergency after all.
everyone waits, looks around
no one helps - she dies.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: In his book Influence: Science and Practice, Robert Cialdini documents an intriguing social phenomenon in which people, in the face of uncertainty, look around for social evidence and confirmation on how to behave correctly. Finding none, they act in ways that appear irrational.
In one story dating back to March 1964, 38 citizens in Queens, NY watched, for more than half an hour, a killer stab a woman during three separate attacks. No one called the police during that time. The 38 witnesses cannot explain why they had failed to act. Psychologists speculate that everyone had felt uncertain about the woman's emergency, and seeing that no other observers were taking action, reasoned that perhaps the woman's situation was not an emergency after all.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Tree of Knowledge
the forbidden fruit -
key to knowledge, ticket out
of God's paradise.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Friday, May 12, 2006
Rubber Duckie
bright rubber duckie,
belly encased by soap 'til
it can float no more.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Rules of Management
hollow buzzwords spewed
more product cycles prolonged
time slowed by red tape
more product cycles prolonged
time slowed by red tape
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Dim Sum Run
Yellow skins eating
har gow and chicken feet in
the heart of Chinatown.
Today's inspiration: My sister published a poem in her school's literary magazine. Her poem was distinguished by usage of the word "yellow," and I decided to write my own "yellow" poem.
har gow and chicken feet in
the heart of Chinatown.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: My sister published a poem in her school's literary magazine. Her poem was distinguished by usage of the word "yellow," and I decided to write my own "yellow" poem.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Sleight of Hand
The trickery and
devious betrayals that
sever webs of trust.
Today's inspiration: Today's Mission Impossible movie marathon reminded me that the plot of Mission Impossible centers around a mole whose sleight of hand wipes out half of a top secret team and threatens to expose the identities of covert operatives everywhere.
devious betrayals that
sever webs of trust.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: Today's Mission Impossible movie marathon reminded me that the plot of Mission Impossible centers around a mole whose sleight of hand wipes out half of a top secret team and threatens to expose the identities of covert operatives everywhere.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Freedom
Liberated from
the shackles of my research
I am a free man.
Today's inspiration: As of May 5th, 2006, I have officially submitted my Master of Engineering thesis. Graduation is around the corner.
the shackles of my research
I am a free man.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: As of May 5th, 2006, I have officially submitted my Master of Engineering thesis. Graduation is around the corner.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Nash Equilibrium
Optimality --
doing what's best for you and
what's best for the group.
Today's inspiration: Adam Smith's philosophy that society benefits most when every person acts out of his or her own self-interest is overturned by John Nash's theory of an optimal collective strategy (Nash equilibrium) in A Beautiful Mind--Hollywood's tale of Nash's triumph over economics, love, and schizophrenia.
doing what's best for you and
what's best for the group.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: Adam Smith's philosophy that society benefits most when every person acts out of his or her own self-interest is overturned by John Nash's theory of an optimal collective strategy (Nash equilibrium) in A Beautiful Mind--Hollywood's tale of Nash's triumph over economics, love, and schizophrenia.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Eternal Echoes of Our Lives
What we do in life
echoes an eternity.
We live forever
through the people we touch and
the memories of our deeds.
Today's inspiration: In Gladiator, General Maximus Decimus Meridias (Russell Crowe) motivates his calvalry before war with the words, "What we do in life echoes an eternity."
echoes an eternity.
We live forever
through the people we touch and
the memories of our deeds.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
Today's inspiration: In Gladiator, General Maximus Decimus Meridias (Russell Crowe) motivates his calvalry before war with the words, "What we do in life echoes an eternity."
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A Used Tissue
Snot drips down my nose,
only a used tissue stops
its journey mouthward.
Today's inspiration: Mention of a used tissue brought me back to childhood days when runny noses, salty snot, and a dearth of tissues proved to be a constant problem.
only a used tissue stops
its journey mouthward.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: Mention of a used tissue brought me back to childhood days when runny noses, salty snot, and a dearth of tissues proved to be a constant problem.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Maybe Some Day
Three beautiful words,
said, hoping that you'd respond.
Instead, there's silence.
My door stands open, cold air
blowing in, chilling my heart.
said, hoping that you'd respond.
Instead, there's silence.
My door stands open, cold air
blowing in, chilling my heart.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
The Fantasy Game
Sick minds wander in
an amusing pretense of
perverted intents.
Today's inspiration: A psychological game that leads to sex with hermaphrodites, life at night in the Googleplex, and naked men in movies -- would you play?
an amusing pretense of
perverted intents.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: A psychological game that leads to sex with hermaphrodites, life at night in the Googleplex, and naked men in movies -- would you play?
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Fruits of Labor
Fruits of my labor
ripen with the taste of sweet
succulent success.
Today's inspiration: After a few days of preparation, I presented my Masters thesis work on HARBOR (High Availability and Replication-Based Online Recovery) -- an integrated approach to recovery and high availability in updatable data warehouses -- at the 2006 MIT EECS Masterworks Symposium.
ripen with the taste of sweet
succulent success.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Today's inspiration: After a few days of preparation, I presented my Masters thesis work on HARBOR (High Availability and Replication-Based Online Recovery) -- an integrated approach to recovery and high availability in updatable data warehouses -- at the 2006 MIT EECS Masterworks Symposium.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Antsy Feeling
Deadline creeps nearer
Sands of time trickle away
Judgment day cometh
Sands of time trickle away
Judgment day cometh
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Cruel Intentions
Cruel intentions
backfire unsuspectingly,
destroying your dreams.
backfire unsuspectingly,
destroying your dreams.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Monday, April 24, 2006
Serendipitous Fortune Cookie
Chance circumstance brings
unexpected good fortune
right to your doorstep.
unexpected good fortune
right to your doorstep.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Fulgurites
Lightning strikes the beach,
chiseling glass sculptures out
of sandy pixels.
chiseling glass sculptures out
of sandy pixels.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
The Scarlet Letter - The Abridged Version
Secret badge of shame,
devastating if exposed,
onerous to hide.
devastating if exposed,
onerous to hide.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Friday, April 21, 2006
Destiny
Fateful threads weave through
the intertwining paths of
two star-crossed lovebirds.
the intertwining paths of
two star-crossed lovebirds.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Thursday, April 20, 2006
I'm sorry
An apology
for my selfish disregard
at your time of need.
Open ears, a warm embrace,
I should have gladly offered.
for my selfish disregard
at your time of need.
Open ears, a warm embrace,
I should have gladly offered.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The Wind Tunnel
invisible force
cripples movement, suspending
my upstream journey
cripples movement, suspending
my upstream journey
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Photographic Entrapment
Snapshots
ensnare her soul
From the stillness, her face
stares back, detached, emotionless,
frozen
ensnare her soul
From the stillness, her face
stares back, detached, emotionless,
frozen
Today's Poem: A Cinquain
Monday, April 17, 2006
Reminiscence
Latent memories,
the time capsules of the mind,
unearthed consciously
by a dreamy nostalgia
for Kodak moments long past.
the time capsules of the mind,
unearthed consciously
by a dreamy nostalgia
for Kodak moments long past.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
Sunday, April 16, 2006
The Penguin Walk
Feet pointed outward,
weight shifting from side to side,
she waddles, her gait
like that of Antarctic kin
suited in black tie attire.
weight shifting from side to side,
she waddles, her gait
like that of Antarctic kin
suited in black tie attire.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
A Tribute to Irony
Fresh spring carnations,
sweetly bought to bring smiles to
a special someone,
get tainted by ill timing
and soaked by a tearful stream.
sweetly bought to bring smiles to
a special someone,
get tainted by ill timing
and soaked by a tearful stream.
Today's Poem: A Tanka
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Claustrophobia
Confined enclosures,
Hemmed in to closed-in spaces,
Without air to breathe.
Hemmed in to closed-in spaces,
Without air to breathe.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Nature's Alarm Clock
Warm sunlight seeps in,
batters open my eyelids.
Why can't I hit snooze?
batters open my eyelids.
Why can't I hit snooze?
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Dance Dance Revolution
Up, down, left, and right,
my legs jab, spaz, and criss-cross
on the plastic pad.
my legs jab, spaz, and criss-cross
on the plastic pad.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Monday, April 10, 2006
Indian Food - Too Spicy for My Taste Buds
Water relieves not
the three-star designation
of lamb vindaloo.
the three-star designation
of lamb vindaloo.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The O.C. - Season 1 Disc 1
Enraptured, I sit,
eyes on the O.C., fingers
no longer typing.
eyes on the O.C., fingers
no longer typing.
Today's Poem: A Haiku
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
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