Happy Halloween everyone!

So today's Halloween. No I'm not going to make a real post because I'm still super tired. So instead, I'm just gonna post a picture of the pumpkin that Chris and I carved. I'm an engineer and he's a biochemistry major, would you expect us to carve anything different (No μ does not count)? Actually, even such a simple shape gave us a surprisingly difficult time. First off, we don't really have the appropriate tools for this job, so we're just stabbing blindly into the pumpkin with a really sharp knife. Second, my fine motor skills need refining, so that probably adds to the difficultly level as well. In any case, this took us much longer than it probably should have. On a related note, this is our smaller pumpkin, we have another that's maybe 3 or 4 times the size... any suggestions on what to carve into it? We were thinking the rowing lion, but there's so many jagged edges that it seems overly complex like something we'd mess up so yeah... still haven't decided on that.


Here's a bonus picture of Chris washing the inside of the pumpkin of its seeds. Specifically for the one deviant who has something for looking at pictures of Chris (yes I'm exploiting my friend for readership...).
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This doesn't even really deserve a post

Except I'm super excited to have gotten my ramen Woot shirt. It epitomizes my very being to a T (get it? haha super cheesy t-shirt joke). Ahem, sorry. Anyway, I don't actually fall in love with all that many Woot shirts, actually, a lot of them are really stupid (random shirts especially... sorry Wayne). This one was so freakin' awesome that I had to have it. Anyway, in all it's glory there on the left. Also felt like I should mention, Chris got a pumpkin. So amped about carving it, except we have no clue what to do with it. If you can't tell already, we're all insanely childish. It's incredible that we're done with college in just a few months. So yeah, be prepared for a slew more of short stupid posts on what we do with the pumpkin. To the cyclists who actually read my blog, be prepared for a complete build report on a bad weather bike from spare parts found lying around. So epic that it'll probably weigh less than the CAAD9. Go figure.
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I absolutely hate being typecasted

Nope, not a food post. I'm not even sure this qualifies as a real post. I just wanted somewhere to vent my frustrations? Nah, not really frustrated, I guess they're just annoyances. As an Asian kid, growing up, I've always been stereotyped as 'good at math' and 'liking rice.' Yeah, both of those things are true, but whatever. Just because something is true doesn't mean I want math problems and rice shoved in my face all the time. I've found the same thing happens even now. In everything I do, somehow I always become the guy who should do things on a computer or something scripting related. Case in point, I applied for a web company at the beginning of the year as an operations intern, and somehow they offered me a job as a web developer. Not that I don't love web development, but at least have the courtesy to respect the fact that that's not what I wanted. I mean, I don't mind doing the job, in fact, I applied to other places for that very position. It's just a bit tiring.

As for why I haven't been posting lately, this week has been an absolute killer. Most none of you probably care, but I've been hammered between problem sets, applying for graduate school, senior design, and dealing with other peoples' nonsense on top of that. So if I've been a jerk lately, well... you probably had it coming I'm sorry. Laters.

Oh the picture... I don't like making posts without pictures. Yes I do in fact use a toothbrush that says 'white person toothpaste.' There's absolutely nothing lost in translation.
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Why yes... I would like hot dogs in my crust

So those Asians... (I mean we Asians) really know how to change something. Not always for the better I might add. I like pizza. I really do. As one of those comfort foods when I'm crazy stressed, I don't think there's anything that can really match pizza. So whenever I'm given a chance to try a twist on it, I'll always be open to it. That's where Pizza Hut in Taiwan steps in. Over the Summer, they had this promotion called the 摩天倫(?) or 'mo tian lun.' If I'm wrong on that, someone please correct me. Basically it was a pizza that had hot dogs in the crust. If that were it, I don't think it'd be that special. No, on top of that was a pizza filled with ham, broccoli, cheese, and get this... Kewpie mayo and scrambled eggs. Yeah. Let that sink in for a second. It sounds disgusting right? Oh it is. The hot dogs were cool, it saved me the trouble of having to get hot dogs in Taiwan, and I love the Kewpie mayo, but I could do without eggs.


We also got a Kimchi Beef pizza, since it was b1g1. I think the total order came out to something like 699 NT ($23) for 2 pizzas, a thing of wings, and another of star shaped tater tots (which were really just frozen and refried). The Kimchi Beef pizza was pretty good. Instead of using tomato sauce, they use sweet bean paste, so it adds a semisweet aspect to a traditionally savory dish. It's not for everyone, but I certainly liked the twist.


Just an side comment... their wings suck. You get like 5 pieces of the smallest drumsticks and wings possible. They're also kind of cold. Seriously not worth it if you have to spend extra to get them.
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Shut up, it's still 7-11

So I've finally come back to this post. I should be studying for 'Biochemical Separations,' but that doesn't seem too important at this very second... it's not until Wednesday anyway. Anyhoo, 7-11 in Taiwan, you never fail to impress me. Know what that is on the left? It's a giant piece of fried chicken cutlet. In the past I've already mentioned how Taiwanese fried chicken is different from its American brethren. Pounded as thinly as possible, breaded with unknown spices (I have a hunch that it includes 五香粉 or '5 spice powder'), then fried to GBD. The crunching sound of the exterior is one of those things you just can't replicate. Yet again, a challenger appears (stupid gaming reference). I know what you're thinking... 'that's gross, 7-11 microwaved fried chicken.' Well, don't be so quick to judge. I mean, they've surprised me numerous times before with their microwavable bentos, so I wanted to at least give them a fair chance.


Oh what a mistake. Let's revisit the checklist for delicious fried chicken. Piping hot? Yes. Real chicken? I think so. Adequately oily? Oh yes. Crispy delicious skin? Uber fail. The problem with the chicken isn't in the taste. Actually, it tastes pretty damn good. The spices are more or less correct, and the clogging of the arteries factor certainly exists. No, the problem is, once you microwave something this oily in a plastic bag for 1 minute, the steam collects, and the chicken skin is rendered soggy. Sorry 7-11, this is one time I'll have to say... you screwed up big.


Yay, another bento. I should probably explain the naming system they have for their bentos. They do pork, chicken, or 全民 'everyday value' bentos, with maybe 7 variants of each. What they do is, they will call it pork A, pork B, and so on. I think this was chicken C. I'm not sure why I just explained the 7-11 bento naming system, but whatever. It was delicious. The chicken cutlet here was not soggy (I'm not sure why), and the side dishes were passable. Still the greatest thing about their bentos is the fact that it's 59 NT (<$2) for this and a 700cc bottle of tea.
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Lychee Slurpees! (More 7-11 love)

I lived off 7-11 when I was in Taiwan. Now this might sound stupid given the culinary options available on the island, but when you realize that this exists... well, I don't seem so foolish anymore huh? Yes I realize they spelled Lychee in a retarded fashion (Litchi? Where in the hell does the 't' come from anyway?), but does it really matter when you can enjoy a cup of liquid ice + fruit syrup? Oh and the best part, the super sized cups were only 25 NT (67 cents). I can't even buy a bottle of water for that. For that, I salute you 7-11 <3.


How does it taste? Yeah, um, about that authentic lychee flavor... maybe it was artificial, but it did taste kind of like the fruit. You could most certainly tell the difference between this, passion fruit, mango, and watermelon (they rotate flavors every month in case you couldn't tell). In all seriousness though, at way under $1, getting this much Slurpee of any flavor is a steal. Did I mention they had a raffle where if you bought 2 or more drinks you could pull for a discount of 11%, 21%, 51% off, all the way up to both costing only 1 NT? That was most definitely part of the reason I drank maybe 50 or 60 this past Summer.

In case you're wondering, additional flavors I got to try... citrus soda, 黑松 sarsparilla, and pina colada (on top of all the fruit ones listed above). An additional note... there will be more 7-11 posts to come, so those of you bitching to me in person about how stupid these posts are... you can suck it I'm sorry.
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Giant chocolate bar!

I've been told that I take things too far sometimes when it comes to food. That certain combos of flavors and ingredients shouldn't be mixed. Well, it should be obvious by now that there is virtually no standard for most of the people in my suite with regards to what we eat. If there wasn't enough proof of this already... yes, that is a triple decker sandwich made with peanut butter, frosting, and Nutella. It came about because we had left over frosting from a cake we made the night before (finished off in a single night between Chris, Daven, and myself, if I remember correctly), because Wayne graciously bought a jar of Nutella (gone within 2 days I might add), and well... peanut butter goes well on everything (if you say otherwise, we're probably not friends... and I hate you).


As if that weren't enough proof. That's a 5 pound bar of Hershey's chocolate. Courtesy of Chris. The rate at which it disappeared was incredible too. I think we got to the R within 2 or 3 days of opening it. Keep in mind that only 3 of us have been eating it on a daily basis. To answer the questions that you're probably asking, no I don't have a death wish, and I feel fine.
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Should I be proud of this?

I'm referring to this.

So I took runner up in a competition over who has the smallest kitchen. Should this be something I'm proud of or ashamed of haha. Despite what they say, since I don't really use the dishwasher, I don't think that should count against me...
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