SVong-Along

I love Costco. I love the free samples, getting great deals on quality products in bulk (nothing is sexier than saving), and the food court. From the creamy and savory Chicken Bake to $1 churros, Costco food court is a reliable value that holds a special place in many people's hearts. Recently, there have been changes to menu: addition of an acai bowl and a vegetarian al pastor salad, removal of the chocolate froyo, and maybe the most outrageous- the removal of the polish dog about a month ago. (literally five people sent me articles about the polish dog being gone ). Another addition is a " Shake Shack " copycat burger being tested out in a few California locations. One of the locations happened to be closeby a Yelp event I was attending (in Folsom), so I finally made the trek for this Shake Shack copycat. (spoiler alert - 76% of y'all were right) First- as a Californian, In-N-Out will always definitely be a much better value than Shake-Shack. But Shake-Shac...

Are police allowed to track our cell phones, internet searches, and other digital information? How much of our electronic data is private, and what role should the government play in protecting our privacy? My good friend and law school classmate Abby Wolf addresses these topics in her law review article: " The World Still Looks to California: The CalECPA as a Model Step for Privacy Reform in the Digital Age ." I downloaded it off SSRN, printed a copy, and finished the paper during my Amtrak ride from DC to NYC a few weekends ago. Abby's article is well-researched and a great overview on privacy law. The first part of her title, "The World Still Looks to California," comes from my current boss (for 20 more days!), Jerry Brown. Abby's attention to detail is incredible: for example, Footnote 2 describes where she attributes the quote in her title: "it is also included in a placard below his gubernatorial portrait in the California State Capi...

What is Soft Power?  Described as a "play with a musical," Soft Power is exactly that, but so much more. Soft Power is about international relations, entertainment, love, politics, and how life in America might be viewed from a Chinese perspective. Written by David Henry Hwang (who also brilliantly writes himself as a lead role in the play), Soft Power is part satire and political commentary with music, thought-provoking themes, and full of funny scenes and witty dialogue. BALLOONS Who is in Soft Power?  Soft Power features an impressive ensemble, primarily of Asian-Americans. The lead role of Xue Xing is played by Conrad Ricamora (aka Oliver in How to Get Away with Murder, but also a Broadway performer). Ricamora's voice is surprisingly versatile, with some of my favorite moments featuring his tender falsetto. Hillary Clinton also is a major character (not portrayed by an Asian-American). Raymond J. Lee also had a fantastic voice, and the cast was overall v...