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| starlight Parade 2009 |
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16 hours ago
Sunday 31 May 2009
Friday 29 May 2009
impressions of west lake 张靓颖 印象西湖
To turn off the blog background music scroll to the bottom of the page!!
Impressions of the West Lake is a modern day opera show in Hangzhou, China. This show is conceived and directed by internationally acclaimed Zhang Yimou, director of 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Musics are composed by the Grammy and Golden Globe Award winning artist Kitaro. Jane Zhang provides stunning vocals to the title song "Impressions of the West Lake".
Official Website: http://www.hzyxxh.com
Sound track released in Apr 2009 by DOMO music:
http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/in...
Impressions of the West Lake is a modern day opera show in Hangzhou, China. This show is conceived and directed by internationally acclaimed Zhang Yimou, director of 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Musics are composed by the Grammy and Golden Globe Award winning artist Kitaro. Jane Zhang provides stunning vocals to the title song "Impressions of the West Lake".
Official Website: http://www.hzyxxh.com
Sound track released in Apr 2009 by DOMO music:
http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/in...
Wednesday 27 May 2009
Tuesday 26 May 2009
shots of Mac houses and property
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| mac houses |
Returning home after all these years I'm finding the shape and color of houses in McMinnville inspiring. Most of these homes were build pre-1940. I'm posting the pics because I think many people in Asia might be interested to see how people here live.
Monday 25 May 2009
Sunday 24 May 2009
Saturday 23 May 2009
Monday 18 May 2009
Chinese Andy Rooney on the onion
Very funny, just a joke people.
China’s Andy Rooney Has Some Funny Opinions About How Great The Chinese Government Is
Alexander Rybak
Euro vision has chosen its winner. Its a fun song but certainly doesn't pack the pop punch Eurovision winners normally do. Does this mean Euros are feeling a bit sentimental?
Note: to turn off the blog music go to the player at the bottom of the page
Sunday 17 May 2009
7 pounds
Death is a delightful hiding-place for weary men.
-Herodotus
7 Pounds is an excessively dark and sentimental movie that presents a very mixed message about redemption.
The acting is superb. Will Smith manages to communicate a deeply disturbed character in a quiet almost non-expressive way. His faces seems different than in any other movie with dark lines around the mouth and deep circles under his eyes. The trade mark Smith smile is flashed only a few times. Raw anger and deep self loathing that his character feels is sharp and biting.
The movie shows us locations and situations that we've not seen in films prior. The diner and the beach house are visually interesting. The color and texture of the suicide scene is jarring. The viewer knows he's going to commit suicide the entire movie but the scene is unique and the method of death unexpected.
Plausibility is an issue in the movie. The hospital would certainly have questioned his actions. The friend under most state laws would have faced prosecution for not trying to stop the suicide. There is also the issue of patient rights. These people might have wanted to know that someone was going to commit suicide to help them. On a very simple level one must ask why it's legal or possible for a person to have such a dangerous pet! A box jellyfish? Beautiful, I want one. Beauty and Beast rolled into one.
The irony of seeking redemption through death is the irony of Christianity essentially. The murder of Jesus Christ (when as the Son of God he presumably had the power to stop it) and Will Smith's character murdering himself are reflections of each other. They embody the notion that the greatest sacrifice is your life.
Both deaths are in the name of forgiveness and presumably done so others might live. Both seem bizarre to me. Jesus could have done more good staying a live and healing more people. God can forgive at will, there was no need for Jesus to die unless God demands it. A God that would make such a demand is not the God of love I feel I know. Will Smith's character could have saved many more lives than seven by devoting his engineering skills to safety design or something else like that.
The message is that both were weighed down with a sadness they could not live with. Respite came through death and the idea of it as redemption and salvation for others is disturbing. Disturbing in both cases.
IDAHO 2009: One Voice, One Message, Heard Around the World.
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Saturday 16 May 2009
Friday 15 May 2009
A letter to Wen Jiabao
Dear Honorable Premier of the Great People's Republic of China: Wen Jiabao, In writing this letter to you I intend no disrespect to the respectable General Secretary Hu Jin Tao. Simply, I feel as if I know you by your very public image better.
I remember well my introduction to China. I was an assistant on promotional tour from the state of Hawaii. We flew into Shanghai late in the evening and crossed the bridge at an hour when the visage was at it's most brilliant. I fell deeply in love with Shanghai the moment I saw her lights. To me, it was like looking at the future.
I returned to spend a further 8 years working in China. Some of Shanghai's darkest realities are carved deeply into the back of my right hand. I both prospered and struggled. Success and failure on so many levels were to be my burden and gift to bare witness to. I can tell you a thing or two about bad people in China. I can tell some dynamic stories. For every horror story I can also tell you about people who are working so hard. People who are so bright and so gifted. People who humbled me.
This time last year my company was in a terrible state. I had been cheated by my business partners (who were Chinese but not from China). As it were I ended up stranded in Hong Kong trying to get my visa sorted out. Anger pulsed through my veins. I regretted the day I met China. It was such a dark time. My company was going to the toilet, I couldn't get back there, immigration couldn't give me an honest answer.
Then it happened. I was in a Hong Kong diner steaming mad when I happened to see a video. The video showed you desperately trying to save a child after the earthquake. You said something like "Hold on, Grandpa Wen hears you." There wasn't a dry eye in that diner, no sound of eating, no talking, everyone, including me was watching in awe as the Premier of China showed such raw compassion. It was the moment of change for me. We, everyone in that Hong Kong diner were completely entranced by your example.
That moment made me want to know more about you. I started reading about you on the net. China, with its size will inevitably lead the world in the future. I felt so happy that for the first time I had a leader who I could relate to. In your actions I saw hope and I saw a just government.
Of course in my reading I learned that you were there during the student uprising. Under Zhao Ziyang you tried hard to iron out a peaceful settlement. So, now that you have a top job and you have the world's confidence I implore you to set the record straight. Let the world heal. Admit that the killing of these students was a mistake. Be an example to Japan, who year in and year out refuse to admit their wrongs. Lead. Trust that the world will applaud you.
We want to believe in you.
Gregory David Duerfledt.
I remember well my introduction to China. I was an assistant on promotional tour from the state of Hawaii. We flew into Shanghai late in the evening and crossed the bridge at an hour when the visage was at it's most brilliant. I fell deeply in love with Shanghai the moment I saw her lights. To me, it was like looking at the future.
I returned to spend a further 8 years working in China. Some of Shanghai's darkest realities are carved deeply into the back of my right hand. I both prospered and struggled. Success and failure on so many levels were to be my burden and gift to bare witness to. I can tell you a thing or two about bad people in China. I can tell some dynamic stories. For every horror story I can also tell you about people who are working so hard. People who are so bright and so gifted. People who humbled me.
This time last year my company was in a terrible state. I had been cheated by my business partners (who were Chinese but not from China). As it were I ended up stranded in Hong Kong trying to get my visa sorted out. Anger pulsed through my veins. I regretted the day I met China. It was such a dark time. My company was going to the toilet, I couldn't get back there, immigration couldn't give me an honest answer.
Then it happened. I was in a Hong Kong diner steaming mad when I happened to see a video. The video showed you desperately trying to save a child after the earthquake. You said something like "Hold on, Grandpa Wen hears you." There wasn't a dry eye in that diner, no sound of eating, no talking, everyone, including me was watching in awe as the Premier of China showed such raw compassion. It was the moment of change for me. We, everyone in that Hong Kong diner were completely entranced by your example.
That moment made me want to know more about you. I started reading about you on the net. China, with its size will inevitably lead the world in the future. I felt so happy that for the first time I had a leader who I could relate to. In your actions I saw hope and I saw a just government.
Of course in my reading I learned that you were there during the student uprising. Under Zhao Ziyang you tried hard to iron out a peaceful settlement. So, now that you have a top job and you have the world's confidence I implore you to set the record straight. Let the world heal. Admit that the killing of these students was a mistake. Be an example to Japan, who year in and year out refuse to admit their wrongs. Lead. Trust that the world will applaud you.
We want to believe in you.
Gregory David Duerfledt.
Daily Notes: May 14 2009
Was up most of the night with a spliting headache, need to look into sulphites as a subject for an article. Felt very dehydrated
Expected Andre to want all the furniture in the house and all he wants is his old leather bag and the two octopus cards....
Went to the Hong Kong Art Fair. Spent an hour afterwards feeling so sad. I never knew what a gift it was to be in a city that offeres so much. I least I can say that I've taken full advantage of my time here. Only museum I've not been to is the history museum..... on my list for next week.
Was going to take the ferry across the harbor and decided against it. Too romantic to do alone.
Expected Andre to want all the furniture in the house and all he wants is his old leather bag and the two octopus cards....
Went to the Hong Kong Art Fair. Spent an hour afterwards feeling so sad. I never knew what a gift it was to be in a city that offeres so much. I least I can say that I've taken full advantage of my time here. Only museum I've not been to is the history museum..... on my list for next week.
Was going to take the ferry across the harbor and decided against it. Too romantic to do alone.
ISHIDA TETSUYA DARK SELF PORTRAITS
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuya_Ishida
Tetsuya Ishida (石田徹也 Ishida Tetsuya, born in June 1973, Shizuoka) was a Japanese painter who died in 2005 after being hit by a train. (Possibly Suicide)
Tetsuya Ishida painted scenes of ordinary Japanese life, but with the protagonist (a self portrait) always trapped in a machine-like body, or treated as part of a production line.
On November 26, 2006, one of Ishida's paintings, "Untitled" 2001, sold at a Christie's Hong Kong "Asian Contemporary Art" auction for 780,000HKD (over USD$100,000). The Christie's pre-auction estimate on the sale price of the painting was only 60,000-80,000HKD.
ANYONE KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ARTIST? LOVE THE WORK!!!!!
Related Links:http://www.tetsuyaishida.jp/gallery/
http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/11/07/incredible-paintings-by-tetsuya-ishida/
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