7 April 2005

Okay, yeah -- I know how you are, dude... You are JUST like me... 

You've been waiting for so LONG, dude, for those crazy sakura to get here -- those crazy "cherry blossoms" we call 'em in English -- and I know you've been thinking about how everyone is always yappin' here about how cool and beautiful they are... 

And you were beginning to wonder if it was really gonna be all that cool, right? I know how you are... And you have been waiting these last few days especially -- like, you could TELL it was getting CLOSER, right?... I know... And yesterday you thought it was just about to hit, didn't you? And you went out walkin' and you took some photos and you thought, "Oh, that's cool but not THAT cool"... 

I know... 

But then today -- dude, TODAY -- it finally hit. This was THE day, wasn't it? I know what you were thinking... You were thinking that this is so cool, that there is so much springtime beauty suddenly breakin' out all over the place...  And you were wondering about how in the WORLD could there be THAT much difference in those dang trees from yesterday to today? Like, just 24 hours, right? I mean, Keifer Sutherland doesn't change that much in 24 hours, dig? And he has to, like, save the whole dang WORLD and stuff... But these TREES -- man, you were thinkin' about how today they looked so different -- weren't you?

And so you took more photos today, right? -- I know you did -- I know how you are, man -- and you walked around for what? Like, an hour? Maybe... I bet you did... And you took so many photos, didn't you? But I know how you were thinking that NONE of them were capturing it, you know? You were taking photo after photo, and with every click of the shutter, you were pretending to be documenting the horrible beauty there in front of you -- but you KNEW in your gut -- (dude, I know what you were thinking) -- you KNEW in your gut that not a single photo could ever REALLY capture what you were seeing, smelling, experiencing... Like when you stand on a mountain, and you can FEEL in your bones how immense it is -- and that's an unforgettable experience -- but then you try to take a photo, and it just makes it all tiny and flat... And yeah, you always have that photo to REMIND you -- sure you do -- but it doesn't hold anything like the essence of what you really FELT, standing there, looking at the huge world God made... 

So today, you took those photos, but the whole time there was something inside -- something selfish, really -- that was sad that you couldn't CATCH it, that silent beauty, and keep it somewhere... Like, you almost felt that if you could KEEP it, it could be YOURS -- and you could show it to people -- and every time you'd say, "Yeah, I took that photo" -- and it's so weird (and twisted) how, if you thought about it, you really wanted people to see YOU, and not the beauty...  

I mean, I know what you were thinking, man... 

And then tonight -- you were thinking about how to, like, TALK about it all --  and you realized that you were getting all weepy-like over a bunch of stupid flowers -- dude, FLOWERS!! -- And you were like, "Geez, I can't be all weepy and tryin' to get all poetic over this garbage -- they'll think I'm some kind of pansy!"... 

So THAT's when you came up with the "clever" idea to present it all like you were talking about someone ELSE, right? 

Dude -- I know how you are... 

You are JUST... like... me... 

11 April 2005

I saw an article in the South China Morning Post today about a guy named Rainer Ganahl (website at http://www.ganahl.info/), an "Austria-born, New York-based" artist who is currently doing an artist-in-residence program in Hong Kong. It was describing his work and said this (emphasis mine):

As well as the politics of language and media, there's a political component to Ganahl's conceptual pieces. However, he says he doesn't simply want his implicitly anti-war, anti-Bush works to be labeled political art. "I don't want to be completely reduced to this kind of politics," he says. "I don't really think about [being a political artist] so much. I just do what I want to do or do what comes to mind. "Ultimately, it's not the 9/11 attacks that got me political. It's more the reactions to the attacks, using it as a pretext to bomb nations and implement radical right-wing policies..."

Okay, fine, fine -- whatever -- but then THIS:

"Obviously, I'm for democracy, but, you know, every point you make about China, you can make about the U.S., too. There are just as much prisoner abuse and human rights problems in America. It's very hypocritical..."

Yes, I see. That's very interesting. 

But I simply MUST ask:  Has this guy BEEN to China?!?? 

For instance, I wonder if he's considered what would happen to a person in China who starts making "implicitly" anti-Chinese government artworks? Nothing terribly political, mind you -- but just replace his images of Bush quotes with images of Chinese leaders' quotes, presented in an "implicitly" political way... Would that Chinese artist agree with him, do you think, about China and the U.S. being roughly equal in terms of prisoner abuse and human rights problems? I mean, of course, we wouldn't be able to KNOW if they agreed with him, because they would have been arrested without warning, and their family would not be given any word as to WHY they were arrested, or even WHICH prison they were being held in, nor WHEN they might actually be put on trial (or even CHARGED with a crime). 

But hey -- I'm being unfair, I know, by using some kind of "hypothetical" situation, and all... 

So, I mean, let's not IMAGINE what it's like in China -- let's take something we KNOW -- let's take the case of someone who on June 4th of any given year goes to Beijing and wants to, oh, I don't know -- let's say they want to do something totally RADICAL -- like, let's say they want to unfold a pillow case with "Remember June 4th!" written on it... Do you think THEY would agree with Mr. Ganahl, as they are tackled by 6 policemen and hauled screaming into a paddy wagon?

Whatever -- I have NO desire to "defend" George Bush, or wars, or "right-wing" policies -- that's not what this is about at ALL... And this guy MUST know MUCH more about Europe and the so-called "Arab world" than I do -- I'm quite sure of that... He's probably a nice guy who genuinely wants to see justice in the world. 

But wow, this dude knows so little about CHINA that it is utterly FRIGHTENING.  

. . .

Staying with our Chinese theme, I assume you have all heard about the anti-Japanese riots in China this past week. Thousands taking to the streets, relatively peaceful considering what COULD have happened, but still, the Japanese embassy was attacked, as were quite a few Japanese shops, restaurants, and billboards advertising Japanese-made products. At least a few cars were destroyed and at least two Japanese nationals were attacked, according to the HK news. 

I loved this one quote:

. . .

Okay, enough of this sickening stuff -- I just get so flummoxed by China-talk that sometimes I have to VENT... Forgive me. 

Consider my current venting done....

I did post some of my sakura (cherry blossom) photos -- you can check them out HERE.

12 April 2005

Yikes -- it has turned so COLD today, wow. And slightly WET. I went marching out of here this morning for my walk/jog (mostly walk), but I did one turn around the neighborhood and retreated to the safety and warmth of, well, "not outside"... 

Anyway, Tuesdays are my busiest days now, so I don't have much time to chat -- FOUR classes this afternoon. 

But thought I'd give you an update on my vitals:

READING: The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia), and The Journey of Desire LISTENING TO: The Afters (my favorite band this week), Dashboard Confessional (it's chick rock, but dang it, I like this guy), The Faint (try to put your fingers in your ears on the bad words), Venus Hum (imagine if Bjork were from Nashville), The Postal Service PLAYING: Battlefield 1942 (but dude, I need some online multiplayer partners -- interested?) WATCHING: I don't have a TV or anything, but I've been watching a DVD set of the Simpsons' first five seasons... (cost of getting the DVD's from Amazon: $120 -- seeing Homer anytime I want: priceless...) WORKING ON: being more true, being more faithful, being more handsome -- oh, and my job, I almost forgot to mention that one... HUNGERING FOR: an order of nachos con queso from Tumbleweed, a hot buttered croissant from KT's restaurant, just one chance at the Hometown Pizza buffet -- just ONE CHANCE, dude DREAMING ABOUT: a certain girl who will remain nameless since I probably haven't met her yet and don't know her name or what she looks like -- but she's out there... right?!?  PRAYING FOR: among other things which constantly occupy my tiny mind, I'm praying for there to NOT be a war between China and Japan -- which I don't feel at all assured yet it won't happen  DRESSING LIKE: a bum who can't buy new clothes that fit right SMELLING LIKE: a rose (figuratively, and in the manly sense of that concept) LOOKING FORWARD TO: being back to completely healthy and just generally not pukey and constantly feeling less than 100% COVETING (in a non-sinful way): beauty and adventure unending. . .

18 April 2005

I am SO stupid. 

I went to Kibogaoka Church yesterday, and I had been thinking ALL WEEK how I needed to remember my camera, dig? No telling WHAT you'll see on an adventure like that, so TAKE the CAMERA, dude. 

Forgot it. 

And what did I miss? Why, they only had their annual FIRE training, that's all!

Yep. After church the little tiny Japanese-size fire truck came with two Japanese firemen, and they blew their Japanese fire alarm and everyone in the whole church (a LOT of people) came out the emergency exits to the ground below. 

Then the firemen gave a quick safety talk, followed by the ever-popular "fire extinguisher practice"... You know, where they have the little black box with a spring-loaded "fire" which people could take aim and "put down" with the water-filled practice extinguishers they provided. The church's girl scouts' troupe provided the most entertaining and cute volunteers, and dude, it was just KILLING me that I didn't have my camera for that. 

Oh, well. Next time. 

Meanwhile, it WAS fun to visit their church, and I made quite a few new friends, and even saw a few old ones. 

. . .

I have word that TWO of my dear friends from Hong Kong BOTH had miscarriages this past week -- and they are from the same church. Some of you know more about what that's like than I do -- please pray for them and their families, and the church as well. THNX.