6 July 2005

Hmmmm...

I saw this news item the other day, maybe you saw it, too -- about a toilet-themed restaurant in Taiwan: 

So maybe you see this photo, and you think, "Oh, yeah, that's funny, the chairs are toilets -- ha ha ha"... 

But dude, check the BOWLS -- I mean, er, the DISHES -- the utensils from which they are eating... YES -- the food is served in tiny toilet bowls... Western-style, Asian-style, bed-pan-style -- you can get 'em all, bro... 

I think they said most people came because of the "novelty" of it, but they did have a quote from one customer who said it freaked them out a little. 

. . .

SNF

Every Saturday night I head over to Denen CP Church, where we have our small group for teenagers, in Japanese and English, which we call "Saturday Night Fellowship"...

But recently we have renamed the group:

Star Wars Night Fever!!!

I'm honestly not sure how this all got started, but we were talking about Star Wars a few weeks back, and the new one coming out, and all -- and somehow that discussion turned into us having a Star Wars Film Festival...

Which we did. 

For three weeks, we were 100% Star Wars. The first week, we watched Star Wars, followed by a brief dinner, then The Empire Strikes Back. The next week, we went right back at it, watching Return Of The Jedi, a quick dinner, and The Phantom Menace. Two weeks ago, we finished our preparatory research -- 'cause that's what this was, okay? RESEARCH!! -- but we finished with a flourish with a final night of viewing Attack Of The Clones. 

Now we are ready for the big finale, coming this Saturday:

You probably didn't know that the new Star Wars hasn't arrived in Japan yet... (Oh, well, that's not entirely true -- the last two Saturday nights they've had "preview" nights, and one of my friends went this past weekend)... But it doesn't OFFICIALLY open until this Saturday, the 9th. 

And we're going. Dude, we already bought the tickets, and we're gonna see that suckah. 

I might point out, by the way, that it was weird watching the original films with those guys, because most of them had NEVER SEEN THEM!! For someone whose whole LIFE was Star Wars for several years, that's hard to imagine. But the fact that they actually DUG the original trilogy really got me all excited about it, too. I mean, dude, that original movie is almost 30 years old!!! But here were these 13-year-old Japanese kids just loving it.

Of course, jokes abounded regarding "the Force" -- FOR-soo!!, as they pronounced it... Remember, this was a new concept to them, they'd never, ever heard anyone say, "May the Force be with you!"... SO they loved that! 

And anytime you wanted someone to "pass the ketchup" or whatever, the answer was, "FOR-soo!!" -- meaning: "I ain't gonna pass it, you use the Force and get it yourself!"

We had LOTS of laughs about that... 

. . .

Oh, which reminds me... if I may slightly change the subject... 

In Japanese, they don't really have much distinction between the "H" and the "F" sounds... So a Japanese person will often say the word "football" with a very soft and breathy "f" sound, and it kind of comes out like, "fhootball" -- it's hard to WRITE it, sorry -- but if you completely merge an "F" and an "H", then that's the sound... "Fhhhhh"... Bottom line, they often can't tell the difference between an "F" and an "H"... 

Okay. Keep that in mind. 

So, in my older elementary school English class today at Sagamino Church, we were learning animals -- you know, dog, cat, monkey, frog, etc... 

Well, one of the animals I wanted to teach was "horse"... Now, they already knew "dog" and "cat" and all those, but for whatever reason they did NOT know "horse"... Not sure why, but they didn't. So when I first tried to teach that one, they all looked so completely puzzled -- they really had never heard it before!! I just kept repeating it, and they just kept looking at me like I was the craziest person they'd ever seen. Over and over, I said, "Horse! This is a horse!" -- but NOTHING... no reaction at all... For whatever reason, they had no idea what I was saying, and all I got was blank stares... 

Finally, Takuya (the oldest student), seemed to have a light go on over his head -- I'm serious, I could almost SEE a little light bulb as his eyes lit up... 

Having finally "figured it out" he casually leaned over to the others, and, with his hands gripping an imaginary light saber, whispered knowingly: 

"Star Warzoo... For-soo!!"

And I don't know if I explained that well enough for you to get it, but that totally cracked me up... 
     

11 July 2005

I did go to see Star Wars on Saturday. 

I don't want to accidentally give any spoilers, so I will not say much here. But I was thoroughly entertained by it, at least I'll say THAT. It was pretty cool to see how they brought so many threads together to lead into Episode IV (the original Star Wars). 

But geez -- some of it was just a bit too "easy"... I can only assume that my friends who told me it was horrible were referring to that. 

Nevermind, I won't say more here, though I did put a little thing up about some of my, uh, "issues" with the film -- if you've already seen the movie, then feel free to check it out, and help me understand some of the madness. 

But anyway, I loved seeing it, even if the last couple days I've wished I could sit ole George (Lucas) down and ask him to set a few things straight. 

OH, and they showed Episode II on Japanese TV on Friday night -- I saw a little glimpse of it at my friends' house. If you think Jar Jar Binks sounds stupid in ENGLISH... Holy cow... 

. . .

Well, for my next film, I'd love to see War of the Worlds. I hope to apply for a loan this week -- and if my credit is good enough, and if I have enough collateral, I may be able to get the funds to actually buy the ticket! 

(it costs $18 to see a movie here, which I mention in case you are one of the few people on planet earth who haven't heard me harping on and on about that)

. . .

It has definitely turned HOT here, finally. The "rainy" season -- "tsu yu" they call it in Japanese -- is still on its last gasps, but that wonderfully comfortable breeze which kept me cool these last few weeks has at last bid my sweaty self goodbye... 

See you in a few months, my blustery friend. 

But I was standing there at the train station this morning, and I was thinking about what it is that gives away that a guy is basically fat and sweaty. I mean, when you see a guy with saggy jeans that won't fit over his hips -- like, he bought them about 8 sizes ago, but he keeps wearing them because he can still yank 'em up to just under his fat gut, right? -- but when you see that, you can be pretty sure that he's a fat and sweaty guy. Or like, if you see a guy whose hair is so wet that it looks like he just got out of the pool, but in fact he hasn't been in public without his shirt on for about 15 years -- I mean, that's a pretty sure sign that this is a fat and sweaty guy. 

But no, I realized -- the MAIN signal -- the KEY visual cue that you are looking at a fat, sweaty guy -- can be summed up in two words:

The Towel. 

You take a guy who has to constantly push his glasses back up on his face because his nose is dripping wet and they keep sliding down -- but that MIGHT be a thin guy who just happens to be hot, see? 

Or you take a guy who is breathin' real hard, and he's wheezing and coughin' -- completely out of breath, as the sweat drips off his forehead -- but see, that MIGHT just be a thin guy who was running to catch the train, dig? 

But the TOWEL -- dude, that is the dead giveaway that what you got yourself there is a plain, old-fashioned, fat and sweaty guy. 

Please note that I never leave the house without a towel -- now, discuss amongst yourselves... 

. . .

Listening to:

In Your Honor -- Foo Fighters 
FINALLY, they do a few songs which echo the majesty that was The Colour And The Shape... Just don't expect to stay awake if you listen to the "ballad" CD of this double-disc set at 2am -- it won't work -- trust me. 

With Teeth -- Nine Inch Nails
FINALLY, they do a few songs which echo the, uh... wait, I just said that about that other one... Okay, well, it's a mildly pretentious record, but you knew that -- it's Trent, after all... But the dude can still rock when he wants to, that's the thing. Can Sting say that? (well, MAYBE, but I doubt we'll ever get to KNOW -- sigh)... 

The Everglow -- Mae
Imagine a younger Ben Folds with a monstrous wall of guitars -- that's what this sounds like -- only BETTER. Anthemic, epic, beautiful -- and it fairly ROCKS... 

Genesis -- Joy Williams
Okay, some of the lyrics are embarrassingly lame, but only a FEW -- mostly this is a surprisingly-rocking record, and I'm not ashamed to say I love it recently.

In Motion -- Copeland
I think these guys toured with Switchfoot -- now THAT is a show I'd love to have seen! This is just GREAT "post-whatever" pop, melodic and earnest. The first three songs on this CD are just brilliant. To me, I mean. And you know what is KILLING me? I just NOW found out that these guys are HERE, in Tokyo, and playing in Shibuya TONIGHT!!! It starts in about 30 minutes, and it costs $43 -- so no way I would seriously consider getting up right now and heading to Shibuya. I mean, I couldn't... could I? It just wouldn't make sense. No, it wouldn't. That's why I'm not even THINKING about it. Not even one bit. I mean, it would take 90 minutes to get there, right? That's a long trip. And the cost. So, NO, I'm definitely not thinking seriously about getting up right now from this computer and changing clothes and going to that show. Nope. It would be STUPID. So I've put it totally out of my mind. Not gonna happen. Completely forgotten all about it. Good. Glad that's settled.

(cough)

19 June 2005

I totally miss Hong Kong. 

I hint at that sometimes, but seldom do I really let my heart and hurt just all hang out. It just doesn't "do" to act that way, does it? Not polite at all, ha ha. 

But from the FIRST MOMENT I stepped in HK, I felt at home there. It may be that I felt more at home THERE than at my own HOME. Seriously, there were times that I felt that way -- I don't know why. But I loved it, I honestly did. I've traveled all over the stupid world, and still if you asked me TONIGHT what was my favorite place, I would honestly not hesitate: "Hong Kong"...

And I think I'm supposed to interject something at this point to tell you that I'm thankful to be here in Japan -- but geez, don't you KNOW that? I mean, do you really need me to spell every thing out? I love being here in Japan, and I am SO much happier with my WORK here -- I feel like I'm really in a position to CONTRIBUTE something -- maybe not "so far", but at least "eventually" -- so don't worry, for what ever reason Japan is the right place for me just now.  

But I miss HK. Sometimes it hurts my stomach, I miss it so much...

JULY brings a few HK memories that weigh heavy on my heart -- probably always will. Last Sunday a week ago, the 10th, marked TWO YEARS since my friend Erica was killed in a tragic bus crash on her way to school. It was the worst traffic accident in the history of HK -- but never mind the statistics -- the fact is, I will NEVER forget that morning. It still haunts me like few things I've experienced, and the time still hasn't come for me to give the story to you straight -- there are still things I've got hidden here in my gut, and maybe someday I'll be able to tell you all about it, but until then all I can do is just remind you that I will never forget. 

And then today marks ONE YEAR since my friend Mal died unexpectedly. Mal and his wife, Janene, meant a lot to me, and his loss was such a shock -- I almost feel I didn't know how to handle it. Janene was left with their son, Max, as well as Kit, a boy from HK that they had adopted just a few months before. I swear, I've thought of those guys a THOUSAND TIMES in the last year.

Well. Whatever. This sounds like a bummer post -- sorry. That's not my point, at all. 

Just that sometimes I get terribly afraid that people will think I forgot -- when I'm telling you, I CAN'T forget... I can't... 
   

20 July 2005

I just NOW got word that Pastor Hiro Igaki's wife, Tomoko, gave birth yesterday to a new daughter!

I just had dinner with them on Monday night, at a Mexican place in Sagamihara (at Pancho Villa -- 'Merican-owned and operated, by the way), so what a surprise to hear she gave birth so soon! 

I guess those burritos did their job. 

It has been astonishing to see tiny Tomoko in these last few weeks as that baby just exploded in size. Maybe this isn't supposed to be polite conversation in Japanese culture -- sorry if that's the case -- but wow -- Tomoko is so tiny, but even so, she didn't really "show" too much until just this past month, when suddenly... well... you know... It was beautiful to see, right? But then again, maybe you guys know what I mean when I say it kind of made me cringe when I saw her, because, I mean, you see a tiny girl like that who is SO pregnant, and it just makes you think, "DANG -- that must be KILLIN' her!"... you know? 

Anyway, the baby's name is Yuuka, which means something like "gentle breeze" -- very beautiful. 

They already have two wild and crazy kids, who I love to death -- their son Daichi (8), and their daughter Yuki (6). For what it's worth, Yuki has the strongest lungs, in terms of pure screaming-out-loud power, of any child in the northern hemisphere -- let's hope Yuuka catches some of big sister's spirit!!

I am just now heading out the door to Hiro's church (Denen CP Church), since Wednesday is when I have my lessons there -- hopefully I'll be able to get a photo for you...
   

22 July 2005

I want this:

http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/

(It's a keyboard where EVERY KEY is a fully-customizable individual display -- capable of animations -- in case you didn't know)... 

As their website says, "Every key of the Optimus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling at this very moment."

Dude -- THAT is cool.  

This thing would ROCK with templates for my music software... and/or Photoshop... 

Or GAMES, duh...

. . .

I also saw this editorial cartoon about China's space "exploits":

23 July 2005

Just a quick update to let you know, the big quake today did NOT affect me (or anyone that I know), at least as far as I know -- well, except for making it difficult to get home this afternoon since the train crossings all jammed with the gates down and cars couldn't get through. 

But since we were in a moving car, we didn't even feel it. 

So now you know. 

25 July 2005

I did get to hear stories from a few more people about their Saturday earthquake experiences. Remember, Tokyo is a city that seems to get at least one "you can feel it" quake per month -- they are veterans at this, right? -- so I always feel like when a person HERE talks about being scared by a quake, it must MEAN somethin'... dig? 

Anyway, I guess the quake hit about 4:30pm, and Cana said she had been sleeping -- the first sensation she remembered was being LIFTED OFF THE BED several inches, and then the usual SIDEWAYS slipping and sliding hit her. I tend to think she didn't get back to her nap, ha ha... 

Then Michiko said she was in Tsutaya (sort of the Japanese version of "Blockbuster" -- except, uh, I think there actually ARE Blockbusters here, for one thing; and for another thing, Tsutaya also sells and rents a LOT of music CD's, as well as videos). Okay, but anyway, she said she was in Tsutaya when things started rockin' back and forth, and I guess all the CD's and DVD's started tumbling off the racks and freaked everybody out. Glad I missed that one. 

Well, but like I said before, I was in a car at the time and so we didn't feel anything at all. I think probably the two biggest quakes to hit Tokyo in the last 10 months I've been in cars and had no idea... 

Which, missing the big one is fine by me...

. . .

Okay, well, I hate to remind you, but I am sort of a missionary -- I mean, got the whole "missionary" thing goin' on and all... So, at the risk of fulfilling my job description, I would really like to lay some prayer stuff on you. If you are a Jesus-type person, it would be great if you add these items to your "think about it" list... (You DO have lists, right?)...

These are listed in no particular order -- really: 

1) Korea trip
You may know that we have a CP church in Korea -- Ernest and Michelle Gillis planted the church and have seen it explode in attendance over the last few years. Well, a nice little crowd of us from Sagamino CP Church here in Japan will be heading to Korea over these next two weeks to visit. First, Pastor Satoh's wife Tsuruko will be leaving tomorrow with Toi-san and our students -- Tabito, Fumika, Yuki, and Kooki. Then Satoh and I will follow them NEXT Monday (the 1st). We are all going so we can participate in the Korean Church's "Summer English Camp" -- I expect that I will be teaching a ladies' class, while the kids will be students in the camp. Please pray that we'd all be safe and healthy, and that our time hanging with our brothers and sisters in Korea will be productive. We really have a vision for our churches in Asia to build stronger and better bridges as this century gets under way, and these "exchanges" are vital. I'm not sure what to expect in terms of what kind of teaching they want me to do, but you might sneak in a little prayer for that, too -- that I'd be able to help. 

2) Sermons on August 7th
Yeah, time for me to get my preachin' on again. As soon as we return to Japan from Korea, I will be yappin' ALL DAY at Sagamino Church -- first in the morning service, and then again in our afternoon "International Fellowship"... These are two TOTALLY different "crowds" so I expect I'll need to do two lessons (and not just the same one twice). Dude, I totally need you to pray about that. Like, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and pray right now, if you don't mind. 

3) Special summer classes
I also have some special classes for our English students coming up in August -- as of this moment, I honestly only have about 10% of these classes planned. I am just HORRIBLE at this stuff -- meaning the "thinking up cool lessons for kids" stuff. I am horrible at it, and therefore I don't honestly like it. Sorry, it's true. Anyway, I need some inspiration -- quick. Pray for that, tambien, por favor. 

4) Bible classes
We will begin adding some short Bible lessons in all our adult English classes starting in September. I'm really anxious to get started on that, it should be so much fun. I feel like I've spent almost a year getting to know these ladies (most of them ARE ladies, by the way)... but by now I feel I've built a HUGE amount of trust with most of them, thanks to God, and in fact several of the non-church ladies have actually mentioned they are very interested to know more about the Bible and Jesus. So don't just sit there, doggone it -- pray about those Bible lessons, that they will be simple and clear, and that God will use them as one more step towards Life for these women. I said LIFE, dig? 

5) Japanese group to HK
A small group of our church people from Japan will be heading to Hong Kong and China at the end of August -- I'll be praying for their safety and health. I'll ALSO be praying they will call me and say, "Oh, Glenn, we forgot to tell you we need YOU to go with us!" -- but that is one of my prayers I don't honestly expect the answer to be "yes"... ha ha...  

6) Yuuka Igaki is BORN!!
Pastor Hiro Igaki and his wife Tomoko have a new daughter, as I've reported before -- she was born last Wednesday. I've really been praying for them as a family, as this makes 3 kids. Three. That's quite a clan. Tomoko will be in the hospital this whole week (Japanese mothers always stay in the hospital for a week, it's their normal routine here), but anyway, that means "dad" has about 1 billion things to take care of this week. So I'll be praying for tiny Yuuka, and for mother Tomoko -- but maybe I'll send up a special one for Hiro, ha ha... 

7) Manuel in Meckeeskoh
My friend Manuel has been in Mexico for a few weeks on vacation -- I've really been praying they will be safe and healthy. His mother is Mexican, so it's not like he's a "tourist" or anything -- but still, traveling is never easy, is it? I miss Manuel so much! We are still working on a CD of worship songs in Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and English -- seriously -- as soon as he gets back to Switzerland he should be e-mailing me his comments on the latest mixes and we'll continue working on this end... (By the way, it seems in Japanese "Mexico" is pronounced like /MEH-kees-koh/... and "Mexican" is said as /MEH-kee-scan/... so for fun, you can re-read this prayer request with the Japanese pronunciation).

8) Ken in HK has been sick
I got word that my young friend Ken in HK has been really sick recently -- spent something like FOUR DAYS in the hospital. He says he's okay now, but still that really upsets me -- he has so many health problems, with his stomach, etc. Please join me in prayin' for that guy. He just finished his first year at the HK Academy for the Performing Arts -- one year to go, and then he'll really be off into the big ole world of work. I have such faith in Ken and his younger sister Miu -- really. Love... them... to... DEATH... 

9) Gigi has emergency appendectomy!
I literally JUST found out that my friend Gigi, with whom I used to work before I moved to HK, had an emergency appendectomy last week. Ouch. (By the way, do you get to eat ice cream with that? Or wait, that's a tonsillectomy, right?!? DANG, I get those all confused). Anyway, in the meantime, I will SURELY be praying for Gigi.   

10) Satomi also sick (and tired)
Also, my friend Satomi, who weekly helps turn the "blah blah blah" of Japanese sermons into actual coherent English by translating for me on Sunday mornings, was sick yesterday. She said she wasn't feeling too well, and someone also mentioned the word "tired" in there. I hope she's feeling better soon. 

11) Fernando-san and Venucia
First, I honestly don't know the correct way to spell Venucia's name, so I apologize for that if I've got that wrong. But anyway, they are a couple from Sri Lanka who have been a part of our International Fellowship for several months now, and Fernando-san was baptized this past Easter (Venucia was already a believer for quite some time). We are so happy to know them! But Fernando-san has had a rough time this past week -- please pray for him.  

12) Finally, this one's about "LUV"
I saved this one for last, because it may come off as being a bit cheesy. But I'm gonna tell you the straight truth, I've got some friends who are really going through the "Roller-Coaster of Love" right now... 

Some of them have hit the valley -- the low spot -- and they are feeling very, very down... and tired... and maybe they feel like their hearts have been beat up a bit. Maybe they aren't even sure what happened, or how, or why -- I don't know -- but the point is, things went wrong and now weeks later there are still tears and questions and maybe even a tiny bit of anger they can't let go of yet. They haven't SAID that, but I just FEEL it, dig? And the hurt over "love lost" and "plans gone wrong" stings so badly, sometimes, WHATEVER side of the relationship you're on.  

Okay -- and then, I've got these OTHER friends who are, like, flying on cloud 9, you know? I mean, they are just falling straight "head over heels"-style into this new person they've found, and everything is rock-n-roll and fists in the air and thinking about "how can I kiss her again"... I've been there -- oh, yeah, it's been a LONG time, dude, but I ain't DEAD, geez... I can still remember it, yo... I still know what that feels like. 

Anyway, it's made me full of prayin' words these last few weeks, seeing all these friends of mine -- a BUNCH of people -- on that roller-coaster. 

Wherever you are on the ride -- UP or DOWN -- I'm praying for you... 

(You know who you are)...  
  

28 July 2005

Some of you know about my friends Chris and Michelle Hayes -- their son Peter is my godson. Their other son, Benjamin, was born prematurely but fought a good fight before finally leaving us in April of 2003, just 16 months old. 

Benjamin Carl Hayes Dec. 28, '01 -- April 30, '03

Some of you know that they formed "Ben's Team" to help raise money for the March Of Dimes. The first year, 2003, I think they raised something like $4000. The next year, it was something like $18,000. And THIS year, they raised over $20,000 for the March of Dimes. 

Incredible... 
  

The plaque and tree  planted in Ben's honor
Ben's Team 2005

Well, you may know all that already. 

What I'm sure you do NOT know is that they have just been named in the Top 5 of March of Dimes' "Family Teams" in the nation! The TOP FIVE!!

Maybe I got overly-excited at hearing that -- it's not like it's earth-shattering news, I guess. Not like winning the lottery or a beauty contest. Or finding a million dollars on the sidewalk. But still, it's pretty darn cool. I kept telling Chris maybe he'd get to meet George Bush or ride in an F-18 or something -- but he didn't think so... 

I guess the March of Dimes doesn't have as much "pull" as I thought... 

. . .

More Prayin' Stuff:
I got a few more "updates" from people that I want to pass on -- it's the good, the bad,... well, and I'm "the ugly" I guess...

1) Jim Butler is my pastor from back home -- his wife Patricia is such a dear to always e-mail me and keep me up-to-date on what's going on with everything and everyone. Many of you know that Patricia's sister Elaine has been fighting cancer for a LONG time -- seems like it's been up and down for months now, just living from test-result to test-result -- some of you know how that is. Well, the latest tests show growth in some areas, and everyone is very concerned. Please pray for Elaine and the whole family as they keep trying to stay positive and in fightin' mode. 

2) My friend Manuel has returned from his trip to Mexico, and shares the news that he is now officially ENGAGED to his girlfriend, Annina! I won't tell you the story of how he proposed, for fear of causing most of the women who read this to faint from "genuinely romantic story overload"... Suffice to say that Manuel knows what he's doing. He did it right, dawg. Congratulations!

3) My friend Betty in HK says she has found a new job at a nice Christian school. She didn't say specifically what the job is, but I assume it's got something to do with the kids and the teaching and the knowledge thing.
  

30 July 2005

I talked to my friend Chris Hayes again today about their being in the March of Dimes "Top 5" (see post above). He said they got a call telling them they will be flown out to San Diego for some kind of crazy banquet or something. 

MAN, that's so great! 

I told him maybe THIS was where they'd let him fly an F-18 for getting into the Top 5, but I don't think he was nearly as optimistic about getting that kind of "perk" as I was... 

But I mean, geez, the TOP 5!! A kid sells $100 worth of cheese and sausage for their marching band and they get a free pizza party, you know? So surely the March of Dimes could arrange for them to meet Schwarzenegger or something... or Chuck Norris -- right?!? Or Stallone...?!? SOMEBODY!!! 

. . .

On a much more serious note, I read today a bit of slightly unsettling news from HK. 

I have written (and talked) much over the last two years about my friend Erica's death in a bus crash on July 10th, 2003. It was a memorable event in HK, the worst traffic accident EVER in that city. Erica was a dearly-loved teacher at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Yao Dao Primary School where I taught, and many of us were devastated by her unexpected and violent death.  

Well, today the truck driver -- the guy whose truck forced Erica's bus off the elevated highway -- was jailed for 18 months. 

The judge said that Li Chau-Wing, 55, had "panicked and behaved like a "rank amateur" in the moments before his truck hit the bus and sent it plunging 30 meters" from the elevated section of highway.

Now, I want to be careful about this, because so many people lost loved ones -- it was a horrible tragedy. But I have to admit, I feel a little uneasy about them sending this guy to JAIL over it.

The story all along has been that two vans collided in FRONT of his truck, and supposedly THAT is what caused him to slam on the brakes, resulting in his truck sliding into the outer lane where it subsequently forced the bus thru the railing and into the valley below. 

It sounds like an accident to me -- a HORRIBLE, tragic, gut-wrenching accident, yes -- an accident that leaves everyone with a hole in their gut, shaking their fists at Heaven, asking "why?!?" and "how?!?" -- but an ACCIDENT nonetheless. 

I mean, the guy is driving along at 6:30am on the highway, sees a collision of some sort up ahead, slams on the brakes (probably locked them?), and loses control of his truck, which slides into the next lane. In the next MOMENT, a double-decker bus -- ERICA's BUS -- hits his trailer from behind and is forced left where, traveling at highway speed, it crashes through the railing. It hangs teetering over the edge of the highway for a few seconds before it finally tips and plunges onto the rocks below, killing half of the 40 people on board. 

It's HORRIBLE -- but I don't know, it just seems like an accident to me. 

Do you see my meaning? Is there anyone reading this who has been in an accident on the interstate? Ever seen something alarming happen up ahead when you were traveling at 50 or 60mph?!? Ever been caught "daydreaming" when you suddenly realize the car in front of you has stopped? It will scare the noodles out of you, I assure you. 

And I think -- I say I THINK -- it will keep you from condemning that truck driver too quickly. 

HOWEVER, I need to state that maybe there's something to all this that I haven't heard -- maybe there's more to the story than I know. Here's a quote from the South China Morning Post article:

I hope that's true, in a sense -- I mean, I hope he was grossly negligent in a way that "deserves" for him to not only live for the rest of his life with the guilt of having caused the deaths of 20 people, but to also spend 18 months in prison. 

But if this was just a terrible accident, and the judge was being tough because so many still-grieving family members were in that courtroom, then I feel very uncomfortable. 

Anyway -- EITHER way -- after I pray for Erica's family tonight, I'm praying for Li Chau-Wing and HIS family, too...