Another week passed without anything is writing here. I have become such a slacker. An evening can easily slips through my fingers when I surf the Web or doing something nothing, if not going to movies. But, I think it is okay.
Due to my problem with Firefox 3.0, I upgraded to Firefox 3.5. However, that breaks my Sage-too add-on for reading my RSS feed. Without reading my daily feed, I should have more time at hand, right? Nope. I don't understand why my time simply disappears without checking with me first.
On 4th of July, Sean and Alex took me shopping, mostly groceries in East Bay. When I saw uni in the Korean grocery story, I grabbed a box right the way—it should not be skipped. I made uni sushi after I came home.
After dinner, I didn't go to the beach to watch the fireworks, because I saw some low fog in the sky. I was afraid that I would not be able to see even I joined the crowd at the water. It was also an excuse not to walk after dinner for the 15-minute-long fireworks.
Instead, I watched the fireworks from my apartment window. It was perfect! I didn't even have to put on a jacket.
In the end, I shot a video that captures a few pretty good explosions.
Last Sunday was a museum day for me, instead of a hiking day in Marin Headlands. The original plan was to go to museums first and then to the San Francisco Symphony's performance at Stern Grove Festival. Of course, things won't go according to plans. Tan and Jay were late, and they didn't feel like going to the concert. So, just the museums.
Then I headed to Sean and Alex's house for dinner. That's when the "fun" began.
We were drinking Er Guo Tou(二锅头)—a strong Chinese liquor made from sorghum. I didn't feel much when I was taking shots with Ryan and Alex, but it hit me later even before I knew it.
At one point, something made me laugh. So I laughed, but then I couldn't stop. I laughed so hard that I couldn't even breath, and my stomach muscles hurt much more than working out in the gym. I laughed myself literally onto the floor. Sean captured all of my laughter on his camera, because he thinks I was drunk and wants to document it.
On Monday morning, when I woke up, I realized that I had a little too much fun on Sunday night, I didn't even remember what happened after I got home, and how I emailed, made phone calls etc.
Well, at least I laughed, as shown in the video. Every time I watched that video, it makes laugh again, but I still cannot recall what makes me laugh so hard. No, I wasn't stoned.
Thanks Sean. I think that video is the only thing I want to play at my funeral after I die.
I am extremely saddened and devastated by the violenc in Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐), China. My heart goes to victims and their families.
When can we live in peace without hatred? Sitting there, all I can hear in my mind is John Lennon's "Imagine":
... Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one ...
Despite the troubling world, I still manage to find peace in my kitchen. I cooked a dinner, even just by myself tonight, including eggplant with carrot, bitter melon, and fish belly. Not only the food, but the process makes me happy.
Last time when I was buying fish, the gentleman behind the counter gave me a piece of fish belly to try out, telling me that it's loaded with fish oil. I sliced them and pan fried tonight. Delicious, although I don't even remember what fish it is.
Life is precious, enjoy it and live full of it when I can.
Another Pride, another Frameline, and another birthday came and went, all during last week. I had a blast.
Qiqi's visit makes all the celebrations more hectic, but more fun as well. Now I can sleep in for a few days, because it's a long weekend for the 4th of July.
On my birthday last Friday, I decided not to eat out at a restaurant, but to cook at home myself. I took the day off from work and got up late. After a workout at a workout at the gym and grocery shopping, I cooked dinner. I wish I had a bigger place so I can have more people over.
I really don't want to celebrate birthdays. They remind me that I am just another year older, without being wiser. I wish I could stay young forever. Well, who doesn't? But I do enjoy having friends over and have a long dinner sitting around the table with food and drinks, and of course, laughter.
The pride celebration is fun as always. This year the crowd seem much timid, I am not sure why. I see less extravagant and flamboyant this year at the Civic Center, and much fewer naked people. Not that I want to see those who are normally naked at these events, probably not. But they do serve as an indicator to be free and wild spirit. Even the parade has fewer floats; and no gift bags at the VIP party at the City Hall after the parade.
But, that's okay. The pride spirit at this recession time is still up high and I had a lot fun nevertheless. Since this year Tida Aida doesn't have a float, I joined the Mystermayor's contingent in the parade on Sunday.
The route is much quieter and calmer compared to shaking on a float with blasting music, but it was fun and enjoyable to celebrate proudly.
However, I was really annoyed by some protesters at the beginning of the parade. They calling the mayor names and scaring the children in the parade by screaming and yelling. The reason? They think the mayor is responsible for the recent budget cuts on health services in the city.
I know it's a tough time and everybody is affected. But they treating Newsom as if he is Regan is no way to gain any support or sympathy from anyone, including me. They choose the wrong time and wrong place and use the wrong words when they try to spoil the community spirit at the pride parade. Dumb asses!
I am already looking forward to next year's pride.
Couple days ago, when I was trying to upload the pictures from pride, I couldn't find my camera! I panicked. I thought I lost all the pictures. It turns out that it dropped off my bag at Sean's place. After I retrieved my camera, I put stickers all over my camera case with my phone number and email. I hope I will never lose it. If I do, I hope my contact info will bring it back to me next time.
On the last night before Qiqi's departure, he took me to Nara Sushi for a midnight eating out, because for almost a week, we never ate dinner by ourselves. It was really late and many items ran out already, but I enjoy couple drinks with him and a little sushi to go with the conversation. I really enjoy his visit and his company. Come back soon, Qiqi!
Finally, I have to express my disgust toward the media coverage following Michael Jackson's death. By no means that I am a big fan of this troubled individual, but can the media just give him a break upon his death? Show some decency and respect to the deceased. Perhaps these so called reporters just don't have any.
I think the media are public enemies, not the John Gillinger this new film:
During the current deep recession, we all already know (or lost track of) how much tax payers' money have been poured into major banks. Those bank CEOs become shameful figures in public eyes. That makes robbing a bank almost a heroic act, hardly criminal. After all, the bankers have been doing that, just without a gun. Intended or not, that's precisely the tone of director Michael Mann's action thriller "Public Enemies" (USA 2009 | 140 min.), about a bank robber's surreal tales during the Great Depression.
John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) is a legendary bank robber during the Great Depression in Midwest. FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is hand-picked by Edgar Hoover to capture John Dillinger. However, John Dillinger seems able to elude FBI's hunt miraculously and carries on a romantic relationship with Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) in and out expensive restaurants, when he is not robbing another bank. John Dillinger is named the Public Enemy Number One, but the "public" really just means the FBI that Hoover is trying to advance.
Johnny Depp brilliantly portraits John Dillinger as a handsome, charming, intelligent, loyal, determined, and brave young man. He appears more as an action hero figure, who will do everything for his love, than as an outlawed conman. No wonder Billie falls in love with him despite his high profile as a most wanted criminal.
On the contrary, Christian Bale plays Melvin Purvis as a dull, arrogant, cold agent who further direct public's sympathy to John Dillinger. Luckily, the Texas Ranger character Charles Winstead (Stephen Lang) adds much needed intelligence to the law enforcement.
The film is entertaining and captivating for the most part, even with its formulaic story development. It brings John Dillinger's story back to life when the American sinks into another deep recession.
However, just don't try to mimic what John Dillinger did, even we all know who are the true public enemies.
Western Media: Shut Up and Stay Out of Iranian Election
The year was 2004. The location was in the United States. The event was the presidential election.
While Gore and Bush headed to the court to dispute the election results, millions of Gore supporters were furious and devastated by Bush's claim of victory.
Angry Americans went on streets across the nation to protest Bush's victory. The protests began to spread all over America and turned violent. Chinese and many other foreign news media flooded their TV stations and newspapers with coverage of the protest in the US. Repeatedly, the images of protesters holding signs in Chinese appear on TV and online. Gore supporters' signs are written as:
"我投的票哪去了?"
The Chinese government urged the Bush administration to go easy on the protesters and not to shut Gore supporters up, even the situation might get out of hand.
Does that sound absurd?
Well, what about if we replace the US with Iran, and replace China with the US, and fast forward from 2004 to the present day.
Will that make the situation less absurd?
I don't understand why Western media are so worked up with Iran's election, which is a democratic one, mind you.
And, why in the world I see on TV all the time that protesters holding a sign in English saying "Where is my vote?"
The last time I checked, Iranian speaks Farsi. Isn't it obvious just to whom those Iranian protesters are displaying their messages?
Western media, especially that notorious CNN, need to stop fueling the Iranian protesters and stay out of it! You are not doing anybody a favor, but you are only encouraging and provoking conflicts.
Enough of politics and world affairs. Back to something pleasant.
It's pretty tough hike, because on the way over there is downhill all the way on a steep trail. That means on the way back, I was working on muscles on my butt all the way because it's constantly up a steep hill. It was about 8 to 9 miles hike, on a beautiful day.
The Tennessee Beach is really pretty. For some reason, the water seems greener or bluer, whatever the color is. The beach makes the hike worth every step.
I sat on the beach and finished a sudoku, then came home and cooked myself a nice dinner.
I was sore all over the next day. It's good pain though.
I take Friday off to celebrate my birthday. Then on Saturday, well, I am sure some party is going on before the parade on Sunday. This year, I will march with Mayor's contingent.
Although Friday is my birthday, I am positive that I am not any monk's reincarnation. However, some other kid is claimed to be one:
No matter if you believe Buddhist's reincarnation or not, Israel filmmaker Nati Baratz's documentary "Unmistaken Child" (Israel 2008 | in Tibetan/Nepali | 102 min.) will take you to an extraordinary journey that is hard to forget. The "unmistaken" child's curious eyes will not leave you alone—either joyfully worshipping the little boy, or wondering what has been done to the child and his family in the name of reincarnation.
A Tibetan Lama passed away at the age of 84 in 2001. His disciple Tenzin Zopa goes on a quest that lasts over four years to search for the "unmistaken" child to be his master's reincarnation. The film documents the search process and reveals the human aspects behind the religion believes and faith. It allows the audience to come to their own conclusions if the little boy is indeed the unmistaken reborn of the deceased monk.
There is no doubt shown by the film that Tenzin Zopa is a devoted monk. He has been at his master's service since the age of seven. For over 20 years, he doesn't think but simply always follows his master—he told us in very good English, wearing a Northface jacket. After his master's death, he needs to fill the void by completing his reincarnation. Based on the Tibetan tradition, the master's reincarnation should be a new born between the age of one to two. Would you want to be chosen as the unmistaken child?
Whether the child is the unmistaken child depends on who you ask. To non-believers of reincarnation, it's an incredible sad to witness that a child is lured away by toys and balloons from his parents. To believers of reincarnation, it's a delightful celebration of the reborn of their master and a remarkable achievement of finding the boy.
However, one thing is surely unmistaken is that the boy's fate is sealed and his life is forever changed, and he doesn't even know yet. He is no longer living in poverty condition and he drinks American brand orange juice even in a remote mountain area. He wears clean clothes, although not a Northface jacket, yet. He is preoccupied by many toys that he has never seen before and sleeps soundly in a sea of teddy bears.
I hope he will feel a little comfort in the future when he sees his parents speaking to the camera in this film, with profound sadness in their eyes: "If it's not for this (reincarnation), who is going to give up his child?"
The rainbow flags and posters are everywhere in the city, even on buses. Couple weeks ago, I was taking the bus to Marin Headlands, a group of elderly Russian tourists were on the same bus. One of the local Russian explains to the rest what the Pride poster on the bus is about, in Russian. I thought that was intriguing.
I got an email at work warning us not to be alarmed if we would see a huge crowd on the street on Tuesday morning. That would be a rehearsal of an emergency evacuation from the McKesson building next door. I got all excited and ready to see something unusual on the street. I know, I am that easily amused.
But to my deepest disappointment, nothing happened. No crowd. I think most of the people don't bother and don't care. I took a picture of the street anyway from my office window anyway, even nothing is unusual on the street. But, I do notice the rainbow flag on Market Street, which is tiny in the picture.
I don't think that shows the pride spirit. So I wend down to the street and took a close-up picture of the waving rainbow flag.
Although much progress has been made since Stonewall Riots forty years ago, the struggle for equality in the LGBT community continues, and still there is a long way to go. While many states have legalized gay marriage, the notorious Proposition 8 took away the right to marry for same-sex couples in California. The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival—Frameline has been part of the LGBT history to reflect and document the struggle, the progress, as well as setbacks. It continues to tell the LGBT stories via cinema.
Despite the fact that we are still in recession and most film festivals increase the admission fees, Frameline 33's ticket prices remain unchanged. However, the number of screenings seems reduced, and many films are only get to shown once at a venue other than Castro Theater which has the more seats. How does this matter? Well, that means if one waits till the last minute, the tickets might be all gone for that movie, leaving only one option—standing in a rush line to score a ticket.
Besides the always entertaining "Fun in Boys' Shorts" and "Fun In Girls' Shorts" (no pun intended), this year's festival provides a wide range of films that will make us laugh, make us cry, make us think, make us angry, and make us feel to be part of the community and the history.
However, I have to say that I am a little disappointed by weak presence of Asian films at this year's festival. I have heard a lot about "Permanent Residence" (永久居留 | Hong Kong 2009) and I bet all my money that this film would be included in this year's festival. I lost. Let's hope next year's festival will be different and have more Asian films or films about queer Asian.
Here are a few feature films that are worth seeing.
Born in '68 (Nés en 68 | France 2008 | in French | 173 min.)
Spanning over almost four decades, Born in '68 (Nés en 68 | France 2008 | in French | 173 min.) is a beautiful epic film that tells a story about idealism, passion, politics, and love. Although it's a quite a long film, the audience won't look at their watches because the story is captivating and the characters are fascinating. The film starts with the student riots of 1968 in France during the hippie era, and the film chronicles all the way to the current struggle with the AIDS epidemic, and the issues the world is facing in a time of post 9/11.
This film is particularly fitting to be screened in San Francisco, because the city has the culture, history, and spirit that remarkably resemble the story lines in this film.
This is by far the best film I have seen at this year's Frameline, and it just might be your best three hours at the festival.
One of the few Asian films at this year's festival is Hong Kong director Kit Hung's (洪榮傑) "Soundless Wind Chime" (无声风铃 | Hong Kong/Switzerland 2009 | 110 min.). Loosely based on his real life experience, Hung stylishly tells a personal story about love between two lonely souls coming from foreign lands and struggling to survive in Hong Kong.
Despite the weak story and unlikable characters, the exquisite cinematography and touching music scores are unforgettable and will stick with you long after the film.
Gorgeous Lu Yulai (吕玉来) ("Peacock (孔雀)") gives a terrific performance as the immigrant young man from Beijing who falls in love with a street bum from Switzerland (why?). If the Swiss guy were a local Hong Kong boy, the story would have been more interesting. But, that would be a different movie as well.
Auraeus Solito, the director of charming "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros" and the delightful "Tuli," brings to the festival his new film "Boy" (Philippines 2009 | in Tagalog | 80 min.). It tells a story about a teenager poet who falls in love with a macho dancer, tenderly, when he is not obsessing with his fish tanks.
This film continues the tradition in Solito's films that a young boy occupies the center stage as the protagonist who pursues his love innocently, or the lack of it in this film by buying the other one.
I wish the casting of the film would have been different to make the characters more convincing and to act better.
If you think your life is tough and full of drama, wait until you see Kimberly Reed 's feature debut documentary "Prodigal Sons" (USA 2008 | 86 min.). It tells director's personal mind-boggling story about the relationship among her family members including her adopted first brother Marc who becomes mentally ill after traumatic brain injury, her gay brother, and her supportive loving mother; and of course, about their reactions on her transition from a star quarterback in high school into a woman.
It's courageous for the director to tell this incredible story to the world. It's a remarkable process to make peace and reconcile with her family members, and mostly importantly, a second coming out process to herself.
The Country Teacher (Venkovský ucitel | Czech Republic 2008 | in Czech | 113 min.)
One sure thing about Czech drama "The Country Teachers" (Venkovský ucitel | Czech Republic 2008 | in Czech | 113 min.) is that it's not a happy film to watch because almost all of their characters are coping with unrequited love. I am sure many people can identify with these characters, because we might all have similar experiences at some points in our lives. And, those experiences are pure torture.
Pavel Liska brilliantly portraits a country teacher who leaves his boyfriend and escapes to a village. He stays at a ranch to tutor a teenager boy. While he cannot return the attention from the boy's mom, he also cannot suppress the urge toward the boy.
The emotional struggle among these characters is absolutely unforgettable.
Two punks teased a tiger and got both the tiger and their friend killed. Now they get to live and collect $900,000 settlement from the San Francisco Zoo.
Recently, I am disgusted by these so-called justices. I don't know what laws made all these happening. But I do smell these laws stink. Perhaps because I am not a lawyer, so I cannot make sense in any of these cases.
On the other hand, I am glad that San Francisco now has the toughest regulation in the nation about recycling, although I think it's not tough enough. People should not have to be pushed by law to be environmental conscious. Everybody can do it. If in a month, I can generate less than 1 pound of trash that goes to the landfill (the rest goes to recycle bin or compost bin), so can everybody else, if they give it a try.
I hope we can continue to enjoy the beauty of this great city and some part of this planet many years to come, only if we can control the wackos and the environment.
I hope the sunset is always as pretty as tonight.
After five years, my old rice cooker shows its fatigue. I am sad to say goodbye to it, because Eric bought it for me. There are many fond memories and plenty rice associated with this rice cooker.
After some search, I bought a new one—Sanyo ECJ-F50S. So far, I love it! It cooks much better rice than the old one, especially when I mix the brown rice and black rice.
The new rice cooker gives me even more motivation to cook a meal tonight. After swimming, I went to a fish shop on Mission and 24th Street. I bought some salmon bellies which are loaded with fatty fish oil. With just a little bit oil in the pan, topped with a few pine nuts, those fish bellies turned golden and they are delicious.
I also bought a giant fish head and added some tofu and hairy cucumber (毛瓜). They turned into a big pot of soup. The texture of the fish head reminds me of turtle soup.
I totally failed on making some sheet jelly (粉皮), because I made the starch mix too thin. So the salad didn't have sheet jelly as I originally planned. It was still very good with cucumber, red chili peppers, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and woodear.
Oh, of course, I also cooked the fluffy mixed rice using my new rice cooker.
I am proud that tonight's dinner contains few issues raised by a documentary called "Food, Inc." that opens this weekend.
If indeed "you are what you eat," American people are in deep trouble.
Based on Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation", director Robert Kenner's new documentary "Food, Inc." (USA 2008 | 94 min.) paints a grim picture about what Americans are putting in their mouths. It reveals lots information that food industry definitely does not want consumers to know. In fact, many people probably prefer not to know, because they might go to bed hungry after watching this film.
The film peels away the layers of packaging wrapped around the foods we put on the table. It traces back to the root where the foods are coming from. It illustrates how the foods reach the shelves in grocery stores. It criticizes how the food industry puts profit ahead of public health, environmental impact, and workers' wellbeing. It shows how vulnerable our food resources have become. It predicts disastrous health consequences in the generations to come.
Apparently, the fast moving life style in our modern society has transformed how we eat and what we eat. Not only animals grow faster, consumers also spend less time on preparing food, if they cook at all. When most Americans are not eating at fast food joints, they are probably eating processed food controlled by very few giant multi-national corporations.
If you are familiar with the information presented in this documentary, the film makes you more disturbed and terrified.
If you have not given much thought about what are in the food you put into your mouth everyday, this film is an entertaining and informative eye opener.
If you are on the other side of the fence rooting with the food industry, it is unlikely this film makes you change your mind.
It's pretty clear that the film tells one-sided story, because the filmmakers simply cannot get any interview from major food industry players.
However, even the film is not as balanced as it wants to be, it tells a story that needs to be known by the American public.
We need to buy local and buy organic. We need to eat less meat and more food in their original forms versus processed versions.
We simply need to cook more—food not only will taste better, but also might save our lives instead of killing us.
Special Appearance:Eric Schlosser, co-producer of the film and the author of "Fast Food Nation" will be in person on Saturday, June 13 at 4:50 & 7:30pm screenings.
