Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Victor
Anyone going to be at Ben Folds this Sat? Lemme know if you are cause I am.
¶ 7:51 PM 0 comments 
beef is a killer
I suppose even the most docile creature can be dangerous sometimes.
¶ 3:56 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 21, 2005
More Blasts in London
It seems that another series of blasts have ripped through the city of london. Although this time it did not cause the devestation of the blasts two weeks ago the effect on public confidence is where the real damage is. The fact that these bombs, three on the subway and one on a bus, similarities parallel those from before really leave those who had put their trust in the government in countering terrorism with a big question mark. It seems almost unfair that acts of usurption is so easy while keeping of the peace seems always on the defensive. A act, such as this, taken hold by the media can really destroy public morale. So this leaves us with two options. We either look after our own well being and let the terrorist dictate what we should and should not do or we keep with out regular routine and hope that we manage to avoid these acts of terrorism. Is there a third option? Perhaps, yet nothing that we as individuals can immediately do. I am sure all of you have been quite concious of what has happened and I think a dialogue would be good for everyone.
¶ 11:56 AM 0 comments
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
China in the Red
I have viewed several Frontline articles lately and have come across several interesting stories. One about the private sector in Iraq was particularily fascinating, another about mogadishu was a clear reminder of some issues i have always had strong feelings about, but it was this one about the development of China that I am choosing to write about. Its not particularly my Chinese roots that sparked my interest although it would be a lie to say it didn't factor in at all, but rather the open and raw view into the lives of those on all sides of the developing giant.
The issue that stuck out most to me was the particular mentality of the people in China. There was a defeatist complacency among many of the lower class. I suppose it was due to the years of communist conditioning that taught people to accept their place in life. You know, you always hear about the differences between capitalism and communism but you dont really think that such fundamental concepts can vary so drastically from one society to another. I have always assumed that one should always strive to better oneself and that complacency is something to be frowned upon. I am getting off topic now. Of course the social divide between the rich and poor continue to escalate as China develops into a industrial and modern super power. Was this the very same thing that happened in the the west during the industrial revolution? Its almost as if China is now some sort of isolated microcosm of the near past rushing to catch up with the rest of the world.
This of course is all find and dandy but the clear difference between the century of development in the west and the current modernization of China is that China is doing it by leaps and bounds. Like a child going through a growth spurt, it is unable to control its own limbs constantly bumping and bruising itself. Those who will fall will fall hard, and those that survive this time will be floating on the lily pads brought about by the economic boom. Each generation becomes more and more disjunct with the previous because of the increasing momentum of development by the society. Western ideologies and thoughts are colliding head on with Chinese culture and traditions.
Unlike Japan who went through the same process a century ago, China is such a vast and numerous nation that the cohesive development of the nation as a whole becomes close to impossible. You have several distinct regions of the country with its own ethnic and cultural background completely seperate from the others. You have old provincial centers such as manchuria in the north and schzeuhan in the south brought together by milleniums of warfare and political feuding. Of course you have the cultural centers of the country such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou that represent China on a international scale but the majority of the population is still rural. Locale political cadres are often no more educated that a middle or high schooler in the west but they still hold enormous sway over the activities of their province.
Yet, as you saw in the show, many of the younger generation are going to the cities to search for opportunities. There, they are exposed to new ideas and information which had eluded them in the country sides. The government realizing the folly of the old Maoist system has opened its doors finally to the west and the process of modernization has begun. Yet, having the wounds of the Opium Wars fresh in their memory, they are still hesitant to invest too much in outside help prefering to have home grown talent and consultants lead the way for China's future. What does this mean though? It seems that if history does indeed repeat itself you will see the rise of a few economic super powers (ie. Vanderbuilts, Gueggenheims, and Rockefellers int he US and the Zaibastsu system in Japan - which still is going strong today) then a depression before the whole thing smoothes out. Well what do I know, I havn't taken a day of economics in my life. I hope you enjoyed the program as much as I did. ¶ 10:10 PM 0 comments
The issue that stuck out most to me was the particular mentality of the people in China. There was a defeatist complacency among many of the lower class. I suppose it was due to the years of communist conditioning that taught people to accept their place in life. You know, you always hear about the differences between capitalism and communism but you dont really think that such fundamental concepts can vary so drastically from one society to another. I have always assumed that one should always strive to better oneself and that complacency is something to be frowned upon. I am getting off topic now. Of course the social divide between the rich and poor continue to escalate as China develops into a industrial and modern super power. Was this the very same thing that happened in the the west during the industrial revolution? Its almost as if China is now some sort of isolated microcosm of the near past rushing to catch up with the rest of the world.
This of course is all find and dandy but the clear difference between the century of development in the west and the current modernization of China is that China is doing it by leaps and bounds. Like a child going through a growth spurt, it is unable to control its own limbs constantly bumping and bruising itself. Those who will fall will fall hard, and those that survive this time will be floating on the lily pads brought about by the economic boom. Each generation becomes more and more disjunct with the previous because of the increasing momentum of development by the society. Western ideologies and thoughts are colliding head on with Chinese culture and traditions.
Unlike Japan who went through the same process a century ago, China is such a vast and numerous nation that the cohesive development of the nation as a whole becomes close to impossible. You have several distinct regions of the country with its own ethnic and cultural background completely seperate from the others. You have old provincial centers such as manchuria in the north and schzeuhan in the south brought together by milleniums of warfare and political feuding. Of course you have the cultural centers of the country such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou that represent China on a international scale but the majority of the population is still rural. Locale political cadres are often no more educated that a middle or high schooler in the west but they still hold enormous sway over the activities of their province.
Yet, as you saw in the show, many of the younger generation are going to the cities to search for opportunities. There, they are exposed to new ideas and information which had eluded them in the country sides. The government realizing the folly of the old Maoist system has opened its doors finally to the west and the process of modernization has begun. Yet, having the wounds of the Opium Wars fresh in their memory, they are still hesitant to invest too much in outside help prefering to have home grown talent and consultants lead the way for China's future. What does this mean though? It seems that if history does indeed repeat itself you will see the rise of a few economic super powers (ie. Vanderbuilts, Gueggenheims, and Rockefellers int he US and the Zaibastsu system in Japan - which still is going strong today) then a depression before the whole thing smoothes out. Well what do I know, I havn't taken a day of economics in my life. I hope you enjoyed the program as much as I did. ¶ 10:10 PM 0 comments
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Frontline: A Jew Among the Germans
Ok over the next few weeks I will have alot of free time on my hands so I decided to write up some commentaries of some Frontline stories which they allow you to stream online.
Today I have chosen a file by Marian Marzynski who is reporting about the new monument by Peter Eisenman going up in Berlin near Potsdamerplatz (excuse my spelling). He interviews the project coordinators, architect, and people of Berlin about the issue of the monument and holocaust itself.
I will touch on the design by Eisenman later but first I want to comment about the mentality of the German people. Post holocaust Germany is a very unique situation. The analogy that comes to mind when people talk about post-holocaust Germany is that of a individual coming into conciousness of a horrible mistake they have made. At first they go through the initial shock of realization which is an evident step but what happens next becomes what is of interest. Do they move toward reconciliation or denile? This is where the true character of the individual comes out. A proud person will try and push the blame away, casting the blame on some external factor beyond their control. A more timid person will say silent but secretly resent the accusations. It is never a simple situation.
At the end of the first clip, Marian and a jewish artist are thrown off a site where a memorial is being put up and they talk about the frustration of German's being constantly reminded of the holocaust. Like a thorn that cant be pulled out... and goes deeper the more your pick at it. Feelings are never homogenous but the character of the people can be generalized. I suppose the fact that they have allowed such monuments and museums to go up shows that the German elite have decided to reconcile the errors of their fathers. Yet, the people themselves are torn. Unlike the Japanese, they dont deny the crimes that happened during the war but they stay silent and dont talk about it. It makes sense, afterall who would willingly publicly display their flaws? Perhaps it is too soon for the German people to come to terms with it. Afterall it is easier for those who didn't partake to set things aside... if that makes sense. They address this issue in the second clip and I think they are going about it the right way. Each generation has to approach it their own way because this is the only way that the holocaust would mean anything.
The point is, the holocaust must not be forgotten because if you forget then you are bound to repeat your mistakes. Holocaust has happened before and will most certainly happen again but for the civilized world to repeat such a... irrational and carnal action would be a tragedy and grave mistake. So what must be done? Obviously my generation of German will not, and should not have the guilt of the holocaust burdned upon them. Afterall, it wasn't their actions or decisions directly that propogated the holocaust. It reminds me of the saying: Should a son pay for a father's mistake? Afterall, a similar situation could have as easily arised in India, Argentina, Iceland, or Australia. I will not suppose why it came about because there are numerous disserations about this. What becomes important is to remember and to understand why.
This is where the memorial comes in. There is already a holocaust museum in Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind. Architecture and design is an act of representation and to a lesser degree, function. Architecture, by its very etymology, is just that, an primal dwelling. If you look at vernacular architecture around the world, they are representative of the locale and people. The buildings in the pacific are open and cool because its hot and the breeze tempers the wood so that they have to be concious of the moisture. In Sweden the same wooden homes are made of the heavy swedish timber abundant in the forest and they are heavily insulated against the bitter cold. So the approach that Eisenman used in this memorial is very pragmatic in the terms of approach. He describes the undulation of the stone slabs as reminiscent of head stones. That is what they teach you in school, to find the analogy... and symbolism behind the subject and impose your own flair to it. I suppose you can make the decision about if this is the correct approach to the new holocaust memorial. The shifting mentality of the German people are not reflected in the approach of the new memorial in my opinion. I know that social ideologies are a dynamic and shifting amorphous blob but for Eisenman to chose the past over the present was a lapse in judgement in my opinion. Is it the very nature of the memorial to be reminicsent of the past or should they become becons that help mold our future? I feel that there could have been a more eloquent expression dedicated to this event but I will hold my tounge because architecture is meant to be experianced not looked at. ¶ 12:46 PM 0 comments
Today I have chosen a file by Marian Marzynski who is reporting about the new monument by Peter Eisenman going up in Berlin near Potsdamerplatz (excuse my spelling). He interviews the project coordinators, architect, and people of Berlin about the issue of the monument and holocaust itself.
I will touch on the design by Eisenman later but first I want to comment about the mentality of the German people. Post holocaust Germany is a very unique situation. The analogy that comes to mind when people talk about post-holocaust Germany is that of a individual coming into conciousness of a horrible mistake they have made. At first they go through the initial shock of realization which is an evident step but what happens next becomes what is of interest. Do they move toward reconciliation or denile? This is where the true character of the individual comes out. A proud person will try and push the blame away, casting the blame on some external factor beyond their control. A more timid person will say silent but secretly resent the accusations. It is never a simple situation.
At the end of the first clip, Marian and a jewish artist are thrown off a site where a memorial is being put up and they talk about the frustration of German's being constantly reminded of the holocaust. Like a thorn that cant be pulled out... and goes deeper the more your pick at it. Feelings are never homogenous but the character of the people can be generalized. I suppose the fact that they have allowed such monuments and museums to go up shows that the German elite have decided to reconcile the errors of their fathers. Yet, the people themselves are torn. Unlike the Japanese, they dont deny the crimes that happened during the war but they stay silent and dont talk about it. It makes sense, afterall who would willingly publicly display their flaws? Perhaps it is too soon for the German people to come to terms with it. Afterall it is easier for those who didn't partake to set things aside... if that makes sense. They address this issue in the second clip and I think they are going about it the right way. Each generation has to approach it their own way because this is the only way that the holocaust would mean anything.
The point is, the holocaust must not be forgotten because if you forget then you are bound to repeat your mistakes. Holocaust has happened before and will most certainly happen again but for the civilized world to repeat such a... irrational and carnal action would be a tragedy and grave mistake. So what must be done? Obviously my generation of German will not, and should not have the guilt of the holocaust burdned upon them. Afterall, it wasn't their actions or decisions directly that propogated the holocaust. It reminds me of the saying: Should a son pay for a father's mistake? Afterall, a similar situation could have as easily arised in India, Argentina, Iceland, or Australia. I will not suppose why it came about because there are numerous disserations about this. What becomes important is to remember and to understand why.
This is where the memorial comes in. There is already a holocaust museum in Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind. Architecture and design is an act of representation and to a lesser degree, function. Architecture, by its very etymology, is just that, an primal dwelling. If you look at vernacular architecture around the world, they are representative of the locale and people. The buildings in the pacific are open and cool because its hot and the breeze tempers the wood so that they have to be concious of the moisture. In Sweden the same wooden homes are made of the heavy swedish timber abundant in the forest and they are heavily insulated against the bitter cold. So the approach that Eisenman used in this memorial is very pragmatic in the terms of approach. He describes the undulation of the stone slabs as reminiscent of head stones. That is what they teach you in school, to find the analogy... and symbolism behind the subject and impose your own flair to it. I suppose you can make the decision about if this is the correct approach to the new holocaust memorial. The shifting mentality of the German people are not reflected in the approach of the new memorial in my opinion. I know that social ideologies are a dynamic and shifting amorphous blob but for Eisenman to chose the past over the present was a lapse in judgement in my opinion. Is it the very nature of the memorial to be reminicsent of the past or should they become becons that help mold our future? I feel that there could have been a more eloquent expression dedicated to this event but I will hold my tounge because architecture is meant to be experianced not looked at. ¶ 12:46 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 08, 2005
Victor wanted me to post this on here, so:
I can't believe what is happening in London. There were three attacks on the Underground and one attack on a double-decker bus, killing at least 37 and wounding hundreds. I know the terrorists have struck elsewhere since New York's September 11 (i.e. Madrid train bombing in 2004), but for some reason the attack on London has hit me with more force than anything since the World Trade Center. In 2000, I was standing in Battery Park, looking across the water at the twin towers...buildings that represented united world commerce. A little over a year later, planes were flown into the towers by Islamic militants, leveling the buildings and killing thousands. The day the world changed forever. A little over two years ago, I was taking in the sights and sounds of London, riding the Underground and snapping pictures of the famous double-deckers. London is one of my favorite cities, and as I read the news article, I couldn't keep from crying. My mind jumped back to the 2 AM firedrill at Thistle Charing Cross. A local man discovered that we were all Americans, and said something to the effect of, "They say we're next, you know? Ours is coming soon." That moment is still crystal clear in my memory. I looked up into the darkness, glanced at the beautiful buildings around me, and shivered in the chilly night air. Yes, it would come to them, too...if only because of its prominence and symbolism as a European leader. I remember a sense of dread creeping over me; no one was safe. At the same time, however, a slight flicker of unity prevailed as I realized that we were all in this together.
This attack comes just as the G8 summit (eight of the world's most powerful leaders) was getting under way, and only a day after joyful London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games. Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. It's going to be a long road. ¶ 3:28 PM 1 comments
I can't believe what is happening in London. There were three attacks on the Underground and one attack on a double-decker bus, killing at least 37 and wounding hundreds. I know the terrorists have struck elsewhere since New York's September 11 (i.e. Madrid train bombing in 2004), but for some reason the attack on London has hit me with more force than anything since the World Trade Center. In 2000, I was standing in Battery Park, looking across the water at the twin towers...buildings that represented united world commerce. A little over a year later, planes were flown into the towers by Islamic militants, leveling the buildings and killing thousands. The day the world changed forever. A little over two years ago, I was taking in the sights and sounds of London, riding the Underground and snapping pictures of the famous double-deckers. London is one of my favorite cities, and as I read the news article, I couldn't keep from crying. My mind jumped back to the 2 AM firedrill at Thistle Charing Cross. A local man discovered that we were all Americans, and said something to the effect of, "They say we're next, you know? Ours is coming soon." That moment is still crystal clear in my memory. I looked up into the darkness, glanced at the beautiful buildings around me, and shivered in the chilly night air. Yes, it would come to them, too...if only because of its prominence and symbolism as a European leader. I remember a sense of dread creeping over me; no one was safe. At the same time, however, a slight flicker of unity prevailed as I realized that we were all in this together.
This attack comes just as the G8 summit (eight of the world's most powerful leaders) was getting under way, and only a day after joyful London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games. Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. It's going to be a long road. ¶ 3:28 PM 1 comments
Thursday, July 07, 2005
London Bombings
So I am sure all of you are quite aware of what has happened over there this morning. Its quite hard for me to feel the impact of such a thing. The numbers for now remain at 37 killed and over 700 injured. It does sound horrible but its a little scary how immuned we are to such things now (especially with all the bombings in the middle east, chechnya, and the indian subcontinent). I suppose since it happened in a major European metropolis and an American ally at that, we are paying more attention to it. Dont take this the wrong way, it is still quite horrid but its sad the impact is not where it would have been a decade ago. Thinking back though, with the Madrid train bombings, Russian school incident, World Trade Center tragedies, Bali night club bombing, Tokyo Sarin Gas attack etc. actions such as this is becoming uncomfortably common place.
What is happening to the world? Where is this all going? I always wonder 100 years from now what the history books will say about the turn of this century. I find it a little hard to follow because 'the terrorist' (I will generalize because its hard to identify each group indepedently with its own aims) have no definate image. Sure, Osama is supposedly the head but to me it has not developed a personality. It is like some child lashing out whenever it feels like it wants to, never conversing, never creating a dialogue with those whom they have issues with. Even established groups like Hesbolah, the PLO, and other Palestinian factions have definately directives which they work towards both politically and violently but the point is they make clear what they demand and seem to have some sort of restraint upon what happens.
Maybe its my ignorance and I welcome anyone to help me understand, but I just dont understand how a group like Al Queda which seems to work as a conglomerate of autonomous groups can be working as a cohesive unit towards a ultimate goal. These terror attacks arnt preceeded by a ultimatum... they dont get their demands out... it just seems like it happens, people are hurt, and then everyone starts making claims of responsibility. It just seems not to be the most effective way of going about getting things done. I suppose I am just half writing now but it seems like senseless violence to me, thats all. ¶ 4:05 PM 0 comments
What is happening to the world? Where is this all going? I always wonder 100 years from now what the history books will say about the turn of this century. I find it a little hard to follow because 'the terrorist' (I will generalize because its hard to identify each group indepedently with its own aims) have no definate image. Sure, Osama is supposedly the head but to me it has not developed a personality. It is like some child lashing out whenever it feels like it wants to, never conversing, never creating a dialogue with those whom they have issues with. Even established groups like Hesbolah, the PLO, and other Palestinian factions have definately directives which they work towards both politically and violently but the point is they make clear what they demand and seem to have some sort of restraint upon what happens.
Maybe its my ignorance and I welcome anyone to help me understand, but I just dont understand how a group like Al Queda which seems to work as a conglomerate of autonomous groups can be working as a cohesive unit towards a ultimate goal. These terror attacks arnt preceeded by a ultimatum... they dont get their demands out... it just seems like it happens, people are hurt, and then everyone starts making claims of responsibility. It just seems not to be the most effective way of going about getting things done. I suppose I am just half writing now but it seems like senseless violence to me, thats all. ¶ 4:05 PM 0 comments
