Dan is a writer living in Shanghai, China.
Notes Archive
October 7 18
Attention
I won't be updating this blog anymore. Please access my new blog (with all the same content) here.
September 1 08
Video: Biden ran for president in 1988, Sarah Palin did this
August 18 08
Happy Birthday, Mom!
(In real life, my head is bigger than Bliss'.)
August 5 08
Video: Cool logo animation for Shanghai club Bloc
From Shanghai-based firm Republic Studios. Great stuff. Check them out.
June 25 08
My appearance on NBC Nightly News
The internet version, at least. NBC Nightly News recently posted online two pieces on golf in China that feature interviews with Par for China's primary subject, Zhou Xunshu, and yours truly. At least one of these clips — inspired by my ESPN.com work related to golf in China — was supposed to air on the television broadcast with Brian Williams, but the story kept getting pushed back (they flew to Shanghai to interview me in March) because China media coverage rightfully was dominated by various uprisings, boycotts, protests and, most importantly, natural disasters.
I'm fine with the small version, actually — it makes it more difficult to determine just how many pounds the camera adds.
The Tour: A documentary short about golf in China
You may have seen this already on Shanghaiist, but just in case. Check out Daedalum Films' recent documentary short entitled The Tour, which focuses on Par for China's primary subject, Chinese pro golfer Zhou Xunshu. (I'm in it a bit, too.)
June 18 08
Video: SNL's "www.clownpenis.fart"
For some strange reason, this Saturday Night Live sketch came to mind yesterday while I was on the step machine at the gym. It's always made me smile. The SNL clip is hosted by Google Video, so it is possible people in China won't be able to see it without use of a VPN. Here's a transcript:
Dillon/Edwards InvestmentsFather.....Chris Parnell
[Scene of father helping son ride a bicycle for the first time, then, cut to the living room of their house]
Father: Trust, an important part of building a family, and an important part of building his future. That's why I rely on Dillon/Edwards and Company. For nearly a century, investors on Wall Street have trusted Dillon and Edwards with their financial future. And now all of the resources from America's oldest investment firm are available on-line. [Father is at the computer as the website appears, along with web address]Dillon and Edwards on the Internet, at www.clownpenis.fart. A lot of investment companies rushed onto the Internet, but Dillon and Edwards took their time. Sure, when they were ready, there was one web address left, but it's one you can count on.
Announcer #1: For mutual funds, count on...
Announcer #2: ...clownpenis.fart.
Announcer #1: Online brokerage...
Announcer #2: ...clownpenis.fart.
Announcer #1: Retirement and tuition planning...
Announcer #2: ...clownpenis.fart.
[Caption: Dillon/Edwards Investments-www.clownpenis.fart]
Announcer #1: Dillon and Edwards Investments...
Announcer #2: ...at www.clownpenis.fart.
May 28 08
Marlena Shaw - "California Soul"
This song implanted in my head by a Dockers commercial of all things.
May 20 08
Video: American Idol Chat with Damian Holbrook
I worked with Damian at TV Guide in 1996-97 — my first job out of college. Archuleta must go down.
May 12 08
Burma: "Worse than even our previously pessimistic estimates"
As I have told you before, my in-laws were born and raised in Burma. So we've been getting regular email updates on the post-cyclone situation there. Here is one email, dated May 10, from someone on the ground in Burma:
Today is Referendum day in the rest of Myanmar. The cyclone-affected areas have had their voting day changed to May 24th. Voting actually started around May 1st, when Yangon City Development Committee employees and their families were asked to vote. Yesterday, people at the ministries in Nay Pyi Daw were gathered together, lectured by their ministers as to how they would vote ("YES") and then given their ballots. The ballots have boxes for ticking "yes" or "no" on the one side. On the reverse side of the same piece of paper, the voter must provide their full name, address, father's name, national registration number AND signature!!! Are you surprised that the referendum is the starting point of my email and that I'm not focusing on the humanitarian crisis? I thought I'd try to share with you the experience of bewilderment many people here are feeling at the government's continued focus on the referendum process, rather than prioritizing other, more obvious needs here at the moment. If you wish to see the type of news coming out of the government's New Light of Myanmar newspaper here, you can take a look at their website for enlightenment.The post-cyclone situation here is worse than even our previously pessimistic estimates. The total worldwide deaths from the 2004 tsunami reached 220,000 and the total homeless population was 1.5 million. Unofficial but credible estimates here on the ground say that the total numbers of dead and of homeless from the cyclone now exceed those 2004 worldwide tsunami figures. Information trickling in from the villages in the Delta area indicates it is normal for a community to have lost 50-60% of its population by now. It appears that the smaller the village, the larger the percentage of deaths. One member of our team met with the single survivor from a village that used to be home to 100 people. The death rates appear to be higher among women and children than men. Much of this simply has to do with physical strength. Women and children in the Delta were less able to climb and cling to high places during the surges of waves, while men more often had the strength to hang on and survive.
May 9 08
Video: A largely unknown historic cemetery for foreigners in Shanghai
Via Shanghaiist:
Shanghai-based Daedalum Films takes you on a walk through the Song Qing Ling Memorial (宋庆龄陵园), a little known cemetery in western Shanghai home to the remains of Song Qing Ling, numerous other Chinese personalities — and scores of foreigners who came to Shanghai mostly during its early boom years in the mid-1800s and early 1900s, some identified by simple gravestones, and some anonymous.Song Qing Ling Memorial, 21 Song Yuan Lu (宋园路21号). Map.
May 5 08
Par for China is focus of CNN.com story
Read Steven Jiang's story entitled "Green dreams of China's golfers." It's part of Jiang's Beijing Journal series leading up to the Olympic Games in Beijing this August.
May 4 08
Video: Will Ferrell for Burma
Sent via my father-in-law, who was born and raised in Burma. More videos, including one entitled "Don't Watch the Olympics", from the US Campaign for Burma at YouTube. Also available at Burma: It Can't Wait.
Also, a state of emergency was declared in parts of Burma after a cyclone touched down on Saturday.
Related
Aung San Suu Kyi on Wikipedia
May 1 08
Profiled in GOOD magazine's "China Issue"
Read their piece on expats in China, "Strangers in a strange land," here. Read more from GOOD's "China Issue" here. More information about GOOD here. This issue of GOOD will be on newsstands until early June — info on where you can purchase a copy here.
I hope to be able to show you a larger (and uncropped) version of the cool photo that accompanied my profile in GOOD. It was shot by award-winning Shanghai photographer Ariana Lindquist at Shanghai Silport Golf Club with the help of some of their brightly colored caddies, said to be among the best in China.
Downloads
GOOD, "Strangers in a strange land," Pages 76-77: PDF
GOOD, "Strangers in a strange land," Pages 78-79: PDF
April 25 08
Video: "We Are The World," sung by Japanese impersonators
Gotta love Japanese television. We haven't had Chinese TV since moving to our new apartment more than a year ago. Are we missing any gems like this?
April 23 08
Less than 9,000 people from my county voted in the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary
That is one apartment building in Shanghai.
April 11 08
New look for Par for China website
Check it out:
There are still a couple bugs, and fixing them is beyond my meager technical capabilities. So if there are any kind Wordpress geniuses out there who think they might be able to help me, please let me know. I can save a spot on the book's acknowledgments page for you.
April 7 08
Is the Hong Kong airport homophobic?
Well, its computers seem to be. An email from a friend today:
here i am stuck at HK airport due to flight delay ... trying to get into the shanghaiist on one of the complimentary computers here, and ...Access Denied
Forbidden word lesbian... pops up.
At least they are honest about it, I guess.
April 6 08
Video: Japan Culture Lab - Sushi
I have never been to Japan before, but after watching this video, I feel as though I have — this must be exactly what it is like at a sushi restaurant in Japan.
April 1 08
Video: Jose Canseco Defends Allegations in 'Vindicated'
The only thing more annoying than the fact that we are still pointing fingers and naming names (does anyone really care anymore?) is the camera work in this video. Buy a tripod.
March 28 08
Video: The Worst Cinematic Crap That's Ever Been Made
From Slate V:
In Slate V's ongoing effort to bring you the worst in world cinema, our bad-movies curator, Mark Jordan Legan, has a sampling of good vs. evil epics from China, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The China entry is actually from pre-handover Hong Kong, but wow — it sure is crappy. File these films (can I use that word here?) under the so-bad-they-are-good category. I think I might like the Filipino one the best, but I could be biased since I watch Filipino TV every day.
Yes, the guy dove in front of the giant papier-mâché boulder ... and he got what was coming to him.
Watch this video. It will have you tying cobras into knots in no time.
March 27 08
Holdem China: A documentary short about poker's growth in China
From my friends at Shanghai's Daedalum Films. Keep your eye on these guys — they've got some interesting things in the pipeline. Also, they are planning on making Holdem China a feature-length documentary. If you think you can help make that happen, contact them.
Email conversation about baseball and automobiles
Howard: Why on earth would you be a Yankees fan? That's like rooting for GM.Dan: If the Yankees are GM, does that make the Red Sox Toyota or Ford?
Howard: I knew the Ford line was coming. Still, I'd rather root for Avis than for Hearse, whoops. I meant Hertz.
And so on.
Watched the Red Sox-A's in Japan via HAVA last night at Big Bamboo. The poor Red Sox lost to the A's, who are what, the Geely of baseball?
March 24 08
Farting around and jazz music
I brought myself to delve back into Google Reader today after many months of avoidance. You see, I had tons of subscriptions from my days as daily editor of Shanghaiist, and all the unread stories just became too overwhelming. I currently just don't have the time or the interest anymore for a lot of it, so I just neglected it, and checked out websites the "old-fashioned way." But I was told that Reader has folders now, and I figured I'd do some RSS house-cleaning, putting most of the feeds in a folder named "Shanghaiist" and a select few in a folder called "Perrsonal" (I mistyped when naming the folder, and I can't figure out a way to change it).
Anyway, doing all this made me realize I hadn't checked out my friend Richmond's Blogspot blog in a while (now that my VPN is working again, I really have no excuse).
Richmond and I worked at the same newspaper in Georgia, and shortly after 9/11, I somehow convinced him to join me (ie, drive me in his pickup truck) on a memorable road trip to Louisiana (Richmond's former and current home) in search of a bumper pool table. Long story.
Reading Richmond's blog, I learned that while he was studying, getting his "hackery" published and keeping people from dying, he was also doing a lot of "farting around".
I think most writers are master procrastinators — I know I am. (I could expand on this, but I won't. I promised I wouldn't further procrastinate what I should be writing at the moment.) Here's a snippet from Richmond's post:
When I think about my work ethic, I generally consider myself one lazy mofo. I have a lot to do, true, but fact is I screw around a lot. I do a lot of stuff that falls under Vonnegut's heading of "farting around". I wander around talking to people. I take paddles and bike rides and runs. I take naps. I read books and articles that have nothing to do with my Ph.D. work. I think I'm pretty feckless.
I don't take naps, and I wish I could procrastinate with paddling. My issue is more of being easily distracted and over-extended — I get a decent amount done during the day, but not always what I originally intended to get done.
And that kind of segues into the second half of this post's title. Jazz music has always helped me focus — I am fairly certain I got that from my dad — and now that I am about to get into some serious writing for my book project, I figured it was a good time to add some new jazz to my writing soundtrack.
I had to outsource the jazz selection process, however. I have been listening to basically the same three jazz albums on repeat for the past 15 years:
- Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
- John Coltrane - Blue Train
- The Branford Marsalis Quartet featuring Terence Blanchard - Music from Mo' Better Blues
No real surprises there. Well, maybe the last one, but that wouldn't be a surprise to anyone who knew me in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Anyway, those three albums and "The music can't be distracting" was all Bliss' brother A.J. Khaw, a Miami-based jazz musician/physician, had to go on when burdened with the task of recommending his brother-in-law some new writing music. His suggestions:
- Wynton Marsalis - Live at the House of Tribes
- Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
- Bill Evans - Portrait in Jazz
- Miles Davis - Porgy and Bess
- John Scofield - A Go Go
- Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil
- Horace Silver - Song For My Father
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to acquire all albums in less than a day. And I must say, A.J. did an excellent job. The Silver, Shorter and Marsalis albums were immediate standouts, and after a couple listens I really liked Evans, too. The Scofield album is one that probably won't make the rotation — I think I have some kind of bias against guitar jazz. Interestingly, I am on the fence about the two Miles selections. I am pretty sure I own these two in CD form back in Pennsylvania (they, and hundreds of other albums I own, have yet to get ripped into mp3s). Bitches Brew might go into the "distracting" bin — a good album, but probably more suitable for when Bliss and I drop acid1 than productive writing sessions. Porgy and Bess, on the other hand, may not be jazzy enough at times, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, if any readers have other suggestions, I will be happy to illegally download them and give them a listen. Alright, enough procrastinating. Time to do some real writing.
1 Note to Bliss' parents: We don't really drop acid. Actually, Ruth, do you even know what that is?
March 20 08
Google satellite image of Shanghai Silport Golf Club
This is where I am spending my days through Sunday. More info here.
View Larger Map
March 18 08
Your thoughts on my fantasy baseball team?
You'll have to click on the image (or here) to get a better view.
We had our draft Saturday night. Fourteen teams in league, mostly guys from this newspaper I used to write for. I finished second last year.
My team name? Same as it has been since March 2007: Baronx Obamas.
March 17 08
Song of the Day: "Cough Coughing" by Menomena
Why? Because that's what I've been doing all day.
March 13 08
Zhou Xunshu tied for 4th in China Tour's Guangzhou leg
Par for China's primary subject shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday and currently stands four strokes back of Taiwan's Chan Yihshin and one stroke back of playing partner Hsu Mongnan, also of Taiwan, who is tied for second place. Zhou got a big write-up (his first) on the Omega China Tour website:
Zhou Xunshu, who played with Hsu, finished joint-fourth on 71 despite playing in the spotlight of NBC's cameras.However, the close attention of a Beijing-based crew from the US television network didn't put him off his game as he enjoyed a rare appearance on the leaderboard.
"I was so nervous when I saw the NBC cameras on my first hole (the 10th). I didn't know they would be there," he said. "At first I played well, but I later put two balls in the water. I'm still happy with my score," said the smiley Zhou.
Zhou is one of many players on the Tour with interesting backgrounds. As a former security guard at a golf course, he has captured the attention of international media and was later interviewed by NBC for a programme on the Omega China Tour and the growth of Chinese golf.
On a day in which the Chinese Taipei duo enjoyed the upper hand, Zhou said he learned a lot from his playing partner.
"It was great for me to play with Hsu," Zhou said. "He has wonderful course management and a dream short game. That's exactly what we mainland players need, that kind of short game."
Hsu was also complimentary about his playing partner. "Zhou outdrove me by 30-40 yards every time," he said. "He really has everything in his game apart from international experience."
By "attention of international media" they mean: Me following him around at every tournament on the 2007 China Tour schedule (and some tournaments that weren't on the schedule). NBC learned of Zhou from my ESPN.com piece from last November.
The NBC crew arrives in Shanghai tomorrow morning — guess who they are coming here to interview ...
I hope I do as well as Zhou did.
See the entire leaderboard here. You can follow tomorrow's action with live scoring (Zhou tees off at 1 pm).
March 12 08
Chinese women in their 80s love Kobe Bryant
Or at least my landlord does. I have long known that she is a big fan of mahjong, having woken up many a morning to the sound of mixing tiles downstairs. But today, I found out she is also a fan of the NBA. I had just finished walking the dogs and was making my way upstairs. The landlord's living room door was open and Ozzie poked his nose in for a visit, as he often does (our landlord has become less afraid of dogs over the past year, so these visits last a little longer these days). I heard sports coming from her TV and walked inside to take a look. She told me she likes watching basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers were playing the Toronto Raptors. "科比," she said, pointing to the TV screen. "科比打得很好."1
See a photo of our landlord here (second from the right).
1 "Kobe," she said, pointing to the TV screen. "Kobe plays very well."
March 7 08
There Will Be Blood? Evidently not in Shanghai
So, I still haven't seen There Will Be Blood, the 2007 film that I have wanted to see more than any other. It's not for a lack of trying. Early DVD-5s I bought all had the same problem — bad edits and chunks of the movie missing (see embedded clip above). But at least those bad edits came early, about 11 minutes in, so I didn't waste too much of my time. Unlike tonight. I bought a DVD-9 that had me quite optimistic — quality was good, and no bad edit at the 11-minute mark.
This time it came at the 92-minute mark. One second Daniel is on the train with his son, the next he is trying to sell his land. It didn't add up. So I turned it off, yet again. Ugh.
Karma, perhaps, for nearly six years of bootleg movies and television shows. Maybe a less spiritually ruined Shanghai (and pirated DVD) newbie has a good copy they'd like to let me borrow?
Video: Why we sent our shrimp back
This was with Frank and Kat at Dolar Shop hot pot, of which you may have seen my poor photos here and here. We weren't really thinking when we ordered "shrimp," I guess — didn't expect them to be alive, and never too excited when they still have heads and shells (which, I know, is just about all the time in Chinese restaurants in China ... except for gong bao xia ren at Charmant, which I highly recommend). Even though we sent them back, we still had to pay for them, but at least we got a nice little video out of it.
For more nice little videos, check out Frank's travel blog: morrowandme.com. For those of you in China (that blog is blocked) go directly to the vids at Vimeo.
March 5 08
My favorite Shanghaiist comment of the day
#1 Why you get so mad? It like, say you advertise veal at your restaurant and someone says "hey I think this is pork really not veal" and then you go like crazy person saying "You stupid bitch dwarf! You don't know pork and veal! You shut up!" And then you shake your big knife and say "You get out of here!" You could have instead say "No, lady, you mistaken, this #1 for sure excellent veal, no pork." But you don't do that, you go crazy. So you know what I smell? PORK!
March 2 08
Map: Where I was Feb. 20-28
Earlier, I showed you a simplified version of the planned route for my late February Par for China research trip. Here's the complete version, with all the stops from Feb 20 to 28. Photos should follow eventually (no promises, though).
View Larger Map
March 1 08
The big 2-6!
Happy Birthday, to the love of my life. (She's the one with the rosy cheeks.)
February 29 08
Just learned from CNN International that Barack Obama's favorite TV show is The Wire. Yet another reason to vote for the guy. (Later, CNN used the word "derby" to describe an NBA matchup between the Mavericks and the Spurs. Oh, how I love listening to Brits do American sports.)
Video: Bill Walton vs. Will Ferrell in H-O-R-S-E
And Ferrell (aka Jackie Moon) wins handily.
Watch the trailer for Ferrell's Semi Pro here. Read the "mixed or average" reviews for the film here.
February 19 08
Map: Where I'll be the rest of the month
More research for Par for China.
View Larger Map
February 17 08
Dwight Howard: Wow
That was the best NBA Slam Dunk contest I have seen in a long, long time. Creativity is back. And Dwight Howard is a monster. Just amazing.
When people, years ago, were calling for the dunk competition to be discontinued, I didn't protest. I started watching these things from the beginning — Jordan, Nique, Spud, Dee (dare I say Minor?) — and for the past decade or so it felt like dunkers had run out of new material. We had seen it all before. Contestants were just riffing on styles someone else originated. The show had gotten boring.
But all that has changed. Each one of 2008 champion Dwight Howard's dunks was something we hadn't seen before, and they were performed with style and panache. This guy is 6-foot-11, people.
Howard set the bar amazingly high with his first dunk. Ball thrown off the back of the backboard. He catches in midair, reaches his arm back under the backboard and slams it home ... somehow managing not to bounce his head off the back of the backboard, as well. This is almost the dunk I have been begging for for years. The version I always thought would be a sure 50 has the dunker starting behind the backboard, like Howard did, but instead of tossing the ball off the back of the backboard, he'd tap it off the back of the backboard while in the air — the ball doesn't leave his hands — and then, remaining in the air, he'd make his way under the backboard to complete the dunk. Seeing what Howard did last night, I now believe this is definitely possible.
Howard followed with his soon-to-be-famous Superman Dunk1. And this was just the first round. Ridiculous. He basically had the thing won right there, but came back with two more dunks we'd never seen before in the final round: one where he tosses the ball off the floor and the backboard, and then another which utilized a miniature basketball hoop attached to the backboard with suction cups.
While Howard, who according to TNT's announcers now owns at least two of the top 5 dunks ever in the contest, definitely stole the show, Gerald Green scored creativity points for his "birthday cake" dunk and Jamario Moon was also impressive (but screwed himself with a piece of athletic tape).
ESPN highlights of the contest are embedded below. More photos can be found here. Watch Howard practicing his dunks here.
If you have a chance to watch the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest in its entirety, please do so. It really was a throwback to the classic contests of yesteryear — the ones I'd get all excited about as a kid. Bliss (and the dogs) can confirm that this one had me screaming like a teenager all over again.
Hell, maybe now I'll actually watch an NBA game or two this year.
1 Is it still a "dunk" if the guy doesn't touch the rim and instead, so high in the air, throws the ball DOWN through the cylinder?
The Poetry of Roger Clemens
Via Slate. This may be my favorite:
"Glute"I have strained my glute
On a couple occasions.
I wish I could tell you
How many occasions.—Feb. 5, 2008, deposition
Video: Our neighbors welcome the God of Wealth (loudly)
The fourth night of the Year of the Rat, Feb. 10, 2008. Scenes from our balcony, roof and living room. It was a little bit scary.
February 11 08
Congratulations to the Flight of the Conchords blokes for winning New Zealand its first Grammy in 24 years (best comedy album).
If you haven't watched Flight of the Conchords, you should. One of the best TV series of 2007.
February 7 08
Video: How we rang in the Year of the Rat
Shanghai's Tongren Lu bar street. Midnight. Chinese New Year's eve. Madness. Loud dangerous madness.
Good times.
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
February 5 08
My 2008 Global Presidential Primary ballot
Democrats who have registered for the 2008 Global Presidential Primary, go here to vote before next Tuesday.
If you didn't register for the Global Primary, unfortunately it's too late to vote online1. But you can go to votefromabroad.org to request your absentee ballot for the November General Election.
1 You still may be able to vote in your state's primary the old fashioned way, if its primary is scheduled for after Super Tuesday (today). I'm not sure about this, but you can check here or here.
February 4 08
Video: Eli Manning's 'Hustle and Throw' to David Tyree
The play mentioned earlier, embedded this time.
And, just for fun, how about the entire Giants game-winning drive:
Video: Eli Manning to David Tyree in Super Bowl miracle
Go here to watch Eli Manning somehow evade the Patriots defense and David Tyree somehow hang on to the ball during the final drive of the Giants' amazing win. (Sorry, video not embeddable.)
Here's how ESPN.com described it:
Manning, however, engineered a terrific drive as time ran down. The signature play: Manning, ducking and spinning, somehow avoided a severe rush and Tyree managed to catch a 33-yard catch -- he initially pinned the ball on his helmet with one hand -- and the Giants had the ball at the Patriots' 24-yard line. With 35 seconds left, Manning hit Burress with a gorgeous 13-yard touchdown pass and the perfect season had congealed, horribly, into the twisted wreckage of a shocking loss.
Photos of the play from the Daily News.
January 21 08
Wulumuqi Lu was unusually quiet this evening at around 8:30 pm. Lots of shops that usually stay open late into the night were shuttered and dark. Wondering if today was some holiday I didn't know of, I asked the lady at our neighborhood DVD shop if she knew what was going on, and she guessed people closed shop because it was cold. But this is not the coldest night of the winter, so I am not sure I buy that explanation. And I am pretty sure people werren't observing Martin Luther King Day. Any ideas?
Speaking DVDs, it's that wonderful time of year when almost anything you want to buy is available in a quality that is more than passable, often perfect. Today's purchases: There Will Be Blood, Perseepolis, Juno, Michael Clayton, The Great Debaters, Eastern Promises, A Mighty Heart and I Am Legend.
Still looking for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Killer of Sheep, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, No End in Sight and several others.
I hope to resume my role as voter in the Orange Street Oscars this year.
January 20 08
20 albums I liked in 2007
This list is both tardy and hastily thrown together — fitting for what I thought was a lackluster year in music. No rankings this year, my 2007 music selections are presented alphabetically. I think all of the albums listed below are worth checking out, but time will tell how many I'll still be listening to this time next year. My guess is a handful.
Perhaps more interesting this year is the list of artists that put out albums I am surprised I didn't like more. In previous years, these guys would have been shoe-ins: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Interpol, Spoon, Wilco, Iron & Wine, The New Pornographers, Rogue Wave, Band of Horses, Radiohead, John Vanderslice and Elliott Smith (the last one just being too hard for me to listen to, for a variety of reasons).
Maybe I'm just getting harder to please as I get older.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. And even more, I'd love to hear your recommendations — this is by no means a complete list.
- 1990s, Cookies
Raucous and fun. Methinks the lads form Scotland dabble in the drugs (because that's all they sing about). - Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
Springsteen crashed this Funeral, but I still liked it. - Beirut, The Flying Club Cup
I was serving beer and burgers when I was 21. Zach Condon is creating one of the best and most unique albums of the year. - The Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
The Beach Boys go electric (and dejected). - Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha
His "professional whistling skills" on full display here. - Bishop Allen, The Broken String
"Corazon" is one of the best songs of the year. - Bright Eyes, Cassadaga
Listening to him makes me miss home for some reason. (According to Last.fm, I listened to this album more than any other in 2007 ... but that doesn't take into account what I listen to on my mp3 player.) - The Cave Singers, Invitation Songs
Interestingly this was not the 2007 album that sounded like it was recorded in a cave. That award goes to Panda Bear's Person Pitch. - Field Music, Tones of Town
A little bit Yes, a little bit XTC. Good in small doses. - Frog Eyes, Tears of the Valedictorian
One of the year's best. Reminds me of Wolf Parade. - Handsome Furs, Plague Park
Side project for Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner. - of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
A fun, fun ride. Kevin Barnes seems to put out a solid record every year. - Okkervil River, The Stage Names
Not quite as rousing as 2005's Black Sheep Boy, but enjoyable nonetheless. - Peter Bjorn and John, Writer's Block
The whistling chorus from "Young Folks" is still my ringtone. - Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight
Disappointing. Superficial. Mainstream. Accessible. Those are some words critics threw around when reviewing this album. True, it is different and perhaps not as good as previous efforts, but I find myself listening to it again and again. Maybe I just have a thing for Jenny Lewis. - The Shins, Wincing the Night Away
Overall kind of disappointing, but makes the cut based on the first two songs alone. - Shout Out Louds, Our Ill Wills
The best Cure album in a long, long time. - White Rabbits, Fort Nightly
Gets better with each listen. A great party album. - Robert Wyatt, Comicopera
He turns 63 later this month, and put out one of the most creative albums of 2007. "Just As You Are" is a gem. - Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall (1971)
Seems the only new Neil Young albums I like these days are not really new.
Could have made it:
Art Brut's It's a Bit Complicated, Blonde Redhead's 23, Grinderman's Grinderman, Gruff Rhys' Candylion, Jens Lekmen's Night Falls Over Kortedala, Oakley Hall's I'll Follow You, Pop Levi's The Return To Form Black Majick Party, Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Voxtrot's Voxtrot, Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position
Album that easily would have made the list had it not actually been released in 2006 and for some reason I didn't listen to it until late 2007:
Midlake's The Trials Of Van Occupanther
Related Links
The five best albums of 2006 ... so far
The Top 20 Albums of 2005
This is when I force my taste in music on you
The Top 25 Albums of 2004
The Top 20 Albums of 2003
A fond farewell to a friend
January 19 08
Video: The American Civil War in Four Minutes
1.4 million dead bodies in 264 seconds.
Via John Ise.
January 14 08
"Good job. You picked one from somewhere else. They're willing to work for it." — Shouted at me by an old, fat "Jewish-sounding"1 man as I entered a Wal-Mart in Ft. Myers, Florida, with my ethnically Chinese wife who was born and raised in Washington state. A nice little "Welcome home" from a stranger.
1 I point this out because he wasn't your typical Southern redneck.
I still have nightmares about Javier Bardem
We had grand plans about making many visits to the movie theater during our recent two-week trip to the US — it's one of the activities I miss most about life in the US; we never have much reason to go in censored Shanghai — but we only managed to see one film: No Country For Old Men. It was the only thing worth seeing at Bloomsburg's Cinema Center. (Trivia: I was one of the Cinema Center's very first employees, way back in 1993 — I tore a damn good ticket, I must say.)
No Country is excellent, one of the most engrossing, tense and uncomfortable movies I have ever seen ... until its flawed (and unnecessary) final act. Still, I highly recommend seeing it, if only for the set-up and the pitch-perfect performances from Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones and the rest of the splendid cast.
It's Bardem, however, who steals the show (he just won a Golden Globe). His cattle-gun-carrying, Dorrothy-Hamill-hair-having Anton Chigurh is creepy and calculating and without compassion — truly terrifying. I'd say he was a modern day Frank Booth, but No Country is set before Blue Velvet.
Haven't seen it available on DVD in Shanghai, but be sure to snatch up a copy when it appears.
A note from someone who voted Bush in 2000
Penned by a Reaganite friend of mine. Maybe there is hope:
It's a zoo right now. I watched the GOP debate last night and was only mildly impressed. I'll probably go with McCain just because he's an iron-balled old crank who doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. Or Giuliani, I dunno. My kid likes Obama, and I can see why. He's not the same old crapola. And while he's no Bradley in the paint, SI guy had a column about playing hoops with O and says he's got a nice shot. As for Bush, I ditched on him even before the last election and voted Libertarian. I'm not sure he's as big an idiot as everyone thinks, but he plays one on TV and I grew tired of his act. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but I gag when you keep ramming the flag down my throat and tell me you're pissing on the Constitution to save me from the bad guys. Tell China we'll try to get it right this time, but they still better watch their ass. I pick up my guitar and pray ... we don't get fooled again.
I recently added the Obama App on Facebook, so I guess, in 2008, that makes my choice official.
January 8 08
Sports on my TV instead of the BCS Championship Game
No LSU vs. Ohio State in sight. Perhaps this is the Filipino satellite company's way of lobbying for a college football playoff system?
BEN 2 - Soccer, Portugal vs. England
ESPN - X Games, BMX biking
Solar Sports - Beach Volleyball
Star Sports - Soccer, LUT vs. LIV
BEN 1 - Soccer, Derby vs. West Ham
None of those events are being broadcast live.
January 7 08
I don't heart Huckabee
One of the benefits of living in China is that you can filter the news you hear and read from America. You can avoid being bombarded by the media onslaught. On my infrequent trips back to the US, however, I enjoy the onslaught, because I know it is only temporary. And during my recent two-week stay in Florida and Pennsylvania, I got up to speed on the presidential campaign ... and I learned that the prospect of a Mike Huckabee presidency (something I hadn't thought about until his win in Iowa) scares the hell out of me. He recently was one of three candidates to admit to not believing in evolution at a Republican debate (see here) and apparently thinks the notion that the Earth was created in six days 6,000 years ago is just as plausible as Darwin's theory (see here). Perhaps Iowa was just a blip (Huck is in fourth place in recent New Hampshire polls) but what is the rest of the world going to think if the would-be "preacher president" becomes a legitimate contender? I mean, even George Will thinks he's crazy:
Huckabee says "only one explanation" fits his Iowa success "and it's not a human one. It's the same power that helped a little boy with two fish and five loaves feed a crowd of 5,000 people." God so loves Huckabee's politics that He worked a Midwest miracle on his behalf? Should someone so delusional control nuclear weapons?
I wonder if Joe Buck knows that dozens (millions?) of people in Asia are watching the Giants vs. Buccaneers NFL playoff game live on FOX via a channel called BEN 4 SPORTS ... without commercials. Thus we can all hear much of the chatter that takes place when the announcers think they are off air. And thus I heard Buck belting out "All Star" by Smashmouth during halftime.
Go Giants!
(Yes, it is after 4 am in Shanghai. And yes, I am jetlagged.)
December 19 07
I don't think I get my hair cut often enough for the kid responsible for washing my hair to remember me, so he asks me the same questions every time I visit. Where are you from? How often do you go home? How old are you? How long have you lived in Shanghai? How much money do you make? Pretty normal stuff (for China), but here is my favorite: Americans eat bread and milk in the morning, right?
December 5 07
Video: In Xiamen, to grandmother's house we go
In October, Ruth and Bliss visited a small fishing village outside of Xiamen, in southeast China's Fujian Province. They knew this is where Ruth's mother grew up. They didn't know her old house would still be standing. (And they didn't know they'd run into all kinds of long lost relatives, either.)
Related photos start here.
Speaking of grandma, I'll get to meet her for the first time this Christmas in Fort Myers, Florida — we'll be celebrating her 90th birthday.
November 27 07
Video: The Retro Wind-Up Tin Ping Pong Toy
Click here to check out the Retro Wind-Up Tin Ping Pong Toy at Mudan Boutique. Here's the product description:
During the first half of the 20th Century, tin toys of all kinds were manufactured in Shanghai and shipped all over the world. Our Retro Wind-Up Tin Ping Pong Toy, also manufactured in Shanghai, keeps the tradition alive with a design inspired by the toys of yesteryear. Use the key to wind it up, release, and watch the two figures, paddle in hand, move back and forth. The ball moves too!
And yes, that exclamation mark is warranted. I love my ping pong toy.
November 9 07
Are you able to access danwashburn.com in China?
I ask because I can't see the complete version of my own site in Shanghai unless I use a proxy or VPN. Others have reported having the same problem. Any ideas? I don't see why any content on this side would be deemed sensitive, unless perhaps the Great Firewall is a Red Sox fan?
November 4 07
The Nanjing Dong Lu "Laser Top"
Have you ever walked down Nanjing Dong Lu and wondered, "What idiots buy those plastic wind-up tops that shoot out laser lights and play annoying music?" Well, now you have your answer: Me.
I have my reasons:
- I'm a sucker for toys.
- I wanted to see what our dogs thought of it.
- They are cheap (10-15 RMB).
- The song it plays is "Axel F."
- Yes, Axel F!
Anyway, the embedded video shows you what the top looks and sounds like when not interrupted by dogs. Then it cuts to our dog Tux interacting with the Laser Top. We had to put our bigger dog, Ozzie, out on the balcony because the top makes him want to tackle his little brother. You'll hear Ozzie crying and barking in the background ... and at one point you'll hear him banging on the balcony door because he wants to come in and tackle his little brother.
Want a laser top for yourself? Walk down Nanjing Dong Lu. Won't be long before you hear or see one — and no doubt some illuminated roller skate vendors with be nearby, as well.
November 2 07
Video of the Shanghaiist Halloween Party
Thanks to the fine folks at Vision Rouge for putting this together. Also, Kenneth, seen with me below in this photo taken after the party in the wee hours of October 28, put a party slideshow up over at Shanghaiist.
October 29 07
Video: The craziest college football play you're gonna see
I counted the word "lateral" 18 times in this clip.
They should have had these two Division III teams play in London last night. This play would have converted more rugby fans than the ugly display the Giants and Dolphins put on at Wembley (that I for some reason stayed up until 4 am to watch).
A side note: Watching this video really made me miss going to college football games. I don't think I have been to one since 2001 (and, honestly, I don't remember much about it).
Rick Sutcliffe's odd pop culture comparison during Game 4 of the World Series on MLB International
About the Boston Red Sox he said: "They've been on top longer than the Pirates of the Caribbean has been on top of the box office."
OK, the Pirates franchise has had some success, but where did that comment come from? Does he get a free trip to Disney World for that?
And why must we international viewers get saddled with a "special" (ie, second-rate) announcing team (Sutcliffe and Dave O'Brien)? They didn't appear to call the games any differently than they would have for a domestic broadcast.
Sorry. I'm probably just still bitter about the Yankees.
October 11 07
Bloomsburg, beware
From the Washington Post:
Just so you all understand the nature of the excitement of daily journalism, mere minutes before this chat began, every reporter at The Washington Post received this email, under the subject line "BIGGEST STORY OF THE CENTURY NOT A JOKE MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY." I am sharing this with all of you now."To anyone who happens to receive this letter,
"My name is -----------. I am a citizen of the United States. I am currently a student at Bloomsburg University and have recently become aware of certain empathic and telepathic abilities that I have developed. Bloomsburg, PA is currently the testing ground for these abilities, and although everyone involved is under directions to keep me from realizing this, it has become extremely obvious that the entire area is being quarantined for observation. I believe it may be the government who is keeping these exercises and tests under wraps, for they are attempting to make me believe that the world is "watching" when in actuality it seems as though this is merely a simulation of the world watching. Either way, the world needs to know all about these abilities, for they would pose a threat if they were to fall into the wrong hands. To any journalist reading this right now, I implore you to not ignore this story due to its extreme nature. This is a worldwide headline that will probably go down in history as one of the biggest stories of the twentieth century. My phone number is --------, although I believe that any call would be intercepted and answered by someone posing as me ."
October 9 07
Someone at ESPN.com needs to use spellcheck
Speaking of which, be on the lookout for a series of China golf stories from me on ESPN.com ... sometime in NOEMBER.
September 17 07
Ozzie and Tux are famous
They are the cover boys for the 2008 Second Chance Animal Aid calendar! You should be able to buy one online here eventually.
That's Shanghai's ridiculous event listings policy
So, Shanghaiist is having a Halloween party at Shanghai Studio (the bar in a bomb shelter) again this year: Saturday, October 27, 9 pm "until the last demon is exorcised." More than 500 people showed up last year, and I think most left happy. Halloween is my favorite holiday (it is also my birthday) and we try to do the party right. You can see some photos from last year's party here and here.
We started publicizing this year's party early, emailing all the local magazines. All were happy to include the party in their listings ... except for for one: That's Shanghai.
Here is their initial response to our email request (they sent it on Friday):
Thanks. Not sure if I can include since we have reached the deadline yesterday.
Fair enough. Monthly magazines do have early deadlines, although Shanghai Talk was able to include us without a problem.
Here was my reply:
It's too bad we ran up against your deadline. Could you please include our party listing on your website and in your email newsletters? I imagine there wouldn't be any deadline conflicts regarding those outlets, right?
And then their response to that:
Hi Dan, sorry about this, but we’ve got a few parties of our own and our marketing dept doesn’t want us to help you advertise your party. In the future if you have events please send them. If they don’t’ conflict with ours then I’ll gladly put them in the mag.
And my final words:
I am sure you are aware that this is a very strange policy. Is That's Shanghai only going to list one Halloween party in all of Shanghai? I would have thought that a local events magazine would want readers to know they can expect a complete or at least extensive listing of what is going on in the city — not just the events that don't conflict with the magazine's own agenda. This is Shanghai Studio's party, too, and I am sure they also will be confused why they are not allowed to list their event.Please tell your marketing department that they are more than welcome to post listings for That's Shanghai parties on the Shanghaiist website. The link to do so is http://upcoming.org/add/event/355/.
That last part was a little catty. I apologize.
Visit the Shanghaiist Halloween Party on Facebook, Upcoming and City Weekend.
If you are in Shanghai in late October, dress up and join us. Should be a good time. Bring all your friends (even if they work for That's Shanghai's marketing department).
September 10 07
Bishop Allen's "The Chinatown Bus"
And I remember Shanghai
How I wasn't sure just what was safe to eat
The chickens pecked and wandered at the barefoot of the children hawking figurines of workers smiling
What's the Chinese word for cheese?
Watched a sidewalk butcher
His instinctive understanding made the carcass snap and clarify beneath his nimble hand that held the knife so long, so many times, the handles' changed to shapes just like his fingers and his palms
The video above is from a live version of the song. The lyrics are a bit muddled, so I suggest you dig around the internet to find a studio recording (it's not difficult ... and you can always buy from iTunes or even the band's site). More Bishop Allen songs available for a listen at MySpace. And here is an assortment of reviews of their 2007 album The Broken String, on which you will find "The Chinatown Bus."
Bishop Allen are touring with another one of my faves, John Vanderslice, at the moment. But Seattle appears to be the closest they'll get to Shanghai. Their site says an Australia tour is in the works for 2008. Guys, you are welcome to our couch if you happen to swing through Shanghai.
September 7 07
My wife the international magazine columnist
I always thought one of us would make it big in journalism.
September 4 07
In August, Shanghaiist enjoyed its best month to date, traffic-wise. 400,293 visitors and 642,659 pageviews, according to SiteMeter. 391,295 visitors and 618,031 pageviews, according to Google Analytics. Either way you shake it, a great effort by Kenneth and the gang. If you'd like to advertise on Shanghaiist, click here.
August 31 07
Yes, we paid to have fish eat off our dead skin in China
Wikipedia tells us that these "doctor fish," or garra rufa, are popular in Turkish spas, and can be especially beneficial for people with psoriasis. (In Chinese the fish are called mei ti yu, 美体鱼, or "beautifying fish.")
The dead skin that flakes off the bodies of visitors to Dianchi Chuntian must be among the most delicious and nutritious in the world — because the fish in the pool are huge (compared to all photos we have seen, including Dianchi Chuntian's own pamphlets, that make the skin-eating fish look like tiny minnows). That didn't stop us from hopping in the pool, for some reason. And before long, we were up to our necks in water and fish ... and fish poop (all that delicious skin has to go somewhere). It tickles a lot at first, and then only kind of tickles after that. This is perhaps the only situation I can think of in which Speedos (or some other kind of skin-tight trunks) would be a good idea — I spent a lot of time trying to make sure fish didn't swim up my shorts.
A couple of questions you might be thinking:
Would I do it again?
Sure.
Is my skin healthier now?
I have absolutely no idea.
Can I drink beer while fish suck off my dead skin?
Yes. Budweiser. Big bottles (600 ml). Around 15 kuai, I think.
For those headed to Kunming, entry to Dianchi Chuntian is RMB 86 per person, which includes a whole bunch of hot springs, pools and tubs. You can stay as long as you want (the place doesn't close until 2 am), or you can rent a room (with your own hot spring). There are plenty of other add-on massages and treatments you can purchase (all priced reasonably) and it is very easy to spend an entire day at the spa. It's RMB 28 to become fish food. And yes, guys, there is a huge gold penis near your changing area. Here's the address, courtesy of GoKunming.com:
Dianchi Spring Spa
滇 春天温泉会馆
1290 Dianchi Lu
滇 路1290号
Tel: 8066094
For those of you stuck in Shanghai, SH tells us that you can find these fish at a place called Shanghai Orient Rome Bathhouse — a “super, five-star, large-scale place” — at 1420 Jiangning Lu, near Suzhou Creek (东方罗马浴场, 江宁路1420号). Tel: 6660 0666.
More photos here.
From Elizabethtown Blue Jay to Real "Shanghaiist"
August 28 07
What I say at parties: "Jammin' on the one"
Hanging out with Kris (of Salvador's) and Chris (of GoKunming) last night here in Kunming, this episode of The Cosby Show — actually, this specific scene — came up during our conversation (I forget exactly why). Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you can all now enjoy one of television's classic exchanges:
Stevie Wonder: What would you say at a party?
Theo Huxtable: (without hesitation) Jammin' on the one.
August 25 07
Satellite image of Lakeview Golf Club, Kunming
August 20 07
Someone doesn't want you to see Dali
ah, there's a military base in the area. maybe it's being blocked, if that's possible, like google earth is for northern kunming. or maybe it's blocking the massive field of ganja about 200 meters behind and to the right of the one tower to the southwest of the old town. curiously, it's growing right in front of part of the army base.
I can confirm that marijuana grows along the road up in that part of town, too. I'll post photographic evidence when I get back to Shanghai and an internet connection better than my current one. I have one night left in Dali and I am almost getting used to middle aged Chinese women approaching me with "Smoke ganja?"
Almost.
[In probably unrelated news, I have been having all sorts of problems accessing my own website (danwashburn.com) while in Yunnan. Is anyone else having accessibility issues?]
August 16 07
Kunming is changing by the hour
Even the "No Poop" signs are getting modernized.
In Salvador's bathroom at around 3 yesterday afternoon:
In the same bathroom three hours later:
The pace of change in this country is remarkable.
[Speaking of remarkable, Salvador's is one of my favorite restaurant's in China. First went there in 2004. Nice atmosphere, great food, great prices ... and the best ice cream (homemade) I have had in China. Find them here: 76 Wen Lin Jie, Wen Hua Xiang, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, Tel: 86-871-536-3525.]
I flew on an airline called Lucky last night
Next airline on my to-do list? You guessed it — Okay Airways.
August 15 07
RIP: Phil Rizzuto
Woke up to the sad news that The Scooter had died. I grew up listening to Phil Rizzuto call Yankees games on WPIX Channel 11. It was his lovable persona and rambling stories (they often extended over multiple innings) that made being a Yankees fan bearable during the lean 1980s years. Rizzuto had a wonderful repartee with booth mates like Tom Seaver and Bill White (that huckleberry), and every time I catch a game on ESPN Asia with this subpar crew I am reminded of how great those broadcasting teams were.
Rizzuto's head (in the form of a keychain) and his catch-phrase "Holy cow!" made a guest appearance in a Seinfeld episode, and The Scooter was an under appreciated pitchman, as well, as witnessed in this Money Store commercial and the wonderful video clip below:
I think I had a pair of those shorts.
You will be missed, Phil.
Also see
Phil Rizzuto: Through the years [Newsday]
O Holy Cow! : The Selected Verse of Phil Rizzuto [brothersjudd.com]
August 13 07
Simpsons Movie bootleg DVDs in Shanghai
August 10 07
For those wondering where I am ...
August 3 07
The Simpsons, Bonnie Pietila, John Updike and Me
So, back in April, I bought a used copy of John Updike's Golf Dreams at an outdoor book market in Shanghai's Fuxing Park. I think I paid US$1.25. When I got home, I found a tall piece of paper tucked between pages 94 and 95 — the previous owner, whoever it was, had been using it as a bookmark. And that's what is pictured to the right.
The piece of paper appears to be The Simpsons letterhead. The name at the bottom is "Bonnie Pietila," and anyone who can Google knows she is casting director and producer for The Simpsons. There is a note written on the paper in blue marker, and it reads:
Bill,Thanks again
for doing
this!Kim
So, naturally, I have some questions about all this:
- Who is Bill? And what did he do?
- Who is Kim? And why is she using Bonnie Pietila's personal letterhead?
- How did the book (paperback, 1997) end up at an outdoor used book stand in Shanghai, China?
- And, most importantly, when will my local DVD shop have decent bootlegs of The Simpsons Movie?
I am sure the real answers are probably pedestrian (and none of my business), but if Bonnie, Bill or Kim happen to read this and want their note back, please let me know where you'd like me to send it. You can't have the book, though — I am not finished with it yet.
Bliss and Dan ... Simpsonized
August 2 07
NYC-themed skateboard, by ESPN's David Marshall Jr.
I've had the pleasure of working for ESPN for over 2 years, and have had the opportunity to attend some great events and meet some cool people. Last month I was asked to design a skatedeck for the X Games, which are taking place this weekend in LA. My skatedeck along with 20 or so other decks will be auctioned off at the X Games, with the proceeds going to the V Foundation.The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano, the passionate and committed former NC State basketball coach and award-winning broadcaster, who did from cancer in 1993.
More about David from EXPN.com:
David Marshall moved to New York City to assume the role of senior designer at ESPN in the spring of 2005, allowing him to actualize his personal trifecta: sports, design and big city life. Formerly of The Washington Post, David's career has allowed him to express himself creatively via the web, print and television, and has afforded him opportunities to work with clients such as Coca-Cola, GMC, Adidas and MasterCard.David leapt at the opportunity to design a skatedeck for The V Foundation auction. He has great childhood memories of sitting with his father watching a Jimmy Valvano led NC State team win an improbable NCAA Championship. David's skatedeck represents his love for both design and New York City.
David's slick deck can be seen above. Now, go bid on it!
July 31 07
Trailer for Ang Lee's Lust, Caution
From the studio:
Ang Lee's new film, an espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai. Tony Leung stars as Mr. Yee, a powerful political figure in 1940s Shanghai. Tang Wei, makes her feature film debut as Wang Jiazhi, a young woman who gets swept up in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with Mr. Yee. In US theatres September 28th.
More information here. Partially shot at Shanghai Film Studio.
Shanghaiist has more.
Creative Inspire T3030 speakers
Bought these yesterday because my previous "Awesome" speakers ceased being awesome some time ago. Purchased the new ones from newegg.com.cn, my favorite local computer/electronics store — next-day delivery and set prices (it's way too hot to haggle). Verdict on the speakers? Well, both speakers function simultaneously — that's already an improvement on what I was using before.
July 29 07
Life in a glass house
Haven't booked our flights yet, but this is how Ctrip — China's leading online travel agency — explains there are no direct flights from Shanghai to Dali (this is from a screen that automatically pops up when you try to search flights):
If you can accept the way turn in other airports,The following is the Shanghai that we recommend for you to fly to the Dali of in turn(onward flight) the flight path.Please choose you feel quite the cheese in turn the city, we will search the service for you
And then you are met with these options:
Image from gxyldx.com.
Sneakin' in the Movies
I found myself quoting Hollywood Shuffle today — it was one of my favorite movies growing up. I hadn't seen it in a while, so I went on over to YouTube and ... BAM! Some great clips there, including "Sneakin' in the Movies," which you can watch above. ("Boom! Do 50 bullets in yo' ass may your day?")
The line I found myself quoting earlier today can be heard in this clip. Care to guess what it was?
More quotes (but definitely not enough) can be found here and here.
Summer of '89 I had Hollywood Shuffle, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Eddie Murphy: RAW on the same VHS tape — now we talkin' 'bout makin' it! But then I left the tape at Kevin Primerano's house and never saw it again.
July 25 07
Coconut Palm Coconut Juice
I think I might be addicted.
Not surprising since Coconut Palm Coconut Juice is verified to be “an original creation in the world, a unique talent of China” and it is designated as an official "Beverage for
the State Banquet of China." It also bears the somewhat controversial CHINA TOP BRAND logo (seen here) ... so it's got to be good.
Coconut Palm (椰 or yeshu) official website (in Chinese)
July 18 07
Long blocked Technorati appears to be working in China at the moment. So I am going to take this opportunity to claim this blog. Hence, the following link: Technorati Profile.
July 5 07
Gaelic Football in Shanghai
After a few years of watching Bliss, I finally suited up and participated in my first Gaelic football practice here in Shanghai on Tuesday. And while I still feel the effects of that practice late on Thursday afternoon, and despite the fact that I have never played a sport that involved kicking (except for one season of AYSO in 1983), I am looking forward to practicing again on Saturday. It's a fun game, a great group of people, and I desperately needed an excuse to get away from my desk.
What exactly is Gaelic football? Check out this page for a primer. And if you are a visual learner, there is a three-part YouTube series entitled "What is Gaelic Football?": Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
The video embedded above is Dublin vs. Kerry in 1977, which we all know is "Best Gaelic Football Game Ever." I remember exactly where I was duirng that match — the United States.
For more information about Gaelic football in Shanghai, click here.
My new camera: Canon Powershot S5
I bought it in Singapore for 665 Singapore Dollars, around US$437, which seems to be a pretty good price (price included a 2GB memory card), making electronics and Indian food the only things that are bargains in Singapore.
A side note: This is the first camera I have owned that cannot be carried comfortably in a pocket. So I have now become the "guy with the camera bag" I never wanted to become. But I am having Yan Feng make me a leather camera bag, so either people will be impressed by my stylish camera bag or they will think that I carry a manpurse.
June 7 07
Even though I am a die-hard Yankees fan, I thought this was pretty funny.
May 27 07
Look what I bought: Kang Le Qiu (康乐球)
I have been interested in the Chinese billiards-type game kang le qiu (康乐球) since the first time I saw the game being played in Hongkou District back in 2003. But it kind of slipped my mind over the past three-plus years ... until I saw this photo recently on th Shanghaiist Contribute Page. So, I immediately went over to Taobao.com and saw this — and bought it.
I haven't played it yet, though ... because I am not quite clear on the rules. Here's the rules that appeared on Taobao:
游戏规则：1、 打排子
将1号、2号、3号、4号棋子分别放在球盘边框旁的黑框内，每一边放七个， 近洞口顶端各放一个棋子，游戏者站在要打的号 的对面，各自打自己的号 ，游戏者只能将大子（上海地区俗称老板）放在 近自己一边的黑线上，也可以放在自己一边的左右黑圈内，游戏者打进一个子可以继续打，如果大子和棋子一起进洞，或者没打进洞则将发球权交给下一位，看谁先将子打完就算获胜。
2、 打团子
将32个棋子放在棋盘中间的黑圆圈内，每个游戏者站在棋盘的洞口边，游戏时只能将大子放在 近洞口的黑圈上击打中间的棋子，打进一个棋子可以连续打，如果没有打进则将发球权交给另一位，直到棋子全部打完，谁的子最多的一方即获胜。
I don't read Chinese, though. So here is the Google Translate version:
Rules of the game : 1, Chepaizi playing No. 1, No. 2, 3 and 4 respectively pawn on the ball near the plate rim black-framed, 7 up on each side near the top of the cave up a pawn in the game were at the forefront of the fight opposite number, each one's own numbers, players can only be great son (commonly known as the boss in Shanghai) on the near side of the black line. can be placed on their side of the black circle around, players enter a son can continue to fight, If the big hammer and piece together entrance, or no access hole will be indispensable to the next one. Let's see who is cheating even if the first-won. 2, will fight Tuanzi 32 pawn on the chessboard of the black middle circle, each game stands chessboard of the hole edge, games will only son on the big black hole near the circle hit a pawn in the middle, moved into a pawn consecutive fight, Without access will be given the right to serve another one until all pawn cheating, whose son is one of the most won.
Perhaps you see my confusion, great son. Can anyone help?
Mii Characters for Bliss and Dan
Bliss and I can't afford a Nintendo Wii, but it doesn't cost anything to create a Mii using Mii Editor. (We added my dimples using Photoshop.)
April 1 07
"Here's to China" Johnnie Walker TV ad
When the director said "We need to see a Caucasian more prominently," that was my ticket to stardom. Don't blink near the end.
Filmed on a frigid December evening on the outdoor deck at Attica on the Bund.
Made my first trip to Shanghai's Super Brand Mall today. Not as bad as I had expected. But I bet you are as surprised as I am that I didn't find anything I liked at the Leisure & Hiphop Fashion Capital. But we did get a dog gate at Modern & Sporty World, which is home to Toys R Us.
Shanghaiist had its best month ever in March. More than 340,000 unique visitors. Not too shabby.