Impromptu Lunchtime Portraiture, I
My friend amcperez at lunch with me last week.
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March 30, 2008
March 29, 2008
March 28, 1400 PDT
The weather widget is convincing me that moving isn't a bad idea! It's nasty and unseasonably cold here. Yuk.
Talk to me in July, though. I might be spinning a different story... :D
March 27, 2008
Small Town Police
Stanwood's always empty police department.
March 24, 2008
The first step • 5/5/2008
After a great deal of thinking over the past few months, I decided that I'm moving back to Taipei, as of 5/5/2008. More to come.
March 23, 2008
Thank God
The election is over in Taiwan. 馬英九 (Ma Yingjiu/Ma Yingjeou) won in a near-landslide. As someone who is moving back to Taiwan, I'm happy that the voters chose a president who advocates a more conciliatory approach to China. That's just better news all around.
Taiwan Elects Leader Who Seeks Closer Mainland Ties
March 20, 2008
Inside King Street Station
I was buying a train ticket today, and took the opportunity to shoot some photos. On the way back, I got stuck in the bus tunnel after someone tried to drive their car in it. :-/
2008 Olympics as Debacle
On Salon this morning, an analysis by Andrew Leonard, of how the debacle of the 2008 Olympics has begun.
I've had a feeling that the 2008 Olympics won't turn out well, and it's eerie that it's starting to look like that might be valid. For more convincing analysis, see the article: "The Beijing Olympics debacle has begun"
March 19, 2008
Candidates debate gay rights
I found this discussion of gay rights in Taiwan by both candidates smart and useful.
Taiwan Presidential Election Candidates Discuss Same-sex Marriage In Televised Debate
March 18, 2008
Outside Target
At the Northgate Mall, the nation's first enclosed shopping center, last Saturday.
Vodka for Women!
From Reuters this afternoon, a story about vodka formulated for women, "designed to be sipped with a salad after a workout in the gym".
The article goes on to say that 10% of Russians have drinking problems, and doctors are concerned more people will develop alcoholism.
New ladies' vodka gives doctors a headache
March 17, 2008
Green card status major focus of Presidential Race
Too bad I haven't followed the ridiculousness that is the Taiwan presidential election more closely. Today's Taipei Times has a funny article about the great debate over Ma Yingjiu's (馬英九) green card status.
Ma has admitted to having a green card during his time as a student in the US, but said it was automatically invalidated in 1985 when he applied for a visa to travel to the US. Hsieh maintains that Ma's green card is still valid, arguing that the KMT presidential candidate has not completed an I-407 form to relinquish his permanent residency or had the green card invalidated by a US immigration court.If he can prove that his green card has been invalidated, the current president of the Republic of China, Chen Shuibian has threatened to resign. That's just silly. Don't they have real issues to attack each other on, rather than technicalities of the laws of a different country? I guess the US is equally silly, but Taiwanese elections just seem absurd to me... Full story :Taipei Times - archives
Campus Activism
The woman on the right is urging UW students to get the HPV vaccine and to make it mandatory for women. As I listened to her, I started to wonder... if one of the major arguments against banning abortion is "keep your laws off my body", wouldn't that be an effective argument against the mandatory HPV vaccine?
My friend explained it to me this way: by the time you're an adult, it's too late for a lot of girls to avoid HPV. That made sense. Sort of.
While I don't have a position either way, I found it odd.
March 15, 2008
KMT Leader Might Kill Self if Ma Loses
Today in Taipei, the head of the KMT said that he might kill himself if Ma Yingjiu loses the upcoming election. Is this ridiculous or what? Sometimes I wonder if people will take him seriously, but then I remember that, when it comes to Taiwan politics, one shouldn't ever be surprised.
Earlier this year, one politician threatened to jump into the sea if his party failed to win any seats in Taipei. They didn't win any, and he jumped into the sea and apparently survived. Quelle drama!
KMT lawmaker threatens suicide if Ma loses presidential election - The China Post
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A Taiwanese opposition lawmaker said Friday he will consider suicide if party presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou loses the presidential election on March 22. Alex Fai of the opposition Nationalists said he felt extremely sad about the controversy surrounding an opposition invasion into the Taipei headquarters of Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh on Wednesday. If the incident costs Ma his presidential victory, Fai said, "I will not exclude the possibility of ending my own life." Ma enjoys a 6-8 point lead in opinion polls.
March 05, 2008
More Sakura
Every time I see cherry blossoms, I think of Sean, my best friend, who is half Japanese, and is inordinately happy when he sees sakura.
March 04, 2008
La Vie
Life sucks lately, however, this song has become my anthem. The video is unwatchable, but the song is catchy. :D
March 01, 2008
Stuck in my head
I have this song stuck in my head. It's a cheesy video, but I love the song.