November 25, 2007, 7:20pm
The GPS didn't work today. Just a dark blank screen. So, I got a hard time driving around to help my Japanese friend to shop for winter clothings. Anyways, got back save and she got good bargains for the cold and long winter.
Probably it's too cold to have the GPS sitting in the car overnight. It's subzero temperature at night. Will put it in my apartment and try it again. If not... really need to have it fixed. The GPS saves a lot of headache getting lost though it's not perfect.
Was driving in the middle of the road in Denver, then it said "You have arrived." I had no clue where the film center was. Left or right. No clue. The film center simply cannot be in the middle of the road. The GPS is a very puzzling machine.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
November 25, 2007, 9:13am
A recap of "Lust Caution" before I forget my own thoughts.
1. Women are to be sacrificed. Women are expected to sacrifice. Women are willing to sacrifice.
Well, what is the causal and effect? Are women expected to sacrifice, then they sacrifice? Or are women willing to sacrifice, then they are expected to sacrifice? Does it also mean that women are not as valuable as other more important things? Say, the fate of a country? And women can be sacrificed for the "better good?" What are the other things should be on this weighing scale of goods?
2. What is the role of the tai tais? They play mahjog all day all night. It seems like they have their own politics. But what is it other than winning a few bucks? Are they contributing to getting information for their husbands' business? If yes, why do they seem so ignorant?
Mr. Yee obviously kept Mrs. Yee away from his business. What is the use of keeping the tai tais around then? What is the purpose of having a wife who apparently knows nothing and doesn't seem to provide him in anyway?
3. Ms. Chen (Mrs. Man) ruined the assassination plan in the end. She lost her love. She lost her friends' lives. And her own life. She lost her country. She's in such a tragic situation that she would not be able to win at all. She's betrayed in the very first beginning already. She's told that she's going to England. But who's going to care such an unattainable goal. No one is going to keep such a promise.
What a loser in a dead end situation. Here it comes the debate of person-situation effect. Is personality more influential or is it the situation? Would a different person bring a different story? A different process and a different outcome?
4. Can I generalize this tragic character in a dead end situation to the war as a whole? That the war is a no-win situation anyway. Mr. Yee saved his life this time. But the war was over and the Japanese lost in the end. Probably he didn't survive very long.
Can I generalize the love between Mr. Yee and Ms. Chen to the love between the enemies? The war story reminds me about loving my Japanese friends despite the sad history. It also reminds me about the European invasions. I still love my Scottish friends and my German advisor, after all.
Bert showed me pictures of him in the Royal Air Force. He's a bright, handsome, young man in WWII. He said, 50 years after the war, Ann and he met a German couple. The two sides realized that they were trying to kill each other when they were young. Yet, they can actually be good friends. People are stupid. People do stupid things. The governments are stupid.
A recap of "Lust Caution" before I forget my own thoughts.
1. Women are to be sacrificed. Women are expected to sacrifice. Women are willing to sacrifice.
Well, what is the causal and effect? Are women expected to sacrifice, then they sacrifice? Or are women willing to sacrifice, then they are expected to sacrifice? Does it also mean that women are not as valuable as other more important things? Say, the fate of a country? And women can be sacrificed for the "better good?" What are the other things should be on this weighing scale of goods?
2. What is the role of the tai tais? They play mahjog all day all night. It seems like they have their own politics. But what is it other than winning a few bucks? Are they contributing to getting information for their husbands' business? If yes, why do they seem so ignorant?
Mr. Yee obviously kept Mrs. Yee away from his business. What is the use of keeping the tai tais around then? What is the purpose of having a wife who apparently knows nothing and doesn't seem to provide him in anyway?
3. Ms. Chen (Mrs. Man) ruined the assassination plan in the end. She lost her love. She lost her friends' lives. And her own life. She lost her country. She's in such a tragic situation that she would not be able to win at all. She's betrayed in the very first beginning already. She's told that she's going to England. But who's going to care such an unattainable goal. No one is going to keep such a promise.
What a loser in a dead end situation. Here it comes the debate of person-situation effect. Is personality more influential or is it the situation? Would a different person bring a different story? A different process and a different outcome?
4. Can I generalize this tragic character in a dead end situation to the war as a whole? That the war is a no-win situation anyway. Mr. Yee saved his life this time. But the war was over and the Japanese lost in the end. Probably he didn't survive very long.
Can I generalize the love between Mr. Yee and Ms. Chen to the love between the enemies? The war story reminds me about loving my Japanese friends despite the sad history. It also reminds me about the European invasions. I still love my Scottish friends and my German advisor, after all.
Bert showed me pictures of him in the Royal Air Force. He's a bright, handsome, young man in WWII. He said, 50 years after the war, Ann and he met a German couple. The two sides realized that they were trying to kill each other when they were young. Yet, they can actually be good friends. People are stupid. People do stupid things. The governments are stupid.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
November 24, 2007, 10:26pm
Drove to Denver to watch "Lust Caution." 1.5 hours one way. Was going 80 miles per hour for a while... 128.7 km/h... Sounds like I'm doing illegal racing in the Hong Kong standard.
Such a sad story and a sad history. Really need to remember to love my Japanese friends despite the history.
Well, also need to remember the European invasions. I cannot love my Scottish friends less despite all the national treasures now in the British Museum and elsewhere. :)
Drove to Denver to watch "Lust Caution." 1.5 hours one way. Was going 80 miles per hour for a while... 128.7 km/h... Sounds like I'm doing illegal racing in the Hong Kong standard.
Such a sad story and a sad history. Really need to remember to love my Japanese friends despite the history.
Well, also need to remember the European invasions. I cannot love my Scottish friends less despite all the national treasures now in the British Museum and elsewhere. :)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
November 14, 2007, 7:50pm
Having a fever for two days. Also got cold sores. Still working on my take-home exam. Headache.
Will fly Friday early in the morning. Depart at 8:25am, got to get up at 5:30am.
Haven't been to the bank to get cash. Haven't done my laundry. Haven't gone shopping for travel stuff. Haven't packed.
***
Havn't got cold sores for years. This reminds me how miserable when I was a kid. Mom said I got that because I am bad. Period. No help.
Here, my friends gave me the cream that really helps. And told me not to drink hot water or eat chilly food...
I'm so better off without my family. I'm happy to be by myself. Yet, this is also so much pain.
***
One last essay question. Get it done!
Having a fever for two days. Also got cold sores. Still working on my take-home exam. Headache.
Will fly Friday early in the morning. Depart at 8:25am, got to get up at 5:30am.
Haven't been to the bank to get cash. Haven't done my laundry. Haven't gone shopping for travel stuff. Haven't packed.
***
Havn't got cold sores for years. This reminds me how miserable when I was a kid. Mom said I got that because I am bad. Period. No help.
Here, my friends gave me the cream that really helps. And told me not to drink hot water or eat chilly food...
I'm so better off without my family. I'm happy to be by myself. Yet, this is also so much pain.
***
One last essay question. Get it done!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
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