Today, I just sat down for about an hour and just typed down whatever came to mind. Of course, I feel that I have a lot more fears and worries than listed here but I have work to do. I can't just sit around all day doing this, can I? :P
MY WORRIES
I’m worried that people will find out that I’m a fraud.
I’m worried that I’ll never make my parents and my brother proud.
I’m worried that I’ll never be able to accomplish any of my dreams, no matter how small.
I’m worried that I’ll end up homeless, living in trash and my own filth, forgotten by my own friends and even family.
I’m worried that I’ll die alone and sad.
I’m worried for my parents. They are getting on in years and they seem frailer and frailer with the passing time.
I’m worried that I’ll lose my grandmother soon and with that a precious link to the past. It’ll be much harder to find out about family history, and keep in touch my language and my culture with her gone.
I’m worried that I’ll end up in dead end job that I loathe, to earn money to pay for shit I don’t even need, want or like to fit in a society from which I feel alienated.
I’m worried that I’ll always settle for second best, in regards, to my hopes, aspirations and life goals.
I’m worried that I’ll never graduate from uni with a degree.
I’m worried that I even worry about such things. Sometimes I don’t know if I even want a uni degree. Maybe I just want one because it is what my family expects of me, what society expects of me. This year marks 10 years since I’ve graduated from high school. Since that time, I’ve seen many of my classmates marry, have children, travel around the world, earn doctorates, accomplish so many of these wonderful things in their lives. I’ve felt I’ve done next to nothing with my life, it can be very depressing.
I’m worried that I’ll never be able to travel and see all the places that I’ve dreamed of seeing.
I’m worried for my best friend. I feel he is incredibly intelligent, has a lot going for him and a lot of potential. However, he seems to be in quite a rut. His pessimistic attitude towards everything in his life can be quite grating at times, but I feel he (like myself) just needs a break in his life. I feel like if I push these issues too much, I’ll lose our friendship, so I try to stay quiet. I hope he can find something about which he is truly passionate and turn that attitude of his around.
I’m worried that I’ll associate myself with the wrong people in life, bring all sorts of untold troubles on myself, my family and my friends.
I’m worried that I’m no better than the people I criticise, disdain and condemn; the racists, the homophobes, the misogynists, the rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles, the fascists, exploiters of people and the earth. All of them.
I’m worried about not appearing genuine to people, that I’d be seen a poser.
I’m worried that all my bullshit will finally be exposed to the world to see. I guess that’s related to being worried about being exposed as a fraud and seen as a poser. Perhaps I shouldn’t worry about this, maybe it’d be liberating.
I’m worried about Yoda, that fat fuck of a dog that Dad is looking after. He seems rather unhealthy these days; he doesn’t look like he can jump up or even run anymore. Whenever I mentioned that to Dad, he gets angry. He tells me that he has already reduced Yoda’s meal portions and that he takes Yoda for a walk every day. Every time I see Yoda though, he looks like a few minutes away from keeling over. All things must die. I accept that fact but if he can have a few more healthy years, why not try to give that chance to him? Maybe he’s happy being fat though and it’s none of my business.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman (With Lyrics HD)
For all of you out who have had their fair share of evil women or men. :P
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
GeoGuessr - Let's explore the world!
I know I don't post very often on here. That must infuriate my readership of one. :P
I saw this nifty little game though and I thought I'd share it. I couldn't make out any location, sometimes my guesses were on whole other continent. For some of you, you may get lucky and receive some big clues like signage or flags. All I got was natural scenery, so unfair!
Whoever happens to be reading this particular blog entry, enjoy and have fun!
GeoGuessr - Let's explore the world!
I saw this nifty little game though and I thought I'd share it. I couldn't make out any location, sometimes my guesses were on whole other continent. For some of you, you may get lucky and receive some big clues like signage or flags. All I got was natural scenery, so unfair!
Whoever happens to be reading this particular blog entry, enjoy and have fun!
GeoGuessr - Let's explore the world!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Tschann Buddhism and The Schaulinn Monastery. 禪宗和西少林寺- Prologue
Tschann Buddhism and the Schaulinn Monastery
Tschann Song und das Westlische Schaulinnkloster
禪宗和西少林寺 (Chánzōng hé Xi Shàolínsì)
By Liang Sijie (Andrew Luong)
梁思捷寫
PROLOGUE
The Western Shaolin Monastery (Das Westlische Schaulinnkloster)
Modern Day
Heavy beads of sweat were dripping profusely from young Heinrich’s forehead; his entire body was trembling underneath the torturous afternoon sun. Heinrich’s legs failed him tremendously. His ankles were sore from dozens of ant bites. This kind of pain made him seriously doubt his desire to continue his training as a Schaulinn monk. Schifu was circling him and gazing like a hawk, ready to correct any flaws in Heinrich’s stance with a quick rap of his trusty cane.
It seemed to Heinrich that Schifu was a lot stricter towards him than any of the other monks. There were days where Heinrich felt like running away from this life as a monk. He wanted to return to his parent’s dairy farm. Even when he was living on the farm, Heinrich had always wanted to be a Schaulinn monk. He was inspired by Schaulinn Gong Fu, ever since he saw a group of monks practicing their techniques on a hill near the farm. Life on the farm had bored him almost to death. He had journeyed to the monastery and begged the Abbot many times to accept him as a student. When he was finally accepted, he was incredibly joyful.
However lately, he has felt that he has learnt nothing of value and that his martial arts progress has been excruciatingly slow. His doubts were beginning to inspire fond memories of the hum of the tractors, the fat docile cows, the windswept fields and his small homestead. He missed parents and his siblings. He missed home.
Just as he was experiencing one of these fond memories, a sharp pain suddenly shot up his spine, he could no longer bear the stance. As he was about to collapse, Schifu used his cane to promptly prod Heinrich hard in the chest.
Schifu remarked, “Ah ah, when everyone else finishes their training sets, you can finish here.” He then quickly proceeded to adjust Heinrich’s stance with his trusty cane, meanwhile instructing him with a soft but firm voice, “Knees bent, butt out, back straight, stomach clenched, thighs parallel to the ground and fists to the side.”
Heinrich was growing impatient. In his periphery, he saw his fellow monks in their stride, swift, powerful and uncompromising in their movements. He was angry at his own weakness. As he dropped his weight slightly, he received a received another prod to his chest from Schifu. Losing his temper momentarily, he blurted, “Every day, you make me perform this stupid horse stance, while I see everyone else learning real stuff, kicks and punches, useful techniques. You bring me out to this field for what?! So the mosquitoes can feast on me? So my head can be roasted by the sunshine?!”
Heinrich received another hard whack to his butt from Schifu for losing his temper. Schifu then raised his cane and pointed it at Heinrich’s face.
He then proceeded to lecture Heinrich, “Watch your temper, young man. This exercise may seem mundane and of no use to you. But should you give up and not master it, you will regret doing so. Learning how to kick and punch marvellously before building good balance with your stance is like building a magnificent palace on shifting sands. Without a good foundation, you will surely fail in your martial arts journey”
Heinrich was not very convinced by Schifu’s short lecture and admitted, “Schifu, I don’t know if I have what it takes to continue my journey. It’s too hard, I feel like I’m weaker than the others. I should have just stayed on the dairy farm. I feel like quitting sometimes.”
Schifu stopped pacing around Heinrich and in a stern voice responded to Heinrich with yet another short lecture, “I don’t want hear this sort of weakness from you. Do you forget that you begged the Abbot to allow you into the monastery? Quitting will make you and the Abbot lose face. Also, what is one thing that Schaulinn monks never do?”
Accepting Schifu’s words, Heinrich quietly answered, “Schaulinn monks never quit.”
Hearing the desired response, Schifu continued pacing. Schifu saw much potential in young Heinrich, even if Heinrich didn’t see it himself. Heinrich reminded Schifu of himself and his own early years at the monastery. He was determined to see Heinrich realise that potential. For that to happen, he knew that Heinrich needed extra motivation and encouragement from time to time. Schifu decided that today was one of those times and told Heinrich,“Correct. Now let me tell you a story, Heinrich. A story I think you’ll appreciate.”
Heinrich cheekily responded, “Okay! Does that mean I can sit and rest while you’re telling it to me?!”
WHACK! Heinrich received yet another sharp strike to his butt from Schifu’s cane. Schifu almost barked his command, “No! Stay in the stance!”
With Heinrich’s attention, Schifu commenced the story, “This story starts in a far far away place in the east called Dschong Gwoh…”
TO BE CONTINUED…
NOTES
Schaulinn= a transliteration for 少林, Shàolín.
Schifu= a transliteration for the Chinese term for “master/teacher/expert”, 師傅 Shīfu .
Dschong Gwo= a transliteration for 中國 Zhōngguó, in other words, China.
Horse Stance is a basic foundation stance that is shared across many Chinese martial arts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_stance
Thanks again, to Roger for the German translation and transliterations.
In this timeline/story, I also considered Tschann Vodschiausmus as the translated title for Chan/Zen Buddhism. Vodschiau being derived from 佛教, Fójiào . The German suffix “-smus” akin to “ism” in English. Shaolin Chan/Zen Buddhism would be the one of the first, if not the first, sects of Buddhism to enter Europe. Thus Chinese terminology might be used and transliterated. Eventually, I decided to go with Tschann Song easier to read and it is a lot catchier as well. That it is derived from the commonly used Chinese term for Chan Buddhism, 禪宗, Chánzōng .
Also Vodschiausmus wouldn’t make much sense, as 佛教 Fójiào already means Buddhism. So basically it’d be like saying Buddhism-ism.
Tschann Song und das Westlische Schaulinnkloster
禪宗和西少林寺 (Chánzōng hé Xi Shàolínsì)
By Liang Sijie (Andrew Luong)
梁思捷寫
PROLOGUE
The Western Shaolin Monastery (Das Westlische Schaulinnkloster)
Modern Day
Heavy beads of sweat were dripping profusely from young Heinrich’s forehead; his entire body was trembling underneath the torturous afternoon sun. Heinrich’s legs failed him tremendously. His ankles were sore from dozens of ant bites. This kind of pain made him seriously doubt his desire to continue his training as a Schaulinn monk. Schifu was circling him and gazing like a hawk, ready to correct any flaws in Heinrich’s stance with a quick rap of his trusty cane.
It seemed to Heinrich that Schifu was a lot stricter towards him than any of the other monks. There were days where Heinrich felt like running away from this life as a monk. He wanted to return to his parent’s dairy farm. Even when he was living on the farm, Heinrich had always wanted to be a Schaulinn monk. He was inspired by Schaulinn Gong Fu, ever since he saw a group of monks practicing their techniques on a hill near the farm. Life on the farm had bored him almost to death. He had journeyed to the monastery and begged the Abbot many times to accept him as a student. When he was finally accepted, he was incredibly joyful.
However lately, he has felt that he has learnt nothing of value and that his martial arts progress has been excruciatingly slow. His doubts were beginning to inspire fond memories of the hum of the tractors, the fat docile cows, the windswept fields and his small homestead. He missed parents and his siblings. He missed home.
Just as he was experiencing one of these fond memories, a sharp pain suddenly shot up his spine, he could no longer bear the stance. As he was about to collapse, Schifu used his cane to promptly prod Heinrich hard in the chest.
Schifu remarked, “Ah ah, when everyone else finishes their training sets, you can finish here.” He then quickly proceeded to adjust Heinrich’s stance with his trusty cane, meanwhile instructing him with a soft but firm voice, “Knees bent, butt out, back straight, stomach clenched, thighs parallel to the ground and fists to the side.”
Heinrich was growing impatient. In his periphery, he saw his fellow monks in their stride, swift, powerful and uncompromising in their movements. He was angry at his own weakness. As he dropped his weight slightly, he received a received another prod to his chest from Schifu. Losing his temper momentarily, he blurted, “Every day, you make me perform this stupid horse stance, while I see everyone else learning real stuff, kicks and punches, useful techniques. You bring me out to this field for what?! So the mosquitoes can feast on me? So my head can be roasted by the sunshine?!”
Heinrich received another hard whack to his butt from Schifu for losing his temper. Schifu then raised his cane and pointed it at Heinrich’s face.
He then proceeded to lecture Heinrich, “Watch your temper, young man. This exercise may seem mundane and of no use to you. But should you give up and not master it, you will regret doing so. Learning how to kick and punch marvellously before building good balance with your stance is like building a magnificent palace on shifting sands. Without a good foundation, you will surely fail in your martial arts journey”
Heinrich was not very convinced by Schifu’s short lecture and admitted, “Schifu, I don’t know if I have what it takes to continue my journey. It’s too hard, I feel like I’m weaker than the others. I should have just stayed on the dairy farm. I feel like quitting sometimes.”
Schifu stopped pacing around Heinrich and in a stern voice responded to Heinrich with yet another short lecture, “I don’t want hear this sort of weakness from you. Do you forget that you begged the Abbot to allow you into the monastery? Quitting will make you and the Abbot lose face. Also, what is one thing that Schaulinn monks never do?”
Accepting Schifu’s words, Heinrich quietly answered, “Schaulinn monks never quit.”
Hearing the desired response, Schifu continued pacing. Schifu saw much potential in young Heinrich, even if Heinrich didn’t see it himself. Heinrich reminded Schifu of himself and his own early years at the monastery. He was determined to see Heinrich realise that potential. For that to happen, he knew that Heinrich needed extra motivation and encouragement from time to time. Schifu decided that today was one of those times and told Heinrich,“Correct. Now let me tell you a story, Heinrich. A story I think you’ll appreciate.”
Heinrich cheekily responded, “Okay! Does that mean I can sit and rest while you’re telling it to me?!”
WHACK! Heinrich received yet another sharp strike to his butt from Schifu’s cane. Schifu almost barked his command, “No! Stay in the stance!”
With Heinrich’s attention, Schifu commenced the story, “This story starts in a far far away place in the east called Dschong Gwoh…”
TO BE CONTINUED…
NOTES
Schaulinn= a transliteration for 少林, Shàolín.
Schifu= a transliteration for the Chinese term for “master/teacher/expert”, 師傅 Shīfu .
Dschong Gwo= a transliteration for 中國 Zhōngguó, in other words, China.
Horse Stance is a basic foundation stance that is shared across many Chinese martial arts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_stance
Thanks again, to Roger for the German translation and transliterations.
In this timeline/story, I also considered Tschann Vodschiausmus as the translated title for Chan/Zen Buddhism. Vodschiau being derived from 佛教, Fójiào . The German suffix “-smus” akin to “ism” in English. Shaolin Chan/Zen Buddhism would be the one of the first, if not the first, sects of Buddhism to enter Europe. Thus Chinese terminology might be used and transliterated. Eventually, I decided to go with Tschann Song easier to read and it is a lot catchier as well. That it is derived from the commonly used Chinese term for Chan Buddhism, 禪宗, Chánzōng .
Also Vodschiausmus wouldn’t make much sense, as 佛教 Fójiào already means Buddhism. So basically it’d be like saying Buddhism-ism.
Tschann Buddhism and The Schaulinn Monastery. 禪宗和西少林寺- Introduction.
Before I post the prologue, I'd like to give an introduction to my general idea.
The Abbot of the Shaolin Monastery chooses a select bunch of elite monks for an introspective and religious journey west to India. However they get majorly lost and find themselves in a remote corner of Germany, well, the Germanic area of Europe anyway. The monks too far from home and out of resources, accept the hospitality of the locals. In time, they build a monastery resembling that of the one back home on Songshan.
As a sign of gratitude, they accept locals in for Shaolin training. The monks also take it upon themselves to peacefully offer Chan/Zen Buddhism teachings to the locals. Eventually a few become Zen Buddhists, though with their own little interpretations.
Tschann Buddhism and the Schaulinn Monastery was a dream-inspired idea. Basically a thought experiment, where by Chinese language and culture is introduced into Germany somehow and eventually flourishes. It doesn't replace German language and culture, nor does it become dominant. However, it continues to thrive and influence Germany and Europe as a whole up to modern times. Most noticeably in the field of martial arts and religion, due to the sort of Chinese people that enter into Europe.
As for plausibility, screw plausibility! It's just an idea that has been in swirling in my mind for a while now, one which I want to write down in story form. So I hope you all enjoy it and don't take it too seriously.
In terms of precise time periods and locations, I thought that obsessing too much on it would drain my creative juices. So I left those to the reader's imagination and discretion.
YOUR MANCUNIAN BADGER FIST IS NO MATCH FOR MY SCHAULINN WOLVERINE FIST!!!
Note: Thanks to my German friend, Roger with translation and transliteration help.
The Abbot of the Shaolin Monastery chooses a select bunch of elite monks for an introspective and religious journey west to India. However they get majorly lost and find themselves in a remote corner of Germany, well, the Germanic area of Europe anyway. The monks too far from home and out of resources, accept the hospitality of the locals. In time, they build a monastery resembling that of the one back home on Songshan.
As a sign of gratitude, they accept locals in for Shaolin training. The monks also take it upon themselves to peacefully offer Chan/Zen Buddhism teachings to the locals. Eventually a few become Zen Buddhists, though with their own little interpretations.
Tschann Buddhism and the Schaulinn Monastery was a dream-inspired idea. Basically a thought experiment, where by Chinese language and culture is introduced into Germany somehow and eventually flourishes. It doesn't replace German language and culture, nor does it become dominant. However, it continues to thrive and influence Germany and Europe as a whole up to modern times. Most noticeably in the field of martial arts and religion, due to the sort of Chinese people that enter into Europe.
As for plausibility, screw plausibility! It's just an idea that has been in swirling in my mind for a while now, one which I want to write down in story form. So I hope you all enjoy it and don't take it too seriously.
In terms of precise time periods and locations, I thought that obsessing too much on it would drain my creative juices. So I left those to the reader's imagination and discretion.
YOUR MANCUNIAN BADGER FIST IS NO MATCH FOR MY SCHAULINN WOLVERINE FIST!!!
Note: Thanks to my German friend, Roger with translation and transliteration help.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Cities and Women :-P
When I occasionally asked my grandmother about her travels, she would often remark, "我什麼地方都去過,我能說最美麗的地方也是最醜的地方" (Translation: I've been around the world and I can surely say that the most beautiful places are also the ugliest)
It took me a while to understand what she meant by this. I had to travel around a little bit and there are indeed many more places on my travel list. However, I have come to the conclusion that grandma's words were true indeed. The dual contradictory nature and combination of beauty and ugliness in many of the world's great cities is probably what contributes to their greatness in the first place.
It got me to thinking about Perth and my feeling's about it. I would have to say that, in general, Perth is nice, clean, quiet and boring. Neither beautiful, nor ugly. Naturally, in my sick twisted mind, I made analogies involving women in regards to my ideal city.
As I told a friend, I like Perth, she's a nice kind lass. However she's sort of that plain chick that I wouldn't mind falling back on and settling down with if nothing else worked out in the future.
Unfortunately I'm attracted to the loud brash but incredibly sexy bitch who fucks my brains out but always stomps me on the nuts as well. She's frantic, she constantly mouths off, makes me feel small, she just doesn't give a rat's ass.
Sometimes she might show that she cares, she kisses, caresses and embraces me tenderly. She even makes me a delicious sandwich occasionally. Then afterwards, she goes back to ball busting me.
From what I've read and seen, such sexy bitches would be NYC, Beijing, Taipei and London.
At the end of the day, I doubt that I could make it work long-term with any of these sexy bitches, they'd probably wear me down. But I'd sure love to try, just to experience the food, culture, history, artchitecture and lifestyle. I'm sure, the nice girl back at home will forgive me for my transgressions and welcome me back. :-P
In saying that, that nice plain girl does have a few of her own problems, which I'll probably discuss later on in another blog entry. In the mean time, I think the blog linked below explores those problems rather interestingly.
http://www.6000times.com/
It took me a while to understand what she meant by this. I had to travel around a little bit and there are indeed many more places on my travel list. However, I have come to the conclusion that grandma's words were true indeed. The dual contradictory nature and combination of beauty and ugliness in many of the world's great cities is probably what contributes to their greatness in the first place.
It got me to thinking about Perth and my feeling's about it. I would have to say that, in general, Perth is nice, clean, quiet and boring. Neither beautiful, nor ugly. Naturally, in my sick twisted mind, I made analogies involving women in regards to my ideal city.
As I told a friend, I like Perth, she's a nice kind lass. However she's sort of that plain chick that I wouldn't mind falling back on and settling down with if nothing else worked out in the future.
Unfortunately I'm attracted to the loud brash but incredibly sexy bitch who fucks my brains out but always stomps me on the nuts as well. She's frantic, she constantly mouths off, makes me feel small, she just doesn't give a rat's ass.
Sometimes she might show that she cares, she kisses, caresses and embraces me tenderly. She even makes me a delicious sandwich occasionally. Then afterwards, she goes back to ball busting me.
From what I've read and seen, such sexy bitches would be NYC, Beijing, Taipei and London.
At the end of the day, I doubt that I could make it work long-term with any of these sexy bitches, they'd probably wear me down. But I'd sure love to try, just to experience the food, culture, history, artchitecture and lifestyle. I'm sure, the nice girl back at home will forgive me for my transgressions and welcome me back. :-P
In saying that, that nice plain girl does have a few of her own problems, which I'll probably discuss later on in another blog entry. In the mean time, I think the blog linked below explores those problems rather interestingly.
http://www.6000times.com/
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Quick thoughts on this year, 2011
One has to wonder if 2011 is the Year of the Alien Space Bats?! :-P I call for the Butterfly Effect to be renamed the Tunisian Fruit Vendor effect.
With so many anniversaries crammed into this year, along with the great number of natural disasters and political events, the Gods must have been bored and decided that this year was the year to have fun.
Take into consideration, some of these anniversaries
100 years ago, the Xinhai Revolution was launched in China.
20 years ago, MJ and the Bulls won their first championship.
20 years ago as well, the USSR collapsed.
50 years, construction began on the Berlin Wall.
1300 years ago, the Ummayad Caliphate invaded the Iberian peninsula.
I could go on ;-) Is there something unique about years that end in "1"?
We have had floods, droughts and state-sized cyclones in Australia this year. Massive typhoons in SE Asia. An Earthquake in Japan and subsequent nuclear meltdown. The so-called Arab Spring across the Middle East. The Revolution in Libya. The anti-corruption protests in India sparked by Anna Hazare's own protests. This year just seems so intense, and there's still another 4 months to go. I'm both curious and a little worried as to what still might come.
With so many anniversaries crammed into this year, along with the great number of natural disasters and political events, the Gods must have been bored and decided that this year was the year to have fun.
Take into consideration, some of these anniversaries
100 years ago, the Xinhai Revolution was launched in China.
20 years ago, MJ and the Bulls won their first championship.
20 years ago as well, the USSR collapsed.
50 years, construction began on the Berlin Wall.
1300 years ago, the Ummayad Caliphate invaded the Iberian peninsula.
I could go on ;-) Is there something unique about years that end in "1"?
We have had floods, droughts and state-sized cyclones in Australia this year. Massive typhoons in SE Asia. An Earthquake in Japan and subsequent nuclear meltdown. The so-called Arab Spring across the Middle East. The Revolution in Libya. The anti-corruption protests in India sparked by Anna Hazare's own protests. This year just seems so intense, and there's still another 4 months to go. I'm both curious and a little worried as to what still might come.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Weeping for my "Mother"
I sometimes weep for my "Mother"
She never had a decent choice to take.
It was either the constantly-high, drunk, lazy abusive husband or the cunning manipulative rapist.
I guess the constantly-high, drunk, lazy abusive husband eventually fixed up his act and showed that he could change. However he had to be kicked out the door to do so. I don't think he would have changed much had he managed to stick around.
The rapist constantly convinces my "Mother" that he is good to her and that she needs him dearly. Despite what has been done her, she has been brainwashed to believe her rapist's words and indeed has been placed in a vicious cycle of pain with dependency.
I hope that one day, my "Mother" is truly emancipated and can truly experience freedom and happiness.
NOTE: I'm not talking about my real mother. ;-)
She never had a decent choice to take.
It was either the constantly-high, drunk, lazy abusive husband or the cunning manipulative rapist.
I guess the constantly-high, drunk, lazy abusive husband eventually fixed up his act and showed that he could change. However he had to be kicked out the door to do so. I don't think he would have changed much had he managed to stick around.
The rapist constantly convinces my "Mother" that he is good to her and that she needs him dearly. Despite what has been done her, she has been brainwashed to believe her rapist's words and indeed has been placed in a vicious cycle of pain with dependency.
I hope that one day, my "Mother" is truly emancipated and can truly experience freedom and happiness.
NOTE: I'm not talking about my real mother. ;-)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Family Genetic Ancestry
Just a short post guys, just something that came to mind randomly.
A re-examining of my family's genetic ancestry has led to some interesting thoughts.
One source for these interesting thoughts are my recollections of Grandpa. He had blue eyes, which might indicate Caucasian ancestry. I also remember him being fond of sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn, crops which originated in Central and South America. Then again, these foods are quite popular in China in modern times, so it doesn't seem so odd for him to have enjoyed these foods.
Was Grandpa really an Amerindian 鬼佬?! Hmm...
My father's ancestry thoroughly intrigues me as well. From first glance, Dad doesn't look to me like a typical "Han" Chinese person at all. I once read a National Geographic article which traced the ancestry of a supposedly "pure" Frenchman, he was shocked to discover African and Asian ancestors from relatively recent times (within the past few thousand years).
I would love to do some proper research, even testing, I'm not sure where to start though. Are there any institutes nearby that trace family ancestry?
Any readers out there who can help, that would be much appreciated!
A re-examining of my family's genetic ancestry has led to some interesting thoughts.
One source for these interesting thoughts are my recollections of Grandpa. He had blue eyes, which might indicate Caucasian ancestry. I also remember him being fond of sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn, crops which originated in Central and South America. Then again, these foods are quite popular in China in modern times, so it doesn't seem so odd for him to have enjoyed these foods.
Was Grandpa really an Amerindian 鬼佬?! Hmm...
My father's ancestry thoroughly intrigues me as well. From first glance, Dad doesn't look to me like a typical "Han" Chinese person at all. I once read a National Geographic article which traced the ancestry of a supposedly "pure" Frenchman, he was shocked to discover African and Asian ancestors from relatively recent times (within the past few thousand years).
I would love to do some proper research, even testing, I'm not sure where to start though. Are there any institutes nearby that trace family ancestry?
Any readers out there who can help, that would be much appreciated!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
人生十四最- Life's 14 Greatest
This refers to a little list that has been hanging around Mum's home for all of my life, it ties strongly in with her Buddhist beliefs. However I do believe it has value to anyone, even if they are Non-Buddhist or even Non-religious for that matter. Until my English was at a decent level and when I could also actually read some of the Chinese characters, I really never valued it myself. However nowadays, I find it rather inspiring and thought I'd share it with anyone bothered to read.
And yes, the English translations are below the Chinese characters.
1) 人生最大的敵人是自己
Life's greatest enemy is oneself.
2) 人生最大的失敗是自大
Life's greatest failure is arrogance.
3) 人生最大的欺騙是無知
Life's greatest deception is ignorance.
4) 人生最可哀的是嫉妒
Life's greatest sorrow is envy.
5) 人生最大的錯誤是自棄
Life's greatest error is abandoning oneself.
6) 人生最大的罪過自欺欺人
Life's greatest sin is to deceive oneself.
7) 人生最可憐的性情是自卑
Life's greatest pitiable disposition is self-pity.
8) 人生最可佩服是精進
Life's greatest admiration is the choice to move on.
9) 人生最大的破產是絕望
Life's greatest insolvency is despair.
10) 人生最大的財富是健康
Life's greatest wealth is good health.
11) 人生最大的債服是人情債
Life's greatest liability is a debt of human sympathy.
12) 人生最大的禮物是寬恕
Life's greatest gift is forgiveness
13) 人生最大的缺欠石悲智
Life's greatest imperfection is melancholy wisdom.
14) 人生最大的欣慰是布施
Life's greatest gratification is give to charity.
I hope treasure it as much as I have, this might be made up of simple words (though I still had to look a few up in the dictionary, Chinese that is :-P) but I believe they offer great value and insight.
And yes, the English translations are below the Chinese characters.
1) 人生最大的敵人是自己
Life's greatest enemy is oneself.
2) 人生最大的失敗是自大
Life's greatest failure is arrogance.
3) 人生最大的欺騙是無知
Life's greatest deception is ignorance.
4) 人生最可哀的是嫉妒
Life's greatest sorrow is envy.
5) 人生最大的錯誤是自棄
Life's greatest error is abandoning oneself.
6) 人生最大的罪過自欺欺人
Life's greatest sin is to deceive oneself.
7) 人生最可憐的性情是自卑
Life's greatest pitiable disposition is self-pity.
8) 人生最可佩服是精進
Life's greatest admiration is the choice to move on.
9) 人生最大的破產是絕望
Life's greatest insolvency is despair.
10) 人生最大的財富是健康
Life's greatest wealth is good health.
11) 人生最大的債服是人情債
Life's greatest liability is a debt of human sympathy.
12) 人生最大的禮物是寬恕
Life's greatest gift is forgiveness
13) 人生最大的缺欠石悲智
Life's greatest imperfection is melancholy wisdom.
14) 人生最大的欣慰是布施
Life's greatest gratification is give to charity.
I hope treasure it as much as I have, this might be made up of simple words (though I still had to look a few up in the dictionary, Chinese that is :-P) but I believe they offer great value and insight.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Red, White and Blue (Australia Day post)
Red, White and Blue: Such a common theme for the flags of Mankind. People have embraced vileness and hatred due to these colours. People have embraced and cared for others because of these colours. People have fought and died for these colours. Others have chosen to celebrate and live live to the fullest with the colours in their heart. Who would have though that such three simple colours could have such an effect!
The Taiwanese have 同心同德，贯彻始终， 晴天白日满地红 as a motto. So stoic!
Hmm, I don't know if Aussies really have any motto explicitly tied to the flag though.
I would be lying if I said that I have no opinions on Australia Day and the flag it bears. I guess since no-one really reads this,Ｉcan air my opinions right?
I haven't attended a proper celebration of Australia Day in many years, especially not the ones for the fireworks. I think the fireworks are repetitive, loud and crappy excuse to pollute the air. The firework celebrations also breed awful behaviour, at least the years I went, especially those held near the city and foreshore. The people I encountered were loud, rude, littered everywhere and probably used the day as an excuse to get blind drunk and belligerent.
Perhaps I was swayed by the flag bearing ceremony in Taipei on New Years. It was massive and crowded, but I saw no serious incidents at all. Sincere patriotism was shown, but the crowd was civil and polite. There were foreigners there as well, waving the ROC flag as well, on a cold windy Taipei night, this made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Everytime I left the fireworks, I would feel a little disgusted, especially seeing the incredible amount of rubbish left on the grounds. The only real reason whyＩever attended was because I love Dad and I enjoy spending time with him and bonding with him. My mother never wanted to go and my brother (who's much older) always celebrated with his mates. I also had a few minor racial encounters which angered me quite a bit. So I decided a few years ago, that I wouldn't bother going.
Maybe I should just hold a quiet barbeque at home with some family and friends. :-P
As for the flag, what was I going to say? I dislike the design, not for any ideological and nationalistic reasons, I just dislike it aesthetically. I think it's an ugly flag. For those who argue that the Union Jack no longer represents Australia, well Australia is still technically a dominion and Queen Elizabeth the Second is still the Head of State. I think my demand for a change in flag design is kind of selfish on my part :-P So I don't really pursue it seriously. I think for now, the ugly-ass flag will do. However when or if Australia does ever change into a republic, then obviously a new design should seriously be considered.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. Whatever your opinions are of your own country and the flag it bears, I hope everyone has a lovely day today, enjoys themselves and keeps the brotherhood (and sisterhood) of man in their hearts especially with what is happening in Queensland and other afflicted places around the globe. I know for some this day has a bad history, but so do a lot of national days I guess around the world, let bygones be bygones and be nice to one another ;-)
Best regards,思捷
The Taiwanese have 同心同德，贯彻始终， 晴天白日满地红 as a motto. So stoic!
Hmm, I don't know if Aussies really have any motto explicitly tied to the flag though.
I would be lying if I said that I have no opinions on Australia Day and the flag it bears. I guess since no-one really reads this,Ｉcan air my opinions right?
I haven't attended a proper celebration of Australia Day in many years, especially not the ones for the fireworks. I think the fireworks are repetitive, loud and crappy excuse to pollute the air. The firework celebrations also breed awful behaviour, at least the years I went, especially those held near the city and foreshore. The people I encountered were loud, rude, littered everywhere and probably used the day as an excuse to get blind drunk and belligerent.
Perhaps I was swayed by the flag bearing ceremony in Taipei on New Years. It was massive and crowded, but I saw no serious incidents at all. Sincere patriotism was shown, but the crowd was civil and polite. There were foreigners there as well, waving the ROC flag as well, on a cold windy Taipei night, this made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Everytime I left the fireworks, I would feel a little disgusted, especially seeing the incredible amount of rubbish left on the grounds. The only real reason whyＩever attended was because I love Dad and I enjoy spending time with him and bonding with him. My mother never wanted to go and my brother (who's much older) always celebrated with his mates. I also had a few minor racial encounters which angered me quite a bit. So I decided a few years ago, that I wouldn't bother going.
Maybe I should just hold a quiet barbeque at home with some family and friends. :-P
As for the flag, what was I going to say? I dislike the design, not for any ideological and nationalistic reasons, I just dislike it aesthetically. I think it's an ugly flag. For those who argue that the Union Jack no longer represents Australia, well Australia is still technically a dominion and Queen Elizabeth the Second is still the Head of State. I think my demand for a change in flag design is kind of selfish on my part :-P So I don't really pursue it seriously. I think for now, the ugly-ass flag will do. However when or if Australia does ever change into a republic, then obviously a new design should seriously be considered.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. Whatever your opinions are of your own country and the flag it bears, I hope everyone has a lovely day today, enjoys themselves and keeps the brotherhood (and sisterhood) of man in their hearts especially with what is happening in Queensland and other afflicted places around the globe. I know for some this day has a bad history, but so do a lot of national days I guess around the world, let bygones be bygones and be nice to one another ;-)
Best regards,思捷
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gripes with EFL Phonics Series
I'm in Taiwan for my summer vacation and whilst I'm over here, I'm volunteering (as part of a student organisation called AIESEC) for an elementary school as an English teacher. So far it's quite a fun and interesting job, however there are at times, some parts that get me down. Today I'll just quickly talk about the EFL phonics series as I have little spare time to write about my time here in Taiwan and the other aspects of the job in detailed fashion.
I've only realised how long it has been since I had finished Elementary school (way back in 1999)when one of the teachers asked me to create an answer guide for the EFL Phonics series of books. These books introduce the sounds of the English language through the presentation of sometimes utterly nonsensical and whimsical sentences. I assume this is done to hold the interest of the students. It brought back fond memories, but then when I started work on the books, I had begun to be thoroughly irritated.
This was through no fault of the books or it's authors, they're just doing their jobs of educating children. I'm just the type of person who has this irritating trait of curiousity and for asking too many questions. Also, the trait of delving too deeply into things to possibly find hidden meanings and implicatons, as you have witnessed previously with my rant against the Cheng and Tsui Integrated Chinese series (on which I have gradually mellowed my position).
I lament the fact that I must abandon all logic when I'm creating answer guides for the exercises of the EFL Phonics series. Again it comes down to those ridiculous sentences. Such as,
"The ram has a ham"
Why does the ram (a herbivore) have a ham? Is it just playing with the ham or is it some mutant carnivorous ram which has developed an appetite? Should we be worrying about mutant carnivorous rams, is there a danger that they might eventually develop a taste for human flesh?
or "The ham is on the dam"
Why is the ham on the dam, what purpose does it serve being there? In the picture, the ham is almost as wide as the dam itself, this huge ham could feed a lot people but instead it is sitting on a dam rotting away. What a shame.
or even "The bugs cut the bun"
How are the bugs able to cut a bun? Most bugs that I know of have neither the dexterity or strength to use a knife properly. Again should we worry about these obviously genetically or otherwise engineered insects that are able to handle utensils and neatly slice a bun in half.
Anyway, I'm probably just thinking way too much about this. I just felt like another rant :-D When I find the time, I'll write about my time in Taiwan and my experiences until and maybe even another World Music entry.
Until then, that's for me now. Comments are much appreciated, well I give you much thanks if you even decided to spend your time reading this blog much less comment on it.
Regards, 思捷.
I've only realised how long it has been since I had finished Elementary school (way back in 1999)when one of the teachers asked me to create an answer guide for the EFL Phonics series of books. These books introduce the sounds of the English language through the presentation of sometimes utterly nonsensical and whimsical sentences. I assume this is done to hold the interest of the students. It brought back fond memories, but then when I started work on the books, I had begun to be thoroughly irritated.
This was through no fault of the books or it's authors, they're just doing their jobs of educating children. I'm just the type of person who has this irritating trait of curiousity and for asking too many questions. Also, the trait of delving too deeply into things to possibly find hidden meanings and implicatons, as you have witnessed previously with my rant against the Cheng and Tsui Integrated Chinese series (on which I have gradually mellowed my position).
I lament the fact that I must abandon all logic when I'm creating answer guides for the exercises of the EFL Phonics series. Again it comes down to those ridiculous sentences. Such as,
"The ram has a ham"
Why does the ram (a herbivore) have a ham? Is it just playing with the ham or is it some mutant carnivorous ram which has developed an appetite? Should we be worrying about mutant carnivorous rams, is there a danger that they might eventually develop a taste for human flesh?
or "The ham is on the dam"
Why is the ham on the dam, what purpose does it serve being there? In the picture, the ham is almost as wide as the dam itself, this huge ham could feed a lot people but instead it is sitting on a dam rotting away. What a shame.
or even "The bugs cut the bun"
How are the bugs able to cut a bun? Most bugs that I know of have neither the dexterity or strength to use a knife properly. Again should we worry about these obviously genetically or otherwise engineered insects that are able to handle utensils and neatly slice a bun in half.
Anyway, I'm probably just thinking way too much about this. I just felt like another rant :-D When I find the time, I'll write about my time in Taiwan and my experiences until and maybe even another World Music entry.
Until then, that's for me now. Comments are much appreciated, well I give you much thanks if you even decided to spend your time reading this blog much less comment on it.
Regards, 思捷.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Anthropomorphic animals in children's programs freak me out!
When I was growing up, I didn't think much about anthropomorphic animals in kids cartoons. These kind of programs provided learning opportunities or entertainment or just a time to unwind after school.
But now as an adult, I am freaked out by the implications presented by these programs. Granted, it probably is just me delving too deeply in mostly innocent programs catering to kids from around 6-12 years old. But then just as Star Trek and some other sci-fi shows mainly presents a utopian view of future humanity without showing the wars, famines and massacres that surely featured in the precursor to this utopia; these childrens programs don't show what happened beforehand to create a world where monkeys, pigs, dogs and cats are driving cars, working, cooking, reading newspapers and running infrastructure.
Where the hell are the humans?! Did genetic splicing and uplifting go too far? Maybe the humans wanted some intelligent yet subservient animals that they could rely on for chores and other sorts of tasks. Then, did the uplifted animals just get tired of subservience and mankind's crap in general? Did they band together, rise up and kill all of their former masters? Or perhaps, because of these programs are targeted at children, the humans which have been fortunately spared are not shown, maybe they are used as slave labour or for some other nefarious purposes which our various future animalian overlords have.
There is one program in particular which perplexes me.
It is Arthur, now this was one of the favourites of my childhood. I watched it almost religiously during my childhood. But nowadays,it just doesn't provide the same entertainment and in fact, provides some strange questions.
What disturbs me most in this screwed up Arthur fictional world is that these uplifted animals did not learn from their prior idiotic human masters and decided to keep ethnic and religious divisions. It is mentioned several times that Maxine (a monkey) and her family are Jewish and that Brains (a bear)and their family are black or assumedly so as they celebrate Kwanzaa. I personally don't see the need for these animals to perpetuate race and religion. I mean, I get the purpose, the writers of Arthur want to promote multiculturalism and tolerance, and that's something good to teach kids. But I don't see why inherently human concepts would serve any purpose for these animals, but hey that's just me.
Also Buster, a rabbit eating meat by the kilo and Arthur, an aardvark eating everything else but ants, is seriously fucked up. Also in Arthur, the Dogs own smaller less intelligent (like the ones we're used) pet dogs, this seriously freaks me out, it's like the makers of the show want to subtly imprint a message of slavery. But then again, the pet dogs are pampered and fed well, so perhaps not.
Anyway I just felt the need to share this thought, I know I rant about some really irrelevant things and that sometimes I might make more out something than I should do. However, it's been on my mind ever since my last viewing of Arthur.
But now as an adult, I am freaked out by the implications presented by these programs. Granted, it probably is just me delving too deeply in mostly innocent programs catering to kids from around 6-12 years old. But then just as Star Trek and some other sci-fi shows mainly presents a utopian view of future humanity without showing the wars, famines and massacres that surely featured in the precursor to this utopia; these childrens programs don't show what happened beforehand to create a world where monkeys, pigs, dogs and cats are driving cars, working, cooking, reading newspapers and running infrastructure.
Where the hell are the humans?! Did genetic splicing and uplifting go too far? Maybe the humans wanted some intelligent yet subservient animals that they could rely on for chores and other sorts of tasks. Then, did the uplifted animals just get tired of subservience and mankind's crap in general? Did they band together, rise up and kill all of their former masters? Or perhaps, because of these programs are targeted at children, the humans which have been fortunately spared are not shown, maybe they are used as slave labour or for some other nefarious purposes which our various future animalian overlords have.
There is one program in particular which perplexes me.
It is Arthur, now this was one of the favourites of my childhood. I watched it almost religiously during my childhood. But nowadays,it just doesn't provide the same entertainment and in fact, provides some strange questions.
What disturbs me most in this screwed up Arthur fictional world is that these uplifted animals did not learn from their prior idiotic human masters and decided to keep ethnic and religious divisions. It is mentioned several times that Maxine (a monkey) and her family are Jewish and that Brains (a bear)and their family are black or assumedly so as they celebrate Kwanzaa. I personally don't see the need for these animals to perpetuate race and religion. I mean, I get the purpose, the writers of Arthur want to promote multiculturalism and tolerance, and that's something good to teach kids. But I don't see why inherently human concepts would serve any purpose for these animals, but hey that's just me.
Also Buster, a rabbit eating meat by the kilo and Arthur, an aardvark eating everything else but ants, is seriously fucked up. Also in Arthur, the Dogs own smaller less intelligent (like the ones we're used) pet dogs, this seriously freaks me out, it's like the makers of the show want to subtly imprint a message of slavery. But then again, the pet dogs are pampered and fed well, so perhaps not.
Anyway I just felt the need to share this thought, I know I rant about some really irrelevant things and that sometimes I might make more out something than I should do. However, it's been on my mind ever since my last viewing of Arthur.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
思捷 (Sijie) does World Music 1: Qawwali
A friend recommended that I post my musical interests as he found them interesting , I believe my writing skills are inadequate for critiquing and am no real authority on world music. So the purposes of posting these entries are to introduce possible readers to just a small part of my musical tastes and just a little bit of information on the genres discussed.
I've been into so called world music for a long while now, I'm not really sure how it came about, but I've had a passion for languages for as long as I can remember and so I guess music correlates with that somewhat. I simply love listening to music from other cultures in other languages besides English. I'll give any genre a listen, and I'd say from personal experience, I've mostly been rewarded. In this entry, I'll just give short introduction to a genre called Qawwali, however to my knowledge it is also called Sufiana.
Qawwali is a form of music that is most popular in Southern Pakistan and Northern India. Qawwali is usually a large group effort, with a few singers and instrument players. Instruments used in Qawwali to accompany the group of singers include the tabla, dholak (a low pitch drum) and the harmonium, handclapping is also used to achieve some rhythmic effect. It is said that it's steadily building percussive and melodic layers have a somewhat hypnotic effect and can induce euphoria in listeners. Personally, the longest Qawwali song I've listened to is around 15 minutes long and though I wasn't exactly euphoric, it was quite a pleasant listening experience.
The vocals are usually in Punjabi, Hindi or Urdu, however other languages are occasionally used. I've only heard Qawwali in the former three languages. Qawwali historically was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by travelling sufis (Islamic missionaries) from the Middle East. As such, a lot of Qawwali has strong Islamic flavour often including poetry, quranic verses and the such. However a significant amount of songs also have secular lyrics, many being devotional love songs. Though from what I've read, some of these devotional love songs can be re-interpreted as being devotional to Islam.
As I'm not a muslim nor do I have a working knowledge of Hindi/Urdu, I usually listen to Qawwali for pure listening pleasure's sake. Personally I just love the melodies, percussive elements and strong vocals . I'm really fond of Hindi/Urdu poetry and lyrics, to me they possess a lovely aesthetic. I personally don't know many artists at all, my favourite is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who sadly passed away in 1997. In a sense, it can be said his musical legacy has been carried on by his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, whose music I also enjoy, though I haven't had the real opportunity of being exposed to much of it.
If anyone out there has more artists to recommend for me, I gladly appreciate it. I'd really like to expand my collection for Qawwali/Sufiana.
Below I've posted two songs, just to give you a taste of what the genre is like.
Allah Hoo- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Long Version Part 1
Long Version Part 2
Short Version (I prefer this one)
Aaya Tere Dar Par from the Veer Zaara soundtrack- Ahmed Hussain, Mohd. Hussain, Mohd. Vakil, Javed Hussain (A longer 7 minute edition is available on the Veer-Zaara soundtrack)
^This one has English subtitles, so that you can know more about the lyrics.
Enjoy and feel free to offer feedback!
I've been into so called world music for a long while now, I'm not really sure how it came about, but I've had a passion for languages for as long as I can remember and so I guess music correlates with that somewhat. I simply love listening to music from other cultures in other languages besides English. I'll give any genre a listen, and I'd say from personal experience, I've mostly been rewarded. In this entry, I'll just give short introduction to a genre called Qawwali, however to my knowledge it is also called Sufiana.
Qawwali is a form of music that is most popular in Southern Pakistan and Northern India. Qawwali is usually a large group effort, with a few singers and instrument players. Instruments used in Qawwali to accompany the group of singers include the tabla, dholak (a low pitch drum) and the harmonium, handclapping is also used to achieve some rhythmic effect. It is said that it's steadily building percussive and melodic layers have a somewhat hypnotic effect and can induce euphoria in listeners. Personally, the longest Qawwali song I've listened to is around 15 minutes long and though I wasn't exactly euphoric, it was quite a pleasant listening experience.
The vocals are usually in Punjabi, Hindi or Urdu, however other languages are occasionally used. I've only heard Qawwali in the former three languages. Qawwali historically was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by travelling sufis (Islamic missionaries) from the Middle East. As such, a lot of Qawwali has strong Islamic flavour often including poetry, quranic verses and the such. However a significant amount of songs also have secular lyrics, many being devotional love songs. Though from what I've read, some of these devotional love songs can be re-interpreted as being devotional to Islam.
As I'm not a muslim nor do I have a working knowledge of Hindi/Urdu, I usually listen to Qawwali for pure listening pleasure's sake. Personally I just love the melodies, percussive elements and strong vocals . I'm really fond of Hindi/Urdu poetry and lyrics, to me they possess a lovely aesthetic. I personally don't know many artists at all, my favourite is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who sadly passed away in 1997. In a sense, it can be said his musical legacy has been carried on by his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, whose music I also enjoy, though I haven't had the real opportunity of being exposed to much of it.
If anyone out there has more artists to recommend for me, I gladly appreciate it. I'd really like to expand my collection for Qawwali/Sufiana.
Below I've posted two songs, just to give you a taste of what the genre is like.
Allah Hoo- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Long Version Part 1
Long Version Part 2
Short Version (I prefer this one)
Aaya Tere Dar Par from the Veer Zaara soundtrack- Ahmed Hussain, Mohd. Hussain, Mohd. Vakil, Javed Hussain (A longer 7 minute edition is available on the Veer-Zaara soundtrack)
^This one has English subtitles, so that you can know more about the lyrics.
Enjoy and feel free to offer feedback!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Essay for a university unit
Once in a while, I like to ditch with the crude stories, jingoism, slang and obscene language to present a softer more intellectual side of myself.
This was one of the essays which I handed in recently. Admittedly I'm somewhat of an amateur when it comes to essay-writing, but nonetheless, I hope any readers of this enjoy!
Transmigration: Was Indonesia used as Java’s Playground?
By Sijie Liang
Introduction
A common trend for most nations throughout the 20th century has been a period of dramatically high population growth due to an improvement of agriculture and healthcare. Such high growth then led to pressures such as overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure and inequality of living standards. Such pressures in turn led governments to pursue different measures of population control. Some of these population controls were remarkably popular and successful whilst others failed to lessen such pressures and in some cases agitated other problems.
Indonesia has been no different and has followed such a pattern of high population growth then implementation of different methods of population control. In this essay I’ll attempt to assert that Transmigration, one of the more notable government population control initiatives, has failed in delivering true impact to Indonesia’s population pressures and in fact has triggered a legacy of social problems.
Brief population background of Indonesia
As of 2009, the total population of Indonesia is just under 240 million. Over two thirds of the population reside on the major islands of Java and Sumatra, which together make up only roughly a third of the total land area. Growth rates of moderate projection are set to increase the population to around 288 million within 40 years. (UN Population Division Database, 2010)
With a land area of approximately 1.9 million sq kilometres, this corresponds to an average density of around 120 people per sq km. However this figure is by no means accurate or consistent across Indonesia. Java for example has an average density of roughly 1003 per sq km which heavily exceeds the national average whilst sparsely populated regions such as Kalimantan and Papua have rather low densities of 12 and 6 per sq km respectively. (EIU Views Wire, 2008)
In turn, those regions with high densities also have high population pressures such as overcrowding in major cities. These population pressures have led the government to introduce various population control methods such as transmigration, which will be discussed later on in this essay.
One relatively successful government population control initiative has been its various family planning programs. These have been in place since the 1960s and have been responsible in reducing the total fertility rate of roughly 5.7 children to a woman to just 2.4, which is just above the replacement rate. (EIU ViewsWire, 2008)
However population growth as we will see throughout is only one of the many population issues which affects Indonesia.
Population Pressures of the “Inner” Islands
As mentioned above, population density is not consistent across the Indonesian archipelago. The majority of the population resides on the so called Inner Islands of Bali, Java and Madura. The population densities on these islands far exceed the national average. Historically the rich volcanic soils of the islands were extremely suitable for wet-rice cultivation and could thus support large populations. (Connor, 2004)
Consequently with these higher populations, the inner islands experience many population pressures such as overcrowding, inequitable distribution of wealth and limited ownership of land. Population pressures are also the direct and indirect causes of many other issues such as pollution, inadequate sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and environmental degradation.
The disparity of population density along with the population pressures of the Inner Islands was the main impetus for conception of the Transmigration policy.
Origins of Transmigration
The concept of transmigration or in Indonesian, Transmigrasi involves a redistribution of the population through re-settling people of one province into another province. This could be done for many reasons including cultural, economic and political concerns. Transmigration itself was one of the major cornerstones of the population control policy of many former Indonesian governments.
The transmigration policies gathered steam during the respective Sukarno and Suharto regimes, where they were promoted as a way of alleviating population pressure and improving national cohesion. However the concept of transmigration itself has significant historical roots which date back to the Dutch colonial government. In 1905, a “colonisation” program was started to resettle people from the crowded inner islands to outer islands, so that cheap labour could be provided to the plantations there. (Connor, 2004)
Aims of Transmigration
The initial and main aims of the transmigration were
1) Demographically balancing Indonesia by redistributing the population by resettling people from the crowded inner islands (Java, Madura, Bali) to more sparsely populated regions such as Kalimantan and Papua.
2) Alleviating poverty by providing land and new economic opportunities to generate income for poor landless settlers.
3) Exploiting more effectively the "potential" of the "outer islands".
However critics of the transmigration program state that other possible aims include cultural assimilation of local ethnic groups through the resettling of Javanese transmigrants as well as suppression of local culture. (Adhiati and Bobsien, 2001)
Legacies of Transmigration
Whilst the policy of transmigration was officially abandoned in 2000, inter-island migration still continues as many Indonesians look around for better economic opportunities than they otherwise would have at home. Running for more than 40 years, the transmigration policy has left many legacies and immense social change. (Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service, 2000)
One of the very obvious legacies of Transmigration is the demographic and ethnic transformation of the Outer Islands. An overwhelming majority of transmigrants were Javanese. This led to the policy of transmigration being criticised as a convenient form of Javanese cultural assertion and assimilation, rather than a genuine attempt of population redistribution and poverty alleviation.
However ethnic groups such as the Balinese, Buginese and Madurese have also created sizable communities in regions such as Kalimantan, Papua and the Maluku Islands where prior to transmigration; they only had very minimal presence. Economic competition and local accusations of oppressive government treatment in regards to land and civil rights have triggered intermittent ethnic violence.
Another major legacy of Transmigration is that of environmentally destructive practices. Transmigrants were encouraged by the central government to clear vast tracks of land to plant rice and other major crops. Consequently, huge areas of ecologically important rainforest in Kalimantan were cleared which in turn worsened the air quality of the region. The environmental damage was also economically damaging as transmigrants eventually found that the cleared land had rather poor soils which translated to poor yields of rice and crops. The transmigrants and the government had essentially invested vast resources and effort on a very unproductive venture.
Lastly a major irony of the transmigration policies was the drive for people from the outer islands to migrate to the inner islands of Bali, Java and Madura to find more opportunities. This was partly due to chronic poverty; however it also was from the economic competition posed by transmigrants. There was close to no restriction on these outer island migrants, therefore the effect of transmigration was close to negligible. (Adhiati and Bobsien, 2001)(Davidson and Kammen, 2002)(Connor, 2004)
Conclusion
Transmigration seems to have been a failed program, in that its core aims have been largely inadequately dealt with. With population pressures and poverty not being alleviated by the levels anticipated by the Indonesian government, the transmigration program also had many flaws in its implementations and results. These flaws in turn have had drastic consequences for the natural environment and ethnic relations within the country.
Despite the failure of the transmigration programs, the strong need for effective policies and plans to deal with population pressures still remains in Indonesia. Indonesia, especially its “inner” islands faces many challenges in the decades to come from population pressures and growth. Family planning programs and improvements in living standards have helped to dramatically reduce fertility rates; however relative momentum will mean that Indonesia’s population will continue to grow significantly. In the long-term, this means that transmigration might have to be revisited albeit in a new more culturally sensitive and well implemented fashion; as a way to reduce overcrowding through population redistribution.
Whichever measures of population pressure control are eventually adopted, the responsibility for long-term planning and careful implementation is inherent. In addition Indonesian governments at various levels, state institutions and society must balance such measures with other interests such as ethnic diversity, environmental protection and economic growth. A population pressure control method which does not take these factors into consideration is bound to fail just as transmigration did.
REFERENCES
Adhiati, M.A.S. and Bobsien, A. 2001. Indonesia's Transmigration Programme - An Update. A report prepared for Down To Earth http://dte.gn.apc.org/ctrans.htm (accessed May 23, 2010)
C. M. O'Connor. 2004. Effects of Central Decisions on Local Livelihoods in Indonesia: Potential Synergies Between the Programs of Transmigration and Industrial Forest Conversion. Population and Environment: Unforeseen Consequences of Policy Decisions (Guest Editor: 25, no. 4, (March 1): 319 -333. http://www.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/ (accessed June 2, 2010).
United Nations Population Division Database. http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a12#PopDiv (accessed May 23,2010)
Indonesia: Population. (2008, May). EIU ViewsWire. Retrieved May 23, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global.
Davidson, J., and D. Kammen. 2002. INDONESIA'S UNKNOWN WAR AND THE LINEAGES OF VIOLENCE IN WEST
KALIMANTAN. Indonesia no. 73, (April 1): 53-87,188. http://www.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/ (accessed June 2, 2010).
Kaup, K.P., Hill, R.D., Mackerras, C., Khandke, K., McDougall, D., Sutter, R., Hills, P., Forbes, D., Rodgers, Y., Cole, K., Beauchamp, F., Marquez, E. and Womack, B. 2007. Understanding Contemporary Asia Pacific. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc.
Chauvel, R. and Hedman, E.L.E. 2007. Refugee Displacement and Dispossession: Responses to Indonesian Rule and Conflict in Papua. Refugee Studies
Centre Working Paper Series No. 42: Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement
in Papua, Indonesia. Oxford: Department of International Development,
University of Oxford. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/fb9a3459e0c5a152c1257205004f1c3e/c2b722fb60ec0f9bc125738f0073df6e/$FILE/Full_Report.pdf#page=33 (Accessed 8 October 2008)
INDONESIA: Transmigration leaves explosive legacy. (2000, December). Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service,1. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1687954191).
This was one of the essays which I handed in recently. Admittedly I'm somewhat of an amateur when it comes to essay-writing, but nonetheless, I hope any readers of this enjoy!
Transmigration: Was Indonesia used as Java’s Playground?
By Sijie Liang
Introduction
A common trend for most nations throughout the 20th century has been a period of dramatically high population growth due to an improvement of agriculture and healthcare. Such high growth then led to pressures such as overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure and inequality of living standards. Such pressures in turn led governments to pursue different measures of population control. Some of these population controls were remarkably popular and successful whilst others failed to lessen such pressures and in some cases agitated other problems.
Indonesia has been no different and has followed such a pattern of high population growth then implementation of different methods of population control. In this essay I’ll attempt to assert that Transmigration, one of the more notable government population control initiatives, has failed in delivering true impact to Indonesia’s population pressures and in fact has triggered a legacy of social problems.
Brief population background of Indonesia
As of 2009, the total population of Indonesia is just under 240 million. Over two thirds of the population reside on the major islands of Java and Sumatra, which together make up only roughly a third of the total land area. Growth rates of moderate projection are set to increase the population to around 288 million within 40 years. (UN Population Division Database, 2010)
With a land area of approximately 1.9 million sq kilometres, this corresponds to an average density of around 120 people per sq km. However this figure is by no means accurate or consistent across Indonesia. Java for example has an average density of roughly 1003 per sq km which heavily exceeds the national average whilst sparsely populated regions such as Kalimantan and Papua have rather low densities of 12 and 6 per sq km respectively. (EIU Views Wire, 2008)
In turn, those regions with high densities also have high population pressures such as overcrowding in major cities. These population pressures have led the government to introduce various population control methods such as transmigration, which will be discussed later on in this essay.
One relatively successful government population control initiative has been its various family planning programs. These have been in place since the 1960s and have been responsible in reducing the total fertility rate of roughly 5.7 children to a woman to just 2.4, which is just above the replacement rate. (EIU ViewsWire, 2008)
However population growth as we will see throughout is only one of the many population issues which affects Indonesia.
Population Pressures of the “Inner” Islands
As mentioned above, population density is not consistent across the Indonesian archipelago. The majority of the population resides on the so called Inner Islands of Bali, Java and Madura. The population densities on these islands far exceed the national average. Historically the rich volcanic soils of the islands were extremely suitable for wet-rice cultivation and could thus support large populations. (Connor, 2004)
Consequently with these higher populations, the inner islands experience many population pressures such as overcrowding, inequitable distribution of wealth and limited ownership of land. Population pressures are also the direct and indirect causes of many other issues such as pollution, inadequate sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and environmental degradation.
The disparity of population density along with the population pressures of the Inner Islands was the main impetus for conception of the Transmigration policy.
Origins of Transmigration
The concept of transmigration or in Indonesian, Transmigrasi involves a redistribution of the population through re-settling people of one province into another province. This could be done for many reasons including cultural, economic and political concerns. Transmigration itself was one of the major cornerstones of the population control policy of many former Indonesian governments.
The transmigration policies gathered steam during the respective Sukarno and Suharto regimes, where they were promoted as a way of alleviating population pressure and improving national cohesion. However the concept of transmigration itself has significant historical roots which date back to the Dutch colonial government. In 1905, a “colonisation” program was started to resettle people from the crowded inner islands to outer islands, so that cheap labour could be provided to the plantations there. (Connor, 2004)
Aims of Transmigration
The initial and main aims of the transmigration were
1) Demographically balancing Indonesia by redistributing the population by resettling people from the crowded inner islands (Java, Madura, Bali) to more sparsely populated regions such as Kalimantan and Papua.
2) Alleviating poverty by providing land and new economic opportunities to generate income for poor landless settlers.
3) Exploiting more effectively the "potential" of the "outer islands".
However critics of the transmigration program state that other possible aims include cultural assimilation of local ethnic groups through the resettling of Javanese transmigrants as well as suppression of local culture. (Adhiati and Bobsien, 2001)
Legacies of Transmigration
Whilst the policy of transmigration was officially abandoned in 2000, inter-island migration still continues as many Indonesians look around for better economic opportunities than they otherwise would have at home. Running for more than 40 years, the transmigration policy has left many legacies and immense social change. (Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service, 2000)
One of the very obvious legacies of Transmigration is the demographic and ethnic transformation of the Outer Islands. An overwhelming majority of transmigrants were Javanese. This led to the policy of transmigration being criticised as a convenient form of Javanese cultural assertion and assimilation, rather than a genuine attempt of population redistribution and poverty alleviation.
However ethnic groups such as the Balinese, Buginese and Madurese have also created sizable communities in regions such as Kalimantan, Papua and the Maluku Islands where prior to transmigration; they only had very minimal presence. Economic competition and local accusations of oppressive government treatment in regards to land and civil rights have triggered intermittent ethnic violence.
Another major legacy of Transmigration is that of environmentally destructive practices. Transmigrants were encouraged by the central government to clear vast tracks of land to plant rice and other major crops. Consequently, huge areas of ecologically important rainforest in Kalimantan were cleared which in turn worsened the air quality of the region. The environmental damage was also economically damaging as transmigrants eventually found that the cleared land had rather poor soils which translated to poor yields of rice and crops. The transmigrants and the government had essentially invested vast resources and effort on a very unproductive venture.
Lastly a major irony of the transmigration policies was the drive for people from the outer islands to migrate to the inner islands of Bali, Java and Madura to find more opportunities. This was partly due to chronic poverty; however it also was from the economic competition posed by transmigrants. There was close to no restriction on these outer island migrants, therefore the effect of transmigration was close to negligible. (Adhiati and Bobsien, 2001)(Davidson and Kammen, 2002)(Connor, 2004)
Conclusion
Transmigration seems to have been a failed program, in that its core aims have been largely inadequately dealt with. With population pressures and poverty not being alleviated by the levels anticipated by the Indonesian government, the transmigration program also had many flaws in its implementations and results. These flaws in turn have had drastic consequences for the natural environment and ethnic relations within the country.
Despite the failure of the transmigration programs, the strong need for effective policies and plans to deal with population pressures still remains in Indonesia. Indonesia, especially its “inner” islands faces many challenges in the decades to come from population pressures and growth. Family planning programs and improvements in living standards have helped to dramatically reduce fertility rates; however relative momentum will mean that Indonesia’s population will continue to grow significantly. In the long-term, this means that transmigration might have to be revisited albeit in a new more culturally sensitive and well implemented fashion; as a way to reduce overcrowding through population redistribution.
Whichever measures of population pressure control are eventually adopted, the responsibility for long-term planning and careful implementation is inherent. In addition Indonesian governments at various levels, state institutions and society must balance such measures with other interests such as ethnic diversity, environmental protection and economic growth. A population pressure control method which does not take these factors into consideration is bound to fail just as transmigration did.
REFERENCES
Adhiati, M.A.S. and Bobsien, A. 2001. Indonesia's Transmigration Programme - An Update. A report prepared for Down To Earth http://dte.gn.apc.org/ctrans.htm (accessed May 23, 2010)
C. M. O'Connor. 2004. Effects of Central Decisions on Local Livelihoods in Indonesia: Potential Synergies Between the Programs of Transmigration and Industrial Forest Conversion. Population and Environment: Unforeseen Consequences of Policy Decisions (Guest Editor: 25, no. 4, (March 1): 319 -333. http://www.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/ (accessed June 2, 2010).
United Nations Population Division Database. http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a12#PopDiv (accessed May 23,2010)
Indonesia: Population. (2008, May). EIU ViewsWire. Retrieved May 23, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global.
Davidson, J., and D. Kammen. 2002. INDONESIA'S UNKNOWN WAR AND THE LINEAGES OF VIOLENCE IN WEST
KALIMANTAN. Indonesia no. 73, (April 1): 53-87,188. http://www.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/ (accessed June 2, 2010).
Kaup, K.P., Hill, R.D., Mackerras, C., Khandke, K., McDougall, D., Sutter, R., Hills, P., Forbes, D., Rodgers, Y., Cole, K., Beauchamp, F., Marquez, E. and Womack, B. 2007. Understanding Contemporary Asia Pacific. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc.
Chauvel, R. and Hedman, E.L.E. 2007. Refugee Displacement and Dispossession: Responses to Indonesian Rule and Conflict in Papua. Refugee Studies
Centre Working Paper Series No. 42: Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement
in Papua, Indonesia. Oxford: Department of International Development,
University of Oxford. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/fb9a3459e0c5a152c1257205004f1c3e/c2b722fb60ec0f9bc125738f0073df6e/$FILE/Full_Report.pdf#page=33 (Accessed 8 October 2008)
INDONESIA: Transmigration leaves explosive legacy. (2000, December). Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service,1. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1687954191).
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Metablog: A Blog within a Blog
So this is a fictional blog/Facebook entry that I wrote a while back. I posted it on several other sites, but I thought I might share it on here as well.
Again, I do use a lot of profanity and possibly offensive terms in this one. So, if you don't like that kind of stuff, I'm not forcing you to read it.
This piece is actually not a spontaneous creation. In fact, it was inspired and written for a Alternate history/Future timeline that a friend wrote.
Again, I do use a lot of profanity and possibly offensive terms in this one. So, if you don't like that kind of stuff, I'm not forcing you to read it.
This piece is actually not a spontaneous creation. In fact, it was inspired and written for a Alternate history/Future timeline that a friend wrote.
Any feedback is appreciated. Enjoy!
CHEN AOYUN'S BLOG
Chen Aoyun is bloody tired- 22 hours ago
Blog Entry 3
Another "exhilarating" workday. Every time I enter the grey drab concrete monstrosity of a building, I die a little bit more inside. Each ten hour shift stuck with that surly old tobacco-chewing asshole Li, that annoying brat May who never shuts the f**k up about the latest celebrity gossip and that lame-ass gangsta wannabe Choy; I come closer to the conclusion that I would have been happier shovelling cow shit and busting my ass to harvest two grains of rice in the crappy little backwater village, my parents had left for the big smoke.
In case, I haven’t introduced myself yet, my name is Chen Aoyun (blame the Beijing Olympics, Alcohol, karaoke and Jay Chou for that name) and I’m 23 years old. I work at the PLAICC Headquarters in Foshan. Due to a shortage of qualified technicians living in Foshan, I usually wander in between a few departments. I work mainly in censorship and blogging surveillance; occasionally I dabble in online banking security and identity protection. Sounds quite boring, don't it? Imagine how I feel.
The hours suck and as I mentioned before the coworkers are bloody irritating. After the rent, food and the bills, I have just enough money left over to buy toilet paper, and not the nice scented quilted kind but the cheap crap, carpenters can use as sandpaper. None of the chicks think this job is cool and the last time I had sex was at last years Chinese New Year party when I got drunk and supposedly got down and dirty with Mrs Huang, the lunch lady. I still can’t live that down.
Communist propaganda tells me that the PLAICC is doing an honourable and patriotic service for my motherland and my people, that we’re making the internet a safer place for the Chinese. It’s a humbling kind of message when I know most of my colleagues spend most of their work time deleting thousands of hardcore porn sites featuring Albanian midgets with donkeys and Nigerian scam sites selling Namibian penis growth pills infused with Chinese ginseng.
So for those who are reading this, I’m sure you have the same question in mind that many of my friends have asked me before, why am I working a job that I feel so miserable in?
Well, the thing is, that my father was a soldier and I wanted to make him proud, so once I finished my college degree, I enthusiastically signed up for the PLA. Not having the speed, strength or balls to become a proper solder, my application was rejected. Wanting to save face in front of Mum and Dad, I went for the next best thing and so I applied for the PLAICC. I was relieved when I got the job, I could tell my parents especially Dad, that I was now working for the army (technically). And now I’m just working hard to keep them quiet and to keep the place I’m living at albeit being pretty damn horrible for 1550 yuan a month.
If you’re not familiar with what the PLAICC is, it’s the information protection branch of the military. It’s full name, The People’s Liberation Army Information Corps of China. Pretty impressive isn’t it?
It was formed after some pro-democracy protesters managed to hack into the CCTV’s system and replaced the Hu Jintao funeral and eulogy TV broadcast and website videos with “Three Guys, 4 Girls, 2 Cups, 1 Camel” Being born only a few years before Hu died, I didn't think much of him. But I understood the reaction and uproar. His name and image was screwed over in such a disgusting way, that riots were inevitable and because the broadcasts were from CCTV, CCTV offices all across China were damaged or burnt. The punks were never caught and it made the government realise that even with the Great Firewall up, internet security was still really weak. So the PLAICC was set up and unfortunately from the looks of the crap we still have on the net, progress is a long way away.
And frankly, my enthusiasm for the job waned a month into starting (I've been at the job three years now ). There’s just so much of the same cyber shit to wade through and so little time or energy to do so. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out before I lose it. Also, I’d never thought I’d say it, being raised in such a patriotic household but maybe the CCP should just step aside and give in to demands, it’d make our jobs a lot easier as well. I don’t just have to deal with spam, porno and inane blogs, it’s beginning to get really tough and saddening to look at “Death to the Han”, “Death to CCP Supporters”, “Free Tibet and Uighuristan”, “Free China” and “Go to Hell and F**k Yourselves, Han” day in and day out. Every day I arrive home with a numbing headache and a greater sense of emptiness.
Anyway sorry for venting, I know Facebook is more a happy happy fun place. I could get fired (or worse) as well for saying this kind of stuff, I better stop here. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year by the way, I hope all goes well for everyone.
Peace, Aoyun!
Blog Entry 3
Another "exhilarating" workday. Every time I enter the grey drab concrete monstrosity of a building, I die a little bit more inside. Each ten hour shift stuck with that surly old tobacco-chewing asshole Li, that annoying brat May who never shuts the f**k up about the latest celebrity gossip and that lame-ass gangsta wannabe Choy; I come closer to the conclusion that I would have been happier shovelling cow shit and busting my ass to harvest two grains of rice in the crappy little backwater village, my parents had left for the big smoke.
In case, I haven’t introduced myself yet, my name is Chen Aoyun (blame the Beijing Olympics, Alcohol, karaoke and Jay Chou for that name) and I’m 23 years old. I work at the PLAICC Headquarters in Foshan. Due to a shortage of qualified technicians living in Foshan, I usually wander in between a few departments. I work mainly in censorship and blogging surveillance; occasionally I dabble in online banking security and identity protection. Sounds quite boring, don't it? Imagine how I feel.
The hours suck and as I mentioned before the coworkers are bloody irritating. After the rent, food and the bills, I have just enough money left over to buy toilet paper, and not the nice scented quilted kind but the cheap crap, carpenters can use as sandpaper. None of the chicks think this job is cool and the last time I had sex was at last years Chinese New Year party when I got drunk and supposedly got down and dirty with Mrs Huang, the lunch lady. I still can’t live that down.
Communist propaganda tells me that the PLAICC is doing an honourable and patriotic service for my motherland and my people, that we’re making the internet a safer place for the Chinese. It’s a humbling kind of message when I know most of my colleagues spend most of their work time deleting thousands of hardcore porn sites featuring Albanian midgets with donkeys and Nigerian scam sites selling Namibian penis growth pills infused with Chinese ginseng.
So for those who are reading this, I’m sure you have the same question in mind that many of my friends have asked me before, why am I working a job that I feel so miserable in?
Well, the thing is, that my father was a soldier and I wanted to make him proud, so once I finished my college degree, I enthusiastically signed up for the PLA. Not having the speed, strength or balls to become a proper solder, my application was rejected. Wanting to save face in front of Mum and Dad, I went for the next best thing and so I applied for the PLAICC. I was relieved when I got the job, I could tell my parents especially Dad, that I was now working for the army (technically). And now I’m just working hard to keep them quiet and to keep the place I’m living at albeit being pretty damn horrible for 1550 yuan a month.
If you’re not familiar with what the PLAICC is, it’s the information protection branch of the military. It’s full name, The People’s Liberation Army Information Corps of China. Pretty impressive isn’t it?
It was formed after some pro-democracy protesters managed to hack into the CCTV’s system and replaced the Hu Jintao funeral and eulogy TV broadcast and website videos with “Three Guys, 4 Girls, 2 Cups, 1 Camel” Being born only a few years before Hu died, I didn't think much of him. But I understood the reaction and uproar. His name and image was screwed over in such a disgusting way, that riots were inevitable and because the broadcasts were from CCTV, CCTV offices all across China were damaged or burnt. The punks were never caught and it made the government realise that even with the Great Firewall up, internet security was still really weak. So the PLAICC was set up and unfortunately from the looks of the crap we still have on the net, progress is a long way away.
And frankly, my enthusiasm for the job waned a month into starting (I've been at the job three years now ). There’s just so much of the same cyber shit to wade through and so little time or energy to do so. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out before I lose it. Also, I’d never thought I’d say it, being raised in such a patriotic household but maybe the CCP should just step aside and give in to demands, it’d make our jobs a lot easier as well. I don’t just have to deal with spam, porno and inane blogs, it’s beginning to get really tough and saddening to look at “Death to the Han”, “Death to CCP Supporters”, “Free Tibet and Uighuristan”, “Free China” and “Go to Hell and F**k Yourselves, Han” day in and day out. Every day I arrive home with a numbing headache and a greater sense of emptiness.
Anyway sorry for venting, I know Facebook is more a happy happy fun place. I could get fired (or worse) as well for saying this kind of stuff, I better stop here. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year by the way, I hope all goes well for everyone.
Peace, Aoyun!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
In 2010, Integrated Chinese Learning Level One Textbook presents a cool new funky Chinese hero...
I've always been a sucker for Chinese or Asian heroes in film or any other sort of literature. In a world of William Hungs, Long Duc Dongs and Ken Jeungs who flash their tiny dicks in Hangover movies, film heroes who beat up the evil gweilo have been vital in affirming my racial/cultural pride. I know it's not right to use the term "gweilo" nor so to assume that all whiteys are evil, but don't blame me for that. Blame pre-Hollywood Jackie Chan and Jet Li, blame Donnie Yen and other Chinese action film heroes who made period pieces with evil white men in them.
My film and literature based pseudo-racism was so bad at one point, that I actually wanted Jet Li to kick Mel Gibson's ass in Lethal Weapon 4, despite him being a cold-hearted evil motherfucker.
So I find it incredibly surprising that the newest Chinese/Asian hero or role model I've been exposed to, I rather heartily dislike.
If anyone studies Chinese at uni and uses the Integrated Chinese learning series as your reading material, you might know who I'm talking about.
There is this character in there, called Wang Peng. He is originally a Beijinger, but is settling into American college life. In the very first chapter, he meets an American (white) girl called Li You (her English name is Amy Lee). It is love at first sight, for Miss Lee anyway. There is no chapter in the book where she is not either with him or talking about him. She fawns over him, I usually would say such a crush is sweet, but it's rather kind of sickening.
"Oh you're so cool, Wang Peng"
"Oh you're so handsome and tall, Wang Peng."
"Wow, Wang Peng, your handwriting is so beautiful."
"Wow, Wang Peng, you're so good at Basketball."
"Wow! Wang Peng, your dick is so big! Fuck me in my tight American virginal pussy!"*
Wang Peng is such a smooth and sexy character, I even reach over for a satisfying cigarette** after reading about his adventures. Also, if you noticed Wang Peng and Li You's personal names together form the chinese word for "friend", just as another sign of their lubby-dubby nature.
As a consequence, I actually feel sorry for the white guy this time and that's no mean feat. Gao Wenzhong (A decent transliteration for Winston Gore) gets the shaft in this book, he's whiny, passive-aggressive and oh-so effiminate. He also wears a ridiculous tweed jacket everywhere he goes and his crush on a Korean exchange student Bai Ying'ai (Baek Yeung Ae)*** who seems to have more intent on fucking Wang Peng instead. He get's no action, he's only in 3 chapters of the 10 chapters (whereas Wang Peng is in or is mentioned in all of them) and he has the worst of luck in introducing his sister Gao Xiaoyin (Jenny Gore) to that sexy motherfucker Wang Peng. She probably jacks and sucks him off in the Level Two series of the textbooks and workbooks.
Don't get me wrong, we probably need more Wang Pengs in books and movies.
Hell, we probably need more Wang Pengs in the real world. He's cultured, polite, helpful, fit and he knows how to treat the ladies well. Maybe I dislike him so much because he is the Chinese man I desire so much to be, yet fail ever so slightly to be.
Anyway, I'll leave my rant there, before you all accuse me of being insane for reading so deeply into a simple language learning book.
PS: I apologize profusely for the profanity, it just slips out sometimes when I write.
*This part is actually not in any of the textbooks or workbooks. Maybe in the Level Two or Three series.
** I don't actually smoke, in fact, I sort of loathe smoking
*** Li You (Amy Lee) better watch out, she has some competition. She better learn some self-defense, unless wants some jealousy taekwondo to her face.
My film and literature based pseudo-racism was so bad at one point, that I actually wanted Jet Li to kick Mel Gibson's ass in Lethal Weapon 4, despite him being a cold-hearted evil motherfucker.
So I find it incredibly surprising that the newest Chinese/Asian hero or role model I've been exposed to, I rather heartily dislike.
If anyone studies Chinese at uni and uses the Integrated Chinese learning series as your reading material, you might know who I'm talking about.
There is this character in there, called Wang Peng. He is originally a Beijinger, but is settling into American college life. In the very first chapter, he meets an American (white) girl called Li You (her English name is Amy Lee). It is love at first sight, for Miss Lee anyway. There is no chapter in the book where she is not either with him or talking about him. She fawns over him, I usually would say such a crush is sweet, but it's rather kind of sickening.
"Oh you're so cool, Wang Peng"
"Oh you're so handsome and tall, Wang Peng."
"Wow, Wang Peng, your handwriting is so beautiful."
"Wow, Wang Peng, you're so good at Basketball."
"Wow! Wang Peng, your dick is so big! Fuck me in my tight American virginal pussy!"*
Wang Peng is such a smooth and sexy character, I even reach over for a satisfying cigarette** after reading about his adventures. Also, if you noticed Wang Peng and Li You's personal names together form the chinese word for "friend", just as another sign of their lubby-dubby nature.
As a consequence, I actually feel sorry for the white guy this time and that's no mean feat. Gao Wenzhong (A decent transliteration for Winston Gore) gets the shaft in this book, he's whiny, passive-aggressive and oh-so effiminate. He also wears a ridiculous tweed jacket everywhere he goes and his crush on a Korean exchange student Bai Ying'ai (Baek Yeung Ae)*** who seems to have more intent on fucking Wang Peng instead. He get's no action, he's only in 3 chapters of the 10 chapters (whereas Wang Peng is in or is mentioned in all of them) and he has the worst of luck in introducing his sister Gao Xiaoyin (Jenny Gore) to that sexy motherfucker Wang Peng. She probably jacks and sucks him off in the Level Two series of the textbooks and workbooks.
Don't get me wrong, we probably need more Wang Pengs in books and movies.
Hell, we probably need more Wang Pengs in the real world. He's cultured, polite, helpful, fit and he knows how to treat the ladies well. Maybe I dislike him so much because he is the Chinese man I desire so much to be, yet fail ever so slightly to be.
Anyway, I'll leave my rant there, before you all accuse me of being insane for reading so deeply into a simple language learning book.
PS: I apologize profusely for the profanity, it just slips out sometimes when I write.
*This part is actually not in any of the textbooks or workbooks. Maybe in the Level Two or Three series.
** I don't actually smoke, in fact, I sort of loathe smoking
*** Li You (Amy Lee) better watch out, she has some competition. She better learn some self-defense, unless wants some jealousy taekwondo to her face.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
