Whistle blowers against Central Government graft should be rewarded, not punished. Otherwise, nothing will ever change, and the pressure cooker of discontent boils harder and faster.
From AP: Chinese newspaper urges police to release reporter
China is beautiful, but I wish I could see it through the smog and NOT get sick from the pollution. And I want others to see the beauty of the 'Middle Kingdom' safely and sanely
From AP: 'Beautiful China' tourism pitch misfires amid smog
23 October 2013
The Rohingya
Let us take a step back from Hong Kong and Chinese drama to concentrate on other oppressed peoples.
The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar/Burma for centuries, and because of their Muslim faith and the color of their skin, have been stripped of their citizenship, their births, marriages and deaths not recognized by the state, forced to live in specific areas without freedom of movement, and denied services like health care and education. They are, in affect, people without a country, and are treated as unwelcome guests.
The recent episodes of racial/ethnic violence were created by the Buddhist majority, just simply because they want the Rohingya out of their country. And the new government promises action, but has yet to make a concerted effort to make the violence stop.
Aung San Suu Kyi reluctantly acknowledges their existence, but doesn't do anything about it, like encourage ethnic harmony for starters. Isn't she the one, that fought for the freedom for everyone in her country for the past 25 years?
Here's some links from my friends from Global Post that may help you understand how dire it really is: Global Post: Rohingya Search
The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar/Burma for centuries, and because of their Muslim faith and the color of their skin, have been stripped of their citizenship, their births, marriages and deaths not recognized by the state, forced to live in specific areas without freedom of movement, and denied services like health care and education. They are, in affect, people without a country, and are treated as unwelcome guests.
The recent episodes of racial/ethnic violence were created by the Buddhist majority, just simply because they want the Rohingya out of their country. And the new government promises action, but has yet to make a concerted effort to make the violence stop.
Aung San Suu Kyi reluctantly acknowledges their existence, but doesn't do anything about it, like encourage ethnic harmony for starters. Isn't she the one, that fought for the freedom for everyone in her country for the past 25 years?
Here's some links from my friends from Global Post that may help you understand how dire it really is: Global Post: Rohingya Search
The HKTV Saga
This is a fight between a Legislative body that's allegedly pro-Beijing, a newly appointed Chief Executive that's allegedly pro-Beijing, market forces, protecting free speech, enforcing government transparency and openness, and jobs. To me, this all comes across as the Central Government's bid to whittle away at the Basic Law bit by bit before 2047, which they've already started to do.
The Story Starts Here....
The Chief Executive's Idiocy:
The Standard: Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying made the ultimate decision to reject HKTV's free-to-air TV license
The Protest on Sunday:
From BBC: Thousands of people protest in Hong Kong at what they see as a lack of official transparency, after a local TV network was refused a licence.
Then, there's the jobs. It gets personal:
The Standard: Anger over real-life drama
The HKTV Owner's reaction:
The Standard: 'Don't infuriate me ...'
Popular Support:
The Standard: Two film directors enter frame in HKTV row
And finally, the CE's weak response:
The Standard: 'We can't please everyone'
The English language press glosses over local HK news. For those who can read Traditional Chinese, I encourage you to go read the Chinese Language versions of the news, because they are more revealing and detailed.
The Story Starts Here....
The Chief Executive's Idiocy:
The Standard: Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying made the ultimate decision to reject HKTV's free-to-air TV license
The Protest on Sunday:
From BBC: Thousands of people protest in Hong Kong at what they see as a lack of official transparency, after a local TV network was refused a licence.
Then, there's the jobs. It gets personal:
The Standard: Anger over real-life drama
The HKTV Owner's reaction:
The Standard: 'Don't infuriate me ...'
Popular Support:
The Standard: Two film directors enter frame in HKTV row
And finally, the CE's weak response:
The Standard: 'We can't please everyone'
The English language press glosses over local HK news. For those who can read Traditional Chinese, I encourage you to go read the Chinese Language versions of the news, because they are more revealing and detailed.
20 October 2013
Art of War is the wrong way to make friends
Global Post: China and the art of (losing) war
The Art of War as a foreign policy is not a way to make friends and influence people. One of the most annoying things I find about how the Central Government act. One makes friends by dialogue that make it a win win situation, and not act like bullies and intimidate. Obviously, the Chinese Premier hasn't figured it out yet.
The Art of War as a foreign policy is not a way to make friends and influence people. One of the most annoying things I find about how the Central Government act. One makes friends by dialogue that make it a win win situation, and not act like bullies and intimidate. Obviously, the Chinese Premier hasn't figured it out yet.
18 October 2013
Stand up and know your worth
Always
stand up for what you know you're worth. We're going through that with a
long time client right now. And remember your name and reputation is
part of the brand/service you represent. There are people and companies
out there that will respect your values and what you offer them. People
think I'm a hard ass, but at least I know what my company, my products
and services, and my crew are worth and not afraid to say so. Go for
quality clients, the ones that treat you with respect, regardless of how
much they're paying. Go for projects that make you happy and challenge
you, as long as they're doing good by you, it's good. Finally as you
create your client base, stay close to the ones who value and respect
you.
And yes, as an actor and artist, I have had to say no many times over money, work conditions, and the fact that I thought the production or show was not up to my standards, for whatever the reason. It's good to have standards, one needs to learn when to be flexible with them as needed.
And yes, as an actor and artist, I have had to say no many times over money, work conditions, and the fact that I thought the production or show was not up to my standards, for whatever the reason. It's good to have standards, one needs to learn when to be flexible with them as needed.
How to ruin a perfectly good friendship/relationship
This is what one can do to make me either: a) distance myself from them and/or b) quietly end the friendship.
Yes I do judge people by how they treat me and the people around me, strangers, and those who are service employees. I do expect respect, courtesy, and if it escalates, taken aside for discussion. I know I have a temper, but I stop before I explode and start working behind the scenes to get it corrected, as I have mastered letter/email writing and phone calling. In the US, I do not appreciate scenes. Overseas, it may be a different story depending on the situation.
What I find repugnant is people that feel the need to act pretentious. It's so affected and fake, especially around service employees, because it turns into a power game. I have a friend that does that all the time with others, but alone with me, he drops the act. It makes the individual look stupid by pretending they are something they are not. It is like this friend has become the person that, 20 years ago, complained about. And that is sad, because it proves to me, that my friend hasn't grown up, and he's roughly the same age as me.
Respect me, and my life decisions. I may have made some stupid mistakes, and I bitch about them, however, I stand by them for specific reasons. Don't judge me, just be my friend, and shut up and listen. I may need to vent or express something. Don't offer advice to me, unless I ask for it, as I prefer to listen to my own counsel. There are people I don't talk to about anything, because they just can't shut up and listen, and always have an opinion about what I should be doing. I'm bad at that too, but I'm working on listening and asking questions as a way to help the other person understand their situation.
I am no one's dog. I am my own person. I have my life, responsibilities, duties, etc. apart from you. We have evolved differently and are on two different paths and worldviews now. In life, the nature of the friendship can and often does change. To a dear friend, please accept that, because our friendship is evolving as we speak. And please don't assume I will be there when we grow old, I will probably go before you, given my family's health history.
Professionally, I do not appreciate being constantly discounted or devalued, nor do I appreciate lack of transparency and respect for me as a person to not approach me directly. Can't talk to me? Don't go to the boss, where the message will be diluted, if it's ever discussed. Find a non-direct way to tell me I have offended you. I also don't really like people that go around my back and undermine me and my efforts, however well intentioned. I despise those who can't treat their co-workers with respect and dignity. A former manager who sold me down the river because I declined a promotion over pay, has lost my total respect and admiration.
I've just voiced a number things that can make me sever or distance from the friendship/relationship. If it applies to you, it actually does. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Please heed this as a warning.
Yes I do judge people by how they treat me and the people around me, strangers, and those who are service employees. I do expect respect, courtesy, and if it escalates, taken aside for discussion. I know I have a temper, but I stop before I explode and start working behind the scenes to get it corrected, as I have mastered letter/email writing and phone calling. In the US, I do not appreciate scenes. Overseas, it may be a different story depending on the situation.
What I find repugnant is people that feel the need to act pretentious. It's so affected and fake, especially around service employees, because it turns into a power game. I have a friend that does that all the time with others, but alone with me, he drops the act. It makes the individual look stupid by pretending they are something they are not. It is like this friend has become the person that, 20 years ago, complained about. And that is sad, because it proves to me, that my friend hasn't grown up, and he's roughly the same age as me.
Respect me, and my life decisions. I may have made some stupid mistakes, and I bitch about them, however, I stand by them for specific reasons. Don't judge me, just be my friend, and shut up and listen. I may need to vent or express something. Don't offer advice to me, unless I ask for it, as I prefer to listen to my own counsel. There are people I don't talk to about anything, because they just can't shut up and listen, and always have an opinion about what I should be doing. I'm bad at that too, but I'm working on listening and asking questions as a way to help the other person understand their situation.
I am no one's dog. I am my own person. I have my life, responsibilities, duties, etc. apart from you. We have evolved differently and are on two different paths and worldviews now. In life, the nature of the friendship can and often does change. To a dear friend, please accept that, because our friendship is evolving as we speak. And please don't assume I will be there when we grow old, I will probably go before you, given my family's health history.
Professionally, I do not appreciate being constantly discounted or devalued, nor do I appreciate lack of transparency and respect for me as a person to not approach me directly. Can't talk to me? Don't go to the boss, where the message will be diluted, if it's ever discussed. Find a non-direct way to tell me I have offended you. I also don't really like people that go around my back and undermine me and my efforts, however well intentioned. I despise those who can't treat their co-workers with respect and dignity. A former manager who sold me down the river because I declined a promotion over pay, has lost my total respect and admiration.
I've just voiced a number things that can make me sever or distance from the friendship/relationship. If it applies to you, it actually does. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Please heed this as a warning.
04 October 2013
The state of things with me
Please
don't mistake my frustration for anger, passion for bitterness. This
old man is tired, exhausted and in serious need of a break. I must
somehow reclaim 'The Quan' for myself. (A Jerry Maguire reference for
which Cuba Gooding Jr won an Academy.)
03 October 2013
Alma Mater, Hail to Thee
....You are that part of me....
--My High School's Alma Mater song
It's interesting to read/hear/see stuff ones alma mater says about you. It's a good laugh, because its not worth it to me to break 25 years of silence and open up unnecessary crap again. Besides, the most important people to me are the ones in my life now.
01 October 2013
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