Happy New Year!!!

As 2013 becomes a distant memory, I can say that I'm glad that it's almost over, as the year has been an interesting adventure for me. I am grateful for friends and family that gave me the moral and emotional support I needed to get through the year. I can only hope that the New Year will bring bigger and better things in my life's journey. 

One final thought: wish for others, what you wish for yourself, it's one of the ways we can make the world better. 

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Last post of 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, I can say that I'm glad that it's almost over, as the year has been an interesting adventure for me. I am grateful for friends and family that gave me the moral and emotional support I needed to get through the year. I can only hope that the New Year will bring bigger and better things in my life's journey. One final thought: wish for others, what you wish for yourself, it's one of the ways we can make the world better. Happy New Year everyone!!!

Florida Hospital Sucks (my) ASS!!!

When your doctor comes into the exam room, and makes you repeat three times your case history, which means he didn't even look at the files beforehand AND asks openly "Do any of us know why this is happening?", it doesn't inspire confidence.  The nurses had no clue as to how to help me, couldn't name part of the body, and made me repeat my case history another two times, and acted like they couldn't be bothered.  At the end of the visit, I could tell them that their solutions to my problems have been tried and didn't work.  What is wrong with this picture???  And when the damn doctor asks "Are you willing to try that?" like I'm a 4 year old, was patronizing and demeaning. 

The originating Florida Hospital physician, who is well known and has a 'stellar' reputation in the system, keeps wanting to do biopsies, rather than refer me to someone that could get to the root of the problem and fix it.

My last previous two visits we good.  I had confidence.  However, I called the office to enquire about pain management after the first visit, and she started to quote policy, and said "without looking into your file, I'd use Advil or Tylenol."  Not that I was going for drugs.  It would have taken a minute to take down my info and get the message to the doctor.  That was rude.

9 months of being in pain is unacceptable.  As soon as I get my new insurance, I'm going elsewhere.  This is ridiculous.

China's Mandela problem

From CNN: China's Mandela Problem

Nelson Mandela might very well inspire the next generation of Chinese human rights activists, and give those who are being imprisoned for following his example hope.

Who's Afraid of the IKEA Wolf?

From BBC: Ikea toy wolf becomes Hong Kong protest symbol

Hong Kong's Chief Executive CY Leung ought to be.  Who knew that something as innocuous as toy Wolf plush might have the potential to force a leadership change?

Hong Kongers have no love for this man, as he's seen as a puppet to Beijing. 

From BBC:  CY Leung: The troubles of Hong Kong's unloved leader

China, Press Freedom and Censorship

A free press is important to the development of a society.  It allows for the exchange of ideas, holding public officials and other entities accountable for their actions, and a voice to those who don't have one. 

The Central Government allows such freedom when it's convenient for them.  When it's not, they do things like make all journalists learn the party line, censor them and the media outlet they work for (which manifests itself differently, from harassment to legal action to firing the journalist).   Most governments engage in some form of media damage control, however, the Central Government can't have it both ways, as the way this government does it, can be considered repression, manipulation, censorship in its extreme.

Now journalists are being forced to take an exam to make sure they understand quite clearly the Communist Party Line.

From Global Post: Chinese journalists face Marxist ideology exam

As mentioned above, governments do engage in damage control to varying degrees, however, the Central Government goes to the point to bullying foreign governments, media outlets, etc., to protect its image.


From CNN: How Chinese censorship is reaching overseas

Annoying Airplane Passenger Thinks She's The Only One Who Celebrates Thanksgiving

What a self-centered dumb cunt.  Really!  Though Elan was playing with fire, he was totally justified.

From Huffington Post: Annoying Airplane Passenger Thinks She's The Only One Who Celebrates Thanksgiving

Idiot tourists

The behavior of some of these people -- which I've witnessed a bulk of this in Orlando and my travels worldwide -- really make me embarrassed to be human.

IT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION

Love ignorant people. Do your research, ask questions, learn a bit of Geography and Meteorology, as it is not the locals problem or responsibility if you didn't know something about the place in which you are vacationing.

From Upworthy: A 15-Year-Old Ad About Racism

From Upworthy: A 15-Year-Old Ad About Racism Is A Great Reminder Of The Power We All Have To Promote Justice

The story itself has circulated through social media for years.  Here's the commercial this story was based upon.

21 Questions Asian People Are Sick Of Answering

Yes, I get this a lot in its many variations.

From Buzz Feed: 21 Questions Asian People Are Sick Of Answering

Spinning your way out of smog

From BBC: Spinning your way out of smog

Central Government:  This is the biggest crock of shit I've heard.  Really?  Why don't you be constructive and actually fix the pollution problems in your cities than trying to be cute and creative by bullshitting plausible positives of the situation.

US urges China to release Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo

From BBC: US urges China to release Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo

The Central Government needs to grow the fuck up and let Mr Liu out of prison, and let him and his family leave China.  And stop taking its domestic policy issues out on Norway.  

'Locust' haters told to remember their roots

From the Standard:  'Locust' haters told to remember their roots

Hong Kongers remember their roots?  Their home is being invaded by Mainland Chinese who strain resources in housing, real estate, food, etc.  And they're fucking unappreciative of what Hong Kong has to offer them.  

I compare it to having an unwelcome unannounced guest that has overstayed their welcome.

More Chinese News

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)