i’m irked with myself for constantly sourcing SFGate/Chronicle news (we all know of its dubious quality – for example, big headline today: “Thousands Turn Out For Anti-China Vigil” – what crap sensationalistic wording), but it’s easiest and “closest to home” so i begrudgingly defer to it. um, yeah. guess that’s my way of being apologetic.

as you can tell, i’m pretty much engrossed with this hot topic. i don’t see how you can’t be. as a chinese american, a san franciscan, and someone who was in china while it was ramping up for the olympics, this is riveting and conflicting as all hell.

yesterday, my friend/coworker mentioned the idea of wearing our olympic pins (that i bought when i was there). depending on your perspective, today is the best, or worst, day to don beijing 2008 commemorative paraphernalia. i admittedly wonder what message it sends, whether or not it’s “appropriate.” well. i’m a superficial person. i bought these pins cuz i thought they were awesome, funny, handsome, and straight from the motherland.

i wear mine:

my friend wears his:

busloads of chinese folks are coming up to sf as we speak to show their support. another friend/coworker commutes on caltrain, and she said on her way in there were hordes of mainland chinese all over the place. i really wish i could be out there in the wild to witness all this. i think we’re going to go to justin herman plaza during lunch to check it out.

here’s an article titled “China doctors the news of Olympic torch relay.” it features these interesting quotes:

A middle-age woman surnamed Feng was less optimistic about the U.S. reception and less willing to give her full name…said the tension was noticeable among guards in the embassy district where she walks her dog. She said she expects China’s international reception to continue to be rocky as the torch moves around the world. The (Chinese) government is worried; we’re all worried,” Feng said. “We’ve been preparing for these Olympics for eight years.“

“It’s just bad, bad, bad,” retired army officer Wang Guanghai said of pro-Tibetan demonstrations that marred the torch relay in London and Paris. Wang, who chatted at a fruit stand in a downtown Beijing neighborhood, said he was certain the United States would be more welcoming when the torch arrived in San Francisco. Although protesters had hung pro-Tibetan freedom banners from the Golden Gate Bridge hours earlier, the news had not been published in China.

with that said, here are photos that peg took last night at the vigil in UN plaza. yeah, of course san francisco is more welcoming!

so my friend/coworker just walked by into my area and said pro-tibetans had climbed the golden gate bridge. it took me a while to register what this actually meant, so i looked it up and

H O L Y $ H I T

wow.

i guess i don’t feel so far-fetched for mentioning in my previous post that all this olympics stuff is “history in the making.” i don’t even know what to say, except mutter the word “fierce.” i can hear michael keaton/bruce wayne yelling “you wanna get nuts? c’mon! LET’S GET NUTS!!!” in my head. cuz this is sheer nutty insanity. a quick gleaning of the comments section will show you how polarized people are. some are cruelly expressing their wishes for them to fall, and others are applauding them. here’s some footage, courtesy CBS 5:

our dear city is the only stop in north america for the olympic torch. this is a monumental, historical biggie…with some heavy baggage.

ever since the announcement of china hosting the olympic games, there has been mounting scrutiny of the country’s human rights policies. the recent insanity in tibet has only intensified the frenzy. last month, steven spielberg withdrew from the olympics as artistic adviser, remarking in reference to china’s complicity in sudan’s involvement in darfur: “I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual…At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur.” the CCP surely lost some face after this media chumming.

back to us: as we all know, SF activists love to rallie passionately for all sorts of things by throwing a hearty protest. with the impending visit of the torch on april 9, they have been clamoring for details about its eight-mile route through the city, and the ACLU has their back. how else can they stage demonstrations without time, coordinates, and other vitals? the mayor, of course, will not divulge for obvious reasons.

some tidbits: responding to china’s latest heavy handed handling of tibet, folks recently set fire to one of the gates at the chinese consulate. nobody was hurt. also, so far it’s been announced that the torch will not make its way through chinatown.

here is just one of many countless articles out there about it.

here, the comments section. below are interesting highlights:

The Chinese killed your dogs, sent lead laced toys to poison your children, stole your jobs, have a mortgage on your children’s future, aid and abet genocide in Darfur, kill, torture and imprison it’s citizens that try to implement democracy, and last but not least invaded the country of Tibet in a blatant colonial land grab, committing cultural genocide while killing thousands. If you don’t have something there to protest there, then you are probably already dead.

I won’t be watching the athletes of the world risk their health in the very polluted air of Beijing, so one might say I am personally boycotting the Beijing Games.

Since I work by Union Square and see the proliferation of Chinese Tourists invading and shopping like there is no tomorrow ,we have to acknowledge the damage that our Current Administration has done in creating the next Super Power

This will be an epic day, as thousands of people with consciences will arrive in SF to protest China, even as the Olympic torch moves on its secret eight mile path through the City. Wouldn’t it be inspiring if one of the people who carries the torch also makes a powerful statement by finding a way to shame China; to make its government lose face?

Every unemployed ,green haired punk, with a dripping nose ring, will be wearing sneakers and clothes made in china,and purchased by their mommy.

Wanna protest China? Then stop buying the cheap, toxic plastic crap they manufacture and that American executives happily put on our store shelves.

This year the torch symbolizes oppression and a lack of human rights.

Gavin better not get too close to the torch lest his hair catch fire.

there needs to be a major protest against the PRC (“mainland” China) on the day in questions. Supporters of Taiwan and Tibet independence need to get out in force and embarrass the hell out of the Chinese fascist government in Peking.

I have a deep respect for the Chinese people and feel bad for them in all this. But having had to watch colleagues face their friends and classmates being shot in Tienamen Square, and many of them then deal with become political exiles for daring to protest it; I can only wish the Chinese government public shame every step of the way through the end of the Olympics.

F the run and tell the Chinese govt they can’t control us like they do with their people.

It’s perfectly reasonable for freedom loving people to want to piss China off over Tibet and other human rights abuses.

I wonder how many protesters are going to be using materials from China to make their banners with.

If the route is publicized then it’s going to be one large protest free-for-all, there’s no question about it. This is not the Chinese New Year parade. It’s impossible for SFPD to cordon-off the entire route unless the torch bearer is surrounded by a police motorcade 100% of the time. This event is going to be such a farce.

Let’s see– Uh-merica: 300 million of the most privileged people in the world. The country that has bombed civilian populations in FORTY-ONE countries since the end of WW2. The country that has slaughtered nearly two million Iraqis since 1990 in an ongoing genocide. The country whose globalist drooling greed has created the evil trade machine that enables terror, slavery and repression all over the world. WAKE UP SWINE! YOU ARE THE MURDERERS, THE SLAVE-DRIVERS, THE DESPOILERS, THE POLLUTERS. Look in the mirror, American, and see the enemy of the world. Oh and your “rights,” your “liberties” your “free-dums?” Wake up! You’ve been giving them away for 25 years now and they’re gone! You wouldn’t know what to do with them anyway. Now shut up, fill your SUV’s tank with blood and head for Walmart. Swine.

I suggest you leave for China or Pakistan or Nigeria and see how you get on there you imbecile. America isn’t perfect but it’s imperfections are a lot smaller than the vast majority of the rest of the world, which is why a large proportion of the rest of the world would love to live here.

..we’ve brought untold misery to an entire region of the world and we are barking at the chinese?

China brutalizes not just Tibetans, but their own people. Yet we’re all happy to drive on down to the Wal Mart and buy lots of Chinese made garbage to fill our empty lives with. Not only should we be boycotting the Olympics, we should be boycotting anything coming from China until China begins to behave with ethics.

I’ll be there protesting tapioca pearls. Those things are a menace.

China doesn’t deserve these games.

CHINA: FREE TIBET – FREE FULAN GONG – STOP HARVESTING ORGANS FROM HEALTHY LIVE PRISONERS – STOP USING PRISONERS TO MAKE CHEAP LEAD TOYS – STOP TORTURING ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH YOU – STOP USING EXECUTED PRISONERS FOR ART SHOWS OF CORPSES – STOP PICKING YOUR NOSE – STOP SPITTING – STOP PUSHING AND CUTTING IN LINE – STOP EATING ANYTHING THAT’S ALIVE AND I MEAN ANYTHING—-JOIN THE REST OF HUMANITY

I wish the chinese well, and hope their officials enjoy their olympic event…alone…and that one day the corruption that is so rampant and which feeds on the people’s efforts, falls away like a fattened tick, as it seems to be, and that the feelings of outrage takes measure to see that it never fattens on the suffering of common folk and that it does so in a compassionate way that does not perpetuate the violent revolution we’ve come to both expect and dread.

at the sf international asian american film festival opening night gala a few weeks ago.

i know, i know, it’s old news, but it’s still thrilling!
he was in the VIP area chillin with dan the automator and i couldn’t help but (gently) intrude for a photo opp. he was nice about it. i even managed to squeeze three photos out of it (thanks jason!), my crone claws clutching his arm to make sure he couldn’t escape after the second photo. i am so classless.

when i stumbled upon his GR blog about a year ago, i was curious enough to google him. my “research” led me to conclude that he is utterly fascinating, not to mention…well, uniquely gorgeous. when was the last time you’ve seen a profile like that? when i was in china i kept seeing the same l’oreal commercials featuring this megastar, which must’ve imprinted my psyche or something, because i came back fired up with a healthy obsession.

what i know is that he’s a yay area native (went to head-royce high), went to college in oregon (architect major!), has studied wushu all his life, moved to HK after graduating college to pursue modeling, is supportive of the arts, and is a huge celebrity in HK. i could care less about the celebrity part, but it’s the duality of who he is that blows my mind. if you saw him on the street here (as many did during the run of the festival), you may not suspect he’s a bigtime actor in asia. i really recommend checking out his blog. he writes about his dogs, family, friends, wild turkeys in his parent’s backyard, seeing the cure in concert, unbelievable meals, shooting movies and commercials, incredible travels, and so forth, but in a down-to-earth language both literally and figuratively familiar to us. charming too.

i’m pretty sure i’m not making any sense. but let’s be clear that i’m not just going on a maniacal fan girl rant here. the reasons why i admire daniel wu stem from deeper “issues of identity” (grasping for words from my asian american studies 101 grab bag here) and all that baggage, and not just cuz he’s a pretty face (like chang chen).

at the sold out blood brothers san jose screening on sunday, they called him and put him on speaker phone (held up to the microphone) before the movie started. he spoke of how personally important this movie was because his father grew up in the same era (shanghai 1930s) and told him romanticized stories of the time and place, and how he couldn’t be at the screening because he was celebrating his father’s birthday. he also said that san jose has the best pho (it’s true!).

you gotta love that.

the following message landed in my inbox this morning, which sealed the deal for me. tomorrow at the buttcrack of dawn, anthony and i will set forth on our little mission impossible. if we live to tell the tale, he shall bore his future grandchildren to tears with it, and i will do the same with you.

ps – i know it’s pathetic to be this thrilled about something. and yes, i know the movie won’t be all that and a bag of chips

////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Thank you for your interest in seeing Stephen Chow’s CJ7! If you are receiving this email, you and your guest are confirmed for our screening on Wednesday night.

Enjoy the show.
GIANT ROBOT

shanghaiist is part of my web surfing regimen. it features good stuff and neat tidbits of info, such as the fact that chongqing’s official “rural migrant workers day” was the first of november.

this is a glorious music video for a supposedly popular tune, “migrant worker’s song,” which has an interesting backstory. though i know the video is supposed to be stirring, i find it rather ineffective and boring, lacking any raw grittiness. plus it shines with gloss characteristic of a expensive puff piece, perhaps for the government and more specifically, perhaps for premier wen jiabao. regardless, i do think it’s cool that the catchy tune is sung by actual workers. and c’mon, i’m all about supporting the workers’ cause.

if anyone knows about bitter struggle, it’s those guys.

the story goes a lil’ something like this:

“The whole idea of the song came about after Wen Jiabao visited Chongqing in 2006 and met with some actual migrant workers. He told them that their situation was one of his greatest concerns over the last few years. The migrant workers were moved by this true man of the people and took some pictures with him. Later, after the song became the popular, they hatched the idea of letting the premier hear their song, so they got together over a thousand people and had them sign a letter, and sent this, along with the song, to the premier. A few days letter they got the reply and what seemed like a promise to let the song be performed during the CCTV Spring Festival concert.”

taken from one shanghai daily article titled “migrant workers honored for toil”:

“China has more than 120 million migrant workers, mostly farmers from west China seeking work in eastern China’s boom towns and cities. They mainly work in construction, mining, cleaning and catering industries, or the kind of jobs usually labeled dirty, heavy, and exhausting.”

errr, i’ll say!
you see why i think that’s a funny line, right? i hope this was just a badly translated article.

children are the most amazing artists. i don’t understand them, and they sorta frighten me, but i could watch them for days on end as they draw and doodle to their hearts’ content. it’s fascinating, adorable, and endlessly heartwarming.

kid art does for me what remy’s ratatouille did for anton ego.

i see a tiny bit of myself in all the wee ones who draw with reckless abandon. before a certain age, they’re still unfettered and unconditioned (in a weird sense). their lack of inhibition, when given some instruments and paper, is so inspiring.

all i did as a child was draw, and quite feverishly at that. nothing made me happier than when my aunt and mom bestowed upon me scratch paper from their work. often times it was reams of dot-matrix printer paper. remember that? with the perforated sides (with the holes)?

now you give me a pen and some paper and i’m overcome with a paralyzing fear that triggers this thought flow: what do i draw? whatever i draw won’t look right. it’s gonna look like shit. why is it so hard for me to just draw SOMETHING? god i hate myself.

anyway, i was reminded of all this at BLAST OFF. the community mural was getting some serious play from people of all ages. it was magnificent and endearing – an incredible experience. PLEASE peep some of the photos of the young tykes drawing. they’ll slay you with sweetness!

ps – in the second photo above, three guys are basking in a lyrical drawing by two sisters.

has anybody ever noticed how cat toes bear an eerie resemblance to the fruit snacks of our youth? you know, the simple, chewy, pod-shaped ones?…unlike the annoying and cloying newfangled sugar shooters of today, like this crap.

i’ve yet to find another person who is in agreement with me on this. hello? are you out there? if so, let’s be soul mates.

anyway, i’m super-bummed b/c my camera is out of commission. the lens is stuck and will not retract. prognosis is very grim. according to some “research” i’ve done online, there’s not much that can be done unless you just use sheer brute force to shove the lens back in. i don’t have the heart to do this quite yet.

i was hoping to share pictures of all sorts of things, like fourth of july, which was spent on a patio boat in the san pablo reservoir, where fran caught a CRAPPIE. am i the only one who finds this amusing? a fish called crappie. i named him “carl.”

it would’ve been nice to post a photo from the museum’s BLAST OFF event, of derek and anthony drawing on a community mural (their brilliant idea), surrounded by a gaggle of happy children armed with markers. and of hellen attracting a curious crowd to her screenprinting table. BLAST OFF was a six-hour long beautiful and joyous scene. it felt good, i felt good.

sigh. perhaps camera death happens when you take 8,000 pictures in six months. it’s kinda crazy how unhealthily attached i’ve become to my camera. i’m obsessed with capturing almost everything that captures me. which means A LOT of stuff.

and i salute you for being the best mascot for all occasions!

remember poltergeist?
yeah. i was trying to go for that same effect, but fun, not scary.

anyway, here’s the trailer for the marvel of manga exhibition at the museum.
if you really love me, you’d embed and forward the crap outta this thing.