Random Quotes

Wow, my 4th post of today. I think I just tied my previous record!

Random quotes from today:

"Corruption will never go out of style" - by me

"China is trying to promote the very thing it had been against for the longest time - the middle class" - China Rises : city of dreams

"The only thing you can expect is the unexpected" - read it somewhere on the Lonely Planet website

(reminded me of that other quote: "the only thing that's ever constant is change")

My Blog's Namesake

This song inspired me to name my blog after it. It's by "Nice n Smooth".

Although my blog address is quite the opposite- sometimesirhymequick

Freaking Youtube has blocked the embedding function! Please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myqQGg_s-Pw

China Rises - City of Dreams (Shanghai)

I am watching this 4-part program on China. It's been shown on CBC Newsworld for the last month. The more I learn about China, the more I want to see it for myself.

You know how people tend to romanticize in their minds about the place they haven't been to? Well, I have been to Beijing for 4 days and I thought I have seen a lot already. But I guess not!

This program is soo informative, not in terms glorifying China like the mainstream media and mass global marketing machine + propaganda. It really takes a look behind the picture perfect/ up and comer China the world sees!

I knew that the gigantic gap between the social classes currently exist in China just from what I have seen last November in Beijing. But there are other issues that all contribute to the making of it all.

One thing that really struck a chord with me is a middle aged single Chinese mother. Her old apartment was right in downtown Shanghai, but only to get evicted by the gov't after the gov't had leased the land to developers. The developers offered her a fraction of what her apartment's value and tried to sell her their new development in the outskirts of the city for an astronomical amount, which she could not afford even if she worked for 2 lifetimes.

She's forced to move to an one bedroom building sharing the same bed with her 10 year old son and without a job. She waits for the "cheap" bus (2 RMB or 25 cents CDN) instead of the 5 RMB bus ride to go see her mother (to borrow money).

She hates borrowing money from her mom, but she's got no choice. It is truly a sad story and it really made me sick to my stomach.

You know what? This type of thing just doesn't happen only in China, but around the world. What is she supposed to do?

To learn more about some of these interesting documentaries about China:

CHINA RISES http://www.cbc.ca/chinarises/intro/

China From The Inside http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2589121&cp&pageDisplay=none&pageType=search&keywords=china&int_nextBucket=0&totalProductsCount=35&searchId=20958481124&doVSearch=no&doVSearch=no&pageCount=5&pageBucket=0&pageNum=3&int_prevBucket=0&page=1&page_bucket=0&showSizeSearch=false&hasPagination=false&parentPage=search

THEY CHOSE CHINA http://www.nfb.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=52074&v=h&lg=en&exp=$%7Bthey%7D%20AND%20$%7Bchose%7D%20AND%20$%7Bchina%7D

I Speak "Indian"

I went to the Consulate General of India today to apply for my visa to India. There were about 40 people there and I was the only Asian with 2 white people there.

This East Indian lady in the line up asked me a question in Punjabi.

It was very weird. I don't see how she thinks I could speak Punjabi.

Unbreakable - Alicia Keys

I love this song. The lyrics are great. Wouldn't it be great to have that type of love?

"Act out like Will and Jada
or like Kimoro and Russel making paper
all in the family like the Jacksons
have enough kids to make a band like Joe and Katherine"

25 and Not Married

So just in the recent 6 months or so, I have been hearing about friends or friends of friends around my age getting engaged or married. They would range anywhere from 22 to 27 years old. Some of them are buying houses/mini vans and having kids as we speak.

I am just realizing that it's a bit scary that my peers are settling down already, but I am no where close. Not that I want to settle down right now. I dont think I will be ready at least until I am over 30 (wait, that's only about 5 years away).

I am 3 years away from my 10 year highschool reunion.

Sometimes I wonder to myself if I were doing something wrong. Should I be settling down, too? I think not, but it's just weird to see your friends locking down. While I am happy for them, but the idea of them settling down serves as a constant reminder that perhaps I should be doing the same thing, too? If I weren't, then what would I be doing then?

Am I sad or bitter? I don't think so! Would you pity me? No? okay then, F you, too! (just kidding hahhha)

I guess I'd just have to live my life and let it come to me. I am not too worried about that right now. Just trying to focus on this trip I am making in the fall to Asia and the Oceania. It would be an unforgetable experience.

I TRIED

Thank you, Bone Thugs N Harmony. I have missed you. Akon........not soo much!

Another photo. The infamous man in front of the tanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tianasquare.jpg

by Jeff Widener (The Associated Press).

Tiananmen Square - May 1989

It is 6/6/2007 today. It's hard to imagine only about 2 days and 18 years ago. The massacre of the university students in at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

I was in grade 1 in Taiwan, yet I vividly remember watching it on TV in my parents bedroom when the tanks ran over the students and killing them.

pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/croma/422634812/