-war
-men referring to their profession as "masseuse"
-the decline in the population of many American birds
-Damien Hirst
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Star Ferry on film
Unless I am mistaken, the Star Ferry is the best thing in the world. Even if you've never been to Hong Kong, you can get a sense of the Star Ferry by watching Emmanuel Carrère's La moustache, an otherwise silly movie.
Israel arms the dictator
Now Israel is providing weapons to one of the nastier regimes in Central Asia.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
9:21
There is a moment each morning when the sun bathes me. Reflections come off of otherwise innocuous surfaces. Each tiny facet on the backs of my parchment hands is superbly visible. Amid calamities, glory.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
What is it?
Again and again, the feeling that life is something else. The feeling that in this handsome town, working with decent people, enjoying good health, loved by my family and adored by my dear nieces, I am barely alive.
Sitting in this room, looking out on an avenue, the feeling that every driver, cyclist, pedestrian is moving between groups to whom that individual is essential, while I sit here, alone, incapable of the most everyday utterance. When I hear myself speak, the sounds my words make pain me. What is lacking is any sense of being natural, comfortable in my skin.
A cat is my companion. I speak to her. I ask whether she is okay (a question I'd barely know if it were not for Won Sun), what she's been up to (sleeping, mostly), whether she remembers blackcat (another way of asking whether she'll remember me after I'm gone).
I try to make beautiful things, a daunting task. I plant flowers, they grow, they fade. I see the sky: it is often beautiful: I try to remember it, as if that will make a new beautiful object. I look at projects abandoned over the years and sigh.
What is it I'm hoping for?
Sitting in this room, looking out on an avenue, the feeling that every driver, cyclist, pedestrian is moving between groups to whom that individual is essential, while I sit here, alone, incapable of the most everyday utterance. When I hear myself speak, the sounds my words make pain me. What is lacking is any sense of being natural, comfortable in my skin.
A cat is my companion. I speak to her. I ask whether she is okay (a question I'd barely know if it were not for Won Sun), what she's been up to (sleeping, mostly), whether she remembers blackcat (another way of asking whether she'll remember me after I'm gone).
I try to make beautiful things, a daunting task. I plant flowers, they grow, they fade. I see the sky: it is often beautiful: I try to remember it, as if that will make a new beautiful object. I look at projects abandoned over the years and sigh.
What is it I'm hoping for?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Music
What I'm enjoying nowadays:
The Polyphonic Spree "The Fragile Army"
Massive Attack "Mezzanine"
an old recording on Vox of Brendel playing Beethoven variations
Haydn sonatas by Brendel (these make it impossible to listen to the Ax recordings I just got)
Fleet Foxes
Yves Montand: a collection of 100 songs, really fun
The Polyphonic Spree "The Fragile Army"
Massive Attack "Mezzanine"
an old recording on Vox of Brendel playing Beethoven variations
Haydn sonatas by Brendel (these make it impossible to listen to the Ax recordings I just got)
Fleet Foxes
Yves Montand: a collection of 100 songs, really fun
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Oath
I hereby swear to boycott all movies that involve
-hitmen
-heists
-ghosts
-redemption
-dysfunctional families
-gambling
-Dustin Hoffman*
-CGI
*Understood as a shorthand for a long list that includes Robin Williams, Tilda Swinton, Oliver Platt, Steve Martin, Halle Berry, Roberto Benigni, Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Nicholas Cage, Daniel Day-Lewis, and countless children.
-hitmen
-heists
-ghosts
-redemption
-dysfunctional families
-gambling
-Dustin Hoffman*
-CGI
*Understood as a shorthand for a long list that includes Robin Williams, Tilda Swinton, Oliver Platt, Steve Martin, Halle Berry, Roberto Benigni, Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Nicholas Cage, Daniel Day-Lewis, and countless children.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
He died.
What he liked best was being petted, I mean my magisterial scratching and kneading of his ribs, stomach, backbone, hips—above all, the scraping I gave, almost unwillingly, to the zone where his chin met his teeth. His trot, quite stiff for one so young, always amused me. His adoptive mother, a cool calico, tolerated his boyish displays of aggression; they were always halfhearted. Likewise, when I had him on his back and he decided I'd gone a bit too far with my tummy work or rib plucking, he'd make a play for my hand and arm with his forelimbs, kicking at me with aftlimbs like a kangaroo, but always with his claws sheathed.
I miss him.
He liked to crouch at the edge of the gravel pit and ogle the birded branches of the overhanging tree. As the towhees and mockingbirds hopped from nest to branch, he'd helplessly mew. Did he ever kill one? I don't know. The only victim I saw him with was a Polyphylla decemlineata, and that awkward stridulating beetle I quickly separated from its tormentor. He often meowed for no apparent reason; on that occasion he meekly and mutely received my scolding.
I don't know what killed him, but that morning he was out of sorts, later that day he vomited, and then he was simply gone.
He was black, with a slender white V on his breast and a similar pattern near his groin. When his mouth was shut, the tips of his upper canines sometimes protruded just slightly beyond his lips, so I fondly addressed him as Blacula.
His adoptive mother seems cool as ever since his disappearance on August 4. But she does warble an odd meow I never before heard from her.
I miss him.
He liked to crouch at the edge of the gravel pit and ogle the birded branches of the overhanging tree. As the towhees and mockingbirds hopped from nest to branch, he'd helplessly mew. Did he ever kill one? I don't know. The only victim I saw him with was a Polyphylla decemlineata, and that awkward stridulating beetle I quickly separated from its tormentor. He often meowed for no apparent reason; on that occasion he meekly and mutely received my scolding.
I don't know what killed him, but that morning he was out of sorts, later that day he vomited, and then he was simply gone.
He was black, with a slender white V on his breast and a similar pattern near his groin. When his mouth was shut, the tips of his upper canines sometimes protruded just slightly beyond his lips, so I fondly addressed him as Blacula.
His adoptive mother seems cool as ever since his disappearance on August 4. But she does warble an odd meow I never before heard from her.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My movies
I have borrowed a lot of movies from the library. The pile on my floor is
ABC Africa, directed by Abbas Kiarostami (2001)
Life and Nothing But, directed by Bertrand Tavernier (1989)
Marius, written by Marcel Pagnol (1931)
Fanny, written by Marcel Pagnol (1932)
César, written by Marcel Pagnol (1936)
Muriel, directed by Alain Resnais (1963)
Hiroshima mon amour, directed by Alain Resnais (1959)
Shadow of a Doubt, directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1942)
The Island, directed by a hack (2005)
La belle noiseuse, directed by Jacques Rivette (1990)
Le professionnel, directed by Georges Lautner (1981)
La guerre est finie, directed by Alain Resnais (1966)
Kings & Queens, directed by Arnaud Desplechin (2004)
The Wind Will Carry Us, directed by Abbas Kiarostami (1999)
Deserted Station, directed by Alireza Raisian (2002)
Crimson Gold, written by Abbas Kiarostami (2003)
Clean, directed by Olivier Assayas (2004)
ABC Africa, directed by Abbas Kiarostami (2001)
Life and Nothing But, directed by Bertrand Tavernier (1989)
Marius, written by Marcel Pagnol (1931)
Fanny, written by Marcel Pagnol (1932)
César, written by Marcel Pagnol (1936)
Muriel, directed by Alain Resnais (1963)
Hiroshima mon amour, directed by Alain Resnais (1959)
Shadow of a Doubt, directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1942)
The Island, directed by a hack (2005)
La belle noiseuse, directed by Jacques Rivette (1990)
Le professionnel, directed by Georges Lautner (1981)
La guerre est finie, directed by Alain Resnais (1966)
Kings & Queens, directed by Arnaud Desplechin (2004)
The Wind Will Carry Us, directed by Abbas Kiarostami (1999)
Deserted Station, directed by Alireza Raisian (2002)
Crimson Gold, written by Abbas Kiarostami (2003)
Clean, directed by Olivier Assayas (2004)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Borrowing from Gavin
An article on the front page of today's Financial Times reported that twenty-five thousand people showed up at Tian An Men to witness the arrival of the Olympic torch at the south entrance to the Forbidden City, only to realize, as the hours crept by, that the authorities had smuggled the torch past them, into the imperial compound, where a small and carefully vetted audience applauded. That's really mean.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A friend replies, number 17
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Loneliness, isolation and/or alienation: as often experienced when living in surburbia.
Where would you like to live?
San Fran, Beijing, Tokyo.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Too difficult of a question to answer. Many things make me happy. All of them sound corny, and the list is always growing.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
The deadly sins of greed and gluttony.
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
The Tibetan Monk in Journey to the West: patient to a fault, motivated by good intentions, courageous, all while being entirely spiritual.
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Hmm, I'd like to rewrite this question, if I might: Who is my least favorite character in history?
E.L. Bernays--the father of public relations, a dastardly man who founded an industry based on manipulation and dark tactics of persuasion.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
Frida Kahlo: amazing artist, lived without apologizing.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Hmmm, drawing a blank here. Could that be because the canon is based on a patriarchal system??? (wink)
Your favorite painter?
I could answer Frida Kahlo, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? Let's say, instead, John Singer Sargent, who had an uncanny talent for combining realism with a touch of impressionism.
Your favorite musician?
Oh, gosh, I don't know. There's too many to choose from. Ummm, I can't do it!
The quality you most admire in a man?
The combination of two qualities: uninhibitedness and kindness.
The quality you most admire in a woman?
Same--it's genderless.
Your favorite virtue?
Honesty (from the perspective of Kant). Difficult in practice, interesting in theory.
Your favorite occupation?
Hmmm, perplexing question. My favorite as in, favorite thing I've done in my life, or the one that I might not have ever done but has captured my imagination somehow? I'll answer the latter: farmer.
Who would you have liked to be?
Foucault.
Loneliness, isolation and/or alienation: as often experienced when living in surburbia.
Where would you like to live?
San Fran, Beijing, Tokyo.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Too difficult of a question to answer. Many things make me happy. All of them sound corny, and the list is always growing.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
The deadly sins of greed and gluttony.
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
The Tibetan Monk in Journey to the West: patient to a fault, motivated by good intentions, courageous, all while being entirely spiritual.
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Hmm, I'd like to rewrite this question, if I might: Who is my least favorite character in history?
E.L. Bernays--the father of public relations, a dastardly man who founded an industry based on manipulation and dark tactics of persuasion.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
Frida Kahlo: amazing artist, lived without apologizing.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Hmmm, drawing a blank here. Could that be because the canon is based on a patriarchal system??? (wink)
Your favorite painter?
I could answer Frida Kahlo, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? Let's say, instead, John Singer Sargent, who had an uncanny talent for combining realism with a touch of impressionism.
Your favorite musician?
Oh, gosh, I don't know. There's too many to choose from. Ummm, I can't do it!
The quality you most admire in a man?
The combination of two qualities: uninhibitedness and kindness.
The quality you most admire in a woman?
Same--it's genderless.
Your favorite virtue?
Honesty (from the perspective of Kant). Difficult in practice, interesting in theory.
Your favorite occupation?
Hmmm, perplexing question. My favorite as in, favorite thing I've done in my life, or the one that I might not have ever done but has captured my imagination somehow? I'll answer the latter: farmer.
Who would you have liked to be?
Foucault.
A friend replies, number 16
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
If someone believed that I had done something bad and I couldn't clear my name.
Where would you like to live?
Anywhere Mandarin speaking. Or Hong Kong.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Reading.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Lying to yourself about the small things. I totally understand. It's still stupid, but I understand.
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
The un-sung hero. The best example of which is Sydney Carton. "It is a far far better thing I do now than I have ever done, a far far better rest I go to than I have ever known..."
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Normal people. If a person is still remembered, they probably did something spectacularly bad. Or if they are academics, I dislike the fact that we just remember one name when it takes an entire entourage (with many females) and loads of money to support someone doing research. A named person? Not interested.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
My female friends.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Sadly, there are not many to choose from. Heroines are a pretty sad lot and I can't really identify with them, for the most part. All of them are pretty or want to be pretty, and all of them are far too aware of their sex to be anything but limited by it. I'm with Virginia Woolf; the female sex will be nothing so long as she is a heroine first and a hero second.
Your favorite painter?
I have a favourite painting - The Necklace by William McGregor Paxton. No favourite painter.
Your favorite musician?
Impossible. More like an era - "Alternative" music from the mid-80s. The Bryan Eno, Bobby & Cynthia, Japan, XTC kind of stuff.
The quality you most admire in a man?
An interest in others besides himself.
The quality you most admire in a woman?
A strong ego.
Your favorite virtue?
Kindness.
Your favorite occupation?
I don't understand the question. No job is good in itself, it depends on the context. The 'best' job can be the worst if you are not cut out for it.
Who would you have liked to be?
An astronaut, if only it were possible.
If someone believed that I had done something bad and I couldn't clear my name.
Where would you like to live?
Anywhere Mandarin speaking. Or Hong Kong.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Reading.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Lying to yourself about the small things. I totally understand. It's still stupid, but I understand.
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
The un-sung hero. The best example of which is Sydney Carton. "It is a far far better thing I do now than I have ever done, a far far better rest I go to than I have ever known..."
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Normal people. If a person is still remembered, they probably did something spectacularly bad. Or if they are academics, I dislike the fact that we just remember one name when it takes an entire entourage (with many females) and loads of money to support someone doing research. A named person? Not interested.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
My female friends.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Sadly, there are not many to choose from. Heroines are a pretty sad lot and I can't really identify with them, for the most part. All of them are pretty or want to be pretty, and all of them are far too aware of their sex to be anything but limited by it. I'm with Virginia Woolf; the female sex will be nothing so long as she is a heroine first and a hero second.
Your favorite painter?
I have a favourite painting - The Necklace by William McGregor Paxton. No favourite painter.
Your favorite musician?
Impossible. More like an era - "Alternative" music from the mid-80s. The Bryan Eno, Bobby & Cynthia, Japan, XTC kind of stuff.
The quality you most admire in a man?
An interest in others besides himself.
The quality you most admire in a woman?
A strong ego.
Your favorite virtue?
Kindness.
Your favorite occupation?
I don't understand the question. No job is good in itself, it depends on the context. The 'best' job can be the worst if you are not cut out for it.
Who would you have liked to be?
An astronaut, if only it were possible.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A friend replies, number 15
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Lost of anyone you love.
Where would you like to live?
Heaven but I do not know where it is.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Have fun with friends and your families.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Food. (I forget the word begin with a g.)
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
I cannot think of any because I forget all I have read.
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Sima Qian because he was a castrated historian.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
My wife because I am so afraid of her.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Probably I should read some pornographic fictions.
Your favorite painter?
林布蘭. but I do not know painting/
Your favorite musician?
I cannot remember anyone because I do not listen that much and because I cannot remember.
The quality you most admire in a man?
Someone like Sima Qian who was dare to complain and was castrated
The quality you most admire in a woman?
I cannot think of any.
Your favorite virtue?
[No answer given.]
Your favorite occupation?
My occupation now.
Who would you have liked to be?
A historian.
Lost of anyone you love.
Where would you like to live?
Heaven but I do not know where it is.
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Have fun with friends and your families.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Food. (I forget the word begin with a g.)
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
I cannot think of any because I forget all I have read.
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Sima Qian because he was a castrated historian.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
My wife because I am so afraid of her.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
Probably I should read some pornographic fictions.
Your favorite painter?
林布蘭. but I do not know painting/
Your favorite musician?
I cannot remember anyone because I do not listen that much and because I cannot remember.
The quality you most admire in a man?
Someone like Sima Qian who was dare to complain and was castrated
The quality you most admire in a woman?
I cannot think of any.
Your favorite virtue?
[No answer given.]
Your favorite occupation?
My occupation now.
Who would you have liked to be?
A historian.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is not all that
Declaring its moody, arthouse intentions from the first out-of-focus shot, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance has little to say. It piles grotesque acts of violence up until everyone's dead, then fades to black. And has it been noted that some of the movie's salient plot elements were lifted from Chungking Express? A kidnapping in which the child does not know she's been kidnapped; a protagonist who uses baseball to vent frustration. And Bae Doona, the actress who plays the anarchist girlfriend, is channeling Wong Faye throughout.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Going
Sotheby's is having lots of auctions. Some involve wine, others involve paintings. Here is a painting by Andy Warhol.
It's not very good. But this Redon is gorgeous.
And the page below, from a late fourteenth-century Latin book of hours, shows at the bottom a figure known as a "drollery creature," or what I'd have called a chimera.
And a gouache by Hans Bol, one of my favorite painters.
It's not very good. But this Redon is gorgeous.
And the page below, from a late fourteenth-century Latin book of hours, shows at the bottom a figure known as a "drollery creature," or what I'd have called a chimera.
And a gouache by Hans Bol, one of my favorite painters.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Guns
The question is not whether the second amendment to the Constitution limits the ownership of firearms to certain groups—clearly it does not. The question is what limits may be placed on the ownership of guns by local and national laws. And if the limits necessary for the preservation of certain unalienable rights infringe on the second amendment, then the time has come for a twenty-eighth amendment.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The real crime
Okay, so some good liberal lawyers were passed over by the DoJ in favor of some not-so-good ones with conservative credentials, big deal. The real tragedy is the use of the word "deselect" throughout the report.
What does "deselect" mean? It means "reject." If ever there were a case for insisting on etic terms, this is it.
What does "deselect" mean? It means "reject." If ever there were a case for insisting on etic terms, this is it.
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