Stranger than Fiction (2006)

The type of movie I like... wacko, weird, alternative, but not disturbing, makes you think, but not into a spiral or struggle... interesting cast; always thought Will Ferrel is better suited to his SNL days (his eyes always look kinda weird), but he was good. The role is similar to that of Jim Carrey's in "Truman Show" (1998) (man, has it been that long already?). When one realizes that his life is NOT in his control, do they take matters into their own hands?
The difference this time though, is your life is "determined" already, by a seemingly outside force...
If you are given the opportunity to learn about your "ending", would you take it, and try to change the outcome? or would you accept it and live the rest of the days naturally and let the course run itself to its entirety?
Are we the ultimate controller of our own destiny, or can we take comfort that things will work out one way or another, eventually? Well, the new "ending" in "Stranger than Fiction" takes both sides... while it lacks a so-called "punch"... the feeling of powerlessness, of ill-timed fate but perfect end, it gives us a sense of justice, a righted wrong; a well-deserved end to well-deserving people.
Though not as wacko, this film ranks up there with "Fight Club", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Being John Malkovich" for originality. You can't help but feel for Harold, root for him, and side with him. I've always loved Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah was good, and Dustin Hoffman was ok, but his role could have been played by others and it wouldn't make much a difference.

Bobby (2006)

It was a generation that I only read in text books and magazines, or was it? War, young soldiers sent to the frontline, elections, protests, social unrest, injustice, racial tensions... Does it sound more like current affairs than the Roaring 60s?
History does repeat itself. The element of hope, to do away with all that fighting and hatred... paying more attention to what's happening in the country than fighting neverending wars abroad; helping your own people, not segregated by skin colors, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, wealth, social class, etc... seems like the same issues remain.

Not the best movie I've ever seen, but it gave me a glimpse into living in crazier times than today, among a bunch of crazy people, disillusioned, confused, some hopeless, some hopeful. And how else could you get to watch a great ensemble with Anthony Hopkins, Martin Sheen, Harry Belatonte, Lawrence Fishburn, Helen Hunt, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, William H. Macy, etc. in ONE movie? :)

Fair trade...?

It's more complicated than anti-globalization...It's not just anti-WTO...It's not only about rich countries giving subsidies to their farmers...The problem with the poor getting poorer has to do with everybody's spending behaviour, your perception of the world's resources... on equity issues, economic power, fairness, sustainability.
While we all need to reflect on our own consumption pattern and be knowledgeable on issues surrounding these social, economic, and environmental issues, spend a little time on this website and the movie that's behind it:
http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/

Next time you have your Tall Americano with Skimmed Milk, think thrice about the coffee farmers in Ethiopia starving over your morning jolt served by some paid servers who are trained to make you feel good about your COMPLETELY overpriced purchase. The movie is a bit one-sided, of course, but how else would documentaries make noise without presenting the ultimate truth?
We all have a part to play in sustainable development... and we all need to work bit by bit towards a common goal. (I am not lecturing you like I do secondary school students, but it does deserve some of our attention on such a pressing issue)

The fun or grief of moving

Is it me? or is it common among people our age? I mean the frequency of moving... Let me count the last 10 years...
Euclid (1997-99)
Happy Valley (1999-2000)
San Luis (2000-2001)
Green Street/Senda Ladera/Washington Street (2000-2001)
Mid-Levels (2001)
Kennedy Town I (2001-2005)
Kennedy Town II (2005-2007)
Mid-Levels (2007-)
It's no fun, I must tell you... all the packing, unpacking, arranging furniture, taking measurements, throwing away stuff, dealing with the decisions to throw away stuff, apartment searching, costing.... etc. But they say... change is good for you, and according to astrologist, it is especially good for me this year, so I guess it is a good thing to be moving now. And how could it be wrong? Within walking distance to work, gym, friends, and CHEAPER rent? But I am giving up sunny and warm weather, open harbour views, bright roomy living area for all that. And that's not to mention me without a car! So it is quite a change for me, I guess?
It's been quite busy lately... with this move, work, Arts Festival, HKIFF, among many (good) things. I also noticed that I haven't seen my friends much... is it because we had too many gatherings for CNY, my Bday, friends' Bdays?

Have you Googled where you used to live?

It's so cool! Euclid, Cedar, San Luis, Indian Rock, Gilman, Unversity, Durant, 19th, Marview, Market, Bloomfield, Goldenwest... streets I used to drive on to get home; Rose Walk, Vine Lane, Hawthorne Terrace... paths I used to walk my dog; Hearst, Bancroft, College, Channing, Haste, Bowditch... sidwalks I used to roam during my college days; and of course places I have traveled to, childhood roaming grounds in Tsuen Wan and Ho Man Tin, places I've lived in all over HK, Kennedy Town, Happy Valley, Kowloon Bay; and places I've stayed over at all over HK (!)... the little pensione on the Canal in Venice, the park where I spent a sunset overlooking Florence and Ponte Vecchio, the little B&B near Carmel, the grand resorts on Maui. Places where I would like to visit: Pyramids at Giza, highlands in Yunnan, the Safari in Africa, little quiant villages in Nova Scotia. The world is not just a big atlas, but the atlas brings you to them bit by bit, until you finally make plans to go there.
Geography, it's not just an academic subject, it's also about history, sociology, memories, and dreams. With the superimposed satellite images over street grids, you can now feel just that much closer to the real thing. :)
Try it: http://maps.google.com

Am I just not creative enough?

I've always had troubles buying presents. I always end up buying something.... usually rather practical. I think it has got to do with having received too many useless presents from before? But do you only get to buy a GREAT present for somebody when you know that person well? And I always think, what's a great gift anyway? Something useful? Something cute? Something thoughtful? But for people who's had everything they need, what more can you get them? Another iPod? cuff links/ear ring? tie/scarf? underwear/socks? cologne/perfume? wallet/hand bag? See these are not too creative either. I think what makes a great gift is something even the person receiving the gift didn't realize that he needs it. But then, a gift isn't necessarily a think that anybody needs. It could be something symbolic, something that acertains a moment, or a shared experience. I am supposed to get somebody a present, and I ended up getting a whole bunch of stuff that would be useful, but I don't think they're great gifts. Something is lacking in them. Not that I didn't put enough thought into it, in fact, I've scratched my head for 2 weeks now trying to find that ONE gift, that one special gift, but still, nothing comes to mind. There's no surpise element in them, and nothing too creative either. What am i gonna do?

How can you NOT like living in the Bay Area?

Looking through some of my pictures from recent trips, and thinking of a comment I made on the previous post, I begin to appreciate a life that seemed to have existed in another dimension. From 1994 to 2001, with a one-year absence in between, I lived in the Bay Area, where weather is a bit cool, scenery is always great, neighborhoods distinctive, pedestrians friendly, restaurants fantastic, and real estate is definitely expensive.
Never ventured into the museums, but since I left in 2001 the great de Young has been reopened, with awesome architecture and landscaping. Galleries near Chinatown/North Beach were always a pleasure to stroll through on weekends. Shopping was fun for me, and Stanford and Hillsdale were my favorite. The Embarcadero was great for meals and entertainment... movies and dim sum at Harbour Village (closed) and Yank Sing were always great. Brunch at Mama's on Washington Square after a one-hour queue on a Sunday; the Metreon (do people still go there?) for movies and gadgets, and Union Square were great for window shopping too! "Parking" at Borders to read periodicals, dropping by Banana Republic to look for latest bargains, and weekly check at Man's Music in Chinatown for the latest Canto pop albums... Further down on Market there's SoMA, Van Ness... the bars, the clubs, operas and Hard Rock Cafe! Dining at Maki at Japantown was a weekly activity... how could we do without Yu Tofu or Beef Wappa, and the occasional Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu? Movies at the Kabuki, brunch on Fillmore, casual dinner in Castro. And occasional strolls into Smith & Hawken? Reading at Cody's Books and Builder's Booksource? Brunch at Bette's Oceanview Diner? And I haven't even started to count places in Berkeley, Marin, Sonoma/Napa and Santa Cruz! Set dinner at Chez Panisse, shopping at Andronico's, burritos at Cancun, dinner at Ajanta, and Bongo Burgers, Zachary's Pizza on Solano, Cafe Milano, Cafe Strada, Crepes A-Go-Go, Kirala, Sun Hong Kong, Au Coquelet Cafe, Venezia on University, these were my favorite places! Can any place on Earth offer more than the Bay Area?
It's been a year and a half since I was back there in 2005, and I hope it will be on my itenaray this year for another visit.