Video de Clelia Francesconi casi calata

... RBC Canal (m)Once - Episodio IV: El post perdido (parte 2 de 2)


Video de Clelia Francesconi en bikini (RECOMENDADO)
A diferencia de muchas otras figuras del espectáculo nacional que gozan haciendo de su imagen un lupanar (tal es el caso de Eva María Abad, para mayores señas repasar el post del mes de marzo "Soy una prosti muy coquera"), la modelo Clelia Francesconi Charpentier siempre se ha caracterizado por evidenciar un exagerado afán de enrostrarnos su ejemplar conducta personal, la cual se encuentra, según sus propias palabras, "regida dentro de los cánones más puros de la decencia y moralidad", esforzándose por mantener en todo momento no solo las buenas costumbres y maneras (en apariencia, al menos) sino también un inusual low profile, lo que nos lleva a conjeturar si las razones de tanto alarde de sobriedad y rectitud (desmedida alharaca digna de sospecha) obedezcan tal vez a propósitos no tan encomiables, y si acaso dicha actitud no es más que el calculado disfraz de la presumible vida licenciosa y libertina que la conductora errebecina pretende encarecidamente ocultar.

Está de sobra demostrado que aquellas personas que se desviven por reflejar ante la opinión pública una imagen sana, correcta y justiciera son por detrás velados verdugos de las causas altruistas que tanto pregonan y defienden; poseedores todos de una doble moral, su única preocupación es aparentar una vida paradigmática y ejemplar mientras fiscalizan el accionar de sus nobles congéneres. Pinga para estos miserables conchasumadres, casos como esos hay muchos y me bajaría mil posts intentándolos detallar. Para no dejarlos con las ganas, citaré aunque sea un par de los más representativos y recientes, como el de la defensora N°1 de las mujeres maltratadas del Perú, la figuretti Rosario Pezuñasieta Morales, una gorda inmunda y despreciable que vio terminados sus días de encubierta tiranía luego que fuera desenmascarada por su propia asistente personal, María Elena Medianero, una humilde mujer trabajadora víctima de constantes agresiones y maltratos por parte de la ahora cuestionada congresista (lavada de pezuñas incluida: "son blanditas y pecositas", caso conocido como el pezuñagate affaire); ni qué decir del pelón Pinganoza, el inquisidor N°1 de la televisión basura del Perú, que cerró la putrefacta primera temporada de "El Tribunal de la Tele" con una dupla considerada por muchos imposible: Susy Díaz en tanga y el reguetonero boricua Don Chezina (una muestra más de la degradación de la raza humana) haciendo juntos la pose kamasutriana de "la carretilla" (al compás del mejor Tra-tra-tra), previo ademán de esmerada mamila ejecutada con pericia por la señora Díaz, en un marco de doble transmisión con repetición al mediodía y en cadena nacional. Gracias Perú.

En fin, no quiero desviarme del tema de esta semana. En la primera parte de este díptico dedicado a Clelia Francesconi (que tenía por objetivo allanar el camino de la presente entrega pero que de manera inesperada terminó convertido en un fiasco duramente criticado por el grueso de la lectoría pajera), tuvimos oportunidad de comentar acerca de la escasa catadura moral de esta modelo devenida en conductora de televisión al ser partícipe de un canal tan retorcido como RBC y de ponerse al servicio de un inescrupuloso criminal de la calaña de Ricardo Belmont Casinelli, si es que acaso cabe el término en tan reducida humanidad.
Es así como llegamos al tema de fondo planteándonos la pregunta de rigor. ¿Qué sórdidos secretos esconde esta rubia teñida con pinta de gran coquera y chupapingas brava? La respuesta a esta vieja interrogante, estimados lectores pajeros, la hemos tenido siempre frente a nuestros ojos. Para contestarla basta ver a Clelia conduciendo "Punto de Quiebre", embutida en un delicioso hilo dental amarillo, luciendo sus ricas nalgas y labios carnosos, paseándose con olímpica concha por las orillas de nuestro querido mar-desagüe, meneando el culo con atrevido estilo, coqueta y zorrona. O basta verla fungiendo de panelista en ese bodrio errebecino llamado "Belmont Internacional", con su provocadora minifalda negra firmemente ceñida a sus ondeantes caderas, aguardando con paciencia el momento indicado para cruzar las piernas con total desparpajo (cual gata que caza de un zarpazo al ratón, todo un detalle para el púber pajero en casa), mientras lleva debajo, oculto a las miradas más insinuantes, el calzón rojo que le regaló el gerente comercial del canal que es su monta y amante. Carajo, qué rico es hacer mañoserías con hembritas así. O por último, basta verla opinando acerca de fútbol en "El Angel del Deporte", cancheraza y duraza, con sus ojos chinitos y labios hinchaditos, los mismos que se empeñan en forzar una sonrisita de noica jodida, mueca que nos revela no a cualquier furcia miraflorina que se mete su santa coca todos los fines de semana, sino a una coquera de ligas mayores, una pichanguera de alto vuelo que lava los trapos sucios en casa y que muestra su mejor lado frente a la cámara. Porque eso, señores, es lo único que importa en televisión: aparentar y engañar, o al menos cojudear lo suficiente como para que nadie se entere por dónde van los tiros (y hago hincapié en lo de tiros). Es justo aquí donde traigo a colación el espinoso asunto de Canal 11 y todo lo expuesto en el tan vilipendiado post anterior. El que la Francesconi trabaje en un antro de lujuria y perdición no es un hecho circunstancial, y para demostrar mi punto solo me queda alcanzarles uno de los rumores más clásicos y tradicionales del ambiente farandulero nacional, el cual dice que en los baños de RBC la coca nunca ha corrido por gramos, sino más bien por kilos: Alfredito González (pichanguero veterano), la piernona Lucecita Ceballos (colombiana), la desnudista Mónica Cabrejos (cuatro rinoplastías por perforación de tabique), Angel Pinganoza (adalid de la televisión "blanca"), 'Winnie Puh' & 'Manotas' (coqueros y homosexuales), la consumida Delly Madrid (maltratada duro y parejo, ya la botaron del canal), Elejalder Godos (siempre anda 'negro'), la ex rea Malú Costa (ampayada con un ojete de coca y pepas), el huevón de Joselito (ahora se parcha con Carlota), el ladrón de Belmont (y sus sospechosas pastillas para 'levantar' la moral), la misma Clelia (no hace falta decir más, esa carita no miente) y hasta el dulce Bebé Sinclair, que aparece de cuando en vez haciendo unas muecas bien pendejas, porque ante la imposibilidad motriz de otras diversiones más sanas como el fulbito, el playstation o la paja, buena es la pichanga, no por nada se le ve siempre bailando eléctrico sobre su sillita, sudando como cerdo en celo y metiéndole al negro Elejalder la misma lora brava de todos los días: de porqué el fútbol peruano es una mierda, de los añorados días en que la mamá de Manuel Burga era puta y de que ya van 27 años que no clasificamos a un Mundial. Ahora sí, gracias Perú.


La mafia en pleno: Clelia, Pinganoza, Baby Sinclair, Belmont y Godos
- La Nueva Banda del Choclito -
Y ya que hablamos de personajes indeseables relacionados al mundo del fútbol, vale la pena recordar una historia que en su momento fue malinterpretada por el público televidente. Con el pretexto de afianzar vínculos entre las principales figuras del canal con un 'almuerzo de confraternidad', el polémico Alfredito González organizó una comilona por canje en la siempre concurrida cevichería D'PuntaMares, vendiendo tarjetas como si se tratara de una pollada a un precio de 50 soles la unidad (qué otra cosa se puede esperar, el marrano es ratero conocido y si no mete cabeza no duerme tranquilo). El caso es que llegado el día del banquete, y tal como era de esperar, el gordo le hizo a Clelia una cerrada marca personal. Aprovechando el pánico y cuidando que los buitres no lo fueran a atrasar, se llevó a la rubia a un costado y le invitó un de tiradito de lenguado. Rato después, la concurrencia los vio partir juntos con rumbo desconocido. Las malas lenguas (Pinganoza y Godos) aseguran que la pareja pidió para llevar y que el tiradito se lo acabaron en el hostal.
Durante aquella célebre transmisión de 'El Angel del Deporte' en la que el chancho González fungió de invitado (programa repetido hasta el cansancio), el ex presidente crema le hizo recordar a Clelia algunos pasajes de acaso tan memorable salida. "Cómo me voy a olvidar... si estuvo muy rico el tiradito, Alfredito". El gordo de mierda soltó una carcajada que remeció el set entero, una especie de gruñido marranezco que devino en el incontrolable movimiento ondeante de ese montón de sebo deforme y contrahecho que es su cuerpo. Pero dudo mucho que entre ambos haya pasado algo siquiera remotamente parecido al cache tal cual lo conocemos, y no precisamente porque Clelia se oponga a aflojar rápido el calzón (y que lo afloja rápido), sino porque, así es estimado lector pajero, como bien has podido adivinar, al gordo González la pinga nunca-se-le-ha-parado (o al menos no en los últimos 15 años), y aunque en la práctica se trate de algo imposible, el día que ese pito se pare, el chancho colapsará y morirá de un infarto. Bien lo dijo el chino Peredo, la vida es como el fútbol, el que puede, puede; y el que no, llora o aplaude. A las pruebas me remito...

Mentiras Verdaderas: "Ahora estoy mesurado, el peso no me ayuda. Además tengo una lesión en el coxis". Alfredo González, en confesión inesperada al diario Ajá, da detalles contundentes de su desempeño en el ring de las 4 perillas (21/12/2008)

Place Commercial Here
Burn Energy Drink. Una vez más, y para beneplácito de la siempre exigente lectoría pajera, Clelia Francesconi en bikini. El plus: dupleta con su amiga Adriana que aparece de invitada, aunque no hay media vuelta ni enfoque de tarro. Para la próxima será.


Clelia Francesconi se enciende con Burn


Compensando el video de Burn, Clelia de espaldas y mostrando el tarro
- clic en la imagen para no perder detalle -

Bonus Track
En exclusiva para Crónicas de la Farándula Kitsch (gracias a la gentileza del lector pajero Angel Ganoza, quien días atrás nos informara de la existencia del hermoso material que verán a continuación), tengo el agrado de presentarles el debut de nuestra Clelia Francesconi en el mundo del celuloide (atención pajeros: hablamos de un doble debut, pues Clelia realiza aquí su primer desnudo frontal... se ven tetas). Para todos ustedes, y en calidad de primicia, los únicos avances de la cinta del 2006 "Soledad.com", un thriller tecnológico producido por Jensen Entertainment Productions (mucho gusto) y dirigido por Antonio Landeo Vega (mucho gusto también), quien al parecer es un aplicado alumno de la estilizada escuela Zegarriana. Debido a un conflicto de derechos entre distribuidoras y a una falta de liquidez en la caja chica, "Soledad.com" jamás entrará en exhibición. Una tragedia.


Trailer de Soledad.com - Una película protagonizada por Clelia Francesconi

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COMUNICADO 002-2009
Tras dos meses de ocurrido el hecho, y en vista de la lamentable confusión hasta ahora generada, he considerado conveniente dar a conocer nuestra posición oficial con respecto al material videográfico que el directorio PuréBlogs presentara con ocasión del evento BlogDay-Perú acontecido el mes de agosto pasado. Me refiero al infame video titulado "Quiero ser un blogstar", específicamente al segmento en donde se hace mención a este blog. No emitiré una opinión personal sobre el resto del video básicamente por consideración a las demás personas que participaron en la realización del mismo, centrándome de manera exclusiva, como ya precisé, en la parte que nos atañe.


La intención difamatoria es más que evidente
A esta gentuza no se le ocurrió mejor idea que mostrar a un gordo de mierda bailando perreo y tocándose el culo frente al encabezado de este antro blogueril (un sujeto al que grabaron convenientemente de espaldas y sin dar la cara), dejando así abierta la posibilidad para que el ocasional espectador pueda suponer que el tipo en cuestión no es otra persona más que el Doctor Monique uniéndose a la celebración y bailando frente a su blog farandulero, con el guiño de dar la espalda para proteger el distintivo anonimato. Aunque suene difícil de creer, todavía hay quienes se preguntan si "es cierto que el pata que aparece en el video del 'blogstar' es...?", y lo menciono porque hasta el día de hoy sigo recibiendo dichas inquietudes, ya sea por twitter, facebook o email. Incluso hace unas semanas ocurrió un pequeño incidente con algunos miembros de la lectoría pajera, quienes me increparon por haberme sometido a semejante humillación, y sobre todo, por haber sido capaz de ridiculizar al blog y a sus fieles lectores. Y es que a pesar de todo lo que he comentado aquí y del tono en general que tienen los posts de este bulín, además del hecho de haber mostrado siempre mi renuencia a asistir (por cuarto año consecutivo) a esa estúpida y ridícula celebración llamada "Blog Day" y, principalmente, de hacer pública (una vez más) mi rotunda negativa a participar en esa mierda de concurso para nerds necesitados de reconocimiento y fama que es el "20 Blogs Peruanos" (donde gana aquel nerd que vota por sí mismo un chuchonal de veces), muchos asiduos se atrevieron a afirmar y a lanzar la acusación de que el gordo impresentable que aparecía de espaldas bailando perreo y tocándose el culo en el video de PuréBlogs era yo. Lo que uno tiene que venir a aguantar a veces.

Ante el prolongado silencio de estos miserables de PuréBlogs, que tiraron la piedra y escondieron la mano (ni siquiera se dignaron a responder las preguntas sobre esta duda en particular que la gente les hacía llegar en el apartado de comentarios de YouTube), tuve que salir yo mismo a dar las explicaciones del caso y negar cualquier relación con el video presentado, aclarando además que el culón que salía allí no se asemejaba ni siquiera en un pelo a mí.

Tendría que ser muy imbécil como para denigrarme de esa manera y prestarme a tan lamentable espectáculo, y tendría que ser muy imbécil también como para faltarle el respeto a la lectoría pajera de este blog, mostrando mi conformidad y beneplácito ante las difamatorias líneas "los bataclaneros pueden estar contentos, siempre las calatas te darán visitas, más si incluyes sexo".

El hecho de que la mafia de PuréBlogs se meta con este blog es algo que se puede permitir y hasta tolerar, ya ha sucedido antes, y la verdad no nos hacemos problemas por ello. Alguna vez el creador de dicho directorio, un tal Gordorracín, confesó textualmente en una entrevista que aquella controvertida modificación realizada en su argollero sistema (la inclusión y ponderación del concepto "autoridad", destinada a favorecer a los amigos blogueros relegados en el ranking) se debía principalmente a su intención de desplazar de los primeros lugares de la lista a los blogs que conseguían visitas publicando temas facilistas como "Britney Spears sin calzón", en clara y directa alusión a "Doctor Monique" y su visitadísimo post titulado "Fotos de Britney Spears sin calzón", uno de los más grandes hits de esta tu casa blogueril y de la blogósfera peruana en general. Lamentables y desatinadas declaraciones que decidí tomarlas como cuando te sucede algo parecido de niño: si la pelota es del gordo huevón, entonces no queda más que dejarlo jugar, incluso si es él quien impone sus arbitrarias reglas. A pesar de la jugada artera y del comentario tan fuera de lugar, el asunto quedaba allí para mí.

Pero el hecho de que PuréBlogs vuelva a la carga y se meta esta vez con la lectoría pajera, denigrando a sus miembros y rebajándolos a la categoría de vulgares "bataclaneros", convirtiendo además a este blog en el hazmerreir de su show, es una tremenda falta de respeto que no voy a tolerar, menos todavía cuando da a entender que el fenotipo del lector pajero es un gordo simplón que se solaza viendo fotos de calatas mientras se toca amaneradamente el cuerpo.

"Siempre las calatas te darán visitas, más si incluyes sexo". Según el obtuso criterio de la gente de PuréBlogs, lo que se ofrece en "Doctor Monique" es solo calatas y sexo, mas no texto, razón por la que justifican nuestro gran volumen de visitas (un promedio de 14,000 al día), cantidad que, según ellos, se debe gracias a la enorme legión de arrechos que entran en mancha únicamente a pajearse.
Si eso es lo que creen, entonces los reto, ignorantes pelafustanes dueños de PuréBlogs, a que me muestren por lo menos 5 imágenes de desnudos parciales que yo haya publicado en los casi 4 años de vida de este blog. No solo eso, también los reto, mediocres blogueros que manejan PuréBlogs, a que intenten siquiera acercarse al depurado y brillante estilo de escritura de muchos de los clásicos comentaristas de este blog (y que tanto subestiman), como el que ostentan Viejo Cachero, Los Tumis, El Aprendiz, Imberbe Muchacho, Jocho, Pajeronimus, Vladimiro, Chongastic, Lord Lazz H, Diego, Napo, Shesho, Knarf, Biyu, entre otros, o como el estilo de los más recientes, caso Voltaire, Pateador, Chonguito, House, Hoshino, Bukowski o Angel Ganoza.

De ninguna manera voy a permitir que pobres diablos como Gordorracín y compañía vengan a hacer pública burla de nosotros y a menospreciar a la gente que participa activamente de este blog.

Un último mensaje a los dueños del tan venido a menos directorio PuréBlogs: que me la mamen y me la sigan mamando.

Atte.

El Doctor Monique

Ransom Rationale

This has to be one of the most lucid and rationale ransom demands by a hostage taker that I've ever heard:

The transcript of the ransom call made by Somali pirates to the BBC:

Caller: "They have been captured by our brothers, who patrol the coast. We have been informed about their presence in the area, where bandits operate. If they do not harm us, we will not harm them, we only need a little amount of seven million dollars."

Recipient of call: "Seven million dollars is a lot of money, isn't it?"

Caller: "No, no, no, Nato operations have had a lot of negative impact here, they have destroyed a lot of equipment belonging to the poor local fishermen.

"They arrest fishermen and destroy their equipment, in defiance of our local administrations.
"They illegally transfer the fishermen to their own prisons, and prisons of other foreign countries, so when you consider the damage and all the people affected, we say the amount is not big."

Council of Labour Affairs wants direct control of unions - is this democratic?

Normally, I'm a big fan of unions in principle whilst keeping enough flexibility to recognise that an institution with such resources is often quite vulnerable to corruption or power hoarding by union representatives and officials.  This said, the general purpose of a union is to ensure that workers rights are respected and protected and to ensure that workers and management come to negotiations on a more equal footing.  In an ideal world, if management did not treat workers in such a dispensable and disrespectful manner then there might not be a need for unions altogether.  That's the theory.

In Taiwan, the practice is that unions are not exactly politically impartial nor solely focused on protecting workers rights.  An example here is how the Chinese Post Union protested against the name change of the Post Office in 2007.  That protest appeared contrived by a politicised union leadership probably with the agreement of much of the management, much in contrast to public opinion about the change (mostly neutral or indifferent).  The ROC loyal post office worker's union protested not because worker's rights were affected by the name change but rarher because they were, I suspect, ordered to.

Now let's cut to a recent development in union practice and law that in principle threatens the political 'independence' of all unions in Taiwan.  According to reports in the Taipei Times, the Council of Labour Affairs has been trying to push through "amendments to the Labor Union Act (工會法) that were scheduled for legislative review yesterday despite lawmakers’ promises last week to hold public hearings first."

What are the problems with the proposed revisions? 

Unions are opposed to the revision because it would grant the Council of Labor Affairs the power to suspend union activities and even fire union officials over union activities the council considered illegal. The amendment also proposes removing a clause in the Labor Union Act that makes union membership mandatory for industries and firms with unions.

Activists believe that removal of the mandatory membership clause would lead to destruction of unions and labor rights movements.

In other words, the Government is seeking the power to intervene in union affairs and is acting to undermine the bargaining power of unions by allowing for non-affiliated workers in the same work place.  I remember this trick from the days of Thatcher in mid-80's UK.  The result is likely to be that management will use non-affiliated workers as leverage against the collective representative power of unions.  Once the number of unaffiliated workers reaches a critical level, the ability of the union to resist harmful or illegal management policies will be severely undermined.   

One has to wonder why tinker with the unions now?  Is it because there is a recognition that a strict restructuring of the economy is required for Taiwan to adjust to new economic conditions as a post-ECFA satellite provincial economy of the PRC following the financial crisis.  It is likely that older larger state run, or majority owned, enterprises will have to be downsized or replaced leading to significant layoffs.  Perhaps then the amendments to the law are designed to give the Government a legal basis for ensuring that no elements can delay or prevent this restructuring.    The argument is something like as follows:

1) The need for restructuring is paramount and the process inevitable.

2) If normal democratic procedures are followed the restructuring may be incomplete.

3) The Government does not wish to negotiate with unions, who it thinks will not understand the sacrifices that need to be made and will obstruct the process, impacting the efficacy of the Government's policies and adversely affecting public support for the policy.

4) The process of handling the unions will be greatly facilitated if the Government is legally allowed to intervene and if union power is undermined.

5) The revisions to the Law should be carried out as quickly as possible so that significant opposition is not given the time to form and become effective:

[Union leaders] were upset not only because of the proposed amendments to the law, but also because they felt legislators had tricked them.

“When we came here last Friday to protest the Cabinet’s proposed amendments to the Labor Union Act, both the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] and Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] caucuses promised they would hold public hearings to listen to what we have to say,” National Federation of Independent Trade Unions official Liu Yung (劉庸) told the demonstrators.

“Despite their promises, the legislature again scheduled a review of the amendments without having held a single public hearing,” he said.

Liu said the unions were especially upset because they had only learned about yesterday’s scheduled review from KMT Legislator Ho Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) during a private meeting a few days ago.

“If we hadn’t met with Ho, we probably wouldn’t have known until the revision was passed,” he said.

Confederation of Taipei Trade Unions (CTTU) chief executive director Chou Chia-chun (周佳君) agreed.

“We would have been on our way to Tainan right now to attend a public hearing organized by [DPP] Legislator William Lai [賴清德] if we hadn’t found out about today’s legislative agenda,” she said. “I think the public hearing was just a way to get us away from Taipei so we wouldn’t be able to protest while they pass the revision.”

Here we see a use of the promise of 'public hearings' to satisfy the public's wish to be consulted without the government ever having to genuinely seek the inclusion of potentially oppositional elements in the hearing process.  The rationale seems to be that you don't ask those bodies and individuals who are activists to a hearing since their definitive stance means that their position will be obvious, and they will therefore only get in the way of the government achieving its pre-determined outcome.  The 'public hearings' are not supposed to have uncertain results but rather give the sheen of democracy to what is in effect a barely democratic process. 

A clear example of this was the decision to rename Taiwan Democracry Memorial Hall which was supposed to preceded by three public hearings - hearings that were in fact closed door discussions by select academics.  Not exactly 'public' hearings then. The result? Oh, yes.  They agreed with the Government to change the name of the hall back to venerating a dictator, in the complete absence of any public desire to do so.  Some things are just too important to be left for the public to decide.  If you were to believe the Government ir most newspapers, the only 'real' public opinion is that which is indifferent, centrist, 'pragmatic' and inherently conservative.  Any other opinion is categorised as 'controversial' or 'extreme' or 'contrived', especially if it is delivered with passion and conviction.  Does the culture of harmony aid those Governments who do not seek to rule democratically but rule a notional democracy?

The Compassion of Animals.

The November issue of National Geographic magazine features a moving photograph of chimpanzees watching as one of their own is wheeled to her burial. Since it was published, the picture and story have gone viral, turning up on websites and TV shows and in newspapers around the world. For readers who’d like to know more, here’s what I learned when I interviewed the photographer, Monica Szczupider. On September 23, 2008, Dorothy, a female chimpanzee in her late 40s, died of congestive heart failure. A maternal and beloved figure, Dorothy had spent eight years at Cameroon’s Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which houses and rehabilitates chimps victimized by habitat loss and the illegal African bushmeat trade. Szczupider, who had been a volunteer at the center, told me: “Her presence, and loss, was palpable, and resonated throughout the group. The management at Sanaga-Yong opted to let Dorothy's chimpanzee family witness her burial, so that perhaps they would understand, in their own capacity, that Dorothy would not return. Some chimps displayed aggression while others barked in frustration. But perhaps the most stunning reaction was a recurring, almost tangible silence. If one knows chimpanzees, then one knows that [they] are not [usually] silent creatures."

James: It touches me deeply that this chimpanzee family lined up to view the dead body of one of their own as it passed by them. It's similar to the funeral possessions that are common amongst humans, which makes sense on one level when you consider that humans and chimpanzees have DNA that is 95-98% similar. In Buddhism we are taught that the human realm offers the best chance for realizing liberation from suffering and the cycle of birth/death. In addition to that it is said that the animal realm is a horrendous station and from what I have observed of the animal kingdom it does seem rather harsh and rough. Sometimes this unfortunately leads people to see animals as "dumb" and that delusion often leads to taking advantage of them.

We do so at our own peril because animals are embedded in our DNA if you believe the generally accepted theory of evolution. Taken a step further in Buddhism, of course we know that we are interconnected to all beings regardless of evolution or not. The molecules that make up our body blend with the molecules that make up the air, which blend into the molecules that make up other people, animals, rocks, water and on and on. It is not a connection we can see with our eyes of delusion but if we look closer with a mindful eye that web of connection shines forth in beautiful and reassuring ways.

Those chimpanzees might not know the Dharma but they do understand love and compassion. How could a mother of any species not have a bond with their offspring that is an expression of concern and care? In my mind, that is but another way of showing and experiencing compassion and love. The uncharacteristic silence of the chimps is something a being wouldn't show if it didn't experience expressions of sorrow and respect. We know chimps are capable of showing respect in how they stratify their family groups. Respect is shown to the experienced and strong male as well as the alpha female.

So they may not know how to liberate themselves from suffering but in my opinion they deserve respect, dignity and a chance at life that we expect for our own offspring. It's not my place to say that someone should be a vegetarian--that's an ego boosting exercise nor it is skillful means. Besides, Buddha didn't set a strict rule about it nor can all people follow a vegetarian diet due to climate and health considerations. I don't eat meat and abstaining from it is for me personally apart of keeping the first precept to avoid violence. However, I struggle with other precepts so I don't have any right to condemn anyone for eating meat -- nor would I do so. I may not eat meat or kill animals but I do still struggle sometimes with verbal violence so I keep working and practicing. There is no point to judging others or guilting people into doing something or not doing something. In addition, people can be very compassionate, loving and caring toward animals regardless of diet. Although for some, vegetarianism might be helpful, rewarding and beneficial to understanding compassion as a universal right.

~Peace to all beings~

Illuminating Information

Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation is apparently more interested in sponsoring events in China then Taiwan. But then, with a customer base that is literally addicted to its products, I'm sure they're not worried about boycotts:

DPP opposes TTL sponsoring Asian Games in Guangzhou

Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Page 2

2009-10-28 12:00 AM

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Huang Wei-cher yesterday proposed restrictions on state-run enterprises sponsoring events in China.

Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation spent NT$500 million on the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, even though it never spent any money on the Taipei Deaflympics, the Kaohsiung World Games, or the victims of Typhoon Morakot, Huang said.

Taiwanese state-run companies bore a responsibility toward their own citizens and should not spend money on advertising in China, he said.

According to the Taipei Times today (one day after the information above became apparent) the Premier wholeheartedly supports TTL's investments: 

Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday praised state-owned Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corp (TTL, 台灣菸酒公司) for sponsoring the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, to the tune of NT$400 million (US$12.29 million). “When I heard about the plan, I approved without hesitation because it offers tremendous benefits: The tasty Taiwan Beer will sweep the mainland and the brand will promote the ‘Taiwan concept’ and Taiwan’s excellence. It could also generate extra revenue of NT$30 billion a year,” Wu said.

TTL president Duan Wei (韋伯韜) signed the sponsorship deal with the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee in Beijing on Monday and announced the launch of corporate offices in Beijing and Shanghai.

TTL has sought to register the Taiwan Beer brand as a trademark in China since 1999, but Beijing did not approve the registration until in May, objecting to the use of the word “Taiwan.”

One of course wonders what has changed so that the word 'Taiwan' is now acceptable.  Other than that, one thing that leaves me rather cold is Wu's reference to the 'Taiwan concept' which, as Tim and EVA pointed out, is better translated as 'Taiwan subjectivity'.  Is this a rather weak attempt at scoring points with the anti-annexation majority whilst riding on the assumption that a beer product will somehow also deliver a sense of the Taiwanese experience to its consumer?.  Any other government would I suspect have said that "x beer will sweep y region promoting the nation's reputation, economy and values."  The question can be asked, if the government wants to avoid having the economy work towards explicitly building and promoting the nation ('Taiwan') they may go off and explicitly help to support another. 

Begala Blames Lieberman's Opposition On Insurance Donations

Democrat Paul Begala has provided his answer to the question I posed earlier: Lieberman is opposed, as he always has been, because he is in the insurance industry's pocket:

Lieberman sided with insurance companies against sick people, and with insurance companies against citizens who wanmaget to sue to protect their rights in court. As The New York Times reported, "Many of Mr. Lieberman's friends said he had no alternative but to take this position because it was the one favored by the insurance industry. The industry is important to Connecticut's economy and has generously donated to Mr. Lieberman's campaigns over the years."

But in fairness to Sen. Lieberman, that's just what his friends said back in 2000, not what he says today. What he says today is that President Obama is "trying to do too much at once."

Sen. Lieberman is always there when we don't need him. Don't ask him to do more than that. It's just too much.

Lieberman Seeks To Block "Public Option"

Not long after Harry Reid announced that the Senate version of the health-care reform bill would have a public option, former Democrat and Republican apologizing Independent Joe Lieberman is threatening to old up a cloture vote on the bill to avert passage:h

"I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined - I haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined - to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore, I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

I have given up on understanding Lieberman. Anyone care to opine about what he's thinking?

McGovern Mulls A Run Against Thune

Matt McGovern, grandson of former Senator George McGovern, is considering challenging Senator John Thune for his South Dakota Senate seat.

All in all, an interesting development. I haven't seen any recent polling on Thune, but have a little respect for him because of who he defeated for his seat (Daschle). McGovern's name alone will bring attention to this race.

Video Of Arrington Endorsing Sparks

I've been a little behind the news lately, but here is the video:



LINK

Motivations for Becoming Buddhist.

Baseball player Alex Rodriquez is reportedly going to convert to Buddhism for his girl friend, actress Kate Hudson. I'm not a Religious Studies professor but I do know that converting to a religion out of a feeling of obligation or to please a person is a horrible reason. I was apart of a belief system growing up in which I remained for longer than I should have out of a feeling of obligation and It was gut-wrenching. I finally realized that I was living a lie and deceiving my parents into thinking I was a loyal member.

I can't say whether A-Rod will stay with it or not but too often we do things for the wrong reasons and the biggest example I can think of is with love/happiness. We might think that we have to be a certain way in order to gain the love of someone and be happy. The other side of that coin is when we withhold love to get things from someone. That isn't love or true happiness. That is loved based on attachment. It's like saying, "I love you but only if you do the things I like, be the person I want and believe the things I do." The Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh says of happiness and love in his book, "Teachings on Love":

"Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form."

James: It's hard when our vision of happiness doesn't pan out but if we can find happiness in what we already have then we'll never be disappointed. And we won't be manipulating people thus causing suffering for them too. I working on that with everyone else by the way. My pot is no less cracked than anyone else's. I hope that A-Rod finds something about Buddhism to be important, interesting or worthwhile other than being the religion his girlfriend practices. I also hope Kate Hudson didn't pressure him to convert. Because that would make me wonder just how well she knows Buddhism because pressuring people to do much of anything in Buddhism is taboo. I'm not saying that A-Rod doesn't have any personal interest in Buddhism but from what I know of the story it sounds like he is doing it just for her. I hope it works out because I sure have found a lot in Buddhism that has helped my life but it doesn't mean much if you're not fully engaged.

~Peace to all beings~

Island in the Sky

One summer at Bullfrog, on the stark shoreline of Lake Powell, the temperature climbed to around 120 degrees for two weeks. During that time we discovered a way out of the heat by driving up into the highlands. The nearby Henry Mountains rise up 12,000 feet to sub alpine meadows. Gazing eastward across a wide martian landscape, our vision was unhindered all the way out to the La Sal Mountains in Colorado. We couldn't really make sense of the landscape in between. It literally looked like red martian satellite imagery.



This past spring I decided it was time to visit Canyonlands National Park. I've only heard good things about it, and although it was right next to Lake Powell, the logistics in getting there during that time were out of balance with the million other, closer places that were available for exploration. I left Alaska, and arrived in Utah just in time for a freak April snow storm. I got to drive through snow most of the way from Salt Lake to Moab. Knowing the storm was coming I didn't take long to settle into town before heading up into the park that afternoon. I needed exercise just to stay awake anyway.



Canyonlands is divided into three naturally defined geologic areas (although a fourth area exists at the almost inaccessible west side of the park). The afternoon when I visited the Island in the Sky District, the most accessible area, the temperature was a foggy 26 degrees with blown snow squalls. I wasn’t happy about it at all. I had left Alaska precisely to get away from the snow. The good news was that although I was walking through a blizzard, I was quite comfortable, since the storm was still quit a bit warmer than I’d been most of the time for the previous 6 months. It was actually a nice day to walk the dog, although my dog would immediately kill himself in such a place.




Another squall approaches. Quickly too, it only took a few minutes for it to overtake me.

Walking in snow in the desert was a new experience for me. Slickrock, covered in ice, is definitely some slick rock. That had to be kept in mind when walking near cliffs, which was usually where I was. The snow also covered up small groups of cacti. Retracing my steps to find my way back in the poor visibility that first day I saw numerous cacti sticking out from my footprints. Luckily I never got pricked on the sides of my shoes.




That morning it was just perfect in the sunlight, but like a refrigerator in the shade.


In the distance, the Henry Mountains in sight proved to me that many years earlier i was looking out across Canyonlands.

Yet another hazard created by the sticky snow were snow bridges that covered up wide joints between blocks of stone. The cracks were big enough to fall through, sometimes hundreds of feet, so upon seeing a rift come in from the cliff edge and disappear under the snow, I felt it was wise to make a wide berth around it.


I needed to go here for sure.


This just looks ridiculously impossible. I had to find a way.


Wanted to go here too.


The Green River

The next morning I returned. I had hoped to get up before dawn to catch a sunrise picture, but that didn’t happen. It’s such a long drive from Moab that by the time I got back to the hotel I would have had to gone straight to bed right after dinner in order to wake up in time. I did manage to get back to the park pretty early. Somehow the following morning was crystal clear. The sunlight was warm enough that I only needed a light jacket despite an air temperature of 26F. In sunlight the redrock covered in snow was very pretty, and I soon found myself leaving the viewpoints and wandering far off along the edge to see how far I could get. The views below were spectacular, and I could clearly see the Henry Mountains far to the West. For those of you who worked at Bullfrog and went up into the Henry Mountains, I can now say with certainty that you were looking out over Canyonlands without knowing what you were seeing. I vowed to come back for some sunset pictures, but I never did. There were simply too many other options to take advantage of.


I couldn't see the bottom of this canyon, so i couldn't tell how tall that column was.


There was so much detail to see you couldn't even make sense of it.


It looked dry and almost sunny in the bottom of the canyons.

Halloween Treat

Here's another B.G. I fished out of the Filmation dumpster back in the 70's. This is from the Sabrina and The Groovie Ghoulies show. The Grovie Ghoulies were a take off on the popular Munsters show which was live action. I'm still amazed at how much great art was just tossed out in those days and I'm glad I was there to save a few pieces.

The Daily Show - Moment of Zen

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Moment of Zen - Latino Stereotypes
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

And the gay-bashing continues

Some Taiwanese Christians, whom I suspect are not representative of the majority, recently decided to conduct an anti-gay parade on the grounds that homosexuality was a threat to the future of Taiwan.  No hyperbole there then.  Luckily, being Taiwan, it was a generally peaceful encounter.

I've been the red square in Ximending a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and relaxed attitude of the patrons and business people and I've spent a few very nice afternoons at the gay pool in Taichung amongst men whose attention to their physiques put my own heterosexual form quite into the shade.  It must be agony for girls to see all the ripped tanned bods and know that they are nearly all reserved exclusively for the bros.  This said, I have never felt any tension whatsoever in public about homosexuality.  It is when homosexuality becomes a public debated issue that people squirm around looking to see what other people's positions will be, before deciding which moral framework won't alienate most of their friends or threaten their guanxi.   In public we are all moral upright citizens who care about democracy and lead law abiding honest lives of graft and responsibility.  In private .....

Then I check to see how the country where I was raised and whose culture I was conditioned in to see what's happening and I see this:

PC James Parkes was off duty and on a night out with friends when he was attacked outside a gay bar, Superstar Boudoir, shortly before 10pm on Sunday.
He sustained multiple "life-threatening" skull fractures and fractures of his eye-socket and cheekbone in the assault allegedly carried out by up to 20 teenagers.

The attack comes two weeks after the death of Ian Baynham, a 62-year-old civil servant who suffered severe head injuries in a homophobic attack in Trafalgar Square four weeks ago.

Baynham, from Beckenham, south-east London, was punched and kicked to the ground. His attackers also shouted homophobic abuse. Detectives have arrested two teenage girls and an 18-year-old man in connection with his murder.

For the life of me I can't understand why some teenagers in the UK get so much pleasure from mindlessly (I'm sure they haven't thought about why they hate gays, its just that they do) destroying someone's life.  It's not just gays.  But gays make an easy target.  If I was a societal doctor I would take this as a very serious symptom of sickness of the entire body of society and an indicator that the patient, in fear, is rejecting it's 'New Labour' heart (an old Tory heart revamped) and relapsing hard to the right.  Maybe its timely to remember the saying that evil prevails when good people stay silent.

At least one person with some fame is prepared to stand and be counted - Paul Haggis.

Diane Lee admits she has dual-nationality

It's confirmed. Former KMT Legislator for Daan, Diane Lee, admitted in court that she has dual-nationality for the US and Taiwan (case details). The court decided that because her husband and children live in the US she has been barred from leaving Taiwan.

Former KMT legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) made her first court appearance yesterday at Taipei District Court on charges that she defrauded the government of more than NT$100 million (US$3 million) in wages and benefits.

Lee admitted for the first time to possessing dual-citizenship from the US but pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraud and forgery.

Interesting is that in May 2009, it was suspected that Diane Lee had committed fraud and theft of US$3, yet at the same time former President Chen, who was also suspected of theft of the same amount, had already spent 160 days in preventative detention.  Diane Lee has yet to serve one hour in detention. 

In September 2009 (just 1 month ago) Lee's laywer Lee Yung-ran (李永然) had this to say:

Lee Yung-ran, told reporters that his client could not accept the indictment ...

“She served as an elected representative and participated in the legislature for 14 years. This would be unacceptable for anyone in her position,” Lee Yung-ran told a press conference.

Clearly then it turns out that it was acceptable to her, in her position, to commit fraud and forgery for deliberately concealing dual-citizenship whilst holding office. Here's a rough time line of the case:

1. Diane Lee accused of holding dual citizenship. Lee scoffs at the suggestion and says she can find the documents to prove sh no longer has US citizenship.

2. US Immigration fails to provide a clear answer on Diane Lee's citizenship provoking further speculation that she may be holding US citizenship.

3. Diane Lee insists again that she is innocent.

4. US Immigration confirms Diane Lee's citizenship.

5. Legislature refuses to eject Lee but public pressure mounts.

6. Lee resigns from the Legislature allowing her to avoid being ejected on the grounds of holding dual-citizenship.  CEC revokes her election results (but not the legislative results of votes she participated in).  Lee's official record remains that she resigned and was not stripped of her seat for committing a felony.

7. Lee goes into effective hiding whilst preparing her case.  She still denies all charges calling them 'unacceptable'.

8. Lee admits in court that she has dual-nationality.

The future? - Lee gets a fine (a % of her income as legislator) and bail but no time in detention (that would be too much for the Lee family to bear).  Applies for compassionate leave to travel to US to visit her family.  Leaves Taiwan but fails to return on time or pay most of her fines.  KMT now not sure whether to still push for an extradition treaty with the US since once signed it is likely to be used to ask for the return of Lee and other business/KMT fugitives and not just those friends of Chen the SIP wants to question.  Lee claims an atmosphere of persecution and political witch hunts in Taiwan and refuses to return until 'conditions are sufficient to guarantee her just treatment'.  *sigh*

Since one cannot commit slander if the slandered have already admitted to the accusations of the slanderer,  I think that it can now safely be said that Diane Lee has gone down in history as a liar and a thief. We have yet to see if we can add the adjectives 'humbled', 'contrite' and 'chastened' to that description.

Video of the Week

Al Franken, Senator for Minnesota talks straight on health care.

Mark Thomas article on Protest being the new Extremism

This article below from the Guardian

I was sent the now notorious "police spotter card" through the post. It's an official laminated card for "police eyes only" and labelled as coming from "CO11 Public Order Intelligence Unit". The card contained the photographs of 24 anti-arms trade protesters, unnamed but lettered A to X. My picture appeared as photo H. You can imagine my reaction at finding I was the subject of a secret police surveillance process … I was delighted. I phoned my agent and told him I was suspect H. He replied: "Next year we'll get you top billing … suspect A."

The Metropolitan police circulated the card specifically for the Docklands biannual arms fair in London to help its officers identify "people at specific events who may instigate offences or disorder". Which is such a flattering quote I am thinking of having it on my next tour poster. While being wanted outside the arms fair, I was legitimately inside researching a book on the subject, and uncovered four companies illegally promoting "banned" torture equipment. Questions were later asked in the Commons as to why HM Revenue & Customs and the police didn't spot it. Though, in fairness, none of the torture traders featured on the spotter card.

What exactly was I doing that was so awfully wrong as to merit this attention? Today's Guardian revelations of three secret police units goes some way to explain the targeting of protesters and raises worrying questions. The job of these units is to spy on protesters, and collate and circulate information about them. Protesters – or, as the police call them, "domestic extremists" – are the new "reds under the bed".

Many of those targeted by the police have committed no crime and are guilty only of non-violent direct action. So it is worth reminding ourselves that protest is legal. Sorry if this sounds obvious, but you might have gained the impression that if three police units are spying on and targeting thousands, then those people must be up to something illegal.

The very phrase "domestic extremist" defines protesters in the eyes of the police as the problem, the enemy. Spying on entire groups and organisations, and targeting the innocent, undermines not only our rights but the law – frightfully silly of me to drag this into an argument about policing, I know.

Protest is part of the democratic process. It wasn't the goodwill of politicians that led them to cancel developing countries' debt, but the protests and campaigning of millions of ordinary people around the world. The political leaders were merely the rubber stamp in the democratic process. Thus any targeting and treatment of demonstrators (at the G20 for example) that creates a "chilling effect" – deterring those who may wish to exercise their right to protest – is profoundly undemocratic.

No police, secret or otherwise, should operate without proper accountability. So how are these three units accountable? Who has access to the databases? How long does information remain in the system? What effect could it have on travel and future employment of those targeted? How closely do these units work with corporate private investigators, and does the flow of information go both ways? Do the police target strikers?

A police spokesman has said that anyone who finds themselves on a database "should not worry at all". When a spokesman for the three secret units will not disclose a breakdown of their budgets, and two of the three will not even name who heads their operations (even MI6 gave us an initial, for God's sake), then the words "should not worry at all" are meaningless. Indeed, when the police admit that someone could end up on a secret police database merely for attending a demonstration, it is exactly the time to worry.

"The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines."

Knowing this, a wise and learned bodhisattva, works not towards Arhatship, nor enlightenment, nor Nirvana. In the practice alone one trains for the sake of the practice.

James: So goes the 22nd verse of, "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines." I hadn't heard of this treasure until now. However, hanks to the generosity, thoughtfulness and compassion of two people I've been given a great gift: My friend Jamie and the blog, "The New Heretics." Thanks Dharma buds. You should take some time and read the whole discourse because it's beautiful, insightful and an invaluable teaching. As well as a gentle and wise but compassionate reminder of what the essence of the Buddha Dharma is all about. After reading it I felt as though I had just received a rare teaching from a wise monk from centuries ago. It feels as true today as it was in Buddha's era.

So without further ado, "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines" as interpreted by "The New Heretics."

PHOTO: Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Monjusri or Monju as said in Japan. He holds a scroll to represent wisdom and a sword to cut through ignorance. He represents the wisdom in all of us.

~Peace to all beings~

Quotes of the Week

Apparently, some Christians in Taiwan have decided that homosexuality is a 'sin' against nature and want the annual Gay Pride Parade to be shut down or downsized to an acceptable number:

Pastor Chen Yu-chuan (陳宇全):

"The annual gay parade was first held in 2003 with only 500 people, but the number of participants grew to 18,000 last year. Don't you think that's horrible?”

“The gay parade last year was the biggest in Asia and may become the biggest in the world in the future. Would you want to see the downfall of Taiwan?”

Pastor Peter Chu (朱植森):

"Sexual relations between two men or two women was against human nature and could bring disaster. We're worried that God may bring destruction upon Taiwan and everyone who lives here, just as he did to Sodom and Gomorrah,” 

A woman surnamed Lin (林):

"gay marriages would only create “incomplete families” that would give their children “twisted values.” “Suppose that two women get married and raise a child together — who should be called mother?"

A gay rights activist Wang Hao-chung (王灝中):

“We don't think that the Bible prohibits homosexuality, it's just a matter of how you interpret it,”  “Jesus teaches us to love and not to judge. It's unfortunate that church organizations are so eager to judge gays and hold activities that will only fuel hatred,”

Pastor Peter Chu (朱植森): (The activists then sent a copy of their statement to Chu, who debated with the activists as he accepted the statement.)

“The church does not promote hatred and does not hate gays. We welcome them with our arms wide open.”

“We welcome gays, just as we would welcome murderers, rapists and robbers in the church.”

“We have nothing against gays; we just hope they would correct their incorrect sexual behavior,” 

A Young Man taking part in the anti-gay parade:

“Gays are just not human.”

Priceless.  Just goes to show.  No matter how tolerant and liberal we think we are, there will always be a market for intolerance, suspicion, fear and superstition.   For the life of me I just can't imagine how these 'Christians' logically arrive at the conclusion that another person's private sexuality will somehow invoke the wrath of God following which he/she/it will verily smite the Taiwanese with all his/her/its fury and anger.  Maybe it goes something like this:

"A typhoon is an act of God. Typhoon Morakot was unusually severe in its effects. Taiwan must have been punished because the Taiwanese made god unhappy. A falling birth rate results from greater homosexuality which is a lifestyle choice not a biological fact.  Homosexuals are causing our schools to close, women to marry foreigners or not get married and debasing our military and making it impotent.  Homosexuals also more easily spread disease which is why H5N1, H1N1, and SARS afflicted Taiwan - the nation is weak because people are engaging in debauchery against nature. Daruwan is angry.  If we shame homosexuals into being straight we can save souls and save the future of Taiwan."

As the old saying goes: When the economy's hurting, minorities are the first to feel the pain.

KMT Play Book

Having been witness to the drama and intense psychological warfare of Taiwanese politics for the last five years, a pattern of 'plays' from everyone's least favourite political party has become apparent. I thought I'd note down some ideas as to how the KMT deal with those thorny issues of people actually having the nerve to question it's exceptional authority:

Play 1 - For Taiwanese audiences (TW): "This is a complex issue that can't be solved immediately and we must be patient to ensure the right outcome is achieved"

Play 2 - For foreign audiences (F): "Taiwan has a special situation that it is hard for outsiders to ever truly understand. We invite people to come here and learn more about our country before reaching inaccurate opinions"

Play 3 - (TW): "It is impossible for us to do something against the law which means that whatever evidence you have must be false or misinterpreted, and can not be officially recognised as fact"

Play 4 - (F): "We do not welcome outside interference in ROC affairs"

Play 5 - (TW): "We apologise for the public's misunderstanding of our policies. We are sorry that factors outside our control have caused the public to feel inconvenienced"

Play 6 - (TW): "In order to protect our republic and democracy we need to bring governance to a halt"

Play 7 - (F): "It is surprising that criticisms on human rights and rule of law are coming from countries whose own records are far from clean"

Play 8 - (TW): "We abhor the opposition's attempts to cause ethnic trouble and feel that this is just another action by the Chen clique to provoke China and cause cross-strait tension"

Play 9 - (TW): "We will implement our policies in line with public consensus but we oppose referendums to determine the nature of public opinion"

Play 10 - (TW): "Taiwan is a region of the ROC so we are committed to protecting the interests of the nation, which will incidentally  only be improved by deeper cross-strait integration"

Play 11 - (TW): "We are sorry that the victims of [Typhoon Morakot] did not take sufficient precautions nor [develop their communities] in a safe manner and therefore suffered terribly, which we all feel, because we've also experienced the death of a parent"

Anyone got any other plays?

National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞) is a liar

Those of you who remember the Nov 2008 Chen Yunlin visit will likely be able to clearly recollect seeing police snatching and grabbing flags from protesters.  According to National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞), you are mistaken because that never happened:

During the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee meeting yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator William Lai (賴清德) told Wang that police were over-zealous during demonstrations at the last cross-strait meeting in Taiwan, which took place in Taipei last November. Police confiscating protesters’ flags and illegally entering a road-side store during the demonstrations were two examples, Lai said.

Wang told Lai that police did not confiscate any national flags during demonstrations over the meeting between Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) and his Chinese counterpart Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) last November.

“It will not happen in the future either,” Wang said.

Really? How does he explain this video then?

“The order we received is to let protesters be seen and heard,” he said.

Mmm. Interesting.  Outright denial of the historical record followed by a veiled statement that police had 'been ordered' (by whom? they seem to work on orders that mysteriously don't come from the top) to let protesters be seen and heard, with the caveat that they have to protest within the conditions set by the unconstitutional 1991 Parade and Assembly Law, a relic of the transition from martial law to democracy:

Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺), when asked by Chiu whether people would be banned from accessing the hotel that Chen stays at, waving national flags or chanting political slogans, said the government would not ban people from accessing the hotel or limit their freedom of speech or action “as long as they apply [for a permit to demonstrate] in accordance with the law.

Come December, I think i'll take a stroll down to the meeting place in Taichung and record some of the events.  Let's see if the administration has learnt anything.

Little Church in Honokowai (Maui)

In Honokowai, Maui there is a little church that caught my eye a few years ago and I finally
got around to painting it.
We will be going back again next April and I plan to do a little painting, a little surfing and a little hangin' out.
5" X 7" oil on canvas board $45.00 (unframed)
If interested please contact me.

A World Without The Internet

Cracked.com had a contest for pictures of what a world would look like without the Internet (or, in some instances, a corporate, non-neutral Internet) that I found funny. This didn't win, but it was definitely my favorite:

Support Net Neutrality, Not The FCC

I am a staunch supporter of net neutrality and am generally happy to see the direction the FCC is moving with regards to that subject (picking up Congress's slack), but is this an uncomfortable precedent? Are you comfortable with the FCC regulating the Internet?

Unless I am misinformed, the FCC has never been granted authority to regulate Internet traffic. Although I agree with their current position, I am not to sure that I want the people that punish radio stations for playing George Carlin having any hand in how I use the Internet. Certainly, the current position is a win for Internet users, but considering the FCC is usually dominated by the party in power, one has to wonder where it will go from here? 10 years from now? 20 years from now?

Just something to chew the fat over, and a reason to still strive for Congressional approval of net neutrality laws.

Zhahu Line breaks down again

I know this because I went to catch the MRT from Taipei Zoo this morning at about 9.45am and it was closed.  Staff told me the line had broken down again.

Global Views confirms Taiwanese are not naive

Global Views Magazine has published a new survey of Taiwanese opinion.  The reported results suggest that the current Taiwanese Government is losing the battle to convince citizens that the administration can live up to the high standards it articulates and losing the trust of the public in being willing to safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty: (majorities in bold)
---------------------------

28.7 % - Ma can eradicate “black gold” politics and build a clean image for the KMT (2005 - 52%)

51.7 % - Ma can not eradicate “black gold” politics and build a clean image for the KMT (2005 - 20.1%)

---------------------------

31.7% - Ma can push the KMT's democratic reform (2005 - 65.2%)

49.1% - Ma can't push the KMT's democratic reform (2005 - 14.7%)

---------------------------

29.5% - Public satisfied with Ma's performance

58.6% - Public unsatisfied with Ma's performance

41.8% - Trust Ma (down 3%)

42.4% - Distrust Ma

---------------------------

21.9% - happy with the KMT’s overall performance in the legislature

58.5% - unhappy with the KMT’s overall performance in the legislature (up 1.7%)

---------------------------

47.2% - those in favor of ultimate independence 

15.7% - those who support ultimate unification

---------------------------

If the economic, political and social conditions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were similar:

68.3% -  unification would not be necessary. 

11.7% -  that would be the time for unification.

---------------------------

45.1% - Ma’s position on Taiwan’s future is to unify with China (up 21% from 2005)

30.1% - Ma intends to maintain the “status quo”

6.3% - Ma wants Taiwanese independence.

---------------------------

NOT TO BE MISSED: Part 1 of Talk Taiwan's analysis of public opinion polls on the issue of Taiwan's future.

Ma seeks Taiwanese economic dependency on profits from Chinese market?

President Ma made some remarks yesterday about the state of Taiwan's economy, the report on which can be read here. This quote caught my eye:

“It’s not possible for us to change the economy, [which is] based on exports, but we could diversify the export market, not focusing entirely on the United States or Europe,” Ma said. “Actually, the largest export destination is mainland China, but many of the goods with mainland China are reprocessed to be re-exported to the US and Europe, so we will modify that policy so that mainland China is no longer treated only as a factory, but rather as a market.”

Instantly, some questions popped to mind.  If anyone fancies answering any in the comments please be my guest.

• Is it really not possible to change the economy?
  

• When he says 'based on exports'  does Ma mean the economy is designed to be sustainable as long as other countries, including China, are buying?

• How does one diversify the market by looking to sell products to China instead of the US and Europe? What guarantee is there that 'diversification' will nor entail a zero sum balancing of trade away from the US and Europe towards China?
  

• Taiwan treats China like a factory. What an admission! How do we treat Taiwan then, like a disposable package holiday?