Smurfmatic

I just moved in to my new apartment last weekend. I got a nice bed at Ikea, and some cheap furniture from Wal-Mart. I now need a sofa and maybe a computer desk.

Speaking of computer, I am experiencing the terrible delays, innuendos of signing up to a high-speed Internet service. I chose Bell Sympatico (total performance, at 7 Mbit/s), of course not because of their recent rebranding. I signed up to get my service activated on August 16th (five days, from Aug 11, the day I placed my order on Bell's website). Then, come the 16th, my phone is active, but I don't get my modem! What happened to it? I call 310-BELL, and 310-SURF, don't get what has happened. The lady was just saying that it would be delivered again.

On Monday night, I don't find the modem in my mail, throw a tantrum on the customers' service line. The next morning (this morning), I call the high-speed Internet hotline, and find out that Purolator tried to deliver, but didn't have a buzz code (I did not provide them with one, since I did not know it!), so kept it in their depot in Ville St-Pierre without even leaving a paper saying that they came by! So, I go all the way to Ville St-Pierre (320 Norman), get the modem. Tonight, I try it, and find out that the phone line's "capacity to do PPPOE" is somehow not active on my side...

But my account is definitely active, because I am using my dial-up access! So there I am, using my phone modem for the first time. Can you imagine that? Gmail takes time to load, and I need to use its HTML-only version... Even a terminal over SSH is painful.

Now, the Bell technician is supposed to come "within the next three days". Was my phone line mis-activated? Did rats gnaw on a part of the phone cable that was critical for my Internet? To be continued...

One of the most interesting features of Radio-Canada's Beijing 2008 website (the official national broadcaster for the Games) is the twelve live streams on its audio-video zone. They were splitted from the broadcasting centre, and directly re-transmitted on the web, geo-localized for Canada. The "wall" of video previews below the video embed allows you to browse between the channels.

Perhaps what's cool about these steams is the total absence of commenting on the eleven other feeds not currently being used for traditional television broadcast. For instance, on Sunday, I watched 3/4 of the USA-China game on channel #5, without hearing any of the commentators, emphasizing on the crowd's reaction, and even what the players were saying/cursing (and the bad Chinese pop too).

Eh ben si, j'ai passé à la télé de Radio-Canada, pour parler de mon blogue Comme les Chinois. En prime, Mitsou!

I was on The Link, on Radio-Canada International last Friday, along with Rob, on a panel about what it was to be Chinese Canadian, and the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

>> Listen to the entire show (second hour)

Shameless self-promotion of one's piece of web estate. Yesterday, I put the final touches to the interview I did with Roland Soong, the blogger behind the extremely influential blog EastSouthWestNorth (to the point of steering the focus of news about China in some very important media outlets, I found - and regularly quoted in the blogosphere). We talked about the obvious: media, politics, etc, etc, but we also ventured in the more pleasant, like Roland special relation with the Lust, Caution movie (based on a Eileen Chang short story - his parents were personal friends, and their family keeps number of items belonging to Chang), and about running, a hobby that the blogger was practising when he lived in New York City.

CLC: Run races? You mean, just like (upon) hearing rumours of races...

No, no, no, it's like I had a team, and it's like a couple of hundred people. I write gossip about them.

CLC: About the track community?

No, it's just my club - I don't care about anyone else. It was just a little bit weird, it just had a very strong personality because it was a little bit what you call quirky. You know, it's like, a lot of stuff tends to be really really funny. For some reason, the stories that I want to focus are the really weird ones? So, I have one teammate, who was in the business of collecting lost gloves. You know, it's winter, and once in a while we lose gloves, don't know where it went.

CLC: Heh.

And it's lost somewhere, and she just collects them. Then, periodically, she would make an announcement, and say, I am bringing all my gloves down to the playground to the corner of 72nd Street and Broadway. I welcome anyone - you can come down and if it's one of your gloves, take it, even if it isn't, take it anyways. So, she got featured in the New York Times, who wrote this follow-up... Like, why are you doing that? (laughs)

And, this stuff about people running races? You have tons of people running races. These people are runners, and runner do run races. It's one thing for you to... They are mostly New York City residents, so you can run local races - on Thanksgiving, you go race somewhere.

Now, an excerpt of Roland's answers on his appreciation of Lust, Caution:

CLC: Did you like it? Did you see the rendition of it?

I actually saw it here (at Palace IFC - since we were at IFC's Pacific Coffee). Because they had the premiere, so I guess that they felt they had to give me a ticket. (laughs) Actually, when the publisher first told me that Ang Lee was going to make a movie, and I hadn't read the so-called short story carefully before, so, I went back and looked at it... So how are you going to make a movie out of this? (laughs)

So, Ang Lee has actually significantly expanded it, but in a way that, I take, he necessarily had to. Because otherwise, it was way too subtle in an audio-visual media. You can't really communicate... Because you can't really have the kinds of monologues that, you know, a first-person observation, that you could have in the novel. So, you can't express these, can't expect the actors or the actresses to communicate through facial expressions or hand gestures.

Um, so usually people would say, oh, there are those three bedroom scenes that were not in the book. That's somehow, I felt, they just had to be there, because it's not the identical bedroom scenes, because it clearly shows the shift in the so-called power relation, power, politics if you will, as it starts off with the man being dominant, and then by the end, it's really the woman taking charge? But without that, you couldn't really tell what exactly had really changed.

And, you know, it has been asked enough that, how do I feel about that - how do I think Eileen Chang would've thought - I felt sorry? (Editor's note: lost with the recording...) Or let's say even my father would have thought about it. I think the answer is, um, they wouldn't have minded, because both of them were actually script writer. My father was a film producer.

Read the entire interview on Comme les Chinois.

This is the first time that I try this family recipe on my own. I don't know its origin, but it's something that my family has been doing since I was a child. I presume that it may be Chinese, but there isn't anything distinctively Chinese about it.

In a bowl, prepare some ground beef by separating it with very very little water. Add salt, pepper and some chopped green onions. Then add the eggs, and something like 50mL of milk for taste. Mix everything together, and fry it in a pan as seen on the picture.

For quantities, I had about a fist of ground beef for four large eggs.

In early May, I got the chance to meet EastSouthWestNorth's Roland Soong in Hong Kong, someone who I find plays an immensely important role in transferring the information generated in Chinese-speaking territories to a non-Chinese-speaking audience. I've transcribed three interviews in a week and a half. Maybe I can do a fourth one for next week (but this one is twice as long as the three previous combined). So, I suppose that I can announce that this interview should be published on Comme les Chinois at some point in the next two weeks.

In the meanwhile, I invite you to check out the equally interesting interviews that I did on my trip, with Tiffany Wong, Duggar Parrish, Joe Kan, Terry Chan, Raymond Walintukan and Edmond Hung, Patricia Li, Lee Clow, and Fiona Lee. Two more, with Ashley Wong and Derrick Chang, will follow.

After celebrating just six months of existence, this interview with Mr Soong would be my 17th interview on CLC.

The highest peak in nb of visitors was attained on May 12th (I remember it, b/c it was the same day that the Sichuan earthquake hit) when Radio-Canada linked to an entry on my blog, not about the earthquake, but about my realization that Radio-Canada.ca was once again behind the Great Firewall (I was returning from Hong Kong on May 10th).

Comme à l'habitude, vu que le festival ne le fait pas sur son site, voici les films sold-out après le quatrième jour de Fantasia 2008. Les deux séances de "Accuracy of Death", le blockbuster japonais mettant en vedette l'acteur Japano-Taiwanais Takeshi Kaneshiro, sont sold-out depuis la journée d'ouverture, et une séance supplémentaire a été annoncée pour le 11 juillet à 15h dans le Hall.

As usual, since the festival isn't doing it on their site, here are the sold-out movies after the fourth day at Fantasia 2008. Both screenings of "Accuracy of Death", the Japanese blockbuster starring Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, are sold-out since opening day, and an extra showing was scheduled on July 11th at 3PM in the Hall.

My friend Rob started a new movie blog, which starts with coverage of the Fantasia festival. It's called When we see the Ocean.

On Tuesday, I started my musical segment on Radio Centre-Ville (mp3 - starts at the 35-40th minute). That was some really intense editing that Yvonne did.

Tomorrow, Thursday July 3rd, there's an interview that I did for Carmel Kilkenny last week that was aired on Radio-Canada International (English) (mp3 - starts at the 18th minute).

Friday, a panel on Canadianess that I am having with RCI will also be aired on the English-language show.

Somewhat relatedly, a dude that I met and interviewed on CLC was on Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne (Radio One) yesterday night at Ailleurs c'est ici (link - starts at the 6-7th minute).

Seen at the Fantasia festival 2008 preview at brasserie St-Ambroise, quartier St-Henri.

It's this time of the year again... Earlier than other years, by a week or two, I think. Here is the English version of the press release for the Asian programming of the festival, directed by Mi-Jeong Lee.

July 3-21, 2008

UBISOFT PRÉSENTS FANTASIA 2008

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON ASIAN CINEMA IN NORTH AMERICA

Asian Fever is about to rock Montrealers!

The Fantasia International Film Festival presents a huge variety of Asian feature films in 2008, over 70 in fact, from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. They are nothing less than outstanding, groundbreaking, hilarious, and emotionally gripping!

Since its inception in 1996, Fantasia has provided a unique opportunity for the mainstream and the underground filmgoers alike to share the experience of Asia's action, fantasy, martial arts, horror, historical epic, surrealist hybrid and guerrilla films. Since then, Fantasia's success and reputation have snowballed to become internationally recognized and acclaimed as having a wildly diverse sense of what Asian cinema is and has the potential to be.

The original, peculiar cultural flavor and cinematic qualities of Asian films has not been lost on Hollywood. Asian films are considered to be the hottest films on the world market today. Their inventiveness, authentic humor and surprising cultural perspectives, combined with their outstanding aesthetic accomplishments, are copied but never duplicated.

At Fantasia 2008, new works will be screened by such internationally acclaimed directors as Japan's Takashi Miike (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) and Hideo Nakata (L: CHANGE THE WORLD); Hong Kong's Johnnie To (MAD DETECTIVE, SPARROW, TRIANGLE) and Oxide Pang (THE DETECTIVE); and South Korea's Kwak Kyung-taek (A LOVE). Also, not to be missed are the ambitious, fresh and entertaining debut films of first-time directors, such as those from that current hotspot of Asian film production, South Korea. Film enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the many debut films from directors such as Yang Hea-hoon (WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR?), Kim Mee-jung (SHADOWS IN THE PALACE), Ra Hee-chan (GOING BY THE BOOK) and Lee Kyoo-man (WIDE AWAKE). Watch also for the Hong Kong upstart Derek Kwok (THE PYE-DOG).

The splendid line-up of invited guests is getting longer as the opening of Fantasia 2008 approaches. Hong Kong's Kung Fu icon, Gordon Liu, will grace Fantasia with his presence during the opening weekend as he presents a restored 35mm ShawScope print of the Shaw Brothers classic DISCIPLES OF 36TH CHAMBER. The Japanese actress Eihi Shiina, star of Miike's infamous Audition, will be in Montreal with her new film, TOKYO GORE POLICE, along with the film's director, Yoshihiro Nishimura. The Japanese actor, director and action choreographer Tak Sakaguchi will also be in Montreal, to present in person his film BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL. Moreover, Thai directors Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon and Gunn Purijitpanya will also be in town for the screening of their omnibus films 4BIA. Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom will also be pleased to present their film ALONE.

From among the most renowned Asian film industry professionals, we highlight two guests from CJ Entertainment (CJ): Kini Seong-Eun Kim, Vice-President of International Sales and Heejeon Kim, Director for Festivals will attend the festival. CJ is the largest production and distribution company in Korea, with an enviable international reputation in managing Asian Cinema. CJ will seek for opportunities for Canadian marketing development while presenting SHADOW IN THE PALACE, and five other films at Fantasia 2008.

Fantasia, a pioneering festival in the world of Asian genre film, is ready to meet its audience! Through this cinematic adventure, Montrealers will discover a wide range of films grouped according to themes for greater access than ever before, such as Singular Successes, Converging Visions, Uncanny Investigators, Leading Ladies of Asia, From Mangas to Movies, First Films from Korea and Strange Loves. We also highlight the Nikkatsu Action Film spotlight, and a variety of loose films that simply demand to be noticed!

Enjoy the Festival!

Mi-Jeong Lee

Director, Asian Programming

It turned out that a photo that I submitted (along with a few others) to the Radio-Canada.ca news team had been published after all. On Boxing Day, I went around town in search of photo opportunity with my then-new wide-angle lens for my Canon S3, and sent them to the Internet news table. I never heard from them, but a simple Google search on Radio-Canada.ca tells me that one of my less-good pictures was used! (link)

If things move along well, my pics might be seen on the Olympics website, come the complete site launch in August. Okay, for now, here's another recent page (Zone Jeunesse) on the domain that is using one of my very old photos - from 2002.

Je fais une courte apparition demain jeudi vers 13:45 EDT, sur l'émission en français de Radio-Canada International, pour parler de mon blogue et ce que c'est d'être chinois-canadien à Montréal.

Tomorrow, Thursday, I am making a short appearance at around 1:45 PM EDT, on RCI's French-language show, to talk about my blog and what it is to be Chinese-Canadian in Montreal.

Tam-Tam / 2008-06-19 (go to approx 35th minute)

The current apartment is great, but alas belongs to a university professor returning from sabbatical. We have to move out, and I am looking for a new place! I am potentially looking for roommates, and not exactly certain where it would be. 400 to 600 is the monthly range that I am looking for...

This Saturday, June 7th, for the entire day, special activities will be held in Chinatown in memory of the victims of the earthquake that shook the Chinese province of Sichuan. The walk will start in Sun Yat-sen park shortly before 4PM, and will march on Boulevard René-Lévesque, up to McGill Street, and then head back to Chinatown through Old Montreal. A commemoration will then happen in the evening from 7PM to 9PM at Sun Yat-sen Park.

Press release (French / English)

***

Toute la journée, ce samedi 7 juin, auront lieu au Quartier Chinois de Montréal des activités spéciales à la mémoire des victimes du séisme qui secoua la province chinoise du Sichuan, le mois dernier. Le groupe de marcheurs quittera le Parc Sun Yat-sen peu avant 16h, pour se diriger sur le Boulevard René-Lévesque, jusqu'à la Rue McGill, en revenant par le Vieux-Montréal vers le Quartier Chinois. Une commémoration se déroulera ensuite en soirée, de 19h à 21h au Parc Sun Yat-sen.

Communiqué de presse (Français / Anglais)

Crossposted from Comme les Chinois

Since getting my new glasses this morning, everything seems clearer. I've been wearing scratched up glasses for at least the past month. I presume that something went awry after wiping my previous pair with the edge of my t-shirt when I was in Beijing, perhaps with sand sticking on it. It's covered by the company's insurance, so it's all good. The frame is rimless below the lenses and the sides are in plastic.

Everything is sharper now. My pictures even look more beautiful than I thought!

It was by chance that I started watching the game. Thinking that the Penguins would fold like the Senators did against the Ducks last year (I am reusing pictures here) in Game 5, I was surprised to see that after one period, the Pens had a 2-0 lead! So, I watched the rest of the game. The Red Wings scored three straight, looked like they would be hoisting the Stanley Cup tonight in Detroit, but Maxime Talbot got the equalizer with 35 seconds to go. Marc-André Fleury blocked the rest during the almost-three periods of overtime (and most of the time, it seemed like a matter of time before the Wings would score), and the Penguins finally got the last one on the power play in to setup the matchup for Game 6 in Pittsburgh.

See, that is exactly why I am really a Canadian! (And Quebecer, given their particular contribution to this game.)

The Montreal food restaurant site Métro Boulot Resto that I am running with my friend Jen is now back up again. It was a long month of fumbling... In the meanwhile, MBR celebrated its first anniversary, just shy of a month ago.