Holmes taking it to crime on the top of the half-built London Bridge.  

However as Mr. Holmes dashes through the decrepit London brick warehouses and dockyards, I can help but think that some of those very same buildings are now the hippest, most expensive, most coveted places to live in a city.   Steam punk (love it, hate it) takes a lot of inspiration from that industrial period also seems to have more of a presence these days.  Bar 88 ( the bar in Shanghai as of summer 2009) is designed in steam punk fashion…although barely anyone knows that.  Steam punk is one of those styles that everyone has probably seen before, but didn’t know that there was an actual word for it.

* update – damn Wikipedia…some interesting sub-genres of steam punk…
atompunk, biopunk, clockpunk, dieselpunk and not necessarily a derivative, but its sounds cool; the retro-futuristic .

*update II -  Stone punk, bronze punk …

*update II – Steampunk pics

Technorati Tags: industrial cities, london bridge, movies, sherlock holmes, steam punk, urban planning

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I finally managed to track down a decent copy of The Departed , although (as with all shitty Russian bootlegs) there was some audio overlaps with the credit music playing about two thirds of the way through. For those of you who are unaware The Departed is North American remake of the first (2nd in the Trilogy) I Infernal Affairs (Wu Jian Dao) installment. I say ‘remake’ because I feel that is exactly what it is, despite reviews claiming that it isn’t. I swear, some of the reviewers haven’t even seen Infernal Affairs . With the exception of some minor side stories, character additions, the North American Irish gang setting and a much more grittier take on the story, the scenes play almost simultaneously. I was expecting the Scorsese version to be much different. That said, each film outperformed one another in different areas. The Departed is, like I said previously, far more violent and crude (given the more blue collar as opposed to the upper end Hong Kong setting) than the original and, being in English, nothing is lost in subtitle translation. Wahlburg, DiCaprio and Damon are all badass in this movie and brilliantly play off one another. However, I felt that the character involvement and betrayal peaked better in the original, probably because I saw it first and wasn’t expecting anything, whereas as soon as I realized The Departed was almost a scene by scene reproduction of the original, I wasn’t too surprised by the outcomes.

Fantastic movies, both. Apparently the Korean masterpiece Old Boy is getting a North American remake as well. Hope they don’t screw it up.

…I also (finally) found a copy of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This movie’s been on my “To Find” list ever since I arrived in China.

Still trying to find a replacement bulb for my bedroom light. The downside of having a foreign lighting system is the difficulty is finding the correct gauge of light bulb. Figuring out how to even remove the glass shade was a challenge in itself and I was quite proud of myself for pulling it down without having is smash all over the room. I have immense fear of glass objects (given my window experience) and cringe every time I must move plates of glass. The vicious broken bottles that are cemented into the tops of walls in this country give me the creeps.

Killed a cockroach yesterday.

No random people bothered me during my weekly Starbuck coffee/picture caption/character study/writing session.

The CDR/DVD player on my computer kicked the bucket. Will be purchasing a new set next pay day. This will push money sunk into my computer over 1500RMB. In April I had to have the motherboard rebuilt and I installed a brand new keyboard system last month. My repair guys love me.

Some asshole at my gym stole my shoes while I was having a shower. I loved those shoes…

Thinking about a Vietnam/Laos trip in January. Also, Harbin must be done some how as…well….it is just a matter of pure principle. Third time’s the charm.

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Anyone non-Tibetan & non-Han who wishes Tibet well should stop talking about Tibet as if it were their own hippy hideout, their own yoga mat, their own vegetarian restaurant.

By pitching the Han against the Tibetans, you’d only be creating trouble for the people who live there, and propagating a scene that isn’t true.

Tourists complain about the modernization of Tibet and blame it on the Han. I too liked more the more natural Tibet of the past but who am I to decide? 99% of the Tibetans are happy with the supermarkets, the well-built roads, 4×4 vehicles, Chinese restaurants and the money that can be found in the Tibet of today. The Tibetans want development and modernization. Why tourists who flew into Tibet expect to see the Tibetans go on foot instead of ride in vehicles is beyond me.

I had somewhat of a Tibet fixation during my second year of university. I read a number of the Tibet related books in the McPherson Library. Most dealt with Tibet’s role during the Great Game and a few were first hand accounts by foreigners living in Tibet during the 1950 Chinese invasion. There was even a Chinese government publication from the 80′s showcasing Tibetan development and integration into the “New China”. Given the age of the publication (I believe 1983) it was rather propagandist in tone.

Honestly, despite the titles I read, I can’t recall much about Tibet these days, other than from other people I’ve met who have traveled there. Strangely enough, their sentiments echo those of Han Girl, the author of Seven Years in China. She also makes a point that many foreigners entering Tibet are expecting (or in many cases, wanting) to see Tibetans on foot, carrying on a traditional manner similar to their life hundreds of years ago. I can find this view embedded within a number of travelers I’ve met during my time in this country. They seem to be expecting a ‘traditional’ China in both landscape and culture. Something that they may have witnessed in movies or through Chinese cultural displays in their home country. What they find is strikingly different. Traditional landscapes do exist in the countryside, yet the people inhabiting these places are hardly enduring these environments by choice. And the cities, well, the cities are a dynamic display of modern Chinese culture, a phenomenon I find far more interesting, although, at times, somewhat depressing, as it can highlight rather brightly the negative human trait of greed and selfishness.

This is the 21st century, and Xizang remains a predominately poor corner of the world. The completion of the railway in 2007 (and absolute engineering marvel…the cars are pressurized) will usher in an era of unprecedented access to Xizang. The domestic tourism industry in China is booming and cheap railway tickets will bring in hordes of Chinese tourists eager to spend their coastal currencies. The issues are the same issues I have with other tourism supported areas of China. Large, urban operated tour companies appear to benefit the most, leaving a small piece of the pot for local residents. It is possible that discrimination against Tibetan minorities will result in the most profitable tourism based industries being run by Han people. Nevertheless, development is essential. I often butt head with people over this, given that, for some odd reason, many view development (even within the context of sustainability) as somewhat of an evil term. A term that involves Golden Arches, GM, Disney and other western cultural icons. Some people like to misinterpret development as ‘westernization’ or to the fringe types ‘imperialism’. I don’t believe anyone is in the right to deny this area development for the sake of maintaining authenticity. Rural conditions here are awful and I would much rather see Tibetans dressing up as Tibetans and doing staged Tibetan things if it meant an increase in the standard of living. In fact, it is doubtful that you will actually see any true ‘authentic’ culture displays in China from any areas which have tasted the tourism carrot. A search for authentic regions will land one in poorest regions of China. Not surprisingly, these places are also the most depressing and heartbreaking. Develop, although sustainably and responsibily (as if that is an easy thing to accomplish).

To counter the above arguments, it should also be noted that human rights in Xizang are hardly transparent, and it is possible that we are privy to a very limited amount of information regarding this matter. For instance, TruthaboutChina recently posted regarding protests by Tibetan Monks (one of which was imprisoned for 33 years).

Three Tibetan activists on Friday marked their 11th day on a hunger strike to oppose the choice of Beijing as the 2008 Olympic host.

The hunger strike was being led by 75-year-old Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan activist who said he spent 33 years in a Chinese prison for his involvement in the independence movement.

He is demanding China first end its ”military occupation” of his homeland before it hosts the Olympics.

”I’m glad I’m able to contribute to the movement somehow,” he said from a tent on the grounds of an 18th-century cemetery in downtown Turin.

Technorati Tags: beijing, china, environment, movies, olympics, tourism, travel, urban

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*update* There are now captions, however, a shitty internet connection coupled with the death of my copy of Dreamweaver MX is preventing me from uploading further files.

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There are many things I want to do with this site, (photos, 15 movies, captions, get a proper blog roll started, RSS this baby, update my links, create a entry page, redesign my 2.5 year old template…) but I can honestly say I’m very pressed for time. In addition to my regular duties at Nanjing Normal, I’ve got my fingers in several other potentially lucractive side projects, which are proving to require a larger investment of time that I had previously thought.

Other news…I’ve packed on 5 kilo’s since coming to China, placing me in the 73kg club. I suppose it is all that horse meat…either way, I’m quite pleased with myself…but my jeans are still too big.

I’ve recently discovered that Nanjing Forestry University has a Chinese language program. It started my head gears turning…very fast. Bryan…forestry…China….I mean…come on! Could it be a better fit! We’ll see, I could be fairly sick of this place in a few months…

The top news floating around Asia this past week is the pending approval of the Chinese government’s ‘Anti-sucession law’ regarding Taiwanese independence.

In all of my converstations with local friends and collegues, the “Taiwan issue” only ever came up once and it pretty much amounted to “Taiwan is not a country”.

I don’t feel like I know enough regarding the situation revolving around the bill to comment, so I thought it would be apt to post perspectives from both sides of the Straits.

From Big Red and the People’s Daily :

To accomplish peaceful national reunification is one of the three historic tasks of China, however the “Taiwan independence” forces have been intensified their secessionist activities for Taiwan’s secession from China.

The draft law is scheduled to be adopted at the ongoing NPC annual session slated for closing on March 14.
Wu said the draft Anti-Secession Law gives full expression to China’s consistent position of doing the utmost with maximum sincerity for a peaceful reunification, demonstrate the common will and strong resolve of the entire Chinese people to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while never allowing the “Taiwan independence” forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means.

Even though the words “peaceful and peace” appear five times in the article, the the bill essentially states in law that any move by Taiwan towards independence would result in “non-peaceful” actions.

From Taiwan :

If China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) adopts the “anti-secession” law on March 14, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will lead the people of Taiwan in taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the legislation, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday.

Responding to China’s proposed anti-secession law — portions of which were disclosed yesterday — the DPP denounced that law in unanimity. Su also said that the president will lead a demonstration that will dwarf the protest launched in Hong Kong on July 1, 2003, and will walk the streets to express Taiwan’s outrage against the law if it is passed on Monday.

The information about China’s legislation that was unveiled yesterday morning included the wording that ” [China] will take `non-peaceful measures and actions’ if Taiwan does not unify with China or accept the `one-China’ policy,” DPP Deputy Secretary-General Yen Wan-ching (顏萬進) said. Therefore, it is important to correctly interpret the wording of the law and note that the phrase “non-peaceful” that Beijing used could only mean using force to attack Taiwan, Yen said.

The Taiwanese are not pleased.

World reaction and global implications? I’ll leave that up to these guys :

The main Chinese “concession” in response to the Taiwan Legislative Yuan election outcome was to rename the bill. First known as the “unification act” – a title that might imply an aggressive, impatient outlook – it later became anti-secession legislation aimed merely at preserving the status quo. Since US President George W Bush has repeatedly made it clear that the US opposed any unilateral change in the status quo, this new legislation puts Beijing’s “one China” principle squarely in line with Washington’s “one China policy”, it was argued. It also “underscores China’s respect for the rule of law” – another constant Washington admonition. While neither of these arguments will prove particularly convincing to Beijing’s critics, they do represent a growing sophistication (and willingness to play along with the Bush administration’s logic back in Washington).

The counter-arguments – that the legislation will incite and empower Beijing’s critics in Washington and Taipei and could breathe new life into Chen’s presumed “independence agenda” by handing him an excuse for counter legislation or even another referendum – failed to impress Chinese officials. They sent a clear signal about their ambiguous legislation: if you want to make suggestions as to how we can word this legislation more effectively (or make it less inflammatory), we are all ears; if you are trying to talk us out of introducing the new law, “save your breath!” Once we actually saw the legislation – and it would be made public immediately after it was approved by the NPC – we would see that all the furor had been “much ado about nothing”.

When this bill passes it seems that it just confirms what everyone already knew anyway. I see heightened tensions for sure…but no knife fights. Two reasons:

1. Beijing 2008. The Summer Olympics are far, far to important to risk over an ideological battle. 2008 is China’s housewarming party…the whole world is invited to see the renovations. Nobody wants to see a family fight in the backyard.

2. The military situation. Most stuff I’ve read appears to indicated that the balance of power over the Straits of Taiwan is currently slanted in favor of the Taiwanese…however, given the large budget increases of the PLA, it is expected that the balance will shift to Beijing’s favor by 2008-2010.

I suppose the point is that even with the passing of the ‘anti-succession law’ there probably won’t be any fireworks for several years at best…if that is any comfort.

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The film was alright…although I found myself a little disappointed by the lack of background information regarding the Texas situation during the 1830′s. In keeping with the current trend regarding historical movies, this one went further than the actual battle of the Alamo to include the Battle of San Jacinto an equal event of historical significance. All around acting was decent, but I especially enjoyed Billy Bob’s portrayal of Davy Crockett. Crockett is traditionally viewed as a larger than life frontier legend, epitomized by John Wayne in a previous movie. Thornton reduced this legend, exposing a rather scared individual, easily embarrassed by his fame.

Good god I’m a dork. Hopefully I’ll have something more interesting to write about soon!

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A few new movies too

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