It’s cloudy and drizzly today. Hopefully some of t…
It’s cloudy and drizzly today. Hopefully some of the rain will end up in the reservoirs. I’m not buying the TSU’s claim that the drought was “invented” by Mayor Ma for political purposes, by the way. Every time the TSU does something it merely serves to damage their own credibility. Lee Teng-hui did great things for Taiwan, but I’m afraid he’s just losing it in his old age. Just about all of the propositions the TSU has brought up have just been ridiculous.
As I took the elevator to lunch today, I asked the Office Vampire (song of the day: ICRT, which is pretty much all annoying, all the time these days) who happened to be in there with me why she was wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day. She took a bit of umbrage at this cheeky remark, so I added, “Well, uh, how can you see?”
“Why are you asking? What do you mean?” she said, glaring at me. That was all I could get out of her, so I didn’t bother inquiring as to her painful-looking pointy black shoes. She looked like she could use them in interestingly lethal ways.
At lunch I visited the Aurora computer store to confirm that Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outkast (apparently one of the Jedi abilities is Force Rapping) will be available here within a week or two. They already have the posters up. I can’t wait. Command ‘n Conquer: Renegade is becoming a bit annoying. The best games, the previous Jedi Knights, Half-life, Unreal, etc., have palpable atmosphere that you can wrap yourself up in. I’m especially looking forward to Outcast, since there’s a usable lightsaber involved.
At lunch there was a gaggle of Taiwanese professionals at the next table. Their conversation turned to Americans in general, as conversations tend to do when Taiwanese people are near me or any other foreign-looking person. I realized that all of their remarks about how strange and inscrutable foreigners were was strikingly similar to conversations foreigners here tend to have concerning Chinese people. I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise. The main difference is the slightly reverential tone Chinese people reserve for conversations about westerners, unless they’re talking about how western men treat Chinese women. Then things just get ugly, no matter which side you’re on.
Fortunately, most of the foreigners I know and like tend to be a bit more open-minded about such things. I suppose those most insulated from a society tend to make the most sweeping generalizations about it. The closer you get to things, the more you realize that there really isn’t any one truth, only a range of biases various groups accept as truth.
In other sword-related news, the school where I study Tai-chi Sword wants me to partake in a promotional film they’re making in Taoyuan this Saturday morning. To tell the truth, I’m not really too eager to do this, but I suppose it might be interesting, as long as they provide transportation out there and back. I have the feeling they’re going to want me to actually do some forms for the camera, although I’ve told them I don’t want to. I’ll give my opinions, but that’s it. I will bring my sword, though, if only to brandish it. I don’t often get to brandish things. You can’t exactly brandish a camera, a book, a can of fruit juice, or anything else I’m likely to carry around with me. “Watch out, he’s got a Snapple!” just doesn’t have the same effect on people.
