Charge Ships to Park

I have been quite clumsy lately. When I was cutting meat the other day, I cut a piece of skin off my left middle finger, so I had to wear a rubber glove to take a shower for the last couple days. Today, when I was removing a wine glass from dishwasher, I knocked it on the counter and broke it. That’s okay. 碎碎平安. The fog has been quite heavy lately. The streets and rooftops are actually wet in the morning! It’s quite unusual. The fog reflects the light and pains the bay water with different color when the day grows older. Yesterday, when I looked outside the window from the office, I saw couple ships parking in the water, peacefully. And one day later, the light changes, the color of water changes, the time on the clock changes, but the ships remain in the water. That makes me thinking—how come these ships can park there over night without getting towed? I think charging these ships for parking should generate potential revenues for cash-strapped state and local government. I keep getting fliers about upcoming hearing on parking changes in the neighborhood streets. I couldn’t care less because I don’t even own a car. Charge all the parking they want! The more money they get, the more they can waste. If the government is a business or a household, nobody would waste money like our government does. Take the example of fire trucks. Almost every few minutes, I hear the siren blasts off and a gigantic fire truck rushes to somewhere responding a 911 call. What is the problem? Well, most of the time, there is no fire! That 911 call might be just due to some drunk homeless person falling on the sidewalks and refusing to get up. Why does the city have to spend money to transport tons of water in that giant monster fire truck tearing off the city streets? Because they have money to waste. In Beijing, a city has a much larger population than San Francisco, I don’t recall hearing even one instance of siren from a fire truck. That’s just a small example how our government is wasting tax dollars and then crying out for more cash. Yawn. I sort of packed my bag and ready for my trip to the capital. Although my flight is on Friday, but I want to get ready because tomorrow I might not have time to pack—I will be out and celebrating Alex’s birthday. And, before I leave, I need to finish a few Japanese DVDs from the library. I have been watching too many Japanese films lately, and I am excited about the upcoming opening of New People in Japantown, which includes a new movie theater that shows more Japanese films. To celebrate its opening, on Friday, August 14th, at 8:15PM, "Kamikaze Girls" (下妻物語) will be shown at the Peace Plaza in Japantown. Let’s hope it will be "Happily Ever After." Happily Ever After Does unconditional love exist? If so, can it be the reason for somebody to stick with an abusive relationship no matter how bad the situation gets? Obviously Japanese director Yukihiko Tsutsumi (堤幸彦, "Memories of Tomorrow") believes that magic. Based on a best seller comic series (manga), he creates a few memorable characters in "Happily Ever After" (自虐の詩 | Japan 2007 | in Japanese | 117 min. | a VIZ Picture release). Yukie Morita (Miki Nakatani) is devoted wife who works in a small restaurant with an infatuated boss Ishihiya (Kenichi Endo). Her often drunk, jobless, wordless, short tempered husband Isao Hayama (Hiroshi Abe) frequently expresses himself by overturning the dinning table, spectacularly. However, Yukie completely dedicates herself to Isao against everybody’s advice, because she loves Isao unconditionally. The first half of the film has plenty energy packed with over-the-top comedy. However, that style and energy vanish in the second half of the film. It turns into a melodrama that traces back to Yukie’s trying time during her high school years and her difficult beginning after she first arrives in Tokyo. Does that explain where Yukie’s unconditional love is coming from? Not really. The story comes short to justify her unconditional love. Isao seems completely changed into a different person, without giving any reason. Yet, Yukie simply stands by her man without one single complain. And, she is not even a robot. While these characters are original and colorful, the lack of transaction and development in these characters makes them less convincing. Also, the subplot about the friendship between Yukie and her underdog classmate never seem fully realized and appeared to be out of the place. "Happily Ever After" has its charming moments as well as its flaws. For people who follow the manga series, it’s definitely a welcome addition. After all, who can forget the fantastic flying sushi dipping into soy sauce in the mid air when the table is turned up side down? You may call that unconditional love.