Election
I got the mail-in ballot for the June election few days ago. I think the whole primary election process is a wasting of tax payer’s money—it always have the lowest turn out, and some measures are able to sneak through without the voters’ full comprehension. Therefore, I am writing an endorsement for these propositions.
- Vote NO on Proposition 13: Limits on property tax assessment for seismic improvement.
If property owners make their house earthquake safe, it increases the value of the house, right? Why shouldn’t they pay tax on the increased value? If they don’t want to do it because they don’t want to increase their property tax, well, don’t. See who the loser is when an earthquake strikes.
- Vote YES on Proposition 14: Allow voters to vote on all candidates regardless their party affiliation.
The two-party-system is a joke. Many candidates have different views on various issues that are not necessarily belong to a particular party. Why shouldn’t everyone choose one they support the most, if we can not eliminate the primary election?
- Vote NO on Proposition 15: Allow public money to be spent on the election of Secretary of the State.
It is complicated proposal and sounds fishy to me, it also favors the two big party candidates. If the voters already voted before baring tax money to spend on campaign, keep it that way.
- Vote HELL NO on Proposition 16: Require 2/3 voters approval for a public utility company to compete with PG&E.
I have been disgusted by the constant TV ads, not surprisingly paid by PG&E, that misleads the voters about this proposition’s true intension. This proposition, which only needs 1/2 voters to pass, will requires 2/3 of voters to make any changes in the futures regarding if we should use clean energy to compete with PG&E. It has nothing to do if voter has the right to say about how the tax dollars should be spent.
- Vote NO on Proposition 17: Allow auto insurance to set base rate based on a customer’s continuous coverage.
Even I don’t have a car, I will not support the insurance’s proposal. I will have to be hooked to a particular insurance even I don’t like them or I don’t have a car for awhile, otherwise, when I return, I have to pay a higher price because I didn’t pay them continuously. Absurd.
Vote!
Signature Gathering for Fix MUNI Now
I have been collection signatures for Fix MUNI Now to put a ballot measure on the November election—get rid of the current requirement that the City must pay MUNI employees the second highest in the nation, no matter how lousy the service has become.
Why do they deserve that? Even the socialism doesn’t have that kind of guarantee. No wonder the city is so broke.
I actually went to the MUNI budget hearing at City Hall on Wednesday, but I didn’t stay long because there are enough people were there blasting the incompetent MUNI service. What is weird is that there is this guy always come to the speaker whenever a public input is called. He will go up there and sing a song about the subject, pretty badly. This is San Francisco. Crazy but never boring.
Fix MUNI now!
Three Heads Six Arms
There is a new art work by Chinese artist Zhang Huan installed in Civic Center Plaza. This is normally seen at 798 in Beijing. It’s a three-story high, 15-ton giant "Three Heads Six Arms" Buddha. It’s intriguing and in your face loud.
I am sure it will draw more attention when many events are held at Civic Center.
Speaking of events, I will be going there tomorrow (ops, it’s Saturday already!) for the annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration. Then on Sunday, it’s the 99th Bay to Breakers! I am so there!
Once upon a time, Hollywood begins to shamelessly remake Asian films. Not surprisingly, few of them, if any at all, have exceeded their originals. Otherwise, Hollywood would have created something original at the first place. What to do? How about get a lesson from an Asian director on remaking a film? Inspired by the classic western "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo | Italy 1966), acclaimed Korean director Kim Jee-woon writes and directs an over the top Korean style western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈 | South Korea 2008 | in Korean | 130 min.). The film turns out to be anything but a remake. It is utterly original, immensely entertaining, visually rich, laugh-out-loud hilarious, and outrageously exhilarating. It easily takes a spot in this year’s top ten films even the year is still young.
The film is set in the Japanese occupied Manchuria in 1930s, where bandits and ethnic clans appear frequently along the railroad tracks. As the title suggests, the film has three protagonists. However, it is not a clear cut about who is the good, who is the bad, although definitely all of them are a little bit weird. The three Korean men are a bounty hunter Park Do-won (Jung Woo-sung) who captures criminals for money, a bandit leader Park Chang-yi (Lee Byung-hun) who wants to be second to no one, and a robber Yoon Tae-goo (Song Kang-ho) who can sneak out just about any crisis unharmed.
The bandit leader Chang-yi is supposed to bring back a map that has been falling into the hands of the Japanese. However, before Chang-yi can lay a finger on the map, it is stolen by the cunning thief Tae-goo, who believes that it shows the location of great treasure. However, Tae-goo is captured by the bounty hunter Do-won. A cat-mouse chasing game begins, joining in by other gangs and the Japanese army with non-stop actions and explosions. Meanwhile, none of them actually knows what that map is for. Well, there is no time to worry about that. Their lives are always attached by a thin line that might break in any second.
The film’s is irresistibly captivating and genuinely funny. At the opening of the film, before the film explains who these characters are, they are already shooting at each other on a train. The director understands the confusion we might have, so he uses one of the Chinese clan leader to speak for us—he asks his assistant in Chinese while observing the battle from afar: "Do you know what is going on?" That is the tune of the humor in the film.
Even this is one of the most expensive films ever made in Korean, its $17 millions budget seems a pocket change in a Hollywood production. It deserves to be seen on the big screen in a theater to be fully appreciated for its magnificence, even one has never heard about the film "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." This is how a remake should be done. Take notes, Hollywood.
"The Good, the Bad, the Weird" opens on Friday, May 7, 2010 at Bay Area theaters.
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Zjm9gAjgRuU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&ap=%2526fmt%3d18
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The bond between a mother and a child is probably the most profound and universal human relationship. Some mothers experience this bond with their biological children or with their adopted children, and some others suffer the emotional impact after giving their children up for adoption. From the creator of "Six Feet Under" and "Nine Lives," writer/director Rodrigo García‘s absorbing drama "Mother and Child" (USA/Spain 2009 | 126 min.) carefully depicts this unique human relationship through a few rich and memorable characters and three intertwined stories.
The film’s three subplots are all set in Los Angeles. Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) is a young ambitious and smart lawyer who knows how to take control by using not only her intelligence, but also her sex appeal; Karen (Annette Bening) is a bitter and difficult woman who is tormented by the longing to her never-seen daughter who was given up for adoption at birth by her mother decades ago, when Karen was only fourteen years old; Lucy (Kerry Washington) wants to be a mother but is unable to conceive. Out of desperation, she plans to adopt a child from a college student through an adoption agency.
Believe it or not, the three stories are predictably connected to each other, while sharing a common theme related to motherhood and adoption. However, this convenience in plot is easily forgiven due to the strong characters involved in these stories and terrific across-the-board performance. Well written and convincing dialogues also contribute to the success of shaping these remarkable roles.
Each woman in the film has a strong personality. In particular, Annette Bening‘s character Karen stands out. Her journey to find peace and closure with her past could have easily become sentimental. Yet, Annette Bening’s subtle and calibrated acting perfectly holds the character’s balance.
Perhaps Rodrigo García already tells enough stories (also intertwined tales about three families) regarding male relationship in his previous film "Fathers and Sons," in this film, he focuses on female relationship in a family, even he does not choose a title like "Mothers and Daughters." Whether between fathers and sons or between mothers and daughters, Rodrigo García’s observant studies about the most fundamental human relationship are worth noting.
"Mother and Child" opens on Friday, May 14, 2010 at Bay Area theaters.
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PyWFxUkPpag&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&ap=%2526fmt%3d18
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Silky Tofu, 味道好极了! 