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2009/9/6 Music of Movies at Hollywood Bowl 090509Last night I had a chance to enjoy the lengendary composer John Williams conducting LA Philharmonic at the historic Hollywood Bowl. Already a fan of his movie scores, especially Star Wars, I had to come.
We decided to try our luck at the Hollywood Bowl ticket office buying tickets, and it was pretty much sold out, especially in the last sections where tickets are cheaper. Gladly there were a pair of $36 tickets open in the mid section, and they were relatively good seats with fair visibility and good sound quality, and there was a jumbotron right in front of us.
  After conducting the orchestra on Star-Spangled Banner, John Williams introduced actress Lynn Redgrave, who would narrate the introduction of each Harry Potter scores. As it turned out, the first 45 minutes of the performance were spent on Harry Potter music. I felt kinda bummed out, and thought majority of the audience did too (an OK applause afterwards) ... We don't care about Harry Potter! Let's get on to the serious stuff.
  John Williams and Lynn Redgrave
 In the lower right hand corner, I thought the profile of the guy looks exactly like Harrison Ford in tuxedo from Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom!
After the intermission, John Williams opened with a medley of some of the popular and familiar movie tunes, which was entertaining and a nod to some movie classics. The medley was followed by the suite from Catch Me If You Can, which was directed by Steven Spielberg. John Williams joked that his frequent collaboration with Spielberg was like "a marriage without arguments." It hit home with some of the older audience (and me) when they played "As Time Goes By" from the classic Casablanca, with violin solo by lead violinist Bing Wang. After a couple of theme songs, theme from Superman looked like the piece to close the show.
Just as I thought this was going to be a disappointing way to leave the show, John Williams came back from backstage for the encore, saying "here is a gift to my 800 year old friend," and the audience (incredibly many Star Wars fans) went into thunderous cheer, whipping out their lightsabers and waving in the air. Then the Yoda theme was softly played out in front of us. I had so much goose bumps that you wouldn't believe.
 A sea of lightsabers
When it was finished, John Williams turned around and led the orchestra for a thanks-bow. He saw and acknowledged a large presence of Star Wars fans waving the lightsabers by waving his baton. He left for backstage, and was welcomed back by standing ovation, and then the emotion boiled higher when the opening theme and Imperial March from Star Wars were played. The audience wanted more, but finally he showed a sleeping gesture as it was too late. The encore ran probably 20 more minutes, in addition to the 2 hour show. This is a holy grail for the Star Wars fans, including myself, to see the master conducting his own music that made the movies great. Worth every penny.
Samples of the night from a Youtube source
(More pictures can be found in my blog album) 2009/8/5 It takes a ClintonHow heroic is that... to secure the release of two US journalists who allegedly entered North Korea illegally and were sentenced to 12 year labor? From the outside, it looked like Former President Clinton single-handedly broke them out of the prison. But the truth is, it must have taken months of negotiations back and forth between US and North Korea, and have Clinton meet with Kim Jong Il and reap the fruit of the months-long peace talk. What went on there behind the scene perhaps only the VIPs would know. But it made Bill Clinton damn sexy doing that, and reminded me of Harrison Ford the kick-ass president in Air Force One.
I feel a Hollywood movie coming up.
 2009/7/11 身騎白馬突然在東森看到這首新歌的幕後花絮. 在聽詞曲的過程中, 有一股莫名的感動, 讓即使從未經歷如此的人, 能感受其意境.
全新打造的「身騎白馬」完整版，由徐佳瑩和音樂製作人蘇通達再度合力操刀。為了打造古 調與流行音樂的不可能，製作人蘇通達大膽巧妙地將電音、國樂和管弦樂並置，鮮明的層次 成功地營造戲劇張力，極具衝突卻能引發一股入耳的感動。這首歌不但傳達了一個平凡女生 義無反顧追求愛情、追求夢想的勇敢與孤獨，也更像是徐佳瑩為了音樂勇往直前孤身北上的 真實寫照。音樂錄影帶由黃中平導演執導，沒有煽情的劇情、沒有華麗的包裝，平實且誠懇 的視覺風格將徐佳瑩的素人情感傳達得淋漓盡致。
p.s 歌仔戲中的男女主角最後相聚.
2009/7/2 What a gloomy month that wasJune 2009 probably had the highest concentration of depressing events (at least personally) in my life so far. In chronological order:
1. Heard from the program of the rejection. The R word is something I'd admit that grew on me after graduation, sadly.
2. My default favorite hockey team Red Wings got their wings clipped in the 7th and final game of Stanley Cup in which they were favored to win.
3. Shocked to find out that my landlady suddenly passed away at the age of 49. She was a good-hearted person who loved God and helped people in any way she could.
4. Learned some news that was disappointing and felt like my past effort went to waste, that I'd rather not state here.
5. Deadly week for celebrities. Among the names like Farrah Fawcett and Billy Mays, Michael Jackson stood out just because he was the King of Pop. His death garnered the most unprecedented public reaction since maybe Princess Di or Elvis.
I believe I am past all that, and life is too short to dwell on the bad news!
2009/6/25 The King of Pop diesThe King of Pop Michael Jackson died today at the age of 50. Early in the afternoon there were reports that he was not breathing at his home and suffering from cardiac arrest, and was sent to UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Working across the road from the hospital, basically at ground zero, we heard the helicopters and sirens outside the window. It only drew more and more crowd when the news broke that he was dead. When I got out of work, there were cars cruising by Westwood that blasted Billie Jean out loud, just to celebrate and remember this great icon in our generation.
Michael Jackson went from a child star of Jackson 5, revolutionized the rock/pop music and soared to superstardom in the music industry. I remember it was a big deal that he went on the world tour and came by Taiwan back then. Years later, he became the laughing stock of late night talk shows for his ever-changing appearances, scandals of child molestation, and money trouble that forced the auction of his Neverland Ranch. The dream of his comeback concerts in England unfortunately died with him today.
Thanks for all the good music, Michael.
 2009/5/30 You can't always get what you wantThough I have been mentally prepared for this, yesterday when I learned that the admission to the program has been denied, there was still an inevitable sighing and a great sense of disappointment. Knowing what I am up against and that this will be highly competitive, these months I've been trying not to build up expectation and telling myself that the chance could be slim. Still, the competitiveness in me told me otherwise.
I prayed to God and Dad to give me strength when the truth comes, and I think He is doing just that. I think that each person has his own fate, and maybe this is a divine way of telling me I am not ready yet.
Lately I suspect there's a spider that nests behind my driver's side view mirror. The spider kept webbing and webbing on the mirror and I haven't seen any catches on the web. I doubt it will ever get any food at that location. The more I destroy its web, the more stubborn the spider will get to reconstruct its survival tool.
Then it dawned on me that, the spider and its web is such a perfect life lesson on perseverance. Failures are ingredients of success, and I am putting the past behind me and looking forward.
2009/5/16 ILVTOFUThis license plate letter arrangement requested by a vegetarian person to the state of Colorado, was rejected for its ambiguity for it can be extremely vegan, or provocatively suggestive...
 2009/4/21 Yes ManJim Carrey's latest comedy romance movie Yes Man tells a story of Carl, who's always passive and negative, and who joins a personal development program where saying yes to everything is the key to a better life - even agreeing to doing crazy and outrageous things. In spite of the things that he says Yes to could have gone way wrong, he suddenly finds his life with a positive outlook, and inadvertently gets a job promotion and a girlfriend.
I couldn't agree more with the notion that a successful life, business, or peaceful state of mind is driven by positivity. When it comes to a decision point, the moment that you think on the bright side there will be many opportunities and pathways opening up. You'd get more options, and following them could potentially lead you to great results, or pleasant surprise that you might never have dreamed of otherwise.
The world would be a better place if we all open our hearts a bit and stop being negative. Let's be Yes Man.
 2009/4/10 SailingOne of my favorites, by Christopher Cross. Hate to admit, N'Sync's version is pretty darn good too.
It's not far down to paradise At least it's not for me And if the wind is right you can sail away And find tranquility The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me It's not far to never never land No reason to pretend And if the wind is right you can find the joy Of innocence again The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me Sailing Takes me away To where I've always heard it could be Just a dream and the wind to carry me And soon I will be free Fantasy It gets the best of me When I'm sailing All caught up in the reverie Every word is a symphony Won't you believe me It's not far back to sanity At least it's not for me And when the wind is right you can sail away And find serenity The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me 2009/3/25 La Maison en Petits CubesThis animated short film - La Maison en Petits Cubes (The House of Small Cubes) by Kunio Kato won this year's Oscar in its category. A reflection of a global issue, as well as a deep, moving human factor in it.
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
2009/3/22 Mucha's Moon and Stars seriesWhat's been occuping my free time lately - besides taking my dead car to Kragen for a new battery after finding out it was the 6 month old battery that wouldn't hold charge, is replicating the 4-panel Moon and Stars series of art nouveau master Alfons Mucha. The first time I saw Mucha's work was last year at Caixa Forum in Madrid, and the imagery of his paintings and his artistic ability were simply astounding.
Since I am doing drawing/painting in my free time, I thought, why not do one of Mucha's decorative panels? I went on to do a watercolor version of the Moon, since it was one of the four that first captured my eyes. It's intriguing how Mucha put female figures in almost all of his paintings, and almost always in an earthy setting. For example, in the panel of the Moon, he depicted a girl draped in cloth in front of a crescent moon and a star-studded night sky. The girl appears to be naughty - or shy, however you want to view it, covering her mouth with her hand like she's holding a secret.
After the Moon was finished, I thought, why not do all 4 of them? So I am working on that. In the photo album of the same title, you can find each painting broken down in steps, painted in watercolor and on poor man's canvas (two pieces of A4 sized watercolor papers taped together).
 Mucha
2009/3/5 World full of nutsOkay, I think I have been holding this blog entry back for long enough, and I just can't wait to share it with you - that is, share my pain with you. Warning: ranting ahead.
1. My creepiest, weird-ass housemate Mr. Chen
Last August, I moved into the house that I am living now and have high praises for. The environment is great, the people are nice, I really got nothing to complain about. But, I got introduced by the landlady to one of the three housemates whose room is just next to mine. I quickly greeted him. At first, I thought this 30-something Chinese guy was shy, since he dodged and evaded - basically did not answer the simplest questions like what's your name, what do you do now, and is your family here? And he did so with a nervous pace back and forth with his head down and his eyes not meeting mine. He basically does not interact with anyone in the house unless he absolutely has to, and either stays in his room or in the kitchen cooking (sometimes as late as midnight).
I thought I would try breaking the ice again after a few weeks, but to no avail. When I was in the kitchen with him once, I opened up trying to have a conversation and asked what his name was. After failing to recognize the characters based on his pronunciation, I wanted to see how he would write it. Being as weird as he is, he kinda waved it off, and said just call him Mr. Chen. I was like WTF, are you some f***ing big shot? You don't deserve my respect to call you Mister. I asked again how the people at his work would call him (at some lab of some university), then I'd call him that too. He said Mr. Chen. Right... you are not a boss, and even if you are, that's just such a bull, especially in a society where calling people by the first names is very common place. I call my boss by first name. I just wonder what kind of secret he is hiding or why he's hiding it. Is he secretly working for some Chinese intelligence agency that he's not revealing his identity?
From then on, I gave up trying to have a consersation with him - it would just seem to make him uncomfortable. After a few months, I concluded that he's a socially-inept and miserable loner who doesn't have a life nor any friends and who locks his room even when he is just going downstairs to cook. He would walk back to his room and close the door when he sees me coming upstairs or walking out of bathroom even when he's a few steps out of his room. When he and I are both in the kitchen/dining area, he sometimes stares at me with an impolite and almost-upset look when I am down in the kitchen cooking. I mean, seriously, WTF are you looking at?
A new twist on the episode of weird-ass housemate happened again a week ago and today. It was evening and dark, I was walking towards home on our street and noticed a parked car with headlights on. I also saw a big dent on the front bumper and recognized it was Mr. Chen's. Then I had a glimpse into the driver's seat. He was there, I think he saw me and he quickly hunched over and covered his face with his hand. I think he had just arrived home, and I pretended that I didn't see him nor make the connection between that dented Civic and the owner (as he was so obviously eager to hide), and continued walking towards home. This is the most bizarre person I have ever known. Seriously. And today, I left home for work at about the same time he did. He was starting his car, and I walked towards the bus stop. Then instead of him driving past me on the street, I heard a engine humming behind and following me as I was walking. I pretended it was normal and didn't look back (as doing so might mortify him...or something), and kept on walking. We went on separate directions so I bet that took a load off him.
After seeing such news as the crazy ass Chinese dude decapitating a fellow passenger on a Greyhound in Canada and another crazy ass Chinese dude decapitating a woman at Virginia Tech, I am starting to worry about my safety. Not worrying so much as in gruesome physical injury/death like that, but perhaps something like an intentional poisoning.... I do keep my food and drinks in the common fridge, and I presume he does have access to lethal chemicals in his lab. Maybe the situation isn't as bad as I think, but for now, I try not to agitate him.
2. Woman calling in search of the truth
Tonight, I got a phone call that beats 'em all in the category of the most bizarre phone calls. This is what happened:
A woman in maybe her 50-60s called (area code 606 - from Kentucky, and imagine a southern accent)
Woman: "Who is this?"
I got annoyed right away...hey you called me!
Me: "Who is THIS?"
There was a moment of silence and I spoke.
Me: "Who are you looking for?"
Woman: "What?"
Me: "Who are you supposed to look for?"
Woman: "Well, to tell you the truth, I think my husband is cheatin' on me, and I saw this number written on a piece of paper..."
Me: "Oh, you've got the wrong number."
At that point, that was too surreal for me to say something smart-ass like "he ain't cheatin' on you wit' me."
And of course like many other people who call the wrong numbers, she called again, and hung up after my Hello.
2009/3/1 Begun my art hobby hasSome acrylic paint and brushes and sketch pencils have been in my possession ever since the Hell Hole days, but I've never done any serious artwork - despite that much free time I had. I have promised myself that I would pick up drawing and painting after submitting the grad school application and the whole GMAT ordeal. So this Sunday I spent a few hours sketching and watercoloring.
I almost forgot how much of a pleasure making art was, and a great pastime at that. I am thinking if this science and business career doesn't work out, I may as well sell them on the street for a few bucks (assuming somebody would buy them).
  2009/1/24 Signing off from EspañaSix years ago, Mom was assigned to the TECO in Madrid, Spain. This week she's officially being transferred back since her term is complete. A lot of things happened since 2003, we had our shares of ups and downs, happiness and sorrow. These six years may sound like a long time to most of us, but they seemed like yesterday to me. Some of my memories were as fresh as the pictures that were snapped moments ago. Maybe it's because I have grown out of the kid I used to be, and started to have a deeper understanding of life and took a better look at events happening around me. Milestones were laid along the road these years: I went from grad school to getting my first real job in the industry and now back to academia, our beloved Dad and Grandma passed away, and Bro went from single to being married. It's those life-changing events and friends who care, that give meanings to life and make life precious and worthwhile.
In these years, Mom had served her country well, maintained (if not, bettered) the good diplomatic ties to the Spanish government, and provided great assistance to the nationals traveling overseas. Although leaving that wonderful place she called home (and what I've been calling a great vacation spot... I am going to miss Madrid) all these years and saying goodbyes to all the friends she made there is difficult, she's happy to be back in Taiwan. After all, that's where the home is.
 Group sending off Mom at Barajas Airport in Madrid 1/23/09 (photo courtesy of Eusebio)
2009/1/20 Witnessing history
Today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was realized when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. If you asked me 4 years ago if the US would have a black president, I would say that it's certainly possible but probably not in my lifetime. What this election demonstrated to us was the public's desire to change after 8 years of Bush administration, and in the midst of all that, the American people decided that they would also break the racial barrier and give the skinny black kid a chance. The public reaction to this phenomenon - starting from campaigns, election, to the inauguration - was most unprecedented. I mean, have you seen herds of people flying into Washington D.C. to witness this event, or teachers having their classes to watch it live on TV, or support groups gathering to watch it live on jumbotrons in various cities.... when any other white presidents were sworn in? At times, I couldn't help but to think that without media, Obama's victory would not have been possible. Although the media would like to claim that they are politically neutral, generally they lean towards left and favor Democrats in this day and age. In my opinion, the media did more harm than good to McCain's campaign (see also: jokes on Palin). Obama was able to reach across the nation and talk about his visions, with the tailwind of media behind him. Being an elegant speaker that he is, which is a plus, Obama has been idolized and become a media darling, and a poster boy for change in the America. Can't blame a nation for wanting a hero in a desperate time like this. Let's also think for a moment that, if there were no media whatsoever to generate people's demand for knowledge and truth, Bush probably wouldn't have been branded the most unpopular president in history. Judas sang this to Jesus (from Jesus Christ Superstar): "...Now why'd you choose such a backward time
And such a strange land? If you'd come today You could have reached a whole nation Isreal in 4 BC Had no mass communication..."
Whether Obama can bring about positive changes in America, we won't know until a couple of years into his presidency. But without a doubt, Obama has become a synonym for change and inspired millions.
2009/1/9 AMANAPLANACANALPANAMA= A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL, PANAMA
The title is an example of palindrome, which is a word or phrase that can be read in either direction. My PI brought it up in conversation after I asked him to proofread my essays (or mini-autobiography) and write recommendation for me. I thought it was interesting and appropriate in regards to my situation - although I am not in Panama anymore.
2009/1/1 New Year's Resolutions of 2009As the tradition of this blog, I list out new year's resolutions every year. What I'd like to do is bring out last year's resolutions and check off ones I have achieved. Well, since I didn't do any resolution for 2008, I am going to guess what I would have written.
1. Leave the Hell Hole
2. Find a better job
3. ...
Check, check! Even though year 2008 was rather uneventful to me, and much of it was spent in unemployment, it brought me an accidental trip to Spain, France, and Italy, and took me out of Hell Hole and placed me into what I'd consider the best working environment ever. What a nice year 2008 was, eh? Without further ado, here is my new year resolution (and again, more like a wishlist) for 2009.
1. Enter THE program
....
Well, that was easy.
 This year's crystal ball in the Big Apple featured all LED lights, as opposed to old school light bulbs like in 1978 (pictured), is twice as big as last year's ball (bigger the better!), and will be a permanent fixture in the Time Square.
 2008/12/12 My writer's blockLately I've been battling with writer's block, as I was trying to come up with responses to the three essays that the school application required. The deadline is still a few weeks away, but I wanted to have them so my recommenders could read and get to know me better as a candidate. It took me days to write them, as I went down the memory lane and did some soul searching. Hopefully these essay will tell the readers where I was, where I am now, and where I am going.
This sure ain't writting blogs...
Just to let you know what the topics are:
1. How have people, events, and/or situations in your life influenced who you are today?
2. What do you consider to be your most important personal and professional accomplishments to date?
3. Why have you decided to enter the program? Why is this the appropriate time for you to begin?
Curious as to what I wrote? Please reply to this message at the bottom and have your credit card ready.
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