tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53534897457828378252024-03-08T02:19:35.923+08:00Patrick CowsillWanhua, TaiwanPatrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-83278835536414279622024-02-20T22:29:00.000+08:002024-02-20T22:29:00.361+08:00Tropic of Cancer Taiwan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjqmu4nKANOoQwYt7eKFSY16gwOKjgA6iSIW-ziqpgIpf4-_i13rOiJmgkZy2gSEUT7L90aaPctOK-VSea6s57NFURL6iECy7ZD_Q6JVuhkDyrulgDPp2gPMKOXjT8NB4HL5i2_4lRHatPeOWaZCkcN78Z20qOaJYeRv7BlqMAzdl2PgJBUgaeXMWonl9/s280/369492007_310019438169304_8846563148159869914_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="158" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjqmu4nKANOoQwYt7eKFSY16gwOKjgA6iSIW-ziqpgIpf4-_i13rOiJmgkZy2gSEUT7L90aaPctOK-VSea6s57NFURL6iECy7ZD_Q6JVuhkDyrulgDPp2gPMKOXjT8NB4HL5i2_4lRHatPeOWaZCkcN78Z20qOaJYeRv7BlqMAzdl2PgJBUgaeXMWonl9/s1600/369492007_310019438169304_8846563148159869914_n.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><p>The Provincial Highway 9 Ruishui Marker (above) marks the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees on the northern latitude, in Taiwan. The spot was developed in 1933 by the Japanese colonial government. This monument was finished 48 years later. It is on the side of hill. Trees and bush cover the area.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-5bADF7MCS21pwOAANhQwnVJQT_ESCzHS_6j0xD3UXHOfGGErmBxjo_39rzenkUF_xoLb79rT0_P4gyFpB5fkJ6SQHjjQ2RmTeWl615r0YgldxphjM1f7JQa7jBX9Dq8vN48UmvrJ5WNfefGSyh4nDgD3zAmau7Aiu5lbhEFMezj2hgULVN-hpTiGL8Q/s280/366744314_660116022739402_3735841918181258950_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="158" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-5bADF7MCS21pwOAANhQwnVJQT_ESCzHS_6j0xD3UXHOfGGErmBxjo_39rzenkUF_xoLb79rT0_P4gyFpB5fkJ6SQHjjQ2RmTeWl615r0YgldxphjM1f7JQa7jBX9Dq8vN48UmvrJ5WNfefGSyh4nDgD3zAmau7Aiu5lbhEFMezj2hgULVN-hpTiGL8Q/s1600/366744314_660116022739402_3735841918181258950_n.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br /><p>Provincial Highway 11 is Taiwan's easternmost highway. This is a newer marker. There are food and souvenir shops next to this 23.5 north and across the highway. Provincial Highway 11 is the fastest way to get from Hualien to Taitung driving.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-1679211045962383082023-02-05T23:25:00.002+08:002023-02-05T23:25:32.243+08:00Capybara Taiwan<p>My family rented a car and we drove out to Greater Yilan two Mondays ago. We stayed at the Lakeshore Hotel Suao, a five-star hotel with adjoining hotspring and coldspring tubs in the room. </p><p>I recommend getting a car for Yilan as public transportation in northeastern Taiwan is sparse. The drive is fine, excluding the last tunnel coming in (13.9 kilometers tong). By the end of the tunnel, I was tense. Driving through long tunnels hypnotizes me in the same way driving on a snowy night does. We stopped at at the Yilan Zhangmei Grandma's Farm before we left Yilan because my daughter wanted to check out capybaras. Capybaras are the world's largest rodent and come from South America. Bill Peet modeled the wumps of his classic 1970 children's book Wump World after the capybara. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GvnMJFaBippgjj1RagqGFsyMJC-S4sC8BqW4Vf8GxR2cHJ9aHdDEtqadMGhvNVZW0Gx7VBDh_ERxMLNxjY1me-TsH1ArFhqAqMqviFpNMMbiHZzYnUrKH85GHdNGM-JqWnux-XVejjYIJkEDDlT-FQ3Rai6JVWQj3Ekdimsx8iIAR9J57gQsnF5keg/s4160/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="2340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GvnMJFaBippgjj1RagqGFsyMJC-S4sC8BqW4Vf8GxR2cHJ9aHdDEtqadMGhvNVZW0Gx7VBDh_ERxMLNxjY1me-TsH1ArFhqAqMqviFpNMMbiHZzYnUrKH85GHdNGM-JqWnux-XVejjYIJkEDDlT-FQ3Rai6JVWQj3Ekdimsx8iIAR9J57gQsnF5keg/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-27999173753301271962022-08-19T11:50:00.006+08:002023-02-16T20:55:47.673+08:00Mandarin Airlines: The Flight Attendant Tricked Me<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqJzAOKosMe0BQBfqsaoOt9c_oTCsXFxdduN2nTAqUflBYIbIX3AvGK6bw1XEezeJsNfgiDNl7MPRiiseFMHl5YBcbyeDqyc43Rru6tHRMUp-HUxJLVbaEXRw9cFsy1SNZCUDCsmMAzCqcBA2SKo_qoJMCGGsTc7OF9ch-qtSbngtPu5Sv4KIz9ulvA/s1920/FORT298247963_1700617060325707_1901085023361735884_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqJzAOKosMe0BQBfqsaoOt9c_oTCsXFxdduN2nTAqUflBYIbIX3AvGK6bw1XEezeJsNfgiDNl7MPRiiseFMHl5YBcbyeDqyc43Rru6tHRMUp-HUxJLVbaEXRw9cFsy1SNZCUDCsmMAzCqcBA2SKo_qoJMCGGsTc7OF9ch-qtSbngtPu5Sv4KIz9ulvA/s320/FORT298247963_1700617060325707_1901085023361735884_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Western Fisher Island, Penghu / Pescadores (<span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">澎湖)</span>: The Western Fort on Fisher Island dates back to 1681. Built two years before the fall of the Koxinga Dynasty in Taiwan, the battery was meant to defend the country against Shilang, the admiral sent by the Emperor Kangxi to clear the island out of bandits. Kangxi originally meant to defeat Koxinga's . . .</p><p>This is as far as I got. I was flying back to Taipei from the Pescadores on Mandarin Airlines. The flight attendant told me to turn off my computer. When I indicated I was in flight mode, she came within an inch of clapping my computer closed. She said: "Using a computer on a domestic flight is against the law in Taiwan." When I asked her why, she showed me the safety card in the pouch of the seat in front of me. I called Information for Foreigners when we landed. They said they did not know about that law and gave me the number for the civil aviation authorites. There is no such law in Taiwan. </p><p>...anyway, I am back a week later to writing this post: Koxinga's grandson, Zheng Keshuang. The Emperor Kangxi wanted to evacuate Taiwan after the Qing Dynasty military defeated Zheng's forces, to remove all the people in Taiwan who seemed Chinese. He said Taiwan was a piece of muddy shit floating in the ocean beyond China. Shilang explained it was necessary to maintain a presence in Taiwan to clamp down on pirates. There was an idea to entice the Dutch East India Co. back, but the Dutch had lost interest in Taiwan. Zheng was taken into tribute captivity and imprisoned in China a couple of years later (1683).</p><p>I think the Pescadores were also evacuated in 1425, after the lightning strike and subsequent burning of the temple in Nanjing (I forget the name), which resulted in all people being forced to move inland, away from the ocean. The Chinese Navy was also put in storage at that time. </p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-53320114308147237082022-02-09T20:34:00.006+08:002022-02-09T20:37:38.929+08:00A British Consul's Report: Formosa 1895, Respect the Queue<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This report
came out of Tainan instead of Tamsui from the British Consul, R.W. Hurst, late 1895. Hurst
is commenting on the state of Taiwan eight months after China ceded Taiwan to
Japan. He calls the ceding an invasion. Taiwan’s junior high school social study
textbooks label the ceding of Taiwan by China to Japan in the same terms but,
for a reason likely related to indoctrination, do not label the arrival of Chiang
Kai-shek and his forces after WWII an invasion. Why the British Consul located to
Tainan before 1895 has not been told to me. My guess is Britain cleared out of Tamsui
when the French and Chinese became hostile there in the 1880s. Taiwan’s junior
high school social study textbooks stress aboriginal groups favored Chinese
settlers over other invaders, Japan here and the Dutch East India Company (labeled
as Holland in those social study textbooks) before, but the Consul does not
share the opinion (see his opening comment) and neither do I. Hurst later writes,
“The inhabitants of Formosa, a specially timorous race, have under these circumstances
have been slow gaining confidence….” Hurst seems antsy too. The first pages of
the report on Taiwan follow:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">H.M.
Consulate, Tainan, 31 December, 1895<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Separate
Sir,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have the
honour to forward an Intelligence Report for Tainan for the Quarter ended this
day. I have the to be, Sir, your obedient Servant, R.W. Hurst, Consul<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sir E.M. Safow,
KCMG, Her Majesty’s Minister, Tokio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Enclosed in
Consul Hursts’, Tainan, Sep of 31, Our 1895<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tainan
Intelligence Report for the Quarter ended 31 December 1895<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Political<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The subjugation
of the country by the Japanese except as regards the aborigines who are said to
be favourably affected towards them may now be regarded as complete. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For the first
2 or 3 weeks after the occupation a veritable reign of terror prevailed among
the panic stricken Chinese. In Tainanfu for many days all the shops closed their
doors and it would have appeared like a city of the dead, were it not for the
conquering army of Japanese, which was much in evidence parading the principal
thorough-fares and occupying many houses which the timorous owners in their
panic had deserted. Owing to the truculence of the coolies, the camp followers
of the invading army, . . .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[MY NOTE: Taiwan
was ceded to Japan by China in April of 1895. The Japanese were not invading.]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . a
congress of the worst class in Japan, which frequently behaved with much brutality
towards them, a large number of Chinese abandoned their dwellings, and fled
into the interior, whilst others, including a large proportion of the well-to-do
classes have sought a refuge on the mainland of China from the unpalatable rule
of the alien.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[MY NOTE: These that fled later came to be known as Half-Mountain People. Many returned to
Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek in the 1940s, their fortunes reversed. They were broke. There is
talk of their involvement in the drafting of kill sheets used for the 2-28
massacre of Taiwan’s ruling class.] <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dwellings
of all unless they were able to produce title deeds were at the mercy of the
conquerers, and much misery must have resulted from destitution and exposure.
The inhabitants of Formosa, a specially timorous race, have under these circumstances
been slow in gaining confidence, which can hardly be considered fully restored.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Soldiers
with fixed bayonets are still posted at Tainanfu. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[MY NOTE: I
cannot read the next word. The cursive is pretty, but it looks like “coho.”]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . [The soldiers with bayonets] pounce
down upon any unfortunate Chinese who may pass with his queue coiled round his
head, a procedure resented as wanting in proper respect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hurst’s
Consular Report continues for a few more pages.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-83073069154600813192021-11-15T03:04:00.016+08:002021-12-03T23:37:26.008+08:00I Want to Practice English<p><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">初訪,再也不會去!問老闆「你會講中文嗎?」然後老闆就開始發飆了!什麼東西啊?有事嗎?這是禁語嗎?我英文不好只會講中文先跟你確認一下是有冒犯到你?還是全世界都要知道你會講中文?自以為是什麼東西啊?老外很屌?</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">講完態度再來講環境,一進門油煙味重到爆炸,衛生也不ok環境也不怎麼舒適整體也很髒亂。</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">酒很多種類?不好意思我本身就喝精釀的我還真不知道你有什麼稀奇的東西,一櫃大識貨,不知道在跩什麼?我去過的酒吧餐酒館至少五百家,這家我直接給最後一名!沒有亮點又臭又囂張!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">更新,目前最後一名被碳烤鐵人搶走</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">店家的回應還真是高姿態喔zzz</span><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This review left for my restaurant is bullshit and libel, and racist crap. I do not normally respond to reviews, but I did for a change. I wrote: "This is racially motivated hate speech." I tagged the review above as offensive. Google actually removed it. I want to hold on to it for reasons of my own. </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The writer starts his ramble by suggesting I asked him about his English ability -- if he could speak English. That is a lie. I never do that. In fact, I often tell Taiwanese people who insist on speaking English to me that I am French or something else, just to get out of answering the usual stuff or for efficiency. Then my interlocutor claims I shouted at him. Again, a lie. I was joking loudly with my friends at the end of the counter, on the other side of him. I spoke to him, and his group, once. I had one verbal engagement with them all night. He said he wanted to practice English with me. I said to him: "I already speak English fluently, so I do not need the practice. My wife Shufang and her friend Sally, she's sitting next to you, love to speak English." He rounds out his review by asking: "Are all honkies (foreigners) such dicks / assholes?"</span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was busy cooking because that is what I do when customers come into my place. I cook. These four men sat down across from me and started to yammer: "Look. It's a foreigner. Hey boss! We want to practice English. Do you like stinky tofu? Etc." Why not rock out the practicing with the Taiwanese people in my place? Lots of Taiwanese people enjoy practicing English. A native speaker has no need to practice English. Or, if you really want to learn English, just sign up for a class in a school or take one online. Hire a private teacher. Travel. Get someone with qualifications, not a cook in a hole in the wall, to help. </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">These four men were after me from the get go. I was busy. It was Friday night. Why did they write that review (above)? I was not anything to them. I had never even met them. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would they conduct themselves like this at any other restaurant in the neighborhood? Would they harrass the owner of the chicken fry shop down the way to practice a school subject with them? There is a place a few doors down from The Hammer, a restaurant that makes traditional Taiwanese soup. It is sour, with sticky meat balls that are savory. The soup tastes great, especially with vinegar. Why not bug the owners of that place instead of me? Go perch up inside their restaurant and have a go at the boss. I have a feeling they would not harrass one other boss around here in this way. </span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-51764298553220383932021-07-24T23:11:00.010+08:002021-07-26T19:17:40.797+08:00I Opted for AZ Astra ZenecaAs an outsider biding his time in Taiwan, I am concerned about a pandemic spread out of China a year and a half ago and repercussions, the sloppy and hypocritical behavior of the government here, a virus that seems like it was designed in a lab, and so on. The first six days of the initial lockdown here in Taiwan, in mid May, 2021, the police visited my restaurant five days in a row. Government officials took an interest in my place -- they dropped by on the fourth day of that first lockdown, Tuesday, May 18. Officials did not pester the businesses around us. Not once. Both 7/11 and Family Mart were open and full of customers. We were the emptiest joint on the block; we were the only ones catching it from the cops. Since The Hammer has been open, almost nine years ago, we have been visited by the police four hundred times. No other establishment on our block has been visited, to my knowledge, three times. I talked to my wife. We know additional harassment is headed our way. We will deal as usual, because what else can we do?<div><br /><div>*****<br /><div><br /></div><div>I Opted for AZ<br /><div><br /></div><div>Shufang declared: "I have owned a business in Taiwan for close to a decade. This virus has yet to infect me, but it has crushed my business."<div><br /></div><div>I signed up for the Astra Zeneca vaccine three weeks ago. I got my first jab on Wednesday. Shufang is next Wednesday. I got my jab because I was open to Astra Zeneca. Some of my friends signed up for Moderna. They regret their decision now. Taiwan lacks Moderna shots. I was lucky to get AZ. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thus, I went to Cardinal Tien Hospital in Yonghe last Wednesday to get my COVID-19 shot. The man working the door told me to head to the second floor. I found chaos up there on the second floor. A line spread down the corridor and spiraled down the stairs, into the road. There was no concept of social distancing. I asked the nurse for help. I went from nurse to nurse. None of them had any time. They said "hold on." I could see how much stress they were under. I finally figured out this was the Moderna station, not mine.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There is a convention hall (or maybe a church) outside the Cardinal Tien Hospital, to the back. They are practicing social distancing inside. I spent five minutes filling out the application, 1.5 meters from my fellow applicant. I got my jab a few minutes later. No jab recipient is allowed to leave for fifteen minutes. There is a feeling of peace and dreams in that room of socially-distanced people sitting on those carefully placed chairs. For those seeking Moderna, no chair seems to await. You get what you sign up for. We leaned back to stare at the ceiling in that tomb, contemplating "what God wrought when He made the world so sad."</div></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-32492941570461682602021-06-08T13:45:00.003+08:002021-06-08T14:23:00.814+08:00Have I Got a Deal For You<p style="text-align: justify;">Taiwan has been fairly locked down for around a month now. We can still go out, but the schools are online now and most offices are doing the same. On Monday, we were informed we could only go to market or a supermarket every second day. It depends on one's ID, you see? If the last digit of one's ID is odd, one can visit Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Even numbers get the other days. By law, people in Taiwan are not required to produce ID when asked. Most people I have talked are unaware of this law. While North America is opening up, we are going in the opposite direction. I think part of the problem is complacency; for example, people in America were getting the jab and we in Taiwan were busy patting ourselves on the back for managing to sidestep, relatively speaking that is, for more than a year. We complained and complained we did not get respect or congratulations on virus control. Now there is no herd immunity. Less than five percent of the population has been vaccinated.</p><p>The Hammer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thehammertw">https://www.facebook.com/thehammertw</a>, our restaurant, is still open. We can only do take out order. We have had to get more creative. We are offering new dishes and additional specials on drinks. My wife took this pic of one of the beers we are offering. The view is off our bedroom's balcony. The washed backdrop is the street that leads down to the Xindian River in Yonghe. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Qcu8iwM_aNPPLszVnD5StQYc4T7PVAMo032DG8sm6iqC6RCxILOYTGmsrKUCMNmfcg_FOY7oZay9Tko-SU7QVM9ugYccLlx4P5b3cdJ58OwrkInfNbSNj7ArOTVxjD7LLz3txyRdshWW/s2048/196774676_232860368670774_2033578423567086243_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Qcu8iwM_aNPPLszVnD5StQYc4T7PVAMo032DG8sm6iqC6RCxILOYTGmsrKUCMNmfcg_FOY7oZay9Tko-SU7QVM9ugYccLlx4P5b3cdJ58OwrkInfNbSNj7ArOTVxjD7LLz3txyRdshWW/s320/196774676_232860368670774_2033578423567086243_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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I noticed from a higher place that Lalu Island, in Sun Moon Lake, is actually
moated. In Chinese, Lalu (拉魯) means "marinated," but it seems more likely the
word comes out of the Thao Aboriginal (邵族) language and is along the lines of
"do not forget this spirit-fested place." Most of the Thao homes and temples in
the area collapsed on September 21, 1999, as a result of a 7.3 scale earthquake. Whatever
structure(s) existed on Lalu Island then does not now. The Thao have also closed
the island to visitors.
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-43617320402783412902020-11-23T17:35:00.005+08:002021-02-01T18:26:21.338+08:00This Is Not Going to Fix Your Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-LTrnEQFBeRk3K9FQ9If6QF_D9hIBVr6ZQl8VW4WkvgXC3hqsI9CIlLsq0I8fjCxACKCH4Mhxp3rozzSKBZ9vI3YtKxdr-9w-QzX3F7kRZ0ZNqoHx3YebzEg40p8FHQ7WQ7PRHTK24QQ/s320/video-1606113141.mp4" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-LTrnEQFBeRk3K9FQ9If6QF_D9hIBVr6ZQl8VW4WkvgXC3hqsI9CIlLsq0I8fjCxACKCH4Mhxp3rozzSKBZ9vI3YtKxdr-9w-QzX3F7kRZ0ZNqoHx3YebzEg40p8FHQ7WQ7PRHTK24QQ/s400/video-1606113141.mp4"/></a>
This woman stood outside my restaurant for 20 minutes, revving the engine on her old scooter. Then she turned it off and walked off, our alley filled with exhaust. Shopkeepers were forced to close their doors and windows. Her behavior proved her oblivious to the well-being and concerns of those living in her midst. This is not the first time I have witnessed this tactic; elder people routinely do this kind of bike maintenance down by the Hsin Tien River in the River Park. The idea is akin to clearing the throat. I am curious about the tags though. The scooter looks like a 50 cc, which was phased out. The tags are greeen, but the stickers indicate insurance has been paid for the year. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-82039971879826452182016-03-03T16:43:00.002+08:002021-06-08T14:21:06.067+08:00Yang Chung-chou's Bridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8e9_DMhf20QqjfjjxlZE0KFY3Ofew2OdrD3PNFEHokBlHwJVUNaRB3bCmciMnDF8xx_Ln5ANkXTeO9Gr0vRheF2SeqHopOWopzi35EeBZ0OAeCkS_WM4LDMwDlUlHMHtcYS_6AwCg2OM/s1600/24832687894_4bdd5c40b3_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8e9_DMhf20QqjfjjxlZE0KFY3Ofew2OdrD3PNFEHokBlHwJVUNaRB3bCmciMnDF8xx_Ln5ANkXTeO9Gr0vRheF2SeqHopOWopzi35EeBZ0OAeCkS_WM4LDMwDlUlHMHtcYS_6AwCg2OM/s640/24832687894_4bdd5c40b3_o.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I often cross Zhongzheng Bridge on foot late at night, on my way home to Taipei after I shut down my restaurant, which is located in New Taipei City (Greater Taipei). The view down the Xindian River is nice and there aren't many cars, making for a peaceful crossing. I mentioned my habit to a friend, who remarked: "One of these days, that bridge is going to fall into the river." From a distance, it does seem to be riding a bit low. I'm not able to make out the sag people say is there; I'm no bridge engineer. Constant earthquakes and flooding have been working on the bridge's stability. Now the Public Works Department is weighing in. They want to tear down the bridge before it collapses. The Department of Cultural Affairs stands in the way though. Zhongzheng Bridge is also the oldest out there on the Xindian.</div>
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According to the historical marker at the bridge's head, Zhongzheng Bridge'll be 80 next year, making it a relic of the Japanese era. Why it is named after Chiang Kai-shek, the dictator whose army invaded Taiwan a decade after construction, isn't a big mystery. The bridge used to have a Japanese name. That was lost in the sinification of Taiwan that occurred later on, when Chinese rulers were attempting to rewrite the country's history so that their Taiwanese subjects would look upon themselves as Chinese too. The historical marker also indicates that Yang Chung-chou, father of the famous painter Yang San-lang, was behind an effort to get the bridge built. As an important land owner and one of the mayors of Yonghe during the Japanese colonial era (1895 to 1945), Yang Chung-chuo stressed it would help commerce a lot once in place. I've been told by his great-grandson that, after years of wrangling, Yang donated the land at the bridge's head to jumpstart the project. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6RV-ONNiMBjNMFzUigrQauSJ1sOx4x-FYxmek3acg1reFtS_V6IrAbdndlisCkiKWZMBhBeG5qmCi9y7TV8Mq5UWzD767BCQuEZBpJUiADInBhHwhQGR13S0p5AE2wp5SPttJYxzunsT/s1600/25437126436_a5e865a62f_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6RV-ONNiMBjNMFzUigrQauSJ1sOx4x-FYxmek3acg1reFtS_V6IrAbdndlisCkiKWZMBhBeG5qmCi9y7TV8Mq5UWzD767BCQuEZBpJUiADInBhHwhQGR13S0p5AE2wp5SPttJYxzunsT/s320/25437126436_a5e865a62f_o.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I took this phone shot from the bridge, looking east. I don't think it's too hard to get a feeling for how much the bridge has sunk. Half a dozen suicides take place from her rails yearly. I brought this up with a beat cop, saying: "I would probably just swim away if I fell off." </div>
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"No you wouldn't," was the replay. "People don't die from hitting the water. They drown after getting stuck in the mud at the bottom of river."</div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-9145450467223787692015-04-16T23:46:00.001+08:002015-04-17T00:03:56.317+08:00Comedy at The Hammer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ5s5HLa5G9TVV1TNX7uPWMbmPWz24__Cg7LrR029xbZMahJ4uEoB7Gf-fgGRV3blIKyTu4tpT9SJuqElJiU33SUOAVM3Xg3XOZgPxyUcxLXNXeyc6BiNPlg3AIu8SI-lScY5VFN3Z2kV/s1600/11145956_10205695728844859_135897943_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ5s5HLa5G9TVV1TNX7uPWMbmPWz24__Cg7LrR029xbZMahJ4uEoB7Gf-fgGRV3blIKyTu4tpT9SJuqElJiU33SUOAVM3Xg3XOZgPxyUcxLXNXeyc6BiNPlg3AIu8SI-lScY5VFN3Z2kV/s1600/11145956_10205695728844859_135897943_n.jpg" height="400" width="222" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Local personality, Gary Patterson.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Gary Patterson is involved in the English-speaking comedy scene here in Taipei. Over the past few decades, Patterson and other comedic rovers have been making the rounds, meeting at venues to crack wise and laugh it up. I met up with the comedian for a chat. I wanted to know why he does this. That is covered below. Patterson also filled me in on the history of stand-up in Taipei. He talked about what they had to go through in the early years, when Taiwan was still under martial law (1949-1987). The assertion of Taiwan's constitution and, in particular, freedom of speech, breathed energy into the movement in nineties. I will cover that part of our talk in a future post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson and other rovers will be at The Hammer, <a href="http://www.thehammertaiwan.com/">www.thehammertaiwan.com</a>, Monday night (April 20).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: You have been in Taiwan for a long time. What brought you here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I met my wife in college at KU. She is from Taiwan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Do you see yourself sticking around? If so, why? What would be some of the factors for you just packing it up and leaving Taiwan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I'd only stick around Taiwan if I started a business that I really enjoyed and had fun running and managing with local employees. I'd pack up and leave Taiwan ASAP if there was another intelligent job overseas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: You have been active on the comedy front. What brings you to do it? Why do you persist in doing comedy in Taiwan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I used to live in Longtan (<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">龍潭)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span>with my in-laws and that got old after about three years. I love doing comedy. It was a great way to get away from my in-laws and family, and just have fun for myself. It is a form of therapy for most of us, including me. I had a rough childhood and adulthood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: You are obviously motivated to do comedy. What inspires you to create an evening of comedy at The Hammer? Why are you interested in organizing this at a local venue?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: The Hammer is a special bar where us expats are able to feel like we are at home for a few hours while we get out our frustrations, love, and tell stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Is it hard to round up comedians?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: It is very easy to round up comedians here in Taipei. There used to be a very organized group of comics named ROCT (Republic of Comedy Taiwan); however, most of the event managers got busy with other work and the local cheese ball government was trying to crack down on people doing performances without the proper work permit(s). Even though we don't pay any one, we can only use people with APRCs and marriage ARCs, and local IDs of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: What are things you respect in your peers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I admire every one for whatever they love to do and if they find real meaning and happiness in it. There is nothing wrong with what we do in this lifetime. We are all connected and find our own path(s) sooner or later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: What gives you grief in rounding up comedians for a show?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I wouldn't call it grief, but sometimes you get the comics that go over their scheduled time, or are too drunk to perform professionally. I'm guilty of this too, but we all learn from our mistakes. Well, most of us do. I know I did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: You must have some misgivings about what's happening on the local comedic scene. What are they and how do you deal with them?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: It is just the local jealous people seeing us expats do something fun. We don't worry about the money. Actually, I haven't had to deal with anything bad yet, but I have a plan and I will execute it when needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: What pisses you off in terms of comedic themes? Do you ever think "This guy is full of shit?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Come on. Every one is full of shit to some extent. It is just a way of hiding feelings, or getting needed attention from peers. Yes, I do think that many people are full of shit, but we are all guilty of this, so this is an even playing field for comics and people in general.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Besides getting laughs and being the center of attention in an act, what else brings satisfaction in doing this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: I was always a funny guy around my friends and knew some day I could do this professionally. I used to teach way too much. With my smoked meat business, I rarely have time for myself and my family. My family doesn't really understand me at times, but I'm not perfect either. I married too young and often have thoughts of leaving and starting over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: When you are performing, what do you do if you feel an act isn't working? Do you simply proceed or do you change gears?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Yes, I do switch gears, but most of my comedic routines are just out of my head and I feed off the audience cues and movements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Is there a joke or idea you have heard too much on the circuit?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: No. It all comes down to being just a joke or idea. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: I just have a comment. Then I want to do a Q & A quickie. Foreigners have said they are uncomfortable with other foreigners misbehaving in Taiwan. They say it reflects upon all foreigners. In other words, the bad behavior of people they have never met somehow still reflects on them. I may come from a similar culture or have the same skin color as one of these troublemakers, but that does not mean I have to be included in a tribe. I was talking to a comedian. He was preparing his act on this theme. I felt like popping this idea inside our chat.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: OK. Sure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Which comedian has had the most impact on you?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: There have been many, but Ralphie May has been my favorite. I saw him live in Kansas City one time when I owned my own tea house in Lawrence, Kansas.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: What is the funniest movie you have ever seen?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Rush Hour.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Who is the most daring comic you have seen?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Bob Saget. The comic that played the father in "Full House."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Have you ever caught the popular Yonghe (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">永和)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> comedians, Chris R 'n' R and Mattie www.? They have a two-man show called "It's Not an Act. It's Just Us."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Not yet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Short Fuse?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: Some people think he's too coarse and loud -- too bombastic when it comes to politics, especially Thai politics. I don't agree. I think he's very good at improv. He doesn't reside in Taipei now. That's too bad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Thanks Gary for your time. We will catch up with you soon.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patterson: My pleasure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out Gary's meat smoking business, KC BBQ Taiwan, at <a href="http://goo.gl/ujqQKl">http://goo.gl/ujqQKl</a>. Special thanks to JTH for his work on the film production. JTH filmed our chat, which lasted for a couple hours. </span></div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-35361224712797161292015-01-13T00:03:00.004+08:002015-01-14T02:58:53.576+08:00Movie Night at the Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDZxEKBD6cAwk0QcyHKDqrRWtQj-YdJaCw2R1ScqkoJxiXyLLR_8On9aDmPXavIapu8iBU1cwnVRi6jWHqD7BKlb48VRcTW62ZRtW77-8uLq2Tzknc_QivLMLjs18KAyRTN9sPxWbybHb/s1600/marathon+man%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDZxEKBD6cAwk0QcyHKDqrRWtQj-YdJaCw2R1ScqkoJxiXyLLR_8On9aDmPXavIapu8iBU1cwnVRi6jWHqD7BKlb48VRcTW62ZRtW77-8uLq2Tzknc_QivLMLjs18KAyRTN9sPxWbybHb/s1600/marathon+man%5B2%5D.jpg" height="400" width="261" /></a></div>
Chris is showing Marathon Man, starring Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Schneider, this Thursday (Jan. 15) at the museum: <a href="http://goo.gl/dnM2lU">http://goo.gl/dnM2lU</a> I've been attending these screenings regularly because he keeps coming up with interesting viewing choices. I like sitting in the big gallery among all those paintings and watching a movie on the big screen. Plus it's free.<br />
<br />
We've already seen Klute, Wild Strawberries, Magnolias and Badlands among others. I'll put a link up to Jeremy Olivier's (who is by coincidence a distant relative of Laurence Olivier) write up of Badlands, which he did after that showing. Jeremy's piece speaks to the idea that something good is coming out of the movie nights -- they are not just an excuse to drink. On that note, Chris will have NT$100 sangrias and NT$300 corned beef and cabbage plates available. <a href="http://goo.gl/wgH4FF">http://goo.gl/wgH4FF</a><br />
<br />
Things will get under way at around 7:30.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-27467859696383395802015-01-11T03:05:00.004+08:002015-01-11T03:05:58.744+08:00She Is Feeling Nostalgic<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">An ad for Popeye pens. There isn't a date, but the Japanese writing probably places it from 1929 to 1945. The pens were availabe at Huashanting, an area just east of the Taipei Train Station. This is the first time I have heard the "ting" / 町 stuck on the end with this specific area. It is pretty normal to do this with Ximenting (西門町) however. I am also guessing the 樺 is the old spelling for 華. The name change would have occurred some time after the KMT invasion (late 1940s), when those clowns were running around trying to sinicize the island.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TQnYiSoYz-9b2GsLYdLQpOfBTNiH8NRGoAAPsDXAL8sXuw-2mxeMkCuJuo4L0V0pg151SM_jXnD2wuudb02JfTQA9dmOp4LP6T8PcSAv4TvnRZiIb_YWRsHbRDJ-qytHlLHLZwOvIcY/s1600/10429359_781770678527165_1777861806693112491_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TQnYiSoYz-9b2GsLYdLQpOfBTNiH8NRGoAAPsDXAL8sXuw-2mxeMkCuJuo4L0V0pg151SM_jXnD2wuudb02JfTQA9dmOp4LP6T8PcSAv4TvnRZiIb_YWRsHbRDJ-qytHlLHLZwOvIcY/s1600/10429359_781770678527165_1777861806693112491_n%5B1%5D.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-31846321871292289992014-07-27T15:10:00.000+08:002014-07-28T01:41:11.319+08:00Art at The Hammer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIph1LI9LJ1RIyOrCJA8VZpVY5yb388gTfsz8doMJZRsaPV9xbxUeQO9gvYq0kq9_PmcG61tIdnqkbLxR5s2DNK-OMpIyWtiV5nzDNml-IXYJqAd1tmLnfnE7aAKc_irxNwTRvkI4VT9SV/s1600/IMG_7412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIph1LI9LJ1RIyOrCJA8VZpVY5yb388gTfsz8doMJZRsaPV9xbxUeQO9gvYq0kq9_PmcG61tIdnqkbLxR5s2DNK-OMpIyWtiV5nzDNml-IXYJqAd1tmLnfnE7aAKc_irxNwTRvkI4VT9SV/s1600/IMG_7412.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The Stories of Our Feathered Friends</i>, by Austin D. Brigman</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We
have been running an art exhibit at The Hammer. I had been meaning to
do something </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">along
these lines</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
ever since we opened </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">two</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
years ago, but always seem</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">ed</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
to get distracted by day-to-day issues of the place. I talked to
Austin </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Brigman</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
one of the two artists </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">featured,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">about
some of his concepts. Austin is from Wisconsin, but now makes his
home in the Little Ireland neighborhood of Yong He (</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">永和</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">), a suburb </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">south
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">of
Taipei.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">*****</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">What
originally brought you to art? Or can you even remember?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
think I was drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil. There have
always been things I could see in my mind that I couldn’t find in
the world. I’m compelled to give these ideas a life of their own.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
Sorry, it's a boring </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">and
repetitive question, bu</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">t
what are you doing in Taiwan?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Teaching
English, making art, learning Chinese, attempting to be an adult.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
Has Taiwan influenced you in how you proceed? If so, could you
explain?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Of
course. The scenery is amazing. I find the mountains and plant life
as well as the urban jungle to be very inspirational. Living in a new
country is very influential in itself. A lot of familiar elements are
missing from my life and their absence causes a great deal of
personal reflection. Not to mention all the new and exciting things
I’m learning to adjust to.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Who
has in general influenced you? I mean both famous individuals and on
a more personal level in terms of your art?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">The
list of my “heavy weight” influences begins with Van Gogh,
Picasso, and Duchamp. My modern day influences include Greg “Craola”
Simkins, Anthony Lister, and Burne Hogarth, among many others. I am
also affected by the natural world (animals, plants, geology,
weather, etc.).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">
You have, just going over your catalog, shown an interest in the
collage? I'm not saying this is all you do. But why are you into this
genre?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Collage
was a happy accident for me. I fell into it when I was working on my
BFA at UW-River Falls. I was trying my hand at water color/marker/ink
illustration. It was and is incredibly frustrating! I would work on a
piece for hours, only for a single mistake to render it ruined. In a
moment of frustration, I started cutting and ripping out drawings I
enjoyed from various failed pieces. Slathering paint on them, fusing
different elements together. I went a little crazy, but it felt
right. It was a natural reaction to what I had seen as a constricting
medium.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">What
is your goal? Where are you moving / want to be moving in terms of
your art?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
would love to make art that I’m more satisfied with than not. I
still have a lot of work ahead of me. I’m looking to incorporate
more realistic elements into my work (landscapes, figures, etc). I
think my style is suitable for children’s stories. I really enjoyed
reading books when I was young and seeing the great art that
accompanied the stories. I want to give back and inspire young
artists.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">OK
then. What is something you find off putting about art right now?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
don’t need to see anymore mediocre fan art based on </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Zelda</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">
Bioshock</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">V
for Vendetta</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">League
of Legends</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">The
Last of Us</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Star
Wars</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Portal</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">,
etc. Fan art needs to be really, really good to be acceptable.
Otherwise it’s just piggy-backing off of someone else’s
creativity.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">What
encourages you generally and specifically in the art scene right now?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">There
are a lot of great street artists influencing people in public
spaces. I think it’s important for people to have creative
exercise, even if that only means responding to another person’s
work.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Any
plans for the near future?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
have a few ideas for children’s stories that I would like to
attempt. A vacation sounds nice too.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">OK,
speed round...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">What
is the best color for painting?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">There’s
a color between robin’s egg blue and turquoise that I can’t get
enough of.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">What
is a topic you won't touch?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Horses.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">How
much time do you paint on a weekly basis?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">This
varies quite a bit. Some days I won’t paint at all. Others I’ll
paint for three to four hours. There’s a lot of ebb and flow.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">When
are you the most productive?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
work best at night (11pm to 2am).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Me:
OK. I can't think of anything else at the moment. Thanks.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Austin:
Sure. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzUXKnIrrvl0adbK9aIGwaqTXIWulDILRdFcFJZVoR7e2nDGGHWioTpqregqjiboCWan5NuALMSaZJcOKA9j6Bxd24KzOshxMQs2nWmzzkXU7JugqwuzzuGCLZB4gTe9i5rs5PvFln1bF/s1600/IMG_7402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzUXKnIrrvl0adbK9aIGwaqTXIWulDILRdFcFJZVoR7e2nDGGHWioTpqregqjiboCWan5NuALMSaZJcOKA9j6Bxd24KzOshxMQs2nWmzzkXU7JugqwuzzuGCLZB4gTe9i5rs5PvFln1bF/s1600/IMG_7402.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Austin at The Hammer</span></div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-12964642863748171662014-07-11T02:02:00.002+08:002014-07-11T02:05:21.202+08:00Craft Beer Catching on in Taiwan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j8jVUSdB6ieop86L8AaXnRDJ8g_6HFkZPIFrKPCgvIpBWJbsKcxm5QPm6j9_Ntpcg2wVuXwb0cPmyFeYs2r0D_aaPLOsKYrKpBwUsY19oqmU2-hTK4p6CLVoJv6dr4miEn5qg8EGJX7p/s1600/10457172_529674320493867_2804099776014972067_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j8jVUSdB6ieop86L8AaXnRDJ8g_6HFkZPIFrKPCgvIpBWJbsKcxm5QPm6j9_Ntpcg2wVuXwb0cPmyFeYs2r0D_aaPLOsKYrKpBwUsY19oqmU2-hTK4p6CLVoJv6dr4miEn5qg8EGJX7p/s1600/10457172_529674320493867_2804099776014972067_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have our first Taiwan-based craft beer via the 23 Brewing Company at our The Hammer restaurant. It's called #1 Pale Ale. I mean to come back with a post about what we've been up to recently, and hopefully to more consistent blogging once the World Cup of soccer is over. It has been a bit of a hiatus I admit, and I admit missing contributing to Taiwan-related commentary. Talk to you soon. I have been trying to keep up at Facebook; I haven't stayed on top of things in the past year: <a href="http://goo.gl/MCSwaA" style="background-color: #ffffd3; border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1">goo.gl/MCSwaA</a></div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-8923385148970616472014-03-31T05:53:00.001+08:002014-03-31T17:36:47.916+08:00Chinese Spare Ribs<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oSL5P0tnv80" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There has been response to my wife's recent FB post: "Self defense is the natural reaction to protect yourself if someone attack or intimidate you. I think that is the right way to fight back and face the problems, not just let it go or swallow the the bully. I am glad you guys, truly friends, around me and to count on with. There is no word to express how grateful and thankful to what you guys did today. The bravery and justice is really touching e when I saw through my eyes..."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, for starters, she actually has FB friends who are attacking her English. English isn't her first language. Those that are attacking live in Taiwan and are native speakers of English. If they were to pony up in Chinese, my wife would not take the same tact. I know that. She would simply read the comments and try to add to the dialogue in a polite way, as she is a polite person. She would not mock them as they mock her.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am going to talk about what went down. A customer entered our restaurant last night. He had been drinking beer and spirits. He informed us that he wanted wine because he had gout, and couldn't take any more beer. A couple of bottles of vino later, he was on his way to Frankie's Pie Bar. Around twenty minutes later, he re-entered our fold. He was not a happy customer now. In fact, he was smashing down his fist on our bar and demanding justice from Frankie who, it seemed, had simply gotten tired of his tiresome behavior and given him the boot.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was too busy to really pay attention. I did talk to him about chilling, and said if he had a problem with another outfit, why not bring it up there. Then I went about my business. About ten minutes later, he was on his back on the floor, kicking his feet around. Why? Because he had tried to slap an off-duty cop and had had his ass handed to him.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't really have a problem with this individual. He showed up two times tonight to apologize. He is stressed I will ban him from our establishment, but that won't happen just yet. He's just on thin ice; his appearance today can't hurt him in solidifying his position. People can be evil when they drink; it is as simple as that. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our restaurant is for people to relax. Leave the other stuff at the door.</div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-38436908379204757952014-03-10T05:34:00.002+08:002014-03-10T05:40:11.494+08:00The Scubar Opens Shop in Fulong, Taiwan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyeChEynh083thfYVeDecuM7yH4lnJwizKhYvspjcWJE4Lk0j6qEmsHA7kjc72kkVWza4CQWSHe_sp-X3pnPrEalWof-AJD5N7FplDIJpOCTF2wkx3fBwKkR0-TN8HJMMmWAqtTxnJ69I/s1600/10006955_10152271291536011_309561006_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyeChEynh083thfYVeDecuM7yH4lnJwizKhYvspjcWJE4Lk0j6qEmsHA7kjc72kkVWza4CQWSHe_sp-X3pnPrEalWof-AJD5N7FplDIJpOCTF2wkx3fBwKkR0-TN8HJMMmWAqtTxnJ69I/s1600/10006955_10152271291536011_309561006_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My friend Nigel is opening a restaurant / scuba diving shop in Fulong (<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">福隆) </span>this coming weekend. Festivities will get under way at noon, March 15. There is more information at his Facebook page: <a href="http://goo.gl/Yp5x0S">http://goo.gl/Yp5x0S</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Besides being an obviously creative chef and qualified dive instructor, Nigel is also an engaging fellow. He has many stories to tell about his travels and is never short on anecdotes or advice.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have written about Fulong before because I see it as one of the best beaches in Taiwan: <a href="http://goo.gl/awZ3nJ">http://goo.gl/awZ3nJ</a>. The Scubar should only add to its charm.</div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-24552428116962189672014-03-08T15:28:00.004+08:002014-03-09T14:47:52.169+08:00Money Laundering in Taiwan<div style="text-align: justify;">
I plan to get back to blogging soon. At the moment, I am interested in cotton imports through Tamsui, Taiwan in the late 1870s and early 1880s. This is what the British Consul, Mr. T. Watters, writes on March 6, 1882: "Of the foreign imports, it is mainly in cotton goods and pig lead that there is an increase." Watters goes into detail later on, in the same report: "The Customs Returns do not distinguish between English and American cotton goods, and so it is not possible to write with confidence as to whether the import of British cotton goods has increased. Nor has any distinction of name made by the retailers and consumers. But I have been informed, on very good authority, that American cotton goods are fast becoming popular here, and that importation of them has grown quickly."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was looking into technological advances that might explain advantageous progress on the part of the American cotton industry during the late part of the nineteenth century. But then it occurred to me: wouldn't the Brits have had access to the same developments? There is an interesting discussion in the Report on Cotton Production in the United States, written by Eugene W. Hilgard, Ph.D., in the service of the US Census Office in 1881, on how the alluvial flood plains created by the Mississippi River, specifically how the river has provided both minerals and irrigation to the region over the years, make the eastern states of the Deep South ideal for cultivation. I will get back to this at a later time as there is a lot of reading to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKHd3ToLZuTKMaZ0t_K-jkztmggxhFQnJojoiSuqi7oi95xnSg2BJ-qxN7OGrt9rf7qRyxU3YCnHJRrqjWh4ezV7wLnBi_H97FPH2Gq9a3p0uO4IDr45gpSPyHYSy2OJraUpUZlI2Tp34/s1600/seized-cash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKHd3ToLZuTKMaZ0t_K-jkztmggxhFQnJojoiSuqi7oi95xnSg2BJ-qxN7OGrt9rf7qRyxU3YCnHJRrqjWh4ezV7wLnBi_H97FPH2Gq9a3p0uO4IDr45gpSPyHYSy2OJraUpUZlI2Tp34/s1600/seized-cash.jpg" height="411" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Something happened to me recently that was a bit of head-shaker. I have discussed it with a few friends and they don't know what to make of it either. It started at the First Bank of Taiwan, where I had arrived to conduct business. Like I have done countless times in the past, I filled out a wire transfer order at the international section so that I could pay my credit card in Canada. The clerk handling the transaction looked it over and asked me write down my address.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It is there," I said, pointing to my address in Wanhua.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"No. What I mean is your real address."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I assure you this is my real address. That is where I live," I said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What is your home address?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What are you talking about? That is my home address." This went around and around for a while. Then I realized what was going on. The bank clerk couldn't fathom that I actually lived in Taiwan. He thought I was a visitor instead, some kind of foreigner as he put it. So I told him: "No. That is my home address. That is where the bank in Canada sends my stuff. I simply do not have an address in Canada."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Could you give me the address of a relative then?" Why would I do that? Especially as that would be lying...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"You haven't been working long here, have you?" I asked, taking a different tack.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I have been working here for almost a year!" was the indignant reply.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"OK then. Send it as is or let me talk to someone who knows what is going on."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A couple of days later, I get this call from First Bank. It's the same guy. He starts off by quoting me some non-specific laws on money laundering. Never mind that I have only sent $500 Cdn. Never mind that I put my name on the wire as recipient and also stated it was for a credit card payment. Never mind Canada is one the most regulated countries in the world. Never mind that there is a paper trail. Never mind that it is 500 freakin' dollars! "Don't you think this is absurd?" I finally asked, "especially when you consider the amount? Who on earth would launder $500 Cdn. to themselves, paying around $25 to do so?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I did think it was absurd when I looked up the rule. Now your bank refuses to accept the money."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bullshit. I called my bank in Canada and they had no idea about the case. They hadn't refused the money because they hadn't received it. And yes, they agreed it would absurd to consider this money laundering.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the topic of money laundering in Taiwan, I have wondered about the following: when I arrived in Taiwan, people often favored jewelry stores over banks for exchanging money. Some said the rates were favorable. Some did this because they didn't have a work ARC in Taiwan. Why did the jewelry stores have large amounts of foreign cash? Where did it come from?</div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-50233533580654771582014-01-29T03:17:00.002+08:002014-01-29T03:17:42.938+08:00Once I Pass'd Through a Populous City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoXsCijJcygCPaB8TLoyh5Z1kJK9LjzKrnXtHsE7no_L-gbRNHhZKBEEGB-T7L3esk77utORxP49oXgFj3Fp_ZNepXSVKVNOWF8LsojmZddG0eoHsdOcB_9eZTGgBNKJANlbWntLgmaRs/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoXsCijJcygCPaB8TLoyh5Z1kJK9LjzKrnXtHsE7no_L-gbRNHhZKBEEGB-T7L3esk77utORxP49oXgFj3Fp_ZNepXSVKVNOWF8LsojmZddG0eoHsdOcB_9eZTGgBNKJANlbWntLgmaRs/s1600/imgres.jpg" height="400" width="299" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Walt Whitman (1819 to 1892) included this poem in <i>Leaves of Grass</i>, which he was still editing on his deathbed:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left">ONCE I pass’d through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architecture, customs, and traditions;</td><td align="right" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Yet now, of all that city, I remember only a woman I casually met there, who detain’d me for love of me;</td><td align="right" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Day by day and night by night we were together,—All else has long been forgotten by me;</td><td align="right" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">I remember, I say, only that woman who passionately clung to me;</td><td align="right" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Again we wander—we love—we separate again;</td><td align="right" valign="top"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5353489745782837825" name="5"><i> 5</i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">Again she holds me by the hand—I must not go!</td><td align="right" valign="top"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left">I see her close beside me, with silent lips, sad and tremulous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-3181830638350820642013-09-19T23:28:00.001+08:002013-09-19T23:52:24.496+08:00Restaurant Atop Incinerator <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX4o0sZ9EsTOqeHAMp4eyGX1HlrNNXPa8ZGt1twJ40HNmnGOffusKUNBw1ziZQZvxKBTBaEuSPtOd8i4FKQm8OYeizaWzG3r8HAhAE58KTGwyK0AkhyycD8Rn_-K3abeuFCJJYNyikwLM/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX4o0sZ9EsTOqeHAMp4eyGX1HlrNNXPa8ZGt1twJ40HNmnGOffusKUNBw1ziZQZvxKBTBaEuSPtOd8i4FKQm8OYeizaWzG3r8HAhAE58KTGwyK0AkhyycD8Rn_-K3abeuFCJJYNyikwLM/s640/IMG_5811.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I had meant to have a meal in Beitou's (北投的) Star-plucking Restaurant for ages. The Star-plucking Restaurant, which opened thirteen years ago, appealed to me for a couple of reasons. First off, the view of Taipei promised magnificence. Nestled 120 meters in the sky, amongst the stars, the restaurant is based on a revolving concept. The Star-plucker does a complete revolution every ninety minutes. It is also built atop a garbage incinerator, which is amusing. Last Monday, my wife, daughter and self decided to give the place a try. We weren't disappointed. Although the food was on the pricey side, we figured it was tasty and we didn't leave feeling hungry. My wife had the chicken. I opted for sliced pork and pickles.</div>
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The best way to go is either by vehicle or MRT. If you do the latter, get off at Qilian Station out Beitou (北投) way and walk west for about fifteen minutes. That simply entails turning left and going straight. As the restaurant sits up in the sky, it's an easy point to gauge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3uL2NSSdfe7q6wURZiO9_WNocujTzLo5vF5xjweJDeekzSg0iC2ZW19zliG6BbpTumN4PBIqW0-ExxwaFsqHiv3HH3Cv8YrR7tYqPl90YrndqKWVm-IDwKPy93VpJQeArUAHjsOi2m8K/s1600/IMG_5806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3uL2NSSdfe7q6wURZiO9_WNocujTzLo5vF5xjweJDeekzSg0iC2ZW19zliG6BbpTumN4PBIqW0-ExxwaFsqHiv3HH3Cv8YrR7tYqPl90YrndqKWVm-IDwKPy93VpJQeArUAHjsOi2m8K/s640/IMG_5806.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I took this photo from the Star-plucking Restaurant after lunch. The nearer river is the Keelung whilst the one a little further off is the Tamsui. They will merge in about 100 meters, to flow out into the Taiwan Strait. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lrgTB20YtUJnySm0CLdCjxthgeMsFMvLSMGMeywf8P8QKSqp6zldA-YiK_TFgJ3CKibbDNvBvTjHSotzUk1_IRgSs2zzllH1AM2zOB16yImlyrAQUf_YTt5cz7trZkqJJRKOKL_iami/s1600/IMG_5830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lrgTB20YtUJnySm0CLdCjxthgeMsFMvLSMGMeywf8P8QKSqp6zldA-YiK_TFgJ3CKibbDNvBvTjHSotzUk1_IRgSs2zzllH1AM2zOB16yImlyrAQUf_YTt5cz7trZkqJJRKOKL_iami/s640/IMG_5830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's a nice river walk behind the incinerator. It winds around for a while before letting out on a broken down and weedy path. You will have to talk to the locals to figure it out from this point on; or, you can simply walk back to the incinerator.<br />
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This was the gate to a private plantation. Not a lot in terms of cultivation going on inside, but it was still nice and green. The route is scenic to say the least.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-43558685156905632332013-09-08T10:21:00.001+08:002013-09-08T10:32:11.089+08:00White Sky Shaved Ice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dJmaBHCdGVEzgKzzNTP1dbJbvxGvZbsczqbZfWHl_MS5qqbClMKojGjgnVavhgAmecWXSABkAxveIweqCso3jpKqJmXfn73Ic8m1O1gbk6vM46P_Y8CKcuRcCFfUmFiAS2Svdo6FSoQR/s1600/1273449_564979466872955_1425763074_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dJmaBHCdGVEzgKzzNTP1dbJbvxGvZbsczqbZfWHl_MS5qqbClMKojGjgnVavhgAmecWXSABkAxveIweqCso3jpKqJmXfn73Ic8m1O1gbk6vM46P_Y8CKcuRcCFfUmFiAS2Svdo6FSoQR/s640/1273449_564979466872955_1425763074_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This picture has been circulating through social media today thanks to Formosa Vintage Museum Cafe. I want to post it on my blog as it was taken in a corner of Wanhua (萬華). The picture dates to 1960, so if the seller is still around, he's in his early sixties. He's selling beef jerky (that's what he's holding), Snow White Bubble Gum and some kind of product with a maple leaf (next to the Snow White).</div>
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In the background, the signage moving from the left is 天白菓冰 (White Sky Shaved Ice) or 先白菓冰 (Mr. Shaved Ice), a popular summertime dessert here in Taiwan. I am not sure because the first character is slightly cut and either name would have been catchy. Next up is a shoe store followed by a tailor. Two signs in English. Hmm. The horizontal sign on the right is more difficult; I need to think about it or ask someone. It seems a service is being provided.</div>
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I googled Snow White Bubble Gum and came up with this: <a href="http://goo.gl/tHWvPb">http://goo.gl/tHWvPb </a>. I haven't seen Snow White Bubble Gum, which was "healthful" and "delicious," before. I wonder if the company that produced this treat is still in business. If they are, they probably heard from Disney's lawyers years ago.</div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-1507117057407688032013-09-06T02:08:00.003+08:002013-09-06T03:36:34.493+08:00One China Policy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1nFEfA4kjlQd_x17uMpNynE_SDhEsnjf-zCylgI0Jc3EbvN3NuFlI8WJVanzBlfM7609rxGIT0VjoAIfQql0_Nc7HJpqm8pH7fndYQS3vUdRC-o3QgimRyKxXN1tVxmSWiBEbIb7kdQ5/s1600/Imageletter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1nFEfA4kjlQd_x17uMpNynE_SDhEsnjf-zCylgI0Jc3EbvN3NuFlI8WJVanzBlfM7609rxGIT0VjoAIfQql0_Nc7HJpqm8pH7fndYQS3vUdRC-o3QgimRyKxXN1tVxmSWiBEbIb7kdQ5/s640/Imageletter.png" width="528" /></a></div>
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My friend eyedoc, who runs a blog on Taiwan history and culture among other things, <a href="http://danshuihistory.blogspot.tw/">http://danshuihistory.blogspot.tw/</a>, sent me this letter, which was u<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">sed by then Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">陳水扁)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> and his lawyers as the basis for KMT illegitimacy as far as governing Taiwan after 1945.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">The letter outlining the United States' commitment to this country does not speak for me, an American, especially when it comes to the one China policy because I think the one China policy would speak to and regard China, but I see it as somehow meant to encapsulate Taiwan. </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><!--
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-12220559822857195602013-08-26T23:01:00.001+08:002013-08-27T00:25:25.069+08:00Taxi Talk<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/9600335396/" title="Taxi"><img alt="Taxi by Patrick Cowsill" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3697/9600335396_c55b43b010.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/9600335396/">Taxi</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/">Patrick Cowsill</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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I took the above taxi yesterday. I asked the driver about the two American flags sticking out the back. He asked me if I knew about San Francisco. "Sure," I said. "I've been there many times."</div>
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"No, San Francisco 1952? The Treaty of San Francisco?"</div>
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The Treaty of San Francisco clarified that Japan did not have any claim over Taiwan after the Second World War. Chapter II, Article 2, (b) states the following: "Japan renounces all right, title and claim to Formosa and the Pescadores." This a bit redundant, especially since Japan agreed to give up all claims in the summer of 1945 when she agreed to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration in order to unconditionally surrender.</div>
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According to the taxi driver, Taiwan still belongs to the U.S. He asked me how I felt about that. "I'm not really into having colonies. And how does this serve Taiwan?" I asked. "If it is how you say, wouldn't it be better just to give Taiwan back to Taiwan?"</div>
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"You can't give Taiwan back to Taiwan because China will steal it every time," was the reply.</div>
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I'm looking at Potsdam right now. The terms state Japan would return to its pre-1895 status; it doesn't make mention of Taiwan returning to China. Why would it? The China of 1945 was a much different thing than the China of 1895. Plus, China signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki to get rid of Taiwan. In other words, China didn't want Taiwan.</div>
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I can't find anything in the San Francisco Treaty that says the Republic of China can set up here (I admit I should read it more closely). The Republic of China wasn't even invited to San Francisco to attend.</div>
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There is something in the Potsdam Declaration that could possibly validate China's presence: "the occupation of points of Japanese territory to designated to the Allies." Formosa isn't mentioned by name.<br />
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I can't help but to think of recent news in regard to the "occupation" word. The KMT government has set about to revise "history" textbooks once again. The plan is to call the Japanese colonial era an occupation and then have it taught to our kids, even though Japan signed a treaty in 1895 to receive and govern Taiwan. The revisers are not calling the KMT arrival an "occupation of points of Japanese territory," etc. They don't seem to think it's an occupation at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQvKxUHF2d5MGIB03kCiXOaA6Rrk3VPG4whe672Xw6Z6eLh2hsVMzQj_7QQ5p3g_qcuAJ90A-GTepR7JrhEI_eS9BMtKywxXjSMLeyWDoqQOCEjodfBT2mxK3ZXui9Gj8G3mtofULE_Fb/s1600/IMG_5782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQvKxUHF2d5MGIB03kCiXOaA6Rrk3VPG4whe672Xw6Z6eLh2hsVMzQj_7QQ5p3g_qcuAJ90A-GTepR7JrhEI_eS9BMtKywxXjSMLeyWDoqQOCEjodfBT2mxK3ZXui9Gj8G3mtofULE_Fb/s400/IMG_5782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Business card </i></div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-2481404881712996902013-07-29T11:31:00.001+08:002013-07-29T11:43:40.257+08:00Jinguashi Restaurant<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/9181467462/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled by Patrick Cowsill" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9181467462_9617cd47ec.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/9181467462/">Untitled</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_cowsill/">Patrick Cowsill</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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I took this shot the last time I was in Jinguashi (金瓜石). The restaurant, which serves taro soup and ribbon fish, is above the POW Memorial. I wanted to put up a link to their website, but then realized I don't even know the restaurant's name. If anyone knows, please do tell. </div>
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src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></div>Patrick Cowsillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12904899672214340947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353489745782837825.post-30712170087945156762013-03-21T11:17:00.001+08:002013-04-03T04:32:09.853+08:00Poor Boys and Pilgrims: Paul Simon Visits Taipei<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMcurf4auECIzu9GbxgRU6fh-R9T9bS5kWhM3VAUw_gFr04LgfWtbnb9i8SeWIwQxkC3BF60J0ECtU1RcKZPyhjyQCtZxB6zBDlBStAczB8Zt03KaufqgtK_gV0WigFr6mSC9FFBtMeZr/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMcurf4auECIzu9GbxgRU6fh-R9T9bS5kWhM3VAUw_gFr04LgfWtbnb9i8SeWIwQxkC3BF60J0ECtU1RcKZPyhjyQCtZxB6zBDlBStAczB8Zt03KaufqgtK_gV0WigFr6mSC9FFBtMeZr/s640/IMG_4747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My friends are cynical about seeing the monuments of rock and pop in concert, and so am I. Usually the sound in the venues is awful, so you can't hear much of anything. Then there's the costly ticket prices (I paid NT$3800 to get in), short performances and having to sit through a bunch of new stuff that doesn't resonate. Still, when Paul Simon rolled into Taipei, I wanted to see him, to be in the presence of a singer that I've been listening to ever since I can remember and who has influenced me with his lyrics and melodies. This is some of what he played tonight; there were four or five songs I didn't recognize:</div>
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<i>Boy in the Bubble</i><br />
<i>That Was Your Mother</i><br />
<i>Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover</i><br />
<i>Mother and Child Reunion</i><br />
<i>You Can Call Me Al</i><br />
<i>Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes</i><br />
<i>Slip Sliding Away</i><br />
<i>Kodachrome</i><br />
<i>Me and Julio</i><br />
<i>Obvious Child</i><br />
<i>I Would not Give You False Hope</i><br />
<i>Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)</i><br />
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He also played five Simon and Garfunkel songs:<br />
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<i>Cecelia</i><br />
<i>The Only Boy in New York</i><br />
<i>Sounds of Silence (just Paul on the acoustic guitar)</i><br />
<i>Homeward Bound</i><br />
<i>The Boxer</i><br />
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In all, it was a good concert. Nobody was leaving for the doors. The sound was fine. His band (all eight of them) were top notch too. I just kept thinking, this dude is 72! According to Simon, this was his first visit to Taiwan. He did the mandatory "thank you" in Chinese and several encore songs before leaving.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>The Only Living Boy in New York</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> was the first Simon and Garfunkel song, or "S and G stuff" as Simon referred to them, played. I'd listened to it the day before with a bunch of other stuff to get in the mood. When I heard this one, ironically, I thought he'd never play that one.</span></div>
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