tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181361262024-03-14T04:13:51.844-04:00Xiao Pangzi<i>noun</i> "Little Fatties" in Mandarin.<br>
A popular term for the increasing number of obese children in China.<br>
''Whatever he wants, we give it to him. We don't care if it is good or bad, we just feed him whatever he wants. He spends most of his time in front of the TV, playing video games and watching cartoons.''<br>
- <i>Parent of a xiao pangzi, New York Times</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-46723090857859229222021-07-09T13:24:00.005-04:002021-07-09T13:31:33.525-04:00Return of the blogger<p>It occurred to me that I missed writing and then I remembered that I had a blog, whose name I couldn't even remember. I had to go searching through comment notifications in my Inbox to point me to my blog URL. Now, here I am, writing a post exactly 10 years since my last post! What are the chances?! </p><p>No one reads blogs anymore so this will probably be like screaming into the void. Party for one! Time to play a song to celebrate. This song reminds me of my friend, Gerrenne, because she hated it. Be careful what you tell your so-called friends. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uB1D9wWxd2w" width="320" youtube-src-id="uB1D9wWxd2w"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-29581913275076040492011-07-09T07:52:00.002-04:002011-07-09T08:07:23.577-04:00Attention span further shortenedWhen I think of my blog, I feel guilty, because if Xiao Pangzi were a child, or kitten, or even a house plant, I would have been charged with failing to provide the necessities of life. <div><br /></div><div>I think it is safe to say that I have abandoned Xiao Pangzi, even as I have picked up a new follower (hello to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/manage-followers.g?blogID=18136126">stickthatinyourjuicebox</a>!). </div><div><br /></div><div>Just as my failure to become fluent in Cantonese compelled me to become equally incompetent in French, I have decided to camouflage this social media atrophy with a Twitter account: <a href="http://twitter.com//xiao_pangzi">twitter.com/xiao_pangzi</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I invite you to follow along, and if that fails, too, I'll try something more groundbreaking (ie homing pigeon, dinner conversation, etc).</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-57638924867944466082011-05-19T13:43:00.013-04:002011-05-19T23:56:05.471-04:00Latest obsession: BIXI TorontoAs a bike owner who lives about seven kilometers from Yonge and Dundas, there does not appear to be a reason for me to buy a <a href="https://toronto.bixi.com/">BIXI Toronto</a> membership. Why pay to use a communal bike in a service area of 2 km by 4 km in the downtown core when I can use my own bike at will? Luckily, I won a BIXI membership, so I had nothing to lose and everything to gain when I received my key fob shortly after the BIXI Toronto launch on May 3.<br /><br />Since adding the BIXI fob to my key chain, the bike share program has crept into my daily life with ease. While walking to the Eaton Centre, I came across a BIXI station, and it suddenly occurred to me that there was one at Yonge and Dundas, too. So, I hopped on a BIXI bike and the commute to my destination became shorter and more enjoyable than I had anticipated. <div><br /></div><div>Another day, two friends and I were going out to dinner; two of us had bikes, one of us did not. Normally, our choices would have been to walk our bikes, or bike ahead, leaving our friend to catch up on foot or by streetcar. A BIXI station at our starting point, and another right across the street from the restaurant meant that my bikeless friend could ride with us, and not have to worry about locking up the bike once we reached our destination.<br /><br />A BIXI membership has brought me a level of convenience that I never dreamed of. However, the system is not without aggravation. More than once, I have wandered frantically with my Bixi bike in tow, searching for a station to park it with limited time. The paper map that came with my key fob lead me to a non-existent station once, and the smartphone application has failed to give me the exact location of stations.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The BIXI bikes are heavy as tanks. This makes the bikes durable, but it also makes me look slow and clumsy; with the slightest tilt, the bike succumbs to gravity. Using the "speedy" third gear, I frequently cringe at the annoyance of the cyclists who pass me. On the plus side, I do not fear riding a BIXI bike without a helmet, because the low speed and ramrod straight posture I assume while riding equal safety and vigilance.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>At first, I had my doubts about bringing a bike share system to Toronto. Having seen them in action in Montreal and Paris, I did not think Toronto citizens or infrastructure would support it. Yet, as an unexpected BIXI member, I can vouch for its convenience and practicality, and hope for its rapid expansion.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-79107567276468648012011-04-06T13:31:00.004-04:002011-04-06T13:52:01.140-04:00Welcome to the lair, part 2I have been a terrible blogger of late, and yet, I have managed to gain two more followers. Adhering to <a href="http://xiao-pangzi.blogspot.com/2010/02/welcome-to-lair.html">the promise of a welcome wagon</a>, I salute <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12982991180027958705">Marlene</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/manage-followers.g?blogID=18136126">dilo3xpp</a>. <br /><br />Marlene is Brazilian, and enjoys Portuguese poetry. dilo3xpp appears to be into photography, electronic scraps, and Apple computers. I won't hold that last one against her. <br /><br />It will be hard to cater to your interests, Marlene and dilo3xpp, especially since I have been such a lazy blogger. Poor NeroFiddled has not had his love of beer satisfied while following Xiao Pangzi.<br /><br />I'm going to hope that you have a burgeoning interest in Toronto, and my latest obsession, biking in Toronto. I also watch a lot of TV and movies, and like to complain about public transit in Toronto.<br /><br />If you have any requests, I welcome them. More blogging in the near future...hopefully.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-20113796947404106232011-02-11T13:05:00.004-05:002011-02-11T13:38:25.845-05:00You're dead to me, Robin Hobb<a href="http://xiao-pangzi.blogspot.com/2009/06/latest-obsession-tawny-man-series.html">Previously</a>, I relayed my obsession with some of Robin Hobb's earlier books. In spite of my searing disappointment with the ending of Hobb's <span style="font-style: italic;">Tawny Man Trilogy</span>, I decided to give her <span style="font-style: italic;">Soldier Son Trilogy</span> a try.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shaman's Crossing</span> - Book 1 of <span style="font-style: italic;">Soldier Son Trilogy</span><br />Reminiscent of <span style="font-style: italic;">Assassin's Apprentice</span>, this is a beginnings book. We are introduced to Nevare Burvelle, who is also the narrator. Unfortunately, Nevare is stupidly obedient and dull, to boot. He stoically endures abuse from humans and supernatural forces, then manages to see the end of a series of painful trials due to dumb luck. The book ends with Nevare happily ensconced in the status quo, dreaming of marriage to a boring girl.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Forest Mage</span> - Book 2 of <span style="font-style: italic;">Soldier Son Trilogy</span><br />Whereas Book 1 was dull and painful in turns, <span style="font-style: italic;">Forest Mage</span> is like militant fat camp propaganda. Nevare spends the entire book being called a fatty and trying to prove that he has no control over his obesity. He bungles his way into being accused of murdering a prostitute and necrophilia, which the mob is eager to believe, because he is fat. Nevare is supposed to be a forest mage, but he really only commands his power in the climactic final scene, before severing ties with his few loyal friends. What a loser.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Renegade's Magic</span> - Book 3 of <span style="font-style: italic;">Soldier Son Trilogy</span><br />Unread.<br /><br />Joe has been reading Hobb's latest, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rain Wild Chronicles</span>, and he says that there is a lot of whining in that one, too.<br /><br />Robin Hobb, you had a good thing going with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Farseer Trilogy</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Tawny Man Trilogy</span>, but you appeared to be in such a hurry to finish the latter that you tacked on a false happy ending and made me want to cry. Now, you spend your time and energy writing about long suffering, boring protagonists who can't seem to get out of trouble except by the mercy of dumb luck.<br /><br />Until you choose the rewrite the ending of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Tawny Man Trilogy</span>, I will not be reading your books, any more.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-50545959315401393972011-02-11T09:32:00.008-05:002011-02-11T10:33:14.934-05:00Friday Night Play List: hot docsDuring my time away from Xiao Pangzi, not only did I watch a lot of TV, but I also viewed numerous documentaries on Netflix, because their movie selection leaves much to be desired. I can recommend two that continue to prey on my mind.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Zachary</span> (2008)<br />I won't include a hyperlink to the film's website, because it is best viewed without much prior knowledge. The documentary starts out as an ode to the filmmaker's late friend, Bagby, and a cinematic portrait for Zachary, the baby boy who will never know his father. Matters are complicated when the baby's mother is charged in the brutal murder of Bagby. The story takes dramatic turns that are shocking and heart wrenching, yet the most astonishing outcome is a testament to the power of love.<br /><br /><a href="http://cropseylegend.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cropsey</span></a> (2009)<br />An investigation into a classic Staten Island urban legend that challenges the notion of monsters and community responsibility in their creation. A truly creepy film that only grows more frightening as the truth behind the fables become open to debate.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-7016988885074861032011-02-04T12:38:00.004-05:002011-02-04T22:45:37.724-05:00I like to watchI'm back, and let me apologize in advance for the rusty prose to follow. For the past four months, I have been obsessed with <a href="http://thinspirationxxl.blogspot.com/">weight loss</a> and television. But, enough about my back fat. Here's <span style="font-style: italic;">some of</span> what I've watched since October:<ul><li><a href="http://www.topgear.com/uk/">"Top Gear"</a> - Who could have predicted that I would love a car show? I've never even owned a car. Yet, the tomfoolery of hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have made me very, very happy. I still chuckle when I reminisce about Jeremy and Richard propping up James's crippled baby grand with a stack of porno magazines, right before James unknowingly backs a truck onto his precious piano. I can't recommend this show enough, even with the <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/article/asset/793646">current anti-Mexican controversy</a>.</li><li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/beinghuman/">"Being Human"</a> - I was prompted to watch the original BBC show, currently in its third season, after the American series premiere ended on a cliffhanger. Whereas the American version has felt forced, the UK series has been easy to watch, with great actors and a more charming approach to the exact same storyline as the US show. It just proves the adage that the difference is in the details.</li><li><a href="http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/">"Mad Men"</a> - After absorbing the hype for years, we finally gave in, and now, I know why busty women are back in vogue and everyone thinks Jon Hamm is hot. The complexity of the characters, and their varying moods and intentions, are what make the show so fascinating. The most recent fourth season was a gamble, and has cooled my enthusiasm for the show. Still, the first three seasons were very watchable.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cape_%282011_TV_series%29">"The Cape"</a> - The production values are high, and the actors are decent (Summer Glau is working again!), but the show is hindered by a formulaic storyline, and the survival of the hero's family. While the hero is pining for his living wife and son, he is not inflicting violent vengeance, struggling with his morals, nor developing sexual tension with Summer Glau. The jerky circus midget character should get his own show. Such a waste of a good production budget.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damages_%28TV_series%29">"Damages"</a> - This was the drama series that I felt the most ambivalent towards, despite tearing through the first season. Glenn Close's character veers too much into pure villainy, and it is hard to sympathize with a character as naive and bland as Rose Byrne's ingenue lawyer. The first season's dramatic plot twists kept me going, but the second season has failed to latch onto me, despite the hardening of Byrne's character, accompanied by a much improved wardrobe.</li></ul><div>I've just started watching <a href="http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus">"Spartacus: Gods of the Arena"</a>, a mini-series created while Season 1 lead, Andy Whitfield was being treated for cancer. Since then, Whitfield has had to withdraw from the show to focus on his health, and I must admit that "Gods of the Arena" is missing a spark without him. All the sex and violence are present, but without a sad gladiator with tiny, leather shorts to anchor them. I can only hope that when Season 2 returns with Whitfield's replacement, the magic will return.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-71758157202117144592010-10-12T21:42:00.024-04:002010-10-12T23:44:08.433-04:00Steven Page: still self-destructing?After watching the <a href="http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFive/20101007/w5-steven-page-101008/">exclusive </a><i><a href="http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFive/20101007/w5-steven-page-101008/">W5 </a></i><a href="http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFive/20101007/w5-steven-page-101008/">interview</a> with Steven Page, I came away with a hatred of Paula Todd's interviewing style and a hunch that Steven Page is suffering from a mid-life crisis and possibly a drug addiction.<div><br /></div><div>The details of Page's personal life prior to the interview are sordid enough. The 40 year old father of three was caught with cocaine in the home of his 20-something year old girlfriend, Christine Benedicto. Post-arrest, Page posted bail for himself and his girlfriend's roommate, but not his girlfriend.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the <i>W5 </i>interview, Page gave an awkward denial of drug use, and appeared detached in his responses and performance. Page then admitted that the girlfriend he left his wife for was a Barenaked Ladies fan he met through MySpace. However, Page saved the best for his former band mates, spewing resentful vitriol while Todd played the enabler.</div><div><br /></div><div>Page complained that he felt left out as a songwriter of the Barenaked Ladies, though you could hardly tell by the number of Barenaked Ladies singles, penned by Page, that was played during the show. Page also revealed that he and bandmate, Ed Robertson, were not close friends, which Todd framed as a shocker. Page then whined that while he and Ed were a great song-writing team, it was no longer fun, thus losing the sympathy of anyone who works for a living.</div><div><br /></div><div>Steven Page is a talented musician, and he should have communicated through his music, especially when the persona that he conveys is such an unsavoury one.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-34866074679210826322010-10-03T11:42:00.009-04:002010-10-04T11:29:34.686-04:00Nuit Blanche 2010: from lackluster to alarmingI have been fortunate enough to attend every previous Toronto edition of Nuit Blanche, with the exception of the 2009 edition, which I participated in. In every year, there was a mix of excellent and mediocre work, though the majority of the projects veered towards excellent, and the excitement of art lovers was palatable.<div><br /></div><div>The 2010 edition of Nuit Blanche was disappointing for a number of reasons. Increasingly, the organizers and artists are strategizing against the lowest common denominator: loud and belligerent drunks with no real interest in art. The result is a lot of projection work that cannot be grabbed or broken, but frequently fails to capture the attention or imagination of attendees. </div><div><br /></div><div>And who wants to house rowdy drunks? Indoor project venues were lacking, and former event stalwarts like the Reference Library and the Eaton Centre were conspicuously absent. Attendees were left to perch on folding chairs, braving the cold as they attempted to concentrate on videos that required prolonged attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second in obnoxiousness only to the drunks were the corporate sponsors and vendors. Last year, roasted corn and free energy drinks blended in with a project that brought the carnival to Bay St. Organizers decided to make this carnie element a permanent fixture of the event. </div><div><br /></div><div>The lineups were as long as one would expect, and one work highlighted this phenomenon: <i>Wait Until You See This</i> by Lili Huston-Herterich and Brad Tinmouth. Normally, I am all for playing a joke on the audience, but it is cruel to make a fool of the very people who have invested their time in your work. The shamed attendees of Huston-Herterich and Tinmouth's work, were funneled by proximity to Chris Shepherd's <i>The Task</i>, where they found an outlet for their sour mood. Shepherd's exercise in futility was mocked by viewers who did not hesitate to speak at a volume that was audible to the artist. They also resorted to that most familiar of insulting refrains, "This is art?"</div><div><br /></div><div>My list of must-sees was admittedly short, but it included <i>Nuit Market Starring the Toronto Weston Flea Market</i> by Mammalian Diving Reflex. I was a big fan of their previous Nuit Blanche pieces, <i>Ballroom Dancing</i> (2006) and <i>Dancing with Teacher</i> (2007), which made great use of the frenetic atmosphere of Nuit Blanche. When I arrived on site at 1am, all that remained of <i>Nuit Market</i> was the sign. I can only guess that the out-of-control crowds from Yonge St. compelled the artists to pack up early, and as disappointed as I was, I could not blame them. It was at that point that I called it a night.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-5814292027592341672010-09-28T12:16:00.006-04:002010-09-28T12:54:59.548-04:00Tour de Greenbelt: tour de fun!When you're in love with someone, you try to spend as much time with them as possible. When the object of your love is a bike, you look for opportunities to go biking.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.tourdegreenbelt.ca/">Tour de Greenbelt</a> events combine two things that I enjoy: biking in a new setting and eating fresh, local food. We signed up for tours of the Niagara and Durham Region, and each proved to be fabulous in their own way.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tourdegreenbelt.ca/2010_tour_day1.html">Niagara Region</a><br />I suspect that this was the most popular of the tours, because the Niagara Region has a good reputation for scenery. The fact that the tour started and ended at Henry of Pelham did not hurt either. There were a few steep hills, but the terrain was relatively flat though a constant head wind prevented a leisurely ride. The popularity of the region meant that we were forced to bike single file to avoid cars. However, the serving of wine and setting of white table cloths for lunch amongst the vineyards gave the whole event a certain cachet.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tourdegreenbelt.ca/2010_tour_day4.html">Durham Region</a><br />The event did not start with promise as the weather was chilly, and dark clouds could be seen on the horizon. Riders were met with a massive hill at the beginning of the course then came to realize that it was a symptomatic of a region made of up rolling hills. Yet, we were all in agreement with fellow riders that hills are preferable to head wind, of which there was none. The roads were better maintained than those in Niagara and emptier, allowing us to ride side-by-side, and the leaves had started to change colour, providing pleasant distraction from the hill-climbing. Rest stops featured delicious baked goods (Annina's Bakeshop and Café) and a corn maze (Cooper's CSA Farm and Maze), which was more interactive than the Niagara rest stops.<br /><br />We are looking forward to next year's event, along with the <a href="http://tourdedufflet.blogspot.com/">Tour de Dufflet</a>, whose motto, "Eat more cake, ride more bike" are words to live by.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-42276954032917177272010-08-18T15:43:00.003-04:002010-08-18T15:56:42.342-04:00My cat, Rusty (Epilogue)Rusty's recent ailing health convinced me and the family that it was time to let him go. We contacted Millwood Mobile Veterinary Services, for a home euthanasia, and Dr. Behzad Farokhzad was dependable and courteous. <br /><br />We spent the early afternoon outside in the backyard with Rusty, allowing him the luxury of enjoying the outdoors and the sun. Even then, Rusty was obviously in a lot of discomfort and pain. The outdoors was ultimately where we chose to have the procedure done.<br /><br />I wrote a premature <a href="http://xiao-pangzi.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-cat-rusty.html">obituary for Rusty</a> late last year, so I won't repeat myself here. He was not a nice cat, but he was very easy to love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-27659483338890425102010-08-12T22:32:00.024-04:002010-09-28T12:48:30.318-04:00To basket or not to basket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIKO_aK07IpLSShrxaLsHbLdeLmVOfTXR18nRGfkXhK2kVxmxqdk2FTZ-o36tfUPjBSw5JbnbzNMSziAl5H_jJ_gfJtmzKEMbDdLIPd8OLCkhIsilYWGZALll6hyphenhyphenjyH-bY83F/s1600/trek-soho-s-2010-city-bike.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIKO_aK07IpLSShrxaLsHbLdeLmVOfTXR18nRGfkXhK2kVxmxqdk2FTZ-o36tfUPjBSw5JbnbzNMSziAl5H_jJ_gfJtmzKEMbDdLIPd8OLCkhIsilYWGZALll6hyphenhyphenjyH-bY83F/s320/trek-soho-s-2010-city-bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504736349431022530" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I recently acquired the Trek Soho S (seen above) in spite of the fact that I already own a Trek hybrid. My nine year old Trek 7200's 15" frame and seat post shocks allow me to sit ramrod straight and float over most pot holes, thus creating an experience comparable to riding an easy chair. With the addition of a pannier and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Basil-Memories-Bottle-Basket-Pastel/dp/B0037N33LU">bottle basket</a>, the easy chair has become a minivan.</div><div><br /></div><div>In spite of its comfortable and practical ride, I was frequently frustrated by my 7200's unreliable gears and groaned under its weight when I had to lift it. Last month, my wandering eye caught sight of the Soho S - a single gear, aluminum frame little temptress. When the Soho S went on sale at <a href="http://www.sweetpetes.com/">Sweet Pete's</a>, I bought the cheapened little vixen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since purchasing the Soho S, I have been riding it almost exclusively. I enjoy how sleek and responsive it is. If the 7200 rides like an easy chair then riding the Trek Soho S is like being carried by a ninja.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, ninjas have no use for a heavy bike lock nor ladies purses. When the purse is too small to accommodate the massive bike lock, the lock ends up rattling on the handlebars. And if a pleasant surprise pops up in the form of a gift or a retail purchase, the Trek Soho S carries it awkwardly, much like a ninja would.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, now, I look longingly at baskets, specifically, a <a href="http://www.nantucketbikebaskets.com/index.php/Lightship-Collection/Lightship-Collection-classic/tapered-dark-stain/flypage.tpl.html">woven rattan one</a>. I picture putting my bike lock in it or my purse or even a new retail purchase, and my mind is put at ease.</div><div><br /></div><div>But wait! What of aesthetics? Will such a sleek bike suffer a basket modeled after ones used in the 1800s? I am torn.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-35001700782204489932010-08-01T07:11:00.021-04:002010-08-01T08:44:55.127-04:00My grandmother<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJm-trN_LF5uBWhjpF535MZAkByOS4rxV6SJEBhydYHDjXuWbDQhnn1mCj_jeRFursiG1dPfO1WDDynqNJdePH9T4FesqRxZvOFA_lqdpikPauM7Y-ZmuAw6mr642rWTs_QKy/s1600/Grandma.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJm-trN_LF5uBWhjpF535MZAkByOS4rxV6SJEBhydYHDjXuWbDQhnn1mCj_jeRFursiG1dPfO1WDDynqNJdePH9T4FesqRxZvOFA_lqdpikPauM7Y-ZmuAw6mr642rWTs_QKy/s320/Grandma.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500399977666883970" /></a><div>I got the news while checking my voice mail in one of those lifestyle stores. The message from my mother left no room for misinterpretation: "Your grandmother has died." My grandmother popped up in my mind then disappeared. My consciousness expanded to the clothing racks around me, the warehouse conversion, the neighbourhood then rewrote my entire world, a new world without my grandmother's presence.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am embarrassed to admit that the tears I cry are for myself and not for my grandmother. In the last few years, she has suffered the loss of her once robust health. Hooked up to a dialysis machine twice a day, depending on a cane or walker, experiencing pain in her hands and feet, and repeat emergency visits to the hospital had robbed her of the independence that she valued.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, she was a credit to her generation, the one that survived bombings from the Japanese with young children in tow. She never complained when her world became confined to the four walls of her apartment, the fourth wall made up of boxes of dialysis supplies. Her mind remained curious and her tongue sharp. She laughed at her troubles with exasperation.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, you see, I cry because I will miss her. The woman who used to ram me into the wall in order to win a foot race to her apartment is long gone, but other losses are more keenly felt. The sight of her curly white head in the back passenger seat of my parents' car, which preceded the playfully sarcastic greeting, "How kind of you to have lunch with me!" to which I would always respond, "That's the kind of person I am." Our shared fascination with how fat my cousin, her granddaughter, had become. "Your cousin, she doesn't like to move but she likes to eat," was her blunt assessment. Her ability to speak to anyone in the limited English that she had learned in her 60s, though she chose to mock my husband in her fluent Cantonese, "You have no idea what I'm saying, do you? I could insult you and you wouldn't even know" to which my husband would nod agreeably. She gave the impression that old age was something to look forward to because you could get away with so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will cry a bit more, especially during the funeral, then I will carry on because it will honour my grandmother's lifelong resilience. My grandmother was rather unsentimental about death, announcing the passing of a friend or relative with her singular use of the English word 'ended'. In that vein, I end my public display of grief here.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeuk Lan Chiang</div><div style="text-align: center;">1919-2010</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-9407833132028684162010-07-16T10:19:00.017-04:002010-07-17T00:09:22.648-04:00Friday Night Play List: "Burn Notice"So far, this summer, when I am not <a href="http://thinspirationxxl.blogspot.com/">occupied with food</a> or writing fiction, I have been catching up to the current season of <a href="http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/">"Burn Notice"</a>, an excellent show on the USA network.<br /><br />It is hard to understand why a smart series like "Burn Notice" has failed to gain the attention that dumber shows like "The Mentalist" are thriving on. The only explanation that I can think of is that it is a cable-based program without the budget for flashy production or promotion.<br /><br />The title refers to the firing of Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), an American spy. Left in limbo in Miami without funds or resources, Michael survives on odd jobs helping ordinary people in over their heads, while attempting to return to Government duty (Note that I am in the middle of Season 2 so Michael may already have discovered the reasons behind his firing in the current fourth season).<br /><br />Michael's practical approach to mayhem is one of the appeals of the show. Like MacGyver, Michael needs only a screw driver and a paper clip to take on armed thugs. Throughout the show, his calm voice-over schools viewers in the efficient art of covert ops. In spite of his wits and physical prowess, Michael is handicapped by personal baggage that makes him more of a weirdo than a slick operative. When confronted by overt emotions, Michael becomes hilariously robotic.<br /><br />Michael's oddness is only amplified by the company he keeps. Helping Michael out are Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell!), a former Navy Seal, now a gigolo surviving on the kindness of women, and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), an ex-girlfriend and former member of the Irish Republican Army who functions like she is still in a war zone.<br /><br />A note to nerds: if the presence of Bruce Campbell on the cast does not win you over, know that the show has featured guest appearances by two cylons: Lucy Lawless and Tricia Helfer.<br /><br />In Canada, "Burn Notice" is playing on the Super Channel (whatever that is) or on a torrent near you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-6396108936693154742010-06-30T09:08:00.010-04:002010-07-02T20:50:50.777-04:00Hopefully, a new lowI went for my annual check up recently and the doctor confirmed what I already knew.<br /><br />Me: So, I think I gained some weight since last year, because I was injured and...<br />Doctor: Ha! The excuses are already pouring out! (<span style="font-style: italic;">reads scale then my file</span>) Well, you did gain a little weight. That's okay.<br /><br />My doctor's sudden return to sensitivity signaled that I had become a subject of pity because a weight gain of almost 10% is not "little".<br /><br />Fortunately, I'm not the only one getting tubby, and since victory over others is a great personal motivator, I challenged fellow fatties to a weight loss competition. Our progress, or lack thereof, will be documented in a blog: <a href="http://thinspirationxxl.blogspot.com/">http://thinspirationxxl.blogspot.com/</a>.<br /><br />So as not to appear callous, we have tacked on a charitable element to the endeavor. Spectators are asked to bet on a competitor, pledging to donate an amount of British pounds, equivalent to the amount that the competitor loses, to his/her associated charity.<br /><br />A foreseeable end to the competition was suggested by Royal Pinguo so, sometime in September, the biggest loser will be revealed...then beaten with pork hocks. Stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-68712599580996897812010-06-15T12:51:00.037-04:002010-06-17T09:27:23.640-04:00Hard at workContrary to what my meager blogging may indicate, I have been busy writing.<br /><br />After mastering the art of generating strong opinions within a lunch hour for the last five years, I decided to make myself more respectable by attempting to write fiction. My last foray into fiction writing was back in high school, when I was heavily influenced by J.D. Salinger. This was not a good thing. So, I signed up for an introductory writing course with the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies. It worked for Vincent Lam, so why not an underachiever like me?<br /><br />My class is made up of people who work in finances, mothers doing it for themselves, and a party clown (not a derogatory statement but a fact). The writing is equally eclectic: the Muslim women use lush prose to describe the clash of East and West, the party clown wants to be the next J.K. Rowling, and a segment of the finances division has failed to meet the project deadline. Of the two remaining financial workers who did hand in their final project, one offered a story worthy of Harlequin, and the other modified a personal travel blog entry. <div><br /></div><div>The latter student's year in Australia has been a well of inspiration with rapidly diminishing returns. Her stories run the gamut of traveling through Australia to encountering ticketing problems while attempting to leave Australia. In one story, the gender of her main character was changed but he still pranced to yoga class and traded bitchy looks with a travel agent.</div><div><br /></div><div>The in-class workshop, during which the class offers compliments and constructive criticism for a single student's work, is one of the best aspects of the course. Still, it has made a strong case for the idea that procrastination does not make for good writing. In the first few weeks, the compliments flowed freely, but as we approach the end of the workshop schedule, a tension has descended on the party. The class struggles to find the bright side of what they have read ("You have a very original narrative voice.") and temper their criticism ("I don't understand what is happening here...here...and here.").</div><div><br /></div><div>After my workshop, I edited furiously in order to meet the submission deadline for the <a href="http://learn.utoronto.ca/artsci/creative/award.htm">Random House Creative Writing Award</a>. Whatever the outcome, I am hooked on this new respectability, and the promise of fame and cash prizes will drive me to write long after my lunch hour is done.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-8839500770266192042010-06-08T12:25:00.004-04:002010-06-08T12:34:19.885-04:00More little gladiatorial shorts coming soon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/100/1006705/AndyWhitfieldasSpartacus3_1248376829_640w.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 288px;" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/100/1006705/AndyWhitfieldasSpartacus3_1248376829_640w.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My <a href="http://thestar.blogs.com/stargazing/2010/06/great-spartacus-news.html">favourite blog</a> tells me that Season 2 of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" will be shooting soon as its lead, Andy Whitfield, is now clear of cancer.<br /><br />Whitfield will have until October to fill out his tiny gladiatorial shorts.<br /><br />Woot woot!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-46280895148997230172010-06-06T00:45:00.016-04:002010-09-28T12:49:33.874-04:00Tour de Dufflet: do it now!A part of <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikemonth/index.htm">Toronto Bike Month</a>, the third annual <a href="http://tourdedufflet.blogspot.com/2010/05/3rd-annual-tour-de-dufflet-now-with.html">Tour de Dufflet</a> sounded like our kind of event: bike to all three Dufflet locations in one day to receive refreshments and delicious baked goods at each stop. <div><br /></div><div>Joe and I, joined by Royal Pinguo and Flocons (who <a href="http://flocons.blogspot.com/2010/06/tour-de-dufflet-with-great-food-comes.html">blogged about this</a>, too), started at the Uptown location because gravity would carry us to the two other stores. After paying the $5 registration fee, we were presented with a Tour de Dufflet water bottle, an 'Eat more cake' button, then offered a choice of water or lemonade, plus any cookie or bar of our choice. Wow!</div><div><br /></div><div>At the Uptown location, I chose the Lemon Lime Coconut Bar ("Tangy lemon lime filling and chewy coconut on a buttery, shortbread crust"). At the Downtown location, it was a German Brownie ("Coconut, walnuts & chocolate cake with a gooey layer of more coconut and walnuts combined in a buttery vanilla icing"). Finally, at the Beach location, I celebrated my saddle sores with a Lemon Meringue Euro Tart ("Tangy lemon filling in our Euro-style crust, topped with a cloud of meringue")</div><div><br /></div><div>As we biked across the city, Tour de Dufflet offered unexpected attractions and detours. It became a real estate tour as Royal Pinguo and I admired the million dollar homes we passed, then a shopping tour when we arrived in the Queen West area, and, finally, we expanded the menu when we decided to stop at <a href="http://www.tnt-supermarket.com/en/">T&T Supermarket</a> for all-day dim sum. </div><div><br /></div><div>Having sweet rewards to entice us to bike across the city on such a beautiful day was a great experience. Tour de Dufflet ends June 30, but there is <a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/818524--cake-loving-cyclist-starts-a-cupcake-tour-of-toronto">word of a cupcake tour</a>, which has Flocons dreaming of something more manly like a hot dog stand tour - the quickest ride to obesity if ever there was one with a hot dog stand at every corner. Ride on!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-70092697196428816352010-05-25T18:05:00.005-04:002010-05-28T13:58:30.026-04:00Examples of self-hateI have heard it remarked that Jews who own Volkswagens are self-hating. I would like to add to the controversial list of self-haters with two more recent entries:<br /><ul><li>M. Night Shyamalan - You are an Asian American director who has chosen to bring to the big screen a well-loved animated series that bases itself on Asian culture. The obvious answer is to cast Asian actors, but no, you choose white actors for every major role with the exception of the villain.<br /></li><li>Geeks who enjoy "The Big Bang Theory" - Geekdom is finally cool because geeks like Joss Whedon and Sam Raimi are in control. Yet, you choose to watch a sitcom that depicts geeks as socially awkward caricatures. Sure, the characters make geeky references but why not watch a comedy that makes references that only you would understand and respects you in the process? Try "Chuck" or "The IT Crowd".</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-89370198579104454902010-05-14T11:34:00.008-04:002010-05-14T16:37:45.651-04:00Whatever worksSince taking on a <a href="http://xiao-pangzi.blogspot.com/2010/01/excitement-at-door.html">vegetable and fruit binge regiment</a>, our household seems to be hardier. However, nothing lasts forever, and Joe brought home some sort of illness from work last week. He had aches and chills, then a cold and cough combination. About a week later, my body gave up and decided to join in on the fun.<br /><br />As usual, neither of us have any intention of visiting a doctor. Joe's ailing enters its second week and he relies solely on our single box of Contac Complete, of which, only the limited supply of Nighttime pills provide any relief.<br /><br />I have decided to take the opportunity to explore alternative methods of self healing.<br /><br />Alcohol - I, once, successfully made a cold disappear after an evening of beer drinking. Ever since that single occurence, I have been unable to duplicate the results. Mostly, when I drink alcohol, my cold gets worse because I become dehydrated, but in an alcohol induced haze, at least I become indifferent to how terrible I feel.<br /><br />Junk Food - Greasy food definitely makes any illness worse by adding vomiting and diarrhea to the list of symptoms. But, what about sweets? I stuffed myself with turkish delights (from Turkey) and a few chocolate chip cookies last night. This morning, no improvement. Bonus: no weight gain either; my sweets binge appears to have made up for whatever weight loss I might have suffered otherwise...in back fat.<br /><br />Echinacea - I have read various reports debunking echinacea as a natural cold remedy, which I am prone to believe because herbal remedies don't go with my wardrobe. However, when my co-worker offered me echinacea tea, I couldn't resist. As of this moment, it appears to have worked. My throat no longer feels scratchy, sore or flemy, and my nose is no longer runny. Admittedly, my cold symptoms were just beginning, so my immune system might just have rallied itself. Until the results can be duplicated, consider them unscientific...then generalize that assessment to this entire exercise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-38957226525825452552010-05-11T11:16:00.009-04:002010-05-11T12:04:41.362-04:00Lost opportunity at Spadina and Dundas<a href="http://torontoist.com/2010/04/toronto_underground_cinema_rises_up.php">A new repertory movie theatre is coming to town</a>: Toronto Underground Cinema will take over the long defunct Golden Harvest Chinese cinema at 186 Spadina Ave. Only love can drive the guys behind the Cinema to enter this volatile market, lovingly refurbishing such an inconspicuous venue in the same neighbourhood as that corporate branded multiplex at Richmond and John, and the new TIFF venue at King and John.<br /><br />When I first heard that a repertory theatre was being unveiled in the Spadina and Dundas area, I instantly pictured the initial site of the Golden Harvest cinema, located on the north-east corner of the intersection. This was where my parents brought me to see Jackie Chan movies, and for a child, the venue's stadium seating was preferable to the subtle incline that dominated cinema design in the 1980s. It was clear that the seats were original to the venue as they were upholstered but made of wood and painted bright orange. Orange seating aside, it was easy to see that this was once a grand venue with chandelier lighting and a huge domed ceiling.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Theatre_%28Toronto,_Ontario%29">Wikipedia</a>, I have since learned that the Golden Harvest cinema was originally the Standard Theatre. It started out as a Yiddish theatre, then a burlesque theatre, before becoming the theatre of my childhood. The theatre was boarded up when Golden Harvest moved to 186 Spadina Ave. and a dollar store now takes up the stairs and former lobby.<br /><br />I've entered the dollar store once and stared at that wall that barred even a peek into the theatre, wondering about the state of the orange seats and the chandeliers. I would have paid full admission regularly to revisit the cinema of my childhood.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-21621199680134242702010-05-03T19:44:00.011-04:002010-05-03T21:16:40.288-04:00Sporting Life 10K post-mortemSo, I actually succeeded in meeting my Sporting Life 10K goal, stumbling past the finish line in just under one hour. However, my elation ended when records revealed that this was my slowest Sporting Life 10K ever.<div><br /></div><div>Otherwise, the race was a good experience with ideal weather conditions (16C and overcast) and staggered start times, which prevented the congestion that plagued previous events. If only the event organizers would improve the look of their dri-fit t-shirts.</div><div><br /></div><div>The short-lived afterglow smothered by disappointment has, in turn, been consumed by a nagging need to prove myself. The <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/challenge/">Toronto Challenge 5K</a> is a favourite of mine because, at $20, it is so affordable. My personal best on the course is also my fastest 5K finishing time: 24:20. I will attempt to beat this time on June 13, 2010. As in a mid-life crisis, the fitting response to a new low is an outrageous new high.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-45883655498107118462010-04-28T13:00:00.020-04:002010-04-29T13:46:10.418-04:00A solution to the bystander effect: pay it forwardThe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect">bystander effect</a> has been in the news recently thanks to <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/mugged-in-to-left-for-dead-in-ny-brthe-unkindness-of-strangers-is-universal/article1547718/">a mugging in Toronto and the death of a good Samaritan in New York</a>. In both cases, witnesses did very little to assist those in need.<br /><br />It is pointless to act outraged and claim moral superiority because everyone, at some point, has passed the buck. I cannot even recall how many times I have passed a homeless person lying on a grate in the middle of winter, without checking to see if s/he was even breathing.<br /><br />Ever since I learned about the bystander effect in my first year Psychology class, I have always assumed that I might not get the help I need if I was ever in danger. This is not to say that there are no helpful people in society. In fact, with such a spotlight on the bystander effect, I believe that people are bound to be more proactive, if only for the next little while.<br /><br />However, if faced with danger, it is best to make your predicament someone else's problem as well:<br /><ul><li>If you're being attacked, start breaking windows or damaging merchandise. Now, the store owner will definitely call the police.</li><li>If you're being mugged, grab someone's purse or wallet and start running after the mugger. Now, you have an army of dubious support following you. Avoid taking anything that might slow you down like laptops or groceries lest you get overtaken before you reach your mugger.<br /></li><li>If you are being abducted, drag someone else along. Two heads are better than one, and maybe s/he will have friends that will work harder than yours to find missing people.</li></ul>Since it would appear that I am advocating criminal behaviour, I will insist that I'm kidding (<span style="font-style: italic;">kind of</span>). Unfortunately, the bystander effect is <span>emblematic of urban life, and until <span style="font-style: italic;">Kick-Ass*</span> becomes reality, everyone should be prepared to become their own little antihero.<br /><br />*That's an awesome movie, and the apathetic bystander character is topical.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-79659115942500211612010-04-26T14:19:00.013-04:002010-04-26T21:53:54.042-04:0010K training update + Okay Okay DinerActivities over the last five weeks suggest that I've lost that hunger to beat a predetermined race finishing time and beat my body into submission in the process.<br /><br />I have run about twice a week for the last five weeks, but the runs have been sloppy affairs; 30 minutes here, 8 km there, mostly by myself but occasionally accompanied by a disgusted Joe. I finally went for a run with a group of over-athletic overachievers last Thursday, during which my eyes roamed desperately for a red light. The only person who approves of my floundering is <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10000031566634769213">Flocons</a>, who is pleased to find a fellow advocate for pit-stops at fast food chains along the route.<br /><br />Traditionally, I have not done well in the Sporting Life 10K, in spite of the downhill course, because I tend to train poorly over the winter. In light of my history, prior and recent, I will be very happy to finish the Sporting Life 10K in one hour. In anticipation of disappointment, I am going to look forward to the next race. Which one to do next?<br /><br />Hunger had nothing to do with my experience of the latest stop on my Leslieville culinary journey.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okay Okay Diner</span> (1128 Queen St. E.)<br />Their pancakes were amazing: fluffy but with substance and packed with flavour. Hence, shoving the flapjacks into my cake hole at record speed was no chore, as my lunch companion and I attempted to eat our way out of the freezing patio as quickly as possible. Still, I wish the pancakes came with some sort of accompaniment like fruit or vegetables, even if it would have prolonged our suffering.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18136126.post-23138936615176142332010-04-20T08:52:00.006-04:002010-09-28T12:48:50.368-04:00Cyclists: the new urban cowboysI've always been proud of how hard core cyclists are in Toronto. Even in the midst of a blizzard, you can always find a cyclist trying to stay upright in a snow drift.<br /><br />Now, with the good weather, cyclists are out en masse and, unfortunately, some are acting like a gang of roving delinquents, thumbing their noses at the rules of the road.<br /><br />I understand that stopping then starting a bicycle is work. It's not like simply releasing then pushing the acceleration pedal of your car. However, if passengers are attempting to board the streetcar, or pedestrians are crossing the road and have the right of way, cyclists are supposed to stop.<br /><br />Three cyclists whizzed right through a red light as I was crossing the road this morning. Admittedly, my tone was not congenial when I pointed out the red light to them. One cyclist responded with "We're letting you walk, aren't we?" A fourth cyclist who pedaled past told me to "relax".<br /><br />It is hypocritical of cyclists to demand respect from drivers as vehicles of the road then flout the rules of the road at their convenience. Granted, when drivers fail to observe a red light or wear their seat belt, the results can be fatal. However, I challenge anyone to feel the impact of being hit by a bicycle at moderate speed or of flying over the handlebars without a helmet before arguing that the rules of the road are merely suggestions of etiquette for cyclists.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6