Gastric by-pass surgery

The other day, Richel and I were eating dinner when Richel picked up a magazine and showed me this article about some lady who had a gastric by-pass surgery. Now she was 80 lbs. lighter, or whatever and it changed her whole life, blah, blah, blah. My response to that article was one of absolute disgust.

The field of science and medicine has always pushed the limits to acquire greater understanding and to achieve technology that can save/extend our lives. But to what point? At what point do we stop trying, or stop striving for personal achievements and rely on technology and medicine for the answer? To rely on someone else's efforts is obviously the easy way out. Take this whole gastric by-pass surgery thing for example. Many people have this relatively new surgical technique done because they can't lose weight and it is or will ultimately affect their health. According to these patients and the doctors who perform this surgery, the patients have tried everything and they can't lose any weight. They're still obese, they can't do anything about it, it's genetic, and so their lives are doomed. But consider this: has there EVER been a 400 lb. starving Ethiopian? How many 3-400 pound starving people do you see in the world? Answer: none. Now, one could argue that it's not a very common genetic trait to inherit. First of all, how odd it is that the majority of the people with this genetic anomaly live in the U.S. Also, if you want to use that arguement, then I would say that based on the number of people in impoverished societies with starving people, based on statistics there is bound to be at least one genetic mutation that would allow someone to become 3-400 pounds. But there isn't, I assure you. Which means that being obese is caused by behavioral factors. People can't live without their Supersized meals, or deep-fried chicken, or whatever have you. It's behavior that governs what we eat and how long we sit on the couch before reaching for the remote control so that we don't have to get up to change the channel.

Part of it is largely due to society, not just the individual; humans weren't made to sit at a computer for 8-12 hours/day, or sit at a desk doing paperwork for hours on end, etc. We were made to run and jump and swing through trees and run like heck for our lives from predatory animals.

It's all about accounting for calories: Calorie input > energy output = weight gain. Pure and simple.

But it's a lot easlier to say, "Doctor, fix me." This way, the individual doesn't have to put in the effort, endure the hardship, and take the responsibility for their own actions.

Woe Canada...

Today is election day for Prime Minister in Canada. Martin's rule looks like it'll finally come to and end and the Liberal party will most likely lose control of the Parliament. Perhaps after 25 years, it's time for a change in government, anyway. People tire of seeing the same old face on TV making speeches or reading of the same old name making policies, etc. Fine. It's time to get someone new. But someone, ANYONE other than Stephen Harper!

Two big issues that Harper wanted to accomplish was 1) build up the Canadian military (there's such a thing?) and 2) create closer ties with Washington. First of all, does Harper even remember what the Canadian slogan is? Because if he does, he sure as hell doesn't understand it. Peace, order, and good government. Okay Stephen, maybe you missed that. PEACE, order, and good government. Building up the military does not bring peace; our spoiled neighbors are the perfect example of that. The U.S. has the most advanced and one of the largest if not THE largest military and armed forces in the world. And yet everytime there's a political squabble somewhere, usually in the Middle East, the U.S. military men and women are there fighting.

Now, fellow Canucks, don't be so naive to think that these American troops are fighting for freedom, democracy, blah, blah, blah. Because there are nations all over the world where social injustice reigns. It's oil that the Americans want and the Middle East has lots of it and that's the ONLY reason why American troops are there. The fact that extremists are there just provides the U.S. an excuse to go in there and start a war.

But I digress. Fellow Canadians, this is not the example to take. Spend that government budget on restructuring and financing the social services and facilities, like the POSTAL SERVICE, the WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, and police services (and this way there won't be a bloody strike every other month). Improve the government and society before creating a military, unless military conquest is the ultimate goal (Canada? Military conquest?). Building up the military and spending money on that before taking care of domestic problems is the ass-backwards method that the United States is so adroit at. Aren't ya learning anything from your bumbling neighbors?

The second issue, creating stronger ties with Washington D.C. will be in hopes of what? So that Canada will be the U.S.'s pet dog? The U.S. is already one of the most hated nations in the world. Why o' why would Harper want a stronger association with that? So that terrorists and religious extremists can start picking targets in the United States AND Canada, now? If Canada wants a new Prime Minister, that's fine. But picking G.W. Bush's wannabe Canadian counterpart isn't the answer to Canada's problems. Now, Bush's approval ratings dropped to 39%, a record low for any president, I believe. What does that say about him as a leader and the nation's government? Again, I ask why would Harper want stronger ties to someone like that, leading a government like that?

Looks like the whole continent is going down the tubes.

Will China Ever Learn?

A little over a hundred years ago, when the Western and European nations first discovered all the riches China had to offer, everyone wanted to get a piece of it. The Western world decided among themselves how they were going to divide up China. Of course no one ever asked the Chinese about this. The plan was split up China like pieces of a pie and the powers that be decided who would get what part (kind of like how drug lords decide to split up neighborhoods). The guilty parties included England, France, Germany, and the United States just to name a few, although these were the greatest perpetrators. To make a long story short, everyone slowly lost interest and left, except the English, who took Hong Kong for 100 years or so. China's resources and national treasures were sold and exported, much like how the 13 New England colonies were exploited and abused before they initiated their own rebellion.

Fast forward 100 years or so.

Now China is back in the same situation it was during the late 1800's. China's economy is booming, and once, again, there are riches to be found. And once, again, everyone wants a piece of the pie; everyone wants to get in on the economic boom in China. Everyone, meaning the European nations and of course, the United States.

Of course you can blame others for taking advantage of you, but there comes a time when you should start blaming yourself for allowing yourself to be consistently abused and exploited. It is as the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Hasn't China learned what was done to it's people, it's culture, it's philosophy, and it's country? Apparently not, as once again, many Chinese people are opening their arms wide, welcoming all the enterpreneurs and businesses from overseas to come and stake their claim in China.
Okay, true. Back in the 1800's, China didn't like the idea of Europeans and Americans just moving in and claiming their own territories. But they didn't do a whole lot to stop them. They didn't back then and they aren't now, either.

Now I'm not suggesting isolationism because that's what made China fall behind as far as being a world power during the latter half of the last millenium. But when things move too fast, when things get built, bought, and sold too fast, things also fall apart and turn to crap real fast, too. China, of all the nations, should remember this.

Sadly, China either doesn't remember or doesn't care. But if it's not careful, history will repeat itself and it will meet the same fate as it did.

Memoirs of a ....Diva?

Actress Gong Li has been one of China's best actresses, appearing in multiple movies that have won international awards. The majority of these movies have very disturbing imagery and undertones. Among her works include: Raise the Red Lantern, Ju Dou, Farewell My Concubine, Shanghai Triads and countless others. Those who have seen her would agree that she's a fabulous actress. She's gorgeous, she has poise, and most of all she can act!

I've always wanted to see her on the big screen, and my chance finally finally finally came when Shanghai Triads finally came out in this small independent artsy theatre in San Francisco. I think the theater sat about 30 people. Not that there were 30 people in there; I think there were 5 of us. The movie itself was okay, the story was mediocre, the scenery was great, and Gong Li was her usual spectacular self.

My next opportunity to see Gong Li on the big screen was when I was forced to go watch...I mean when I went to watch Memoirs of a Geisha. Gong Li had aged a little (it had been about 10 years since Shanghai Triad), but still gave a great performance.

Now that Gong Li has finally been discovered by Hollywood, she's involved in all these other films, now. Currenlty, she's working on Miami Vice (sounds like quality), Young Hannibal (more quality), and Autumn Remembrance (this actually does look like quality). But I'm so glad that Gong Li had a chance to work with people like Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou and had a chance to make some fantastic movies BEFORE she got started in Hollywood. Because for some reason, once world-famous Asian stars get to Hollywood, they start making mediocre or even crap films. For example, Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China 1 and 2 were fantastic films. Hero was phenominal film. But in the west, the only decent movie he's made so far is Unleashed. The others, Kiss of the Dragon, and the other 2 were horrible. Jacky Chan made numerous movies that were great: Drunken Master 2, SuperCop, and on, and on. But the only movies he made here that were okay were Rush Hour 1 and 2. Zhang Ziyi made great movies like the Long Road Home, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers (that was just okay). But she came to Hollywood and starred in films hardly worthy of her talents like Rush Hour 2, Crouching Tiger (this was not an HK or China production), and Memoirs of a Geisha.

So, again. I'm glad Gong Li was able to put out some quality films before coming to Hollywood and selling-out to make crap films.

Wong Faye vs. Wong Fei-Hung

Today, while Richel and I were at our separate computers I was surfing the net while listening to the Wong Fei-Hung soundtrack. For those of you who don't know who Wong Fei-Hung is, he's a Chinese hero who was legendary for his kung-fu skills in old China. Supposedly, he lived in the 19th century. They've made many movies about him over the years, and in the most recent series he was played by Jet Li. These were serious no-nonsense movies with top-notch action and drama; nothing light-hearted or funny about it, unlike Jacky Chan's portrayal of the legendary character from the 80's film Drunken Master and Drunken Master 2.

In any case, the soundtrack for Jet Li's Wong Fei-Hung is played mostly by Chinese instruments, something that I've always found soothing and relaxing to listen to. I've always tried to get Mom or Dad to buy me a CD with good songs played by these instruments but they never did. But I digress.

So there I was, listening to the soundtrack when Richel asked,
"Who's this?"

"Wong Fei-Hung," I replied.

"I don't hear her singing," she said, somewhat perplexed. I had to keep myself from falling out of my chair, but it wasn't her fault. She knows about the super hot Chinese singer/actress Wong Faye. But Wong Faye doesn't equal Wong Fei-Hung. Wong Fei-Hung gets your blood pumping with pride and the desire to start practicing kung fu; Wong Faye gets your blood pumping with the love of her voice and just plain desire. Wong Fei-Hung could floor the biggest of them with a lightning-quick combo of punches and kicks; Wong Faye could floor the biggest of them swooning with a glance and her voice. I guess they're more similar than I thought.

Wong Faye vs. Wong Fei-Hung. Who'd win? Wong Faye, hands down. Wong Fei-Hung would have to get close to you before making you lose consciousness; Wong Faye could do that from across the room.