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NEWS

Each month I will keep a running list of news items, including info on my schedule, etc. It's in order from LATEST entry at the top on down to the OLDEST entry at the bottom. 

Here are the "News" archives, feel free to browse them for some interesting tidbits:

***This is the archive of the February/March  2004 news***

31 March 2004

****Entire post removed by webmaster (that's me).**** 

28 March 2004

I'm still busy as all get-out, though the coming weeks should be a bit lighter as far as my school schedule goes. This is exam week, which means I don't need to teach my "normal" classes -- so I hope and pray I can use the time to advantage by preparing a LOT of lessons for the coming months. Of course, I plan on that EVERY exam week of EVERY term, and to date it has happened approximately, uh... let's see, uh... well, it's NEVER happened. I always end up getting called off to do OTHER things...

I'm planning on playing for a big youth rally over in Central for Easter -- and I'm pretty excited about that, should be fun. Most of you know I haven't done too much playing since I moved to HK -- so having more chances to play, and especially for an event designed for teenagers, is great. HOWEVER, it does mean that I'm gonna keep myself busy with these rehearsals... 

Speaking of playing in HK, one of the few things I have done is play on Frances Chiu's CD, Vanilla Me -- I keep telling you about it cause it's so cool, see? Anyway, I saw some new photos she put up on her website the other day, so I immediately swiped them, but THEN I forgot to post them here:

You might notice in the first photo above, where her disc is featured in a listening station with Kelly Chen and Faye Wong (the two most famous girl singers in all of Greater China -- seriously), that the price is a little lower than the other discs -- don't worry, it's because her's is only a six-song EP.

. . .

I've recently finished posting some of our students' English work, you can find their stories about The Third Eye and The Time Machine in the Ramblings section. 

One thing I want to say about those examples, is that they are the BEST of the BEST of our school -- our "elite" students in P5 and P6 -- so keep that in mind when you read their writings, and then PRAY for us... (not a joke)... 

27 March 2004

Helpful phrase in Chinese: 
"Please send a couple of American carrier groups to help repel the Mainland's invasion force..."

. . .

An excerpt from Glenn's Book of Hong Kong Proverbs:*

26 March 2004

"So if Al Qaeda had failed on 9/11, do you think Osama Bin Laden and the rest of the merry band would be sitting around a table in Kabul holding hearings about who was to blame? I tend to think they would have moved on"...

http://lileks.com/bleats/archive/04/0304/032604.html

24 March 2004

Tonight I met a living legend:

The Girl Who Is Training 
To Be The Girl With The Strongest Jaw Muscles In The World

Well, to be honest, I didn't actually MEET her, but she sat behind me on the bus on the way home tonight. It was simply FASCINATING to get such an up-close glimpse into the seldom-revealed world of jaw-muscle training. Of course I wasn't able to converse with her -- my Chinese isn't that good yet. And in fact I didn't even turn around to look at her more than about 3 or 4 times -- I was afraid she was shy, and I'm sure she's always getting approached by fans, and what not. 

But I can tell you pretty much how she goes about her training. 

Basically, it seemed like she had taken about half a pack of chewing gum, and I'm guessing that it was a NEW pack of gum, and probably what we'd call in the States a "family value" pack -- cause she sure seemed to have a lot of gum. But what you do is, you take this gum, and you put it in your mouth, see, and then you just start chewing and smacking and slurping and popping that gum as hard and as loud as you can do it. 

She was good at that, too... 

Now, I hear you guys saying it -- you're saying, "Glenn, why was she so good at this jaw-muscle training? What sets this girl apart?"

Here's the thing. You could give me a whole pack of gum, and you could say, "Glenn, I want you to put this gum in your mouth, and I want you to start smacking and popping and slurping and chewing and slobbering and just generally making a RACKET, and I want you to do it as loudly as you can possibly do it." And I could do it, too. I mean, I can't be for CERTAIN I could match this girl, because I've never really tried it -- but I'm fairly certain I could make a good show on that count, and I dare say I could do it just as loudly as this girl tonight. 

But there's one difference between her and me -- ENDURANCE. That's where she's got you and me beat, see... Because I'm telling you, she can start chewing when she gets on the bus at 10:30pm in Kwun Tong, and she can sit behind you and chew, and smack, and belch, and pop, and smack, and slurp, and lick, and smack, and pop, and gnaw, and smack that gum NON-STOP until after 11:30pm, when she finally -- oh, heavens, FINALLY! -- gets off the bus. 

SHE'S THAT GOOD, FOLKS. 

Listen, you and I both know how competitive the jaw-muscle world is, we all know it's a sport that has ruined many a promising young life. But I think this girl has what it takes.

Seriously -- if tonight is ANY indication -- I think she's gonna make it... 

23 March 2004

"...on sale at a cosmetics store in Lahore, Pakistan." -- this is an actual product, apparently... (sent to me by a friend)... 

22 March 2004

My friend Ken is in love.

Yesterday he and I went down to the "Open Day" at the HK Academy for the Performing Arts, and it seems like that was all it took -- a few hours hanging out there, watching some students demonstrate their skills -- and Ken (bless his heart) was in LOVE with the APA.  

It all started with this notion he seems to have (bless his heart) that he's not going to do too well on his upcoming exams -- you know, those pesky exams they have in HK that determine whether or not you can get into university here or not. Well, Ken thinks he might not do so hot (bless his heart), and I have no idea about that whatsoever, whether he's telling the truth about that or not, and I'm being honest on that one -- I have no clue. He seems pretty clever to me, but whatever. 

So in the interest of "covering the bases" he has started thinking about what he'll do if his results don't allow a spot at university. Since he's a musician (bless his heart) and apparently dreams about music all the time (that's according to his sister), I think it was only natural for him to notice the APA and wonder if it might be an option for him. 

Yeah, so we went down there and hung around a while, and actually it was a pretty productive afternoon, I'd say -- I have a friend who is a student there, so Ken (bless his heart) was anxious to meet and talk with him (which didn't happen, exactly, because my friend was busy working in one of the workshop rooms for the day). But anyway, we checked it out, and Ken's friend Matthew came, too, and truly I had a lot of fun. You know I love that kind of stuff, meaning the "technical arts" stuff, and the music stuff, and the film/TV stuff. And honestly, it got me all antsy being there because it was such a flashback to my former life playing music and being around music and musicians all day, every day -- a world I left behind, truly, when I got on that plane to come here to HK -- and all I kept thinking about was how I wish I could go to school to study film and/or TV production, but then realizing that's not really what I was feeling -- what I was really feeling was that I missed my old life and playing music and being good at something. 

And it was really funny because Ken, who is 21 (bless his heart), kept saying, "Glenn, why don't you be a professor here?" -- and I kept laughing at the utterly ludicrous notion of me being able to get hired as a professor there at APA, but he kept shaking his head, like he does, and looking the other direction while he mumbled, "No, I think you can do it." 

Bless his heart... 

And after we were finished at APA, we wanted to get something to eat, so I went out on a crazy limb and said, "Okay, why don't we go to Ruby Tuesdays?" The fact is I was basically set on going there anyway, cause I've got this 50% discount card there, and it was Sunday, and so whatever, I was already decided I was going there, whether by myself or whatever. But Ken and Matthew balked, they'd never even HEARD of the place, and it took until I mentioned that I had this discount card and that it was my treat before they finally lit up and said, "NEVER MIND the talking, let's go THERE, then"... 

But of course it was a HUGE mistake, meaning that Ruby Tuesdays costs an arm and a leg by HK standards, and Ken and Matthew experienced that kind of sticker shock that I've grown accustomed to when going to nice/decent/western restaurants with my friends. You see, HK people really, REALLY care about the cost of stuff. Or maybe they don't really care they just TALK like they care -- I don't know enough to tell the difference, I should say. Point being, the COST of whatever is in question is one of the FIRST issues that will be discussed, the result being that everyone will tsk, tsk, tsk, and agree, "it costs too much."

Let me digress and give you this example. I once went to dinner up at the Peak with two girls I know. Okay, so the restaurant isn't so great, and in fact this day it was the least-great I've ever experienced at this particular place. But the whole POINT is the view -- which is spectacular. So we're up there, and they are having a heart attack over the menu, I am convinced to this day that they didn't know anyone would EVER charge so much for food -- they had this look that was so transparent, you know, the "I can not WAIT to tell everyone that we paid this much for food!" look... And I thought about checking their shins for bruises afterwards, because I was pretty sure they were kicking each other under the table... (I didn't check, though)... 

OH, but what I was going to say, is the dinner for the three of us up at the Peak, me and these two girls, cost me about $50. Pretty steep, yes, I know, and let's be true, here: I don't have that kind of money to be spending like that. TRUST ME. But it was for fun, and like I say, "the view", right?

Okay, so the KICKER is, when we get down the hill back to Central, they are arguing about whether or not we should WALK to the ferry or take the bus. And I'm not trusting their decision on this at ALL, because I know how far it is, but I'm not sure THEY know how far it is, and anyway it's farther than I wanted to walk lugging my cameras around and everything... So I'm like, "Dude, we're taking the bus, are you crazy?!?"

So we take the bus, and the trip is SUPER short, right? Maybe 3 minutes, max, and as we get off the bus, they are fighting again, or not fighting exactly, but like they're really bugged about something, and I'm like, "Hey, what's going on? Why are you so upset?" 

Do you know their answer? Do you know why they were so ticked off?

The bus ride cost 32 cents. 

"It was such a quick trip, and they charged us so much!!"

So I hope you're getting the idea of what I'm saying about this...

Okay, back to Ken and Matthew -- we're sitting there in Ruby Tuesdays, and they are mildly uncomfortable, like if I was taking them right up into Buckingham Palace or something, right? And to this moment I think I must have been misreading their body language, these guys are NOT rubes or anything, so maybe they were just feeling weird because I was paying... ? But anyway, I'm trying to tell them the stuff on the menu that I like, and I'm also trying to be very firm that I'm NOT going to be sharing my meal -- which it was at about this time when I first really started realizing this could have been a mistake -- to bring them to Ruby Tuesdays when I was basically JONESIN' for it -- because this is another cultural thing that to this day I am not adjusted to, that being the "almost no matter what restaurant we go to we will all order what we want but then it's a free-for-all once the food gets here" thing. And let me digress again to explain this in case I haven't already (or in case I did but you weren't listening, you naughty kids). 

You see, in HK, everyone orders what they want, and then when the food gets to the table, it's a free-for-all. Okay, never mind, who cares? What's the big deal? Well, it's NOT a big deal -- EXCEPT WHEN GLENN FORGETS THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. 

I stress again, this is just a cultural thing, no "right or wrong" here -- but one of the most upsetting things to me in this cultural exchange program called "Glenn's Life" is this matter of sharing food. It's not that I'm not a sharer -- I can share, dude, as well as the next guy. HOWEVER, I'm not gonna lie, it's just a minor crisis to me when it's "sharing time" and I wasn't expecting it. 

Example: One day at the school a few of us were going to order KFC. I normally don't even EAT that stuff, but it sounded like fun, and I was going with the crowd, dig? (I feel like I've talked about this before, seriously -- sorry if I'm repeating myself). But so they say, "Glenn, what do you want?" and I'm like, "Okay, well, the only thing I'll eat from KFC is the chicken strips, so give me those, and a thing of slaw, and a thing of mashed potatoes, and a coke." And YES, I'll admit that she looked at me like I was a monster, a true MONSTER, but I figured she just thought I was being greedy (this is another issue with my friends, being that whatever amount of food or drink I order -- or DON'T order -- is inappropriate). So I figure it's just that kicking in, and I ignore the "monster" look... 

Time passes, the food arrives, and so I'm like grabbing the chicken strips and the slaw and the mashed potatoes I ordered, and everybody's like, "HEY!!! Where do you think you're going?!??" -- because from their view, see, I was taking 1/4 of THEIR food!!! See how that works? How the cultural difference kicks in there? Honestly, it's fascinating to me -- except when it's happening. So when I was ordering all that food, they all ended up ordering less because it's like, from THEIR perspective, I was ordering for the whole GROUP, since I was dictating so many things -- "chicken, slaw, potatoes, AND a coke!!" -- like, geez, Glenn, let US order something!!!

And to stick with this KFC example, if I may, this was not a small issue for me, as I'm trying to explain -- this was VERY upsetting, and it still is whenever I get caught off guard like that. I mean, I had ordered what I wanted for lunch, and I had every intention of eating said lunch -- but not NOW, because my boy over here just stuck his freshly-licked spoon into those potatoes and slaw like he was digging for the plastic toy in a box of Cracker Jacks. Not to mention that half my chicken strips just disappeared into my girl over here's napkin. Dude, they even split up my coke!!! Like, "Oh, let's see, here are the cups -- Glenn, do you want any coke?" -- I'm like, "Sister, I'm the one who ordered that thing, you better believe I'm gonna get at least one of your little dixie cups worth out of it"... 

I should make it clear, that this sharing-of-the-food thing NEVER bothers me when I expect it, see? Which is about 95% of the time when I go to eat with someone. It's only when I expect otherwise, and then get surprised by it, and THEN -- baby, THEN!! -- it just freaks me out, and I get really upset about it. SERIOUSLY. Like helpless-angry-upset. 

(And I'm not going to apologize for it, either, since it's just a cultural thing)... 

YEAH -- so back to Ken and Matthew again -- so I'm telling them what I like at Ruby Tuesdays, and I'm saying firmly that, "You guys order what you want, but I'm not gonna share with you -- you just order exactly what you want like a set meal, okay?" But the price issue is exacting too great a toll on their mental relaxation, see, and Ken's like, "Uh, Glenn, I think we'd better just order one thing and share it -- it's much more economical!"

And I wanted to say, "Ken, why don't we just go back to my place and eat that package of hot dogs I bought a few days ago -- now THAT's economical, dude"... But obviously I didn't say that, I just said, "No, listen, if you WANT to do that between you two guys, cool, but I'm not gonna do that -- so forget the cost, it's my treat so nevermind"... 

At THIS point, Matthew decides he will take the lead and go for the gusto -- the most expensive platter on the menu -- which, I had that coming, didn't I? Ha ha, I'm literally laughing out LOUD as I type this -- he went right for it, dude... He's like, I want THAT one! He didn't even READ it, he just saw the price and POINTED -- the waiter was like, "Uh, sir, you have to choose the items you want on that platter," and Matthew had no idea what he was talking about... He was like, "Oh, I do?!?"... Hysterical... 

And the part that I love -- I mean, this is so funny to my gut that I'm almost afraid to tell you because you will NOT be able to appreciate how funny it was to hear him say it -- but the part that KILLS me right this second, as I'm sitting here typing this, thinking about that dinner, is that when we were done, Matthew had completely eaten every single scrap of meat off those ribs. I mean, he had like 24 ribs on that plate, a HUGE American-sized helping of cooked flesh, and he sucked every single bone dry -- no joke. There was just a plate of sad, sucked-dry bones sitting there. And just as we all finish, he puts his fork down and kind of leans back in his chair. 

"How were those ribs?" I asked. 

"Hmmmm," he says... "Much worse than I expected"... 

21 March 2004

"Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust, my spirit clings;
I know that God is good"...

19 March 2004

I'm a real grouch. "Real" as in "genuine" -- and "genuine" as in "not just in general, but specifically right NOW."

I don't feel well at all, and wow, I'm tired... I ache all over (still feeling the effects of 2 hours of fierce -- dude, I'm talking VICIOUS -- badminton last Saturday -- you didn't know badminton could be "vicious" but that's because you've never played against 4 teenage Chinese girls)... It's like, I'm really bugged that it hurts so much to raise my arm like this -- (Yes, doctor, I know, I know -- "Don't do that!"). 

I've got WAY too much to do and approximately ZERO time to do it. I'm frustrated with this pile of laundry that somehow managed to accumulate in just 10 days. I'm concerned that I'm supposed to speak to the teenagers at Yao Dao Church tomorrow afternoon (usually about 30-plus kids) -- but I'm not yet "settled" on the final draft of what I'm going to say. I'm concerned about this big English class that I'm going to try teaching at Xi Lin Church starting in only one month and for which I've been able to do ZERO preparation. I'm concerned that I have been able to finish NO lesson plans for the coming week. I'm concerned about my Uncle David's illness, I'm concerned about the future of Hong Kong (not looking good), I'm concerned about my OWN future... I'm concerned about how often I fail at even the most simple things...

ON THE OTHER HAND:  God is in control. 

None of us knows what Providence will bring tomorrow, but I can HONESTLY tell you it matters to be able to say, "God is in control." 

. . .

I'm sorry I made a joke about Spain in yesterday's post (below). I don't want to be political on here, and in fact in my LIFE I don't want to be "pro-anything" except "pro-Jesus" if you can catch my drift. I was just trying to express my views in a funny way, but there is NOTHING funny about what has happened in Spain this last week. NOTHING. 

So yeah, sorry about that.  

18 March 2004

Been thinking about my "Frankfurter Incident" from last night (see yesterday's post below).

Yeah, so the thing about those hot dogs (they call them "sausages" here in HK -- how exotic!), but the thing about them there wieners, I actually thought that they lasted a long time. I'm not sure why, I guess I figured a hot dog was so processed or something that they would last for months. I mean, obviously I didn't know they were THAT old, but it never occurred to me they would spoil or expire within weeks.

But that's just still making me laugh for some reason. 

Anyway, I bought some FRESH hot dogs last night, and God willing, I'm gonna have me some dogs...

(BEFORE April 23rd, I mean)... 

. . .

Yahoo! News Report:
Terror Group Announces "Truce" With Spain

Hey, don't let me forget to give a big shout-out and congratulations to my homies in the al-Qaida groups in Europe. You did it, guys! 

I was so hyped up by all this "war" talk and the "war on terror" and all, that I figured most of the modern world had at least decided that your tactics wouldn't work. I mean, I knew there were disagreements about how and where to fight you guys (even we Americans disagree about that stuff), but still, I was pretty much under the impression that everyone was at least on the same page over all that -- you know, "we won't let terrorists bully us around" and all that. 

But I've gotta hand it to you guys -- you've proven that killing a bunch of people can make an entire European nation cower in fear and capitulate to your demands -- not over the course of years of hard terror work, or months of bombings, or even weeks of coordinated attacks -- but within HOURS of a single big attack. And it's so cute how you made them mad at America instead of YOU -- I totally LOVE that part!

FINALLY the world is understanding that you guys are SERIOUS -- "C'mon, guys! We're not joking!" (remember when Osama sent THAT video out?!?) -- but it just makes me so happy to know that you're finally on the way to establishing a world-wide medieval theocracy based on fear, torture, and oppression.

I'm just so sorry the U.S. didn't fold so easily -- otherwise you guys would REALLY be making some headway about now... 

17 March 2004

Heard that Hank passed away (see below) -- so sorry to know he's gone. I guess it all came up suddenly, from what I've been told -- I had barely even heard he was sick and then got another e-mail saying it was over. 

I also have heard more about my uncle (also see below) -- it seems they've decided to go with a new drug to treat his tumor, so new that they don't even know what the side effects are. That's scary, dude. So please pray for him if you think about it. 

. . .

Now, I don't cook much. I mean, you know, I eat plenty, but cook very little. 

So tonight I had this crazy idea -- "I'm gonna have me some hot dogs." I'd just gotten some fresh bread last night, and a new bottle of ketchup -- so that package of wieners had been calling my name all DAY, yo. 

I get the water boiling, and I break open the package (dutifully keeping the second half closed so they'll stay fresher, right?)... I was about an inch from laying those dogs in that temptingly boiling water when I thought, "Oh, I'd better check the date on these so I don't leave the second half to spoil."

The "best before" date was the 17th. 

Of October. 

Of 2003.

Goodbye, hot dogs -- hello, cup noodles!

16 March 2004

I just got the news that an old jazz acquaintance, Hank Marr, is in the hospital in Columbus with terminal cancer. I've been told he doesn't have long to live, and is heavily sedated to help with the pain. 

Now, Hank isn't what you'd call famous, unless you knew him. But yeah, he was REAL famous to the people who knew him. 

You see, Hank plays the B3, the monster of an instrument by a little company by the name of Hammond -- they make organs, you know. Well old Hank, see, even to the last, used to cart around one of these beasts like there was no choice. And I guess there WASN'T a choice, actually, because that old B3 was as vital to Hank as his right arm. At least that's what we all thought, anyway. He had a special trailer for his van where he'd pack that thing, in and out, in and out, and we're talking a BEAR of a box to lug around, people. But he did it over and over and over and over. We used to talk sometimes, a few of us who really admired Hank, and we'd wonder how many times he'd loaded that big old B3 in and out of that trailer. 

Hank put out a few CD's in his day, and you can buy some of his last work over at my friend JD's website -- http://www.themusicresource.com 

But the thing is, you'd be missing out on the REAL "Hank Marr Experience"... 

Man, that guy -- and those of you who may have ever heard Hank play live will be nodding your heads about now -- but that guy could rock the house like no one else I've EVER heard. I mean it -- he'd be slippin' and slidin' all over a blues, typical greasy stuff, just lettin' it flow, you know... But then, after he'd played about 15 choruses, he'd break it down, see -- I mean down WAY low... and he'd let it simmer there for a chorus or two... just toyin' with you, see... and then, after a bit, he'd start to crank that thing up, and you'd see that look in Hank's eye, and everyone would scoot to the edge of their seats... JD would punch me in the arm -- we knew it was coming! -- and Hank'd give his head a little shake -- and the next thing you know that old B3 was pumping and rocking back and forth, and the crowd was screaming like a bunch of girls watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. And okay, I never screamed out loud myself, but I'm telling you something, when Hank would hit that sweet spot, and he'd put his fist down on those keys -- just slam his fist down and let it sit there, brother -- and that old Leslie was smoking and rattling back and forth -- dude, you just had to smile, and shake your head, and look at the guy next to you and say, "THAT is a guy who knows how to play!"

So what I'm saying is, Hank is the bomb, but even if you bought every CD he ever played on, you'd NEVER be able to come CLOSE to knowing how great he really was. 

Because when Hank rocked the house, the HOUSE was ROCKED, dig? 

. . .

My Uncle David down in Memphis is really in a fix with his health these days. He has a very rare tumor which only occurs in about 1 in a million people, and I won't tell you all the details but when the words "Mayo Clinic" are thrown about, you start getting serious real fast, you know? We're very, very concerned.

I also heard about a friend's friend here in HK today, a girl in her 30's named Ka Lai who has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. 

So if you are into this prayin' thing at ALL, I'd really like you to remember these three folks -- THANKS.

14 March 2004

Pardon my French, but computers are BUTT.

13 March 2004

I love computers.

I HATE computers.

In the midst of my software fiasco (related below in yesterday's post -- the saga is still ongoing, getting WORSE in fact), but in the midst of that fiasco (and it is definitely a FIASCO of histrionic proportions for me), but in the midst of all that, I have spent the last HOUR AND A HALF trying to log onto the stupid MSN Messenger service. I started at 3:30am HK time, because I need to make a phone call to the States about technical support and my licensing agreements on this software, and MSN Messenger is the only way I have to make an international phone call. 

So I've spent 90 minutes, in the freaking MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, trying to just log onto the crappy thing, and now the support hours are over, and I can't even call them (at my own expense, I point out), but I can't even call them now until MONDAY, which will be TUESDAY for me because we're a day ahead of you guys. 

Stupid. 

I love computers. 

But I HATE computers.

12 March 2004

I still honestly intend to fill you in on my trip to the States, including posting the coolest photos, etc. -- but still no time for that yet. 

Instead, you have GOT to go check out the new Jonatha Brooke CD, you can listen to almost the whole thing here (for now, at least):

http://www.jonathabrooke.com/music/backinthecircus.php

This girl rocks hard, and I was so glad to see her "live" in Louisville before I came to HK a few years ago... And anybody who lets you check out their entire record online before you buy it is cool in my book. 

. . .

Meanwhile I'm trying to download the license to Cubase -- it's the main music software I use -- trust me, I've given these guys thousands of dollars since I first bought into this program in '97, it is very, VERY powerful, obviously... But here I'm sitting, after paying for my latest upgrade, and I can't even USE the stupid thing. I mean, there are LOTS of cracks of this software out there on the internet, if you want to find them, go ahead, it's not that hard if you know where to look. But yet again, it's the PAYING CUSTOMERS who actually sit here on a Thursday night for hours on end, just continually getting these maddening "license server not running, please try again" messages!!! 

All I'm saying -- and this isn't a speech, just a comment -- but all I'm saying is that copy protection is just about the STUPIDEST thing ever. Either come up with REAL copy protection or let me, your freaking PAYING CUSTOMER, just use the dumb thing without making me jump through 1,000 hoops, and then you don't even give me my license?!?!?

Just so you know, to install, you must remove your HARDWARE DONGLE, something most of you know nothing about because NORMAL software doesn't even BOTHER with such garbage. But you remove the dongle, then install the software, dutifully entering the serial number when prompted, then install any patches (there was one), then plug the dongle back in and start the "license control center" software, where you must now enter your authorization codes, then wait while it connects to the internet and downloads a new license to the hardware dongle. Remember, between every single step you have to restart the whole computer. And so I go through all that, and at the final step, it hangs -- "License server not running -- please try again later!"... 

I'm surprised they didn't put a stupid SMILEY FACE on there.... 

11 March 2004

Just a quick post:

I was updating some "background" things on the website here, and in a weird and convoluted chain of thought that I won't bother explaining, it led me to listen to some .mp3's I have here from a band I used to play with called Via. One song in particular jumped out at me (called Truth In This World Of Lies), because it has one of the coolest lines my friend Bobby Carby ever wrote:

Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it... 

. . .

It's 77 degrees with 95% humidity today -- did I mention how much I **HATE** HK weather?

10 March 2004

Okay, it's the 10th of March, but only because it's 1:30am in the morning. I just now got back to HK and wanted everyone to know I made it fine and it was a gross trip but I'll hopefully talk more about that later. Thanks to my friend Fonna for helping with my mail while I was gone, ha ha... 

I'm tired, it took 26 hours to get here, so I'll sign off for now, if you please... 

8 March 2004

It's been a great two weeks in the USA, I've done a lot and seen a lot of people -- but I guess you know I wish I had about one more week. 

Anyway, I leave for the airport in about 25 minutes, should be in HK by Tuesday night (HK time). 

4 March 2004

I'm telling you, I honestly wish I could be several places at once. Specifically, this weekend there are three places in this world I'd love to be:

In fact, I will suffer the ravages of choice #1 above, helping my friend Chris (a.k.a., "Mr. Strange and Wonderful") lead worship for those kids -- it will be a blast. 

But I still wish I would be behind doors number 2 and 3, too... 

29 February 2004

The first paragraph in the South China Morning Post article today reads:

"Xinhua yesterday ended its shadow boxing and for the first time directly named the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China as being unpatriotic."

Xinhua is the official media arm of the central Chinese gubment, in case you didn't know. And labeling the alliance as "unpatriotic" means they are going down, brother -- in case you didn't know. 

I have stated this many times privately before, though never to any HK people. But now let me say it publicly -- (why not?) -- anyone who is foolish enough to actually believe that democracy (in the form of universal suffrage) will come to HK in this generation is pathetically delusional. 

I hope I am wrong. But I'm not... wrong, I mean...

No, HK will never be what it once was, NEVER. It is on the way DOWN. It sounds so negative, but the facts are there for any to read. There are too many in the mainland who want those spoiled, upstart "college boys" down in HK to get their slap-down. 

"The nerve of these guys in HK trying to actually control their own destiny -- we NEVER intended anything of the sort," the mainland legal experts seem to say. 

Friends -- my dear HK friends -- they've been saying this from Day One, where were you?!?

HK is my favorite place in the entire world, there is no other place I would rather be, me thinks. But the optimism that some people there seem to have towards the central gubment belies an alarming disregard for the last fifty years of Chinese history. "These new guys running China are a new generation -- they seem more open." YEAH, you mean the new "open" guys who are preparing the massive assault on Taiwan -- THOSE guys?!? The ones who are bulldozing churches in the mainland -- THOSE guys, right? 

Fortunately, "one person, one vote" isn't the only formula for personal happiness and economic well-being. We all know that, even if I do get a little dramatic when I talk about it. So even if no one ever votes for the Chief Executive, maybe things can still turn around and HK can at least maintain a sense of vitality for the next 10 or 15 years. 

Hey, we all gotta dream, right? 

. . .

I'm still enjoying my time in the USA -- only one week to go before I'm back on that plane for home in HK. I was sitting here a while ago realizing that it is already Monday there, and the kids are already in class. You know, thinking things like, "Oh, yeah, Wan is probably having her English class now, and I'll bet Flora is up in the library," ... you know, stuff like that. 

I miss it, I miss the kids, etc., ... but I could still use another week here, I think.

Whatever. More dreaming, I guess... 

27 February 2004

I just returned a few hours ago from a week in Nashvegas, TN for a great church conference -- it was lots of fun to see all those friends and to tell people about the stuff we are doing in HK. 

Now, having SAID that, I'm sorry that I'm way too lazy to actually upload any photos now -- especially since it seems that my mom's computer is distorting the graphics (does anyone else see that happening to the main menu bar at the top of this page, or is it only messed up here?)... 

Anyway, so I'm not gonna get too funny and do anything complicated until I'm back in HK next week. I'll fix any messed up graphics then, too...

I will say that there were possibly some very interesting developments while I was in Nashburgville, now if I can just have the patience to wait and see what God really wants me to do about it all, then I'll feel a lot better.

22 February 2004

Okay, I made it, thank heavens. Just wanted all you in HK to know I'm home and doing fine. 

If I have any energy I'll try to update you on the next two weeks' events while I'm here.

21 February 2004

In a few hours I'll be heading off to the old US of A to attend our big church conference in Nashville next week. The three videos I've tried to cobble together for one of the workshops I'm helping with turned out okay -- not great at all, but just okay -- and the DVD seems to play in my player here... even though I coded the whole thing from the beginning as NTSC and I thought my DVD player only worked with PAL format...? 

Anyway, if you happen to read this and want to say a small prayer, go ahead and shoot it my way -- first for safety throughout, and then for lots of work and play with no illness or other party pooping going on... 

13 February 2004

This video clip (see below) is of a rehearsal of our school's choir yesterday. It's the song Edelweiss, and they had asked me to come in and help them with the pronunciation of some of the words (since it's in English). Well, they hardly needed my help except for a few phrases, and after we had worked on saying those individual phrases a bit, I asked the teacher if they would actually SING the song for me once so I could videotape it. I knew they had won top prize in every singing competition they had ever entered -- it's true -- so I was anxious to film them singing a bit in English.

But I was not prepared for what I heard coming out of these kids' mouths... 

Let me tell you, from the first notes, I almost broke down and cried -- I'm not kidding. These are kids I've known and taught and loved for three years -- as this video pans left and right, you are seeing a big part of my "world" in HK -- and to hear them singing so beautifully just moved me deeply. 

Now, I realize this video clip doesn't do the "moment" justice. They don't exactly hit all the notes they are supposed to hit. Most of them are just sitting there slouching like they were doing math homework or something. And the audio in this recording is less-than-great, that's obvious, too -- they were singing pretty loud and it kind of distorts in some places. 

But there was an energy in that room, in that spot where I was sitting, in that moment. And I wish I could help you feel it, too. 

The file is large -- over 16.2MB -- so if you don't have broadband it might take a while to download.

Yao Dao Primary School Choir -- Edelweiss (approx. 16.2MB download)

7 February 2004

I said I'd try to give you some photos of the kids from our school who were in the ballet competition the other day -- see the post from February 2nd, below -- and against all odds, this time I'm actually doing what I said I would. 

Click on any image for a LARGER version:

The girls in this ballet class  are mostly  P1 to P3. Here are  a few, getting ready to go to the big competition...	You should look at the large version of this photo so you  can see the girl on the right.  She is the one I called "The Chubby One" the other day, and note that here she is the only one still eating lunch.  Anyway, when she saw this girl, she was SHOCKED!		Two first graders.
This girl is giving me the  universal sign for "take my  photo!!" -- always goes with a "Tsk, tsk" sound of the  imaginary shutter release...	Here's what the competition looked like. You can see the expensive costumes and precision choreography. Our girls didn't have that.		Ha ha, you saw this photo and thought, "Glenn, it looks like a bunch of girls just running around randomly on the stage!" -- silly you!!
Notice the poses and facial expressions of these kids -- this  is exactly the amount of uniformity and precision they exhibited throughout their performance. I don't want to sound too negative, they were surely CUTE -- but they just aren't good dancers... yet... like, at ALL...		After the "show" we jumped back on the bus to head back to school -- most of them had some leftover lunch to snack on. This girl was dramatically relishing her bread because she knew I hadn't eaten lunch!!

. . .

Oh, I found this photo in my files from a recent trip to the Tin Shui Wai Fire Station:

"Dude, you keep your FOAM in there!"

. . .

I just now read that HK has been ranked 33rd among the world's most pleasurable cities for expats to live and work in. According to the report in the South China Morning Post, "The city tied with six others -- Atlanta, Barcelona, Chicago, Luxembourg, Miami and Lexington, Kentucky."

6 February 2004

What Am I Missing Here? 
I'm no economics expert. There, I said it. But I gotta tell ya, I'm stumped on this one. 

You all know bird flu is sweeping Asia. And people around these parts know that eating too many parts (of animals) can really KILL you -- remember, we're in practically the epicenter of worldwide "Civet Cat Snack Cakes" production. 

But despite all that, HK has barely blinked at bird flu. 

There are a few reasons for that -- HK feels it's been through the worst viral epidemics possible (e.g., SARS) -- how could this stupid "bird flu" compete with SARS? -- plus, there's the fact that, so far, HK's chickens are "clean" (or as "clean" as a chicken raised in a wall of cages can be). 

Anyway, I'm just puzzled by the news tonight. They said that live chicken sales (in the markets) had been banned in HK this past week, but the ban was lifted today. So the thing that I can't understand is that they said that the price of chickens had doubled. BUT, the demand was almost zero. Do you see how this seems weird to me? It's like, people are wary of buying chickens because they don't completely trust the "supply" -- but because supply is limited (from normal), the price had jumped from about $45 HK (which equals about $5 US) to about $70 HK = $9 US. 

Okay, so there are fewer chickens -- "supply is low" -- so what? The important part is that NO ONE WANTS THOSE CHICKENS, and especially not at double the price. 

They showed one market stall and the woman complained, "Normally by this time, I would have sold a couple of dozen chickens, but today I've only sold 5! The price is just too high!" -- and they showed the signs on her stall asking $85 HK for some larger chickens. 

"Most of the customers just complained about the high prices and left," another woman said. "I only sold 10 chickens today!"

OKAY, so here's a shocking idea I got from my Economics 101 textbook: "Why not LOWER the price of your chickens?"

Do you see what I'm saying? Chicken is a HUGE part of the Chinese diet -- but if people won't buy chickens at a certain price, then go to the store, buy yourself a magic marker -- make a big "X" on the old price, and write a new, lower price next to it. You'll make a smaller margin, but at least you'll be doing business.

I'm not joking -- what have I missed here? 

They said the "sold out" sign went up pretty quickly as stall owners snatched up the smaller supply of chickens for sale (the government has limited the supply for safety), and that vendors were paying about 30% more than usual -- "so that price increase is being passed on to end customers." 

Oh, yeah? WHAT customers?!?!?

"Some vendors are considering slashing prices to sell more chickens," the news anchor said.

Good thinking, Sherlocks of the Poultry Trade...  

. . .

I saw this news item on the internet (from a legitimate source) about a British hotel manager who refused to give a patron a glass of tap water with her meal. Apparently she wrote a letter of complaint, and this is how he replied in defense of his "no free water" policy:

"I buy the ice that goes into the water and I buy the labor to serve the water. I provide the luxury surroundings for the water to be drunk in and again pay for the labor and washing materials to wash the glass after you've used it, and you think that I should provide all of this free of charge," he wrote.

2 February 2004

I know you guys in the States are freezing about now, but it's been warm here in HK. Last night at about 1am (yes, I was up at 1am), I checked the HK Weather Observatory's website and it was something like 67 degrees. Whatever, I was sweating... and I wore a short-sleeve shirt to school today and was comfortable, if not warm. 

But it is supposed to get "cold" again tomorrow night, and stay that way for a few days. Then I'm pretty sure that will be the last "cold" spell we have here. And when that happens, it's that sad time of year where you pack up your heavy jacket, put away the long-sleeve shirts for good, and put the heater back in its "sit-here-until-next-Christmas" spot. 

Tomorrow I'm supposed to go with some kids to a dancing competition. I didn't know anything about this until today, but there is a Saturday dancing class (ballet) with about 15 girls (mostly first, second and third graders). So tomorrow they have this competition with dance classes from the entire city of HK, and they asked if I would go to help take photos (which is one of my favorite jobs, by the way). 

Well, so today I went to take some "preliminary" photos, and we watched their last rehearsal with their dancing teacher. This girl (the teacher) is from outside the school so I don't know her, and she isn't able to go with them to the competition tomorrow -- so this really was their "last chance" to work things out. 

Anyway, those girls are SO cute, I can't stand it. When I walked in the room, they all cheered and (literally!) jumped up and down with their arms in the air --  the two other teachers I was with didn't even get a nod. Well, after I was able to pull my by-then-monstrous EGO through the door, they got down to practicing -- and I stress again, they are CUTE!!! Just as cute as they can be... 

HOWEVER, they are also about the most horrible dancers I've ever seen. Not trying to be a jerk, but geez, it's the truth. They were pathetic! The other two teachers who were there watching the rehearsal with me kept muttering, "Ho loon-ah!!!" -- which if I know my Chinese means something like, "What a mess!" or maybe, "Chaos!!" And yeah, it was total pandemonium. They had no idea what they were doing. BUT THEY WERE HAVING A BLAST -- you have never seen a bunch of kids having so much fun dancing. There was Serious Sally, who acted like she was at the Bolshoi... There was the Giggle Box, who couldn't stop laughing, even as she haphazardly bumped into every other dancer in the group... There was the Jumping Bean, who couldn't stand still for even ONE SECOND... There was Wendy Wallflower, who for some cursed reason stands a foot taller than everyone else, which made her so self-conscious she just slouched around the room -- head hanging -- trying to be as short as possible... Well, and of course there was Little Miss Cupcake, a.k.a. the Chubby One, who just kept sprawling out on the floor and shouting at the ceiling, "Ho gooey!!!" ("I'm tired!")... 

Hopefully I'll get some good photos and post them after tomorrow...

1 February 2004

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