Interestingness Rediscovered

Listening to negative views on our homeland without being disturbed: not bad

I received an email from a friend who is visiting Japan, my home country, ranting about how much she hates being there. After reading her email and reflecting on her thoughts and my inner reactions, I felt better about myself because I did not become emotionally disturbed. Although I felt a bit sad reading her anecdotes, especially because her observations were accurate and persuasive, I found myself curiously calm. I’m sorry about how you felt. You hate Japan, I love it, for the same or different reasons, and we are both right. That was a good feeling.

I have always aspired to be an “International” person in my mind, without defining what exactly that clunky term meant, carrying a mental image of a free-spirited traveler who easily crosses borders, cultures, races, languages...whatever barrier that exists. That image is fading away (better be), but the idea of “internationality” is getting clearer. It is to accept many truths, all equally. To clarify further, I list below what is international and what is not (local), for me.

International:
Who chose his community because he loves them
Equality
Either-and
Horizontal
Forgiving

Local:
Who chose his community because he thought people will love him more
Chauvinism
Either-or
Vertical
Unforgiving

...Maybe the list induced further confusion. If so, please just move on.

I used to look down on “local” people, especially who try to protect their tiny ego under the name of patriotism. My ears picked up their comments fairly accurately amid waves of fast-pitched Japanese, English, Mandarin Chinese, or even local Taiwanese dialect. "This is not sushi" "China invented football" “What is Italian Noodle?” “Give me a real bread, please” “Service doesn’t exist here”
Of course, deep inside I was looking down on myself, projecting my then-current state on those conversations. What am I doing here? Right now, probably I am finally getting closer to the person I have envisioned, at least in terms of that internationality.

Or is this accepting piece of mind a coping mechanism? Japan’s speciality has always been absorbing foreign elements and turning them into something cute and harmless. Being still a Japanese, am I just doing the mental version of cutransformation?  I have no clear answer yet. In the meantime, I keep picking Chinese pancakes at a food stand (read: everybody keep standing from start to finish), saying hello to gigantic cockroaches walking by. The pancakes taste damn good, that’s all that matters.

Avatar review

It is a great movie, but the title "Avatar" is misleading. It should have been called "James Cameron's Greatest Hits Collection." There are so many recurring theme from his past works found in this movie.

• Tough chick in a white sleeveless shirt? Seen in: Aliens, Terminator 2

• Cold-blooded businessperson? Seen in: Aliens

• Over-indulging narration? Seen in: The Terminator

• Borrowed storyline (in this case, Dances with Wolves + Pocahontas)? Seen in: The Terminator

• Awesome CG that is so realistically CG than real objects? Seen in: The Abyss, Terminator 2, Titanic

• Blue-cheesy dialogue? ("I see you." "I see you.") Seen in: Titanic and all

Cal Hockley: You're going to him? To be a whore to a gutter rat?

Rose: I'd rather be his whore than your wife.

Was it good enough to knock The Terminator off the seat of best James Cameron film? Sadly no, and it is partly because of technical limitation. Even the mighty Cameron, his 1,000-plus men, and US$300 million budget couldn't make chemistry out of blue CG-alien masks.

Chemistry. That is the reason why after all these years, The Terminator remains his staple movie for many fans, including myself. The Terminator is just another low-budget 80's movie shot in guerilla mode with laughable special effects and bad hairstyle. But the main characters made it endlessly watchable, supported by clever plot and great actions. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to play the title role (his real awesomeness is not that he found Terminator but that he got over it), Michael Biehn was believable as a loyal soldier with a golden heart, and Linda Hamilton literally transformed herself from a naive girl into a fearless warrior.

Actors in Avatar did the best they could, but since the majority of the interactions occurred in front of green background and blue masks, the film was fundamental handicapped in terms of acting. Stereotypical characters didn't help either. Unlike The Terminator, nobody in Avatar transforms himself or herself during the movie nor carries more than one dimension of personality.

Appendix: I hope wearing 3D glasses become obsolete soon. I had to keep pressing the dirty rubber lens to my nose bridge and narrow my eyes to secure visibility. Maybe it was a problem only found in Taiwanese Warner ViewShow (There, I made this entry connected with the blog topic).

The N generation

Every generation has a nickname attached to it. There are baby boomers (all over the world), lost generation (in Japan), X/Y generation (in the US). In Taiwan, the equivalent of the Y generation is called the "strawberry generation" (草莓族 - wow it's in Wikipedia). Indeed, they might be collectively soft and sweet and fragile as a strawberry. Whoever thought up that buzzword might be a genius, but I cannot help feeling sorry for those people with a ‘strawberry’ associated with their profile for whatever reason.

Worse, the association stays permanently, just like the music we have listened to as teenagers. (It is probably the only thing I envy about the baby boomers - they grew up on Beatles, unlike my Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, Starship, Bangles...that means, we are still likely humming We Built This City in our twilight. Doomed...)

That was a few years ago. Time flies, and Taiwan has the "N generation - N世代" coming out of the schools. N is for network, which is cool (Now I am really sorry, strawberries). According to Taiwanese media, this generation have spent almost all of their conscious life using computers and accessing the Internet. Beating War of the Warcraft wasn't a flock, after all - it is not clear if this guy belongs to the N generation bracket, but probably not too far off.

Shit, I could have seen it coming. It was exactly 18 years ago when my classmates and I were discovering the endless possibility of that magic black box called the Internet in our lab, by gazing into photos of people making out with horses.

My Chinese teacher pointed out one unique thing about this generation; they are accustomed to having all information immediately. The moment they want to know something or connect with someone, they can have it. Movie? Torrent. Music? iTunes. Rumors? Twitter. Updates? Facebook. I belong to the generation where we still feel the instant and permanent access to information is a luxury. For them, it is commodity.

I think the fundamental difference in attitude toward access to information makes a real generation gap, a game changer. We (olds) can adapt easily to new tools, new skills, even new cultures. But the attitude won't change. It's too deeply rooted in our psychology. Years of treating the new generations as our contaminated carbon copies are (already) over. They live in a different world, different enough to refuse makeshift catch-up in the old generation's mind.

Unstable future of Taiwan = tautology

According to the research conducted by the advanced Chinese learner's bible, 天下magazine - through Yahoo! Taiwan news, Taiwanese in general think:

• The economy will improve: 30% (the highest in 13 years)
• ...But not satisfied with the current economic situation: 73% (satisfied: 21%)
• Pessimistic/optimistic about the future: 47%/43%
• The widening gap between the rich and the poor is worrisome: 93%

On the surface it seems like Taiwan is still covered with a flood of pessimism, but as far as I remember, it has always been like this for years. Are they really worried to their bones? I have a different theory: they might be answering "yes, I am worried" but deep down in their heart they might know they will be fine. My Taiwanese friends sometimes agree with this idea, sometimes not. The verdict is still out. (Another theory is that the research demographics and questions were biased to the extreme.)

I carry this idea of "safe worries" because of the situation happening in my home country, Japan. Not a single day goes by without seeing sensational, catastrophic news titles dancing in Japanese newspapers and magazines.

• The US army reduces its stake in Japan -> China rules the world
• Imported vegetables and crops are replacing expensive domestic products -> China rules the world
• Jackie Chen is remaking The Karate Kid and renaming it The Kung-Fu kid -> China rules the world

The real headlines are a bit more colorful than cacophony of sensational one-liners, but after viewing Japanese newspapers for a while, everything starts to look extreme, and therefore, flat. The real articles we want to read, that show us narrow paths between two extremes with sound logic and thorough research, do exist if we search hard, but not in the Google News home page.

While I find the textual noise unbearable at times, I also find it strangely reassuring. They still enjoy reading pessimistic notes. Sensational journalism suck up to the consumers (=we), and after all, we don't want to read or discuss issues if they are really, totally, fxxked. When we only have tingling feelings in our stomach, we enjoy the "professional takes on harsh realities"; when cold sweats start running on our back, it is time for the beloved gossips.

We cannot compare Japan with Taiwan, but I think our fundamental psychology does not change over cultures and countries. The pessimistic tone covering Taiwanese media is, at least for me, the sign that Taiwan is after all doing fine and people know it.

How to be a better blogger: 2/2

In the previous entry I wrote about a series of suggestions about becoming a better blogger and what I thought about them (they are all worth following, if not THE guidance - such thing doesn't exist). This entry is about one suggestion I created for myself that worked. It is not universally applicable and requires a certain amount of discipline, but if I were to pick only one rule that I should follow, this is it: Force yourself to write.

Writing (=typing), so far, is the only bootstrapping activity that works when I am down. Recently, I came home with a beaten heart, and whatever I could think of to distract my mind, let alone lift it up, did not seem to work. I did not want to write either, because writing a blog entry or even a Facebook snippet is still a task that has a certain level to be achieved. I didn't have the power to challenge myself.

But this time I knew I had to push myself because part of the reason of the down-ness came from realizing that I have a long-time habit of looking for an external cure (friends, entertainment) when I am in a bad situation. They certainly make me feel better, but they never SOLVE the core problem for me. It is astonishing why I couldn't see this point clear after so many years. There is one person who can make changes, and zero other than myself.

Reluctantly I opened my Typepad dashboard; writing was still the only thing that seemed to lift myself up and at the same time push me. I started typing on my computer and before I knew an hour had passed. Everything bad that happened previously went out of my head, or more precisely, were left in the peripheral field of my head, half-ignored. Putting the words in order and making the story work as much as possible became my priority, at least for the time. Writing did not solve any of the problem I had. But at least it allowed me to sleep peacefully. There is always a better way out as long as we wake up in the morning having a good sleep.

I knew it was a special case - in most days, writing does not come easily. Commenting or replying based on an email or article is easy, but creating a structured writing on my own is a real work with sole responsibility on myself, which is what I do not want to face especially when I am feeling down.

The interesting thing is that even though writing a blog entry did not directly solve the issues I had, therefore putting writing into one of the "distracting" activities, I did not feel guilty at all. A distraction is called a distraction because of the guilt you feel when you face real life afterward, finding yourself sitting in the same old position, having changed nothing. Looking the other way is not the same as moving on... In addition, self-criticism, guilt, and shame are in fact, distractions in disguise. Therefore the vicious cycle continues...

Writing did not work that way. I got energized, and at the same time, I did not have the feeling that I wasn't doing what I was supposed to do (I won't go so far to say I did the right thing). I still woke up during my sleep, but instead of the naked 3AM terror of regret, I went to my laptop and wrote another entry: this one. And I still had a nice sleep after all.

Lessons learned

• When in doubt, write.
• Getting started is the hardest writing activity. Work on it.
• Don't wait for a last-minute rescue team to arrive when you are down.
• Reusing a link is lame.

How to be a better blogger: 1/2

Penelope Trunk, one of my favorite bloggers, held a webinar (web + seminar) on becoming a better blogger, hosted by her 3rd startup, Brazen Careerist. Her key messages were the bold-typed five points, which are simple and easy to understand (presumably easy to follow too).

This is the first part of the two entries on becoming a better topic. The second one deals with my personal experience: what worked for me actually. As a defense on putting such a dumb title, I must also say that not writing an entry on becoming a better blogger could be the way to become a better blogger. Just write "real" entries, man.

Have a topic.

Penelope: Topic is a contract between readers. Surprise them sometimes, but keep the promise as much as you can.

I reluctantly agree with Penelope. Although I like my aimless writing style, I am also learning that it does not bring me too far as a writer. I have two blogs: this, and a Blogger blog. The other blog has a topic: technical communication. This one doesn't. But it is this blog I have more fun writing. It is a mashup of everything that stimulated my curiosity in my life. Yet, the word "everything" suggests that I cannot describe what that blog is about. Probably it is more of an excuse for not focusing on a topic.

I don't think we should force ourselves to limit the blogging topic to one or two categories. Still, a blog without a topic might just be called a diary. Who cares about reading that? So it is better to have a topic. If we are having a hard time defining it, we can re-read what we have written to find an underlying theme that constantly emerges, and make a topic out of it. For this blog's case, it is: Learning+Taipei (tentatively).

Write at the edge of the topic.

Penelope: Don't write the obvious (such as 5 ways to screw your design). Write something about the intersection between topics you are familiar with. Whatever is mainstream, it is already done.

Too late, I am already writing two entries on how to become a better blogger. I agree, stating the obvious is lame. Putting a personal spin might work, but probably what she wanted to say was staying on the edge makes it much easier to make our blogs unique, than staying in the center and trying to be edgy. Which is like trying to be cool. Doesn't work...

Learn.

Penelope: No one likes know-at-all. Write what you have discovered. If you don't, it gets boring.

"Write what you know" used to be the mantra back in our school days and in our worklife. It does not work anymore, at least in blogging, because no one cares about what we already know (even ourselves) - it's all there in Wikipedia. The act of writing is for the author, but the manuscript ultimately belongs to the readers. We cannot bore them.

The new mantra should be "Write what only you can." It is not about making things up: it is about pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone and write about something new as we explore new territories, such as urban life + gardening. Or Geisha + Steampunk. I don't know what I am talking about.

Be interesting and short.

Penelope: Anything more than 600 words is over-indulgent.

This entry has around 1,000 words. Enough said. I pretend that the Q&A list tucked behind the main text body should be treated as a pseudo-separate entry. It's optional. How is that?

You have to care.

Penelope: About your topic/community. Write with the community in your mind. Remember, a blog is a conversation.

Am I caring? Am I engaged in a conversation? No. So far, my blog consists mainly of my monologue. Monologue works only if the subject is aptly defined, or if it's Ayn Rand. I will start caring more about people who read this blog. I say it to myself for the 15th time this year.

 -------------- The Q&A session --------------------

Q: What about Pioneer Woman? Boing Boing? They don't seem to have topic.

A: Pioneer Woman is HOUSEWIFE PORN. (Isn't that a topic?) Many topicless blog started at the early age of blogging. Nowadays you won't get traction being topic-less.

Q: What if I cannot find a good topic?

A: Write what you are curious about. You will naturally hit a topic.

Q: Isn't topic limiting?

A: No. Look at how much extra stuff I, Boing Boing, TechCrunch can put in.

Q: What is the hook to keep people coming?

A: Be honest. Trust who you are (no matter how messy your life looks) and write about things that are bothering you.

Q: How can I avoid being boring?

A: Think of what you say at a cocktail party. (Yours truly: I pretend this advice never existed.)

Q: How can you learn while showing yourself as know-it-all?

A: Nobody cares what you know.

Q: How should I promote my blog?

A: (Ryan Paugh) You really need to reach out to other people on the blog. Get involved in a community. We have seen great writers who did not reach out to many people thus did not gain many readers, but saw that situation change when they started being involved in Brazen Careerist. (Yours truly: to be fair, he is the Communication Manager of Brazen Careerist, and my limited experience shows that he genuinely cares about others.)

Q: How do I know I am doing well?

A: Don't use the traffic as the sign. Good signs are: Do you keep going on your blog? Did you get a job?

Q: What if you hit a wall?

A: Write! Be an adult, get up every day, do it! Force yourself to sit down!

Q: What if I want to take back what I have written?

A: Why would you do so? Put it there, learn from your own stupidity!

Q: Can I write stream of conscience?

A: No, you need to edit heavily. I edit several times to make it a "good" stream of conscience. Hire an editor if you can. (Yours truly: I am seriously thinking of this option.)

The great beef debate

"I would not eat American beef" said my trusted Chinese teacher.

Our Chinese lessons consist of reading local magazine articles and discussing over them. That week's topic was the Taiwanese government's decision to lift the ban on importing American beef, which was rumored to be highly contaminated through chemicals and unregulated meat packing practices.

Is American beef "unsafe"? I don't know and I believe most people here neither. But people accept it as a fact. Walk into a restaurant and more often than not it proudly makes a statement: "We use 100% New Zealand beef". I recently took a friend to my favorite beef noodle restaurant and she demanded it uses non-US beef exclusively. She is not a superstitious person.

Another fact about American beef is that it is the most inexpensive of the three major imported beef brand: Australia, New Zealand, and US. Cheap=unsafe, that is what we have learned over the years thanks to the media. Also, Taiwanese media is ruthless when it comes to rumors on safety issues, being so close to China.

So is it just another exaggerated phobia? That's what I thought at first, having experienced similar but worse situation in Japan several years ago; when the mad cow disease (the clunkiest name ever for a disease) ruled the gossip world and gave tons of job opportunities to news reporters, a major beef-rice bowl restaurant chain decided to ditch beef entirely and use pork instead. That's like, a steak restaurant throwing out T-bones and sirloin and instead using buffalo wings and pork chops, but still insisting their expertise is steak. Madness certainly existed back then, though in human imagination than in cow brains.

Back in that class, both my teacher and I found a curious statistics in the magazine article; an average Taiwanese consumes twice as much beef as Japanese or even Korean. That was a surprise even for her - is it possible that Taiwanese eat beef much more than the money-studded Japanese and even more, the Koreans who eat barbecue and kimuchi every day (in our individually smart, collectively dumb imagination).

I said probably it was due to the beef noodle industry. My teacher said it cannot be - how much beef can you afford in a standard NT$100 (US$3) noodle? She had a much solid and logical explanation to the unexpected statistics: it's because of the all-you-can-eat buffet that rules Taiwanese restaurant industry and plagues our health.

That explanation made sense. If you are allowed to eat as much meat as you want, you will certainly consume more than your day's share in a single meal. Buffet restaurants are everywhere in Taipei, and they typically cost about NT$350 (US$10). Nice deal.

So that is how the discussion ended. The lessons learned? Taiwanese eat more meat than Koreans, therefore the high level of caution against contaminated beef is not unreasonable.