Ramin Djawadi
—Main Title
One of my favourite franchise theme music of all time. Let’s embrace the arrival of the third season of Game of Thrones!
Les Miserables International Cast
—Do You Hear the People Sing?
The posting of this song is long overdue. My blood figuratively boils when I listen to this song.
Nerdy Conversation Anyway
- Me: I do appreciate the whole concept of the Clone Wars and Order 66, gives a lot more to the Jedi Order.
- My friend Tim: About that Order 66. Are you telling me, that within the years of being a chancellor, Palpatine has issued only 65 orders before killing all the Jedis?
- Me: And I hate Emperor Palpatine even more after watching the prequels.
- LOL
- That's just a code name.
- Robot Chicken actually made a parody of that.
- Tim: He's not a very memorable character....all he does it saying how good and dandy the dark side is.....never explained what it is....we are just told it is great.....
- Me: But what he did, that I read, is the act of perpetual war.
- He tricked the Jedi Council, he tricked the Senate, though it's Jar Jar Binks.
- But he almost achieved the impossible to bring down something as invincible as the Jedi Council.
- Tim: Nah...according what I've seen from the new trilogy, all they did was sitting in a circle and judging other peopel.....
- Me: Yeah. That's what's horrible about the writing of the prequels.
- They didn't portray it well.
- I read more about their backgrounds and was quite impressed.
- Some of the animated Star Wars episodes about the Jedis were pretty good.
- Tim: Matter of fact, what kind of agency are they, from a perspective of the governmental system of the Republic.
- Are they executive? Legislative? Judiciary? ...
- Does the republic even have separation of church and state? Or the council is like some sort of the Spanish inquisition tribunal....
- Me: They are similar to the Spectres for the Council Space.
- Tim: So they are above the law
- Me: Yes. They perform as advisers and liaisons for the Republic Senate.
- Tim: I see...that explained why every time they just jump out of nowhere and start...you know..."farting at everyone's general direction" as I put it
- Me: Peace keepers in short.
- Tim: :)
- Me: lol
- It's sort of like a religion.
- They have their doctrines and belief systems.
- Tim: Oh no no no
- the Force is quit real
- the doctrines is based on facts
- Me: I stand corrected.
- Tim: Though one does need special talent to utilize the Force...
- Me: Midi-chlorians.
- Tim: Kinda makes you think that in an advanced society, one could simply build some implants to master it...
- you know...guess that's what they did with Grievous
- Me: It might be too powerful for the lesser kinds to sustain it.
- Tim: Imagine how easy life can be. you can just sit on the couch and reach for remote, desert, and beverages
- Me: Grievious is not Force sensitive.
- He can only fight with brute force.
- Tim: I'm confused....so anyone can use an lightsaber?
- Me: But not the Force.
- Yes.
- Tim: Okay...
- Me: But not anyone can make it.
- Tim: What do you mean?
- Me: And not properly trained, one is most likely to mutilate oneself.
- Tim: Then what is the use of the lightsaber
- I would think a gun is more powerful
- with longer range
- Me: It requires the Force to construct it.
- Tim: Why don't Jedis use force and a hand canon
- Me: It's more of a symbol than of a weapon.
- Like Ben Kenobi said "An elegant weapon for a more civilised time"
- A gun is uncivilised.
- Tim: Okay.....yet i think using a sniper rifle from a far distance i can kill as many as Jedis as i want....
- Me: Obi-wan said so after he killed Grievous with a blaster on Utapau.
- They will be able to deflect it.
- They can sense your presence.
- Tim: imagine that...
- won't they have headache when shopping in a mall?
- Me: Lol
- Maybe they can shut it off, I'm not sure.
- Tim: Okay...here's what i'm gonna do. i arrange a dozen snipers hiding on the ceiling of a super market. and when the Jedis walks in to do the groceries, i took him out by surprise
- Me: That actually could work.
- You can snipe anybody in that fashion, I suppose. Even Magneto.
One Hand Can’t Clap
I wrote The Economist a response to its article “Dangerous Shoals”, which is about the on-going island dispute between China and Japan.
Dear sir,
It would be an understatement to say that I am discontent with the opinions expressed in The Economist article titled “Dangerous Shoals”. I find the article unjustified and biased.
Growing up in China till adulthood and studying in Canada for college has granted me the ability to look at certain things, political issues especially, with perspective. Before coming to Canada and learning from free press of the West, I was one of those Chinese nationalists who you would see rallying on the streets or online chanting anti-Japan slogans. As I grow with age and knowledge, my beliefs and ideologies shift.
Consequently, I regard the Chinese reactions to the Diaoyu/Senkaku conflict as two sides of the same coin. As much as it is a sovereign country’s right to defend its land, Beijing may have blew the dispute out of proportion. As President G. W. Bush allegedly exploited 9-11 to distract the US public from economics crisis, the leaders in Beijing may have attempted to divert public attention from China’s rising social problems. Nevertheless, what one needs to realize is that it was Japan who ignited the islands dispute with its attempt to nationalize them, under the circumstance that the governments during the Deng Xiaoping era agreed to put the whole conflict of interests on the shelf. In addition, the recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine by newly re-elected prime minister Shinzo Abe can hardly be regarded as a gesture of amending the tensed situation between the two countries. The Economist has stated in its past articles that Japan needed to show efforts, putting accurate histories in textbooks for one, to heal wounds it cost East Asia in the past.
I started reading The Economist when I was still in China, and that was six years ago. One of the main reasons that I stayed with The Economist for so many years is its neutrality, objectivity, and most importantly, accuracy in reporting China. Regrettably, the conclusion in the article that “the world, including America, has a duty to warn China before it is too late, though warnings will be interpreted as conspiracies” shows little evidence of the press virtues of which I used to see in The Economist. I’m not suggesting that China is not with fault on the islands dispute, but as the saying goes, “one hand can’t clap”.
Skating in the snow is as enjoyable as swimming in the rain. (at Natrel Rink)
#Harboufront after some #snow. #Toronto (at Harbourfront)
Clint Mansell
—Leaving Earth
I must give a shout-out to Mass Effect. This is another amazing fictional world I have entered and I loved my experience in it. Mass Effect is hands down the best video game I have played so far. I particularly enjoy that I could make choices and control how the story develops. I got the game after the release of the extended cut, I love the game through and through, including the ending. Keelah se’lai!
Finally some heavy #snow in #Toronto. Kids are having fun gliding on the snow. (at Riverdale Park East)
Joanna Wang
—Let's Start from Here
Let’s Start From Here - Start From Here by Joanna Wang (王若琳)
KAL’s cartoon: this week, quite a ride.
They probably should have tied that dragon to the top of the car.
This is exactly what I have been doing for the past few weeks. I’m not American, I can’t vote in Canada, where I’m studying. Meanwhile, in two days will be the “election” of the next President of China by the 18th National Congress, in which I don’t have any say whatsoever either. However, at least I could talk freely about American politics online without fearing the “Thought Police” would knock on my door any second. Democracy outcast, what a shame.
Romney: 'Some Gays Are Actually Having Children. It's Not Right on Paper. It's Not Right in Fact.'
Here is what I think on Romney’s comment:
Every child does have a father and a mother, that is how human reproduction works. What a child’s right truly is, is the right to parents who love him/her and know what is best for him/her, whether they be of different genders or the same. By Romney’s logic, divorces of couples who have children should be illegal as well. Because divorces too, will strip a child’s right to one of the parents.
This is only one of the many issues, fiscal policies for instance, on which I find myself strongly disagree with Mr. Mitt Romney. The thought of this man becoming the next President of the world’s largest economy frightens me.
#Books I recently acquired. How long is it going to take me to read them all? (Taken with Instagram)
1984 by George Orwell (Taken with Instagram)
