KOO-L: Design of an Iconoclastic Signature

KOO-L is all in upper case with a hyphen that demarcates all three previous letters KOO from the last letter L. Evidently, KOO is the last name or surname of Dr. Koo Yew Lie. The letter L is derived and abbreviated from Lie while Yew is not considered.

The initial letter K in upper case appears like some eyes wide open into the panorama beyond, fittingly referring to Dr. Koo's profession for her never ending process of watching over her students' academic work in the world of linguistics, and in the constant changing of textual information. Soon after, the two circular Os conjure the repeating moment of seeing, as if to prolong looking at a particular subject with heightened caution or gazing curiosity. The final letter L completes the process of scanning in vista from top to bottom but dropping down to the level and reaching out to the subject, a humbling experience that Dr. Koo intrinsically possesses. In between KOO and L, a petite and associative hyphen closely thread the process of seeing, as the signifier, and the subject out in broad open space, as the signified.

The funky KOO-L is a cool kind of symbolic icon. Oh, it's so cool to look like a KOO-L!

Disclaimer:
It was really an inspiring moment when I saw Dr. Koo's signature in bluish color in Google email on March 16th, 2007. In her reply after my several trial combinations showing how her signature could be a form of symbolic icon prompted me to write the above explication. KOO-L is Dr. Koo's suggestion and under her consideration. The explication is a momentary creative imagination of what I know much or don't know anything at all about Dr. Koo; it is only to express esthetic by linking the Dr. Koo that I know so far. It is the esthetic world that I have enjoyed exploring; it is only to visualize this world into a more essential perspective.


Jeremy
Art Explication
March 17th, 2007
Hai Shanghai

Walk on By by Sindy Seng: A Zero Sum Theory when walk on by in life


Thursday, March 08, 2007

走过一些

一些以前是这样的，现在也还是这样的
一些我猜测过的，一些我怕是自己想多了的
一些贪婪的享受着的
一些什么也给不了只能自私的带点愧疚的
一些的一些
我今天才知道
我今天都知道了

一些的一些，原来我的猜测都没错
一些的一些，原来都好久了
一些的一些，谢谢你们
一些的一些，也只好就这样了

这一些，那一些，
也许有些美丽，也有些遗憾。

Posted by Sindy at 8:27 PM 1 comments

Walk on By: On the Form of Poem

The poem Walk on By is considered rather amusing as a form of structural pacemaker. When reading, one takes a small step for each of the giant step made. A small step when reading each and every word, and when reading each and every line. Likewise, it is a giant step made when reading all the words and all the lines altogether.

With occasional ponderous turn, the rhyming of each line and from line to line is able to gracefully usher one into reading, in cool, leisure stroll through the lackadaisical contents, the creeping meaning, and the crawling mind set of the poet.

It is very gratifying to read any poem and be coaxed into the poem's modulating step, in this case, of being able to complete reading each word, each line, and most of all, to read it all. It is the tempo that swings with inflection and intonation, and it could almost be the pulse rate beating simultaneously.

After reading, one tends to re-read those repetitively lines; the poem is rhythmically seductive. It can either be jazzy or be R&B; it can either be rap or be hip-hop. It can either be an easy listening or an adult contemporary; and with a little bit country and a little bit of rock 'n' roll. The poem achieves a very special acoustic quality, arising from the essential contents and meaning in it. The poem is musical. It is almost rapturous as in the background chorus and somewhat communally folksy. It is a colloquy and nearly a documentary. It is meditative and transcendental; it is so soulful.

Walk on By with Insights

Evocative from those lines: this and that; this or that; some of this and/or some of that. Just a little of this and/or a little of that; and a little of this out of the already little this and/or a little of that out of the already little that.

Life is so dramatically illusive yet attainable. We have to choose out of the available alternative; we also cannot have it all. We have to choose even though we may not be choosy or having no choice at all. Life is but a zero sum theory, neither gain nor loss but trade offs. Out of some inevitable sense of loss, along the way are some other things gained in life. Life balances itself.

Those poetic lines penned by Sindy envision and depict simple human acts, the fundamental truth in all of us. Those lines speak so honestly for esthetic quality is conveyed via honest portrayal of life and nature. Sindy speaks honestly and truthfully; these lines are straight from her heart. It is in her.

From Walk on By to Conclusion

With great sense of hope, the poem is filled with moments of gratefulness, acceptance and optimism. The poem intends not to personify, never to pretend or enact, not quite simulating or representing as in stage acts, hardly mimicking as a ventriloquist, and not even close to characterizing or portraying life, yes, life as in film making. The poem is in a state of deja vu and in its state of eureka. An absolute revelation, the poem is an Alpha and Beta.


Acknowledgement
Seng, Sindy. 走过一些. http//sindygarden.blogspot.com. Thursday, March 08, 2007.

It is one of the rare moments to be blessed for finding a good poem, and this explicated one came strutting along when linked through the poet's blog. The title Walk on By is adaptive from the poet's original 走过一些 for the purpose of inter-textual signifier and signified subjects. I am taking this opportunity to express gratitude for Sindy's warm reception and generously allowing her work to be used herein. Sindy's joyful surprise when hearing my request eventually led to the above explication of her poem.


Jeremy
Art Explication
March 15th, 2007

浅析断面图和《清明上河图》
A general analysis of Transect Map and Clear and Bright Festival Upon the River

断面图 Transect Map

经过二十多年的发展和规划，新都市主义New Urbanism已普及至全美国及其他一些欧洲和北美国家。美国的DPZ规划设计事务所研究了新都市主义的规划设计动向，约十年前宣称开发了用来分类和区别环境系统的断面图The Transect（如图）——由六个分区来组织从乡村到城市的全部环境元素。断面图有两个乡村分区：乡村保护区即T-1, Rural Preserve；乡下保留区即T-2, Rural Reserve。紧靠着T-2的是邻里边缘区即T-3, Neighborhood Edge Zone。图谱里接下来是普通邻里即T-4, Neighborhood General，然后是邻里中心即T-5, Neighborhood Center，最后是核心T-6, Core即市区中心或Downtown。

从断面图中我们可以综观具有乡村特点到城市特点的所有区域。乡村区域被划分为保护和保留区，前者永久保护乡村区域的自然环境界限，后者由于高品质环境和风景，目前则并不受保护但可能并应该受到保护。紧挨乡下保留区的邻里边缘区，可被划分为邻里中心或更大的城镇中心，而更大的城市中心适宜多个邻里的建设。虽然边缘区域是最纯粹的住宅区，但是也可以包含一些综合公共用途，比如学校。更具城镇个性的普通区大多数是邻里或住宅区，但有相当高密度的混合住宅类型，也有更多的综合用途。城市紧邻并且辐射城镇邻里区域，城市最具个性特征的核心区通常被认为是中心商务区CBD。

《清明上河图》Clear and Bright Festival Upon the River

北宋宋徽宗时期，张择端曾经以一幅风俗画《清明上河图》，呈现了不同形式的断面图概念。《清明上河图》描绘了经由郊区到城内的汴京（今开封）情景，从郊野经由汴河码头，再到市区街道、连续但不断的城乡区域。图画的散点透视构图划分了前段的郊野风景，经由中段的繁忙码头，再到后段的热闹城区；从乡下的草舍流水人家，经由交通要道的汴河，顺流而下，到人烟云集的街市。前前后后都可看到建筑设计和民居生活环境。形形色色、川流不息的人物、环境、时间情景突显出当时片段轮廓的经济、社会、文化的规划架构。

断面图对比《清明上河图》

断面图是一种典型的设计行业绘图方式，其最终目的在为公共领域、邻里结构、交通网络、建筑与都市主义设计生活方式、设计社会发展、设计人文环境。现在以断面图对照《清明上河图》，断面图更能显示其解码潜能。断面图展现了“可以直接转化为分区类别并制造渗透环境 "immersive environment"的功能。“渗透环境是指同时运作的全部人文主义的环境元素，以建设多过其局部总和的”1整体环境。

虽然只是反映当时的时间片段，《清明上河图》的现实主义风格却处处表现了连续不断的汴京渗透环境，整体城市的公共空间。汴京区域的生活、发展和环境轻易地被注入了新都市主义的原则；汴京区域渗透着断面图所提议的人文主义的环境元素，因此能够达到新都市主义的环境规划概念。

新都市主义宪章导言的一些基本原则，也在《清明上河图》里的城市规划布置情况中有所反映。比如：汴京区域有多样化的综合商业用途、联结的交通枢纽，配合着各区域的邻里和人口。重要的城市架构如城门、桥梁和运河也都清晰描绘出来。画中显现的社区环境是为了行人和交通，还有为了当时的交通工具而设计。同时，普遍可通行的公共空间和建设结构明显地塑造了汴京区域规模的实体城市和城镇型态。

《清明上河图》描绘了郊区到城内的人物、环境和清明时节风俗。新都市主义也提倡以地方历史、气候、生态来建设城市和城乡场所，并由建筑和景观设计作为框架。2《清明上河图》里反映的升华社会因为其社会发展充分渗透了人物、环境、时间的需求，而形成了欣欣向荣的社会面貌。比照之下，断面图的概念意图就在于处理类似《清明上河图》的描绘，其设置基于人物、环境、时间的规划设计架构，以便达到经济、社会、文化的综合成果。如果说《清明上河图》犹如理想的古代城市结构，断面图则适合现实的当今城市型态。

小结 Conclusion

从宋代到现代已经相隔了近九百年，宋代到现代的城市型态也随着时空而改变。城市规划的基本意图，就是要成功地将人与物，引进具有日常生活配备功能的综合人文和建设的环境。

假设将上海纳入断面图：从陆家嘴金融中心，越过黄浦江到外滩，经由南京东路的步行街到人民广场，连接淮海路到衡山路，经过徐汇公园后的徐家汇商业区为节点，之后是上海郊区地带。将上海键入断面图来分区类别 - 乡下rural、边缘edge、普通general、中心center、核心core - 经由详细的规范来指示稠密度、交通和街块的尺度、公园景观的设计及其它环境需求，上海的城市规划就可从断面图的渗透环境概念之中获得系统性建设性的解码功能。那么再继续延伸城市规划的概念，一个群体小区又会是什么样的断面图呢?

从开拓环境发展机会到多元的生活选择，从中国制造推陈中国创造的新意，从历史回旋之中升华建设时空的过程；从《清明上河图》到新都市主义，从上海到群体小区的断面图：都非常值得探讨未来发展的可能问题。


参考文献 References
1．http://www.anupa.org/transect.php.
2．http://jdqx21cn.nease.net/qingmingshanghetu/.
3．http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/zoning/newurbanism.html.
4．http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/zoning/newurbanism.html.
5．http://www.people.com.cn/GB/41426/41064/41129/3053822.html.

图片 Pictures
Clear and Bright Festival upon the River. Unknown source, supplied by Yejun.
Transect Map. www.dpz.com. SmartCode V6.5.


张 文德 Jeremy Tew
联创国际建筑研究中心United Design Group Architecture Research Centre
2005年10月

Plain Jane and Fashionable Jean

It's no point to harbor any primeval grrr...grudge or contempt against ugliness or beauty, but...distaste...

Last Sunday, March 11th, 2007, this giant Plain Jane was standing on my way when I was crossing a sky bridge to settle an errand at a graphic production store beyond. If there is any rule of thumb or common sense and by any formal standard or hidden agenda, this ugly, rather UGLY, is outright unacceptable. A big disgrace. Anyone living in it should be so ashamed of its design; those condensing units protrude like some venereal warts are qualifying examples of the helluva self-imposed humiliation. It is not a building; it is not a house; it is not a shed; and it not a shelter. It is not a design and it is not design. It is not even worthy to exist on Earth. It is so unsightly and surely a form of visual pollution. I just want to puke and only dynamite can salvage both Plain Jane and its designer's souls.

Not too far away and blessed by the balmy weather of the day, these two Fashionable Jeans were invitingly flashy and glitteringly showy under the hardly seen clear blue sky of Shanghai. Every inch of these buildings is blaring so loudly of capitalism. Oh, look at me, Sandra Dee! Come take me now! Oops, pardon...they are Fashionable Jeans. In fact, each is respectively adorned with a Mardi Gras globe and a dunce cone at the rooftops. Signs of The Third Coming, these decors are always glowing at night and they are almost the 'landmark signature' for one to judge or steer ways around this part of Lujiazui Commercial District or from afar. The actual construction date is unknown though; however, they are essentially the early postmodern style upsurged in the mid-1980s.

There are many Plain Janes and Fashionable Jeans in town, yes, right here in Shanghai upon the Sea. They exist ubiquitously at every unsuspected corner of your unguarded eyes...

Jeremy
March 13th, 2007
Shanghai upon the Sea

Metamorphic Space变态空间TM

前言

建筑与规划需要实践，实践之后更要设立理论，同时两者并提，双向交流。理论协助布置条理，提供实践方向；设置理论后大可订立宣言，但不必嚣张、刻板、或者造作，不是高不可攀的变态空间。反之，这篇流派文章为了发展思维，总结思维的发展，从中央汲取有价思维，然后继续发展思维。楼兰姑娘在沙漠城市，金缕玉衣地下城市，文成公主在高原城市，纵然她们都静静地处于历史的空间里，但是事实的，她们所处各异的城市型态，提示风化的线索，让我们在设计的实质空间里树立思维。记忆会风化，空间会变质，时间会变态。



...思考以下过程：农业革命、科学革命、工业革命、数码革命、纳米科技；演变与革命处于数理化、机械化、经验的过程之中；使用工具、发展材料与发现技术的发展。在横向的自然平原里逐水草，乃至竖立的人为天际线，人为的城市型态，不平则已的形态，百年来拔地而起的变态。因而，建筑改变了世界，建筑改变了生活；世界改变了建筑，生活改变了建筑。如果依据风格演变来说，现代主义藐视历史、改造社会、挑战科技；后现代主义再现历史、拼贴社会、解救科技；千禧主义则涌现历史、纷呈社会、解脱科技。思维逐渐形成，风格逐渐变态...从1970年代到1980年代，许多论述专家与权威杂志，好不容易花费许多时间、纷纷急不可待共同谋划MAID或Modern Architecture is Dead，慎重地宣布现代主义正式死亡；与此同时，后现代主义也就名正言顺地进入了学术界呈现于建筑演变过程的殿堂之中。如今，又过去40多年，后现代主义也轮番接受‘拱手’的时刻，如果一个演变可以左右50年周期来计算的话，尽管演变是渐进、重复、推算、再现的变态。无论如何，现代主义与后现代主义的发展巨轮，确实愈加快速，随同电脑辅助的介入与支配...唐朝的白马王子出使西域取经，之后创举了孙悟空72变。时代精神Zeitgeist百年之后的千禧年Millennianism，浮现了73变，是的，准确的说，第73变。2003年，中国制造宣告死亡。2004年，Rem Koolhaas在无休止的垃圾空间Junk Space里一息尚存地拾遗。2005年，中国制造MIC或Made in China跃进为中国设计DIC或Designed in China。2006年，设计空间宣告诞生：变态空间Metamorphic Space，第73变...

...变态的基本需求是物质与非物质之间的变质作用，在时间与空间之间穿梭的过程，最终变态、变形、变质。变态空间是变质，变形和作用。变态空间，其基本需求是实质与非实体联合一维、二维和三维的正交矩形空间来形成，最终是因为三类空间的穿越，而形成正立面，角度和错觉视角；记忆的念头形成实质的空间就浮现变态的状态，同时必须是双向的状态，共同的运行才算是。建筑设计恒常地处于变态空间；建筑由于固有的性质、浮现与存在，建筑最终性质是明显与模糊的景象，浮现动态与静态的处境，存在于具体与记忆的境界，矛盾与摇摆之间的生态与死态。发酵、做梦、惊蛰、拆迁都是变态空间的处境。因此，变态空间经常都是倍受争议的、它也得益于争议而随着争议而渐进改造、改进、改正，它是有机和无机的，异常和正常的自然现象。变态不是因为颠覆，而是应付、针对和适应情况，有利地继续改变作用，只有意图而没有企图...变态是设计和规划共同进行布置过程，个中联系如何解除已经设置的网络，在策略上都有矩阵似的后备策略，反复推敲、重新检讨、同时考虑设置近景、中景和远景，一种设想远景的前因后果，连续性而且重复性的，犹如处理电影场景的手法，时而凝镜，时而模拟高速拍摄效果，时而特写镜头。这样的远景变体过程，确实可以用数理化来替代解释。整个理解和实施建筑设计和城市规划，以至于室内细节的日常生活必需，犹如一棵树的形成矩阵，从下到上，然后从上到下的反复，复制，跨越，重新再来，从末端继续，有机地增长，最终扩张到无止境的无名边缘。一种自然的变态，犹如数理的渐近线，在正交图里充满参数，但不能控制的可能能力，最终只能作为无限的设想，期望的远景。增长布局、经济发展、生活素质都是其中矩阵的界定元素...变态是一种化学物，建筑的材料，作为附加物，增减地应用，随后他化、也会退化，甚至等化。慈禧在民间找到她爱吃的窝头而窝头名震天下，“馒头”的蒙太奇剪接镜头，还有扬州炒饭也要遭受招牌纷争，划上有价的知识产权，偏偏上海的生煎的锅底里依然慢速地流泄油脂、慢速地变态。化学物和材料在文化和实用之中固体化、气体化和液体化...圣诞节前的海啸，无可比拟的动力，其冲击力可以算是逆变形学，在人们半睡不醒的一刻，排山倒海地吞噬处于太平洋海岸线的几万万人口；意大利的琼浆似泥石流从山上蜿蜒流畅，慢慢吞噬的潜能杀伤力，可以覆盖城镇的街道并且卷走路上的一部部车辆；恒河是常年泛滥的印度母亲河，周围的居民无私地虔诚、贡奉、膜拜，耕地惨遭周期性的泛滥淹没而他们都无能为力。一系列的环球灾难，El Nino厄尔尼诺 和El Nina厄尔尼娜的自然现象，专家们都无从正式地详细解释，人为的自然大开发的变态后遗症。河流的上游、中游、下游，承先启后地推动，液体化、气体化，在泾渭分明的交接处可以鉴定这样的自然显现；其间是冲击、碎裂、解体的变态，自然的变动，自然的必经阶段，在衔接关中平原的秦岭蜀道上最为显而易见。地质无形地流变、山洪突然暴发、黑洞深渊是人口继续增长和生态系统遭受破坏的关系。同时收缩和膨胀的空间，同时地接触、错动、碰撞，最终在时间的概念里成岩、煤变，构造、承载。固体形成液体的那一刻、液体变成气体的那一刻、气体消失的那一刻；这样的物质现象，也可以是反向的，或平行或交错地发生...911的双塔就是这样碎片地变质后气化，屹立于热带的吉隆坡双塔的不锈钢表面继续反射太阳光源；西安的大雁塔与浮现中的现代城市型态，依然共同交错树立在时空之中，而遭受了无数次地震的小雁塔的局部分裂后又自然复合。镇压白蛇的雷锋塔如今都使用了升降机，任何拜访者都能够登峰造访，观赏西湖的“断桥残雪”。苏东坡当年设想的当代新都市主义的断面图，在整个西湖大环境里探讨了视觉效果，在空间和时间里超越本来的意义，订立了可持续的稳定增长。现在的城市空间，都应该从全新的、新生的角度来审视，使用新科技到传说的故事里，更应该使用轴侧图来表达，来重新解读测量透视图的准确性质...远程和局部的图片，无可抗拒、难以接受、形成强烈而即刻的对比。一种显微镜和放大镜来来往往的、可缩小和可放大的视线，二维的，也是三维的。快门咔嚓刹那，球体的表面即刻转变成平面砖片似的多边形状，模糊的印象画派、清晰的电子图片。卫星图、航拍图、任意地收缩和膨胀，在数码空间里穿越，是虚拟的数据世界，同时也是现实的环境景观。你在这里可以查阅你多年不见的亲人和同学，但是他们并不知道你最近对他们有无比的兴趣，但仅仅限制在网络之中，而无从联系，也不会重新提起，停留在虚拟接触与现实浏览之间。低清晰度和高清晰度的分辨率，导致我们可以再现当时的一刹那，是那一辆汽车停放在院落边，而且是多年前卫星通讯所汲取保留的信息，但没有任何人知道的事。我们是私密的公民，同时也有公开的秘密；任何时候、任何角落都有人正在记录、传送、获取个人和大众的信息，粒子和像素的汇合变体，不见也不散的混合物，而且速度是愈来愈快的数据景观。市场的价格估计、近期的邻居销售价格销售额量，都有可能提供或获得相当精密的信息，而且是任何社会角落的每一栋房产；房产需求对比市场价格或每一平方米价值，曲线图同时并置斜率向上而方向朝着无限的直线图，如果提及个人年平均收入的话，同比增长的幅度与速度似乎开始失去意义；反之，陶渊明的理想桃花世界无从兑变形成另类城市型态…克隆技术、基因工程、细菌蔓延、绿色革命可能增加不同形式的收获，但是同时也变态地递减自然资源。因子革命，接受的是科技的可能，排放的可能是不能回收的持续稳定地人口增长。每一次繁殖变态，都有必要从零开始；每一个殖民过程，都有必要从无中生有。男人女人的情绪节律周期，导致情绪商数的波动，一种自然机能的变态，最终演变形成人造智慧。点、线、面形成柱廊、平台、门窗；设计形式不间断地改版，继续在水平线、标高、透视的界面里拓展设计和规划的可能...从早期的长久定居据点如坟地到乌托邦的设想，之后的拼贴城市collage city、装置城市installation city、代谢主义metabolism、碎片城市fractal city，还有后代城市metacity等等，综观地说都是变态城市的矩阵、元素或本质...在上海你可以不知道方向，在北京，城市的脉络是十分清晰的。幸之与否，上海就是拼贴、装置、代谢、碎片和后代城市型态的参数混合物体，而北京不是...

...楼兰姑娘、金缕玉衣、西藏永恒接受崇拜的文成公主都静静地...在记忆里变态，在沙漠城市、在地下城市、在高原城市，在空间与时间里变质...在变态空间里风化...



联创国际建筑研究中心 张文德Jeremy Tew
United Design Group Architecture Research Centre
2006年3月3日

Giorgio Armani at 3 on The Bund

It is the flagship store of Giorgio Armani in China. See how the street scenes are super-montaged onto the windows and the combined effects either way generate surrealistic visuals. Catch a glimpse of me aiming camera at the windows!

Columns: An installation and painting of Yan Lei
@ Shanghai Art Gallery, 3 on The Bund


Although the exhibition is aptly titled Support, but I prefer and elect Columns when reading from the viewer's perspective. In fact, the Chinese title Zhi Zhu literally implies both support and column.

Yan Lei's installation and painting respectively exemplify Roman order and reverberate psychedelic art. It is an attempt to exude Greco-Roman temple order via contemporary artistic expression, spanning Western architecture during classical period and popular art upsurged in 1960s.

Michael Graves is noted for re-designing the interior of the building, of course, with his post-modern, neoclassical, Gravesian atrium. The volumetric bottom of the atrium is on the exhibition floor; hence, the exhibition hall takes on prestige location only pragmatic for its strategic exhibition purposes. Several huge and rectangular marble columns on this exhibition floor spatially enclose the bottom of the atrium. Grave's contemporary columns seem to conjugate by transgressing into Yan Lei’s neither slender nor massive Greco-Roman columns, and vice versa.

In Yan Lei's case, the ubiquitous presence of columns expressed structural stability vertically and established spatial layout horizontally, and more accurately the Roman Doric with bases since the Greek Doric rises from the floor without any base. With squarish base and capital formed into the exposed ceiling, the unadorned columns expressed their intrinsic beauty of a simple, pure and plain Doric order. Prototypical, purity and simplicity seem to convey timelessness in esthetic.

Under the exposed ceiling and through the mushrooming columns at the entrance and the rest of the exhibition hall, several large size acrylics on canvases were found pieced together on the big wall toward the far end corner. The strategically allocated canvases were relegated toward the back as an apparent presentation finale. Each of canvases was subdivided into several equal number of squares while each of these squares illustrates a series of outwardly or inwardly propagating concentric circles in their respective different hues and shades.

The concentric circles could also be explicated as the horizontal sections of a particular column. These sections seemed to re-examine the timber origin of column, a common notion popular and acceptable amongst the scholastic deduction. These concentric rings were indeed the annual or growth rings of the trees. Though still and murky as in fathomless water, the reflected image on the concrete floor appeared to stretch and enlarge the canvas, further deepening and enriching visual experience of the viewers.

Although psychedelic per se, the vivid images projected from the painted canvas did not sensurround to induce warped hallucination, never encircled to distort or contort the mind, hardly seductive with any form of psychotic fantasy or surrealistic undertones, and untainted with neither religious symbolism nor cosmic perception. The images ironically projected calming and pleasant visual-sensory effects for they simply speak the basic application of colors with respect to columns. Any other viewers, however, could also possibly explicate the columns and paintings in many other expressive ways.

When weaving around to experience the exhibition space, the colorful paintings on the wall inter-spatially appeared in between the sturdy ochre column shafts. The figure ground gave rise to exciting visual impact; the column shafts visually subliminally but physically strongly contrasted the busy hues in the backdrop, and vice versa.

Other than a security guard and the very congenial receptionist Floria both stationed out front, and with me as the only entrant during early opening hour on Sunday, the exhibition hall was rather empty, spacious but open. The exhibition hall seemed larger than ever and silently took on ceremonial ambience while the installation added a venereal touch of solemn and stately grandiose to it.

Later, before wrapping up the tour and exiting the hall, a couple arrived but left shortly. They were more concerned with their personal conversational exchange; they were completely immuned from the creeping presence of those columns as well as those loud and vivid hues. For me, I enjoyed this artistic transplant of Greco-Roman and psychedelic presentation, with visual, sensory and spatial experiences set within the post-modern context. The exhibition reminds me so much about the first few and recent chapters of the History of Western Architecture.

As a whole, the exhibition intelligently but appropriately exploits the existing contextual provisions; therefore, Yan Lei's Support and columns or Columns effectively achieve the insight to conjure spatial order with respect to painting.

Jeremy
Art Explication
March 11th, 2007
Shanghai upon the Sea

Coming soon to a theatre near you: The Post Modern Life of My Aunt

An illustrative poster was seen encased behind the commercial box when I was walking by the corridor of Dongchang Station MRT this afternoon. Apparently, it is the timely propaganda of the movie premiere. Before this when reading news about the tightly controlled shooting, the paparazzi was staking out and attempting to capture a glimpse of the star arriving in town for the closed door shooting.

At the diminished central focus with his oh-so-fake moustache incidentally or seemingly simulating Groucho Marx, the all too unnatural, quirky, toothy grin is the internationally famed former dark glass hit men, former bald-headed Crouching Tiger, and former Shanghai Bund gangster. To the left is the very talented actress of Mongolian descent, Siqin Gaowa; her strings of film biography noted to be decorated with those forgettable roles. What a waste on her natural talent! On the right is the actress with her rather animated bulging eyes, and her exaggerated acting skill only suitable for those discarded flower vases kept behind the long forgotten, dust locked cupboard found in the typical average Shanghai homes.

Hailed from Hong Kong, the film director of The Post Modern Life of My Aunt is Xu Anhua. She has been making movies for years now and she can be real talented in her own credits. However, over these years there are not too many of her works that have actually wowed the market as well as the film industry. Indeed, she did produce a number of impressive artistic qualities reflecting specific social segments or genre issues and that substantially depict universal humanism.

Jeremy
March 11th, 2007
Shanghai upon the Sea

Journey to the West

Thus begin my Silk Road to An Anonymous Place in Deep Cloud

The White Horse Prince on the Silk Road

Welcome to the Big Goose Pagoda, Xi'an; 2005

New Feudalism vs. New Silk Road - My China Experience
新封建主义vs.新丝路主义 – 我的中国经验

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2004年5月来了中国，住在上海，吃在中国，魂牵梦营大江南北；在中央国度，中庸之国,唱一首出塞曲。。。那只有长城外才有的清香。。。至今，总算一年又7个月。。。不长不短，不太长也不令人老。离开无聊的教学也多年，之间有几位男女学生身为人父母了。但就是没有一个学生会以我的名字为他她们的儿女命名！？（举拳、竖指、跷猪腿，抗议！）19个月时间：足够继续累计室内、建筑及规划等设计专业经验；足够继续复习全球历史，然后再对中国历史的认识继续接轨；足够让我撰写一篇有关瞬息人生的散文。今从部落一族，劲身博客一员。我的首篇中文（嘿！让我办到了！）部落博客“论文”，待请诸位咨询各自的心理和生理医师后，再继续共享，拜读了。

19个月在中国的所见所闻，更多属于上海的经历，如下：千年封建，由来已久，仍需要千年来摆脱？封建灵魂不散？不是灵魂不散，是一代接一代、自我选择的遗传封建不死。如西谚云：恶习难改Hard habit dies hard。而且，任由灵魂久久游荡，又哀怨封建不散，矛盾！上海的服务行业，处处是傲慢与偏见，傲慢与下贱的式样。傲慢与偏见与下贱，都只是一线之差。不是曲线，是一条直线，非常笔直的线。所以，再怎么说，都没有多大差别。邮政服务态度恶劣、银行服务态度睬你都傻、餐饮服务条件极差、门卫服务只敬罗衣、国营服务甭提了。正确来说，是没有服务。根本没有，完全没有，甭相提并论国际水准了。令人失望，令人咋舌。偶尔碰到优质服务，但机会不太多遇见，会难于相信。1980年时期，美国业界人士对中国的评价是：缺乏组织、管理、系统等能力。如今，身处其境，确实的说，有组，没织；有管，没理；有营，没销；有系，没统。如今，依然应中古人的散沙主义之说。几位不曾走出国门看世界的同行，嘴里逗来逗去老是1960年代西方化的话题，扯不上1970年代现代化的话题，殊不知1980年代的全球化议题，都已经吵吵嚷嚷了超过十多年，今天已经是2006年末了，到底是谁在倒退，还是前进？这里并不缺使用电脑，与国际通达连接机会是挺多的，但就是少见识、少阅读，自我封锁消息，形成自闭偏见。就是死脑筋，走死胡同，缺少世界意识，麻木不仁了，缺少对事物的敏感。不是遭受政治氛围的约束，应该是没有负起公民责任，投入参与建设。还有，许多同事都没有自我批评的勇气，不能自我检讨，扛不起输赢的承担。自以为是的态度，导致以下现象：市场部门的助手，她认为是就是了。殊不知五块钱和五千元的小数点差距，一分一秒的、白纸黑字的时间和金钱价值，就不是所谓自以为是那么简单了。自以为是，而不是确认。一而再，再而三地确认，才是专业敬业的严谨态度。这里的工作态度是喜欢找借口，掩饰自我，掩饰时间，甚至掩饰借口。哈！老是找一大堆借口，没有时间，没空；而不是该如何安排分配时间，该如何整理布置空间。一切设计方案总是草草起头，草草了事。匆匆起头，匆匆了事。一点也不具备严谨和进取精神。一切房屋设计都是坐北朝南的，不能转弯了，设计思维完了，创意。。。死了！我们就是这样子的。也不知为何老爱自我定型，一句“我们就是这样的”盖棺定论，而不是近代古人说了又没做的大胆假设，小心求证。也不知为何那么喜爱戴金箍咒，而且是自己套上去的。把绳子当作蛇，同时又把蛇当作绳子。自己绘声绘色，自圆其说。使用屁股的眼门说话，哇啦哇啦叫！莫须有的阴魂不散。向前走一步，后退两步。把设计规范看成国家的准则，不可改变的神怪主义又降临死穴，就是死脑筋，走死胡同。这样的态度，在美国的话，肯定遭受白眼，凭什么是国家的责任来管制？受过专业训练设计师的尊严没了。应该是行内人依据合理设立的法制规范。殊不知规范从来就不存在，是在行人的业务形成结果，所以是在行的共同专业纲领。在这里，房子倒下来，不是建筑师的责任，难怪这里的建筑师是受到甲方或业主牵着金钱鼻子而走路的。想在这里买房子，想清楚喔！在街上，在公司里，虽然偶尔的发生，同行都爱争吵，而且大声争吵，声量特大。有一回，一位女同事听得害怕了，脸色苍白跑过来我的位置，暂时躲避争吵风暴。我就走过去，把老板的办公门，关闭，然后拍拍我的屁股，转身回来继续工作，以免他骂人的雷声干扰我工作的情绪。招聘的一位英文翻译员，协助人事部，她连英文大写A和小写a都分不开。怎样使用电脑键盘导致大写和小写，她并不知道。还是什么大学英语系毕业的呢！公司里的设计部员工大量翻阅外来的翻译读物，一来没有能力阅读外文，这里指英文，所以都是欣赏图片就足够了，直接把图片拷下来，稍微修改就顺理成章了。二来翻译文章里的术语多不贴切，导致种种扭曲现象，误读时常导致有理说不清；三是嘴巴老是说要把英文搞好，多听鞋声但不见人影，纵然有所推行，但不见行动；有推，不动。四来向往外面的世界很精彩，把埋葬地下的、出土的、仍然存在的美好本土文化宝藏，置之度外。有收获，也有失落。依照目前的情况，后者多过前者；前者多由来中国取经的老外获得，极其矛盾。说过了，恶习难改，鲁迅或胡适时期到李敖时期都很厉害国骂，到如今，一切公众场合，依然可见吸烟后乱丢烟蒂、乱丢垃圾，随地吐痰，乱穿车路，无礼插队、不守次序，直接伤害优质文明的人们。中国被外界划分为假货市场，是不争的事，全世界公认；是造假，不是复制品。假货随处都是，谈不上什么品牌。假的东西：酱油、巧克力、背包、手表、钱币、饼干、家具、书籍、手机、牛奶粉、绘画。。。甚至本土自豪的茶，数不清的日常用品等等。。。除此之外，抄袭文章、把别人辛辛苦苦做的东西，霸为己有。所谓权威杂志都是翻译、借用国外文章，自己署名。难怪翻译这门事业在这里很好赚。你们随意帮我数来宝，都有！鲁迅死矣、胡适去了。。。恶性不改！嘿！我们还活着。殊不知大家都不愿意再穿清代衣服了。那我们现在和未来又会是怎样的呢？处处都有坏处，处处也有好处，包括公交服务努力进步、微笑时有，这些稀少的优秀态度和服务，值得自豪、骄傲、敬佩。事实即是如此。庆幸的是，贵人犹在，我，也活了下来。嘻！neh! neh! neh! neh! neh!

各位看官，我还未沉下去，我还未被吃掉，现在不会，未来也不会。何况，我不是一座山，所以是我动，不是山动；不是让山走过来，是我走向山，走向令人惊叹的世界，走向精彩的世界。齐秦唱。。。外面的世界很无奈。。。不必无奈，应该要有能奈，是自己去挑战承受多少能耐！活着的日子太短了，太珍贵了，所以活一天，算一天，愈是没有多少时间可以计算，愈是没有多少时间可以重来。所以，要活得精彩，活得动人，活得美丽，活！努力呼吸新鲜空气，一齐合唱。。。明天会更好！为今天欢呼，为美好的明天欢呼！。。。呼！吸！有人唱。。。我走上天涯路，一处处访知音。我要问一问，谁是我的知音人。。。？谁是我的心上人。。。？努力，向上！在此，宣布新封建主义拜拜！说一声新丝路万岁！不是`死路，也不算什么思路；是丝路，后现代的丝路，充满刺激的、充满挑战的、起起落落的新丝路主义。

整装待发，向西域，预备、出征 - 我的新丝路之旅！

敬祝大家：热爱生活、热爱地球！共勉之！
Eat well, work smart, sleep tight & play hard!


Jeremy米哥
来自海上海的消息和猪福Greetings from Shanghai upon the Sea, Oink! Oink!
于2006年12月31日岁末On the last day of year 2006

The White Horse Prince: Journey to the West

If you are interested in the life and story of the legendary White Horse Prince, for whom the great book Journey to the West is based on and written by Wu Cheng'en, the following are sites for the CCTV 10 audio visual presentations in Chinese.

Discovery

Journey to the West in the Great Tang, Part 1: History and Myth

[探索•发现]大唐西游记(1):历史 神话

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/07/content_5811948.htm

Discovery

Journey to the West in the Great Tang, Part 2: Drumming at Dusk and Bell Tolling in the Morning

[探索发现]大唐西游记(2):暮鼓 晨钟

http://news3.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/08/content_5817634.htm

Discovery

Journey to the West in the Great Tang, Part 3: Troubled Clouds and Solitude Crossing

[探索•发现]大唐西游记(3):乱云 潜渡

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/09/content_5821873.htm

Discovery
Journey to the West in Great Tang, Part 4: Great Desert and Ancient Pathway
[探索•发现]大唐西游记(4)大漠 古道

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/11/content_5829300.htm

Discovery
Journey to the West in Great Tang, Part 5: Bodhi and Bhudda Shadows
[探索•发现]大唐西游记(5)菩提 佛影

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/11/content_5829213.htm

Discovery
Journey to the West in Great Tang, Part 6: To Stay or To Go
[探索•发现]大唐西游记(6):归兮去兮

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/12/content_5834737.htm

Save the following if you are interested in Chinese culture:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/

http://www.xinhuanet.com/video/

http://www.chinaview.cn/

And of other interest:

Discovery
Booming Tang Dynasty: In Search of the Great Brightness Palace, Part 1
[探索•发现]盛唐气象:寻找大明宫(上)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/15/content_5849596.htm

Discovery
Booming Tang Dynasty: In Search of the Great Brightness Palace, Part 2
[探索·发现]盛唐气象:寻找大明宫(下)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2007-03/16/content_5856171.htm


Enjoy!

Jeremy

Greetings from Shanghai upon the Sea

March 8th, 2007

All News Great and Small: the Toilet Roll
Review of Zeng Hao's Looking Around


Entitled Looking Around, two installations by Zeng Hao are currently being showcased at the Shanghai Gallery of Art. One of them, an untitled installation drew immense interest to me when I visited the exhibition on the New Year's Day. The exhibition seems to usher in the year of 2007 timely, and when high time for news new and old to be summarized in various media. It is an installation of a toilet roll that is bulkier than human size. The following is the review while I entitle the installation Toilet Roll.

So what's the big deal with a toilet roll? Indeed, a toilet roll is an ingenious creation. It is a popular non-renewable everyday item, practical in use per needs, easy to keep and space saving, and replenishing for short-term use; however, trees are never saved for its production or reproduction.

Allocated within the not so dark exhibition hall but still silently basking in the limelight, the Toilet Roll receiving controlled spotlighting appears like some social farce, but it is not a black comedy. It is hardly a film reel since it is not sepia enough; it is not a newsreel since it is painted on or written on. It is not the Toilet Roll of the Year albeit it is also not the News of the Year.

News is news; news becomes old when it is soon on the news. News happens, timed and dated, and sooner or later, layered with imaginative thoughts or spinned off ideas, good or bad, right or wrong, worthless or invaluable for various practical or trivial purposes; all rolled into other news. Some news are memorable, some got splashed, some are overlooked, and some got dug up years later to become big news again, while most will turn into archaeological archive with room temperature control. Nowadays, news is simply digitized in this Digital Revolution; news could be permanently saved, recalled with a few keystrokes, and so easily manipulated via cables or wireless.

On further examining the textual and pictorial encryption on the Toilet Roll, it is not even polemic but didactic since the clipped news on it may not necessarily reflect truth, and imprinted with the selected or interested news, of course, together with mere decorative intents. The Toilet Roll is not a sitcom since it is not spontaneous and hilarious enough, however, it somewhat reminds Andy Warhol's trademarked bleached sizzling top.

Furthermore, the Toilet Roll is not a form of graffiti since all text and pictures found its own allocated area, even more so, meticulously arranged and composed with very clear visual syntax. It is considered as non-news since it leaves no room for any form of dialectic portal; it is simply not fresh from press. It seems to inform me that those selected news are larger than life and demand undivided attention. On the other hand, the installation seems even larger than life since its occupying largeness dominates my unassuming presence when standing but diminished next to it. However, it is a pure physical form yet tainted with lots of ideas. Despite all, the toilet roll is a spin off from Pop Art in this diverse Post Modern Era. It is a New Pop; and it is New Pop.

All in all, all news great and small shall all eventually be wiped, rolled up, and flushed into temporal oblivion.


Jeremy Tew
Art Explication
From Shanghai upon the Sea, China
January 1st. 2007

The standard, persisting feudalistic kowtow (by an artist), photography by Jeremy on Jan.2nd, 2007.

Lujiazui or the Financial District of Shanghai shrouded in unending winter drizzle, photography by Jeremy on Jan. 1st, 2007.

Financial District basking in festive lights on New Year's Eve, photography by Jeremy on Dec.31st, 2006.

Holiday Phenomenon

The following is from the returning email to an Australian friend:

How are you, Yik Chong? Good to hear from you. Say hi to Sim Yun, and C.G. and Jenny.

It's so cool to hear that Hanhan was immensely enjoying his Wiggle. Isn't he a darling to have enjoyed the Wiggle show?

Well, X'mas is not a public holiday here and no festive ornaments are seen around in public area other than shopping malls or restaurants alike. Three consecutive days off were allocated from Jan. 1st through 3rd. To clarify - actually, all workers had already worked on last Sat. and Sun. for the 2nd and 3rd day of the so-called three-day long New Year's Day holiday. This is what I called a two-step forward with one-step back policy. To be exact, hence, the New Year's Day was the only official day off, and flags, banners with lights were all on.

This holiday planning was stipulated in recent years, if not in 1999 but several years later and before I arrived in Shanghai. There were many pros and cons with many for and against this policy. Debate was going on around, however, the policy shall remain next year as reported in a newspaper last week. One positive side is that the consolidated week-long holiday boosts sales or consumer spending and stimulates economic activities. During this so called Golden Week (Chinese New Year, May 1st Labor Day and Oct.1st National Day holidays), the downside is streets, shopping malls, tourist joints, transit points and other hot spots are bottlenecked with paranoia of crowdedness increases (in fact, there is a specific term describing this phobic symptom.); instead, more public work forces are needed to manipulate the intensified crowds and traffic. Ironically, the repercussion is that many also choose to stay home and rest.

My solution to this - mandatory for CNY but optional for May 1st or Oct.1st holiday weeks. This allows flexibility for individual to choose, fit and complement personal business operation, with whatever holidays officially recognized or allocated that shall also be compensated accordingly. However, in China, everyone is always beating the odd to get away with 'murder', if possible. And you know what I mean.

Sad to say - Chinese and dogs are still not allowed. Many of them wag their tails and drool when they see a white person walking by. And it's fact. You have seen what was done when I took you and Sim Yun for the Ganguoju, the hot pot dinner from Guizhou Province. The doorman or rather the watchdog was showing his disapproval of my appearance when we were entering the shopping center. Still recall the scene that you had witnessed while walking behind me? All the while, I have purposefully and always dressed down, in low key to avoid any possible mugging or unnecessary attention - though I am not paranoid in any which way but plain low key to be in the public, and that's still my style when in Kuala Lumpur or anywhere.

Your mom being treated that way when traveling to Xiamen or in Shanghai is not at all surprising for me. If I were she, I would be so glad for them to ignore me since they did not meant selling but they hassle. Your mom is less likely to be swiped or cheated. They were attending more to your mom's white colleague because they were curiously looking at her as a white and exotic object, and simply that.

Also ubiquitous throughout the world, the racy, moronic, derogatory, low esteem and persisting feudalistic mentality is so pervasive. In fact, this inexcusable and embarrassing phenomenon was very well observed by some internationals that have resided here and published their opinions in English. What to do - after thousands of years of on and off close door policy and some, not all though, have 'chosen' to become morbid? You would have also noticed that Chinese Nationals are very muted and timid when they live overseas, say in Malaysia and Singapore, but they always talk way too loud in the public areas; for us, it is regarded as an ill form of public manner. A very common quip found in South East Asia - one is being blind folded and led to identify the type of restaurant he or she is in: the noisiest is definitely a Chinese Restaurant. Considered one-fifth of mankind, Chinese Nationals have very small personal space and their sense of public space is also very different from ours; we as overseas Chinese have changed over these years, a new and different generation with very different forms of identity. Isn't this a very interesting observation and change?

If you examine in minute, China is actually a deeply disparate nation due to its large region, extensive geography, remarkable differences in culinary habits, and very much lack of infrastructure or communication especially in rural areas. Can you believe there are many amongst themselves who still live with strong sense of mutual mistrust just because one is not from the same region or speaking a different dialect, etc.?

In another case and in the office, a Czech co-worker is forever suspicious of the office activities. She cannot even read and speak Chinese but hired to do architectural design, with only general aids of casual translation or mishap communication. This is truly an oceanic wide cultural divide or titanic clash of civilization. For me, I do not know how they ever do so to reconcile but I just do not want to know, and never ever wish to get involved. I guess it's high time for me to learn sign language. Ha! I am also very blessed because I could do both languages well, and very well - key to living and survival - and I am glad and very proud to say so.

Including you, I found a lot of horrendous translations going on all over - in official documents, in daily emails in the office, while in the public areas, traffic trailblazers, signage, captions, and so forth. The last stop of a transit station is taken as "The End" and Mind the Gap is translated as "Take Care of the Gap", to quote two obvious examples that still persist in the rapid transit. Second Language is encouraged here but hardly common in everyday use, albeit USA is likewise but in many respects accurate in translations.

However, over these years from watching TV programs and reading news, I found there were various efforts or constructive measures made to integrate and unify all with great sense and strong pride of nationalism. Street fashion in general is not as sloppy and slowly edging closer to international taste - non-stop TV programs and constant exposure to other forms of audio visual media featuring fashion shows or popular trends from all over the world, especially those from Europe serve them to emulate and improve in catalytic manner - I observed in these 19 months living here. This is truly a Great Leap Forward, instead of the Great Dip Forward like before.

Yes, this is also an official notice. All in the office has to work every Saturday for the next six weeks till before the Chinese New Year. In return, the Chinese New Year will be from Thursday, Feb.15th till Wednesday, Feb.28th, exactly two-week long, and resume work on Thursday, March 1st. I will be traveling to Fujian Province for these two weeks. Annually, my company always has Chinese New Year planned as mentioned. I plan to visit you during the long two-week during CNY 2008? What do you say?

If you ever travel to Xi'an in Shanxi Province, be sure to give yourself a week there. You would be 'trapped' in time, literally speaking; you would travel back thousands of years back and forth in a contemporary city. The history of Xi'an is insurmountable. Before Mandarin was adopted an official national language of present day, Shanxi dialect then was the language most would speak. You will like Xi'an for its history but it's a very 'yellowish in color' due to geographic reasons. Refer to the 1980s movie Yellow Earth by Zhang Yimou and you know what I mean. The beauty of the yellow earth is simply spectacular.

All the best to you and all in the family. And High-Pay or Happy New Year!

Jeremy
Greetings from Shanghai upon the Sea
Wednesday, January 3rd 2007

Joy Candy

How to inform your office co-workers that you are newly married - officially a bride or a bridegroom or a couple?

Well, see picture.

I guess this is the indirect, the easiest, the most economical, and simply a settled but genteel way to deliver official announcement.

These joy candies are so nicely designed and neatly packaged. They are in various shapes and forms, and predominantly in the traditional Chinese red. Inside these packages, they are filled with chocolates or any other types of candies. They are so nifty and well crafted with tassels and ribbons, and could even become some collector items especially for those who are interested in the now ever popular packaging design.

For city folks especially, the nuptial occasion is now hardly a home based due to lack of proper context to celebrate, together with increasing affluence, and of course, to splash in big spending as always. The nuptial event tend to be booked with a hotel and restaurant all in. Also, it is found that most of the ceremonies tend to concentrate during the three golden weeks (the 7-day holiday weeks during Chinese New Year, Labor Day and National Day).

Speaking of the joy candy, ironically, these joy candies always popped on the desktop before I arrived at work and without any trace of who got married. Poof! Not even some labeling or tags or captions on them. And usually I have no idea of who got married unless I ask or they talk.

Shy, shy, hush, hush, I do I!

Jeremy
Greetings from Shanghai upon the Sea
January 26th 2007

At the Shanghai Main Train Station, on April 22nd 2006

Migratory birds

The Greatest Single Human Feat of Migration on Earth

Tis' the season of migration during Chinese New Year! Approximately a month before the Chinese New Year, and still deep in wintry climate but already anticipating the arrival of Spring, the whole China physically sizes up and latently desires the notion that all will be celebrating the annual Spring Festival. Yes, only once a year, and they have been doing so for so many hundreds of years, and will still be for this up and coming one and those in time to come. Spring Festival is a more common terminology in Mainland China versus the one known as the Chinese New Year beyond and overseas. Essentially, they mean the same holiday.

That's right! We are talking about one fifth of mankind and all clustered here in China mainland. More than this, the next waves of migration is already slotted, yes, annually again, on May 1 and October 1, when Labor Day and National Day are respectively celebrated. Before these holidays, with respect to working days and any other form of personal or company holidays, together with weekends before and after, exquisite planning and meticulous scheduling are juggled and shuffled to ensure that holidays will fall consolidated in a consecutive stretch and a total of seven (yes, 7 in Arabic) days.

Sounds deadly cool, right? Oh, no. Any one living, working, and those who are interested in China would have known better. As mentioned, and to put it in another words, out of re-scheduling of working days and rest days, actually dues are already paid for prior to these manipulated arrangements. In true sense, the holidays are actually shorter than seven days and not that joyful after all.

Now, imagine the grand sales for all forms of transportation tickets at ticketrons, together with the overwhelming human tsunami jamming at all transit points and preparing to head homes and return later. In this Spring Transmigration, all are riding the waves. However, since the policy of consolidating holidays - claimed to be mostly benefiting those migrant workers to travel hours after hours on the road, miles and miles criss-crossing the land, hopping from Province to Province, predominantly by rails and coaches - all look forward to arrive home on time just to celebrate the Spring Festival. Annually, Chinese Nationals will demonstrate the greatest human migration in single feat on Earth; presumably, there is no other place on Earth quite like this. According to statistics derived from Xinhuanet by The Shanghai Morning Post on Thursday, January 11th, the number of travelers by rail this year is expected to be 1.5 hundred millions, and 4.3% more than all previous years. Again, imagine - the mass of humanity when speaking of 1/5 of mankind on Earth.

FYI, the first day of the Chinese New Year will be on Saturday, February 18th and it is the Year of Pig, while some say, the boar. (Yawn!? Ms. Piggy. Right!) Traditionally, it is celebrated for 15 consecutive days with a rapturous grand slam on the last day, the Lantern Day

And wishing you all a very High Pay New Year! Oink, oink!

Jeremy
Greetings from Shanghai upon the Sea
January 13th 2007