Spider Man 3 - In Cleveland, Ohio

Tim, Frank & Edward thanks for the pictures.

Spider Man 3 filming on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio.

Verve Pipe - Original Freshman from I've Suffered a Head Injury

Anyone out there that can get me a copy of the orignal "Freshman" from the Verve Pipe? I had the first pressing of I've Suffered a Head Injury with the Freshman on it. However, the CD is now destroyed. I thought I had two copies, but I can not find the other one (maybe someone else has it from years ago). I would like a copy of the full CD.

If you can help let me know. THANKS Much...

New USA Slave Market

Illegal Immigrants. I'm I missing something thing in these two words? I have spent thousands of dollars to work with the US government on the legal side of immigration so why shouldn't everyone? Rules change because Americans want cheaper products and cheap labor? So, hey lets keep the illegal immigrants here for our comfort. America's New Slaves. I'm not sure about you, but once the illegal immigrants become "national citizens" won't they too want more of this American Dream? As an illegal they can not demand much, but make them citizens and the demanding will come, law suits, unions, hire wages, social security, health care and on and on and on. Is this short term solution of legalizing everyone for gain or troubles ahead?

American kids, high school, college and drop-outs used to work in this country. They used to be happy to get a check. Have the children and young adults become so lazy? And if these people are not working how are they making their money to survive.

Are we watching the tumbling of America as we know it?

Viewing the USA from the outside (American Citizen)

I'm a US citizen. I have not lived in the USA for the past 5 years. I have been working and living in Taiwan.

I must admit viewing the USA from the outside of the USA is a bit scarry. All you hear and see are bad images. At times I even think I may be afraid to go back to the USA. The news we receive is fromCNN, BBC TV channels, web news and local English newspapers PLUS movies and music. You very rarely see good positive new. Most of the times you just hear about guns, killings, sexual preditors, war and a govenment that seems to be in grid lock. You see a lot of negative things about the USA. This is not coming from the local news. It is coming from America news channels and Americans. This is what is scarry.

The USA needs to put on a new face and work a new marketing scheme. The current direction frightens people and from what I remember America was a good place to be. (I just hope I don't get sued over saying this - seems like people now sue over hurt feelings).

USA and Taiwan Health Care

Just read a few articles on USA health care and things are sounding pretty bleak. The price of health care in the USA is crazy high and due to it a very large percent of people have no health care. This is horrible.

Here in Taiwan health care is pretty simple, but the problem is most Americans probably would not like it. From my view point Americans have become burdened by the service they receive.

In quick and dirty terms:
1) Everyone has a national health card. You can go see a doctor anytime.
2) Prices to see a doctor can cost you US$3 to $10 a visit. People see the price high here, but in the USA people would love to see these numbers. Price depends on where you go. The bigger the hospital the more expensive. The idea is this: go to the local doctors for minor problems and go to the bigger hospitals that have specialized doctors for "real" problems.
3) No appointment is really necessary. However, you can make them. This is the problem I think most Americans would have with this system. Let me explain....

• You line up (or take a number) at a check-in counter. You tell the cashier the type of doctor or the problem you are having. They give you a number and paperwork and tell you what waiting room to go to. Now this is done very quickly (no longer than 1 minute with check-in once you talk to the person).
• You go to the waiting room and wait for your number to be displayed or called. You normally see different doctors each time. If you want the same doctor you will need to talk the doctor and find out his schedule and try to work out an appointment. However, this can be difficult at times.
• Once your number is called you go into the doctor’s room. In the room you have a Nurse/secretary who takes your paperwork and National ID card to key you in the system.
• While this is going on just a few feet away (like 1 to 2 feet away) the doctor is talking or examining the person ahead of you. Yes, you can hear and see everything. Once the person is done it is your turn to take the seat by the doctor and the next person is called in. --- I believe people in the USA would be upset by the lack of privacy.
• Once done with the doctor he will give you your paperwork back that may include getting medication.
• Take the paperwork and ID to the cashier counter and pay for the visit and medicine. Let me tell you the medicine is CHEAP. A few US dollars and you have a pharmacy in your hands.
• Go to the pharmacy and wait for your number to be called and off you go. -- Go home---
• The thing is this procedure is for everyone. Does not matter who you are. Now don't get me wrong there are private doctors as well for people that want to pay more, but that percentage of people is very low. I'd venture a guess of only 2-5% of the population.

So there you go. A good alternative to the USA high costs. But I think the citizens of the US would not like the easiness and coldness of this type of system. It is not warm and fuzzy. It is more -you are sick -here is your problem- and here is your medicine (factory turn out style).

ROC Taiwan - Republic of China

Taiwan has a short history with China from all the readings I have ever seen. Taiwan has always been seperate and China wanted nothing to do with it (short histroy).

Taiwan has grown and now China wants a piece plus militarily it gives them more land. I just have a hard time understanding the USA's policy towards Taiwan. The USA runs around saying they want democracy to thrive and in Taiwan democracy sure is lively. But the USA sorta looks the other way and says they want reunification to happen. Well, from history when did China actually ever own Taiwan? I think the original inhabitants/Dutch/French and others have more claim. But I guess that is beside the point.

Maybe the USA believes China will be democratic one day and the Taiwan and China issue will dissipate. Or maybe they think that Taiwan's economy will fail and will look to China to bail them out. Or does the USA think the Hong Kong example of "one country, two systems" actually works?

I know this is a hot topic and that China brainwashes their students that Taiwan is their property and it should be theirs at any cost. This belief runs deep. Chinese students take this to heart.

Taiwan is Taiwan and China is China. They are two distinct places with distinct people and cultures. Taiwan has a lot to lose if they fall under the China fold. How it plays out I may never know.


A good editorial: The Right People Make All The Difference

FLAC, OGG, MP3vbr

I have tested and listened to the same song recorded in the three flavors: FLAC, OGG, and MP3vbr.

I will attest that FLAC is the best. There is no doubt about it. It is very clean and the level of sound is the best. I listened to a live recording from the Trashcan Sinatras recorded in 2005.

I think the MP3vbr was next best and OGG in last place, but just about the same as MP3vbr.

~ Used WinAmp to listen.
~ I used Logitech USB 250 headphones
All were at 44KHZ
FLAC: 800 KPBS average file size: 29,068KB
MP3vbr:160 KPBS average file size: 5,951KB
OGG: 122 KPBS average file size: 4,101KB

So the FLAC is just short of 5x larger than the MP3vbr file. It is crazy big, but final outcome is fantastic. Not sure FLAC is worth it unless it is a CD that just is not outputting well using MP3vbr. Maybe something with a lot of highs and lows and the encoder is just going nuts from the VBR. But if the sound is constant the MP3vbr seems to be the ticket. Now OGG at a higher KPBS average would create a little larger file, and may out perform the MP3vbr.

What I should do is play the same files on my home Onkyo stereo and see the difference. I am betting the FLAC will really stand out over the other formats in that setting.

Well there you go.

WinAmp 5.2 vs. MusicMatch 10 vs. Media Monkey 2.5x vs. WMP9

You can read all kinds of stuff on the web about which music player to use on your PC. I have read them and should consolidate the findings, but heck instead I will rant on my view instead. I also like to collect music and have many CDs, Albums, 7" and tapes (actually way to many). So my purpose for a MP3 player is to organize and tag music as well as play. I do not use any portable player so I don't pay attention to the download music to players section.

First off: Very strange that one player can not handle what most people would like to do with music. However, I understand each user is unique and each wants something particular. Plus each company is after making money and have their own agenda (which equal what they want to spend time updating).

Windows Media Player 9: (don't care which version) just plain out horrible. I have yet actually figured out an easy way to operate it. It is fancy, but troublesome. I use it for viewing video only (when it can find the right codec to play). It just tries to hard to think for you.

MusicMatch 10: Been using this program for years (since ver. 2) and I like the program. I believe it does everything a person needs. I like the tagging features and the ripping fetures. It is easy to view needed info. I will continue to use MusicMatch10 for ripping CDs. However, it has become stagnent in just about every other function and feature. This is why I started looking around for other alternatives. This is when I first turned to WinAmp and Music Monkey. I did look at OGG and FLAC but felt it did not fill my need. Still think MP3vbr is the best best for me (read my posting on this). I have written to MusicMatch 3 times requesting when a new update would be released, but still no word.

WinAmp 5.2: At first this program is overwhelming after using MusicMatch. It has so many features and functions that you can get lost quickly. I read the online quick guide twice to get a good understanding of its operating ideas. Played with it for 10 minutes and I was off and running. I enjoy this program. It handles all the missing components MuiscMatch is lacking. Plus you can download all kinds of add-ons. Playing with the add-ons is a whole 'nother topic to talk about. Now this program is just great for playing back music.

Media Monkey 2.5.2xx: Well I went to Media Monkey because I was looking for a better way to organize my music. Media Monkey combined MusicMatch tagging was the right combination for me. I like the file folder and options they give you in the file area. It makes finding bad MusicMatch tags easy. Plus I found it lets me clean up items that seemed not to be tagged or tagged incorrectly.

So for me I know use 3 programs to accomplish tagging and listening to MP3 or other files on my PC.
1) MusicMatch for ripping, file naming and initial tagging
2) WinAmp for listening to music (I just need a second sound card now and I can DJ)
3) Media Monkey for cleaning and fixing tags

Taipei Ice Skating

Finally went to the new Taipei Ice Arena. It is off of DunHwa North Road (or TunHwa) by Ikea, Holiday Inn and Asia World. You can't miss it. The public ice arena is on the second floor above the Starbucks outside NanJing East Road. It is an area just off the main complex which is used for sports, concerts and such.

My little one (20 months old), just loved having the ice skates on. He could hardly walk but after an hour or so he was moving around on the hard ground pretty well. Just needed a railing or a hand to hold on to. We took him on the ice but it was too difficult to hold him up, plus my wife and I are not skating stars. After a lap or so one of the workers pointed out we should go the far end of the rink they have sectioned off for beginners and little ones. So over there we went. Tehy gave us a plastic chair and my son was off on his own. He looked like he was sleep-skating. He had his body and head on slumped on the chair while he pushed around with his skates. He has gone once, but loves to talk about, "me skate."

On the net I ran into www.monoclub.com.tw and the people there have been great. Will stop buy their shop to pick up some skates this weekend. Also hope to catch a few hocky games this Sunday.

My Chinese Development is Slow

I have been in Taipei for over 5 years and my Chinese language skills are still not up to snuff. I am taking classes again, but words are just not sticking as quickly as I would like. Getting a better understanding, but concentrating on it is hard when work, child and other activities get in the way. Need to somehow get the Chinese involved in the other activities. Problem is the people around you don't want to deal with your slow American accented Chinese, so they revert to English and stop your growth. So that means I need to learn Chinese on my time. I my time is very limited. I will find time and become better. I need to. In the meantime I will continue to stumble.

Doomsday - World Overcrowding

There are just too many of us in the world. Pollution, over wrapping of products, the killing and the pillaging of land and animals is just taking us to the inevitable.

I can only image one day us humans will be tossed back to the stone age or time of living in a past age (horse and buggy). How long can we over populate, over build and over take land until there is no more to take? Most of these issues are new and this growth has been in the last century. Progress seems to be pushing us backwards.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I wonder if it is positive. I do think the world will change or the earth my just swallow a large majority to clean house.

-my condensed thinking

Man Pulls a "Triple Talaq" in His Sleep

I just learned a new term and it must be weilded very carefully. The term is "Triple Talaq." Forget formal divorce just say these particular words three times and the divorse if final.

• "The religious leaders ruled that if the couple wanted to remarry they would have to wait at least 100 days. Sohela (the woman) would also have to spend a night with another man and be divorced by him in turn." read story

Sound a bit like wife/husband swapping. There is possibly a big untapped business model that can be drawn up around this.

I don't know but I'm left a bit unclear on this "Triple Talaq" and the sense of it.

I also see the "Triple Talaq" may become history for the acceptable "Nikaahnama" (marrage contract as see here:

World Baseball Classic 2006

Don't know about you all, but I think this series (tournament) is great. This world wide game has brought back baseball fever to me. I've watched just about every game. I hope they continue with this event in the future. From the American turnout it seems that there are many unfilled seats, but rest assured the rest of the world is watching. I hope you are..............

Taiwan is Taiwan: as I last checked today

From the Xinhua English website:

HONG KONG, March 9 (Xinhuanet) -- An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Yunlin County of China's Taiwan at noon on Thursday, according to reports reaching here from Taipei.

When did Taiwan become: "China's Taiwan?"

It is called: Responsibility or Control

Full Story - Contending that women have more options than they do in the event of an unintended pregnancy, men's rights activists are mounting a long shot legal campaign aimed at giving them the chance to opt out of financial responsibility for raising a child.

The National Center for Men has prepared a lawsuit -- nicknamed Roe v. Wade for Men -- to be filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Michigan on behalf of a 25-year-old computer programmer ordered to pay child support for his ex-girlfriend's daughter. . . .

- pure sillyness

Missing the Winter Olympics - Dreaming of Snow

I have been reading that the Winter Olympics have not been a dream watch, but I miss seeing them. Since moving to Taiwan I have given up on American Football (but Art Modell hurt that first), American Baseball and Basketball. Taiwan TV does not have alot of American sports besides what you see on ESPN and one other network here. So following a team is hard - just easier not to worry about sports - actually they don't seem so important.

I do however wish I could watch the winter olympics. I love the winter olympics. Plus not seeing snow for many years now I have more a inner feeling to see them. But no winter olympics to be found on any of my cable channels. Well, CNN gives you some hightlights once in awhile, but nothing like curling up with a drink and popcorn and watching all the great winter events.

The summer olympics will be in Beijing. Not much of a summer olympics fan, but I wonder if those will be shown here since Taiwan and China don't get along so well. ... . dreaming of snow.

Tom Lantos and China

Tom Lantos are you nuts?

Heading: Google, Yahoo Criticized by U.S. Lawmakers on China ``Your abhorrent activities in China are a disgrace,'' California Representative Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on International Relations, said today at a joint subcommittee hearing. ``I simply do not understand how your corporate leadership sleeps at night.''

I should include all US lawmakers that are going after these Internet companies. However, it seems that Tom Lantos is the outspoken one. I noticed Lantos has been after the China government for some time with no progress of his own (everything from Olympics to Tibet). So, he should know first hand how hard it is to work with and in China. Heck you left Taiwan issues (TRA) in 1999 after China pushed back. Plus Tom has grandeur that China has stadium built for public executions (where are you getting this info?).

In what way do these law makers see a company changing China's laws? Would these same law makers back a Chinese company and government pushing US Law to change?

My personal opinion is this. Chinese individuals that want to circumvent the laws governing the Internet can. It is more difficult and requires technical skill, but it can be done. China has their laws. USA has their laws. To me this is a government thing and should not have to be shouldered all by US companies and their money. And I don't believe these US companies should have to listen to such belittling from the very people that are not doing anything themselves against China. HEY Tom Lantos why not call China's premiers in and drill them on their laws and practices!!!! Or better yet start a campaign to have the Chinese citizens push back to the government.

The US government is getting a bit pushy. Nice to see a task force was set up, but I don't expect China to change their laws, because some people think the Internet should not be censored on particular subjects. (and on top of all this I see letters Tom Lantos has on his site saying the US should censor porn and other particular sites - so does he think some censoring is okay?)

Click here for more - Caucas
China's USERS take on the issue - USA's self-absorption
Tom Lantos - Hypocrisy

New Horizons - Takes OFFFFFFF

I have been following New Horizons closely for the past two months. I am amateur astronomer, but this is exciting stuff. This is the type of information that makes us feel we are living in a Star Trek era. We are exploring, we are looking, we are learning. 9 +/9- years will pass before much is known, but the wait will be exciting. There are many new developments coming from many space agencies around the world. I’m not sure what it will all answer, but opening new doors and finding a new world is fantastic.

Flashback Alternatives

A radio station that did not exist in its day exists now. See Flashback Alternatives

Check out all the programming you will love it. If you are like me you will enjoy Darker Shade of Retro hosted by DJ Formaldehyde and co-hosted by MsSynth. USA (EST) Thursday nights at 9:00pm and Friday 3:00am. DJ Formaldehyde focuses on Industrial, Gothic and pioneering electronic music from the 70s to today. However, he is lacking The Thessalonian Dope Gods and The Geminus Sect. But that could be Sin Klubs fault. Plus missing some good Cleveland goth and industrial artists. Guess I will need to help DJ Formaldehyde out there.

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN all the shows are GREAT

People I Miss Series: Jodi Allan

A heart filled with family love is how I think of Jodi Allan. Jodi and I meet on a friend’s introduction (ES3). We lived some 200 miles apart, but we hit it off. I enjoyed driving my Eclipse and listening to CDs so the trips from Cleveland to Toledo were not so bad. We spent good quality time together and at times with her family. We thought the same on music, many world views and life in general. I just never connected with many of her friends, but that was no big deal. I tried to make it work, but my life was changing. I let it change so much I ended up pushing Jodi away even as a friend. Not sure we will ever see each other again, but I know she is still smiling at life and being the best mother in the world. I’m sure Cierra has grown up to follow your footsteps and has become a wonderful daughter.