i’m not ashamed to say that i didn’t watch Super Bowl XLIVXLXIVIXVV last night because there’s no reason to be. i don’t have anything against American football but i never really understood the appeal of watching a bunch of guys run into each other. i must be overlooking something, though, because just about everyone in this country seems to love it. then again, NASCAR also has lots of fans.

oh well, congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for a job done.

DJ Fart Robot triumphs yet again.

Beka just asked me if there’s a DJ named “fart robot.” any takers?

here’s a portrait of my father’s 四叔公 which, translated into English, means “paternal grandfather’s younger brother who was the fourth-born son in the family.” this then makes him my paternal great-grandfather’s younger brother who was the fourth-born son in the family but i unfortunately have no idea how to succinctly say that in Chinese. or English.

anyway, here’s a portrait of my father’s 四叔公 whom he has never met. i’m not sure of the exact date or location of this photo but, if i had to make an educated guess, would say that it was taken sometime in the 1950s in or around my ancestral village of Chaolian, located on an island just outside the port city of Jiangmen, China.

looking at this photograph, i can’t help but wonder about him. all i really know is that he was born during the Qing Dynasty, lived through two world wars during the Nationalist era (including a period of Japanese occupation) and passed away in a red China. what was his life like? what struggles had he endured with all the regime changes? what happened to his eye? unfortunately, him being of my great-grandfather’s generation, i assume that all of his peers have already passed away and that the answers to those questions (and many more) may have very well perished along with them.

gah.

i had the honor of being featured on graphic designer Hendrika Makilya’s blog the other day where she asked me to talk about something that inspires me and something that frustrates me. here are my responses if you can’t be bothered to click through to her entry but still care enough to read:



Inspiration

Photographs of old Hong Kong

Here’s a juxtaposition of old and new images that give you an idea of how much Hong Kong has changed over the decades. In addition to sentimental significance (I am a Hong Kong citizen), these images also remind me that my subjects are always changing and their current states will fade into history if I don’t photograph them. They stoke the proverbial fire beneath my ass, you might say.

Frustration

Camera review sites like dpreview.com or dcresource.com

I have absolutely nothing against consumer advice but sites like these have inadvertently nurtured the growth of a whole subclass of camera geeks who call themselves photographers. These people sit around with their color tests and focus charts talking about cameras instead of using them and, what’s worse, they convince newcomers to tear their hair out over technical specifications as well. Yes, it’s important to know the strengths and weaknesses of a certain piece of equipment but who cares if you don’t take photos to begin with?

i usually don’t drop links, but this website made me laugh out loud. basically, this guy takes photos from hipster/yuppie publications and writes captions that would make Douglas Adams proud. it’s hilarious. and brilliant. but more hilarious than brilliant.

unhappyhipsters.com

the good news: my stomach feels much better today. the bad news: Costa’s in Greektown burned down yesterday and is now a smoldering shell on Halsted.

oh well, i prefer Rodity’s anyway.

heeeeeey, guess who’s got food poisoning?

my brother, the incredibly talented motorsports photographer behind CornerSpeedPhoto, had stickers made recently so i decided to slap one on my crutch. if you enjoy racing or watching other people race, head on over to CornerSpeedPhoto.com and take a look at some of his work; you won’t regret it.

i finally got around to watching Shinjuku Incident per my cousin’s suggestion. i don’t think anyone’s used to seeing Jackie Chan in a serious role but he actually did fairly well. it must’ve been difficult for him to resist using kung-fu in the film’s many fight scenes but probably not nearly as difficult as having to speak (hopelessly accented) Mandarin for the entire film. anyway, i give it two thumbs up!

not that you’re asking me, that is.