Tuvan Throat Singing

My apologies to any folks in China reading this blog but YouTube is currently blocked in China. It's ironic that they are employing a 13th century technique (a wall - as in firewall) to a 21st century issue. It works about as well as the original wall did too as many people in China can easily get around it.

Anyhow .. came across this video of Tuvan throat singing on YouTube. Enjoy.

Corky and the Juice Pigs

For a reason to be revealed in a future post I have been searching for Scottish music In my search I found a song called "Twas the Scots" by Corky and the Juice Pigs which is a Canadian musical comedy act.

I actually saw them perform live at the Pit Pub in UBC in the late 80's. It was being filmed for MuchMusic (The Nations' Music Station) and Terry David Mulligan was the host. I was a fan of TDM from his years hosting Good Rockin' Tonite on CBC and I must admit it was a shocking bit of reality to see the makeup crew spray painting his bald spot.

Anyhow .. I loved Corky and the Juice Pigs and their selection of comedic pieces such as "Pickles on My Burger" (50's love song parody) and "Weebles Wobble But They Don't Fall Down." It was great to see some of their videos on Youtube but I must say my favourite is the following video .. "I'm The Only Gay Eskimo"

Feel Good Ditty

If I haven't mentioned it before I love Youtube. Videos of just about everything you could imagine .. who wouldn't love it?

The following is a video of Bobby McFerrin with Yo-Yo Ma (not sure about the hyphen) performing "Hush Little Baby". I've been humming it all week and I have found it to be a neat little pick-me-up which was desperately needed.

We all know Bobby McFerrin as that "Don't Worry, Be Happy" guy and many of us were duped by the urban legend that he had killed himself sometime in the early 90's. I am happy to report that is obviously NOT true.

NY Islanders

This year the New York Islanders have sunk to almost record lows in the NHL. It is clear that either
a) the owner Charles Wang is crazy
b) they are in the John Tavares sweepstakes
c) both a) and b)

I remember the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup in 1982 where they played the once almighty New York Islanders .. the most dominant team in the NHL. A family friend at the time was in fact Bob Nystrom's sister so I was torn whether to root for the hometown Canucks or the Islanders (Canucks of course).

Here they are in all there 1979-1983 Stanley Cup dominant glory. A once proud franchise that has fallen off the radar in the NHL.

Happy Birthday Babe!

Today is Alice's birthday .. won't say which one. In light of recent events the celebration was minimal but intimate. We (and the boys) went to dinner at our favourite HotPot restaurant and returned home for cake. The boys were pretty excited about eating cake. Carter started asking about it this morning.

Massoud Namini

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. This morning Massoud Namini - a fellow teacher, an amazingly warm and friendly guy and a good friend passed away suddenly. It was a very tragic day at our school for both staff and students alike. We were all in a state of shock that I am sure will take some time to subside.

Massoud was just one of those guys that everyone liked. He was equally loved and respected by our Chinese staff as he loved living in this country and fully embraced the Chinese culture.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and son. We hope they can find strength and solace in the comfort of their friends.

Looking Out For Number One

By the time you read this we may already know if Martin Brodeur has become the winningest goalie in the history of the NHL ... 552 wins. Pundits will debate where this places him in the leagues of the greatest to play the game but one thing cannot be denied. The record will be his and all else failing the shutout record will fall too. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Marty Brodeur .. this song's for you.

The Beard

When we came back from vacation I decided to "not shave" for awhile. After 3 weeks of growth what I managed was this paltry growth.


When you have a beard you go through stages of indecision as to its merits. It itches, the skin underneath is dry but you like how it looks and its fun to touch. Nathan really liked it and always wanted to rub my face. It put me in mind of the following Kids in the Hall skit .. The Beard.



Suffice it to say that rather than throw myself from an upper mezzanine (watch the video) or have my wife leave me I decided to shave it off. Goodbye beard ...... until next time!

Dr. James Totten

August 9, 1947 - March 9, 2008

Dr. James Totten, B.A., M.Ma, PhD was my mathematics mentor during my years at UCC (now TRU) and beyond. I knew him simply as Jim. His door was always open - always. He delighted in talking mathematics and many afternoons we would caught up analyzing some problem or another or just discussing life. To us life was mathematics and vice versa. Many a time he would glance at his watch realizing it was past dinner time and remark that he'd better head home cause Lynne was waiting for him.

Lynne - his students were glad to have had that time with him and I apologize on their behalf if we ever kept him too late.

It has been just a little over a year since his passing but I still think of him often and truly miss his presence in my life. He had a passion for mathematics and for teaching mathematics that was unparalleled. In my humble little way I try each day in my classes to capture a bit of that essence and I hope that he is proud of what I do.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is putting on a conference called Sharing Mathematics - A Tribute to Jim Totten. The website for the conference is at http://www.tru.ca/sharingmath/index.html.

Jim - You inspired many of us to take up the baton of sharing mathematics and we do it proudly and in your honour. I am eternally indebted to you for believing in me and for igniting that passion. In sincerely hope you are sitting next to Erdos and reading "The Book".

I love you. I miss you.

From the Easel

Once again l'artiste has made his mark on the easel. Wildlife seems to be a prominent theme in his works.




And the reclusive artist decided it was time to step out of the shadows and make his presence known. No word on when the gallery showing will be.

Kan Guo Lai

I've learned to sing a few Chinese songs in my time here and they can be an invaluable icebreaker as the Chinese LOVE to sing. Karaoke bars are everywhere and at many weddings and celebrations you can expect a TV and karaoke machine as part of the festivities.

The first song that I heard and decided to learn was one called "Kan Guo Lai" which basically means look at me or look my way. The first line "Dui mian de nu hai kan guo lai" means "Hey girls over there, look my way". So obviously it is a song about a guy looking for love (or wookin pa nub as Buckwheat would sing). It's got a nice melody and I first heard it in Shan Hai Guan in October 2000 (my first year in Dalian).

Rather than assault your sense with my awful rendition I give you the video of the real singer .. Richie Ren from Taiwan.

Latest From the Easel

P1060625, originally uploaded by DarrenBrown.

Carter's latest renditions on the easel. Obviously we have the sun, a fish, a house (partly erased - tempermental artist) and what I will assume is a tree. I love the bubbles from the mouth of the fish. He is really progressing in his aquatic stylings .. perhaps its his new found love of the water.

Hey, Hey, Hey .. It's a Faaat Lip

Last night Nathan was zooming around on a small little truck and he took a header .. or should I say a lipper. Face first no hands to block his fall - lip meets ground.

He was a pretty sad little boy and did lots of crying. It was a major battle for him to allow me to put ice on it but in the end he acquiesced. When I tried to take the ice away he wouldn't let me. After the first ice treatment and a bit of dinner the sad little boy was back to his usual happy self.

Carter's Easel

A few years back we had the good sense to buy an easel with whiteboard and chalkboard from IKEA in Beijing. Carter uses it quite often to draw and practice his letters and numbers. Below are a few shots of his recent handiwork

At a glance























Fish
























Xiao (Small) and Da (Big)

Dao Lang 刀郎

After living in a country for 9 years you start to get a little acclimatized to the culture. Part of this process is that you begin to enjoy some of the music despite not understanding the lyrics. There is really only one Chinese singer that I can name and/or identify his songs should they come on the radio - Dao Lang (Dow laang .. the a sound is like say "aaah" .. not like hang).

His real name is Luo Lin but to a non Chinese person this is akin to saying Chung Fat played Chin Tang on Hawaii Five-O. He is from Sichuan (spicy food known in the west as Sechuan .. think Kang Pao Chicken) but his music has strong influences from Muslims and Uighurs (Turkish speaking) of the Tibetan and Xinjiang regions.

His first single that made him a household name in China was 2002 Niande Diyi Chang Xue (The First Snows of 2002). It is the one I most identify him with and can often be heard humming the chorus .. cause I don't know all the words

2002 Niande Diyi Chang Xue


I also ran across this one from YouTube and really liked it.



And the last of the Dao Lang hit parade

The Worst (And Most Common) Etiquette Mistakes

From Yahoo I saw this article on 12 common and awful etiquette mistakes. I decided to see how they stack up in the Chinese culture so the first 12 are from the article. My analysis is down below.

1. Party Poopers When you receive an invitation to a dinner or party--whether by Evite, voicemail, or casual email--RESPOND. Yeah, that’s what that little “RSVP” thing means. Everyone knows it, yet it’s amazing how many don’t respond. Even for weddings! Planning a party or event requires a lot of work, so do the host a simple favor and let them know if you're coming or not.
2. Nickel & Dimin’ How annoying is it when you go to dinner with four or more people, the check finally arrives, and one of your meal companions begins to divvy up the check down to the last penny? Sure, we get that Sally had a shrimp salad, and Janet had two iced teas, while Beth only had water, and you ordered a slice of peach pie (a la mode, which is extra). The point is, if you go out to dinner with a group, be prepared to split the bill more or less evenly. If there's an outstanding cost differential, fine, estimate it and be done with it. The person who spends twenty minutes dividing the bill to the dime comes off as a cheapskate –- and kills the festive mood.
3. The Line-Up Lines are a fact of life. At the post office, the supermarket, just about everywhere these days. For starters, moaners who huff and gripe about standing in a line of three people for all of five minutes are tops on our list. Get over yourself -- if you don’t have a few minutes to wait to buy that loaf of bread, then pick it up another time. Another thing: Don’t show your impatience by creeping up so close to the person in front of you that they can feel your breath. Crowding those around you will not get you to the front any faster, so give them some space. Finally, cutting in line or trying to ignore the fact that there IS a line –- stop it! Everyone’s time is valuable.
4. The ME Show It’s great to hear all the crazy, wacky, wonderful things happening in the lives of others. Jobs, engagements, breakups, boyfriends, puppies, pregnancies, vacations — very good stuff, all of it. But once you’ve listened to a friend, family member, or colleague spout about their own fabulous life for an hour (or two), it’s normal to expect them to ask, “So, what’s going on with you?” Those who blab on about themselves while you listen intently, then don’t ask a thing about you in return are just plain rude.
5. Baby Biz Changing a poopy baby diaper around others is nasty -- and we're moms. Changing the other kind of baby diaper in public is one thing, but still should only be done when absolutely necessary!
6. Mobile Madness As much as we love the modern age, there are days when we long to go to a coffee shop, movie theatre, bookstore, or post office and not hear some teen queen dishing to her friend about last night's hot date with Todd or eavesdrop (unwillingly) on a screaming family feud. Mobile phones are essential, but please, people, pleeeeeeease, use a little restraint on the when's, what's, and where's. We're happy that Todd is "totally built" but we're going to have to start walking around town and slapping people with "TMI" tickets (yes, too much information).
7. Smokes Everyone has a right to smoke in public, but be conscious of whose face your smoke is blowing into. Are there kids nearby? And we just might kick the butt of the next person we see throwing their burning butt on the ground without putting it out. Really, find an ashtray or trashcan where you can extinguish and dispose of it properly -- that thing is garbage, not decoration for our streets and sidewalks.
8. The Pee & Flee Public bathrooms get used by everyone -- yup, they're public! So, making a mess of the toilet seat, and then prancing out without bothering to wipe it up -- not cool. Leaving a mess for the next visitor is completely unacceptable (and disgustingly unsanitary, of course). Take 10 seconds to rip off a piece of toilet paper, toilet seat cover, or a paper towel, and do your due diligence!
9. Stealing...a parking spot, that is. Yeah, you know who you are. If someone has their blinker on and is patiently waiting for a spot, it's theirs. And if you've already passed a spot up, it's gone. Treat others as you expect to be treated, and the parking goddesses will smile down upon you... eventually.
10. Belly Baring Men, women -- anyone who's passed puberty, everyone who isn't lounging poolside or oceanside -- resist the urge to bare those bellies. They may be beautiful, Buddha-like, jolly, but sometimes they can be flabby, hairy, and not ripe for public consumption. If you're jogging, fellas, t-shirts or tanks won't hurt your workout, so throw one on. Gals, midriff fashions are never really on our "Do" list, and that goes double if your age doesn't contain the word "teen." There are plenty of ways for all of us to flaunt what we got without sharing our tum-tums with the world.
11. Spitting This gets especially yucky when it's one of those enormous globs that looks like it could be alive. Some people (males, in particular) think it's kind of a cool-guy thing to do. We're here to tell ya that no one wants to see you hock a big gooey one out of your car, onto the sidewalk, or anywhere else for that matter. Try a tissue.
12. Honking Problem People who honk too often, too unnecessarily, or just to express their emotions are on our list of Most Etiquette Challenged. If you're trying to warn someone about a collision or problem, fine, otherwise it's not that serious. Give it a rest!

Here's how they stack up in China

1. Party Poopers You don't refuse an invitation in China. No matter what trouble it causes you go if you are invited.
   
2. Nickel & Dimin’ The Chinese are much better at this than we are. They never "Go Dutch" whoever invites pays. They firmly believe in the "what goes around, comes around."
3. The Line-Up Everyone’s time is valuable and to emphasis that the Chinese push and shove their way through everything. NO ONE lines up!
4. The ME Show I believe the Chinese are generally good at this and don't go on about themselves
   
5. Baby Biz They don't use diapers. Instead the children wear assless pants and they do their business wherever and whenever the need strikes. Mostly urination but the odd "dump" can happen.
   
6. Mobile Madness The Chinese will answer and speak VERY loudly on their cellphones ANYWHERE. This includes at the symphony, during a speech, driving a car and yes ... at the movies. They consider the "phone call" like a call from God .. always to be answered.
   
7. Smokes They smoke in hospital maternity wards. What more needs to be said?
   
8. The Pee & Flee Hahahahahahaha .. are you kidding me? "Clean up the bathroom". Anyone who has been in a Chinese public bathroom knows how sidesplittingly funny this concept is.
   
9. Stealing...a parking spot. In China there is one law and one law only when it comes to driving and/or parking. "If there is space - take it without regard for others."
   
10. Belly Baring Women never do this but in the summer many a man bares the belly by rolling up the shirt. They also roll up the dress pants to relieve their hot legs. Add some beer and lipsmacking while you eat and you have quality entertainment.
11. Spitting If there is one thing that separates the Chinese from the rest of humanity it is the fact the hoark (sp?) everywhere. Schools, museums, hotels, carpeted floors, you name it. They make a sound like the last gallon of water being sucked out of a jacuzzi and then let it drop wherever they are. Women and men alike engage in this disgusting custom. They (men and women) are also very good at the "hand to the side of the nose snot rocket" as well.
    
12. Honking Problem In China this is not a problem. Why not a problem? Cause they don't think twice about laying on the horn. So no problem.
    

Happy Birthday!!

Marshall School Grade 5 2009, originally uploaded by DarrenBrown.

We would like to wish you a very special and very happy 10th birthday!!

We love you very much

Uncle Darren, Aunt Alice, Cousin Carter and Cousin Nathan

Reveen

P1060603, originally uploaded by DarrenBrown.

This is Nathan's chocolate ice cream goatee. Reminiscent of the amazing hypnotist Reveen in my opinion.

Paul Harvey - The Rest of the Story

Two nights ago a few of us were discussing the Chinese storyteller Shan TianFang 单田芳 (see my previous blog entry here). We came to the conclusion that this man was the Chinese equivalent of Paul Harvey the famed American radio broadcaster who gave us "The Rest of the Story." We remarked that he must certainly have passed away as he was quite old when we listened to him in our youth. That night I did a Google search to discover that he was in fact alive at 90 years of age. Yesterday at a birthday party the folks from the previous night's party were also present and I led with the news that Paul Harvey was indeed alive at 90 years old. In a true "Gee Whiz" moment we marvelled at his resiliency and then talked about his legacy a little more. Unfortunately in a tragically ironic twist there is more to this story.

This conversation about this truly legendary broadcaster and his remarkable longevity took place only yesterday February 27th, 2009.

Paul Harvey passed away on February 28th, 2009

And now you know the rest of the story.