The Swallow's Nest

Bye Bye Blog?

There is a part of me that cannot believe I am going to make the following suggestion.  There is another even larger part of me that feels I have no choice.  I am in the midst of seriously considering canceling this blog.  That's right, I may dismantle the Nest at the start of this summer, i.e. next week.  As you can probably tell, I enjoy blogging.  In fact, I love it.  And there are enough of you that unexplainably actually take the time to read what I write.  Not many of you comment, but that is not why I am considering this move.  Here is why:

(1) I have this conviction that if you're going to blog it needs to be daily.  I try very hard to post Monday-Friday.  Let's face it, when you www dot a blog you're expecting to read a post that is up-to-date, at least within a few days of your click.  I know when I go to a blog and find the person has not written in two weeks or, worse, two months I hardly ever go back.  I don't want that to happen at the Swallow's Nest.  But...

(2) I am going to find it increasingly hard to post daily primarily because I am starting a new job (jumping into it already) this fall and it involves a lot of travel.  Ironically the places I am visiting would be fascinating to blog about, but I won't have the time.  Posting on the road falls into the "sounds cool but doesn't work practically" category in my wee little mind.  For example, we leave Friday night for two-weeks in Europe (part work, part play).  Will I realistically post from Prague, Munich, and London?  Nah, probably not.  At least not enough to keep the readers coming back for more.  And this will frustrate me during the trip.  Seriously, it is quite possible that I will go to bed at night saying, "Ugh. I wanted to blog today and didn't" have enough time, a good Internet connection, etc.

(3) The topics, issues, and passions that I really want to write about I cannot (at least publically).  This also has to do in part with my new job and in part with me not having the time to adequately develop these thoughts in writing.  If I cannot go public with my true views on important matters, then this blog runs the risk of "and today I..."  No one wants to read about what I did today, let alone most days!  No blog of mine will ever be a "Dear Diary" if I can help it.  That's just not acceptable to me and probably not to you either (be honest).

These are three of the most basic and obvious reasons for me to sign-off for good or at least until something changes again in my future.  But instead of me just jumping to this conclusion and springing the announcement on you, I have decided to post this and let it sit for a few days.  This gives you a chance to e-mail me here or respond on the comments section below.  Tell me what you think.  Be honest.  Right now the only other option I've considered is turning this into a weekly blog, where I post one essay a week - something longer on a theme or topic close to my heart.  But a) will people want to read such a post and b) without supplying something new daily will I just bore all who choose to enter here?  Help me decide.

Now, back to the 5,000 things that need to be done before I leave Friday night.

A Real Laugher

It's a dreary Monday outside and I have to deal with an unpleasant matter this evening, which makes this a rainy Monday in more ways than one.  But, I did manage to crack myself up this afternoon watching Bollywood Superman and his girlfriend Spiderwoman.  Do not miss this clip.  It was tears-rolling-down-my-face funny!

Friday Is For Film

Today, tonight, right now the Cannes Film Festival is in full swing in the country of France.  This year's festival has captured my attention because my friends Isaac and Valerie are in attendance since Isaac's film,  Munyurangabo, has been accepted to the festival.  This is a major accomplishment (1 in 100 chance) and those of us who know him are a) not surprised, b) we're very proud, and c) we're cheering him on.  The guy is immensely talented and submitted a film with a significant message. 

I am not going to attempt to re-tell the story here.  Instead, go to the film's website here.  (You can also learn about Isaac's other work at the site.)  Cannes is without a doubt the most prestigious film festival in the world and just getting into the festival is a tremendous accomplishment.  I've got no doubt my humble friend will have success in his craft and I look forward to celebrating with him in-person.  And what's the best part to all this?  Isaac and Valerie invited six Rwandans to join them at Cannes.  Here's what Isaac wrote to me in an e-mail:  "Nothing is more important to us than bringing a team of six Rwandans to the premiere in France.  These individuals have never traveled out of the country, and though we are cautious about the culture shock they might endure, we believe that they should be the ones who are honored at this festival."

(If you are confused about the last paragraph it is because you did not click here.  Now you've got to click!)

I'm posting this because I'm proud of the guy.  Period.  But I'll add this.  The cost of bringing the Rwandans to France is about US$11,000.  If you want to make a donation towards this noble effort, let me know here.  I will connect you to Isaac.   And Isaac and Valerie, enjoy the festivities!  I want to hear all about it.

Sweat Fest

Gosh it's hot.  In Hong Kong we are in the middle of a complete sweat fest.  If you are not in a place of air conditioning you may well drop dead.  It's that bad.  Yesterday I went out to take care of some errands and not long into the expedition that spot were the right leg meets the left leg inside the pants started to fray.  The sweat soaked straight through my summery, short-sleeved shirt and ran through the undergarments in about 5 seconds.  I was wearing sandals - socks and shoes are simply not healthy on days like these - and my feet started slipping around them like kids feet when they try on Mom's shoes.  That is how sweaty I was! 

Last night I began to wonder if it is just me?  Do I have a problem with perspiration?   I noticed other people dabbing their faces with a cloth and the men and women I passed in business suits looked agitated and more than slightly disgusted with their choice of outfits on this moist afternoon.  Still, I thought, "maybe no one was as hot or bothered as me?"  But just about twenty minutes ago I learned this is not the case.  I am not as strange as I thought.  Heres why: Ling came back from the farmer's market just up the street.  She wasn't gone long, maybe 20 minutes and when she came back she was chirping away about how hot it is.  Forgetting what she had just said I went to stroke her back and it felt like my hand grabbed the wall inside the pool.  That is how much perspiration was slobbered all over her. 

It's just extremely muggy.  You need a shower after your shower.  It's raining sweat.  It's "give me the pool or give me death" weather.  The kind of day when brothers and sisters really get on each other's nerves if they so much as pretend to tap the other.   You don't want to get near another individual and you better pray the air conditioning in every location you want to visit is working and working good.  I've lived in Hong Kong for almost 8 years and this is worse than I remember it.  I have visions of Al Gore running around here with his shirt off or better yet a blue shirt completely soaked through screaming, "I told you so.  I told you so."  If this is how those poor polar bears feel, then call me a global warming crusader and ship my to Antarctica so I can personally turn the fans on those furry friends.  It's hot and I am not looking forward to going out again later.  I better bring a change of clothes.

OK, OK, maybe Richard Simmons would enjoy it!

Wednesday Is For The Weeklys

If you're at all interested in politics or political personalities, as I am, then don't miss Time's profile on Al Gore under the perfect title The Last Temptation of Al Gore.  It's a well written piece that raises one intriguing question: will he run for U.S. president?  And then we know old Hillary Clinton is running.  What affect will Billy Boy have on her candidacy?  Find out over at Newsweek.  I also enjoyed this article, especially as I consider the book I'm currently reading (see my sidebar).

Where's The Jolly Postbox?

I am frustrated.  What I am about to tell you happened almost three hours ago, but I am still itching with angst.  I rarely have to mail anything.  The Internet is where I do most of my sending and receiving these days.  I can't remember the last time I set foot in a post office and I hadn't tried to mail a letter or bill or anything else in months upon months...until today.  I had a reference letter to send and a newspaper clipping (hello, 1953!) to send to my Mom.  So, I set off from an appointment in TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) to find a post office box in which to drop these two envelopes. 

My walk to find such a green box took so long and covered so many kilometers that I've concluded hardly anyone else sends snail mail anymore.  Let me ask you.  Put your hand in a little slot recently and released?  I bet your answer is "no."  If it's "yes," then maybe you're a post office employee or the guy that rounds up the three or four stamped parcels that actually drop to the bottom of the one or two post boxes left in this city.  Running the risk of sounding like I'm 76: I remember a time when you couldn't get an envelope in a post box at 5pm.  It was too full.  Not so anymore.

Ultimately I found what I was looking for and, hesitating slightly, dropped in my mail.  I hesitated because if it took me this long to find the jolly box, how long will it take the postal worker to find it?  Maybe never.  If this young lady doesn't get into this school or my Mom never reads this news story, then I'll know.  If you want something sent, stick to the World Wide Web.  It would sure save me an extra workout!

Meeting Jiang Zemin

That's right folks, I met the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China today, Mr. Jiang Zemin.  Actually, he was driving my taxi.  I leaped in from the sidewalk at busy Nathan Road just after picking up my dry cleaning in the raging rain.  By the time I shouted out my home address, got the bag on the seat, pulled my seatbelt around me, made sure my phone didn't slip out of pocket, and looked up I realized that retirement must be rough up north and that my 10-minute drive home would provide an excellent opportunity for me to learn more about China in the 1990's from the perspective of its number one leader. 

See this man.  This is exactly what my driver looked like. Big round glasses, fat hands, and that cheeky grin.  Exactly.  I checked several times in his rear view mirror.  I confirmed it when it was time to pay my fare.  I looked at his identification card on the dash.  It was Jiang Zemin.  JZ for short.  And he kind of had the same aura I would expect a Chinese leader to have.  Cold, standoffish, an air of importance.  The only thing that didn't fit is that he was driving me around the city, navigating those main streets and backroads in Jordan. 

Was this a modern version of that old tail about the king who jumps in the peasant's clothes?  It sure would be a great way to hear what the average Hong Konger is thinking.  In fact, this is not a bad idea for any politician everywhere. 

Friday Is For Fried

The week is over and I am exhausted.  Down for the count.  Out.  Last night my head hit the pillow and when my lovely wife came in (note I was in bed before she was - amazing!) I woke myself up snoring.  It was a weird moment.  I could hear myself snoring before I came out of the first level of sleep to full awareness.  How do you know you're tired?  When you snore like a bear in hibernation just seconds after bedding down.  And today is even worse.  Why the weariness?

For starters, I am exercising again.  I know, I know when we exercise it is supposed to release little doobies called endorphins that make us feel all light and fluffy and just peachy keen.  It's baloney.  Whoever made this up must receive a six-figure salary for being a "health expert."  Now that the pool's open I have spent the last two days in the H2O lapping back and forth, forth and back and as a result I am just wasted.  So when, I ask, does the high the endorphins are supposed to deliver kick in?  Hopefully soon.

I guess all of my recent travels may also be stealing energy.  Last week I was in Malaysia, this week Thailand, and in just two weeks I will be in London, Prague, and Munich.  I better catch as many zzzzzs as possible between now and then.  Perhaps I am underestimating how great a toll the travel takes on me physically.  And with all of this exhaustion you would think I'd take it easy this weekend.  Wrong.  I have reading and writing to complete and I have to do it. 

It's Friday and I'm fried!

The World's Longest Nose

I think I saw the world's biggest-longest nose yesterday.  I sat down on the plane that would take me from Bangkok back to Hong Kong and when I finished fastening my seatbelt just before take-off I looked up and there it was, practically 3-D-ing itself off this flight attendant's face and right into my own.  This snauze started off at the tip of the forehead, right where the hairline ends and what we typically refer to as the forehead begins.  It flared open down by the bottom row of teeth just beyond this poor woman's mouth.

Am I exaggerating?  Maybe, but not by much.  Centimeters, not inches.  It was so big and long that I could not take my eyes off it the two-plus hours up here.  And as it just so happened this attendant attended our aisle the entire way.  Frankly, the woman wasn't bad looking despite the nose job gone awry.  If you happen to remember Gonzo from the Muppets, then you're getting close to what we observed.  Not Pinocchio, Gonzo.  It was that kind of big and crooked.  I kept wondering if this woman stood at the very start of the business class section how far into economy class the bump and hook on her nose would go.  Hey, what can I say?  It gave me something to wonder about at 37,500 feet, about how tall this nose stood!

At one point another passenger, one of these complainers by nature, got into it with another airhostess about how hot the cabin was.  He was even fanning himself with the Apple Daily Newspaper when he slammed his call button while we were rolling out to the runway.   Taking an appropriate authoritarian approach to the matter the flight attendant told him the air would cool down when we got underway.  He said something like "give me a shower" (classy comment) and she said, "I wouldn't go that far."  I kept wishing she would just get her colleague with the monster nose over and threaten she blow it - right into his face.  Talk about taking a shower!

I am not kidding.  It was just like this!  The nose anyway.  No flight attendant I have ever seen dresses like this and/or is having this much fun. 

Wednesday Is For The Weeklys

I was fascinated to find out what's happening with women leaders in the world.  Fortune Magazine gives us quite the analysis here.  A list of the 50 Most Powerful Women, 10-Highest Paid, 4 Rising Stars and the Young and Powerful get covered.  Check it out.