p a s s i o n + r e a s o n

I just got set up with Technorati and while at it, searched who is linking back to me. Well, well, I have several more feeds added to my RSS newsreader:

• Duffshot
• Weewian
• Flonado
• FacistMalady
  

Posted by at 2:42 PM | Permalink

About several Sunday afternoons ago at a friend's apartment, I had the privilege of hearing some first-hand stories and accounts of life and ministry in China. Her ministry was very much grassroots, carried out in a manner befitting St. Francis of Assisi's infamous quote "preach gospel at all times... use words if necessary." Her ministry involves words quite significantly, but consists not of preaching or proselytizing.

It was refreshing to be moved again at how God works his kingdom: slowly and one life at a time. I just want to share this poem she shared with us which reminds me of the Switchfoot song "Dare you to move" (I first read the reference from Scott William's blog article: I Dare You to Move and here on his blog.)

Disturb Us

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

Sir Francis Drake -1577

Posted by at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm in the middle of upgrading my MovableType templates to the default ones before moving them to a new template with my customizations on it. I'm stuck, because my entries aren't showing up, and the header text on the sidebars (like "Search", "Categories", and "Archives") don't show up when I'm using the default templates (the ones downloaded from the default templates site and the ones that come in the MT 3.2 en_US installation package).

Interestingly one of my sites doesn't have this problem (I just built it not more than 2 weeks ago), and I haven't used any custom code or anything. However, when I copy over the template code, the header text re-appears. It looks like I need the language pack installed, as all text in MT_TRANS tags don't show up at all.

Update: Well, I found out that I was NOT supposed to copy the templates in the default_templates folder into my linked templates. Oops. The templates with MT_TRANS stay in the default_templates folder, and whenever a new blog is created, MT does the translation (according to the author's default language). Brad Choate makes a reference to this here.

Posted by at 12:59 PM | Permalink

Woah, I just spent a good part of my sleeping time surfing and reading blogs of friends from back home. Last week I practically went through the whole blog of one of my high school buddies. Tonight I speed-read through the blogs of several MCBC (and former-MCBC) folks. Some of them were "kids" when I left, and now they've grown up quite a bit.

When you read through a good year or two of blog entries, it's like catching up with their lives... but in absentia. Too bad, I can't really say that about folks who read through my blog. I've kinda fallen off the edge of the world, blogging-wise, cuz I'm plain too busy.

Yeah, boo-hoo to me, but seriously, I'm thinking of cutting back some things, not that they're unnecessary, au contraire, but I just need more time for me... (which also means God and me). I'd also like to spend more quality time with my fabulous Foreverblue - it's great that she doesn't feel needy that sometimes we go on for several days not being able to meet up or see each other. Several things reminded me to express my love to her everyday.

Well, I had a good blog peek at the folks back in MCBC. I miss them in ways, yet they (the "kids") are growing up and really becoming reflections of Christ to their world, despite heartbreaks, struggles, and life in general. It made me wistfull as I remember dreaming about the world being my oyster. I still dream - as I'm still an optimist, but am even more tempered by reality, my limitations, and my frailty.

Well, life is still grand - although watching a huge bunch of poor and (I believe) landless/homeless people demonstrating the "Cities without Slums" recognition for the World Habitat Day outside the UNESCAP building this morning (scheduled attendance included the Thai Prime Minister, Shinawatra, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart - who's a candidate for the UN Secretary General after Kofi Annan finishes, and several UN heads), I'm reminded that they have little time to be wistfull and think about the world and oysters, nevermind writing metaphors and idioms on a blog. This world is still a very unjust and cruel place - just broken and in need of restoration, reconciliation, and redemption. Just like me. The more I am transformed, the more the world can be transformed through me. I think this is how Christ is incarnated in us. This, then is the road to freedom and life...lived in full, not just for me, for the world, starting with those around me.

Posted by at 2:14 PM | Permalink

I passed my two-year mark in Bangkok just two weeks ago. It's quite amazing how quickly time has passed and how much has happened since I arrived in Bangkok with a vague understanding and expectation of how life was to unfold for me.

I've spent seven months with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace as a NetCorps intern. Soon after I landed a consultancy with UNESCO and worked with them for five months. The next three months were spent semi-employed in IT consulting for various firms. Then the tsunami hit and life changed for many people. UNDP Thailand called and I was hired. I ended up producing the tsunami coordination website and was hired on by UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. Along the way, I'm dating Art, serving significantly at my church, the Evangelical Church of Bangkok, and trying to find time to do sports, traveling, photography, reading and writing.

Life has not been boring at all here. In fact, it's quite the opposite, not really finding enough time to do the activities I'd like to and to spend more time with friends.

Before I left, I was agreeing with a friend that six months is a good amount of time to go overseas for missions trips or internships. He said he would turn down an offer for one year, as it would take him away from friends. My six months passed and I've barely looked back at the opportunities. I've really missed the proxmity and the face-to-face time with friends and family, as Skype and long-distance phone calls are my connection with the very occasional visits.

I can attest that I've been extremely blessed and feel very grateful for how my life has played out thus far. I hope that I'll continue to be a blessing to others as I understand more about "completeness", "wholeness" and its source in Christ-likeness. I'm absolutely challenged in my work and in my situation. I look forward to the next couple of years...

Posted by at 3:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes, our system is back up, although not yet completely. We've switched servers from our at-home based box to a hosted solution (Dreamhost). Most major things have been migrated and are working. Short of putting up a colophon here, I'm on MovableType 3.2 (beta), moving from a very antiquated install of MovableType 2.5 something.

Lots of minor details still have not been addressed, for example, I haven't copied over any of my images that I had posted. Additionally, my templates are still way old, and I'm using plugins that are probably old, too.

I've got a lot of reading to do, to catch up on the new features in MT 3.x (and especially in 3.2). I hope the spam filters work much better than my previous solution (ask, and I'll answer), too.

As I set up this system, I've seen some really neat upgrades to the system that'll allow me to post much easily. I'll also incorporate photos via Flickr. I'll also be keeping a portfolio of images on the server dedicated for exhibiting my more serious works.

If there are any issues with the site (commenting, RSS feeds, templates, etc.) please let me know.

Posted by at 6:46 AM | Permalink

I'm back home (home) now. The new non-stop Bangkok-JFK flight with Thai Airways isn't too bad - 17 hours. However, I'd prefer sitting in business class (or even their "Premium Economy" class) as trying to sleep in stockage class isn't the nicest or easiest.

I'm learning to complain a bit less, though. I was lamenting about the lack of movie choices before the flight - but the new planes have a fully computerized on-demand video system - with many more videos availabe than what their website indicated.

After sleeping six hours or so, I watched Be Cool, Oceans Twelve, Hitch, and Elektra. Their video selection includes a whole compliment of documentaries (have I mentioned how much I drool when I receive the CBC TVDocumentaries Newsletter?)... complain no more!

After arriving bright and early at JFK, I met up with Chris to give him a couple of things - including his slides - which he forgot in Thailand. We looked through his photos and talked more about pro photography.

Well, JetBlue is a great new budget airline. Flying to Buffalo, the return ticket is only some $135 USD. I've read some favourable blog reviews about them - and I concur! They totally exceeded my expectations - sure they were kinda low - I was expecting like an American Air Asia - but to my surprise, JetBlue doesn't t charge for pop, water and snacks. They've got a very customer-centric marketing plan with customer service which that proves it. Plus they've got DirectTV satellite TV for every seat! Too bad I couldn't get the WiFi working at the JetBlue terminal in JFK.

I had a nice surprise at Buffalo: My mom, Ruth, Craig, and Sarah (Ruth's friend) picked me up there. It was really great it was to see them, and catch up with them on the ride break.

Anyways, I'm back home, resting a bit, trying to get over my jet lag. A 20 km bike ride down to the new and improved Mississauga harbourfront in Port Credit was refreshing.

Posted by at 3:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I just fixed something that wasn't allowing comments to be posted. So now you can post comments - and no, I don't mean you, if you're a comment spammer (it's a waste of your time anyways).

Posted by at 1:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had a great time of reconnecting with many friends and acquaintances at MCBC,
my home church. I must be talking myself hoarse now, explaining to everyone that I'm at home for only a week and that I'm going back to Thailand.

It's hard to fully connect with some people I'd like to connect on a deeper level, but it's good, nonetheless. I remember what we were taught during our short-term missions trip debrief: many people will not really be interested in all the amazing things I've seen, experienced, and processed. It's easy to want to explain all the God-things going on, but it can be discouraging when the response to my passionate recollections is just muted interest. For people without this knowledge, this part of the re-entry process is particularly difficult.

Anyhow, I'll be connecting with Ivan, a good child-hood friend of mine tonight, and Craig, one of my best-friends tomorrow night. There will be a lot of catching up. Although it seems that nothing has changed, much has changed in each of our lives.

I guess I can bounce "dreaming God's dreams" off of them. I'm prayerfully trying to be oriented towards God's will (where his spirit blows) - where my dreams are actually God's dreams. He makes his dreams happen, beyond our control and imagination. I guess this is the call to radical Christ-likeness, which seems counter-intuitive, perhaps in my situation where my parents are pushing me towards "settling down". But I don't feel called to that - at least not in the way they picture it.

I wonder how much I'm being caught between honouring my parents and in seeking and resting in God's call, as far as I understand it to be. It's very tempting in some ways to just settle back here, but I really know that I'll be extinguishing a flame that God has put in me (and a passion he's given me), to serve and to live in Asia - at least for now. There are so many of my friends and peers here who are chosing to settle down into domesticity. It's not that I don't long to get married, start a family, etc., but I don't long to settle into the same pattern that is deemed "normal" here. It seems so cookie cutter to me (and to several other close friends).

I'll leave the thought here, as it's leading to a topic that I've been mulling (and brewing) over for a year or so. Keep tuned...

Posted by at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'll be heading (back) to London, UK on Wednesday December 1st.

I'll be staying near Heathrow airport until the 3rd, then will head into town on the 4th until I return back to Bangkok on the 6th.

I'm looking to connect up with some emerging churches out there, so if anyone knows of a good church to drop in, let me know. I'm hoping to connect up with some emerging church people, too - unfortunately I'm crossing paths with Andrew Jones and won't be able to meet him.

Anyways, it's been good meeting up with friends at home, and seeing some of the new things in town (like Dundas Square, the new face of Eaton Center, etc.).

Posted by at 12:50 PM | Permalink

Have I mentioned that it's cold here, back home? I guess "missing" out several winters has made me pretty unused to cold weather. I did enjoy the cold crisp air in London, UK, however. I'll be bringing a scarf and other warm clothes back, however.

Being back here, it's been a good visit so far. I have little jet-lag, sleeping around midnight, up at around 8/9am - so it really feels like I haven't really left. My room is still pretty much the same, from a jog around the neighbourhood yesterday, I see that is still the same. Yes, there's a nice spacious new terminal at the airport, but besides that, I haven't seen too much new construction and buildings around town yet. Of course, I've been changed and so have many of my friends and acquaintances. One major thing is how many of my friends are getting engaged and married.

Anyhow, I'm heading downtown today to catch-up with some friends and then we'll have a birthday party/family get-together.

Posted by at 9:08 AM | Permalink

I'm back home in Mississauga now. I'm here for just 6 days, however, so it's a whirlwind of taking care of paperwork (all those bills need to get organized in folders!), hanging out with family, meeting up with friends, and running errands.

If you'd like to get in touch with me, give me a shout on my mobile here: +1 (416) 852-0894.

I'm off to London on Dec 1st, I'll be there until Dec 6th. My mobile there is: +44 7910 549830.

Funny thing is that I'm not really jet-lagged. First night at home, I slept at around midnight, woke up around 9am. I guess one night in London (at my friend's flat in swank Notting Hill/Bayswater neighbourhood) helped me adjust.

Anyways, it's cold and kinda wet here - I'm not really used to the weather here, but I'll have to adjust. I'll go for a jog to get my system back "on track", at least for the couple of days I'm here.

It's good to be back, I haven't seen too many changes, yet. It feels so familiar, so easy to slip back into things here, almost like I hadn't left.

Well, back to tidying up paperwork and onto the business of catching up with friends and family.

Update: There is a correction with my UK mobile number. It is actually +44 7910 549830.

Posted by at 1:53 PM | Permalink

May 31, 2004 was the 2nd birthday of this blog.

Wow, two years of me on my soapbox (starting with this).

I've really enjoyed writing in this space, and I've especially enjoyed the conversations that have taken place, the relationships forged and built through this online medium (and into every-day life).

There have been several great tools/technologies that have helped pushed my blogging experience farther:

1. RSS: Simply: syndication rocks. I wish more people would use it - especially non-technical people. I'm an evangelist for certain emerging technologies (I wrote about a quick entry in February here), and this one is such a good tool for people who read news, blogs - because they are an information sponge (like me), find it useful in their daily jobs (like me), use it to keep tabs on frequently read blogs and websites (like me), and/or like simple and good technology which helps improve every-day tasks (like I do).
2. Plug-ins for MovableType (my blogging engine), which weeds out comment spams. Spam seems to infiltrate all orifices in the online world, but it can be fought efficiently and effectively.
3. Online photogalleries: I've been posting my photos in my blogs, but they are labour intensive - even more so if I don't use custom-actions in Photoshop to pare them down, slice and dice them, etc. I'll be migrating to a good, simple system soon.
4. XHTML+CSS: I'm re-learning everything about doing web-sites, design for the web, etc. This is where software engineering meets design in the web world for me. Lucky for me, my full-time job at UNESCO Bangkok has me deep into this emerging (in terms of adoption/use) technology and standard.

Some of the issues, ideas, and concepts that continue to drive me, include:

• Emerging church: post/new-evangelical Christians striving to seek Christ through justice, peace, mercy, compassion, dialogue, and love in this world. There's exciting but incredibly challenging stuff going on - as modern-day disciples and apprentices of Jesus Christ continue to seek him, to love God and neighbour. This one is very broad for me: theology, ecclessiology, missiology (theology of church and missions, respectively), post-modernism, culture, worship, art, peace and justice, discipleship, and developing-world issues.
• Society, technology, and values (or ethics): The armchair philosopher in me comes out (here, too). I hope to go beyond being an armchair philosopher, however.
• Asia: living in South-East Asia presents some interesting challenges to people brought up in the West. However, there are some very interesting developments here that will be very meaningful in the near future. Keep tuned...

I'll continue to write more, post more photos, challenge ideas, present new (and not-so-new) concepts, and share of my life here.

Happy birthday p a s s i o n + r e a s o n!

Posted by at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I just got an email from a CBC National producer. They're looking for a bunch of non-voting Canadians to participate in "a kind of election boot camp". I think it's kinda cool, a reality-type show, getting people an inside peek at what goes on, with the hope it'll engage Canadian (non-voting) voters.

I was chatting with a Danish friend of mine here, and I found out that their voting participation rates are over 95%. It's the law there. I think Canada should make voting mandatory, too. Voting is the least a citizen can contribute towards their nation.

Here's the text:

Are you fed up with federal politics? Think your vote doesn't matter? Do you believe a candidate has to earn your vote before you'll go to the polls, and therefore you refuse to mark an X beside "the lesser of the evils"?

Perhaps you've never voted before - and you're certainly not going to begin now. Or maybe you're disappointed with the party you've voted for in the past. Perhaps that that party no longer exists.

Whatever the reason, if you have no intention of voting in the next federal election, I'd like to speak with you.

I'm a producer with The National at CBC News and we're planning a segment for our coverage of the next federal election. We're looking to gather a group of non-voting Canadians to participate in a kind of election boot camp. During the lead-up to the election, participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at campaigning and the elections process. Will it change their attitudes toward voting? Maybe, or maybe not. Ultimately we want to try to engage people in the process and maybe have a little fun on the way, too.

If you're interested in finding out more information, or know of someone who would be a good candidate (no pun intended) for this televised forum, please do not hesitate to reach me at the contacts below.

Best regards,

Leslie Stojsic
The National
tel. (416) 205-2022
leslie_stojsic@cbc.ca
cbc.ca/national

Posted by at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Ok, I'm making my response and thoughts on comments to Thoughts on "Pastoring Thoughts" an entry in itself!

I think Willow Creek is great - for being a megachurch and being committed to the discipleship of every member. It is a "success story" of sorts, to be applauded. I think I was unclear here: the problem is that the leadership of many (other) churches are awed at Willow Creek, think, "Wow, that's the way to do church," and then try to copy it wholesale for their church (which is most likely congregational in form, and more on that later). Then they wonder why their "plan" isn't working.

I think there is a larger issue at hand: much of our churches' leadership lean towards "doing church growth" because we're uncritical of the underlying consumeristic values in our culture - that "bigger is better", for example.

It's pretty safe to say that Christ values quality (the heart) and not necessarily numbers (the parable of the woman giving her 2 coins is just one example, God spitting out the lukewarm is another extension, and Israel being punished after David orders a census in 2 Sa 24). Matt, I'm not sure if you're saying that the cause of Willow Creek reaching out to the poor is from the effect of having many people (and an organizational structure)? I'd say for Willow Creek it is just one factor. Congregation numbers of a given church should not be decisive factor in whether or not they are involved in Christ's call to the "poor, widowed, etc." Aren't we all called to that ministry (it's all over the OT and NT)? As Brian (and many others) note, smaller churches - especially house churches - are freer to minister in such a fashion because of their structure. Well, check out New Heights Church - especially their pastor Scott William's blog (link in my blog entry above), reflecting on their mission to the poor (most of the church is involved, and I'm pretty sure they're not that large.) Of course Willow Creek and several other megachurches are doing well in this regard, despite their size. I believe many models can coexist (and be truly united) in the larger Body of Christ - I agree with Alan: the right model, given the circumstances. The question perhaps should be: "what's the right model for us?"

I believe Acts 2:41 was descriptive, not prescriptive (just that narrow passage/verse, though). I'd love to see this happening now, of course! But I recall that this number was added to the fellowship of believers, not a congregation. An aside: the early church didn't resemble a church with congregations as we know now. Many members of the house churches in a given city would meet about once a week at a larger house to celebrate the Lord's Supper. When we read Paul's scathing words about the abuse of the supper with a fuller exegesis, the context provides a clearer picture (the poorer believers were being left out - because they had to finish their chores, and it was extra humiliating to come late and hungry to an empty table).

A deeper ecclesiology is necessary. Unknowingly we've been caught up in the models and assumptions of our society: upscaling, consumeristic, instant gratification, number-oriented bottom lines vs. people and relationships, etc. (My course on "Mustard Seed vs. McWorld" at MCBC spent some time on how our churches have been seduced by these underlying assumptions and worldviews, and the kinds of problems that have emerged from that.) Much of the critique comming from the emerging culture/church/theologians/etc. is against these modern-age assumptions and institutions (and also against the failings of extreme post-modern thought), but reaching towards something like an ancient-future faith (Robert Webber among many others talk about this).

I was never really exposed to house-based churches (I thought they were an anomaly), but my China trip training, subsequent ethnographic research, and post-report-writing processing gave me much food for thought for these "alternative" church models (the Perspectives course covers much of this, too). Actually last Urbana (2000) I went to a seminar about experimental, missional church which really inspired me and blew me away. Of course the numbers in attendance (5!) were an indication of the lack of interest the North American church has in stuff like this - and this was at the missions conference.

Tracking society, culture and business trends, the CEO and leadership issues were hugely popular in the 80's and 90's - something that fit the business environment in North America (and west, to an extent) at that time. Business trends and issues today are leaning towards "softer" approaches, moving from shareholder-orientation to stakeholder awareness, from downsizing as a primary burn-and-slash cost cutting method to valuing employees as #1 asset, etc. I sense a greater yearning towards Kingdom values slowly seeping into the landscape: we have talk about (and small progress in) sustainable growth, replacement vs. growth economies, corporate governance vs. corporate greed, fair trade vs. unfettered capitalism, bridging the poor-rich and digital gaps, etc. It's still very much a slow transformation, of course.

And I hear you about accountability being so low and the failings of many initiatives. But, I wonder if that's mainly due to our shaky foundations? We've traded apprentice-discipleship for churchianity, no? And we're trying to fix it up patch-wise. Do we have too much invested in our current systems to break out of our molds and start fresh? Why are we so tied down to our current forms of church? Over years of conversation and sharing, I know that that many of us Chinese-Canadian-Christians are starting to feel there's something wrong with "church as usual" and about leading what has become "lives of quiet desperation".

Now I dunno why I can't be as concise as all of you, but, those are my (hopefully humble) thoughts. I reserve the right to be rebuked (for being unhumble, nastily critical, or just plain wrong), of course. It's just from my own processing, reading, and conversations - hopefully Spirit lead!

Posted by at 1:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

...from Ray Onami's post "Pastoring Thoughts"

Well, North American churches have really latched on to this "Purpose Driven" fad (I will call it that [Jordon Cooper first noted this]), and a preoccupation with church leadership and administration. I don't want to call it bad or wrong, but it means that much of the energies (financial, time, talent, etc.) of the "full-time" and lay/volunteer ministers goes towards building this congregational thing up.

I see that the church today has gotten itself lost in that activity. It's easily to be distracted away from things that matter (as far as I hear the OT, Jesus, and Paul say).

I agree about the time for CEO type leaders has passed (at least in the N.Am. emerging culture, which includes the current [emerging] business environment). CEO style is big in Asia, however - Thailand is notorious/great/horrible/pick-your-adjective. The churches here reflect that, also, unfortunately.

Yeah, let's explore a narrative style of "teaching". This emerging generation is going away from relating to propositional truth statements - at its core, it doesn't help people relate to each other very well, never mind God. I just read something about "narrative theology", which piqued my interest. I'll have to look that up sometime.

Anyways, off to bed, I'm soooo behind on sleep and it's super-late...

Keep up with the reflections - I just found out Brian McLaren has a blog and also found another good theo-blog (Scott Williams), although I haven't added him to my RSS feed list. I think I wrote the above more in a comment-style... If you had comments [snip]

Update: About the church being preoccupied on leadership and administration issues: it's a reflection of the nature of the modern day church in North America (and perhaps in Europe). Our churches have become large - for the leadership, mega churches seem like the model to work towards. Even my home church has been contemplating our building renovation and expansion plan. There are visions to become a larger church (we have been bursting at the seams), and an understanding that we may become one of the larger churches in Mississauga. Even my church in Bangkok is about to start their expansion project.

I'm starting to understand how this can push away the missional calling of church. My conversations with Alan lament the symptoms of this trend, "that the [Chinese-Canadian] church is anti-mission'. Of course that's hyperbole, but some of my favourite theoblogians Andrew Jones has been reflecting about megachurches lately. "...there is real tension between large church structures and the emerging organic structures of church."

Ok, I digress, I applaud how megachurches like Mars Hill and Willow Creek have led in being cell-based, accessible, and seemingly authentic while being huge. However, the growth process typically lends to numerical growth at the expense of attention to the missional calling of all disciples. Numbers are tangible, discipleship is less so.

It is high time that our churches listen to voices such as Wolfgang Simpson and James Thwaites who are modern day prophets against "church as usual". I believe God works through mega churches, large churches, all churches, but the warning is against getting stuck in our comfort zone, explaining away God's call to the work of shalom and of living into His Kingdom.

Well, that was much longer than what I intended to write.

Posted by at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (1)

For my future reference, searching and replacing some text in MySQL, via SQL.

Info from an article at The Media Tank.

UPDATE mt_entry 
	SET entry_text = REPLACE (entry_text, 'classlink', 'class') 
	WHERE entry_text LIKE '%classlink%' 
	AND entry_id="252";

Dunno why MySQL online manual gives a very basic example which is actually quite non-intuitive for figuring out solutions for "real-life" situations.

Posted by at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We've been having some serious database issues (well, just one). We ended losing all of the blog entries in our database. Fortunately for us, we had just migrated to MySQL, so we had all the old entries backed up. I had only posted two entries since our server upgrade (faster, eh?), so I'm a little glad not to have lost so much.

The error I was getting was like:

Statement has no result columns to bind (perhaps you need to successfully call execute first) at /somepath/MT/ObjectDriver/DBI.pm line 79

After some craziness in getting access to the database and whatnot, I repaired it. However, the repair shrunk all the entries table - just threw them away!

So, I suggest doing a

CHECK TABLE tbl_name

Now it's fixed - it's time for getting a regular backup plan in place.

Posted by at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My emails I've been sending are very "bursty" - I have an idea/thought or two and send them... and then I send another (or even a third), like I was instant messenging. I've sent some 20+ emails tonite already - and it's not due to me being away in Kolkata this past week, for Anupam and Trishla's wedding.

I'm not sure it makes my "communications" any better or better received. Multiple emails may just get passed by those dealing with massive spam - on the other hand, longer emails (which I do write pretty often) get skipped/skimmed by some people.

Even my IM's are getting pretty terse.

Maybe my brain patterns are very bursty, or maybe I'm suffering from chaos rearing it's nasty head on me.

So someone tell me... what does this all mean - if anything at all?

Posted by at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Stone: Worst Album Covers Ever, via Monkhouse

I haven't these kinds of laughs in a LONG while. I pray that I will *never* make photographs or art like these works of fromage.

Before you click the link, make sure you're wearing brown pants, or yellow pants.. or better yet, brown-yellow pants.

When you're done killing yourself, help yourself to part 2.

For the less-humour-inclined folks: the Top 15 Reject Album Titles

Whew.

Posted by at 10:10 AM | Permalink

I've been pointed to the book "Houses that Change the World" by a "worker" whom I greatly respect. Available online (in a draft version, as a PDF here and here), I'm slowly reading through it.

Matt Redman's song "Can a Nation Be Changed" just played on my laptop, and it's the thrust of the book. If you cringe upon hearing "evangelical church" (or wonder why other people cringe, or wonder why there are people consider themselves Christian, but don't "go to church"), have a look through this.

What are your reflections of experiences in churches outside your own (church, your own continent)?

Posted by at 10:05 AM | Permalink

Via Coop.

Read a very thoughtful reflection from a guy who spent a couple days with Eugene Peterson (author of the Message). Here's a challenging thought on church - and strategy.

Most of the conversation we had was about the church and scripture. (BTW: he translated the whole New Testament and the Book of Psalms in about a 16-month period. When he translated the rest of the OT he worked about 14 hours a day covering about 5 pages of Hebrew text a day.) He believes church is the place where God's people are trained in faithfulness and obedience. He suggested that it was a mistake to think strategically about the church. For him the Holy Spirit creates the church, not us. We should be careful not to develop strategies to beef up our own significance. Size is not what brings true significance, influence is. Regarding groups who have entered into a "conversation only" mode as a pedagogical method he was quite clear. He said that mere "conversation only" implies "no truth and no authority." There needs to be someone who is trained to provide instruction. Story as a pedagogical method was natural and normal while propositional teaching was not useful.

Posted by at 3:37 AM | Permalink

If you haven't heard of MIT's OpenCourseWare (free, open, publication of MIT Course Materials), a revolutionary concept itself, you've got some reading to do. Now here's The Disseminary. It's like open source theology - very cool.

Speaking of MIT's OCW, I think I'll use some of the course materials for reference for my projects in Bangkok.

Posted by at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm in Singapore right now. The flight into Amsterdam and then out to Singapore was good. Singapore Airlines is great as usual. The stewardesses are nice, friendly, and pretty - which seems to be the only thing people remember Singapore Airlines for. I didn't get bumped into Raffles Class (their business class), unfortunately. I've got to get a good puppy face going the next time I check in!

Anyways, I got enough sleep, although my transatlantic leg was spent watching many of the films they've got running. Now, their video-on-demand is just awesome. You can surf the channel on which the movie is playing and then start it, fast-forward or rewind it to any part. Go Singapore Airlines!

As I'm going through these travel hubs, I'm noticing how almost all of the airports have gone hi-tech, offereing Internet kiosks and places for laptops to access the Internet. Unfortunately, the WiFi (wireless internet) connections are not free. Wired magazine just carried an article extoling the virtues of free WiFi as a business model - thinking of it as condiments at a restaurant. My last entry was from Bryant Park in NYC. They're listed on NYCwireless, whose mission is to "Provide Free Public Wireless Internet Service to mobile users in public spaces throughout the New York City metro area."

Public goods... like our government health care program (universal medicare), the police, the fire department, parks...

How do you think public goods in the wireless generation can be nurtured, developed, and brought into widespread public adoption?

Posted by at 7:50 PM | Permalink

The weather here has been amazing, somewhat like Northern California weather, says Betsy. We've been hanging out around Midtown and Downtown for much of our time. Although my flight in was pretty late, due to inclement weather between Toronto and Newark, I had to wait for the trains (NJ Transit) to get me from Newark to New York's Penn Station. After getting in late and checking in, Betsy, Marcia, and myself headed to Chinatown for some Malaysian food.

We also went around town on the Metro, trying not to look like tourists. I think we've started to figure out NYC's street organization (street smarts is what one guide states) and the their Metro. We've done a lot of walking and a LOT of photographing. For the first time in my life I am the one walking up ahead, leaving three snapshotters behind. I'm usually the one holding people back. I think I like this arrangement.

These brief couple of days barely give us a good taste of Manhattan, nevermind NYC. If I had more time, I definitely would check out Uptown, Central Park, and the museums. Unfortunately, most of the museums are closed Mondays.

Anyhow, we've shot so many photos... so here are mine to enjoy....

Posted by at 1:26 PM | Permalink

I am almost gone... out of Canada, for a what seems to be a long time. All the preparation and packing I did seems so inadequate, definitely rushed. Even my farewells seemed a little non-existant. Of course, there was so much to do, getting visas, for example, which had prerequisites - getting the letter for my non-immigrant visa, etc.etc. Many more things, including trying to wrap up projects here, really contributed to a really rushed feeling.

Right now, I have about an hour of calm, to reflect and blog in Terminal 2. I would've journaled the old-fashioned way, but with my laptop and WiFi access (wireless broadband internet - DSL or cable without the cables and wires), courtesy of Bell, I'm surfing away. (If you're flying out to or via the States, just sit by Gate H in Terminal 2, which is outside the Maple Leaf Lounge containing the WiFi access. Of course, if you're flying First Class, you can just sit inside and WiFi with free drinks.)

I've been reflecting a little on what I will be doing in Thailand (furthering my host's human rights mandate through information technology), and how my work fits into the larger whole of what's going on globally - and more importantly: what can be done. "Free WiFi access as a business model", the huge use of SMS text messaging in Asia and Europe as a major societal factor, and so forth.

Ok, I'm babbling - must be because it's my first time surfing via WiFi... At the same time, I'm surfing the New York Metro for cheap eats in NYC, once I get in tonight.

Well, I'm not away from North America, yet, so I'll definitely have some more time to reflect here. Whew... Here's to new beginnings...

Posted by at 4:12 PM | Permalink

Yay! I was listed as Friday's featured blog on Coop's blog.

Also listed were Phil's Cybershack, Rebecca Leung's the subtle pulse of me and Adrian Fung's The Irrefragable 8W.

I encourage you to read Jordon Cooper's blog, if you have an interest in issues on society, church, religion, spirituality, technology, and mixes of those issues and if you enjoy a well written and provoking blog.

Posted by at 6:17 PM | Permalink

Note:Unfortunately, when writing the previous version of this account, I didn't bother to save it (I had thought the power would have been stable) and lost it to the electric neverneverland.

Yesterday we were hit with a huge power blackout, which affected much of Southern Ontario and the Northeastern USA. Power is still intermittent, as some areas are experiencing rolling blackouts (as I did when writing my account without saving it). The Boston Globe calls it the "Great blackout of '03", and various Toronto dailies are saying power is trickling back and telling people to stay home.

I had checked the CAA's Central Ontario web site for the number of my local office and had just completed the call when the power went out. I left to go to TravelCuts to pay for my flight tickets but noticed that many radio stations were off air or were on intermittently. CBC Radio One informed me, but urged drivers to observe the lights as all-way stops. I noticed many people had forgotten that important piece of information as they sped through intersections scowling at and stealing the right-of-way of other drivers.

Ben and his friend Chris were still cycling home from Waterloo, so I decided to hop on my bike and meet up with them. They were incredulous when told of the extent of the blackout. They were pretty gleeful that they were the fastest moving traffic in some parts in Halton Region.

Dinner was barbeque foods and stir-fry on the BBQ stove, and dessert was the mad finishing of our green tea ice cream and Ruth's home-made gelato. After dinner, we listened to the car radio (none of our home radios work off batteries, or they require some five or six D cell batteries which we didn't stock up on), and then I went down to a major intersection to take photos of the cops directing traffic. They were not amused at how much traffic there was, with one cop yelling to no one in particular, "Go home people, go home!"

Afterwards I went home and watched the stars, satellites, and three shooting stars. It's unfortunate that it takes something this drastic to get most of us to step back and get in touch with nature. It is incredible how reliant we are on electricity. I don't think any of us can really imagine a life in electric neverneverland.

Posted by at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This week has been incredibly busy. I have been downtown, picking up supplies for my stay in Bangkok, getting visas (an Indian visa, for my friend's wedding in Kolkata - formerly Calcutta), and then trolling eBay and RedFlagDeals for sales on laptops, bags (got myself a Crumpler bag), and other bigger-ticket items. When I'm intent on buying something, I'll spend hours searching reviews, checking prices, contacting people, etc. It's pretty insane how Chinese-woman I can become when I start shopping around. I must have spent a total of 5-10 solid hours searching for a 3 band phone before I left for my second trip to China last year. Alan and I acknowledged how addicting it is to read through the pages of deals and for-sale listings in the forums. Forget the bling, for us geeks, it's all about our toys.

But of course, life is not all about the bling or the toys. It's very easy for me to get caught up in this different type of consumerism or materialism. I hope that I'm much better than say 5 to 10 years ago, when I obsessed about computer parts which I couldn't even afford. People knew I was the man to ask, "What should I buy?", "Do you think this thing is good?" For the last couple of years my answer has been simply, "I don't know. If it sounds reasonable, if you've got the need, and if you can afford it, get it." So I'm not up on my specs, but hey, I get to enjoy a fuller and broader world outside of bits and bytes. I'll still be a geek and techie at heart, but those characteristics now serve me to appreciate the beauty in God's creations. Beauty surrounds us, but we've become very adept in drowning it out, ignoring it, and perhaps even desecrating it. Well, here are some photos from the last little while.

You strong enough to be... beautiful
Have you the faith to be...
Sane enough to be...
Honest enough to stay...
- Beautiful by Marillion, from Afraid of Sunlight

Posted by at 1:20 PM | Permalink

Requests for photos from Bromont are slowly coming in, so I'm going to post the big group photo here for download. Just right click on the link and select "Save as..." or something...

It's full size, but I've retouched it (adjusted the levels, and sharpened up the picture) for better viewing or printing (yes a free photo from Dan!)

Posted by at 12:51 AM | Permalink

Ok, ok, I've been tardy in posting...

Byung's posted some of my pics on his site, but the rest are here. Enjoy. (Captions appear when you put your mouse over the thumbnail images)

Some highlights (or perhaps lowlights - depending on perspective):

• Beer - and lots of it.
  
• Getting up for breakfast and having everyone make the 9 am sessions, despite the aforementioned beer thing.
  
• Hanging out with the Francophones and finding out that their swear words are all church words.
  
• Experiencing some really dreary weather, which drizzled out our last night campfire...
  
• Except for one sunny day which we went canoeing and kayaking.
  
• And doing stunts like diving off our kayaks.
  
• Experiencing deja vu at the meals (it's probably better to accept the food as some sort of cultural adjustment training)
  
• Learning how to be S.M.A.R.T
  
• Having the requisite late-night conversations about things that matter: relationships. Yes now even I can whistle at cute girls by saying "chikni" like brown guys.
  
• Blair (aka Joey from Friends): "How you doin'?" and Aly's imitation of it - that'll be classic.
  
• To know there are people (way) more addicted to email and instant messaging than me.
  
• Bonding with a bunch of strangers in only 6 days.
  
• Having bonded too much, leading to a impulsive group skinny dip at the beach in the dead of night witnessed by yours truly and several other dry (as in not-that-wet and/or not-so-skinny-dipping-inclined) persons. There is a first for everything.
  

To highlight some of our diversity, here's a graphic height comparison between the tallest and the not-so-tallest.

Ottawa
Caitlin, Blair, Aly, Brandon, and myself made our way down to Ottawa for the HRI leg of our training. Aly, Blair, and myself stayed at the Ottawa Backpacker's Inn, which was crowded galore. I haven't been to a hostel this crowded before, but then again, this was just my second hostel stay ever.

My impressions of Ottawa were not very pleasant. Their downtown core seems to be pretty crusty, when compared with Toronto or Ottawa. I had the impression that the kids hanging out there were trying hard to be cool. Why do most everyone look like Avril Lavigne-wannabes? I thought some people were pretty surly, even towards the ByWard market area. I think Ottawa would be a lot nicer if people dropped their attitude, I was somewhat uncomfortable walking on Rideau around the Rideau Centre. Someone at home explained to me about the Ottawa Valley - equating them to those who habite en trailers (I'm trying not to be too negative).

Meeting up with the interns going from CUSO for drinks and meals was a nice way to transition back to our separate lives. We even got to be touristy and check out the sights like the Parliament Hill's Sound and Light show.

Here are more photos - from Ottawa.

Posted by at 2:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Whew, it's been an packed 10 days of learning, meeting new people, partying, exploring, and much more. Now that I'm back from Bromont and Ottawa (for my HRI training segment), I'm just tired.

I want some good sleep. Tomorrow I start off again with errands and lots of work to do. Hopefully I'll meet up with Neetu, Blair, the Toronto-based NetCorps interns (Brian, Byong - am I missing anyone else?) this weekend.

I'm tired, so this is all I can write. I'll have photos up later in the day, and the photo gallery up next week, as promised.

Posted by at 1:55 AM | Permalink

Coming out of this event-filled weekend, I've had spent some time in good conversations with a few people. I find that much of the conversation turns toward theological things. However, I can't help thinking more and more that much of our churches and fellowships are so tuned into "doing" than "being".

So much of our focus is into programs than relationships, that those in church leadership (both vocationally and lay) are pushing ourselves into burnout. Moreover, we're so wrapped up in religiousity rather than in true worship. Our systems (the way we "do church") strongly discourages change, to a point we lose a grip on what's going around us. I think the more I write (on this), this blog is danger of becoming more dull and boring - like much of the people writing only on church, fellowship programs, theology. There, now I can start working on that log in my eye.

Anyways, a good thing was that Saturday's party at Kevin Lai's had a refreshing mix of people at party. Usually when I am out in the east end, it's around the GTA Chinese church people. It's getting kinda old and same-as-usual/before - and also disconcerting as a gathering of people sliding into lives of materialism and commercialism. His party had a mix of a lot of non-church people. They are so refreshing to talk to sometimes. What's with the us-and-them anyways?

Well, it was book exchange time, too. I got my Accidental Asian back, yay! And I returned Jen Hompoth's Fences and Windows. I love chatting with Jen - it is exciting and refreshing. It's an exercise in imagining what a Christ-surrendered and transformed life can be, making this world a better place through restoration - through shalom. It is a genuine honour to be considered a source of inspiration by others. I've been blessed by kind words from both her and my friend Angela Tang, in Taiwan. After a deep and long MSN messenger chat, Angela suggests that I write a book on social justice, ecclesiology (study of church), and spirituality based on stuff here, the courses I'm facilitating at church, and from our conversation. I sincerely think I am only standing on the shoulders of giants, and definitely standing with much help from others.

Here's a subversive thought. Even though the journey of a disciple of Christ is really filled with jihad (struggle, if you will - but this is not the subversive thought), the journey should be more zen-like.

I'll tell you what should be all about zen: driving on freeways. What is it with the traffic and the generally bad drivers on the 401 these days? Why is traffic flowing at 90 km/h, with bad drivers impeding my progress? My Saturday evening drive to Kevin Lai's party in North York (and back) and Sunday afternoon drive to Yorkdale and back was getting on the verge of ridiculous. Note: I'm not a road-ragey person nor a hot-headed rude driver. I accept that fact that construction slows things down (I'm not complaining about that), but I'm actually floored by the observation that most people are generally bad freeway drivers. I'd love to inject the zip of Montreal auto-route driving into town. But I love the zen of driving fluidly and effortlessly down through the DVP, as a stream of water flowing down rocks.

Posted by at 1:56 AM | Permalink

The third installment of my East Coast trip.

Our stay in Cabano was mostly due to the fact I wanted to get to Ottawa for an interview with the HRI Internship folks, which I found out about on our first day out to Fredericton. Originally, we were going to stay two nights in Fundy and then head back through Ottawa, staying only a night.

Cabano is near the middle of the Petit Témis Inter-Provincial Linear Park, which is a well-known bike 130 km-long cycling and hiking trail. We arrived around 7:30 pm (after a long 6-hour drive from Fundy National Park) too pooped to go cycling on the trail.

After an uneventful day (I didn't drop underwear, and I got to practice my French with the camp employees), we set out early the next morning. First stop: le fromagerie we saw a couple of clicks back before Camping Cabano.

The next couple of days became filled with food-centric fun, starting with our trip to the cheese factory. See, one thing I should do more often on a road trip is to stop when I see something that catches my eyes. Sometimes it's for photos of landscapes or of interesting road signs or scenes. And sometimes it's to find out how early the fromagerie opens: six heures au matin, to be precise.

Gleefully, around 8 am, we picked up a bunch of cheeses, some fruit wines (you can guess my choice: blueberry honey wine), took some pictures of Ruth in front of the sign, and went on our way to Ottawa.

In Ottawa, we got to meet some new friends. New foodie friends, to be exact. I met Toby Heaps and Jordan Gold at the HRI office, chatting with Andrea Chow, with whom all four of us we were staying. Toby and I started chatting about bikes, since we had already unpacked at Andrea's and then cycled back into the office.

That evening, we drove out to O'Brien Beach on Meech Lake (yeah, the namesake of our constitutional accord) in Gatineau Park. We had a picnic BBQ on the beach after a swim out into the lake (my discomfort of swimming was not allayed by lack of goggles and it was further aggravated by some inner-thigh chafe). So I didn't swim out - I stayed on the shore and started photographing the sunset. And it was beautiful. We had some really wicked food - Toby (who is the editor and publisher of Corporate Knights magazine, which I am a fan of, although I don't get it in my Globe and Mail) dished out a round of Brie to everyone, cut up on slices of Macintosh apples.

Here I was, with a diverse group of people of amazing depth, experience, accomplishments, and whatnot just chilling in the setting sun, eating President's Choice Swiss and Portabello burgers (yum!), and getting totally eaten alive by mosquitoes. I heard snatches of conversation between Toby and a former HRI intern Scott war-zone hotspots (Latin American, Bosnia, etc. which Tobey covered as a journalist), as the rest of us shivered, finished the food and Hungarian wine, and otherwise socialized.

After the swim, we stopped by the "the dep" (short for dépanneur - the ubiquitous corner-store and alcohol vendor in Québec) in Hull . The lineup of characters trying to buy their alcohol before the 11pm cut-off was interesting indeed, but nowhere close to the odd-looking family on whose curbside we parked. We had to try our best not to look at this family because they looked so forlorn, lumpy, and would have triggered us into fits of hysterical laughter. We all admitted it was mean, but we weren't trying to be mean! It must have been how the dim street lamps cast light on them.

In the end, Toby and Jordan picked up some really nasty swill, which ended up going down the drain. Everyone was too tired to even have a couple of drinks - we just crashed on the living room carpet.

Canada Day was just great. A sea of people extended before me as we got off the 14 bus. We checked out Confederation Park, took part of a djembe drumming workshop, met up with friends, quenched Toby's beer thirst ("Do you know if they have beer tents here?" "Uh, Toby, that's the third time you've asked.") - and ours - at a bar, satiated my gelato craving at Pure Gelato, ate quality vegetarian food at The Table Restaurant, jammed to folk music at Scott and Aviva's, listened to the sweet haunting music of Daniel Lanois on the main stage at Major Hill's Park, and watched the fireworks... from behind a tree. I think I want to be back next year (except I don't want to be watching the fireworks from behind a tree - the fireworks made Andrea go crazy and start running towards it, an entirely forgiveable fault).

The drive back home was not great. We took the red-eye option, arriving home at 5 am.

Posted by at 3:07 AM | Permalink

Ben showed me this really funny page off of Google's search engine. If you're a Google guru, you should know that the "I'm feeling lucky" will immediately forward you to the top search result. The page that comes up when you type in "weapons of mass destruction" should be a web classic.

Try it...

Posted by at 8:12 PM | Permalink

I've been sending batches of images up to FuturePhoto for a good part of the day now, and now it's getting clogged. FuturePhoto had a one day special of 80%-off 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 images, digital files only.

What a great way to get my portfolio images and some other photo contest images up... but noooo, everyone else is as Chinese woman as I am, so therefore it's all clogged up. Why did they have to put a full page ad in the Friday Toronto Star? Grr. I was up until 5 am compiling and touching up photos for a couple batch uploads.

Well, it looks like time's almost up - I'll have to pay regular price for my photos. I hope FuturePhoto's IT staff (or outsourcer) gathered some valuable lessons from today's overwhelming response.

Posted by at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After biking around Fredericton on Friday (there are some serious hills there - and it was hot and humid), going to Jeremy Dugay's wedding Friday evening (held in a simple yet beautiful chapel at St. Thomas University on UNB's campus - where the people are casual, and relatively dressed down: Birkenstocks and golf tees for some guys), and the Farmer's market on Saturday morning, we drove about two hours down to Fundy National Park. We camped at Point Wolfe.

There was a bikers convention in Alma, the coastal town just on the eastern edge of the park, so we saw lots of Harleys and other bikes roaring with us or past us into town. Well, it was barely a "town". Its main street is about a couple hundred metres long with some shops - no wonder, because its population is just 290, according to my CAA TourBook. They even closed the road for a town parade on Sunday morning. Our lobster shack even fronted their own lobster float.

Well, we had a sumptuous lobster lunch right on the bay (at low tide). We had a good 1.8 pounder, cooked in salt water for only $16 and change. Nothing really compares to having fresh seafood cooked right, for cheap.

Satiated, we went back to go on a hike. And boy did we ever walk up and down cliffs, in the dense forest for a while. We thought we got lost on some unmarked trail, but then we found our way to civilization. We had to hike back to our car, since we weren't up to the challenge of backtracking through some challenging terrain.

Now, to pitch our tent, prepare dinner, and settle down for the evening. The evening was not to be our evening. First of all, after I put up the tent (with much difficulty - the two of us were crashing in a huge 6-man tent) I went off to take a shower, as I was caked in mosquito repellant, sweat residue, and general stank. As I was walking happily towards the showers, a couple in an approaching car start sitting up in their seats. I could see the guy straightening up and looking at the road ahead. He motioned something vaguely, which got me interested but not noticing the object of his concern. He rolls down the window and tells me, matter-of-factly, that I had dropped something.

Oh really? I turned around and to my horror, I had dropped my underwear a couple of steps back. Stress hormones raged through my body, leading thoughts like, "Did they really see what it was?" and "If they did, at least they're not whitey-tighties!" to race madly through my mind.

I could only think of a similar underwear horror-story that happened to a friend's brother, as I ambled embarrasedly over to retrieve my undergarment. Now that I think back, that couple was very gracious not to burst out laughing - at least not in earshot. So there's a lesson: do not put your underwear in your towel or, do not play with your towel-containing-thine-undergarments on your way to the showers while at camp.

Good food allows me to forget such stupidity. Dinner was very nice - mussels in white wine and tomato sauce with some good bread to go with it. We then decided to light a camp fire (in the supplied metal firepit). I had to go buy it at the campground office because we didn't have the foresight to buy it ahead of time.

Did I say this was not my night? Well, I could not get this wood to burn and stay burning if my life depended on it. It took me about an hour, most of my Thursday Globe and Mail, and much fanning for the wood to burn on its own. I've never had such a problem getting kindling to heat up the larger logs and having the logs keep burning. Needless to say, we didn't bother with a camp-fire the next night in Cabano, Québec (at Camping Cabano).

Posted by at 4:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Accidents and destruction: human error
   

Scenery: the beauty of creation
     

We left Toronto last Thursday (June 26), early in the morning. Because I didn't get very much sleep on Wednesday, we woke up around 5:30 and were on the road around 6:15 am. Our plan was to be rolling by 5 am. Unfortunately, we ran into traffic on the QEW as it changes into the Gardiner. That added a good 45 minutes to our "commute". Out of the city was a pretty nice drive, however, I don't really enjoy driving with the sun in my eyes.

Leaving at 5 am would've been really sweet, because we would've missed Toronto rush-hour, Montréal lunch-hour, and Québec City early-rush-hour traffic. However, those three spots gave us trouble. Montréal's Auto-Route 40 was under construction with squeezed lanes, which slowed down traffic and contributed to pretty spectacular spin out collision. I don't think anyone was hurt (badly), but it jammed traffic for a while. Ruth had to deal with the legendary Montréal driving style once we were unsnarled. It takes a certain frame of mind to drive there... Otherwise you'd be really road-ragey (and they'd be laughing at you for flipping out over... nothing).

Right outside Québec City was a really nasty accident. Some sedan got crushed - absolutely. There was no passenger compartment left, and the front passenger seat had bumper remains sticking through the window, which would've massively impaled anyone sitting there. I think the car might've been crushed by truck from behind, but we didn't see any truck when we drove past.

Coming back, we saw another car-meets-truck-with-very-bad-consequences scene. It looks like the driver's head may have gone through the windshield.

I guess I'm a little morbidly fascinated about traffic accidents since I had mine last July.

Besides the destruction, we had great scenery and hot, humid weather to go with our drive. We entertained ourselves with CBC Radio One during the drive. On a pit stop, I asked a girl at the Québec tourism information booth (and a rather cute one, I must say - ah the Québecoise) about CBC Radio One's stations across Québec.

It was hard for Ruth and I to have much conversation, since when one of us was driving, the other was sleeping, or we'd be engrossed by the programs on CBC.

I guess we're both nerds for listening to CBC Radio One... I don't know too many of my peers who listen to public radio, but hey, we're proud Canadians this way. By the New Brunswick/Québec border, we were listening to Q-pop and Q-folk (if I can call it that). And in New Brunswick, we were listening to NPR on the way back up. Last time I heard it was with a friend in China, streaming over a dial-up connection on his laptop.

Posted by at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

On Wednesday, Ruth and I returned from our East Coast road trip. We hit Fredericton, Fundy National Park, several massive traffic jams on the Trans Canada Highway, Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, and then a red-eye drive back to Toronto immediately after the fireworks.

I'm still recovering and resting up, but over the week I'll be posting stories and photos as I sort and process them.

Posted by at 12:16 PM | Permalink

I was cleaning up my last post, with my fancy images and all, and wondering why the ALT text for the images don't show up on Mozilla (my browser of choice). I've been putting descriptive text in them, so putting your mouse over the thumbnail images will bring up the text as a tooltip... Apparently, that's not the way it's supposed to be done. It's supposed to be put in a TITLE tag. The ALT tag should still exist, however. Here's a huge conversation about it at the Mozilla's Bugzilla (bug tracker) site: Bug 25537 - alt text is not displayed as tooltip. (Be warned, it's long with many people arguing back and forth, citing W3C specs, etc.)

If you really don't care about what seems to be a trivial HTML issue, just enjoy my images!

Posted by at 1:03 AM | Permalink

I'm off to New Brunswick early tomorrow morning. Ruth and I are road-tripping (hopefully that's the only kind of tripping that'll be happening) to Fredericton for a lab-mate's wedding. Then we'll cycle and camp and then meet up with some friends in Ottawa.

For your enjoyment, here are several photos that I shot in the last month. Of course, if you like them so much, you can donate some Paypal money to me - for a postcard of one of the images... fankyouvellymush.

Posted by at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We've been hit by Internet outages the last week. It's kinda ticked me off, since I've called in two or three times now. The technical help-desk people say that it might be the weather - (or the change to hot, humid weather we have now) that is causing the problems. Apparently our whole neighbourhood is out... and it's sporadic, too.

More incentive to move the server to a hosted solution and to upgrade the server while the outage is on-going.

Posted by at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today, I officially convocated! My graduating class of 391 in the Joseph E. Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies is York's largest ever. Record setting, it also means a lot of other students against whom I'm competing for jobs.

I recognized some faces and chatted with some friends and classmates, but I wasn't expecting to know too many people, since I was supposed to graduate with last year's class. Since I missed grad photos, we took the DYI approach and snapped photos around campus before I returned my robe.

Afterwards, we rushed back home for a dinner party, doing Ruth's birthday and my convocation together. The food was just yummy. We had so much quality food, I'm going to be enjoying this for the coming week.

Posted by at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Oh how my soul has been weary. I have been running dry and then running angry. But God met me, and I met him. Worship time at Freedomize was the breath of freshness I have been needing.

Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
- from the hymn Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Posted by at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm going to head down to Freedomize this Sunday. Anybody interested in tagging along with Alan and myself?

6pm this Sunday night, at St. Andrews Church at the corner of King and Simcoe, right across from Roy Thompson Hall. If your church experience needs a fresh breath, or heck, if you don't even go to church... check it out with us.

Posted by at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

This (kurcula.com: Hacking MT) is very sweet. However, you should get your bm_entry.tmpl From Kalsey's site. bm_entry.tmpl is for the "Post to MT" bookmarklet, and edit_entry.tmpl is for the regular editting window.

I no longer need to use IE to edit or post my entries, since it blows up on me when I'm posting or uploading images. This is very nice... I like.

Posted by at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, happy belated... It's been a year a couple of days that I've been blogging. Ain't that grand? No? Well, this is my 101st post. Those together ought to be somewhat grand, eh?

Well, I started off with the consumate geek entry, which I got wrong. In the spirit of things, I'll treat my server to hardward and OS upgrade :)

Posted by at 2:07 AM | Permalink

On Friday, I found out that I won't be having a Swiss adventure after all. I'm disappointed because I was really looking forward to going, if I was selected. What a bummer.

My French skills (or lack thereof) would first be to blame. I'd argue it's pretty ok, actually great, for someone who stopped at Grade 11, with top marks in the class. Of course that was about a decade ago. I wonder if my overeagerness is partly at fault, too. I called in seeking to demonstrate a better-than-remembered French conversational skills, but was caught on the nervous side, bumbling around like an Inspector Clouseau.

Anyways, it's back to the career search. Geneva was so promising, but all along I was remembering not to put my faith in myself. So.. now I look again. It's time to give a shot at NetCorps. How very unfortunate that volunteering does not pay me, otherwise I'd have a little extra cash.

Posted by at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hey, this blog on U2 and God, U2 and spirituality is really neat.

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

Posted by at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today was a really long day. It feels really long because I walked a lot. After dropping off a car to my dad by the Queensway Trillium Hospital, I headed downtown early in the afternoon. I finally got my time to work my way through some of the photo exhibits for the Contact Photo Festival, which is being hosted in galleries, restaurants, café's, and some other interesting locations for the month of May. I walked on Queen Street from Dufferin all the way to Spadina. Of course I strolled leisurely through Queen West, enjoying the just-west-of-downtown hubbub, sights, and snacks. In between dropping in galleries, I sampled some sublime Middle Eastern snacks.

In the Arabesque café, I sampled a baked sweet dessert (I forget its name - it's something like baklava), rich in honey and topped in pistachios. I ordered the "Arabesque Coffee" which is coffee boiled with cardamom. The Lebanese shop keeper (who I gather is also the owner) told me this is how coffee is consumed in the Middle East. The coffee is ground finely and mixed with ground cardamom. Water is boiled with this mix in a small metal container. You pour a sip at a time into an espresso-like cup and then drink it.

I know there are so many little treats to be found around town, as I continue to explore Toronto. After walking for a while, I ended up at 401 Richmond. I went up to Gallery 401 where Catherine Lash is exhibiting her wedding photography. I ended up chatting with her for a while, about entering photography as a career, the business of it, and for some people, balancing it between work and hobby. She was really encouraging as we swapped some stories from shooting weddings.

By then it was 5pm, and most other galleries were closing. I ate dinner at Fusaro's Kitchen (penne with pencetta in a tomato cream sauce made with some vodka - for only $7.50!), which I have been recommending to people. There were a bunch of people gathered there, watching the soccer game between AC Milan and Juventus. Milan won 3-2 after the penalty shoot-out.

Afterwards, I met Phil at CBC for the live audience taping of CBC Foreign Correspondents. This was a 90 minute taping, straight without commercial breaks! The conversation was great, candid, and humorous at times. The questions included how the correspondents kept their emotional distance and what tricks they used to get their story in restricted access countries ("lies in the service of truth" as Patrick Brown said), but started with an elderly gentleman asking what makes them wake up in the morning to do this job and if any of them get on their knees and said a prayer before starting the day.

I really resonated with Neil McDonald's answer to the second half of the question. It goes something like:

No I don't get on my knees. Being previously stationed in Jerusalem (for an extended time), my family lives there with me. After seeing all the violence perpetrated in the name of religion, my daughter now will not willingly step inside a church. And it is not a value I've passed on to her.

Isn't that so sad? To the question of whether the correspondents are optimistic and hopeful that the (Israeli-Palestinian peace) roadmap will happen, David Halton voiced that a strong evangelical Christian wing in the US is pressuring Bush against the roadmap, especially in light of the coming presidential elections in 2004. He noted that the rationale for this evangelical group is grounded in their belief of certain prophecies about Christ's second coming in the holy land. I find it appalling and outrageous that Christians will uphold dispensational theology (which is popularized in the "Left Behind" series) and sacrifice Jesus' call to be bearers of the good news of the kingdom, which integrally includes being a people who are peacemakers. Dispensationalism is actually a relatively new theological development, accepted (quite unthinkingly) by a vast majority of evangelical Christians, unfortunately. Read Mark Noll's The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind for a good treatment of this subject.

After the show finished, I had the chance to talk with Nahlah Ayed. We chatted whether or not being a non-white journalist opens up access to non-white regions (particularly ones with a history of suffering or abuse at the hands of whites). Answering another question, she says that there is a new generation of Canadian journalists of ethnic minority descent coming up through the ranks. It was a little odd noting that the panel of foreign correspondents does not represent Canada's multicultural diversity. The conversation ended with her wishing me well and hoping to see me on TV some day!

Posted by at 1:13 AM | Permalink

This past Friday (May 23rd), MCBC hosted the mime groups From the Top and Mimesis for our Untangle evangelistic meeting.

The mime groups were very professional and put on several really good numbers, from traditional "Christ on the road to Calvary" mimes to upbeat dance numbers. I thought the mimes were quite thoughtful and fun. Although the evening ran much later than anticipated, I don't think too many people minded at all. I saw a little kid, who sat right at the front, bopping his head to several of the mimes. Our own drama production (starring Henry Tam, Helaine Kee, Lemonde Leung, and other actors) performed quite well - oh what a tangled web they weaved.

As one of the photographers, I shot a total of some 200 frames that night. After I made the initial cuts from photos taken by myself and two other photographers (thanks to Jason Lee and Emily Chow) we have a total of 300 plus frames. Of course having a digital camera (Ray Onami's digital SLR - the Canon 10D) was really awesome. Now only if I had a nice job to feed my photography habit...

Without too much ado, enjoy the photos. (Roll your mouse over these images to get a description.)

Posted by at 2:32 AM | Permalink

Wowee, today's weather is awesome. And so was yesterday's. I decided to get off my indoor butt and enjoy the nice high-pressure weather system we have. Stan Fok came by on Tuesday to watch the season finale of 24 with me, and then we talked about mountain biking. He was sore from riding the Don Valley trails on the weekend. Now I'm sore from practicing track stands on driveways.

For you non-cyclists, track stands were "invented" by track cycle racers, who needed to start from a stationary position. Being mounted saves a lot of time, apparently, so they mastered the track stand. You can see this demonstrated downtown with some of the bike couriers at traffic lights, balancing on their bikes without putting their foot down or leaning on a light stand (which is what I do). Track stands also qualify as a cool bike trick.

Well, after an hour of trying to master my balance, I think I'm closer to it.

Posted by at 2:32 PM | Permalink

I've been writing a little about "emerging church" and "emerging culture", which is basically another way of saying Gen-X church and culture. I have had a lot of reflecting about it in recent weeks. These last couple of months have been a culmination of ideas, heart-felt longings, sometimes raging and ranting, times of reflecting, shouts of joy and celebration, and times well-spent in prayer with friends. I've just finished the book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, which puts words to paper (and much more eloquently) my thoughts for the last couple of years. I'd like to say that reading this book did not give me an "a-ha" moment, but further confirmation of things that have been bugging me about the evangelical church. What are they, you ask. You'll need to read this book yourself. Or you can wait until August to read my review in the next issue of MCBC's Lighthouse.

Sunday night, I hosted a pot-luck BBQ for my cell group, which consists of people in leadership in the English congregation at church. Our conversation was such a breath of fresh air. We were seated on the deck reminiscing, sharing, laughing, sometimes lamenting about certain predicaments (such as dealing with teenage kids, issues affecting youth, the state of some parents, the shortcomings of our Chinese-Canadian culture, the loss of one whole generation of young adults, etc.), but really seeking to listen to God lead us to a new and fresh place. I know I'm not alone in my seeking. I know I have a community of leaders to lean on and to bounce ideas and doubts - even if controversial (and unthinkable) to the evangelical community at large. I can talk all about the emergent church, but last night, I was hearing the emergent voice from within our church. That voice represents the emergent culture and will push MCBC to be an emergent church. God willing, that voice will grow louder and be prophetic - calling people back to God in authentic, meaningful, and relevant ways.

My concluding thought from the Church Shift conference is this quote from Roger Mitchell.

The church is not the Kingdom of God, but it is the community of disciples who are called in partnership with Jesus to see the Kingdom of God increasingly manifest on earth until there comes a time when it's so manifest that there is a complete transformation - not just on a physical level - but there is a summing up of all things [that] there becomes a new heaven and new earth.

But the new heaven and new earth, I suggest to you, comes when the Kingdom of God is so manifest when this good news of the Kingdom of God - as Jesus described it - is "preached" in all the earth. But if it is an incarnational gospel, it's not that we go around telling people to believe something and get saved; but it means that if it is manifest in all the earth, then the end will come.

...the task of Church [is] to be radical community that causes this gospel of the Kingdom of God to be manifest everywhere that the Lord's Prayer, "Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," gets fulfilled.

On another note, JOY Fellowship on Friday night was a bit different. I helped lead a program planning for the rest of the summer. Basically I engaged people to evaluate a set of given (program) ideas and then come up with topics, themes which they would then facilitate. I'm happily surprised that a greater hunger for exploring intellectual issues were expressed. I think there's great potential for us to journey into some uncharted waters and have God open our eyes (hearts and minds) to see Him in radically new ways. Well, here are some pics of the untangle game, from the break-out interaction:

Posted by at 2:27 AM | Permalink

I like books and I like coffee. No, make that love.

Posted by at 10:45 PM | Permalink

I had my interview with several folks at TakingITGlobal (TIG) on Wednesday afternoon. I applied to two internship positions - the first being the Youth Liaison at the Secretariat for the upcoming United Nations World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, Switzerland, and the second position being a Thematic Programs Associate at the TIG office in Toronto. I made the initial cut, and was interviewed by two of the TIG people (one to whom I've been introduced before.)

I will say that the interview was promising, but I'm not going to read too much on how it went. One major drawback I have is that my French is not "functionable". I make that claim, although I think I could quickly learn to survive if I was plopped in the middle of France (or Québec), if needed. I scored at the top of my high school French class, although I couldn't schedule in OAC French. I still drop by RDI, CBC's French language TV News channel occasionally, among other French channels.

Nevertheless, I'm really praying that this opportunity will happen for me. Geneva, apparently is a very expensive city, and my stipend, should I be selected, would just barely cover my living costs. If I go, I'll be gone from July to December. I'm dreaming that my future path will lead to working on global issues through an international setting... I'll find out towards the end of May.

Posted by at 4:35 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

Saturday was our annual neighbourhood garage sale. Although I slept in a little late the previous night, I was able to wake up early enough to check out the sales. This year had a better turnout (both visitors/shoppers and sellers) than the previous two years. This meant the streets were clogged with people driving around, hunting for junk or treasures.

I had a little stroll around and I found some great deals. I bought a half-litre wine decanter for $0.50 and a box of wine glasses (5 from a set of 6, plus a champagne flute and another glass) for $2. I was pretty happy about my finds.

Enjoy some of the pictures.

Cars clogging the streets.

Garage sale on a driveway.

An antique cash register from a bar at the Royal York.

Kids selling snacks and lemonade. They are a regular feature, and were singing O Canada loudly and proudly when I went past them.

Posted by at 3:24 PM | Permalink

I've been surfing a ton the last two days. I've been really inspired through purusing some emergent culture and church links (I suppose that's the new lingo for "Gen X" culture and church). Well, I'll plug Jordon Cooper's site to start with.

Anyhow, tracing through DJ Chuang's content and links to Mixed Asian's writing on cultural exchanges, immigrant assimilation, and other cultural issues, I came across this hillarious article "Wai Yoo No Speeka Asian-Ameleekan?". It ain't just another Asian-American writing in dah ghett-toe speak (a really painful-to-read slang - yes you know what I mean, in which he doesn't write, thankfully). So get up your linguistics britches (yes I mean the academic ones) and dive into some good and intelligent posts.

I've got to get my book The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker back! It's an excellent read for anyone interested in exploring the phenomena of Asian-American (broadly speaking - I include Asian-Canadian, too) awakening and Asian minority cultural identity. Read this and you'll get a good insight about my own cultural upbringing.

Back to the post: he starts off with a take on this article:

I've just seen a piece of writing so wrong-headed and misinformed that I felt compelled to take it on. It consists of a long complaint that it is a bad thing that Asian-Americans (AAs) possess no racial language and as a result are forced to use Black Vernacular English or worse, the evil Ice People Standard English, in order to express all our "cultural" thoughts.

He goes on to explore the rich cultural history and background of Asian-Americans in general, and argues against the article's author's call for a unified Asian-American dialect (as opposed to appropriating ebonics).

But with a plethora of cultural sources (like Asian TV, newspapers, language courses in universities - which are abundant here and in SoCal) he ends thus:

But do AAs take advantage? No, all they have is a lowered Civic with some pearl milktea in the drink holder, as Eminem blasts on the stereo and they drive home to watch The Simpsons. And they're trying to convince us that the shape of their taillights and the flavor of their drinks says more about their cultural identity than the language in their heads and in their entertainment.

W00t! (Just kidding.) Well, yeah, I know the guys and gals around me in Mississauga aren't so "black", aight, but hey, subconsciously bubble tea is our cultural icon... or is it? Thoughts... (make it easy for me to read, alright?)

Posted by at 12:33 PM | Permalink

I love it when surprise birthday plans surprise the birthday girl or guy - in this case, Viv. I remember when Ruth led me to my surprise party a couple of years ago... I was sooo clueless (the same can still be argued now, but I'll go down fighting!). I bumped into a friend who turned cancelled a dinner appointment (for that day) in the restaurant lobby; I thought "Gee, what a coincidence," and thought little of it. I didn't even notice how strange that everyone at this table were hiding behind menus. Yeah, I was floored, too.

Anyways, back to Viv's surprise, Alan had taken her out to a dinner at the 360 (in the CN Tower)... ooh... And then to the theatre, to see the Lion King... ahh...

Sometime during the show, a bunch of us crowded into Alan's apartment and plotted how to surprise Viv... er soooplize her.

Well, our debates on how observant Viv is ("Will she notice if the lights to Alan's apartment are on when they walk back?" "Will they see our parked cars?") lead to churning out ideas including having everyone jammed into the bathroom and after waiting for them to start relaxing, flushing the toilet - to freak her out.

So some of us did stay in the washroom (just remember dry up the bathtub if you want to stand there!) and several of us were in Alan's room. After a couple seconds after she came in, we just jumped out and yelled, "Soooplize!!!" You should've looked at her expression - it was quite priceless. Well done, everyone!

So, the pics include us arranging our hiding positions to lighting the candles for the cake. Enjoy.

Oh and happy birthday Viv!

Posted by at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today was suppose to be a day (or part thereof) in court for me. As you may recall my accident last year, I was hit, by a driver who was to be sentenced for careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

My summons stated a 3:00pm attendance in a courtroom in Old City Hall. However, the constable's docket (and the defendant's) stated a 1:30 appearance. I sat in the courtroom for a couple of minutes as the officer chatted with people related to his other cases. I approached him with my photos and asked how things were to commence. He expressed his disappointment with my "no show", since we had talked on the phone that morning (I had some minor questions about procedure with photo evidence). We compared my summons to his docket, which had a 1:30 time.

He was appreciative of me showing up, and I told him I too was disappointed things didn't work out. Without my witness, the defendant's charges were dropped.

I was reflecting about courtroom procedures I learned from my Business Law course (which had a component in criminal law), on the way to downtown. I have to admit I was somewhat nervous going for my first court experience - the xray scanning and metal detectors underscored the gravity of what goes on at Old City Hall. Anyways I was glad to have fulfilled my civic duty.

Posted by at 2:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Awesome day again... Very unfortunate my alarm didn't go off this morning. So I missed a good 45 minutes.

Some more books:

• Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey. I've heard he's ground-shaking (but subtly) and tear-inducing with his work, and I really want to get my hands on this one.
  
• James Thwaites, The Church Beyond the Congregation
  
• And cowritten with David Oliver, Church That Works
  

Today, we had Calvin DeWitt, and environmental scientist who is a professor of environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is on staff at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies present an environment, ecology-inspired theology. We started with Isaac Watts' "Joy to the World" which is really not much of a Christmas carol as it is more a celebration of God's created order. From service to con-serve and conservancy (which is the root of conservative, political, economic or otherwise - an interesting and oxymoronic thought), the Earth is given for our keeping (Genesis 2:15), thirdly: fruitfulness as a command (note Revelation 11:18 warning, "...the time has come...for destroying those who destroy the earth." and link with the famous John 3:16, "...for God so loved the world..."), and fourthly allowing the land to keep a Sabbath - letting it rest. Caveat: please read those passages in context - it is easy to read them out of context. It was good hearing from a man who carries a love and respect for God's created order urging the church to be more attentive.

Posted by at 7:06 PM | Permalink

I sent an email out to several people I considered to be spiritual leaders. It goes like this:

I'm back on my dinner break from the Church SHIFT conference happening in Meadovale... Although I missed the morning section today, I'm completely blown away at what's been thrown at us. It is really like drinking from a firehose.. soooo I could use some help!

It is really rich in wisdom (and therefore knowledge and information). The speakers are amazingly provocative (and will get you to think, "Thank God, I'm finally hearing this from someone."), but inspiring. They are bravely re-imagining what "church" can, needs to look like. They're tearing down many of *our* conceptions and rigid ideas of church, and seeking God first, not Christian political-correctness or anything. Really interesting (for example, we have a culture of "idolatory of church", to get you interested.) And it might be mildly upsetting/disturbing for some of us from certain "religious" backgrounds - rightly so, and for good! But it's really fresh stuff (and I discern that it's not cultic.)

I knew this would be an amazing program (to call it conference doesn't give it justice), but I'm really impressed how it's tying in many of my own ideas, beliefs, and philosophies floating in my head in a comprehensive fashion. All sorts of stuff is addressed here: Arts, media, leadership, education, medicine, vocation, public justice, play...

If you want more information.. go to their website for directions and maps (www.churchshift.com) and then come. It runs Friday and Saturday.. so there's lots yet to come.

Anyways, I hope some people will join me.. cuz there's lots to disect and pray about after this - it's not all about learning, but using this and prayerfully engaging the world in Christ's name.

Now being back from the first day, I'm struggling to grasp and order all that has gone on today is some way I can intelligibly retrieve later on. I consider this to be dialogue, material, and concepts that will blow the socks off many people involved in church somehow and those struggling to seek God earnestly. And this may be material that will shake-down some people's conception of faith and spirituality - and of what God is doing.

However, I will resist all temptation to be preachy here. I've got a list of books (and web links) that have come off the lips of the various speakers, so I'll list them here for your benefit (and mine).

• Pearse, Meic and Matthews, Chris, We Must Stop Meeting Like This
  
• John Patrick, speaker #5, on medicine and (higher-level) education. He was one of the founders of Augustine College.
  
• John Patrick's reading list, which includes many classics.
  
• Professors Who Believe, editted by Paul Anderson
  
• Gerald Vandezande of Citizens for Public Justice. After speaking to us, everyone "amened" by a long round of applause.
  

It is indeed intoxicating (as one presenter said) to be in a room of such like-minded Christians. What's amazing to me is that I'm in the company of Christians that trully use their grey matter as obedience to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (-Mark 12:8, NIV). And it's not just heady stuff - it's about going out and exercising faith - in some radically transforming ways.

Well, there's much more to this "conference", so I'll be off now.

Posted by at 12:26 AM | Permalink

Yeah! I've finally finished my Bachelor's education. After some.. er.. many years, I finished my last exam - on a Sunday night, no less. In China, I found out that I was one course shy from graduation, which was a bummer. It cut my second Asia trip short by about a week and a half. I would've loved to have spent that time lounging around NSW in Australia, but at my parent's insistence, I returned.

So I had to take (technically re-take) a Discrete Mathematics course. Of course I had already completed said course in Waterloo, but York has retarded course requirements for the Administrative Studies General Honours in Information Technology. They require both MATH 1190 and MATH 2320 (which I just completed). However, there is more than a 50% overlap in these courses. What a rip! I wasn't able to transfer my Waterloo course in a two-for-one deal. Which meant, I had to repeat material I had already done. Sure, it was easier for me to breeze through the course, but it isn't even funny how inferior these courses are to Waterloo's. MATH 2320 doesn't even cover graph theory! I've complained about this fact to the head honchos at York, and they've agreed, but nothing has been done about it - worse, the new program requirements have the same problem. I'm disappointed that this setup is a disservice to younger students - and I'd be very upset if this was a cash grab.

Gripes aside, I'm finally done. Now I'll get my diploma and hang it on my wall.

Posted by at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last night, Alan, Brenda, and myself sat in on the live CounterSpin TV audience (which aired 8pm and 11pm on CBC Newsworld.) The topic was "Next up - Syria?". The two questions to be discussed that night were (my paraphrasing):
1. What is driving the US's threatening new posture toward Syria?
2. Do you think the US attention on Syria is good or bad?

The TV audience wasn't as big as I thought it was. Audrey, the audience coordinator was almost begging us to go on the show earlier this week, because we were thinking of postponing. However, they filled it well enough. There were quite a bit of Syrians in the audience, and the on-air debate was pretty good, but not as argumentative as previous shows - they even agreed on several points - once catching the host (Carol Off) by surprise, "Well, we all agree! We'll go to a commercial!"

However, the second half of the show moved on to the Israel factor, which is the crux of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the underlying roots to 9/11 and the war in Iraq. As Counterspin virgins (and being less informed on this specific issue), we sat in the back and just listened to debate. It was really hard to keep track of the conversation sometimes, because I couldn't see the monitors from where I sat.

Most of the audience comments were well made, with the exception of the 2nd last comment. This gentleman who sat in front of me said something to effect of, "we're getting a little off track in this discussions here - if you think back to Sept 11... it is about the fact that the civilized world was attacked by murderous peoples, that's the motivation behind why the US is being so mobile militarily," which drew scoffs from another guy sitting two to his right (you hear Carol Off shushing him with, "Please!") Unfortunately, we didn't get to hear more of this first guy's comments, because the show finished up. After the credits rolled and we were off the air, the stage manager yelled, "The show's finished, thank you..."

Back to that guy's comments, I really disagree that Sept 11 is the root cause for the war in Iraq and now the sabre-rattling at Syria. One may agree if one thought that the US is righteous - that it was attacked unprovoked, akin to Pearl Harbour. Norman Spector already stated that the roots of this conflict goes back 100 years, and I'd give it a couple thousand years more. It's difficult to paint this conflict in strict black and whites, good and evil, as George W. Bush's administration spins it - perhaps an underintellectualized approach would benefit from such a portrait.

The guests on the show were:
Elia Zureik (Professor of Sociology at Queen's University)
(via satellite from Washington, DC)
Hussein Ibish - American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Daniel Byman - The Brookings Institution
(via satellite from Victoria, BC)
Norman Spector - former Canadian Ambassador to Israel

You can see us in the back in the third or fourth RealMedia clips.

Posted by at 3:22 PM | Permalink

I went to the Maundy Thursday service at St. Peter's Anglican Church tonite. Basically just down the street from me, I went to observe how Christians in other traditions observe the Passion week. I've let Easter, nevermind the whole Passion week or Lent, without much thought. It rolls around each year, "Oh, it's Easter break again." I have not had the gravity of week weigh on me.

Last week, I got an email from Brian Walsh, by way of my friend Brian Lim, urging me to "be there when they crucify your Lord." So, I tried to make this week a little different. I read the passion narratives - the whole narrative - every day. And today, I went to St. Peter's. Maundy sounds "cute", but I learn something new everyday: Maundy is from the latin Mandatum, the same root as the English word "mandate". The mandate is found in Matthew 22:37-39: "'Love the Lord your God wth all your heart and withi all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" Maundy Thursday is when our Lord washes the feet of his disciples and has the last meal with his disciples.

I guess I'm a little awkward in high-church services, since services in my own church are much informal in comparison. Nevertheless, I joined in. I observed the foot washing ceremony and soaked in the solemn and reverent service. I remember being in the great cathedrals in Europe as a kid, and how I was struck with awe. Oh, how I wanted to convert, then!

Tomorrow, is the saddest day for Christ's disciples. Passion means suffer: Christ's suffering week. I've come to be a little annoyed at how happy, happy, joy, joy Christians can become during Easter. Our church's Easter cantata will likely end with the Hallelujah chorus. It is really the wrong time - let us have the time to reflect on Christ's suffering.

Allow me to quote from Brian Walsh's letter:

And in that quiet Madeleine [his daughter] started to sing,
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

The tears welled up in my eyes as this lovely little voice sang with such sorrow.
Were you there when they hung him on the cross?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when they laid him in the grave?
And it felt as if, somehow, she was there, and in her singing she placed me there as well.

...

Madeleine's singing asks us,
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Bono answers by singing,
I was there when they crucified my Lord,
I held the scabbard as the soldier drew his sword,
I threw the dice as they pierced his side
but I've seen love conquer the great divide.

When loves comes to town I'm going to jump that train
When loves comes to town I'm going to catch that plane
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town

Love comes to town next week. And that love takes the shape of a cross. Go and embrace that love, but don't avert your gaze from that cross.

May the Lord grant you peace.

Posted by at 9:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I've found it! After a couple hours of relentless searching, I found the photo (however small) right under my nose by searching the Yahoo news website.

My heart goes out not only to the civilians and soldiers dying out there, but especially for the journalists who live - and unfortunately die - to bring us truth. The Truth sets us free, as a passage in John 8:32 says. As a Christian and a photographer, I am moved by the dedication of journalists, photographers, cameramen (and women), and technician who uncover images, sounds, and words describing injustice, poverty, and war to us. Not only can I rejoice at rare good news, but my conscience forbids me to take for granted the conditions in which I live, often at the expense of those afflicted. An image such as this reminds me of the stark realities of the world that we live in. I, as a Christian, must be moved to imagine the "Kingdom of God" here on earth, and work out my salvation bearing these things in mind (Philipians 2:12,13).

© 2003, Patrick Baz (Agence France-Presse)

Posted by at 4:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

I saw a still image of Reuters News Agency photographer Faleh Kheiber's camera, splattered with blood on the ground, while flipping through CNN. He was one of the four journalists injured when the Reuters Baghdad office on the 15th floor of the Palestine Hotel was hit by US forces. Two cameramen (one from Reuters and another from Spanish television station Telecinco) died in that attack. (The story here and here at Reuters.) Additionally in a separate incident, a journalist from Al-Jazeera was killed as their office was hit. were I'm wondering if anyone has a link to the image of the bloodied camera (or knows which wire service carries it). I'd like to use it for a clip remembering journalists who have been killed or injured.

It is very unfortunate to hear about journalists killed and injured while going about their work, covering conflicts and wars. I wish the best to all journalists working in conflicts around the world.

For more information, please see:

• Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders)
  
• Committee to Protect Journalists
  
• International Federation of Journalists
  

Posted by at 3:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

It's snowing lots right now. We had a big storm - I'm not sure if we can call it a snow storm - it's more like small ice particles. I could hear it blowing against my windows all night. Unfortunately, all church activities are cancelled tonite, which means, my missions trip sharing session will be postponed.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos I shot a couple of weeks ago, as the snow was melting.

Posted by at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Earlier this afternoon, I had an ICQ conversation with my friend Betsy. I know many friends wondering, debating (both privately and publically) about the war, and trying to tie it back to the Word and then to how that should guide our response to it. I hope to start dialog in this blog about this issue. The text has been cleaned up, editted for clarity, and grammar touched up. Feel free to invite people to read and give their input. I definitely want to clarify some of my own points and add other ideas.
Below is the text of our conversation.

Betsy Wang: As I watched about the news these days, I felt sadness and also shame to be a citizen of the U.S. @_@.

Dan Tshin: So, what's your sense of what's going on?
I'm going to start a conversation on my blog about it (referencing my entry at Blog(s) of war)...
What do you feel, as a Christian? What is your vision and hope for the near and medium future?

BW: I'm scared to see history of crusade repeating itself - hatred due to religious beliefs. That's scary and it can surely move us backwards to what we're done in carrying out the great commission. As a Christian ([who] potentially will be working oversea in the future), I'm concerned to be an Amercian Christian; because of this current situation, an invisible barrier of understanding and acceptance has instantly been built up. I'm not sure how to explain and respond to people who link Christianity to [being] American.

Because the world [has gotten] so much smaller due to gobalization, we have to understand how each decision and action will impact the world as a whole...it gets more complicated these days, but in many ways, now is the time that we as Followers of Christ have to step out and stand firm to see the Kingdom of God on earth.

DT: [That's] definitely a downside of having church and state so co-mingled. Sadly, Republicans are thought of as Christians and vice versa. "Separation of church and state" is hard to find, for all intensive purposes, in the USA - it is more implied. [But] in a sense, they (church and politics) are in bed together.

In Canada, the church and state have been very close, but [those] were the large organized churches (RCC, United, Anglican).. but otherwise in the sphere of citizenship, it's quite separate.

It is really so "easy" to follow spiritual principles laid in the Biblee - the greatest commandments. And pursuing those [commandments] with integrity would've prevented the steps that [have] led us ([which is] North America, the West) [in]to such a quagmire - politically, morally, etc. And integrity is the way out, too.

BW: Yesterday I was talking to my friend about the problem of having holding a U.S. passport in the future.

DT: And (perhaps perversely), I'm really glad the Canadian government has been such a vocal opposer to the war. Domestically, with respect to trade and economics - which is not a small issue - we'll be hurt, however.

BW: I'm thinking about getting my ROC (Taiwan) passport back (just in case)...but it's kinda stupid and useless anyway.

DT: [There are] lots of doors being opened and closed with this conflict. And I'm looking at this from a missions/aid point of view, [it is] something that we Canadians should capitalize on. My dad looked at the World Vision web site and it had so many openings for people to go to Iraq.

BW: I was thinking along that line too, looking at the current state of SARS and the war, I'm thinking about shifting focus from east asia to central asian and middle east as doors open and close. In my Perspectives class, we're learning about carrying only the pure Gospel, which transcends through all cultures, not a culturally packaged gospel. Ethnocentric type of thinking is very problematic.

DT: Yeah. My dad had some opportunities to go out the South East Asia, but will [now] postpone [exploring those opportunities].

BW: Religion is a very powerful thing. We need to exercise it in a proper ways. Not many people have the full grasp on the truth about the Kingdom of God - it's a mystery in many ways. History says lots about it. In the Kindgom of God, we should see life being transform and society also being transformed by the Truth. Micah 6:8 keeps on ringing my bell these days.

DT: AMEN!!!! [I] had a good conversation about the "Kingdom of God" in our Sunday School.. lots of people don't understand that concept [of Kingdom of God], which leads to other falacies about religion, spirituality and their role in life.

BW: Christianity is not about transforming people's religious belief or cultural values or technologies...it's a matter of bringing the Kingdom of God on earth so that God will be praised.

The Kindom of God is hard to understand. It's a life long process learning this mystery spoken so heavily in the gospel. [The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, Parable of the Weeds, Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, Parable of the Net, Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Parable of the Wedding Banquet..etc Parables after parables, we ALL miss it (the Kingdom of Heaven) at one point or the other. Matthew 13:14-17]

Dan: But through "God will be praised", religious beliefs, cultural values, and technologies WILL be transformed. I don't see a disconnect between spiritual and secular. I regard them as a holistic whole. "Worship" should involve all - this point leads to a discussion of vocation and calling.

BW: AMEN!! I totally agree 300 million % rooting for that!!
Sorry to cut this short, but I would totally love to talk to you more about this later if you're around.

Posted by at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I'm having a little laugh at Ben's misfortune of crippling his OpenBSD firewall box in Waterloo. His little exercise of brraapping /usr/bin reminds me of the most unfortunate mistake of fratricide by a "cowboy" American A-10 pilot on several British Royal Marines (in the story: Survivors slam friendly-fire 'cowboy') travelling in their Scimitar tanks, killing one soldier.

"To be honest, I think they [Americans] are just ignorant," said Trooper Chris Finney, 18, another survivor of Friday's incident. "I don't know if they haven't been trained or are just trigger-happy."

You just gotta check and re-check you don't kill your buddies, or /usr/bin.

Posted by at 6:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

With the SARS news and fears mounting, Toronto is the closest to a state of emergency as it has ever been. Now I look back and wonder if I was close to getting it, or if I did in fact get it (and subsequently got over it). The lack of really severe symptoms persuade me to think it was a passing cold/flu attack plus bronchial infection.

Now before people who have had recent contact with me freak out, I was sick all the way back in December. I first caught a stomach flu in Dali, around November 10, 2002. We flew to the States a couple days later (we did stop at Guangzhou airport to transit), and I recuperated in LA. I was back in China on December 6, 2002, visiting friends in Shanghai and Beijing (blogs here). After enjoying the nice, balmy weather in SE Asia, Beijing cold was a little too much. I caught a bug there. I spent a night in Hong Kong on December 15th, meeting with two friends for dinner. If the bug was SARS, my friends did not catch it, since they were fine after we met. I was miserable at night however, I woke every 90 minutes to relieve myself, and I felt so cold.

The next couple of days in Jakarta were even more miserable. We even called up the hotel's house doctor, because I was really concerned about how bad I felt. He prescribed a cocktail of drugs, including ciprofloxacin, which gained media attention during the anthrax scares as a treatment.

I had a prescription for Cipro which really keeps me awake at night. It affects my consciousness - giving me an elevated heart rate and an inabilitiy to sleep. - Journal entry, 2002 12 24

I was suffering from the side-effect of restlessness, and I was very glad to be done with my prescription. I've been fine since, and none of my family got sick from me. I've been staying away from likely hot-spots, but I really wonder if I was exposed to an early strain of the bug (which is most likely a virus).

Today's my last day in class - for undergrad anyways, but I wonder if there will be people wearing masks, or if some people won't show. I'll bring a bandana, just in case.

Posted by at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today's Globe and Mail has a great article, Everybody is a war reporter, on the role of blogs as a reporting and discussion tool. "They're now many people's first choice for unembedded journalism." I've just skimmed the article and went straight to the list of top war blogs. As someone who has kept up with conflicts (yeah, I suppose you can call me Mr. Current Affairs) and military technology (although I'd prefer to avoid Mr. Military Geek), I've been finding really interesting images of war at Military Photos - looks like some people have access to wire photos.

I can't pretend not to be fascinated with the military might surging towards Baghdad, although I am more or less against this war. Well, I don't have very much time to explain that, and I won't right now (I'm supposed to be preparing for tomorrow's worship service!)

Anyhow, here are the links of the blogs. (I note that most of them are powered by MT - yay!) The descriptions are courtesy of John Allemang of the Globe and Mail. A technical note, this entry is a trackback link to the latest articles - at publish time - of the sites that employ trackbacks. A very neat technology, if you ask me.

The Agonist: http://www.agonist.org
Renowned for its rapid reporting, this is the site many people turn to for the latest developments.

Tacitus: http://www.tacitus.org
A smart, generous pro-war blog specializing in strategy and deep background.

The Command Post: http://command-post.org
Minute-by-minute war updates, and reliably rant-free.

Warblogging.com: http://www.warblogging.com
All-encompassing news and views, from an antiwar perspective.

Back to Iraq 2.0: http://www.back-to-iraq.com:
Supported by on-line donations, journalist Christopher Allbritton has been hailed as the first independent Web foreign correspondent.

Where is Raed?: http://dear_raed.blogspot.com
Moving accounts of daily life in Baghdad, now worryingly sporadic.

Kevin Sites: http://www.kevinsites.net
The CNN correspondent's suspended personal site chronicles life in Northern Iraq.

InstaPundit: http://instapundit.com
Labelled the Grand Central Station of Bloggerville for its wide-ranging links, bolstered by cocky opinionizing from a Tennessee law professor.

Eschaton: http://atrios.blogspot.com
Mouthy, to-the-point observations on bad government and weak media.

Posted by at 4:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

Today I wrote in my analog (paper) journal for the first time in a while. Of course, I sometimes keep a separate journal of other musings and other private thoughts and ideas. I've never really tried to duplicate my entries (which have become really quite haphazard and irregular over the last couple of months). But as I reflect over the last couple of months, being back from China and the extended Asia tour, I've taken to reading quite a lot and spending lots of time in solitude. Part of me is distressed that my procrastination has put off some important duties (like completing my assigned sections of The Report from my China trip).

However, I've had time for introspection and reflection - time that I have not been able to take for myself. Those who know me know how busy and occupied I am. The career search has been very slow, but I haven't really noticed it, as I pick up projects (or more importantly, try to complete other projects that have languished) and serve at church. I'm both glad and restless with this excess time.

Faith has taught me about being content in your circumstances, but hopeful and expectant for the future. Waiting patiently for the Lord has become a participant activity. I'm reading The Call by Os Guinness, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswell Chambers, On Equilibrium by John Ralston Saul, Fences and Windows by Naomi Klein, and Commonspace: Beyond virtual community by Mark Surman (I hope he hires me... soon). This interesting mix of books has given me much food for thought - and have inspired many ideas to which hands of faith want to respond. And of course, the Word. Before late last year, I cannot recall ever having such a strong desire and thirst to read the Bible and to meditate on it. Of course my discipline is not stellar, but I really feel my quiet times are food for my soul almost in a tangible way. There is an excitement that goes into tending the spiritual disciplines.

Right now, my time has been spent investing in the idea of "delighting yourself in the Lord". I will testify that my joy grows deeper each passing day.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" - Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalms 37:4 (NIV)

Posted by at 2:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Just a little test here... Are any of the bloggers linking to me using trackbacks or bookmarklets?

Just want to see if trackbacks are working for me. Seems like a really cool way of linking from my own blog to others and vice versa. For example, I can post a comment about someone else's entry on my blog, and through the trackback, everything is "registered".

Hmm.. I'm having problems with a perl module - Seems like I can't ping the URL of the original trackback article. Some other guy is having similar problems here in the movabletype.org : Support Forum.

Bummer. Double bummer because Cpan seems to be really slow, I can't get the modules.

Posted by at 12:41 AM | Permalink

The movie Kandahar is playing on CBC Television tonight at 8pm EST. If you have some spare time tonight, I really recommend you catching this movie.

With all the talk (and constant press coverage) about the fight against Iraq, the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan (and some will argue that both are the same thing) seems to be forgotten. Regardless, an exploration of root causes is a necessary exercise on the path to understand (however difficult or impossible) what led to 9-11. First, understand the environment of despair in which less-privileged people live. This film illustrates the frustration, isolation, and desperation of life in Afghanistan in the Taliban era. No, it really takes you there. Take a break from the pornography of war playing out on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, and other networks to catch a glimpse of life in a far-away place. I'll warn you: it's bleak. But there is a glimmer of hope interspersed through the suffering and beauty in this film.

I first saw the film at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival. September 15th was the date - four days after 9-11. My choice in selecting this film felt prophetic. The film's North American release name is "The Sun Behind the Moon" for marketing purposes because the film's promoters thought that Kandahar, Afghanistan was too obscure of a place. Soon after, however, everyone would know where Kandahar is.

Return to Kandahar, the follow up documentary, will be showing on CBC this Thursday, March 27, 2003.

Posted by at 8:13 PM | Permalink

Last night, JOY fellowship went bowling at Rexdale Bowlerama. I bowled a 110 on my first game, but it went downhill the next game. The last time I bowled was in China - at a Brunswick alley, no less. Of course that place was frequented by government officials and other Han Chinese instead of the locals. Well, it was pretty fun - watching Gil, Oli, Ray, and some other guys throw ridiculous spins. Steph managed to break her streak of bowling a gutter ball each frame. I'm really a novice, unlike Phil with his shoes and own bowling balls. It was a good fun, and a break from our regular programme.

Today was mud-bowl. Sorry no photos. But there will be soreness tomorrow.

Posted by at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Downhere
   

Chris Tomlin
               

Here are the promised pics from Chris Tomlin's appearances at MissionFest Toronto 2003. Downhere opened for them on Saturday.

Enjoy.

Posted by at 4:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I spent a good portion of this afternoon trying to find Italian pop and rock on the 'net. My cousin is one of the managers of a new family enterprise running a pizzeria franchise in Bandung. I've been asked to find some Italian music for them, to pipe through their dining room. I found a CD in Sydney earlier and had my parents drop it off. I've been trying to dig up other CD's, but they were really expensive - I'm sure I can find better deals in the used CD shops downtown.

However, I started digging around mp3.com for some samples after seeing Nek's video for Cielo e Terra (click on "il nuovo video") while flipping through Rogers Television's "Other Sounds", which features foreign music videos. I've been listening to Italian music from across the spectrum now for a couple of hours, however, I remember digging some of Zucchero's stuff some ten years ago.

Much of what I've heard is really good - I just can't seem to get enough of foreign music - whether it is pop/rock or "world". Previously I wrote of the Honeys whom I saw in Shanghai, and of the Indonesian bands Dewa and Sheila on 7. I don't really need to express how disappointed I am with the music industry here. There is a lot of mediocre material plying for our cash. (And perhaps therein lies the problem - music, which has transcendent qualities - has been reduced to mere commodity through the music industry.) Of course, the reality is that musicians need to eat, too, but I really believe the music industry needs to be reformed. Down with the DMCA - but really, let's get out there other solutions that reward artists properly and fairly, which would also discourage piracy because people feel they have "no other" choice. Let's not be putting both artists and listeners between a rock and the RIAA - uh I mean, a hard place.

Anyways, I guess my fascination with Italian pop is almost similar to my fascination with J-pop and J-rock. I really find much of J-pop to be juvenile and like bubble-gum music, but I've found some really awesome alternative and rock acts from Japan. I don't really understand the language, although by default I would have a better comprehension of Italian (it's a Latin-based language, a cousin of French). I wonder if my um.. enjoyment of foreign music reflects past flirtations with Italians and Japanese. I really think not, but I think I would not be able to defend myself too well on that account.

Well, I've always enjoyed the hunt for gems in foreign (and English) music. People should give Canadian musicians like Ron Sexsmith and Emm Gryner a listen. And then go check out Nek's video. It is catchy. Ahh... time to start compiling spring mixes.

Posted by at 8:07 PM | Permalink

Spent a couple of hours trying to hack my blog. I'm trying to get Nilesh's BlogTimes plug-in to work for my blog. Unfortunately, due to some messed up configurations on my server, it's not working. One of the Perl modules is causing some headaches, and debugging and tracing the problem for a great amount of time is not very appealing to me at the moment. I will, however, be completely re-installing the OS on my server one-of-these-days.

Went to the the National Job Fair today, at the Convention Centre. There wasn't very much there to check out. Just your usual line-ups. I passed by Beata Wan (I think she was a CompEng 1999 grad) on the escalator. She said it wasn't really good, in terms of IT prospects. I also chatted with Elliot, an old classmate from UW. He and his friends have been looking for a long time since they've graduated last year. I had myself a little chat with the friendly Peel Regional Police guys and lingered around the Canadian Forces table just long enough to browse through their binders of positions. No, I'm not really contemplating a career in that direction, although working on some information/electronic crime/warfare stuff would be really cool.

I met up with Eugene and his date and watched City of God at Cumberland. What a film. It's a story about a young photographer's stories about the guys (and some gals) that grew up with him in the slums of Rio. Fascinating storytelling and equally effective cinematography. It is a poignant depiction of the squalor and violence rampant in the slums of Cididad de Deo - and apparently a true story, too. Kids running around burglarizing stores, shooting and killing indiscrimately left us with a sick feeling, however. I'm quite sure this film was a better alternative to Tears of the Sun. I'm not sure I need to see Tears of the Sun - especially with the conflict in Iraq taking place - I don't need an urging for action of war versus "inaction" from Bruce Willis.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. - Matthew 5:9

Who then, will be the peacemakers in this age?

Posted by at 4:23 AM | Permalink

Just completed editing and touching up all the photos from MissionFest Toronto 2003. As the event photographer, I had the really awesome opportunity to rent the Canon D60, a digital SLR. Also renting Canon's professional L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens from Vistek, I had a whole weekend to familiarize myself and experiment with a package worth about $6000 CAD.

I shot lots of photos during the Chris Tomlin concerts Friday and Saturday evenings, which was a treat. Moreover, I pushed the camera in many standard, indoor photojournalistic situations, especially in lower light situations. Many of the seminar rooms were poorly lit, but with the digital SLR camera, I just changed the ISO settings on the go to adapt. Having a fast f/2.8 lens helped, too. Even still, I discarded lots of shots because of camera shake. The Image Stabilized version of that lens - which I tried to book- would have helped in those situations. The D60 is pretty slow to focus in low-light situations, which made me pretty frustrated during concert/speaker situations.

Next time, I'll be using a monopod much more with that kind of set-up. Of course, I'd love to get really geekish and just continue to talk shop, but I'm tired now. I can't believe that Canon "unveiled" their new 10D digital SLR the day before I rented the D60. It's a little less expensive than the D60, but with more features and improvements. Now I can't wait to get my hands on that. I'm really looking to replace my film gear with a completely digital set-up. For what I do, the workflow is much simpler and less wasteful (of negatives, prints, storage space, etc.) My current film scanner doesn't have Digital-ICE to clean up dust and spots, so clean-up in Photoshop is very tedious. Colour correcting negs is quite the pain, too.

The digital domain does make people lazy, because mastering editting (I crop photos in the viewfinder) and touching up is a huge process. I must've spent 2-3 hours researching image sharpening and noise-reduction (from high ISO shots, analogous to shooting high ISO film) techniques. I'll probably settle on Fred Miranda's actions when I get some money. Here's a primer on digital workflows at marcpelletierphotography.com.

This article by Michael Reichmann at Luminous Landscape sums up the advantage of shooting (high-end) digital (SLR) compared to (medium-format) film. I don't think film is dead - there will be purists, and even amateurs like me who will continue to do some darkroom work. But for me, a digital workflow is the way to go.

Posted by at 3:48 AM | Permalink

After living in Mississauga for what has been his whole life, several of us helped Alan move to his new digs downtown. Albert, Jason, Arthur, and I met early at Alan's old apartment and helped pack a U-Haul cube van.

Packing went without a hitch. The same couldn't really be said for unloading. There really should be some tutorials for loading and unloading things (read wall units and dressers) of significant heft on and off the ramp. The trolleys were of immense help, since things had to be carried quite a distance from the unloading "dock" to the elevators. However, we weren't thinking too clearly about how to unload dressers - the operator is always supposed to be higher than the trolley. Unfortunately, Albert dragged a dresser off the cube van literally carrying the weight on him. The mea culpa aspect was that I didn't help him - more like I was a little slow to grab the unit and slow it on the descent.

Runaway situations during a move, involving ramps and heavy dressers spell disaster. We had nothing more than particle-board pieces flying through the air, a slightly crushed back-end of a (still usable) dresser, and a group of sheepish guys standing around. We had a laugh about it much later in the evening.

Dinner with Jason and Alan was at this new "tavern" just outside MCBC. We tried their $10 steaks, which wasn't bad at all. Dinner conversation was quite intellectually stimulating, however we were just beat - we just had a good work-out with the move.

Posted by at 3:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Very belated.. but here are some 2003 Toronto Autoshow pics.

Posted by at 2:41 AM | Permalink

Well, Valentine's Day came and gone. My fellowship at church, JOY, held a dinner - the women cooked, the men provided entertainment. It was pretty fun, with lots of silliness going on. Perhaps it was good to have a bunch of silliness break up the winter blues - well, perhaps a little too much, but nevertheless, I had a good time.

Wednesday started with going downtown to meet up with Craig, first passing through Kensington Market in really cold weather. I dropped by several stores, including a cheese store. At another store, owned and operated by Mandarin speaking people, I saw a TriRÿche guitar on the wall. I have only seen pictures of this guitar so I was a little taken aback when I saw it hanging in a (cheap) music instrument store. The TriRÿche is the logo for Queensrcÿhe, one of my favourite bands. Maybe when I have more money, I'll bargain it down and buy that guitar.

Friday started with helping pick up a bunch of hockey players to the church. They are going on a hockey-missions trip with Christian Outreach International (COI) in the Czech Republic.
After driving people around, we had dinner at the church. For entertainment, the guys first sang "All My Life" by K-ci and Jojo (did we make some girls cry?) and then we played a round of "Honey, I love you, will you please, please smile for me?" I can't believe we played that game - the last time I saw it was in high school, but hey, playing it with older folk is sure funny. Different age, same words, same results.

I'm encouraged that Paul To and Oliver Siu are going with this team. Just sitting in on the briefing meeting where Scott Wood shared vividly how God worked in his life, speaking to him and his family, guiding them through changes. Soon after I was back in Canada, I was feeling somewhat discouraged - perhaps feeling just drained. However, as I hear stories from friends back in China and as I share with friends here, God is clearly showing me how sovereign he is. I'm more excited to read the Word daily than I have been before - there is a sense of eager anticipation when I get up in the morning. I know this not to be a feeling of a spiritual high - which has always been very temporary. I hope it is the fruits of spiritual discipline - not unlike the joy and satisfaction a long-distance runner has after her daily run.

Anyways, enjoy the photos from (last week and) the weekend.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" - Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Posted by at 11:38 PM | Permalink

Hello everyone. I'm back now, if you've been wondering why I haven't written anything in the last month. I'll explain a lot more soon, but I thought it would be appropriate to start the end of my "sabbatical" with this quotation.

From a seeker - he's not (yet) a Christian - in my LifeLongLearning class after Sunday Service: "I'm not a Christian, but this is power." [He points to his Bible.]

Amen.

Posted by at 9:42 PM | Permalink

Today on TV, there was endless coverage of 911. During training, in our room in Bel Air Presbyterian looking out over the valley, we saw a formation of prop planes pulling four American flags and a banner saying, "United we Stand". Our host, Bonnie, was watching CNN early in the morning and even as we left the house. We thought, perhaps traffic would be lighter with many people staying home, however, it was just as bad other days.

Our evening was light - we had take-out pizza from Shakey's and then watched the CBS documentary. I observed that the images of the planes hitting the towers and the sounds made by people hitting the ground after jumping out of the towers continue to sear into the minds of people watching, ripping into their psyche - still.

Bel Air Presbyterian Church held their 911 memorial service. Our team decided not to go, but instead to spend the time together at our host's home.

Hopefully people are starting to heal, and that God will show His glory through this time.

Posted by at 11:56 PM | Permalink

 
At Rebecca's place today, the JOY fellowship was hosted a really yummy meal (gazpacho is in the big pot). All the food was made by Rebecca, Melissa Gopaul, and I believe some other helpers. The food was really good, and now I'm tempted to try making gazpacho some time. I guess I may have to wait until next summer rolls around, since I can't see myself eating cold soup on a cold day.

After the food, Q&A panel - which was Alan, Lemond, and myself - fielded several questions from the upcoming frosh. We shared insights, secrets, encouragements and other sage advice. The stories, I felt, got people to relive our own experiences and emotions to a degree. The frosh who were there were - Rebecca Lai, Silas, Arthur, Cecilia, Victoria, and Alan Yu - are really a smart bunch. They've asked lots of questions from friends beforehand, so I'm not so worried about them. However, Alan and I stressed the importance of staying grounded, of having a friend or two to stay accountable to, of reading the Bible regularly, and of finding a community where your faith can be stretched and allowed to grow and to be nurtured.

I can remember my own heady days as a naive frosh - feeling the excitement of having the whole world in front of me. I still carry much of that enthusiasm, although it is much more tempered by realities around me and my own limitations. I'll label myself as an “idealist tempered by reality”. Dreaming big - dreaming God's dreams is now the name of the game. Isn't it suprising how many people are living in realities constructed in and of defeat? If only we can sooner realize that the human experience centered in God is really the only journey to full fulfillment.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. - Jesus, John 10:10

Posted by at 11:42 PM | Permalink

I thought I'd share what I wrote in my journal from my Tuesday's quiet time.

Tuesday's Devotions: 1 John 3:4-10

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. - v.6

What does this say about nominal Christians? Certainly when I was more of a “nominal Christian” I struggled with the fact that I continued to sin, that I was in a rut, seemingly unable to get out. Certainly this passage can be interpreted to condemn Christians stuck in unproductive lives.

How can we define “continuing in sin”? Is it not loving God? Not keeping of his commands? What then are his commands - the 10 Commandments, the (two) greatest commands? Practicing righteousness, justice?

If, as I observe, we North American Christians are not following these commands - but instead are living as slaves to individualism, materialism, and consumerism - then perhaps we are condemned indeed. Our lifestyles do not reflect this “doing what is right” and “doing what is righteous”. Can this also explain why so many Christians feel trapped, apathetic, and ineffective not only in spiritual matters, but in other dimensions?

I've heard rumblings from among ordinary Christians, both newer and more mature - we're asking “where is my passion”? We recognize our feelings that something isn't right. Our spiritual walk is not consistently strong, nor on fire, nor effective. We need conferences and special speakers to give our spiritual walks a boost, like an addict needs her fix.

From preparing materials from my Mustard Seed versus McWorld class, I am convinced that the root cause of this symptom is that we have not made God the Lord of our lives. We may have gone through the conversion process, but we have not let God be the center. This Jesus figure was radically counter-cultural, and he calls us to follow - to be sustained in God, and then to call others along to this journey.

There's no more of: “Getting ahead in the job comes first. Getting ahead in our living situations comes first. Getting our economic security comes first. Getting our kids off to their activities comes first. Oh... and Jesus, too.”

I can't say I'm the good guy in all this, that I'm even close to being perfect. However, as I consider Jesus' call to “take up the cross” in my own life and as I slowly step out in faith “to live righteously, to do justice, to show mercy”, to give God my “first fruits”, not the leftovers, and to forget about the trappings that our culture wants to force into our heads, my life becomes more fulfilled, more perfect, more alive, more passionate.

Lord, show us how to love one another, how to do right and be right, how to show righteousness and compassion; Lord show us mercy so we too can show mercy.

Posted by at 10:38 AM | Permalink

Yeah, I'm all finished school now. No more exams anymore, isn't that nice - unless, of course, I come back for some more school.

Afterward my exam, I had $0.22 ice cream at Lick's (don't forget about their specials - every 22nd of the month!) with Alan, Viv, Ben, and my parents. I should've gotten more people to come, but it was pretty much a last minute deal.

So now, it's the final prep for my missions trip...

Posted by at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In the spirit of taking exam study breaks, I hacked my privoxy configuration files and filter files to further avoid seeing ads as I browse the web.

Privoxy is the proxy filter I use on my desktop to filter out unwanted ads, pop-ups, pop-unders, etc. See, I've never had to suffer seeing those retarded pop-ups (“interstitials” in web marketing parlance) on my browsers ever when I surf, thanks to Privoxy. I also use Mozilla as my primary browser anyways, 'cuz it's it's great, fulfills my browsing needs - it has filtering, management of passwords and forms, tabbed browsing, etc., and it's Open Source.

Ben argues that I don't really need Privoxy if I'm running Mozilla, since it has many ad and cookie management features built in. True, however, Privoxy allows me much more power and flexibility in controlling what I see (and what I don't want to see). Actually parents can use Privoxy to filter out stuff they don't want their kids to see - and it's Open Source, also, so there's no cost to using it - just some setup time. But that time invested in setting it up is well worth it, in my opinion.

With Privoxy, I've enabled filtering of certain types of content (just use their pre-written rules and filters, or you can roll your own, employing regular expressions). One sticky (and annoying) side effect was that sites with ad iframes (from doubleclick.net) kept on looping/waiting until the browser retrieved content from that site. Obviously that URL was blocked by Privoxy, so Mozilla does redirects enough times then it pops up this alert message several times: Redirection limit for this URL exceeded. Unable to load the requested page. Although the browser wasn't connecting to said advert site, the unrequited iframe would bug me out - it is almost like closing ad windows... several times over.. UGGH!! especially when I'm surfing National Geographic, O'Reilly Networks, and other great sites.

Looks like this is a somewhat-common problem (see my bugzilla entry for my work around.) Yeah, so I wrote a little regular expression to block it out. If you need a copy of the Privoxy configuration files, drop me a line, and I'll set you up.

UPDATE: It's odd how I still get comments for this old entry. If you want any tips, please give me more info. Simply saying "How do I fix it?" doesn't help me help anyone.

If you're using Privoxy, get the latest blocklists - make sure your own rules aren't breaking something!

If you're using Netscape 7.0 without Privoxy, well then, you're SOL - I just don't know.

Oh and comments for this one are now closed.

Posted by at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

You must read haikus Even if written by nerds Take break and have laughs.

Some guy challenged Slashdotters to respond to his post only in haikus and the resulting posts are damn funny. Go here to read them at Slashdot.

And yes that was my own haiku. If you haven't noticed, my error pages (401 - Unauthorized Access , 403 - Forbidden, and 500 - Server error) are haikus... yep me geeky. Oh yeah, back to studying.

Posted by at 2:10 PM | Permalink

I've been without email for a day and a half now. All my email accounts are forwarded to a York email account, where I conveniently pick it up via POP. They also provide a nice webmail feature, something like Yahoo or Hotmail. I've been wondering about moving my mail drop-off away from York, since I'll be graduating soon, they will likely shut that account down in the fall.

After fruitlessly trying to ping systems at York, I discovered on their web page that they're upgrading all of their computer and network systems. Their systems are completely cut off from the Internet! They have even shut down the power in their Computer and Networking Services building. BUMMER! So if you sent any emails to me in the last day or so, I've gotten NADA. I'll get those when their systems come back on-line later in the afternoon.

However, one of my tasks is to find an alternate email pick-up point, anyways, so now I've rerouted all of my emails, so I will receive other emails sent to me. So the email “dan AT tshin DOT com” stands...

Posted by at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We've been having some great weather in the last couple of days. I've been able to enjoy it by going for a jog yesterday. My knee is still giving me problems, but I hope that by cycling through jogging, blading, and cycling for each day will help me build strength back into my legs.

I wrote my Religious Studies exam on Tuesday, so now I have just my Business Law exam and... that's it! I graduate! Woo hoo!! However, I don't really need this Business Law course to graduate, I have enough credits, but it will get me a Certificate in General Management, in addition to my degree.

Yay.. job search has started, I'm just perusing web sites. 680 News has commercials for TorontoJobShop.com, so I'll check them, when I have time. Speaking of which, time is a rare commodity - it seems, or maybe I'm procrastinating a little bit. I'm tired, feeling a little near burnt out with the mountain of tasks. Or maybe I'm just enjoying a day or two of decompressing with this last exam out of the way.

I've been engaged in photo critiques with my Aunt Lydia, who is staying with us for several days. She's one of my favourite aunts, probably because we share a passion for photography. I showed her photos from WYD and from the new John 4:24 photo gallery I just put up. And then I looked at the photos she had scanned. I guess I could've done some more photography with her if I went with everyone else to St. Jacob's today - but I had several tasks to complete at home.

Looks like Olive Lam has her blog up. I was inspired by her quotation from the Message:

Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honour to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege. Matthew 7:6 [The Message]

I really want to get back and read the Message for some of the letters, especially Romans.

Yesterday, Henry and I had minimal success in planning for our class. I was mentally tired and distracted. However, the aims of our class is to learn about “incarnational living” and actually go and do it. I was feeling a little discouraged that I was not seeing the class rise up to take on the world, in Jesus' name. Yeah, so I have huge expectations! The whole passage about the mustard seed rid me of my unrealistic expectations. If my facilitating is indeed helping sow seeds of faith, I need to realize God's sovereignty - that in his nurturing time - these seeds will bloom into the mustard plant that will move mountains.

Well, I gotta go to fellowship now.

Posted by at 6:46 PM | Permalink

What is going on in the GTA? Are drivers asleep from the heat? Are there magnets on the backsides of their pedals pulling them to the metal? Are there way too many babes walking the sidewalks of GTA distracting male drivers? Are there too many hot guys prancing across the intersection distracting the female drivers of GTA?

wassup?!? Or maybe there are just way too many bad drivers on the road. (That's what Young Drivers taught me, and I agree wholeheartedly.)

In my whole life, I have witnessed some 5 traffic accidents (or have seen it after a minute or two of happening). Now in these last seven days, add five.

Today, after getting prices for my plane tix to Sydney and back, I just missed seeing an accident on Dundas and Erin Mills. Well, it happened just a stone's throw away from the cop shop... sounding similar to my story, eh? I think it was a left hand turn gone bad.

Shaking my head, I turn down to Sheridan Mall. After dropping a roll of slide film, I pull out of the mall and some 2-3 seconds later hear a screech of tires and... bang. I look in my rear view at the intersection that I just left - and lo and behold - another left hand turn gone awry. I think I'll just start getting a complex now!

I'll keep this short, but it seems that the gods of the vehicular transportation are unappeased. Sacrifice the cars!! Take the transit!! Save the atmosphere!! Don't die from lung cancer!! Ride your bicycle!! Don't exercise the uni-digit salute!! Save the dolphins!! ...Uh... I didn't say nothin' about a complex....

Posted by at 5:30 PM | Permalink

What's with bad drivers these past couple of days... careening into other cars... failing to stop... careless driving!! I've been eye-witness to two such accidents, and a victim of one from Friday to Tuesday. What the heck... It almost makes me gun-shy to drive (drive-shy?) - well not really - but I've been much more conscious about using my Young Driver's training (and not that it has lapsed in the 10 years I've been driving).

So, Sunday, on the GO bus back from the Papal Mass, the QEW westbound by the Dixie exit was bottlenecked because an OPP cop car got pounded from behind. I was shaking my head when we passed by.

Then on Tuesday, on my way to the York GO bus stop at Square One, the car right next to the bus got hit from behind. I heard a big bang, thinking the bus had been hit by a car. At the stop light before the bus terminal, a sedan with at least 3 kids in it was hit from behind by a car driven by a young lady. They were all in some sort of shock, although I think everyone was ok (bar any whiplash).

I don't count it great joy to witness several relatively serious fender-benders within a five day period. I hope I don't have to see any more. However, I reflect on how precious life is - and how fragile it is. Even though our bodies are amazingly resilient, especially in how we recover from trauma and stress, we owe it great care. Romans 12:1 urges us to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifice - this is our "spiritual act of worship". In contemplating (and practicing) a whole-life faith, my driving is also part of the whole equation on how I "worship God". (The fact that I have been on a short fuse lately does not present anything acceptable to God NOR those around me, of course.) In many ways, I have been attempting to slow down the pace of my life, to reflect more, to be further engaged in my relationships, to celebrate the spiritual disciplines (ideas from Richard Foster), and to drive with greater care (which means to rush around town much less). Oh how I look forward to how my pace of life will change in China...

**sigh** (<- Dan is feeling wistful and also quite a bit of stress, lately.)

Posted by at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Now that I have slept for a good 14 hours, I can write a little more about my Friday. My accident on Friday happened around 4:30 (according to the police report and the date and time embedded in the digital photos I took).

       
I was rear ended by a Cadillac SUV driven by a man distracted by a "broad" on the sidewalk. In turn, I hit a silver Audi A4 (whose driver said my car "jumped" when it was hit), who in turn hit the GMC Jimmy in from of him. The A4 driver had the reflexes to try to turn out to the right hand lane and put on the gas. If he didn't, I believe the outcome could have been much worse for me (and him). From the photos, you can see the impact absorbed by my Taurus. You can also see how far the A4 had cleared the Jimmy - a full fender length. I would've been squashed if that A4 hadn't moved.

The first thing in my mind after I got hit (and after I knew I wasn't badly injured) was to get out. I couldn't open the door at first - reminding me of the documentary I watched on Sunday on CNN where cops in the US have been dying because they burned to death in rear-impact accidents in their Ford Crown Victoria's (which is very much like our Grand Marquis - yeah, we're a boat family). The cops sustained minor injuries from the crash, but they died in the ensuing fires. After a kick or two, I was out of my car - thankfully. I don't really want to think what would've happened if the A4 didn't try to get out of the way.

Now, all this happened on Bay St., just north of Grosevner (just 50 meters past the intersection). After getting all the information down by a police officer, I had an adventure with the tow truck driver. My dad and I ended up paying $236 for him to tow the car down to EY Auto Body (his garage) and then back to Addision (on Bay - right by the accident intersection). By law, they can charge $139 for a tow (I asked for CAA, but the officer told me the car had to off the road ASAP). The guy charged us more for waiting and towing it around town - he was disappointed that we didn't want their garage to assess and fix it. Now this adventure was amplified by my dad's insistence not to have it towed to their garage (in the Jarvis and Queen area). According to our insurance agency's call-center person (Jennifer Wong - thanks so much for your help and patience) we can have the towed to any garage, and the insurance company will cover for any work done at any garage. However, they will only guarantee work down in their approved garages, ie. workmanship guarantee for the lifetime of the vehicle. EY Auto Body looked kind of dingy, however, when we got there.

The first thing to check after tehding to injuries and moving vehicles to the side is to get your car to one of your insurance company's approved body shops (assuming you're not drivable). Also check the back of your insurance slip - mine has a list of things to do in the event of an accident. And most importantly, don't panic.

I was on my way to cover the Way of the Cross - and I was several hours early, to check up on the University Café first and then to stake a good spot for myself. Unfortunately, I missed it all - my dad drove me to the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga for a checkup. I actually ended up catching a good half of the Way of the Cross on the waiting room TV. After waiting from 8pm, the doctor said I was ok, and I out at 12:20.

 
In the hospital I talked with a WYD volunteer whose son who cut his toe by kicking something. Another pilgrim, Carmela Ruta, 13, cut her ankle when a plate fell out when she opened her fridge. Her sister Joanna and father Mirek were her moral support as she got stitched up. The Polish angle to WYD is particularly important, since the Pope is the first non-Italian in 456 years. Mr. Ruta was confirmed by Karol Wojtyla, before he became Pope, in Poland and has seen the Pope many times since. This WYD, for him, was a particularly joyful occasion.

 
Leaving the hospital, I was surprised by the fog that had come in and draped over the city. I am also surprised that I don't suffer any whiplash... yet! I know the driver and passenger of the A4 were starting to suffer from whiplash at the scene. Also, I'm very thankful that the accident was not as bad as it could have been, too.

Posted by at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm sorry there won't be much writing today. I slept (or tried to go to sleep) at 12am last night and woke up at 3am to be the early bird to catch the media shuttle bus to Downsview. I'm running on very little sleep now, so I'll be going to bed in a couple of minutes.

This week has been great fun and has also been very exhausting. I calculated that I shot upwards of 1000 frames (including digital and film). Besides getting into my first car accident on Friday (I'm ok - thanks to those who have asked), attending two weddings on Saturday and then going to the culmination of this week: The Papal Mass (aka Popestock). There was rain, mud, singing, good behaviour (on most parts), and incredible heat and humidity. Think Woodstock without the drugs and "free love" - basically it was Woodstock of Christian proportions.

So I'll leave just several photos that give a taste of today's experience. There will be much more commentary and photos coming up this week and in the next week, as I start scanning in negatives and slides I shot.

• Mass sleepover at Downsview Park - 5:30am
  
• Flags blowing in the Sunday morning wind in Downsview Park
  
• The first bout of morning rain
  
• Me, on media platform B-2 - photo courtesy of Greg Thompson
  
• Sarah, Stan, and me after the Mass
  
• Phil got soaked in the rain - here drying off his socks in the wind and sun
  

Posted by at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Friday evening was the first time I got involved in a car accident as a driver. I got rear ended by a Cadillac SUV driver who was distracted by "a broad on walking by". In turn, I hit an Audi A4 which hit a GMC Jimmy. Aside from ruining my plans for the day and wrecking the car quite seriously, I'm ok. Whiplash hasn't set in yet and the ER doctor is surprised I don't feel any pain yet.

I really thank God I'm ok because it could've been worse. However, I must sleep tonite (I have a wedding and two receptions tomorrow), so details later.

Posted by at 1:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

       
Thanks Phil for your link... It's been a good day today, but not as good as yesterday or even Tuesday, I felt. I don't know what wasn't so "good" about things - maybe I'm just getting more and more tired. I stayed out late tonight and caught Mark Pellizer gigging at the Hard Rock Café's Club 279 after Rebecca called me. I was just eating dinner with Phil after catching the Pope (see Phil's captures) speed by us. The band Sandcastle Theory plays pop, not bad, although not really Mark's cup of tea - although it sounds like he'd travel with them to BC, if he could take the time off - to Beck's consternation. Our transit ride to Islington was punctuated with the sounds of pilgrims singing, talking, greeting strangers, and all sorts of wonderful friendly behaviour urbanites unfortunately refrain from engaging in.

I was late coming into town - I was hoping to catch the Pope pass by the Commemorative Garden at Downsview Park. That didn't happen when I found out it would take the bus an hour to get there from Exhibition Place (and I was still at the Delta Chelsea where the media shuttle bus goes to the Exhibition Place.

After three days of buying the TTC day pass, I thought I'd go without and try to see if I can get on the TTC with my media pass. Apparently it worked out ok until I hopped on the Bay St. bus. It was the second time I got the same bus driver and she inspected my media pass - it doesn't work for TTC fares. Too bad, since I was hoping to save some change (to fix my busted lens! But have I mentioned how sweet my rental 16-35mm wide angle zoom is!?!?!) So she let me off easy after checking with HQ about this matter.

It's been really too bad the University Café has been emptier than expected. There have been some people dropping by here and there. I went out to have a beer with Jocelyn Perabo (Guelph), Rich (graduated), John (from UW), and Gillian (UBC) last night. We talked about issues including social development, leadership issues at the Canadian Catholic Students Association (CCSA). John - who is in 4A Systems Design Engineering at UW - is also on executive for Engineers Without Borders. Interesting note is that I got involved with TIG after reading a Time magazine in which EWB/ISF was also featured. The conversation was free flowing - and I got to increase my knowledge of Catholicism a bit, too. (Catechesis is pronounced "cat-a-key-sis".)

   
Today was pretty tame - we didn't see that many jumping screaming kids. Tuesday and Wednesday, Phil and I shot lots of great footage - people doing huge lines of London Bridge, and all sorts of dances I don't even know about. Also hearing "God is good...all the time! All the time... God is good!" from the crowds reminded me of my time (aeons ago) at Teens Conference. Well, the media bus was a bit of a bust coming down. They closed many roads, so they dropped us off at Queen and Spadina. With the amount of gear I'm lugging around, I would've appreciated being dropped off as close as possible to the entrance. Of course, us was just myself and Sandie, who works in Communications for Ontario at Queens Park. We had a good conversation on the way down, talking about the value of communications. We both strongly agreed that communication skills is sorely needed yet lacking among tech people. Sandie's background in Poli Sci is similar to Sarah Bollozos'. It's just they're going to be trading geographic locations - Sarah's going to London School of Economics, Sandie's from the UK.

       
Anyhow, we trekked down to Bathurst then boarded the streetcar. We got into the grounds and found security to be quite tight. Everyone was being diverted towards the main gates where security metal-detect you. Unable to persuade the first set of security people, we succeeded in finding a shortcut after flashing our media passes to two cops. I made my way into the general direction of the stage, but found out the platforms are only for media people with the yellow vests. I decided to get general crowd shots. I found myself taking shots of pilgrims buying food and other merchandise. I couldn't help but think of Jesus clearing the temple of merchants. I didn't notice any exorbitant prices (except for the food, but it is at normal Exhibition prices, anyways), but they were no doubt doing brisk business. At home, I found that today's Globe and Mail also had a piece on the commercialism at WYD.

After shooting with the Canon 16-35mm and TIG's new Nikon 4500, Jen told me they wanted to get the Nikon back for the weekend. I was a little disappointed, because I will be without a real working camera on Sunday - because my 28-135mm IS lens is in desperate need of fixing. I can always fall back on my old manual AV-1 SLR, I suppose. I still don't know how I'm going to get to any of the downtown hotels in time for the mass. I suppose most media personnel will be there around 6 or 7 am. That means waking at 3 or 4 am. I want to crash at Sam's. Eugene is already hosting several friends. Thinking about this gets me nervous and jumpy.

Posted by at 11:45 PM | Permalink

• Communion Tuesday evening at the Exhibition Place
• Human chains, to keep groups of pilgrims moving together
• Sri Lankan pilgrims chatting
• Pilgrims from New Brunswick relaxing with a bit of hackey sac
• The Better Way home for Ohio pilgrims
• French and Vietnamese pilgrims chatting on the TTC
• David Wang and his band Critical Mass, from Waterloo, performing at University Day
• Rick Benson, National Co-ordinator of the Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry, listening to Jean Vanier
• The view from the top of the Coliseum as Jean Vanier speaks

Posted by at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today must have been one of the highlights of WYD so far. I spent most of my (photography) time at the University Day events in the Coliseum Arena at the Ex. The ride down was lively - I chatted with some Vietnamese who are from California. I took several group shots on the subway ride down and I also told them about TakingITGlobal, and the photo gallery we've got going.

     
The scene some people encountered at subway stations throughout Toronto in the early afternoon was of course nothing like the scene I encountered at the Exhibition Place on Tuesday. And that should be nothing compared to Saturday's vigil and then Sunday Mass. Stan, Sarah, and a whole bunch of other people will be going down for that - I wish them luck!

Well, here is me, Samuel, and Jen - I don't have a serious photo of her yet! (And she thought this photo was deleted!! Mwa ha ha!) Well, they have sustained me in good thoughtful conversation this week. It's been a long while since Campus Challenge, but WYD has really allowed us to delve into each other's doubts, issues, practices of faith, and our own spirituality. I didn't realize how much "go, go, go" this week has been for me. I've been going around getting TONS of footage, at the cost of tuning out of the messages that are given. Even surrounded by all these youth on fire for God, we can forget that we need our own time with God - time to reflect on our own relationship with our Creator. Just outside the University Café, Jen and I sat down on the grass and had a moment to seek God in prayer. I was really refreshed from that time well spent.

   
Earlier, at the University Day, Jean Vanier was the featured speaker. I can say that has been the highlight of my WYD experience. Although I shot a good couple frames, I really listened into his message. He spoke of learning to love others and himself through the lives of the developmentally disabled. His message of peace and love through Christ has not only been the foundation of the L'Arche ministries, but also become a vital part of my own faith and theology. There's too much more I would write about Vanier's message - you should hear it (or read it) for yourself.

     
One of the many, many events going on that we stumbled across was the Asian Jam. Now, this was praise and worship in a very fun and dancy fashion. Since I missed parts of it, because I was sitting in the Media Center, just in the next hall, Jen and Samuel will be teaching a new and improved version of "Shine, Jesus, Shine" (much more fun, I hear) and other assorted dances.

 
I drove two of Amanda Ward's sisters to Mississauga, where they're billeted in a school (she is the coordinator of the University Café). I got a first hand look at the accomodations of some of the pilgrims. Mississauga News says that the Catholic school board here in Peel and Dufferin is housing some 12,000 pilgrims! Amazing! Nevertheless, I'm glad for my own bed... so off I go. And here are two girls mugging for the camera.

Well, tomorrow is a quiter day, thank goodness. I'll be uploading a lot more pictures to the Gallery and to here, so stay tuned...

Posted by at 11:45 PM | Permalink

I was just blown away at how many people were down at the Exhibition place. Wading through the seemingly endless crowds was quite the experience. I must've passed by some thousands of people trying to reach the media platforms. And this crowd isn't even the size that organizers were anticipating (I would've given up trying to wade through the crowds after arriving late!) - there was plenty of asphalt in the outer reaches at the Ex. I actually was able to meet up with Phil Pang at one of the media platforms. We just shot footage like crazy.

I met delegates from North Dakota, Spain, Quebec, France, New Brunswick, and plenty more - they're in my photo notebook. Unfortunately, I don't have many pics to show here - I forgot the card reader at the University Café - so I'll have 'em up tomorrow. We went through some of the halls at the Ex. It's very interesting (and I'd say refreshing) to see evangelical Catholicism, of which, I'm exposed to little, through the media I'm exposed to. They had booksellers, seminars, concerts, dramatic presentations. After catching some concert shots from "Life Teen" (complete with a band playing DC Talk and then "Shine Jesus Shine"), it occured to Phil and I that this was somewhat like Urbana - but 100 times bigger. I remember being wowed at the Urbana's size; this definitely tops that.

Here is a crowd of people passing me as I was on my way to Henry's. Some unfortunate news for me: my main (well, my only) lens on my SLR is in some wierd funk. It's been acting up, sticking on some focal lengths. Even the focus ring would get stuck. I brought it in to Henry's and the tech said it would cost roughly $160 to get it fixed.

I wasn't willing to part with it, so off I went to Vistek, where I'm renting a very, very sweet 16-35mm lens. I checked with the repairs dept. there and they think it'll take at least a week and a half to get it checked out and fixed. I'm really upset about this technical problem - it might just be wear and tear on that lens, however. I can't afford to have that lens go belly up on me when I'm overseas. But hopefully enough Canon techs are in town because of WYD. I'll call tomorrow.

So I shot some two rolls, noting that my 7 rolls allotted to the event is woefully inadequate, even though I'm shooting some digitally. However, that rental lens makes me quiver! It's soooo nice. When I can afford its $2600 price tag, I might go and get it! Methinks that will be another quarter lifetime for me, at this present rate.

Anyhow, now it's time for sleep. Tomorrow will be big! It's University Day. Jean vanier will be speaking, Phil will be going to catch Capstone, I'll be doing some more Café stuff, too. I think I'll take it easy on Thursday... so expect more pics in the next two days.

Posted by at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yes, I'm working hard at the University Café - here I am uploading photos to the University Café gallery. Come by and visit at St. Michael's!

Today I also was at Janet and Brian's new place (well, when they get married), talking about photography for their wedding. Little did I know about the third party that will be part of their family. Correction: It's a beaver, not a hamster.

Aww... soo cute. Now, as it stands, the photographers will be dedicating several poses for this furry future member of the Lim family.

Here's an interesting approach to the University Café (pardon the pun).

The volunteers at the University Café are a lively bunch. Having met Rick Benson and Amanda Ward earlier at TIG when I ran a workshop on uploading pics to the gallery (they're the heads, actually), I've started to have dialogue with some of the volunteers. Jocelyne, from U of Guelph, and I had a conversation about the faith communities in our respective schools. I continue to wonder: when will the dialogue between our communities happen? I know dialogue has happened - and I would think that I've had some some dialogue with Catholics - but a part of me still longs for more.

I mentioned that what I've admired about the Catholic legacy is their dedication towards social issues - about a faith that is lived out. Much of my own spiritual renaissance and theology has been shaped by Catholic "greats"- Jean Vanier, Henri Nouwen, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and Brennan Manning to mention but a few. Their own journeys have convinced me not to over-spiritualize matters - like getting obese on spiritual stuff without any exercise - but to have my mind and heart lead my hands.

Earlier, at the John 4:24 praise night Jen Hompoth and I discussed her reflections from attending the volunteers' mass - we know that we're both going to be processing and reflecting on the events, on the conversations, and hopefully on the friendships made and strengthened even when WYD is long past. Although sometimes I think I'm a bit of a veteran on this journey, conversations like these remind me that night is still young.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. - Matthew 5:13,14 (NIV)

Posted by at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

All the prep for WYD will get their trial-by-fire, so to speak, this week. It's incredible how much preparation has gone into all the different events. As I went to pick up my media pass and kit this past Thursday and Saturday, I noticed the huge audio and video towers erected down Princess Blvd. (which runs along the National Trade Center). They are so far away from the main stage - but they've been erected in anticipation of the massive crush of people.

I've been trying to figure out my transportation solution for this week. I might just take the GO down to exhibition place - but I really don't know what kind of crush that will be. And it's bit of a walk (through the crowds) to Hall D - where the Media Center is. I haven't even checked out Downsview lands yet - so I'd better do that today.

I'll have photos from WYD (from a borrowed digital camera) up pretty soon here. I'm also helping coordinate the TakingITGlobal World Youth Day University Café gallery with a slew of volunteers. Things are going to be crazy, but I'm really looking forward to it all.

So keep tuned in for regular updates.

Posted by at 10:32 AM | Permalink

I'm really disappointed in myself these days. I've been going to bed way too late (I was up 'til almost 5 am yesterday)... I've been working on little fixes here and there to the blog.

I need to kick my self into gear so I will wake up early and be more productive. I've resolved to wake up early to drive Ben to work and come back. Then I'll spend an hour reading my paper and the Bible. Oh yeah, not to forget - and pray - "Just to make it through today".

Am I an old-timer or what?

I can't believe how little the pace of my life has slowed since finishing up on of my courses last week.

And I'm supposed to lead the concert of prayer this weekend at our Church fellowship retreat. Hmm.. I've got two songs picked. Song selection is not that big of a concern - it's planning out the prayer time that I really want to concentrate.

Well, I'll do planning tomorrow when I drive Ruth up to Waterloo.

Which means off to bed NOW, since I gotta be on the road at 9:30!

Posted by at 1:55 AM | Permalink

p a s s i o n + r e a s o n

Woo hoo.. my first blog entry. I hope you'll enjoy pieces of my mind (uncensored, too) as I write stuff.

Continue reading "printf ("Hello World");" »

Posted by at 2:31 PM | Permalink