For all who care to know, an update. No Chinglish but I successfully smuggled the cookie monster (we were being followed), and now own a new hat. Preparing for the winter with dignity…
Weekend, Update
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Category Archives: Misc
Heartache Songs 3 – Fun. “Out on the Town”
Heartache Songs 3
Nate Ruess, who broke your heart?
With no irony, no declarations of guilty pleasures, I admit am a shameless sincere full-on fan of the epic rock band Fun.. Among my very favorite bands, especially current music. And what a singer.
I prefer this live version of the bonus song from the seminal album Some Nights (of which the eponymous song “Some Nights” is of course brilliant, among many others…). I’ve listened to many of those songs on repeat again and again, and this one in particular like no other.
If you pay attention you will see Mr. Ruess’s songwriting contains some consistent themes, and again I ask the question: Dude, who broke your poor heart?
Now, these lyrics don’t necessarily apply to what I’ve specifically done, y’know making a scene and all, but I’ve been pretty damn close. I can relate to the feelings a bit. Most of all, I relate to the part about knowing I can be more clever and strong and mostly clever.
That’s it. End of the series, no more heartache music from me. I’m over it, and I’ll spare you Bright Eyes. Lucky you.
Still, hope you give this a listen and if you’ve been there I hope it’s a small comfort:
I set all my regrets on fire
Cause I know I’ll never take the time
To unpack my missteps and call all of our friends
I figured they would take your side
I make the bed, just not that well
Your name comes up a lot
When I talk to my mom
Oh, I think she can tell
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm
So maybe I should put up a fight
I’ll call them back and borrow a box knife
So I can learn to live with all the stupid shit
I’ve been doing since ’99
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
But I’m waiting for the day
You’ll come back and say
“Hey, maybe I should change my mind”
I drink a lot
I’m not sure if that’s new
But these days when I wake up
From a night I forgot
I just wish that it never came true
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more CLEVER
I knew there’d come a day
When all was said and done
(And I know I could be more clever)
Everything I was
Is everything but gone
(And I know I could be more strong)
All my big mistakes
Are bouncing off your wall
(And I know I could be more clever)
The bottles never break
The sun will never comes
(And I know I could be more clever)
So come on let me in
I will be the sun
(And I know I could be more CLEVER)
I will wake you up
I am who I was
(And I know I could be more strong)
So beat up your heart, oh beat up your heart, oh beat up your heart
(And I know I could be more CLEVER
And I know I could be more)
I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm
Heartache Songs 2 – Passion Pit “It’s Not My Fault I’m Happy”
The second of my short series on heartache songs — the first of which being “The Mess” by the Naked and Famous.
More indietronica, more good jogging songs.
I’d always liked Passion Pit, famed for me from the 2009 “Sleepyhead” from those commercials. And I’d argue that they consistently improved with their second studio album Gossamer in 2012. “Love is Greed” from the album being a poignant song of such themes as well.
But this song “It’s Not My Fault I’m Happy” really spoke to me. And so catchy~
The lyrics speak of unfairness, judgment, how if you knew and saw you’d have said it was the final straw. It’s not right to be the only one who sees us fight. Those bastards deserve to pay! It’s not fair that I’m the only one who seems to care…
Without going into details, let’s just say I can relate.
Sorry I couldn’t be there, I was tied to a rocking chair
I was beat down to a pulp rocking back and forth somewhere
If you knew, if you saw, you’d have said it was the final straw
That my life was bound and tethered on a porch by the shore
I was beat down to a pulp rocking back and forth somewhere
If you knew, if you saw, you’d have said it was the final straw
That my life was bound and tethered on a porch by the shore
But there is no no no no
easy way to tell them so, the things you know
And run run run run
Run they say, they think they know exactly so
It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care
It’s funny that being funny makes you feel like up and running
When your past lingers like rain clouds, casting shadows below
I could live with so many burns, I take all your hope and yearning
But there’s no one I want to take me for that petty little rose
I used to glow glow glow glow
Once I had a love to show, a love they know
They’re slow slow slow slow
So slow that they never know where I go
It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care
I know that it’s only something
I’m just working with what I’ve been given
It’s not my fault, I’m happy
Don’t call me crazy, I’m happy
It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care
Heartache Songs 1 – The Naked and Famous “The Mess”
Time for new content, time to share music!
So. In my more emotional states, music has indeed been a great comfort to me. I’ve decided to share some of the music that comforts me when those dramatic feelings of heartache creep around the edges of existene~
I shall be focusing on contemporary music, although classic rock favorites and 90s childhood nostalgia can be very comforting as well.
(No disrespect meant, for example, to the Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes”…)
First up, “The Mess” from the Naked and Famous:
I’ve been a fan of the New Zealand indietronica set the Naked and Famous ever since I came across the song “Young Blood”, from their first album Passive Me, Aggressive You in 2008. I particularly enjoyed the lyrics to “Girls Like You”.
Don’t you know they make songs about girls like you…
Suffice to say, I was excited last year when the latest album In Rolling Waves was released. But I had no idea it would blow me away that much.
A brilliant, most perfect album. I challenge anyone to suggest better music out right now.
Especially this song. “The Mess”. And what messes we find ourselves in. The falling down, the learning to get up again. The something that’s never enough. The male and female voice interplay. This song says it all like no other.
One time I jogged for several hours listening to this song again and again on repeat. I don’t do that kind of thing very often, but it was a very intense day.
Please have a listen, and check out the lyrics
-There’s nothing here but the distance
-There’s nothing here but the mess
-If you’d have shut up you’d have heard it
-You could have put it to rest
-I am swelling and eager
-I am the raging sea
-I have had it up to here now
-I’m so tired of your needs
And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
And I’m not gonna forgive you for all of the things that you’ve done
-There’s nothing here but indifference
-There’s nothing here but the stress
-These walls are stained with your moments
-Something you wanna confess
-You’re at the point of attachment
-And all the things you believe
There’s nothing left in this place
But a reason to leave
And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
And I’m not gonna forgive you for all of the things that you’ve done
And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
And I just can’t forgive you
I just can’t forgive you
I know that you feel it
And I know you believe that it’s true
So help me to prove it
And all that it means to get through
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
Because this love, this love, this love was never enough
No Chinglish?!
Sorry my lovelies, the day has come and I have finally run out of weekend- Chinglisheses(es?).
Life has been keeping me busy, and I live in a ridiculous country in which the Internet is not helpful. Hence, the lacking.
Still, know that I am diligently working on some new content. Next big thing, right around the corner, just wait.
Please stay tuned… next week… or so…
Here’s some old ones to refresh:
https://rayhecht.com/category/chinglish/
Hong Kong video II: Return to Occupy Central
Last week I returned to Occupy Central, to observe the umbrella-raising ceremony in support of the pro-democracy protest.
Again, I was truly inspired. The scale of this movement is truly incredible.
May they camp out as long as it takes…
Here is another vid:
OCCUPY MORE!
Another amazing experience in Admiralty. The movement is still going strong a month later, with no signs of letting up. Perhaps it will be a permanent fixture in Hong Kong, wouldn’t that be amazing!
Another amazing experience in Admiralty. The pro-democracy/Occupy movement is still going strong a month later, with no signs of letting up. A substantial community of sharing and donations, an authentic anarcho-commune collective in a modern metropolis. It is truly working. In some ways it actually reminded me of Burning Man, yet it is even less regulated and more organic. An inspiration. Perhaps it will be a permanent fixture in Hong Kong, wouldn’t that be amazing!
At 6:00 p.m. sharp I witnessed the umbrella-opening ceremony. I wandered and learned a lot. I saw tens of thousands of campers, infinite yellow ribbons, inspiring post-it’s along the Lennon Wall – You may call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one – and recorded some more video which I hope to edit soon and share. I was blown away by the creativity. T-shirts, banners, sculptures Umbrella Man ad Spider-Man and more, with cute paper Totoros. Even a library. The KFC sign amused me. And I like the setup in the bathrooms, with toothpaste ad shaving cream and even has volunteers to clean up. Very nice. The most solemn moment was the ‘Dark Corner’ area where a recent incident of police brutality took place. Finally, the umbrella tree.
Recently, I’ve been reading the book “Why Nations Fail” and while I am not smart enough to understand economics on a complex level, the book explains in layman’s terms that civilizations tend to be extractive or inclusive economies. Extractive are always unsustainable and damage a country, but the elites prefer it because it is good for only them. It is very hard to change this. Throughout all of history, development in human rights (which in turn helps growth) never comes because elites politely give it away through their bureaucratic laws, but because the masses of people demand it. Period.
CY Leung’s recent comments about how democracy is bad because it will give poor people too much political power… That is straight out of the thesis of this book. Let me just say, in my own layman’s terms, fuck this guy and this system.
Meanwhile, the latest propaganda from the mainland purports that it is all a scheme from Western governments. I scoff at that, because if it was so easy for outsiders to start movements than why are the PRC-funded counterprotests so pathetic?! They keep coming up with new narratives, from it’s only bad for business to pretending it’s all about rule-of-law to now this. Of course, it is truly a matter of the elites…
Things will change. I know they will. It won’t be easy, and it’s always a struggle because an entrenched system cannot even comprehend positive change, but it does come eventually.
Hong Kong Protest – Video
Last week I went to see the Occupy Central democracy protests in Admiralty, Hong Kong. Students had camped out in front of the government offices, and took over roads in order to express their frustration with authority and demand change. The movement was still going strong, after violent actions from police had the opposite intended affect and renewed the people’s motivation and strength. Sadly, since then there has been yet more brutality and there is even more healing to do. At this rate Occupy isn’t going anywhere…
At the time, the scale of the scene astounded and humbled me. I have already posted some pictures, but I think moving-pictures footage can best communicate what is happening there. Allow me to share my video:
Occupy Central
Occupy Central – Umbrella Movement – Democracy Hong Kong Protests
On Monday night I finally found the time to go to Hong Kong’s protest site in Admiralty, and I was humbled by what I witnessed. It was remarkable; a much larger scale than I had imagined.
After some violence that morning, the protest movement turned out not to be flickering down but had escalated once again. What else could have happened? Lesson learned: violence doesn’t seem to be working.
The students built barricades on Queensland Road using public property, and then a truck also delivered bamboo with accompanying cheering of the crowds.
(The next morning, I sadly read, the police had brought chainsaws and tore down the barricades.)
It is all incredibly inspiring. In front of the corrupt government offices, the movement had completely rebuilt the landscape. Tents, notices, artwork, umbrellas, endless signs. They had taken over, without permission of the System. The people are truly taking over their own city.
I’m no expert, and I don’t know what will happen. It is very possible that no legal ramifications will be directly affected any time soon. But in a sense, I believe that doesn’t even matter. I believe the culture of Hong Kong has changed in subtle, more powerful ways. Mindsets have been altered forever. The genie cannot be put back in the bottle. The government will never forget, from now on, that they must be more accountable and more responsible or otherwise there will be pushback from the people…
Hong Kong, and China, will certainly never be the same. And that is amazing.
Occupy Hong Kong: A View from Shenzhen
This is a tale of two occupations–in Tin Sau Bazaar and Central, the former artistic and the later political, but both explicit calls for social justice.
On Saturday night, friends and I crossed the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border at Shenzhen Bay and took a local bus to the Tin Shui Wai (天水围) metro, where we jumped on the light rail to Tin Sau (天秀) and it’s underused bazaar.
The bazaar itself presented the symptoms of hyper planning. Isolated near the Chinese border, Tin Sau is home to low-income and chronically under employed Hong Kong residents. It is also inconveniently located with respect to the Tin Shui Wai town center. In short, visiting the market for anyone but local residents is a problem. Tin Sau hawkers and residents had set up an open and low-capital flee market in any empty lot. The flee market catered to the needs of its immediate community…
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Burning Man, announcement
Over the past week, I happened to notice these ‘Top Searches’ in my dashboard of this blog:
burning man naked, lsd at burning man, burning man 2014 art, is there lsd at burning man
If you look to the right, under ‘Top Posts,’ you can see my old Burning Man blogs are trending at the moment:
(And do feel free to read up)
How I Came to China: Burning Man
Part 2: Doing LSD at Burning Man
Why now? Well, this year’s famed anarchic music & arts festival in the desert has just concluded and everyone is interested again .
Not to repeat myself, but I went in 2007 and 2008 and at the risk of sounding cliche I must say it; yeah it changed my life.
Much has been written about what this weeklong fest truly is, and I won’t repeat myself here but I’ll share some pictures and the above links and trust anyone new hear to look it up.
And yes I know it sold out over the years, it’s not as good as it used to be, all the evil rich people have ruined it, blah blah etc. That’s all probably true but I still believe it’s one of the best things going on in the world.
Here it comes… I’ve become one of those people making obnoxious announcements…..
Ready for it??
I’d like to take this opportunity to state that I wish to attend next year in 2015. It’s been too long. I’ve met a lot of great people in the intervening years, and I’d like to catch up with some Burners too, and I’d also like to invite old friends to go with me. Check out BurningMan.com for details, look up crazy pictures online and crazy videos on youtube, be inspired and let’s go.
Save up money, get into debt a little it’s no big deal, buy camping supplies, make costumes if you like, make a plan, and meet me on the American West Coast next August. I’m still working out whether I should make Southern California or Northern California the homebase, but plenty of time to figure that out in the coming months.
I mean, we’ve waited all our lives and it’s the Back to the Future year! 2015. Although we don’t have hoverboards, let’s celebrate making it this far!!
As soon as the next bout of tickets are on sale I’ll be reminding you all.
Who’s with me?!?!!!!
Let’s go home… …
Backpacking with a library
I said it before and I shall say it again, the hardest part of moving is having too many books. My rate of buying new books is exceeding my rate of getting rid of old books (the latter something I don’t like to do but must at times…)
Know what else is hard? Backpacking across the globe and picking up endless amounts of books. It is not easy on the shoulders. But, I mean, I’m in an English-speaking country and there are used bookstores and I can use Amazon in America at my friends place and I need all this stuff.
Here is what I speak of:
Not going to be easy to transport on my LAX to HKG flight tomorrow…
Toyshelf
Continuing with my geek out – see first post about casual gaming – I’d like to share my humble toy collection.
After a recent move, it was very important for me to get a new bookshelf to organize my toys. Not that I play with them, I’m a grownup, it’s just my version of decorations. To each their own, right?
Where to start: Classic nime characters, nostalgic transforming robots of our youth, cute stuffed-iness… I only wish I had more. One day I shall complete my collection, one day.
Casual Gamer
Like many kids of my generation, I grew up with Nintendo. Sega was a competitor for a while there, but I was always a loyal fan of Mario. Then real life happened and I didn’t have much time for video games anymore. Meanwhile, hardcore gamers became more and more intense over the last decade(s), with mega time-consuming complex gaming reaching a levels every year. And I have since become a cranky old man lamenting that games aren’t what they used to be.
More power to the modern gamers; I am very much a geek in my own ways and they can do what they want. There are various criticisms which can be lobbed at the gaming subculture, but I don’t intend to get into that here. I just want to share what games I like.
Few years ago I got my NDS, and quite enjoyed it. I require a lot of entertainment and stimulation, so when I’m bored on the bus or waiting in line at the airport I will take my paperbacks and audiobooks and text everybody as well as play video games. I likened the NDS to having a Super Nintendo in my pocket, but even better because I can start and stop anytime I want to. Play for ten minutes, save, go do something else, then play again for five minutes to several hours. Worked very well for a casual gamer like me.
Dare I admit that the NDS was very hackable and I live in a land where people pirate everything? I downloaded the whole catalog, sorry, but then when I was over it I simply had to get the 3DS and get the new games. Which meant I had to buy the real ones, American editions, during my frequent trips to Hong Kong.
My current collection:
Update: New Tattoo
As promised in my first post about tats, here are the photos of my new tattoo.
I found a little tattoo shop in Baishizhou village near my new place in Shenzhen and decided to go with it. My design idea was fairly simple, and I bargained a bit with the proprietor, which kind of makes me nervous. This is almost a medical procedure, why act like it’s you’re buying knockoff bags or something? Settled for 300 yuan, which I think is fair but not so cheap I’ll be afraid I’m getting hepatitis.
The design is a hexagram which represents the Anahata heart chakra, as per my long-running spinal cord design idea. To me, the two overlapping triangles are not necessarily the (more famous in the West) Jewish Star of David, but an important symbol of meditation. One triangle points up, towards “Heaven,” the higher realities we hope we can understand when becoming more enlightened. The other triangle points down because we all come from the Earth and we must get our affairs in order on this plane while trying to simultaneously achieve something higher. Right?
However, I decided to have triangles point from side to side, because why not. Something different. And, less construed to be jewy. The cosmic Left & Right, perhaps.
It is not finished. Still needs color, some more flashy designs, bells and whistles. This is just the outline of the more complex tattoo I hope to have in the future. But a decent outline I’m happy to show off.
So, why now? The answer is, I happen to be writing this while on my big America trip and I wanted to have something new on my person before going home. It was one of my final errands on the to-do list, along with packing and buying souvenirs.
And to answer the question people often ask, yes it hurts. Not that bad, but it’s an odd uncomfortable feeling on the back. The arms didn’t hurt that much, I recommend to everyone that you get a needle piercing through your shoulder or forearm before the backside.
That is my update.
Tell me: what do you think?
Ray-Comics 