In December 2006, Lin hired Charles Camp to represent this case in the US legal system. Lin cited the fact that Japan merely gave up its power over Taiwan and the Pescadores after surrendering in World War II and that it did not return Taiwan’s sovereignty rights to China. He also said that the San Francisco Peace Treaty did not deal with the sovereignty issues of Taiwan and the Pescadores, adding that the US was still Taiwan’s principal occupying power.
And God Bless the United States of America!
Full disclosure: I am a U.S. citizen.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri was published in January 31, 1999. It is the only game to have invoke in me both a sense of introspection and an awareness of the sweep of time. It is less of a game than a novel and a movie combined. From the lights of its compelling narrative I saw the glimmer of an inspiring future. From the moment of the landing on Planet to The End of the Singular Sentience Era, humanity's strive and progress rages unabated. On this 10th anniversary of publication, I salute you SMAC!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wireless, future
me: wireless is going to be one of the emerging economic frontiers, I'm excited about its prospects
basti: Yeah, I've seen this inductive power things before.
It will definitely be a luxury, but I am not sure it's such an innovation.
me: it will be a boon in manufacturing, electronics and drive new consumer demand
basti: You still have to make a physical connection - it's just a qualification on what kind of connection that is.
me: yes, there only needs to be one physical connection now as oppose to say, twelve
basti: No, there are still twelve physical connections.
me: how?
basti: Well, compare wireless power to wireless networking.
Wireless networking is much more of an innovation (when it was invented, like, a billion years ago) because it means that whether two devices in a communications network can connect is no longer a function of their locations. There is no need for a physical connection at all. I can put my laptop or cordless phone at any (x,y,z) point in this entire house and still be chatting with you. Inductive power doesn't really work like that. I can't take my laptop out onto the patio and have it powered there. I need to stick it on charging surface. So, while I no longer have to fumble around with cords and the very precise physical action of connecting the male power adapter to my laptop's female AC input, I still have some restrictions on where I can place my laptop if I want it charged.
I'm trading a precise action of "male->female connector" for a less precise action of "place on mat." But I'm still stuck to that mat. Whether I receive power is still a function of the location of my laptop - it's just not nearly as constrained as before. Do you see what I mean?
me: yes
basti: I'm just moving up in the classes of connectors from the simpler "male-female" style to a much more flexible "contact point" style. This can provide a lot of luxury, but it's not terrible groundbreaking.
me: sure, and it will drive innovations in industrial design. That is why I'm optimistic about its economic impacts
basti: Yeah, definitely. But you do realise this is nothing in comparison to what we would see with consumer-grade true wireless power. That would truly be monumental.
The effects might seem kind of minor, but, man, that coupled with cheap energy, and we'd really be living in the future.
me: we will also be dosed with electromagnetic radiation
basti: Yes, but we already are. EM radiation sounds scary, 'cause it has the word radiation in it, but the term radiation in this sense does not mean alpha or gamma decay; it refers to the dispersal mechanism. It "radiates." Sitting in a room with a lightbulb on exposes us to electromagnetic radiation. As does going out in the sun.
However, one is far more damaging than the other, which suggestions that the problem isn't just that it's EM radiation, but that there is some qualifying aspect to it. e.g., UV rays and radicalising, &c. Anyway, I have no idea how consumer-grade wireless power would even work.
me: anyways, wouldn't it give great satisfaction to be working on those technologies that would bring society into the future? Instead of analyzing human's pettiness, endlessly
basti: Is that really what we do?
me: yes, and in doing so we try to free ourselves of this pettiness
basti: Yeah, that's good. Better than some damn boring power engineering crap.
I prefer the analytical path, really. What would you suggest?
me: whichever that makes the more money and gives more spare time
basti: ha, sinecure
me: honestly, something that would be continuously challenging. I imagine the power engineers would be like "Ok, what now?" after they introduce wireless power
basti: Well, it would be a long, long path to just that. Like, I could just as well become a doctor with the intent of curing cancer.
basti: Yeah, I've seen this inductive power things before.
It will definitely be a luxury, but I am not sure it's such an innovation.
me: it will be a boon in manufacturing, electronics and drive new consumer demand
basti: You still have to make a physical connection - it's just a qualification on what kind of connection that is.
me: yes, there only needs to be one physical connection now as oppose to say, twelve
basti: No, there are still twelve physical connections.
me: how?
basti: Well, compare wireless power to wireless networking.
Wireless networking is much more of an innovation (when it was invented, like, a billion years ago) because it means that whether two devices in a communications network can connect is no longer a function of their locations. There is no need for a physical connection at all. I can put my laptop or cordless phone at any (x,y,z) point in this entire house and still be chatting with you. Inductive power doesn't really work like that. I can't take my laptop out onto the patio and have it powered there. I need to stick it on charging surface. So, while I no longer have to fumble around with cords and the very precise physical action of connecting the male power adapter to my laptop's female AC input, I still have some restrictions on where I can place my laptop if I want it charged.
I'm trading a precise action of "male->female connector" for a less precise action of "place on mat." But I'm still stuck to that mat. Whether I receive power is still a function of the location of my laptop - it's just not nearly as constrained as before. Do you see what I mean?
me: yes
basti: I'm just moving up in the classes of connectors from the simpler "male-female" style to a much more flexible "contact point" style. This can provide a lot of luxury, but it's not terrible groundbreaking.
me: sure, and it will drive innovations in industrial design. That is why I'm optimistic about its economic impacts
basti: Yeah, definitely. But you do realise this is nothing in comparison to what we would see with consumer-grade true wireless power. That would truly be monumental.
The effects might seem kind of minor, but, man, that coupled with cheap energy, and we'd really be living in the future.
me: we will also be dosed with electromagnetic radiation
basti: Yes, but we already are. EM radiation sounds scary, 'cause it has the word radiation in it, but the term radiation in this sense does not mean alpha or gamma decay; it refers to the dispersal mechanism. It "radiates." Sitting in a room with a lightbulb on exposes us to electromagnetic radiation. As does going out in the sun.
However, one is far more damaging than the other, which suggestions that the problem isn't just that it's EM radiation, but that there is some qualifying aspect to it. e.g., UV rays and radicalising, &c. Anyway, I have no idea how consumer-grade wireless power would even work.
me: anyways, wouldn't it give great satisfaction to be working on those technologies that would bring society into the future? Instead of analyzing human's pettiness, endlessly
basti: Is that really what we do?
me: yes, and in doing so we try to free ourselves of this pettiness
basti: Yeah, that's good. Better than some damn boring power engineering crap.
I prefer the analytical path, really. What would you suggest?
me: whichever that makes the more money and gives more spare time
basti: ha, sinecure
me: honestly, something that would be continuously challenging. I imagine the power engineers would be like "Ok, what now?" after they introduce wireless power
basti: Well, it would be a long, long path to just that. Like, I could just as well become a doctor with the intent of curing cancer.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Some thoughts
11:00 AM basti: haha
This is almost dramatic.
Like, there is so much pessimism about the future of the nation, with this being held up as a chance for a return to past greatness.
But it doesn't even try.
And it's obviously trying to try.
This is almost dramatic.
Like, there is so much pessimism about the future of the nation, with this being held up as a chance for a return to past greatness.
But it doesn't even try.
And it's obviously trying to try.
Friday, January 16, 2009
A Song of Ice and Fire in a Chinese Wiki
冰与火之歌
《冰与火之歌》系列
共七部：
第一部《权力的游戏》（A Game Of Thrones）
第二部《列王的纷争》（A Clash Of Kings）
第三部《冰雨的风暴》（A Storm Of Swords）
第四部《群鸦的盛宴》（A Feast Of Crows）
第五部《魔龙的狂舞》（Dance with Dragons)
第六部《凛冬的寒风》（The Wind of Winter）
第七部《春晓的梦想》（A Dream of Spring）(原先为 A Time for Wolves「奔狼的年代」)
作者已经完成并出版的为前四部，其中前四部已经由重庆出版社引进发行，翻译用心，质量非常优秀。
外传 《邓肯与伊戈》 系列
《雇用骑士》（The Hedge Knight）
《效忠剑士》（The Sworn Sword）
Translation on the titles have minor variations. 《权力的游戏》 is "A Game of Power" and 《冰雨的风暴》 is literally "A Storm of Icy Rain".
My take on the variations: the term 'power' is more salient to a Chinese audience. Struggle for the throne (singular) in Chinese historiography often meant a rebellion caused by grass roots discontent, natural disasters befalling the populace that nevertheless is perceived as a supernatural portent for dynastic change. Although the world of Westeros is on the verge of a supernatural cataclysm, it is not enough of a smoking gun for the events in the world of Ice and Fire. Hence, the story does not quite fit in the Chinese literary memory as something of a struggle for the 'throne'.
"Icy Rain"? or sleet? No idea.
"A Clash Of Kings" - see the Warring States, the Three Kingdoms, the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In short, yes, it is in the Chinese literary memory and hence would cause no dissonance.
《冰与火之歌》系列
共七部：
第一部《权力的游戏》（A Game Of Thrones）
第二部《列王的纷争》（A Clash Of Kings）
第三部《冰雨的风暴》（A Storm Of Swords）
第四部《群鸦的盛宴》（A Feast Of Crows）
第五部《魔龙的狂舞》（Dance with Dragons)
第六部《凛冬的寒风》（The Wind of Winter）
第七部《春晓的梦想》（A Dream of Spring）(原先为 A Time for Wolves「奔狼的年代」)
作者已经完成并出版的为前四部，其中前四部已经由重庆出版社引进发行，翻译用心，质量非常优秀。
外传 《邓肯与伊戈》 系列
《雇用骑士》（The Hedge Knight）
《效忠剑士》（The Sworn Sword）
Translation on the titles have minor variations. 《权力的游戏》 is "A Game of Power" and 《冰雨的风暴》 is literally "A Storm of Icy Rain".
My take on the variations: the term 'power' is more salient to a Chinese audience. Struggle for the throne (singular) in Chinese historiography often meant a rebellion caused by grass roots discontent, natural disasters befalling the populace that nevertheless is perceived as a supernatural portent for dynastic change. Although the world of Westeros is on the verge of a supernatural cataclysm, it is not enough of a smoking gun for the events in the world of Ice and Fire. Hence, the story does not quite fit in the Chinese literary memory as something of a struggle for the 'throne'.
"Icy Rain"? or sleet? No idea.
"A Clash Of Kings" - see the Warring States, the Three Kingdoms, the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In short, yes, it is in the Chinese literary memory and hence would cause no dissonance.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Anyone want to go to México?
"Anyone want to go to México?"
Grapefruit. The rush of relief that drug war violence didn't spill over from the Rio Grande. God Bless America.
Managed to pick 23 tons of grapefruit and citrus with 40 people in one day. Few people hauled off about 20 pounds of souvenir but I only felt like bringing one citrus back. And on the way to boarding a female flight attendant said that it looked lonely.
Citrus, poignantly alone
Grapefruit. The rush of relief that drug war violence didn't spill over from the Rio Grande. God Bless America.
Managed to pick 23 tons of grapefruit and citrus with 40 people in one day. Few people hauled off about 20 pounds of souvenir but I only felt like bringing one citrus back. And on the way to boarding a female flight attendant said that it looked lonely.
Citrus, poignantly alone
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Looking forward to 2009
2008 has been an interesting year. Just the other day, I was debating whether to turn up the thermostat. Then I realized natural gas prices has fallen 25% (now it's more like 40%). Majority of the power plants, as they were, use turbine engines that burn natural gas, which means the price of natural gas directly translates into the price of electricity. So I turned the temperature up a comfortable margin (enough so that I won't have to leave my desktop on at night as a radiator).
Cost of living is going down, which means more discretionary income. Auto-makers are going bankrupt, which means 2009 is going to be a good year for buying a car as car companies try to offload their inventories, or other methods of augmenting their cash-flow (as long as their suppliers don't collapse before they do). Yes! 2009 is a year for shopping! Now just patiently waiting for the stock market to hit its trough and load up as it rebound...
Here are my moments of clarity for 2008:
Books:
Garner's Modern American Usage
Blogs:
ESWN
Literature:
The London Review of Books
Movie:
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
Language Police:
"Recital is the unsophisticated assassination of poetry."
Cost of living is going down, which means more discretionary income. Auto-makers are going bankrupt, which means 2009 is going to be a good year for buying a car as car companies try to offload their inventories, or other methods of augmenting their cash-flow (as long as their suppliers don't collapse before they do). Yes! 2009 is a year for shopping! Now just patiently waiting for the stock market to hit its trough and load up as it rebound...
Here are my moments of clarity for 2008:
Books:
Garner's Modern American Usage
Blogs:
ESWN
Literature:
The London Review of Books
Movie:
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
Language Police:
"Recital is the unsophisticated assassination of poetry."
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Now Watching
彼氏彼女の事情
YOU MAY DREAM 追いかけて 素直なこの気持ち
伝えられたなら 真っ白な恋は翼になる
天使のゆびきり 叶うように
目の前を過ぎる横顔 ときめきが踊り始める
話す声 耳を傾け またひとつあなたを知った
ほんの少し勇気だして その瞳を見つめたい
YOU MAY DREAM 追いかけて 素直なこの気持ち
伝えられたなら 真っ白な恋は翼になる
天使のゆびきり 叶うように
Episodes 1 to 4: good
Episodes 5+: rather pointless
Episode 19: all right, so I kept watching. But the premise of post 4 episodes are stretched and good intentions forced. If I didn't know the propensity of GAINAX to run out of money, I would have said the animations in this episode were especially charming.
YOU MAY DREAM 追いかけて 素直なこの気持ち
伝えられたなら 真っ白な恋は翼になる
天使のゆびきり 叶うように
目の前を過ぎる横顔 ときめきが踊り始める
話す声 耳を傾け またひとつあなたを知った
ほんの少し勇気だして その瞳を見つめたい
YOU MAY DREAM 追いかけて 素直なこの気持ち
伝えられたなら 真っ白な恋は翼になる
天使のゆびきり 叶うように
Episodes 1 to 4: good
Episodes 5+: rather pointless
Episode 19: all right, so I kept watching. But the premise of post 4 episodes are stretched and good intentions forced. If I didn't know the propensity of GAINAX to run out of money, I would have said the animations in this episode were especially charming.
Politics and Economics
Can you recognize the following quote:
"...when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas -- that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.."
If you can then congratulations! You have at least an awareness of the historical friction between democracy and capitalism in the United States.
What strikes me is that contemporary Chinese intellectuals lacks a particular vigor in applying the analysis of the country's current constitution and its founding intentions in formulating political theory for the state. Unless these analysis are hidden in the archives of the Central Party School somewhere, which still doesn't do anyone much good. Perhaps, reconciling the country's founding intentions with law (the constitution and institution) could go some way in easing the mental indigestion of Chinese intellectuals, who are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole by advocating wholesale adoption of western institutions. And doing it with such disregards for the complexity and historic scope of China's problems that would make any disingenuous supporters of democracy in China proud.
The current problem that needs to be examined in China is, can the free market and authoritarianism co-exist?
P.S. the quote is from the dissenting opinion of Oliver Wendel Holmes in Abrams v. U.S., 1919. The interesting thing about this opinion is that Holmes in a previous decision sided with the right of the state to interfere in economic matters. Yet here he limits the state's interference in speech. This paradox between democracy and capitalism is the defining issue of American politics.
A more salient contemporary example is how the energy industry have such a strong influence on American domestic and foreign policy. Often these interests are out of step with public opinion in issues such as global warming and American intervention abroad.
"...when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas -- that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.."
If you can then congratulations! You have at least an awareness of the historical friction between democracy and capitalism in the United States.
What strikes me is that contemporary Chinese intellectuals lacks a particular vigor in applying the analysis of the country's current constitution and its founding intentions in formulating political theory for the state. Unless these analysis are hidden in the archives of the Central Party School somewhere, which still doesn't do anyone much good. Perhaps, reconciling the country's founding intentions with law (the constitution and institution) could go some way in easing the mental indigestion of Chinese intellectuals, who are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole by advocating wholesale adoption of western institutions. And doing it with such disregards for the complexity and historic scope of China's problems that would make any disingenuous supporters of democracy in China proud.
The current problem that needs to be examined in China is, can the free market and authoritarianism co-exist?
P.S. the quote is from the dissenting opinion of Oliver Wendel Holmes in Abrams v. U.S., 1919. The interesting thing about this opinion is that Holmes in a previous decision sided with the right of the state to interfere in economic matters. Yet here he limits the state's interference in speech. This paradox between democracy and capitalism is the defining issue of American politics.
A more salient contemporary example is how the energy industry have such a strong influence on American domestic and foreign policy. Often these interests are out of step with public opinion in issues such as global warming and American intervention abroad.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Medieval credit crunch
King Edward I
"It seems that money has disappeared" said the Ricciardi, just like a modern banker complaining that everyone has stopped lending.
"It seems that money has disappeared" said the Ricciardi, just like a modern banker complaining that everyone has stopped lending.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Lightless Day
This photo came out quite different. It was actually taken on the flight today at mid-day but the shadows caused by the intense sunlight must have occult the lens area, making it look like dusk instead.
Anyways, so I woke up at 11 and decided I was in no mood to drive. Book a flight 2 hours before departure, then threw a bunch of clothes and my EEE 901 in a bag. Three hours later, I am sitting at home in Dallas typing away. Maybe I can finally get some reading and writing done during these few days. My mind is more at ease now.
Flying is much better than the mind numbing experience of driving, and having to wait for hours on end during holiday traffic. I Need to do this more often.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Self-Deceptions of Empire by David Bromwich
Spreading Democracy by Eric J. Hobsbawm
All of the good that a nation can do by violence is contingent; the evil is real and palpable.
Spreading Democracy by Eric J. Hobsbawm
Although great power action may have morally or politically desirable consequences, identifying with it is perilous because the logic and methods of state action are not those of universal rights. All established states put their own interests first.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Rugby (the religion of Wales) and its influence on the Catholic Church
"In this Christmas BMJ paper, researcher Gareth Payne and his two colleagues from Cardiff investigate whether there is any substance to the intriguing urban legend that has arisen in Wales in recent times: "Every time Wales win the rugby grand slam, a Pope dies, except for 1978 when Wales were really good, and two Popes died." Wales won the Grand Slam in 2008 - so should Pope Benedict XVI be worried? "
"In this Christmas BMJ paper, researcher Gareth Payne and his two colleagues from Cardiff investigate whether there is any substance to the intriguing urban legend that has arisen in Wales in recent times: "Every time Wales win the rugby grand slam, a Pope dies, except for 1978 when Wales were really good, and two Popes died." Wales won the Grand Slam in 2008 - so should Pope Benedict XVI be worried? "
Monday, December 15, 2008
On Vampires
I don't care much for the genre normally, but I like the gothic technological dystopia in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
G.R.R.M.'s Fevered Dream is also excellent, although it is quite revisionist as I understand it.
G.R.R.M.'s Fevered Dream is also excellent, although it is quite revisionist as I understand it.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Weekly Readings
What Girls Want
Lydia Lopokova
“Why does she want the red shoes? She wants to be special and she wants to be looked at. In Hans Christian Andersen’s famous tale, Karen, a peasant girl, goes barefoot in summer and in winter wears wooden clogs that rub her feet raw, but the mirror tells her she’s lovely and she thinks that wearing the red shoes will make her feel like a princess. Like selfish Heidi and tomboy Katy, Karen is a mid-19th century girl crippled by egotism. The shoes force her to dance non-stop and to display herself ‘wherever proud and vain children live’. Though it seems simply a punitive response to female narcissism, this is a Christian morality tale intended to warn against the sin of self-love. Karen is cast out of her community and her church; she has her feet hacked off, and the story ends with her repentance. What we remember, though, is not the final image of her blissful reunion with God but the red shoes, with the little feet still in them, going on dancing. Shoes were a homely and powerful symbol of status for Andersen, the son of a cobbler, a lonely, ungainly outsider. He was greedy for fame yet tormented by guilt at his success; ‘The Red Shoes’ inflicts a cruel comeuppance on exhibitionists and social climbers like himself.”
A Chance to Join the World
How to Start a Hedge Fund
Let me know if you need further advice. My rates are competitive.
Diary - Keith Gessen
On the other hand I discovered Russian (language) rap.
Further, if the target audience of your diatribe is Russian, do your cussing in Serbo-Croatian. It is close enough that they understand the necessary elements.
Lydia Lopokova
“Why does she want the red shoes? She wants to be special and she wants to be looked at. In Hans Christian Andersen’s famous tale, Karen, a peasant girl, goes barefoot in summer and in winter wears wooden clogs that rub her feet raw, but the mirror tells her she’s lovely and she thinks that wearing the red shoes will make her feel like a princess. Like selfish Heidi and tomboy Katy, Karen is a mid-19th century girl crippled by egotism. The shoes force her to dance non-stop and to display herself ‘wherever proud and vain children live’. Though it seems simply a punitive response to female narcissism, this is a Christian morality tale intended to warn against the sin of self-love. Karen is cast out of her community and her church; she has her feet hacked off, and the story ends with her repentance. What we remember, though, is not the final image of her blissful reunion with God but the red shoes, with the little feet still in them, going on dancing. Shoes were a homely and powerful symbol of status for Andersen, the son of a cobbler, a lonely, ungainly outsider. He was greedy for fame yet tormented by guilt at his success; ‘The Red Shoes’ inflicts a cruel comeuppance on exhibitionists and social climbers like himself.”
A Chance to Join the World
How to Start a Hedge Fund
Let me know if you need further advice. My rates are competitive.
Diary - Keith Gessen
On the other hand I discovered Russian (language) rap.
Further, if the target audience of your diatribe is Russian, do your cussing in Serbo-Croatian. It is close enough that they understand the necessary elements.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The Shield
Started The Shield marathon on Thanksgiving, on season 7 now. The Shield is pretty good for a plot driven drama, meaning person A going to places X,Y,Z, do things B,C, and D, then goes home. However, I still like thematically driven series like The Wire better, where every action aims to build a narrative, i.e. the criminalization and oppression of the economically deprived, betrayal of political promise that traps everyone in a vicious cycle, etc...
The balancing of plot and theme is difficult, The Shield does an o.k. job. Other crime related drama, for example a movie like American Gangster, is ultimately disappointing because it strives to build a narrative, but then gets stuck trying to entertain the big screen audience with bland plot base drama. Exceptionally few shows have managed to pull off both simultaneously. I'm not sure where The Shield lies on this spectrum; it has a strong conceptual element to it, yet it is always hidden in the background.
12/06 finished the series.
11:06 PM me: the popularity of the Vic character, and the setup of Aceveda as his opposite half indicates that you have the tolerance for corruption part switched. Generally, people are sympathetic to a face (i.e. Vic.), but when corruption goes up a level, responsibility is abstracted from the person responsible (aceveda) to the system, then it becomes tyranny
11:07 PM basti: Yes, but not exactly.
I am not sympathetic to their actions
I can just empathise with their plights
I can want Vic to go to gaol, but still feel sorry for him as a person
11:08 PM me: then you just have abstracted a human being on a personal level
basti: No, not really
This kind of sympathy is independent of their actions
11:09 PM For example, I have little sympathy for the criminals on the show.
Their portrayal is very one dimensional
They are objects to be hated
But I like the show, because I find the characters, who are not good people, to be sympathetic in how they are humanised
11:10 PM I mean, at the end of `Revenge of the Sith,' do you feel badly for Darth Vader?
He has become completely alienated from his family.
He has killed his wife, and he will never meet his children.
me: I didn't care, he was a bad actor
basti: He has been seduced to evil, and his best friend has tried to kill him.
EXACTLY
Bad actor and bad characte.r
11:11 PM Really, really bad actor and bad character.
But Vic isn't like this.
me: I see...
basti: Chiklis is a much, much better actor
But also, his character is humanised and three dimensional
I can have this kind of ambivalence toward him
11:12 PM I can have this combination of disgust for his corruption but sympathy for his fate
He's humanised, and humans are built to empathise
This is also a strength of the portrayal of the criminally destitute in `The Wire'
11:15 PM I mean, Bubbles is not the heroic type
He is a drug addict and a petty criminal
But his situation is sufficiently humanised that we can feel sympathetic for him
Even if many of his problems are of his own creation...
11:17 PM Or look at Shane
Shane is racialist and brutal
He kills Lem
But he is, in many ways, more sympathetic than Vic as his life falls apart in the aftermath
The balancing of plot and theme is difficult, The Shield does an o.k. job. Other crime related drama, for example a movie like American Gangster, is ultimately disappointing because it strives to build a narrative, but then gets stuck trying to entertain the big screen audience with bland plot base drama. Exceptionally few shows have managed to pull off both simultaneously. I'm not sure where The Shield lies on this spectrum; it has a strong conceptual element to it, yet it is always hidden in the background.
12/06 finished the series.
11:06 PM me: the popularity of the Vic character, and the setup of Aceveda as his opposite half indicates that you have the tolerance for corruption part switched. Generally, people are sympathetic to a face (i.e. Vic.), but when corruption goes up a level, responsibility is abstracted from the person responsible (aceveda) to the system, then it becomes tyranny
11:07 PM basti: Yes, but not exactly.
I am not sympathetic to their actions
I can just empathise with their plights
I can want Vic to go to gaol, but still feel sorry for him as a person
11:08 PM me: then you just have abstracted a human being on a personal level
basti: No, not really
This kind of sympathy is independent of their actions
11:09 PM For example, I have little sympathy for the criminals on the show.
Their portrayal is very one dimensional
They are objects to be hated
But I like the show, because I find the characters, who are not good people, to be sympathetic in how they are humanised
11:10 PM I mean, at the end of `Revenge of the Sith,' do you feel badly for Darth Vader?
He has become completely alienated from his family.
He has killed his wife, and he will never meet his children.
me: I didn't care, he was a bad actor
basti: He has been seduced to evil, and his best friend has tried to kill him.
EXACTLY
Bad actor and bad characte.r
11:11 PM Really, really bad actor and bad character.
But Vic isn't like this.
me: I see...
basti: Chiklis is a much, much better actor
But also, his character is humanised and three dimensional
I can have this kind of ambivalence toward him
11:12 PM I can have this combination of disgust for his corruption but sympathy for his fate
He's humanised, and humans are built to empathise
This is also a strength of the portrayal of the criminally destitute in `The Wire'
11:15 PM I mean, Bubbles is not the heroic type
He is a drug addict and a petty criminal
But his situation is sufficiently humanised that we can feel sympathetic for him
Even if many of his problems are of his own creation...
11:17 PM Or look at Shane
Shane is racialist and brutal
He kills Lem
But he is, in many ways, more sympathetic than Vic as his life falls apart in the aftermath
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