Brokeback Mountain on Ice!

Hot!

(Courtesy of golden7 from ttconline.org)

谈一谈Sitcom吧

(This is a post I put on Beitong today of last year.)

在国内时，我只知道情景喜剧(Sitcom)是美国流行的一种电视节目形式。北京演艺界的英达等人也搞了几部像<我爱我家>和<候车大厅>之类的片子。虽然小有影响，但是改不了中国电视以长篇连续剧为主的格局。

六年前来到加拿大，才见识了Sitcom的流行程度。各种Sitcom挤满了各个电视台的黄金时段(Prime time)，长篇室内剧(Soap opera)只能偏居白天时段，供无聊的家庭主妇打发时间。

总结一下这几年看的Sitcom，个人的最爱是Fraser和Everybody loves Raymond。其原因是：这两部戏的每一集都有一个完整有趣的故事，笑料有机地结合在剧情中。Seinfield口碑不错，但我一直没正经看过，所以没发言权。

Friends和Will&Grace在前几季的故事还不错，但后来就每况愈下，为搞笑而搞笑，剧情苍白牵强，明显感觉编剧们江郎才尽，硬着头皮苦撑。至于最近刚从Friends衍生出来的Joey，更是从第一集就没话找话，好不尴尬。其他如Suddenly Susan, News Radio, Just shoot me, The 3rd rock from the Sun，则是笑过即忘。

值得一提的是一部英国的片子Keep up the appearence，写的是一个自私市侩但又自视颇高的女人闹的笑话，每一集都让人捧腹不已。对了，还有几十年前的经典Golden girls，写四个老太太的事，经常让人既开心又感慨。

不过自从Survivor，Apprentice等Reality show大获成功之后，Sitcom就开始慢慢有退出历史舞台的趋势了。个人觉得Reality show的模式单一，似乎很容易让观众厌烦。所以Sitcom也许在两三年后有东山再起的一天。

PS: 尽管很爱看SITCOM，但对很多喜剧电影，我却很难产生共鸣。

比如本地人很喜欢的Jim Carry, Adam Sadler, Mike Myers, 他们的大部分电影我都笑得很勉强。最近被影评人称为guilty pleasure的Dodge Ball, 我看了只觉得自己也变得很弱智。

最惨的是看Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle，好几个情节我都不明白笑料在哪里(比如Jamie Kennedy凑到Kal Penn跟前小便这一出)。也许这是拍给白人小年青看的，离我这个三十好几的中国移民的生活太远了。

Sweet guy for queer eyes (02)

This is a funny, shy and cute Asian boy from Signal Hill, US.

Simply adorable!

秀色可餐 (01)

(ZT)勇敢的母亲，出镜支持同性恋儿子

同性恋是一个存在争议的话题，不管大家理不理解，支不支持，他们都是真实地存在着，根据权威的数据，目前，在中国，已经有近3000万同性恋者。

就在社会对同性恋还在争论中的时候，一对母子，带着平静的微笑，走进了我们《今日一线》的办公室。今天，是一个历史性的时刻，大家看到的，是国内首位公开向公众亮相的同性恋者的母亲，这位勇敢的母亲，用这种形式来
表示对儿子的理解和支持。

郑远涛 25岁 翻译 广州在电视媒体公开同性恋身份第一人

吴幼坚 文学编辑 郑远涛 的母亲

作为广州第一个公开的同性恋者，郑远涛曾多次在媒体公开亮相。而这一次，他的母亲——吴幼坚，一位文学编辑，则是在经过深思熟虑之后，愿意用公开露面的方式，来支持自己的儿子。这也是国内第一位通过公众媒体亮相的
同性恋者的母亲。

1980年，郑远涛出生在广州一个普通的知识分子家庭，慈爱的父母，宽松的家庭氛围让小远涛健康地成长着。中学时候的他活泼，好学，成绩优异，和其他男孩没有任何的不同。

然而，进入青春期远涛，却渐渐发现了自己秘密——他首先爱上的，竟然是一个男生。当郑远涛鼓起勇气跟男生告白的时候，那个男同学却因为对同性恋的恐惧而远离了他。这次失败的经历，让远涛备受折磨，但他并没有强迫自己去喜欢女孩子。

从初中开始，远涛就很想把自己的这个秘密告诉最信任的妈妈，但他思前想后，还是怕妈妈接受不了。于是，他开始有意地给妈妈，做一些铺垫工作。远涛给妈妈看了方刚、李银河的书，还有一些影视作品，让妈妈也渐渐了解了。这样过了几年，到他读高三，一次与母亲的谈心时，远涛终于说出了自己的秘密。

吴幼坚当时听了，也没有觉得什么。但随后，她马上又有了自己的担心。吴幼坚说，她担心的是远涛找不到好的爱人，因为这个群体毕竟人数很少。为了让父母放心，远涛后来把自己的每一段感情历程都向他们交了底。

1999年，远涛以优异的成绩考上了广外，在大学期间，他再次寻找同性之间的感情。

然而，不是所有的父母都能接受这些，因为对方父母的压力，远涛的爱情一度无疾而终。但是有了父母的理解，远涛觉得少了很多压力。他希望，通过自己的努力，来消除公众对同性恋群体的歧视和误解。

2004年，远涛做出了人生的重大决定，为了推动同性恋的维权进程，在一次访谈节目当中，他向社会公开了自己的同性恋身份。而早在2001年，他就开始担任同性恋网站——爱白网的义务编译工作。

现在，只要出席公开场合，远涛都勇敢地带上了象征着“同志”身份的彩色旗。通过网络，远涛也再次找到了自己的真爱，而这一次，他更加坦荡地拥抱爱情。远涛开始敢与自己喜欢的人手牵手上街，更不怕别人的笑话。母亲也敢于向身边的人坦白儿子是同性恋的。现在，远涛有了新的计划，就是在明年到北京发展事业，并和他自己的爱人一起生活。而母亲也表示支持，母亲更希望的是，中国的同性恋有可能像异性恋一样，想爱就爱，也可以长久地生活在一起。

专栏“写手”的“客观性”

下面是《大中报》第1070期（Feb.3,2006）“枫园感怀”专栏的一篇文章：

言行不一的我

● 方 晴

在一月二十三日的大选之前，我呼吁全体的华人选民参与投票。无论是投自由党、保守党、绿党或任何其它党，只要参与，不问立场与原因。

即使在我当年居住过的魁北克省，我也在电话上“规劝”朋友们在一月二十三日抽出时间去投票。

但在投票日那天，我却坐在电视机前，看着保守党获胜，自由党落败，新民主党大肆扩张和魁人党的“保持现状”。

我自己没去投票。

作为一名专栏“写手”，我不断撰文抨击自由党在人头税问题上的傲慢与盛气凌人，视华人社区选票为天经地义，纵使不道歉、不赔偿，也应享有我们的支持。我希望读者去投任何一党的票，就是别投给自由党。如果我自己身体力行，似乎有利用媒介，将自己的观点强加予读者之嫌疑。这不是一个公允、客观的“旁观者”所应予读者的印象。这也可解释为我未去投票的“借口”。

但我在一月二十三日却也曾试图去投票，而且是想投给自由党。我的一个朋友无法投票，她虽然痛恨自由党的许多丑行，但依然认为在三大政党中，自由党代表最实际、最中产阶级化和最适合社会进步的政党、经验和选择。为此，我答应将我的这一票帮她投给自由党，以免浪费了一份权力。可惜的是，我的选民登记表不在安省。选举法要求我必须在七百公里外的原登记地投票。我的这张选票最终还是浪费了。但所幸的是，我的朋友想支持的自由党候选人－Jim Peterson在她的选区当选了；我希望下台的自由党政府已成了在野的反对党，而我的“客观性”也维护了。

"言行不一”也有结局是皆大欢喜的时候。

此文作者，在自己“不断撰文抨击自由党”，并号召“读者去投任何一党的票，就是别投给自由党”之后，为了避“将观点强加予读者之嫌”，天真地认为：只要自己不投票，那么自己所写的那些文章就是“公允、客观的”了。

但事实是这样的吗？

首先，作为一个有选举权的加拿大公民，作者是这场选举的“局内人”，换句话说，选举的结果是与作者的利益息息相关的。在这种情况下，作者的言论不可能完全做到“公允”和“客观”。即使作者不去投票，也改变不了他作为“局内人”的身份。

其次，是否“公允”和“客观”，与最后是否参与投票没有任何关系。设想这样一个例子：某女士的儿子要和其他孩子竞争一个推荐名额，为此，她不遗余力地去游说各个评委。因为她自己不是评委，所以她并没有参加最后的推荐投票。但仅仅因为此女士没投票，我们就能说她的游说是“公允、客观的”吗？显然不能。

最后，作为一个加拿大公民，在报纸上宣扬自己的政治观念，来影响其他选民，即使这些观点不客观不公正，这么做没有任何不妥（但外国人这么做就是非法的了）。但可笑的是，作者自作多情的认为自己有“将观点强加予读者之嫌疑”，从而用不去投票的办法，企图把自己装扮成一个“旁观者”，这只能叫做掩耳盗铃。

所以，作者最后沾沾自喜地以为“结局皆大欢喜”，但在读者眼里，可能是遗笑大方了。

Perfect Valentine's gift

It is perfect ONLY if your lover is a computer nerd who happens to be hopelessly romantic too.

Serious about it? Then buy it here

He was so handsome back then

狗年大吉！

狗年是我的本命年。
祝各位朋友新春快乐，狗年大吉！

Below is the Souvenir Sheet issued by Canada Post for Year of Dog (2006).

“耽美”漫画

所谓的“耽美”漫画，在我的印象里就是千篇一律的人物造型：修长而瘦削，所以我一直都是不感冒的。

上面两幅也一样，但是这个业余画家（我猜想科班出身的人是不屑画这个的）的功底显然比其他人略高一筹。虽然对飘飘的长发和酷酷的表情仍然不以为然，但是我不得不佩服细节的精美。特别是白纱下肌肤的质感，以及龙鳞文身在夕阳下迷人的反光。

Bring it on!

Among a medium-sized company A in Mississauga, a small one B in Markham and a tiny one C in Pickering, I finally decided to go to the tiny one.

A has a size most employees would feel comfortable with, but the facility looks old and dirty and the engineering manager has an attitude although my potential direct supervisor looks down-to-earth. Besides, the offer cannot even match what I got from my last employer. The worse thing is: the engineering manager tried to fool me about the hourly pay calculation, which was an insult to my intelligence. If I were really that stupid, they probably wouldn't hire me anyway.

B is much closer to my house and has a very tidy and spacious working space considering its size. The boss is nice and currently they have only one mechanical engineer below him (also a Chinese, by the way, his hair is a disaster and his image is embarrassing as a professional). The offer is fair and they agreed to give me 3 weeks vacation starting from the second year. But the problem is: the job is too familiar for me so there won't be much new stuff. The bright side is I would feel very comfortable in the new position, but the down side is: If I leave this company several years later, my resume won't have any fresh words.

C is the smallest company I've ever been to. The owner (also titled as engineering manager although currently there is only one person to manage) seems easy-going and open-minded. We had some good laughs at the interview and he said we could get along. I thought he was just trying to be polite, but after he increased his offer twice I realized he really liked me, for the reason I don't know. Most importantly, if I take this job, I would be responsible to all aspects of the projects, which is quite different from what I did before. As a conservative and slightly pessimistic person, I am always intimidated by big changes like this (I told them I like challenges, but it was 80% a lie), and it is no exception this time.

I do know this is a good opportunity for me to gain some new skills and K thinks I should at least try it. But still, the “coward” and the “lazy guy” inside me kept pulling me down.

Eventually, I said, "Whatever will be will be..." Even if I fail it, it won’t be the end of the world. Besides, they liked me, not otherwise.

So, bring it on!

Sleeping beauty...

BIG day, Election day

I voted for Liberal.

Of course, I do see the corruption and arrogance in this party. But Liberal went extra miles to push through the legalization of same-sex marriage, for that cause only, I think I owe them a vote. If you look around the world (especially south of the border), you will not take what we have won in Canada for granted, and will deeply appreciate Liberal's firm stand.

Besides, I know many religeous fundamentalists are switching to Conservative solely because they hate same-sex marriage. So, hopefully, my vote can neutralize those people's votes, just a little bit.

Good luck, Liberal!

I almost embarrassed myself, but it was worth it

Ennis opened the wardrobe and we saw the jacket and the shirt hung on back of the door. Ennis slowly buttoned the shirt. "Jack, I swear." he said, eyes full of tears. And above the shirt, there was that Brokeback mountain post card, slightly faded but still beautiful like a heaven. Right here, without any sign, credit list came out…

Suddenly, a tremendous sadness exploded in my heart and overwhelmed my chest. Tears started pouring out of my eyes so uncontrollably that I had to bent over to rest my head on my knees. But still, the heart-breaking feeling grew bigger and bigger and I was literally cry aloud rather than shedding tears silently. K and other two friends (a straight couple) had already been waiting in the aisle, but I just could not stop. I tried to muffle the weeping sound with my hands, but I guess people around me could still hear me.

About two or three minutes later, K approached and patted on my shoulder. Finally, I managed to suppress the cry and stand on my feet, but the tears were still flowing. Outside of the cinema, there was a big line waiting for the entrance. When I passed by them, I could feel people were looking at me because I was constantly wiping my watery eyes.

Yes, it sounds embarrassing but I don't feel that way. For such a love story, a give-it-all cry is a blessing.

Toronto Star的报道文章

前天，我把我的Email同时也发给了Toronto Star的记者PETER GORRIE。
昨天(1月20日)的Toronto Star在B4版刊登了他对此事的报道文章：

Different language, different message

Subtle attacks on gay marriage in Chinese, Korean
English section of pamphlet doesn't even raise issue

Jan. 20, 2006.
PETER GORRIE
STAFF REPORTER
______________________________________________________

Same-sex. Different message.

Basic politics? Or cheap politics?

In a written message to voters who read Chinese and Korean, the Conservative candidate in Willowdale riding subtly attacks same-sex marriage and the Liberals who support it.

The English-language section of the same campaign pamphlet, distributed by Jovan Boseovski, doesn't mention the issue.

"The Liberal party passed the same-sex marriage act so our next generation are exposed to this subject in school classrooms and through the media," the pamphlet tells Chinese Canadians, who make up nearly one-quarter of the North York riding's population.

In Chinese, the wording implies that the issue would infect the minds of young people.

It's also a reminder that Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has promised a free vote in the House of Commons on whether last year's legalization of gay and lesbian civil marriages should be overturned.

Last year, most Liberal MPs, as well as all but one New Democrat and every member of the Bloc Québécois voted in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage.

"I'm very angry," says J., 35, a gay resident of the riding. "They make a wrong assumption about the Chinese people, and they're trying to hide something.

"I don't like it."

"Most Chinese people (and even their parents) are not religious and they don't have that homophobic gene in their blood," Jian says in an email to Boseovski. "According to my experience, not a single Chinese friend to whom my partner and I came out has shied away from us."

Why the differing messages?

"We thought it would have a different impact" in the Asian communities, says local campaign manager J.T. Boseovski. "The Chinese community is generally more conservative on such matters.

"There are mixed feelings ... so we decided not to put it in English."

A spokesperson at Conservative party headquarters in Ottawa calls it "just basic politics."

"Every candidate should know, and wants to know, what his constituents support and will focus on those issues," says Scott Brownrigg. "Every candidate speaks to their constituents and tailors their message accordingly."

But Boseovski's Liberal opponent, incumbent Jim Peterson, says it's "cheap politics."

"I don't think people go for that. I think they expect me to say the same thing to everybody ... I believe that's important."

The NDP's Rochelle Carnegie says she can't afford translated messages.

If she could, she says they wouldn't vary.

"People are the same. If I'm talking about child care or same-sex marriage, it's the same message, whatever the community is."

ZT: 《断背山》影响时尚界

刚刚在金球奖大获全胜的李安的《断背山》，一部西部牛仔包装下的具有东方内敛情感的爱情电影，打动了无数观众，当然，也包括有无数同性恋设计师。

影片最后埃尼斯抚摩着杰克珍藏的带血的甲克，电影院里无数人泪如雨下，如果说，你也能拥有这样一件呢，是不是能抚慰你的心。

广告和时尚杂志里，同性恋形象通常是这样的：头发打蜡，穿高领套头毛衣，拥有化装品，贝克汉姆曾经就做过男性化装品广告，不是粗矿，也不是妖娆，不少人看来有些古怪。现在，《断背山》澄清了某些东西，如同报纸上所说的那样，它把同性情感带入美国电影主流。对时尚界来说，两个粗犷的男人，穿的非常主流。

今天发布的Valentino2006新款，超级男模WILL CHALKER和Tyson Ballou出来走秀 ，我们看到牛仔形象如此神采飞扬。

Conservatives, you are wrong about Chinese Canadians!

今天收到本选区保守党候选人的拉票传单。其中用了英文，中文，韩文三种文字。

奇怪的是，居然只有中文韩文部分有反对同性婚姻的言辞：“自由党通过同性婚姻法，致令我们的下一代无论在学校课堂或传媒上都沾染到有关课题”，而英语部分对此只字未提。

以下是我写给此候选人的电子邮件：

Dear Mr. Jovan Boseovski,

I am a Chinese Canadian living in your riding. I just received your campaign pamphlet for federal election and have some questions to ask.

I noticed in this tri-lingual (English, Chinese, and Korean) pamphlet you expressed your opposition to same-sex marriage ONLY in the Chinese and Korean portion. Why? Is it because that in your opinion there are fewer gays among Chinese people and/or most Chinese Canadians are homophobia?

If you really think so, you are wrong. The percentage of homosexuals among population has nothing to do with race or ethnic. I happen to know there is a big gay Chinese community in Toronto and they are from every neighbourhood of GTA, including our riding.

As to the opinions of Chinese Canadians toward gay marriage, maybe you have heard some complaints from a few religious people, but please don't forget the existence of the silent majority. The truth is, most Chinese people (and even their parents) are not religious and they don't have that homophobic gene in their blood. More importantly, Chinese culture has the great tradition of tolerance and compromise, which taught us how to live with people who are different from us in harmony. According to my experience, not a single Chinese friend to whom my partner and I came out has shied away from us. I have enough reason to believe that most Chinese immigrants, by the time they received Canadian citizenship, have already built their principle of human rights, made their own observance to the gay issue, and eventually accepted the validity of gay relationships.

Maybe those Chinese Canadians are not as aggressive or talkative as those complainers, but they do have their stands. By making a wrong assumption about them, you will only end up to scare them away. You know, Chinese culture is always against intolerance, against those rigid inhumane "principles", which are the core of fundamentalism.

Good luck!

J.

"You asked for it, stupid!"

Last Tuesday morning, K had a minor car accident: a car behind him kissed his car's behind when K stopped for the red light. The driver was a white young man (let's call him S), who apologized and seemed very afraid that K would report it to the insurance company. As a compassionate person, K agreed to check the damage and probably settle it privately if there is no big cost. In the meantime, K got S's name, insurance policy number, driver's licence number and even address.

The next day, K went to a Toyota dealer and got estimation for the damage: two dimples on the rear bumper punched by the screws of S's license plate. The price? $650. Understandably, S thought it was too much when he heard this number. He then suggested we bring our car to another dealer where one of his friends was working. But the problem was: that dealer was far away and we did not want to waste our time and mileage to go there.

Guessing the damage was probably over-estimated, also in order to help this poor guy, we volunteered to get a second opinion from another dealership. On Thursday, I drove this car there and told the estimator my car was hit when parked in the parking lot, which meant I didn’t know who did it and I had to swallow the cost myself. This time, the estimation was much lower than last time: only $370.

To be honest, we didn’t think the dimples are a big deal, but we did want to get what we deserved. So, K called S again and told him he could either pay us $370 after we get the car fixed or pay us $300 upfront (which we might not use to fix the car). S said he was very busy and we could discuss it in the weekend.

Unfortunately, no call from S until Saturday evening. So I got a little bit confused here: he hit our car, and he begged us to settle it privately, and we spent extra time and gas to save money for HIM, and now we have to solicit him around? Hello! We are doing YOU a favour, remember?

But K called him anyway, more than once (I really admired his patience and mild temper), and eventually left him a message. Finally, S called back on Sunday saying he was still extremely busy and we could get the money on Monday. What? Is he thinking we are blackmailing him?

Still, no call until 10:00PM Monday evening. Suddenly, I became suspicious: what if this guy is playing game with us? What if there is a time limit before when we have to file our claim? With this fear in mind, I quickly went though the website of Insurance Bureau of Canada and found out that some policies require the clients to report accident within seven days. After realizing it was already seventh day, K phoned S. You guessed right, S was very busy the whole day and very tired. He was so tired that he refused to go downstairs even if we could go to his apartment building! He also sounded somehow upset about we pushed him so much.... Wait a minute: we are the beggars now?

Outraged by this guy's arrogance, I immediately urged K to call insurance right away (it was already 10:30PM). We would never ever talk to him again even if he offered us $2000 cash!

As everyone expected, things changed dramatically Tuesday morning. S called K five times and left several messages but K never answered him. Obviously, his insurance company was already bugging him. And suddenly, he had so much spare time to call us persistantly (maybe also desperately), but we are sorry, it was too late.

Let's count the final toll for him. The estimation provided by our insurance company’s designated garage is about $560, which almost doubles the money we asked. Considering the deductable, it is very likely that S has to pay it by himself. Besides, S’s insurance premium will go up considerably next year, which is even worse.

You asked for it, Stupid! (Yes, name S stands for "Stupid".)

Ziyi @ Golden Globe Award 2006

Best picture I took in 2005

Guys in beitong are sharing the best pictures they took in 2005.

Here is mine. It was taken in a small park in our neighborhood.