Gauchisant Voice
Friday, April 28, 2006
31 Years of Freedom
If you were to ask a moped taxi driver in Long Xuyen a month ago to take you to 60 Tran Hung Dao Street at the Jackfruit intersection, he would take you to my grandmother’s house. You will still end up in the same spot today but the house no longer belongs to my grandmother. It is in possession of the Vietnamese Communist Party.
Losing land is nothing new to the citizens of Vietnam. As the roads expand and buildings arise, people’s properties are slowly shrinking. Some forfeited only a part of their properties while others gave up everything they have. The government is not so cruel to strip people from their own land without any compensation. However, there are no clear laws or regulation protecting citizen’s property. The government set arbitrary prices for reimbursement. For example, a house on Tran Hung Dao’s street north of the stadium is given VND12.0 million (US$800) per meter square while the reimbursement for another house south of the stadium may double or even triple. My grandmother’s house is 30 meter squares and happens to fall north of the stadium. She received VND 360 million and was forced to look for a house south of the stadium that costs twice the amount of the compensation. In a country where you have to pay a lump sum in gold or cash when you purchase a house, many were forced to stay with their relatives or became homeless.
This practice of luat “rung” (jungle law) is seen throughout Vietnam, not solely Long Xuyen. My grandmother considered herself lucky that they took the whole property. At least she got something for her loss. My aunt is not that fortunate. They only claimed half of her house. But because she is still living in the other half, she gets nothing.
This Sunday, April 30th, marks 31 years after the fall of Saigon. On this day in 1975 the Vietnamese Communist Party invaded South Vietnam and declared its “freedom.” After 31 year of this freedom, the government still deceitfully acquires land from its people, individuals are still under house arrest for speaking their minds, and an average person makes less than a dollar a day. I am still not clear as to what is meant by this “freedom.” ¶ 2:22 PM 1 comments
Losing land is nothing new to the citizens of Vietnam. As the roads expand and buildings arise, people’s properties are slowly shrinking. Some forfeited only a part of their properties while others gave up everything they have. The government is not so cruel to strip people from their own land without any compensation. However, there are no clear laws or regulation protecting citizen’s property. The government set arbitrary prices for reimbursement. For example, a house on Tran Hung Dao’s street north of the stadium is given VND12.0 million (US$800) per meter square while the reimbursement for another house south of the stadium may double or even triple. My grandmother’s house is 30 meter squares and happens to fall north of the stadium. She received VND 360 million and was forced to look for a house south of the stadium that costs twice the amount of the compensation. In a country where you have to pay a lump sum in gold or cash when you purchase a house, many were forced to stay with their relatives or became homeless.
This practice of luat “rung” (jungle law) is seen throughout Vietnam, not solely Long Xuyen. My grandmother considered herself lucky that they took the whole property. At least she got something for her loss. My aunt is not that fortunate. They only claimed half of her house. But because she is still living in the other half, she gets nothing.
This Sunday, April 30th, marks 31 years after the fall of Saigon. On this day in 1975 the Vietnamese Communist Party invaded South Vietnam and declared its “freedom.” After 31 year of this freedom, the government still deceitfully acquires land from its people, individuals are still under house arrest for speaking their minds, and an average person makes less than a dollar a day. I am still not clear as to what is meant by this “freedom.” ¶ 2:22 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Asia Through the Lens of Julian Li
I stumbled upon the Photography of Julian Li while searching for a photo a Vietnamese woman on a moped wearing protective coverings in order to post my next entry about air pollutions in Vietnam. I got much more than what I was looking for. From China to the Singapore, Li's photos amplify the resonance of Henri-Cartier Bresson's voice that runs across the home page, "Photography is nothing-- It's life that interests me." Li perceptions of Hanoi, Vietnam are exquisite from "Ho Hoang Kiem" to "Dead and Alive." But the most intriguing and heartbreaking shots were found in the "Cambodia" digital collection. These photos actually came with a warning in red. Modest as can be, Li stated that he is not a professional photographer. You will discover for yourself that his photos disagree.
¶ 3:10 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
C'mon, let us join your world trade game. Please?
Check the tag on your DKNY jacket. Turn the soles of your Pumas. You will most likely find "Made in Vietnam." With acceptance into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnamese products will flood international markets in the future. The stubborn water buffalo that have shunned the market-based international economy for more than 30 years finally caved in as it negotiates for a seat in the WTO. There is hope for Vietnam after all.
Benefits as a member were outlined in "Vietnam: Readiness for WTO Accession" in 2003:
-gain much greater access to foreign markets with much larger export opportunities.
-attract much larger quality foreign investments.
-access to instrument for dispute settlement
-domestic reform.
Gauchisant Voice awaits the results in the next few weeks.
Best Wishes, Vietnam! To show it's support, Gauchisant Voice announces that it is now only 99% anti-Vietnamese Communist Party. ¶ 3:16 AM 0 comments
Benefits as a member were outlined in "Vietnam: Readiness for WTO Accession" in 2003:
-gain much greater access to foreign markets with much larger export opportunities.
-attract much larger quality foreign investments.
-access to instrument for dispute settlement
-domestic reform.
Gauchisant Voice awaits the results in the next few weeks.
Best Wishes, Vietnam! To show it's support, Gauchisant Voice announces that it is now only 99% anti-Vietnamese Communist Party. ¶ 3:16 AM 0 comments
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Don't pray for me.
Results from Harvard Medical School's Study of Therapeautic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) revealed that third-party prayers increased complications in patients recovering from coronary bypass graft surgery.
Some patients were told they may or may not receive intercessory prayer: complications occurred in 52 percent of those who received prayer (Group 1) versus 51 percent of those who did not receive prayer (Group 2). Complications occurred in 59 percent of patients who were told they would receive prayer (Group 3) versus 52 percent, who also received prayer, but were uncertain of receiving it (Group 1). Major complications and thirty-day mortality were similar across the three groups. Harvard Medical School Press Release
The paper appears in this month American Heart Journal. With the concrete scientific evidence, I am certain these false beliefs will dramatically decrease. ¶ 12:13 AM 0 comments
Some patients were told they may or may not receive intercessory prayer: complications occurred in 52 percent of those who received prayer (Group 1) versus 51 percent of those who did not receive prayer (Group 2). Complications occurred in 59 percent of patients who were told they would receive prayer (Group 3) versus 52 percent, who also received prayer, but were uncertain of receiving it (Group 1). Major complications and thirty-day mortality were similar across the three groups. Harvard Medical School Press Release
The paper appears in this month American Heart Journal. With the concrete scientific evidence, I am certain these false beliefs will dramatically decrease. ¶ 12:13 AM 0 comments
Friday, March 31, 2006
Shanghai Style Dim Sum
Lets start with a carton of shrimp dumplings follow by a carton of pork dumplings and finish with an egg custard. This would be your typical order if you are in a typical Chinese restaurant in Queens or Little Saigon. In China Town of New York City, it's a different story. Whether at Shanghai Cuisine on Bayard and Mulberry or Shanghai Cafe on Mott Street, steamy soup dumplings will warm your inside on any cold day. The restaurants offer two distinct atmospheres but the same delicious buns. Shanghai Cuisine authentic decorations of wood furnitures and bamboo blinds take you to the mainland while Shanghai Cafe is more urbanized with its neon lights, metalic chairs and a see-through kitchen. But ambience is nothing without substance.
I highly recommend the "Steamed Tiny Buns with Crab Meat and Pork" or "Steamed Tiny Buns with Pork." Not a big fan of meat? Try the "Vegetable Steamed Dumplings." Each order comes with 8 dumplings, freshly steamed in a bamboo basket lined by "bok choy." The crab or pork buns are filled with hot soup while the vegetable ones are without. The sauce is simple but exquisite. For the meat dumplings, you are given a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar and shredded ginger. Plain soy sauce is used for the vegetable buns. Attacking these dainty treats is part of the fun. Directions follow:
1) Use the chopsticks provided to pick up a dumpling.
2) Dip the bun into appropriate sauce
3) Place dumpling onto a soup spoon.
4) Be cautious because these little babies are hot.
5) There's no wrong way of eating a soup dumpling. You can drink the soup then eat the bun or drain the soup onto the spoon, eat the buns then drink the soup. Endless possibilities.
For dessert, there are much more on the menu at Shanghai Cafe including "Steamed Tiny Buns with Red Bean Paste" and "Eight Jewel Sticky Rice." But by the time you are finished with the pork and vegetable buns above, you will probably want something cold and refreshing. That's why I recommend the tapioca milk tea with a variety of flavors from tangy kumquat to creamy almond and honeydew.
On top of it all, these two places won't put a dent in your pocket so you can enjoy more of New York City. ¶ 2:06 PM 0 comments
I highly recommend the "Steamed Tiny Buns with Crab Meat and Pork" or "Steamed Tiny Buns with Pork." Not a big fan of meat? Try the "Vegetable Steamed Dumplings." Each order comes with 8 dumplings, freshly steamed in a bamboo basket lined by "bok choy." The crab or pork buns are filled with hot soup while the vegetable ones are without. The sauce is simple but exquisite. For the meat dumplings, you are given a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar and shredded ginger. Plain soy sauce is used for the vegetable buns. Attacking these dainty treats is part of the fun. Directions follow:
1) Use the chopsticks provided to pick up a dumpling.
2) Dip the bun into appropriate sauce
3) Place dumpling onto a soup spoon.
4) Be cautious because these little babies are hot.
5) There's no wrong way of eating a soup dumpling. You can drink the soup then eat the bun or drain the soup onto the spoon, eat the buns then drink the soup. Endless possibilities.
For dessert, there are much more on the menu at Shanghai Cafe including "Steamed Tiny Buns with Red Bean Paste" and "Eight Jewel Sticky Rice." But by the time you are finished with the pork and vegetable buns above, you will probably want something cold and refreshing. That's why I recommend the tapioca milk tea with a variety of flavors from tangy kumquat to creamy almond and honeydew.
On top of it all, these two places won't put a dent in your pocket so you can enjoy more of New York City. ¶ 2:06 PM 0 comments
Thursday, March 30, 2006
First Morning: Emotionless and Awkward
Stepping out of a long coma, Gauchisant Voice's scratchy throat itches to write the review for First Morning by Victor Vu. This is a big growth for Vu since the flop of Oan Hon or Spirits. Moving away from the hollywood influence of M. Night Shyamalan, Vu decided to explore topics closer to home: Vietnamese families and the "boat people" experiences.
The film centered on a typical family in Orange County on the verge of disintegration because of a haunted past. The story is neither trite or hackneyed. As a matter of fact, the plights of boat people need to be told. However, Vu could not communicate the grandeur of the adventure, the integrity of a Vietnamese family, or the tears and blood that spilled on the South China Sea. Victor Vu seems to fear the grime and gritty truth. Stop trying to fold and wrap it so neatly in "independent art film" lace. Tell the story.
Kathleen Luong's good face wasn't able to fully express the complexity of Linh's disturbed character. Catherine Thuy Ai could not shed a tear in one of the most pivotal scenes of the movie.
Aside from the horrendous acting, the screenplay was disjointed and awkward. Obviously, the film was originally writtened by Victor Vu in English and then translated back into Vietnamese. The natural flow of speech was lost in translation. I had to cringe everytime Johnny Nguyen (Linh's Brother) delivered his lines. And it's not just because of his heavy American accent.
With so many distractions, the hopeful message of the film was drowned. It's too soon to say that this is the end for Victor Vu for this is only his second project. I am actually looking forward to his future films. He pulled a "Hitchcock" by appearing as a cameo in First Morning. I thought that was daring.
I hope Ham Tran's Journey From the Fall won't follow this path and that Kieu Chinh still holds her charm since The Joyluck Club. ¶ 7:42 PM 0 comments
The film centered on a typical family in Orange County on the verge of disintegration because of a haunted past. The story is neither trite or hackneyed. As a matter of fact, the plights of boat people need to be told. However, Vu could not communicate the grandeur of the adventure, the integrity of a Vietnamese family, or the tears and blood that spilled on the South China Sea. Victor Vu seems to fear the grime and gritty truth. Stop trying to fold and wrap it so neatly in "independent art film" lace. Tell the story.
Kathleen Luong's good face wasn't able to fully express the complexity of Linh's disturbed character. Catherine Thuy Ai could not shed a tear in one of the most pivotal scenes of the movie.
Aside from the horrendous acting, the screenplay was disjointed and awkward. Obviously, the film was originally writtened by Victor Vu in English and then translated back into Vietnamese. The natural flow of speech was lost in translation. I had to cringe everytime Johnny Nguyen (Linh's Brother) delivered his lines. And it's not just because of his heavy American accent.
With so many distractions, the hopeful message of the film was drowned. It's too soon to say that this is the end for Victor Vu for this is only his second project. I am actually looking forward to his future films. He pulled a "Hitchcock" by appearing as a cameo in First Morning. I thought that was daring.
I hope Ham Tran's Journey From the Fall won't follow this path and that Kieu Chinh still holds her charm since The Joyluck Club. ¶ 7:42 PM 0 comments
Monday, February 27, 2006
Hibernation Mode
Gauchisant Voice will be out of commission until March 20th. Jesus, please look after South Dakota while I am gone. ¶ 10:29 PM 1 comments
Gauchisant Voice will be out of commission until March 20th. Jesus, please look after South Dakota while I am gone. ¶ 10:29 PM 1 comments
