tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103381822009-11-08T06:36:23.446+08:00short pieces on various themesAlton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-51436333934240822122009-11-01T11:00:00.004+08:002009-11-01T11:00:02.554+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/ASE2010/ASE2010.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SmfMbpmodeI/AAAAAAAAAQo/3FxYvdGO2zI/s400/20100115.eclipse.path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361478656804287970" border="0" /></a>An annular solar eclipse will be visible in the eastern hemisphere on <a href="http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/ASE2010/ASE2010.html">2010 January 15</a>. The path of the moon's shadow takes it through central Africa, the Indian Ocean, and a swath of Asia that includes India and China.<br /><p>An annular solar eclipse, though dramatic, differs from a total solar eclipse. The moon is farther from earth during an annular eclipse. Its shadow does not completely obscure the sun and <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&amp;q=annular+solar+eclipse&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;ei=xctnSpPSDI2YsgO7rLCnBw&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=image_result_group&amp;ct=title&amp;resnum=6">a ring of light remains</a>. The sun's corona is not easily viewed as it would be during a total eclipse.<br /><br />A partial solar eclipse will be visible over a much wider area, including Taiwan.<br /><br />For more information visit <a href="http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/ASE2010/ASE2010.html">the Nasa web page for this event</a>.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-5143633393424082212?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-59239260654003824342009-10-31T01:00:00.006+08:002009-10-31T18:38:39.083+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/200809/incubus-attack"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Suklh-WAFMI/AAAAAAAAAWA/gOGa6ONKZ5o/s400/succubus.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397886893981439170" border="0" /></a><br />Shaking chandeliers,<br />rattling windows, slamming doors:<br />ghosts lead a dull life.<br /><br /><br />A werewolf is like<br />a weretiger or werebear,<br />except it's a wolf.<br /><br /><br />Slinky succubus<br />sucking my body of brio:<br />what a way to go.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Alton Thompson</span><br />© 2009</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Image: <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/200809/incubus-attack"><span style="font-style: italic;">Psychology Today</span></a>, 2008.09.08</span><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-5923926065400382434?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-82150846408424744892009-10-28T09:00:00.018+08:002009-10-29T13:32:21.205+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://search.espn.go.com/florida-panthers/nhl/48"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SukerBRi-gI/AAAAAAAAAV4/PRnEV_wrrUk/s400/nhl.panthers.espn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397879352805489154" border="0" /></a><br />The visitors score<br />five goals in seven minutes:<br />the home fans throw beer.<br /><br /><br />Alliteration<br />aside, hockey and haiku<br />make an awkward match.<br /><br /><br />Zamboni on fire<br />melts ice in the arena:<br />now I see the floor.<p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Alton Thompson</span><br />© 2009</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo: Kevin C Cox / Getty Images, 2008 / <a href="http://search.espn.go.com/tomas-vokoun/photo/8">ESPN</a></span><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-8215084640842474489?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-65090368603523734572009-10-21T20:00:00.003+08:002009-10-29T12:52:27.985+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151571708666&amp;ref=share"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SuCTCsI8QHI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qiKnGQRRp5s/s320/lee.ntnu.2009.10.23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395474028007538802" border="0" /></a>The Department of Music at the National Taiwan Normal University celebrates the eightieth birthday of violin professor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lee Shu-Te</span> this Friday with a special concert. The first half features the <span style="font-weight: bold;">NTNU Symphony Orchestra</span> led my music director <span style="font-weight: bold;">Apo Ching-Hsin Hsu</span>. The second half features chamber music performed by NTNU faculty artists.<p></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Lee Shu-Te Eightieth Birthday Concert<br />2009 October 21 Friday 18:00<br />NTNU Hall<br />Admission free to the public.<br /><h3 style="font-weight: normal;" class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;msg&quot;}"><span class="UIStory_Message">讚頌李淑德老師80大壽校園音樂會<br />這項活動計劃於 2009年10月23日 18:00<br />在師大大禮堂. 進行.</span></h3></blockquote><p></p><p>Many professional string players from Taiwan have had Professor Lee as a mentor. Today her students may be found in concert halls throughout the world, bringing music to new generations.</p><p>More information appears on this concert's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151571708666&amp;ref=share">Facebook events page</a>.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-6509036860352373457?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-50734990966557894632009-10-20T21:00:00.017+08:002009-10-29T13:28:29.096+08:00<p>We often wonder why things are as they are. It is rarer, yet often more helpful, to consider what we're missing and ask 'Why not?' Tim Smith, music writer for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore Sun</span>, is doing the latter. In the process he is doing music lovers a service.<br /></p><p>Smith, in his <span style="font-style: italic;">Sun</span> blog <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/">Clef Notes</a>, has embarked on a series of articles about <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=330&amp;search=%22music%20we%27ve%20been%20missing%22">music we've been missing</a>. Each post focuses on a body of work that has been unjustly neglected in the concert hall. Each features a casual introduction to the music and provides links to media and more information.</p><p>The art music scene in the Baltimore-Washington region of the USA provides the locale for Smith's discussion. Since the 1980s this region has emerged as one of the most intrepid in the country for new and rare music. Even so, says Smith, the occasional odd gap occurs. Many compelling works await a hearing. Why not hear them?<br /></p><p>Smith launched the series with a discussion of the music of <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/introducing_a_new_feature_musi.html">Gerald Finzi</a> on 2009 July 14. This week's feature, coinciding with the 135th anniversary today of the birth of <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/10/music_weve_been_missing_part_1_2.html">Charles Ives</a>, represents the twelfth in the survey. Links to his posts are provided here. I plan to update this list as the series continues.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/introducing_a_new_feature_musi.html"></a></p><blockquote><a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/introducing_a_new_feature_musi.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Music we've been missing</span><br /><br /></a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><p>13. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/10/music_weve_been_missing_part_1_3.html">Alexander Borodin</a><br /></p><p>12. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/10/music_weve_been_missing_part_1_2.html">Charles Ives</a></p><p>11. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/09/music_weve_been_missing_part_1_1.html">Franz Schmidt</a><br /><br />10. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/09/music_weve_been_missing_part_1.html">Jean Sibelius</a><br /><br />09. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/09/music_weve_been_missing_part_9.html">Alexander Scriabin</a><br /><br />08. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/09/music_weve_been_missing_part_8.html">Olivier Messiaen</a><br /><br />07. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/08/music_weve_been_missing_part_7.html">Edward Elgar</a></p><p>06. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/08/music_weve_been_missing_part_6.html">Heiner Goebbels</a></p><p>05. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/08/music_weve_been_missing_part_5.html">Second Viennese School</a></p><p>04. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/08/music_weve_been_missing_part_4.html">Howard Hanson</a></p><p>03. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/music_weve_been_missing_part_3.html">The Latin Connection</a></p><p>02. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/music_weve_been_missing_part_2.html">French Fare</a></p><p>01. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2009/07/introducing_a_new_feature_musi.html">Gerald Finzi</a></p></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-5073499096655789463?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-34456986767407895312009-10-20T18:00:00.005+08:002009-10-23T02:00:41.547+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SuCa_oJfAuI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/_s0d2MGIg0E/s1600-h/Ives.1945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 261px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SuCa_oJfAuI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/_s0d2MGIg0E/s320/Ives.1945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395482771489489634" border="0" /></a>Today marks the 135th birthday of composer Charles Ives (1874-1954).<p>Ives did not shy from clangs and bangs but he was a romantic at heart. That's what makes his music so American. As Walt Whitman was for poetry, Ives was for music.</p><p>Biographer Jan Swafford <a href="http://www.charlesives.org/02bio.htm">describes the composer's philosophy</a>:<br /><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">For Ives, music is not mere sound but the underlying spirit, human and divine, which the sounds express even in the inexpert playing and singing of amateurs. Thus the paradox of Ives's music, echoing his paradoxical person: he could be realistic, comic, transcendent, simple, complex, American, and European, all at the same time. If some of his music seems crowded nearly to bursting, it is a vibrant and entirely realistic portrayal of his conception of life, his sense of democracy in action, and of his own all-embracing consciousness. As Ives once said, 'Music is life.'</span> </blockquote><p></p><p><br />The <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/charles-ives"><span style="font-style: italic;">Music Encyclopedia</span></a> puts the matter succinctly: 'The only consistent characteristic of this music is liberation from rule.'</p><p>Everyone has been to a parade and heard a marching band pass, playing a quickstep march in E-flat, while another band a block away is striking up a circus march in F and 'Turkey in the Straw' jingles from an ice cream truck around the corner, all as crowds cheer and children shout and fireworks pop. We've all been there.<br /></p><p>Ives's idea of giving us that scene in music wasn't to sand corners and varnish everything to a gloss. He sought to render it more as life hands it to us in the wild. He invites us to notice how very much is going on all around us, to take it all in as best we may and come to a deeper appreciation.<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><br />He heard America singing. He helped it find its voice.<br /><br /></span></p><p><a href="http://www.charlesives.org/"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></a></p><blockquote><p><a href="http://www.charlesives.org/"><span class="text_exposed_show">Charles Ives Society</span></a></p><p><a href="http://www.charlesives.org/02bio.htm">Jan Swafford: 'Charles Ives: A Life with Music' (Ives Society)</a><br /><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/charles-ives"><br />Charles Ives (Answers.com)</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&amp;State_2872=2&amp;ComposerId_2872=764">Ives biography (Schirmer)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2476&amp;State_3010=1&amp;composerId_3010=764">Ives recordings (Schirmer)<br /><br /></a></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-3445698676740789531?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-68688039839732030242009-10-18T08:00:00.003+08:002009-10-19T05:53:15.699+08:00<p><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.lostlaowai.com/">Lost Lowai</a> reports that, the wishful thinking of Olympic officials notwithstanding, <a href="http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/china-tech/the-great-firewall-longer-higher-meaner/">The Great Firewall of China has been made thicker and longer than ever</a> in the months since the Beijing games. <a href="http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/author/steven/">Steven</a>, a regular <span style="font-style: italic;">Lowai</span> contributor, reports that these social networking sites are among the many sites now blocked in China:</p><p></p><blockquote>Bebo<br />Bit.ly (URL shortening service)<br />Blip.tv<br />Blog.com blogs<br />Blogger blogs<br />Facebook<br />Fileden<br />FriendFeed<br />Google Documents (in and out)<br />Google: image search results (frequent re-set connections)<br />Google: Picasa albums (log-in appears but images blocked)<br />LiveLeak<br />Opera blogs<br />Orkut<br />Post.ly (URL shortening service)<br />Tumblr<br />Twitter and related tools<br />- Dabr.co.uk<br />- iTweet.net<br />- Twitzap<br />- Dabr.co.uk<br />- TwitterGadget (iGoogle)<br />Typepad blogs<br />Vimeo<br />Wordpress free blogs<br />Yahoo Meme<br />YouTube</blockquote><p></p><p>In-and-out censorship of photo sites like Flickr continues, of course, as does the blocking of BBC news stories, rights sites (Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, Human Rights in China, Free Tibet), and sites with the <span style="font-style: italic;">.tw</span> national extension.<br /></p><p>A writer in China recently remarked that the country no longer has the Internet; it has LAN. 'An apt description,' says Steven, 'of how insular and freaky it’s getting.'<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-6868803983973203024?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-16110259560638221502009-10-14T12:00:00.010+08:002009-10-21T13:10:14.041+08:00<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392471685088136562" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 254px; height: 191px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/StXobVMHzXI/AAAAAAAAAU0/qljrZOHOBO0/s320/alain.jpg" border="0" /></a>Open societies say anyone can achieve any goal. This credo implies a corresponding negative: anyone at the bottom of society deserves to be there.<br /><p><a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/">Alain de Botton</a> notes the profound shift that has occurred when cultures that once spoke of 'unfortunates' now speak of 'losers.' In a talk recorded on video, he proposes a <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success.html">kinder, gentler philosophy of success</a> that makes room for the complex universe all of us actually navigate.<br /><br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;"></p><blockquote><p style="font-style: italic;">Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the skilful; but time and chance happen to them all.</p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">(Ecclesiastes 9.11 NRSV)</span></p></blockquote><p><br />De Botton is the author of <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/literature.asp"><em>How Proust Can Change Your Life</em></a>, <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/status.asp"><em>Status Anxiety</em></a>, <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/philosophy.asp"><em>The Consolations of Philosophy</em></a>, <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/travel.asp"><em>The Art of Travel</em></a> and <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/work/"><em>The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work</em></a>. Last year he helped launch <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/pages/about/index.asp?PageID=199">the School of Life</a> in London.<br /></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></span></span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-1611025956063822150?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-45930736359537717102009-10-14T09:00:00.001+08:002009-10-14T14:45:38.430+08:00<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1498834/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Prince of Tears</span></a>, a film set in 1950s Taiwan, draws on the experiences of two natives of Taiwan who have since made their careers in Hong Kong. Joyce Hor-Chung Lau saw the film in Venice last month and offers a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/arts/14iht-YONFAN.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1">detailed review this week<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></a> in the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>.<br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Prince of Tears</span> the film 'by Hong Kong-based director Yonfan (who goes by one name)... is the first major movie in 20 years to explore the “White Terror” that followed Taiwan’s separation from China in 1949. In Taiwan, the ruling Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, staged anti-Communist witch hunts that killed thousands. The gorgeously crafted film, set in the 1950s, refers only obliquely to larger politics. Instead, it focuses on daily life in a remote Taiwanese village where anyone—a schoolteacher, a housewife, a soldier—could commit a political faux pas and be sent to the execution squad.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The project originated with the real-life story of the actress Chiao Chiao, a longtime friend and collaborator of Yonfan, whom she met in Hong Kong when she was a starlet there from the ’60s to the ’80s. The actress, who uses only her surname, grew up in Taiwan, but hid her childhood memories of the White Terror for years until she found a confidant in Yonfan, who also grew up in Taiwan in the 1950s. Several years ago, they decided to make a film based on her memories.</span><br /><br /></p></blockquote>The story is drawn from tragic real-life events which, characteristically of this period in Taiwan, were kept secret for many years.<br /><br /><p></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><p> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">“I never spoke of my past until I found someone I trusted,” Chiao Chiao said of Yonfan. “I was so young when it happened and children back then were not allowed to ask questions.” </span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The film opens with a scene of a perfect-looking family in Taiwan: a handsome air force pilot, his pretty, doting wife and their two girls. </p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">But, after Kafkaesque political complications, the parents are dragged off and the father is killed in a field. As the executioners fire their shots, his daughters hide in the tall grass in a desperate attempt to get one last glimpse of him. </p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">. . . .<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The younger sister — the character representing Chiao Chiao — is sent to live with an eerie and physically scarred government agent nicknamed Uncle Ding, whom she suspects is the informer who turned in her father. In a strange turn of events, her mother is released from a prison camp and—under pressure to resume a normal family life and support her girls—gives into advances by Uncle Ding, whom she marries. </p></blockquote><p></p><br />The full review may be read at the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/arts/14iht-YONFAN.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> site</a>.<br /><br />This year has seen the release of two films about the White Terror period, Yonfan's drama <span style="font-style: italic;">Prince of Tears</span> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1121786/">Adam Kane's thriller <span style="font-style: italic;">Formosa Betrayed</span></a>. Both coincide with the 20th anniversary of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096908/">Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s <span style="font-style: italic;">City of Sadness</span></a>, the highly acclaimed film that first picked up the subject of Taiwan’s White Terror only two years after martial law was lifted.<br /><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-4593073635953771710?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-22238085342899588582009-10-08T05:00:00.002+08:002009-10-08T05:41:51.727+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Ss0Ki8VZ4oI/AAAAAAAAAUo/-ZjO_6YtUXU/s1600-h/chia-hsuan.%E6%B1%BA%E5%AE%9A%E6%B5%B7%E5%A0%B1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Ss0Ki8VZ4oI/AAAAAAAAAUo/-ZjO_6YtUXU/s400/chia-hsuan.%E6%B1%BA%E5%AE%9A%E6%B5%B7%E5%A0%B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389975924460085890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taipei Chamber Players</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chia-Hsuan Lin</span>, conductor<p>2009 October 11 Sunday 19:30</p><p><span>NTNU Concert Hall</span><br />National Taiwan Normal University<br />162, Section 1 Heping East Road<br />Taipei, Taiwan<br /><br /><br />Conductor Chia-Hsuan Lin and the Taipei Chamber Players, an ensemble of elite musicians from the National Taiwan University, will present a program this weekend of two iconic works:<br /><br /></p><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mozart:</span> Symphony 40 in G minor, K 550<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beethoven:</span> Symphony 5 in C minor, opus 67 </blockquote><br />Admission is free to the public.<br /><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-2223808534289958858?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-79662883562042670112009-09-15T09:00:00.007+08:002009-10-21T13:19:14.750+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Sl6FJG60gzI/AAAAAAAAAPI/8UkNy6Wws6E/s1600-h/Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Sl6FJG60gzI/AAAAAAAAAPI/8UkNy6Wws6E/s320/Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358866998140109618" border="0" /></a>September 19th is comin' upon us like a nor'easter, mates. Ye'd best be gettin' yer selves ready for International Talk Like A Pirate Day.<br /><blockquote><p><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day">Wikipedia</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.talklikeapirate.com/">Official Holiday Site</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hobotrashcan.com/2007/09/13/getting-to-know-international-talk-like-a-pirate-day/">Interview with Founders and Crew</a></p></blockquote><p><br />Google and Facebook can deck ye out with a proper <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/weblife/?p=190">language settin'</a>. And if ye know some scurvy rats who'll be makin' it a religious holiday, pay a call on the <a href="http://www.venganza.org/">Church o' the Flyin' Spaghetti Monster</a>.<br /></p><p>This here's a 'oliday dear to me 'eart as a Florida native. We've played host to many scoundrels and louts over the years. And we've got the <a href="http://gasparillapiratefest.com/">Gasparilla</a> every year in Tampa, doncha know. The next one'll be a-comin' round on January 23.<br /></p><p>A swig for ye then. Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!</p><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-7966288356204267011?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-16489810535817333582009-09-05T00:43:00.003+08:002009-09-05T00:49:04.711+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://altonsimages.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SqFEE-JwUxI/AAAAAAAAATY/Vu0frgClWtQ/s400/20090904.nude.vg.018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377654282251162386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Taipei, Taiwan 台灣 台北 </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">2009.09.02</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">©Alton Thompson 唐博敦</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a target="_blank" href="http://altonsimages.com/" rel="nofollow">Alton's Images</a></span><br /></div><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-1648981053581733358?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-84195554173298999112009-09-04T08:00:00.003+08:002009-09-10T13:24:13.638+08:00<span style="font-size:100%;">As schools open and concert series begin, here's a look back at a season that, for all the turbulence it contained, was not completely lacking in charm.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://altonsimages.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SqiDXMZOKDI/AAAAAAAAATw/YtMdyya8Moo/s400/20090815.orange.juice.002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379694189381298226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://altonsimages.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SqiDWhJT6YI/AAAAAAAAATo/T1XuEMSCRuE/s400/20090816.glider.or.181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379694177771841922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://altonsimages.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SqiDWAX6PtI/AAAAAAAAATg/imXWgQ2qfgU/s400/20090816.mel.beach.343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379694168974704338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">©Alton Thompson 唐博敦</span></blockquote></div><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-8419555417329899911?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-55693216959406448552009-09-03T08:00:00.003+08:002009-09-10T13:14:53.417+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dalailama.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SqiIBYOK8QI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/zpHoSw_CnI8/s400/dalai-lama.reuters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379699312157192450" border="0" /></a>By all accounts the <a href="http://www.dalailama.com/">Dalai Lama</a>'s visit to Taiwan has been a healing experience for those who were hardest hit by the <a href="http://www.conductorsnotebook.com/2009/08/typhoon-morakot.html">recent typhoon</a>. The Tibetan leader led prayer services and encouraged those in grief to seek peace. He encouraged care of the planet by all the world's peoples and the continuing nurture of democracy in Taiwan.<br /><br />Highlights of the Tibetan leader's visit are described in these stories.<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125172425717072275.html?mod=rss_asia_whats_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span>: Dalai Lama holds services for victims, 2009.08.31</a><br /><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1045598&amp;lang=eng_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan News</span>: Dalai Lama urges Taiwan to preserve its democracy, 2009.09.01</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1rh9LqALS8&amp;feature=related">Video: The Dalai Lama's speech in Taiwan<br />(in English, Chinese translation), 2009.09.01</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/02/2003452594"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Dalai Lama moves thousands at ceremony, 2009.09.02<br /></a><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1047492&amp;lang=eng_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan Headlines</span>: Dalai Lama contributes <span style="font-size:85%;">US</span>$50,000 in aid, 2009.09.02</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-5569321695940644855?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-69789579129116397032009-09-02T09:00:00.003+08:002009-09-02T12:09:24.861+08:00<p></p><p>The film <a href="http://formosathemovie.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Formosa Betrayed</span></a> has its international premier in Montréal this week, with additional screenings pending at major film festivals. The film is based on an American official's memoir about events in Taiwan at the onset of the White Terror period in 1947.<br /><br /></p><blockquote><p><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><em></em></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><em></em></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Montréal</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">World Film Festival</span><br /><span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search"><em></em></span></span>Montréal, QC, Canada</p><p>Quartier Latin Cinema Complex, Venue 13<br />September 3 Thursday 19:20<br />September 4 Friday 12:20<br />September 5 Saturday 14:40<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ffm-montreal.org/">www.ffm-montreal.org</a><br /><br />Ticket purchase: <a href="http://www.admission.com/html/home.htmI?l=EN" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.admission.com/html/home.htmI?l=EN</a><br />Enter "L13.03.5 .*FFM" in the search box for Thursday<br />Enter "L13.04.2 .*FFM" in the search box for Friday<br />Enter "L13.05.3 .*FFM" in the search box for Saturday</p></blockquote><p></p><p><br />On September 14 <a href="http://formosathemovie.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Formosa Betrayed</span></a> will screen on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Capitol Hill</span>. The American Congress is back in session; Americans who want to encourage their representatives to view the film may write, fax, e-mail or call senators and legislators. <a href="http://formosathemovie.com/getinvolved.html">This site</a> provides contact information and a sample letter.<br /></p><p><br />Tickets are already on sale for the screening at the <a href="http://www.sdff.org/">San Diego Film Festival</a> on September 26. Actor James Van Der Beek is in the running for the festival's Best Actor award.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">San Diego Film Festival</span><br />San Diego, Californisa USA</p><p>Gaslamp Theater<br />September 26 Saturday 20:00<br /><a href="http://www.sdff.org/">www.sdff.org</a><br />For tickets visit <a href="http://www.sdff.org/boxoffice.html" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sdff.org/boxoffice.html</a></p></blockquote><p><br />Screenings of <a href="http://formosathemovie.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Formosa Betrayed</span></a> are also scheduled for these festivals:<br /></p><blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival</span><br />Washington DC USA<br />October 3 Saturday 20:00<br /><a href="http://www.apafilm.org/">www.apafilm.org</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival</span><br />Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA<br />October 10 Saturday, time TBA<br /><a href="http://www.phillyasianfilmfest.org/">www.phillyasianfilmfest.org</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sao Paulo International Film Festival</span><br />São Paulo, Brazil<br />October 23-November 5<br />Day and time TBA<br /><a href="http://www.mostra.org/32" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.mostra.org/32</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Louis International Film Festival</span><br />Saint Louis, Missouri USA<br />November 12-22<br />Day and time TBA<br /><a href="http://www.cinemastlouis.org/">www.cinemastlouis.org</a></blockquote><br />The film's official web site contains more information, including trailers, photo gallery and cast bios.<br /><a href="http://formosathemovie.com/"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Formosa Betrayed</span><br />formosathemovie.com</a><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-6978957912911639703?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-29848109106205510422009-09-01T20:00:00.002+08:002009-09-03T02:03:04.113+08:00<p>A <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203550604574358892939590708.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook">letter to the editor</a> appears in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span> today that offers an unusually cogent description of America's position on Taiwan. The letter by <span style="font-weight: bold;">John J Tkacik</span> illustrates the price that America and Taiwan both pay for America's general reluctance to state its view plainly.</p><p>America's official position is that Taiwan's status remains <span style="font-style: italic;">undecided</span>. The agreement America reached with China in 1972 was not that Taiwan was part of China, but acknowledgement only that the Chinese government thought so. In effect, it was agreement to disagree.</p><p><strong style="font-weight: normal;">Mr Tkacik </strong>writes:<br /><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"></p><blockquote><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">As a US foreign service officer I worked on China and Taiwan affairs for 20 years, and I can attest that the US has never subscribed to China's territorial claims on Taiwan. Nor did President Richard Nixon ever publicly articulate such a policy. <a name="U10131839305DBD"></a></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">.... Nixon's public policy was 'dual representation' in support of UN seats for both Taipei and Beijing. To this day, official US policy eschews recognition of China's claims to Taiwan. As recently as June 2007, the State Department's response (drafted by the Office of the Legal Advisor) to citizens concerned about Taiwan was that the U.S. has 'not formally recognized Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan and [has] not made any determination as to Taiwan's political status.' </p> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);" name="U10131839305PYH"></a><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">In 2007, the US became alarmed that the UN Secretariat had issued documents asserting that the UN considered 'Taiwan for all purposes to be an integral part of the PRC.' US diplomats informed the secretariat that 'while that assertion was consistent with the Chinese position, it is not universally held by UN member states, including the United States.'</p> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);" name="U10131839305BJC"></a><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The US Mission then 'urged the UN Secretariat to review its policy on the status of Taiwan and to avoid taking sides in a sensitive matter on which UN members have agreed to disagree for over 35 years.' They warned that 'if the UN Secretariat insists on describing Taiwan as a part of the PRC, or on using nomenclature for Taiwan that implies such status, the United States will be obliged to disassociate itself on a national basis from such position.' The UN Secretariat has indeed ceased to assert that Taiwan is an integral part of China. </span><br /><br /></p> <a name="U101318393050CE"></a><p></p></blockquote><p>The full text of Mr Tkacik's letter appears at the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203550604574358892939590708.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span> site</a>.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-2984810910620551042?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-79325955578296576642009-08-27T13:00:00.002+08:002009-09-10T12:50:21.203+08:00<p></p><p>The Associated Press reports that the Dalai Lama has accepted in principle an invitation to come to Taiwan to comfort typhoon survivors.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">On Wednesday, leaders of seven municipalities recently hit by Morakot issued a joint statement inviting the Dalai Lama to visit storm victims from August 31 to September 4.</span> (source: <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/world/2009/08/26/D9AAUDGO0_as_taiwan_dalai_lama/index.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Salon</span></a>)</blockquote><p></p><p>Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou quickly signalled his willingness to allow the visit. The move represents a climbdown by Ma and his party, who in deference to China's rulers had opposed such visits until now.<br /></p><p>This will be the third visit of the Dalai Lama to Taiwan in the past twelve years.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-7932595557829657664?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-16452001636771457232009-08-11T19:00:00.051+08:002009-09-05T19:45:47.108+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/gallery.php?category=41&amp;highlight_id=3025193#slideshow_top"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Solbej1P0yI/AAAAAAAAATI/X4Lf5y5-WPs/s200/buried.roof.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370924611188806434" border="0" /></a><span>Many people are asking how they may provide volunteer help and donations for the devastated areas of southern Taiwan. This post is for you. The information here is updated regularly as more details reach me.<br /><br />Resources appear under two headings: <span style="font-style: italic;">Immediate Assistance</span> (contribution of goods and volunteer time) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Financial Assistance</span>.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immediate Assistance<br /></span></span><br /><strong></strong><strong></strong><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/gallery.php?highlight_id=3013042&amp;category=40,41,981,1177"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 300px; float: right; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368686567352609554" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SoFn_Q12qxI/AAAAAAAAASI/RABvuLNNCCw/s400/khh.morakot.vol.cna.jpg" border="0" /></a>The <strong>Kaohsiung City Government</strong> has created a regional emergency response hub to accept and distribute aid to typhoon victims across southern Taiwan. Relief workers are calling for the following items:<blockquote><p>cooking oil (食用油)<br />bottles water (水)<br />rice (米)<br />instant noodles (泡麵 / 方便麵)<br />milk powder (奶粉)<br />waterproof canvas (防水帆布)<br />mosquito nets (蚊帳)<br />clothes (新或二手衣物)<br />blankets (毯子)<br />buckets (水桶)<br />cookware (廚具)<br />flash lights (手電筒)<br />radios (收音機)<br />cleaning supplies (清潔用品)<br />- brooms to detergents (掃帚到洗滌劑都可以)<br />batteries (電池)<br />gloves (手套)<br />garbage bags (垃圾袋)<br />sanitation masks (健全衛生口罩)<br /><br /></p></blockquote><p>Deliver or ship items to:</p><blockquote>Kaohsiung City Hall<br />Attention: Typhoon Relief<br />No. 2 Sihwei 3rd Road<br />Lingya District<br />Kaohsiung City 80203, <span style="font-size:85%;">TAIWAN<br /></span>80203 高雄市苓雅區四維三路2號<br />(捐贈屏東縣政府以及南部其他縣市救助水患災區使用) </blockquote><p>Telephone:</p><blockquote><em>International -</em> 886.7337.3375<br /><em>Taiwan </em>- 07337.3357</blockquote><p>The Kaohsiung relief centre takes donations each day until at least 21:00 (9:00 pm).<br /></p><p>Additional collection points have been set up in the locations listed below. All locations plan to accept donations through the remainder of August or longer.</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>TAIPEI<br /><br /></p><p><em>Deliver or ship:</em><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116078623165">World Vision c/o The Brass Monkey</a><br />166 Fuxing North Road<br />銅猴子 台北市復興北路166號<br />Telephone: 02.2547.5050<br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:max@brassmonkeytaipei.com">max@brassmonkeytaipei.com</a></p><p><em>Deliver or ship:<br /></em>Shih Lin Catholic Church<br />No. 264 Zhongzheng Road<br />Shilin District<br />Telephone: 02.2832.4270</p><p><em>Deliver or ship:<br /></em>No. 74-1 Jinsi Street<br />Datong District<br />(Near MRT Shuanglian Station)<br />Telephone: 02.2557.0658</p><p><br /></p><p>CHIAYI</p><p>Púzĭ (Putzi) City Administration<br />No. 34, Guangfu Road<br />Putzi City, Jiayi County<br />嘉義縣朴子市光復路34號 朴子市公所<br />Telephone: 05.379.5102 /34</p><p><br /></p><p>TAINAN</p><p><em>Deliver to:</em><br />Zhongzheng Hall<br />No. 36 Minzhi (Minjhih) Road<br />Xinying (Sinying) City, Tainan County<br />(中正堂，新營市民治路36號)<br /><br /><em>Ship to:</em><br />Social Affairs Department<br />No. 36, Fuxi (Fusi) Road<br />Xinying (Sinying) City<br />(新營市府西路36號) 社會處收<br />Telephone: 09.8053.7516 <em>/</em> 06.511.5692</p><p><em>Deliver or ship to:<br /></em>World Vision Tainan<br />8F, No. 243,<br />Section 1 Minquan (Mincyuan) Road<br />Tainan<br />(台南市民權路一段243號8樓 黃雅詩)<br />Telephone: 06.2215.8004<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>PINGTUNG CITY</p><p><em>Deliver daily until 17:30 to:</em><br />Dapeng Bay Tourist Information Center<br />(大鵬灣旅客服務中心)<br />No. 69, Dalian Road<br />Pingtung City near Millennium Park<br />(Qiānxī Gōngyuán 千禧公園旁) 屏東市大連路69號)<br />Telephone: 08.736.5600 / 08.736.5012</p><p><em>Deliver or ship to:<br /></em>World Vision Pingtung City<br />Attention: Mr Huang<br />No. 124, Xingfeng (Hsingfeng) Road<br />Pingtung City<br />(屏東市興豐路124號 黃伯翰)<br />Telephone: 08.737.0483</p><p><br /></p><p>PINGTUNG COUNTY: CHAOJHOU</p><p><em>Deliver or ship to:<br /></em>No. 60, Jieshou Road<br />Chaojhou Township, Pingtung County<br />屏東縣潮州鎮介壽路60號王南英督導<br />Telephone: 08.7806.7165</p><p><br /></p></blockquote>The<strong> </strong><a href="http://typhoon.adct.org.tw/donation/"><strong>Morakot Internet Disaster Centre</strong> </a>(莫 拉克災情網路中心) is hosted by the Association of Digital Culture Taiwan (台灣數位文化協會). The site, in Chinese, has information for those wishing to donate goods or cash. The Association publishes news updates at Plurk through the user name <a href="mailto:t@taiwanfloods" modo="true"><em>@taiwanfloods</em></a>.<br /><br />A detailed <a href="http://typhoon.oooo.tw/index.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakdown of Needs</span></a>, in Chinese, is maintained by concerned Taiwanese citizens. The table provides precise contact information and the specific nature of aid being requested in each area.<br /><br />The <strong> </strong><a href="http://dpp0808.blogspot.com/"><strong>Democratic Progressive Party</strong> </a> hosts a that provides <a href="http://dpp0808.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post_09.html">contact information for support centres</a> in Chinese and donation information in both Chinese and English.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.worldvision.org.tw/en/news-090814.htm">World Vision Taiwan</a>, a Christian charity organisation, seeks 'relief resources, rescue cars and volunteers.' Details are available at the web site.</div><br />The <a href="http://www.dharmadrum.org/index.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dharma Drum Mountain</span></a> Zen Buddhist monastery seeks volunteers to help clean flooded homes.<br />Telephone: 02.2895.8300<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://taiwancenter.org/"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-1b673a910310ea32" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvp.video.google.com%2Fvideodownload%3Fversion%3D0%26secureurl%3DqAAAAJRKzAPfu3a7ks9WIkYJqTFTad8UTK8ERGY5BeGvrIDQhcvKuoT9maD9-VMvfvi6LC4YJCyNhIX11IzCVEpHCn5u5RtmXvk-VaezA-XxDjuprtKs4veAlmzmaHq4cCuhfuE40JHKWVnpmBcTO9_i5RoGKiNdUCfCd67q6aKxgXmkjRVUpxaA15nR_4QxVAQ0YXSaU-4tgNLVmBRBp8tpwOuMcB1K57yerVvytBqwObry%26sigh%3DSK4UNrQ6HqRuvorYLFHfsjI5cWo%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26docid%3D0&amp;nogvlm=1&amp;thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D1b673a910310ea32%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DLizrcODR7s13GQSrFB4IUnTM9ZI&amp;messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3Den"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvp.video.google.com%2Fvideodownload%3Fversion%3D0%26secureurl%3DqAAAAJRKzAPfu3a7ks9WIkYJqTFTad8UTK8ERGY5BeGvrIDQhcvKuoT9maD9-VMvfvi6LC4YJCyNhIX11IzCVEpHCn5u5RtmXvk-VaezA-XxDjuprtKs4veAlmzmaHq4cCuhfuE40JHKWVnpmBcTO9_i5RoGKiNdUCfCd67q6aKxgXmkjRVUpxaA15nR_4QxVAQ0YXSaU-4tgNLVmBRBp8tpwOuMcB1K57yerVvytBqwObry%26sigh%3DSK4UNrQ6HqRuvorYLFHfsjI5cWo%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26docid%3D0&amp;nogvlm=1&amp;thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D1b673a910310ea32%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DLizrcODR7s13GQSrFB4IUnTM9ZI&amp;messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3Den" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dharma Drum Mountain's call for volunteers.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Financial Assistance</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/gallery.php?category=41&amp;highlight_id=3025193#slideshow_top"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SolZNMd553I/AAAAAAAAASw/dO378jfVTkw/s400/morakot.relief.02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370922113835853682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.us.tzuchi.org/">Tzu Chi Foundation</a></span> , Taiwan's largest charity, is collecting donations for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Relief for Victims of Typhoon Morakot</span>. The organisation is <a href="http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=164973&amp;ctNode=5">building up to 1,000 'green' homes</a> for families who have lost their homes. Donations may be made at the site through Google or PayPal.<br /><br />The<strong> </strong><a href="http://dpp0808.blogspot.com/"><strong>Democratic Progressive Party</strong> </a>has set up a special fund set up for disaster victims. The <a href="http://www.helptaiwan.blogspot.com/">English-language blog</a> features a widget for the <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.helptaiwan.blogspot.com">DPP Typhoon Morakot Disaster Relief Fund</a></span> at the upper right.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unitedway.org.tw/en/howtogive.asp"><span style="font-weight: bold;">United Way Taiwan</span></a> allows online contributions allocated specifically to typhoon victims.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.worldvision.org.tw/en/news-090814.htm">World Vision Taiwan</a> has a special <a href="http://ei-payment.worldvision.org.tw/offering.php">donation page</a> for Typhoon Morakot help. Phone and e-mail contacts are provided.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.pct.org.tw/english/enGnS.htm">The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan</a></span> requests checks payable to <span style="font-style: italic;">The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan</span>. Specify 'Attention: typhoon relief.' Contributions may also be made by direct deposit and wire transfer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://taa-usa.org/">Taiwanese American Association-USA Donation Drive</a></span> requests donations to <span style="font-style: italic;">TAA-USA</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Attention: Typhoon Morakot Donation Drive</span>. Send contributions to:<br /><blockquote>Mrs Ling Ling Huang, Treasurer<br />TAA-USA<br />199 Bluejay Drive<br />Columbus, Ohio 43235<br />Telephone: 1.614.888.6501 </blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://taiwancenter.org/">Taiwan Center in LA</a></span> requests donations through an online <a href="http://taiwancenter.org/fileDownload2.php?uid=200908111730508&amp;fid=14">donation form</a>. Financial contributions to the Taiwan Center are tax-deductible. (Tax ID: 95-4679702)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Thanks to Ho-Chie Tsai, </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Cecilia Ciou, Vivian Tsai, </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><a href="http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2009/08/typhoon-morakot-flooding-update/#more-5014"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>David Reid</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>, </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Dragonbones, and Melody Hsiao. Also to </em><span style="font-style: italic;">their colleagues at </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.taiwanho.com/talk/viewtopic.php?f=8&amp;t=5380"><em>Taiwan Ho!</em></a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116078623165">Facebook</a></span>, <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">and the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://taiwaneseamerican.org/">Taiwanese-American Association</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">___________________<br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><a href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;">Conductor's Notebook</span></a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-1645200163677145723?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-47079354990245984412009-08-11T06:00:00.055+08:002009-09-08T03:17:14.999+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/TC.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SoJDU_D-MhI/AAAAAAAAASg/nS2j63tynUU/s400/morakot.space.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368927733583589906" border="0" /></a>Morakot, a vast, slow-moving tropical storm packing heavy rains, blew through Taiwan on August 8 Saturday. The record-breaking volume of water it dropped on the island, <span class="blogText bigText">2.5 meters (100 inches), was the highest in five decades. Southern areas of the island encountered more rainfall in one day than they normally absorb in one year. </span>The result has been colossal flooding in central and southern areas from Taiwan. The storm has left a trail of devastation in both coastal and mountain areas. This morning rivers continue to erode their banks, bridges and roads remain out, and homes lie buried in mudslides or vanished in floods. Rescue workers struggle to locate the missing as the vast toll taken by the storm on human life and property is assessed.<br /><br />At the end of the weekend the <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/10/2003450812"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span> had this report</a> (italics mine):<br /><br /><div><div><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The highest accumulated rainfall from Morakot as of [Sunday] was in Alishan, which had received 2,654mm of rain. The weather bureau estimated that mountainous areas in Chiayi County would receive an accumulated 2,900mm of rain, while mountains in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties would see 2,700mm of rain and Nantou and Tainan counties 2,200mm. <span style="font-style: italic;">Rainfall on Friday and Saturday alone in Kaohsiung City and County and Pingtung County was around the annual average in those areas.</span> Average annual rainfall in Hengchun (恆春), Pingtung County, for example, is 2,017mm.<br /><br />....<br /><br />In Tainan City and County, running water was disconnected to 280,000 homes because the county’s Nanhua Reservoir (南化) had been contaminated as a result of the rains.<br /><br />Also in Tainan County, the banks of the Tsengwen River (曾文溪) collapsed in several areas, flooding townships including Shanhua (善化), Jente (仁德), Yongkang (永康), Tanei (大內), Guantien (官田), Houbi (後壁) and Beimen (北門). Flooding in some of the townships was three stories deep.<br /><br />Morakot’s rains have also wreaked havoc on public transportation and infrastructure, with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications reporting 123 damaged sections of road as of 6pm yesterday. Twenty bridges, including the Dajin (大津) and Liukuei (六龜) bridges on Provincial Highway 27, Shuangyuan Bridge (雙園大橋) on Highway 17, Sinciwei (新旗尾) and Mingtzu bridges (民族) on Highway 21, No. 1 Bridge on Highway 24 and Ciwei Bridge (旗尾橋) on Highway 28, were either damaged or washed away.... Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) express trains along the west coast could not go south of Chiayi yesterday because of the floods in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties. The TRA also suspended services on the South Link (南迴鐵路) because of flooding in Taitung’s Taimali Township and Pingtung’s Linbian Township (林邊). TRA trains on the east coast had to stop at Chishang (池上) in Taitung County after the Luyeh River (鹿野溪) broke its banks, preventing them from continuing on to Taitung City.<br /><br />....<br /><br />Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) said at a city government meeting that 81 officials, 24 lifeboats and three ambulances were headed to Tungkang (東港), Kanding (崁頂) and Chiatung (佳冬) townships in Pingtung County, and Cishan Township (旗山) in Kaohsiung County as of 10am yesterday, adding that five lifeboats would also be dispatched to Tainan. The city’s Social Affairs Bureau had also arranged for food, drinking water and thousands of towels and sleeping bags to be sent to flood victims, Chen said.<br />....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The Kaohsiung City Government [has] created an emergency response center to accept donations of necessities such as water, food, medicine and flashlights for flood victims across the south. Those who wish to donate items can contact the center at (886) 7 337 3375 or deliver items to Kaohsiung City Hall at No. 2 Sihwei 3rd Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City.</span> </span></blockquote><br /><a href="http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/wp-content/uploads/2009-08-09-taiwan-rain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; float: right; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368696720413761442" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SoFxOP8RH6I/AAAAAAAAASY/jch0NF7J-Rg/s400/2009.08.09.taiwan-rain.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Taiwan press reports that a mudslide has buried a village in Kaohsiung County, possibly <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/11/2003450893">trapping hundreds of residents. </a>(The name of the community is Romanised variously as Shao Lin, Xiaolin and Hsiaolin.) Road conditions and severe weather make it difficult for rescue workers to reach the area. Tuesday's <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/11/2003450893"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span></a>:<br /><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><p>Hundreds of residents of Xiaolin Village (小林), Kaohsiung County, were still missing yesterday after landslides caused by Typhoon Morakot devastated the area. Rescuers said yesterday morning that at least 180 residents out of around 600 had survived the mudslides. Another 76 had been moved to safety as of yesterday afternoon. </p>One of the survivors, Lin Chien-chung (林建忠), told cable news channels that the village had been wiped out, including Xiaolin Elementary School, Chunghwa Telecom communications equipment and the health center. Lin said he feared most of the 600 residents had been buried alive.<br />....<br /><br />The emergency center said that Liukuei Township’s (六龜) Tsaonan (草南) and Chunghsing (中興) villages were also feared destroyed by mudslides or floods. Reports had yet to be verified, the center said.</blockquote><br />The <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1029419&amp;lang=eng_news&amp;cate_img=logo_taiwan&amp;cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng">Taiwan News</a> described the situation as viewed by satellite cameras (images appeared a day later in the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/13/2003451023">Taipei Times</a>):<br /><span class="fullstory" id="fullstory"><p> </p><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><p>One of the most stunning images obtained by the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research (CSRSR) under <a href="http://www.ncu.edu.tw/e_web/">National Central University</a> was the explosive expansion of the Taimali River in Taitung. The images showed that the upper stream of the river, which originally was barely more than 10 meters wide, spread to more than 800 meters as large amounts of mud were washed down the mountain by heavy rainfall.</p><p> Chang Chung-pai, an associate professor at the center, said the mudslides observed in this typhoon have been the largest on record both in terms of length and scale.</p></blockquote><p></p></span><br />The eye of Typhoon Morakot left Taiwan on Saturday evening and made landfall in China on Sunday. On the same day residents of Japan faced deadly flash floods from Typhoon Etau, a storm brewed in the northwest Pacific.<br /><br />Links to detailed news reports appear below. I will keep this list updated as events progress.<br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8192633.stm"></a><blockquote><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8192633.stm">BBC: Deadly Storms sweep eastern Asia, 2009.08.10</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/10/2003450812"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Downpour continues to pummel south, 2009.08.10</a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8192633.stm"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Taipei Times</span>: Twenty-three dead in wake of Morakot, 2009.08.11</a><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/11/2003450893"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Taipei Times</span>: Hundreds missing after Xiaolin mudslides, 2009.08.11</a><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1027888&amp;lang=eng_news"><em><br />Taiwan News</em>: Rescue efforts intensify across southern Taiwan, 2009.08.11</a><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1028465&amp;lang=eng_news&amp;cate_img=49.jpg&amp;cate_rss=news_Society_TAIWAN"><em><br />Taiwan News</em>: Typhoon relief helicopter crashes in Taiwan's mountains, 2009.08.11</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/12/2003450973"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Aid workers race against time; 700 found in Xiaolin, 2009.08.12</a><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8196314.stm">BBC: Washed away by the typhoon, 2009.08.12</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/12/2003450957"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Survivors tell of narrow escapes and landslides, 2009.08.12<br /></a><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/13/2003451023"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Satellite images show power of natural forces, 2009.08.13</a><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125008822051326081.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span>: Outcry grows in Taiwan as death toll rises, 2009.08.13</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13taiwan.html?_r=1"></a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13taiwan.html?_r=1"><br /></a><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/13/2003451028"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Ire over government rejection of foreign help, 2009.08.13<br /></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8199213.stm">BBC: In Pictures, Taiwan's misery, 2009.08.14</a><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8200821.stm">BBC: 'Devil' typhoon leaves Taiwan reeling, 2009.08.14</a><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8202316.stm">BBC: Hopes fade for Taiwan survivors, 2009.08.14</a><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125024051949031733.html?mod=rss_asia_whats_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span>: With a roar, a mountain buries a village, 2009.08.15</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/16/2003451250"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Foreign aid pours in after government eases restrictions, 2009.08.16</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/08/16/2003451266"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Friends, families hold rituals for Morakot victims, 2009.08.16</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/16/2003451251"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Experts call on government to ban risky towns, 2009.08.16</a><br /><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1033661&amp;lang=eng_news&amp;cate_img=logo_taiwan&amp;cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan News</span>: U.S. sends heavy-duty choppers to Taiwan for relief work, 2009.08.17</a><br /><a href="http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=164973&amp;ctNode=5"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan Headlines</span>: Tzu Chi Foundation to build 'green' houses for typhoon victims, 2009.08.20-21</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/world/asia/24taiwan.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>: Taiwan's president faces anger over storm response, 2009.08.23</a><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125172425717072275.html?mod=rss_asia_whats_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal</span>: Dalai Lama holds services for victims, 2009.08.31</a><br /><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1045598&amp;lang=eng_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan News</span>: Dalai Lama urges Taiwan to preserve its democracy, 2009.09.01</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1rh9LqALS8&amp;feature=related">Video: The Dalai Lama's speech in Taiwan (in English, Chinese translation), 2009.09.01</a><br /><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/02/2003452594"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taipei Times</span>: Dalai Lama moves thousands at ceremony, 2009.09.02<br /></a><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1047492&amp;lang=eng_news"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan Headlines</span>: Dalai Lama contributes <span style="font-size:85%;">US</span>$50,000 in aid, 2009.09.02</a><br /><a href="http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=166232&amp;ctNode=5"><span style="font-style: italic;">Taiwan Headlines</span>: National mourning ceremony for typhoon victims set for Monday, 2009.09.04</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/world/asia/08taiwan.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>: Prime minister of Taiwan quits over typhoon response, 2009.09.08</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13taiwan.html?_r=1"><br /></a></blockquote>A compelling <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/typhoon_morakot.html">photo story by Alan Taylor</a> has been assembled for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Boston Globe</span> from a variety of sources. The images give a sense of the conditions now being faced by residents of Taiwan and the coastal areas of south China.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSBSUtSm3CA">This excerpt from Taiwanese television</a> shows a hot spring resort area in Taitung County located at a bend in the Jhihben River. The swollen river eroded its banks, washing away buildings and felling the the six-story <span class="textmiddle">Jinshuai Hotel. </span><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed><a class="kmuiwpqpywroqxhhaegz" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="awejidqmudwlbtmdrtjo" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="awejidqmudwlbtmdrtjo" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="rhatebechyqnoywdyriw" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="rhatebechyqnoywdyriw" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="hfjwfumftdxhkwlfcoup" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="xxsxxhecnegrrowgipsa" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="xxsxxhecnegrrowgipsa" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="xxsxxhecnegrrowgipsa" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="xxsxxhecnegrrowgipsa" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="pjdrabzwmmbezkkbdsye" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a><a class="kcjspbnkiddlfubsiafu" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pSBSUtSm3CA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></a></object><br /><p></p><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-4707935499024598441?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-70173996458383616232009-08-08T05:00:00.004+08:002009-08-11T18:07:16.324+08:00Images from Taiwan's north coast as Typhoon Morakot approached on Friday.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thompson/3801041120/" title="tempest by altons images, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3801041120_67913a458f.jpg" alt="tempest" height="320" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thompson/3799164148/" title="arrival of the typhoon by altons images, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3799164148_63ebff8680.jpg" alt="arrival of the typhoon" height="279" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thompson/3799165674/" title="typhoon by altons images, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3799165674_a162833d04.jpg" alt="typhoon" height="316" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Jiufen, Taiwan<br />台灣 九份<br />2009.08.07<br /><br />©Alton Thompson 唐博敦<a target="_blank" href="http://altonsimages.com/" rel="nofollow"><br />altonsimages.com/</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />__________________</span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-7017399645838361623?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-76261848325279664702009-07-25T07:00:00.005+08:002009-08-16T21:50:07.766+08:00<p>The fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing invites looks ahead. When will we again leave earth orbit and explore the solar system?</p><p>America's current plans are to return to the moon and move on to Mars in <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html">Project Constellation</a>. The <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/Vision/">Vision for Space Exploration</a> sees the establishment of bases on the moon as a means of learning to sustain extraterrestrial bases for for extended periods while conducting research and living off the land. This will be the springboard for journeys to Mars.</p><p>The <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html">official site for Project Constellation</a> offers news, specs, images, and video.<br /></p><p>The BBC interviews the designers of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=125740368335&amp;h=eVXFP&amp;u=Yn9v_&amp;ref=mf">the next generation of lunar landers</a>. Called Altair, the lander for the Constellation missions improves on the Apollo original in a number of ways. At the same time it bears a family resemblance to its predecessor. In other words, this new lander is no pin-up, either.</p><p>Two of the Apollo 11 astronauts have expressed their desire to see higher priority given to the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8160209.stm">exploration of Mars</a>. Michael Collins says 'I worry that the current emphasis on returning to the moon will cause us to become ensnared in a technological briar patch needlessly delaying for decades the exploration of Mars - a much more worthwhile destination.'</p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-7626184832527966470?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-75683357400033740412009-07-23T22:00:00.002+08:002009-07-24T09:53:38.003+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SmkTTsO-H0I/AAAAAAAAARo/GSyGOSDUeyo/s320/chang.joyce.2009a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361838060373679938" border="0" /></a>Violinist <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joyce Chiung-Yin Chang</span> (張瓊尹) will be performing in recital this weekend.<p> <span>2009 July 25 Saturday 19:30</span><br />Taichung, Taiwan<br /></p><p></p><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Beethoven: Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 3<br />Schumann: Sonata for Piano and Violin in A minor, opus 105<br />Ysay<span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:11pt;" lang="EN-US"></span>e: Sonata opus 27, no.6<br />Chausson: <span style="font-style: italic;">Poe</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:11pt;" lang="EN-US"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>, opus 25<br />Tchaikovsky: Waltz- Scherzo, opus 34<span style="font-size:100%;"></span><p></p></blockquote><p></p><p><br />Ms Chang, a native of Taiwan, is currently a resident of Baltimore, Maryland USA. She is a graduate of Taiwan's Soochow University and is now completing a graduate degree in violin performance at the <a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/">Peabody Institute</a>.<br /></p><p><br />For more information:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Telephone (Taiwan):</span> 0919 088 746<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Telephone (International):</span> 886 9 1908 8746</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">E-Mail:</span><a href="mailto:lemon0407@gmail.com"> </a>lemon0407 AT gmail.com</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Web</span>: <a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612">RichnChiung blog </a>and<a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612"> </a><a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612"> </a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120526325347">Facebook events</a></p></blockquote><p><a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612"></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120526325347"></a><a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/RichnChiung/12038612" onmousedown="'return" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-7568335740003374041?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-1926776990706078922009-07-23T13:00:00.000+08:002009-07-23T22:21:30.195+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/arts/music/23roberts.html?ref=music"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/Smhv0Z9nztI/AAAAAAAAARY/-z7UlQ6fms8/s400/robertstrio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361658302497803986" border="0" /></a>It's always a pleasure to see <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://marcusroberts.com/">Marcus Roberts</a> (hats off to another <a href="http://music.fsu.edu/">Florida State</a> grad) getting the press attention his musicianship warrants. This week <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> reporter Nate Chinen cites the '<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/arts/music/23roberts.html?ref=music">warm balance of mind and heart</a>' evident in the playing of the Marcus Roberts Trio at <a href="http://jalc.org/dccc/">Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola</a>, Frederick P Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jason Marsalis</span> performs on drums and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rodney Jordan</span> fills in for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roland Guerin</span> this week on bass. The full review appears at the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/arts/music/23roberts.html?ref=music"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> web site</a>.<br /><br />The Marcus Roberts Trio is engaged at <a href="http://jalc.org/dccc/">Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola</a> through Sunday. Sets are at 19:30 and 21:30 with 23:30 sets added on Friday and Saturday. For ticket information call 1 212 258 9595.<br /><p>Marcus Roberts recently released a new album, <a href="http://marcusroberts.com/music_store.cfm?nav=store"><span style="font-style: italic;">New Orleans Meets Harlem, Volume 1</span></a> on the J Master Records label. A new album, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://marcusroberts.com/music_store.cfm?nav=store">From Rags to Rhythm</a>, is due for release on the same label later this year.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-192677699070607892?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-80655086747119770792009-07-23T07:00:00.001+08:002009-07-24T15:17:34.688+08:00<p><span style="font-style: italic;">The Onion</span> reports that its entire news organisation <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/well_ive_sold_the_paper_to">has been sold </a>to a <a href="http://www.yuwanmei.com/">conglomerate in China</a>.</p><p>Content is being revised to reflect the concerns of the new owners. A sampling of headlines from <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/index/4530">the latest issue</a>:<br /><br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p> <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/internet_adds_12th_website?utm_source=a-section">Internet Adds Twelfth Web Site</a><br /></p><p> <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/potato_faced_youngster_lauded_for?utm_source=most_pop_dugg">Potato-Faced Youngster Lauded For Memorizing Primitive 26-Character Alphabet</a></p><p> Sports: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/potato_faced_youngster_lauded_for?utm_source=most_pop_dugg">Yao Ming!<br /></a></p><p>Photos: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/from_print/clear_american_sky_a?utm_source=newsinphotos_china">Clear American Sky a Constant Reminder of Industrial Inferiority</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p>Opinion: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/american_children_like_me_are?utm_source=c-section">American Children Like Me Are Lazy And Insolent And Must Try Harder<br /><br /></a>Opinion: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/american_children_like_me_are?utm_source=c-section"></a><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/grave_error">The Internet Allows for a Free Exchange of Unmitigated Information</a></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-8065508674711977079?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10338182.post-7930348015502874502009-07-22T10:30:00.016+08:002009-07-23T10:14:34.776+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://altonsimages.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5oMoMBcF8GM/SmaCcHA2IEI/AAAAAAAAAP4/nD4mkirdVA0/s400/20090722.eclipse.alton.00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361115825861697602" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Crescents</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">National Taiwan Normal University<br />Taipei, Taiwan<br />台灣 台北 國立臺灣師範大學<br />© Alton Thompson 唐博敦 </span><span style="font-size:85%;">/ <a href="http://altonsimages.com/">Altons Images</a></span><br /><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:100%;">A <a href="http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html">solar eclipse over Asia</a> this morning produced crescent shapes when the trees filtered sunlight.</span><br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://conductorsnotebook.com/" rel="nofollow">Conductor's Notebook</a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Taipei, Taiwan<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10338182-793034801550287450?l=www.conductorsnotebook.com'/></div>Alton Thompson 唐博敦http://www.blogger.com/profile/02592179955798586641alton.arts@gmail.com0