Horror movie. Relies on sound effects, scary music, and things popping out of nowhere to terrify you ... and it works! I grew up in a house with a dirt cellar, crawl spaces, and a ghost (only saw her once), so maybe I'm more susceptible. :) If you like scary movies, this one isn't bad ... if you don't like scary movies, you should miss it.
Movies Watched -- Mother of George
This one I liked ... hated the ambiguous ending (I think she loses the baby but I'm not sure), but what came before it was good ... cinematographer studied Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love closely, lots of imitation, but well done. Could have cut at least ten minutes of the slo-mo "mood" sequences to get the movie under 100 minutes since it was a touch over-long at 107 minutes. Recommended. (Other movies from 2013 that I can recommend (so far) are: All Is Lost, Blue Is The Warmest Color, Museum Hours, and Wadjda.)
Movies Watched -- The Great Beauty
Screenshot below shows how I felt watching this one ... fast forwarded from five minutes in ... running time two hours and twenty-two minutes, can't imagine anyone on planet earth has sat through all of it.
Movies Watched -- In a World...
Watched twenty minutes then fast forwarded ... about voice-over "artists" ... wasn't interested ... heart-warming tale of awful Dad connecting with estranged daughters, maybe?
Movies Watched -- Still Mine
Fast forwarded from ten minutes in ... about ageing ... interesting that it's set in New Brunswick though no one sounded Canadian ... cantankerous old guy railing against bureaucracy ... wasn't interested.
Movies Watched -- Blue Jasmine
Watched without fast forwarding ... another Woody Allen Konigsberg weird WASP fantasy ... tragicomedy ... dissipated Alec Baldwin as Bernie Madoff type scoundrel losing everything ... the story of the trophy wife left behind ... Cate Blanchett a talented actress, she can go dark really well ... did she win an award for this performance? ... anyway, it's dark, not fun. Good length, but not recommended.
Movies Watched -- The Past
Watched 80 (!) minutes of this then went to fast forward ... the only thing that kept me going that long were these beautiful Persian? women (and men and children) speaking French ... the story didn't interest me much. Way too long at 130 minutes.
Links for 2014 09 29
LET'S TALK
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2014 Hong Kong electoral reform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The NPCSC Decision rules out the universal suffrage in the 2012 CE Election and 2012 LegCo Election but on the other hand provides the possibility of universal suffrage for CE in 2017 and LegCo in 2020.
"The decision states that for the 2017 Chief Executive election, a nominating committee, similar to the present Election Committee system, be formed to nominate two to three candidates, each of whom must receive the support of more than half of the members of the nominating committee." NPCSC's 31 August decision
THIS IS THE BIG DEAL, NO LONGER ONLY 150 MEMBERS (1/8TH) OF NOM COM, THIS IS WHAT THREW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
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Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2017 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 4 December 2013, the Task Force on Constitutional Development headed by the Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam published the Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2016 and launched the five-month consultation period, to generate a consensus for a set of reform proposals for the 2017 Chief Executive election and 2016 Legislative Council election.
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Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
689 TO 285 TO 76 ...
"Each candidacy for Chief Executive must be supported by at least 150 nominations from members of the Election Committee (EC)"
"The election proper takes place by secret ballot, with each EC member having one vote"
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Hong Kong Voting for Legislature Is Heavy - NYTimes.com
The poorly financed Civic Party, lacking a grass-roots network to guide its supporters, ran a single slate in each constituency and tried to persuade as many voters as possible to vote for it. The party’s best known politician, Audrey Eu, and its rising star, Tanya Chan, listed themselves second on slates in the New Territories West constituency and Hong Kong Island, respectively. Both ended up losing their seats.
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日期：2013-09-12
梁家杰先生：
8月26日来函收悉。香港行政长官普选制度源自基本法规定，必须以基本法为依据。基本法的有关规定是讨论行政长官普选办法的前提和基础。就行政长官普选时候选人提名办法而言，基本法第45条已明确规定“由一个有广泛代表性的提名委员会按民主程序提名”，并无其他选项。而且，2007年12月29日全国人大常委会的有关决定也进一步明确：“在香港特别行政区行政长官实行普选产生的办法时，须组成一个有广泛代表性的提名委员会。提名委员会可参照香港基本法附件一有关选举委员会的现行规定组成。提名委员会须按照民主程序提名产生若干名行政长官候选人，由香港特别行政区全体合资格选民普选产生行政长官人选，报中央人民政府任命。”我不久前出席立法会午餐会时已讲过，讨论香港行政长官普选的办法问题，正途是沿着基本法和全国人大常委会有关规定的轨道往前走，而不是脱离法律规定的轨道走弯路。从事法律职业者，更应深谙法治要义，不可逾矩。
我是先从报纸上获悉你邀请我出席以“公民提名何惧之有”为题的研讨会。如上所述，“公民提名”漠视基本法明文规定，诚不攻自破之说。莅会之邀，恕不应约。
此复。
张晓明
HE'S RIGHT ... THEY'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO ALLOW "OPEN NOMINATIONS"
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Liaison Office sent a letter to the Civic Party: "Citizens nominated" disregard Basic - News
hang Xiaoming, director of the Civic Party leader Alan Leong reply letter
Mr Leong:
August 26th letter of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the Chief Executive by universal suffrage system is based on the provisions, you must use the Basic Law as a basis for discussing the relevant provisions of the Basic Law, the Chief Executive by universal suffrage means the premise and foundation. Universal suffrage for the Chief Executive in terms of candidate nominations , Article 45 of the Basic Law clearly provides that 'by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures for the nomination,' there is no other option. Moreover, December 29, 2007 the relevant decisions of the NPC Standing Committee also made clear: 'In Chief Executive to implement universal suffrage, shall constitute a broadly representative nominating committee. nominating committee may refer the Hong Kong Basic Law, Annex I regarding the Election Committee to the current provisions. nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures nominate a certain number of administrative Executive candidates, all eligible voters by the HKSAR Chief Executive by universal suffrage candidate to the Central People's Government for appointment(http://www.instant-news.us/). 'Not long ago I attended a luncheon at the Legislative Council have said, to discuss ways of Hong Kong Chief Executive by universal suffrage question, the right path is along the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and the National People's Congress walked the track, rather than from the law track detours. those in the legal profession, the rule of law should be well versed in essence, can not transgressing.
I was the first newspaper was informed that you invited me to attend a 'citizen nominated why fear' in the title of the seminar mentioned above, 'citizen nominated' disregard Basic expressly provides that proved unfounded, says Cheng. Director Mr invited without should be about.
This complex.
Zhang Xiaoming
August 30, 2013
LOL THAT'S SOME GOOGLE TRANSLATION OR SOMETHING
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Xi Says Hong Kong Political Reforms Must Follow Constitution - Bloomberg
"The Basic Law states that candidates for the chief executive position have to be nominated by a “broadly representative” committee, Zhang Xiaoming, director of China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, wrote last month in an open letter to Civic Party leader Alan Leong. Zhang’s comments were the clearest China had made in rejecting activists’ demands for an open nomination."
RIGHT ... SO THE PROTESTERS WANT TO CHANGE THE BASIC LAW TO AN OPEN NOMINATION, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, I THINK?
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Civil nomination proposal violates Basic Law, says Zhang Xiaoming | South China Morning Post
"The electoral method for the chief executive has to comply with the Basic Law," Zhang wrote. "Article 45 of the Basic Law states that nomination is by a broadly representative nominating committee … there is no other option. Civil nomination has neglected the requirements stated in the Basic Law."
YES, HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT
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SHARP COOKIE ... LEFT BBG PRETTY FAST THOUGH
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Why do Chinese women date western men?[2]- Chinadaily.com.cn
BECAUSE OF THEIR THICK, EIGHT INCH LONG COCKS, OBVIOUSLY
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Basic Law — the Source of Hong Kong’s Progress and Development
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development towards the ultimate aim of universal
suffrage must progress in a gradual and orderly manner
step by step. The pace should not be too fast. The
progress should accord with the actual situation in the
HKSAR, in order to preserve its prosperity and stability;
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IT'S A JPEG ;-)
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White Paper on "The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region"
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Instagram blocked in China as democracy reform protests sweep Hong Kong ift.tt/1qM8hkI (TechinAsia)
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"Western men… supposedly shower and change their underwear every day." china.org.cn/china/2014-09/…
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Nyt-Glum Sign for Apple in China: Smuggled iPhones Go Begging mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/tec…
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Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
THE BOY AND I WILL VISIT ON WED OR THU
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Your Vanguard Brokerage Account
I already have a Vanguard Brokerage Account
Currently, you hold your Vanguard mutual funds,
including your money market settlement fund,
outside your brokerage accounts. Under the new
structure, we’ll simply move your Vanguard funds
into your corresponding brokerage account. Your
investments won’t change.
Your transaction history, tax forms, personal
performance information, and other data will
carry over to your brokerage account.
WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?
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SCRUBBED FROM WEIBO ... CENSORS MUST BE WORKING OVERTIME
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Illegal assembly in Hong Kong leads to clashes ow.ly/C2Jl9
STATE MEDIA
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STATE MEDIA
Boardwalk Empire S05 E04
Plus ça change ...
The Pace Should Not Be Too Fast
Trying to understand what's going on in Hong Kong, haven't been paying attention:
From Instrument 21 (29 December 2007):
"The Session is of the view that appropriate amendments may be made to the specific method for selecting the fourth Chief Executive and the specific method for forming the fifth term Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the year 2012; that the election of the fifth Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the year 2017 may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage; (In Chinese: 2017年香港特別行政區第五任行政長官的選舉可以實行由普選產生的辦法;) that after the Chief Executive is selected by universal suffrage, the election of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may be implemented by the method of electing all the members by universal suffrage."
From Basic Law — the Source of Hong Kong’s Progress and Development from "Drafting and Promulgation of the Basic Law and Hong Kong’s Reunification with the Motherland"
"The fourth-term Chief Executive was elected by the Election Committee composed of 1,200 members on 25 March 2012. Mr Leung Chun-ying won the election with 689 ballots. The fourth-term Chief Executive is the last one returned by the Election Committee. In 2017 the fifth-term Chief Executive will be nominated by a nominating committee and elected by all eligible voters in Hong Kong through “one person, one vote” universal suffrage."
Who the nominating committee nominates is the rub, I guess.
From a 31 December 2007 WSJ piece, "China Plan To Boost Hong Kong Suffrage Sees Snags"
"Beijing had promised eventual direct elections to Hong Kong, which has its own political, legal and economic systems, as a term of its return to Chinese control in 1997. But it left vague details of when and how that would be accomplished, fueling years of debate here over the pace of changes. Currently, the chief executive is elected by an 800-member nominating committee that includes dignitaries and Chinese lawmakers appointed by Beijing.
It remains unclear how any direct elections will be carried out, though Mr. Qiao said Beijing would like to see a nominating committee based on the current system. Democracy advocates here say such a committee could end up screening out candidates that didn't already have some degree of support from Beijing.
Disagreements on the nomination process could be a stumbling block as pro-democratic and pro-establishment camps attempt to hash out an electoral model that is acceptable to both sides. Mr. Qiao suggested Saturday that Beijing expected to first see a consensus emerge on a transitional electoral model for 2012's election before approving any concrete proposals for 2017's elections."
From a 13 September 2013 WSJ piece, "More Bad News for Hong Kong Democracy Movement"
This week, the Communist Party's top local representative, Zhang Xiaoming, declared that any system of universal suffrage in Hong Kong must conform to the city's mini-constitution Basic Law, and that an open nomination of candidates wouldn't be accepted.
While Beijing has long said the city can begin electing its top leader by universal suffrage in 2017, what that system will look like hasn't been spelled out. The city's chief executive is currently elected by a committee of 1,200 people--which is largely stacked with pro-Beijing and pro-business representatives--and pro-democracy activists worry that such a committee also will be used to screen candidates and allow only Beijing-friendly aspirants to run.
Mr. Zhang appeared to give more credence to this fear Thursday, in a letter uploaded to the Beijing liaison office's website reiterating the fact that under Basic Law, any leader must be nominated by a "broadly representative" group, such as the existing election committee.
"Basic Law's Article 45 already clearly stipulates that candidates must be nominated by a broadly representative nominating committee according to democratic procedures," Mr. Zhang wrote, "and there are no other options."
From a 31 August 2014 WSJ piece, "Beijing Rules Out Open Election in Hong Kong"
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's largely ceremonial parliament, said future chief-executive candidates will need to be nominated by a "broadly representative" committee.
It said candidates will need to secure support from at least 50% of members on a nominating committee (ed. emphasis mine, ah, so this is the cause of the trouble?), and that their numbers would be capped in any given race at two or three candidates. Currently, the chief executive is appointed by the central government via a 1,200-member committee heavy on Beijing backers as well as business leaders. Candidates have until now only needed to get support from one-eighth of the panel (ed. 150 committee members), which in 2012 allowed a pro-democracy legislator to run as one of three candidates.
"Since the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake, there is a need to proceed in a prudent and steady manner," Sunday's decision said.
The committee again emphasized that potential candidates must be "patriotic" and "love the country and love Hong Kong," though it left unclear how that would be determined.
The electoral-reform plan must secure the backing of Hong Kong's legislative council to proceed. With just over a third of 70 seats, Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers in theory have veto power over the decision.
So why don't they just veto it?