German Icons in Taiwanese Eyes: BMW & Adolf

The octopus with the ability to predict World Cup winners has become a news sensation in Taiwan. The octopus' predictions have apparently irked the German sports audience as well. This afternoon on Taiwan television the satirical program "The Big Party" 全民最大黨 offered a skit featuring a Hitler lookalike speaking his own imaginary German and suggesting what should be done with the octopus. Of course, his suggestion was to mix up a platter of sashimi to enjoy after buying a new BMW.

If any German citizens ever saw the skit, they would be both insulted and disheartened. How sad they would feel to see that BMW and Hitler remain the most obvious icons, in the mind of Taiwanese and perhaps the world, of Germany.

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Hello Kitty Hell

A couple of days ago I went to EVA Airlines ticket center to reserve my flight to California, and it was there I noticed a photograph on a poster showing an EVA Air jet sporting a Hello Kitty motif. It can't get much worse than this. Then again, maybe it can. Below are some photos of a car parked in the Costco lot. Note the bad taste in auto decoration. At bottom is a link to a pdf article on "Hello Kitty and Identity Politics in Taiwan." Article: Hello Kitty and Identity Politics in Taiwan (2000)

Taipei Flower Market

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A good friend of mine recently shared with me a painting he had made, a composite of several images that intrigued me and led me to thinking about the way Taiwanese have come to develop an identity of themselves, both individually and at the national communal level, that is based on International Trade. Through these contemplations I achieved yet another degree of nuance in my understanding of the psychic ecology of Taiwan, this wonderful land that has welcomed me as a naturalized citizen. It was a delight to be so impacted by an artwork and to see that our artists are among the most important members of our community, for they have the ability to see and share with us those parts of the human experience that we might otherwise never have taken the time to think about. My contemplations divided into two directions, one of which headed directly into the realm of Speculative Fiction (available at the Hu Reads Horror blog). The other direction took me here, to a very personal dive...

My Life as Adoga

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