James Bond Echoes

 

Another shot of the Ambassador five star hotel building that dominates part of downtown Hsinchu, Taiwan. Taken on the 20th of December 2006 with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-35mm. Part of the Ambassador Series 1. 

I have been watching some old James Bond movies. Currently, I am watching Goldfinger (1964). This was caused by the release of a new James Bond movie last month. I had forgotten, but Goldfinger contains some interesting factoids.

For example, I realized when I was listening to the movie that the Sneaker Pimps had sampled the cord refrain of the OST of the movie in their hit song 6 underground. Also, the way that Goldfinger describes getting into the vault of Fort Knox has been copied by David Singer in the Usual Suspects when the lawyer Kobayashi explains to the crew how they have wronged Kaiser Souze.

Hella-Day Or How Friday Was A Very Long Day

 

Another shot of St-Ambroise street during the night in Montreal, Canada. Taken on the 17th of June 2006 with a Sony Cybershot DSC-93 5.1 MP camera. Part of the Nightshoot series.

I spent most of the day yesterdays watching the kids or watching the kids rehearse their numbers for the Christmas concert. I spent the morning watching the Kindergarten kids dance their numbers. During the afternoon, the 4th graders only had partial periods with me, so I decided to give them some time off, since they were all going a bit nutty.

Freeways Aren’t For Scooters

A tree I found nearby one of my tutoring gigs. It doesn’t look anything like this in real life. Taken in Hsinchu Taiwan. Taken with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens. Part of the Ambassador Series 1.

So on our way back from our exhausting day, I had decided to go to the RT Mart and pick up some essentials, like meat and fish. I almost didn’t go because we were too tired. But then, I knew we were going to go to the Family Mart and spend 300 NTD on food we didn’t really like. So I forced myself to check out the map to see how we could go from Beida Rd. to Shippin Rd. to go to the RT Mart (it’s a grocery store).

Grouchiness Incorporated

This isn’t the Ambassador hotel in Hsinchu Taiwan, but the new tower of Sauron! Look at how evil it looks! Taken with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens. Part of the Ambassador Series 1.

I don’t know why, but I have been especially tired over the last 2 weeks. Maybe it’s because I’ve gone out and taken photos every night after tutoring and that has tired me out. Maybe it’s all the christmas craziness going on at the school. I find that I have to keep my iPod on during their rehearsals, otherwise I’d be going bonkers.

The Ambassador Series 1

Frontal view of the Ambassador, with an eerie sky welcoming me.

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All photos in the Ambassador Series 1 were taken with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens on the 20th of December 2006. The Ambassador is a five star hotel in Hsinchu Taiwan. Settings: ISO 1600, Long Exp NR on, High ISO NR on.

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I went out to shoot some photos after having tutored. It was quite funny, because right before I left, the father of the student told me that his wife made him buy a new better camera. I asked him what he had gotten. He told me a Canon 30D with one of those NR lenses that are so nifty. I told me that I had gotten a camera too last week and showed it to him because I was heading out to the Ambassador hotel to take some photos.

Five Things That You Didn’t Know About Me

My favorite building in the nearby vicinity, the health club staircase building of the Lakeshore Hotel in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Taken on the 19th of December 2006 with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-35mm lens. Part of the Lakeshore Series 3.

The current meme of the day is a post about things that readers didn’t know about yourself. Since I haven’t been tagged, I will tag the following five people to do the same.

1. Mr. Angry
2. K
3. Jessica Doyle
4. Candice
5. Mark from Toshuo

Here it goes.

Thought Police

The fiber optic lights at this waterfall feature at the Lakeshore hotel in Hsinchu Taiwan give this photo a great feel. Taken with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-35mm lens on the 19th of December 2006. Part of the Lakeshore Series 3.

One of the ways I try to order my thought process is to monitor and influence what I am thinking about. I know that in my life there are certain subjects that need to be thought of. However, when you can not change the situation, it is not sane to continually go over them and try to find new scenarios. I find that when this happens, I try to influence what I am thinking about to change it back toward the positive. Maybe this is why I am so relaxed most of the time and easy-going.

The Lakeshore Series 3

Front view of the staircase to the health club, taken right after dusk.

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All photos in the Lakeshore Series 3 are taken with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-35mm lens. Photos were taken on the 19th of December 2006 in Hsinchu Taiwan. Settings: ISO 1600, Long Exp NR on, High ISO Nr on, Shooting Mode P.

[Ed.Note: At 1 AM GMT, only a quarter (100/400) of my photos were uploaded. So this post will be updated throughout the day with the other good photos of the chute.]

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I made it out in time yesterday to shoot some photos right after dusk. I didn’t see the sun going down, but that didn’t matter, I got some great light for photos.

Love Is All – Nine Times The Same Song Review

Love Is All
Nine Times That Same Song
[What's Your Rupture?; 2006]
Rating: 8.5

I have been listening for the past few days to this LP by Swedish indie rock band Love Is All. I have to say that it is quite good. I got this album months ago before my departure and when my interest in indie rock spiked.

Supposedly bloggers and online media have been going nutty for this Swedish band. Ever since The Sounds, Kent and The Cardigans, I have always enjoyed Swedish bands.

How Gay Are You? Pretty Damn Much!

Minghu Rd. right next to the corner where the Lakeshore hotel is located. Too bad this picture is badly framed, because the colors are right on the money. It would have been better if the big poster of the Lakeshore would have been included in this shot. Taken on the 18th of December 2006 with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens. This photo is part of the Lakeshore Series 2.

Reflections In The Rain About A Dream, how gay are you?

Anonymous hater.

I am so gay that I am married an plan on having children in the next few years.

I am so gay that my blog gets 2000 hits per day.

I am so gay that I am living in Taiwan trying to understand the ladyboys.

Ah haters, will they never learn?