Photos from Chicago

It was dreary, and it was chilly, but Chicago was marvelous nevertheless when I made my day trip there last Sunday.

Lincoln Park. This is actually the parking area for the park's zoo.
Hancock Tower, which I had visited last year, is visible.

The orchid room in the Lincoln Park Conservatory - well worth a visit.

Second Unitarian Church, located in the Lakeview district a mile or so north of Miracle Mile.
The front doors are not the entrance; real entrance is toward the back on the right hand side.

Frank Lloyd Wright's house and studio, located in Oak Park, 10 miles west of the Loop.

Looking forward to yet another return to Chicago in the future. In the meantime, my return to California will involve changing planes at O'Hare.

Fed up with Indy

I am still in Indianapolis and will continue to be here for another few days.

I don't have much to say, other than that I am utterly fed up with the pathetic excuse of a political discourse here in Indy, complete with those "IN GOD WE TRUST" plates. My business contacts are all reactionary Republicans, and sexist pigs at that, as expected of men in construction. I sincerely believe that these morons need to lose their corporate benefit packages (including $200/night downtown hotel packages, while I rot at $70/night near the airport) and, if they are lucky enough to still have it, union representation. The ringleader is from Southern California - specifically Orange County (and hates being referred to as suburban Los Angeles).

I've never been this fed up with a state, since Alaska and Arizona - and I've been through another 30 states or so. The same reactionary crap did happen to me two months ago in Florida, but at least I had the theme parks of Orlando to unwind in. Not here in Indiana.

Healthcare plans by presidential candidates

John McCain has now announced his own plan, which will do nothing to solve the problem. He proposes shifting the burden of coverage from employers to individuals, but proposes nothing beyond a small tax break to make it happen; specifically, there is nothing that prevents insurers from turning away applicants for ridiculous reasons, as is the case now. The "merit" of this plan is that it is "market-based," but "market-based" healthcare is failing in the US miserably anyway - even for those who are insured.

The Hillary Clinton plan calls for mandatory coverage, using either Medicare or the private plans used by US Congress to cover all gaps. The Barack Obama plan calls for mandatory coverage for children only, and puts more weight on the government plans to fill in the gaps.

As far as I am concerned, the McCain plan will continue to leave me uninsured, but letting me get sick and die is in the Republicans' best interests anyway. At the same time, neither Democrat tackles the biggest issue in healthcare today - the inability of employers to pay - as both want to require employers to offer health insurance or pay into a national pool. I do believe that the Democrats have a plan to offer tax breaks to businesses to make this happen, but I need to look into it more.

I hate the pathetic level of discourse in healthcare in the US. National healthcare is dismissed as a socialist, inefficient idea, and it is true that some national systems, like the NHS in the UK, are poorly run. But in places like Canada, government single-payer systems, with private providers, work well, and these systems are also considered pro-business, since businesses don't have to administer healthcare plans for employees. The problem in the US is twofold: the grip on the government by the private insurers' lobby, and rampant spending on the wrong priorities - like the occupation of Iraq. Until politicians of both parties realize that, and until they figure out that the uninsured are not merely just too poor to be insured, the system will continue to be broken.

Chicago... again

I am practically knocked out, after all day in Chicago.

The drive between Indianapolis and Chicago was uneventful, with I-65 going through a rather flat, rural terrain, interrupted by the town of Lafayette, home of Purdue University and a Subaru assembly plant. Major construction work in Gary made navigating the I-65/I-80 junction tricky, however. My rental Fusion was very comfortable, and got over 26 MPG.

After a three-hour drive, I arrived in Chicago; I found it hard to believe that the city's world-famous skyline was greeting me once again! This was also my first Chicago visit with a car, so I decided to savor it, by taking Lake Shore Drive from McCormick Place to Lincoln Park. I remembered doing the same stretch last year, as a passenger in Marianne Wood's BMW convertible, and thought of her, though she had a packed schedule today and couldn't make time for me.

I arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo at 9:30 in the morning, and spent about 45 minutes going through the small, free zoo. The zoo was underwhelming, but the neighboring conservatory, with its orchids and koi ponds, was quite a sight. I also savored the famous vista of the skyline again from the zoo, with John Hancock Tower being prominent.

I headed for my next destination, Second Unitarian Church, and arrived there right between the two morning services. I attended the second morning service at 11:30, where the sermon emphasized being Earth-friendly by not living beyond one's means - while I agreed with most of the sermon, I also remembered that sometimes pushing the boundaries is what makes positive changes in the world happen. The pastor was a middle-aged blonde woman said to be a Southern California native, but I couldn't chat with her. However, I did chat with many other members - and joined the church's monthly LGBT lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant, where most of the chat revolved around the church's participation in this coming June's gay pride parade, but I also got to spill the beans about my background, my novel, how Unitarianism comes into both, and more.

When all was said and done, it was 2 PM already - I pushed on to Oak Park, 10 miles to the west, where I toured Frank Lloyd Wright's home. This being an older home (1899-1909), it didn't look like a Wright masterpiece from the later years, but the budding elements - overlapping octagons, suspended pianos, and green color theming throughout - were all there. I was too tired to truly enjoy it though.

I left Chicago at 4:30 local time, and by the time I returned to Indy, it was 8:30 after time difference. And those "In God We Trust" theocratic plates really nagged at me from the moment I crossed back into Indiana.

I took a few pictures, but won't be uploading them tonight - I am too tired, and I have business to mind tomorrow morning.

Indianapolis

I am in Indianapolis for a week-long stay, and my first impressions are not good.

I was aware of Indiana being more Republican than similar surrounding states, though a prominent Democrat, Senator Evan Bayh, also calls Indiana home. But nothing prepared me for all the "In God We Trust" license plates here - up to one in four of all privately-owned cars. While "In God We Trust" could be considered a generic nonpolitical message, like "Choose Life," everyone knows that these messages are the work of Christian theocrats.

Though I have to say that I can easily see the same happening in California, especially Southern California, and it's the liberal ideologues of Northern California that prevent such plates from becoming reality in California.

I am heading over to Chicago tomorrow to attend a Unitarian church and do sightseeing. If I wanted only the Unitarian church, there are a few here in Indy, but I'd rather venture out to Chicago. I also got a marvelous view of Chicago today as I changed planes there, and it only makes me want to get out there tomorrow even more.

My ride here is a Ford Fusion V6 that was built only this month, with 370 miles on it. It's a much nicer car than its predecessor, the miserable Contour that I used to drive, though I was expecting a four cylinder model for fuel economy. The rental car company offered me a Hyundai Sonata for a few dollars more, and it is an even nicer car, but I didn't want to risk looking like a Moonie. I hope the Fusion will let me visit Chicago tomorrow in style.

I'll be on the quiet side

Between reading a few books (including John Gorenfeld's Bad Moon Rising and a few memoirs), taking two writing classes, being swamped with work, and taking a week-long trip to Indianapolis, I expect to slow down my blogging significantly. Moreover, many of the topics I would discuss are better discussed in my novel blog, including a transgender reality show and my writing progress.

I'll try to enjoy myself through all of this. An Elton John concert on the 19th will be a start, and I am also scheduled to see Margaret Cho on May 16th, and those events will provide a much-needed break.

The Moonies in action

Thanks to John Gorenfeld for the link...

As if controlling the Grand Nationals and the US Republicans weren't enough, the Moonies created their own well-organized political party for last week's South Korean general election. The name: Family Party for Peace and Unity.

One of its platforms was the restoration of the primitive Confucian family code, giving women and unmarried adults no rights whatsoever. It had recently been weakened.

A British guy in Busan has some more info, including info on the family code. Busan, BTW, is what San Francisco would be like, if it were hardcore conservative.

Busan Mike

Boycott of Beijing Olympics?

I just read a thoughtful article that explores whether boycotting travel to repressive countries is a good idea or not.

MSN Travel

The consensus, for the most part, seems to be that travel encourages exchange of ideas, opens up the societies involved, and moves a step toward making the repressive societies, well, less repressive.

And for the most part, I will agree. Having visited China myself in 2002, I came away with lots of different images - modernity and tradition, openness and strictness. I also saw that the Chinese wanted to interact with the outside world more, and I was glad to do my part while taking in the best of Beijing.

I do, however, draw the line when it comes to giving more legitimacy to the governments involved. I will tune out the Olympics because it's giving the Chinese government street credibility that it doesn't deserve. Besides, even if I wanted to go to China this year, it'd be too hectic anyway.

Moreover, I am willing to do a total boycott, when the government is also involved in harmful activities that affect me right inside the US, and the said government enjoys overwhelming popular support of the people. As stated in my last post, South Korea and Taiwan are now in that category, with the people voting the Moonies into power by large margins so that they can work on exterminating the likes of me in the US.

The Moonies are back in power

Taiwan chose to put the Nationalists - a major funding source of the Moonies - back in power, both in presidency and in the legislature, by very large margins.

Now, South Korea has done the same, putting the Grand Nationals - the most important funding source of the Moonies - in the majority, even after its splinter into many rival factions. Of course, a Moonie president had been elected last year.

What's significant in both countries is that the Moonie media machine had smeared the outgoing liberal political parties as inept and incompetent, despite the fact that they had met many of the Moonies' demands, and that it was the Moonies themselves that had caused the ineptitude in the first place (i.e. the Asian financial crisis of 1997). There is no difference from the Republican media attacks on the Democrats, and the Democratic inability to respond.

My support for the next US President will be determined on who will be the most willing to stand up against the Moonie menace, and the interference in American politics by the Nationalists and the Grand Nationals. McCain is beholden to the Moonies, and neither Hillary nor Obama has come out in strong enough terms against them.

Of course, I am no fan of the extremist Christianity that has taken over South Korea, and may be about to take over Taiwan. It's done severe damage to the Asian-American communities, and to the American society at large, as well.

It is a shame that Taiwan has a monopoly on computer motherboards, and South Korea has the lion's share of the semiconductors that go on those motherboards. Going online, and living in the 21st Century, has now been reduced to doing my own part to fund the Moonie death cult. The same with Garmin GPS's (which are all Taiwan-made) and Samsung cell phones. Something must be done soon!

Veritas

There is a Coast Guard at Democracy Cell Project, who, due to military regulations prohibiting protest of the current administration while in uniform, identifies herself only by her nickname, Veritas. (I do know her first name - a very common one - but won't state it here.)

She's fallen ill recently, and is blogging about it - and her plans to get better. She has just been issued orders to relocate to San Francisco, go to an assigned civilian hospital there, and get better.

I wish Veritas a speedy recovery - and if I have time, I will head up to SF to say hello.

Quid est Veritas? (her blog)

Asian-American Campus Ministries

This is a very worrisome trend, showing the flaws in the Asian-American community. In fact, I've cut off contact with my middle school buddy over this very subject.

The following East Bay Express article covers UC Berkeley's Christian ministries, and the rising ranks of Asian-Americans in them. Though the article is written in glowing, positive perspective, the reader comments at the end tell the true story. Asian-Americans, being raised in conservative suburban neighborhoods under the self-sacrificial, communal, Confucian mindsets of their immigrant parents, naturally gravitate to the similar values of evangelical Christianity; in fact, it is one of the few ways that Asian-American college students can find relief from the overbearing expectations of their parents, under a "forgiving Father." (Forgiving, honestly, is the very last thing that ever comes to mind, when I think of evangelical Christianity.)

The most important trend is that while the first wave of Asian takeover of these ministries was primarily Korean, the current wave is mostly Chinese, some rebelling against the atheist mindset of mainland China, others corrupted by their Korean friends who use Korean popular culture as Trojan horses.

Many of these newly minted evangelicals give up their parents' expectations of high-paying science/medical career, since the science classes teach theories contrary to the Christian worldview; they end up doing ministry fulltime.

If this doesn't spell Yellow Peril (alongside the activities of the Unification Church), I don't know what does. These new evangelicals may consider Reverend Moon a cult leader, but they will still agree with him that LGBTs must be converted or exterminated, that the separation of church and state must end, and that the Crusades must continue in the Middle East. In any case, a way for Asian-Americans to belong somewhere, in not-so-oppressive religious format, must be found, as the community continues to mature. The evangelical trend is as much about lack of alternatives and individualist spirit for Asian-American youth as it is about religion.

East Bay Express

Margaret Cho

It looks like I'll have a nice opportunity to see her perform in person, as she brings her Beautiful tour to Alpine, just east of San Diego. She did stop in Los Angeles previously, but I had no way of going.

This will be mid-May - a nice way to celebrate my own birthday at that point.

It is also worth mentioning that Margaret is probably the only Korean-American I can handle right now.

I've just placed an order for one ticket. Looking forward to her routines!

Margaret Cho

The dark side of Olympic torch

The following BBC article says the Olympic torch relay, in its current form, has a very dark origin, as a propaganda tool of Nazi Germany for the 1936 Games in Berlin. Something to think about as the 2008 Beijing torch makes its way around the world, itself subject of controversy due to China's human rights record.

BBC

The Berlin relay was intended to showcase Nazi Germany as a modern, progressive state, and included celebration from Gypsies and other groups who would be exterminated a few years later. The torch lighting in Olympia used a Zeiss mirror, and the torches supplied by Krups, to showcase German industrial might. And of course, bringing the torch from Greece to Germany reinforced Hitler's views of Germany being an Aryan nation descended from glorious Greek empires of the past.

Really dark, disgusting stuff.

I'm not voting for President

This is not an April Fools joke.

It appears that Barack Obama continues to coddle the very homophobic minister that has pitted the African-American and gay communities against each other in Chicago, even counting him as one of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention.

Given that I am sitting in Los Angeles, where the Korean community plots the extermination of all American LGBTs (and other homophobic nationalities like the Nicaraguans thrive), I cannot support ANY politician who pits minority communities against LGBTs.

I am officially withdrawing my support for Barack Obama, and have removed him from my links list.

I've long decided that McCain, Hillary, and Nader do not deserve my support either. That gives me no choice come November. No matter who wins the White House, it'll be a pathetic 4 years, doing little to undo the damage done by W - just like Bill Clinton failed to do the Reagan-Bush Sr.'s damage before him.