My local spectacles shop
Author: Jonathan Biddle
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C*nt
My local spectacles shop
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Maywa Denki
Maywa Denki – Utter InsanityAfter a dangerously quiet weekend of staying in, eating well, avoiding alcohol (mostly) and mountain biking I got a tip from Michael to check out Japanese art rockers Maywa Denki at Luxy. Quite seriously, I have never had my mouth open for more at a concert – either in disbelief, awe or laughter. However, I am not quite sure which was stranger – the Japanese band, or the reaction by the Taiwanese, who predictably spent the concert sitting on the floor, as if at school.
School AssemblySumming up the band is quite difficult. Indeed, the pictures fail to capture the charisma of the lead singer, or the stern, steely gaze of the ’employees.’ Stopping in the middle of the performance to explain that their musical instruments shed some light – “MANY MANY SWITCHIE, 100 VOLTIES, KA PAAANG!”
The employees, with products behind… note my favourite star-shaped xylophonesMaywa Denki used to be the lead singer’s Father’s company. Passed onto him, he deemed that art and rock were more important, but maintained a tight focus on product. As such, the musical instruments are controlled by the aformentioned switches and replicate guitars, percussion or exploding dolls. Goods can be ordered from theire web site here. Hard to sum up, perhaps these photos do a better job!
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New Camera
Finally, I have a new digital camera! This should mean, combined with the bootleg wireless connection I have in my apartment, much better with you – the outside world.
For those that are interested, I have a Canon Ixy 60 – otherwise known as an Ixus 55 in Europe or Powershot 450 in the US. Confused? You should be.
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Blogging a Bit
Michael sent me some great photos from my time at Asus which are worth putting up – I am waiting for my new camera, so have to make do with others’ images for now.
The new job is going well, and I am learning to work in a smaller, faster team again. It is not without its problems, but the opportunities are exciting. And there are some great people there to enjoy lunch with. More on that some time!
… I’ll finish this post some time. I now have my camera and need to add some photos!
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Absolutely Fabulous
“Over here, Viv!”
“Ta Dahhhhh”Dahlings,
My social life took an explosive turn for the better this weekend, as a result of some special golden tickets and rivers of free booze.
Friday:
21:20pm Vivienne Westwood launch. Rather!
12:30am MOS to see Crystal Method and dance my booty off.Saturday:
19:30pm Japanese food at Dozo – Tarantino style joint.
21:30pm Prada Launch. 86th floor, Taipei 101. Celebrities. Champagne. FABulous views.
01:30am Room 18 club event … and I am almost falling over from too much expensive booze.
04:30am Meet U2’s lighting designers and agree to get more smashed at Vibe.
06:30am Continue session at Hyatt suite overlooking the mountains.
08:30am Roll into cab.
17:30pm Wake up with my face stuck to the pillow.… next weekend I will be more healthy. Promise.
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To Feel Exuberan Tly Happy
Say no more.
More Scooter English.
To Feel Exuberan Tly Happy -
Zuo Fan
Writing is rather sporadic at the moment – no internet connection at home at the moment, which is a bit of a pain.
However, last night was the momentous event of being able to cook for the first time in a whole year! I now have a kitchen and want to get back into the habit of cooking for myself. Slightly rusty in the supermarket as a result of being catered for for a year now, I seem incapable of buying things for cooking. I still managed to escape from the place with a pack of spaghetti, some garlic and olive oil, plus the closest thing I could get to a courgette.
Unfortunately, I ended up frying a cucumber, but still it tasted good and I appreciated it alongside a nice glass of red wine in the new apartment, which is slowly getting better.
I’ll post some other events soon. My digital camera is off for repair and I am weighing up buying a new one instead. The humidity of Taiwan destroys electronics, and in my case the menu buttons have stopped functioning, which is handy.
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Starcatcher
Smoking stackThe Taipei city council are a resourceful lot. Not only do they build a rubbish incinerator, but they heat a swimming pool from the excess energy. Not content with limiting themselves to mere swimming, they also saw fit to mount a revolving restaurant to the top of the multi-coloured chimney stack.
Thus, when eating here the stench of rubbish and diesel from the legions of trucks complements the sophisticated atmosphere and forceful service.
I also met a couple of new designers – Wouter from Holland and Nik… from London! Yeah, another Brit dude to complement myself, James and Dean. We are catching up with those pesky Germans, finally.
Getting wasted with the boys -
DEM – The New Office
Life is changing quickly for me. A new apartment and a new job are two significant differences in my life, that should both bring some good benefits. The new office certainly stimulating and I am really looking forward to my job developing over the coming weeks. For now, I should introduce to Prada – the office bitch.
Prada assists
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Taifun
Well I made it back in one piece. One final last night in Bangkok was pleasant, and I spent the evening in the company of some great English medical students that really reminded me of some of my times back home. I have to say, most of the Brits I met abroad have been either dull or total idiots. These were smart, funny and witty and I was able to sharpen my humour blades!
Of course, the flight yesterday was slightly hung over, and the slight anxiety of re-entering the country between jobs made me wonder how my visa would work out. I was told to enter on a tourist entry, and it all worked out fine. Getting back to my apartment was nice – even if it is slightly strange and more like a hotel – so I popped out to meet the guys in Wendels for a beer … and at that point it was announced it was another Typhoon holiday! Fantastic! My first day at work and I am on holiday. Cannae complain. It did make me think though, that if I had been caught in Bankok I would now be enjoying a couple of gratis days in a 5 star hotel.
So, overall, I liked Thailand. It was all too short, and perhaps the parts I saw were too touristy / back packy but overall it looks like a place worthy of more exploration.
For now, I need to sort some apartment things out, and eventually I will install internet in my place. For now, I am in a gaming cafe surrounded by people playing role-playing games. Worth talking about that some other time…
For now, another day off work.
