Thang Nguyen 555
Cultures on Collision Course
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Author: Thang Nguyen 555
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Elizabeth Taylor and Colonel Gaddafi. What do they have in common? Nothing, except for being on the cover of People and TIME, respectively. The Queen of Tinsel Town once played Cleopatra, while the Colonel orchestrated his self-ascendency to be King of Kings (Africa). She was surrounded by men (husbands) he women (bodyguards). Liz hung out with…
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On the list of “cities that might get worse”, many are from California (Stockton, Bakersfield…but surprisingly, San Francisco as well). Even with and despite boosted help from Tinsel Town. My first impressions of Los Angeles were formed back in the midst 80’s, during the commercial real estate boom (remember Michael Douglas and the Japanese gangs, or automobile…
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I finally am back online today. ATT supports this modem, not that modem etc… This network password, that e-mail password (same ID to confuse the issue). Two billion people. All have to go through the ramp to the cloud. This company wants to collect toll. That company wants to authenticate users, sets up their e-mail…
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When I saw a near accident today (a beat-up car driver, on the cell phone, backing up and brushing my neighbor’s mail box – which pulled my neighbor out of the door, in the middle of a mobile call himself), I realized we were indeed in a different era (from one which people sat on…
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Years ago, I was fascinated with the California flea market. Back East, we got garage sales or moving sales. But the Bay Area markets sold vinyl albums, “flower” clothing, books and even gourmet meals on wheels. A Vietnamese family even offered sugar cane juice next to a hot-dog stand. Fast forward 20 years. A random walk…
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At least, we heard from the Japanese government that their responses were too underwhelming to match the size of March-11th-2011 quake. Back in 79, officials released piecemeal information out of Harrisburg, PA about nuclear reactors and radiation leaks (I happened to wire the mike and test the sound before the live taping of then Governor Dick…
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In the wake of a huge catastrophe, we tend to rely on experts, in this case, geologists to lecture us on aftershocks, fault line, Pacific Ring of Fire etc… We tend to miss the human dimension of unsung heroes, the peacemakers. There were a Japanese crew, earthquake experts, in New Zealand trying to help out in…
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Years ago, I rode in the back , my friend and his wife in front, and I popped “The Essential Bob Dylan” on “to knock, knock ….on heaven’s door” all the way to a Vietnam beach. On April 10th, the singer will be there in person, finally. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20043290-10391698.html American celebrities with conscience have fascinated with…
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Oil price backed down as tsunami water gushed up to Japanese shores. The two shall never mix. Middle East rising. Pacific falling. News of a thousand deaths abroad eclipsed news of petty thefts at home. Statistically, street crime is down while cyber-crime up. I admire Net Gen’s speed to mobilize relief efforts e.g. People Finder by…
Thang Nguyen 555 