"You can't shoot me! I have a very low threshold of death. My doctor says I can't have bullets enter my body at any time."

- Jimmy Bond, Casino Royale (1967)

Living in a high-stress city doesn't lead to more personal problems or dysfunction. We'll have or find those problems wherever we are because of our programming. It just manifests differently based on where we are.

- Carlton

Does art stem from loneliness?

"The arts play a role in a community where there aren't many places to go escape. In Europe, so much of the great art happened in countries where there was a cold winter, and the way to escape was not physically but emotionally through the arts."

- John Meehan, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet. Also, someone I've worked with in the past (when he was with ABT).

Don't ask, don't say - everything lies in silence.

Shallow brooks are noisy.

"Testiculate - to wave your arms about talking bollocks."

- MC of the Carbine Club

When the head is stupid, the arms and legs have a harder time.

It doesn't matter what you do if you live and die as you like.

It's less about what you do, and more about who you are.

"I'm an actor and, each time out, I'm trying to convince the audience that I'm this character. Every little thing that people know about you as a person impedes your ability to achieve that kind of terrific suspension of disbelief that happens when an audience goes with an actor and character [he's] playing."

- Edward Norton

He seems to be in the news rarely. Maybe that's part of why I think he's a very good actor.

[2 kids sitting together]

Boy - "Let's play doctor"

Girl - "I don't have insurance"

"My advice to you: be young and reckless"
- A.Y.

Love and death come uninvited.

The farther down a path you go the harder it is to turn back.

[solemn] "I have stolen your life."
- Shimada Kambei to Gorobei Katayama (just before he died)

I love my letter opener.

Appearance and function -
It's long and sleek. Double edged. Has a red handle. Well balanced. Stainless steel. Made in Japan. I love slotting it in and the sound & sensation of the long tear.

History -
I found it 6 or 7 years ago at an abandoned office of a bankrupt construction company in Hong Kong. I was searching through their records, as part of a summer internship. I was working in insolvency. Office furniture and machines go to auction to raise money for creditors, but I don't think the letter opener would have sold. I think it would have been thrown away. I saved it.

Gratuitousness -
Fingers can open letters - a letter opener is not a necessary item. Yet, it makes the whole experience much more sleek, refined, efficient. Isn't love also gratuitous? What concrete thing does it actually do or serve in itself? It's not necessary in life, but it makes life more... refined, elevated.

Hmm... when I started writing this post I never realized that the conclusion would be that my letter opener is a symbol for love.

"You think wisdom is a flower for you to pluck. It is a mountain and it must be climbed."

I've started noticing the term Greater China. Is it a throwback to the great in Great Britain? Is there a reason for it? Seems a bit pretentious.

Half of the population of India is under 25 (NY Times). It's very youthful. If I go over there I'd be middle-aged. What a scary thought.

"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others."
- Jonathan Swift

(He was also the person that came up with "A penny for your thoughts.")

I have a friend who was put on the list of missing after the World Trade Center attacks by one of his friends. They were both in Pennsylvania, no where near the places attacked. It has had a number of repercussions. For example, if someone finds out that he was on the list and offers sympathies/condolences, he can't really say, "well actually my friend thought it'd be funny and put my name down as a joke." It's dark humor, but I have to say it's quite original. I wonder if his name will be read out somewhere.