Communication Chinese Style

There was a certain amount of uncertainty in the house since the tsunamis hit South Asia. Toutou's parent's were on their first ever vacation outside China, visiting places including Thailand and Malaysia. Tou quickly found a website for the tour operator where it said that everyone was believed to be safe, but nonetheless, he tried his parents' cell phone. No answer.

He got online regularly to see if there were e-mails from his cousins in China. There were, but they were only talking daily trivialities. So, we assumed his parents were fine, but there was nagging doubt until he reached them safe and sound back home in Beijing this morning.

And now the real story is unfolded. His cousins in China were in a panic and madly phoing tour operators and embassies after the tsunamis. But, because they wanted to calm Toutou, they decided to send him e-mail that didn't mention any of their worry or, for that matter, his parents or the tsunamis at all! BUT! Toutou actually became more worried after this (though he didn't share his fears with us) because he thought their unexpected trivial e-mails were being sent because his parents were hurt or dead and they were trying to spare his feelings until the right moment.

It all gives me a headache.

How's everyone's holidays going? I guess some are back at work already. Well, I have until Monday to enjoy and I am trying my level best! In two hours, we're off to Indian lunch buffet at Biryani House. mmmm

Magic Shadows

Since this is the time of year when we do these things, here are the best movies I saw this year in roughly backwards chronology of viewing. Not included are some old favourites I resaw.

Confusion des genres (France)
Venus Beauty Institute (France)
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… and Spring (Korea)
Little Cheung (Hong Kong)
Durian, Durian (Hong Kong)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (USA)
Angels in America (USA)
Spiderman 2 (USA)
Le fils (Belgium)
The Dreamers (Italy/France)
Supersize Me (USA)
Son frère (France)
Ripley’s Game (Italy/UK/USA)
Charlotte Sometimes (USA)
LOTR: ROTK

Also, Season 3 of the Sopranos which may be the best television season of any show I've ever seen.

And loathe as I am to do the whole "best picture" thing, the one that has stayed with me most profoundly is Le fils for the elegant simplicity with which it plumbs its painful depths.

Anyone get my entry title? Any Ontarians here old enough to remember that show?