Back From China

Back From China
Originally uploaded by triciawang.

School 171 2nd Fl View; Beijing, China

This could look like the view of NYC from Hunts Point-Bronx right?

I am back from China - and I feel a bit shattered - pieces of me are still in Beijing - scattered around in all my favorite restaurants, new family, new friends, new stores and new streets. My tummy is having a hard time adjusting to American food again. My stomach is a lot happier in Beijing - I ate like I was rich there! I never worried if I had enough money for food and I could always order shrimp, octopus, fish and all the desserts I wanted. here - I don't eat out a lot and when I do I can't just say I want fish and lobster every night. My money went very far there. I guess I am in severe food withdrawel.

I was so happy in Beijing because I was so far from everything I was familiar with. It was nice to not know anyone and to just wake up anytime I wanted without worrying what I needed to do or who I should call. I didn't have to meet up with anyone - time was irrelevant other than when I was working. No friends - no cell - no wireless - no partner - no family = lots of time for yourself!

This is How I Feel

This is How I Feel
Originally uploaded by triciawang.

Dashanzi, Beijing, China

this picture was taken at the art district in Beijing - they are remodeling this room and all that was left is this sculpture - and this picture captures how I am feeling right now. I feel like shit is up in the air and I don't know how to proceed with life right now cuz I am up against a wall - and all I can do is try to sit and breathe - but even trying to breathe is antithetical to authentic breathing. So I am that man in the sculpture - just trying to embrace the questions.
What are the questions tricia?
1.) I don't know where I am moving.
2.) don't know which grad school will accept me.
3.) don't know when I can get a pedicure
4.) how long do I have to wait for this damn ugly haircut to grow out?
5.) when will my health results come back?
6.) what will happen to my grandmother?
7.) when will spring come?

ok I am done complaining!

New Wave of Human Rights Documentation

aburazr_sm
Originally uploaded by triciawang.

WITNESS, an organization that gives people video cameras to document human rights abuses has now announced within 1 year anyone can upload video clips to their website. I wonder if they will truly open up by syndicating their clips (RSS and etc). What a brilliant idea! That means in NYC I can record how NYC police blatantly mistreat certain populations and then I can sent the video to WITNESS!

I don't fully understand the technical bitsies behind this idea but here's what I like about this:
1.) WITNESS opened up a community forum to discuss how to best implement this idea. So now all these non-WITNESS staff are able to contribute their recommendations to the tech staff
2.) using existing resources that are already in people's hands - instead of a top down hierarchal approach and deficit model, they were able to think about how to utilize the the tools and technologies that people already have - like cellphones - cameras -
3.) uses the power of their network - this allows anyone with video recording abilities to participate instead of having to self-distribute and place video cameras into their network



WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Digital Witness:
In an interview at BusinessWeek online, Gabriel and Witness Executive Director Gillian Caldwell reveal that the organization intends to open up an online portal allowing people to send in video clips from digital cameras and cameraphones -- that is, if they can get the funding.

Are people already sending tapes or images from mobile phones?
Gabriel: We haven't had the structure to do that. That's the next challenge.
Caldwell: Implementation will be in the next 12 months. That's what we're shooting for, although we need financial support.

How will you keep control of the content?
Gabriel: We hope there will be some sort of self-regulating system. People, in order to get content uploaded, would have to rate three or four other pieces of material [on the site]. My country [England] is the most observed country in the world. I think the average person gets filmed eight times a day. The aim here is to turn the cameras back.