All is not lost for Taiwan

Despite the great disappointment yesterday, I am still not writing Taiwan off.  The Taiwan Solidarity Union's vote gave them 3 seats in the LY.

I was worried the TSU might disappear if they didn't get enough votes.  Although, some have said Ma will play even dirtier in the 2nd term, I thought, didn't Taiwan survive 39 years of White Terror from the KMT?  Taiwan will survive 4 more years of Ma.  Maybe the 25% of voters who stayed home will wake up and help boot them out the next time?  There are still some old guards like Mark Chen who are working for Taiwan and Lee Ying-yuan, Hsiao Bi-Khim are in the legislature too.  This analyst noted that there are very few people like Tsai Ing-wen in the DPP.  I hope she will stay and fight on.  As long as there are patriots who keep working for Taiwan, I will not lose hope.  China will also fall under the weight of its false potential (remember Gordan Chang's book?).  The cracks are already beginning to show in China's 'hot' economy!  I have also decided that companies like EVA, HTC etc do not deserve my patronage.  I would rather buy Japanese or Korean than from those traitorous companies.  I-mei, however, is still a friend of Taiwan.

Here are the complete LY results.  So, as my friends at the Liberty Times note, the more diverse LY brings hope!  THANK YOU SOUTH TAIWAN (ESPECIALLY TAINAN) AND ILAN FOR HAVING GREAT JUDGEMENT!

Taiwan Election 2012 - Tsai's early lead vanishes, and legislator election is KMT

The Central Election Commission site has real time results updated by the minute.  Tsai leads after 20% of the votes have been counted.  Soong is helping by drawing some KMT votes away.  It's too close.  When will Taiwan break free from the KMT?


Looks like the KMT will prevail in the legislator elections.  However, results show that Green (DPP+TSU) and Blue (KMT, PFP, New Party) are pretty even.


At 1839 Taiwan time, Ma takes the lead with 366/14806  polls accounted for.


At 1848 Taiwan time, Ma is widening his lead. Looking at the polls coming in, it does not look good.  May God keep and protect Taiwan.  The legislator results are widening a bit in favor of the KMT too.

Brahms Symphony Number 2

Finally got around to listening to the last symphony in the Bernstein Brahms Symphony DVD set.  In the short intro, Bernstein notes how Brahms inverts the opening melody later on (much in the same manner he does in the Intermezzo, Opus 118, Nr 2).  Although the Brahms 2nd was the first of his symphonies I got to know (through an LP of Giulini's LAPO recording I bought at The Bay in Market Mall, Calgary in the 1980's), it's the one I seem to like the least.  I like Brahms 3rd the most.  The final movement of the 2nd has always been a favorite of mine though.  What an exciting movement indeed.

Ring in the New Year with Schumann's Spring Symphony

I listened to Roger Norrington's recording of the Schumann Spring and Rhenish Symphonies on New Year's morning. I did notice some vibratoless string playing that Norrington advocates - a baroque orchestra sound that seems strange in Schumann! Right now, I'm listening to Haitink's recordings of the Rhenish and 4th Symphonies. I bought the LP of it years ago, but now have Haitink's complete set on CD.  Brahms has been the staple composer for the past few month's so I thought I'd go back to my other favorite composer, Schumann (along with Mozart).  Beethoven's genius is also heard regularly in the home.  That is one of the greatest joys in my life!

The 2nd Blackberry Playbook I ordered is in.  The Source also found the other one I ordered too (I will be returning that one as I got the preboxing Day price of $250 for the 32 Gig version (saved another $50).  This reviewer says the Playbook is his favorite tablet. I really hope |Canada's RIM turns it around.  At $250 for the 32 Gig version ($200 for the 16 Gig version), you could have up to 3 Playbooks for a single iPad 2.  I know iPad 2 is not 3x better than the Playbook!