Inaugural Celebrations for the 12th President and Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

there's a certain beauty in the innate human kinetic solidarity, just like the kind i witnessed today amidst a sea of 10k+ @ Taipei Arena. the kind of healing fervor that bands small nations or developing & hard-working-upcoming nations whereby igniting an infectious outbreak of emotional patriotism. (even i got the chills during the national anthem).

lots of performers...li hom, feng fei fei, wu bai (who is damn cool i might add) HAHA...

my seats were pretty good, my camera phone just sucks, so i had to take a pic of the screen instead.

when it comes to leading the "hoi polloi" (i've always wanted to use that word) - charisma is arguably more effective than reputation and rationale. the psyche-impact of the superficial facade of a leader can not only be the tipping point in popularity, but at times it's only determining factor. theoretically backwards, but vanity counts. i've oft heard criticism towards president ma for coming off "too soft", and without over stepping my lines of judgement, i must say that after listening to him LIVE....i'll say this....

"PRESIDENT MA LACKS BASS!"

he lacks that manly bass undertone that counter balances any hint of nasal undertones caused by natural vocal register or more importantly nervousness. he is lacking that lower register that psychologically instills both fear and admiration in people.

In his inaugural address, titled "Taiwan's Renaissance," Ma outlined
the goals of his presidency, including revitalizing the economy,
restoring the value of the society and achieving a win-win situation in
cross-strait dealings. Specifically, he emphasized the need to open
dialogues with China based on the 1992 Consensus. The following is the
full text of his inaugural address:

Taiwan's Renaissance

Heads
of State of Our Diplomatic Allies, Distinguished Guests, Overseas
Compatriots, My Fellow Taiwanese, and Dear Friends in front of a
Television Set or Computer: Good Morning!

I. Historical Significance of the Second Turnover of Power

Earlier this year on March 22, through the presidential election of the
Republic of China, the people changed the course of their future. Today
we are here not to celebrate the victory of a particular party or
individual, but to witness Taiwan pass a historic milestone.

Taiwan's democracy has been treading down a rocky road, but now it has
finally won the chance to enter a smoother path. During that difficult
time, political trust was low, political maneuvering was high, and
economic security was gone. Support for Taiwan from abroad had suffered
an all-time low. Fortunately, the growing pains of Taiwan's democracy
did not last long compared to those of other young democracies. Through
these growing pains, Taiwan's democracy matured as one can see by the
clear choice the people made at this critical moment. The people have
chosen clean politics, an open economy, ethnic harmony, and peaceful
cross-strait relations to open their arms to the future.

Above
all, the people have rediscovered Taiwan's traditional core values of
benevolence, righteousness, diligence, honesty, generosity and
industriousness. This remarkable experience has let Taiwan become "a
beacon of democracy to Asia and the world." We, the people of Taiwan,
should be proud of ourselves. The Republic of China is now a democracy
respected by the international community.

Yet we are still not
content. We must better Taiwan's democracy, enrich its substance, and
make it more perfect. To accomplish this, we can rely on the
Constitution to protect human rights, uphold law and order, make
justice independent and impartial, and breathe new life into civil
society. Taiwan's democracy should not be marred by illegal
eavesdropping, arbitrary justice, and political interference in the
media or electoral institutions. All of us share this vision for the
next phase of political reform.

On the day of Taiwan's
presidential election, hundreds of millions of ethnic Chinese worldwide
watched the ballot count on TV and the Internet. Taiwan is the sole
ethnic Chinese society to complete a second democratic turnover of
power. Ethnic Chinese communities around the world have laid their
hopes on this crucial political experiment. By succeeding, we can make
unparalleled contributions to the democratic development of all ethnic
Chinese communities. This responsibility is ours to fulfill.

II. Mission of the New Era

The new administration's most urgent task is to lead Taiwan through the
daunting challenges from globalization. The world economy is changing
profoundly, and newly emerging countries are arising rapidly. We must
upgrade Taiwan's international competitiveness and recover lost
opportunities. The uncertainty of the current global economy poses as
the main challenge to the revitalization of Taiwan's economy. Yet, we
firmly believe that, with right policies and steadfast determination,
our goals are within our grasp.Islands like Taiwan flourish in an open
economy and wither in a closed one. This has been true throughout
history. Therefore, we must open up and deregulate the economy to
unleash the vitality of the private sector. This will strengthen
Taiwan's comparative advantages. Taiwan's enterprises should be
encouraged to establish themselves at home, network throughout the
Asia-Pacific region, and position themselves globally. Taiwan's labor
force must learn to adapt to rapid technological changes and industrial
restructuring. Our youth must develop character, a sense of civic duty,
global perspectives and lifelong learning capabilities. All forms of
political interference in education must be eradicated. In this era of
globalization, the government must satisfy the basic needs of the
underprivileged and create opportunities for them to develop. While
pursuing growth, we must seek environmental sustainability for Taiwan
and the rest of the world.

The new administration must also
restore political ethics to regain the people's trust in the
government. We will endeavor to create an environment that is humane,
rational and pluralistic -- one that fosters political reconciliation
and co-existence. We will promote harmony among sub-ethnic groups and
between the old and new immigrants, encourage healthy competition in
politics, and respect the media's monitoring of the government and
freedom of the press.

The new administration will push for
clean politics and set strict standards for the integrity and
efficiency of officials. It also will provide a code for the
interaction between the public and private sectors to prevent money
politics. I hope every civil servant will keep in mind: "Power
corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The KMT will honor
its sincere commitment to accountability in governance. The new
government will be for all the people, remain non-partisan and uphold
administrative neutrality. The government will not stand in the way of
social progress, but rather serve as the engine that drives it.

As President of the Republic of China, my most solemn duty is to
safeguard the Constitution. In a young democracy, respecting the
Constitution is more important than amending it. My top priority is to
affirm the authority of the Constitution and show the value of abiding
by it. Serving by example, I will follow the letter and the spirit of
the Constitution, especially the separation of powers. We must ensure
that the government is based on the rule of law. The Executive Yuan
must answer to the Legislative Yuan. The Judiciary must guarantee the
rule of law and protect human rights. The Examination Yuan must make
the civil service sound. The Control Yuan must redress mistakes by the
government and censure malfeasance by civil servants. All told, we must
take this opportunity to re-establish a robust constitutional
tradition.

Taiwan has to be a respectable member of the global
village. Dignity, autonomy, pragmatism and flexibility should be
Taiwan's guiding principles when developing foreign relations. As a
world citizen, the Republic of China will accept its responsibilities
in promoting free trade, nonproliferation, anti-global warming
measures, counter-terrorism, humanitarian aid, and other global
commons. Taiwan must play a greater role in regional cooperation. By
strengthening economic relations with its major trading partners,
Taiwan can better integrate itself in East Asia and contribute more to
the region's peace and prosperity.We will strengthen bilateral
relations with the United States, our foremost security ally and
trading partner. Taiwan will continue to cherish its diplomatic allies
and honor its commitments to them. We will expand cooperation with
like-minded countries. On top of that, we will rationalize our defense
budget and acquire necessary defensive weaponry to form a solid
national defense force. At the same time, we are committed to
cross-strait peace and regional stability. The Republic of China must
restore its reputation in the international community as a peace-maker.

I sincerely hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can
seize this historic opportunity to achieve peace and co-prosperity.
Under the principle of "no unification, no independence and no use of
force," as Taiwan's mainstream public opinion holds it, and under the
framework of the ROC Constitution, we will maintain the status quo in
the Taiwan Strait. In 1992, the two sides reached a consensus on "one
China, respective interpretations." Many rounds of negotiation were
then completed, spurring the development of cross-strait relations. I
want to reiterate that, based on the "1992 Consensus," negotiations
should resume at the earliest time possible. As proposed in the Boao
Forum on April 12 of this year, let's "face reality, pioneer a new
future, shelve controversies and pursue a win-win solution." This will
allow us to strike a balance as each pursues its own interests. The
normalization of economic and cultural relations is the first step to a
win-win solution. Accordingly, we are ready to resume consultations. It
is our expectation that, with the start of direct charter flights on
weekends and the arrival of mainland tourists in early July this year,
we will launch a new era of cross-strait relations.

We will
also enter consultations with mainland China over Taiwan's
international space and a possible cross-strait peace accord. Taiwan
doesn't just want security and prosperity. It wants dignity. Only when
Taiwan is no longer being isolated in the international arena can
cross-strait relations move forward with confidence. We have taken note
that Mr. Hu Jintao has recently spoken on cross-strait relations three
times: first, in a conversation of March 26 with U.S. President George
W. Bush on the "1992 Consensus;" second, in his proposed "four
continuations" on April 12 at the Boao Forum; and third, on April 29
when he called for "building mutual trust, shelving controversies,
finding commonalities despite differences, and creating together a
win-win solution" across the Taiwan Strait. His views are very much in
line with our own. Here I would like to call upon the two sides to
pursue reconciliation and truce in both cross-strait and international
arenas. We should help and respect each other in international
organizations and activities. In light of our common Chinese heritage,
people on both sides should do their utmost to jointly contribute to
the international community without engaging in vicious competition and
the waste of resources. I firmly believe that Taiwan and mainland China
are open-minded enough to find a way to attain peace and co-prosperity.

In resolving cross-strait issues, what matters is not
sovereignty but core values and way of life. We care about the welfare
of the 1.3 billion people of mainland China, and hope that mainland
China will continue to move toward freedom, democracy and prosperity
for all the people. This would pave the way for the long-term peaceful
development of cross-strait relations.

The damage from the
recent earthquake in Sichuan was shocking. All Taiwanese have expressed
deep concern and offered immediate emergency assistance. We offer our
deepest condolences to the earthquake victims and pay homage to the
rescue workers. May the reconstruction of the affected area be
completed at the earliest time possible!III. Taiwan's Legacy and Vision

Upon being sworn in, I had an epiphany about the significance of
accepting responsibility for the 23 million people of Taiwan. Although
I have never felt so honored in my life, this is the heaviest
responsibility that I have ever shouldered. Taiwan is not my
birthplace, but it is where I was raised and the resting place of my
family. I am forever grateful to society for accepting and nurturing
this post-war immigrant. I will protect Taiwan with all my heart and
resolutely move forward. I'll do my very best!

For over four
centuries, this island of ours has welcomed waves of immigrants,
nurturing and sheltering us all. It has provided us, our children and
grandchildren, and the generations to come a safe haven. With its lofty
mountains and vast oceans, Taiwan has invigorated us in mind and
spirit. The cultural legacies we inherited over time not only survive
on this land, but flourish and evolve, creating a pluralistic and
vigorous human landscape.

The Republic of China was reborn on
Taiwan. During my presidency, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary
of the founding of the Republic of China. This democratic republic, the
very first in Asia, spent a short 38 years on the Chinese mainland, but
has spent nearly 60 years in Taiwan. During these last six decades, the
destinies of the Republic of China and Taiwan have been closely
intertwined. Together, the two have experienced times good and bad. On
the jagged path toward democracy, the ROC has made great strides. Dr.
Sun Yat-sen's dream for a constitutional democracy was not realized on
the Chinese mainland, but today it has taken root, blossomed and borne
fruit in Taiwan.

I am confident about Taiwan's future. Over the
years, I have traveled to every corner of the island and talked with
people from all walks of life. What impressed me most was that the
traditional core values of benevolence, righteousness, diligence,
honesty, generosity and industriousness could be seen everywhere in the
words and deeds of the Taiwanese people regardless of their location
and age. These values have long been ingrained in their character. This
is the wellspring of our progress, also lauded as the "Taiwan Spirit."

One can see that Taiwan is blessed with an excellent geographic
location, precious cultural assets, a maturing democracy, innovative
entrepreneurship, a pluralistic society, active civic groups, patriotic
overseas compatriots, and new immigrants from all over the world. We
should couple the "Taiwan Spirit" with our comparative advantages and
the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people."
This way we can make our homeland -- Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu
-- the envy of the world.

To revive Taiwan requires the
efforts of both the government and the people. We need the expertise of
the private sector, cooperation among all political parties, and
participation by all the people. My dear compatriots, from this moment
on, we must roll up our sleeves to build up our homeland. Together, we
can lay a solid foundation of peace and prosperity for our children,
grandchildren and the generations to come. Let's work hand in hand for
our future!

My dear compatriots, please join me:

Long live Taiwan's democracy!

Long live the Republic of China!

Thank you!

presidentmainauguration05

9:32 PM

"...i got to say, it was a good day"

saturday wasn't anything special. in fact, a lot of things didn't work out as planned. to describe it - was a mix of ice cubes "it was a good day" music video and ethan hawke's 'before sunset' movie. walked around, ate, shopped, stood outside the james blunt concert (waiting for tickets to arrive after it ended) and talked a whole whole lot.

Chien-Ming Wang's rise began when he got a grip on the sinker that has become one of the game's filthiest pitches.

Chien-Ming Wang Has A Secret

interesting excerpt...

After his rookie season Wang returned home to a hero's welcome, receiving an invitation to meet President Chen Shui-Bian.
By the time Wang returned home after the 2006 season, in which he went
19-6 with a 3.63 ERA and finished second in American League Cy Young
voting, he was more popular than the president. "There's no question
that he has more impact than anyone else in our country," says Shao.
"The way we look at it, a president is in office for no more than eight
years, then someone else comes along. Wang, he's everlasting."

Now
Taiwan's major newspapers charge a higher advertising rate for issues
published on a day that Wang pitches, as well as the day after each
start. The country's largest circulation daily, Apple Daily,
estimates that it sells as many as 300,000 extra papers on days that
carry reports of another Wang victory. Endorsements that have come
Wang's way include McDonald's, Ford, E Sun Bank (one of the largest in
Taiwan) and computer-maker Acer, which claims that Wang's name alone
has increased its product sales by 10% and lowered the average age of
its consumer by almost four years.

A lagging economy, political scandal (the president's wife, Wu Shu-Chen, and three aides were charged with embezzlement, while former Vice Interior Minister Yen Wan-Ching
was recently convicted in a bribery case) and escalating tensions with
China have made this a nervous time for the Taiwanese people. "Wang,
he's our only consensus," says Shao. Referring to the government's
combative legislative branch, which is renowned for in-chamber brawling
among lawmakers, Shao says, "When our congressmen are debating, they'll
stop their fighting, watch Wang pitch, then go back to fighting when
the inning is over."

Last year a study in a Taiwanese business journal, Money Weekly, found
a correlation between Wang's pitching performances and the fluctuations
of the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The report attributed a 25% index rise
last summer to Wang's strong June and July. "We absolutely believe it
to be true," Shao says of the relationship between Wang's performance
and last summer's bull market. "Psychologically, how [Wang] does has a
huge effect on the Taiwanese people. If he does well, people are in a
good mood, and they go out and spend money. If he doesn't, you walk
around and you can see people depressed. It's a very personal matter to
the Taiwanese people." (For the record, the country's stock index was
up roughly 6%, through Monday, since Wang's first start this season, on
April 1.)

1:18 AM

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Chien-Ming Wang Has A Secret

ASTROOO

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