Hey Blogspot,
I just wanna say goodbye.
I'm having so many new ideas in my head for now while struggling making my both ends meet. It's obvious this blog doesn't suit my life any more.
But I won't delete it. It is here as it has always been a part of my life.
Kind regards,
Duong.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
to think more of my charisma
I think I have a few problems with conversational skills. Those may come from my limit of confidence, or from my characteristics, but at least I know and admit them. It's a good beginning to improve myself, isn't it?
I found this article tonight which I think is informative and inspirational for me to find a few resource to read more. Even before doing any further reading, the article itself reminds me very clearly a few basic principles to be a good conversationist:
http://www.economist.com/node/8345491?fsrc=scn/fb/te/pe/ed/chatteringclasses
A few paragraphs that I'm really keen on:
"The basic skills brought to the table were expected to include politesse (sincere good manners), esprit (wit), galanterie (gallantry), complaisance (obligingness), enjouement(cheerfulness) and flatterie. More specific techniques would be required as the conversation took flight. A comic mood would require displays of raillerie (playful teasing), plaisanterie(joking), bons mots (epigrams), traits and pointes (rhetorical figures involving “subtle, unexpected wit”, according to Benedetta Craveri, a historian of the period), and, later,persiflage (mocking under the guise of praising). Even silences had to be finely judged. The Duc de La Rochefoucauld distinguished between an “eloquent” silence, a “mocking” silence and a “respectful” silence. The mastery of such “airs and tones”, he said, was “granted to few”." - this really makes conversation an genre of art!
"Johnson was far from the only Englishman to have matched a love of conversation with a reputation for occasional difficult silences. As he himself said: “A Frenchman must always be talking, whether he knows anything of the matter or not; an Englishman is content when he has nothing to say.” In his book “Democracy in America”, Alexis de Tocqueville refers to the “strange unsociability and reserved and taciturn disposition of the English”. But for Charles Dickens, another foreign visitor to America in the 19th century, it was the Americans who seemed taciturn. He blamed this on a “love of trade”, which limited men's interests and made them reluctant to volunteer information for fear of tipping their hand to a competitor. The idealisation of silence remained strong in American culture into the 20th century: think of the laconic heroes of Western films, or of Hemingway's novels."
"More recently it has been neither trade nor taciturnity, but the distractions of technology, which have seemed to threaten the quality of conversation" - sounds familiar today with the smart devices, doesn't it?
Well, I bet after this reading my conversation skill has improved 1%. A positive result!
I found this article tonight which I think is informative and inspirational for me to find a few resource to read more. Even before doing any further reading, the article itself reminds me very clearly a few basic principles to be a good conversationist:
http://www.economist.com/node/8345491?fsrc=scn/fb/te/pe/ed/chatteringclasses
A few paragraphs that I'm really keen on:
"The basic skills brought to the table were expected to include politesse (sincere good manners), esprit (wit), galanterie (gallantry), complaisance (obligingness), enjouement(cheerfulness) and flatterie. More specific techniques would be required as the conversation took flight. A comic mood would require displays of raillerie (playful teasing), plaisanterie(joking), bons mots (epigrams), traits and pointes (rhetorical figures involving “subtle, unexpected wit”, according to Benedetta Craveri, a historian of the period), and, later,persiflage (mocking under the guise of praising). Even silences had to be finely judged. The Duc de La Rochefoucauld distinguished between an “eloquent” silence, a “mocking” silence and a “respectful” silence. The mastery of such “airs and tones”, he said, was “granted to few”." - this really makes conversation an genre of art!
"Johnson was far from the only Englishman to have matched a love of conversation with a reputation for occasional difficult silences. As he himself said: “A Frenchman must always be talking, whether he knows anything of the matter or not; an Englishman is content when he has nothing to say.” In his book “Democracy in America”, Alexis de Tocqueville refers to the “strange unsociability and reserved and taciturn disposition of the English”. But for Charles Dickens, another foreign visitor to America in the 19th century, it was the Americans who seemed taciturn. He blamed this on a “love of trade”, which limited men's interests and made them reluctant to volunteer information for fear of tipping their hand to a competitor. The idealisation of silence remained strong in American culture into the 20th century: think of the laconic heroes of Western films, or of Hemingway's novels."
"More recently it has been neither trade nor taciturnity, but the distractions of technology, which have seemed to threaten the quality of conversation" - sounds familiar today with the smart devices, doesn't it?
Well, I bet after this reading my conversation skill has improved 1%. A positive result!
Monday, October 26, 2015
To save my old address in Oz
Tonight I'm changing my address on eBay account.
I screen-capture these old addresses of where I used to stay in Sydney as souvenirs.
Goodbye old good memories and thank you Australia again!
I screen-capture these old addresses of where I used to stay in Sydney as souvenirs.
Goodbye old good memories and thank you Australia again!
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Change the name of this blog
I have quite many blog at the moment and left the urban planning job for 2 years. I thought I would have left this blog forever but maybe visiting it and write something down is still enjoyable to me.
Tonight I just decided to rename it, from "r-kudo.blogspot.com" to "rkudo-urban.blogspot.com". That's more coherent with my personal branding "rkudo". It's not an easy-to-remember name anyway.
Tonight I just decided to rename it, from "r-kudo.blogspot.com" to "rkudo-urban.blogspot.com". That's more coherent with my personal branding "rkudo". It's not an easy-to-remember name anyway.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Saigon opens its boat route on Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe channel
I'm glad to see these images. Although the riverscape is still not very attractive, at least the boat route gives it a reason to be improved. I'd love to experience this someday, probably with my buddies from US or Australia.
source: nld.com.vn and news.zing.vn
Monday, April 20, 2015
Tarot
I just pick tarot cards with the thought about the path I'm going on.
Post here to note for myself and see if it's true. At least the cards seem all relevant to my unspoken question at the moment
self: King of Swords
Judge well and wisely; you are the one with the final say.
The card in the Self position reveals aspects of how you perceive yourself right now.
The King of Swords in this position stands for fairness and even handed treatment. He settles disputes, assists in the resolution of conflicts and mediates.
Bringing analytical and interrogative skills to bear on whatever the current drama may be, the King of Swords is by consent of his community the impartial adjudicator. He works hard to maintain that reputation and that position. Patient listening and penetrating questions are his signature, and those qualities are just what are presently being asked of you.
Bringing analytical and interrogative skills to bear on whatever the current drama may be, the King of Swords is by consent of his community the impartial adjudicator. He works hard to maintain that reputation and that position. Patient listening and penetrating questions are his signature, and those qualities are just what are presently being asked of you.
situation: Four of Swords
Turn aside from contemporary concerns. Guard and protect that peace that naturally resides in the depths of your soul.
The card that lands in the Situation position refers to social or circumstantial factors which could be affecting your life at this time.
When the Four of Swords appears in this position, you are blissfully removed from the conflicts of the day. You now have the freedom to wash your hands of current controversies. Your present mission, regardless of what others are up to, is to enter your inner sanctum and meditate, drawing energy from your inner guides.
In your private sanctuary, you can communicate with those who have inspired you with their accomplishments and improve yourself with the aid of their example. Delve deeply into your inner life and be responsible for guarding that treasure of inspiration and hope. Protect and nurture your interior haven of peace.
In your private sanctuary, you can communicate with those who have inspired you with their accomplishments and improve yourself with the aid of their example. Delve deeply into your inner life and be responsible for guarding that treasure of inspiration and hope. Protect and nurture your interior haven of peace.
Challenge/ Opportunity: Ace of Wands
Make your decisions wisely because you will have to live with the consequences.
The card that lands in the Challenges/Opportunities position refers to ways that you can turn obstacles into stepping stones.
The Ace of Wands in this position encourages you to keep your focus through the inevitable changes that will emerge from the choice or decision you are currently making. Have the courage of your convictions. When you are in a position in which you can do things your own way, you have to be a leader, taking responsibility for all the consequences of this choice, which is now in your hands.
Be sure you are willing to live with the outcome. This is the moment to possibly adjust your thinking. Once things are further set in motion, it may be too late.
Be sure you are willing to live with the outcome. This is the moment to possibly adjust your thinking. Once things are further set in motion, it may be too late.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
It's best to write in times of loneliness
1. Some new inspiration
Last month I got probably the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get so close to Thanh Loc, an excellent actor/artist of Vietnam, when he came to my studio to make a short documentary video supporting his new-released autobiography.
I sat there just 2 meter in front of him. He re-performed about 7 best acts through out his career. He caused us to applaud. He'd have taken some tears of mine easily If I were a woman. He talked about the act and in just half an exhale he suddenly turned into the character. He talked, got dramatic, cried, lied on the floor, then laughed, then coughed,... transforming my small studio into different spaces and times.
For a few moments after he had left, I imagined practicing acting alone letting all myself as dramatic as possible.
Last week, I and mom got an invitation to 5B Theater to watch "Đêm Vượn Hú - Night of The Gibbons' Cry". Though covered with an ambient of ghostly horror, the play was about people and their greed, their losing of humanity over properties. I still trembled for half an hour after the play was over, thinking about the true scare of it. This play has got me more interested in drama and I'd probably spend some money and time on this genre of art with my mom, a bigger fan of drama.
A few days ago I met a young writer. We went to the same highschool and have some common friends and he gave me a copy of one of his books. It was written in the cover "the best-selling book of 2014". I'm not afraid to say that his literature is not my genre but I still read a few chapters to soothe my mind out of all on-computer tasks I am having at the moment. The thing is, his book inspired me to write again.
I think I have good imagination and extra-confidence because whenever I enjoy paintings, literature, photography, ... I always hear myself whispering "hey I can probably do it, too".
2. I was going to write something for number 2 half an hour ago but now I forgot.
3. I miss you. Really really miss you and I know texting too much is not wise in times like this. Anyway, I'd rather be unwise than regret later not expressing my feeling.
4. I'd should arrange time to get back to my writing project ASAP. I constructed a draft layout one year ago and left it unfinished. Bad me!
Last month I got probably the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get so close to Thanh Loc, an excellent actor/artist of Vietnam, when he came to my studio to make a short documentary video supporting his new-released autobiography.
I sat there just 2 meter in front of him. He re-performed about 7 best acts through out his career. He caused us to applaud. He'd have taken some tears of mine easily If I were a woman. He talked about the act and in just half an exhale he suddenly turned into the character. He talked, got dramatic, cried, lied on the floor, then laughed, then coughed,... transforming my small studio into different spaces and times.
For a few moments after he had left, I imagined practicing acting alone letting all myself as dramatic as possible.
Last week, I and mom got an invitation to 5B Theater to watch "Đêm Vượn Hú - Night of The Gibbons' Cry". Though covered with an ambient of ghostly horror, the play was about people and their greed, their losing of humanity over properties. I still trembled for half an hour after the play was over, thinking about the true scare of it. This play has got me more interested in drama and I'd probably spend some money and time on this genre of art with my mom, a bigger fan of drama.
A few days ago I met a young writer. We went to the same highschool and have some common friends and he gave me a copy of one of his books. It was written in the cover "the best-selling book of 2014". I'm not afraid to say that his literature is not my genre but I still read a few chapters to soothe my mind out of all on-computer tasks I am having at the moment. The thing is, his book inspired me to write again.
I think I have good imagination and extra-confidence because whenever I enjoy paintings, literature, photography, ... I always hear myself whispering "hey I can probably do it, too".
2. I was going to write something for number 2 half an hour ago but now I forgot.
3. I miss you. Really really miss you and I know texting too much is not wise in times like this. Anyway, I'd rather be unwise than regret later not expressing my feeling.
4. I'd should arrange time to get back to my writing project ASAP. I constructed a draft layout one year ago and left it unfinished. Bad me!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
the suddenly come enlightenment of painting
So just one hour of coating another layer of acrylic onto the smart board leftover from construction, I turned of my Kindle which was in the middle of "Eat, Pray, Love" to wake my laptop up for another working session and suddenly read this to myself "I literally like to paint things. Anything, everything, just paint 'em", taking a short gaze at the board.
Very quick my memory ran through:
I painted something on the took box of another elder student in my fine-art class. I was just a junior who finished the University Entrance Exam and came back to the class to upgrade myself with new skills such as water colour. He was a already a student of the University of Fine Arts practicing with oil. We're totally strangers and that mean I shouldn't have had touched any of his stuffs. But for a moment, I looked at his toolbox of oil painting and paint on it using one of his brush and oil. This later became a story during conversations of the class master and her son who witnessed my artistic crime.
I often feel the need to paint something, especially whenever my mind is wandering on the cloud. The older I get, the more realistic of the 'things' I want to paint become. I used to think I would invest on better Wacom tablet and larger screen to follow digital painting but that idea turned out not strong enough to come true while the idea of picking up cheap acrylic and ready-to-paint canvas in the Discount Convenient Store on Anzac Parade won over and soothed my desire for the first time.
In the sentence "I want to paint something", the "to paint" is stronger than "something". It's more like a starving person want 'to eat' first and think about what to eat slightly later. For many times I finished coating and just look blankly at the canvas or paper, still having no certain idea of what to put on it but full of inspiration to coating more and more layers on it. I love to enjoy the new surface of the canvas, then look closely to study the textures that I have just created. I believe if my mom allowed I'd paint all wooden chairs in the house in yellow or white in an artistic way with acrylic.
Wait, from the moment I admitted to myself that I want to paint everything in new coating not to create any kind masterpiece applied with anything I learned about composition, space, line, shape, etc. , I know I love to paint. I think this enlightenment came from the awakened mind after reading a book with the addition of a weekend morning quietness probably. This is a good therapy. This is such a good enlightenment!
Very quick my memory ran through:
I painted something on the took box of another elder student in my fine-art class. I was just a junior who finished the University Entrance Exam and came back to the class to upgrade myself with new skills such as water colour. He was a already a student of the University of Fine Arts practicing with oil. We're totally strangers and that mean I shouldn't have had touched any of his stuffs. But for a moment, I looked at his toolbox of oil painting and paint on it using one of his brush and oil. This later became a story during conversations of the class master and her son who witnessed my artistic crime.
I often feel the need to paint something, especially whenever my mind is wandering on the cloud. The older I get, the more realistic of the 'things' I want to paint become. I used to think I would invest on better Wacom tablet and larger screen to follow digital painting but that idea turned out not strong enough to come true while the idea of picking up cheap acrylic and ready-to-paint canvas in the Discount Convenient Store on Anzac Parade won over and soothed my desire for the first time.
In the sentence "I want to paint something", the "to paint" is stronger than "something". It's more like a starving person want 'to eat' first and think about what to eat slightly later. For many times I finished coating and just look blankly at the canvas or paper, still having no certain idea of what to put on it but full of inspiration to coating more and more layers on it. I love to enjoy the new surface of the canvas, then look closely to study the textures that I have just created. I believe if my mom allowed I'd paint all wooden chairs in the house in yellow or white in an artistic way with acrylic.
Wait, from the moment I admitted to myself that I want to paint everything in new coating not to create any kind masterpiece applied with anything I learned about composition, space, line, shape, etc. , I know I love to paint. I think this enlightenment came from the awakened mind after reading a book with the addition of a weekend morning quietness probably. This is a good therapy. This is such a good enlightenment!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
As people do?
I wonder why Mom keeps saying "your idea is always weird. nobody does that" so I always ask "why do we have to do 'as people do'?". She has never been able to really reply properly.
So :-)
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
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