The Portfolios

Tribeca Film Festival, New York.

Lost Indulgence, a Zhang Yibai film. City, Chongqing, China.

April 28th, afternoon. Rindy and I met at AMC on 19th near Broadway for Zhang Yibai’s film.

I know Zhang Yibai since I was 15 or so. His first work was a TV series about college loves, it was very fresh and charming work in those days.

After many years, I finally saw another work of his. Curiosity kills the cat. It’s a love story about chinese middle class. But it’s not a sweet one, it’s very gloomy.

Couple years later, Zhang again, in New Yrok- Tribeca Film Festival. I saw their brochure, seems like Zhang’s film is the only one from Aisa. Very impressive! The film is poetic atmosphere as Zhang says during the interview. The whole theme is sad, a love story about low class in China. I just think everyone is unhappy in their life in the movie. Poor people will always be poor in the bottom of the society, that’s why there are always some hopes showing in the movie. Yeah, it’s about hope. Their hopes might not be big, such as save the world, save the animal. But their hopes support them to keep living in the bottom.

Damn, got go to work now…….

Hope chinese people are able to watch this movie in China.

Wake up and Listen. I did. WNYC AM 820. It was a fresh feeling when I heard John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji were talking for a grand new program The Take Away. After few minutes, I turned radio to 93.9 FM, because I believe I like Morning Edition more, I like the old fashion way to get news and informations, clear, calm, professional.

My favorite show from WNYC is BBC World Service at 9am. I love it. It gives me so many information around the world, not just about the United States. It gives me a big picture about what’s going on outside the States. I love to hear about China from BBC, it’s fair and clear. The best part is BBC has so many sharp questions to questioning the government, it’s really funny to hear that some governments could not give the right or clear answers.

Finally, congratulations to The Take Away!

Maybe the best fortune cookie ever?

This was Xianyi’s tonight, and I couldn’t agree more.

Have you ever pulled a credit report on yourself? Try it out at annualcreditreport.com - you can do it for free once every 12 months, by law. I did it last year and I was recently going over it again - when I noticed this at the top of the report:

Isn’t that creepy?

Happy birthday, baby!

??? Xianyi Deng Portfolio

1983-Forever

23:59 April 16th, the 6th birthday without family!

Age 2o, had hot-pot with Rindy(boyfriend level) at the spot 1 block away from our apt in Kunming, China.

Age 21, Rindy bought a huge dinner for me and our friends at a sichuan restaurant in Kunming, China, then headed to Speakeasy bar, drank till who knows when then cried~~~~~~

Age 22, Brad Turley designed a dinner for me, Rindy and I enjoyed it at New Heights in Shanghai, China.

Age 23, Rindy and I went to an old town XITANG for a lovely weekend.

Age 24, invited friends for cocktails at last minute at Meso, but only Emma showed up plus Rindy. Then we headed to Roots’ concert with friends, bro Brad Turley provided tickets :-D, then went to a taiwaness restaurant for late dinner.

Age 25, TODAY! Sangria, sichuan cold dishes, central park, Janpanese booz, beer, bar food. Can you believe that Rindy even bought a lottery ticket with 5 groups of numbers as a birthday present, overall, I didn’t win the money.

Where will my next birthday be? I don’t wanna know.

Shea came by to visit us in our new home. She seemed to like it, although she was a little shy at first. There were a few minutes when all she wanted to do was flap her lips in a way that made her drool all over the place. Then she got her hands on her mom’s scarf and played dress-up for a while - that’s when I got this shot.