No GuanXi

There will be no further GuanXi magazine content posted on this site. For purely archival purposes, what has been posted here shall remain – a small tribute to those writers, artists and friends who contributed simply because they are writers, artists and friends.

The “Editor in Cheif” (sic) of GuanXi may be contacted by email.

Letter from the Editor – GuanXi IV

Welcome to GuanXi Four – the Spring issue – marking our first full year. To celebrate this auspicious achievement we’ve put together yet another fantastic magazine for your enjoyment. I’d buff my fingernails on my shirt front but it prevents me from typing. I am, you may trust, composing this letter with a particularly smug and satisfied look on my face. You should see Gilbert – he’s absolutely giddy with excitement and performing his interpretive GuanXi happy dance. Matt is also very pleased but he tends to be more taciturn.

To mark GuanXi Mark IV, we are pleased to present our first ever centerfold – designed to be popped out and proudly hung on your wall; a limited edition suitable for framing. You can SEE IT HERE, but the proper centerfold is only available in the magazine.
It was supposed to be a naked photo of Gilbert (designed to be guiltily hidden under your mattress) but the pics were stolen. The list of suspects is, as you might imagine, almost infinite. Nevertheless, the feature was rescued by cartoonist Chris Lecours who raises a long suspected question about the world’s smartest human, Noam Chomsky.

GuanXi is also very pleased to host a feature from Taipei based photographer Tobie Openshaw, who recently organized a Ted X Talk on the island. Mr. Openshaw has spent years studying an unique Taiwanese cultural phenomenon: Betel Nut Beauties. Whether you think it’s a matter of shocking exploitation or a happy yet dangerous distraction while driving, his insight and photos will give you a fresh perspective on the subject.

Hamock Myson returns, in his inimitable style, with another work of fiction tracing the path of a particular bit of filthy lucre through the local economy while making thin reference to classic poetry. Let me not to the sharing of his fine tale admit impediments.

Kate Nicholson, in her recurring role as GuanXi’s culture maven, interviews a Fulbright scholar who is deeply involved with environmental art here in Taiwan and with curating exhibits featuring Taiwanese artists. Her outstanding article on Jane Ingram Allen presents some great photos and a fresh look at what it means to make art.

GuanXi is further pleased to announce that we now hobnob with a real live journalist. WaPo’s Taiwan stringer, Amber Parcher, haunts the island covering all things of interest to America. She spent her Chinese New Year visiting Cambodia and has taken the time to share her experience.

Amanda Fiore graces us with yet another poem. Amanda left Taiwan to pursue an MFA in creative writing back in the States and has been so kind as to flash glimpses of the depth and breadth of her talent. It is no exaggeration to say she is doing exactly what she was always meant to – being a writer and a poet – and that you should hang on to the early issues of GuanXi because her work appears in these pages.

We also have a bit of a blast from the past. Some may recall the magazine 24/7 and the crazed rantings of an untethered crank who called himself Mr. Bitch. Perhaps a quote from Elton John would be appropriate: The bitch is back. Stone cold sober as a matter of fact…
Not a precise quote, nor precisely accurate. Turns out it’s not easy to maintain that level of vexation…or sobriety.

As always, the articles found here are also available in the dead tree version. You can pick up a copy at any of the fine establishments listed in the left column. We invite you to leave comments for our contributors. We also invite you to join the GuanXi Facebook group, where you can communicate directly with the community and leave notes for Matt, Gilbert and yours truly. We do want to hear your thoughts, ideas, suggestions…and we’d love to have you get involved. It’s your GuanXi.

The Spring is sprung, the grass is riz…I wonder where your GuanXi is.

Gan bei!
Avi

歡迎閱讀關係四－春季刊－我們完成了一年四季的季刊，為了慶祝這成就，我們合併了另一份雜誌內容以供您閱讀，我摩拳擦掌著蓄勢待發準備好大肆慶祝，我沾沾自喜地臉上帶著笑容書寫這篇文章，你該看看Gilbert他興奮地跳著所謂的關係舞蹈，Matt也很開心，但相較之下他沉默多了。

為了使關係五有新氣象，我們驕傲地宣布關係五將附有我們第一份的摺頁海報，您可撕下海報展開來貼在您住家的牆上，原本那應是一張Gildbert的裸照（應被藏在您的床墊下）但照片卻被偷了，如您所猜想，嫌疑犯的名單太長而無從找起；然而，漫畫家Chris Lecours卻對嫌疑犯有所憶測，他向世界最聰明的人Noam Chomsky提出一些嫌疑性的疑問。

關係也很榮幸能夠主辦攝影師Tobie Openshaw的展覽，他最近辦了一個Ted X Talk，Openshaw先生花了數年研究台灣獨特的文化：檳榔西施，不論你是否認為那是一種令人震驚的探索，或者只是在開車時會令你分心的危險因子，但他的照片將帶給您對於檳榔西施全新的觀點。

Hamock Myson回來了！以他獨特的風格創作，他用那虛空的言詞創作古典詩詞，只為了追求取得骯髒財富之途徑， 別因為我而阻礙了你欣賞他的作品。

Kate Nicholson再次為關係做了一個文化專題，她訪談Jane Ingram Allen，她得到Fulbright獎學金來到台灣，專研台灣環境文化及台灣藝術家的展示等，Kate傑出的訪談並呈現多樣化的照片，為藝術帶來新的觀點。

關係也很開心我們現在與一位WaPo的台灣記者Amber Parcher合作，她鑽研與美國相關之話題，她利用農曆新年的假期拜訪東埔塞並分享她的經驗。

Amanda Fiore提供另一首詩使雜誌更加多元，Amanda離開台灣到MFA，在美國寫作並分享她的寫作才能，這麼說並不誇大，她正在做她一直以來都想做的事－成為一位作家與詩人，你該看看關係的前幾季季刊，因為她的作品在前幾季都有刊登。

我們也從過去也得到了一些批評，有些人應該還記得24/7及不知哪個稱自己為Mr.Bitch的怪人的瘋狂的嚷叫聲，或許引用Elton John的歌詞較為適合：婊子回來了，如冰冷的石頭般冷峻，實質上…既不是非常精準的引用，也不是非常的準確；事實上是要保持煩惱或冷靜的程度很不容易。

如同以往，在這一季刊裡所有的文章您都可在關係網站(guanximag.wordpass.com)上查閱，因雜誌版面而無法刊登等照片，您在網站上都能搜尋得到，我們歡迎您瀏覽並留言給我們的投稿人，我們更歡迎您加入關係在臉書facebook上的社群，透過臉書，您可直接與所有社員聯繫或留言給我們，我們期待聽見您的想法、意見、建議等，歡迎您的加入！這是您的關係！

春天來了，綠意盎…而你的關係在哪呢？

乾杯！

Avi

Digging Up The Bitch

Some folks still recall, with varying degrees of either chuckles or mockery, an expired nom de plume under which I regularly vented my spleen, exorcised demons, and generally mocked the unending supply of intolerable stupidity and frustration that seems to comprise the daily struggle in this vale of tears we call life. “Mr. Bitch” ranted, at various times, about local food, love, violence, bad drivers, American foreign policy, fear, sex, deadly sins and the burden of existing in a world in which so very many things are so very aggravating. It was cathartic and, given my nature, rather easier than shooting fish in a barrel.
At a recent meeting with the principals of this fine magazine, it was suggested that I resurrect the Mr. Hyde to my…well…there was never any Dr. Jeckyl but that’s beside the point. I seem to have forgotten exactly where I buried the body.

It’s not that there are no provocations – if anything, the number and kind of things that would have caused sputtering, incredulous raving at the sheer myopic brainlessness of both individuals and humanity in general have only multiplied. It simply turns out that another of the things someone wiser than I once said is true: As one gets older, the number of issues worth fighting over shrinks.
It’s not that I have no passion left, it’s that I’ve become far more discriminating about where I spend it. Sure, Sarah Palin still makes me roll my eyes and wonder what sort of epidemic of imbecility infects a few million Americans, but it bothers me far more that Bacardi rum is no longer stocked at Carrefour, Save ‘n Safe or the RT Mart.

This change – call it crankopause – is certainly at least partly due to age (I’ll not insult the word by calling it maturity). When I arrived in Taiwan, my beard was black and there were only a few stray grey hairs on my head. It drove me almost to the point of murder trying to get my brain around the cultural necessity on this island to maintain social harmony by telling people what they want to hear (as opposed to the truth). As one hardwired to say what I really think (and often without waiting to be asked) this caused no end of trouble. Now, however, I just shrug and go on about my business. Getting twisted up over things you cannot change is like smashing yourself in the face with a ball peen hammer – it feels better when you stop.

Aging is a strange process. I look in the mirror and see the same young man who has for years been looking back at me. More recently, however, that fellow in the mirror has taken to asking, “What the hell happened to you?” I can only shrug my shoulders as we say to each other in perfect unison, “I have no idea. It just happened.”
I’m a little slower off the dribble and can no longer get above the rim; the long pots still find the pocket occasionally but I haven’t had a break over 50 in almost a decade. I used to play tennis. Went out with a neighbour to hit a few balls and was surprised to find I still have a pretty stroke but there’s no way in hell’s half acre I’m chasing balls from alley to alley. The ankles and knees have lost their spring, and the lungs register very serious objections with rather frightening impatience.
I no longer have any interest in hitting the clubs, spending a wild weekend in Kenting, or knowing where the hip kids are going to be on Saturday night. If they aren’t in my living room, I don’t care.
And, for better or worse, the well from which I drew the venom necessary to power Mr. Bitch has almost run dry…or perhaps not dry, I just no longer keep mah bucket handy at all times.

In response to the suggestion that I crank out a fresh Mr. Bitch, I spent more than a few hours chasing various threads down pointless cul de sacs. I simply couldn’t spare the vinegar for things that only amount, these days, to mild annoyance.
I do, however, have a shovel and a vague idea of the general location of the grave. I am not at all averse to digging up those old bones and hooking the corpse up for a Dr. Frankenstein style lightning strike to jolt some juice into a righteous screed should the stars so align. A good friend – one far too smart to believe such utter shite – recently tried to argue for homeopathy. THAT is the sort of thing that can wake the dead (while offering absolutely no assistance to the living). So, fair warning: I may have mellowed and moved out to the mountains, but the ghost of Mr. Bitch still lurks…and waits.

至今仍然有一些讀者帶著不同程度的輕蔑及嘲笑回憶著我之前所使用的筆名，那時隱藏在這筆名下的我，定期地宣洩我的怒氣以驅趕我心中的惡魔，並嘲弄著生活中不斷發生且不能忍受的傻事及挫折，就像我們為了所謂的生活而不斷地奮鬥而流下的眼淚一樣；如同Mr. Bitch一樣，我多次談論食物、愛情、暴力、不良駕駛、美國外交政策、恐懼、性、致命的罪及生活的重擔等等，世界各地很多地方這些原素都在惡化；過去這些是純淨天然的，比射在籠子裡的魚還要更簡單；最近我和這家雜誌的負責人會面後，他們建議我喚醒Hyde先生成為我的…嗯…從來就沒有Jeckyl醫生，但這些都離題了；我似乎真的忘了我把屍體藏在哪了。

Change – Amanda Fiore

it was gold and yellow when it came

dressed in silk camouflage ribbons
and carried plumbers’ tools

it swung its orange-peel tongue
like a sassy aunt

and shook its fat fairy-tale fingers
into pools

I stayed frozen and afraid in my ancient chest–
my cage of decrepit bones

Thought to protect the old organ
but it came fast

plunged in a cold metal hook
combed its iron coils

my skin slid off
like an old gym sock

and it plucked my eyes
to squish between its toes

when the dirty work was done
it sewed two terrible hearts

embroidered them with spiders lace
stuck them on with glue

then it hung the old me
on a splintered fence post
and sat back on its haunches.

I turned this way and that
admiring my new colored scales
like a thousand tiny dresses.

I never wanted to change
but when it was through
like a crisp breath of colored sand

there was no more me
and so
no more you.

Charity Book Exchange

Living in Taiwan presents so very many wonderful opportunities for travel, cultural experience, culinary adventure and social surprises that it’s easy to overlook one nagging and constant downside – the lack of reading material. Of course, there’s always GuanXi magazine, but so far we’re on a seasonal schedule and as much fun as we hope to be, that’s just not enough to satisfy the needs of folks who read for pleasure.
I’ll take a good book over a movie anytime. It all began, for me, with Dr. Seuss and over the following 44 years, ranged across a pretty broad spectrum of literature and trash: Marquez, King, Vonnegut, Conrad, Heller, Atwood, Davies, Orwell, Dostoevsky, Mailer, Bukowski, Clarke, Asimov, Hitchens, Richler, Wolfe, Steinbeck, Kesey, Thompson…the list goes on and continues to grow.

Finding new books is a tough nut to crack on the island. Whenever I visit the capital, I make a requisite trip to Page One Books in Taipei 101 which, as book stores go, is like a slice of heaven on earth. The place is like that commercial for Direct TV: a guest is checking into a motel and asks the clerk if they have movies. She replies, “We have every movie ever made in any language…ever.” The guest asks, “How is that even possible?” If you can’t find a title at Page One, you only imagined it – it doesn’t really exist.
Servicing your reading jones in Taichung is a bit more difficult. Yeah, there’s Caves…but I can only browse the limited selection of Penguin Classics so many times before I return to wandering the import aisles at the grocery store to reread the RDA of riboflavin in Frosted Flakes and the warning labels on cleanser…again.

For this reason, if you love to read, the 7th Annual WHOSE Travel Charity Book Exchange is one event you must not miss. Each year, folks go through their bookshelves like a kid trading hockey cards: Read it, read it, read it…haven’t read it…read it, read it…and donate bags of books. Now, for me, just browsing through tables, racks, shelves and stacks of books would be enough – a perfectly excellent and rewarding way to spend a day. But it’s not just books. Let me explain.
Thousands of donated books are for sale – generally for a minimum donation of $50NT each (fancy hard covers slightly more, which is still an amazing deal), but there is also live music – the best musicians and bands show up to play their asses off FOR FREE.

Cheap books and awesome live music! It couldn’t possibly be any better! Wait a minute…Yes, it could! Beverages. After all, if one is going to please the eyes and the ears, one might as well have a few stiff drinks to lubricate the afternoon.
So that’s it. That must be all there is, right? Books, music and booze. What else could there possibly be? Glad you asked. Prizes! Local businesses have donated a metric tonne of fantastic prizes to be raffled off throughout the event: Dinners, services, products. Buy a ticket (or a bunch of them) for a shot at taking home any of the awesome giveaways to be drawn throughout the day. You don’t even have to be there. Winners will be notified and prizes can be claimed at WHOSE travel. This year, businesses from all over the community have stepped it up and given some great prizes: a saxophone (complete with lessons), a mountain bike, World Gym memberships, massage and chiropractor freebies, dinners at some of the best places around town and free dives with Discovery Scuba.
Also, for the first time, there will be kid’s entertainment. Bring the fam and leave the kids on the second floor of Frog 1 to be entertained by the Taichung Improv team, a clown, cartoons and a ventriloquist. Supervision is provided, and there could be a fire safety lesson in there somewhere so the kids can learn how to light the BBQ this summer.

With such an incredible menu of pleasurable distractions on offer, it might be easy to feel a little bit guilty about the whole thing – crossing that fine line between epicurean pleasure and hedonistic gluttony. Allow me to soothe your tide of guilt. All proceeds from the WHOSE Travel Charity Book Exchange go, as the event name suggests, to help those in need. The beneficiary of monies raised this year is the Childhood Burn Foundation of the R.O.C.

Do yourself a favour and come out to one of the best annual events this city has to offer. Find a few books, have a few drinks, dance til you drop, win a prize and help kids in need. If you can find a better way to spend a Saturday…nah, forget it. There isn’t a better way to spend a Saturday.

Click HERE for information on donating books.

Sponsors:
The Frog Family, GuanXi Magazine, The Compass Group, 185 Warehouse

When:
Saturday, March 12th from 2:00pm to 10:00pm

Where:
Frog 1 Restaurant青蛙墨西哥餐廳1號店 and WHOSE Travel -北美旅行社
106 Hua Mei W. St. Sec 1
台中市華美西街一段105.106號

Letter from the Editor – GuanXi III

Welcome to GuanXi Three. The number three is jammed to the gills with significance: The three qualities of the divine (omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence); three facets of human capability (thought, word, and deed); three dimensions (length, breadth, and depth); three divisions of time (past, present, and future); three divisions of matter (animal, vegetable, and mineral), while grammatically, three persons encompass all possible relationships of mankind. Three sets a rather demanding standard but one which I believe our contributors have, again, forced into submission with a triangle choke.

This tertiary issue of GuanXi brings the conclusion of Kate Nicholson’s piece on the artists of Stock 20. I had the pleasure of visiting the studios recently – met Jon Renzella (see GuanXi 2) and took in Cathy Wilson’s opening. One can easily see why Kate fell in love with the place. Check out her article, and drop down to the studios behind the train station to have a look around and be truly awed by the art going on right here in Taichung.

GuanXi’s poet laureate, Amanda Fiore, has penned another bit of verse recalling her long ago love affair with Taiwan, and Lonny Knapp makes a return visit to Formosa (of sorts) on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Aging rookie Garry Young took a stroll through the older part of Taichung to shoot some amazing photos. His efforts well display a part of the city you may never have taken the time to explore, but I feel confident that his sharp eye will provoke many to go see for themselves. I wish we had more space, but you can see much more of his work at http://www.guanximag.wordpress.com.

Ben Camp returns, casting his prose at the King Boat festival – a spectacular event which only happens once every three years (Three!), and from Hamock Myson comes an unsettling bit of fiction about the oddly consistent shade of the ubiquitous blue trucks that inhabit the island. Always answer your phone. Never get out of the boat and always answer your phone.

Chef Alvarez presents the ultimate DIY project for anyone who wants to age a cow past its lifespan and thereby render it even more delicious, as well as a couple of ideas about what the mouth-watering beast might best wear post proper grilling. Mmmm. Steak.

Dave Flint has advice for anyone whose dog isn’t cooperating with the whole sit, stay, stop humping my leg thing. He went out to see The Dog Whisperer in action and returns to tell the tale, despite some unidentifiable stains on his pant legs.

GuanXi Three, baby. We’re up, we’re down, we’re all over town.

Avi – Editor

歡迎來到關係三！
  在數字中的3涵蓋了各樣意義，比如：三樣神性（無所不知、無所不在、無所不能）、人的三種能力（思想、言語、行動）、三種尺寸（長度、寬度、深度）、三種時態（過去、現在、未來）、三種物質（動物、植物、礦物）等。而在語法上，三個人包括所有在人群之中可能會出現的關係。三代表了一個相當嚴苛的標準，但我相信我們的投稿者所擁有的一，再一次地被迫屈服於三角鎖中。
在關係雜誌第三期中，帶來了Kate Nicholson對於20號倉庫藝術家們所給予的結論。最近我很榮幸地有機會到他們的工作室裡進行拜訪，並有幸與Jon Renzella會面（詳情請閱讀關係二）以及參加了Cathy Wilson的開幕。
  在那片天地裏你可以體會到為什麼Kate會瘋狂愛上這個地方！若是有空去欣賞她的作品，並參觀一下台中火車站後面的這間工作室，你一定會被他們的作品所感動。
  關係的榮譽詩人Amanda Fiore曾創作了一首關於她很久以前與台灣戀愛的詩詞，而Lonny Knapp在安大略湖邊回到了福爾摩沙參觀（勉強稱得算是如此）。
  Garry Young在漫遊在台中的舊巿區街道中，順手拍攝了一些很棒的照片。他努力並完美地呈現出台中部份地區之美好，那是你或許從未花時間探索過的地方。我認為他獨到的觀察力會帶領許多人到該地區一遊，而我也希望關係有更多的頁面可以刊登他的作品。不過若是你想觀看更多報導這個部份的相關內容，你也可以上www.guanximag.wordpress.com查詢。
  Ben Camp回來了，選了二項他想要作為散文撰寫的主題。一項是東港迎王平安祭，這是一個三年才舉辦一次的祭典，場面非常地壯觀！另一項是一部小說，是有關在台灣普遍可以看到的藍色卡車之間細微的差別，記得一定要接電話，別下船！接電話！
  主廚Alvarez提供了簡易DIY食譜，可以使牛肉快速熟透並使它嚐起來更加美味！另外還提供了一些想法，是關於肉類如何可以烹調得更好吃～嗯～來去吃牛排吧！
  至於家中有養狗狗的人呢，Dave Flint走了一趟狗狗訓練師那兒進行訪問並分享個人經驗。若您的愛犬不服從你的指令如：坐、待著、別動等，儘管他的褲管沾染了一些不是很明顯的污漬，他仍然給了一些寶貴的建議。
關係三！親愛的～我們在這兒，我們也在那兒，我們真是無所不在！

OTR – Off The Radar

Second Hand Warehouse

This place is heaven for homeowners and renters alike. With second hand items ranging from furniture to appliances it would be impossible to leave without having found multiple items to improve the comfort of your home. On the first floor you will find some consumer and industrial appliances, wooden cabinets and tables, shelves and all kinds of other items like paintings and separators. The second floor is where the furniture might be (there is a separate warehouse with more). Whether you need a new bed or a whole new living room set you will find it here.

二手倉庫
對房東及房客來說，這個地方就像個天堂！二手商品從傢俱到家用器具應有盡有，在這你可以找到任何使貴府更舒適的任何商品；一樓是一些消費品及工業用品，包含木製櫥櫃、桌子、書櫃或其他物品，如繪畫或隔板，二樓是基本傢俱區（在另一間倉庫還有更多商品），不論你是要新床或整套客廳傢俱，在這裡你都可以找得到！

Second Hand Computers
This indoor/outdoor place may be easy to pass by with the glimmering lights of Nova just beyond, but it is really a great place to get all your computer needs met. King Kong is the man to talk to here, as he speaks English and knows everything about computers, new and old. Simply tell him what your price range is and what you will use your new computer for and he will set you up within an afternoon. Although many of the computers they have for sale are built from second hand parts, they can also help you build a super-computer by walking you through Nova and purchasing the hardware you need for the best prices possible.

二手電腦
這間戶外／室內的二手電腦商店位於Nova附近，若你不仔細看很容易就忽略它！但若電腦有問題，這裡絕對是維修電腦的好地方！你可以來這找金鋼，他會說英文又擅長解決電腦各項問題，你只需告訴他你都使用電腦哪些程式，不到一個下午，他就可以解決你的問題！除了賣場出售的二手電腦之外，他們也可以幫你用最優惠的價格，到Nova採購硬體並組裝一台超級電腦！

Second Hand Market
This Sunday market is a conglomerate of over 100 stalls and vendors with second hand items ranging from power tools to home entertainment. Amidst piles of shoes, stacks of nick-knacks and hordes of speakers, you are sure to find some thing that you have been looking for for year, without even knowing it. Located just after the Beitun train track underpass, you might want to bring the car or take a taxi, as it is doubtful you will be leaving with a small enough bounty to fit on a scooter. Get there bright and early because it closes around noon.

二手巿場
這間星期日的二手巿場大約有１００間攤販，出售各項二手商品，在這你會找到許多實用的工具，或是家庭視聽系統，來這裡的顧客無意間經常會發現自己搜尋多年的物品；這間巿場就位於太原火車站地下道旁，你或許需要開車或搭計程車來這，因為當你離開這時一定是收獲滿滿，小小的一台摩托車根本裝載不了你的戰果！這裡的二手巿場只營業到中午，請儘早到此展開你的尋寶之旅吧

Quality Western Clothing
Although not second hand, this outlet has chopped its prices enough that you can convince your Western friends that you make a lot more than you do. Items that usually cost well over NT3000 can be found here for NT400-1000. If you are a lover of nature you will have a field day here stocking up on warm, durable clothing for any season. Or, if you just want to be the coolest kid in the complex, check out all their fashionable brands and stock up for the winter. It won’t be long until you finally have some affordable clothing that will last for years.

外國服飾店
這間不是二手外國服飾店，但店內實惠的價格絕對是物超所值！通常一件NT3000元左右的衣服，在店內只需NT400~1000元左右，若你是個穿著崇尚自然風格的人，那麼你一定會花上一整天的時間在此挑選採購保暖及耐穿的服飾，或者，若你想當個超級酷小子，參考看看這裡這的時尚品牌並加購些冬衣吧！很快地，你將會採購到適合你的服飾！

Recovered Furniture
Cathy began designing and producing custom apparel, accessories, and handicrafts under the name Chameleon in 2005. When she is not in her studio, designing and sewing custom made clothing, silk screen printing or repairing old abandoned furniture, she fills her time teaching languages, art, drama and design to children and adults. Cathy enjoys children’s storytelling, acting and doing Improv comedy. For the past few years, she has been very active as costume designer for independent theatre and film productions in Taiwan and Macau.

廢棄傢具的第二春
Cathy Wilson 加拿大 ，艾德蒙頓， 亞柏達人。主修拉丁語系，語言學及第二外語之學習，Cathy在完成大學課業之後，便前往歐洲任教及學習。機緣之下來到亞洲，目前台灣堪稱她的家，在台灣居住十二年之後，她也已經拿到台灣永久居留權。

從2005年開始，Cathy以Chameleon之名從事她的設計創作，設計主要以服裝，配件，手工藝品為主。創作之餘，她也涉略絹印及替二手傢具換裝。目前，Cathy也從事藝術和語言教學，兒童故事及即席喜劇表演， 可說是個多才多藝的藝術家。在過去這幾年，則以服裝設計為主，合作對象大部分是台灣及澳門獨立劇場及片製作。

chameleon2005@gmail.com 0917 039 553

The Dog Whisperer – Dave Flint

My dog is crazy. He sniffs butts, chews laundry, and anything I throw he brings back (even garbage). These are a few of my favorite things about dogs.
However, nobody likes barking, pulling, jumping on grandmothers, or peeing on the coffee table. Time to call the Dog Whisperer.

Brant Jow was born in San Jose, California and came to Taiwan in 2003. I contacted him and asked if he might bring along a previous client so we could fake some photos.

“No,” he said, “Let’s go to People’s Park on Sunday. I don’t mind approaching someone who is having dog problems and offering help. You can watch what we do.”
Not having met him, I asked, “Don’t you want a little more control and predictability over the animal?”
“No. Almost any dog with almost any problem, give me 15 minutes and I can largely fix it. There are a few owners who take longer to fix, but don’t worry about me and the dog.”

We met on Sunday morning and quickly spotted a Border Collie who liked to pull his owner around, changing directions often and unpredictably. She also liked jumping on strangers and didn’t respond when people called her by name (Ling). Brant said,” Here we go.”
He introduced himself, presented a business card and asked if he could work with the dog for 15 minutes. The owners kissed him and offered food, but he was working for free today.

There are basically three training methods, Brant later explains: treat training, prey drive training, and formal training. Brant favors formal training where you simply show the dog what you want her to do, although he goes one step further and also tells the dog in both Chinese and English. He can resort to other methods when needed. I saw some photos where he was working with a police attack dog, and tiny little apartment dogs.

First he had to get Ling’s attention. Using a different leash, Brant walked and ran at various speeds, changing direction often and surprising the collie. Within seconds the dog was not looking around for a hapless grandmother to jump on. She was carefully watching where Brant would go next and following. Brant was making clicking tongue sounds, using large obvious body language, and constantly talking to the dog.
Within a few minutes, the dog was holding a sit/stay command. Within 10 minutes Brant was able to back away from the dog several steps and the dog held the sit/stay with no leash. Fifteen minutes later, he returned Ling to the owners and they politely asked if he worked with children too!

He went on to work with a Schnauzer who loved to pull at his leash, and an Australian Shepherd who was afraid of strangers. In both cases, 15 minutes later and the problem was solved.
I returned to the question of “training” the owners, and that’s a big part of what needs to be done. The Schnauzer for example walked calmly and perfectly beside Brant. When returned to his owner, the dog actually looked up and pulled a bit. When the owner agreed to move in that direction the dog knew he was back in the saddle!

Simply put, it seems that once a dog knows what makes his owner happy it will try damn hard to do it. We often give the wrong message to dogs. If he jumps up don’t pet him, if he pulls you in the wrong direction, don’t go. Make sure he pays attention to you and not grandmothers, babies, and the dog crotches he will encounter when walking in the park. Brant is happy to provide free consultations in Taichung. Give him a call – he won’t bite!

INFO: Taiwan’s Dog Whisperer
Brant Jow
brant_jow@yahoo.com
0926-880-210
WEBSITE: www.giyodog.com

訓狗師
Brant說：「狗狗的訓練方法基本上有三種：奬勵回饋、捕食本能訓練及正式訓練。」Brant較喜愛正式訓練，你只需要告訴狗狗你想要牠做什麼就好，並且記得要中英文併用哦！若有需要時他可求助於其它訓練方式，我就看過他訓練警犬及小型公寓犬的一些照片。

Letter from the Editor (Autumn 2010) – Avi

Welcome to the second issue, in which we raise the bar.
GuanXi aims to set a standard for well written bits; to provide something of interest for everyone, and to make each article one you will enjoy taking the time to read. In this continuing effort to keep on keepin’ on, our contributors have stepped up and smacked it out of the park.

In this episode, a journey of conscience – from Mormon missionary to secular humanist. You’ve seen the starched white shirts and black pants peddling bicycles – the Elders working the intersections, desperately seeking tithers. Some of us have even taken the time to…chat…with the very polite Latter Day Saints. David Drake arrived a missionary and left a philosopher. The story of his theological liberation is both fascinating and inspiring.

Every English language magazine ever published on this island offered someone holding forth on what it’s like to be an expat in Taiwan. But, of course, you already know exactly what’s that like.
GuanXi shifts perspective with Mike “Banyan Tree” Leznoff: What’s it like to go back home? What will you miss? What will you regret? Find out what may lie in wait for you somewhere down the road.
In the same vein, GuanXi’s Poet Laureate, Amanda Fiore, has put her Formosan hindsight into verse. We always knew Amanda had a poet’s heart – it turns out she swings a poet’s pen, too.

Our resident culture maven, Kate Nicholson, returns with the first in a series profiling the artists of Stock 20 studios. You will meet three artists in this issue, with more to come in future issues.

Is the next Banksy skulking around Taichung in the middle of the night with cans of spray paint? See for yourself – urban art and graffiti get some attention in a photo-essay from Ben Camp.

Chef Nick Alvarez is back with a fashionable idea about pomelos, as well as a recipe, from his perch atop Hotel ONE.

Our cover art comes courtesy of conspiracy theorist and satirical cartoonist Christian Lecours, who will neither confirm nor deny being present on the grassy knoll…but it’s interesting to note that his students greet him by saying, “Back…and to the left!” You can check out more of his work at www.illuminatirex.com.

GuanXi Number Two. We hope you enjoy it and, as always, we invite you to get involved.
It’s your GuanXi.

Gan bei!
Avi

歡迎閱讀關係雜誌第二季季刊，我們排除萬難終於推出了第二季！
關係雜誌始終秉持著文章的質精，以提供給讀者們許多有趣的文章，並且在標題上我們也下了一番苦心，以吸引您繼續閱讀。經由我們努力不懈的結果，也吸引了越來越多的朋友一同來貢獻自己的才華給關係。
在本次季刊裡，由摩門傳教士到脫離教會的人道主義者的一篇旅程中，你或許曾見過那些穿著白襯杉、黑長褲及騎著單車的人，在大街上試圖要跟路人話家常，或許在我們當中就曾有人跟這群有禮貌的摩門傳教士交談過。David Drake剛來台時是一名傳教士，但離台時卻成了一位哲學家！他解放神學的故事真是精彩且鼓舞人心。
在本島曾經出版過的英文雜誌提供居住於台灣的外籍友人，許多關於在地的生活資訊。然而理所當然地，您或許早已知道在台灣的生活是怎麼一回事的了。
關係雜誌也曾嘗試轉變報導焦點，請Mike Leznoff（榕樹）寫了一篇文章，是關於回到自己的家鄉後會有何感觸的情感抒發主題？您會懷念什麼呢？或者是什麼事曾經讓您後悔？嗯~~努力發掘未來已經在生命河的某處等待您邂逅的那樣值得珍藏的某物吧！
同樣地，關係雜誌的首席詩人 Amanda Fiore 早已將她對台灣的許多情感轉化成了一首一首動人的詩篇。我們一直知道Amanda擁有一顆詩人的心，殊不知原來她也有雙詩人的手。
而我們的社區文化行動家Kate Nicholson帶來一系列的報導中，在第一篇就撰寫了有關２０號倉庫藝廊創作家的概況簡介。在本期季刊裡，您則將認識三位藝術家，而在未來我們還會陸續介紹更多身懷絕技的藝術家。
接著登場的是關於Banksy在三更半夜拿著噴漆隱身在台中巿區，努力創作著『看見自己』，他的城巿藝術與塗鴨創作在民眾所拍攝的生活照裡引起了極大注意，這是一些由Ben Camp所撰寫的散文。
大主廚Nick Alvarez從台中亞緻大飯店帶著關於柚子的創意料理及食譜回來。我們的封面藝術則持續邀請陰謀論者與諷刺漫畫家Christian Lecours來為

GuanXi #2 Coming Next Week

The second issue of GuanXi magazine is at the printer and will hit the street early next week.

GuanXi aims to set a standard for well written bits; to provide something of interest for everyone, and to make each article one you will enjoy taking the time to read. In this continuing effort to keep on keepin’ on, our contributors have stepped up and smacked it out of the park.

In this episode, a journey of conscience – from Mormon missionary to secular humanist. You’ve seen the starched white shirts and black pants peddling bicycles – the Elders working the intersections, desperately seeking tithers. Some of us have even taken the time to…chat…with the very polite Latter Day Saints. David Drake arrived a missionary and left a philosopher. The story of his theological liberation is both fascinating and inspiring.

Every English language magazine ever published on this island offered someone holding forth on what it’s like to be an expat in Taiwan. But, of course, you already know exactly what’s that like.

GuanXi shifts perspective with Mike “Banyan Tree” Leznoff: What’s it like to go back home? What will you miss? What will you regret? Find out what may lie in wait for you somewhere down the road.

In the same vein, GuanXi’s Poet Laureate, Amanda Fiore, has put her Formosan hindsight into verse. We always knew Amanda had a poet’s heart – turns out she also swings a poet’s pen.

Our resident culture maven, Kate Nicholson, returns with the first in a series profiling the artists of Stock 20 studios. You will meet three artists here with more to come in future issues.

Is the next Banksy skulking around Taichung in the middle of the night with cans of spray paint? See for yourself: Urban art and graffiti get some attention in a photo-essay from Ben Camp.

Chef Nick Alvarez is back with a fashionable idea about pomelos (and another delicious recipe) from his perch atop Hotel ONE.

The cover art comes courtesy of conspiracy theorist and satirical cartoonist Christian Lecours, who will neither confirm nor deny being present on the grassy knoll…but it’s interesting to note that his students greet him by saying, “Back…and to the left!” You can check out more of his work at www.illuminatirex.com.

GuanXi Number Two. We hope you enjoy it and, as always, we invite you to get involved.

It’s your GuanXi.

Gan bei!

Avi