My actual free thinking

Visa for China during the Olympics

globecitizen — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:30:01 +0000

I ‘ve heard all kind of story how it’s impossible to get a visa for China within 30 days. All bullshit, I used an agency (62 €) instead of going to the ambassy (35€). The agency just do the waiting queue, you have to fill the papers by yourself, but didn’t want to take a day off. After 10 days, I got a visa F. You can’t apply too early just do it 30 days before your flight. Fudan university said I could either apply for X or F. The documents you need are : admission notice, a valid passport, id photos. For a student visa I wasn’t asked a copy of the flight ticket.

Grâce au boycott sur la flamme Olympique, les autorités Chinoises ont durci leur règlement envers les Français. Des rumeurs courent comme quoi on ne peut plus appliquer aux visas si on n’a pas fait la demande au moins 2 mois avant. Faux, pour avoir un visa c’est simple. Je suis passé par un agence. J’aurais bien fait de passer à l’ambassade, j’aurai économiser de l’argent et du temps (faut pas croire que les agences n’ont pas de queues).

admission notice

visa application

An here is what I got

passport

Wanted – Choose your destiny 2008

globecitizen — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:14:52 +0000

wanted - angelina jolie

Today I went to see it. Visually it’s stunning , the gunfights remind me The Matrix. The most notable effect is the curve bullet like a tennis curve shot or Beckham free kick. At the end Angelina Jolie takes one 360 degree shot. Loved the use of rats transporting the bombs, wise strategic move.

The story is about The Assassins, a 1000 years old Fraternity recruits a young man and train him to kill a traitor. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) has the ability to increase adrenaline 400 beat per minute while the human average is 120, everything around is in slow motion. Their target are dictated on a secret code based on yarn. Who commanded the order to kill ? ‘Fate’ would say the leader.

The actors, Angelina Jolie is superb in her role darker than playing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. James McAvoy is an innoncent guy at the beginning then turned to a well trained assasin after 6 weeks. I think his expression looks somewhat similar to Tobey Maguire In Spider Man. Morgan Freeman plays the leader of the organisation and manipulate them like a true master, always calm.

Overall this film is just for action. Just enjoy the moment. I don’t recommend for people under 16, it’s violent and bloody. I would place it on the same category as Mission Impossible 2 & 3, Equilibrium but more violent. Worth to watch a second time ? NO

Note 8/10

Some other critics http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wanted/

Eyesight economy

globecitizen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:56:44 +0000

Today I had a dilated fundus examination . The ophtalmologist tod me retail opticians’ contact lenses damage eyes. Only lens from brand name like Acuvue do no harm. According to the opticians, the lenses come from the same manufacturing chain, so it is the same product in a different package. So who’s right ? The physician sponsored by laboratories or the retailer trying to sell you their own stuff. We’ve arrived at a stage where these guys think more about their pockets than our eyes. The lens market has become more profit oriented than health concerned. Think a moment: smoking is lethal but still legalised because the tax rates go straight to the governement funds.

Aujourd’hui j’ai fait un fond d’oeil. l’opthmalogue m’a confié que les lentilles des opticiens abiment les yeux. Seuls les lentilles des marques établies comme Acuvue sont autorisés par les opthalmo. Pourtant les opticiens m’ont bien que les lentilles proviennent de la même chaîne de production. Qui a raison ? Les opticiens pour ouvrir leur marché sont prêts à duper leurs clients au détriment de leur vue. Les Ophtalmo travaillant avec les laboratoires orientent les clients vers leurs produits. D’autres profitent de réglementations pas toujours stricts www.lentilles-moins-cheres.com. Le marché de la vue est devenue un marché comme le tabac où l’argent prime sur la santé.