KOLAHUN

A drop at a time

It has been a while, but I founly re-found the magic calculation clinicians used to use before the invention of the automated 'drip' in administering intravenous liquids (fluids and medicine). 

1ml = 15 drops. 

So simple.  Guess I didn't google hard enough. 

Sri Lanka - a primer

As it happens, I'll be posted in Sri Lanka for the next three months.  I strongly suspect, that it'll be longer than three months because of the horrific conditions there.  Anyway, as a primer on the conditions in that country, I figured we'd start our journey together with the geography.  Needless to inform many of you, the conflict in Sri Lanka is between the native Sri Lankans' and the Tamils who immigrated from southern India.  Here are maps of both India (where you can see the proximity of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka) and Sri Lanka itself, an island a stone's throw away from India (and a walk/fly from India according to mythology).  Click on the images to enlargen them. 

My Favorite Martial Art Movies (so far...)

 

Achieving new heights in procrastination this weekend, I put together this list of my (17) favorite martial art movies for those of you looking to waste some time, too.
I've included a few comments, theatrical trailers (if you have time) and a few clips (if you don't). Almost all the full length versions are on YouTube, in divided parts, you kmow. Maybe I'll do my top ten movie list next time...
 
 

 

Seven Samurai 1954  Japan

Yojimbo 1961 Japan

Both by Akira Kurosawa. As you can see, both perfect.

Two samurai films, so influential, they name stars out of the director and his lead actor, Toshiro Mifune.  Even the biggest names in Hollywood saw the genius in Kurosawa’s film, in their rush to remake them into American westerns (The Magnificent Seven, Fistful of Dollars).

 

Seven Samurai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRUHtSgJ9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCXhHOEWZfA&feature=related

Yojimbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m0Hdtnq39s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sYfIqouMAE&feature=related

 

Fist of Fury (US Title: The Chinese Connection) 1972  Hong Kong

Bruce Lee's work speaks for itself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeT0ja7Icw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHFXTeQWXjo

 

Enter the Dragon 1973 United States

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGndrjP0i8  

 

Lady Snowblood 1973  Japan

"Imitation is the highest form of flattery" - Quentin Tarantino

Probably the inspiration for the Kill Bill movies, it’s a tale of a woman who tracks down the gang responsible for her family’s murder. You’ll notice the theme song, flashback sequence style and other film elements here are used in the Tarantino film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bykFFJhUCvM

 

Master of the Flying Guillotine  1975  Taiwan/Hong Kong 

Cheesy as it looks, it's one of the most influential Kung Fu films of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFi95mgJBZk  

 

Drunken Monkey in the Tiger's Eyes (US Title: Drunken Master) 1978 Hong Kong

In this sequel to Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Jackie Chan's acrobatic and comic style separated him from athletic and serious Lee and made him an international Kung Fu star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvyilO0HQ9Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DSX3ay154U&feature=fvsr

 

The Master Killer (US Title: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) 1978 Hong Kong

Probably the best Kung Fu movie ever. It's on practically everyone's "Best" list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVx1LW4Ca_c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcG6ylFJuu0&feature=related

 

Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (US Title: Shogun's Samurai) 1978 Japan

Often imagined as a loner with sword scabbard as an eye patch, fighting with his hat on and usually, reluctantly, against the forces of Evil, the film is one of many books, comics, cartoons, movies and television series (clip) about Yagyu Jubei - probably Japan's most famous samurai of legend. (I also blog under the name "Jubei" - if you've ever read my blog)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiANS8X12uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1G9eQRrFRY&NR=1  

 

Shaolin and Wutang  1981  Hong Kong

Great film about the long rivalry between Shaolin and Wudang schools and stars Gordon Liu of 36th Chamber.  Audio clips from this film are sampled in the rap album 36 Chambers by the Wutang Clan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQEASf4PCZc&playnext=1&list=PLD2CDD1412350EF72

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcv3N1YdRjI&feature=related  

 

The Legend of Fung Sai Yuk (US Title: The Legend) 1993 Hong Kong

The fight scenes are better than the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRthvFuXISU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmeyyRXF6tk  

 

Fist of Legend 1994 Hong Kong

If the fight scene looks familiar, its a retelling of Bruce Lee's 1972 Fist of Fury. Some of the old actors and familiar props appear in the new film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtNGVDFGpVk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNIucEKPm4&feature=related  

 

My Father is a Hero (US Title: The Enforcer)  1994  Hong Kong

First seen as a double feature with Fung Sai Yuk on Hong Kong movie night at the UC Theater in Berkeley in 1994 it was the first time I saw a Kung Fu movie set in modern times. This film also featured the great Hong Kong singer and actress Anita Mui, who plays the cop hot on Jet Li’s trail. After this fight scene I became a Jet Li fan, started watching Kung Fu movies again and preferred subtitles over dubbing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_glXJfXAoxA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYiNp8seaLU&feature=related  

 

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  2000  Taiwan

Perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv_ed5VmoD8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GknXkeKDDA&feature=related  

 

Kill Bill  2003,2004  United States

All my favorite martial art movies rolled into one.  Thurman's jumpsuit is from Bruce Lee's Game of Death 1978, Johnny Mo and Pai Mei are played by the star of 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Gordon Liu and Sonny Chiba was already famous in Japan as Yagyu Jubei and Hattori Hanzo, before playing Hanzo for Kill Bill.  Not only did Tarantino do his homework, right down to the yellow Bruce Lee jumpsuit and Onitsuka Tiger shoes, but he understood the genre enough to know that no good fight scene is without a good trash talking build up to the actual fight - the battle really begins when you call your opponent out. The music from the right Western movie also helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-czwy-aVbbU&feature=PlayList&p=F5E49DE1B486E352&index=50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMPuDbVZEHg

 

Kung Fu (US Title: Kung Fu Hustle)  2004  Hong Kong

Highest grossing Hong Kong film in history. 
After the opening scene, I didn't know whether to hate the Axe Gang, or join them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyWhVUCXY1A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3cC9GN3QFg  

 

Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love 2006 Japan

My current favorite.  Sure, it's no Yojimbo or Lady Snowblood..but who wouldn't want Aya Ueto coming to their rescue?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijSAe9u8Yvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E2i1LGNCo8&feature=related

 

Zatoichi  1962 – 2003  Japan

Several Japanese actors have played this legendary blind swordsman in several t.v. series and over a dozen movies. The 2003 Beat Takeshi Kitano version is really good, but what else would you expect from Beat Takeshi?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3WNmW5X8dI

Still, everyone has their favorite Zatoichi. Mine is Shintaro Katsu…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCcH8-fVNY

 

 

Reduce Medicare Costs - Drink Soylent Green!

At 12% of the population, the over 65 age group accounts for 30% of aggregate health care spending in the United States. In 2004, the U.S. spent $1.85 trillion on health care, or $6,319 per person, but US per person personal health care spending for the 65 and older population was $14,797 in 2004, 5.6 times higher than spending per child ($2,650) and 3.3 times spending per working-age adults ($4,511).

Acute hospital care in the last two years of life accounts for over half (55%) of the spending for Medicare beneficiaries. Health care expenditures are expected to continue to increase as baby boomers begin qualifying for Medicare in the next decade. What's the solution?

Yawn

The involuntary opening of the mouth with respiration, breathing first inward, then outward.  Some people believe that it is a reflexive deep inhalation caused by decreased oxygen levels in the blood.  You take a deep breath and fill the largely unused portions of the lungs. That makes sense, cause when you’re tired and all, it’s probably because your oxygen levels are low. But it doesn’t clearly related to why certain medical conditions tend to be linked to yawning, excessive yawning in particular…