M&G blogs, $1 DVD’s and pushing hands

I’ve been following the Mail and Guardian’s entry into blogdom quite closely, and so far been quite disappointed. The functionality seems limited, anonymous readers can’t post, and, most importantly, there aren’t many contributions. One of the few contributors I enjoy (and one of the few active contributors) is Ian Fraser.

A friend of mine is visting China, and offered to bring me back some DVD’s, priced at US$1. I’ve avoided buying any DVD’s, as I tend to become compulsive, and have a book collection that needs another room soon, and a chaotically large CD collection, so much so that I still don’t know what was taken in a recent theft. My first thought of course was “pirated DVD’s, never, piracy is like murder, only worse”. Luckily I came across Ian Fraser’s post on why film piracy is good for South Africa. And I’m sure they’re $1 originals anyway. So, conscience eased, I began to think what I’d like. Of course, Lord of the Rings was first to mind. Then perhaps some good French movies just to annoy Anique. Or perhaps the Night of the Day of the Dawn of the Son of the Bride of the Return of the Revenge of the Terror of the Attack of the Evil, Mutant, Alien, Flesh Eating, Hellbound, Zombified Living Dead Part 2: In Shocking 2-D alluded to by Ian.

But what I’d really like are some good tai chi videos. Grizzled old men (or women) tossing foolish young upstarts around, like the classic video of Cheng Man-ch’ing showing the US navy soldiers what pushing hands is all about. The grin on their faces when they realise they’re airborne is well-worth it. Having been airborne myself while training with my teacher, Dr Lan, I can relate – it’s a childlike grin akin to a child witnessing some amazing new physical phenomonen (at the moment for Dorje it’s walking). And, let me confess, Anique got me off the ground too, once. Of course it was after a late-night get-together and I was barely able to stand before we started, much less do pushing hands, but disclaimers aside, I was still impressed.