August 1, 2010
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Shooting the Breeze
I went for a walk the other night. It was a nice warm night. Day had just finished playing with Night but was still lingering around. A gentle breeze playfully accompanied me on and off my walk. Sometimes it would sneak up from behind, then from the side and from the front. The bars and restaurants were not full and a lot of them had their windows and doors opened. I could hear the usual chatter, the clink of glasses, laughter, live music all mingled with the noise from the cars, trucks, fire trucks, ambulances and street cars.
As I passed by the patio of a coffee shop, I could hear a woman talking loudly in Cantonese. It came from somewhere behind me on my right. I was waiting for the light to change. My Cantonese is rusty at best and it sounded like she said "can you play with me tonight?" I casually turned around as if to look at the traffic. I saw here sitting by herself in a short skirt and skimpy top. She smiled. I gave a half smile and started to walk when the light turned green.
The "ladies of the night" are not new in my 'hood. But this is the first time I've seen one "marketing" her services in Chinese. I guess she has to target several markets to make some money.
The rest of the walk was uneventful as most of my walks are. I just wished my condo could capture some of the evening breeze. With small windows only facing one side - a cross breeze is impossible. I think I need this Dyson Air Multiplier.
Comments (28)
She tried to pick you up with Cantonese? She needs to do better market research, then! =D
I watched this video a few weeks ago. Very cool technology, isn't it?
I think she is barking on the wrong tree, right? Can you believe those Dyson fans are a couple of hundred dollars each?
@christao408 - lol... yep. I saw that video a few weeks ago too. Oh man, I want one of those but it's so friggin' expensive.
@CurryPuffy - yeah, I know they are expensive. But it looks a lot better than my small fan. I doubt if I'll be able to spend that much money on it though.
Maybe she wasn't really a lady of the night? Or you could have walked up to her and started singing Roxanne.
@supanamja - hahaha... when I first moved into the this area, I would hear them arguing and shouting in the back alleys. Inevitably someone would get ripped off or something. The neighborhood has undergone a lot of changes since but I still see them around here and there.
Oh wow! The video is freaking amazing.
Mmm so they are doing marketing research?! I did see that video and I want to check one in person.
Wow I couldn't believe that video - an assault course for balloons ! Lol
@Dezinerdreams - I want one but clearly I don't need one. But just think how nicely it would look in your store.
@Fatcat723 - I haven't seen one in their Canadian website. I think it'll be a two to three hundred dollars though.
@Chatamanda - hahaha... at first I couldn't figure out what that video was and how the air was being moved.
Yeah, the fans are cool, but way out of my price range.
Now, I am feeling I need to walk my neighborhood too.
Happy Monday
*~matthew~*
huh, i wonder what made her pick cantonese instead of mandarin, or even english?
i've heard about those fans before, but i've never seen them in use. i really want to know how they work!
oh, i looked it up.... very clever device.
I need a made-in-china imitation one for work. It's so STUFFY in there.
For home, it seems like it's a waste of electricity. Thank goodness I get lots of wind coming through my windows (though I just leave my A/C permanently on.
@bleuzeus - I've got my 10 year old fan going right now. I guess I'll stick with it for awhile.
@kunhuo42 - I'm not sure either. Maybe she thought it would get my attention?
@inchyguy - I would love to get some sort of cross breeze going in my place.
wow! that was such a cool video Matt. I sat stunned at the way the balloon was going through each and every space. Really cool. Watched the video twice here. Thanks.
I was on the Dyson website a few weeks ago trying to figure out how those damn fans work. I wasn't smart enough.
Have you heard about the protests in HK about Cantonese? http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/08/02/cross-border-protests-aim-to-save-cantonese/
"Day just finished playing with night." Love that. I call it the blue hour:
http://picasaweb.google.com/CareyAnthonyGLY/Chicago2010#5464664263643464418
http://picasaweb.google.com/CareyAnthonyGLY/SpringSunsetAtTheGrove#5457557209684363394
http://picasaweb.google.com/CareyAnthonyGLY/Chazz2010#5438703122876602018
lol... she did? in cantonese too? poor matt...
It's awesome.
Wow, I'd be stunned if someone spoke teochew and tried to pick me up. Infact, I'd probably laugh.
I've seen those Dyson fans in action in a department store, it wasn't that impressive. However, a plus is that it's easy to clean.
Just watched the video. Cool
It's funny how many fans they have, and how they tie it to poles and things.
@stepaside_loser - Gaa gie nang ... if you spoke to me in Cantonese, I would pause for several seconds trying to translate. I'd probably get 25% right.
@ZSA_MD - well, I'd probably stick to my 10 year old fan until it breaks. I can't see spending a couple of hundred dollars on this. But it looks very nice!
@CareyGLY - yeah, I heard about those protest. It's kinda sad that Cantonese is being pushed to the side. I do remember a lot of your pictures at dusk - gorgeous.
@rudyhou - I won't know what to do with her. ("What are these? Breast?")
@yang1815 - get one for me! hahahaha
hah i've never seen a chinese one before! i guess i need to visit just to see that!
@ElusiveWords - It's way too expensive. I'll just stand and blow HAHA
haha...
@ElusiveWords - haha gaginang! i don't use that term at all when i speak, but i've heard of it before. not a great pick up line, though
ngo msek gong gongdoong wa.
@stepaside_loser - hey that's pretty good!
Comments are closed.