Ah, the Christmas season is upon us, which even in Taipei can put one in a somewhat buoyant mood. This will be Josh's first Christmas, though he is really too young to appreciate the full majesty of the holiday. I'm sure he will not be totally immune to the wonder of the flashing lights, strange sights and scents.

We'll be returning to California to spend two weeks with my parents. Ojai, California does not quite possess the Christmas cred of, say, a small town in New Hampshire, but it serves the purpose just fine for me. Just the idea of being able to sit in front of a crackling fire with a big glass of zinfandel--fireplaces and zins being seriously lacking in far Formosa--sends me into fits glee.

So now begins the mad rush to get all my loose ends tied up here before heading back. Christmas shopping in Taipei presents its own unique challenges. Perhaps a trip to Yinge is in order. Never can go wrong with pottery.

I shot this video of a public art installation across the street from my office on Bade Road in Taipei. The video really doesn't do it justice. It is made up of several LED screens attached to the side of the building (I can't remember the name but it is the performing arts hall behind the stadium and physical education college). Throughout the day the screens run through several different programs--UFOs, Pacman, dancing monkeys, street scenes. They add new routines every few days. At least one screen has been placed on the opposite side of the street, which is the the one you see at the beginning of the video with the little man snoozing. Very bizarre.