Telling Asians Apart

Ohhhh, I love these kinds of things: people thinking they can tell each other apart and categorize.

I've posted similar stuff about types of girls in Japan before (http://blog.islaformosa.com/2007/03/girl-typology.html) but this one is far more interesting.

So what do you think of this take? Is it really so possible to differentiate and, if so, how many people could actually do it with any decent accuracy?

Weigh in folks! I'm thinking that determining differences is something akin to being a wine connoisseur; a lot of people think they can do it but the vast majority is pretty shit at it.

Watch this video and see how the whole differentiating process is so arbitrary:

http://www.watchdoit.com/how-to-videos/how-to-distinguising-different-asians-243

It makes me wonder: what's the point in trying to tell each other apart anyhow? Could it have to do with the pecking order theory again? See http://blog.islaformosa.com/2007/06/asian-pecking-order.html

Will Taipei's MRT really look like this in 2020???

(Click on the image to see it full size)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kzaral/3372201653/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kzaral/3373020522/sizes/o/

Personally, I'm pessimistic and yet the designs have clearly been set and major pieces of the system are under construction.

This design goes well beyond what I've previously posted though.

http://blog.islaformosa.com/2008/10/third-wave-of-mrt-lines.html

What do you think?  Do you approve of the station locations?  What do you think should be done besides this system to improve public transportation?

Improv Everwhere Hit(s) Taipei

Improv Everwhere had their first event last weekend with moderate success. Catch the photos and videos here.

http://picasaweb.google.com/raquelwu/ImprovEverywhereTaipeiSep122010# (PHOTOS)

There will be a second Freeze activity held Sep 14 at 16:30 in front of the Taiwan Museum on the north side of 228 Park. Details here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104204362973765&ref=mf
I assume it will be much like this:
http://improveverywhere.com/2008/01/31/frozen-grand-central/







More cool social experiments at: http://www.improveverywhere.com