Ravinia, IL / What are the most important things in life?

I visited Chicago at the end of the summer and went to the Ravinia Festival for the first time. I saw Yo Yo Ma who performed so incredibly amazingly. Chicago is an awesome city because it doesn't make me feel like I have to do a million things at once and I had the best Chicago day. I got a chocolate croissant and a cup of coffee (which they were giving out for free!) at Alliance Bakery and sat down to do some work. Then, I had a walk through the epic buildings of downtown Chicago (I really think Chicago has the most beautiful skyline in America) to the Metra station. On the train up to Ravinia, I met my walking talk interviewee who was on her way to the festival as well...


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: Freedom is the most important. Freedom to see your friends. Freedom to think what you like. You don't have to live a cookie cutter life. You have freedom to live where you want, read what you want, love what you want, to think what you want, to have your own opinion. Basically, no limitations. You're going to have limitations with age, but I'd like to avoid it if I can afford it.

Question: Where in the world would you like to go to visit? Where are you curious about?

Stay tuned and get excited...the next Walking Talk moves to New York City!

Chicago, Il (Irving Park Metra)/Where do you think people come from?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: Well, you've asked the right person. I will give you an unexpected but long answer.

The creationists say we're made by God in one day or whatever. The evolutionists say we evolved from lower animals, but there's actually evidence that says we were modified by intelligences, alien intervention.

There's a guy, Lloyd Pye, who has done research on this. I'm not a UFO guy but I will say this: the universe has been around for 12 and half billion years, the earth has been around for 4 billion years. We're only 300 years into our technological age and we've been able to do all types of things. There are certainly other intelligences out there. Our plans when we go out there into the galaxies are to change planets and to find life on other planets. Why would we think they would do anything less? I tend to agree with him.

I think the creationists are wrong and I think the evolutionists are wrong. I believe that anthropoids that were not intelligent were here on earth. Other intelligences came and tweaked things on earth and were able to create human beings. They changed chemicals and genetics. We can do that. Give our medical people 1000 years. Think of what we've done in 50 years. They're going to be doing things way beyond. They'll be able to lengthen our lives, regrow limbs... Did the intelligences know that this was what they were going to create? [shrugs] Anthropoids are apes that are not human...chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, yetis, abominable snowmen--Lloyd includes those. He's certain they existed. Science has a tendency of ignoring things that it can't explain and doesn't want to explain. We're both extremely critical of scientists.

I'm an independent researcher. My friends are independent researchers. Part of it is speculation, but it's also based on things that we think science is ignoring. I started out just interested in how we got here. I've been studying it since I was about 20. It has tentacles that go everywhere-- ancient history, metaphysics, astronomy, astrology, geology... I read probably about 100 books a year. Never stop.

Question: How long will it be before we eliminate war and why do you think that?

Chicago, IL (Lincoln Park)/If you knew you would die in a month, what kinds of things would you do?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: All the things that I haven't been doing. That's what I would do.

First, I'm overweight. Now, when I see something that is bad for me, I try to not to eat it, but if I knew I was going to die, whatever I want to eat, I would. I won't do things that are bad, but it's a dangerous question, eh? What if you ask someone bad that question? I'm not a bad person. I would...just the things that I haven't done, like the example of food. I'm not gonna kill nobody. Maybe I'll die with a piece of chicken right here [motions to left hand] and a piece of ham right here [motions to right hand.] I'm going to die happy.

Question: Where do you think people come from?

Chicago, IL (Bus 66)/ What do you think the food you eat says about you?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: It says a lot about your character and community. I don't like sweet stuff. I don't consider myself a sweet person. I like strong flavors and I think my personality is very strong too. Yes.

Question: What is your opinion of adoption for gay couples?

Chicago, IL/Do you think that the people in this world can live in peace?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: Yes. Do you need more than that? Well, for peace to happen, people need to be conscious and aware. It's easy for emotions to get in the way which can lead to foolish actions but if people are more conscious and analyze actions and decisions then there will be less conflicts and arguments. It comes down to what's relevant and irrelevant and if you can keep that in mine then you can avoid a lot of conflict.

Question: If you could change one aspect about yourself (physically, emotionally etc.) what would it be and why?