Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Why did writing systems evolve from RTL ot LTR?
"Many languages that existed before the invention of ink were written right to left since this is the more natural for right handed people to hold a chisel in the left hand and the hammer in the right. After ink became the main method of writing, writing from left to right became preferable since it avoided smudging the ink."......Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-left)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-left)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Obama Shouldn’t Hate the Filibuster - Susan Milligan (usnews.com)
Obama Shouldn’t Hate the Filibuster - Susan Milligan (usnews.com)
“There are a couple of things that have changed in our politics that are gonna have to be fixed"“One is the way the filibuster operates. As I said, that’s just not in the Constitution.”
"What [the American people] don’t expect is for one party, be it Republican orDemocrat, to change the rules in the middle of the game so they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet."
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Quotes from Buscalia
"It is when we ask for love less and begin giving it more that the basis of human love is revealed to us."
"People are not here to meet your expectations."
"A person can not give what they do not have"
"This loving person is a person who abhors waste — waste of time, waste of human potential. How much time we waste. As if we were going to live forever."
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
For more quotes, click here:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leo_Buscaglia
"People are not here to meet your expectations."
"A person can not give what they do not have"
"This loving person is a person who abhors waste — waste of time, waste of human potential. How much time we waste. As if we were going to live forever."
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
For more quotes, click here:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leo_Buscaglia
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
9/22 Apartment Inspection, Student Desk, Activation of Debit Card, Textbooks, Barbecue
My housemates are all here in our house now. Taimour is a Freshman from Pakistan, and he is majoring in Economics. Samuel is a third-year local student, and his major is computer engineering. Karan, a mechanical engineering major, comes from India, and he's got his master's degree in Michigan University and is doing his Phd here.
It was sort of like a dice roll that we got to living in the same house. We are one family now, and I will spend my ten months here with them.
Today, we woke up early and got a apartment inspection checklist(like this : http://ezinearticles.com/?Apartment-Inspection-Checklist&id=57323) from our manager. Then, we just checked our apartment and made notes of any damage or anything to fix. Actually, this should be done before we signed the lease. However, even though we've already signed the lease, we should still make sure everything is ok when we moved in.
Plus, we created common space rules and regulations so that there should be a positive environment for us and fewer communication problems. So, I spent my whole morning on stuff about my appartment.
As it was approaching noon, I gave a call to Jack, trying to enlist his help in picking up a student desk, which I wanted to buy from Sarah's friends for only $10. Fortunately, he was available and I got my wooden desk eventually. A huge THANK YOU to Jack.
In the late afternoon, I took a bus to UCD campus along with Taimour. There, I activated again my new temporary debit card at an ATM. In reality, I used to have a debit card, but I thought it was missing and had called BOA(Bank of America) to cancel it.(I lost my wallet a few days ago, but I was informed by Amtrak train staff that it was found. So I got it back.^^)
After that, I walked around in UCD bookstore in search of textbooks for my classes. I spent seventy dollars on one book, Health: the Basics, which I later found to be a lot cheaper in another bookstore. This made me feel bad for the rest of the day. Yet, at least I bought another book, Reasons and Responsibility at a lower(or reasoable) price.
Then, I bumped into one Japanese guy, Hide, and then another, Ryo. They are both my friends, yet they didn't know each other. Saying goodby to Hide, Ryo came with us to "New Student Welcom Night," where we watched a skit, listened to Pastor Jonathan's message, and etc. From that came the barbecue and asian dinner, which is nigh on irresistible. We had a hamburger with beef burger patty, some rice with tofu, a selection of snacks(like Lays, Doritos, Cheetos).
At around 7:40, we decided not to stay for games or winning prizes, as Taimour and I both had classes tomorrow at 9:10, and we'd better sleep early tonight. Thus, despite the activity about to heat up figuratively, we went home!!!
It was sort of like a dice roll that we got to living in the same house. We are one family now, and I will spend my ten months here with them.
Today, we woke up early and got a apartment inspection checklist(like this : http://ezinearticles.com/?Apartment-Inspection-Checklist&id=57323) from our manager. Then, we just checked our apartment and made notes of any damage or anything to fix. Actually, this should be done before we signed the lease. However, even though we've already signed the lease, we should still make sure everything is ok when we moved in.
Plus, we created common space rules and regulations so that there should be a positive environment for us and fewer communication problems. So, I spent my whole morning on stuff about my appartment.
As it was approaching noon, I gave a call to Jack, trying to enlist his help in picking up a student desk, which I wanted to buy from Sarah's friends for only $10. Fortunately, he was available and I got my wooden desk eventually. A huge THANK YOU to Jack.
In the late afternoon, I took a bus to UCD campus along with Taimour. There, I activated again my new temporary debit card at an ATM. In reality, I used to have a debit card, but I thought it was missing and had called BOA(Bank of America) to cancel it.(I lost my wallet a few days ago, but I was informed by Amtrak train staff that it was found. So I got it back.^^)
After that, I walked around in UCD bookstore in search of textbooks for my classes. I spent seventy dollars on one book, Health: the Basics, which I later found to be a lot cheaper in another bookstore. This made me feel bad for the rest of the day. Yet, at least I bought another book, Reasons and Responsibility at a lower(or reasoable) price.
Then, I bumped into one Japanese guy, Hide, and then another, Ryo. They are both my friends, yet they didn't know each other. Saying goodby to Hide, Ryo came with us to "New Student Welcom Night," where we watched a skit, listened to Pastor Jonathan's message, and etc. From that came the barbecue and asian dinner, which is nigh on irresistible. We had a hamburger with beef burger patty, some rice with tofu, a selection of snacks(like Lays, Doritos, Cheetos).
 |
| Ryo |
 |
| Taimour |
 |
| me |
At around 7:40, we decided not to stay for games or winning prizes, as Taimour and I both had classes tomorrow at 9:10, and we'd better sleep early tonight. Thus, despite the activity about to heat up figuratively, we went home!!!
9/15 Shopping in Woodland
 |
| Thanks to Jack, I got my chair, book shelf, T-shirt, hangers from Target. He is a friend of Will, who is a DCF(Davis Christian Fellowship) director and also an organizer of this shopping activity. Actually, we ought to take a bus to Target(a large retailer), as required by our school.(for some reason I don't know) Nevertheless, Jack still drove us to a nearby Target. There were, in fact, only three people joining this activity, Taimour, Sarah, and me. Peter, a member of DCF came along with us, too. He was originally from China, and it was great talking with him(in the picture below.) |
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Orientation Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's orientation day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so much looking forward to new international student orientation in UCD for the past few days. I really wanted to meet other international students and to have some fun together. However, I didn't sleep quite well the night before partly because I was pretty excited about it and partly because I actually took a long catnap that afternoon.
It turned out that this morning I slept in and missed the first bus to school. And in fact, I told Taimour that I would wake him up at 6.30 a.m. yesterday, but I was embarassed that it was him that woke me up at 7:10 a.m. So, I have to say my day did not get off to a good start. Yet, everything seemed to go smoothly for the rest of the day. We took the second bus to the campus, and were only ten minutes late to the event, which started at 8:00.Then, we had our breakfast before the school building, 1100 Social Sciences and Humanities. We enjoyed some brownies with a cup of black coffee. At the same time, I got to know many international students; most of them come from China, some from Hong Kong, one from Malaysia(Juin), and interestingly enough, we talked in Chinese for a while.
The next session began at 9:00. We went into an auditorium and sat there for almost 10 hours, with only a lunch break at noon and snack break later in the afternoon.I learned important information about immigration and visa regulations as well as SISS services. Furthermore, I was much better acquainted with the educational and cultural environment at UC Davis, the town of Davis. BTW, in the end, I made some friends, and among them are Ryo(Japanese) and Marceus (Dutch), with whom I spent some more time chatting. We sort of exchanged our contact information and then we said good-bye.
This picture is taken in the beginning of the orientation. I think the man is the EAP (Education Abroad Program) coordinator...but not quite sure about it... sorry, I wasn't attentive to his introduction.. He welcomed us to UCD, as other speakers later would do, so we were like welcomed more than ten times. He asked us to stand and accept the applause from other students if the slide showed the flag of our country. Lots of people come from China, making up more than sixty percent of the international students there. However, there is only one Pakistan, and that would be my housemate. Cool? Also, there is only one Malaysian (the one I met at breakfast) and one Rwandan. If I remember, there were students from more than 40 countries in the world.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Boring afternoon..............
I had nothing to do this afternoon. In fact, I had a number of things on my mind. I haven't opened a bank account, haven't got a desk, a bike, a cellphone, and etc. However, I couldn't do any of these things on this weekend because Bank of America wasn't open and still worse, I don't have a car to drive to the nearest store to get what I want. So, I decided to play basketball outside with Taimour.
Thank God my housemate woke me up....
Today I didn't get up until 11 o'clock, and if it were not for Taimour, I would have slept until nightfall. Then I may have just one meal(, which is actually a good way to save my money).
We had our brunch together. I fried some chicken thighs, toasted some toast with peanut butter on top, and then I just sat down and enjoyed my breakfast, also with a glass of orange juice with pulp. I think I've never got this mighty serious about breakfast before. Most of the time in the past, I would often eat bread and milk for breakfast or even have no breakfast. But , here, breakfast is not something I can have for the asking, so I have to prepare it for myself.
"Eat your breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day!"..............................
We had our brunch together. I fried some chicken thighs, toasted some toast with peanut butter on top, and then I just sat down and enjoyed my breakfast, also with a glass of orange juice with pulp. I think I've never got this mighty serious about breakfast before. Most of the time in the past, I would often eat bread and milk for breakfast or even have no breakfast. But , here, breakfast is not something I can have for the asking, so I have to prepare it for myself.
"Eat your breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day!"..............................
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A long walk to UCD campus
Sept. 11 2010- I woke up early this morning, probably at around 3.30, and then I couldn't fall asleep again. I became so conscious that my mind was wandering. So, I decided no to force myself to sleep, as my experience told me that the tension may rise as the fear of not being able to sleep begins to take root in the pit of my stomach, which would only make it harder to sleep.
At 5 o'clock, I went to the study lounge to check my facebook and update my blog. Then, I searched for information about buying a new phone at AT&T, as I haven't called back once and should get one as soon as possible. There are many kinds of cell phone plans, including individual plan, family plan, prepaid plan, and etc. Also, there are some nice cell phone deals and packages; the free package is really attractive to me, as I can get a free smartphone. Yet, it requires me to sign a two-year contract, so I'd rather not choose that package. In the end, with the help of a sales associate at a AT&T retail store, I felt like choosing a prepaid package. Maybe next week I'll buy "Nokia 2320 GoPhone® Package", which is the cheapest(and the ugliest?).
At 9:30, I went back to my townhome and waited for Taimour (my pakistani housemate) to be off to wander the campus . He said he wanted to come with me to UCD campus last night, so I had to wait until he get up. However, he didn't actually come along, as he was treated to lunch by his uncle. So, I walked myself all the way from North Davis to UCD campus, which is farther than I expected. However, I just took my time and enjoyed all the beautiful scenery in Davis.
On the way back, I took the unitran J line back to Chaparral Apt. I thought I would have pay one dollar(actually I should as I haven't got my student ID, and only those with undergrad student ID can take it for free), but the driver said I didn't have to as I am UCD student. I was happy about that!^^..
Later, I went shopping at Safeway, and spent around $29 on all the stuff shown in the picture below.
Finally, I opted not to cook but to eat frozen food as I was lazy.
At 5 o'clock, I went to the study lounge to check my facebook and update my blog. Then, I searched for information about buying a new phone at AT&T, as I haven't called back once and should get one as soon as possible. There are many kinds of cell phone plans, including individual plan, family plan, prepaid plan, and etc. Also, there are some nice cell phone deals and packages; the free package is really attractive to me, as I can get a free smartphone. Yet, it requires me to sign a two-year contract, so I'd rather not choose that package. In the end, with the help of a sales associate at a AT&T retail store, I felt like choosing a prepaid package. Maybe next week I'll buy "Nokia 2320 GoPhone® Package", which is the cheapest(and the ugliest?).
At 9:30, I went back to my townhome and waited for Taimour (my pakistani housemate) to be off to wander the campus . He said he wanted to come with me to UCD campus last night, so I had to wait until he get up. However, he didn't actually come along, as he was treated to lunch by his uncle. So, I walked myself all the way from North Davis to UCD campus, which is farther than I expected. However, I just took my time and enjoyed all the beautiful scenery in Davis.
On the way back, I took the unitran J line back to Chaparral Apt. I thought I would have pay one dollar(actually I should as I haven't got my student ID, and only those with undergrad student ID can take it for free), but the driver said I didn't have to as I am UCD student. I was happy about that!^^..Later, I went shopping at Safeway, and spent around $29 on all the stuff shown in the picture below.
Finally, I opted not to cook but to eat frozen food as I was lazy.
Pictures taken these days.......
I spent a total of 19 hours travelling from Taipei to San Francisco, inclusive of flight time and quite a long time to transfer. In the following are some picture taken during this period.
Waiting in line to board through Gate B8...........................
A snapshot taken from inside the airport lounge....where I had a little wait before boarding
I boarded China Airline flight XXX, headed for Incheon International Airpor. This picture is taken shortly before takeoff from Taoyuan Internation Airport.
The in-flight meal I had....... In the end, I didn't eat the bun...as I wasn't hungry then .......I already had my breakfast before boarding...
Screen on the back of an airplane seat....the images in which showed we were getting closer to Incheon.
Arriving at Incheon International Airport......
Arriving in Seoul, I randomly took a picture of a departure timetable at the airport.
I met the king and the queen at the airport. This is a special event put on by the Airport on departure at passenger terminal, reenacting "Walk of the Royal Family" of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. They only "walk" twice a day, at 11:30 am and 5 pm. So, I think I am lucky enough to see this "Walk".
This picture is taken in the Passenger Terminal Building. And shown in the picture is Departure Gate 50. Mine should be Gate 19, but I don't know why I thought it was Gate 50 then.
Airline meal( in-flight meal)----This is the meal for the economy class of Korean Air. It included porridge, water, flavored rice, fruit, etc, served in one tray. I was told by a Korean guy, next to me, to add some seasoning before eating the porridge. Then, it tasted really good,no longer flavorless.
Waiting in line to board through Gate B8...........................
A snapshot taken from inside the airport lounge....where I had a little wait before boarding
I boarded China Airline flight XXX, headed for Incheon International Airpor. This picture is taken shortly before takeoff from Taoyuan Internation Airport.
The in-flight meal I had....... In the end, I didn't eat the bun...as I wasn't hungry then .......I already had my breakfast before boarding...
Screen on the back of an airplane seat....the images in which showed we were getting closer to Incheon.
Arriving at Incheon International Airport......
Arriving in Seoul, I randomly took a picture of a departure timetable at the airport.
I met the king and the queen at the airport. This is a special event put on by the Airport on departure at passenger terminal, reenacting "Walk of the Royal Family" of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. They only "walk" twice a day, at 11:30 am and 5 pm. So, I think I am lucky enough to see this "Walk".
This picture is taken in the Passenger Terminal Building. And shown in the picture is Departure Gate 50. Mine should be Gate 19, but I don't know why I thought it was Gate 50 then.
Airline meal( in-flight meal)----This is the meal for the economy class of Korean Air. It included porridge, water, flavored rice, fruit, etc, served in one tray. I was told by a Korean guy, next to me, to add some seasoning before eating the porridge. Then, it tasted really good,no longer flavorless.
Friday, September 10, 2010
I got up late... very late
Sept. 10 2010
I got up very late today. Actually, it wasn't until 3:20 pm that I woke up. I remember I did woke up once at 8:20 am. because I was feeling very cold. The light blanket(or quilt) I brought with me from Taiwan didn't seem to keep me warm. So, I rolled out of bed to put on a heavy coat, and quickly went back to sleep.
Drinking a cup of milk for breakfast(afternoon tea?), I went to Safeway in the Marketplace to buy a money order so that I can pay $548.36 for my security deposit and first month's rent. When I got to the office of Chaparral Apt., the manager wasn't there. She left a notice on the floor that said she'll be back at 4:30, so I just waited at the study lounge. I took out a map of UCD campus, and tried to pointed out some buildings I'll visit in the following days. At around 4:40, I paid the manager for the rent. Then today's mission completed.
Now it's 6:39 pm. I'm going home to cook my dinner.
I got up very late today. Actually, it wasn't until 3:20 pm that I woke up. I remember I did woke up once at 8:20 am. because I was feeling very cold. The light blanket(or quilt) I brought with me from Taiwan didn't seem to keep me warm. So, I rolled out of bed to put on a heavy coat, and quickly went back to sleep.
Drinking a cup of milk for breakfast(afternoon tea?), I went to Safeway in the Marketplace to buy a money order so that I can pay $548.36 for my security deposit and first month's rent. When I got to the office of Chaparral Apt., the manager wasn't there. She left a notice on the floor that said she'll be back at 4:30, so I just waited at the study lounge. I took out a map of UCD campus, and tried to pointed out some buildings I'll visit in the following days. At around 4:40, I paid the manager for the rent. Then today's mission completed.
Now it's 6:39 pm. I'm going home to cook my dinner.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Welcome to California
Today is September ninth in California. Since I crossed the international date line, I arrived at San Francisco Airport(SFO) on the same day I flied to Korea to transfer to another plane bound for SFO. Rwight now it is 18:15, and later I would have to feed myself for dinner. (In Taiwan, it is 9:15 now.)
9/9 seems a long long day to me, from the teary(or not) airport farewell in Taiwan to now settling down in Davis, U.S. This time, I am going to be away from home for ten months.
At Taoyung International Airport, deep down I knew I would have to travel alone and I am going to miss my family and friends in Taiwan. I am undaunted by my solo trip to the U.S., yet saddened by the mere thought of not seeing my family. By the time I waved good-bye to my sister and her boyfriend, I got a little bit teary-eyed, though trying hard to be strong. Then, lining up at the immigration counter, I called my mom to say good-bye, which was really hard for me. I was almost mute when I heard my mom's voice on the other end. I said I was going to go aboard, and then said only "goodbye" even though she was asking other questions. Hearing no response from me and perhaps a catch in my voice, she told me to take care of myself. Then from that comes a hint of tears in my eyes, and more...... But all my surging emotion subsided when I was going through immigraion and customs.
At 7.45, the plan took off to Korea and landed at 11.25(or so). Though I booked Korean Air ticket, I took the airplane from China Airline; maybe they have some sort of partnership. Anyway, I stayed at Incheon International Airport for 5 hours, during which I wandered around and enjoyed the facility and beauty it offered. Not surprisingly, it is one of the greatest Airport in the world. Still, all those five hours were also spent on reading newspapers and magazines.
Next, I took another plane, which was literally from Korean Air, heading for SFO. There are fine food, drinks, and a service that leaves nothing to be desire.However, I didn't sleep well on the plane, as I felt pain in my thigh from sitting too long. Worse still, I had a cup of red wine, followed by a cup of tea, and this had me through the agony and caused me dizziness. I really had been a tormenting moment for me. Nevertheless, I arrived at California safe and sound and had met one of my housemates from Pakistan, who seems to be nice and friendly.
Tomorrow, I am going to buy a bed, a desk, and other furniture, hoping to spruce my room up so that I can live in a good place for ten months.
PS: I'll post some pictures tmr.
9/9 seems a long long day to me, from the teary(or not) airport farewell in Taiwan to now settling down in Davis, U.S. This time, I am going to be away from home for ten months.
At Taoyung International Airport, deep down I knew I would have to travel alone and I am going to miss my family and friends in Taiwan. I am undaunted by my solo trip to the U.S., yet saddened by the mere thought of not seeing my family. By the time I waved good-bye to my sister and her boyfriend, I got a little bit teary-eyed, though trying hard to be strong. Then, lining up at the immigration counter, I called my mom to say good-bye, which was really hard for me. I was almost mute when I heard my mom's voice on the other end. I said I was going to go aboard, and then said only "goodbye" even though she was asking other questions. Hearing no response from me and perhaps a catch in my voice, she told me to take care of myself. Then from that comes a hint of tears in my eyes, and more...... But all my surging emotion subsided when I was going through immigraion and customs.
At 7.45, the plan took off to Korea and landed at 11.25(or so). Though I booked Korean Air ticket, I took the airplane from China Airline; maybe they have some sort of partnership. Anyway, I stayed at Incheon International Airport for 5 hours, during which I wandered around and enjoyed the facility and beauty it offered. Not surprisingly, it is one of the greatest Airport in the world. Still, all those five hours were also spent on reading newspapers and magazines.
Next, I took another plane, which was literally from Korean Air, heading for SFO. There are fine food, drinks, and a service that leaves nothing to be desire.However, I didn't sleep well on the plane, as I felt pain in my thigh from sitting too long. Worse still, I had a cup of red wine, followed by a cup of tea, and this had me through the agony and caused me dizziness. I really had been a tormenting moment for me. Nevertheless, I arrived at California safe and sound and had met one of my housemates from Pakistan, who seems to be nice and friendly.
Tomorrow, I am going to buy a bed, a desk, and other furniture, hoping to spruce my room up so that I can live in a good place for ten months.
PS: I'll post some pictures tmr.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
My concern revolves around buying a rolling luggage.
With only a few days left my trip to the US, I still have a lot of things to get done. First and foremost, I must find a stronger and lighter wheeled luggage, in which I can put my stuff. Actually, I already have a luggage medium-sized luggage, which I took with me to Australila. However, I will stay in the U.S. for ten-month this time, and I don't think the luggage can hold a large number of items. That said, I am now in two minds about whether to buy a bigger one or not.
I've been seeking information online, have asked some friends for advice, and discussed it with my family. At last, I realized that most airlines only permits a maximum of two checked in bags and one carry-on piece. Furthermore, each check-in bags should weigh no more than 20 kg.(23kg in the case of flying to U.S), which amounts to 40 kg in total.
So, here's my strategy of carrying things given the requirement. I decided to check in two bags, one rolling luggage and one duffel bag. Hopefully I won't have to dump things due to bag overweight.
PS: While I surfing the internet, I happened to marvel at the newest luggage, featuring a built-in scale to let you know when your bag is overweight. Isn't that amazing? But, as you might already know, it is super expensive.
website:
1.http://www.luggageonline.com/
2.http://www.luggage.com/
3.http://www.samsonite.com/home/index.html
I've been seeking information online, have asked some friends for advice, and discussed it with my family. At last, I realized that most airlines only permits a maximum of two checked in bags and one carry-on piece. Furthermore, each check-in bags should weigh no more than 20 kg.(23kg in the case of flying to U.S), which amounts to 40 kg in total.
So, here's my strategy of carrying things given the requirement. I decided to check in two bags, one rolling luggage and one duffel bag. Hopefully I won't have to dump things due to bag overweight.
PS: While I surfing the internet, I happened to marvel at the newest luggage, featuring a built-in scale to let you know when your bag is overweight. Isn't that amazing? But, as you might already know, it is super expensive.
website:
1.http://www.luggageonline.com/
2.http://www.luggage.com/
3.http://www.samsonite.com/home/index.html
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2014
The Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2014
(http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2014.php)
Most students entering college for the first time this fall—the Class of 2014—were born in 1992.
(http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2014.php)
Most students entering college for the first time this fall—the Class of 2014—were born in 1992.
For these students, Benny Hill, Sam Kinison, Sam Walton, Bert Parks and Tony Perkins have always been dead.
1. Few in the class know how to write in cursive.
2. Email is just too slow, and they seldom if ever use snail mail.
3. “Go West, Young College Grad” has always implied “and don’t stop until you get to Asia…and learn Chinese along the way.”
4. Al Gore has always been animated.
5. Los Angelenos have always been trying to get along.
6. Buffy has always been meeting her obligations to hunt down Lothos and the other blood-suckers at Hemery High.
7. “Caramel macchiato” and “venti half-caf vanilla latte” have always been street corner lingo.
8. With increasing numbers of ramps, Braille signs, and handicapped parking spaces, the world has always been trying harder to accommodate people with disabilities.
9. Had it remained operational, the villainous computer HAL could be their college classmate this fall, but they have a better chance of running into Miley Cyrus’s folks on Parents’ Weekend.
10. Entering college this fall in a country where a quarter of young people under 18 have at least one immigrant parent, they aren't afraid of immigration...unless it involves "real" aliens from another planet.
11. John McEnroe has never played professional tennis.
12. Clint Eastwood is better known as a sensitive director than as Dirty Harry.
13. Parents and teachers feared that Beavis and Butt-head might be the voice of a lost generation.
14. Doctor Kevorkian has never been licensed to practice medicine.
15. Colorful lapel ribbons have always been worn to indicate support for a cause.
16. Korean cars have always been a staple on American highways.
17. Trading Chocolate the Moose for Patti the Platypus helped build their Beanie Baby collection.
18. Fergie is a pop singer, not a princess.
19. They never twisted the coiled handset wire aimlessly around their wrists while chatting on the phone.
20. DNA fingerprinting and maps of the human genome have always existed.
21. Woody Allen, whose heart has wanted what it wanted, has always been with Soon-Yi Previn.
22. Cross-burning has always been deemed protected speech.
23. Leasing has always allowed the folks to upgrade their tastes in cars.
24. “Cop Killer” by rapper Ice-T has never been available on a recording.
25. Leno and Letterman have always been trading insults on opposing networks.
26. Unless they found one in their grandparents’ closet, they have never seen a carousel of Kodachrome slides.
27. Computers have never lacked a CD-ROM disk drive.
28. They’ve never recognized that pointing to their wrists was a request for the time of day.
29. Reggie Jackson has always been enshrined in Cooperstown.
30. “Viewer Discretion” has always been an available warning on TV shows.
31. The first home computer they probably touched was an Apple II or Mac II; they are now in a museum.
32. Czechoslovakia has never existed.
33. Second-hand smoke has always been an official carcinogen.
34. “Assisted Living” has always been replacing nursing homes, while Hospice has always offered an alternative to the hospital.
35. Once they got through security, going to the airport has always resembled going to the mall.
36. Adhesive strips have always been available in varying skin tones.
37. Whatever their parents may have thought about the year they were born, Queen Elizabeth declared it an “Annus Horribilis.”
38. Bud Selig has always been the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
39. Pizza jockeys from Domino’s have never killed themselves to get your pizza there in under 30 minutes.
40. There have always been HIV positive athletes in the Olympics.
41. American companies have always done business in Vietnam.
42. Potato has always ended in an “e” in New Jersey per vice presidential edict.
43. Russians and Americans have always been living together in space.
44. The dominance of television news by the three networks passed while they were still in their cribs.
45. They have always had a chance to do community service with local and federal programs to earn money for college.
46. Nirvana is on the classic oldies station.
47. Children have always been trying to divorce their parents.
48. Someone has always gotten married in space.
49. While they were babbling in strollers, there was already a female Poet Laureate of the United States.
50. Toothpaste tubes have always stood up on their caps.
51. Food has always been irradiated.
52. There have always been women priests in the Anglican Church.
53. J.R. Ewing has always been dead and gone. Hasn’t he?
54. The historic bridge at Mostar in Bosnia has always been a copy.
55. Rock bands have always played at presidential inaugural parties.
56. They may have assumed that parents’ complaints about Black Monday had to do with punk rockers from L.A., not Wall Street.
57. A purple dinosaur has always supplanted Barney Google and Barney Fife.
58. Beethoven has always been a good name for a dog.
59. By the time their folks might have noticed Coca Cola’s new Tab Clear, it was gone.
60. Walmart has never sold handguns over the counter in the lower 48.
61. Presidential appointees have always been required to be more precise about paying their nannies’ withholding tax, or else.
62. Having hundreds of cable channels but nothing to watch has always been routine.
63. Their parents’ favorite TV sitcoms have always been showing up as movies.
64. The U.S, Canada, and Mexico have always agreed to trade freely.
65. They first met Michelangelo when he was just a computer virus.
66. Galileo is forgiven and welcome back into the Roman Catholic Church.
67. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has always sat on the Supreme Court.
68. They have never worried about a Russian missile strike on the U.S.
69. It seems the Post Office has always been going broke.
70. The artist formerly known as Snoop Doggy Dogg has always been rapping.
71. The nation has never approved of the job Congress is doing.
72. One way or another, “It’s the economy, stupid” and always has been.
73. Silicone-gel breast implants have always been regulated.
74. They've always been able to blast off with the Sci-Fi (SYFY) Channel.
75. Honda has always been a major competitor on Memorial Day at Indianapolis.
All Good Now (Cow Belle)
Spoiled rich sisters, Taylor and Courtney Callum, have had it made. Their father owns a successful dairy that allows them to live comfortably. They can have anything they want: the latest designer clothes, cool cars, and an endless supply of money to spend. One day, the sisters end up ruining their house kitchen and their father has had enough. He sends the two to work a summer job at his dairy hoping it'll teach them responsibility and the value of a dollar. However, problems emerge when the dairy goes broke and it's up to the girls to decide: give up their selfish ways and save the dairy? or sit back and watch the company fall to pieces?
I believe you can shine
If you have to grab the stars
Right out of the sky
Don't look back
Close your eyes
Sometimes you have to see it from your heart to get it right
Sooner or later
When the dust has cleared
The sun comes out you are still here
Look at what you've found
Figure it out
It's simple when you think about it
When you are inside
Let it out
Everything you wanna be is coming around
It's all good now
It all works out
You'll see it all
Comes down
To taking chances
Living life
Just in time to get it right
Sooner or later when the dust has cleared
The sun comes out you are still here
Look at what you've found
It's all good now
I believe you can shine
If you have to grab the stars
Right out of the sky
Don't look back
Close your eyes
Sometimes you have to see it from your heart to get it right
Sooner or later
When the dust has cleared
The sun comes out you are still here
Look at what you've found
Figure it out
It's simple when you think about it
When you are inside
Let it out
Everything you wanna be is coming around
It's all good now
It all works out
You'll see it all
Comes down
To taking chances
Living life
Just in time to get it right
Sooner or later when the dust has cleared
The sun comes out you are still here
Look at what you've found
It's all good now
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Oil!!
Today, I watched a video on Ted.com- The Political Chemistry of Oil, which did give me some insight into the gas/oil industires and their impact on our life.
Apparently, our everyday life is closely linked to not just gasoline but those petrol byproducts. They help to facilitate our life, yet the convenience comes at a cost to the consumers. With the effect of global warming being more pronounced, we definitely need to take measures to cut back further on the use of oil so that less CO2 will be released to the atmosphere. However, what can we do? I wholeheartedly agree that we are more reactive than proactive. The Gulf oil spill got us thinking about its consequence and what to do in the future- that is, we began to respond to it only when it wreaked havoc on our environment.
We worry about oil price hike, oil spill that caused damage to sea life, and etc. However, we never get around to address the root cause of the problem. Maybe the problem is too intertwinely complicated, but we should at least try harder. We should have our voice heard, and together, we can make a change.
Our governments did little for and talke a lot about creating a greener environment. They are talkers, not doers. As said in the video, governments provide susidies to oil companies, which already made great profits. They should have been spent in other fields, say, alternative energy research.
Apparently, our everyday life is closely linked to not just gasoline but those petrol byproducts. They help to facilitate our life, yet the convenience comes at a cost to the consumers. With the effect of global warming being more pronounced, we definitely need to take measures to cut back further on the use of oil so that less CO2 will be released to the atmosphere. However, what can we do? I wholeheartedly agree that we are more reactive than proactive. The Gulf oil spill got us thinking about its consequence and what to do in the future- that is, we began to respond to it only when it wreaked havoc on our environment.
We worry about oil price hike, oil spill that caused damage to sea life, and etc. However, we never get around to address the root cause of the problem. Maybe the problem is too intertwinely complicated, but we should at least try harder. We should have our voice heard, and together, we can make a change.
Our governments did little for and talke a lot about creating a greener environment. They are talkers, not doers. As said in the video, governments provide susidies to oil companies, which already made great profits. They should have been spent in other fields, say, alternative energy research.
Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil | Video on TED.com
In the Gulf oil spill's aftermath, Lisa Margonelli says drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract from the issue at its heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off of oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.
Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil | Video on TED.com
Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil | Video on TED.com
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Travel Advice: Safety razor or Disposable razor
"I've seen a lot of confusion out there on what types of razors are OK to take with you in your carry-on baggage. This post is just a quick and basic attempt to clear up any confusion. Let me just start by saying that electric razors are OK, but straight razors are a no-go."....by TSA
http://economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2010/08/airplane_razors&fsrc=nlw%7Cgul%7C08-24-2010%7Cgulliver
http://economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2010/08/airplane_razors&fsrc=nlw%7Cgul%7C08-24-2010%7Cgulliver
Do-gooders get voted off island first: People don't really like unselfish colleagues, psychologists find
Do-gooders get voted off island first: People don't really like unselfish colleagues, psychologists find
ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Psychologists have found that unselfish workers who are the first to throw their hat in the ring are also among those that coworkers most want to, in effect, vote off the island. ... > read full article
This Love- Maroon 5
"This Love"
I was so high I did not recognize
The fire burning in her eyes
The chaos that controlled my mind
Whispered goodbye and she got on a plane
Never to return again
But always in my heart
This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore
I tried my best to feed her appetite
Keep her coming every night
So hard to keep her satisfied
Kept playing love like it was just a game
Pretending to feel the same
Then turn around and leave again
This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore
I'll fix these broken things
Repair your broken wings
And make sure everything's alright
My pressure on your hips
Sinking my fingertips
Into every inch of you
Cause I know that's what you want me to do
This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore
This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And my heart is breaking in front of me
She said Goodbye too many times before
This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore...
Phrasal verb (Phrasalverbdemon.com)
It's a verb + a particle (preposition or adverb) that changes the meaning to make a new verb.
Monday, August 23, 2010
10+ Hours of Hostage Drama in Manila
At dinnner, I was watching TV news, and then suddenly, there was a breaking news that there was a hostage standoff in Manila, Philippine. A group of tourists from Hong Kong, 25 in number, were held hostage by a former police officer with M 16 rifle. The incident started when this gunman, who was dimissed for misconduct unbecoming a police officer, seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement in the force.
In the beginning, nine hostages and the driver had been released. Then, there was an exchange of fire, and the other 15 hostages on board were said to be killed.
Up until earlier tonight, the hostage-taker was dead after a shot in the head, and some hostages then walked off the bus alive, some being whisked to the hospital and sadly some confirmed dead. I was a bit skeptical of the effeticeness of the police, for the hijacking of the bus lasted more than ten hours. Still, I saw a police assault team charge the bus, breaking the windows with an ax. Yet, this didn't seem to help. Maybe it was some kind of strategy. But all I know is that they moved a little bit forward and then retreated immediately.
It could have been dealt with better. (From a net friend :This situation was handled poorly, by a poorly trained police force who were too busy cowering to even think.)
PS:Condolences to the families of the victims
_________________________________________________________________
Strange enough to say, and maybe also a little creepy, last night, I just watched a movie about hostage, but it's not hijacking of a bus; rather it is that of a New York City train. Also coincidentally, both hostage dramas happened in a capital, one in Manila and the other NYC.
The movie is "The taking of Pelham 123"(official site:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-tv-news-anchor-do.htm).Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.
Maybe I am one of the guy with superpower in "Hero," like Issac Mendez, who can depict the events of the future. The other day, arriving at the airport in Kinmen, my sister and I decided to take a taxi home as we don't have a direct bus from there. While awaiting the taxi we just called, my sister asked me what the taxi plate number is, and having no idea, I said,"568"(if I still remebered). It was about then that a taxi running by with a plate number 568. Even though that was not our taxi, but it was nontheless quite unbelievable to me and my sister as well. Am I a seer?
"Great power comes with great responsibility." I hope I don't have that power, or my work is gonna be thick and heavy.
In the beginning, nine hostages and the driver had been released. Then, there was an exchange of fire, and the other 15 hostages on board were said to be killed.
Up until earlier tonight, the hostage-taker was dead after a shot in the head, and some hostages then walked off the bus alive, some being whisked to the hospital and sadly some confirmed dead. I was a bit skeptical of the effeticeness of the police, for the hijacking of the bus lasted more than ten hours. Still, I saw a police assault team charge the bus, breaking the windows with an ax. Yet, this didn't seem to help. Maybe it was some kind of strategy. But all I know is that they moved a little bit forward and then retreated immediately.
It could have been dealt with better. (From a net friend :This situation was handled poorly, by a poorly trained police force who were too busy cowering to even think.)
PS:Condolences to the families of the victims
_________________________________________________________________
Strange enough to say, and maybe also a little creepy, last night, I just watched a movie about hostage, but it's not hijacking of a bus; rather it is that of a New York City train. Also coincidentally, both hostage dramas happened in a capital, one in Manila and the other NYC.
The movie is "The taking of Pelham 123"(official site:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-tv-news-anchor-do.htm).Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.
Maybe I am one of the guy with superpower in "Hero," like Issac Mendez, who can depict the events of the future. The other day, arriving at the airport in Kinmen, my sister and I decided to take a taxi home as we don't have a direct bus from there. While awaiting the taxi we just called, my sister asked me what the taxi plate number is, and having no idea, I said,"568"(if I still remebered). It was about then that a taxi running by with a plate number 568. Even though that was not our taxi, but it was nontheless quite unbelievable to me and my sister as well. Am I a seer?
"Great power comes with great responsibility." I hope I don't have that power, or my work is gonna be thick and heavy.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ultimate goal
Short-term goal, long-term goal... What about the ultimate goal? Today, the pastor's lecture got me thinking what I really want to achieve in my lifetime.
I should create a bucket list for myself, and then cross off each item on my list. Actually, I did make a list of things to do for each semesters, yet they were only for some short-term goals. I now feel the urge to find my ultimate goal of my earthly life. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure it out by now. So, we'll have to see about it later.
Now, I'd rather focus on what's at hand. That would be the goals of attending education abroad program in UCD. The first, for sure, is to get a good command of English, being able to speak fluently or more like a native; second, I attempt to master French while learning well Spanish and Japanese, which is quite ambitious. Then, as a linguistic major, I want to broaden my knowledge of linguistics, which can be helpful in many fields, say, teaching English. .... Also, there are things such as getting to know American culture, embracing different views, befriending people from different culture, and many many more.
Am I waiting with baited breath for my flight to the US? Yes and NO. I have a mixed feeling about my solo trip. I am a little bit apprehensive about this trip because I am going to travel alone. Meanwhile, I am sorta over the moon because it has been my dream to stay in a English-speaking country for a couple of months, and now it is like dream come true.
chalking this update on 8/23/2010（The 823 artillery battle?）
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Roxanne
I happened to see a man with a strange long pointed nose on HBO this afternoon, and the scene somehow drew my attention to it. Therefore, I sat in front of TV and watched this movie, which I later knew is Roxanne.
The following is its plot summary from wiki:
The following is its plot summary from wiki:
In the film, Martin plays C.D. Bales, the fire chief in a small American town in the Pacific Northwest. C.D. is witty, acrobatic and skilled at many things, but he has a very large nose about which he is violently sensitive. He loves Roxanne Kowalski (Hannah), a beautiful astronomer, but she is infatuated with Chris (Rick Rossovich), a handsome but dim fireman. As in the play, Bales is touchy about his perceived ugliness (which he cannot have surgically altered because of a dangerous allergy to anesthetics) and speaks to the object of adoration the only way he can: he writes expressions of love in letter form and allows Chris to present them to Roxanne as if they were his own.
Roxanne receives a letter from Chris telling her that he has both left town and left her for another woman. C.D.'s friend and god-sister Dixie reveals that the letters Roxanne thought were written by Chris were actually written for her by C.D. When C.D. arrives at her home in response to a call from her, she confronts him about the letters. C.D. and Roxanne then end up in an argument, she claiming that he was deceiving her and leading her on, while C.D. says that she wanted the perfect man who was both emotionally and physically beautiful.
In the end, C.D. and Roxanne forgive one another and Roxanne confesses her love for C.D. and his characteristic nose. She says that flat-nosed people are too boring and bland, and that his nose gives him character.
Other stories in the movie include C.D. dealing with the incompetence of his volunteer firemen (whom Chris was brought in to help train), the appearance of a new comet which Roxanne came to observe, and a cafe owner (Shelley Duvall) who is a friend to both C.D. and Roxanne
Roxanne receives a letter from Chris telling her that he has both left town and left her for another woman. C.D.'s friend and god-sister Dixie reveals that the letters Roxanne thought were written by Chris were actually written for her by C.D. When C.D. arrives at her home in response to a call from her, she confronts him about the letters. C.D. and Roxanne then end up in an argument, she claiming that he was deceiving her and leading her on, while C.D. says that she wanted the perfect man who was both emotionally and physically beautiful.
In the end, C.D. and Roxanne forgive one another and Roxanne confesses her love for C.D. and his characteristic nose. She says that flat-nosed people are too boring and bland, and that his nose gives him character.
Other stories in the movie include C.D. dealing with the incompetence of his volunteer firemen (whom Chris was brought in to help train), the appearance of a new comet which Roxanne came to observe, and a cafe owner (Shelley Duvall) who is a friend to both C.D. and Roxanne
Friday, August 20, 2010
8/20 A Day in Downtown
"Downtown" is by definition the central area or commercial centre of a town or city.(wordweb) So, I might as well call Jincheng Kinmen's downtown since it is the main business district in Kinmen(Ouemoy).
An hour before noon, I arrived at Kinmen County Government building in Jincheng, and wanted to have my passports stamped so that I could go through the immigration counter successfully. As I've expected, it was done within minutes.
Then, I'll just have pictures do the talking.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Starbuck's marketing technique? Insidious?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11023624
Starbucks-speak
Flat white: white coffee
Frappucino: iced coffee
Caramel Macchiato: coffee with steamed milk, vanilla and caramel topping
Starbuck has imposed their buzzwords heavy-handedly........As mentioned in the article, the purpose of the using language in this way is to burrow into the consumer's subconsciousness with one's own concepts and values.
This reminded me of Google, which entered the dictionary after tapping into the popular consciousness.
Starbucks-speak
Flat white: white coffee
Frappucino: iced coffee
Caramel Macchiato: coffee with steamed milk, vanilla and caramel topping
Starbuck has imposed their buzzwords heavy-handedly........As mentioned in the article, the purpose of the using language in this way is to burrow into the consumer's subconsciousness with one's own concepts and values.
This reminded me of Google, which entered the dictionary after tapping into the popular consciousness.
Slow internet connection
I should be grateful for the internet that I could access, but I still have to complain about the internet speed, which is slow, insofar as a movie, whose length is around 120 minutes, can take ages to finish. I was watching Alice in Wonderland this afternoon. Up until a few minutes ago, I still had to wait for it to buffer and couldn't play it all the way through. The movie was okay, of which the storyline I already know. But the time spent on it seemed forever and ever. Thus, I opted not to finish watching it tonight. I'll watch it tomorrow morning right from where I stopped it minutes ago. Hopefully there would be no buffering issue tomorrow.
Also today, when I felt like viewing a video on Youtube, I couldn't in spite of patiently wating for it to buffer. At some point, it will just cease to buffer, for some unkown reason.
Anyway, I can live without Youtube, but without internet, I .......... can barely breathe, which obviously is exaggerated.
8/19/2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
8.18
Tranquil night.... with something on my mind and no plan in my mind for this mundane night..... tired some minutes ago.... blank the next.... now racking my brain to put my thought into words....... never thought myself as a man of letters and in fact, it is the least of my concern..... the best thing I could hope for right now is merely to overcome my writer's block and to write what I think and know...
My mind is now adrift, or I am forcing myself to be lost in thought...
A ceramic mug of water, a lamp, and some snoring?
Hurt once... then.... hurt twice... and thrice.... and so many more.... At last..... numb... unconcerned.... or from the very begining..... it was just for fun.... it always has been so.......
It is time to be more self-aware.
________________________________________________________________
Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen..
I am not bored today... I wasn't bored the other day.......
As usual, my cell phone alrm clock went off at 8 o'clock, neither too early nor too late.....
However, what followed is totally another story. I wasn't otaku or slacker. I went out!!!!!!!
What a feat!!
Anyway.... chitchat... lunch... whateverr-it-is fun time.... card game.... movie..... basketball 3-on-3..... They made my day...lol
My mind is now adrift, or I am forcing myself to be lost in thought...
A ceramic mug of water, a lamp, and some snoring?
Hurt once... then.... hurt twice... and thrice.... and so many more.... At last..... numb... unconcerned.... or from the very begining..... it was just for fun.... it always has been so.......
It is time to be more self-aware.
________________________________________________________________
Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen..
I am not bored today... I wasn't bored the other day.......
As usual, my cell phone alrm clock went off at 8 o'clock, neither too early nor too late.....
However, what followed is totally another story. I wasn't otaku or slacker. I went out!!!!!!!
What a feat!!
Anyway.... chitchat... lunch... whateverr-it-is fun time.... card game.... movie..... basketball 3-on-3..... They made my day...lol
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Early Morning Walk
I came back to my hometown, Kinmen, last Thurseday with my sister. I should have gone home much earlier, yet I had a tutoring job that didn't end until August and still, I had already decided to pass the driving test in Taipei. By the end of July, I found someone to take over my job, and much to my delight, I passed the road test and got my driving licence. That was a close call, I have to say. If it were not for the tester, who was so nice and helpful, I would not have obtained my driving license and would have to spend another 15 days practicing driving and wait a whole morning for the test. I was in seventh heaven when I was told by the amiable tester that I passed. I was gratefull and sorta unbelieving at the moment. Anyway, every thing seemed to went as I expected, which I was really pleased about. And this roughly explains why I am in Kinmen now.
It was a scorcher in Kinmen. I couldn't help saying the word "hot" time and again throughout the day. Even in the shaded area or in the house, the temperature read 34 Celcius degree. What about the temperature outside? OMG! The heat ruffled my composure, and I felt like staying in a room with A/C on.
However, early morning and late evening is quite cool and comfy, for the sun hasn't got into full swing around the break of dawn and has went down the horizon at the end of day. So, I tended to get up early to enjoy this great moment. To tell the truth, I was awokened by the sun blaring in my eyes.
One morning(actually the day before yesterday), I rose with the bird. The sun has just risen, and the sky was bright. It was around 6.30 that I set out on a "photography journey" in the countryside. For some reasons, I was full of pep, maybe because of plenty of sleep I got.
At the outset, I stopped somewhere in my neighborhood. There were some free-range chickens raised by my neighbor. (Today, I was also awaken also by the crow of these rooster.) The chickens looked for bugs and seeds, and as I walked by, they were not a little bit scared, and instead, approached me slowly. It was I that became a little bit uneasy. Then, a dog(puppy) began to bark at me, which frightened me. I guess it was raised to guard the chickens. So, I didn't stop for long. I quickly took a picture of them and then continued my journey right away.
Later on, I walked along the country roads to a small village called Dongpu. There, my grandpa and my father plowed the farm and grew crops. My dad used to take me there and told me the days when he toiled with his father and brothers so as to earn money for the maintenance of the family. Life was hard back then. I really shouldn't take for granted how well I have it now. Also, having been scared by the ferocious dogs in Donpu, this walk became sorta unsettling as I was afraid they were still there. My heart fluttered with fear. They were there!!!!My dread of them made me stop on my way to my grandpa's farm, and took another way toward Dongxiao so that I wouldn't have to confront them.
Walking through Dongxiao, I came to Hoxiuto, where there was a beautiful lake named Ronhu. I walked around the lake, felt the sense of enjoyment as I took in the unspoilt sceney in front of me. I had a lof of good memory here; I walked, jogged, fished, and picnicked here. This time, I started to appreciate how beautiful it was. I took the photograph because the next time I will be here again would be in a year. I didn't really walk around the whole lake, but half of it and then I wen back.
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